Lighting apparatus with detachable clip mount

• US 9,194,548 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2015
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Princeton Tectonics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Princeton Tectonics, Inc.
• Inventors: Janice, Gregory C.
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAMLING, SEAN P
• Application Number:
  US14/635,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20150176781A1
• Time in Patent Office: 267 Days
• Field of Search: 362105-106, 362/396, 362/427
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/00 Electric lighting devices with self-contained electric batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/02 characterised by the provision of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/04 characterised by the provision of a light source housing portion adjustably fixed to the remainder of the device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0885 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/10 for personal use, e.g. hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

In a lighting apparatus comprising a light source housing is pivoted on a clip that can attach alternatively to a head strap adapter or to an adapter secured to a night vision goggle mounting plate. The clip includes a horizontal member having a bracket on the light source housing is rotatable, a pair of spaced, upwardly extending, tabs, and a vertical member extending upward from a location between the tabs. The upwardly extending tabs enter slots on the bottom of the adapter or mounting base, and a rib on the top of the adapter or mounting base is received by a snap fit in a downwardly facing slot on a horizontal part at the upper end of the vertical member of the clip.

Claims

1. A lighting apparatus comprising:

a light source housing containing a light source;

an adapter comprising a unitary rigid part having an upper rib extending generally in a horizontal direction, and a pair of downwardly open slots aligned with, and spaced from, each other along a direction parallel to said horizontal direction, said slots being located on opposite sides of a location below said rib; and

a unitary, resilient, clip comprising a horizontally extending element having opposite ends and a vertical element having an upper end, the vertical element extending upward from the horizontally extending element at an intermediate location between said opposite ends;

wherein the horizontally extending element has a bracket extending perpendicularly in a forward direction from at least one of its opposite ends;

wherein the horizontal element also has a pair of tabs extending upwardly therefrom on opposite sides of the vertical element;

wherein the vertical element has a rearwardly extending part at its upper end, the rearwardly extending part having a downwardly open slot;

wherein the light source housing is rotatably connected to said bracket for tilting about a horizontal axis;

wherein the tabs extending upwardly from the horizontal element are receivable respectively in the downwardly open slots on the adapter;

wherein the downwardly open slot on the rearwardly extending part at the upper end of the vertical element of the clip is positioned to snap onto, and receive, the rib of the adapter when said tabs are received in the downwardly open slots on the adapter, whereby the clip, with the light source housing rotatably connected to said bracket, can be attached to the adapter by a snap fit; and

wherein said bracket comprises a pair of ears, each extending perpendicularly in a forward direction from one of said opposite ends of the horizontally extending element of the clip, the light source housing being pivotally mounted on said ears for pivoting movement about a horizontal axis.

2. A lighting apparatus kit comprising:

first and second adapters;

a unitary, resilient, clip having a bracket for rotating support of a light source housing; and

a quick-release mounting plate capable of attachment to a visual augmentation system shroud on a helmet, said quick release mounting plate having upper and lower ends, and having tabs protruding upward and downward respectively from said upper and lower ends, in which at least one of said tabs is retractable for release of the mounting plate from said visual augmentation system shroud,

wherein the first adapter is an adapter having slots for receiving a flexible strap, and the second adapter is an adapter connectible to said quick-release mounting plate; and

wherein said clip is alternatively attachable by a snap fit to the first adapter and the second adapter.

3. A lighting apparatus kit comprising:

first and second adapters; and

a unitary, resilient, clip having a bracket for rotating support of a light source housing;

in which;

the first adapter is an adapter having slots for receiving a flexible strap, and the second adapter is an adapter connectible to a quick-release mounting plate; and

said clip is alternatively attachable by a snap fit to the first adapter and the second adapter;

each said adapter comprises a unitary rigid plate having an upper rib extending generally in a horizontal direction, and a pair of downwardly open slots aligned with, and spaced from, each other along a direction parallel to said horizontal direction, said slots being located on opposite sides of a location below said rib;

said clip comprises a horizontally extending element having opposite ends and a vertical element having an upper end, the vertical element extending upward from the horizontally extending element at an intermediate location between said opposite ends;

the bracket extends perpendicularly in a forward direction from at least one of the opposite ends of the horizontally extending element;

the horizontal element also has a pair of tabs extending upwardly therefrom on opposite sides of the vertical element for pivotal connection of a light source housing to said clip;

the vertical element has a rearwardly extending part at its upper end, the rearwardly extending part having a downwardly open slot;

the tabs extending upwardly from the horizontal element are receivable respectively in the downwardly open slots on each of the adapters; and

the downwardly open slot on the rearwardly extending part at the upper end of the vertical element of the clip is positioned to snap onto, and receive, the rib of each adapter when said tabs are received in the downwardly open slots on the same adapter, whereby the clip, with a light source housing connected to its bracket can be attached to the adapter by a snap fit.