Hand held light apparatus

[0002] The present invention pertains to a portable, battery-operated and hand held light apparatus.

[0003] After live concerts or performances, it often has been customary for the audience to signal its appreciation, and to ask for an encore, by displaying lights visible from the stage. This has been done by members in the audience using matches or cigarette lighters, and holding the burning matches or lighters above their heads. More recently, audiences have used devices relying upon chemical reactions to generate light. There are distinct disadvantages in using matches or lighters to so indicate one's satisfaction with the performance, such disadvantages stemming from the possibility of being burned or burning others with the open flame. The relatively recent use of chemical lighting means also has disadvantages. Typically, light generated by such devices has a duration of only a few hours. Further, such devices are not reusable. Also, there are possibilities of harm to the environment and to human health from the chemicals present in such devices.

[0004] The present invention relates to a light apparatus that overcomes the disadvantages present in the prior art. The light apparatus according to the present invention relies upon electric power. In a preferred embodiment, such is provided by batteries, and the apparatus is operated to energize a lamp by way of a finger switch. Preferably, the apparatus is configured to rest comfortably within an user's hand so that the user can turn on the lamp to signal the user's appreciation during or after a performance.

[0005] The light apparatus has a flashing mode in addition to a continuous lighting mode. The flashing mode and the continuous lighting mode are chosen by the finger switch. The apparatus can be made to serve in the way of a conventional flashlight, which also provides the device with a safety function in that the device can be used to signal others that the user has an emergency.

[0006] To provide additional brightness, a noble gas electric lamp such as a neon lamp is provided. Along with this lamp, the apparatus includes an electric circuit suitable for operation of such a lamp. The circuit includes a transformer section for operating the lamp, and a portion for controlling flashing operation as well as continuous on operation.

[0007] In overview, a hand held light apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises: a body having a handle portion, a central portion, and a cap portion; a lamp mounted within the cap portion; power supply means for providing electrical energy to the lamp; and electric circuit means for connecting the power supply to the lamp for energizing the lamp, the circuit means including an intermittent circuit for intermittently electrifying the lamp to operate the lamp in a flashing mode.

[0008] A lamp activation circuit includes an LC oscillation conversion circuit which generates high voltage to actuate the lamp in an continuous lighting mode. The circuit also includes a RC harmonic oscillation circuit for controlling LC oscillation to provide the lamp with intermittent oscillation current for operating the lamp in the flashing mode. A switch provides for selection between either of the flashing or continuous lighting modes and an OFF state.

[0009] The preferred lamp is a neon lamp. The power supply for the apparatus can be batteries housed in the handle portion. Further, the cap portion could be detachable to be interchangeable with like cap portions of different colors and/or shapes.

[0010] Further aspects and features of the invention will be even more apparent from the following detailed description and drawings, and the appended claims. In the drawings:

[0011] FIG. 1 is a front, perspective view showing a preferred hand held light apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a partially schematic, sectional view along line 2—2 of FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the-lamp control circuit of the apparatus of FIG. 1; and

[0014] FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a control circuit suitable for use in the apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0015] FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective and sectional views of a light apparatus 10 in accordance with the present invention. From FIGS. 1 and 2, apparatus 10 is seen to include a body portion 12 and a cap portion 22 attached to the top of the body portion. Body portion 12 includes a handle portion 16 and a central, relatively-wider portion 18. In the preferred embodiment, handle portion 16 and central portion 18 integrally are connected.

[0016] Handle portion 16 is configured to contain batteries (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) as the supply of electrical power. With particular reference to FIG. 2, handle portion 16 has a battery compartment 17 with contacts 19 at either end for connecting the batteries to an electric circuit 25 on a printed circuit board (PCB) and ultimately a lamp 24 for operating the apparatus 10. Contacts 19 can be of any conventional arrangement appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art. A hinged lower cap 21 or the like is provided at the bottom of the handle portion for battery replacement. As is apparent, handle portion 16 can be modified accordingly where other electric sources, such stored solar power, are used to power apparatus 10.

[0017] Inside the cap portion 22 there is a lamp 24 which mounts to central portion 18. Cover 22 is transparent, or at least translucent. Two wires 23 in central portion 18 connect lamp 24 with the electric circuit. In preferred apparatus 10, lamp 24 is a neon tube. Light from lamp 24 is transmitted through cover 22. Cover 22 could be detachable from central portion 18 by hand so that different covers could be substituted for the cover on the apparatus 10 at any given time. It is contemplated that apparatus 10 be provided with plural covers 22 of different colors and/or shapes so that the user can decide which the user prefers.

[0018] Central portion 18 houses the circuit elements 25 connecting batteries in handle portion 16 with lamp 24. Centered in a front face 26 of upper portion 18 is an area 28 that provides for three positions of a three-way switch 30. In preferred apparatus 10, switch 30 is moveable among three positions by finger pressure. In the embodiment shown, markings 32 on front face 26 include a central, OFF position between an upper position in which lamp 24 is placed in a continuous lighting mode, and a lower position in which the lamp 24 is placed in a flashing mode. As now apparent, these and other parts of apparatus 10 could be fabricated from a phosphorescent material, according to user needs, so that they would be visible to the user in a darkened setting. Also, of course, other switch arrangements that provide different settings corresponding to different modes would be suitable as apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a block diagram corresponding to circuit 25. Switch 30 is shown as connected to receive power from batteries 102 or the like. Switch 30 controls a LC oscillation circuit 50 for providing the continuous lighting mode. Oscillation circuit 50 is a conversion circuit that generates a sufficiently high output voltage necessary to activate neon lamp 24. For providing flashing operation of lamp 24, switch 30 also connects to RC harmonic oscillation circuit 52, the oscillatory output from which is applied to LC oscillation circuit 50 to control the output voltage from the LC circuit to vary regularly.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a diagram of a preferred circuit 100 suitable for use in apparatus 10. As shown in FIG. 4, battery 102 is connected to a transformer assembly 104 and also to a transistor Q3 through winding 106. The positive terminal of battery 102 also directly is connected to switch 30 and a capacitor C3, the other side of which capacitor is connected to ground. Transformer assembly 104 includes two windings 106 and 108 on its primary winding side and a single secondary winding (wires 23) connected to lamp 24, on the secondary winding or lamp side. The base of a transistor Q1 is connected between resistors R1 and R3, and connected to the negative battery terminal through resistor R3. The emitter of transistor Q1 is connected to switch 30 through resistor R2 and the collector thereof in turn is connected to the base of transistor Q2 and to capacitor C2. The collector of transistor Q2 connects to switch 30 through diode D1 and resistor R5, and to resistor R4, while the emitter of transistor Q2 connects to the negative side of the battery. A capacitor C1 connects the base of the transistor Q1 to a point between the collector of transistor Q2 and resistor R4, on the input side of diode D1. The output side of the diode connects to switch 30 through resistor R5. The emitter of transistor Q3 also connects to the negative terminal of battery 102. The collector of transistor Q3, in turn, connects to one side of primary winding 106.

[0021] In use, apparatus 10 provides a multi-purpose light and flashing device. It is contemplated, that during concerts, the user would place apparatus 10 either in its continuous lighting or flashing modes to indicate the user's approval.

[0022] Although the present invention has been described in connection with a preferred form thereof, it is to be understood that the disclosure of the preferred form is made only by way of example and that numerous changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.