Patents Examined by Guiyoung Lee
  • Patent number: 6926428
    Abstract: An improved worklight case for carrying and storing a worklight such as a quartz halogen worklight having a protective grill protruding from the worklight face. The worklight may be stored in the case without disassembly of the worklight or removal of the protective grills. A tripod may also be included in the case. The case has a bottom portion including one or more bays, each of which is formed for receiving an individual worklight head with the protective grill in position on the worklight head. The bays are disposed in the bottom portion so that each worklight head rests in its own bay when the worklight is in position in the bottom portion. The various surfaces of the bottom portion are formed to allow space for the worklight base so that the worklight heads need not be disassembled from the base, but rather the worklight may be positioned in the bottom portion as a unit with each head in its own bay. Adequate space is left over for storing the tripod as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: EML Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Wade Lee
  • Patent number: 6926430
    Abstract: In the invention, a comparison is carried out within a computer of an item of information relating to a direction of a light beam of a lamp, this item of information being obtained by means of a position sensor, and an item of information relating to an instruction for horizontal displacement of the light beam. If there is not agreement between the two items of information, the computer can then have a degraded operating mode of the lamp adopted by compelling it to orient the light beam downwards in order to remove any risk of dazzling an oncoming driver. To that end, the computer controls a range correction motor in order to bring about a downwards vertical deviation of the light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Alain Dari, Grégoire Sadoux, Julien Moizard
  • Patent number: 6923556
    Abstract: An illuminated ornamental apparatus includes an outer housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a peripheral wall that extends between and is attached to the top and bottom walls. The outer housing comprises a substantially transparent material. An inner housing is positioned within the outer housing. The inner housing has a plurality of apertures therein. Each of a plurality of lights is mounted in one of the apertures such that each of the lights is directed away from the inner housing. A power supply is electrically coupled to the lights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Inventor: Fred A. Baker, III
  • Patent number: 6921188
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp emitting light to a lateral direction can include a simple construction to reduce design limitations, and can achieve desired light distribution characteristics by controlling the direction and intensity of light illuminated in a range covering the front and the side of the vehicle. The vehicle lamp preferably includes: a second reflecting surface for reflecting incident light from a light source to a predetermined direction; a third reflecting surface, arranged forward of the light source and backward of a projection lens and out of a main optical path, for reflecting light from the second reflecting surface toward front; and a fourth reflecting surface, arranged forward of the third reflecting surface and out of the main optical path, for reflecting light from the third reflecting surface to a lateral direction relative at least to a region of light emitted from the projection lens along the main optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Taniuchi
  • Patent number: 6918687
    Abstract: A leveling apparatus for a vehicle headlamp has a case body, a motor disposed within the case body, a worm wheel supported by the case body rotatably but unmovably in the longitudinal direction and rotated by the motor and a shaft screwed into the worm wheel. The shaft and the worm wheel are screwed together by thread ridges provided on the inner side of the worm wheel and thread ridges provided on the outer periphery of a driven portion forming the shaft. The thread ridges on one side out of the thread ridges on two sides are formed by one to two pitches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirohisa Deguchi
  • Patent number: 6918689
    Abstract: An auxiliary light assembly is provided for a tractor having a front-mounted implement. The assembly includes a lower support and an upper support pivotal with respect to the lower support. The lower support has a cylindrical member which is attached to a frame. Detent recesses are formed in an upper end surface of the lower support. The upper support has a lamp housing attached to an end of a support rod, and a detent member. The detent member is selectively received by the recesses to releasably hold the upper support in selected positions relative to the lower support. A bushing member is received by the support members to maintain axial alignment thereof. A spring is received by the support members, and is biased to urge the support members towards each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Keith Jonathan Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6918677
    Abstract: A keyboard is provided having illuminating keys. The keyboard includes a light channeling membrane and key members constructed at least partially of translucent material so that light produced from a light source is channeled upwardly to the upper surfaces of the key members. The light source may include LED or LEC systems in adjoining relationship to the light channeling membrane or light pipe. In a preferred embodiment, the light source is constructed of a substantially planar illuminescent sheet which underlies the light channeling membrane. In an alternative preferred embodiment, a light pipe is constructed to illuminate light laterally along a portion of its length to illuminate a plurality of key members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Inventor: Michael Shipman
  • Patent number: 6916105
    Abstract: An optical assembly for use with one or more LED packages for capturing and redirecting light. The optical assembly can include an optical component and an alignment structure connected to the optical component for aligning the optical component to the LED package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Inventors: Byron L. Zerphy, Eric J. Zerphy
  • Patent number: 6910784
    Abstract: A panel light source device includes: a light guide plate 1; a reflecting sheet 5, provided facing a rear face of the light guide plate 1, and an end of which is bent, so as to face a side face of the light guide plate 1; a wire 4 disposed at a side face of the light guide plate 1, sandwiching the reflecting sheet 5 therebetween; and a slim case, wherein the slim case is constructed of a rear face case 7, a front face of which is open, the light guide plate 1, the reflecting sheet 5 and the wire 4 being inserted into the case 7 through the front face thereof, and a front face case 6 then being engaged with the rear face case 7. The rear face case 7 has a reflecting sheet exposing section 14, formed so that a height, of a portion of a side face on the wire side, is lower than the height of a remaining portion of the side face, to thereby expose the reflecting sheet 5. Thus, the assembly of a panel light source device is made easy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Advanced Display Inc.
    Inventor: Atsushi Ito
  • Patent number: 6908211
    Abstract: An adapter for providing a concentrated beam of light over an extended distance for a flashlight. The flashlight includes a penlight with an LED light source. The adapter includes a light collecting and magnifying barrel having a reflective inner surface and a magnifying lens and is secured with the end of the penlight encasing the LED. Light rays emitted from the LED are concentrated and reflected through the lens in the form of a condensed beam of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Inventor: Steve A. Harper
  • Patent number: 6905220
    Abstract: The present invention includes a backlight system incorporating a back reflector and/or a lamp cavity reflector constructed of a multilayer optical film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David L. Wortman, Sanford Cobb, Jr., Brian D. Cull, Michael F. Weber, Andrew J. Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 6902287
    Abstract: An environmentally controlled appliance enclosure includes an enclosed spacer and a heater assembly positioned within the spacer. A heater unit and a fan are secured to the heater assembly. A mounting plate is positioned on the assembly mount and an appliance is secured to the mounting plate. A cover is secured to the spacer to enclose the appliance. Once sealed, the heater unit and fan of the heater assembly operate to maintain a uniform temperature within the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Safety Technology International, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6902286
    Abstract: A lighting system includes a lens element which redirects light emitted from a display screen onto a keypad, keyboard or a control pad placed in front of or adjacent to the display screen such that without disturbing the display of other information on the display screen, the light emitted by the display screen illuminates the keypad, keyboard or control panel without the need for auxiliary light sources or auxiliary power sources. A simple program or program modification controls the display screen to provide appropriate light to the lens element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Burns Doane Swecker & Mathis LLP
    Inventor: Charles Hunter
  • Patent number: 6899445
    Abstract: A light assembly with a removable reflector for use in a ceiling, wall, or the like is provided. The reflector has a top surface with a substantially hurricane-shaped mounting aperture defined by a primary diameter and a secondary diameter that intersect each other and in which the primary diameter is greater than the secondary diameter. When the reflector is rotated, the secondary diameter approaches a holding key in the light assembly, which engages the top surface to releasably hold the reflector within the light assembly. A method of releasably installing the reflector is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: LaShannon Hyder
  • Patent number: 6899442
    Abstract: A surgical theater apparatus for suspending from a ceiling structural member of a hospital includes a central hub mountable to the ceiling structural member to rotate about a rotation axis. The hub has a pivot axis spaced apart from the rotation axis. First and second devices, such as surgical lights, a cameras, and monitors, are mounted to a first end of a first device arm and a first end of a second device arm, respectively. A second end of the first device arm is mounted to the hub for movement about the rotation axis and about the pivot axis. A second end of the second device arm is mounted to the hub for movement about the rotation axis. The pivot axis and the rotation axis are parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles A. Howell, Jonathan D. Turner, Howard Reed, Richard H. Heimbrock, Scott Manlove, Gary A. Gray
  • Patent number: 6893147
    Abstract: Lenses and bezels for lamps provide an appealing aesthetic look in the form of a colored glow at the edges of the lens or bezel by incorportation of an photoluminescent material in a molded polycarbonate body. The lenses are particularly suitable for use as an automotive outer lens, and can also improve the quality of the light emitted through this outer lens by interacting with the light bulb. The emitted beam is of a legal color and intensity as defined per the SAE J578 standard. The lighting performance may also be improved in such manner as reducing glare, increasing brightness or producing a beam that enhances road visibility at night to the human eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Philippe Schottland, David S. Bryce, Thomas Bouchard
  • Patent number: 6886959
    Abstract: An illumination assembly includes a container adapted to contain a flammable light source, a flammable light source contained within the container, and a cover adapted to cover a top opening of the container. The cover includes a closable cavity adapted to safely store a lighting source capable for lighting the flammable light source. The container may be a jar, a lamp, or a lantern. The flammable light source may be a wax-based candle, a liquid or solid fuel lamp. The lighting source may be a match and a match-striking element or a self-ignitable lighter. In alternative embodiments the lighting source may be contained within a closable cavity formed within the base of the container or within a pouch attached to an outer surface of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Inventor: Sharon Record
  • Patent number: 6886957
    Abstract: In a lighting system for a vehicle comprising lamp deflection angle control means for changing and controlling a deflection angle in the irradiating direction of a lamp corresponding to the running situation of the vehicle, lamp deflection angle control means 2 and 4 include means 45 and 5 for setting the irradiating direction of a lamp 30 into a preset reference position when an ignition switch S2 is turned ON. When the electrical system of the vehicle is turned ON so that the illumination of the vehicle can be carried out, the irradiating direction of the lamp 30 is set into the reference position. Consequently, when the lamp is turned ON again, a car running in an opposite direction can be prevented from being dazzled by the illuminated light of the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing, Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Uchida
  • Patent number: 6883933
    Abstract: In the present invention, a plurality of concaves are provided for one main surface of a flexible substrate by press-forming. Each concave has a flat surface which is substantially parallel to the main surface of the substrate, and mounted on the flat surface are three LEDs each emitting colored light of red, green, and blue respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Matsui, Hideo Nagai, Tetsushi Tamura, Kenzo Hatada
  • Patent number: 6880963
    Abstract: A luminaire includes a frame member, an inner panel, light emitting diodes (LEDs), an information carrier, and two outer panels. The inner panel has two surfaces and edges that join the two surfaces such that the inner panel is able to reflect light substantially perpendicularly to its two surfaces. The LEDs are arranged along at least one edge of the inner panel and are detachably attached to the frame member. The information carrier is associated with at least one surface of the inner panel. The two outer panels are associated with the two surfaces of the inner panel. To protect the luminaire against environmental influences and at the same time to maintain the optical appearance of the luminaire, the inner panel and the two outer panels are held by the frame member for water-tight encapsulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: CEAG Notlichtsysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Luig, Stefan Volpert