Patents Examined by Sharon E. Payne
  • Patent number: 7703952
    Abstract: A lamp support includes a clamp, a ratchet member, a lamp housing and a latch member. The clamp is capable of being attached to a human body. The clamp has a circular receiving groove. A plurality of ratchet grooves is formed at a bottom face of the receiving groove along a first rotation direction. The ratchet member is rotatably received in the receiving groove along the first rotation direction. The ratchet member has a ratchet projection selectively inserted into the ratchet grooves. The lamp housing is rotatably connected to the ratchet member along a second rotation direction substantially perpendicular to the first rotation direction. The lamp housing has an inner space for receiving a lamp. The lamp housing has a plurality of latch grooves arranged along the second rotation direction. The latch member is fixed to the ratchet member. The latch member is selectively inserted into the latch grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: AITEC Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-Yeon Yoon
  • Patent number: 7703937
    Abstract: A reading light ring including a battery powered LED as the source of illumination. The reading light ring is intended to be worn on the index finger and operated by means of a thumb operated switch located on the side of the ring. The light emitted by the LED is preferably blue to green in wavelength so as to improve visual acuity in low light environments while minimizing the impact on the human eye readjusting from lighted to dark conditions. The LED is positioned so as to direct most of its light at an angle which would allow the illumination of a document held in the device bearing hand and allow the LED to be shielded by the opposing hand. The device is preferably waterproof and shock resistant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Inventor: Carey O'Brien Shirey
  • Patent number: 7705542
    Abstract: A flashlight in accordance with an aspect of the invention includes an ID module for generating an ID signal indicative of a power mode of the flashlight. In an aspect, the flashlight mates with a removable battery pack that regulates at least one of an output voltage and output current in accordance with the ID signal. In an aspect, the flashlight includes a printed circuit board (PCB) on which the ID module is mounted. In an aspect, the flashlight includes a soft-start module and a bulb, wherein the soft start module increases power to the bulb at a controlled rate when the flashlight is turned on. In an aspect, the flashlight includes a lamp housing having a lens retained by a bezel. The lens includes an axially extending peripheral edge. In an aspect, the flashlight includes a main housing having a lamp housing. A mounting mechanism and mating features are adapted to selectively couple and decouple the main housing and the lamp housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Hilt, Bradley Jon Mealy, David A. Carrier, Andrew E. Seman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7703970
    Abstract: An illuminating display including a transparent substrate in the form of a sheet or slab having an upper face, a lower face and a plurality of edge faces. The edge faces are provided with an internally reflective treatment and at least one light source associated with the substrate, causing a relatively narrow beam of light rays to emanate into said substrate. At least one reflective surface arranged internally of said substrate to operatively internally reflect light rays from said at least one light source within the substrate. Either (or both) the upper face and the lower face having material in contact therewith for directing light from within the substrate out of a face. The display may be employed in combination with a liquid crystal display (LCD) assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Sotek Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Tomasz Blach
  • Patent number: 7699496
    Abstract: A structure for attaching a fluorescent tube includes a base, a holder supported by the base, and a pair of contacts. The holder holds an intermediate portion of the fluorescent tube while restraining the fluorescent tube from moving in a radial direction. To the pair of contacts, terminals of a pair of end portions of the fluorescent tube are respectively attachable in an attaching direction corresponding to the radial direction of the fluorescent tube. Each contact includes a pair of elastic pieces facing each other. The pair of elastic pieces have a pair of straight portions extending substantially straight along the attaching direction and facing each other. On the pair of straight portions, a pair of contact portions for clamping the corresponding terminal of the fluorescent tube therebetween are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: J.S.T. Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsunori Miyazono
  • Patent number: 7695167
    Abstract: An optical sheet has a large number of cylindrical lens elements provided successively on one of principal faces thereof. The cylindrical lens elements have a finite focal distance on the emission side of illumination light and have an aspheric face of a leftwardly and rightwardly symmetric sectional shape. Where a Z axis is taken in parallel to a normal line direction to the optical sheet and an X axis is taken in a direction of the row of the cylindrical lens elements, a cross sectional shape of the cylindrical lens elements satisfies Z=X2/(R+?{square root over ( )}(R2?(1+K)X2))+AX4+BX5+CX6+ . . . (where R is the radius of curvature of a distal end vertex, K is a conic constant, and A, B, C, . . . are aspheric coefficients).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuo Arima, Jun Shimizu, Hirokazu Odagiri, Eiji Ohta, Kei Obata
  • Patent number: 7690808
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a prefabricated light reflecting system having standardized reflectors to be mounted to corners of the ceiling of an elevator cage. Here, a required number of reflectors are successively connectable to correspond to the size of the elevator cage. The light reflecting system includes a corner reflector, a bulb mounting plate, and an end reflector. If necessary, one or more intermediate reflectors may be added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Inventor: Il Shik Yoon
  • Patent number: 7690813
    Abstract: An LED illumination lamp device, including a polygonal-prism-shaped supporting member having a plurality of rectangular side surfaces, plate-like wing members configured to project outwardly from each of ridge lines formed by two adjacent rectangular side surfaces of the supporting member and having at least two opposing rectangular surfaces, and a plurality of LED elements disposed on the rectangular side surfaces of the supporting member and the rectangular surfaces of the wing members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Kanamori, Sadato Imai
  • Patent number: 7686490
    Abstract: A vehicle front body structure including a front end module attached to a body front end. The front end module includes a frame member and a headlamp unit supported on the frame member. The headlamp unit is provided with a mounting device which is configured to flexibly support the headlamp unit on the frame member, and to provide a tendency to move the headlamp unit to its attachment position, upon application of a force exceeding a predetermined threshold to the headlamp unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Tazaki, Takehiro Kiuchi, Shinichi Kaneda, Tatsuya Yamaho
  • Patent number: 7682059
    Abstract: A direct type back light includes a case holding a plurality of lamps. The lamps may be ā€œUā€ shaped and have curves arranged at a centerline of the case to face each other with a gap there between. A reflecting plate is positioned below the plurality of lamps. A luminance control sheet is provided above the reflecting plate and below the lamps in several of, or all of, the gaps. The luminance control sheet may have a lower reflectivity or a higher reflectivity than the reflecting plate to remove a bright line or a dark line in the center of the display, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong Hyun Choi, Dae San Lim
  • Patent number: 7677770
    Abstract: An LED down light replacement apparatus is disclosed for insertion into a recessed-light housing can, which includes an LED light source, a means for mounting said LED light source within the housing can, an LED driver circuit electrically connected to the LED light source, a heat sink in thermal contact with the LED light source, and means for removing heat generated by the LED light source. The means for removing heat generated by the LED light source can include a fan and/or ventilation holes in the top of the housing can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Lighting Science Group Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph B. Mazzochette
  • Patent number: 7673997
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a control panel assembly in which a light emitted from a single lamp is prevented from being dispersed nearby. A control panel assembly for a laundry machine, the control panel assembly includes a lamp supporter in which a plurality of lamps are installed to display functions selected by a user; a deco formed corresponding to the plurality of the lamps, the deco including a plurality of light-emitting holes through which a light emitted from each of the lamps passes; a light window including a light dispersion preventing part provided between the lamp supporter and the deco to prevent the light emitted from each of the lamps from being emitted through the other light-emitting holes except a single light-emitting hole corresponding each of the lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sung Gi Hwang, Ju Han Yoon, Seong Kyu Kim, Seon Il Heo
  • Patent number: 7674002
    Abstract: Portable solar powered light sources, devices, apparatus, systems and methods of attaching and using the light source. The light sources can have a single small housing having an upper roof portion with an exposed solar cell, a photocell activator, and small housing. The housing can have two parts that pivot with one another so that a front end of the housing can be biased together by a spring, and the rear side having edges that are spaced apart. An operator can press the rear spaced apart edges together, to open the front end to slide about a support structure, such as an open umbrella fabric edge. The housing allows for the light source powered by batteries to be activated by the photocell during dark(night) conditions), with the light direction being adjustable underneath. During daylight, the solar cell receives sunlight to charge the batteries within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Chien Luen Industries Co., Ltd., Inc.
    Inventor: Shooupyng Wang
  • Patent number: 7670041
    Abstract: A backlight module (10) includes a light source and a light guide plate (12). The light source defines a number of light units (11) for emitting light beams. The light guide plate includes a light incident surface (121), an emission surface (123) adjacent to the light incident surface, a bottom surface (124) opposite to the emission surface, a plurality of side surfaces (122) between the emission surface and the bottom surface, and a plurality of diffusion units (13) formed on the bottom surface. A dot size of each diffusion unit/dot is inversely proportional to a summation of the sum of reciprocals of squares of distances between the diffusion unit and each of the light units and the sum of reciprocals of squares of distances between the diffusion unit and corresponding images of each of the light units formed, respectively, by the side surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kun-Jung Tsai
  • Patent number: 7665877
    Abstract: A prism sheet capable of enhancing light efficiency and viewing angle characteristics, a backlight unit using the prism sheet, and a method for fabricating the prism sheet are disclosed. The prism sheet includes a transparent substrate, a plurality of grooves formed in an upper surface of the transparent substrate to extend in a parallel direction with each other and to be uniformly spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance, a plurality of reflection patterns respectively formed in the grooves, and a plurality of lenticular lenses formed on the upper surface of the transparent substrate formed with the reflection patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Man Hoan Lee, Ji Su Yoon, Sung Keun Lee
  • Patent number: 7661852
    Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated LED bulb that utilizes LEDs and can be used as a standard replacement bulb for incandescent lights that operate on standard household current. One or more LEDs are disposed in a lens 102 that is capable of high optical transmission efficiencies. A base portion encapsulates a printed circuit board and connectors, as well as the LED pin leads to hold the package in a secure mounting. The lens can be molded directly to the base or can be removable. The base can be formed to fit standard threaded sockets or bayonet sockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: 1 Energy Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Jing Jing Yu
  • Patent number: 7661841
    Abstract: An illumination device has a blue light emitting element that emits blue light and a light guide member that guides blue light emitted from the blue light emitting element to a light exit surface of the light guide member. A first color conversion element includes a red phosphor that emits red light in response to excitation with the blue light. The first color conversion element is disposed on an optical path between the blue light emitting element and the light guide member. A second color conversion element is disposed on a light exit surface side of the light guide member and separated from the first color conversion element. The second color conversion element comprises a pair of non-permeable transparent substrates, a resin disposed between the non-permeable transparent substrates, and a green phosphor dispersed in the resin for emitting green light in response to excitation with the blue light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Matoko Kurihara, Kazuya Kato
  • Patent number: 7658518
    Abstract: A light apparatus is mounted to a wall of a building. At least one elongate mounting plate is engaged to the wall extending essentially horizontally along the wall. A number of brackets are mounted to the mounting plate and extend forward therefrom. One or more trim pieces are mounted generally below and in front of the brackets. A number of holding elements mount at least one light source to at least one of the elongate mounting plates and brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Electrix, Inc.
    Inventor: Gordon L. Shwisha
  • Patent number: 7654703
    Abstract: A luminaire comprising a housing having thermally separate compartments for an electronics portion and a lighting portion. These thermally separate compartments can provide thermal isolation between the electronics portion and the lighting portion. The lighting portion comprises a plurality of light-emitting elements and further includes an optical device comprising two linear diffuser elements and can be used to further improve the light emission characteristics of the light-emitting elements thereby providing a directly viewable luminaire wherein the illumination produced by point light sources appears uniform along the length of the luminaire. A power supply for supply of energy to the light-emitting elements and a controller for controlling application of energy from a power source to the light-emitting elements is provided in the electronics portion and can be thermally separated within the electronics portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.
    Inventors: Peter Kan, Adrian Weston
  • Patent number: 7651232
    Abstract: A dishwashing machine is provided having a door pivotable around the horizontal axis thereof and a switch arranged on the door. The switch is operable to generate an electric signal when a predetermined pivoting angle of the door is reached as the door is being opened. The dishwasher also includes a light source that illuminates the interior of the dishwashing machine, the light source being disposed in the interior of the dishwashing machine and being operably connected to the switch such that the light source is activated into an illuminated condition in response to the receipt of the electrical signal from the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Haugeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Baumgartner, Jens Christmann, Wilhelm Sturm, Ingeborg Sturm, legal representative