Patents Examined by Y. Quach
  • Patent number: 5481440
    Abstract: A circuit pack has a flat circuit board and a flat apertured face plate mounted at substantially right angles to the board. A plurality of light emitting diodes are surface mounted on the board and emit light at an angle to the axis of the apertures in the face plate. Mounted in each of the apertures is a light guiding member, one end of which overlies the corresponding diode and has a reflecting surface positioned in the path of light emitted from the diode to redirect the light through the aperture. Crush ribs on the surface of the light guiding member to aid in affixing it in the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Michael L. Oldham, Gerald L. Buxton
  • Patent number: 5479324
    Abstract: Disclosed is a double-walled gasoline or fluid tank having a hollow space allowing light to be visible externally through a variety of openings or designs. A concave side portion of an existing tank is removed and a flat side wall, having an illumination device attached thereto, is attached where the original side portion was removed to create a new tank. An opening is created on the original side portion and the original side portion is reattached to the tank. The illumination device provides light through the opening in the original side portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Inventor: James E. Barry
  • Patent number: 5479322
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for lighting optical fibers as well as surrounding regions includes a generally vertically oriented housing including a light source positioned near the upper end of the housing for directing radiant flux toward the ends of a plurality of optical fibers and for reflecting remaining portions of the radiant flux from the light source in a lateral direction into the surrounding regions. A light reflector is positioned in the housing for laterally reflecting a portion of the radiant flux, and includes a central aperture in the reflector to pass the central portion of the radiant flux therethrough to the ends of the optical fibers. The same reflector serves as a baffle on the lower side thereof to deflect moving air within the housing around the ends of the optical fibers and through the aperture in the reflector toward the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Fiberstars, Inc.
    Inventor: Nilesh P. Kacheria
  • Patent number: 5477438
    Abstract: A light source unit of the present invention is provided with a plurality of semiconductor lasers each emitting one laser beam, a bar body to which the semiconductor lasers are attached so that p-n junctions planes of respective semiconductor lasers are arranged in the same direction, and a beam restricting plate where holes for passing a part of the beam from the semiconductor laser are formed so as to correspond to the semiconductor lasers. With this feature, a plurality of laser beams of uniform optical power can be emitted at predetermined spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignees: Rohm Co., Ltd., Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Naotaro Nakata, Naofumi Aoki
  • Patent number: 5477432
    Abstract: An illumination mechanism is provided for the receiving opening of an automobile entertainment device. The mechanism includes at least one light pipe fitted in the face of the entertainment device in close proximity to the area to be illuminated. This light pipe extends to a lamp or other light source otherwise used in the automobile for other illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew D. Magic, James P. Muccioli, Andrew P. Person
  • Patent number: 5477443
    Abstract: A lamp assembly is disclosed which includes a base, a lamp arm mounting adapter on the base for pivotally mounting a lamp arm thereto, with the lamp arm itself having a first pair of hollow support tubes mounted on the adapter for pivotal movement on a vertical axis in a generally horizontal plane and having a arm support pivotally mounted on their opposite ends for pivotal movement on a vertical axis on a horizontal plane. A second pair of arms having inner and outer ends are pivotally mounted on their inner ends to the arm support for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis in a vertical plane. A counterbalance spring is connected between the arm support and the second pair of arms and a lamp head is pivotally connected on the outer end of the second pair of arms for pivotal movement at least about a horizontal axis in a vertical plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Luxo Lamp Corporation
    Inventor: Sava Cvek
  • Patent number: 5477435
    Abstract: An improved module of the type having a light emitting diode and a wafer battery held in the case. The module has a case having a floor, a lighted end and an LED supporting cavity at the lighted end. An LED is supported in the case so that its lower conductor is adjacent the floor and its upper conductor is supported in a cantilevered manner from the transparent lens portion of the LED. A wafer battery having a positive and a negative terminal on each side thereof, is positioned so that one of its terminals continuously contacts the lower conductor of the LED and the upper conductor is positioned so that it is spaced from the other terminal of the wafer battery. A weight member is held above the upper terminal of the LED and the weight member has sufficient weight so that it will move the upper conductor downwardly when the weight is moving downwardly by inertia but will not have sufficient weight to move the upper conductor into contact with the wafer battery when the module is at rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Carmen Rapisarda
    Inventors: Carmen Rapisarda, Mark R. Goldston, Jon L. Bemis
  • Patent number: 5477440
    Abstract: A motor vehicle headlamp has a cover glass closing a reflector that contains a light source. The reflector comprises upper and lower portions joined through a reflective base. Its lower portion is reflective and/or diffusive, while its upper portion has reflective means which at least partly retransmit light from the source in a beam passing through the cover glass. The reflecting means comprise cylindro-elliptical or ellipsoidal Fresnel ribs which concentrate the reflected beam in a focal zone in front of the cover glass. The beam diverges beyond this focal zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Norbert Brun
  • Patent number: 5473520
    Abstract: A flashlight holding mouthpiece which consists of a receptacle portion adapted to grippingly embrace the rear end of an associated miniature flashlight and an outwardly projecting flange portion, the entire mouthpiece, including the receptacle portion and the flange portion, being a unitary body of resilient material. In a first embodiment of the invention the flange portion is small enough to be received between the user's teeth and lips. In the second preferred embodiment the flange portion is large enough to project the user's lips from coming in contact with the metal barrel of the miniature flashlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Inventor: Kirk J. Malley
  • Patent number: 5471375
    Abstract: A mounting base assembly is adapted to mount a specific commercially available fluorescent lamp. The unit is characterized by the design of the ballast housing to fit inside the space defined by the fluorescent lamp internally of the surrounding, somewhat annular fluorescent tube so that the light fixture can be made as compact as possible. The base assembly is also constructed to minimize the possibility of mounting under- or over-wattage fluorescent lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Inventor: Kenneth Lau
  • Patent number: 5471373
    Abstract: A candy sucker holder entertainment device in which a light flashes pulses of light onto a candy sucker users face to the beat of music or as sounds made by integrated circuit. The integrated circuit is loaded with the different sounds and a switch is operated to activate the integrated circuit for the different sounds. The device is used mainly by children for amusement during eating a candy sucker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Inventors: Thomas J. Coleman, William K. Schlotter, IV, Princess A. Coleman, Ann M. Schlotter
  • Patent number: 5469343
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved walking device with an associated light assembly. The walking implement has a first end, a second end and an intermediate extent therebetween. A cylindrical light assembly housing is included which has an upper extent, a lower extent, an outer surface, an inner surface, a closed rearward end, an open forward end. A male thread element extends about the open forward end of the assembly. An aperture is formed through the upper extent of the light assembly. A cylindrical lens cap is included which has a forward end and a rearward end. A circular transparent lens is positioned within the forward end of the cylindrical lens cap. A female thread element extends about the rearward end of the cylindrical lens cap. The female thread element is adapted to be engaged with the male thread element of the cylindrical light assembly housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Inventor: Glen J. Speck
  • Patent number: 5469339
    Abstract: A reflector consists of a reflecting portion and a wall portion surrounding it and is rectangular when viewed from the front side. A reference curve is formed on a horizontal plane including the optical axis by connecting outer portions of a parabola having a focus F1 located on the optical axis and a focal length f1, and portions of two parabolas having foci F2 and F2' located on their axes parallel with the optical axis and a focal length f2 (>f1). A reflecting surface is formed as a collection of cross-sectional curves each obtained by cutting an imaginary paraboloid of revolution set for each point on the reference curve and having an axis extending along a ray reflected at that point after being emitted from the focus F1 by a vertical plane including the axis of the paraboloid of revolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Iiyama, Naoki Uchida
  • Patent number: 5467255
    Abstract: The indicating device is adapted to be installed on a platform on a headlamp frame with a slip fit and, once installed, is automatically locked into place. The indicating device includes a bubble level having a vial which is molded integrally with a base adapted to be assembled with a spring metal retaining bracket with a slip fit. The retaining bracket includes cantilevered legs with free end portions which resiliently engage the upper side of the base to enable an adjusting screw to tilt the vial upwardly and downwardly to various positions relative to horizontal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Elco Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald S. Denley
  • Patent number: 5465195
    Abstract: A headlight for motor vehicles has a reflector, a lamp support, a gas discharge lamp arranged in the reflector on the lamp support and including a region extending in the reflector and a glass cylinder which at least partially absorbs light in UV-wavelength range and surrounds the region of the gas discharge lamp, and a light stop which at least partially screens a light emitted by the gas discharge lamp. The light stop is at least indirectly mounted on the reflector, the glass cylinder is held on the light stop at least in its end region facing a light direction, the glass cylinder adjoins the lamp support, and the lamp support and the gas cylinder are arranged so that an opening leading to an interior of the glass cylinder remains between the lamp support and the glass cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Bert Jenner, Hans-Joachim Schmidt, Giancarlo Chiaramonte, Wolfgang Lehmann
  • Patent number: 5463538
    Abstract: A portable light source is disclosed which is mountable on a hat or cap and includes a light source, a reflector lens, an adjustable mounting bracket, an electrical connector and a portable power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Inventor: Robert C. Womack
  • Patent number: 5461549
    Abstract: A low beam headlight for motor vehicles has a reflector having an optical axis and a light outlet opening, a light body, a light disc covering the light outlet opening of the reflector, the reflector having an upper region and a lower region having different reflection surfaces which have different shapes and at least partially form a portion of at least approximately general paraboloid and which reflect images of the light body for forming a light distribution with a light-dark limit having a substantially horizontal portion and a portion which is inclined relative to the substantially horizontal portion at an angle .alpha.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Lietar, Henning Hogrefe, Rainer Neumann
  • Patent number: 5461550
    Abstract: In an exit sign, a canopy bracket has a pair of resilient spring fingers which are inserted through a central circular opening of a mounting plate mounted to a standard electrical box located in a wall or ceiling. The spring fingers temporarily secure the canopy bracket to the mounting plate thus allowing an electrician to easily align and secure screws to the mounting plate, thereby greatly facilitating installation. The wires from the electrical box are extended through mounting plate and the canopy prior to securing the canopy to the mounting plate. Once secured, the user simply fits a hub portion of the canopy bracket telescopically within an opening with the exit sign housing. Spring capture barb members of the hub engage the housing to fixedly secure the exit sign to the wall or ceiling. Then the user connects the wires extending from the canopy bracket to those in the exit sign.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Dual-Lite Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Johnstone
  • Patent number: 5461551
    Abstract: A portable drakroom safelight which incorporates several features which enhance its usefulness in a darkroom. The portable safelight includes a lamp, a safelight filter, rechargeable batteries, a light sensor, and control means. The safelight filter filters all light produced by the lamp, thus making the safelight safe for use in a darkroom and with photosensitive materials. A surface mounting bracket or stand supports the portable safelight and includes a transformer for converting household electric current into low voltage direct current suitable for use by the portable safelight. When the portable safelight is removed from the mounting bracket it automatically switches to operate from the rechargeable batteries and its illumination level is automatically reduced. The lamp is automatically turned off or on when the light sensor detects the presence or absence of ambient white light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Inventor: Magill W. Clayton
  • Patent number: 5459648
    Abstract: A utility box for containing and illuminating objects present therein. The inventive device includes a main body having a lid pivotally mounted thereto. A compartmented tray is mounted to the lid and remains horizontal during movement of the lid. A lid light is movably mounted to an interior of the lid for illuminating both an interior and exterior of the box. The device may further include compartment lights for illuminating each compartment of the tray, and a main body light for illuminating the interior of the main body. Further, a telescoping light may be mounted to the interior of the main body and extended therefrom to further illuminate the area around the box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Inventor: Glenn H. Courtney