Abstract: A lighted writing support may include an apparatus having a portable writing surface, a light assembly linked to the apparatus, and a switch for directing electrical power with the light assembly. The portable writing surface may comprise a handheld writing surface. The light assembly comprises a light source adapted to selectively emit when powered a first spectrum of light or a second spectrum of light different in a visible portion of the spectra from the first spectrum. A housing partially surrounding the light source may direct emitted light over the writing surface. The light source may comprise a first-type of light emitting diode (LED) to emit a first color of light and a second-type of LED to emit a second color of light. The first color may comprise light approximately red in appearance and the second color may comprise light approximately white in appearance. The light assembly may include a clamping surface biased against the writing surface to retain papers, documents, etc.

Abstract: A lighting device convertible between reading light and pen light configurations uses only a single off/on light actuating switch in either configuration. The lighting device includes a main body, pivoting arm, hinge, light generating element, batteries and switch member and button. The main body has opposite front and rear ends and defines a recess at the front end. The pivoting arm has opposite front and rear ends. The hinge pivotally mounts the rear end of the pivoting arm to the rear end of the main body to allow pivotal movement of the pivoting arm between an erect position angularly spaced from the main body, the reading light configuration, and a lowered position adjacent to the main body, the pen light configuration.

Abstract: A portable lamp, such as a flashlight or small reading lamp, has a smooth rotatable light bulb portion that rotates evenly from a closed to an open position. The lamp includes a barrel-shaped illuminator within a main housing. The lamp housing is rotatable between a closed lamp-off position and a full-open lamp-on position in a smooth, slow motion movement from the closed to the open, lamp illuminating position. A torsion coil spring urges the lamp housing to rotate into the full-open position. The torsion coil is mounted in a hollow interior of a drum mounted rotatably within a diameter-matching cylinder, which has an inner surface. The drum has a corresponding outer surface in close proximity to the inner surface of the cylinder. The outer surface of the drum has a damper, such as a coating of friction-producing grease, which provides a fluid shear counter force to slow the rotational motion of the lamp housing.

Abstract: A booklight includes a mounting bracket for mounting the booklight on a support, and an elongate first arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being pivotally attached to the mounting bracket. A rigid elongate retractable arm has a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the elongate retractable arm being telescopically connected to the distal end of the elongate first arm. The elongate first arm and elongate retractable arm are shaped so as to prevent rotation of the elongate retractable arm relative to the elongate first arm. The elongate retractable arm is mounted for movement with respect to the elongate first arm between a retracted position and an extended position. A light-radiating source is mounted at the distal end of the elongate retractable arm.

Abstract: A portable illumination device for reading material in dark or underlit environments. This illumination device is operable upon the opening of its book-like folded covers and upon the tilting of the device to a pre-set angle or greater to close a circuit containing a mercury tilt switch, battery and sources of illumination. Once the device is properly positioned, the plurality of individual illumination sources are activated to illuminate the reading material placed therein. A reading bar incorporating a magnifying glass can be slid along the reading material so as to magnify or highlight such material for easier reading thereof. The tilt switch and battery power sources are preferably located along the spine of the device.

Abstract: An illuminated clipboard for use by a seated individual in dark surroundings with structure to attach the clipboard to a leg of the user, such clipboard having a light-emitting body in one embodiment with means to illuminate therethrough utilizing a sheet of illuminated material disposed thereunder and a translucent roll of film or paper on a spool which is passed from a storage roller to a take-up roller over the active writing surface of the light-emitting planar surface in immediate contact therewith such that indicia or writing thereon is visible to the user by backlighting from the underlying illuminated planar body.

Abstract: A device for illuminating and magnifying printed cards for viewing is disclosed. A body of the device has a hollow central region with hollow, opposed sides. At least one pair of slots near a floor of the hollow central region receives at least one printed card, with a magnifying lens mounted in an upper region of the hollow central region. A separate enclosure having an illumination bulb mounted therein is provided in one of the hollow sides, with batteries mounted in another hollow side. An opening in the enclosure passes light across the central region, providing indirect illumination of the card.

Abstract: An illuminated clipboard having a transparent body with a light-emitting, light-diffusing upper surface and a curved bottom surface wherein the bottom surface curves upward at its sides to meet the top surface with a light source disposed within the transparent body of the clipboard to reflect light off the curved bottom which causes the light within the transparent body of the clipboard to be reflected off the bottom surface to the light-emitting, light-diffusing upper surface to illuminate what is positioned on the light-emitting, light-diffusing upper surface of the clipboard.

Abstract: An illuminated writing paper memo system for writing in the dark or low light conditions is provided. The device has removably coupled base and body sections. The base section includes a roll of writing paper. The body section has a translucent panel located in an upper portion of the body section and a lighting system located below the translucent panel. The lighting system includes a light bulb located in a light socket, batteries located in a battery holder, and a switch for operably controlling the light bulb. The lighting system is secured to the body in an interior cavity formed in the body below the translucent panel. The roll of paper is journaled to one end of the base section within the coupled base and body sections. Paper is delivered lengthwise across the base to a slot formed between the body and the base. The paper extends out of the slot over the translucent panel for writing purposes. The paper located in the base reflects light from the light bulb through the translucent panel.

Abstract: A device and method are disclosed for illuminating an imprinted sheet or an individual page of a book so that it can be read and/or written on under poor light conditions by an individual. The device and method utilize a luminescent sheet disposed under the sheet or page to illuminate the sheet/page from below so that an individual can read the printing on the sheet as well as see his writing on the sheet/page during and after the writing process.

Abstract: An illuminated chart holder for aircraft use has upper and lower light transmitting plates, the upper plate having a flat top surface and a concave-shaped bottom surface, and the lower plate having a flat bottom surface and a convex-shaped top surface, which is shaped to mate with, but to be spaced from, the bottom surface of the upper plate, with the top surface of the upper plate being generally parallel to the bottom surface of the lower plate, the plate assembly being covered on all four sides with reflecting material, and with the assembly of plates having a display portion and a light source pocket; at least one light reflecting surface either above or below the bottom plate in the light source pocket; at least two bulbs of a first color (e.g. white) and at least two bulbs of a second color (e.g. ANVIS green) in the light source pocket; and variable resistors connected to control intensity of the lights.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a clipboard and reading light and is directed to a simple, inexpensive, compact, and portable device for lighting the reading surface of a clipboard.

Abstract: A message-note holder has a fixed jaw member and a pivotal jaw member which is biassed toward the fixed jaw member by its own inherent springiness, which is achieved by the material from which it is made and by placing it in tension. The space between the lower ends of the jaw members defines the volume where a message-note is held by the note-holder of the invention. The pivotal jaw member has a laterally-projecting tubular member which is telescopingly and rotatably received within a tubular housing formed in the fixed jaw member, by which the two jaw members are rotatably coupled together. Within the tubular member of the pivotal jaw member there is provided an on-off switch for turning on and turning off a LED in alternating sequence of rotations or "squeezings" of the pivotal jaw member with respect to the fixed jaw member. Thus, when the pivotal jaw member is rotated for inserting a message-note between the lower ends of the jaw members, the switch closes a battery-powered circuit to energize the LED.

Abstract: An identification inspection device includes a housing defining an enclosure, a chute defining a slot for receiving an identification card into the enclosure, a lighting system for illuminating the card, and a lens for viewing the card. The lens includes a magnifying lens to enhance the inspection of the identification card. The lighting system includes white light, and optionally ultraviolet light, to illuminate the card. The white light permits easy reading of the printed information supplied on the card. The ultraviolet light highlights tampered areas not readily visible in conventional white light.

Abstract: A portable directory and note pad tray with several features. A first feature is a directory with a cover movable between open and closed positions that activates a light bulb circuit for lighting the directory cards when the cover is opened and deactivates the circuit for turning out the light bulb when the cover is closed. A second feature is a novel slide track, and slide arm structure by which the directory and tray are mountable to and de-mountable from a desired surface to present an optimum mounting angle for that surface. A third feature is a note pad tray with a novel base that includes a first finger gap in one of the tray's upstanding walls to allow individual sheets of a note pad to be easily removed from the tray, and a pencil recess defined in the tray with a magnetically attachable pencil that cooperates with a second finger gap in one of the tray's walls to allow easy removal of the pencil.

Abstract: A flight desk is simple yet provides visual indicators so that a more failsafe procedure may be followed utilizing the device for pilot pre-flight checklists, or other lists or procedures. A board assembly includes a main body having a flat top surface, and a number of visual indicators, such as LEDs. The LEDs are mounted on the main body top surface so that when an indicator card with pre-flight or in-flight indicia is mounted on the flat surface, the indicia line up with the LEDs. A clip, or like holding device, holds the indicator card on the flat top surface. A storage compartment is formed in the body for receipt of a number of the indicator cards, with tabs of the cards extending outwardly from the body. Channels are defined along the top and bottom edges of the body for receipt of electrical accessories with protrusions shaped like the channels, or mechanical accessories with similarly shaped protrusions.

Abstract: A device is provided for writing in the dark which has the external appearance of a book. Inside the book, a box is attached to the inside of one of the covers. The box contains a continuous strip paper supply which is drawn from underneath an illuminated translucent panel through channels that lead the paper over the translucent panel and under a lid which guides the paper across the pane so that the paper may be drawn out from the box. The lid has an opening through which the user may write on the paper. When in use, the box provides sufficient light so that the user can see to write on the paper yet does not provide so much light that others attempting to sleep nearby are disturbed. The covers may be folded over the box to give the device the appearance of a book.

Abstract: A portably writing box usable primarily by children during long automobile trips. The writing surface is illuminated by three separate lamp mechanisms arranged along three different edges of the writing surface. Light rays are directed onto the writing surface from three different directions, thereby eliminating shadows that might otherwise be generated by a single light source located only long one edge of the writing surface. The writing box preferably includes a transistor radio on the lid of the box, such that the child can choose between writing on the writing surface or listening to the radio.

Abstract: An illuminated clipboard for a motor vehicle is provided that includes a male cigarette lighter adapter plug which is placed into a female cigarette lighter socket on a dashboard for supply power to a lamp of the clipboard. The male adapter plug stabilizes the clipboard so that a person can see information and write on the clipboard.

Abstract: An illuminated paper tray having a main housing with a well for storing individual sheets of paper. The rear portion of the housing incorporates electrical circuitry for energizing and de-energizing a light bulb, which light bulb illuminates the well of the housing storing the paper via a separating partition of translucent plastic. The illumination of the light bulb is controlled by the insertion or removal of a pen into a through-hole formed in the rear portion of the housing. When the pen is inserted in the housing, for storage, the light bulb is de-energized, whereas upon removal of the pen from the housing for writing, the light bulb is illuminated.

Abstract: A nite writer pad is provided to aid people who must write at night which consists of an adjustable lamp for illuminating a writing surface thereon when needed and a storage compartment for holding various types of writing equipment therein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an integral book cover and reading light and is directed to a simple, inexpensive, compact, and portable device for reading which will not disturb others and at the same time provides privacy, if required, as to the title of the book being read.

Abstract: A lighted tray is provided having a flat tray area, with a head end which mounts an illumination system. A laterally extended trough running along the crest of the head end defines a holding area for a ballpoint pen or the like, and a lever extending into the tray or pen-holding trough area is actuated by the removal of the pen to turn on the light to illuminate a notepad in the note tray.

Abstract: A book-light characterized by its small size and light weight is formed from suitable plastic material with a base supporting a vertical lamp-bearing arm and an integral clamp consisting of a U-shaped frame having side arms rigidly attached to the base and a central plate flexibly attached to the base so that the entire book-light may be attached to a book or other publication by inserting the cover or pages between arms and the central plate. The vertical lamp-bearing arm is mounted at one end in a transverse slot in the base, while the other end supports the lamp proper in a manner to permit both circular and vertical motions.

Abstract: A multi-function clipboard and report apparatus is disclosed which includes a receptacle for the storage of various items and provisions for two types of lights, one for illuminating the top surface of the clipboard and a second for providing a spotlight or a flashlight, and the apparatus also includes a gun capable of firing either a tear gas cartridge or a bullet and which contains a camera, a tape recorder, and which may act as a shield against projectiles.

Abstract: A lamp for mounting on a music stand having a lower ledge with an upstanding support plate. The lamp has a horizontally elongated base connected to an upwardly extending front upright, having a lamp assembly mounted at its upper end. A downwardly extending rear upright is connected to and spaced rearwardly from the upper end of the front upright by an adjustable connector. The front and rear uprights together form a vertically elongated and downwardly open slot for receiving the support plate of a music stand with the base resting on the lower ledge of the stand. The connector is adjustable to vary the spacing between the front and rear uprights to bring said uprights into abutting engagement with the front and rear sides of the support plate.