Illumination – With implement or hand held holder therefor – Hand tool
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-20
2001-12-04
Husar, Stephen (Department: 2875)
Illumination
With implement or hand held holder therefor
Hand tool
C362S120000, C362S205000, C362S109000, C362S203000, C362S206000, C362S118000, C200S060000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325522
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to hand tools and hand instruments. It relates in particular to hand held tools and hand held instruments which provide illumination of the site upon which the tool or instrument operates to bring about a desired effect.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hand held tools (e.g., implements used in carpentry, metal working, plumbing, and electricity) and hand held instruments (e.g., implements used in medicine, surgery, dentistry, drawing, painting, sculpting, crocheting, and knitting) have been known and employed for many, many years. However, in recent times attempts have been made to provide certain of these tools and instruments with an internal source of illumination, so that the area being worked on by the tool or instrument can be lighted without the employment of an outside illuminating source. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,378,544 and 2,344,370 disclose hand held knitting needles which provide some illumination of the workpiece. However, in both cases illumination is provided through the knitting needle itself. This does not afford enough light, and the light which is afforded is a small spot located at the exact point of contact with the workpiece. Moreover, the Lucite needles and phosphorescent tips of these references are brittle, scratch easily, and therefore have a limited useful life. Furthermore, one of these devices requires house current and has no effective on-off switch. As additional examples, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,107,765 and 4,283,757 disclose hand tools such as screwdrivers which also provide for some illumination of the workpiece. However, these devices are also found wanting, because: they provide a spotty, rather than a concentric, evenly-illuminated working site; they do not disclose an on-off switch which operates simply, facilely, and positively, having no working parts to wear out; and they do not comprehend the interchangeability of various types of working implements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide what is not found in the art: i.e., a hand held device which provides effective illumination of a site being worked on and is versatile in including interchangeable working implements such as tools and instruments of various sizes. It is another object of the present invention to provide a hand held device which, in addition to the above advantages, includes an illumination switch which operates simply, facilely, and positively, and has no parts which will wear out. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a hand held device having all of the above advantages and, in addition, the capability of illuminating the site being worked on concentrically and evenly, rather than spottily and unequally.
These objects and their attending benefits are achieved by the provision of a hand held device according to the present invention, which includes an elongated metal tube serving as a handle. The handle has a proximal end, which is threaded to receive and house a switch, and a distal end, which is adapted to secure a substantially transparent window. A battery is positioned within the handle, as is a light bulb. The light bulb includes a bulb, as well as a shoulder contact and a base contact for the bulb. The light bulb is positioned within the handle so that the bulb faces the window, the shoulder contact is in electrical contact with the handle, and the base contact is in electrical contact with the battery. Electrical contact between the handle and the shoulder contact of the light bulb is effected by means of indentations formed in the tubular wall of the handle, upon which indentations the shoulder contact of the light bulb is pressed. The substantially transparent window, which is secured in the distal end of the handle has an orifice therein which is adapted to releasably secure an interchangeable implement therein. This window is advantageously fabricated from a polycarbonate sheet or block, and the orifice therein is advantageously positioned in the approximate center of the polycarbonate sheet or block. The interchangeable working implements which are individually releasably secured in the orifice of the window are selected from yarn working devices such as crochet needles and knitting needles; marking tools, such as pens, pencils, and paint brushes; surgical instruments, such as needles, scalpels, probes and cauteries; dental instruments such as dental picks; and workmen's tools such as screwdrivers, files, and picks. The switch, which is housed in the proximal end of the handle, includes a knob having an outer end and an elongated inner end.
As is understood by the skilled artisan in view of the above, the device of the present invention is significant for a number of reasons, which include:
Light is directed onto the workpiece concentrically, rather than on a single spot or multiple spots. As a result, more of the workpiece is plainly visible by the worker employing the device. Moreover, the workpiece is illuminated with the same intensity, no matter how the device is turned. As a result, the device of the present invention is very efficient and efficacious in its operation.
Actual working implements are interchangeable, the handle of the device of the present invention being adapted to receive different sizes and types of implements, resulting in a versatility not heretofore comprehended.
Since the source of light herein is not the actual working implement itself, working implements according to the present invention can be made of very durable materials, since such are not required to transmit light.
Whereas devices of the related art require multiple light bulbs and multiple batteries to provide adequate illumination, the device of the present invention can function well with a single light bulb and a single battery, both of which are located within the handle.
The on-off switch of the device of the present invention is simple and easy for anyone to operate; its action is positive and sure; and there are no parts therein which will wear out.
This combination of characteristics is nowhere suggested in the related art.
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Helfrich George F.
Husar Stephen
Ton Anabel
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