Illumination – With implement or hand held holder therefor – Key holder
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-29
2001-05-01
Husar, Stephen (Department: 2875)
Illumination
With implement or hand held holder therefor
Key holder
C362S253000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224228
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to a light attached to a key, and a method of attaching a light onto a key.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There have been many approaches to provide a small light associated with personal use keys. These allow the keyhole to be illuminated at night making it easy to find and insert the key. The most common type are separate lights attached to a key chain. The light is turned on and aimed at the keyhole. The appropriate key at the other end of the chain is then used. This is however a two hand operation and simply takes extra time plus these lights, though miniaturized, are usually relatively large, cumbersome to carrying around, aren't very bright and often look hokey. There have also been key holders with lights, light mechanisms that attach to the side of keys and factory produced keys with a light integrated into a plastic top. These are typically large, expensive or are only available if you purchase a luxury car. None of these meet the need to provide a method to easily add a very small, inexpensive, one hand use light to virtually any existing house, car or other key.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a small, unobtrusive, inexpensive light that goes inside the top of almost any existing house, car or other key. It is a one-hand use device and the light aims where the key points. By using the latest light emitting diode (LED) technology and colors, this miniature light can not only illuminate a key hole but it's bright enough to function as a modest but readily available flashlight or supplementing light source. It's especially useful when used in short duty cycles of 15-20 seconds followed by several minutes or hours to refresh. This minimizes battery polarization. This is also the typical customer usage pattern and a battery will last hundreds of cycles when used this way. It can also be used, starting with a new battery, in continuous operation for about 15 minutes, should a need arise. The first step in installing a light assembly on a key is to add a site consisting of two punched areas to the core area in the customers existing key. This is done using a special punch press that has been added to the key-making center at a retail store. The new one-piece assembly then locks into this site, the battery is added and the cover is closed. The light is ready to used. Squeezing the sides of the key activates an internal switch to turn on the light. The light turns off when the pressure is released. The battery can be replaced by the customer. The assembly is designed so that it does not interfere with most existing key ring holes. This means the customer can continue to use his existing key ring and there's no additional bulky mechanism to carry around. A light can be added to as many keys as the customer wants.
There are a number of situations for which the present invention may be used to provide illumination. For example, the present invention may provide illumination to:
1. find the keyhole for your car, home, motorcycle, boat, etc.;
2. illuminate dark areas, including a walking path, outside, in dark buildings or unfamiliar surroundings like a motel room;
3. find coins or other items that have been dropped;
4. read maps, small print, gauges, meters, watches, compass, etc.;
5. check fluid levels under the hood;
6. provide security, e.g., see inside the car before getting in;
7. find light switches, doors, drawers, change light bulbs, etc.;
8. check on babies or sleeping kids without having to turn on lights;
9. see to change a flat tire or other quick repairs or services;
10. see in tight places and between, under or behind items; and
11. find and operate handles, levers, switches, etc., in a car or other vehicles.
There are many advantages of the present invention over the prior art. For example, the present invention is the smallest, lightest and most convenient light of its kind. It allows easy one-hand operation simply by squeezing the key to turn on the light. Also, no assembly is required as the key center assembles the unit within a couple minutes. Another advantage is that a new key is not necessary. It can be added to one or more existing keys, the size and shape with which the owner of the key is already familiar. Furthermore, the battery in the assembly can be replaced rather than purchasing a new assembly or a new key. The present invention has also adopted new super bright LED technology with sunspot yellow for high contrast, which makes reading red lines on maps easier. The present invention is also unobtrusive, and does not interfere with existing key chains.
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Husar Stephen
Jenkens & Gilchrist
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