Illumination – Sound equipment illuminator
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-10
2001-11-13
Husar, Stephen (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Sound equipment illuminator
C362S190000, C362S253000, C455S074000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315425
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to integration of a light source with a radio and power source.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An item of equipment routinely carried by law enforcement officers is a two-way radio commonly referred to as a walkie talkie for reception and transmission of communications. In a typical configuration the radio is powered by a removably attachable battery assembly. When the battery pack is in the attached position positive and negative electrical contact is made between the terminals of the battery pack and the terminals of the radio. When the battery pack is removed it may be stored or recharged as needed. By designing the battery packs to be interchangeable, a radio may be powered by one battery pack while another battery pack is being recharged.
Another item of basic equipment carried by law enforcement officers in addition to a two-way radio is a portable light source such as a hand held flashlight. The flashlight is typically powered by batteries removably installed in a housing with terminals electrically connectable to an electric light bulb. The light from the light bulb is focused into a beam by a reflector and lens assembly.
Thus, a law enforcement officer carries a light source, a radio, and a separate power source for each. Since the light source and the radio could be powered simultaneously by a single power source, separate power sources are redundant. Moreover, since the light source and the radio are physically separate, they must occupy both hands of the officer if they are to be used simultaneously. This hampers the officer's flexibility, especially in critical situations when the officer's weapon must be drawn in self-defense or in defense of another.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an integrated light source and radio unit that can be held in one hand. It would also be desirable to provide a single power source to power both the light source and the radio in an integrated unit. Further, since resources for law enforcement equipment are limited, it is desirable to design a light source that can be integrated with existing radio and power source equipment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a light source that integrates easily with existing radio and power source equipment. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a single integrated light source and radio unit that can be held in one hand. A further object of the present invention is to provide a single power source to power both the light source and the radio in an integrated unit.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a light assembly is designed to be removably attachable to an existing radio unit that is designed to be removably attachable to a battery pack assembly. A first set of terminals of the light assembly are positioned to make electrical contact with a set of terminals of the radio unit when the light assembly is attached to the radio unit.
In one embodiment, the light assembly incorporates a light assembly power source that is compatible with the power requirements of both the light assembly and the radio unit. Thus, when the light assembly is attached to the radio unit, power from the light assembly power source internal to the light assembly is conducted to the terminals of the radio unit through the first set of terminals of the light assembly. The mechanism by which the light assembly is attached to the radio unit is designed to be identical to the mechanism by which the radio battery pack assembly is attached. In this way, the light assembly may be removed and replaced by the radio battery pack assembly which was designed therefor.
In an another embodiment, the light assembly does not comprise an internal power source. Instead, the light assembly is designed to be removably attachable to the radio battery pack assembly on a side opposite the side of the light assembly to which the radio is attached. In this configuration, a second set of terminals of the light assembly would make electrical contact with a set of terminals of the radio battery pack assembly when the light assembly is attached to the radio battery pack assembly. In this way, electrical power from the radio battery pack assembly is conducted to the light assembly. The power received at the second set of terminals of the light assembly from the radio battery pack assembly may be conducted to the first set of terminals of the light assembly and be thereby conducted to the radio unit to provide power therefor.
In yet another embodiment, the light assembly may be removably attachable to both the radio battery pack assembly and the radio unit, and comprise its own internal light assembly power source. In this configuration, the internal light assembly power source can provide power to the light assembly while the radio battery pack assembly provides power to the radio unit. Further, a switch can be provided to select between the light assembly power source and the radio battery pack assembly to provide power from either source to the light assembly and to the radio unit.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the light assembly comprises a light assembly adapter designed to be removably attachable to an existing radio unit and a light source electrically connected to the light assembly adapter. A first set of terminals of the adapter are positioned to make electrical contact with a set of terminals of the radio unit when the light assembly adapter is attached to the radio unit. Preferably, the light source is designed to be removably attachable to the radio unit.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the light assembly adapter includes an internal power source that is compatible with the power requirements of both the light source and the radio unit. When the light assembly adapter is attached to the radio unit, power from the internal power source is conducted to the terminals of the radio unit through the first set of terminals of the light assembly adapter. The light assembly adapter removably attaches to the radio unit substantially in the same manner as the battery pack assembly, thereby enabling the light assembly adapter to be removed and replaced by the battery pack assembly which was designed therefor.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the light assembly adapter does not include a separate internal power source. Instead, the light assembly adapter is designed to be removably attached to the battery pack assembly on a side opposite the side of the light assembly adapter to which the radio unit is attached. In this configuration, a second set of terminals of the light assembly adapter makes electrical contact with a set of terminals of the battery pack assembly when the light assembly adapter is attached to the battery pack assembly. In this way, the electrical power from the battery pack assembly is conducted to the light assembly adapter to power the light source. The electrical power received at the second set of terminals of the light assembly adapter from the battery pack assembly can be conducted to the first set of terminals of the light assembly adapter to provide electrical power to the radio unit.
In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, the light assembly adapter having an internal power source can be removably attached to both the radio unit and the battery pack assembly. In this configuration, the internal power source provides electrical power to the light source and the battery pack assembly provides electrical power to the radio unit. Further, the light source and the radio unit may selectively receive power from the internal power source and the battery pack assembly.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the light assembly is designed to be removably attachable to an existing radio unit via a universal connector on the radio unit. The universal connector is also used to removably attach any one of a number of remote radio accessories such as a public saf
Fulbright & Jaworski LLP
Husar Stephen
Lightsword, Inc.
LandOfFree
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