GB2223090A

GB2223090A - An inspection lamp

Info

Publication number: GB2223090A
Application number: GB8919948A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond William Georg Phillips
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-09-03
Filing date: 1989-09-04
Publication date: 1990-03-28
Anticipated expiration: 2009-09-04
Also published as: GB2223090B; GB8821694D0; GB8919948D0

Abstract

An inspection lamp (2) comprising a body (4) and means (6) for holding a light source (8), the body (4) comprising first and second faces (10, 12) on which the inspection lamp (2) can rest, and the body (4) being such that when the first (10) or second (12) face is resting on the ground then the inspection lamp (2) can be run over by a vehicle without the vehicle breaking the inspection lamp. <IMAGE>

Description

AN INSPECTION LAMP This invention relates to an inspection lamp.

Inspection lamps are used extensively to provide a mobile light source for use by persons working in confined spaces where normal light cannot reach. Thus, for example, inspection lamps are widely used in garages for use in the repair of vehicles such for example as cars, vans, lorries, buses and coaches.

Inspection lamps are also widely used in factories for inspecting general machinery.

The inspection lamps are normally hand holdable and they are prone to being dropped or left on the ground. When the inspection lamps are used in garages or in the vicinity of vehicles, inspection lamps are often driven over by the vehicles being worked on. This results in the inspection lamp becoming broken, for example crushed, and thus rendered useless.

It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce the above mentioned problem.

Accordingly, this invention provides an inspection lamp comprising a body and means for holding a light source, the body comprising first and second faces on which the inspection lamp can rest, and the body being such that when the first or the second face is resting on the ground then the inspection lamp can be run over by a vehicle without the vehicle breaking the inspection lamp.

The inspection lamp can thus be left on the floor of a garage or workshop and if it is accidentally run over by a vehicle, then the inspection lamp will not be broken and rendered useless. The inspection lamp will generally be produced so that it can safely be run over by rubber wheeled vehicles such for example as cars, vans, lorries, buses and coaches.

Preferably, the body is of such a shape as to cause the body to come to rest on the ground on the first or the second face if the inspection lamp falls to the ground. Thus, the inspection lamp can be knocked or dropped to the ground and it will always come to rest on the first or the second face so that it will always be in a position to be run over by a vehicle without being broken by the vehicle.

Preferably, the body comprises the first and the second faces and an intermediate portion which is positioned between the first and the second faces, the first and the second faces being flat opposed faces and the intermediate portion having a curved profile which extends outwardly beyond the first and the second faces.

The intermediate portion may be solid. The intermediate portion may be made of a resilient material so that the resilient material is then able to act as a shock absorber for use in protecting the light source and other component parts from shock if the inspection lamp is knocked or dropped to the ground. The resilient material may be a rubber or a plastics material. Thus, for example, the resilient material may be nitrile material.

The intermediate portion may be a ring portion forming, for example, the general shape of a tyre. The intermediate portion may alternatively be composed of a plurality of spaced apart vanes.

Preferably, the body comprises a tubular inner part having a first end which defines the first face and a second end which defines the second face. The tubular inner part will usually be made of a metal.

Other materials may however be employed. A presently preferred metal is a steel alloy.

The body will usually be circular in plan view.

Other shapes may however be employed.

The means for holding the light source may be an electrical socket for receiving a light source in the form of a bulb. Generally, any suitable and appropriate type of means for holding the light source may be employed. Similarly, the light source need not only be a bulb and it can be any other suitable and appropriate type of light source including a tubular light source.

The light from the light source will usually be such as to shine through the first face during use of the inspection lamp. If desired, the light from the light source could alternatively shine through the second face. The light from the light source may also shine, if desired, through both the first face and the second face. Usually, the inspection lamp will have reflector means for reflecting the light from the light source and in this case the reflector means will usually only reflect the light through one of the first or the second faces.

The inspection lamp may include magnet means by which the inspection lamp can be stuck to a metal surface.

The magnet means may be positioned adjacent the face opposite which the light from the light source shines. For example, the light from the light source may shine through the first face, in which case the magnet means, for example a magnetic disc, will be placed adjacent the second face.

The first face or the second face may be covered by a protective covering. The protective covering may be advantageous in protecting vehicle paint work if the inspection lamp is rested on vehicle body work. Also, the protective covering may help the inspection lamp to grip a vertical surface if the inspection lamp is being held in position on the vertical surface by the magnet means. The protective covering may be a membrane of a rubber or a plastics material.

The inspection lamp will usually be provided with a lead for connection to mains and/or a battery.

The inspection lamp may thus be driven from a mains supply or it may be driven from a battery connected to the lead, for example a battery from a vehicle. Thus, for example, the inspection lamp can be arranged to be powered from a 12volt D.C. power supply from a vehicle or from a 240volt mains supply. If desired, the inspection lamp could be provided with its own battery, in which case there would then be no need for an inspection lead.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first inspection lamp; Figure 2 is a plan view of the inspection lamp shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross section of the inspection lamp as viewed in Figure 2; Figures 4 - 7 show the inspection lamp of Figure 1 during use; Figure 8 is a plan view of a second inspection lamp; Figure 9 is a cross section through the inspection lamp shown in Figure 8; and Figure 10 is an exploded view of the inspection lamp as shown in Figure 9.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, there is shown an inspection lamp 2 comprising a body 4 and means 6 for holding a light source in the form of a bulb 8.

C, T The body 4 comprises a first face 10 and a second face 12. The first face 10 is open as shown. The first face 10 and the second face 12 are such that when either face is resting on the ground, then the inspection lamp 2 can be run over by a vehicle without the vehicle breaking the inspection lamp 2.

The body 4 is of such a shape as to cause the body 4 to come to rest on the ground on the first or the second face if the inspection lamp 2 falls to the ground. As can be seen from Figures 1, 2 and 3 the body 4 comprises the first and the second faces 10,12 and an intermediate portion 14. The first and the second faces 10,12 are flat opposed faces. The intermediate portion 14 has a curved profile as can best be seen in Figures 1 and 3. The curved profile extends outwardly beyond the first and the second faces.

The intermediate portion 14 is solid and it is made of a resilient material such for example as a rubber material. If the inspection lamp 2 is knocked or falls to the ground, then the resilient material helps to absorb shocks and thus helps to prolong the life of the inspection lamp 2 and especially the bulb 8.

As can best be seen from Figures 2 and 3 the body 4 comprises a tubular inner part 16 having a first end which defines the first face 10, and a second end which defines the second face 12. The inner part 16 is made of a metal such for example as a steel alloy. The intermediate portion is moulded around the inner part 16.

As can be seen from Figure 2, the body is circular in plan view.

The means 6 for holding the bulb 8 is an electrical socket which has slots, one of which is shown as slots 18 in Figure 1. These slots form the electrical socket into a bayonet type of electrical socket for receiving projections 20,22 on a metal neck part 24 of the bulb 8.

As can be seen from Figures 1 and 3, light from the bulb 8 shines through the first face 10. A light reflector 26 is provided for helping to reflect the light from the bulb 8 through the first face 10.

The inspection lamp 2 includes magnet means in the form of a magnet 28, see Figure 3. The magnet 28 is positioned adjacent the second face 10. In other words, the magnet 28 is positioned adjacent the face opposite which light from the bulb 8 shines.

The second face 12 is covered by a protective covering in the form of a rubber membrane 30. The membrane 30 helps to protect vehicle paintwork if the inspection lamp 2 is rested on the vehicle body work.

Also, the rubber membrane 30 helps the inspection lamp 2 to grip a vertical surface if the inspection lamp 2 is being held in position on the vertical surface by the magnet 28.

The inspection lamp 2 is provided with a lead 32 which passes through a bore 34 in the body 4 in order to connect to the means 6 for receiving the bulb 8. The lead 32 has wires 36, 38 for connection to a mains source of electricity or for connection to a battery source of electricity.

Figures 4 - 7 show the inspection lamp 2 in use. More specifically, Figure 4 shows the inspection lamp at the moment it strikes the ground 40 after having been dropped or knocked from a height. Figure 5 shows the inspection lamp 2 as having just fallen on to its second face 12 as indicated by the arrow 42. The inspection lamp 2 has been caused to fall on to its second face 12 due to the shape of the body 4.

Figure 6 shows a front wheel 44 of a vehicle 46 about to run overthe inspection lamp 2. The vehicle 46 is provided with a front bumper 48.

Figure 7 shows the front wheel 44 completely on the inspection lamp 2 and it will be seen that the inspection lamp 2 has not been crushed under the weight of the vehicle 46. This is because the inner part 16 is in the form of a tube and it is able to support the weight of the vehicle 46. The curved profile of the intermediate portion 14 ensures, as stated above, that the inspection lamp 2 falls either on to its first face 10 or its second face 12 and, in this position, the tubular inner part 16 extends vertically and is thus in the required position for supporting the weight of the vehicle 46.

Referring now to Figures 8, 9 and 10, there is shown a second inspection lamp 2. Similar parts as in Figures 1, 2 and 3 have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. In Figures 8, 9 and 10 it will be seen that the intermediate portion is not in the form of a solid tyre-like device as in Figures 1, 2 and 3 but instead is in the form of a plurality of spaced apart vanes 50.

The vanes 50 have a profile similar to the profile of the intermediate portion 14. The profile of the vanes 50 can best be seen in Figures 9 and 10. A flange 52 extends radially outwardly from a mid-point along the height of the inner part 16. This flange 52 connects to the vanes 50 so that the vanes 50 and the flange 52 together form a robust construction. The vanes 50 and the flange 52 are preferably formed of a resilient material in order that the vanes 50 and the flange 52 can absorb shocks in the same manner as described above for the intermediate portion 14. The vanes 50 and the flange 52 are connected to a tubular portion 54 made from the same material as the vanes 50 and the flange 52.

As can be seen from Figures 8 and 9, the means 6 for holding the bulb 8 is connected to a block 56 which is held in position by screws 58 to the inner part 16. A grommet 60 is provided in the inner part 16 for enabling the lead 32 to pass through the inner part 16 and to connect to the means 6.

As shown most clearly in Figure 10, a highly reflective plate 62 is provided and this plate 62 is held in position by the magnet 28. The plate 62 helps to reflect light from the bulb 8 upwardly through the first face 10. The magnet 28 is held in position by a thin steel plate 64 which is secured to the bottom of the inner part 16 by means of screws 66.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example rivets may be used instead of the screws 58,66.

Also, the shape of the body 4 can be varied. The inspection lamp 2 can be produced in any desired sizes and shapes but it will usually be such that it can easily be held in a person's hand for ease of use. The inspection lamp 2 and its various constituent parts can be made of any desired and appropriate materials. Light sources other than the bulb 8 may be employed. If desired, the magnet 28 may be omitted. The use of the magnet 28 may however provide an extra weight for helping to cause the inspection lamp 2 always to fall with the first face 10 upwardly. It will be appreciated that the first and the second faces 10,12 form weight bearing surfaces and means other than the inner part 16 may be employed for giving these weight bearing surfaces.

Claims

1. An inspection lamp comprising a body and means for holding a light source, the body comprising first and second faces on which the inspection lamp can rest, and the body being such that when the first or the second face is resting on the ground then the inspection lamp can be run over by a vehicle without the vehicle breaking the inspection lamp.

2. An inspection lamp according to claim 1 in which the body is of such a shape as to cause the body to come to rest on the ground on the first or the second face if the inspection lamp falls to the ground.

3. An inspection lamp according to claim 2 in which the body comprises the first and the second faces and an intermediate portion which is positioned between the first and the second faces, the first and the second faces being flat opposed faces, and the intermediate portion having a curved profile which extends outwardly beyond the first and the second faces.

4. An inspection lamp according to claim 3 in which the intermediate portion is solid.

5. An inspection lamp according to claim 3 or claim 4 in which the intermediate portion is made of a resilient material.

6. An inspection lamp according to claim 5 in which the resilient material is a rubber material or a plastics material.

7. An inspection lamp according to claim 3 in which the intermediate portion is composed of a plurality of spaced apart vanes.

8. An inspection lamp according to any one of the preceding claims in which the body comprises a tubular inner part having a first end which defines the first face and a second end which defines the second face.

9. An inspection lamp according to claim 8 in which the tubular inner part is made of a metal.

10. An inspection lamp according to claim 9 in which the metal is a steel alloy.

11. An inspection lamp according to any one of the preceding claims in which the body is circular is plan view.

12. An inspection lamp according to any one of the preceding claims in which the means for holding the light source is an electrical socket for receiving a light source in the form of a bulb.

13. An inspection lamp according to any one of the preceding claims in which light from the light source shines through the first face during use of the inspection lamp.

14. An inspection lamp according to any one of the preceding claims and including magnet means by which the inspection lamp can be stuck to a metal surface.

15. An inspection lamp according to claim 14 in which the magnet means is positioned adjacent the face opposite which light from the light source shines.

16. An inspection lamp according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first face or the second face is covered by a protective covering.

17. An inspection lamp according to claim 16 in which the protective covering is a membrane of a rubber or a plastics material.

18. An inspection lamp according to any one of the preceding claims and which is mains operated.

19. An inspection lamp according to any one of claims 1 to .17 and which is battery operated.

20. An inspection lamp substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.