WO2006113733A2

WO2006113733A2 - Hand-held tool with illumination

Info

Publication number: WO2006113733A2
Application number: PCT/US2006/014592
Authority: WO
Inventors: Steven Labuzetta
Original assignee: Steven Labuzetta
Priority date: 2005-04-20
Filing date: 2006-04-19
Publication date: 2006-10-26
Also published as: WO2006113733A3; US20060237478A1

Abstract

A hand-held tool, e.g. a pouring device such as a funnel (1) or a container with a pouring opening or with a sieve-like cover having a plurality of pouring openings is equipped with a light source (7) and a gravity actuated switch (6) arranged for acti- vating the light source (7). The gravity actuated switch (6) is in its off-position when the device is in a non-pouring or upright position in which pouring is not possible. The switch (6) is brought into its on-position, i.e. the light source (7) is turned on, when the device is brought from its non-pouring position into its pouring position by being turned upside down or by being inclined. The light emitted by the light source (7) is preferably coupled into a jet of liquid or granular material exiting the pouring device on pouring thus effectively facilitating pouring.

Description

HAND-HELD TOOL WITH ILLUMINATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Application Serial Number 11/110,009, currently pending, and filed on April 20, 2005.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention is in the field of equipment for every-day life and concerns a handheld tool comprising an illumination means.

BACKGROUND ART

The term "hand-held tool" is used in the following text for a tool or utensil being designed for a specific task, which tool or utensil is moved by hand for being positioned for the task or for carrying out the task. An example of a hand-held tool which is moved by hand for being positioned or oriented for the task is a pouring device (funnel or container with a pouring opening) which serves for pouring a flow- able medium and which, for pouring, is moved by hand from a rest position into a pouring position. An example for a hand-held tool which is moved by hand for carrying out the task is e.g. a gardening tool, a cooking tool or a mechanical tool. Such hand-held tool may also be a pen or pencil, which, for writing, is moved by hand across the paper. Most tasks to be carried out using a hand-held tool are facilitated by good light conditions, in particular by good light conditions at the very location in which the task is to be carried out. Therefore, it has been proposed to equip hand-held tools with illumination means. For facilitating pouring, the publications US-6758308 and US- 2577857 propose to equip pouring device such as a funnel or an oil can with a light source being powered by a battery. The light shines from one side of the spout in the direction of the poured liquid and is said to serve as a positioning aid, i.e. it is supposed to facilitate the finding of an opening into which the spout of the funnel is to be introduced for pouring or a location to which the oil is to be applied. In both cases, the light source is activated manually with a corresponding switch.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is the object of the invention to improve known hand-held tools comprising illumination means, wherein the improvement regards in particular the ease of handling, the energy consumption and possibly the illumination quality. In other words, the hand-held tool according to the invention is to make it possible to use the illumination means in a more effective manner than this is the case with known such handheld tools, i.e. to concentrate the light emitted by the illumination means more specifically to the time and possibly the location of the task to be carried out.

This object is achieved by equipping the illumination means with a suitable auto- matic switch which automatically switches the light source of the illumination means on and off depending on the status of the tool (tool carrying out the task or tool being at rest) and possibly with a light guiding means which guides the light to the very location which is important to be illuminated for carrying out the task.

The illumination means of the hand-held tool according to the invention comprises a light source, a power source or a connection means for connecting the illumination means to a power source, and a switch being actuateable by gravity or inertia. The switch e.g. comprises a switch cavity and a switching element located within the switch cavity, wherein the switch cavity is arranged to be moved together with the hand-held tool and wherein the switching element is arranged to move independently within the switch cavity driven by gravity or inertia and closing or interrupting an electric connection depending on its position in the switch cavity. The closed or interrupted electric connection controls directly or indirectly the state of the light source (on or off).

For a hand-held tool to be moved from a rest position to a working position before carrying out the task and back when the task is finished the arrangement of the switch cavity and switching element is such that when the tool is in its rest position the switching element is in a position for interrupting the electric connection (light source off for direct control) and when the tool is in its working position, the switching element is in a position for closing the electric connection (light source on for direct control). Possibly it may be advantageous to equip the illumination means with an electronic device which keeps the light source on for a delay time (predetermined parameter) after the switching element has left its position for closing the electric connection (indirect control).

An electronic device attributed to the illumination means of the hand-held tool ac- cording to the invention may not only be equipped for delaying the effect of the switch with a corresponding timer or for monitoring changes in the switch position but also for modulating the light emitted by the light source (fading, strobe or flasher).

For a hand-held tool to be moved for carrying out the task the illumination means can be operated as stated above if the rest position of the tool is different from the work- ing position regarding orientation relative to gravity. If this is not the case, i.e. if the working position is a rest position also and the working state differs from the rest state through movement and absence of movement only, then the switch is to be actuated by inertia and cannot control the light source directly. In the latter case the switch cavity and the switching element are arranged such that movement of the switching element driven by inertia will close and interrupt the electric connection. A suitable electronic device will keep the light source on for a suitable length of time (predetermined parameter) after each change of the electric connection, i.e. as long as the switching element keeps moving within the switch cavity and switches the light source off when the delay time passes without further change of the electric connection, independent on whether the connection is closed or interrupted. For warning the user of the imminent going off of the light, the electronic device may be equipped for dimming the light source before finally turning it off.

As stated above, the hand-held tool according to the invention is e.g. a pouring de- vice, in particular a funnel or a container with a pouring opening or a sieve-like cover comprising a plurality of pouring openings, wherein both the funnel and the container are usually kept in an upright or non-pouring position (rest position) in which pouring is not possible and, for pouring, are brought into a pouring position (working position) by being turned upside down or at least inclined relative to the non-pouring position. The switch of the pouring device is designed and arranged in the pouring device such that the light is on when the pouring device is in a pouring position and is off when the device is in a non-pouring position, i.e. switching is effected by changing the orientation of the pouring device relative to gravity, which is usually the case at least at the start of pouring. The gravity actuated switch comprises e.g. a switch cavity which is fixedly mounted on the pouring device. Within the switch cavity, a switching element is arranged to be moveable by gravity such that depending on the orientation of the switch cavity relative to gravity the switching element has different positions in the cavity, in which positions it either closes the electric connection between light source and power source (light source is on for direct control) or interrupts it (light source is off for direct control).

The illumination means of the pouring device is preferably not designed for lighting the surrounding of the pouring opening or location in which the pouring opening is to be positioned but it is designed for lighting the jet of liquid or of granular material which is to be poured with the aid of the device, i.e. for coupling the light of the light source into this jet. The light source is therefore mounted on the device such that the light is emitted within the jet of liquid or granular material being poured or the light emitted by the light source is suitably guided into this jet, advantageously through the material of the pouring device. Advantageously, the light is coupled into the jet such that as little light as possible is dispersed to the surroundings. The result of such arrangement of the light source is the fact that the pouring process is illuminated very effectively with very little electric energy.

Other hand-held tools having distinct rest positions and working positions (such as e.g. eye wear) can be equipped with illumination means as stated above for the pouring device.

As also stated above, the hand-held tool according to the invention may be a tool which is moved for carrying out the task (e.g. cleaning tool, gardening tool, mechanical tool, cooking tool, writing tool, knitting needles). The illumination means of such tool may be realized by direct control through a gravity actuated switch or indirect control including simple delay, dimming, strobing or flashing facilities. A pen or pencil equipped in the named manner will be illuminated in a working position (writing tip facing downwards) and not illuminated in all other positions. If however, the position with writing tip facing downwards should also be a possible rest position (illumination off), i.e. if working state and resting state differ by movement and ab- sence of movement only, then the above described indirect control with inertia actuated switch is to be installed.

The illumination means of the hand held tool is for instance designed as a separate module which is mounted on the tool (e.g. stuck on the end of the pen opposite the writing tip).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

A few exemplary embodiments of the hand-held tool with illumination according to the invention are described in connection with the following Figs., wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of the hand-held tool according to the invention, which embodiment is a funnel (pouring device);

Fig. 2 shows diagrammatically a first embodiment of a switch applicable for a hand-held tool according to the invention;

Fig. 3 shows an illumination module applicable for a hand-held tool according to the invention;

Fig. 4 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the hand-held tool according to the invention, which hand-held tool is a container with a sieve- like cover comprising a plurality of pouring openings (pouring device);

Figs. 5 and 6 show two further embodiments of switches applicable in hand-held tools according to the invention; Fig. 7 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the hand-held tool according to the invention, which hand-held tool is a pen;

MODES FORCARRYINGOUTTHEINVENTION

Figure 1 shows in section a funnel 1 to be used for pouring a liquid, preferably a light transparent liquid. The funnel is equipped according to the invention, i.e. it comprises a light source and a gravity actuated switch for activating the light source. The funnel has a relatively wide opening 2 on its one side and a narrower pouring opening 3 on its other side. It further comprises a lateral handle 4. When the funnel is positioned for pouring (pouring position as shown in Fig. 1) the wide opening is fac- ing upwards and the narrow opening is facing downwards. The funnel 1, when put aside, is advantageously turned (wide opening 2 facing downwards, pouring opening 3 facing upwards; non-pouring position) in which position it is able to stand in a stable manner on a planar surface.

The funnel 1 comprises, arranged e.g. within the handle 4, an illumination means 5, which comprises a gravity actuated switch 6, a light source 7 (advantageously a light emitting diode) and a battery 8 (or plug means for connection to an external source of electric power).

For guiding the light emitted by the light source 7 into the jet to be poured from the funnel, a light guiding means is provided. This light guiding means is advanta- geously the material of which the relevant handle part 4.1 and the pouring channel 10 of the funnel are made, wherein this material is transparent (illustrated in Fig. 1 without hatching) and has advantageously an optical density which is in the range of the optical density of the liquid to be poured with the aid of the funnel 1. Because of a considerable difference in optical density between such material and surrounding air, most light beams hitting the surface of the material from within are reflected back into the material (total reflection) such that the light is caught within the material.

When, on pouring, the pouring channel 10 is filled with liquid the light coupled into the transparent material of the channel wall is able to pass from this wall into the jet of liquid because the difference in optical density across the inner channel surface is much smaller than for the empty channel. Therefore, light enters the liquid jet which on exiting the pouring channel acts again as a light guiding means guiding the light into liquid further down and in particular lighting a liquid surface which, because of the pouring, is rising and should be kept under control by the person who is pouring.

It may be advantageous to coat the outside surface of the handle part 4.1 serving as a light guiding means and of the pouring channel 10 with a reflective layer for restricting the light to an even higher degree to within the transparent material.

Of course it is possible for the whole funnel 1 to consist of the transparent material and to be coated at least on its outer surface and on the handle with a reflective layer. It is of course possible also to provide a separate light guiding means, e.g. a strand of light conducting fibers and to arrange one strand end near the light source and the other strand end within the pouring channel 10 or in the pouring opening 3 of the funnel 1.

The funnel is preferably made of an inert polymer material which is resistant against chemical attack, e.g. of polyethylene or polypropylene, which are both suitable materials for the light guiding function. Figure 2 shows in a very diagrammatic way an electric circuit 11 with a power source 12, a light source 7 und a gravity actuated switch 6. The circuit is shown in two orientations A and B relative to gravity.

The switch cavity 6.1 of the present embodiment of the switch has the form of a switch channel and constitutes the main part of the switch 6. It is arranged on the hand-held tool such that a predetermined change of the tool orientation changes the orientation of the channel length relative to gravity. At one end of the switch channel 6.1, one of the electric leads 11.1 connecting the power source 12 with the light source 7 is interrupted, the corresponding two lead ends 11.3 and 11.4 projecting into the switch cavity 6.1. Caught within the switch cavity 6.1 is a switching element 6.2, e.g. a sphere of an electrically conducting material. In the switch position A, the switch 6 is in an off-position (switching element 6.2 in channel position opposite the projecting lead ends 11.3 and 11.4). In the position B, the switch 6 is in an on- position (switching element 6.2 in the channel position of the lead ends 11.3 and 11.4 which are both in contact with the switching element 6.2 and therefore are connected to each other).

The switch 6 as shown in Figure 2 is in an on-position, as long as the channel end comprising the lead ends 11.3 and 11.4 is lower than the opposite channel end. It is in an off-position as long as the channel end comprising the lead ends is higher than the opposite end. This means that if position A represents the upright or non-pouring position of a device according to the state of the art, the device needs to be inclined by at least 90° for the light to be switched on. For the funnel as shown in Figure 1, it means that if position B represents the pouring position (light is on) the funnel needs to be positioned upside down when not pouring for the light to switch off. If the fun- nel is laid on its side, the light would not switch off. Further embodiments of gravity activated switches having different switching characteristics are shown in Figures 5 and 6.

Figure 3 shows an illumination module 20 based on the principle of a gravity actuated switch 6 as shown in Fig. 2. The module 20 can e.g. be fabricated in a simple and little expensive way by injection molding. Such module can be fabricated to be very small and therefore very suitable for a hand-held tool according to the invention. The module is advantageously mounted on the tool in an exchangeable manner. The module 20 comprises a battery compartment 8 with a snapped-on cover such that a battery positioned in the compartment can be exchanged. The module further com- prises a switch cavity 6.1 with a switching element 6.2 and a light source 7, wherein these elements are connected by suitable electric leads (wide black lines) designated with 11.

The module 20 may further comprise fixing means for the module to be fixed to a funnel or container. The fixing means is e.g. a thread 21 or snap element.

The module may further comprise an electronic device wherein the light source is not directly controlled by the switch but by the switch and the electronic device (delay for switching off, movement control, strobing, flashing).

Figure 4 shows, again in section, a further exemplary embodiment of the pouring device according to the invention. This embodiment is a container 30 (only neck por- tion shown) with a sieve-like cover 31 equipped with a plurality of pouring openings 3 and being made of a material which is transparent for light. The device serves e.g. for pouring salt or another granular or liquid material. The cover 31 is equipped with an illumination module 20 e.g. as shown in Fig. 3, the module 20 being snapped on a central inside protrusion 32 of the cover 31 such that the light source 7 faces the protrusion 32 and that light emitted by the light source is coupled into the cover material from which it enters the material poured through the pouring openings 3.

As long as the container 30 stands upright as shown in Fig. 4 (upright rest or non- pouring position), pouring is not possible. For pouring, the container 30 needs to be turned upside down or at least inclined by which action the switch 6 is actuated and the light source 7 is turned on.

Figure 5 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a switch 6 which is applicable in a hand-held tool according to the invention. This switch comprises again a switch cavity 6.1 containing a freely movable, e.g. spherical switching element 6.2 made of an electrically conducting material. The switch cavity is formed by two opposite bowls 6.3 and 6.4 of an electrically conducting material and being separated from each other by a gap 6.5 or a band of an electrical insulator. The two bowls 6.3 and 6.4 form first and second lead ends of an interrupted electrical lead connecting power source and light source.

Depending on the position of switch 6 relative to gravity, the switching element 6.2 which always assumes in the switch cavity 6.1 the lowest possible position is positioned either on the gap 6.5 thus connecting the two bowls (light on) or within one bowl, i.e. not on the gap 6.5 (light off).

In Figure 5 the gravity actuated switch is shown in three positions A, B and C, wherein in position A is an on-position and positions B and C are off-positions. If the switch is mounted on the pouring device such that position C corresponds to the upright or non-pouring position this means that the device needs to be inclined by 90° for the light to be switched on. At an inclination of less than 90° (position B) or more than 90° relative to the non-pouring position the light will be switched off again.

Figure 6 shows a further embodiment of a switch 6 which is applicable in a handheld tool according to the invention. The switch 6 again comprises a switch cavity 6.1 and a switching element 6.2. The switch cavity 6.5 comprises a bowl 6.3 of an electrically conductive material and constituting a first lead end of the interrupted electric lead connecting power source and light source. The switching element 6.2 consists of an electrically conducting material and constitutes itself the second lead end by being fastened to this second lead end 11.4 which protrudes from a cavity wall opposite the bowl 6.3 and is enough long for the switching element 6.2 to be located within the bowl 6.3. The lead end 11.4 is enough bendable for being able to be bent by the weight of the switching element, when this weight acts in a direction having a component perpendicular to the lead end.

Figure 6 again shows the switch 6 in three positions A, B and C, wherein A and B are on-positions and C is an off-position. If position C represents the upright or non- pouring position of a pouring device, this means that depending on the bendability of the second lead end, the device needs to be inclined by a smaller or larger angle for the light source to be switched on. Therefore the switch 6 as shown in Fig. 6 is particularly suitable for the tool according to the invention being a jug or bottle, i.e. hav- ing only one non-pouring position (upright position) and a plurality of pouring positions depending on how much liquid they contain.

Figure 7 shows in a very schematic section a pen being equipped with an illumination means e.g. in the form of a screw-on or snap-on illumination module 20 comprising a light source 7, a power source 12, e.g. in the form of a small solar panel and a rechargeable battery and a switch 6 with a switch cavity 6.1 and a switching ele- ment 6.2 arranged within the switch cavity. The switch 6 is e.g. a similar switch as shown in Fig. 5.

The pen has advantageously a shell 40 of a material which is transparent for light and the light source 7 is arranged for coupling the light into the transparent shell. In the region of the writing tip 41 the transparent shell has a light diffusing (e.g. rough) surface 42, which diffuses the light such illumination the area of the writing tip. Of course it is possible also to install the light source 7 in the region of the writing tip 41 or at the opposite end of the pen and diffusing the light from the light source, such illuminating the area of the writing tip or of the surroundings of the whole pen.

Using a switch 6 as shown and controlling the light source 7 directly with the switch, the light source is on as long as the pen is oriented vertically (writing tip 40 facing downwards or facing upwards) and it is off when the pen is oriented other than vertically. This means that the pen is meant to be laid down or at least inclined when not used for writing.

If the illumination is to be switched off when the pen is not used for writing independent on its orientation relative to gravity, the illumination means needs to be equipped with an electronic device (not shown) which monitors movement of the switching element 6.2 within the switch cavity driven by inertia, i.e. changes of the switch configuration, and which switches the light source off if a predetermined time elapses without such change (indirect control of the light source).

It is obvious that during writing the switching element will keep moving, i.e. passing the gap 6.5 between the two parts 6.3 and 6.4 of the switch cavity 6.1 and therefore closing and interrupting the electric connection between the two cavity parts all the time. This means that with the aid of the electronic device the light source will be kept on. If such movement of the switching element stops (no writing movement, pen at rest) the electronic device switches the light source off regardless on whether the switching element is in a position to bridge the gap 6.3 or not, i.e. with any pen ori- entation relative to gravity.

Claims

Hand-held tool with an illumination means, the hand-held tool being suitable for carrying out a task and the illumination means comprising a light source and a power source or connecting means for connecting the illumination means to a power source, wherein the illumination means further comprises a switching means for automatically switching the light source on and off depending on whether the tool is being used to carry out the task or is at rest.

2. Hand-held tool according to claim 1, wherein the switching means is actuate- able by gravity or inertia acting on a switching element being moveable by gravity or inertia in a switch cavity, wherein the switch cavity is mounted on the tool to be moved and accelerated together with the tool.

3. Hand-held tool according to claim 2, wherein the switch cavity and the switching element comprise surface regions which are electrically conductive and wherein depending on the position of the switching element in the switch cav- ity an electric connection is closed or interrupted.

4. Hand-held tool according to claim 1, wherein the power source is a battery or a rechargeable battery connected to a solar panel.

5. Hand-held tool according to claim 1, wherein the light source is positioned such that the light emitted by the light source is coupled into at least a part of 92

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the tool, the part being made of a transparent material and being designed to guide the light from the light source to an illumination location.

6. Hand-held tool according to claim 1, wherein the illumination means further comprises an electronic device for controlling the light source depending on a configuration of the switching means and on predetermined parameters.

7. Hand-held tool according to claim 6, wherein the electronic device is equipped for at least one of delaying switching off of the light source, for dimming the light source before switching it off, for monitoring changes in a switch configuration, for strobing or flashing light emitted by the light source.

8. Hand-held tool according to claim 1, wherein the illumination means is designed to be a separate illumination module being mounted in a detachable manner on the hand-held tool.

9. Hand-held tool according to one of claims 1 to 8, which hand-held tool is a pouring device, eye wear, a cleaning tool, a mechanical tool, a gardening tool, a cooking tool, a knitting needle or a writing tool.

10. Pouring device for pouring liquid or granular material, the device comprising at least one pouring opening (3) and the device having at least one non-pouring or upright position which is not suitable for pouring and at least one pouring position which is, relative to the non-pouring position, reversed or inclined, the de- vice comprising a light source (7) and a gravity actuated switch (6) for activating the light source (7), the switch being (6) mounted such that it is in an off- position when the device is in one of its non-pouring positions and it is in an on-position when the device is in one of its pouring positions.

11. Pouring device according to claim 10 and being a funnel (1), a container with a sieve-like cover, a bottle or a jug.

12. Pouring device according to claim 10, wherein the light source (7) or one end of a light guiding means arranged for guiding the light of the light source (7) is arranged adjacent or within a jet of liquid or granular material emitted from the pouring device on pouring.

13. Pouring device according to claim 12, wherein the device consists at least in the area of the at least one pouring opening of a light transparent material able to function as the light guiding means and the light source is arranged for the emitted light to be coupled into the transparent material.

14. Pouring device according to claim 13, which tool is a funnel (1) and further comprises a handle (4) and a pouring channel (10), wherein the light source (7) is arranged in the handle (4) and a handle part (4.1) arranged between the light source (7) and the pouring channel (10) and the pouring channel (10) are made of the transparent material.

15. Pouring device according to claim 10 and being a container with a sieve-like cover (31), wherein the cover is made of a light transparent material and the light source (7) is arranged on a protrusion (32) on the inside of the cover (31).

16. Pouring device according to claim 10, wherein the gravity actuated switch (6) comprises a switch cavity (6.1) and a switching element (6.2) arranged to be moveable by gravity within the switch cavity (6.1).

17. Pouring device according to claim 16, wherein the switching element comprises an electrically conducting material and wherein the switch cavity comprises first and second lead ends of an interrupted electric lead connecting the light source with a power source.

18. Pouring device according to one of claims 10 to 17, wherein the light source (7) is part of a lighting module (20), which further comprises a battery com- partment (8) and the gravity actuated switch (6) and wherein the light module is detachably fixed to the pouring device.

19. Illumination module for a hand-held tool, the module comprising a light source, a power source or a connecting means for being connected to a power source and a switch being actuateable by gravity or inertia, and the illumination module further comprising means for mounting the module to a hand-held tool.

20. Illumination module according to claim 19, wherein the switch comprises a switch cavity and a switching element being moveable in the switch cavity driven by gravity or inertia.

21. Illumination module according to claim 19 and further comprising an elec- tronic device for controlling the light source depending on a configuration of the switch and on predetermined parameters.