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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
LIGHTING DEVICE WHICH CAN BE WORN ON A USER' S HAND
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2011/036691
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A lighting device (1) which can be worn on a user's hand, comprising a housing (5), within which there is a control circuit and a power source for the switching on of a light source (4), formed in particular by a LED; according to the invention, one or more elongated flexible elements (3), at the ends of which the LED is placed, are connected with the control circuit and the power source.

Inventors:
SICILIANO ALFREDO (IT)
Application Number:
PCT/IT2010/000407
Publication Date:
March 31, 2011
Filing Date:
September 27, 2010
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
SICILIANO ALFREDO (IT)
International Classes:
F21L4/00; F21V23/04; F21W131/20; F21W131/402; F21Y101/02
Foreign References:
US20040223321A12004-11-11
EP1894481A12008-03-05
US20040032750A12004-02-19
US20070245452A12007-10-25
Other References:
"Intro Hand Lights. Step by step", INTERNET CITATION, 7 June 2009 (2009-06-07), XP007912663, Retrieved from the Internet [retrieved on 20100415]
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
IANNONE Carlo Luigi (Via Piemonte, 26 - ROMA, IT)
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Claims:
CLAIMS

1. Lighting device (1 ) which can be worn on user's hand, of the type comprising at least one shaped envelope (5), within which there is at least one control circuit (9) and at least one power source (8) for the switching on of at least one light source (4), characterized in that at least one elongated flexible element (3), at the end of which said light source (4) is positioned, is connected with said control circuit (9) and said power source (8).

2. Lighting device (1 ) as claim 1 , characterized in that at least one strap (2) is associated with said shaped envelope (5), which allows to wear said shaped envelope (5) at user's wrist.

3. Lighting device (1) as claim 1 , characterized in that said strap (2) is made of elastic material.

4. Lighting device (1) as claim 1 , characterized in that said light source (4) consists of at least one LED.

5. Lighting device (1) as claim 1 , characterized in that said elongated flexible element (3) consists of a tube, inside which one or more wires made of conductive material, particularly copper, are arranged, said wires being encapsulated within at least one insulating protective sheath.

6. Lighting device (1) as claim 1 , characterized in that at least one grommet (7) is connected with said elongated flexible element (3), fixed in correspondence of at least a predefined portion of said elongated flexible element (3) and inside which user's fingers can be inserted.

7. Lighting device (1) as claim 1 , characterized in that said control circuit (9) includes at least one button (6) for the switching one and/or switching off of said light the source (4) and/or additional components with control functions, such as timers for the switching one and/or switching off, twilight sensors, light intensity adjusting dimmers, etc.

Description:
LIGHTING DEVICE WHICH CAN BE WORN ON A USER'S HAND

The present invention refers generally to a lighting device which can be worn on user's hand and, in particular, concerns a lighting device to be worn on the hand, with flexible articulations which follow the lines of the fingers and including an electronic power and control unit positioned on the wrist.

It is well known that a proper illumination of an object which must be handled by a user is essential, especially in low light environments, so that the user can localize and then collect the object.

This is particularly true in case small objects and/or to make motions must be localized and/or delicate handlings and/or operations on these objects must be performed.

For example, in the case of surgical operations, it is essential for the doctor who is working to have a work surface extremely illuminated, so as it is also important to get more intense light spots near the tip of the fingers, without the same creating tiresome shade zones.

Other delicate operations for which it is necessary to have such a light are, for example, the assembly of electronic and/or mechanical components and location of the commands by the aircraft pilots in the cockpit.

Several lighting devices which can be worn on user's hand are still known, which are essentially based on the use of a glove, wearable by the user, onto which one or more light sources are mounted, which are located in given areas of the hand fingers.

However, these technical solutions present significant limitations and drawbacks, including the fact that it is necessary that the user must wear at least one glove and this constitutes a relevant obstruction and provides obvious limitations to handling.

Moreover, although the lighting devices of traditional type are suitable to emit intense light near to user's hand, the same don't allow to light the area immediately facing the fingers tips and usually leave some shade zones (created by the other fingers of the hand, which normally are folded in an anatomic position during the operation of object collection and/or handling) just at the object to be collected and/or handled.

This obliges the preliminary light the object to be handled in order to localize it, store object position and then move the hand towards the stored position so as to operate on the object (anyway in low direct lighting conditions), with the consequent errors that this method may imply and that can be extremely serious especially in case of surgical operations on patients.

Within the abovementioned requirements, purpose of the present invention is therefore to overcome the drawbacks complained and, in particular, to achieve a lighting device which can be worn on user's hand, which allows to direct the light flow directly on the object to be operated and, in particular, facing the fingers tips, during the steps of localization and handling of such an object, without creating tiresome shade zones.

Another purpose of the present invention is to create a lighting device which can be worn on users' hand, which is extremely reliable, efficient and functional, as well as simple and quick to be worn and cheap to be manufactured.

Further purpose of the present invention is to achieve a lighting device which can be worn on user's hand, which allows the user to freely act during the localization and/or handling steps of the object.

These and other purposes, according to the present invention, are achieved by implementing a lighting device which can be worn on user's hand, according to the appended claim 1.

Further technical characteristics of detail are described in the subsequent claims.

Advantageously, the lighting device according to the invention can be worn on user's wrist and presents one or more joints or flexible tubes, which follow the lines of the fingers, in order to follow the movements thereof, thus allowing the user to freely act during the operation he is carrying out, such as, for example, a surgical operation and/or an assembly operation of small mechanical or electronic components.

In this way, it is possible to replace the cumbersome and limiting lighting gloves currently known in the state of the art.

In addition, the structural features of the device and, in particular way, the flexibility of the tubes and the small sizes of the tubes themselves and light sources used allow to place at will, close to user's fingers, the light sources and such a possibility further allows to avoid the appearance of shade zones (created by the same fingers) near the work surface.

Finally, the use of special light sources of LED type allows to get extremely low, if not insignificant, electricity absorption and consumption.

Additional features and advantages of a lighting device which can be worn on user's hand, according to the present invention, will be more evident from the following description, relating to an its preferred and illustrative, but not limited, embodiment and the drawings attached, where:

- figure 1 is a perspective view of the lighting device which can be worn on user's hand, built according to a preferred, but not limited to, embodiment of the present invention;

- figure 2 is an enlarged view of a constructive detail of the lighting device of figure 1 , according to the present invention.

With reference to the figures mentioned, the lighting device object of the present invention is generically indicated with 1 and comprises essentially a shaped envelope 5, with which a strap 2 is associated, possibly made of elastic material, which allows to wear the envelope 5 at user's wrist.

A shaped electronic control circuit 9 and a battery 8, suitable to supply one or more light sources 4, are present inside the envelope 5, which, in preferred and illustrative, but not limiting, embodiments of the invention, consist of light sources of LED type and each positioned at the ends of a joint, formed in particular by an elongated flexible tube 3, which is connected with the electronic control circuit 9 and supply battery 8. Each flexible tube 3 may include one or more wires made of conductive material, such as copper, encapsulated in a protective sheath made of insulating plastic material and designed so that the tube 3 presents an extremely small diameter, essentially equal to that one of the wires provided inside.

Finally, in further possible embodiments, one or more tubes 3 may be provided with one or more grommets 7, into which user's fingers can be inserted for a more comfortable use and stable positioning of the tube 3 on the fingers.

The electronic control circuit 9 also includes one or more buttons 6 for switching on and/or off the light sources 4, as well as additional components such as timers for switching on and/or off, crepuscular sensors, light intensity adjustment dimmers, etc., can be provided.

In practice, the lighting device 1 can be comfortably worn by the user on the wrist through the strap 2, thanks also to the anatomical shape of the envelope 5.

Furthermore, the specificity related to the fact that the tubes leading to supply to the light sources of LED type 4 are made of flexible material allows them to follow any movement of user's fingers, who can thus freely operate during the progress of the work to be performed.

Additionally, the small size of the wires and tubes 3 (whose diameter is typically less than 2.5 mm), as well as of the LED-type light sources 4 (which, in preferred embodiments of the invention, consists of 0603 type LED), allow to get a correct lighting of the working surface, as they can be located in such a way as to avoid the appearance of troublesome gray areas that can be created by the fingers during working.

This is especially useful in case considerably complex and delicate operations, such as surgery, such as surgery operations, in particular microsurgery, and/or small mechanical and/or electronic elements assembly interventions must be performed.

In this way, it is possible to freely and comfortably act and also get proper lighting of the working surface, contrary to what can be executed with lighting devices belonging to the known technique.

Finally, the possible use of grommets 7, fixed at predefined portions of the tubes 3 may also allow to keep in place the aforesaid tubes 3 and move them instantly according to the needs, by simply inserting the fingers inside.

The technical features of the lighting device which can be worn on user's hand, according to the present invention, as well the resulting benefits, are clear from the description given.

It is clear, then, that several other changes can be made to the abovementioned lighting device, without departing from the principle of novelty intrinsic in the inventive idea expressed here, as it is clear that, in the practical implementation of the invention, materials, shapes and sizes of the illustrated details can be any, as needed, and the same can be replaced with others technically equivalent.