Flashlight clamp

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11255523-B2
Application number	US-202016832000-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2020
Priority date	Mar 27, 2020
Publication date	Feb 22, 2022
Grant date	Feb 22, 2022

Abstract

A light clamp apparatus includes a clamp configured to affix the light clamp apparatus to an object. The light clamp apparatus also includes a light assembly configured to removably attach to the clamp at least at two different positions on the clamp, the light assembly including a magnet, whereby the light assembly is removably attachable to a surface comprising a ferromagnetic metal. The clamp includes a slide bar comprising a first end and a second end, a first jaw coupled to the first end, and a body slidably receiving the slide bar having a second jaw opposing the first jaw. The clamp further includes a drive assembly for moving the slide bar in a first direction.

First claim

We claim:

1. A light clamp apparatus comprising:
a clamp configured to affix the light clamp apparatus to an object; and
a light assembly configured to removably attach to the clamp at least at two different positions on the clamp, the light assembly comprising a magnet, whereby the light assembly is removably attachable to a surface comprising a ferromagnetic metal.

2. The light clamp apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light assembly further comprises:
an attachment portion, a base portion, and a light source portion; and
a hinge connecting the base portion and the light source portion, such that the light source portion is rotatable about the hinge.

3. The light clamp apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the base portion rotates with respect to the attachment portion, and the attachment portion removably attaches the light assembly to the clamp.

4. The light clamp apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the light source portion is rotatable about the hinge along a first axis, and the base portion is rotatable with respect to the attachment portion along a second axis.

5. The light clamp apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first axis and the second axis are substantially perpendicular to one another.

6. The light clamp apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the hinge comprises at least two detents to lock the light source portion in at least two different angular positions with respect to the base portion.

7. The light clamp apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the light assembly further comprises a rotation mechanism configured to permit rotation of the base portion with respect to the attachment portion, and further wherein the rotation mechanism comprises at least two detents to lock the base portion in at least two different rotational positions with respect to the attachment portion.

8. The light clamp apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least two different positions of the clamp where the light assembly is removably attachable comprises a first position on the clamp and a second position on the clamp, and further wherein:
the first position comprises a first surface of the clamp for removably attaching the light assembly;
the second position comprises a second surface of the clamp for removably attaching the light assembly; and
the first surface is perpendicular to the second surface.

9. The light clamp apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the clamp further comprises:
a slide bar comprising a first end and a second end;
a first jaw coupled to the first end;
a body slidably receiving the slide bar, the body comprising a second jaw opposing the first jaw; and
a drive assembly for moving the slide bar in a first direction.

10. A light clamp apparatus comprising:
a clamp configured to affix the light clamp apparatus to an object, wherein the clamp comprises:
a slide bar comprising a first end and a second end;
a first jaw coupled to the first end;
a body slidably receiving the slide bar, the body comprising a second jaw opposing the first jaw;
a drive assembly for moving the slide bar in a first direction, the drive assembly comprising:
a driving lever having an aperture through which the slide bar extends, the driving lever movable between a first position in which there is substantially no frictional engagement between the driving lever and the slide bar and a second position in which the driving lever is frictionally engaged with the slide bar;
a trigger handle coupled to the body and configured to engage the driving lever for moving the driving lever between the first position and the second position; and
a locking mechanism coupled to the body and configured to lock the trigger handle in a locked position, wherein the driving lever is frictionally engaged with the slide bar while the trigger handle is in the locked position; and

a light assembly configured to removably attach to the clamp at least at two different positions on the clamp, the light assembly comprising a magnet, whereby the light assembly is removably attachable to a surface comprising a ferromagnetic metal.

11. The light clamp apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the body further comprises a cavity formed in the body through which the slide bar extends.

12. The light clamp apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the driving lever is located within the cavity.

13. The light clamp apparatus of claim 10 , wherein when the trigger handle is engaged with the driving lever to frictionally engage the slide bar, the driving lever pulls the slide bar in a first direction such that the first jaw and the second jaw are moved closer together.

14. The light clamp apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising a braking lever having an aperture through which the slide bar extends, the braking lever movable between a first position in which there is substantially no frictional engagement with the slide bar and a second position in which the braking lever is frictionally engaged with the slide bar.

15. The light clamp apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the braking lever rotates about a pivot point at substantially the middle of the braking lever to move between the first position and the second position.

16. The light clamp apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising:
a brake release button, wherein actuation of the brake release button causes the braking lever to move from the second position to the first position; and
a spring that biases the braking lever in the second position.

17. The light clamp apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the trigger handle is pivotally coupled to the body and a spring biases the trigger handle in the first position, such that the trigger handle and the slide bar are oriented at a first acute angle in relation to one another.

18. The light clamp apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the spring is compressed while the trigger handle is in the locked position and the trigger handle and the slide bar are oriented at a second acute angle in relation to one another, wherein the first acute angle is greater than the second acute angle.

19. The light clamp apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a sliding tab movable between a first position to release the trigger handle and a second position to lock the trigger handle.

Assignees

• Home Depot Product Authority Llc

Inventors

• Jackson Nicholas
• Servies Nicholas

Classifications

• F16B2/12

  using sliding jaws · CPC title

• F21V21/0885 Primary

  for portable lighting devices · CPC title

• F21V21/0965

  for portable lighting devices · CPC title

• F21L4/00 Primary

  Electric lighting devices with self-contained electric batteries or cells · CPC title

• F21V21/30

  Pivoted housings or frames · CPC title