Portable neck light

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12313246-B2
Application number	US-202418627905-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 5, 2024
Priority date	Apr 7, 2023
Publication date	May 27, 2025
Grant date	May 27, 2025

Abstract

A portable neck light includes a neck band having an arm extending to a distal end, the distal end defining a rotation axis. A light head is coupled to the distal end of the arm. A shaft is coupled to the light head and the neck band to allow rotation of the light head relative to the neck band about the rotation axis within a rotation plane. The light head is supported for continuous movement within an angular range of motion about the rotation axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A portable neck light comprising: a neck band including an arm opening extending through the neck band along a rotation axis; a light head including a shell opening aligned with the arm opening; a shaft positioned within the arm opening and the shell opening and extending along the rotation axis, the shaft including a first end coupled to the light head and a second end coupled to the neck band; and an elastic pad coupled to the neck band between the light head and the neck band and disposed adjacent the shaft, the elastic pad engaging the shaft to apply a frictional force to the shaft to inhibit rotation of the shaft relative to the elastic pad and support the light head in a plurality of positions with respect to the neck band; wherein the arm opening extends along the rotation axis through a plate extending from a distal end of the neck band, wherein the elastic pad is annular and includes a pad opening, and the elastic pad is coupled to the plate with the pad opening and the arm opening aligned along the rotation axis, wherein the shaft extends through the pad opening, and an inner surface of the pad opening engages an outer surface of the shaft to apply the frictional force that maintains a rotational position of the light head relative to the neck band; and wherein the plate includes a set of posts and the elastic pad includes a set of openings configured to engage the set of posts to secure the elastic pad to the plate for corotation with the neck band.

2. The portable neck light of claim 1 , further comprising a coupling member that engages the second end of the shaft to secure the shaft against translation along the rotation axis relative to the neck band.

3. The portable neck light of claim 2 , wherein the coupling member includes a clip that engages a groove disposed on the second end of the shaft, and wherein the clip is wider than the arm opening and holds the shaft relative to the neck band.

4. The portable neck light of claim 1 , wherein a surface of the light head abuts a surface of the neck band to apply a secondary friction force that helps support the light head in the plurality of positions with respect to the neck band.

5. The portable neck light of claim 1 , wherein the light head is plastic, the shaft is brass, and the elastic pad is rubber.

6. The portable neck light of claim 1 , wherein the light head is continuously rotatable about the rotation axis between the plurality of positions within a range of motion.

7. The portable neck light of claim 1 , wherein the neck band extends between a first band end and a second band end, wherein the light head is a first light head coupled to the first band end, and the portable neck light further comprises a second light head coupled to the second band end of the neck band.

8. A portable neck light comprising:
a neck band including a battery housing, a first arm extending from a first end of the battery housing and having a first plate with a first set of posts, and a second arm extending from a second end of the battery housing and having a second plate with a second set of posts;
a first light head coupled to the first arm by a first joint for rotation about a first rotation axis, the first light head being continuously rotatable about the first rotation axis relative to the first arm within a first range of motion, the first joint including
a first shaft coupled to the first light head and the first arm,
a first elastic pad surrounding the first shaft and configured to apply a frictional force to the first shaft to maintain a position of the first light head within the first range of motion with respect to the first arm, the first elastic pad including a first set of openings configured to engage the first set of posts to secure the first elastic pad to the first plate for corotation with the neck band, and
a first clip that engages a first groove disposed on the first shaft to secure the first shaft against translation along the first rotation axis relative to the neck band; and

a second light head coupled to the second arm by a second joint for rotation about a second rotation axis, the second light head being continuously rotatable about the second rotation axis relative to the second arm within a second range of motion, the second joint including
a second shaft coupled to the second light head and the second arm, and
a second elastic pad surrounding the second shaft and configured to apply a frictional force to the second shaft to maintain a position of the second light head within the second range of motion with respect to the second arm, the second elastic pad including a second set of openings configured to engage the second set of posts to secure the second elastic pad to the second plate for corotation with the neck band, and
a second clip that engages a second groove disposed on the second shaft to secure the second shaft against translation along the second rotation axis relative to the neck band;

wherein the first arm and the second arm can be flexed to change a distance between the first arm and the second arm.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Taylor Alexis R
• Gall Benjamin D
• Hansen Dalton F
• Dee Sullivan

Classifications

• F21L4/00

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

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• F21V21/084 Primary

  Head fittings · CPC title