US 5,461,551 A · Portable darkroom safelight

Abstract

A portable drakroom safelight which incorporates several features which enhance its usefulness in a darkroom. The portable safelight includes a lamp, a safelight filter, rechargeable batteries, a light sensor, and control means. The safelight filter filters all light produced by the lamp, thus making the safelight safe for use in a darkroom and with photosensitive materials. A surface mounting bracket or stand supports the portable safelight and includes a transformer for converting household electric current into low voltage direct current suitable for use by the portable safelight. When the portable safelight is removed from the mounting bracket it automatically switches to operate from the rechargeable batteries and its illumination level is automatically reduced. The lamp is automatically turned off or on when the light sensor detects the presence or absence of ambient white light. Other features include a proximity detector for detecting the distance between the lamp and an object and a low battery charge detection means and/or battery timer. A pullout or adjustable stand or neck allows the portable safelight to be easily pointed in any direction or moved to different locations.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A rechargeable safelight comprising:

a) a housing;
b) at least one rechargeable battery inside said housing;
c) a lamp means attached to said housing for generating visible light;
d) a filter attached to said housing for making light from said lamp means safe for photosensitive materials;
e) electrical connector means mounted on said housing for connecting to an external power source;
f) distance measuring means, mounted to said housing, for generating a proximity-signal indicative of the distance between said lamp means and an object in line with said lamp means;
g) alarm means for generating an alarm;
and,
f) control means inside said housing and connected to said electrical connector means for charging said at least one rechargeable battery and for controlling electric power to said lamp means and connected to said distance measuring means and said alarm means for causing said alarm means to generate an alarm in response to said proximity-signal.

6 more elements

A darkroom safelight comprising:

a) a housing;
b) a lamp means, located in said housing, for generating visible light;
c) a flexible armature attached to said housing, said flexible armature having:
a) a first end attached to said housing, and,
b) a second end attached to said lamp means;
d) a filter means attached to said housing for making light from said lamp means safe for photosensitive materials;
e) an energy storage means inside said housing for supplying electric energy to said lamp means;
f) an electrical connector means mounted on said housing for connecting to an external power source;
g) a light sensor means, attached to said housing, for generating a light-signal when ambient white light is not detected;
h) a distance sensing means, attached to said housing, for generating a proximity-signal indicative of a distance between said lamp means and an object in line with said lamp means;
i) a wall mounting means attached to a surface for removably mounting said housing to said surface and including means for supplying electric power to said electrical connector means;
j) alarm means, attached to said housing, for alerting a user to various conditions;
and,
k) a control means, mounted to said housing, for controlling said darkroom safelight, said control means having means for,
1) activating said lamp means using electric power from said external power supply communicated via said electrical connector means for using electric power from said energy storage means,
2) recharging said energy storage means using electric power from said external power supply communicated via said electrical connector means,
3) deactivating said lamp means in response to said light-signal,
4) activating said alarm means in response to said proximity-signal,
5) activating said alarm means in response to a predetermined amount of electric charge remaining in said energy storage means, and,
6) reducing the electric power to said lamp means when said housing is removed from said wall mounting means.

17 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Portable darkroom safelight

Life of this patent

Portable darkroom safelight

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16