Thin adhesively attached key light device
OwnerMadeline M. Canfield, Paul C. Mioduskiinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thin, disposable key light device that is adhesively attachable to the head of a key includes a light emitting diode, a disk battery, an insulative annular spacer, and an adhesive disk. A lead of the light emitting diode extends over a hole in the annular spacer. Leads of the light emitting diode straddle the battery and annular spacer. Switch actuation pressure applied to a flexible housing elastically deforms one of the leads through the hole in the annular spacer, causing that lead to electrically contact one electrode surface of the battery and thereby connect the light emitting disk in series with the battery.
Claims19
A key light device adapted for adhesive attachment to a head of a key, comprising in combination:
- (a) a disk battery having parallel conductive first and second electrode surfaces;
- (b) a thin insulative annular spacer abutting the second electrode surface;
- (c) a light emitting diode having a first lead extending along and electrically contacting the first electrode surface and a second lead extending along and maintained in spaced relation to the second electrode surface by the annular spacer;
- (d) a double sided adhesive pad having one surface adhesively attached to the first electrode surface of the battery and another surface adapted for adhesive attachment to the head of the key;
- and
- (e) a flexible housing enclosing the battery, light emitting diode, and annular spacer, the housing having a first opening allowing escape of light emitted by the light emitting diode and a second opening exposing the adhesive pad, the housing having a flexible switch actuating surface disposed generally parallel to the second lead, whereby the second lead is elastically deformed to electrically contact the second electrode surface by a switch actuation pressure applied to the switch actuation surface and pressing the switch actuating surface toward the second conductive electrode surface.
A method of providing an economical, disposable means of illuminating a region in front of a key, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a light emitting diode which emits an adequate level of illumination when a predetermined current flows through the light emitting diode;
- (b) providing a thin disk battery matched to the light emitting diode by having an internal resistance which limits current supplied by the battery to the light emitting diode to the predetermined current;
- (c) electrically connecting a first lead of the light emitting diode to a first electrode surface of the battery;
- (d) supporting a second lead of the light emitting diode in spaced relation to a second electrode surface of the battery;
- (e) elastically deforming the second lead in response to applying of a switch actuating pressure to the second lead, thereby causing the second lead to electrically contact the second electrode surface and turn on the light emitting diode, and
- (f) adhesively attaching the first electrode surface of the battery to a head of the key switch, whereby light emitted by the light emitting diode travels along the shaft of the key.
A key light device adapted for adhesive attachment to a head of a key, comprising in combination:
- (a) a disk battery having parallel conductive first and second electrode surfaces;
- (b) a thin insulative spacer abutting the second electrode surface;
- (c) a light emitting diode having a first lead extending along and electrically contacting the first electrode surface and a second lead extending along and maintained in spaced relation to the second electrode surface by the spacer;
- (d) a flexible housing enclosing the battery, light emitting diode, and spacer, the housing having a first opening allowing escape of light in a direction along a shank of the key emitted by the light emitting diode and a second opening on the bottom thereof, the housing having a flexible switch actuating surface disposed generally parallel to the second lead, whereby the second lead is elastically deformed to electrically contact the second electrode surface by a switch actuation pressure applied to the switch actuation surface and pressing the switch actuating surface toward the second conductive electrode surface;
- (e) a bottom cover attached to the bottom of the housing to cover the second opening and support the disk battery, the light emitting diode, and the spacer within the housing;
- and
- (f) a double sided adhesive pad having one surface adhesively attached to a bottom surface of the bottom cover and another surface adapted for adhesive attachment to the head of the key.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.