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US 7,828,458 B2Granted
Portable light source shade
AssigneeGloshade Industries, Inc.
InventorRichard Crow
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A low cost, lightweight device that can be coupled with a portable light source such as a chemiluminescent light stick to create a small, focused and directional source of light. The device can be readily dismantled into a portable flat configuration and then reassembled with minimal effort as needed.
Claims19
An apparatus comprising:
- a flexible device having a first side, a second side shaped substantially similarly to the first side, an outer edge, a first joining edge, and a second joining edge, the flexible device being approximately flat with the first and the second sides disposed opposite one another such that the outer edge joins the first side and the second side along a substantial portion of a perimeter of the first side and the second side, the first joining edge and the second joining edge defining a gap such that the outer edge does not continue uninterrupted around the entire perimeter of the flexible device, the flexible device flexing to form an assembled structure in which the first joining edge is disposed proximate to the second joining edge, the assembled structure comprising an inner volume having a first opening that is defined by the outer edge and an apex disposed opposite the first opening, the apex having a smaller cross sectional area than the first opening, the first side forming an inner surface of the assembled structure and the second side forming an outer surface of the assembled structure;
- an adjustable carrying strap at the apex;
- joining means for connecting the first joining edge and the second joining edge;
- and
- attaching means for securing a portable light source to the assembled structure to direct light from the portable light source in a desired manner, the portable light source having an elongated shape along a first axis and emitting light both in the directions of the first axis and perpendicular to the first axis.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a flexible device having a first side, a second side shaped substantially similarly to the first side, an outer edge, a first joining edge, and a second joining edge, the flexible device being approximately flat with the first and the second sides disposed opposite one another such that the outer edge joins the first side and the second side along a substantial portion of a perimeter of the first side and the second side, the first joining edge and the second joining edge defining a gap such that the outer edge does not continue uninterrupted around the entire perimeter of the flexible device, the flexible device flexing to form an assembled structure in which the first joining edge is disposed proximate to the second joining edge, the assembled structure comprising an inner volume having a first opening that is defined by the outer edge and an apex disposed opposite the first opening, the apex having a smaller cross sectional area than the first opening, the first side forming an inner surface of the assembled structure and the second side forming an outer surface of the assembled structure, the apex comprising a gap or opening that is large enough to accept the tapered portion but not to allow the head or the socket section to pass;
- joining means for connecting the first joining edge and the second joining edge;
- and
- attaching means for securing a portable light source to the assembled structure to direct light from the portable light source in a desired manner, the portable light source having an elongated shape along a first axis and emitting light both in the directions of the first axis and perpendicular to the first axis, the attaching means comprising a light source affixing device that comprises a socket side with a socket that accepts an end of the portable light source and an attachment side that further comprises a tapered portion and a head with a larger cross section than the tapered portion, the head being disposed at an opposite end of the tapered portion from the socket side, the light source affixing device being oriented in the assembled structure such that the socket section is disposed outside of the assembled structure so that the socket faces away from the first opening such that the portable light source affixed in the socket is supported by the assembled structure to form a free standing lantern device.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- curving a flexible device into an assembled structure, the flexible device having a first side, a second side shaped substantially similarly to the first side, an outer edge, a first joining edge, and a second joining edge, the flexible device, while being approximately flat, having the first and the second sides disposed opposite one another such that the outer edge joins the first side and the second side along a substantial portion of a perimeter of the first side and the second side, the first joining edge and the second joining edge defining a gap such that the outer edge does not continue uninterrupted around the entire perimeter of the flexible device, the curving causing flexible device to form an assembled structure in which the first joining edge is disposed proximate to the second joining edge, the assembled structure comprising an inner volume having a first opening that is defined by the outer edge and an apex disposed opposite the first opening, the apex having a smaller cross sectional area than the first opening, the first side forming an inner surface of the assembled structure and the second side forming an outer surface of the assembled structure, the assembled structure further comprising an adjustable carrying strap at the apex;
- securably connecting the first joining edge and the second joining edge;
- and
- attaching a portable light source to the assembled structure to direct light from the portable light source in a desired manner, the portable light source having an elongated shape along a first axis and emitting light both in the directions of the first axis and perpendicular to the first axis.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.