WO2002066886A1

WO2002066886A1 - Ring lantern

Info

Publication number: WO2002066886A1
Application number: PCT/KR2002/000236
Authority: WO
Inventors: Woong-Cha Hong
Original assignee: Woong-Cha Hong
Priority date: 2001-02-21
Filing date: 2002-02-15
Publication date: 2002-08-29

Abstract

A ring lanterne is disclosed which comprises: an annular ring; a conductive body rotatably coupled to an upper surface of the ring; a power supply which is electrically connected to the internal protrusion of the body at its one pole to allow electric current to flow in the whole body; a push-button switch, one terminal of which is connected to the other pole of the power supply; and means for emitting light, which is electrically connected to the body and the other terminal of the power supply at its both terminals to emit light by switching on of the push-button switch. When a small and bright light source is requiered to work in an industrial field and to enjoy leisure activity, the ring lantern can be quickly turned on to efficiently illuminate a desired area with light without an additional gripping operation.

Description

RING LANTERN

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a ring lantern, and more particularly to a ring lantern which comprises a ring to be put on a user's finger and a lantern rotatably mounted on the finger ring and which is adapted to be quickly turned on to efficiently illuminate a desired area with light by a one-touch operation without a additional gripping operation, when there is a need to change a bait or grasp a fishing line without interfering with other persons during night fishing, or when a small and bright light source is required to work in an industrial field.

Background Art

In general, a hand lantern or an electric lamp is used when there is a need to move around a fishing place, to put a bait on a fishing hook or to lift up a fishing rod and then grasp a fishing line, while fishing at night.

However, if such a hand lantern or an electric lamp is used, an area around the lantern is excessively brightened, thereby causing inconvenience to other persons fishing in the area. Furthermore, because a fisherman must fish while gripping the lantern with one hand, it is very inconvenient to put a bait on a fishing hook or to grasp a fishing line at night. Accordingly, to carry out a work in the night is considerably inconvenient, and requires both hands of a user. When a work is carried out in an industrial field in the night or in a dark interior space of large-sized equipment, a usual hand lantern or electric lamp is generally used. However, in some case, a hand lantern or electric lamp is inadequate, or a small and bright light source is required because of requirements of the work. Consequently, a light source, which can meet the requirements of the work, is necessary. Disclosure of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a ring lantern which is adapted to be put on a user's finger to efficiently irradiate a desired area with light by a one-touch operation when there is a need to change a bait or grasp a fishing line without interfering with other persons during night fishing, or when a small and bright light source is required to work in an industrial field:

(1) In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a ring lantern comprising: an annular ring; an annular conductive connecting member rotatably coupled to an outer surface of the ring via means for allowing the connecting member to be rotated; a lantern including a conductive cylindrical body with a blind end, which is inserted in the connecting member and which is provided at its outer surface with a lead-out hole communicating with the inside of the body and provided at its inner surface with a guide groove extending between the other opened end of the body and the lead-out hole, a power supply received in the body, means for emitting light, and a spring disposed between the power supply and the blind end of the body to allow one pole (e.g. (-) pole) of the power supply to be connected to the body; a housing coupled to the outer surface of the connecting member, which is provided at its bottom with a lead-in hole through which a wire led out through the lead-out hole of the body is inserted into the inside of the housing; and a push-button switch received in the housing, which is connected at one terminal to the wire introduced through the lead-in hole and at the other terminal to an inner surface of the housing. In the present invention, the means for allowing the connecting member to be rotated can be embodied in following various manners.

More specifically, the rotating means may comprise a protrusion integrally formed on an outer surface of the connecting member, an elastic member of rubber inserted on the protrusion, and a hole formed on an outer surface of the ring, into which the protrusion is tightly fitted. In another embodiment, the rotating means may comprise a threaded protrusion integrally formed on an outer surface of the connecting member, an elastic member of rubber fitted over the threaded protrusion, and a threaded hole formed on an outer surface of the ring, into which the threaded protrusion is screwed.

In still another embodiment, the rotating means may comprise a hook protrusion integrally formed on the connecting member with an end bent in a direction, an elastic member of rubber inserted on the hook protrusion, a connecting piece having a through hole into which the bent end of the hook protrusion is inserted, and a stepped hole formed on the ring into which the connecting piece is inserted.

In a further embodiment, the rotating means may comprise a stepped hole formed at the connecting member, a threaded piece having a head placed on a stepped surface of the stepped hole and a threaded portion formed on an outer surface thereof, an elastic member of rubber fitted over the threaded piece, and a threaded hole formed in the ring which is engaged with the threaded piece.

The housing may be covered with a waterproof cap to prevent moisture from infiltrating into the housing.

(2) In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention also provides a ring lantern comprising: an annular ring; a body including a second housing rotatably coupled to an upper surface of the ring and having a top opening and a bottom hole, a third housing coupled to an end of the second housing and axially perforated, and a first housing coupled to the other end of the second housing and having an internal protrusion at its blind end, all of which are electrically conductive; a power supply which is electrically connected to the internal protrusion of the first housing at its one pole (e.g. (-) pole) to allow electric current to flow in the whole body; a push-button switch, one terminal of which is connected to the other pole (e.g. (+) pole) of the power supply; and means for emitting light, which is electrically connected to the body and the other terminal of the power supply at its both terminals to emits light by switching on of the push-button switch. The push-button switch may be fitted into the top opening of the second housing in an integral manner.

A conjunction between the first and second housings, a conjunction between the second housing and the ring, a conjunction between the second and third housings, and the push-button switch may be provided with waterproof members, respectively, to prevent infiltration of moisture.

The power supply may be selected from a group consisting of a mercury battery, an alkali manganese dry battery, a silver oxide cell and a nickel-cadmium battery, and the means for emitting light may be comprised of an electric bulb or an LED.

The ring may be provided with a cut portion to allow its diameter to be enlarged depending on a diameter of a user's finger.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a ring lantern according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B' of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the ring lantern according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of rotating means of the ring lantern according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another rotating means of the ring lantern according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of still another rotating means of the ring lantern according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the ring lantern according to the first embodiment of the present invention, which is worn on a user's finger;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a ring lantern according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of the ring lantern according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the ring lantern according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the ring lantern according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which is worn on a user's finger.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

This invention will be described in further detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<first embodiment*

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ring lantern according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B' of FIG. 1.

As shown in the drawings, the ring lantern 110 according to this embodiment comprises an annular ring 120 to be worn on a user's finger, a connecting member 130 rotatably coupled to the ring 120, a lantern 140 fitted in the connecting member 130 and having a power supply 142 and lighting means 144 (an electric bulb in this embodiment), and a push-button switch 150 adapted to switch the lighting means 144 to ON/OFF.

More specifically, the ring 120 of the ring lantern 110 is shaped in an annular form, and is provided with a cut portion 120a which is adapted to allow a diameter of the ring to be enlarged depending on a diameter of a user's finger. The connecting member 130 is made of a conductor, and is shaped in an annular form to allow the lantern 140 to be fitted thereinto. The connecting member 130 is rotatably coupled to the ring 120 by rotating means 160. The rotating means 160 comprises a protrusion 162 integrally formed on an outer circumferential surface of the connecting member 130, a hole 164 formed on an outer surface of the ring 120 into which the protrusion 162 is closely fitted, and an elastic member 166 made of rubber fitted over the protrusion 162. The lantern 140 comprises a cylindrical conductive body 146 with a blind end, which is inserted into the connecting member 130, and which is provided at its outer surface with a lead-out hole 146a communicating with the inside of the lantern 140 and is provided at its inner surface with a guide groove 146b connected between its opened end and the lead-out hole 146a, a power supply 142 (a common dry battery in this embodiment) received in the lantern body 146, as used in a conventional lantern 140, lighting means 144 which is applied with electric current from the power supply 142 and adapted to be turned on/off, and a spring 148 for elastically biasing the lighting means 144. A conductive wire 144a which is in contact with the lighting means 144 at its one end is seated in the guide groove 146b and then led out of the lead-out hole 146a.

The lantern 140 and the connecting member 130 are made of conductive substance. As shown in FIG. 3, negative (-) current flows on the lantern 140 and the connecting member 130 by the lantern body 146 being in contact with a negative (-) pole of the power supply 142. The switch 150 is adapted to turn on/off the lighting means 144 provided at the lantern 140 by a one-touch operation, and is received in a housing 152 fixed to the connecting member 130.

The housing 152 is made of a conductor, and is provided at its bottom surface with a lead-in hole 152a, which allows the other end of the conductive wire 144a to be inserted thereinto and then to come into contact with the switch.

The housing 152 including the push-button switch 150 therein is proved at its upper end with an elastic waterproof cap 154 for preventing infiltration of water.

In the ring lantern 110 according to this embodiment, since the connecting member 130, the lantern body 146, and the housing 152 containing the push-button switch 150 are made of conductors, and the lantern body 146 is in contact with the negative pole (-) of the power supply 142, negative current flows on the above- mentioned components. Furthermore, since the other end of conductive wire 144a, which is in contact with the lighting means 144 at its one end, is connected with the push-button switch 150, the lighting means 144 can be turned on/off by a one-touch operation.

Though the rotating means 160 of this embodiment has been described as being comprised of the protrusion 162 integrally formed on the connecting member 130, the hole 164 formed on the outer surface of the ring 120 into which the protrusion 162 is closely fitted, and the elastic member 166, it may be embodied into various manners, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7.

More specifically, the rotating means 160 may be comprised of a threaded protrusion 162a integrally formed on the outer surface of the connecting member

130, and a threaded hole 164a formed on the outer surface of the ring 120, which corresponds to the threaded protrusion 162a, with the elastic member 166 disposed therebetween (see FIG. 5).

Alternatively, the rotating means 160 may be comprised of a hook protrusion 162b integrally formed on the connecting member 130 with an end bent in a direction, a stepped hole 164b formed on the ring 120, and a connecting piece 168 having a head placed on stepped surface of the stepped hole 164b and a through hole 168a into which the bent end of the hook protrusion 162b is inserted (see FIG. 6).

Furthermore, the rotating means 160 may be comprised of a stepped hole

164c formed at the connecting member 130, a threaded hole 164d formed in the ring 120, and a threaded piece 168b having a head placed on a stepped surface of the stepped hole 164c and a threaded portion to be tightened into the threaded hole

164d (see FIG. 7).

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the ring lantern according to the first embodiment of the present invention, which is used in an operation of putting a bait on a fish hook. An operation of using the ring lantern according to the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. The ring 120 of the ring lantern 110, which is equipped with the lantern 140 and the push-button switch 150, is put on a user's index finger.

Thereafter, the waterproof cap 154 disposed on the upper end of the housing 152 containing the push-button switch 150 is pressed by a user's thumb, so that the lighting means 144 is turned on by electric current applied thereto through the wire 144a connected between the lighting means 144 and the pushbutton switch 150 because negative (-) electric current from the power supply is always applied to the housing 152 via the body 146 of the lantern 140, the connecting member 130. Subsequently, the lantern 140 is rotated in a desired direction by the user.

At this point, the rotation of the lantern 140 can be obtained by the rotating means 160 because the protrusion 162 integrally formed on an outer surface of the connecting member 130 is rotatably fitted into the hole 164 of the ring 120 through the elastic member 166 such as a rubber. By employing the light emitted from the lighting means 144 of the lantern

140, the user can easily put a bait on a fishing hook.

After the bait is put on the fishing hook, the push-button switch 150 is pressed by the user's thumb to turn off the lantern 150.

As previously described above, since the ring lantern according to the present invention is used in a state of being worn on a user's finger, the user can easily carry out his fishing operation while irradiating light to a desired direction.

It will be appreciated that the specific components of the present invention are not limited to the above particular embodiment, and various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

For example, although the lighting means has been described to be embodied by a usual small electric bulb and the power supply has been described to be embodied by a usual small dry battery, they are not limited to the above- mentioned components. In other words, the lighting means may be substituted with an LED as in the second embodiment while its basic structures are maintained. Furthermore, the power supply may be also selected from the group consisting of a mercury battery, an alkali manganese dry battery, a silver oxide cell and a nickel-cadmium battery. <second embodiment

This embodiment is substantially identical to the first embodiment in its basic structure, but it is designed to be reduced in its size so that inconvenience of a user in handling the ring lantern is alleviated.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a ring lantern according to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of the ring lantern according to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the ring lantern according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 shows the ring lantern according to the second embodiment which is put on a user's finger.

The ring lantern according to the second embodiment comprises a lantern body including a first housing 270, a second housing 290 and a third housing 221, a push-button switch 210, a power supply 280, and a ring 200. The components of the ring lantern according to the present invention will now be described.

The first housing 270 is closed at its one end and is opened at the other end. The first housing 270 is provided at its inner surface with a female threaded portion 271. The first housing 270 is provided therein with a power supply 280, and is centrally provided at its bottom with a protrusion 272.

The second housing 290 is adapted to be coupled to the first housing 270. The second housing 290 is opened at its one end, and is internally provided with a partition wall 293. The second housing 290 is externally provided at the other end with a male threaded portion 292. The partition wall 293 is formed with a hole 293a at a position downwardly remote from the center of the partition wall.

The second housing 290 is provided at its upper surface with an opening 291.

As the first housing 270 is rotated clockwise after the power supply 280 is received into the first housing 270, the female threaded portion 271 of the first housing 270 is engaged with the male threaded portion 292 of the second housing 290. At this point, since a waterproof member 281 (O-ring) is disposed on a stop flange 292a, the waterproof member 281 is compressed by an end surface of the first housing 270, thereby assuring water-tightness of a conjunction between the first housing 270 and the second housing 290. The second housing 290 is formed at its lower surface with a hole 203.

In this embodiment, the power supply is comprised of one mercury battery or several mercury batteries, which are connected in series to output a certain electric energy. Accordingly, the power supply of this embodiment can have a larger capacity while being reduced its size as compared to a common dry battery.

The third housing 221 is axially perforated, and is provided with a lighting means 220 at its perforated front end. In this embodiment, an LED is used as the power supply 220. Since the LED has a small size and a long service time as compared to a conventional light source such as an electric bulb, and is adapted to directly convert electric energy to light energy, the LED has various advantages in that low electric power is consumed and energy efficiency is enhanced. Hence, the LED is particularly suited to the ring lantern according to the present invention. A (-) terminal 222 extended from the lighting means is connected to the third housing 221, and a (+) terminal 223 is connected to a (+) terminal of a pushbutton switch.

Another waterproof member is also provided at a conjunction between the second housing 290 and the third housing 221 to seal the conjunction. An end of the third housing 221 is coupled to the opened end of the second housing 290.

The push-button switch 210 is fitted into the above-mentioned opening 219. The push-button switch 210 is provided at its upper surface with a receiving portion 215a of elastic material. The receiving portion 215a is centrally provided with a protrusion 214, and a waterproof member 215 is disposed in the receiving portion 215a around the protrusion 214. An elastic waterproof cap 213 is attached to the receiving portion 215a to be disposed over the protrusion 214. Therefore, as the elastic waterproof cap 213 is pressed, the protrusion 214 of the push-button switch 210 is lowered, thus causing the push-button switch 210 to be switched to an ON state or an OFF state. The push-button switch 210 is provided at its lower end with two terminals 211 and 212 protruded therefrom. One 211 of the two terminals 211 and 212 is connected to the power supply through the hole 293a, and the other 212 is connected to the terminal 223 of the lighting means 220. An elastic means 216 (a small spring in this embodiment) is disposed at an end of the terminal 212.

The ring 200 is provided at its lower portion with a cut portion 201, so that a diameter of the ring can be freely adjusted. The ring 200 is provided at its top with connecting pin 200a. The connecting pin 200a is shaped to have an upper part of a diameter larger than that of a lower part such that the ring 200 cannot be separated from the lantern body once the ring 200 is coupled to the body. Disposed between the second housing 290 and the ring 200 is a waterproof member 202.

FIG. 12 shows the ring lantern according to the second embodiment, which is worn on a user's finger to illuminate a target object or area.

An operation of the ring lantern according to this embodiment will now be described. To carry out a particular work, the ring lantern is first put on a user's index finger. The elastic waterproof cap is pressed by a user's thumb to connect the terminals 211 and 212 to each other, thereby causing the push-button switch to be switched to ON.

At this point, the (-) pole of the power supply is connected to the first, second and third housings 270, 290 and 221 via the protrusion 272, and is in result connected to the (-) terminal of the lighting means 220, and the (+) pole of the power supply 220 is connected to the terminal 212 of the push-button switch 210. Therefore, since the (-) pole of the power supply is always connected to the lighting means via the conductive first, second and third housings 270, 290 and 221, electric current from the power supply is applied to the lighting means 220 or is interrupted by ON/OFF operation of the push-button switch.

It will be appreciated that the specific components of the present invention are not limited to the above particular embodiment, and various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, although the lighting means has been described to be embodied by an LED and the power supply has bee described to be embodied by a mercury battery, they are not limited to the above-mentioned components, as in the first embodiment. In other words, the lighting means may be substituted with a small electric bulb while its basic structures are maintained. Furthermore, the power supply may be also selected from the group consisting of a mercury battery, an alkali manganese dry battery, a silver oxide cell and a nickel-cadmium battery.

In addition, an orientation the power supply is not necessarily limited to the above-mentioned one, and the power supply may be disposed in the direction opposite to the above direction such that the polarities of the power supply are reversed.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, the present invention provides advantages as follows.

(1) When there is a need to change a bait or grasp a fishing line without interfering with other persons during night fishing, or when a small and bright light source is required to work in an industrial field, the ring lantern according to the present invention can be quickly turned on to efficiently illuminate a desired area with light without an additional gripping operation.

(2) In particular, the ring lantern according to the second embodiment of the present invention provides following advantages.

1. Since the ring lantern is adapted to use minimum sized dry cells such as mercury batteries as a power supply, an overall size of the ring lantern can be considerably reduced and thus load applied to a user's finger can be remarkably reduced.

2. Since there is no need to use a spring adapted to apply electric current from a power supply to a lantern body by providing a first housing of the lantern body with a protrusion, it is possible to prevent malfunctions of the ring lantern due to decrease of elasticity of a spring.

3. Even though a user carries out a work in a state of being in contact with moisture, it is possible to basically prevent infiltration of moisture into the ring lantern by providing waterproof members to boundaries between all components. 4. Since a push-button switch, which has been separately provided to the outside of a lantern, is internally provided in a ring lantern, it is possible to prevent the push-button switch from interfering with other objects. Furthermore, since wires externally led out of a push-button switch are omitted, breakdown of the ring lantern due to breakage of the wires can be prevented.

5. Since a connecting member is integrally formed with a ring, it is possible to prevent the connecting member from being separated from a second housing of a ring lantern.

Claims

1. A ring lantern comprising: an annular ring; an annular conductive connecting member rotatably coupled to an outer surface of the ring via means for allowing the connecting member to be rotated; a lantern including a conductive cylindrical body with a blind end, which is inserted in the connecting member and which is provided at its outer surface with a lead-out hole communicating with the inside of the body and provided at its inner surface with a guide groove extending between the other opened end of the body and the lead-out hole, a power supply received in the body, means for emitting light, and a spring disposed between the power supply and the blind end of the body to allow one pole of the power supply to be connected to the body; a housing coupled to the outer surface of the connecting member, which is provided at its bottom with a lead-in hole through which a wire led out through the lead-out hole of the body is inserted into the inside of the housing; and a push-button switch received in the housing, which is connected at one terminal to the wire introduced through the lead-in hole and at the other terminal to an inner surface of the housing.

2. The ring lantern as set forth in claim 1, wherein the housing is covered with a waterproof cap to prevent external moisture from infiltrating into the housing.

3. A ring lantern comprising: an annular ring; a body including a second housing rotatably coupled to an upper surface of the ring and having a top opening and a bottom hole, a third housing coupled to an end of the second housing and axially perforated, and a first housing coupled to the other end of the second housing and having an internal protrusion at its blind end, all of which are electrically conductive; a power supply which is electrically connected to the internal protrusion of the first housing at its one pole to allow electric current to flow in the whole body; a push-button switch, one terminal of which is connected to the other pole of the power supply; and means for emitting light, which is electrically connected to the body and the other terminal of the power supply at its both terminals to emit light by switching on of the push-button switch.

4. The ring lantern as set forth in claim 3, wherein the push-button switch is fitted into the top opening of the second housing in an integral manner.

5. The ring lantern as set forth in claim 3, wherein a conjunction between the first and second housings, a conjunction between the second housing and the ring, a conjunction between the second and third housings, and the push-button switch are provided with waterproof members, respectively, to prevent infiltration of moisture.

6. The ring lantern as set forth in claim 1 or 3, wherein the power supply is selected from a group consisting of a mercury battery, an alkali manganese dry battery, a silver oxide cell and a nickel-cadmium battery.

7. The ring lantern as set forth in claim 1 or 3, wherein the means for emitting light is comprised of an electric bulb or an LED.

8. The ring lantern as set forth in claim 1 or 3, wherein the ring is provided with a cut portion to allow its diameter to be enlarged depending on a diameter of a user's finger.