Elastic Illuminated Accessory for Shadow-Free Lighting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing artificial light sources, such as flashlights and headlamps, create shadows and are cumbersome to use, especially during activities requiring hand-eye coordination like hair trimming, necessitating a more convenient and versatile lighting solution.
Innovation Solution
An illuminated accessory with a circular, elastic housing containing a power source and multiple electric lights, allowing for adjustable light emission from both sides and integration of additional features like a clock, camera, or microphone, which can be securely attached to items like hair trimmers or wrists, providing flexible and compact lighting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a flashlight or headlamp is used to provide artificial light, then illumination is provided, but shadows are created and the device is cumbersome to hold or support
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the light source into multiple small LED lights distributed around the circular housing, allowing light to be emitted from multiple locations simultaneously. This eliminates shadows by providing illumination from around the object rather than from a single point, and allows hands-free operation when attached to objects like hair trimmers or worn on the wrist.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-point light source (traditional flashlight/headlamp) to a distributed light source arranged in a circular pattern. This dimensional change from 0D point source to 1D circular array enables light to be emitted from multiple angles simultaneously, eliminating shadows and providing versatile illumination for hands-free operation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple electric lights are distributed around a circular housing, then shadow-free illumination is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The circular housing design with distributed LEDs serves multiple functions: it eliminates shadows through multi-directional lighting, provides hands-free operation capability, allows attachment to various objects (hair trimmers, wrists), and can be configured with different numbers and arrangements of LEDs. This universal design resolves the complexity issue by creating a single platform that achieves shadow elimination while maintaining operational simplicity.
3Volume of moving object
If the housing is made elastic and compact, then portability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an elastic housing that can be stretched or compressed to fit different applications. This flexible shell allows the device to be compact for portability while maintaining structural integrity. The elastic material accommodates the distributed LED arrangement and provides a universal fit for various objects, resolving the tension between compact size and manufacturing precision through material flexibility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The illuminated accessory offers improved light distribution and versatility, allowing for hands-free use in various tasks and environments, enhancing usability and convenience by maximizing light emission and allowing selective control of light patterns and colors.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of electric lights attached to the housing, wherein the plurality of electric lights is operably connected to the power source by an electrical connection
Data Source
AI summary
An illuminated accessory. The illuminated accessory includes a housing that may be elastic, a power source inside the housing, electric lights connected to the power source, and a power switch to control the electric lights and/or other components of the illuminated accessory, such as a camera, a microphone, a clock, and/or a timer. The illuminated accessory may be configured to wrap around a wrist of an individual and worn as a bracelet, and/or may be configured to wrap around a device, such as a hair trimmer, and used as a light source when performing an activity, such as trimming hair.