Flexible Neck Light with Coil-Elastomer Composite

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing portable lights lack versatility, comfort, and effective hands-free illumination, as they often require hands to adjust light focus and may not fit snugly around objects or users' necks, and they do not efficiently utilize space for battery placement, leading to reduced compactness and stability.

Innovation Solution

A portable light with a flexible member surrounded by a metal coil and over-molded elastomeric material, featuring light sources at each end, a rechargeable battery at one end, and adjustable switches, allowing for comfortable wear, tight radius wrapping, and compact storage, along with an additional flood light source for enhanced illumination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the light is designed with a rigid structure, then it provides stability, but it cannot be wrapped around tight radiuses or worn comfortably around a user's neck

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidflexibility for wrapping and wearing

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a flexible member comprising a metal coil surrounded by an elastomeric material, creating a structure that can be wrapped around tight radiuses and worn comfortably around a user's neck while maintaining structural integrity through the coil-e elastomeric composite construction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite structure combining a metal coil with an over-molded elastomeric material, where the metal coil provides structural memory and stability while the elastomeric material provides flexibility and comfort for wrapping and wearing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If the battery is placed in the center of the light, then it provides balanced weight distribution, but it prevents the light from being tightly wrapped around smaller radiuses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight balanceVSAvoidcapability to wrap around small radiuses

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the battery in one body member at one end of the flexible member rather than in the center, creating an asymmetric weight distribution that enables the light to be tightly wrapped around smaller radiuses while the flexible member and metal coil provide structural support

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Device complexity

If the light sources are fixed in position, then the structure is simple, but the user cannot focus the light on the specific area being worked on

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidadjustability for focusing light

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the light sources adjustable by allowing the body members to be positioned at different angles along the flexible member, enabling users to focus light on specific areas while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through the flexible member's inherent adjustability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If the light is designed for hands-free operation, then it provides convenience, but existing designs lack comfort and proper fit for wearing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehands-free convenienceVSAvoiddiscomfort and poor fit

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses an elastomeric material covering the metal coil to create a flexible, comfortable structure that can be worn around the user's neck without causing discomfort, enabling effective hands-free operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The composite of metal coil and elastomeric material provides both the structural memory needed for maintaining shape and the softness required for comfortable wearing, solving the discomfort issue of hands-free designs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS11300279B2Portable light

Publication Date: 2022.04.12 WALTER R TUCKER ENTERPRISES LTD D B A E Z RED

AI summary

A portable light for attaching to an object or wearing on a user's neck is disclosed having a flexible member adapted to be attached to the object or to fit around a user's neck, body members at each end of the flexible member each having a light source, a power source and an on/off switch.