US5130907A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light apparatus for use with a compact computer video screen
Assignee: Curtis Manufacturing Co Inc
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Filing: 1992-01-29
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Granted: 1992-07-14
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Expires: 2012-01-29
Abstract
Abstract A portable, compact, battery-operated light apparatus for use with a compact computer game having a LCD video screen for enhancing the visibility of the LCD screen in use, which light apparatus comprises a body with a battery compartment and having side panels which define an open viewing space and lights provided in the body element to provide for indirect lighting of the viewing space, the light apparatus comprising a portable, compact, battery-powered light apparatus and which includes ridges on the light apparatus which snap in a releasable manner onto the grooves in a compact computer game video system to releasably secure the light apparatus in position over the LCD video screen of the compact game system.
Inventors
- 👤 Angelo Tortola
- 👤 Robert Howitt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:40
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21V; F21V33/00; F21V33/0004; F21V33/0052; A; A63; A63F; A63F13/00; A63F13/90; A63F13/92; A63F13/98; G; G02; G02B; G02B25/00; G02B25/02; G02B27/00; G02B27/02; G02B27/04; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/20; A63F2300/204
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
A portable, battery-operated, compact light apparatus for use in enhancing the view of a computer video screen, which light apparatus comprises: a) a body having a plurality of side panels which define an open video-viewing space within the body, the video-viewing space adapted to conform generally to the size of the compact computer video screen to be enhanced for viewing by the user; b) a battery compartment adapted to receive one or more batteries as a power source for the light apparatus; c) light means to light up one or more surfaces of the side panels to have light from said lighting means enhance the viewing of the compact computer video screen; d) electrical switch means to control the power from the power source; e) electrical connection means to connect the light means through the switch means to the battery compartment and to the batteries as a power source to be employed therein; and f) attachment means to secure releasably the body of the light apparatus directly onto the computer apparatus, so that the open viewing space of the light apparatus may be positioned over the video screen of the computer apparatus, and whereby the light enhances the view of the video screen in use by the user.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
208 words
A portable, battery-operated, compact light apparatus for use in enhancing the view of a computer video screen, which light apparatus comprises: a) a body having a plurality of side panels which define an open video-viewing space within the body, the video-viewing space adapted to conform generally to the size of the compact computer video screen to be enhanced for viewing by the user; b) a battery compartment adapted to receive one or more batteries as a power source for the light apparatus; c) light means to light up one or more surfaces of the side panels to have light from said lighting means enhance the viewing of the compact computer video screen; d) electrical switch means to control the power from the power source; e) electrical connection means to connect the light means through the switch means to the battery compartment and to the batteries as a power source to be employed therein; and f) attachment means to secure releasably the body of the light apparatus directly onto the computer apparatus, so that the open viewing space of the light apparatus may be positioned over the video screen of the computer apparatus, and whereby the light enhances the view of the video screen in use by the user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the battery compartment is secured to the top section of the body, and the bottom surface of the battery compartment extends outwardly beyond the back surface of the body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light means comprises first and second light bulbs positioned generally adjacent opposite side panels of the body, and which side panels include a shield section means, to shield the light bulbs from direct viewing and to reflect the light of the first and second light bulbs toward the side panels for reflection onto the video screen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the attachment means comprises one or more raised ridge means on the body, the raised ridge means adapted to fit into a close, snap-in relationship with groove means on the compact computer apparatus, whereby the light apparatus may be retained with the compact computer apparatus and the open viewing space of the light apparatus positioned over the video screen of the compact computer apparatus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the attachment means includes a first raised, straight ridge on the top back surface of the body and a second raised, straight ridge on the extended bottom surface of the battery compartment, the first and second raised ridge adapted to snap respectively into corresponding grooves on the top front and top surface of a compact computer apparatus, so as to attach the light apparatus to the compact computer apparatus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 which includes batteries positioned in the battery compartment as a power source for the light means of the apparatus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the body includes a plurality of light-colored side panels, and the light means is positioned to light up indirectly one or more surfaces of the side panels, to provide indirect reflected light onto the computer video screen.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 1 which includes four panels, to define the open viewing area, which include first and second side panels at an angle to the video screen, and top and bottom panels generally perpendicular to the video screen, to define a rectangular open viewing space.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The compact computer apparatus having a video screen for viewing by a user, and which includes releasably attached thereto the light apparatus of claim 16, with the open viewing space of the light apparatus positioned generally over the video screen of the compact computer apparatus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The compact computer apparatus of claim 9 wherein the video screen comprises an LCD video screen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A compact computer apparatus having an LCD video screen which includes releasably attached thereto, in a snap-on relationship, the light apparatus of claim 5.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the body has an opening therein, to permit the user to view a battery-warning light on the compact computer apparatus, when the light apparatus is attached to the compact computer apparatus.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of enhancing the viewing of an LCD video screen of a computer apparatus, which method comprises: a) providing a battery-operated, portable light apparatus having an open viewing space adapted to be placed over the LCD video screen and indirectly lighting the open viewing space; b) providing a computer apparatus having an LCD video screen which requires enhanced lighting for viewing in partial light conditions; c) securing in a releasable manner the light apparatus onto the computer apparatus, with the open viewing space of the light apparatus positioned over the video-viewing screen; and d) indirectly lighting the video-viewing screen by lights in the light apparatus.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of enhancing the viewing of an LCD video screen of a computer apparatus, which method comprises: a) providing a battery-operated, portable light apparatus having an open viewing space adapted to be placed over the LCD video screen and indirectly lighting the open viewing space; b) providing a computer apparatus having an LCD video screen which requires enhanced lighting for viewing in partial light conditions; c) securing in a releasable manner the light apparatus onto the computer apparatus, with the open viewing space of the light apparatus positioned over the video-viewing screen; and d) indirectly lighting the video-viewing screen by lights in the light apparatus.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 13 which includes providing a pair of spaced-apart, raised ridges in the light apparatus, and providing a compact computer apparatus having a pair of correspondingly spaced-apart grooves, and securing the light apparatus onto the computer apparatus by snapping the raised ridges into the grooves.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 13 which includes providing ridge means on the light apparatus, and securing the light apparatus to the computer apparatus by the ridge means fitting into groove means on the compact computer apparatus.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 30 which includes laterally sliding the light apparatus in relation to the computer apparatus, to position the open viewing space of the light apparatus directly over the video screen of the computer apparatus.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 13 which includes providing a plurality of light-colored side panels in the light apparatus, to define the open viewing space, and indirectly lighting the video-viewing screen by reflected light from the side panels.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 17 which includes tilting one or more opposite side panels, to reflect light onto the video-viewing screen.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the light apparatus includes a battery compartment for one or more batteries as a power source for the lights of the light apparatus, and which method includes securing, in a releasable manner to the battery compartment, the computer apparatus.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 13 which includes indirectly lighting the video-viewing screen of the computer apparatus by side-reflected light from the light apparatus.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-07-14 | 1996-01-13 | 1996-07-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-07-14 | 2000-01-13 | 2000-07-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-07-14 | 2004-01-13 | 2004-07-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |