Work Light

Abstract

In one aspect, a light device is provided having an elongate body that has a high strength construction. The high-strength light device is especially well-suited for use as a work light. The work light includes a high-strength body that has a handle and an elongate light-transmissive portion extending from the handle. Preferably, the light-transmissive portion includes a one-piece tubular wall that is tapered and which is molded from a high-strength material. In another aspect, the light device includes anti-rolling surfaces axially between the handle and light transmission portion along the elongate body. The anti-rolling surfaces preferably have a flat configuration so that the flat surfaces keep the elongate body from rolling when placed on a support surface.

1 . A light device for providing illumination to work areas, the light device comprising:
 an elongate body having a high-strength construction;   a handle of the body at one end thereof;   a light source;   an elongate, substantially light-transmissive portion of the body in which the light source is disposed for emanating light therefrom and extending away from the handle;   a predetermined high-strength material of the light-transmissive portion for optimizing pressure resistance thereof; and   a one piece tubular wall of the light-transmissive portion having a predetermined taper so that the wall has a larger diameter adjacent the handle and a smaller diameter distal therefrom with the taper of the tubular wall permitting the tubular wall to be formed both of one piece and with the high strength material to provide the elongate body with the high-strength construction thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The light device of  claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a plurality of aligned LEDs to keep the diameters of the tapered tubular wall to a minimum. 
     
     
         3 . The light device of  claim 1 , wherein the light source includes a printed circuit board having opposite sides that taper inward toward each other so that the printed circuit board generally has a wedge fit in the tapered, tubular wall of the light-transmissive body portion. 
     
     
         4 . The light device of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined high strength material is one of a polycarbonate and an acrylic polymer material. 
     
     
         5 . The light device of  claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises an elongate printed circuit board and a plurality of LEDs that are aligned along one side of the printed circuit board, and the tubular wall has a central axis extending therethrough with the printed circuit board having a proximate end aligned with the central axis at the larger diameter of the tubular wall and a distal end that is offset from the central axis at the smaller diameter of the tubular wall to permit the LEDs to be of the same size substantially irrespective of the position along the length of the elongate circuit board. 
     
     
         6 . The light device of  claim 5 , wherein the tubular wall has an inner surface and the predetermined taper is on the tubular wall inner surface, and a spacing between the distal end of the printed circuit board and the tubular wall inner surface being about the same as a spacing between the proximate end of the printed circuit board and the tubular wall inner surface. 
     
     
         7 . The light device of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular wall diameters do not exceed approximately 1 inch to keep a size of the light-transmissive portion to a minimum for lighting of confined spaces therewith. 
     
     
         8 . The light device of  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a housing having openings and fasteners extending through the openings for connecting the housing together,
 the light source includes an elongate printed circuit board that extends into the handle housing and the light-transmissive portion, the printed circuit board includes openings for the fasteners, and   a stop that defines a predetermined position of the printed circuit board in the handle housing and the light-transmissive portion such that the openings of the printed circuit board and the housing are aligned to allow the fasteners extend therethrough.   
     
     
         9 . The light device of  claim 1  including a mounting assembly connected to the elongate body that is configured for optimized flexibility in mounting the elongate body to different configurations and constructions of mounting surfaces. 
     
     
         10 . The light device of  claim 9 , wherein the mounting assembly includes a connector portion of the elongate body, a plurality of different mounting devices for mounting the elongate body to the differently configured and constructed mounting surfaces, and a releaseable connection between the connector portion and each of the different mounting devices to allow a user to select and readily interchange one of the plurality of mounting devices for another for being attached to the same connector portion of the elongate body. 
     
     
         11 . The light device of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of mounting devices includes a magnetic mounting device and a hook mounting device. 
     
     
         12 . The light device of  claim 10 , wherein the releaseable connection comprises a ball and socket connection with the connector portion including one of the ball and the socket and the mounting devices each including the other of the ball and the socket. 
     
     
         13 . The light device of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a seal member between the handle and the light-transmissive portion to form a substantially air-tight seal therebetween such that the light device can provide illumination in explosive work areas. 
     
     
         14 . A work-light device for providing illumination to work areas, the work-light device comprising:
 a generally hollow handle;   a one-piece, generally tubular illumination casing connected to the handle at one end and having an integral end portion distal from the handle and an integral side portion extending from the handle end to the distal end portion, the end portion and side portion defining an interior space;   the side portion having a taper such that the illumination casing has a smaller diameter at the end portion than at the handle end;   the one-piece, generally tubular illumination casing being molded of a high-strength, substantially light-transmissive material;   a printed circuit board having a base portion mounted in the handle and an elongate portion sized to be inserted into the interior space; and   a plurality of LEDs mounted to the elongate portion of the printed circuit board for providing illumination through the illumination casing.   
     
     
         15 . The light device of  claim 14 , wherein the taper of the casing side portion and the high-strength, substantially light transmissive material are selected to provide the illumination casing with strength sufficient to withstand a compression force of about 500 to about 2000 pounds per square inch. 
     
     
         16 . The light device of  claim 15 , wherein the illumination casing tapers from a diameter of about 1 inch at the handle end down to a diameter of about 0.70 inch at the end portion and wherein the high-strength, substantially light-transmissive material is selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate and acrylic plastics. 
     
     
         17 . The light device of  claim 14 , wherein the illumination casing tapers from a diameter of about 1 inch at the connection to the handle down to a diameter of about 0.70 inches at the end portion. 
     
     
         18 . The light device of  claim 14 , wherein the high-strength, substantially light-transmissive material is selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate and acrylic. 
     
     
         19 . The light device of  claim 14 , wherein the casing has a central longitudinal axis and a shoulder wall portion adjacent the handle end extending transverse to the casing axis for providing optimizing resistance to compression forces at the larger diameter handle connection. 
     
     
         20 . The light device of  claim 14 , wherein the printed circuit board has proximal and distal ends and a majority of the plurality of LEDs being substantially equally spaced along the printed circuit board with a pair of distal LEDs being more closely spaced than the other LEDs for providing concentrated illumination at the distal end.