Light assembly of pre-defined shape

Abstract

A light assembly having a pre-defined shape is provided to be removably attached to a mating guide provided on any convenient device but advantageously provided on a weapon. The light assembly comprises a housing provided with suitable optics having a light source at one end thereof and batteries for powering the light source through a switch. The housing has a pair of lateral members which are movable between a retracted position and an extended position so that, when the members are in the retracted position, the light assembly has the above-mentioned pre-defined shape and when the members are in the extended position, they are adapted to engage the mating guide. Means for preventing the longitudinal movement of the light assembly on the mating guide are also provided with the light assembly. In a particularly advantageous application, the light assembly can thus be easily mounted and used as a target illumination and/or aiming device with a weapon or be readily used as a separate and independent entity.

1 . A light assembly having a pre-defined shape, for removable attachment to a mating guide, said light assembly comprising a housing provided with suitable optics having a light source at one end thereof and batteries for powering said light source through a switch, said housing having: 
 a) a pair of lateral members being movable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein: 
 when said members are in the retracted position, the light assembly has said pre-defined shape; and  
 when said members are in the extended position, said members are adapted to engage said mating guide; and  
   b) means for preventing longitudinal movement of the light assembly on the mating guide.    
   
   
       2 . The light assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing has two sides, each one of said two sides being provided with a channel for receiving a respective one of said lateral members, where each one of said lateral members comprises an inner substantially planar face bounded by a stop screw, and wherein the mating guide is planar, parallel to the housing and perpendicular to the inner planar face of the lateral members, said mating guide comprising rail grooves parallel to each other projecting outwardly, planar to the mating guide; said inner face of the lateral members being adjacent to the housing and provided with a longitudinal groove proximate and parallel to the lower edge, said longitudinal groove being shaped and sized to slidably engage the flange.  
   
   
       3 . The light assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein when the lateral members are further provided with locking means for locking said lateral members in the retracted position and in the extended position.  
   
   
       4 . The light assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein each channel is shaped and sized to receive a corresponding lateral member, said channel comprising a back face for maintaining the lateral member within said channel.  
   
   
       5 . The light assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein each channel is substantially U-shaped and sized to receive a corresponding lateral member, said U-shaped channel being provided with guiding members protruding outwardly and perpendicularly from said channel, for slidably engaging corresponding grooves extending from the upper edge to the lower edge of the lateral members.  
   
   
       6 . The light assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the mating guide is provided with a plurality of cross-slots and wherein each one of said lateral members further includes a latch having: 
 an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion and said lower portion each having an inner face adjacent to the side of the housing and an outer face; and    a latch projection projecting inwardly from the inner face of said lower portion of the latch, for engaging any one of said cross-slots,    said latch being inwardly biased;    wherein the latch is pivotable between an operative position and an inoperative position so that:    a—when the latch is in the operative position, with the latch projection protruding into the side of the housing, thereby providing the means for preventing longitudinal movement of the light assembly on the mating guide; and    b—when the latch is in the inoperative position, the upper portion is pivoted inwardly toward the housing while the lower portion is pivoted outwardly away from the housing, thereby preventing the latch projection from engaging any one of said cross-slots.    
   
   
       7 . The light assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein each channel comprises a back face and sidewalls, said back face comprising a depression shaped and sized to receive a respective one of said latch projections so that, when the lateral members are in the retracted position, each one of said respective latch projections engages said respective depression.  
   
   
       8 . The light assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the switch is a push button.  
   
   
       9 . The light assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the pre-defined shape is a substantially cylindrical shape.  
   
   
       10 . The light assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the light source is a LED assembly.  
   
   
       11 . The light assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the light source is a laser.  
   
   
       12 . The light assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the light source is a combination of a LED and a laser.  
   
   
       13 . The light assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the light source is a combination of an incandescent light source and a laser.  
   
   
       14 . The light assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said mating guide is provided on a weapon.  
   
   
       15 . The light assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said mating guide is provided on a device on which the light assembly is to be mounted.  
   
   
       16 . A method for removably attaching a light assembly, said light assembly having a pre-defined shape, for removable attachment to a mating guide, said light assembly comprising a housing provided with suitable optics having a light source at one end thereof and batteries for powering said light source through a switch, said housing having a pair of lateral members being movable between a retracted position and an extended position and means for preventing longitudinal movement of the light assembly on the mating guide, said method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing said light assembly;    b) depressing the latches to the inoperative position so as to allow the lateral members to slide until they are in the extended position and the latch lock engaged;    c) engaging longitudinal rail grooves of the lateral members into flanges of the guide;    d) moving and maintaining latches of the lateral members in an inoperative position, while sliding the light assembly on the mating guide; and    e) moving the latches in an operative position so as to lock the light assembly in place on the mating guide.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising of the step of detaching the light assembly from the mating guide, said step of detaching comprising the sub-steps of: 
 f) moving and maintaining the latches in the inoperative position, while sliding the light assembly longitudinally of the flanges of the mating guide; and    g) depressing the latch lock so that the latches slide back into the light assembly, so that the light assembly resumes the pre-defined shape.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the initial step of mounting said mating guide on a weapon.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the initial step of mounting said mating guide on a device on which the light assembly is to be mounted.