Supports – Instrument in panel
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-21
2002-01-08
Ramirez, Ramon O. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Instrument in panel
C248S343000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06336613
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an adjustable bracket or holder for mounting a lighting reflector. More particularly, the present invention relates to a new assembly by which a user may conveniently mount a lighting to a lighting fixture housing and easily adjust the reflector in relation to the housing, to focus or direct light produced by the lamp residing in the fixture. The mounting and adjusting assembly utilizes a sliding engagement between the reflector and the fixture housing, and at least one spring-biased pin, operable with only a single hand, thereby allowing the user to mount and adjust the bracket using one hand, while freeing the user's second hand for holding the reflector during mounting and adjustment.
BACKGROUND ART OF THE INVENTION
In many lighting fixture installations, and particularly when large lighting fixtures are used, a reflector may be supplied separate from the lighting housing. The reflector in such cases is often secured to the housing after the housing is secured to a beam or other support. Securing the reflector to the housing after the housing is in place allows the user to fasten the housing to the support, and connect electrical wiring, without the necessity of working around the sometimes large reflector. At the same time the user may lift the housing and reflector into position separately, so that no individual piece of the fixture is unmanageably heavy or ungainly.
In many lighting fixture installations a reflector is sufficient to direct light from the lamp to the areas to be lighted, and away from areas where lighting is not desired. Once the reflector is secured to the housing, it is desirable to be able to adjust the reflector in relation to the lamp, in order to refine the light-directing effect of the reflector. In some cases, depending upon the location and application, a refracting globe or lens, or a simple shade, is used to achieve similar light-directing effect.
A number of schemes have been devised to accomplish the adjustment necessary to direct light from the fixture to areas requiring light. These schemes include apparatus for moving the socket holding the lamp within the assembled fixture, pivoting shades, and shades which rotate or slide within other shades. Various designs and configurations for such apparatus, including adjustable mounts, brackets, and other assemblies for connecting shades and reflectors to lighting housings, include:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,660,651 to Miles, which discloses an adjustable light shade for directing light at various angles toward an object.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,590,238 to Arens, which discloses a luminaire having a socket positioner for horizontally and vertically positioning the socket within the luminaire.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,187 to Fletcher, which discloses a reflector mounted for selective adjustment to different positions relative to a light source.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,675,794 to Fink, which discloses an adjustable mount for a high intensity lamp.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,017,327 to Bamber, which discloses an adjusting mechanism for focusing a light beam utilizing a screw within a threaded piston.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,086,379 to Denison et al., which discloses a low voltage outdoor floodlight having adjustable beam pattern.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,523,932 to Bogdanovs, which discloses a lighting fixture with adjustable reflector.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,416 to Hansen, which discloses a lamp having internal and external concentric shades, which may be adjusted against each other utilizing a spring biased friction sliding block to set the position of the shades.
In many cases, the primary adjustment necessary to effect proper installation of a lighting fixture is a widening or narrowing of the beam of light emanating from the fixture. This is often the case where multiple fixtures are to be installed with simple reflectors in an attempt to cover a large or irregular area. In such cases, a common goal is to light an area uniformly, without leaving areas between fixtures unlighted or other gaps in lighting.
However, a variety of light-directing effects may be achieved where a globe, refractor, or lens is utilized in the installation, as movement of a transparent or translucent refracting piece may direct and focus light into areas which would not be otherwise lighted. Whether the user is simply adjusting the width of the light beam from the fixture, or endeavoring to direct light by refractive means, much can be accomplished by movement of the shade, lens, reflector, or refractor, as the case may be, along a line parallel with the major axis of the fixture. The present invention is directed to just such movement, and a means for securing and adjusting the reflector or refractor used, with minimum of effort, time, tools, and materials.
While the devices disclosed in prior patents fulfill their respective objectives, prior patents and inventions do not describe or suggest the attachment of a spring-loaded, finger operable, engagement pin to a sliding mechanism having discrete holes, the sliding mechanism being attached on a first side to a reflector, and on a second side to a housing, the holes and pin of the sliding mechanism being oriented to allow the pin to engage the holes at a number of points as the parts of the sliding mechanism coact upon their assembly.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The lighting fixture in a lighting installation consists in its simplest form of a lighting base, housing, or socket, to which is attached a shade, lens, reflector, or refractor, as lighting needs dictate. The housing is typically fastened to a beam, joist, or other support member in the building to be lighted, on a pole in the lot to be lighted, or on another appropriate support in any area to be lighted. In its mounted position, the housing is supplied with electrical current. The shade, lens, reflector, or refractor, utilized to direct light as desired, is secured to the housing, and a lamp screwed into the socket of the fixture. The present invention provides a new apparatus for mounting the shade, lens, reflector, or refractor to the housing of the fixture, and thereafter conveniently adjusting the shade, lens, reflector, or refractor, as the case may be, to optimize the lighting effect.
In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the shade adjusting apparatus comprises a sliding mechanism having two members which move in relation to each other. One member of the sliding mechanism may be attached to the fixture housing, or to some part of the housing. This member is thereby rendered immobile if the housing is attached to a beam or other supporting member. The other member of the sliding mechanism is attached to the shade, or other selected light-directing component. Upon engagement, the shade may therefore be easily moved in relation to the housing as one member of the sliding mechanism moves in relation to the other member of the mechanism. In the alternative, the members of the sliding mechanism may be formed as integral parts of the housing and shade, rather than constituting separate, attachable pieces.
The member of the sliding mechanism which is attached to the housing consists, in one preferred embodiment, of two flat prongs, which may be conveniently formed by bending a single flat metal strip into a generally “U-shaped” form. The metal strip may, upon attaining such form, be attached to the housing, or to some component of the fixture which is attached to the housing, at its base at the bottom of the U-shape. Fastening holes may be drilled into the metal strip prior to its formation so that the base of the strip may be easily attached to the housing, and other components of the fixture may be attached at the base.
Adjusting holes, corresponding to various positions of the shade once the second sliding member is fitted to the first sliding member, are formed in the metal strip, in a series, along the prongs of the U-shaped first member. The adjusting holes are sized to receive a matching pin. The pin may be supplied separately, but in the preferred embodiment of
C.E.W. Lighting, Inc.
Cook Thomas W.
Ramirez Ramon O.
Wujciak A. Joseph
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