Illumination – Light source and modifier – Tiltable or rotatable as a unit
Patent
1992-11-17
1994-06-28
Cole, Richard R.
Illumination
Light source and modifier
Tiltable or rotatable as a unit
362275, 362287, 362419, 362428, 248278, F21V 2114
Patent
active
053252810
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Lighting systems employing spotlights have been used in the art for many years as a convenient means of focusing a large of amount of light on an object. They have been used in various fields, such as in museums to highlight displays, in theaters during stage plays, to focus lights on the performers, and in retail establishments to focus light on objects being highlighted in sales displays. Although the present invention is usable in many fields, for ease of explanation, its relationship to the prior art will be explained from the point of lighting systems used to highlight merchandise in large retailing establishments.
Practically no matter how such prior art systems were used in retailing establishments, they presented serious problems in the art. If used on the sales floor of such retailing establishments to highlight merchandise, they would typically be mounted near the ceiling of such retail establishments, which are much higher than ceilings found in the home, for example. While they were trouble-free in operation, problems arose as soon as the retail floor was rearranged, and the need to adjust the spotlights used in such systems came into being. The most obvious of these problems involves the safety of the store personnel who are to adjust the spotlights. Such adjustment normally requires that the store personnel climb on top of very tall ladders, raising the possibility of injury from falls and the like.
Additionally, there were electrical and burn hazards involved with such adjustments. The possibility of electrical shock was always present unless the spotlights were turned off while being adjusted. Since repeatedly turning the spotlights on and off while adjusting them in small increments greatly increased the time needed for adjustment, typically the spotlights were left on while being adjusted, resulting in the store personnel frequently being burned, even when wearing heavy leather gloves.
Those skilled in the art were thus presented the problem of how to adjust the spotlights during normal business hours while eliminating these hazards. This required either that they be adjusted after hours, or that merchandise be sold without the normal highlighting, thus affecting the sales of the retail establishment. In the lighting system of the present invention, all these problems are largely eliminated, as the luminaires used in the system can easily be adjusted while the system is in operation.
Additionally, merchandise right under the spotlights, or near the fixtures to be adjusted, had to either be moved, or great difficulty was presented getting a ladder in position to adjust them. Also, the possibility of burns would be presented if the spotlights were not turned off and given sufficient time to cool before attempting to adjust them.
As difficult as adjusting the spotlights was, they were found to be such an aid to retailing that the difficulties would be accommodated each time merchandise was moved because spotlights which were not adjusted properly were a waste of electrical energy, and created useless heat as well as detracting from the sale of merchandise.
Another serious problem arises where the spotlights are used in store windows to highlight a mannequin. In contrast to the problem presented when spotlights are used on the sales floor of large retailing establishments, the use of the spotlight to highlight a mannequin in the store window presents the same problems, but for the opposite reasons. Usually, when highlighting mannequins, the spotlights are located in very cramped quarters, where even a regular-size ladder presents problems, as it may not easily fit into the space occupied by the mannequin.
Even if the ladder can be positioned in the store window or other location where the mannequin is located, there is a very cramped space for the operator to work, making the possibility of electrical shock or burn no less than when the fixture is installed at or near the ceiling of a retail establishment and, in fact, increases the problem.
In view of the proble
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Cole Richard R.
Thomas Industries Inc.
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