Illumination – Light source and modifier – Adjustable or repositionable light source or light source...
Reexamination Certificate
2002-05-12
2004-12-28
Sember, Thomas M. (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Light source and modifier
Adjustable or repositionable light source or light source...
C362S322000, C362S324000, C362S284000, C362S282000, C362S418000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06834983
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to outdoor fixtures for illuminating small areas, specifically to a lighting standard, and a method for its use, that has Incorporated into its top end a swivel means for the adjustment of a lighting fixture head in train and elevation. The swivel means also incorporates passages through which electrical conductors are passed to provide power for the lighting fixture. The elevating member can include a fixture body, or in the alternative, the fixture body and elevating member can be separate components. Further, the lower end of the standard can be buried in the ground, with the wiring necessary to power the fixture entering through the lower end of the standard and wiring terminations being made through a covered opening on the side of the standard. In the alternative, the standard can be connected directly to a junction box. When combined with fluorescent lamps, the present invention provides a clean, neat, compact, aesthetically pleasing, and easy-to-install lighting package for small areas that is energy efficient, has a low operating cost, has a heavy duty locking swivel for easy directional adjustment, and is made from corrosion proof and impact-resistant materials for rugged dependability. Applications may include, but are not limited to, landscape lighting, accent lighting, and the lighting of signs, driveways, and walkways.
2. Description of Prior Art
Landscape, accent, and sign lighting at night is common in both residential and commercial applications. Typically, small areas and signs are illuminated through the use of high-pressure sodium floodlights, metal halide floodlights, incandescent PAR floodlights, and quartz fixtures. Fluorescent lighting can also be used. The selection of small-area lighting fixtures appropriate for a given use is based upon a variety of factors, including initial fixture cost, fixture design, ease of fixture installation, aesthetic appeal of fixtures after installation, fixture impact resistance and durability, lamp life and replacement cost, and resistance of fixtures and lamps to weathering elements. Other use considerations include the number of fixtures required for visibility of a target area, the amount and cost of labor required for lamp replacement and other fixture maintenance, and lamp power consumption. When power consumption, lamp replacement cost, and labor cost for lamp maintenance are compared, the costs for operating the commonly used types of small-area lighting vary widely. The annual operating cost for two 70 W high-pressure sodium floodlights for sign illumination or accent use is calculated to be approximately $70, while the annual operating cost of two 175 W metal halide floodlights is computed at approximately $160. The annual operating cost of two 150 W incandescent PAR floodlights is even greater at approximately $178, with two 250 W quartz fixtures having the highest annual operating cost of approximately $260. In contrast, when used with fluorescent lighting, the present invention can provide comparable nighttime visibility of small areas with an annual operating cost for two such lamps being calculated at approximately $32. When compared to the clean, neat, compact, aesthetically pleasing, easy-to-install, energy efficient, low operating cost, ease of directional adjustability, corrosion resistance, impact resistance, and rugged dependability of the present invention, no known lighting package combination has all of the advantages of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
The primary object of this invention is to provide a lighting fixture primarily for outdoor use in illuminating small areas that has a combination of aesthetically pleasing design and rugged dependability. It is also an object of this invention to provide a lighting fixture that is easy to install. A further object of this invention is to provide a lighting fixture having a low operating cost. It is also an object of this invention to provide a lighting fixture that is low maintenance. A further object of this invention is to provide a lighting fixture that is compact in configuration with easy directional adjustment. It is also an object of this invention to provide a lighting fixture that can be adapted for use in providing overhead illumination, as well as illumination on a targeted object from below. A further object of this invention is to provide a lighting fixture that resists weathering elements for extended use. It is also an object of this invention to provide a lighting fixture that has a design easily allowing the position of the light head to become permanently fixed at any time during its use.
As described herein, properly manufactured and installed, the present invention would provide a lighting fixture that is rotatable through a wide arc to assist in the directional adjustment of emitted light within the area targeted for illumination. An opening in the side of the vertical post provides access to the wiring terminations after fixture installation without disturbing the initial aiming of the light or otherwise affecting its installation. One present invention lighting fixture set approximately three to five feet from a sign face, can illuminate areas on the sign face up to approximately ten feet wide and ten feet high. Additional present invention lighting fixtures evenly spaced apart from one another, and set approximately five to six feet from a sign face, can also illuminate areas on the sign face up to approximately ten feet high, with two such lighting fixtures being able to illuminate sign faces having a width dimension between approximately twelve and thirty feet, with four present invention lighting fixtures being preferred to illuminate sign faces having a width dimension between approximately thirty and forty feet. Embodiments having corrosion resistant fixtures and vertical posts made from stainless steel and aluminum are particularly suited for coastal environments. The fluorescent lamps optionally used as part of the present invention typically have a lamp life of approximately 10,000 hours, which reduces the labor required for lamp exchange. Ground installation of the present invention is easy. First, a vertical post having a length dimension appropriate to the intended use is selected, and the cover over its access opening is removed. The distal end of a power supply wire adapted for providing electricity for the present invention fixture is inserted upwardly through its vertical post, until the distal end of the wiring extends beyond the upper end of the vertical post. Preferably the remaining portion of the power supply wire is buried underground. Thereafter, the lower end of the vertical post is placed into the ground with its upper end at a pre-selected height dimension. The vertical post is then backfilled to secure it in a substantially upright position. Using quick-connect wire connectors, like wires in the power supply wire and lighting fixture are connected together. A light head with at least one fluorescent lamp is then pushed onto the upper end of the backfilled vertical post, and the light head oriented for optimum illumination of a targeted sign, object, or landscape feature. After the light head is properly aimed, a tool is placed through the access opening in the vertical post to tighten a draw bolt therein. Although not limited thereto, it is preferred for the draw bolt to comprise a socketed cap screw or a hex bolt. Tightening of the draw bolt would continue until movement of the light head is restricted, thereafter an additional one-fourth turn in the tightening direction would be added. When the access cover is replaced, installation is complete. A change in the directional adjustment of the light head can be easily accomplished at any time, by removing the access cover, loosening the draw bolt, placing the light head into a new orientation, tightening the draw bolt, and reattaching the access cover. However, any position of the light head can easily be made permanent through application of plastic pipe ceme
Morse Dorothy S.
Sember Thomas M.
LandOfFree
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