Illumination – Light source and modifier – Adjustable or repositionable modifier
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-15
2001-04-24
Cariaso, Alan (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Light source and modifier
Adjustable or repositionable modifier
C362S324000, C362S346000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220727
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reflective mechanism for a computer-controlled stage lamp including universally rotatable motors to provide more colorful light effect.
2. Description of the Related Art
Sound effect and light effect are very important to stage performance. A good light effect provides a good background to the whole performance and makes the audience focus on the performer(s). A wide variety of stage lamps have heretofore been designed to provide desired light effect. A typical stage lamp, as shown in
FIGS. 9 and 10
of the drawings, includes a computer-controlled lamp
6
with a light source (not shown) and a rotating disc (not shown) carrying various patterns thereon mounted in a casing
60
thereof. Light from the light source passes through a pattern on the rotating disc and a lens
61
and is thus incident to a reflective mechanism
7
from which the incident light is reflected, thereby providing colorful reflective images. The reflective mechanism
7
is mounted in a mounting section
62
of the casing
60
and includes a first motor
70
with an output shaft
701
extended through an inclined plate
63
. A bracket
71
is securely attached to the output shaft
701
of the first motor
70
to rotate therewith. A second motor
72
is mounted to the bracket
71
and has an output shaft
721
to which a barrel
74
is mounted. A cylindrical mirror
74
means
741
(consisting of a plurality of mirror strips) is mounted to an outer periphery of the barrel
74
for reflecting incident light from the lens
61
. The inclined plate
63
includes an opening
64
through which a wire
73
extends so as to be electrically connected to the second motor
72
for supplying power to the second motor
72
. The output shaft
701
of the first motor
70
rotates about an axis X, and the output shaft
721
of the second motor
72
rotates about another axis Y that is perpendicular to the axis X. Thus, the barrel
74
with the cylindrical mirror
741
is expected to rotate universally such that the light, after passing through the lens
61
, may be reflected by the mirror
741
to provide varying three-dimensional light images.
Nevertheless, rotational movements of the motors
70
and
72
must be limited to avoid entanglement of the wire
73
extended through the opening
64
. In fact, the output shaft
701
of the motor
70
rotates in an interrupted way through a limited angle in opposite directions alternately instead of 360° rotation. In addition, the wire
73
tends to wear by peripheral edge of the opening
64
and thus results in a short circuit or open circuit. In addition, the first motor
70
has a relatively large load (the output shaft
701
carries the bracket
71
, the second motor
72
, and the barrel
74
) and thus has a short life.
The present invention is intended to provide an improved reflective mechanism to solve these problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a reflective mechanism for a computer-controlled stage lamp that includes two universally rotatable motors to provide more colorful light effect and to lengthen the life of the motors.
In accordance with the present invention, a reflective mechanism is provided for a stage lamp providing an incident light. The reflective mechanism comprises:
a first motor having a first output shaft rotating about a first axis;
a second motor having a second output shaft rotating about a second axis that is parallel to the first axis;
a support drivable by the first output shaft to rotate about the first axis;
a barrel carrying a reflective mirror means mounted therearound for reflecting the incident light from the stage lamp, the barrel being mounted to the support and rotatable about a third axis that is perpendicular to the first axis; and
means for transmitting power from the second output shaft to the barrel.
The stage lamp includes a casing with a mounting section in which the reflective mechanism is mounted. The mounting section of the casing includes an inclined plate. A fixing board is securely attached to the inclined plate. The first motor and the second motor are attached to the fixing board with the first output shaft and the second output shaft extended through the fixing board. An axle includes a first end coaxially engaged with the first output shaft to rotate therewith and a second end that extends through the support to operably engage with the barrel and thus drive the barrel.
In an embodiment of the invention, a gear seat is securely engaged to the second end of the axle. A first bevel gear is securely mounted to the gear seat to rotate therewith. The barrel includes a second bevel gear mounted to a side thereof and meshed with the first bevel gear such that rotation of the first output shaft causes rotation of the barrel about the third axis. The second output shaft includes a transmission gear coaxially engaged thereon to rotate therewith. A dry bearing is mounted around the axle. A follower gear is mounted around the dry bearing and securely engaged with the support to rotate therewith. An endless toothed belt is provided for transmitting power from the transmission gear to the follower gear.
The fixing board includes a side extension to which a detection board is securely attached. The detection board includes an infrared interrupter on an end thereof A sensor board is mounted around the axle and includes a notch defined in a peripheral edge thereof, the notch being within a detection range of the infrared interrupter. When the power supply to the reflective mechanism is shut off and restarted, the infrared interrupter on the detection board detects position of the notch on the sensor board relative to the infrared interrupter and then sends a feed-back signal to “zero” the output shaft of the motor. New operation modes can be activated according to the programs.
In another embodiment of the invention, the barrel is rotatably supported by a shaft, a first belt-driven wheel is securely mounted to the shaft to rotate therewith, and a second belt-driven wheel is securely engaged to the second end of the axle to rotate therewith. A transmission belt is wound around the belt-driven wheels, and a freely rotatable guide roller is provided to guide direction of the transmission belt.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4868721 (1989-09-01), Soardo
patent: 4890208 (1989-12-01), Izenour
patent: 4931916 (1990-06-01), Callahan
patent: 4945459 (1990-07-01), Ferren et al.
patent: 5772314 (1998-06-01), Brumer
Cariaso Alan
Kamrath Alan
Rider Bennett Egan & Arundel LLP
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