Support bracket for light stand

• US 20020141198A1
• Filed: 03/28/2001
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lowel-Light Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lowel-Light Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Marks, Dale, Yu, Chi
• Granted Patent: US 6,554,459 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/418
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2021 around a horizontal axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/28 Undercarriages for supports with one single telescoping pillar
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/028 by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/044 for balancing rotational movement of the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/06 Bases for movable standing lamps; Fixing standards to the bases F21V21/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/14 Adjustable mountings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames

Abstract

A support bracket for a device, such as a light, has a swivel mount provided at one end of a bent support arm, the other end of which can be held in a conventional stand. The support arm is shaped to position a light or other device connected to the swivel mount so that the center of gravity of the light is over the vertical axis of the stand. Positioning the center of gravity over the vertical axis of the stand is essential, so that the need for counterweights, counterbalances and ballasts is reduced in order to keep the light stable when mounted on the connector bracket held by a stand. When the center of gravity of the light is also aligned with a horizontal axis of the swivel mount bracket, the light can be pivoted and rotated on the bracket without affecting the balance. The tilt bracket is preferably used with portable lights so that the amount and weight of equipment needed to mount the light is reduced.

Claims

1. A support bracket for holding a device on a stand with a center of gravity of the connected device positioned over a vertical axis of the stand, the support bracket comprising:

a support arm comprising;

a lower vertical section for securing to the stand;

a lower cantilever section forming a first bend having a first angle with the lower vertical section and extending a first horizontal distance;

a middle arm section forming a second bend having a second angle with the lower cantilever section and the middle arm section extending upwardly;

an upper end forming a third bend having a third angle with the middle arm section, the upper end extending a second horizontal distance, the upper end aligned over the lower cantilever section; and

means at the upper end of the support arm for connecting the support arm to the device.

2. A support bracket according to claim 1, wherein the first, second and third angles are each between 20-160°

.

3. A support bracket according to claim 2, wherein the first horizontal distance is greater than the second horizontal distance.

4. A support bracket according to claim 1, wherein the first and second angles are corresponding angles.

5. A support bracket according to claim 1, wherein the first horizontal distance is greater than the second horizontal distance.

6. A support bracket according to claim 1, wherein the means comprises a swivel connector at the upper end of the arm for connecting to a corresponding connector on the light.

7. A support bracket according to claim 1, wherein each of the first, second and third angles is adjustable.

8. A support comprising:

a stand having a vertical axis;

a support arm comprising;

a lower vertical section for securing one end to the stand;

a lower cantilever section forming a first bend having a first angle with the lower vertical section and extending a first horizontal distance;

a middle arm section forming a second bend having a second angle with the lower cantilever section and the middle arm section extending upwardly;

an upper end forming a third bend having a third angle with the middle arm section, the upper end extending a second horizontal distance, the upper end aligned over the lower cantilever section; and

means at the upper end of the support arm for connecting the support arm to a device being supported, wherein a center of gravity of the device is positioned on the vertical axis when the device is connected to the support arm.

9. A support according to claim 8, wherein the means comprises a swivel connector at the upper end of the support arm for connecting to a corresponding connector on the device.

10. A support according to claim 8, wherein the first, second and third angles are each between 20-160°

.

11. A support according to claim 8, wherein the first horizontal distance is greater than the second horizontal distance.

12. A support according to claim 8, wherein the device is one of a light, a light reflector, a microphone, a camera and a speaker

13. A support according to claim 12, wherein each of the first, second, and third angles is adjustable.

14. A support according to claim 8, wherein each of the first, second, and third angles is adjustable.

16. A kit according to claim 15, further comprising a bracket connector on the light, the bracket connector having a horizontal axis, the center of gravity of the light remaining on the vertical axis when the light is rotated about the horizontal axis.

17. A kit according to claim 16, wherein the means comprises a support arm having a lower vertical section for securing one end to the stand, a lower cantilever section forming a first bend having a first angle with the lower vertical section and extending a first horizontal distance, a middle arm section forming a second bend having a second angle with the lower cantilever section and the middle arm section extending upwardly, an upper end forming a third bend having a third angle with the middle arm section, the upper end extending a second horizontal distance, the upper end aligned over the lower cantilever section, and bracket means for connecting the support arm to the bracket connector.

18. A kit according to claim 17, wherein each of the first, second and third angles is between 20-160°

.

19. A kit according to claim 18, wherein the first horizontal distance is greater than the second horizontal distance.

20. A kit according to claim 15, wherein the means comprises a support arm having a lower vertical section for securing one end to the stand, a lower cantilever section forming a first bend having a first angle with the lower vertical section and extending a first horizontal distance, a middle arm section forming a second bend having a second angle with the lower cantilever section and the middle arm section extending upwardly, an upper end forming a third bend having a third angle with the middle arm section, the upper end extending a second horizontal distance, the upper end aligned over the lower cantilever section, and bracket means for connecting the support arm to the light.

21. A kit according to claim 20, wherein each of the first, second and third angles is between 20-160°

.

22. A kit according to claim 21, wherein each of the first, second and third angles is between 30-150°

.

23. A kit according to claim 20, wherein the light is portable.

24. A kit according to claim 23, wherein the first, second and third angles are each adjustable.

25. A kit according to claim 24, wherein the first horizontal distance is greater than the second horizontal distance.

26. A kit according to claim 20, wherein the first horizontal distance is greater than the second horizontal distance.

27. A kit according to claim 20, wherein the first, second and third angles are each adjustable.

28. A kit according to claim 20, wherein the bracket means comprises a swivel connector at the upper end of the support arm for connecting to a corresponding connector on the light.

30. A lighting kit according to claim 29, wherein the arm comprises a lower vertical section for securing one end to the stand;

a lower cantilever section forming a first bend having a first angle with the lower vertical section and extending a first horizontal distance; and

, a middle arm section forming a second bend having a second angle with the lower cantilever section and the middle arm section extending upwardly.

31. A lighting kit according to claim 30, wherein the second means comprises an upper end forming a third bend having a third angle with the middle arm section and bracket means for connecting the upper end to the light, the upper end and bracket means aligned over the lower cantilever section.

32. A kit according to claim 31, wherein each of the first, second and third angles is between 20-160°

.

33. A kit according to claim 31, wherein each of the first, second and third angles is between 30-150°

.

34. A kit according to claim 31, wherein the first, second and third angles are each adjustable.

35. A kit according to claim 29, wherein the light is portable.

36. A kit according to claim 29, wherein the second means forms a third bend defining a third angle between the arm and the light, the at least two bends defining first and second angles respectively.

37. A kit according to claim 36, wherein each of the first, second and third angles is between 20-160°

.

38. A kit according to claim 36, wherein each of the first, second and third angles is between 30-150°

.

39. A kit according to claim 36, wherein the first, second and third angles are each adjustable.

15. A lighting kit comprising:

a light having a center of gravity;

a stand having a vertical axis; and

means for mounting the light to the stand with the center of gravity of the light positioned on the vertical axis of the stand.

29. A lighting kit comprising:

a light having a center of gravity;

a stand having a vertical axis;

an arm having at least two bends;

first means for mounting the arm to the stand; and

second means for mounting the light to the arm so that the center of gravity of the light is positioned over the vertical axis of the stand.