Portable light projector unit

• US 20040036845A1
• Filed: 04/15/2003
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mechdyne Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mechdyne Corporation
• Inventors: Hancock, Michael, Clover, Chris, Gruening, James, Betts, Douglas E., Huisman, Jeremy, Hoffmeister, Kurt, Redman, Brent
• Granted Patent: US 7,025,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 353/79
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/28 Reflectors in projection beam in illumination beam G03B21/2066

Abstract

A rugged portable projector unit is suitable for transport and easy set-up. A projector is mounted to a rigid subframe by a mounting platform. A shock absorbing element is provided between the subframe and the mounting platform. The subframe is mounted within a hardened carrying case. Shock absorbing elements are provided between the subframe and the carrying case. The top of the carrying case is removable. A mirror is hingedly attached to the top of the subframe to reflect images produced by the projector. Access panels and cooling doors are provided in the carrying case to permit access and ventilation to the projector. The carrying case is provided with wheels to allow it to rolled along the ground. The carrying case is also provided with handles on its sides for lifting and carrying. The handles are preferably offset from each other so that unit naturally tilts to aid in loading and unloading from raised surfaces.

Claims

1. A portable projector unit comprising:

a protective shell having a bottom section and a removable top section;

a subframe mounted to an interior of said bottom section of said protective shell;

a subframe shock absorbing element between said protective shell and said subframe;

a projector mounted to said subframe; and

a projector shock absorbing element between said subframe and said projector.

2. The projector unit according to claim 1, further comprising:

a mirror hingedly attached to said subframe, said mirror being suitable for reflecting an image projected by said projector.

3. The projector unit according to claim 1, wherein said bottom section has a bottom surface and two pairs of opposed side surfaces;

and wherein one of said side surfaces is provided with wheels to permit rolling of the projector unit.

4. The projector unit according to claim 3, wherein said pair of side surfaces that is not provided with wheels includes handles to permit carrying said unit.

5. The projector unit according to claim 4, wherein said handles are offset from each other such that when said handles on a single side are level with each other, the projector unit is tipped to aid in loading and unloading from raised surfaces.