Light mountable on a mounting rail

• US 20060104064A1
• Filed: 11/08/2005
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Streamlight, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Streamlight, Inc.
• Inventors: Sharrah, Raymond L., DiNenna, John C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,188,978 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/287
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/088 Clips; Clamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/34 Supporting elements displaceable along a guiding element telescopic mounting of lighting devices F21V21/22
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/00 Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0064 Health, life-saving or fire-fighting equipment
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/30 Semiconductor lasers
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/35 for illuminating the target , e.g. flash lights
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 11/003 Mountings with a dove tail element, e.g. "Picatinny rail systems"
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/147 at least one of the printed circuits being bent or folded, e.g. by using a flexible printed circuit H05K1/148 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09027 Non-rectangular flat PCB, e.g. circular
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10053 Switch
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10106 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10121 Optical component, e.g. opto-electronic component

Abstract

A mounting arrangement for a light or other object includes a clamping arrangement, or a keying arrangement, or both a clamping and a keying arrangement for mounting to different mounting rails having different keying features. The clamping arrangement includes a fixed clamp member and a movable clamp member that is movable towards and away from the fixed clamp member and is biased towards the fixed clamp member, so as to grip a mounting rail therebetween. The keying arrangement employs interchangeable keying members that may be disposed in a recess of the light or other object and that may have different keying features for use with mounting rails having corresponding keying features.

Claims

1. A mounting arrangement for a light mountable on a mounting rail comprising:

a light body including a light source, a source of electrical energy and a switch for selectively coupling the light source and the source of electrical energy in circuit for producing light;

a mounting arrangement on said light body for mounting said light body on a mounting rail, said mounting arrangement comprising;

a fixed clamp member on said light body;

a movable clamp member opposing said fixed clamp member and movable closer to and farther from said fixed clamp member; and

a clamping device coupling said movable clamp member and said fixed clamp member for biasing said movable clamp member toward said fixed clamp member and for moving said movable clamp member closer to and farther from said fixed clamp member,

whereby a mounting rail may be clamped between said fixed clamp member and said movable clamp member.

2. The mounting arrangement of claim 1 wherein said fixed clamp member comprises an elongated longitudinal member on said light body and wherein said movable clamp member comprises an elongated member disposed longitudinally adjacent said light body opposing said fixed clamp member and spaced apart therefrom.

3. The mounting arrangement of claim 1 wherein said fixed clamp member has a hole therethrough, and wherein said movable clamp member has a threaded hole therein substantially aligned with the hole through said fixed clamp member, said clamping device comprising a shaft disposed in the hole through said fixed clamp member and having a threaded end engaging the threaded hole of said movable clamp member, and a biasing member between said fixed clamp member and an end of the shaft opposite the threaded end thereof for said biasing said clamping device.

4. The mounting arrangement of claim 1 wherein said fixed clamp member has a hole therethrough, said clamping device comprising a shaft disposed in the hole through said fixed clamp member and engaging said movable clamp member, and a biasing member coupled between said fixed clamp member and said shaft for said biasing said clamping device.

5. The mounting arrangement of claim 1 wherein said movable clamp member has one or more posts extending therefrom in a direction toward said fixed clamp member, wherein said light body has one or more holes aligned for receiving the posts of said movable clamp member when the movable clamp member is moved toward said fixed clamp member.

6. The mounting arrangement of claim 1 wherein said light body has a recess located on said light body between said fixed clamp member and said movable clamp member, further comprising:

a keying member removably disposed in the recess of said light body, said keying member having a keying feature that engages a keying feature of a mounting rail when the light body is clamped to the mounting rail by said fixed clamp member and said movable clamping member.

7. The mounting arrangement of claim 6 wherein said light is mountable on mounting rails having keying features of different sizes and shapes, and wherein said keying member is selected from a set of keying members for having a keying feature of a size and shape that corresponds to the size and shape of the keying feature of the mounting rail.

8. The mounting arrangement of claim 1 wherein said clamping device includes a screw or a pin having a head distal said movable clamp member and at the end of a shaft, wherein the shaft is disposed through said fixed clamp member and engages said movable clamp member.

9. The mounting arrangement of claim 8 wherein said clamping device includes a spring disposed between the head of said screw or pin and said fixed clamp member for said biasing said movable clamp member toward said fixed clamp member.

10. A mounting arrangement for mounting an object on a mounting rail, said mounting arrangement comprising:

a fixed clamp member on said object;

a movable clamp member opposing said fixed clamp member and movable closer to and farther from said fixed clamp member; and

a clamping device coupling said movable clamp member and said fixed clamp member for biasing said movable clamp member toward said fixed clamp member and for moving said movable clamp member closer to and farther from said fixed clamp member,

whereby a mounting rail may be clamped between said fixed clamp member and said movable clamp member.

11. The mounting arrangement of claim 10 wherein said fixed clamp member comprises an elongated longitudinal member on said object and wherein said movable clamp member comprises an elongated member disposed longitudinally adjacent said object opposing said fixed clamp member and spaced apart therefrom.

12. The mounting arrangement of claim 10 wherein said fixed clamp member has a hole therethrough, and wherein said movable clamp member has a threaded hole therein substantially aligned with the hole through said fixed clamp member, said clamping device comprising a shaft disposed in the hole through said fixed clamp member and having a threaded end engaging the threaded hole of said movable clamp member, and a biasing member between said fixed clamp member and an end of the shaft opposite the threaded end thereof for said biasing said clamping device.

13. The mounting arrangement of claim 10 wherein said fixed clamp member has a hole therethrough, said clamping device comprising a shaft disposed in the hole through said fixed clamp member and engaging said movable clamp member, and a biasing member coupled between said fixed clamp member and said shaft for said biasing said clamping device.

14. The mounting arrangement of claim 10 wherein said movable clamp member has one or more posts extending therefrom in a direction toward said fixed clamp member, wherein said object has one or more holes aligned for receiving the posts of said movable clamp member when the movable clamp member is moved toward said fixed clamp member.

15. The mounting arrangement of claim 10 wherein said object has a recess therein between said fixed clamp member and said movable clamp member, further comprising:

a keying member removably disposed in the recess of said object, said keying member having a keying feature that engages a keying feature of a mounting rail when the object is clamped to the mounting rail by said fixed clamp member and said movable clamping member.

16. The mounting arrangement of claim 15 wherein said object is mountable on mounting rails having keying features of different sizes and shapes, and wherein said keying member is selected from a set of keying members for having a keying feature of a size and shape that corresponds to the size and shape of the keying feature of the mounting rail.

17. The mounting arrangement of claim 10 wherein said clamping device includes a screw or a pin having a head distal said movable clamp member and at the end of a shaft, wherein the shaft is disposed through said fixed clamp member and engages said movable clamp member.

18. The mounting arrangement of claim 17 wherein said clamping device includes a spring disposed between the head of said screw or pin and said fixed clamp member for said biasing said movable clamp member toward said fixed clamp member.

19. The mounting arrangement of claim 10 wherein said object is a light comprising a light body containing a light source, a source of electrical energy and a switch for selectively coupling the light source and the source of electrical energy in circuit for producing light.

20. A mounting arrangement for a light mountable on a mounting rail comprising:

a light body containing a light source, a source of electrical energy and a switch for selectively coupling the light source and the source of electrical energy in circuit for producing light;

a mounting arrangement on said light body for mounting said light body on a mounting rail in a snap-on, snap-off manner, said mounting arrangement comprising;

a fixed clamp member on said light body;

a movable clamp member opposing said fixed clamp member and movable closer to and farther from said fixed clamp member; and

a clamping device coupling said movable clamp member and said fixed clamp member for biasing said movable clamp member toward said fixed clamp member,

wherein said movable clamp member is movable away from said fixed clamp member under a force applied to said movable clamp member and is movable toward said fixed clamp member by the biasing of said clamping device,

whereby a mounting rail may be clamped between said fixed clamp member and said movable clamp member in a snap-on, snap-off manner.

21. The mounting arrangement of claim 20 wherein said clamping device includes:

a head for receiving the force for moving said movable clamp member away from said fixed clamp member;

or

a spring for biasing said movable clamp member toward said fixed clamp member;

or

a head for receiving the force for moving said movable clamp member away from said fixed clamp member and a spring for biasing said movable clamp member toward said fixed clamp member.

22. The mounting arrangement of claim 20 wherein said clamping device includes a screw or a pin having a head distal said movable clamp member and at the end of a shaft, wherein the shaft is disposed through said fixed clamp member and engages said movable clamp member.

23. The mounting arrangement of claim 22 wherein said clamping device includes a spring disposed between the head of said screw or pin and said fixed clamp member for said biasing said movable clamp member toward said fixed clamp member.

24. The mounting arrangement of claim 20 wherein said fixed clamp member has a hole therethrough, said clamping device comprising a shaft disposed in the hole through said fixed clamp member and engaging said movable clamp member, and a biasing member coupled between said fixed clamp member and said shaft for said biasing said clamping device.

25. The mounting arrangement of claim 20 wherein said movable clamp member has one or more posts extending therefrom in a direction toward said fixed clamp member, wherein said light body has one or more holes aligned for receiving the posts of said movable clamp member when the movable clamp member is moved toward said fixed clamp member.

26. The mounting arrangement of claim 20 wherein said fixed clamp member comprises an elongated longitudinal clamp member on said light body and wherein said movable clamp member comprises an elongated clamp member disposed longitudinally adjacent said light body opposing said fixed clamp member and spaced apart therefrom.

27. The mounting arrangement of claim 26 wherein one or both of said fixed elongated longitudinal clamp member clamp member and said movable elongated longitudinal clamp member has an elongated longitudinal chamfered edge for facilitating the mounting in a snap-on, snap-off manner.

28. A mounting arrangement for mounting an object on a mounting rail in a snap-on, snap-off manner, said mounting arrangement comprising:

a fixed clamp member on said object;

a movable clamp member opposing said fixed clamp member and movable closer to and farther from said fixed clamp member; and

a clamping device coupling said movable clamp member and said fixed clamp member for biasing said movable clamp member toward said fixed clamp member,

wherein said movable clamp member is movable away from said fixed claim member under a force applied to said movable clamp member and is movable toward said fixed clamp member by the biasing of said clamping device,

whereby a mounting rail may be clamped between said fixed clamp member and said movable clamp member in a snap-on, snap-off manner.

29. The mounting arrangement of claim 28 wherein said clamping device includes:

a head for receiving the force for moving said movable clamp member away from said fixed clamp member;

or

a spring for biasing said movable clamp member toward said fixed clamp member;

or

a head for receiving the force for moving said movable clamp member away from said fixed clamp member and a spring for biasing said movable clamp member toward said fixed clamp member.

30. The mounting arrangement of claim 28 wherein said clamping device includes a screw or a pin having a head distal said movable clamp member and at the end of a shaft, wherein the shaft is disposed through said fixed clamp member and engages said movable clamp member.

31. The mounting arrangement of claim 30 wherein said clamping device includes a spring disposed between the head of said screw or pin and said fixed clamp member for said biasing said movable clamp member toward said fixed clamp member.

32. The mounting arrangement of claim 28 wherein said fixed clamp member has a hole therethrough, said clamping device comprising a shaft disposed in the hole through said fixed clamp member and engaging said movable clamp member, and a biasing member coupled between said fixed clamp member and said shaft for said biasing said clamping device.

33. The mounting arrangement of claim 28 wherein said movable clamp member has one or more posts extending therefrom in a direction toward said fixed clamp member, wherein said object has one or more holes aligned for receiving the posts of said movable clamp member when the movable clamp member is moved toward said fixed clamp member.

34. The mounting arrangement of claim 28 wherein said fixed clamp member comprises an elongated longitudinal clamp member on said object and wherein said movable clamp member comprises an elongated clamp member disposed longitudinally adjacent said object opposing said fixed clamp member and spaced apart therefrom.

35. The mounting arrangement of claim 34 wherein one or both of said fixed elongated longitudinal clamp member clamp member and said movable elongated longitudinal clamp member has an elongated longitudinal chamfered edge for facilitating the mounting in a snap-on, snap-off manner.

36. A mounting arrangement for a light mountable on a mounting rail comprising:

a light body containing a light source, a source of electrical energy and a switch for selectively coupling the light source and the source of electrical energy in circuit for producing light;

a mounting arrangement on said light body for mounting said light body on a mounting rail having a keying feature, said mounting arrangement comprising;

first and second clamp members on said light body movable closer together for clamping a mounting rail and farther apart for releasing the mounting rail, whereby a mounting rail may be clamped between said first and second clamp members;

said light body having a recess located on said light body between said first and second clamp members; and

a keying member removably disposed in the recess of said light body, said keying member having a keying feature that engages the keying feature of the mounting rail when the light body is clamped to the mounting rail by said first and second clamping members.

37. The mounting arrangement of claim 36 wherein said light is mountable on mounting rails having keying features of different sizes and shapes, and wherein said keying member is selected from a set of keying members for having a keying feature of a size and shape that corresponds to the size and shape of the keying feature of the mounting rail.

38. The mounting arrangement of claim 36 wherein the recess of said light body is generally rectangular, and wherein said keying member has a key body that fits into the recess of said light body in a predetermined location and has a key feature on said key body.

39. The mounting arrangement of claim 38 wherein said key body is removably retained in the predetermined position in the recess of said light body by a fastener through said light body.

40. The mounting arrangement of claim 38 wherein said key feature includes a projection extending from said key body.

41. The mounting arrangement of claim 36 wherein said first clamp member comprises an elongated longitudinal clamp member fixed on said light body and wherein said second clamp member comprises a movable elongated clamp member disposed longitudinally and movably adjacent said light body opposing said fixed clamp member and spaced apart therefrom.

42. The mounting arrangement of claim 41 wherein one or both of said fixed elongated longitudinal clamp member clamp member and said movable elongated longitudinal clamp member has an elongated longitudinal chamfered edge for facilitating the mounting in a snap-on, snap-off manner.

43. A mounting arrangement for mounting an object on a mounting rail having a keying feature, said mounting arrangement comprising:

first and second clamp members on said object movable closer together for clamping a mounting rail and farther apart for releasing the mounting rail, whereby a mounting rail may be clamped between said first and second clamp members;

said object having a recess located on said object between said first and second clamp members; and

a keying member removably disposed in the recess of said object, said keying member having a keying feature that engages the keying feature of the mounting rail when the object is clamped to the mounting rail by said first and second clamping members.

44. The mounting arrangement of claim 43 wherein said object is mountable on mounting rails having keying features of different sizes and shapes, and wherein said keying member is selected from a set of keying members for having a keying feature of a size and shape that corresponds to the size and shape of the keying feature of the mounting rail.

45. The mounting arrangement of claim 43 wherein the recess of said object is generally rectangular, and wherein said keying member has a key body that fits into the recess of said object in a predetermined location and has a key feature on said key body.

46. The mounting arrangement of claim 45 wherein said key body is removably retained in the predetermined position in the recess of said light body by a fastener through said object.

47. The mounting arrangement of claim 45 wherein said key feature includes a projection extending from said key body.

48. The mounting arrangement of claim 43 wherein said first clamp member comprises an elongated longitudinal clamp member fixed on said object and wherein said second clamp member comprises a movable elongated clamp member disposed longitudinally and movably adjacent said object opposing said fixed clamp member and spaced apart therefrom.

49. The mounting arrangement of claim 48 wherein one or both of said fixed elongated longitudinal clamp member clamp member and said movable elongated longitudinal clamp member has an elongated longitudinal chamfered edge for facilitating the mounting in a snap-on, snap-off manner.

50. A mounting arrangement for a light mountable on a mounting rail comprising:

a light body containing a light source, a source of electrical energy and a switch for selectively coupling the light source and the source of electrical energy in circuit for producing light;

a mounting arrangement on said light body for mounting said light body on a mounting rail having a keying feature, said mounting arrangement comprising;

a fixed clamp member on said light body;

a movable clamp member opposing said fixed clamp member and movable closer to and farther from said fixed clamp member;

a clamping device coupling said movable clamp member and said fixed clamp member for biasing said movable clamp member toward said fixed clamp member and for moving said movable clamp member closer to and farther from said fixed clamp member,

whereby a mounting rail may be clamped between said fixed clamp member and said movable clamp member;

said light body having a recess located on said light body between said fixed clamp member and said movable clamp member; and

a keying member removably disposed in the recess of said light body, said keying member having a keying feature that engages the keying feature of the mounting rail when the light body is clamped to the mounting rail by said fixed and movable clamping members.

51. The mounting arrangement of claim 50 wherein said fixed clamp member comprises an elongated longitudinal member on said light body and wherein said movable clamp member comprises an elongated member disposed longitudinally adjacent said light body opposing said fixed clamp member and spaced apart therefrom.

52. The mounting arrangement of claim 50 wherein said fixed clamp member has a hole therethrough, said clamping device comprising a shaft disposed in the hole through said fixed clamp member and engaging said movable clamp member, and a spring coupled between said fixed clamp member and said shaft for said biasing said clamping device.

53. The mounting arrangement of claim 50 wherein said movable clamp member has one or more posts extending therefrom in a direction toward said fixed clamp member, wherein said light body has one or more holes aligned for receiving the posts of said movable clamp member when the movable clamp member is moved toward said fixed clamp member.

54. The mounting arrangement of claim 50 wherein said light is mountable on mounting rails having keying features of different sizes and shapes, and wherein said keying member is selected from a set of keying members for having a keying feature of a size and shape that corresponds to the size and shape of the keying feature of the mounting rail.

55. A mounting arrangement for mounting an object on a mounting rail having a keying feature, said mounting arrangement comprising:

a fixed clamp member on said object;

a movable clamp member opposing said fixed clamp member and movable closer to and farther from said fixed clamp member;

a clamping device coupling said movable clamp member and said fixed clamp member for biasing said movable clamp member toward said fixed clamp member and for moving said movable clamp member closer to and farther from said fixed clamp member,

whereby a mounting rail may be clamped between said fixed clamp member and said movable clamp member;

said object having a recess located on said object between said fixed clamp member and said movable clamp member; and

a keying member removably disposed in the recess of said object, said keying member having a keying feature that engages the keying feature of the mounting rail when the object is clamped to the mounting rail by said fixed and movable clamping members.

56. The mounting arrangement of claim 55 wherein said fixed clamp member comprises an elongated longitudinal member on said object and wherein said movable clamp member comprises an elongated member disposed longitudinally adjacent said object opposing said fixed clamp member and spaced apart therefrom.

57. The mounting arrangement of claim 55 wherein said fixed clamp member has a hole therethrough, said clamping device comprising a shaft disposed in the hole through said fixed clamp member and engaging said movable clamp member, and a spring coupled between said fixed clamp member and said shaft for said biasing said clamping device.

58. The mounting arrangement of claim 55 wherein said movable clamp member has one or more posts extending therefrom in a direction toward said fixed clamp member, wherein said object has one or more holes aligned for receiving the posts of said movable clamp member when the movable clamp member is moved toward said fixed clamp member.

59. The mounting arrangement of claim 55 wherein said object is mountable on mounting rails having keying features of different sizes and shapes, and wherein said keying member is selected from a set of keying members for having a keying feature of a size and shape that corresponds to the size and shape of the keying feature of the mounting rail.