Lighting Assembly Featuring a Plurality of Light Sources with a Windage and Elevation Control Mechanism Therefor

• US 20090116231A1
• Filed: 08/22/2008
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quantum Leap Research, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Quantum Leap Research, Inc.
• Inventors: Miller, Rodney H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,447,955 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/208
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/027 the light sources being a LED
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/02 with provision for adjustment F21V17/04 - F21V17/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/80 with pins or wires
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/20 of different form
• 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 1/36 with infrared light source
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 11/001 Means for mounting tubular or beam shaped sighting or aiming devices on firearms
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 11/003 Mountings with a dove tail element, e.g. "Picatinny rail systems"

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lighting assembly having a principal light source, at least one secondary light source, and a focusing element adapted to focus light emanating from the principal light source and adapted to let light emanating from the at least one secondary light source pass through the focusing element. The invention also relates to a windage and elevation control mechanism having a longitudinal and lateral mobile unit and a receiving unit. The mobile unit is adapted to receive a device to be adjusted, and has two aligned protrusions located respectively on longitudinal opposite sides thereof. The receiving unit defines a cavity adapted to receive the mobile unit. The cavity is defined by facing surfaces having complimentary channels adapted to receive the protrusions of the mobile unit.

Claims

1. A lighting assembly comprising:

a principal light source, capable of projecting light outwardly;

at least one secondary light source; and

a focusing element adapted to focus light emanating from the principal light source and adapted to let light emanating from the at least one secondary light source pass through the focusing element.

2. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the principal light source is a Light Emitting Diode (LED).

3. The lighting assembly of claim 2, wherein the LED is provided with a heat sink device.

4. The lighting assembly of claim 3, wherein the heat sink device serves as a mounting plate for at least one of the plurality of secondary light sources.

5. The lighting assembly of claim 4, further comprising thermally insulating sleeves inserted between the heat sink device and the secondary light sources.

6. The lighting assembly of claim 3, wherein the single heat sink device is adapted for dissipating heat from the principal and at least one secondary light sources.

7. The lighting assembly of claim 3, wherein the heat sink device comprises a tab, and the focusing element comprises a registration notch adapted to mate with the tab, to ensure proper positioning of the focusing element.

9. The lighting assembly of claim 3, wherein the heat sink device comprises a recess adapted to receive a printed circuit board containing circuitry required to drive the principal and secondary light sources.

10. The lighting assembly of claim 3, wherein the principal light source is a low profile LED, and the heat sink device defines at least one bevel adapted to position the focusing element in close proximity to the low profile LED.

11. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the focusing element is a collimator.

12. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the focusing element is a reflector.

13. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the focusing element comprises a reflector and a lens.

14. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the lighting assembly is provided with a windage and elevation control mechanism.

15. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein one of the secondary light sources is a laser diode.

16. The lighting assembly of claim 15, further comprising:

a housing having an opening;

a battery level indicator located within the housing, the battery level indicator being visible through the opening.

17. The lighting assembly of claim 16, wherein the battery level indicator comprises low powered LEDs.

18. The lighting assembly of claim 17, wherein the low powered LEDs are respectively red, yellow and green.

19. The lighting assembly of claim 11, wherein the collimator has a rear face shaped in such a way that an appendix thereof forms a smaller collimator for the secondary light source.

8. The lighting assembly of claim 8, wherein one of the secondary light sources serves as the tab, and a channel, whenever the focusing element is a collimator, or aperture, whenever the focusing element comprises a reflector, which channel or aperture, as the case may be, is provided on the focusing element, serves as the registration notch.

20. A windage and elevation control mechanism comprising:

a longitudinal and lateral mobile unit adapted to receive a device to be adjusted, the mobile unit having two aligned protrusions located respectively on longitudinal opposite sides thereof; and

a receiving unit defining a cavity adapted to receive the mobile unit, the cavity being defined by facing surfaces having complimentary channels adapted to receive the protrusions of the mobile unit,

whereby windage and elevation of the device is controlled by adjusting the mobile unit with respect to the receiving unit.

21. The windage and elevation control mechanism of claim 20, wherein the complimentary channels comprise:

a first socket adapted to receive one of the protrusions and being adapted to be in contact with a spherical part of the one of the protrusions in at least three points of contact defining an arc having more than 180 degrees; and

a second socket adapted to receive another one of the protrusions, the second socket defining a curved channel adapted to securely maintain the mobile unit upon lateral and longitudinal movement of the mobile unit.

22. The windage and elevation control mechanism of claim 20, wherein the fixed unit further comprises a retaining mechanism for retaining the mobile unit within the fixed unit while allowing longitudinal and lateral movement therebetween.

23. The windage and elevation control mechanism of claim 20, further comprising an adjusting mechanism, the adjusting mechanism being affixed to the receiving unit and the mobile unit so as to adjust and control longitudinal and lateral movement of the mobile unit with respect to the fixed unit.

24. The windage and elevation control mechanism of claim 20, wherein the device is a laser.

25. The windage and elevation control mechanism of claim 20, wherein the mechanism is integrated into a lighting assembly.

26. The windage and elevation control mechanism of claim 20, wherein the cavity for receiving the windage and elevation control mechanism is provided on the heat sink device of a lighting assembly.