Lighting System

• US 20090201681A1
• Filed: 02/06/2009
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovative D-Lites LLC
• Original Assignee: Innovative D-Lites LLC
• Inventors: Pedersen, Glenda, Pedersen, Melvin Hess, Galke, Detlef Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 7,993,030 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/249.70
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/00 Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/028 being retractable, i.e. having two fixed positions, one recessed, e.g. in a wall, floor or ceiling, and one extended when in use
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/007 with provision for shipment or storage
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/15 specially adapted for power operation, e.g. by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/26 Pivoted arms
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/004 mounted on the exterior of houses or other buildings to illuminate parts thereof

Abstract

A lighting system comprises a housing suitable for mounting to a structural unit. The housing includes a plurality of enclosure panels. At least two light-bearing members are moveable relative to the housing and are pivotally coupled one to another. A pair of actuators are moveable in opposing directions, one of the light-bearing members being coupled to one of the actuators and an other of the light-bearing members being coupled to an other of the actuators. Movement of the actuators relative to one another results in pivotal movement of the light-bearing members relative to one another, causing an end of each light-bearing member to move further from or closer to the housing.

Claims

12. A lighting system, comprising:

a housing, suitable for mounting to a structural unit, the housing including a plurality of enclosure panels;

at least two linear actuators, moveable relative to one another;

at least two light-bearing members, retractable into and extendable from the housing; and

a pair of cams, each cam couplable to one of the actuators and to one of the light-bearing members; and

each cam having a plurality of connection points associated therewith, with one of;

a linear actuator and a light-bearing member, being removably coupled at the connection points;

wherein movement of the actuators relative to one another results in movement of the cams and movement of the light-bearing members, causing the light-bearing members to be extended from or retracted into the housing.

1. A lighting system, comprising:

a housing, suitable for mounting to a structural unit, the housing including a plurality of enclosure panels;

at least two light-bearing members, moveable relative to the housing and pivotally coupled one to another;

a pair of actuators, moveable in opposing directions, one of the light-bearing members being coupled to one of the actuators and an other of the light-bearing members being coupled to an other of the actuators;

wherein

movement of the actuators relative to one another results in pivotal movement of the light-bearing members relative to one another, causing an end of each light-bearing member to move further from or closer to the housing.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of pairs of light-bearing members, ends of each pair of light-bearing members being pivotally coupled to ends of at least one other pair of light-bearing members in a linked relationship.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least two light-bearing members are pivotally coupled to one another at midpoints of the light-bearing members, such that the light-bearing members rotate symmetrically about the coupled midpoints.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a pair of cams, and wherein each light-bearing member is coupled to a cam and each cam is coupled to one of the actuators.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein each cam includes an array of connection points, the array of connection points providing variably angled connectivity between one of the cam and the actuator.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the array of connection points comprises a series of coupling ports formed in the cams.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the cams are pivotally coupled one to another.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein each cam is removably couplable at the connection points to enable adjustment of an angle between the cam and the actuator.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising an extension port, formed in or through one of the enclosure panels, the extension port allowing the light-bearing members to extend from the enclosure through a portion of the enclosure otherwise covered by the enclosure panel.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least two light-bearing members form an array that decreases in width as the members extend from the enclosure and increases in width as they are retracted into the enclosure.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of pairs of light-bearing members, ends of each pair of light-bearing members being pivotally coupled to ends of at least one other pair of light-bearing members in a linked relationship.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of pairs of light-bearing members, ends of each pair of light-bearing members being pivotally coupled to ends of at least one other pair of light-bearing members in a linked relationship.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least two light-bearing members are pivotally coupled to one another at midpoints of the light-bearing members, such that the light-bearing members rotate symmetrically about the coupled midpoints.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the array of connection points comprises a series of coupling ports formed in the cams.

16. The system of claim 5, wherein the cams are pivotally coupled one to another.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least two light-bearing members form an array that decreases in width as the members extend from the enclosure and increases in width as they are retracted into the enclosure.

18. The system of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of pairs of light-bearing members, ends of each pair of light-bearing members being pivotally coupled to ends of at least one other pair of light-bearing members in a linked relationship.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of light-bearing members are substantially completely retractable into the housing.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least two linear actuators slide adjacent one another in opposing directions.

16-1. The system of claim 12, further comprising an extension port, formed in or through one of the enclosure panels, the extension port allowing the light-bearing members to extend from the enclosure through a portion of the enclosure otherwise covered by the enclosure panel.