LIGHT SOURCE PROJECTING LINES DEFINING ACTIVITY AREA

• US 20140171234A1
• Filed: 02/21/2014
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Steven D. Vogt
• Original Assignee: Steven D. Vogt
• Inventors: VOGT, STEVEN D.
• Application Number:
  US14/186,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20140171234A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/490
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 19/06 Apparatus for setting-out or dividing courts
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 19/065 Line markings, e.g. tapes; Methods therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/14 Lighting means

Abstract

A lighting system, for use in combination with a basketball backboard device mounted on a pole, comprises a plurality of lighting devices positioned adjacent the basketball backboard device. The lighting devices comprise a housing, a connector, a first light source, a lens and a light filter, and a secondary light source. The lens focuses lines defined by the light filter. The first light source is positioned to project the lines on to an activity surface to define a foul lane for a basketball court. The connector connects the housing to the pole supporting the basketball backboard device. The secondary light source is positioned to simultaneously illuminate a backboard of the basketball backboard device while the first light source projects the lines through the lens and the light filter. The lines from the first light source combine together on the activity surface to define an area for a basketball game.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a connector connected to said housing; and

at least one light source within said housing,

said connector connecting said housing to a basketball backboard device,

said at least one light source projecting lines defining a foul lane for a basketball court on a surface that is otherwise without lines, and

said at least one light source projecting light onto a basketball backboard of said basketball backboard device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, said at least one light source comprising:

a first light source projecting said lines defining said foul lane for said basketball court; and

a second light source projecting light onto said basketball backboard.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first lens focusing said lines defining said foul lane for said basketball court; and

a second lens focusing said light onto said basketball backboard.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a lens and a light filter operatively connected to said housing, said lens focusing said lines defined by said light filter on said surface to project said foul lane for said basketball court.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, said at least one light source simultaneously projecting said lines defining said foul lane for said basketball court and illuminating a playing area for a basketball game using contrasting colors.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising one of:

a self-contained power source positioned within said housing, said self-contained power source being operatively connected to said light source and powering said light source; and

a power unit connected to an external power source, said power unit being operatively connected to said light source and powering said light source.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, said at least one light source comprising at least one of an incandescent bulb, a gas bulb, a light emitting diode (LED), and a laser.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a connector connected to said housing; and

at least one light source within said housing,

said connector connecting said housing to a pole of a basketball backboard device,

said at least one light source simultaneously;

projecting lines defining a foul lane for a basketball court on a surface that is otherwise without lines, and

projecting light onto a basketball backboard of said basketball backboard device.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, said at least one light source comprising:

a first light source projecting said lines defining said foul lane for said basketball court; and

a second light source projecting light onto said basketball backboard.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a first lens focusing said lines defining said foul lane for said basketball court; and

a second lens focusing said light onto said basketball backboard.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a lens and a light filter operatively connected to said housing, said lens focusing said lines defined by said light filter on said surface to project said foul lane for said basketball court.

12. The apparatus according to claim 8, said at least one light source simultaneously projecting said lines defining said foul lane for said basketball court and illuminating a playing area for a basketball game using contrasting colors.

13. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising one of:

a self-contained power source positioned within said housing, said self-contained power source being operatively connected to said light source and powering said light source; and

a power unit connected to an external power source, said power unit being operatively connected to said light source and powering said light source.

14. The apparatus according to claim 8, said at least one light source comprising at least one of an incandescent bulb, a gas bulb, a light emitting diode (LED), and a laser.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a connector connected to said housing;

at least one light source within said housing; and

a controller operatively connected to said at least one light source,

said connector connecting said housing to a basketball backboard device,

said at least one light source comprising a laser light source,

said controller controlling said laser light source to project lines defining a foul lane for a basketball court on a surface that is otherwise without lines, and

said at least one light source simultaneously projecting light onto a basketball backboard of said basketball backboard device with said laser light source projecting said lines defining said foul lane for said basketball court on said surface.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, said at least one light source comprising a second light source projecting light onto said basketball backboard, said second light source being different than said laser light source.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a lens focusing said light onto said basketball backboard.

18. The apparatus according to claim 15, said at least one light source simultaneously projecting said lines defining said foul lane for said basketball court and illuminating a playing area for a basketball game using contrasting colors.

19. The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising one of:

a self-contained power source positioned within said housing, said self-contained power source being operatively connected to said light source and powering said light source; and

a power unit connected to an external power source, said power unit being operatively connected to said light source and powering said light source.

20. The apparatus according to claim 15, said at least one light source further comprising at least one of an incandescent bulb, a gas bulb, and a light emitting diode (LED).