Emergency lighting apparatus

• US 4,600,972 A
• Filed: 08/23/1984
• Issued: 07/15/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hazenlite Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hazenlite Incorporated
• Inventors: MacIntyre, Hazen L.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOLFE JR, WILLIS RAY
• Application Number:
  US06/643,553
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 362/145, 362/20, 362/147, 362/157, 362/183, 362/184, 362/185, 362/187, 362/188, 362/189, 362/190, 362/191, 362/197, 362/198, 362/199, 362/232, 362/238, 362/239, 362/240 , 362/241, 362/249, 362/250, 362/251, 362/269, 362/294, 362/370, 362/371, 362/372, 362/418, 362/419, 362/422, 362/427, 362/428, 362/429, 362/430, 362/432
• US Class Current: 362/20
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/036 by means of a rigid support, e.g. bracket or arm
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/022 Emergency lighting devices

Abstract

An emergency lighting fixture has a capped circular and longitudinally slotted tube containing a power supply and charging electronics. Cylindrical outer envelopes rotatably enclosing the tube each have pivotally mounted lamp shells at opposing ends. A spider plate attachable canopy having integrally molded apertured inner lugs has an outer integrally molded arm supported overhanging portion, the arm being of substantial cross section for supporting the tube weight centrally supporting the lighting fixture. The tube has a longitudinal support slot receiving a rectangular support piece terminating from the canopy arm. End caps enclosing tube ends each have a circumferential groove for receiving guide nubs are disposed in spaced apart relationship on the inner circumference of the envelopes. The envelopes have oblique truncated surfaces allowing beam positioning without envelope interference. Installation is achieved by affixing the spider to an outlet box, joining the wires of the outlet box to those from the canopy, and affixing the canopy to the spider plate. The support portion of the canopy is slid into the tube slot and tube, the envelopes are fitted over the tube and polarized electrical connectors are joined. Beam adjustment is effected by envelope rotation and shell pivoting, without significantly changing the overall cylindrical appearance of the fixture.

Claims

1. Emergency lighting apparatus for attachment to a building structure and responsive to an operating condition of a utility line comprising:

housing support means for securing a housing to a structure;

housing means coupled to the housing support means for adjustably supporting a lamp head and encasing a lamp power supply and lamp actuator circuitry;

lamp head means for supplying a an adjustable lighted beam in response to sensing a loss of utility voltage, the lamp head means at least partially enclosed by and coupled to the housing means;

power supply means for powering the lamp head means in event of power outage independently of a utility voltage, the power supply means disposed within the housing means and electrically coupled to the lamp head means; and

circuit means for engaging the power supply means to actuate the lamp head means in response to an indication of loss of power, the circuit means disposed within the housing means; and

in which

the housing means comprises tube means for supporting the power supply means and the circuit means, and envelope means disposed about the tube means for at least partially enclosing the tube means and supporting lamp head means adjacent opposing ends of the housing means, the envelope means providing a decorative appearance to the lighting fixture;

whereby an emergency lighting fixture is provided which retains its power supply and circuitry internal to its housing means which also at least partly encloses the lamp head means, supports the weight of the housing means by the housing support means, and allows light beam positioning.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 and in which the housing support means has integrally molded cantilever means for securing the housing means to a supporting surface.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 and in which the housing means having a cylindrical outer surface and the envelope means having an inner cylindrical surfaces mating with the cylindrical outer surface of the tube means, the cylindrical envelope means at least partially rotatable about the tube means for adjusting the positioning of the lamp head means axially about the tube means whereby even as the envelope is rotated to adjust the beam position, the exterior shape and appearance is substantially maintained.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 3 and in which the cylindrical envelope means includes means for pivotally retaining the lamp head means.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 4 and in which the envelope means comprising two envelopes disposed in juxtaposition;

and comprising

means for engaging the power supply means to actuate the lamp head means in response to an indication of a break in line voltage and for charging the power supply means on demand, the tube means having end means for substantially enclosing each end of the tube means.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 5 and in which the end means comprise ventilation aperture means for allowing air to pass through ends of the tube means, the end means having circumferential groove means for receiving rotational guide means;

guide means disposed within the envelope means for engaging the circumferential groove means of the end means, allowing the envelope to rotate about the tube and fixing the lateral positioning of the envelope means about the tube means.

7. The invention as set forth in claim 5 and in which the housing support means comprising test switch means for simulating a break in line current and pilot light means for indicating the presence of a line voltage.

8. Emergency lightling apparatus comprising:

canopy means for securing a housing to an electrical outlet box;

the canopy means having a cantilever arm for supporting a housing;

a housing supporting emergency lighting apparatus for actuating a light beam in response to an indication of a loss of utility voltage, the housing being coupled to the canopy means for retaining battery means and and electronics for powering lamp means and supporting lamp head means;

the housing comprising a cylindrical tube and two cylindrical envelopes disposed in juxtaposition on the tube adjacent opposite sides of the cantilever arm of the canopy means;

the envelopes remotely supporting lamp heads, the envelopes substantially enclosing the tube and rotatable about the tube for adjusting the positioning of the lamp heads axially about the housing, the envelopes providing a decorative appearance to the lighting fixture;

lamp heads pivotally coupled at opposing ends of the envelopes remote from the cantilevered protrusion of the canopy for providing an adjustable light beam;

battery means for powering the lamp head means in the event of power outage, the battery means disposed within the tube; and

means for engaging the battery means and actuating the lamp head means in response to an indication of loss of power;

whereby an emergency lighting fixture is provided having a uniform outer appearance irrespective of beam positioning, yet retains the battery and electronics internal to the cylinder, supports the weight of the lighting fixture by the canopy and allows adjustment of lighting positioning, yet may be simple to install as a result of preinstallation of components within the tube.

9. The invention as set forth in claim 8 and in which the cantilever arm of the canopy terminates in a protruding portion, the tube having a slotted portion and the protruding portion is movable longitudinally along the slotted portion of the tube to engage the tube and support the tube.

10. The invention as set forth in claim 9 and comprising stick lock means comprising a longitudinal portion moveable within the slotted portion of the tube to bear on the protruding portion of the canopy and lock the protruding portion within the tube.

11. The invention as set forth in claim 10 and in which the lamp heads each comprising a shell and a reflector centrally disposed within the shell, a lamp disposed within the reflector and a lens extending forward of the lamp, the lens means comprising a central frosted portion.

12. The invention as set forth in claim 10 and comprising a wedge, the lamp shells each having a frustoconical surface extending inwardly toward the tube, the wedge extending from the interior of the envelope and engaging a frustoconical surface of the lamp shell for limiting the rotational travel of the shell.

13. The invention as set forth in claim 10 and comprising switch means disposed on the canopy for testing the batteries and simulating a power outage event.

14. The invention as set forth in claim 10 and in which the plug entering the first lamp head comprising two leads and the plug entering the second lamp head comprising other than two leads, whereby the positioning of the lamps is polarized, preventing mistakes in installation.

15. Emergency lighting apparatus for attachment to a building structure and responsive to an operating condition of a utility line comprising:

a canopy for securing a housing to a structure;

housing means coupled to the canopy for adjustably supporting a lamp head means, the housing means comprising tube means for supporting power supply means and circuit means, and envelope means disposed over the tube means for at least partially enclosing the tube means and supporting lamp head means adjacent opposing ends of the housing means, the envelope means providing a decorative appearance to the lighting fixture, the tube means having a cylindrical outer surface and the envelope means having an inner cylindrical surfaces mating with the cylindrical outer surface of the tube means, the cylindrical envelope means at least partially rotatable about the tube means for adjusting the positioning of the lamp head means axially about the tube means;

lamp head means for supplying a an adjustable lighted beam in response to sensing a loss of utility voltage, the lamp head means at least partially enclosed by and coupled to the envelope means;

power supply means for powering the lamp head means in event of power outage independently of a utility voltage, the power supply means disposed within the tube means and electrically coupled to the lamp head means; and

circuit means for actuating the power supply means to actuate the lamp head means in response to an indication of loss of power, the circuit means disposed within the housing means;

whereby an emergency lighting fixture is provided which retains its power supply and circuitry internal to its housing, supports the weight of the housing by the housing support means, and allows light beam positioning.

16. The invention as set forth in claim 15 and in which the canopy has an integrally molded cantilever arm for securing the housing means to a supporting surface and integrally molded lugs extending inwardly and joined to a spider plate for supporting the weight of the housing means.

17. The invention as set forth in claim 15 and comprising:

a spider plate for securing the canopy to an electrical outlet box;

the canopy having a plurality of integrally molded lugs having longitudinal apertures, longitudinal fasteners for securing the canopy to the spider plate, and an integrally molded cantilever arm for supporting a housing; and

a housing supporting emergency lighting apparatus for actuating a light beam in response to an indication of a loss of utility voltage.

18. The invention as set forth in claim 17 and in which the longitudinal apertures defining a countersunk screw head receiving surface, and machine screw means disposed within the apertures and engaging the spider plate.

19. The invention as set forth in claim 15 and in which the envelope means comprising two cylindrical envelopes disposed in juxtaposition;

the tube means comprising a slotted portion and the cantilever arm of the canopy having a protruding portion engaging and movable within the slotted portion to affix the canopy to the tube means; and

stick lock means for confining protruding portions of the arm of the canopy centrally within the tube means and the two envelopes substantially enclosing the tube means about and adjacent the arm of the canopy.

20. The invention as set forth in claim 19 and in which the envelopes comprising means for pivotally retaining the lamp head means in opposing spaced apart relationship, the lamp head means rotatable about two perpendicular axes, and limit means for limiting rotation of the lamp head means about the perpendicular axes.

21. The invention as set forth in claim 20 and comprising means for engaging the power supply means to actuate the lamp head means in response to an indication of a break in line voltage and for charging the power supply means on demand, the tube means having end means for substantially enclosing each end of the tube means, the end means comprising ventilation aperture means for allowing air to pass through ends of the tube means, the end means having circumferential groove means for receiving rotational guide means;

guide means disposed within the envelope means for engaging the circumferential groove means of the end means, allowing the envelope to rotate about the tube and fixing the lateral positioning of the envelope means about the tube means.

22. The invention as set forth in claim 21 and comprising circuit plate means for supporting electronic circuitry, battery means and transformer means, and means disposed within the tube means for retaining the plate means, emergency lighting circuit means including a transformer and battery means disposed within the tube means supported by the circuit plate means.

23. The invention as set forth in claim 22 and comprising plug means coupling the lamp head means to circuitry of the tube means and connection means for energizing the circuitry disposed within the tube means, whereby a battery may be factory packed within the tube means without significant circuit drain until field installation of the apparatus.

24. The invention as set forth in claim 23 and in which the lamp head means comprising lamp shell means for pivotally supporting a lamp and reflector arrangement, the shell means having outermost portions, the lamp shell means comprising pivot elements extending diametrically across the outermost portion of the shell means, the envelope means defining an oblique truncated surface, whereby the shell is at least partially rotatable within the pivot elements through apertures in the tube means to adjust the beam of the lamp head about an axis normal to the tubing axis.