Combined flood and spot light

• US 4,755,916 A
• Filed: 07/23/1981
• Issued: 07/05/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ROM Acquisition Corporation (Safe Fleet Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Collins Dynamics
• Inventors: Collins, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh, Donald P.
• Application Number:
  US06/285,944
• Time in Patent Office: 2,539 Days
• Field of Search: 362/61, 362/64, 362/80, 362/83, 362/235, 362/236, 362/241, 362/242, 362/243, 362/247, 362/248, 362/298, 362/303, 362/307, 362/311
• US Class Current: 362/236
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0058 Stacked, i.e. one lamp located behind the other in the optical axis direction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/162 Incandescent light sources, e.g. filament or halogen lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/166 characterised by the shape of the filament
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/19 Attachment of light sources or lamp holders achieving variable light distribution by movable light sources F21S41/657
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/321 the reflector being a surface of revolution or a planar surface, e.g. truncated
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/323 the reflector having two perpendicular cross sections having regular geometrical curves of a distinct nature
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/365 successively reflecting the light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/02 by movement of light sources in vehicle head lamps F21S41/657
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/02 with provision for adjustment, e.g. for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0008 providing for indirect lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0016 on lighting devices that also provide for direct lighting, e.g. by means of independent light sources, by splitting of the light beam, by switching between both lighting modes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0025 Combination of two or more reflectors for a single light source array of reflectors for a cluster of light sources F21V7/0083

Abstract

A light is provided which includes a first, forwardly concave reflector member, a first, forward lamp spaced ahead of the reflector member, and a second rearwardly concave reflector member spaced forward of the lamp. The rear reflector member has a generally parabolic surface and the forward member has a generally arcuate surface. When the lamp is activated, its rays generally travel forward, are reflected off the second reflector member rearward onto the first reflector member, and thence forward in a substantially parallel array to provide a spot light. A second lamp is located axially rearward of the first lamp and forward of the first reflector. When this lamp is activated, its rays travel generally laterally, strike the first reflector member, and thence are reflected forward in generally random array to provide a flood light. Means are provided to selectively activate either or both of said lamps. In a further embodiment, the first reflective member has a spherical central portion and a parabolic peripheral portion.

Claims

1. A combined flood and spot light comprising:

a first reflector member having a rear wall, said reflector member of substantially parabolic cross section and projecting in a forward direction from said rear wall;

mounting means carried by said reflector member supporting a forwardly directed first lamp at an axially forwardly spaced relation to the rear wall of the first reflector member;

a second reflector member having a substantially arcuate cross section mounted in axially spaced relation forwardly of the first lamp, said second reflector member projecting in a rearward direction toward said rear wall;

a second lamp supported on said mounting means in axially spaced relation behind the first lamp and forward of the rear wall of the first reflector member, said second lamp being forwardly directed;

means to selectively activate either or both of said lamps; and

the relative dimensions and locations of the first and second lamps and first and second reflectors being so chosen that the rays emanating from the first lamp travel primarily forward and are reflected by the second reflector member rearward to the first reflector member and thence are reflected forward in substantially parallel array to provide a spot light, and the rays emanating from the second lamp travel primarily laterally to the first reflector member and thence are reflected forward in random array to provide a flood light.

2. A combined flood and spot light, as claimed in claim 1, in which:

the first and second reflector members comprise surfaces of revolution swung about the fore and aft axis of the axially spaced lamps.

3. A combined flood and spot light, as claimed in claim 2, in which:

a light shield is mounted laterally of the second lamp to bar travel of its rays to that portion of the first reflector member behind the shield.

4. A combined flood and spot light, as claimed in claim 3, in which:

the shield has the form of a part of a cylinder having an axis extending fore and aft parallel to the axis of the lamp arrangement; and

the inner surface of the shield has a reflecting surface to reflect the rays of the lamp to the opposite portion of the first reflector member.

5. A combined flood and spot light, as claimed in claim 2, in which:

a circular transparent glass plate extends across the open end of the first reflector member and serves as a closure therefor and also serves as a support for the second reflector member.

6. A combined flood and spot light, as claimed in claim 5, in which:

the central portion of the glass plate is of the same size and shape as the second reflector member, and the latter is located in the concavity of the plate.

7. A combined flood and spot light, as claimed in claim 1, in which:

the first reflector member is trough-shaped with a substantial lateral extent and its parabolic cross section is in a vertical plane extending fore and aft normal to its lateral extent; and

the second reflector member is also trough-shaped with a substantial lateral extent and its arcuate cross section is in a vertical plane extending fore and aft normal to its lateral extent.

8. A combined flood and spot light, as claimed in claim 7, in which:

the first reflector member terminates with matingly shaped end plate members to reflect lateral light rays forwardly.

9. A combined flood and spot light, as claimed in claim 8, in which:

the second reflector member is mounted on the first reflector member by securing to the end plates of the first reflector member.

10. A combined flood and spot light, as claimed in claim 7, in which:

the filament of each of the lamps extends laterally, parallel to the axes of the reflector members, to increase the widths of the beams of light projected forward.

11. A combined flood and spot light, as claimed in claim 7, in which:

a light shield is mounted laterally of the second lamp to bar travel of its rays to that portion of the first reflector member behind the shield.

12. A combined flood and spot light, as claimed in claim 2, in which said first reflector member comprises:

a central portion having a spherical cross section; and

a peripheral portion having a parabolic cross section, so that light reflected from said second reflector and from said first lamp strike said parabolic portion and leave said lamp in a substantially parallel array to form a spot light and light from said second lamp strikes said spherical portion and leaves said lamp in a random array to form a flood light.

13. A combined flood and spot light comprising:

an integral reflector member having at least one reflecting surface and a rear wall, said one reflecting surface of a substantially parabolic cross section about a longitudinal axis of said light;

mounting means oriented in preselected position with respect to said reflector member supporting a first lamp and a second lamp in axially forwardly spaced relation to the rear wall of the reflector member on the longitudinal axis, said first lamp mounted at a preselected position, said first and second lamps forwardly directed relative to said rear wall; and

means to selectively activate said lamps, activation of said first lamp producing a spot light and activation of said second lamp producing a flood light.

14. A combined flood and spot light, as claimed in claim 13, in which:

the reflector member comprises a surface of revolution swung about the longitudinal axis of said light.

15. A combined flood and spot light, as claimed in claim 14, in which:

said first lamp is forward relative to the second lamp from said rear wall of said reflector member.

16. A combined flood and spot light, as claimed in claim 14, in which:

said preselected position of said first lamp is essentially at the focal point of the parabolic cross section of said reflector member.

17. A combined flood and spot light, as claimed in claim 14, in which:

a light shield is mounted laterally of the second lamp to bar travel of the second lamp'"'"'s rays to that portion of the relfector member blocked by the shield.

18. A combined flood and spot light, as claimed in claim 17, in which:

the shield has the form of a part of a cylinder having an axis extending fore and aft parallel to the axis of the first and second lamps; and

the shield has an inner reflecting surface to reflect the rays of the second lamp to the opposite portion of the reflector member to that portion blocked by the shield.

19. A combined flood and spot light, as claimed in claim 14, in which said reflector member comprises:

a central reflecting surface having a spherical cross section; and

a peripheral reflecting surface having a parabolic cross section, so that light reflected from said lamp strikes said parabolic surface and leaves said first lamp in a substantially parallel array to form a spot light and light from said second lamp strikes said spherical surface and leaves said lamp in a random array to form a flood light.