Convertible light fixture

• US 4,870,548 A
• Filed: 06/03/1988
• Issued: 09/26/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Original Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Inventors: Peterson, Gerald E., Ellson, Bart T., Kakuk, Jay J., Beachy, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/201,713
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 362/145, 362/152, 362/302, 362/431, 362/277, 362/285, 362/287, 362/280, 362/281, 362/429, 362/430, 362/427, 362/418, 362/455, 362/187, 362/370, 362/375, 439/13, 439/414, 439/419, 248/156, 248/530, 248/545
• US Class Current: 362/145
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/081 of low-built type, e.g. landscape light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/04 by movement of reflectors in vehicle head lamps F21S41/675
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/06 by movement of refractors in vehicle head lamps F21S41/635
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/002 making direct electrical contact, e.g. by piercing F21V21/35 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0824 Ground spikes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 27/00 Cable-stowing arrangements structurally associated with lighting devices, e.g. reels storing lengths of cable in general B65H; the lighting devices being vehicle headlamps F21S41/192; the lighting devices being vehicle lights F21S43/195
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/10 Outdoor lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/109 of gardens

Abstract

A convertible light fixture (10) capable of selectively functioning as a spotlight or floodlight. A preferred light fixture (10) includes a ground stake (12) supporting a bulb/lens assembly (14). An electrical cable (16), protected by the preferred S-shaped ground stake (12), makes contact with the bulb/lens assembly (14) at the rear thereof. More specifically, a pair of prongs (60), which also support a bulb (62), protrude from the rear of bulb/lens assembly (14) and make contact with electrical cable (16). Preferred bulb/lens assembly (14) includes a stationary housing (40) and a rotatable focus ring (70) wherein rotation of the latter relative to the former causes axial movement of a reflector (80) relative to bulb (62) to change the degree of focus of the light beam produced by fixture (10). Another feature of preferred bulb/lens assembly (14) is a lens (90) which produces a rectangular light beam adjustable in orientation.

Claims

1. A convertible outdoor light fixture suitable for producing a light beam having an adjustable width, comprising:

(a) a bulb/lens assembly;

(b) an electrical cable operatively connected to the bulb/lens assembly; and

(c) means for supporting the bulb/lens assembly, wherein the bulb/lens assembly comprises;

(i) a housing pivotally connected to the supporting means;

(ii) a bulb comprising a base and a pair of leads;

(iii) integral bulb holding means fixedly received by the housing for mechanically supporting the bulb and conductively coupling the bulb and the electrical cable, the bulb holding means comprising a pair of prongs suitable for piercing the cable and supporting the bulb, each prong comprising a sharp cable-piercing end and a bulb-receiving end comprising multiple leaves which springingly bear against the bulb base to hold the bulb and electrically contact one of the bulb leads;

(iv) a focus ring rotatably connected to the housing;

(v) a lens operatively supported by the focus ring; and

(vi) a reflector connected to the focus ring, wherein the reflector forms a bulb aperture suitable for receiving the bulb, wherein rotational movement of the focus ring relative to the housing causes axial movement of the focus ring and reflector relative to the housing and bulb, and wherein the bulb/lens assembly supporting means comprises a curved surface;

the bulb/lens assembly housing is configured to join the curved surface to form a cable aperture for receiving the electrical cable; and

the pointed cable-piercing ends of the prongs extend out of the housing into the cable aperture to make piercing conductive contact with the electrical cable.

2. A convertible outdoor light fixture suitable for producing a light beam having an adjustable width, comprising:

(a) a bulb/lens assembly;

(b) an electrical cable operatively connected to the bulb/lens assembly; and

(c) means for supporting the bulb/lens assembly, wherein the bulb/lens assembly comprises;

(i) a housing pivotally connected to the supporting means;

(ii) a bulb;

(iii) integral bulb holding means fixedly received by the housing for mechanically supporting the bulb and conductively coupling the bulb and the electrical cable;

(iv) a focus ring rotatably connected to the housing;

(v) a lens operatively supported by the focus ring; and

(vi) a reflector connected to the focus ring, wherein the reflector forms a bulb aperture suitable for receiving the bulb, wherein rotational movement of the focus ring relative to the housing causes axial movement of the focus ring and reflector relative to the housing and bulb, and wherein the reflector and the lens are round but the lens produces a rectangular light beam.

3. The light fixture of claim 2, wherein the lens can be rotated relative to the focus ring to change the orientation of the rectangular beam.

4. The light fixture of claim 3, wherein the lens is lenticular and comprises a plurality of rectangular optical elements.

5. A convertible outdoor light fixture suitable for producing a light beam having an adjustable width, comprising:

(a) a bulb/lens assembly;

(b) an electrical cable operatively connected to the bulb/lens assembly; and

(c) means for supporting the bulb/lens assembly, wherein the bulb/lens assembly comprises;

(i) a housing pivotally connected to the supporting means;

(ii) a bulb;

(iii) integral bulb holding means fixedly received by the housing for mechanically supporting the bulb and conductively coupling the bulb and the electrical cable;

(iv) a focus ring rotatably connected to the housing;

(v) a lens operatively supported by the focus ring; and

(vi) a reflector connected to the focus ring, wherein the reflector forms a bulb aperture suitable for receiving the bulb, wherein rotational movement of the focus ring relative to the housing causes axial movement of the focus ring and reflector relative to the housing and bulb, and wherein the housing comprises a tab extending radially outward therefrom, and the focus ring forms a spiral groove in its inner surface for receiving the tab, whereby rotational movement of the focus ring relative to the housing results in axial movement of the focus ring relative to the housing.

6. A convertible outdoor light fixture suitable for connecting to an electrical cable and producing a light beam having an adjustable width rectangular beam, comprising:

(a) a bulb/lens assembly; and

(b) means for supporting the bulb/lens assembly, wherein the bulb/lens assembly comprises;

(i) a housing pivotally connected to the supporting means;

(ii) a bulb;

(iii) means for holding the bulb and conductively connecting the bulb to the electrical cable;

(iv) a focus ring connected to the housing in such a manner that rotation of the focus ring relative to the housing results in axial movement of the focus ring relative to the housing;

(v) a lens capable of producing a rectangular light beam rotatably supported by the focus ring; and

(vi) a reflector connected to the focus ring, wherein the reflector forms an aperture suitable for receiving the bulb, and the width of the light beam can be adjusted by rotating the focus ring relative to the housing to cause axial movement of the reflector relative to the bulb; and

wherein the lens can be rotated relative to the focus ring to change the angular orientation of the rectangular beam relative to the housing.

7. A convertible outdoor light fixture suitable for producing a rectangular light beam having an adjustable width and orientation, comprising:

(a) a bulb/lens assembly;

(b) an electrical cable operatively connected to the bulb/lens assembly; and

(c) a ground stake having a pointed end suitable for insertion into the ground, a S-shaped intermediate portion, and a head having a curved surface, wherein the bulb/lens assembly comprises;

(i) a housing pivotally connected to the ground stake, wherein the housing forms a yoke which connects to the head of the ground stake;

the housing and the curved surface of the ground stake head form a cable aperture for receiving the electrical cable; and

the housing forms a radially extending tab;

(ii) a bulb having a base and a pair of leads;

(iii) a pair of integral prongs, each prong having a sharp cable-piercing end suitable for making piercing conductive contact with the electrical cable, and a multi-leaved bulb holding end suitable for supporting the base of the bulb and for making conductive contact with one of the bulb leads, wherein the prongs are fixedly received by a pair of prong apertures in the housing such that the cable-piercing ends protrude from the housing into the cable aperture to make conductive contact with the cable therein;

(iv) a focus ring rotatably connected to the housing, wherein the focus ring forms a spiral groove suitable for receiving the housing tab, whereby rotation of the focus ring relative to the housing causes axial movement of the focus ring relative thereto;

(v) a lenticular lens rotatably supported by the focus ring, wherein the lens comprises a plurality of rectangular optical elements each suitable for creating a rectangular light beam, and wherein rotation of the lens relative to the focus ring changes the orientation of the rectangular light beam produced by the light fixture relative to the housing; and

(vi) a parabolic reflector axially fixed to the focus ring, wherein the reflector forms a bulb aperture suitable for receiving the bulb, and wherein the width of the light beam produced by the light fixture can be adjusted by rotation of the focus ring relative to the housing which results in axial movement of the parabolic reflector relative to the bulb.

8. A convertible outdoor light fixture suitable for connecting to an electrical cable and producing a light beam having an adjustable width rectangular beam, comprising:

(a) a bulb/lens assembly; and

(b) means for supporting the bulb/lens assembly, wherein the bulb/lens assembly comprises;

(i) a housing operatively connected to the supporting means;

(ii) a bulb;

(iii) means fixed to the housing for holding the bulb and conductively connecting the bulb to the electrical cable;

(iv) a lens capable of producing a rectangular beam; and

(v) a reflector assembly operatively connected to the housing, wherein the reflector assembly forms an aperture suitable for receiving the bulb and axial movement of the reflector assembly relative to the bulb changes the width of the light beam; and

wherein the reflector assembly rotatably supports the lens and rotation of the lens relative to the housing changes the angular orientation of the rectangular beam relative to the housing.