Combined light and light support bracket

• US 5,213,413 A
• Filed: 01/23/1992
• Issued: 05/25/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Monte Weathers
• Original Assignee: Monte Weathers
• Inventors: Weathers, Monte
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Larry
• Application Number:
  US07/824,309
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 362/431, 362/457, 362/382, 362/432, 362/95
• US Class Current: 362/431
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/02 Cages
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/08 Devices for easy attachment to any desired place, e.g. clip, clamp, magnet
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/14 Adjustable mountings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames

Abstract

An integral light and support provides illumination in areas where temporary lighting is desirable and elongate members such as studs or joists are readily available. The light and support includes a mount assembly which has a diagonal support member having a first bracket on one extreme end of the diagonal support member and a second bracket on another opposite end of the diagonal support member and which brackets conform to opposite sides of the elongate member. Friction between the elongate member and the first and second brackets along with torque produced by having a center of mass of the integral light and support extended away from the front of the elongate member create sufficient force to hold the light in place on the elongate member. The light is readily relocatable on the elongate member by a user by placing the light and support adjacent to the elongate member and rotating. The light and support may also be suspended from a flat wall having nails protruding from the surface through attachment to nail grooves provided. The integral light and support has a light housing that is pivotable and rotatable to direct the light in a variety of different areas without movement of the entire light and support. An electric outlet assembly may also be provided which allows a user to access electric power for operation of other electrical appliances. The integral light and support may also be attachable to elongate members having low friction surfaces without sliding by adjusting of a tightening pin located along the diagonal support member which applies additional force for applying greater friction force.

Claims

1. A portable light for attachment to a post, the post being positioned in any of a multiplicity of different orientations, the post having opposite first and second sides, comprising, in combination:

a source of illumination,

a substantially rigid mounting bracket having means for connecting securely to the post, and

a light support interposed between said mounting bracket and said source of illumination, and said light support supporting said source of illumination away from said mounting bracket; and

wherein said mounting bracket includes a first U-shaped restraining plate having an open portion which allows said U-shaped plate to conform around the first side of the post,

a second U-shaped restraining plate having an open portion which allows said U-shaped plate to conform around the second side of the post opposite the first side, said U-shaped plates laterally spaced along a long axis of the post, and

a diagonal support member fixedly attached between side portions of said first U-shaped restraining plate and said second U-shaped restraining plate affixing said open portions of each said U-shaped restraining plate so that they face toward each other but are laterally off-set,

said first restraining plate and said second restraining plate confined to two substantially parallel planes separated by a distance substantially conforming to the distance between the first and second sides of the post upon which said mounting bracket connects,

whereby said first restraining plate and said second restraining plate may simultaneously be oriented parallel to the opposite sides of the post with said diagonal support member adjacent to an intermediate side of the post.

2. The portable light of claim 1 wherein said light support fixedly attaches to said diagonal support member and extends away from said diagonal support member in a direction substantially perpendicular to said parallel planes;

whereby when the post is oriented vertically the weight of said lighting means and said light support apply a torque to said mounting bracket creating force between said first restraining plate and the post and said second restraining plate and the post to support said portable light above ground.

3. The portable light of claim 1 wherein said mounting bracket has a plurality of nail receiving grooves, each said groove of a width equal to the width of a body portion of a nail;

whereby said mounting bracket may also connect securely to a nail protruding from a wall by engagement of said mounting bracket with a head of the nail.

4. The portable light of claim 1 wherein said light support has a bend positioning said source of illumination closer to said upper bracket than said lower bracket;

whereby when said portable light is attached to a vertical post the lighting means is further elevated for more effective illumination, and when said portable light is attached to a horizontal post the weight of said lighting means applies a torque to said mounting bracket creating sufficient force between said first restraining plate and the post and said second restraining plate and the post to securely attach said portable light to the horizontal post.

5. The portable light of claim 1 wherein an electric plug receptacle is interposed between said source of illumination and said light support, said receptacle coupled to a power cord which supplies power to said lighting means and said receptacle.

6. The portable light of claim 5 wherein said receptacle has both a plug receiver and a switch, said switch interrupting power to said plug receiver.

7. A portable light for attachment to a post, the post being positioned in any of a multiplicity of different orientations, comprising, in combination:

a source of illumination,

a substantially rigid mounting bracket having means for connecting securely to the post, and

a light support interposed between said mounting bracket and said source of illumination, and said light support supporting said source of illumination away from said mounting bracket,

wherein said mounting bracket includes;

an upper bracket having a first restraining plate and conforming around one side of the post,

a lower bracket having a second restraining plate and conforming around an opposite side of the post, and

a diagonal support member fixedly attached between said upper bracket and said lower bracket,

said first restraining plate and said second restraining plate confined to two substantially parallel planes separated by a distance substantially conforming to the width of the post upon which said mounting bracket connects;

whereby said first restraining plate and said second restraining plate may simultaneously be oriented parallel to opposite sides of the post with said diagonal support member adjacent to an intermediate side of the post; and

wherein said diagonal support member has a threaded hole passing there through which receives a screw, whereby said screw may be tightened against the post further affixing said mounting bracket to said post.

8. A portable light for attachment to a post, the post being positioned in any of a multiplicity of different orientations, comprising, in combination:

a source of illumination,

a substantially rigid mounting bracket having means for connecting securely to the post, and

a light support interposed between said mounting bracket and said source of illumination, and said light support supporting said source of illumination away from said mounting bracket,

wherein said mounting bracket includes;

an upper bracket having a first restraining plate and conforming around one side of the post,

a lower bracket having a second restraining plate and conforming around an opposite side of the post, and

a diagonal support member fixedly attached between said upper bracket and said lower bracket,

said first restraining plate and said second restraining plate confined to two substantially parallel planes separated by a distance substantially conforming to the width of the post upon which said mounting bracket connects;

whereby said first restraining plate and said second restraining plate may simultaneously be oriented parallel to opposite sides of the post with said diagonal support member adjacent to an intermediate side of the post,

wherein said light support fixedly attaches to said diagonal support member and extends away from said diagonal support member in a direction substantially perpendicular to said parallel planes;

whereby when the post is oriented vertically the weight of said lighting means and said light support apply a torque to said mounting bracket creating force between said first restraining plate and the post and said second restraining plate and the post to support said portable light above ground; and

wherein a pivotable attachment means is interposed between said source of illumination and said light support allowing said source of illumination to be oriented facing in a variety of different directions without reorienting said mounting bracket or said light support.

9. A portable light for attachment to a post, the post being positioned in any of a multiplicity of different orientations, comprising, in combination:

a source of illumination,

a substantially rigid mounting bracket having means for connecting securely to the post, and

a light support interposed between said mounting bracket and said source of illumination, and said light support supporting said source of illumination away from said mounting bracket,

wherein said mounting bracket includes;

an upper bracket having a first restraining plate and conforming around one side of the post,

a lower bracket having a second restraining plate and conforming around an opposite side of the post, and

a diagonal support member fixedly attached between said upper bracket and said lower bracket,

said first restraining plate and said second restraining plate confined to two substantially parallel planes separated by a distance substantially conforming to the width of the post upon which said mounting bracket connects;

whereby said first restraining plate and said second restraining plate may simultaneously be oriented parallel to opposite sides of the post with said diagonal support member adjacent to an intermediate side of the post,

wherein said light support fixedly attaches to said diagonal support member and extends away from said diagonal support member in a direction substantially perpendicular to said parallel planes;

whereby when the post is oriented vertically the weight of said lighting means and said light support apply a torque to said mounting bracket creating force between said first restraining plate and the post and said second restraining plate and the post to support said portable light above ground; and

wherein said lighting means is a light source disposed in a housing having a transparent cover on one side thereof and a cage surrounding said transparent cover;

whereby said cover allows light to escape said housing and said cage protects said cover from damage.

10. The portable light of claim 9 wherein a handle is fixedly attached to an upper surface of said housing and a pivotable attachment means is interposed between said housing and said light support;

whereby said housing may pivot to redirect said light source by grasping said handle and pivoting said housing about said pivotable attachment means.

11. A lighting device straddling an elongate member comprising, in combination:

a diagonal support member having a first end with a first zone locatable proximate to a front face of the elongate member and a second end with a second zone locatable proximate to a rear face of the elongate member which is opposite the front face at a location which is further spaced laterally along the elongate member,

said first zone having a U-shaped restraining plate oriented to surround a portion of the front face,

said second zone having a U-shaped restraining plate oriented to surround a portion of the rear face, and

a source of illumination extending from said diagonal support member between said first end and said second end to a point nearer the front face of the elongate member than the rear face.

12. The lighting device of claim 11 wherein said first zone is below said second zone and said source of illumination extends forward from the diagonal support to a point sufficiently distant from said front face to position a center of mass of said lighting device forward of a median point between said first zone and said second zone;

whereby said center of mass imparts a torque about said median point causing said first zone and said second zone to be forced against front and rear surfaces of the elongate member holding said lighting device to said elongate member.

13. The lighting device of claim 12 wherein said source of illumination and said center of mass are positioned nearer said second zone than said first zone;

whereby torque imparted on said lighting device is increased when the elongate member is non-vertical and said light is positioned higher for greater illumination.

14. The lighting device of claim 11 wherein said "U"-shaped restraining plate of said first zone has a flat restricting plate bounded on each side by perpendicularly extending side support plates, said side support plates spaced a distance apart similar to a width of said elongate member;

and said "U"-shaped restraining plate of said second zone has a flat restricting plate bounded on each side by perpendicularly extending side support plates, said side support plates spaced a distance apart similar to a width of said elongate member;

whereby said first zone and said second zone can prevent said lighting device from motion relative to the elongate member.

15. The lighting device of claim 11 wherein said first zone and said second zone have nail grooves formed therein having a width similar to a nail shaft and opening on a lower side thereof;

whereby said lighting device can be suspended from a plurality of nails fastened to a surface without the elongate member being utilized.

16. The lighting device of claim 11 wherein an electric plug receptacle is included adjacent said source of illumination and means to operatively couple said device to a source of power, whereby electric equipment may receive power from said receptacle.

17. The lighting device of claim 11 wherein said source of illumination has means to concentrate light in a specific area and wherein said source of illumination includes pivoting means capable of adjusting the orientation of said source of illumination;

whereby the specific area receiving concentrated light can be moved without moving the lighting device.

18. The lighting device of claim 11 wherein an elongate member attachment means is connected to said lighting device adjustable to securely grab the elongate member;

whereby said lighting device may more securely attach to the elongate member when the elongate member exhibits low friction surfaces.

19. A method for suspending a light from an elongate member, including steps of:

configuring a support of the light to have two contact zones located to contact opposite sides of the elongate member each contact zone having U-shaped restraining plates oriented to face the elongate member,

displacing the contact zones along a long axis of the elongate member with a diagonal support affixed therebetween, with sufficient separation to allow the support to rotate in a manner engaging and disengaging the restraining plates with opposite sides of the elongate member,

locating a center of mass of the light and support in a position, relative to a center point between the contact zones, which causes a moment about the center point opposite and equal to a moment generated by the elongate member in resisting compression by the contact zones,

rotating the support to a position with a line between the contact zones substantially perpendicular to the elongate member with the diagonal support more distant from the elongate member than the line between the contact zones,

positioning the light support proximate to the elongate member by translating the light support directly toward a side of the elongate member between the opposite sides of the elongate member with the contact zones on opposite sides of the elongate member,

rotating the light support until the restraining plates engage the elongate member, and

releasing the support;

whereby the light may easily be suspended from the elongate member by a user.

20. A pole supported light, comprising in combination:

a pair of U-shaped brackets oriented parallel to each other, each having a bight portion and first and second legs structured as plates;

a diagonal rod interposed between said brackets such that at extremities of said rod, said rod is connected between one leg of each bracket;

said brackets held in fixed position by said rod such that said bight portion and legs of one said U-shaped bracket faces toward said bight portion and legs of said other U-shaped bracket,

a light support connected to said rod; and

a light connected to said support.