Motion sensor lighting control

• US 5,258,899 A
• Filed: 11/19/1992
• Issued: 11/02/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chen, Kent
• Original Assignee: Chen, Kent
• Inventors: Chen, Kent
• Primary Examiner(s): Cole, Richard R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, Y MY QUACH
• Application Number:
  US07/978,799
• Time in Patent Office: 348 Days
• Field of Search: 362/269, 362/276, 362/287, 362/394, 362/419, 362/421, 362/427, 362/802, 248/288.3, 248/288.5
• US Class Current: 362/394
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/033 the surface being a wall or like vertical structure, e.g. building facade
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/02 with provision for adjustment F21V17/04 - F21V17/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/10 Outdoor lighting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

A motion sensor lighting control includes a hemispherical mounting plate having a pair of first circular apertures and a second circular aperture, a pair of lamp holders for receiving lamps therein rotatably mounted on the first circular apertures by a pair of first swivel devices, a sensor housing for receiving an infrared sensor rotatably mounted on the second circular aperture by a second swivel devices. The first swivel devices and the second swivel device are such arranged to let the lamp holders and the sensor housing to be manually rotated in universal orientations, yet limiting the rotation angle to be less than 360 degrees thus preventing the wires therein to be twisted and broken.

Claims

1. A motion sensor lighting control apparatus comprising:

at least lamp holder (20) having a tube portion (21) for receiving a floodlight or the like and a first hemispherical portion (22) extending from one end of said tube portion (21);

a substantially hemispherical base (10), having at least a first circular aperture (11) and a second circular aperture (13);

at least a first swivel means (23 and

     27) comprising a first hemispherical member (27) and a second hemispherical member (23), said first hemispherical member (27) having a diameter greater than a diameter of said first circular aperture (11), said second hemispherical member (23) having a diameter greater than the diameter of the first circular aperture (11) for preventing the passage thereof through the first circular aperture (11), said second hemispherical member (23) having an engaging portion (232) in a circle edge thereof for being received in and engaged to an inner surface of said first hemispherical member (27) while a circle edge of said first hemispherical member (27) being rotatably engaged against the periphery of said first circular aperture (11), said first hemispherical portion (22) of said lamp holder (20) being rotatably engaged to said second hemispherical member (23) and also received in said first hemispherical member (27);

a sensor housing (30) for receiving a sensor therein having a second hemispherical portion (31) extending from one side thereof; and

a second swivel means (33 and

     32) comprising a third hemispherical member (33) which has an arcuate slot (331) at a top surface thereof and a fourth hemispherical member (32) which has a sliding/engaging portion (321), said third hemispherical member (33) having a diameter greater than a diameter of said second circular aperture (13), said fourth hemispherical member (32) having a diameter greater than the diameter of said second circular aperture (13) for preventing the passage through said second circular aperture (13), said fourth hemispherical member (32) being received in said third hemispherical member (33) while said sliding/engaging portion (321) thereof engages to and is slidable along periphery of said arcuate slot (331) of said third hemispherical member (33) and a circle edge of said third hemispherical member (33) is rotatably engaged against the periphery of said second circular aperture (13), said second hemispherical portion (31) of said sensor housing (30) being rotatably engaged to said fourth hemispherical member (32) and also received in said third hemispherical member (33).

2. A motion sensor lighting control as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second hemispherical member (23) of said first swivel means has a hole (231), said first hemispherical portion (22) of said lamp holder (20) has a first tubular socket (220) which is threaded after a bolt (233), (231) through the hole is fastened to engage said second hemispherical member (23) to said first hemispherical portion (22) of said lamp holder (20).

3. A motion sensor lighting control as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tube portion (21) of said lamp hold is in communication with said first hemispherical portion (22), said second hemispherical member (23) has a second slot (234) in the engaging portion (232) thereof, said first hemispherical member (27) also has a first slot (274) in the inner surface thereof, causing said tube portion (21) to be in communication with an inner space of said base (10) and allowing electrical wires to pass from said tube portion (21) to the inner space of said base (10).

4. A motion sensor lighting control as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second hemispherical portion (31) of said sensor housing (30) has a third slot (312) communicating with said sensor housing (30), said sliding/engaging portion (321) also has a fourth slot (322) for being in communicating with an inner space of said base (10), causing said sensor housing (30) to be in communication with the inner space of said base (10) and allowing electrical wires to pass from said sensor housing (30) to the inner space of said base (10).

5. A motion sensor lighting control as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first hemispherical member (27) has an arcuate flange portion (271) protruding from the circle edge thereof, said periphery of said first circular aperture (11) has a first stop (14) protruding therefrom, limiting said first hemispherical member (27) to a rotation of less than 360 degrees.

6. A motion sensor lighting control as claimed in claim 1, wherein said third hemispherical member (33) has a second arcuate flange portion (332) protruding from the circle edge thereof, the periphery of said second circular aperture (13) has a second stop (16) protruding therefrom, limiting said third hemispherical member (33) to a rotation of less than 360 degrees.

7. A motion sensor lighting control as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fourth hemispherical member (32) of said second swivel means has a third tubular socket (320) and formed at an axis thereof, said second hemispherical portion (31) of said sensor housing (30) has a second tubular socket (310) formed at the axis thereof for receiving said third tubular socket (320) and allowing said second hemispherical portion (31) to rotate with respect to said fourth hemispherical member (32).

8. A motion sensor lighting control apparatus comprising:

at least a lamp holder (20) having a tube portion (21) for receiving a floodlight and a first hemispherical portion (22) extending from one end of said tube portion (21);

a substantially hemispherical base (10), having at least a first circular aperture (11) and a second circular aperture (13); and

at least a first swivel means (23 and

     27) comprising a first hemispherical member (27) and a second hemispherical member (23), said first hemispherical member (27) having a diameter greater than a diameter of said first circular aperture (11), said second hemispherical member (23) having a diameter greater than the diameter of the first circular aperture (11) for preventing the passage thereof through the first circular aperture (11), said second hemispherical member (23) having an engaging portion (232) in a circle edge thereof for being received in and engaged to an inner surface of said first hemispherical member (27) while a circle edge of said first hemispherical member (27) being rotatably engaged against the periphery of said first circular aperture (11), said first hemispherical portion (22) of said lamp holder (20) being rotatably engaged to said second hemispherical member (23) and also received in said first hemispherical member (27).

9. A motion sensor lighting control as claimed in claim 8, wherein said second hemispherical member (23) of said first swivel means has a hole (231), said first hemispherical portion (22) of said lamp holder (20) has a first tubular socket (220) which is threaded after a bolt (233), (231) through the hole is fastened to engage said second hemispherical member (23) to said first hemispherical portion (22) of said lamp holder (20).

10. A motion sensor lighting control as claimed in claim 8, wherein said tube portion (21) of said lamp holder is in communication with said first hemispherical portion (22), said second hemispherical member (23) has a second slot (234) in the engaging portion (232) thereof, said first hemispherical member (27) also has a first slot (274) in the inner surface thereof, causing said tube portion (21) to be in communication with an inner space of said base (10) and allowing electrical wires to pass from said tube portion (21) to the inner space of said base (10).

11. A motion sensor lighting control as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first hemispherical member (27) has an arcuate flange portion (271) protruding from the circle edge thereof, said periphery of said first circular aperture (11) has a first stop (14) protruding therefrom, limiting said first hemispherical member (27) to a rotation of less than 360 degrees.

12. A motion sensor lighting control apparatus comprising:

a substantially hemispherical base (10), having at least a first circular aperture (11) and a second circular aperture (13);

a sensor housing (30) for receiving a sensor therein having a hemispherical portion (31) extending from one side thereof;

a swivel means (33 and

     32) comprising a first hemispherical member (33) which has an arcuate slot (331) at a top surface thereof and a second hemispherical member (32) which has a sliding/engaging portion (321), said first hemispherical member (33) having a diameter greater than a diameter of said second circular aperture (13), said second hemispherical member (32) having a diameter greater than the diameter of said second circular aperture (13) for preventing the passage thereof through said second circular aperture (13), said second hemispherical member (32) being received in said first hemispherical member (33) while said sliding/engaging portion (321) thereof engages to and is slidable along periphery of said arcuate slot (331) of said first hemispherical member (33) and a circle edge of said first hemispherical member (33) is rotatably engaged against the periphery of said second circular aperture (13), said hemispherical portion (31) of said sensor housing (30) being rotatably engaged to said second hemispherical member (32) and also received in said first hemispherical member (33).

13. A motion sensor lighting control as claimed in claim 12, wherein said hemispherical portion (31) of said sensor housing (30) has a first slot (312) communicating with said sensor housing (30), said sliding/engaging portion (321) also has a second slot (322) for being in communicating with an inner space of said base (10), causing said sensor housing (30) to be in communication with the inner space of said base (10) and allowing electrical wires to pass from said sensor housing (30) to the inner space of said base (10).

14. A motion sensor lighting control as claimed in claim 12, wherein said first hemispherical member (33) has an arcuate flange portion (332) protruding from the circle edge thereof, the periphery of said second circular aperture (13) has a stop (16) protruding therefrom, limiting said first hemispherical member (33) to a rotation of less than 360 degrees.

15. A motion sensor lighting control as claimed in claim 12, wherein said second hemispherical member (32) of said swivel means has a first tubular socket (320) and formed at an axis thereof, said hemispherical portion (31) of said sensor housing (30) has another tubular socket (310) formed at the axis thereof for receiving said first tubular socket (320) and allowing said hemispherical portion (31) to rotate with respect to said second hemispherical member (32).