Mounting base assembly for a lighting device used in an exit sign

• US 5,416,679 A
• Filed: 12/01/1993
• Issued: 05/16/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: G.B. Building Systems Corporation, Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: General Signal Corporation (SPX Corporation)
• Inventors: Burnes, James J., Ruskouski, Charles R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yeung, James C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US08/160,423
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 362/427, 362/20, 362/269, 362/287, 362/285, 362/368, 362/800, 362/240, 362/246, 362/250, 362/812, 362/273, 362/31, 362/239, 362/234, 40/570, 40/564, 40/580, 40/573
• US Class Current: 362/240
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for signalling, marking or indicating, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/00 Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising G09F9/00, G09F11/00 take precedence; control of displays in general using static means to present variable information G09G
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/04 Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0472 Traffic signs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0481 Signs, boards or panels having a curved shape
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/05 indicating exit way or orientation
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/222 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/812 Signs

Abstract

In a lighting fixture such as an exit sign, a mounting base assembly is provided on a light emitting diode lighting device for mating engagement with an electrical socket. Once full mating engagement is achieved between the electrical socket and a base member of the mounting base assembly, the position of the housing carrying the light emitting diodes of the lighting device can be adjusted for alignment purposes without disturbing the full mating engagement of the electrical socket and the base member.

Claims

1. A mounting base assembly for use in a lighting device having a housing and engageable with an electrical socket of a lighting fixture, comprising:

(a) an insulator mounted on the housing of the lighting device for rotation therewith;

(b) a first electrical contact centrally located through said insulator and mounted for rotation therewith;

(c) a second electrical contact mounted for rotation with said insulator and spaced from said first electrical contact;

(d) a base member dimensionally sized to be matingly received in full mating engagement with the electrical socket of the lighting fixture and mounted on said insulator for 360 degree rotation relative thereto, said base member electrically insulated from said first electrical contact and electrically connected to said second electrical contact; and

(e) means rotatable with said base member for retaining said base member and said insulator to the housing of the lighting device, whereby said retaining means and said base member can be rotated until full mating engagement of said base member with the electrical socket of the lighting fixture is achieved and thereafter said insulator, said first electrical contact and said second electrical contact can be rotated with the housing of the lighting device relative to and without disturbing the full mating engagement of said base member and the electrical socket.

2. The mounting base assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said retaining means includes a cap portion rotatable with the base member and a flange portion, said flange portion being mounted on the housing of the lighting device and being engaged by said cap portion for retaining said base member and said insulator to the housing of the lighting device.

3. The mounting base assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein said cap portion has an opening through which said base member and said insulator protrude.

4. The mounting base assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein said cap portion has detents which engage said flange portion.

5. The mounting base assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said retaining means has an opening through which said base member and said insulator protrude.

6. The mounting base assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said second electrical contact is a cantilevered leaf spring captured between said base member and said insulator.

7. The mounting base assembly in accordance with claim 6, wherein said second electrical contact has a curved end engaging said insulator and biasing said second electrical contact into electrical engagement with said base member.

8. The mounting base assembly in accordance with claim 1, further including a coil spring contact positioned between and electrically connecting said base member and said second electrical contact.

9. A lighting device engageable with an electrical socket of a lighting fixture, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) illumination means in said housing;

(c) a mounting base assembly comprising;

(i) an insulator mounted on said housing for rotation therewith;

(ii) a first electrical contact centrally located through said insulator and mounted for rotation therewith;

(iii) a second electrical contact mounted for rotation with said insulator and spaced from said first electrical contact;

(iv) a base member dimensionally sized to be matingly received in the electrical socket of the lighting fixture and mounted on said insulator for 360 degree rotation relative thereto, said base member electrically insulated from said first electrical contact and electrically connected to said second electrical contact; and

(v) means rotatable with said base member for retaining said base member and said insulator to said housing, whereby said retaining means and said base member can be rotated until full mating engagement of said base member with the electrical socket of the lighting fixture is achieved and thereafter said insulator, said first electrical contact and said second electrical contact can be rotated with said housing and illumination means without disturbing the full mating engagement of said base member and the electrical socket.

10. The lighting device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said retaining means includes a cap portion and a flange portion, said flange portion being mounted on said housing and being engaged by said cap portion for retaining said base member and said insulator to said housing.

11. The lighting device in accordance with claim 10, wherein said cap portion has an opening through which said base member and said insulator protrude.

12. The lighting device in accordance with claim 10, wherein said cap portion has detents which engage said flange portion.

13. The lighting device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said retaining means has an opening through which said base member and said insulator protrude.

14. The lighting device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said second electrical contact is a cantilevered leaf spring captured between said base member and said insulator.

15. The lighting device in accordance with claim 14, wherein said second electrical contact has a curved end engaging said insulator and biasing said second electrical contact into electrical engagement with said base member.

16. The lighting device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said illumination means are a plurality of light emitting diodes.

17. The lighting device in accordance with claim 9, further including a coil spring contact positioned between and electrically connecting said base member and said second electrical contact.

18. A lighting fixture such as an exit sign, comprising:

(a) a sign housing defining an enclosure therein;

(b) an electrical socket in said sign housing;

(c) a lighting device matingly engaged with said electrical socket and comprising;

(i) a lighting device housing;

(ii) illumination means in said lighting device housing;

(iii) a mounting base assembly comprising;

an insulator mounted on said lighting device housing for rotation therewith;

a first electrical contact centrally located through said insulator and mounted for rotation therewith;

a second electrical contact mounted for rotation with said insulator and spaced from said first electrical contact;

a base member matingly received in full mating engagement with said electrical socket and mounted on said insulator for 360 degree rotation relative thereto, said base member electrically insulated from said first electrical contact and electrically connected to said second electrical contact; and

means rotatable with said base member for retaining said base member and said insulator to said lighting device housing, whereby, while said base member is in full mating engagement with said electrical socket, said insulator, said first electrical contact and said second electrical contact can be rotated with said lighting device housing and illumination means relative to and without disturbing the full mating engagement of said base member and said electrical socket.

19. The lighting fixture in accordance with claim 18, wherein said retaining means includes a cap portion and a flange portion, said flange portion being mounted on said lighting device housing and being engaged by said cap portion for retaining said base member and said insulator to said lighting device housing.

20. The lighting fixture in accordance with claim 19, wherein said cap portion has an opening through which said base member and said insulator protrude.

21. The lighting fixture in accordance with claim 19, wherein said cap portion has detents which engage said flange portion.

22. The lighting fixture in accordance with claim 18, wherein said retaining means has an opening through which said base member and said insulator protrude.

23. The lighting fixture in accordance with claim 18, wherein said second electrical contact is a cantilevered leaf spring captured between said base member and said insulator.

24. The lighting fixture in accordance with claim 23, wherein said second electrical contact has a curved end engaging said insulator and biasing said second electrical contact into electrical engagement with said base member.

25. The lighting fixture in accordance with claim 18, wherein said illumination means are a plurality of light emitting diodes.

26. The lighting fixture in accordance with claim 18, further including a primary electric power circuit operationally connected to said electrical socket for supplying power to said lighting device and emergency electric power circuit operationally connected to said primary electric power circuit to detect failure thereof and thereafter provided auxiliary power to said lighting device through said electrical socket.

27. The lighting fixture in accordance with claim 26, wherein said emergency electric power supply is at least one rechargeable battery.

28. The lighting fixture in accordance with claim 27, wherein said emergency electric power circuit includes a charging device for keeping said at least one rechargeable battery fully charged during periods of nonuse.

29. The lighting fixture base assembly in accordance with claim 18, further including a coil spring contact positioned between and electrically connecting said base member and said second electrical contact.

30. A lighting fixture such as an exit sign, comprising:

(a) a sign housing defining an enclosure therein;

(b) an electrical socket in said enclosure of said sign housing;

(c) a lighting device matingly engaged with said electrical socket and comprising;

(i) a lighting device housing;

(ii) illumination means in said lighting device housing;

(iii) a mounting base assembly with a base member matingly received in full mating engagement with said electrical socket and mounted for 360 degree rotation relative to said lighting device housing and said illumination means, and electrical contact means for providing an electrical contact between said illumination means and said electrical socket, whereby, while said base member is in full mating engagement with said electrical socket, said lighting device housing and illumination means can be rotated relative to said base member and said electrical socket without disturbing the full mating engagement thereof and without disturbing the electrical contact between said illumination means and said electrical socket.

31. The lighting fixture in accordance with claim 30, wherein said electrical contact means has a first electrical contact centrally located through said mounting base assembly and electrically insulted from said base member.

32. The lighting fixture in accordance with claim 31, wherein said electrical contact means has a second electrical contact electrically connected to said base member.

33. The lighting fixture in accordance with claim 32, wherein said second electrical contact is a cantilevered leaf spring biased into electrical contact with said base member.

34. The lighting fixture in accordance with claim 30, wherein said illumination means are a plurality of light emitting diodes.

35. The lighting fixture in accordance with claim 30, further including a primary electric power circuit operationally connected to said electrical socket for supplying power to said lighting device and emergency electric power circuit operationally connected to said primary electric power circuit to detect failure thereof and thereafter provided auxiliary power to said lighting device through said electrical socket.

36. The lighting fixture in accordance with claim 35, wherein said emergency electric power supply is at least one rechargeable battery.

37. The lighting fixture in accordance with claim 36, wherein said emergency electric power circuit includes a charging device for keeping said at least one rechargeable battery fully charged during periods of nonuse.

38. The lighting fixture in accordance with claim 32, further including a spring contact positioned between and electrically connecting said base member and said second electrical contact.