Directable decorative lantern with motion sensor

• US 5,590,953 A
• Filed: 04/27/1995
• Issued: 01/07/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Regent Acquistion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Regent Lighting Corporation (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Lee, Simeon T., Haslam, Gary M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gromada, Denise L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Basichas, Alfred
• Application Number:
  US08/430,199
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 362/394, 362/276, 362/147, 362/287, 362/802
• US Class Current: 362/276
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/033 the surface being a wall or like vertical structure, e.g. building facade
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 13/00 Indicating or recording presence, absence, or direction, of movement electric switches H01H; counting moving objects G06M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/193 using focusing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

A motion activated decorative lantern having an optical lens which becomes part of the lantern structure and appearance so that there is no profile difference due to the presence of the motion sensor. The detection range area may be adjusted without the details of the adjustment being visible. A rotatable sensing module has an integral appearance with that of the fixture. The decorative lantern has a decorative lamp portion and a mounting portion, a cylindrical sensing module having a chamber; a motion sensor located in the chamber for detecting motion in a selected location around the lantern; and a lens piece positioned around the sensing module and over the chamber. The lens piece has a uniform decorative appearance. The sensing module is rotatable to change the selected location of detection of the lantern. The lantern also includes a decorative external housing, decorative tail below the sensing module and a decorative lantern base. An internal housing for housing electronic components of the lantern is positioned within the external housing above a chamber in which the motion sensor is located.

Claims

1. A decorative lantern having a decorative lamp portion and a mounting portion, and which is activated by motion, comprising:

(a) a cylindrical sensing module having a chamber;

(b) a motion sensor located in the chamber for detecting motion in a selected location around the lantern; and

(c) a lens piece positioned around the module and over the chamber, the lens piece having a uniform decorative appearance and extending all around the cylindrical sensing module;

wherein the sensing module is rotatable to change the selected location of detection, which location of detection is not detectable by a person within the location.

2. The decorative lantern of claim 1, further comprising a photocell.

3. The decorative lantern of claim 2, wherein the photocell is located in the chamber.

4. The decorative lantern of claim 1, further comprising an internal housing positioned above the chamber for housing electronic components of the lantern.

5. The decorative lantern of claim 4, wherein the internal housing has at least one switch hole positioned over a switch located within the internal housing.

6. The decorative lantern of claim 5, further comprising a switch cover for externally adjusting position of the switch.

7. The decorative lantern of claim 6, further comprising a decorative external housing having a switch hole aligned with each at least one switch hole on the internal housing.

8. The decorative lantern of claim 1, further comprising an internal housing positioned above the chamber for housing electronic components of the lantern, a decorative external housing positioned around the internal housing, and decorative lantern base positioned below the sensing module.

9. The decorative lantern of claim 8, further comprising a decorative tail below the sensing module.

10. The decorative lantern of claim 1, wherein the sensing module has an upper ridged flange extending partially around the sensing module, and further comprising an internal housing having a lower groove in which the flange is mounted, the lower groove having a detent against rotation of the flange is stopped, and having a stop for retarding free rotation of the flange.

11. The decorative lantern of claim 1, wherein the lens piece is formed in a rectangular shape.

12. The decorative lantern of claim 1, further comprising a threaded stem extending from a bottom wall of the sensing module, to enable attachment of one or more decorative portions below the sensing module.

13. In a decorative lantern which is activated by motion, the improvement comprising:

(a) a cylindrical sensing module having a chamber;

(b) a motion sensor located in said chamber for detecting motion in a selectable location around said lantern; and

(c) a lens piece positioned around said module and over said chamber, said lens piece having a uniform decorative appearance and extending all around the module;

wherein said sensing module is rotatable to change the selected location of detection, which selected location of detection is not detectable by a person within said location.

14. The decorative lantern of claim 13, further comprising a photocell located in the chamber.

15. The decorative lantern of claim 13, further comprising an internal housing positioned above the chamber for housing electronic components of the lantern, wherein the internal housing has at least one switch hole positioned over a switch located within the internal housing.

16. The decorative lantern of claim 15, further comprising a switch cover for externally adjusting position of the switch.

17. The decorative lantern of claim 15, further comprising a decorative external housing having a switch hole aligned with each at least one switch hole on the internal housing.

18. The decorative lantern of claim 13, further comprising an internal housing positioned above the chamber for housing electronic components of the lantern, a decorative external housing positioned around the internal housing, and decorative lantern base positioned below the sensing module.

19. The decorative lantern of claim 13, wherein the sensing module has an upper ridged flange extending partially around the sensing module, and further comprising an internal housing having a lower groove in which the flange is mounted, the lower groove having a detent against rotation of the flange is stopped, and having a stop for retarding free rotation of the flange.

20. The decorative lantern of claim 13, further comprising a threaded stem extending from a bottom wall of the sensing module, to enable attachment of one or more decorative portions below the sensing module.