Selected direction lighting device

• US 6,030,099 A
• Filed: 06/16/1998
• Issued: 02/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kevin Mcdermott
• Original Assignee: Kevin Mcdermott
• Inventors: McDermott, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Laura K.
• Application Number:
  US09/097,798
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 362/800, 362/802, 362/276, 362/249, 362/251, 362/244, 362/245, 362/477
• US Class Current: 362/276
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/08 automatically
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/115 by electric means details of the electric drive components, e.g. motors, shafts, ball joints B60Q1/076
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/18 being additional front lights bracket mounted headlights B60Q1/0483
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/054 Variable non-standard intensity, i.e. emission of various beam intensities different from standard intensities, e.g. continuous or stepped transitions of intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/166 comprising a light
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 45/04 the devices being intended to indicate the vessel or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/192 Details of lamp holders, terminals or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/28 Cover glass
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/663 by switching light sources by switching incandescent light sources F21S41/162
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0492 the sensor detecting a change in orientation, a movement or an acceleration of the lighting device, e.g. a tilt switch
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2107/10 for land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

A lighting device is constructed with LED light sources and a power control to project light along a selected direction throughout an angular range of tilt of the lighting device about a vertical. The power control includes a tilt switch or tilt sensor which is responsive to the angular displacement of the lighting device about a vertical plane. A plurality of beams are arranged to project a plurality of oblique light beams. If during its deployment the lighting device is angularly displaced about the vertical, the power control selectively energizes the beam which projects a light beam including the selected direction when the lighting device is angularly displaced. The divergence of the selected light beam from the selected direction when the light is vertical counterbalances the effect resulting from the angular displacement of the lighting device about the vertical permitting the light beam emerging from the lighting device to emerge directed along the selected direction throughout a range of angular tilt of the lighting device.

Claims

1. An electrical lighting device comprising:

a plurality of light beam means connectable to a source of electrical power having a voltage, each of said light beam means comprising a light source for projecting a respective light beam upon application of the voltage to said respective light source;

a circuit assembly comprising said plurality of light beam means and a power control means;

said circuit assembly being at least partially disposed on a support such that said light beams are diverging from one another; and

said power control means for selectively applying the voltage to at least one of said light beam means in response to an angular divergence between said light beam and said horizontal plane.

2. The electrical lighting device of claim 1, wherein two beam means are provided.

3. The electrical lighting device of claim 1, wherein three beam means are provided.

4. The electrical lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said power control means further comprises a tilt switch.

5. The electrical lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said power control means further comprises a tilt switch, said tilt switch having a first switch responsive to a first angular disposition of said tilt switch and a second switch responsive to a second angular disposition of said tilt switch.

6. The electrical lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said power control means further comprises a gravity switch.

7. The electrical lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said light beams, when formed, combine to form a composite light beam.

8. The electrical lighting device according to claim 7, wherein each light beam has a vertical beam spread, the composite light beam having a vertical beam spread larger than the vertical beam spread of any of each of said light beams.

9. The electrical lighting device according to claim 1, wherein each said light source has a respective light emitting diode.

10. The electrical lighting device according to claim 1, wherein each said light source has a respective light emitting diode lamp.

11. The electrical lighting device according to claim 1, wherein each said light source has a respective incandescent lamp.

12. The electrical lighting device according to claim 1, wherein each said beam means has a lens disposed to concentrate the light beam emitted by said light source.

13. The electrical lighting device according to claim 1, wherein each said beam means has a reflector disposed to concentrate the light beam emitted by said light source.

14. An electrical lighting device comprising:

a plurality of light beam means connectable to a source of electrical power having a voltage, each of said light beam means comprising a light emitting diode light source for projecting a respective light beam upon application of the voltage to said respective light source;

a circuit assembly comprising said source of electrical power, said plurality of light beam means and a power control means;

said circuit assembly at least partially disposed on a support such that said light beams are diverging from one another; and

said power control means for selectively applying the voltage to at least one of said light beam means in response to an angular divergence between said light beam and said horizontal plane.

15. An electrical lighting device comprising:

a plurality of component lighting devices connectable to a source of electrical power having a voltage, each of said component lighting devices for projecting a respective light beam upon application of the voltage to said respective component lighting devices;

a circuit assembly comprising said plurality of component lighting devices and a power control;

said circuit assembly at least partially disposed on a support such that said light beams are diverging from one another; and

said power control having a respective tilt switch connected between each said component lighting device and said source of electrical power, said power control responsive to the vertical angular disposition of said support relative to a vertical plane, said power control switching each of said tilt switches at a preselected vertical angular disposition of said support such that power is provided to at least one of the component lighting devices depending upon the vertical angular disposition of said support.

16. The electrical lighting device of claim 15, wherein two component lighting devices are provided.

17. The electrical lighting device of claim 15, wherein three component lighting devices are provided.

18. A method of providing a beam of light in a horizontal plane irrespective of the vertical angular disposition of a support upon which an electrical lighting device generating the beam of light is mounted, comprising the steps of:

providing the electrical lighting device connectable to a source of electrical power, and a plurality of light beam means, each of said light beam means having a light source for projecting a respective light beam upon application of the electrical power to said respective light source,

providing a circuit assembly having said plurality of light beam means and a power control means, the power control means having a tilt switch responsive to the vertical angular disposition of said support, said circuit assembly being at least partially disposed on the support such that said light beams are diverging from one another,

applying electrical power to a selected light beam means to project the light beam in the horizontal plane,

removing electrical power from said selected light beam means as the vertical angular disposition of the support changes and applying electrical power sequentially to selected light beam means as a function of the vertical angular disposition of the support wherein the horizontal beam of light is provided.