Attitude adjusting structure for a lighting unit

• US 6,443,605 B1
• Filed: 08/17/2000
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stealth Light Corporation
• Original Assignee: George Kasboske
• Inventors: Kasboske, George
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Guiyoung
• Application Number:
  US09/641,008
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 362/523, 362/549, 362/285, 362/287, 362/427, 362/419, 362/543, 362/249, 362/493
• US Class Current: 362/493
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/005 for several lighting devices in an end-to-end arrangement, i.e. light tracks

Abstract

The combination of a case having a wall defining a light chamber and an adjusting subassembly for the case for connection between the case and a surface upon which the case is supported. The adjusting subassembly has a first cam element with a first cam surface and a second cam element with a second cam surface. The first and second cam surfaces are abuttable to each other and slidable one against the other so that the first and second cam elements are thereby relatively movable between first and second relative positions. First and second cam elements in the first relative position cause the case to be a first attitude relative to a surface upon which the case is supported. The first and second cam elements in the second relative position cause the case to be in a second attitude relative to a surface upon which the case is supported, with the second attitude being different than the first attitude.

Claims

1. In combination:

a case having a wall defining a light chamber; and

an adjusting subassembly for the case for connection between the case and a surface upon which the case is supported,

the adjusting subassembly comprising a first cam element with a first cam surface and a second cam element with a second cam surface,

the first and second cam surfaces being abuttable to each other and slidable one against the other so that the first and second cam elements are thereby relatively movable between first and second relative positions,

the first and second cam elements in the first relative position causing the case to be in a first attitude relative to a surface upon which the case is supported,

the first and second cam elements in the second relative position causing the case to be in a second attitude relative to a surface upon which the case is supported.

2. The combination according to claim 1 further comprising a mounting base on the case and the adjusting subassembly acts between the mounting base and a surface upon which the case is supported.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the first cam surface is substantially flat and resides substantially within a single plane.

4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein the second cam surface is substantially flat and resides substantially within a single plane.

5. The combination according to claim 1 in combination with a spring acting between the adjusting subassembly and a surface upon which the case is supported that develops a force that urges the first and second cam surfaces against each other.

6. The combination according to claim 1 further comprising a mounting element for mounting the adjusting subassembly on the case.

7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein the mounting element comprises a bolt that extends through both of the first and second cam elements.

8. The combination according to claim 7 wherein the bolt has a lengthwise axis and the first and second cam elements are movable between the first and second relative positions by rotation of at least one of the first and second cam elements relative to the other of the first and second cam elements around the lengthwise axis of the bolt.

9. The combination according to claim 8 wherein the bolt is repositionable between a loosened state and a tightened state and in the tightened state the bolt draws the first and second cam element surfaces against each other to thereby maintain the first and second cam elements in a desired relative position.

10. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the first and second cam elements are pivotable relative to each other and the case around an axis between the first and second relative positions.

11. The combination according to claim 1 wherein each of the first and second cam elements has an annular outer surface.

12. The combination according to claim 1 further comprising a light source on the case for projecting light from the light chamber.

13. The combination according to claim 12 further comprising a lens on the case through which light from the light source projects.

14. The combination according to claim 13 further comprising a reflector for redirecting light from the light source for projection through the lens.

15. The combination according to claim 2 wherein the base is releasably attachable to the case.

16. The combination according to claim 1 wherein there is a first keying element on the first cam surface and a second keying element on the second cam surface, the first and second keying elements abutting to each other to limit sliding movement of the first and second cam surfaces against each other.

17. The combination according to claim 16 wherein the first and second cam elements are movable between the first and second relative positions by relative rotation of the first and second cam elements around an axis, and the first keying element comprises an elongate rib having a length extending radially with respect to the axis.

18. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the first and second cam elements are movable between the first and second relative positions by relative rotation of the first and second cam elements around an axis, there is an elongate rib on the first cam surface having a length extending radially with respect to the axis, there are a plurality of elongate ribs on the second cam surface each extending radially with respect to the axis with a recess between adjacent ribs on the second cam surface, the rib on the first cam surface resides in a first recess between two ribs on the second cam surface with the first and second cam elements in the first relative position, and the rib on the first cam surface resides in a second recess between two ribs on the second cam surface with the first and second cam elements in the second relative position.

19. The combination according to claim 18 wherein the first rib resides in a third recess between two ribs on the second cam surface with the first and second cam elements in a third relative position.

20. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the first cam element has a third surface, the case has a fourth surface which abuts to the third surface, the third and fourth surfaces are slidable one against the other to allow the first cam element to be repositioned relative to the case, and there is a first keying element on the third surface and a second keying element on the fourth surface, the first and second keying elements abutting each other to limit repositioning of the first cam element relative to the case.

21. The combination according to claim 20 wherein the case and first cam element are guided in movement relative to each other around an axis, and at least one of the first and second keying elements comprises an elongate rib having a length extending radially with respect to the axis.

22. The combination according to claim 21 wherein the other of the first and second keying elements comprises an elongate rib having a length extending radially with respect to the axis.

23. The combination according to claim 2 wherein the first cam element has a third surface, the mounting base has a fourth surface which abuts to the third surface, the third and fourth surfaces are slidable one against the other to allow the first cam element to reposition relative to the mounting base, and there is a first keying element on the third surface and a second keying element on the fourth surface, the first and second keying elements abutting each other to limit repositioning of the first cam element relative to the mounting base.

24. The combination according to claim 23 wherein the mounting base and first cam element are guided in movement relative to each other around an axis, and one of the first and second keying elements comprises an elongate rib having a length extending radially with respect to the axis.

25. The combination according to claim 24 wherein the other of the first and second keying element comprises en elongate rib having a length extending radially with respect to the axis.

26. An attitude adjusting subassembly for a lighting unit having a case, the adjusting subassembly comprising:

a first cam element with a first cam surface and a second cam element with a second cam surface,

the first and second cam surfaces being abuttable to each other and slidable one against the other so that the first and second cam elements are thereby relatively movable between first and second relative positions,

the first and second cam elements in the first relative position causing the case to be in a first attitude relative to a surface upon which the case is supported,

the first and second cam elements in the second relative position causing the case to be in a second attitude relative to a surface upon which the case is supported.

27. The attitude adjusting assembly according to claim 26 wherein the first cam surface is substantially flat and resides substantially within a single plane.

28. The attitude adjusting assembly according to claim 27 wherein the second cam surface is substantially flat and resides substantially within a single plane.

29. The attitude adjusting assembly according to claim 28 further comprising a spring acting between the adjusting subassembly and a surface upon which the case is supported that develops a force that urges the first and second cam surfaces against each other.

30. The attitude adjusting assembly according to claim 29 further comprising a mounting bolt that is extended through the first and second cam elements, the mounting bolt having an axis, the first and second cam elements being rotatable relative to each other and the mounting bolt around the mounting bolt axis.

31. The attitude adjusting assembly according to claim 28 wherein the first cam surface comprises a first keying element and the second cam surface comprises a second keying element, the first and second keying elements abutting to each other to limit sliding movement of the first cam surface relative to the second cam surface.

32. The attitude adjusting assembly according to claim 31 wherein the first and second cam elements are movable between the first and second relative positions by relative rotation of the first and second cam elements around an axis, and the first keying element comprises an elongate rib having a length extending radially with respect to the axis.

33. The attitude adjusting assembly according to claim 28 wherein the first and second cam elements are movable between the first and second relative positions by relative rotation of the first and second cam elements around an axis, there is an elongate rib on the first cam surface having a length extending radially with respect to the axis, there are a plurality of elongate ribs on the second cam surface each extending radially with respect to the axis with a recess between adjacent ribs on the second cam surface, the rib on the first cam surface resides in a first recess between two ribs on the second cam surface with the first and second cam elements in the first relative position, and the rib on the first cam surface resides in a second recess between two ribs on the second cam surface with the first and second cam elements in the second relative position.

34. The attitude adjusting assembly according to claim 33 wherein the first rib resides in a third recess between two ribs on the second cam surface with the first and second cam elements in a third relative position.

35. An attitude adjusting subassembly for a first element, the adjusting subassembly comprising:

a first cam element with a first cam surface and a second cam element with a second cam surface,

the first and second cam surfaces being abuttable to each other and slidable one against the other so that the first and second cam elements are thereby relatively movable between first and second relative positions,

the first and second cam elements in the first relative position causing the first element to be in a first attitude relative to a surface upon which the first element is supported,

the first and second cam elements in the second relative position causing the case to be in a second attitude relative to a surface upon which the case is supported.