Adjustable height grow light

• US 6,488,387 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2001
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hydrofarm, LLC (Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hydrofarm Incorporated (Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wardenburg, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tsidulko, Mark
• Application Number:
  US09/929,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20020021568A1
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 362/220, 362/285, 362/288, 362/289, 362/413, 362/414, 362/431, 362/402, 362/403, 362/805
• US Class Current: 362/220
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/045 with electric lighting
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/249 Lighting means with special arrangements for promoting growth A01G7/045
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/18 operated by springs
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/14 Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses

Abstract

An adjustable height grow light for easy manual adjustment of the vertical position of the light fixture. The light includes a light stand having two vertical supports and a horizontal support connected to the vertical supports and defining an interior channel containing the operative elements of the light. Hanging from the vertical support is a light fixture adapted for holding at least one grow light. A ribbon torsion spring is secured within the interior channel of the horizontal support member on a ribbon spring axle. In series are first and second axles secured with the interior channel of the horizontal support, and first line and second lines are connected to the ribbon torsion spring at one end and to the light fixture at the other end. The first line is routed over the second axle and looped back to and over the first axle; the second line is routed over the second axle only. The ribbon torsion spring has a tension rating that permits easy manual positioning of the light fixture.

Claims

1. An adjustable height grow light, comprising:

a light stand having at least one vertical support;

a horizontal support connected to said vertical support and having an interior channel;

a light fixture adapted for holding at least one grow light, said light fixture having an upper surface;

a ribbon torsion spring axle secured with the interior channel of said horizontal support on a ribbon spring axle;

a ribbon torsion spring disposed on said ribbon spring axle;

a first axle secured with the interior channel of said horizontal support;

a second axle secured with the interior channel of said horizontal support and spaced apart from said ribbon spring axle and said first axle; and

a first line and a second line, each of said lines connected to said ribbon torsion spring at one end and to said light fixture at the other end, said first line routed over said second axle and looped back to and over said first axle and thereafter disposed downwardly to said light fixture, said second line routed over said second axle only and thereafter disposed downwardly to said light fixture;

wherein said ribbon torsion spring has a tension rating greater than the weight of said first and second lines and said light fixture and any lights contained therein, and wherein said light fixture may be manually moved vertically up and down.

2. The adjustable height grow light of claim 1, wherein said vertical support includes two vertical support members, and wherein said horizontal support is interposed between said vertical support members.

3. The adjustable height grow light of claim 2, wherein said vertical support members include feet, and wherein said vertical support members and said feet are fabricated from lightweight aluminum.

4. The adjustable height grow light of claim 1, wherein said horizontal support is a member having a U-shaped cross-section, and wherein the channel defined by said horizontal support is disposed downwardly.

5. The adjustable height grow light of claim 1, further including a third axle, wherein said second line is routed over said third axle and is thereafter downwardly disposed toward said light fixture.

6. The adjustable height grow light of claim 1, wherein each of said axles includes an axle sleeve rotatably positioned on each of said axles.

7. The adjustable height grow light of claim 1, further including a coupling block for connecting said first and second lines to said ribbon torsion spring.

8. The adjustable height grow light of claim 7, wherein said coupling block includes means for adjusting the uppermost position and the vertical range of movement of said light fixture.

9. The adjustable height grow light of claim 8, wherein said adjustment means comprises a bolt threadably driven into said coupling block, and wherein said bolt may be loosened to let out or take up slack in said first and second lines.

10. The adjustable height grow light of claim 9, wherein said spring and line adjustment means comprises:

an adjustment bolt threadably driven into said coupling block;

a connector connected to said second axle;

a third line fastened at one end to said adjustment bolt and at the other end to said connector;

wherein said adjustment bolt may be loosened to allow slack to be taken up or let out in said first, second, and third lines, and wherein said ribbon spring is extended as slack is taken up in said third line and retracts as slack is let our of said third line.

11. The adjustable height grow light of claim 1, wherein said axles are positioned in series, parallel to and in varying proximity to said ribbon torsion spring axle, said first axle being most proximate said ribbon spring axle.

12. An adjustable height grow light, comprising:

a horizontal support adaptable for connection to a support, said horizontal support defining a downwardly depending interior channel;

a spring axle secured with the interior channel of said horizontal support;

a constant force ribbon torsion spring mounted on said spring axle, wherein said spring is able to extend from said spring axle and to retract thereto from an extended position;

at least two line axles set within the interior channel and spaced apart from said spring axle and from one another;

a light fixture adapted for holding grow light bulbs; and

a line assembly including at least two lines, each of said lines connected at one end to said ribbon torsion spring and at the other end to said light fixture, and routed over said line axles such that when said ribbon torsion spring is extended or retracted, each of said lines is let out or taken in in substantially the same amount and said light fixture remains in a substantially level position while moving within a defined range of vertical movement.

13. The adjustable height grow light of claim 12, wherein said constant force ribbon torsion spring is tension rated at or above the weight of said lines and said light fixture and grow lights contained therein.

14. The adjustable height grow light of claim 12, wherein said line axles comprise a first line axle and a second line axle, and wherein said line assembly comprises a first line and a second line.

15. The adjustable height grow light of claim 14, wherein said first line axle is more proximate said ribbon spring axle than said second line axle, and wherein said first line extends from said ribbon torsion spring, over said second line axle and back over said first line axle, and is thereafter downwardly disposed to said light fixture;

and wherein said second line extends from said ribbon torsion spring, over said second line axle and is thereafter downwardly disposed to said light fixture.

16. The adjustable height grow light of claim 12, further including a coupling block for connecting said lines to said ribbon torsion spring.

17. The adjustable height grow light of claim 16, further including adjustment means wherein the uppermost point of the range of vertical movement and the range of vertical movement of said light fixture may be adjusted.

18. The adjustable height grow light of claim 17, wherein said adjustment means comprises a bolt connected to said coupling block, wherein said bolt may be loosened to permit slack in said lines to be taken up or let out.

19. The adjustable height grow light of claim 12, wherein said light is adapted for suspension from or connection to a ceiling.