Lighting unit with mounting mechanism

• US 6,682,204 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2002
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Schaffer, Irving, Goldschmidt, Willfred, Mullally, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): WARD, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US10/138,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20030206416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 362/240, 362/241, 362/242, 362/243, 362/247, 362/249, 362/431, 362/410, 362/326, 362/327, 362/328, 362/329, 362/362, 362/370, 362/373, 362/374
• US Class Current: 362/235
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/116 Fixing lighting devices to arms or standards F21V21/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/02 for roads, paths or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A lighting unit including a housing that has a base and opposing cover that is coupled to the base. A is lens disposed between the base and cover to form an inner receiving area. A light support member is disposed in the inner receiving area and supports a plurality of light sources. An axial opening extends through each of the cover and base, respectively. The axial opening has a central opening portion for receiving a support structure and an access opening portion. A mounting segment is releasably engagable with the housing and receivable in the access opening portion of the housing whereby removal of the segment provides access to the central opening portion and allows mounting of the housing on the support structure.

Claims

1. A lighting unit, comprising;

a housing having a base and opposing cover coupled to said base, a lens disposed between said base and cover forming an inner receiving area, a light support member disposed in said inner receiving area and supporting at least one light source, and an axial opening extending through each of said cover and base, respectively, said axial opening having a central opening portion for receiving a support structure and a transversely directed access opening portion; and

a mounting segment releasably engagable with said housing and receivable in said access opening portion of said housing, whereby removal of said segment provides access to said central opening portion and allows mounting of said housing on the support structure.

2. A lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein

said segment is received in said access opening portion of said housing, substantially enclosing said central opening portion.

3. A lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein

said segment engages each of said cover and base, respectively, at said access portion by a snapping engagement.

4. A lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein

said segment includes first and second walls with an outer end wall extending therebetween;

and

said segment is received in said access opening portion of said housing so that said first wall is substantially flush with said cover, said second wall is substantially flush with said base, and said end wall is substantially flush with said lens.

5. A lighting unit according to claim 3, wherein

said end wall includes a tab for snapping engagement with a slot disposed in each of said cover and base, respectively, at said access opening portion.

6. A lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein

said housing is substantially larger than said segment.

7. A lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein

said central opening portion and said access opening portion of said axial opening form one contiguous opening.

8. A lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein

said access opening portion is open at an outer perimeter of each of said cover and base.

9. A lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein

said inner receiving area of said housing includes a reflector;

and

said at least one light source comprising a plurality of light sources are located between said reflector and said lens.

10. A light unit according to claim 1, wherein

said axial opening extends through said light support.

11. A lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein

said light sources are concentrically disposed about said central opening portion of said housing.

12. A lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein

said cover includes a groove for receiving power wires electrically connected to said light sources, said groove being located at said access opening portion.

13. A lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein

said lens is disposed at an outer perimeter of each of said cover and base, respectively.

14. A lighting unit according to claim 13, wherein

said lens is received in a concentric groove disposed in said base.

15. A lighting unit according to claim 13, wherein

each of said cover and base have a substantially circular shape;

and

said lens is a continuous band formed of light diffusing material.

16. A lighting unit according to claim 13, wherein

said base and cover are substantially identical.

17. A lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein

said lens is substantially circular in plan view and has a central axis substantially corresponding to the central axis of said axial opening.

18. A lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein

said central opening portion is substantially square in plan view;

said access opening portion is substantially square in plan view; and

said segment is substantially square in plan view.

19. A lighting unit according to claim 18, wherein

said segment has an inner end that is substantially straight and an outer end wall remote from said inner end that is substantially curved.

20. A lighting unit, comprising:

a housing having a base and opposing cover coupled to said base, a lens disposed between said base and cover forming an inner receiving area, a light support member disposed in said inner receiving area and supporting at least one light source, and an axial opening extending through each of said cover and base, respectively, said axial opening having a central opening portion for receiving a support structure and a transversely directed access opening portion; and

a mounting segment releasably engaged with said housing and slidably received transversely into said access opening portion of said housing, and a width of said mounting segment is substantially less than a largest width of said housing, whereby removal of said segment provides access to said central opening portion and allows mounting of said housing on the support structure.

21. A lighting unit according to claim 20, wherein

said segment is substantially square in plan view.

22. A lighting unit according to claim 21, wherein

each of said base and cover of said housing is substantially circular and includes a curved outer perimeter.

23. A lighting unit according to claim 22, wherein

said segment has an inner end that is substantially straight and an outer end wall remote from said inner end that is substantially curved to conform to the curvature of said outer perimeter of each of said base and cover, respectively.

24. A method of mounting a lighting unit to a support member, comprising the steps of:

placing the lighting unit in a first direction on the support member, with the first direction being substantially traverse to a longitudinal axis defined by the support member, so that the support member passes through an access opening portion defined in the lighting unit and is received in a central opening portion contiguous with the access opening portion;

securing the lighting unit to the support member; and

inserting a mounting segment into the access opening portion, thereby enclosing the support member.

25. A method according to claim 24, further comprising the step of

removing the segment from the access opening portion of the lighting unit prior to placing the lighting unit on the support member.

26. A method according to claim 24, further comprising the step of

electrically connecting a plurality of light sources of the lighting unit to a power source prior to inserting the segment into the access opening portion.

27. A method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of

placing power wires electrically connected to the plurality of light sources into a groove formed in the base at the access opening portion prior to placing the lighting unit onto the support member.