Retractable light & sound system

• US 6,918,680 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2002
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James T. Seeberger
• Original Assignee: James T. Seeberger
• Inventors: Seeberger, James T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zeade, Bertrand
• Application Number:
  US10/307,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20040105255A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 362/150, 362/147, 362/152, 362/249, 362/250, 362/287, 362/285, 362/427, 362/428, 362/386, 362/385, 362/233, 362/86, 362/276, 362/802, 362/286, 362/272
• US Class Current: 362/150
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/064 Gutters drainage channels on the roof surface E04D13/0445; gutters for greenhouses A01G9/1476
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/158 covering the overhang at the eave side, e.g. soffits, or the verge of saddle roofs
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/028 being retractable, i.e. having two fixed positions, one recessed, e.g. in a wall, floor or ceiling, and one extended when in use
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/15 specially adapted for power operation, e.g. by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0056 Audio equipment, e.g. music instruments, radios or speakers
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/006 General building constructions or finishing work for buildings, e.g. roofs, gutters, stairs or floors; Garden equipment; Sunshades or parasols
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/004 mounted on the exterior of houses or other buildings to illuminate parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

A retractable light/sound system for mounting on the eave of a structure includes a housing and an output subassembly. A hinge pivotably interconnects the housing and the output subassembly whereby the latter is pivotable between a retracted/stored position and an extended/display position. The output subassembly includes multiple lights and/or loudspeakers and provides output in response to input power and/or control signals from any control subsystem, which can include a microprocessor adapted for preprogramming to activate the output components in response to certain, predetermined input source conditions. The system is adapted for mounting on or in soffits, or on building fascias integrally with gutters.

Claims

1. In combination with a building including an eave with a soffit having lookout rafters and a soffit panel mounted on the underside of said lookout rafters, the improvement of a lighting system adapted for mounting in said soffit, which includes:

a longitudinally-extending, downwardly-open opening formed in said soffit and including notches formed in said lookout rafters;

a housing adapted for mounting in said opening at least partly in said lookout rafter notches and including inner, outer and upper housing walls forming a downwardly-open receiver;

multiple mechanical fasteners extending through said housing walls and into said soffit rafters for mounting said system in said eave;

a longitudinally-extending output subassembly including a raceway with a wiring passageway, multiple lights mounted on said raceway, a wiring harness extending through said passageway and connected to said lights;

a hinge connected to the housing and the raceway, said hinge defining a longitudinally-extending pivotal axis located in proximity to said soffit panel;

said output subassembly being pivotable about said pivotal axis between a retracted/stored position substantially within said housing receiver and an extended/display position extending downwardly from said housing with said output component exposed; and

a control subsystem including a motor operably connected to said output subassembly and adapted for extending and retracting same, said control subsystem including a microprocessor programmable to automatically operate said motor and multiple inputs adapted for sensing predetermined conditions for extending and retracting said output subassembly and selectively illuminating said lights.

2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein said output subassembly includes a loudspeaker mounted on said raceway and said control subsystem includes an audio source connected to said loudspeaker.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said control subsystem includes a photovoltaic switch connected to said microprocessor.

4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said microprocessor or is preprogrammed to call said lights to flash in a predetermined pattern.

5. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said control subsystem includes a motion sensor adapted to extend said output subassembly and activate said output component in response to sensing motion.

6. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said housing and said raceway are extruded.

7. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said hinge comprises first and second pivotably interlocking components integrally formed with said housing and said raceway respectively.

8. The invention according claim 1 wherein said output subassembly is connected to a power source associated with the structure on which said system is mounted.