Portable sensing light

• US 6,956,493 B1
• Filed: 02/15/2002
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tena Youngblood
• Original Assignee: Tena Youngblood
• Inventors: Youngblood, Tena
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US10/077,425
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 340/567, 362/276, 362/101, 439/278, 439/280, 439/449, 439/464, 439/471, 439/474, 439/527, 439/538, 439/611, 439/869, 277/312, 277/345
• US Class Current: 340/693.9
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 27/02 Cable inlets
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/191 using pyroelectric sensor means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 23/00 Alarms responsive to unspecified undesired or abnormal conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

A motion-sensing light includes a power cord with a plug to be plugged into an electrical outlet. In one embodiment, the light is moisture-resistant, allowing the light to be used outdoors with a suitable electrical outlet. The light may be mounted on a wall with nails or screws, hung from a hook, or a mounting bracket that holds the lamp in a desired orientation, yet allows removal and re-insertion of the light.

Claims

1. A portable motion-sensing light comprising:

a sealed housing;

a sensor adjustably mounted on the sealed housing and electrically coupled to

a control circuit inside the sealed housing coupled to

a lamp socket adjustably mounted on the sealed housing configured to accept a light bulb, the sensor being separately adjustable from the lamp socket; and

a power cord having an electrical plug on a first end of the power cord and entering the sealed housing at a power cord entry securing the power cord to the sealed housing, a second end of the power cord being connected to electrical connections within the sealed housing, the power cord entry cooperating with the electrical connections within the sealed housing so as to provide a weather-resistant seal and strain relief allowing outdoor motion-sensing illumination; and

further comprising expanding closed-cell foam applied within the sealed housing around at least one of the power cord entry, a sensor wire entry, and a lamp socket wire entry.

2. The portable motion-sensing light of claim 1 wherein the sealed housing includes a first housing portion, a second housing portion, and a watertight gasket disposed between the first housing portion and the second housing portion.

3. The portable motion-sensing light of claim 1 wherein the sealed housing comprises a first housing portion and a second housing portion, the first housing portion being welded to the second housing portion.

4. The portable motion-sensing light of claim 1 wherein the sealed housing comprises a first housing portion and a second housing portion, the first housing portion being sealed to the second housing portion with an adhesive sealant.

5. The portable motion-sensing light of claim 1 further comprising

means for mounting the portable sensing light on a support structure.

6. The portable motion-sensing light of claim 5 wherein the means for mounting includes a mounting member on a back of the sealed housing configured to removably couple to a mating mounting bracket disposed on an outdoor support structure so as to facilitate mounting the portable motion-sensing light in a selected outdoor location, and then to facilitate removing the portable motion-sensing light from the selected outdoor location.

7. A weather-resistant portable motion-sensing light for comprising:

a watertight housing with a back;

a sensor adjustably mounted on the housing and electrically coupled to

a control circuit coupled to

a lamp socket adjustably mounted on the sealed housing configured to accept a light bulb, the sensor being separately adjustable from the lamp socket;

a power cord having an electrical plug on a first end of the power cord, the power cord entering the watertight housing at a power cord entry securing the power cord to the sealed housing, a second end of the power cord being connected to electrical connections within the sealed housing so as to provide electrical power to the weather-resistant portable motion-sensing light when the electrical plug is plugged into an electrical socket;

means for mounting the weather-resistant portable motion-sensing light on an outdoor support structure; and

expanding closed-cell foam applied within the watertight housing around at least one of a power cord entry, a sensor wire entry, and a lamp socket wire entry.

8. The weather-resistant portable motion-sensing light of claim 7 wherein the means for mounting is a mounting member located on the back of the watertight housing configured to couple to a mating mounting bracket disposed on an outdoor support structure so as to facilitate mounting the portable motion-sensing light in a selected outdoor location, and then to facilitate removing the portable motion-sensing light from the selected outdoor location.

9. A method of operating a weather-resistant portable motion-sensing light of claim 7, the method comprising:

providing the motion-sensing light with the integrated power cord extending into a weather-resistant housing of the motion-sensing light and the electrical plug on the first end of the integrated power cord;

mounting the motion-sensing light at on a first outdoor support structure; and

plugging the electrical plug of the integrated power cord into an electrical outlet.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising steps of:

removing the motion-sensing light from the first outdoor support structure; and

mounting the motion-sensing light on a second outdoor support structure.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising steps of:

unplugging the electrical plug from the electrical outlet; and

plugging the electrical plug into a second electrical outlet.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising steps of:

unplugging the electrical plug from the electrical outlet;

removing the motion-sensing light from the first outdoor support structure;

mounting the motion-sensing light on a second outdoor support structure; and

plugging the electrical plug into a second electrical outlet.