Apparatus for retrofitting a remote control device to a stage lighting fixture

• US 7,011,435 B1
• Filed: 12/22/2003
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lee M. Blaymore
• Original Assignee: Lee M. Blaymore
• Inventors: Blaymore, Lee M
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAYNE, SHARON E
• Application Number:
  US10/743,186
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 362/382, 362/406, 362/418, 362/419, 362/428, 362/427, 362/429, 362/457, 362/371, 340/825.69, 340/825.72
• US Class Current: 362/382
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/15 specially adapted for power operation, e.g. by remote control

Abstract

A remote control device for spotlights 12 and retrofitting a remote control device to an existing light fixture for repositioning the horizontal axis and the vertical axis of a standard stage lighting fixture 12 such as a par can, a Fresnels, an ellipsoidal and the like. Using the device, user is permitted to make such adjustments from a remote location at any time either before or during a performance. Each unit may include a remote control device 22 that sends a unique data signal 20 to which that specific light will respond or may be adapted so that one remote control device effects a plurality of lights simultaneously. A vertical drive mechanism 32 will control the vertical movement of lamp 24 and a horizontal drive mechanism 60 will control the horizontal movement of the lamp 24. Both the vertical 32 and horizontal 60 drive mechanisms have receivers 28 for receiving the transmitted signal 20 from the remote control 22.

Claims

1. An apparatus for remotely controlling the movement of a stage light, comprising:

a) a light having a housing, said housing having an inside and an outside and a pair of sides;

b) a U-bracket having opposing arms and a base, wherein said opposing arms of said bracket are downwardly disposed, wherein said sides of said housing are disposed between said arms of said U-bracket;

c) means for horizontally rotating said light being disposed on said base of said U-bracket whereby the light is rotated in the horizontal plane;

d) a member being disposed on said means for horizontal rotation to permit the light to be attached to a structure;

e) means for vertically rotating said lights being disposed on one of said arms of said U-bracket whereby the light is rotated in the vertical plane; and

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f) means for remotely controlling said means for horizontally rotating said light and said means for vertically rotating said light whereby the horizontal and vertical rotation of the light is remotely controlled, wherein said means for vertically rotating said light comprises;

i) a second motor having an output shaft, wherein said shaft comprises a worm drive;

ii) a second receiver disposed adjacent said second motor for receiving a transmitted signal to permit the second motor to be controlled;

iii) a second microprocessor disposed adjacent said second motor for processing a signal to permit the second motor to be controlled;

iv) a gear being driven by said worm drive, said gear moving in response to said worm drive, said gear having a central gear aperture therein, said gear having an inside and an outside; and

v) means for attaching said gear to said arm of said U-bracket and to said housing of said light whereby the light is rotated in the vertical plane by the second motor and

said means for attaching said gear to said arm of said U-bracket and to said housing of said light, comprise

i) wherein said arm of said U-bracket has a bolt aperture therein and an inside and an outside;

ii) a spacer being disposed between said inside of said gear and said outside of said light housing, said spacer having a central horizontal spacer aperture therein, said spacer having an additional pair of horizontal pin apertures disposed therein, wherein said pin apertures are disposed between said central spacer aperture and the periphery of said spacer, said spacer having an additional vertical aperture therein, wherein said vertical aperture runs from one peripheral edge of said spacer to a second opposite peripheral edge of said spacer;

iii) wherein said housing of said light has a first aperture therein and an additional pair of adjacent apertures therein, wherein said additional pair of adjacent apertures are co-aligned with said additional pair of horizontal pin apertures in said spacer;

iv) a pair of retaining pins being substantially perpendicularly disposed on said inside of said gear, wherein said retaining pins pass through said additional pair of horizontal pin apertures in said spacer, wherein said retaining pins pass through said additional pair of adjacent aperture disposed in said housing of said light, wherein said housing of said light turns as said gear turns to permit the light to be rotated in the vertical plane;

v) a holt having a threaded end and a head, wherein said holt passes through said bolt aperture in said U-bracket and said central gear aperture and said central horizontal spacer aperture and said first aperture in said housing of said light so that said head is disposed on said outside of said U-bracket and said threaded end is disposed on said inside of said housing of said light wherein said holt has a transverse aperture therein;

vi) a bolt housing being internally threaded being disposed on said inside of said housing of said light, wherein said threaded end of said bolt is threaded into said bolt housing so that said U-bracket and said gear and said spacer and said housing of said light are secured together; and

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vii) a retaining screw having a threaded end and a head, wherein said crew passes through said additional vertical aperture of said spacer and said transverse aperture in said holt wherein said retaining screw passes from one peripheral edge of said spacer to said second opposite peripheral edge of said spacer, further comprising a nut being attached to said threaded end of said retaining screw to permit the spacer to be secured to the bolt to prevent the bolt from becoming unscrewed from the bolt housing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for horizontally rotating said light comprises:

a) a first motor having an output shaft thereon, wherein said shaft is substantially upright standing and rotates substantially in the horizontal plane, wherein said shaft connects to said base of said U-bracket so that said bracket is horizontally rotated as said shaft rotates;

b) a first receiver disposed adjacent said first motor for receiving a transmitted signal to permit the first motor to be controlled; and

,

c) a first microprocessor disposed adjacent said first motor for processing a signal to permit the first motor to be controlled.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said member comprises a C-clamp to permit the light to be attached to a structure.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for remotely controlling said means for horizontally rotating said light and said means for vertically rotating said light comprises:

a) a transmitter for sending a signal to said first and second receivers for controlling said first and second motors; and

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b) directional controllers to permit the directional movement of the lights to be selected by a user.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said signals from said transmitter are unique signals for each said light to permit a single light to respond to the signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said signals from said transmitter are unique signals for a plurality of said lights to permit a plurality of said lights to respond to the signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said housing of said light is an ellipsoidal housing.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said housing of said light is a Fresnel housing.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said housing of said light is a par can housing.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said signals from said transmitter are radio frequency signals.