Portable light projector unit

• US 7,025,466 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2003
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mechdyne Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mechdyne Corporation
• Inventors: Hancock, Michael, Clover, Chris, Gruening, James, Betts, Douglas E., Huisman, Jeremy, Hoffmeister, Kurt, Redman, Brent
• Primary Examiner(s): KOVAL, MELISSA J
• Application Number:
  US10/413,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20040036845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 353/79, 353/119, 353/122, 353/13, 348/744, 352/35, 362/285
• US Class Current: 353/119
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/28 Reflectors in projection beam in illumination beam G03B21/2066

Abstract

A rugged portable projector unit is suitable for transport and easy set-up. A projector is mounted to a rigid subframe by a mounting platform. A shock absorbing element is provided between the subframe and the mounting platform. The subframe is mounted within a hardened carrying case. Shock absorbing elements are provided between the subframe and the carrying case. The top of the carrying case is removable. A mirror is hingedly attached to the top of the subframe to reflect images produced by the projector. Access panels and cooling doors are provided in the carrying case to permit access and ventilation to the projector. The carrying case is provided with wheels to allow it to be rolled along the ground. The carrying case is also provided with offset handles on its sides so that the unit naturally tilts to aid in loading and unloading from raised surfaces.

Claims

1. A portable projector unit comprising:

(a) a protective shell having a bottom section and a removable top section;

(b) a subframe mounted to an interior of said bottom section of said protective shell;

(c) a subframe shock absorbing element between said protective shell and said subframe;

(d) a projector mounted to said subframe; and

(e) a projector shock absorbing element between said subframe and said projector.

2. The projector unit according to claim 1, further comprising:

a mirror hingedly attached to said subframe, said mirror being suitable for reflecting an image projected by said projector.

3. The projector unit according to claim 1, wherein said bottom section has a bottom surface, a first pair of opposed side surfaces, and a second pair of opposed side surfaces;

and wherein wheels are mounted on one of said side surfaces from said first pair of opposed side surfaces to permit rolling of the projector unit.

4. The projector unit according to claim 3, wherein both of said opposed side surfaces from said second pair of opposed side surfaces are provided with handles to facilitate carrying said unit.

5. The projector unit according to claim 4, wherein said handles are offset from each other such that when said handles on a single side are level with each other, the projector unit is tipped to aid in loading and unloading from raised surfaces.

6. The projector unit according to claim 1, wherein said top section is a lid;

wherein said projector unit has a portable configuration wherein said lid is attached to said bottom section; and

wherein said projector unit has a projecting configuration wherein said lid is removed from said bottom portion so that said projector may project an image to a remote location apart from said projector unit.