Lighting apparatus

• US 7,909,490 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Grumet-Avallone, Amy, Schmidt, Glenn T., Gloisten, Jennifer L., Greenfield, Thomas, Chou, John, Zeng, Samuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Jong-Suk (James)
• Assistant Examiner(s): Makiya; David J
• Application Number:
  US11/246,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20070076415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,992 Days
• Field of Search: 362/427, 362/371, 362/188, 362197-199, 362/402
• US Class Current: 362/427
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/233 Seats; Arm rests; Head rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/44 Spotlighting, e.g. reading lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/56 Lighting devices mounted on elongate supports, e.g. on flexible arms
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/57 Retractable or concealable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/76 for spotlighting, e.g. reading lamps spotlighting on or for specific fittings B60Q3/20; spotlighting in mass transit vehicles B60Q3/44
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/82 Switches specially adapted for vehicle interior lighting, e.g. switching by tilting the lens
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/85 for manual control of the light, e.g. of colour, orientation or intensity
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/26 Pivoted arms
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2106/00 Interior vehicle lighting devices

Abstract

The present invention provides a lighting apparatus with an elongated housing which accommodates a light source. The housing may be pivoted to rotate between a stored position and a deployed position. The housing may be maintained at a plurality of desired positions within its range of rotation. In addition, according to a feature of the invention, the elongated housing may be relatively rigid, yet also articulated, so that it can flex transversely in response to an applied force. In an embodiment, the housing may be provided with a swivel portion that can be used to change the direction of the light. Various electrical features may be provided as well, such as a brightness control feature and an auto-off feature that switches off the light in the stowed position.

Claims

1. A lighting apparatus comprising:

a single dimmable light source, the intensity of the light source adjustable to at least two levels when the light source is activated;

a substantially tubular elongated housing inside of which the light source is disposed on a center axis that extends substantially lengthwise inside the housing and substantially parallel to the housing, the housing having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end includes an opening, oriented at an angle from the center axis, through which light emitted from the light source exits the housing in a direction angular to the center axis, and the second end has a swivel portion rotatable at least partially around the center axis to change the direction the light exits the housing; and

a pivot member coupled to the housing and adapted to mount to a mounting surface that allows the housing to rotate from a stowed position adjacent to the mounting surface to a deployed position protruding from the mounting surface, the pivot member including a support comprising a detent and a complementary notch that urge the housing in a direction of rotation and into at least one position within a range of rotation between the stowed position and the deployed position;

wherein the first end and the second end are at least partially transversely flexibly coupled to each other;

and further comprising an auto-off circuit, wherein the auto-off circuit switches off the light source when the housing is in the stowed position.

2. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is substantially rigid.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a resilient element is coupled to the first and second ends of the housing and allows the second end to flex transversely away from the first end in response to an applied force.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the swivel portion includes a gripping portion.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the swivel portion includes a beveled surface through which light exits the housing.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first end of the housing is coupled to a mounting block.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source has a plurality of selectable brightness levels.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pivot member is proximate to the first end of the housing.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pivot member rotatably couples the first end of the housing to a seat.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is urged into a plurality of positions within the range of rotation.

23. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the swivel portion rotates approximately 60°

either side of the center axis.

11. A lighting apparatus comprising:

a substantially cylindrical, rigid elongated housing, having first, second, and third sections extending in substantially the same direction along a center shared axis disposed lengthwise in the housing, wherein the first and second sections are at least partially transversely flexibly coupled to each other and the third section is at least partially rotatably coupled to the second section wherein the third section rotates at least partially around the shared axis;

a single dimmable light source disposed within the housing, said light source disposed on the center shared axis extending lengthwise inside the housing, the light source oriented at an angle to the center shared axis and projecting a stream of light in an angle away from the center shared axis, the intensity of the light source adjustable to at least two levels when the light source is activated;

a hinge disposed within the first section of housing and distal to the second section and adapted to mount to a mounting surface, the hinge allowing the housing to rotate from a stowed position adjacent to the mounting surface to a deployed position protruding from the mounting surface, the hinge including a support comprising a detent and a complementary notch that urge the housing in a direction of rotation and into at least one position within a range of rotation between the stowed position and the deployed position;

a finger grip for gripping and rotating the third section; and

further comprising an auto-off circuit, wherein the auto-off circuit comprises a sensor for detecting when the housing is approximately in the stowed position.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a resilient element, wherein the resilient element is coupled to the housing and allows the second and third sections of the housing to flex transverse to the shared axis while the first section remains fixed along the shared axis.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the resilient element is a heavy-duty spring.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the third section includes a beveled portion distal to the second portion, wherein light emitted by the light source exits the housing through the beveled portion.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the light source is selected from the group consisting of a light-emitting diode and an incandescent lamp.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a switch electrically coupled to the light source.

17. The lighting apparatus of claim 16, wherein the switch comprises a button for selecting an intensity level for light emitted from the light source.

18. The lighting apparatus of claim 17, wherein an intensity level is selected through successively pressing the button.

19. The lighting apparatus of claim 16, wherein the switch comprises a wheel for selecting an intensity level for light emitted from the light source.

20. The lighting apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sensor comprises a Hall-effect switch.

24. The lighting apparatus of claim 11, wherein the third section rotates approximately 60°

either side of the center shared axis.

21. A lighting apparatus, the lighting apparatus comprising:

a substantially cylindrical housing;

a single dimmable light source, the intensity of the light source adjustable to at least two levels when the light source is activated, the light source disposed on a center axis extending lengthwise inside the housing;

the housing having first end and a second end wherein the first end and the second end are at least partially transversely flexibly coupled to each other;

means for mounting the housing to a mounting surface;

means for urging the housing and the light source along a direction of rotation into a position between a stowed position adjacent to the mounting surface and a deployed position protruding from the mounting surface;

means for maintaining the housing at least one desired rotational position; and

means for rotating, at least partially around the center axis, a direction in which light emitted by the light source exits the housing; and

further comprising means for deactivating the light source when the housing is proximate to the stowed position.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising means for adjusting a brightness level of the light source.

25. The lighting apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for rotating the direction in which light emitted by the light source exits the housing is capable of rotating approximately 60°

either side of the center axis.