Adjustable lighting apparatus

• US 7,972,035 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2008
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LSI Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: LSI Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Boyer, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Jong-Suk (James)
• Assistant Examiner(s): Neils; Peggy A.
• Application Number:
  US12/254,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20090109670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 362/289, 362/273, 362/287, 362/427, 362/249.03, 362/249.07, 362/269, 362/285, 362/147, 362/418, 362/372, 362/428, 362/244, 362/35
• US Class Current: 362/289
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0258 using resiliently deformable sleeves, grommets or inserts F16B43/001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/005 of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/04 intended only for mounting on a ceiling or the like overhead structures F21S8/02 takes precedence; details of ceiling bases F21V21/03
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/02 with provision for adjustment F21V17/04 - F21V17/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/12 by screwing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/164 the parts being subjected to bending, e.g. snap joints
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/02 Wall, ceiling, or floor bases; Fixing pendants or arms to the bases F21V21/08 takes precedence; bases for movable standing lamps F21V21/06
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/773 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A lighting apparatus having a pivotable light cartridge for positioning and directing the light output of a plurality of light sources, the light cartridge including an elongated base oriented along the longitudinal axis, a pivot at the opposed first and second ends of the light cartridge along the longitudinal axis, a plurality of light sources, and an longitudinal wall extending from the lateral edge of the base, the wall including a plurality of spaced-apart, radially-extending ribs, each having a distal edge. A rotatable worm gear having a helical thread is positioned in mechanical engagement with a portion of the distal edges of the plurality of ribs, so that rotation of the worm gear with a hand tool effects pivoting of the light cartridge along the longitudinal axis.

Claims

1. A lighting apparatus comprising:

(A) a housing having opposed first and second ends;

(B) a light cartridge associated with the housing, the light cartridge for holding at least one light source and comprising;

i) a first end and a second end;

ii) a pivot associated with each of the first and second ends and rotatably engaging the housing;

iii) at least one elongated wall extending between the first and second ends and about at least a portion of the perimeter of the light cartridge;

iv) at least one rib extending from the elongated wall at least a portion of the way between the first and second ends of the light cartridge; and

(C) a gear engaged with at least one of the at least one ribs of the light cartridge, such that rotation of the gear rotates the light cartridge about its pivot.

2. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the gear is a worm gear having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis defined by the light cartridge, the worm gear having a helical thread at a pitch in mechanical engagement with a portion of at least one of the at least one ribs.

3. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the light cartridge comprises a plurality of ribs each define a distal edge and the distal edges of the plurality of ribs form an arc.

4. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the light cartridge defines a longitudinal axis and comprises a base oriented along the longitudinal axis and connecting the first end, second end and at least one wall.

5. The lighting apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the wall extends circumferentially and in opposed directions from the at least one lateral edge of the base.

6. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the light source is an LED.

7. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one rib extending from the elongated wall is oriented to extend continuously from the first end to the second end of the light cartridge.

8. A light cartridge for holding at least one light source and being pivotally associated with a light housing, the light cartridge comprising:

(A) a first end and a second end;

(B) at least one elongated wall extending between the first and second ends and about at least a portion of the perimeter of the light cartridge;

(C) a pivot associated with each of the first and second ends for rotatably engaging the light housing; and

(D) at least one rib extending from the elongated wall at least a portion of the way between the first and second ends of the light cartridge;

wherein the at least one rib for engaging a gear of the light housing such that rotation of the gear rotates the light cartridge about its pivot.

9. The light cartridge according to claim 8 further comprising a plurality of light sources and a plurality of optics associated with the light source.

10. The light cartridge according to claim 8 further comprising a plurality of ribs each define a distal edge and the distal edges of the plurality of ribs form an arc.

11. The light cartridge according to claim 8 defining a longitudinal axis and further comprising a base oriented along the longitudinal axis and connecting the first end, second end and at least one wall.

12. The light cartridge according to claim 11 wherein the wall extends circumferentially and in opposed directions from the at least one lateral edge of the base.

13. The light cartridge according to claim 8 wherein the light source is an LED.

14. The light cartridge according to claim 8 wherein the cartridge comprises a light source.

15. The light cartridge according to claim 9 further comprising an optic holder holding each of the plurality of optics and a space spacing the optics from the light sources.