Overhead support system having adjustable lighting elements

• US 9,310,096 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2013
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nortek Air Solutions LLC (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nortek Air Solutions LLC (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Schreiber, Kevin Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Dzierzynski, Evan
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEERCE, MATTHEW J
• Application Number:
  US13/973,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20150055323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 362/96
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/06 by suspension
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/205 for operating theatres
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/078 combined with lighting fixtures

Abstract

An overhead support system is configured to be positioned within a room. The system may include a main housing that includes at least a portion of an air-delivery sub-system, a plurality of lighting elements secured to the main housing, a light control unit in communication with each of the plurality of lighting elements, and a light operation interface in communication with the light control unit. Each of the plurality of lighting elements is configured to move relative to the main housing. The light control unit controls operation of each of the plurality of lighting elements. The light operation interface is configured to be used to move the plurality of lighting elements relative to the main housing to focus emitted light on a target location within the room.

Claims

1. An overhead support system configured to be positioned within a room, the system comprising:

a main housing comprising at least a portion of an air-delivery sub-system that is configured to deliver air to the room, the main housing configured to secure a plurality of lighting elements at least partially within the main housing in a manner permitting movement of each of the plurality of lighting elements relative to the main housing, the main housing including a plurality of linear columns arranged in parallel to one another, each linear column formed at least partially by two or more lighting elements of the plurality of lighting elements, wherein an air delivery panel is disposed between each adjacent pair of linear columns and configured to allow air to pass therethrough;

a light control unit configured to be in communication with each of the plurality of lighting elements, wherein the light control unit is configured to control operation of each of the plurality of lighting elements; and

a light operation interface in communication with the light control unit, wherein the light operation interface is configured to send inputs to the light control unit, the light control unit controls operation of each of the plurality of lighting elements based on the inputs, and the controlled operation includes moving the plurality of lighting elements relative to the main housing to focus emitted light on a target location within the room.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a moveable boom connected to the light operation interface.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the light operation interface comprises a handheld device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the main housing is configured to be suspended from a ceiling of the room.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of lighting elements comprises at least one light-emitting diode.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the light operation interface is configured to allow one or both of a light color or light intensity of the plurality of lighting elements to be adjusted.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the light operation interface comprises one or more light-focusing direction buttons configured to direct movement of the plurality of lighting elements.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the light operation interface comprises at least one rotary button configured to direct movement of the plurality of lighting elements.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the light operation interface comprises a joystick configured to direct movement of the plurality of lighting elements.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the light operation interface comprises a touch screen display showing a representation of a room, and wherein the touch screen display is configured to be engaged to direct movement of the plurality of lighting elements within the room.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the light operation interface comprises an aiming device configured to direct movement of the plurality of lighting elements.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the light operation interface comprises a position detector and a locating device, wherein the position detector is configured to detect a position of the locating device, and wherein the light control unit is configured to control movement of the plurality of lighting elements based on the detected position of the locating device.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the light operation interface comprises a position and motion detector, wherein the position and motion detector is configured to detect a position and motion of a physiological structure, and wherein the light control unit is configured to control movement of the plurality of lighting elements based on the detected position and motion of the physiological structure.

14. A method of focusing emitted light within a room through an overhead support system, the method comprising:

providing an overhead support system including a main housing that contains at least a portion of an air delivery sub system and a plurality of lighting elements secured to the main housing, each of the plurality of lighting elements at least partially contained within the main housing and configured to move relative to the main housing, the main housing including a plurality of linear columns arranged in parallel to one another, each linear column formed at least partially by two or more lighting elements of the plurality of lighting elements;

directing airflow through one or more air delivery panels of the air delivery sub-system of the overhead support system, each of the one or more air delivery panels disposed between an adjacent pair of linear columns;

controlling operation of each of the plurality of lighting elements with a light control unit; and

engaging a light operation interface that is in communication with the light control unit to send inputs to the light control unit, wherein the light control unit controls operation of each of the plurality of lighting elements based on the inputs, and the controlled operation includes moving the plurality of lighting elements relative to the main housing to focus emitted light on a target location within the room.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising suspending the main housing from a ceiling of the room.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising adjusting a light color or light intensity of the plurality of lighting elements through the light operation interface.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the engaging a light operation interface comprises engaging one or more light-focusing direction buttons to direct movement of the plurality of lighting elements.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the engaging a light operation interface comprises engaging at least one rotary button to direct movement of the plurality of lighting elements.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the engaging a light operation interface comprises engaging a joystick to direct movement of the plurality of lighting elements.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the engaging a light operation interface comprises engaging a touch screen display to direct movement of the plurality of lighting elements.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the engaging a light operation interface comprises moving an aiming device to direct movement of the plurality of lighting elements.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the engaging a light operation interface comprises:

detecting a position of a locating device, and

controlling movement of the plurality of lighting elements based on the detected position of the locating device.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the engaging a light operation interface comprises:

detecting a position and motion of a physiological structure, and

controlling movement of the plurality of lighting elements based on the detected position and motion of the physiological structure.