Landscape lighting systems having interchangeable light diverting elements and light intensity controllers

• US 9,945,538 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2016
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mind Head, LLC
• Original Assignee: Mind Head, LLC
• Inventors: Beausoleil, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Anabel
• Application Number:
  US15/370,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20170082271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/60 Optical arrangements integrated in the light source, e.g. for improving the colour rendering index or the light extraction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 6/004 with a lamp housing in direct contact with the floor or ground
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/032 the surface being a floor or like ground surface, e.g. pavement
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/083 of bollard type, i.e. with lighting fixture integrated into the standard or mounted on top of it and having substantially the same diameter
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 1/08 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 11/16 using sheets without apertures, e.g. fixed
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/002 with provision for interchangeability, i.e. component parts being especially adapted to be replaced by another part with the same or a different function F21V17/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0824 Ground spikes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/14 Adjustable mountings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/006 the substrate being distinct from the light source holder
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0435 activated by remote control means
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/08 for producing coloured light, e.g. monochromatic; for reducing intensity of light with provision for controlling the colour F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/10 Outdoor lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/109 of gardens
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2101/00 Point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light

Abstract

A landscape lighting system includes a light fixture having an LED, a first light diverting element having a first light diversion angle associated therewith, a second light diverting element having a second light diversion angle associated therewith that is different than the first light diversion angle, and a light intensity controller for communicating with the light fixture to selectively control the intensity of the light generated by the LED. The light intensity controller is in wireless communication with the light fixture. The fixture has a first configuration in which the first light diverting element overlies the LED for emitting light having the first light diversion angle, and a second configuration in which the second light diverting element overlies the LED for emitting light having the second light diversion angle.

Claims

1. A landscape lighting system comprising:

a light fixture including an LED;

a first light diverting element having a first light diversion angle associated therewith;

a second light diverting element having a second light diversion angle associated therewith that is different than the first light diversion angle;

a light intensity controller for communicating with said light fixture to selectively control the intensity of the light generated by said LED, wherein said light intensity controller is in wireless communication with said light fixture, and wherein said light fixture comprises an anchoring element for securing said light fixture at selected locations;

wherein said light fixture comprises an articulating knuckle that enables said light fixture to be positioned at different angles.

2. The landscape lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light fixture has a first configuration in which said first light diverting element overlies said LED for emitting light having the first light diversion angle, and wherein said light fixture has a second configuration in which said second light diverting element overlies said LED for emitting light having the second light diversion angle.

3. The landscape lighting system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first and second light diverting elements are interchangeable, and wherein only one of said first and second light diverting elements is secured over said LED at any one time.

4. The landscape lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second light diverting elements comprises a colored lens.

5. The landscape lighting system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of light fixtures;

each said light fixture including an LED;

each said light fixture comprising a first light diverting element having the first light diversion angle associated therewith, and a second light diverting element having the second light diversion angle associated therewith that is different than the first light diversion angle.

6. The landscape lighting system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said light intensity controller is adapted to increase and decrease the intensity level of only one of said plurality of light fixtures at any one time.

7. The landscape lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light intensity controller includes a control element that enables an operator to selectively increase and decrease the intensity level of the light generated by said LED, and wherein said light intensity controller includes indicia provided thereon that indicate the intensity level of the light generated by said LED.

8. The landscape lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wireless communication comprises infrared communication.

9. The landscape lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light fixture uses low voltage.

10. The landscape lighting system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a glare shield mounted on said light fixture;

a glare shield fastener for securing said glare shield to said light fixture, wherein said glare shield rotates and moves telescopically relative to said light fixture, and wherein said glare shield fastener is tightened for preventing further rotation or telescopic movement of said glare shield relative to said light fixture.

11. The landscape lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said first and second light diverting elements has a light diversion angle of about 36 degrees, and the other one of said first and second light diverting elements has a light diversion angle of about 60 degrees.

12. A landscape lighting system comprising:

a light fixture including at least one LED and an LED driver electrically interconnected with said at least one LED for controlling operation of said at least one LED;

a plurality of light diverting elements configured for optical alignment with said at least one LED, wherein each said light diverting element has a unique light diversion angle associated therewith;

a glare shield mounted on said light fixture, wherein said glare shield rotates and moves telescopically relative to said light fixture;

a light intensity controller in communication with said LED driver, wherein said light intensity controller includes a control element that enables an operator to selectively increase and decrease the intensity of the light generated by said at least one LED, and wherein said light intensity controller is in wireless communication with said light fixture.

13. The landscape lighting system as claimed in claim 12, further comprising at least one guide pin for positioning said light diverting elements over said at least one LED.

14. The landscape lighting system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said plurality of interchangeable light diverting elements comprise a first light diverting element having a light diversion angle of about 60 degrees and a second light diverting element having a light diversion angle of about 36 degrees.

15. The landscape lighting system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said light intensity controller includes indicia provided thereon that indicate the intensity level of the light generated by said light fixture, and wherein said light intensity controller comprises at least one depressible button for adjusting the intensity level of the light generated by said light fixture.

16. The landscape lighting system as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a plurality of light fixtures, wherein said light intensity controller is adapted to wirelessly communicate with each said light fixture for selectively increasing and decreasing the intensity level of the light generated by each said light fixture, and wherein said light intensity controller is in wireless communication with only one of said light fixtures at any one time.

17. A method of controlling the light generated by a light fixture comprising:

providing a light fixture including at least one LED and an LED driver electrically interconnected with said at least one LED for controlling operation of said at least one LED;

providing a first light diverting element having a first light diversion angle associated therewith;

providing a second light diverting element having a second light diversion angle associated therewith that is different than the first light diversion angle;

providing a light intensity controller adapted to communicate with said light fixture for adjusting the intensity of light generated by said at least one LED, wherein said light intensity controller is in wireless or infrared communication with said light fixture;

providing a light fixture control circuit that uses low voltage and is configured for communicating with said light intensity controller for selectively increasing and decreasing the intensity of the light generated by said at least one LED;

wherein the providing a light fixture step includes providing an anchoring element and using said anchoring element for securing said light fixture at a selected location;

providing an articulating knuckle on said light fixture and after securing said light fixture at the selected location using said articulating knuckle for positioning said light fixture at different angles.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

positioning said first light diverting element over said at least one LED so that the light generated by said at least one LED passes through said first light diverting element;

using said light intensity controller for operating said light fixture control circuit for changing the intensity of the light generated by said at least one LED;

positioning said second light diverting element over said at least one LED so that the light generated by said at least one LED passes through said second light diverting element;

providing an articulating knuckle on said light fixture and using said articulating knuckle for positioning said light fixture at different angles.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said first and second light diverting elements are interchangeable, and wherein only one of said first and second light diverting elements are secured over said LED at any one time.