Patent Grant
7641366
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a lamp assembly that may be mounted in a plurality of orientations on a mounting surface, and more specifically to a lamp assembly having a motion sensor integral thereto that is capable of being oriented in multiple positions without affecting the operation of the motion sensor.
2. Description of the Related Art
A variety of prior art lighting fixtures utilize canopies of molded plastic or metal materials which are mounted to wall surfaces or the like, and through which power wiring is routed. Often these fixtures incorporate canopies that are secured to a surface by a plurality of fasteners engaging both the canopy and a mounting plate that is otherwise secured to a mounting surface. Many known in the art mounting plates employ slot arrangements for mounting lighting fixtures thereto that permit a plurality of mounting orientations such that fixtures can be adjusted slightly when mounted.
Some prior art fixture systems include lamp housings that are capable of being mounted, from an aesthetic standpoint, in a plurality of orientations. One difficulty with many of these systems is the inability to change the orientation of the fixture once the fixture is mounted, without the necessity of removing wiring connections, mounting hardware, and the like. Once the fixture is mounted, it becomes quite troublesome to rearrange its orientation.
Furthermore, in many modern outdoor lighting fixtures, motion sensors are employed within the sensor housing to detect motion in a field of view proximate thereto, and illuminate the fixture lamp responsive to detected motion. However, changing the orientation of motion sensor fixtures is particularly vexing, since the field of view of the motion sensor is often undesirably altered when the fixture orientation is changed.
Accordingly, there is a need for a lighting fixture that may be mounted in a plurality of orientations with no required hardware or tools, and further, for a lighting fixture employing a motion sensor or the like that may be mounted in multiple orientations without appreciably altering the field of view of the sensor.
The present invention addressed the aforementioned problems by providing a lighting fixture capable of being mounted in a plurality of orientations on a mounting surface without affecting the fixture's performance. The invention includes a lamp housing having an integral motion sensor arranged therein to maintain a properly oriented field of view for detecting motion regardless of the orientation of the fixture. The lamp housing is capable of rotation around a central axis and may include a motion sensor, for example a pyroelectric infrared sensor (PIR) that is covered by a Fresnel lens to focus impinging infrared energy on the PIR sensor
The PIR sensor and lens comprise a sensor assembly that is positioned in the lamp housing proximate the axis of rotation so that when rotated, the sensor assembly has moved in a vertical plane very little. This feature of the invention provides for a rotatable lantern utilizing a motion sensor control that does not have to be carefully reoriented when the lamp is reoriented. The motion sensor maintains a field of view optimized for the detection of motion when the lantern is mounted, despite its orientation.
The invention further includes a wall mount assembly that is readily secured to a structure to support the lamp housing, and to which the lamp housing is secured. The wall mount assembly incorporates a rotating bracket that enables the rotation of the lamp housing around an axis that is generally orthogonal to the wall or structure to which the wall mount assembly is secured.
The rotating bracket incorporates a two-piece plate construction, the plates being rotatable with respect to each other about a central aperture therein. The wall mount assembly further includes a front canopy to which the lamp housing is secured, and a rear canopy that includes a recessed portion therein for accepting an electronic control assembly required to interface with the motion sensor and lamp. Front and rear canopies are secured together by securing one of each to the rotating bracket plates, thereby providing for a front canopy and lamp housing that rotates with respect to the rear canopy and wall mount.
Furthermore, the rear canopy may include a plurality of switch apertures for access to various control switches extending from the electronic control assembly recessed therein. In this feature of the invention the switch apertures are oriented downwardly to provide protection from moisture for the control switches. Since the rear canopy and the electronic control package do not rotate, the switches remain protected from the elements no matter the orientation of the front canopy and housing assembly.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments herein below taken in conjunction with the attached drawing Figures.
Referring now to the drawing Figures and in accordance with a preferred constructed embodiment of the present invention, a lighting fixture 10 capable of being mounted to a structure in a plurality of orientations includes a mounting assembly 20 and a lamp housing assembly 100 that is rotatably secured to mounting assembly 20.
Mounting assembly 20, as best seen in
Front canopy 22 further includes an exterior flange 26 through which a plurality of apertures 28 are located to accept a plurality of fasteners for securing the front 22 and rear 40 canopies to a mounting bracket (not shown). As best seen in
Rear canopy 40 also comprises a central aperture 44 for routing wiring therethrough and includes a recessed interior portion 46 that accepts an electronic control assembly 80 therein to provide protection from the elements for the various electronic components required to operate lighting fixture 10. This feature of the invention permits a manufacturer to produce a modular electronic control assembly 80 that is readily secured to, and protected by canopy 40. Rear canopy 40 may further include a switch aperture 47, or a plurality thereof, through which a control switch or switches from an electronic control assembly 80 may be inserted for access. Switch aperture 47 is located in rear canopy 40 such that aperture 47 is positioned generally downwardly when mounting assembly 20 is installed. This feature of the invention protects electronic switches and controls from moisture and the elements when fixture 10 is mounted outside.
As shown in
Additionally, wall mount assembly 20 includes a rotating bracket 60 comprising two plates 62 and 64, each having an aperture 66 therein, that are capable of relative rotation with respect to each other. Plates 62 and 64 are positioned together such that their apertures 66 are substantially concentric, thence crimped together proximate the circumference of apertures 66 such that plates 62 and 64 are rotatable with respect to each other, yet inseparable.
Plate 62 further comprises an arcuate groove 68 located outwardly of aperture 66 and extending approximately 180° degrees around aperture 66. Plate 64 may also comprises a stop screw aperture 70, shown in
Rotating bracket 60 plate 62 further includes a pair of spaced apertures 72 through which fasteners, such as a screws, may be inserted to engage threads 30 of front canopy 22, thereby securing front canopy 22 to rotating bracket 60. Similarly, plate 64 comprises a pair of spaced apertures 74 that are arranged to be generally concentric with a pair of spaced threaded apertures 48 in rear canopy 40. Plate 64 is secured to rear canopy 40 by insertion of a plurality of screws through spaced apertures 48 to engage threaded apertures 74. Thus both front and rear canopies 22 and 40 respectively are secured to each other via rotating bracket 60 such that front canopy 40 and rear canopy 22 are rotatable with respect to each other.
Electronic control assembly 80 is then positioned inside recessed interior 46 of rear canopy 40 to complete mounting assembly 20. Additionally, a pair of screw-type fasteners may be inserted through a conventional mounting bracket (not shown) may engage apertures 86 of control assembly 80, aperture 46 of rear canopy 40 and apertures 28 of front canopy 22 to secure mounting assembly 20 to a mounting surface. These fasteners may be engaged by a decorative nut or the like where they protrude through aperture 28 of front canopy 22. The decorative nuts are then simply removed to rotate front canopy 22 and consequently a lamp housing assembly 100 secured thereto.
Referring now to
Motion sensor assembly 150 is secured to bottom cover assembly 110 and also to front canopy 22 of mounting assembly 20. Motion sensor assembly may comprise a Fresnel lens 152 that both covers a concomitant motion sensor and helps focus radiation thereto. A variety of commercially available motion sensors may be incorporated in the sensor assembly 150 of the present invention without departing from the scope thereof. By positioning motion sensor assembly 150 and Fresnel lens 152 on housing assembly 100 proximate the axis of rotation of front canopy 22, the vertical position of motion sensor assembly 150 does not appreciably change when housing assembly 100 is rotated, given that the axis of rotation of the assembly 100 is around an axis through aperture 24 of front canopy 22. Since lamp housing assembly 100 is secured to front canopy 22, and since front canopy 22 is prohibited from over-rotation by operation of the stop screw engaging arcuate groove 68, lamp housing 100 is prohibited from rotating more than 180 degrees from an initial position.
Accordingly, motion sensor assembly 150 will remain in a position to detect motion within a tailored field of view no matter the orientation of lamp housing 100 since its vertical position is not greatly changed in any orientation. In operation, lamp housing assembly 100 may be oriented upwardly (
As best seen in
The present invention thus provides a lighting fixture 10 that may be oriented upwardly or downwardly, or anywhere in between by simple rotation of the fixture without concern for over-rotation due to the construction of rotating bracket 60. This feature of the present invention protects power and control wiring that must be routed through mounting assembly 20 into lamp housing 100 since the wiring can never be rotated more than 180 degrees. Front canopy 22 of mounting assembly 20 provides for rotation of lamp housing assembly 100, while electronics assembly 80 remains stationary and protected within rear canopy 40.
While the present invention has been shown and described herein in what are considered to be the preferred embodiments thereof, illustrating the results and advantages over the prior art obtained through the present invention, the invention is not limited to those specific embodiments. Thus, the forms of the invention shown and described herein are to be taken as illustrative only and other embodiments may be selected without departing from the scope of the present invention, as set forth in the claims appended hereto.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1676254 | Despard | Jul 1928 | A |
| 5941630 | Finke et al. | Aug 1999 | A |
| 6257743 | Ursch | Jul 2001 | B1 |
| 6439750 | Klaus et al. | Aug 2002 | B2 |
| 6848813 | Patz et al. | Feb 2005 | B2 |
