Patent Application
20150131285
The present disclosure generally relates to electrical lights. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to light sources having multiple adjustable light heads.
Security lights provide lighting and illumination, and are typically used to improve visibility and security around the exterior of a building. Security lights are often positioned around doorways, and are particularly useful when installed around a doorway of a home or place of business. By illuminating doorways that would otherwise be dark, security lights can deter unwanted intruders and help homeowners identify approaching visitors.
Security lights typically employ one or more light heads mounted to a fixture that attaches to a structure such as a wall or pole, or to the ground. The light heads can be arranged such that light heads project light away from the fixture. For example, the light head can be a light source such as a light bulb or housing configured to hold a light source so that light projects out from the light head in a controlled direction to a preselected area.
Depending on the intended use, security lights may employ different configurations, arrangements, and appearances. Security lights can also vary in the number of light heads and/or light sources mounted on the fixture. For example, some security lights may use only a single light head that directs light in a single direction and/or to a single location. Such single-head security lights can be attractive as they offer the simple and clean look of a single light source. However, because single-head security lights have are only able to project light to a single area, they can be limited in the coverage area that they can illuminate.
Other security lights may employ two or more light heads that direct light to different areas, or that direct light to a common area but from different light projection positions. For example, some security lights may include two, three, or more light heads mounted on a fixture and spaced apart from one another. These light heads may be angled, moved, or otherwise adjusted so that they each project light to different locations. Because they have multiple light sources, these multi-head security lights can illuminate light in areas that a single-head security light cannot. Multi-head security lights, however, can be less attractive than the single-head counterparts by providing a busy and cluttered appearance. Further, in some configurations a multi-head security light may have an asymmetric or misaligned look with one light source arranged at a first angle, and a second light source arranged at a second, unrelated angle. This look can be particularly unattractive during daylight hours when the security light is not in use. Additionally, multi-head security lights can be burdensome to arrange, and may involve careful and constant adjustment of each of the light heads to assure that that each light is properly aimed at a desired location.
Based on the foregoing, installing security lights involves choosing between the lesser of two evils. That is, an installer will either select simple and attractive single light head with limited light coverage, or a less attractive multi-head security light that provides a broader range of illumination.
The present disclosure describes a lighting apparatus configured to adjustably project light from multiple light sources. In some aspects, the lighting apparatus includes a fixture mountable to a mounting surface, and a plurality of light heads. Each light head may have a light source and a perimeter surrounding a light projection surface, where the perimeter of each light head has at least one joining surface. One or more of the light heads is adjustable so that the lighting apparatus can be adjusted between a multi-directional configuration that projects light to at least two separate lighting areas, and a unified configuration that projects light to a single lighting area. In some embodiments, the joining surfaces of each light head are configured to substantially align. In this manner, the unified configuration can establish a unified light projection surface.
Other embodiments describe methods of projecting light from a lighting apparatus. The method may involve using one or more embodiments of a lighting apparatus described herein. For example, one method may involve a lighting apparatus having a fixture mountable to a mounting surface and a plurality of light heads. Each light head may have a light source and a perimeter surrounding a light projection surface, the perimeter of each light head having at least one joining surface. With this lighting apparatus, some embodiments of the method involve adjusting the light heads into a multi-directional configuration so that at least two light heads project to different lighting areas, and adjusting the light heads into a unified configuration to establish a unified light projection surface that projects light to a single location. In some aspects, the joining surfaces of each light head are configured to substantially align and establish a unified light projection surface in the unified configuration.
Some aspects of the present disclosure describe a security light configured to project light from multiple light sources. The security light can be arrangeable between a multi-directional configuration and a unified configuration. In some aspects, the security light includes a fixture mountable to a mounting surface. The security light can also include a first light head mounted to the fixture. The first light head can have a first light source and a first light projection surface with a first length (i.e., a length, width, height, depth, etc.). The security light can also have a second light head with a second light source, and a second light projections surface with a second length. The second light head can be linked to the first light head via a joint so that a position (e.g., a location, orientation, angle, etc.) of the second light head is adjustable relative to the first light head. The security light can also have a third light head with a third light source, and a third light projection surface having a third length. The third light head can be linked to the fixture via a joint so that a position of the third light head is adjustable relative to the first light head. In some aspects, the first light head, the second light head, and the third light head cam project light to three separate lighting areas, for example, when the security light is arranged in the multi-directional configuration. In some aspects, the first light projection surface, the second light projection surface and the third light projection surface form a single unified lighting surface that projects light to a single lighting area, for example, when the security light is arranged in the unified configuration. In some exemplary embodiments, the first length can be substantially equivalent to the sum of the second length and the third length.
Referring to the figures,
As shown in
The fixture 10 can be configured to allow one or more light heads to be attached thereto such that the light heads can project light away from the fixture 10. For example, as shown in
In
In
The security light 1 can also include a lower left light head 30 and a lower right light head 40, each mounted to the upper light head 40 via joints 52 and 54, respectively. The joints 52 and 54 can take on various configurations and be of the types of joints described above; however, in
Examples of a security light 1 in a multi-directional configuration are shown in
In some aspects, the joints 50, 52, and/or 54 can be linked (e.g., through gears or other mechanical devices) such that movement and/or rotation of one light head causes a corresponding movement and/or rotation of another light head.
In another example, the light heads and joints can be linked such that rotation and/or movement of one light head about a first axis or degree of freedom causes a corresponding movement and/or rotation of another light head, but rotation and/or movement about a second axis or degree of freedom does not affect the position of another light head. For example, the security light can be configured such that rotation of the lower left light head 30 to the left causes corresponding rotation of the lower right light head 40 to the right, but rotation of the lower left light head 30 in a downward direction has no impact on the position and/or orientation of the lower right light head 40. In another example, the security light may be configured so that adjusting the orientation or angle of the lower left light head 30 (e.g., via a pivot joint) results in a corresponding adjustment of the orientation or angle of the lower right light head 40, while sliding or moving the position of the lower left light head 30 to the left or right (e.g., via a sliding joint or track) does not affect the position of the lower right light head 40.
In some configurations, the security light can be equipped with electromechanical motors that adjust the position and/or orientation of the light heads automatically, for example, via a control switch or a remote control interface. In this manner, the security light 1 can be adjusted between unified and multi-directional configurations without a user interacting directly with the light heads. This can allow the security light to be installed in hard to reach locations, while still allowing the light heads to be adjustable between various configurations without the use of a ladder or pole, for example.
As shown in
Each of the light heads may include a light projection surface through which the light source can project the light. For example, upper light head 20 includes an upper light projection surface 22 defined by a perimeter 21, or a border of the upper light head 20. The perimeter 21 can define a square or rectangular surface, and may include rounded or beveled edges, as shown in the Figures. However, alternative shapes and/or configurations can be used, provided that the shapes are configured to substantially align with the other light heads when in the unified configuration Likewise, lower left light head 30 also has a light projection surface 32 defined by a perimeter 31 or border, and lower right light head 40 has a lower left light projection surface 42 defined by a perimeter 41 or border.
Each of the perimeters (21, 31, and 41) includes at least one joining surface that is configured to substantially align with at least one other joining surface to establish a unified light projection surface of the unified configuration. For example, as shown in
While the joining surfaces can be configured to substantially align with each other, it is not necessary that the surfaces be configured to be brought together with no gaps or spaces therebetween as long as the security light appears to project light as if it is coming from a single light source when arranged in the unified configuration.
In some embodiments, the light projection surface of each light head has a length (as used throughout this application, the term “length” can refer to any one-dimensional measurement, for example, length, width, depth, height, etc.) that corresponds to a length of one or more other light heads. For example, in
By configuring the lengths of the light projection surfaces to correspond with one another, the security light 1 can have a unified light projection surface that takes on an aesthetically pleasing or symmetric shape. While the unified configurations shown in the Figures illustrate a generally rectangular shape for the unified light projection surface, it should be appreciated that various shapes and configurations can be used as long as the unified surface appears to be a single, unified light source in operation. For example, the shapes and lengths of the light heads can be configured so that the unified surface forms the shape of a square, a triangle, a diamond, a pentagon, a circle, an oval, a hemisphere, a ring, or a donut shape.
In some embodiments, the light projection surfaces of the light heads can have curved surfaces. For example, as shown in
In operation, the security light 1 described herein can be installed at various locations about a doorway to provide added lighting and visibility, and increased security to desired locations.
Certain aspects of the present disclosure also include methods of projecting light from a lighting apparatus.
Step 710 can include installing a fixture of a lighting apparatus onto a wall, for example, using screws, nails, brackets, pins, adhesives, or other mounting techniques. In some embodiments, the lighting apparatus can be mounted to an eve of a building as a highly functional, particularly for corner mount. For example, the lighting apparatus can be mounted at a 45° angle with respect to the corner of the building to both directs the upper light head out from the corner, and also allow the lower light heads to extend the ark of the light to cover the corner.
Once mounted, the light heads of the lighting apparatus can be adjusted into a multi-directional configuration and/or a unified configuration. For example, at step 720, the light heads can be arranged to point in different directions and/or to different locations, thereby establishing a multi-directional configuration of the lighting apparatus. In some embodiments, adjusting one light head can result in a corresponding adjustment of another light head, as described herein. In certain examples, the adjustment of the light heads can be accomplished by a control unit, or a remote control device, whereby pressing a button or initiating a control switch transmits a signal that results in an electromechanical adjustment of the light heads.
At step 730, the light sources of the light heads are turned on to project light from the multi-directional configuration. Because the light heads are pointed to different locations when arranged in the multi-directional configuration, step 730 projects lights to multiple lighting locations. For example, as shown in
At step 740, the lighting apparatus is arranged into a unified configuration. As disclosed herein, the unified configuration substantially aligns the joining surfaces of the light heads to create a generally unified light projection surface that appears to project light from a single light source when turned on. It should be noted that while step 740 is described as occurring after step 720, the order of these two steps are of no particular significance to the method. That is, the arrangement of the light heads into the unified configuration of step 740 can occur before the arrangement of the light heads into the multi-directional configuration of step 720 without departing from the spirit of the described method. As with step 720, the arrangement of the light heads at step 740 can occur by adjusting one or more light heads manually, or by using a control unit.
At step 750, light is projected from the light heads arranged in the unified configuration. In this step, because the light heads are arranged to establish a unified light projection surface, step 750 projects light to a single lighting location. Because multiple light sources are combined to generate light from the unified configuration, the illuminated lighting location of the unified light projection surface can be wider or broader than the lighting locations illuminated from the multi-directional configuration.
The present disclosure now describes a lighting apparatus and related methods that offer an improved integrated security light design, thereby allowing the light heads to be adjusted to function as both a single light source device (e.g., in the unified configuration), and as a multi-light source device (e.g., in the multi-directional configuration). Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a device and techniques that make adjustment of multiple light heads easier and more convenient by enabling the adjustment of multiple light heads based on the adjustment of a single light head.
The present disclosure describes preferred embodiments, aspects, and examples of the present technology. Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “one aspect,” “one example,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment, aspect, or example of the present invention. The embodiments shown in the drawings, if any, and as described above are merely for illustrative purposes and not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Moreover, those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of modifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in one aspect,” “in one example,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment. Further, it will also be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons skilled in the field of the invention as set forth above, except where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein. All references cited in the present disclosure are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application No. 61/901,726 filed Nov. 8, 2013, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61901726 | Nov 2013 | US |
