Patent Application
20140198493
The present application relates to reflectors for light source devices, such as flash lights or spot lights. In particular, the present application relates to interchangeable reflectors adapted to reflect light differently and that are each couplable to a single light source device.
There are numerous light source devices on the market, such as flashlights, work lights, and lamps. In general, these light source devices include a light bulb mounted in a reflector and a lens disposed over the light bulb. The reflector is adapted to dissipate light, focus the light into a beam pattern, and protect the internal components of the device. The beam pattern is predetermined by the reflector, typically by the shape, size and surface material of the reflector, and cannot be altered by a user of the light source device.
The present application discloses devices and methods for altering a light beam pattern by using interchangeable reflectors couplable to a single light source device. For example, a reflector device may include a first reflector that produces a first beam pattern and a second reflector that produces a second beam pattern different than the first beam pattern. The second reflector can be selectively overlaid on top of and removed from the first reflector such that the first and second reflectors are couplable to the same light source device. As opposed to a conventional light source, in an embodiment, the reflector device can include no face plate or bezel. Accordingly, the second reflector can be disposed within the first reflector, i.e., the external surface of the second reflector can be disposed adjacent to the reflector surface of the first reflector. It is to be understood that while first and second reflectors are described herein, any number of reflectors can be used.
In an embodiment, die reflector device includes first and second reflectors. The first reflector is adapted to be coupled to a light source device and has a first reflector surface extending from a first peripheral portion to a first aperture, wherein the first aperture is concentric about an axis. In such a manner, the first reflector produces a first light beam from the light source device. The second reflector is adapted to be removably coupled to the first reflector and has a second reflector surface different than the first reflector surface. The second reflector surface extends from a second peripheral portion to a second aperture, and the second aperture is concentric about the axis. When coupled to the light source device, the second reflector produces a second light beam different than the first light beam.
In another illustrative embodiment, a lighting device includes a head portion including a light source. A first reflector is adapted to be disposed in the head portion, and has a first reflector surface extending from a first peripheral portion to a first aperture and is adapted to produce a first light beam with the light source. The first aperture is concentric about an axis and adapted to receive the light source. A second reflector is adapted to be overlaid onto the first reflector, and has a second reflector surface different from the first reflector surface and is thus adapted to produce a second light beam with the light source. The second reflector surface extends from a second peripheral portion to a second aperture, and the second aperture is concentric about the axis and adapted to receive the light source. Additionally a bezel is adapted to couple to the head portion.
Embodiments of devices and methods are illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings which are meant to be exemplary and not limiting, in which like references are intended to refer to like or corresponding parts, and in which;
Detailed embodiments of devices and methods are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the devices and methods, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative example for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure.
The present application relates to a reflector device for a light source device that allows a user to change the beam pattern of the light source device to suit a particular need. The reflector device includes a first reflector adapted to produce a first beam pattern and a second reflector adapted to produce a second beam pattern different from the first beam pattern. In an embodiment, the first reflector is a default reflector that is intended to be coupled to the light source device a majority of the time, and the second reflector is adapted to overly and/or be inserted into the first reflector such that the first and second reflectors are each coupled to the same light source device at the same time, therefore negating the need to remove the first reflector. The second reflector may also be removed from the light source device and interchanged with a third reflector having different light dissipation characteristics to suit the particular need of the user. In an embodiment, the third reflector can be disposed within the first reflector, i.e., the external surface of the third reflector can be disposed adjacent to the reflector surface of the first reflector. It is to be understood, that while the present application is described as having first and second reflectors, any number of reflectors can be used.
Referring to
The first reflector 102 may have a substantially frustoconical cross-sectional shape and includes a first reflector surface 204 adapted to reflect light in a first light beam pattern when coupled to a light source device, depending on the size, shape and/or type of material used for the first reflector surface 204, and that extends from the first peripheral portion 202 to the first aperture 206. The first aperture 206 is disposed substantially in an axial center of the first reflector 102, and may be concentric about an axis extending through the first reflector 102 perpendicular to a plane of the first aperture 206. The first aperture 206 may have a first sue adapted to receive or be disposed over at least a portion of a light source, such as a light bulb, light emitting diode (LED), or other light-emitting source. In an embodiment, the first aperture 206 has a diameter of about six millimeters.
Referring to
The second reflector 104 may include one or more protrusions 308 which are adapted to respectively align with and to be received in notches 208. As illustrated, the protrusions 308 radially extend from the second peripheral portion 302 and are disposed opposite one another. However, the protrusions 308 may be disposed in any portion of the second peripheral portion 302 so long as the protrusions 308 respectively align with the notches 208.
Although the first reflector 102 and the second reflector 104 are described as including first and second apertures 206 and 306, the first reflector 102 and the second reflector 104 may each include more than one aperture. For example, where the light source device includes multiple LEDs, the first and second reflectors 102 and 104 may include multiple first and second apertures 206 and 306 corresponding to the number of LEDs of the light source device.
In one embodiment, the second reflector 104 may be coupled to the first reflector 102 by disposing the protrusions 308 within the notches 208 of the first reflector 102 and rotating the second reflector 104 with respect to the first reflector 102. In this embodiment, the protrusions 308 may be disposed under at least a portion of the first peripheral portion 202 of the first reflector 102 to couple the second reflector 104 to the first reflector 102.
Although the first reflector 102 and the second reflector 104 are described as including notches 208 and protrusions 308, respectively, the first reflector 102 may include protrusions and the second reflector 104 may include mating notches. For example, the first reflector 102 may include protrusions that project inwardly and the second reflector 104 may include notches that matingly engage the protrusions. However, the first 102 and second 104 reflectors can be releasably coupled together using any known means. For example, the first reflector 102 may be coupled to the second reflector 104 using removable fasteners, resilient prongs and corresponding apertures, mating screw threads, magnets, Velcro®, and any other coupling mechanism or combinations thereof.
In an embodiment, the first reflector surface 204 and the second reflector surface 304 have different reflective surfaces that focus light emitted by a light source of the light source device into different respective first and second light beam patterns. For example, the first reflector surface 204 may be adapted to produce a first light beam pattern like a flood light to illuminate a large area, and die second reflector surface 304 may be adapted to produce a second light beam pattern to focus narrowly over a distance.
In general, the shape, size, and/or material of the reflective surface of the reflector that determines the beam pattern. This is due to differences in how light is reflected by different reflectors. For example, a reflector having a mirror surface may create a light beam that throws light over a distance. In contrast, a reflector having an orange peel surface or textured surface may scatter light, thereby creating a light beam that floods to illuminate an area. The scattering of the light by the textured surface may also produce a smoother, more artifact free beam pattern, compared to the mirror surface, but may reduce the distance of the throw of the light beam.
The first and second reflector surfaces 204 and 304 may each be, or alternatively be adapted to throw light over a distance, to flood light to illuminate a large area, and/or to increase or decrease artifacts in the light beam. The first and second reflector surfaces 204 and 304 may also have any type of reflective surface adapted to focus light into a particular beam pattern, for example, including but not limited to an un-textured surface and a textured surface. Some examples of such surfaces include a mirror surface, a smooth surface, a light orange peel surface, a medium orange peel surface, a heavy orange peel surface, a stippled surface, and other surfaces of the type.
Although the first and second reflectors 102 and 104 are illustrated as parabolic reflectors, the first and second reflectors 102 and 104 may be any type of reflector, for example, including but not limited to, a parabolic reflector, conical reflector, concave reflector, ellipsoidal reflector, and other types of reflectors. Further, although the first and second reflectors 102 and 104 are described and illustrated as having circular first and second peripheral portions 202 and 302, the first and second peripheral portions 202 and 302 may be any shape, for example, including but not limited to rectangular, square, triangular, polygonal, and other shapes of the type.
An example of a light source device, a work light 500, including the reflector device according to an illustrative embodiment is described with reference to
In an embodiment, the head portion 508 includes a bezel 514 adapted to threadably couple to the head portion 508. For example, the bezel 514 may include internal threads adapted to threadably engage external threads 516 on an end portion 518 of the head portion 508. The first reflector 102 is disposed in the head portion 508 such that a light source extends through the first aperture 206 and into the first reflector 102. The second reflector 104 is disposed in the head portion 508 overlying the first reflector 102 such that the light source extends through the second aperture 306 and into the second reflector 104. In an embodiment, the first reflector 102 may be fixed in the head portion 508, and the second reflector 104 is removable.
The bezel 514 may be threaded onto the head portion 508 to secure the first and second reflectors 102 and 140 in the head portion 508. A transparent lens 520 may be disposed in the bezel 514 to protect the first reflector 102, the second reflector 104, and the light source from damage or water. The head portion 508 may also be adapted to pivot or rotate from vertical alignment with the housing 502.
To interchange or add and remove the second reflector 104 to and from the work light 500 to alter the beam pattern, the bezel 514 may be removed from the head portion 508, providing access to an internal portion of the head portion 508. The second reflector 104 may then be added to or removed from the work light 500, and the bezel 514 threaded back onto the head portion 508.
Although the reflector device is described as being implemented in a work light, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the reflector device may be implemented within a number of different light source devices, including but not limited to work lights, flashlights, interior lighting and exterior lighting of residences, and other light sources.
By incorporating multiple removable reflectors that may be overlaid onto one another, the reflector device can provide the user with a number of different beam pattern options that the user can choose from.
Although the devices and methods have been described and illustrated in connection with certain embodiments, many variations and modifications will be evident to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is thus not to be limited to the precise details of methodology or construction set forth above as such variations and modification are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure.
