This application claims priority from Canadian Patent Application No. 2,900,378, filed on Aug. 14, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
This invention relates to landscape lights, and in particular to landscape lights having a light generating module connected to a support.
Landscape lights are used in landscapes to illuminate different elements of that landscape such as plants or other structures. Landscape lights can be installed indoors or outdoors in different substrates such as loose, unpaved earth, concrete, stone, or wood. Some landscape light designs include a light generating module connected to a support.
The support secures the landscape light to a substrate. In some cases, supports are secured to the substrate during the construction phase of the landscape. These permanently secured supports and landscape lights are susceptible to damage during the construction phase of the landscape.
In addition, different areas of a landscape may comprise different substrates. For example, turf can comprise loose dirt, whereas paved or structural components of a landscape may have concrete, stone, or wood substrates. A different support may be required to secure the landscape light in each of these different types of substrates.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a landscape light comprising a support, a head, an adaptor, and a fastener. The support is for securing the landscape light to a substrate. The head comprises a body, a light source, a cover, and a first adjustment member secured to the body. The light source is secured to the body, and is for emitting light along a direction of light emission. The cover is secured to the body, and is for covering the light source and allowing transmission of at least a portion of a light generated by the light source. The adaptor comprises a stem and a second adjustment member secured to the stem. The stem is removably securable to the support, and is shaped and sized to be removably securable to the support and to one or more other supports for securing the landscape light to one or more other types of substrates different from the substrate. The second adjustment member is secured to the stem, and is removably securable to the first adjustment member in a plurality of positions for adjusting a tilt angle between the head and the support, each of the plurality of positions corresponding to a different tilt angle between the head and the support. The fastener is for removably fastening the first adjustment member to the second adjustment member at each of the plurality of positions.
The first adjustment member can comprise a first set of teeth arranged along a first arc of a first circle of a given radius, the first circle defining a first plane about parallel to the direction of light emission, and the first set of teeth extending in a first direction about perpendicular to the direction of light emission. The second adjustment member can comprise a second set of teeth arranged along a second arc of a second circle of the given radius, the second circle defining a second plane about parallel to a longitudinal axis of the stem, and the second set of teeth extending in a second direction about perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stem. The first set of teeth can be for matingly engaging the second set of teeth at each of the plurality of positions, the first arc overlying at least a portion of the second arc during the mating engagement.
The fastener can comprise a screw. The first adjustment member can define an adjustment member cavity positioned at about a center of the first circle and opening in the first direction, the adjustment member cavity being threaded for matingly receiving the screw. The second adjustment member can define an aperture positioned at about a center of the second circle, the aperture for allowing passage of the screw.
The stem can comprise a threaded end. The support can define a support cavity being threaded, the support cavity for matingly receiving the threaded end of the stem for removably securing the adaptor to the support.
The support can comprise a spike for being driven under pressure into the substrate, the spike shaped to secure the support in the substrate.
The support can comprise an anchor for being embedded into a hardenable substrate of hardenable material having a soft state and a hardened state while the hardenable substrate is in the soft state. The anchor can be shaped to permanently secure the support in the hardenable substrate after the hardenable substrate achieves the hardened state.
The support can comprise a base securable to the substrate using a fastener.
The landscape light can further comprise a wire for connecting the light source to a power source external to the landscape light, and the stem can comprise a hollow core for allowing passage of the wire.
The landscape light can further comprise a wire for connecting the light source to a power source external to the landscape light, and the support can comprise a passage for allowing passage of the wire.
The light source can comprise one or more light emitting diodes.
The body can comprise a heat sink for dissipating heat generated by the light source into an environment external to the landscape light.
The heat sink can comprise a plurality of fins about parallel to the direction of light emission, the plurality of fins formed integrally with the body.
The landscape light can further comprise a hat securable to the body, the hat for shaping the light emitted by the light source by blocking propagation of the light radially to the direction of light emission, the blocking being asymmetrical about the direction of light emission.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a landscape light kit comprising a support, a head, an adaptor, a fastener, and any two or more of a spike support, an embeddable support, and a fastenable support. The support is for securing the landscape light to a substrate. The head comprises a body, a light source, a cover, and a first adjustment member secured to the body. The light source is secured to the body, and is for emitting light along a direction of light emission. The cover is secured to the body, and is for covering the light source and allowing transmission of at least a portion of a light generated by the light source. The adaptor comprises a stem and a second adjustment member secured to the stem. The stem is removably securable to the support, and is shaped and sized to be removably securable to the support and to one or more other supports for securing the landscape light to one or more other types of substrates different from the substrate. The second adjustment member is secured to the stem, and is removably securable to the first adjustment member in a plurality of positions for adjusting a tilt angle between the head and the support, each of the plurality of positions corresponding to a different tilt angle between the head and the support. The fastener is for removably fastening the first adjustment member to the second adjustment member at each of the plurality of positions. The spike support comprises a spike for being driven under pressure into the substrate, the spike shaped to secure the support in the substrate. The embeddable support comprises an anchor for being embedded into a hardenable substrate of hardenable material having a soft state and a hardened state while the hardenable substrate is in the soft state, the anchor shaped to permanently secure the support in the hardenable substrate after the hardenable substrate achieves the hardened state. The fastenable support comprises a base securable to the substrate using a fastener.
The landscape light kit can further comprise a hat securable to the body, the hat for shaping the light emitted by the light source by blocking propagation of the light radially to the direction of light emission, the blocking being asymmetrical about the direction of light emission.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figures.
Head 110 comprises a body 115, and a light source 120 secured to body 115. In landscape light 100, body 115 is generally cylindrical in shape and light source 120 is housed inside body 115. However, the shape and configuration of body 115 and light source 120 are not limiting, and different shapes and configurations can be used. Light source 120 emits light generally along a direction of light emission 125. Light source 120 can be an electrical light source. Light source 120 can comprise one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), fluorescent lights, incandescent lights, halogen lights, and/or laser lights, or other suitable light sources. Head 110 also comprises a cover 130 secured to body 115, to cover light source 120 and allow transmission of at least a portion of the light generated by light source 120 out of head 110 in the direction of light emission 125. Cover 130 can be colorless or colored. Cover 130 can be completely or partially transparent or translucent. Cover 130 can be uniform or can be patterned.
Head 110 also comprises a first adjustment member 135 secured to body 115. In landscape light 100, first adjustment member 135 is integrally formed with body 115. In other embodiments, first adjustment member 135 can be secured to body 115 using a fastener or other suitable means. Body 115 can comprise a heat sink for dissipating heat generated by light source 120 into an environment external to landscape light 100, such as air. The heat sink can comprise a plurality of fins 140 oriented about parallel to the direction of light emission 125. Fins 140 can be formed integrally with body 115.
Turning now to
For example,
Another example of a type of support is an embeddable support (not shown separately) which can comprise an anchor for being embedded into a hardenable substrate comprising a hardenable material having a soft state and a hardened state. Examples of such a hardenable material include concrete, resins, and polymers. The embeddable support and/or anchor can be embedded in the hardenable material while the hardenable material is in its soft state. Once the hardenable material hardens to achieve its hardened state, the anchor and/or support can permanently secure the support to the hardenable substrate. Support 105, large spike 105a, and fastenable support 105b can all be used as an embeddable support. In some embodiments, the anchor of the embeddable support can be shaped and sized to permanently secure the embeddable support in the hardenable substrate by resisting the support being pulled out of the hardenable substrate after the hardenable substrate achieves its hardened state. Such a shape can include a support having an enlarged portion distal from its point of attachment to adaptor 145. This enlarged portion can be embedded in the hardenable substrate. Another example of such a shape can include a support that is curved or bent along the portion of its length that is inserted in the hardenable substrate.
As shown in
The connection means between stem 150 of adaptor 145 and different types of supports can be standardized so that stem 150 can be removably secured to any one of support 105, large spike 105a support, fasten able support 105b, embeddable support, and any other type of support. In some embodiments, stem 150 can have a standardized threaded end of about ½ inch (1.27 cm) diameter. In other embodiments, stem 150 can have a standardized threaded end of about ¾ inch (1.91 cm) diameter.
Returning to
As shown in
Referring to
The first set of teeth 137 can matingly engage at least a portion of the second set of teeth 157 at each of the plurality of positions and tilt angles α, such that the first arc overlays at least a portion of the second arc during the mating engagement. The size and spacing of the teeth can determine increment of adjustments that can be made to tilt angle α: the larger the teeth and/or the spacing between the teeth of each set of teeth, the larger will be the smallest possible incremental change to tilt angle α.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In constructing some landscapes, the position of the landscape light in the landscape is determined and the attachment of the landscape light to its substrate is effected during the construction phase. In such cases, having support 105 being removable from head 110 and adaptor 145 allows for securing support 105 in its substrate during the construction phase and attaching adaptor 145 and head 110 near the end or after the completion of lie construction phase. In this manner, the adaptor and the head can be protected from possible damage during the construction phase.
In addition, since adaptor 145 can have intricate components such as second set of teeth 157 to allow for adjustment of tilt angle α, it can be vulnerable to damage during the construction phase. It is possible to detach head 110 of landscape light 100 from the remaining components by unfastening fastener 160 and separating first adjustment member 135 from second adjustment member 155. However, such a detachment would leave adaptor 145, and its intricate components, with the support and exposed to the risk of damage during the construction/installation phase. For example, when the support is an embeddable support being embedded in concrete, concrete residue can contaminate the second set of teeth 157 and interfere with the functioning of adaptor 145. In addition, physical impact with construction workers and equipment can also damage adaptor 145.
In contrast, detaching head 110 from support 105 by detaching stem 150 from support 105 allows for keeping the intricate adaptor 145 with head 110, and leaving only the sturdier support 105 exposed during the construction phase. In addition, if any damage occurs, only support 105 has to be replaced instead of having to replace both adaptor 145 and support 105.
Furthermore, since stem 150 can removably attach to a plurality of different supports, as shown in
The above-described embodiments of the invention are intended to be examples of the present invention and alterations and modifications may be effected thereto, by those of skill in the art. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the exemplified embodiments described above, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the specification and drawings as a whole.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2900378 | Aug 2015 | CA | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
D306396 | Brushaber | Mar 1990 | S |
D312566 | Scherer | Dec 1990 | S |
D395996 | Fischer | Jul 1998 | S |
D433616 | Fischer | Nov 2000 | S |
7367740 | Lazic et al. | May 2008 | B2 |
D640125 | Rosenkranz et al. | Jun 2011 | S |
D658480 | Pratt | May 2012 | S |
D659871 | Lee et al. | May 2012 | S |
D667159 | Wauters | Sep 2012 | S |
D712487 | Strand | Sep 2014 | S |
D735923 | Helms et al. | Aug 2015 | S |
D742731 | Zedan et al. | Nov 2015 | S |
D750475 | Bucher | Mar 2016 | S |
D777965 | Michandani | Jan 2017 | S |
D779098 | Tsai | Feb 2017 | S |
20020101571 | Panasewicz | Aug 2002 | A1 |
20090185377 | Johnson | Jul 2009 | A1 |
20110002122 | Tsao | Jan 2011 | A1 |
20150260385 | Brynjolfsson | Sep 2015 | A1 |
Entry |
---|
Requirement for Restriction/Election dated Oct. 5, 2016 for U.S. Appl. No. 29/528,209. |
Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due dated Mar. 9, 2017 for U.S. Appl. No. 29/528,209. |
Malibu Low Voltage 50-Watt Black Flood Light-8301-9601-01—The Home Depot—http://www.homedepot.com/p/Malibu-Low-Voltage-50-Watt-Black-Flood-Light-8301-9601-01/202025736?N=5yc1vZc7qwZyhZ1z0u658 [retrieved on Mar. 16, 2015]. |
Malibu Low Voltage LED Black 50W Equivalent Flood Light-8401-2650-01—The Home Depot—http://www.homedepot.com/p/Malibu-Low-Voltage-LED-Black-50W-Equivalent-Flood-Light-8401-2650-01/203196540 [retrieved on Mar. 16, 2015]. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20170045212 A1 | Feb 2017 | US |