Patent Application
20130128565
This invention relates in general to light fixtures and more particularly to a reconfigurable light fixture for a portable task light
High output portable lights have been developed to assist workers in the field, particularly emergency personnel, such as police and firefighters.
In many instances it is desirable to have a spot light for providing illumination in a specific direction, for example to illuminate the side of a burning building to see where people are trying to escape, or illuminate an area where a lighting device can't be placed.
In many instances it is desirable to have an area light for illuminating an area for multiple persons working on multiple tasks such as at a traffic accident or first aid or medical station.
These portable lights are often, of necessity, quite large because they commonly include a power source, such as batteries, that must last for a long time. Also, area lights, in particular, typically include a telescoping pole to elevate the light fixture well above the area to be illuminated to enlarge the lighted area and to prevent shadows as much as possible. These portable lights usually weigh in excess of forty pounds. The portable lights are typically stowed in an emergency vehicle.
Prior art light fixtures are configured to provide either area or spot illumination, such that more lights than may be necessary must be carried in the emergency vehicle or, because of size or weight limitations, a decision must be made as to which type of light to carry and hope the other is not needed.
This invention is a light fixture reconfigurable between area lighting and spot lighting configurations and emitting the same amount of light in either configuration. In an exemplary embodiment, it generally comprises three light panels hingedly connected to one another about vertical hinge axes. Each panel has an associated horizontal light-projecting direction and emits light from at least one light source in a horizontal arc, the arc being centered on the panel's light-projecting direction such that their collective light is emitted horizontally substantially 360 degrees radially outward. Preferably, three or more light panels are used.
The light panels are reconfigurable by rotation about their hinge axes to a spot lighting position wherein their light-projecting directions are substantially in the same direction and their light outputs are substantially the same.
Electrical power connected to the light panels powers the light sources.
In another exemplary embodiment, the light fixture is incorporated into a portable task light reconfigurable between a generally elongate cylindrical configuration for transport and stowage and in which the light fixture is in the area configuration and a use configuration for providing illumination. The task light generally includes a main body having a longitudinal axis, a stand connected to the main body and deployable to the use configuration to erect the body with the longitudinal axis vertical, a telescoping pole having a top end; the pole connected to the main body and selectively telescopingly deployable to the use configuration such that the top end of the pole is disposed well above the top end of the main body, and the reconfigurable light fixture connected to the top end of the pole.
In the described manner, a single task light or a single light fixture can serve as either an area light or a spot light without loss of light output.
Other features and many attendant advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description together with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout.
With reference now to the drawings, and more particularly to
Task light 10 has a longitudinal axis 12 and a main body 14 having a top end 15 and a bottom end 16. Stand 18 is connected to main body 14 and includes deployable legs 19 for erecting task light 10 with axis 12 vertically as shown in
Carrying means 28, such as a handle or carrying strap 29 is attached to main body 14 to facilitate transport.
A telescoping pole 30 is connected to main body 14. Telescoping pole 30 may be comprised of one or more sections. Only a top pole section 31 having a top end 32 is seen in the drawings. In the storage configuration of task light 10, pole 30 is in a retracted configuration housed in main body 14. In an extended position, pole 30 is telescopingly extended such that the top end 32 of top pole section 31 is disposed well above the top end of main body 14. In
On back 56 of each light panel 50, a large heat sink 66 with vertical fins 67 in thermal contact with LEDs 60, conducts heat from LEDs 60 and transfers it to the atmosphere. In the exemplary embodiment, heat sink 66 also serves as a frame 65 upon which circuit board 62, hinge 52 and other components are mounted. A transparent lens, 80 mounted in front of reflectors 63, covers and protects LEDs 60.
A diffuser lens 85 is slidably mounted in front of transparent lens 80. Diffuser lens 85 is transparent except for diffuser areas 87. Diffuser lens 85 is vertically slidable by a user and includes detents, such as notches 88, cooperating with detents, such as springs 70 attached to frame 65 for retaining diffuser lens 85 in a selected vertical position. Top and bottom covers 69, mounted on frame 65, provide housings for receiving the bottom end and top end of diffuser lens 85 as it is slid up and down. Sliding diffuser lens 80 in one direction allows emitted light to pass freely though and sliding diffuser lens 85 in the other direction aligns diffuser areas 87 over LEDs 60 such that emitted light passes through diffuser areas 87 to spread out the light emitted from LEDs 60.
In the exemplary embodiment, LEDs 60 with reflectors 63 are configured to horizontally emit light through the clear areas of diffuser lens 85 in about a 12 degree arc. This allows each light panel 50 to provide bright light through a small arc. Diffuser areas 87 are designed to receive light from LEDs 60 and transmit it diffused over the wider arc, e.g. of 120 degrees. Thus the diffused light is less intense than the non-diffused light. Although three light panels 50 shown and described, other numbers of light panels 50 could be used according to the above-described concept.
Light panels 50 are hingedly connected to one another about vertical hinge axes 53 such that the panels 50 are reconfigurable by rotation about their hinge axes 53 to the spot lighting position wherein their light-projecting directions are substantially in the same direction. In the exemplary embodiment, bores 75 in bottom and top disks 71, 72 receive hinge pins 52 of right and left panels 50R, 50L to allow for the rotation. Preferably, panels 50L, 50R are biased to the area configuration by detent means such as detent balls 76 in disk 71 cooperating with bores 79 in bottom of free side of light panels 50L, 50R as seen in
As best seen in
Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, various changes may be made in the form, composition, construction, and arrangement of the parts herein without sacrificing any of its advantages. Therefore, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
