Lighting device on a stage

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6283603
  • Patent Number
    6,283,603
  • Date Filed
    Friday, April 28, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, September 4, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
A lighting device is composed of a case, a driving device, a power source contacting device, a power source rotary device, an actuating arm, and at least a light ball. When the power source is turned on to light up the lighting device, the motor of the driving device starts to rotate the rotary device and the actuating arm synchronously. Accordingly, the lighting ball is rotated horizontally. In addition, a gear disk of the light ball rolls along a gear ring on the case such that the light ball can rotate vertically as well.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention:




The present invention relates to a lighting device employed on a stage, and particularly to a lighting device, which provides a single motor to rotate at least a light ball to save occupied space and has easily assembled parts to meet the need of home audio amusement and family budget.




2. Description of Related Art:




The development of lighting on a stage becomes getting complicated due to the performing arts being getting compact. Generally, the lighting accompanying with changeable sound can enhance the air on the stage such that the performance on the stage can be brought into a climax accordingly. Therefore, the lighting design is an extremely important part especially in designing a stage.




However, it is known that a single rotating light on a stage is not possible to create a cheering mood such that the air on the stage can not be controlled very well. That is why lighting devices have to be mounted at the ceiling above the stage, attached to the wall nearby the stage, and laid on the stage. Hence, it appears a phenomenon that there are a lot of lights around the area of a stage. But, too many lights around a stage not only break the integral beauty sense of the stage but also occupy too much space around the stage such that the area for performing a play becomes less substantially. Moreover, it has to be mentioned that to fix so many lights for the stage is really a tedious job.




In order to overcome the disadvantage of conventional lighting arrangement on a stage, there is a driver designed to rotate two light balls simultaneously. The driver mainly comprises a casing and a principal motor in the casing. A transmission shaft of the principal motor pivotally connects with a transverse actuation arm. Both ends of the arm further provide a secondary motor respectively to associate with a light ball. When the principal motor is started, the light balls rotate horizontally on the actuation arm. Then, the secondary motors are started afterward to rotate the light balls vertically either. Although the driver is capable of reducing the number of lights on a stage and increasing the space available for performing a play definitely, three motors have to be operated lead that not only the production cost is higher but also the entire volume is greater. Furthermore, it is not easy for an operator to take care of more switches for the motors.




Moreover, the home audio appliance is getting popular for home amusement. But, the original lighting arrangement designed in a family house is unable to create a cheering air as the stage does. Of course, the traditional lighting device on a stage is usually employed in a dancing hall and a vocal concert. Nevertheless, it is not appropriate for a family house to employ the lighting device used on a stage because of its high cost and huge volume.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




An object of the present invention is to provide a lighting device on a stage, in which only a single motor is used for rotating at least a light ball synchronously so as to reduce the space occupied by the lighting device.




Another object of the present invention is to provide a lighting device on a stage, in which a simpler structure with less parts is designed to lower the production cost.




A further object of the present invention is to provide a lighting device on a stage, in which the parts thereof are easily assembled and disassembled to save the labor hours to fix the entire lighting device.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The present invention can be more fully understood by referring to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which:





FIG. 1

is a disassembled perspective view of a lighting device in accordance with the present invention;





FIG. 2

is an exploded perspective view of a case, a power source rotary device, and a power source contacting device shown in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 3

is a sectional view of the lighting device in

FIG. 1

in an assembled state;





FIG. 4

is a perspective view of the power source contacting device in another embodiment;





FIG. 5

is a sectional view of the power source contacting device shown in

FIG. 4

in an assembled state; and





FIG. 6

is an assembled perspective view of a lighting device in accordance with the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




Referring to

FIGS. 1 through 4

, basically, a lighting device of the present invention comprises a case


1


, a driving device


2


, a power source contacting device


3


, a power source rotary device


4


, an acting arm


5


, and at least a light ball


6


.




The case


1


consists of an upper case part


11


and a lower case part


12


. Both the case parts


11


,


12


fits with each other to provide a room therein for receiving the driving device


2


, the power source contacting device


3


, and the power source rotary device


4


. The upper case part


11


at the top face thereof has a central shaft hole


111


and a facial gear ring


112


surrounding the periphery of the top face. Besides, the upper case part


11


at the inner wall thereof provides several ring blocks or a ring block


113


(see

FIG. 3

) to hold an insulating disk


42


in case of inversely fixing the light device. Furthermore, the upper case part


11


surrounding the outer surface thereof has several ring grooves


114


to ease the heat dissipation generated from the driving device


2


. The lower case part


12


therein provides several projections and engaging holes for fastening the driving device


2


and the power source contacting device


3


thereto by way of conventional fasteners such as screws.




The driving device


2


is a motor


21


fixedly attached to the lower case part


12


and the motor


21


has an output shaft


22


extending outward to pivotally connect with the power source rotary device


4


. Besides, the output shaft


22


is inserted an engaging pin


23


laterally.




The power source contacting device


3


is fixed above the motor


21


and has a base plate


31


with a first and a second contact electrodes


32


,


33


at both sides thereof respectively. The contact electrodes


32


,


33


pivotally connect with a first and a second leads


34


,


35


respectively so as to supply the electricity to the rotary device


4


. In order to assure the first and the second electrodes


32


,


33


keeping contact with the contacting device


3


, each contact electrode provides an insulating bottom plate


36


. The insulating bottom plate


36


has an engaging groove


361


thereon to receive and locate a conductive terminal


39


for connecting a lead wire. A power source extendable device


37


is placed in a through hole


381


of an insulating shield cover


38


. Finally, the shield cover


38


engages with the bottom plate


36


by way of locking pieces or screws so as to keep a conductive button


373


contacting with the conductive terminal


39


. Another end is an electrode terminal


372


exposing outward the top of the shield cover


38


such that an electric connection between the power source and the contact electrode can be obtained successfully. The power source extendable device


37


has a spring


371


and an end of the spring


371


fits with the electrode terminal


372


and the other end of the spring


371


fits with the conductive button


373


.




Referring to FIG.


5


and making reference to

FIG. 4

again, the power source contacting device


3


in another embodiment is illustrated. The base plate


31


at both sides thereof has a first and a second electrodes


32


,


33


and both the contact electrode have a base


30


respectively. The base


30


at the top thereof engages with a conductive leaf spring of multiple bends


301


. The leaf spring


301


at the lower end thereof connects with a lead wire (one of lead wires


34


,


35


) and the upper end thereof is an electrode terminal


302


to contact with a first guide ring or a second guide ring


421


,


422


to form a close circuit. Besides, the electrode terminal


302


on the leaf spring


301


has a circular bend so as to point-contact with the guide ring and a phenomenon of interference can be avoided.




The power source rotary device


4


has a rotary shaft


41


and the rotary shaft


41


at the lower end thereof is provided with an engaging recession


411


to fit astride with the engaging pin


23


on the output shaft


22


. The rotary shaft


41


at the upper portion thereof is provided with a shaft groove


412


and a lateral through hole


413


. The through hole


413


communicates the shaft groove


412


and is inserted by an engaging pin


414


to engage the rotary shaft


41


with the actuating arm


5


to form an engaging coupling between the rotary shaft


41


and the actuating arm


5


while in motion. The shaft groove


412


on the rotary shaft


41


has an inner rib


415


and at the lower portion thereof is provided with another insulating disk


42


. The insulating disk


42


at the bottom surface thereof has a first guide ring and a second guide ring


421


,


422


with different diameters to correspond to the first and the second electrodes


32


,


33


respectively. Therefore, the guide rings


421


,


422


can contact with the contact electrodes


32


,


33


respectively. A third and a fourth lead wires


43


,


44


at an end thereof respectively are brazed to attach the first and the second guide rings


421


,


422


correspondingly and at the other end thereof pass through the shaft groove


412


.




The actuating arm


5


has a shape of letter “T” and at the lower portion thereof is an arm stem


51


inserting into the shaft groove


412


of the rotary shaft


41


so that the actuating arm


5


can be moved with the rotary shaft


41


. An outer groove


511


on the actuating arm


5


is provided to fit with the inner rib


415


and an engaging hole


512


is also provided on the actuating arm


5


to correspond to the through hole


413


so as to be passed through by the engaging pin


413


. Thus, the actuating arm


5


can be associated with the rotary shaft


41


and rotates synchronously with the rotary shaft


41


. Besides, the actuating arm


5


has a guide hole


52


to allow two current-leads from the power source of the light balls


6


passing through for connecting with the third and the fourth lead wires


43


,


44


. Furthermore, the actuating arm


5


at the top thereof may provide a locating hole


53


to fit with an engaging projection


71


of a cover


7


so as to conceal the related current-leads and lead wires.




The light ball


6


is located at a lateral side of the actuating arm


5


and a light bulb with two current-leads are disposed therein to connect with the third and the fourth lead wires


43


,


44


. The light ball


6


on the outer surface thereof has a plurality of transparent different color spots


61


for creating a changeable lighting effect. The light ball


6


at an engaging end thereof has a gear disk


62


to mesh with the gear ring


112


on the case


1


such that the light ball


6


can roll vertically along the gear ring


112


and rotate horizontally with the actuating arm


5


as well. In practice, it is preferable that both sides of the actuating arm


5


are disposed with a light ball


6


respectively.




The operation of the lighting device on a stage in accordance with the present invention will be described hereinafter. When the power source is turned on, the output shaft


22


of the motor


21


can rotate the rotating shaft


41


and the insulating disk


42


synchronously. At this time, the first and second guide rings


421


,


422


at the bottom of the insulating disk


42


keep contact with the electrode terminals


372


on the first and second contact electrodes


32


,


33


respectively. Hence, the power is transmitted to the two light balls


6


through the third and fourth lead wires so as to turn on the light bulb in the light balls


6


. In this way, the actuating arm


5


associated with light balls


6


rotates horizontally and the light balls


6


roll vertically by way of the gear disks


62


rotating along the gear ring


112


. Therefore, the light balls


6


can present multiple rotational modes such that a changeable lighting on a stage is possible to reach and to enhance a sense of beauty.




It is noted that the current leads above the insulating disk rotates synchronously with the rotating shaft and it is not possible for the current leads to wind up or tangle with each other. It is appreciated that only a motor is applied to rotate two light balls and a cheaper production cost can be obtained advantageously. In addition, most parts are engaged with each other by way of sleeve connection or scarf joint in addition to few parts fastened by way of screws such that less assembling labor hours are needed. Moreover, it is possible for the lighting device of the present invention to be disassembled as shown in FIG.


1


and the disassembled parts can be packaged separately for delivery to save a lot of gross space and the transportation cost accordingly. Furthermore, the lighting device of the present invention is simple in construct and can be assembled by DIY such that it is quite appropriate for the need of audio amusement in a family house and for the budget of an ordinary family. Finally, it is noted that the respective power source in the two contact electrodes in the lighting device of the present invention always keep contact with the first and the second guide rings in case of the lighting device being mounted in a reverse position. Hence, it is not possible to result in a phenomenon of non-lightened light bulb.




While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that modifications or variations may be easily made without departing from the spirit of this invention, which is defined by the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. A lighting device on a stage, comprisinga case, having an upper case part and a lower case part engaging with each other, and a top face of the upper case having a central shaft hole and having a facial gear ring surrounding the periphery thereof; a driving device, being a motor fixedly mounted on the lower case part with an output shaft extending outward; a power source contacting device, having a base plate astride above the motor, the base plate at both sides thereof being disposed with a first contact electrode and a second electrode respectively, said first and second electrodes at the bottom thereof respectively pivotally engaging with a first lead wire and a second lead wire of power supply, and at the top thereof respectively having an exposed electrode terminal respectively; a power source rotary device, having a rotary shaft being associated with and moving with the output shaft, the rotary shaft at an end portion having a shaft recession and around the other end portion thereof having an insulating disk, the insulating disk at a bottom face thereof having a first guide ring and a second guide ring with unequal diameters corresponding to the two terminals respectively so as to contact with the terminals, both the guide rings contacting with a third lead wire and a fourth lead wire at an end thereof respectively, and the other end of the third and fourth lead wires passing through the shaft groove respectively; an actuating arm, being “T” shape, having an arm stem at a lower part thereof associated with the rotary shaft, and having a guide hole for current leads at an upper part thereof; at least a light ball, being disposed at an end of the actuating arm, having a light bulb and two current leads therein, said two current leads passing through the guide hole and pivotally connecting with the third and the fourth lead wires respectively to constitute a closed circuit, and having an engaging end with a gear disk to correspond to and to mesh with the gear ring on the case vertically; whereby, at the time of the light ball being turned on, the motor turns to rotate the power source rotary device and the actuating arm synchronously so as to rotate the light ball horizontally; and the gear disk on the light ball rolls along the gear ring to make the light ball rotate vertically.
  • 2. The lighting device on a stage as defined in claim 1, wherein the upper case part at an inner wall thereof may extend a ring block or a plurality of ring blocks to hold the insulating disk in case of the lighting device being arranged in a reversed position.
  • 3. The lighting device on a stage as defined in claim 1, wherein the upper case part around a surface thereof may be provided with a plurality of ring grooves for dissipating heat.
  • 4. The lighting device on a stage as defined in claim 1, wherein the output shaft on the motor is inserted laterally an engaging pin and the rotary shaft at a lower portion thereof is provided with an engaging groove to fit with the engaging pin to form a rotating coupling.
  • 5. The lighting device on a stage as defined in claim 1, wherein the contact electrode comprises a bottom plate with an engaging groove thereon to receive and locate a conductive terminal for a lead wire, a shield cover with a through hole, a power source extendable device placed in the through hole of the shield cover such that an end of the extendable device contacts with the conductive terminal, and the electrode terminal extends outside the shield cover.
  • 6. The lighting device on a stage as defined in claim 5, wherein the power source extendable device has a spring and an end thereof sleeves with the electrode terminal and the other end thereof sleeves with a conductive button.
  • 7. The lighting device on a stage as defined in claim 1, wherein the contact electrode comprises a base, and a conductive leaf spring with multiple bends associated with the base; the conductive leaf spring at an end thereof connects with a lead wire and at the other end thereof provides an electrode terminal.
  • 8. The lighting device on a stage as defined in claim 7, wherein the electrode terminal is a bend of circular shape.
  • 9. The lighting device on a stage as defined in claim 1, wherein the rotary shaft has a lateral engaging hole and the arm stem has a corresponding engaging hole to be engaged by a engaging pin so as to associate the rotary shaft with the arm stem.
  • 10. The lighting device on a stage as defined in claim 9, wherein the shaft groove of the rotary shaft provides a shaft rib and the arm stem provides a corresponding engaging groove to fit with each other so as to align the engaging holes on the arm stem and the rotary shaft respectively for easing inserting the engaging pin.
  • 11. The lighting device on a stage as defined in claim 1, wherein the light ball on the surface thereof may provide a plurality of different color spots.
  • 12. The lighting device on a stage as defined in claim 1, wherein an upper cover may be disposed above the actuating arm to conceal the lead wires and the current leads.
  • 13. The lighting device on a stage as defined in claim 12, wherein the actuating arm at top thereof may provide a locating hole or more locating holes to fit with a downward engaging projection or more downward engaging projections on the upper cover.
US Referenced Citations (5)
Number Name Date Kind
4353110 Ellis Oct 1982
5084803 Lan Jan 1992
5091828 Jincks et al. Feb 1992
5269719 Klawitter et al. Dec 1993
5842768 Menke Dec 1998