The present invention relates to work lights or shop lights used on a work or construction site. Specifically, this invention relates to a work light system adapted to be mounted to or hung from many common places in a workplace environment.
Standard construction light fixtures vary in degrees of proprietary function. Numerous models of lighting systems are designed to be solely mounted on a tripod, while other models contain a series of hooking mechanisms to aid in hanging the light fixture overhead.
Construction professionals must invest significant time and money planning and implementing a safe and properly lit workplace environment for various on-hand projects. Retaining such an arsenal of specific light fixtures designed for specific and constrictive functions may lead to wasted time, effort, and finances.
Additionally, where a given workplace environment provides no suitable structures or surfaces to accommodate the necessary work light fixtures, construction professionals may be forced to improvise lighting schema, many times utilizing work light fixtures that would normally require a support structure in potentially dangerous configurations, such as lining the ground of a workplace area with work lights designed to function as hanging lights. This type of practice can lead to numerous workplace hazards such as masses of electrical cables sprawled along footpaths or an overall inadequately lit workplace environment.
The present invention seeks to provide solutions to the aforementioned problems by providing a multipurpose, adaptable work light system capable of being mounted to various locations within a typical workplace environment. The work light system may be configured to hang from overhead structures via hooks, coupled to a tripod structure, fastened to magnetically-active surfaces via magnets coupled thereto, or may function as a freestanding light fixture.
The present invention is directed to a work light system configured to be mounted to or hung from multiple locations in a typical workplace environment. In one embodiment the work light system comprises a first housing member having an external connection port, a second housing member coupled to the first housing member, a lighting device coupled to the first housing member and disposed within the second housing member, a power source coupled to the lighting device, at least one magnet coupled to the first housing.
An additional aspect of the system may include an adaptor plate configured to adapt the external connection port from a first connection type such as a particular threaded pitch or diameter size to at least a second particular threaded pitch or diameter size.
Another additional aspect of the system may include a hook or similar connection device like a carabiner threaded at one end configured to be coupled to the external connection port in order to hang the system in the workplace environment.
Yet another additional aspect of the system may include a junction box device ring coupled to the external connection port configured to mount the system to an existing junction box in the workplace environment.
The first housing member generally comprises a first end and a second end. The first end further comprises at least one magnet configured to support the weight of the work light as well as an external connection port configured to accommodate external connection devices including, but not limited to, adaptor plates, hooks, tripods, and junction box device rings. In some embodiments, the lighting device is coupled to the second end. The second housing member is coupled to the second end of the first housing member. In some embodiments, the second housing member is configured as a cage to surround and protect the lighting device. The second housing member may further comprise longitudinal and lateral support members configured to be engaged by a hook member and hung in the work place environment.
In some embodiments the first housing comprises an industry standard thermoplastic including, but not limited to, ABS or polycarbonate.
In some embodiments the second housing may comprise an industry standard metal such as steel, stainless steel, or galvanized steel, aluminum or an industry standard plastic polymer such as ABS, fiberglass, polycarbonate or polystyrene.
The lighting device may comprise a standard light bulb and light socket wired to an external power source, or may comprise an array of LEDs coupled to an external power source. Embodiments using LEDs may additionally comprise heat sinking members configured to dissipate heat emanating from the LEDs.
In some configurations, the external connection port is threaded to accommodate a threaded external component such as a hook, adaptor plate, or device ring.
In still other configurations, the external connection port is an electrical power connection electrically coupled to an electrical power supply.
The methods, systems, and apparatuses are set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or can be learned by the practice of the methods, apparatuses, and systems. The advantages of the methods, apparatuses, and systems will be realized and attained by means of elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the methods, apparatuses, and systems, as claimed. More details concerning these embodiments, and others, are further described in the following figures and detailed description set forth herein below.
In the accompanying figures, like elements are identified by like reference numerals among the several preferred embodiments of the present invention.
While the invention has been described in connection with various embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is capable of further modifications. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention, and including such departures from the present disclosure as, within the known customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of the invention rather than limiting, the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
The top end 26 of the first housing member 12 may also comprise an external connection port 30 configured to accommodate at least one external connection device. In some embodiments, the external connection port 30 may comprise a threaded opening embedded into the external surface 32, while in other embodiments the external connection port 30 may comprise snapping or locking features common to one of skill in the mechanical arts.
An adaptor plate 20, may be used to expand the size or type of external connection port 30. For example, one embodiment of the adaptor plate 20 as shown in
External connection devices may include but are not limited to adaptor plates 20, hooks 22, tripods 25, and junction box device rings 24. A hook 22 may be coupled to the external connection port 30 allowing the work light system 10 to be hung from anywhere in the workplace environment including, but not limited to, another hook, conduit, or netting. A tripod may be used to mount the system 10 to an elevated level and maintain portability of the system 10, while a junction box device ring 24 would allow for the system to be mounted directly to a junction box in a workplace environment.
In additional embodiments, the external connection port 30 may comprise two concentric threaded ports 30, 31. In these embodiments for example, a ⅝″ threaded external connection port 30 is disposed on the external surface 32 of the top end 26 of the first housing member 12 and extends to a depth D into the first housing member 12. At the base of depth D an additional external connection port 31 having a smaller diameter such as a ¼″, may extend an additional depth of D′ allowing for coupling of devices with complementary threaded male ends.
In some embodiments of the system 10, the lighting device 16 is coupled to the second end 28. The lighting device 16 may comprise a standard light bulb and socket coupled to a power supply or may be an array of LEDs coupled to at least one heat sinking member. The lighting device 16 may include the components described above, or additionally may include the components assembled to a lighting housing 17 which is coupled to the first housing member 12. The lighting device 16 may be coupled to a power cable through the first housing member 12 and connected to an external power source or may be connected to an internal power supply coupled to or embedded within the first housing member 12.
In yet a further embodiment as shown in
The coupling of the first housing member 12 and lighting housing 17 may be configured to form a seal. An industry standard sealant or epoxy may be applied along the seam formed by the coupling of the two housing members, or the seal may be formed by example including, but not limited to, gaskets, chemical sealants, friction fit, adhesives, or a compression fit. The seal is configured to limit both water and dust from infiltrating the space between at least two coupled structural members. In embodiments wherein the lighting device 16 comprises the lighting housing 17 and an array of LEDs coupled thereto, the lighting housing 17 may comprise a seal around at least the portion of housing 17 that protects the array of LEDs. In some embodiments the seal is configured have an International Protection Rating of at least IP64 under ANSI/IEC 60529-2004 published by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.
The first housing member 12 may be comprised of materials standard in the industry, including, but not limited to, thermoplastics such as ABS or polycarbonate. In some embodiments the external connection port 30 may be a metal threaded insert, while in other embodiments it may be a molded bore configured to accommodate a self-tapping screw or a molded bore having snapping features configured to accommodate an external connection device with complementary snapping features.
In some embodiments of the work light system 10, at least one of the series of openings 36, forming a cage-like enclosure. The cage-like enclosure is formed by interlinking or interconnected a plurality of lateral and longitudinal support members 32, 24 is configured with a surface area large enough to accommodate a hook 44. In these embodiments, a hook 44 or similar device such as a carabiner or rope may be disposed through at least one of the openings 36 and secured onto at least one of the plurality of lateral or longitudinal support members 32, 34. This allows the work light system 10 to be coupled to and hang from multiple sources in a workplace environment.
The second housing member 14 may be comprised of materials standard in the industry, including, but not limited to, metals such as steel, stainless steel, or galvanized steel, aluminum or polymers such as ABS, fiberglass, polycarbonate or polystyrene. The second housing member 14 may be configured as a cage-like structure coupled to the first housing member 12 encompassing the lighting device 16, forming a protective enclosure around the lighting device 16.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate the foregoing description of the invention has been made with reference to certain exemplary embodiments of the invention, which describe a work light system and method of use. Those of skill in the art will understand that obvious variations in construction, material, dimensions or properties may be made without departing from the scope of the invention which is intended to be limited only by the claims appended hereto.