U.S. patent number 3,679,890 [Application Number 05/039,644] was granted by the patent office on 1972-07-25 for light with universally mounted axis for body panels and the like.
Invention is credited to Clarence Pool.
United States Patent |
3,679,890 |
Pool |
July 25, 1972 |
LIGHT WITH UNIVERSALLY MOUNTED AXIS FOR BODY PANELS AND THE
LIKE
Abstract
A light fixture having a beam directing axis adapted to be
selectively positioned as required when mounted in a panel
unpredictably disposed at varying angles, both simple and compound,
and comprised of a universally revolvable sphere-shaped body held
captive between clamp-rings secured to any panel thickness at an
opening therein provided for the exposure therethrough of a beam
directive means housed within said body.
Inventors: |
Pool; Clarence (Pico Rivera,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
21906586 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/039,644 |
Filed: |
May 22, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/275 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60Q
1/0433 (20130101); F21V 21/30 (20130101); B60Q
1/0466 (20130101); B60Q 1/045 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60Q
1/04 (20060101); F21V 21/30 (20060101); F21V
21/14 (20060101); F21v 013/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;240/8.3,41.6,57,61,61.11,61.12,61.13,61.6,78H,78HA |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Queisser; Richard C.
Assistant Examiner: Snee, III; C. E.
Claims
Having Described my invention, I claim:
1. A light fixture having beam projecting means adapted to be
selectively fixed in finite positions as required in an opening
through a panel unpredictably disposed at varying angles, both
simple and compound, and comprising; a universally revolvable
hollow sphere-shaped body held captive within and between a pair of
clamp-rings embracing opposite hemispheres of said body and both of
which have mounting flanges which together overlie the exterior of
the panel surrounding the opening therethrough, said sphere-shaped
body including within it a light sources the beam projecting means
being disposed along the polar axis of the sphere and having a
polar area exposed within the clamp-rings, and there being securing
means fixing the clamp-rings together and embracing the sphere
shaped body and onto the exterior of the panel.
2. The selectively positionable light fixture as set forth in claim
1 wherein the beam projecting means comprises a Fresnel lens on the
axis of the exposed polar area and a surrounding band of prisms
having obverse light receiving faces and reverse light transmitting
and reflecting faces returning exterior light to its source.
3. The selectively positionable light fixture as set forth in claim
1 wherein the light source is at the center of the sphere and
wherein the beam projecting means comprises a Fresnel lens at the
exposed polar area and a surrounding band of prisms, the lens and
prisms being formed of transparent light transmitting material,
said prisms having obverse light receiving faces and reverse light
transmitting and reflecting faces returning exterior light to its
source, and said prism faces refracting light emanating from said
light source at the center of the sphere-shaped body.
4. The selectively positionable light fixture as set forth in claim
1 wherein the light source is at the center of the sphere and
wherein the beam projecting means comprises a Fresnel lens at the
exposed polar area and a surrounding band of prisms, the lens and
prisms being formed of transparent light transmitting material, a
reflector receiving light from said light source at the center of
the sphere and concentrating it upon the interior of the
surrounding band of prisms, said prisms having obverse light
receiving faces and reverse light transmitting and reflecting faces
returning exterior light to its source and reflecting light
emanating from said light source at the center of the sphere-shaped
body.
5. The selectively positionable light fixture as set forth in claim
1 wherein the pair of clamp-rings are secured against a
compressible seal at the exterior side of the panel and which
presses the clamp-rings together and occupies interstices between
the clamp-rings and said opening in the panel.
6. The selectively positionable light fixture as set forth in claim
1 wherein the sphere shaped body is made of two hemispheres joined
at the major diameter and with the light source captive in working
position at the center of the sphere and thereby at the center of
said opening through the panel, the entire hemisphere from which
the beam projecting means projects light being formed of light
transmitting material whereby light is also projected laterally of
the fixture.
Description
The effective use of light from incandescent lamps and the like
requires directive control, usually from a rather small point or
area of illumination. A best example is the filament of a light
bulb, which is small and from which light radiates. Obviously, the
radiating light is correctively directed as circumstances require
by means of reflection and/or defraction, the light rays being bent
so as to travel in the direction to best suit the purposes
intended. Generally, light rays are directed along an effective
axis a, the light rays being more or less concentrated along said
axis, either convergently or divergently as may be required, it
being of import that there is an effective axis a along which
useful light rays are projected.
The projection of light rays has a multitude of uses and one of
which is illustrated in the drawings of this disclosure, namely the
use of vehicle lighting and specifically tail lighting. However,
due to the variations in vehicle body shapes, the panels thereof at
the positions required for the mounting of lights are not always
properly disposed for the required disposition of the effective
axis a hereinabove referred to. That is, the body contours of the
vehicle often present panels disposed at varying and compound
angles, and all of which usually requires the manufacture of
special light fixtures in each instance. Although special fixtures
are practical in the reproduction of identical installations, there
are nevertheless many instances wherein customized installations
are demanded. For example, there is an infinite variety of body
shapes involved in custom and limited production vehicles, and to
which it is necessary to apply lighting disposed along prescribed
axes. A best example is a tail light (for whatever specific
purpose) that must be disposed horizontally on an axis parallel to
the longitudinal center line of the vehicle body. However, the
usual panel plane to which the fixture is to be applied is more
likely to be disposed at an unpredictable compounded angle.
Consequently, it is virtually impossible to acquire any one fixed
position fixture that will be suitable in any given instance,
unless specifically designed and manufactured for that
installation. Therefore it is an object of this invention to
provide a universally mounted light fixture for body panels and the
like wherein the effective light projecting axis is selectively
positioned and permanently maintained as circumstances require.
An object of this invention is to provide an omni adjustable light
of the type hereinabove referred to wherein infinite adjustment is
made for alignment of the effective light projecting axis,
regardless of the mounting panel disposition within practical
limits. The fixture body is spherical with the beam directive means
therein disposed along the effective axis a, having a projection
lens at the exterior pole of the body and having energizing
connections at the interior pole of the body, there being an
unobstructed spherical surface between the poles for freedom of
adjustment.
Another object of this invention is to provide a sphere-shaped
fixture body from which the light source emanates at the center and
the body which is advantageously made in half shells that are mated
and joined at the center plane normal to mount a reflector
operative to beam light along the effective axis a.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a combined
bezel and panel mounting wherein the fixture body is held captive
as to position and is also held within an opening provided therefor
to project through a body panel. With the present invention,
clamp-rings are tightened one against the other with opposed
tapered engagement upon the uniform and opposite hemispheres of the
fixture body. The clamp-rings are secured one to the other by
fasteners that jointly secure one of said clamp-rings to the
vehicle body surrounding the opening therein, whereby both
installation and fixed disposition of the clamped fixture body is
simultaneously effected.
The various objects and features of this invention will be fully
understood from the following detailed description of the typical
preferred form and application thereof, throughout which
description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
FIG. 1 is a side elevation illustrating a portion of a vehicle body
and the installation of the light fixture.
FIG. 2 is a plan view taken substantially as indicated by line 2--2
on FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken as indicated by
line 3--3 on FIG. 1, and
FIG. 4 is a rear elevation taken as indicated by line 4--4 on FIG.
3.
The drawings and especially FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a typical
problem installation wherein the panel portion to which light
fixtures F are mounted are angularly disposed, in this instance the
compound angles. As shown, an axis b that is normal to the panel
portion is, in each instance, upwardly and outwardly divergent as
it extends rearwardly. However, it will be observed that the
effective axes a of each light fixture F is horizontal and parallel
with the central longitudinal axis c of the vehicle V, and this
horizontal-parallel feature of the axes a is maintainable
regardless of the finite variations which will occur in different
vehicle bodies, only one of which is shown. Thus, the effective
axes a are disposed so as to project light rearwardly as
circumstances require and selectively independent from the angular
panel disposition whatever it may be.
Referring now to the panel of a typical vehicle V in which the
light fixture F is installed, a standard thickness is usually
encountered but with substantial variations. For example, a
fiber-glass laminated body has a substantial nominal thickness
which varies considerably, and at extreme other extremes a sheet
metal body has a minimum and rather uniform thickness. It is the
adaptability to this wide range of panel thicknesses which is
contemplated, and wherein an opening 10 can be roughed out without
perfection and which nevertheless accommodates the light fixture F
which itself provides the perfect surrounding detail. The opening
10 is proportioned to freely pass the body B of the fixture,
preferably with moderate clearance as shown and so that the body B
is free to revolve without contacting the panel when assembled
within the clamp-rings R that embrace the vehicle panel when
locking the body B in a selectively revolved position.
In accordance with the invention, the fixture body B is a truncated
sphere, having portions thereof removed at diametrically opposite
exterior and interior poles, said poles being coincidental with the
effective axis a along which the beam directing means C operates.
An unobvious and advantageous feature of the light fixture F is the
location of the light source at the center of the spherical body B,
and to the end that projected light will predictably eminate from a
point selectively chosen or marked upon the vehicle panel and about
which the opening 10 is concentrically formed. As a result, the
light source does not move and cannot be displaced regardless of
the angular displacements imposed when revolving the body B into a
required position. Accordingly, the fixture body B has a spherical
exterior wall 15 and a chamber 20 therein to accommodate an
incandescent light bulb 25 or the like with its light source or
filament 26 held positioned at the center of the sphere. In
carrying out the invention, the body B is comprised of two
half-shells joined together in a plane normal to the axis a and
intersecting the center of the sphere. Thus, there is an exterior
hemisphere 16 and an interior hemisphere 17 which are cemented or
otherwise fastened together at said plane of joinder with the light
source D captured therebetween in working position.
The exterior hemisphere 16 is made of transparent light
transmitting material (appropriately tinted) and the exterior pole
thereof along the axis a is truncated or otherwise devoted to beam
directive means C. As shown, approximately 90.degree. of the
spherical pole is utilized in the integral formation of light
reflecting Fresnal Lenses 18 that collect light eminating from the
center of sphere and beam it along axis a. And, a prismatic ring 19
surrounds the lens 18 area, a ring area approximately 10.degree. in
width, and that refracts light either from the exterior or from a
reflector 21 within the chamber 20. The reflector ring 19 is
comprised of a multiplicity of next adjacent three sided prisms
that have an obverse light receiving face 22 and a reverse light
transmitting and reflecting face comprised of said multiplicity of
prismatic reflecting surfaces 24. While the specific nature and
configuration of the reflecting face is not controlling insofar as
this invention is concerned, a preferred form is that which is
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,022,639 granted Nov. 26, 1955 to
Jonathan C. Stimson, the characteristic of which is that within the
intended included angle of use, light from any given source
impinging upon the reflector is reflected back toward the source.
Further, the said prismatic reflector ring 19 is eluminated from
within the chamber 20 by means of the reflector 21, later
described.
The interior hemisphere 17 is made of any suitable material and the
interior pole thereof along the axis a is truncated or otherwise
modified to receive and/or hold or amount parts of the light source
D. In the preferred form, the truncation or modification is simply
an opening 27 through which access is gained to the light source D.
As shown, the opening 27 occupies approximately or slightly less
than 90.degree. of the spherical pole. Thus, 180.degree. or more of
the spherical surface remains and which permits 45.degree. nominal
adjustment in all directions as is clearly indicated (a total
90.degree. of adjustment).
The light source D is comprised of an electrical receptacle 28
(suitably wired) that replaceably receives the bulb 25 which is
rearwardly extractable, and all of which is carried by the
reflector 21. The reflector surrounds the bulb and is faced
forwardly to receive light from filament 26 and to reflect the same
forwardly into the area of the ring 19, thereby illuminating the
ring.
In accordance with the invention, the clamp-rings R are provided to
seat upon the mounting panel from the exterior thereof, and to
simultaneously fixedly clutch the body B in a selected rotative
position. The clamp-rings R are a complementary pair of elements
that encircle the major diameter of the body B, in whatever
rotative position it might be, being separated by the panel
thickness. As shown, the rings are each of approximately 10.degree.
thickness with inner spherical clamp faces 29 wedgedly embracing
the opposite hemispheres of the body B, and they are drawn together
as by means of screw fasteners 30. A compressible gasket seal 31 is
provided to occupy the annular space between the rings R and to
fill any and all interstices within the opening 10. There are two
separable rings 33 and 34, both of which have faces seated against
the outside surface of the vehicle body surrounding the opening 10.
Ring 33 is shouldered by means of a flange 35 that occupies a
complementary recess in ring 34, so that the rings have coplanar
engagement upon the gasket seal 31.
From the foregoing it will be seen that a location for the fixture
F can be determined and a point made upon the surface of the
mounting panel. An opening 10 of specified diameter is then cut
into the panel concentric with said location point. With the body B
and light source D related as hereinabove described, the filament
and/or light source location has now been immovably determined, and
the body B can be revolvably positioned prior to tightening of the
clamp-rings R. In practice, the exterior clamp-ring R remains clear
of the opening 10, mounting pressure being applied through the
compressible gasket seal 31. The said gasket seal 31 can be coated
with a contact adhesive or permeated with an adhesive substance and
to the end that a water tight and permanent joinder is affected
between the fixture F and the mounting panel.
Having described only a typical preferred form and application of
my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the
specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself
any modifications or variations that may appear to those skilled in
the art.
* * * * *