Vandal Resistant And Weatherproof Lighting Fixture

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a vandal resistant and weatherproof lighting fixture including a pair of shells, respectively a lighting shell carrying a source of light, the lighting shell being adapted to be mounted to a support surface by fastener means accessible through an open mouth portion of the shell, and a diffuser shell adapted to be locked in position in closing relation of the open mouth portion of the light shell, the two shells including complemental fastening and locking means which securely hold the shells together in a manner permitting their separation for replacement of light bulbs, etc., the manner of effecting such separation being not apparent to an individual unfamiliar with the construction of the fixture. The complemental fastening and locking means includes a cam and a follower fastener. A track on the lighting shell also cooperates with a rim on the diffusing shell.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is in the field of lighting fixtures, and particularly relates to a vandal resistant and weatherproof lighting fixture.

2. The Prior Art

Substantial losses have occurred in areas accessible to the public, such as train stations, lavatories, public halls, telephone booths, as a result of theft of light bulbs from extant fixtures, and often the theft of the fixtures themselves. Numerous approaches have been made in an effort to avoid the resultant losses.

It is obviously possible to design an armored fixture wherein access to the interior of the fixture may be attained only through the use of a key having a locking mechanism formed on the fixture. Such armored fixture, however, is manifestly extremely expensive, discouraging its use in a great many applications.

Other means for preventing theft includes the use of conventional fixtures mounted within a screen or enclosure susceptible of being locked. In addition to the disadvantages inhering in the above described armored fixture, such cage or screen has the additional disadvantage of unsightliness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention may be summarized as being directed to an improved vandal resistant lighting fixture characterized in that the same is relatively inexpensive and may be readily opened for bulb replacement by any individual having knowledge of the structural details of the fixture.

The fixture is comprised of two shell sections, one of which is adapted to be mounted to a support surface by mounting means, access to which is available only when the two shell sections are separated. The second shell section comprises a diffuser adapted to be fixedly and sealingly connected to the first shell by connection means which securely and sealingly locks the two shells together.

The exposed component of the locking mechanism is preferably camouflaged in such manner that a prospective vandal will be required carefully to inspect the fixture before he is able to determine the means by which the shells are interconnected. Additionally, the complemental locking means employed to link the shells are such that even if the exposed locking mechanism is operated, relative movement of the shell components to shift the same to the releasing position of each other requires the application of a substantial force. Thus, a vandal penetrating the exposed locking means would be unaware by his releasing of the locking means that the fixture had been compromised since a further action, e.g., the application of substantial forces, would be necessary to effect separation of the shells.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an effective and inexpensive vandal resistant lighting fixture.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a lighting fixture of the type described wherein the manner of disassembling the fixture components would not be apparent to a prospective vandal.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a fixture of the type described which incorporates a novel connection assembly whereby two shell components defining the fixture may be interconnected, the lighting source and the mounting means by which the fixture is supported being concealed within the shells such that access to the same is unavailable until the shells are separated.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of the components of a lighting fixture in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section through a lighting fixture of the type described along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are fragmentary vertical sections depicting components of the locking mechanism by which the shells are integrated, respectively in the course of insertion and in the locking position;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view similar to that of FIG. 1 of a rectangularly shaped embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 6 along line 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 are magnified fragmentary sections depicting components of the locking mechanism, respectively prior to assembly, partially assembled, and in locking position;

FIG. 11 is a horizontal section taken on the line 11--11 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a vertical section taken on the line 12--12 of FIG. 10.

Turning now to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5, the lighting fixture comprises generally a light containing shell 10 and a diffuser shell 11. The light container shell 10 may incorporate an essentially conventional light source 12, it being understood that while an incandescent bulb is shown in the illustrated embodiment, the invention shall not be construed as limited to use with such light source.

The light shell 10, which is preferably made of spun or cast metal, includes a mounting assembly 13 comprising a raised saddle 14 having a flat top portion, the saddle being provided with a pair of spaced apertures 15, 16.

By way of illustration, the shell 10 is mounted to a support surface S, FIG. 2, as by machine screws 17 extending through the apertures 15 and 16, the shank portions of the screws being threadedly connected with a complemental support bracket (not shown) or like receiver mechanism secured to the support S.

It will be appreciated that removal of the fixture from the support S requires access to the interior of the shell 10.

The downwardly opening shell 10, referring to the drawings, is formed with a downwardly facing annular track portion 18, the track portion being defined by the lower portion 19a of side wall 19, an annular flange 21 extending inwardly from side wall 19, and a side wall 20 depending from the inner edge of flange 21.

As best seen in FIG. 1, the inner side wall 20 is provided with one or more (preferably three) radially extending inclined follower portions 22, which portions extend part way toward the outer side wall 19 of the shell 10. Optionally, the upper face of the followers 22 may be provided with a retainer detent 24, for purposes which will appear hereinafter.

The diffuser shell 11, which may be of any selected decorative configuration, being essentially circular in horizontal section in the embodiment of FIG. 1, includes an upwardly directed rim 25, terminating in an upwardly facing lip 26. An essentially annular flange 27 is formed about the interior of the rim 25 below the lip 26, the flange 27 including a plurality of vertical clearance slots or passages 28, in number corresponding to the follower portions 22.

The slots 28 include vertical, downwardly directed stop shoulders 29 which function to assure that the shells, after interconnection by an initial vertical movement, can be rotated only in a direction to effect an interlocking connection.

Integrally formed on the flange 27, in trailing relation to the slots 28, are cam components 30. As best appreciated from an inspection of FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the cam components are inclined with respect to the vertical such that their lead edges 31 adjacent slots 28 are at a higher plane than the terminal ends 32 of the cam slope.

Preferably, the shell 11 is made of a molded plastic composition.

In order to provide a substantial degree of resilience to the cam components 30, an arcuate slot or recess 33 may be formed or molded into the flange 27, whereby a space exists between the central portion of each cam component and the rim 25. The under faces 34 of the cams 30 may include a recess receiver notch 35 for receiving, in the locked position of the shells, the retainer detent 24 on the upper surface of the follower portions 22.

A yieldable gasket 36, of neoprene or like substance, is seated on the under surface of the flange 21 of track 18, the gasket being retained against inadvertent displacement from the track as by gluing to flange 21. The gasket 36 is thus positioned in the path of the lip 26 of rim 25 of diffuser shell 11, to effect a weather resistant seal when engaged.

The manner in which the shells 10 and 11 are interconnected will be apparent from the preceding description.

In order to effect such connection, the rim 25 is inserted into the track 18 until the lip 26 is pressed against the gasket 36. In the course of such insertion, the follower portions 22 will enter into the recesses 28 formed in the flange 27, the follower 22, after such initial insertion, being located in the position shown in dotted lines, FIG. 5. With the parts thus positioned, the shell 11 is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction (referring to FIG. 1) relative to the fixed shell 10, whereupon camming action will be effected between the under surface 34 of the cam 30 and the upper face of the followers 22, sufficient rotation resulting in the detent 24 snapping into the recess 35 of the cam, as shown in FIG. 5, solid lines.

With the parts assembled as shown in FIG. 5, by reason of the interengagement of the detent and recess as noted, return or clockwise movement of the parts may be effected but will require a substantial rotary force.

A further fact tending to resist rotation of the shells from the locked to the releasing position thereof is the frictional restriction against rotation imposed by the gasket 36, which has been sandwiched tightly and compressed between the lip 26 of shell 11 and the under surface of flange 21 of the track 18.

A significant inhibition against movement from the locked position of FIG. 5 to the release position of FIG. 4 is provided by the fact that the thickness of the gasket material is so selected that when the detent 24 is in recess 35, as shown in FIG. 5, the lip 26 will be still compressing the gasket, thereby urging the shell 11 downwardly so that the interaction of detent 24 and recess 35 will cause a locking action to be maintained.

Preferably, a positive locking of the components is effected through the use of a camouflaged set screw 38, which is mounted in a complementally threaded aperture 39 formed in the outer side wall 19 of the upper shell 10. Pairs of spaced upstanding lugs 40 (three such sets being shown in the illustrated embodiment) are formed on the radial outer face of the rim 25, the positioning of the sets of lugs 40 relative to the cam locking components being such as to align the innermost end of the set screw 38, in the locked position of the diffuser shell 11, with a space between a pair of lugs 40.

With the parts thus locked, the set screw 38 may be advanced or threaded inwardly, as shown in FIG. 2, whereby in the inward threaded position, counter-rotation of the shell 11 to the release position is positively prevented.

Preferably the set screw may be camouflaged by coloring it the same color as the outer surface of the shell 10. As an additional safeguard, the screw 38 is recessed and selected to be rotatable only through the use of a special tool, such as an appropriately sized Allen wrench.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 6 to 12, there is shown a lighting fixture operating on similar principles but having a rectangular configuration. In this embodiment, wherein parts functionally corresponding to those of the described embodiment have been given like reference numerals, the diffuser shell 11' is secured to the fixed or light source supporting shell 10' by a longitudinal movement between the parts of the direction D as shown in FIG. 6.

In this embodiment each of the longitudinal rims 25' of the diffuser shell 11' is provided with one or more cam assemblies 30', the latter being formed in a flange 27' which extends inwardly from the rims 25' below the top lip 26' thereof.

More particularly in the illustrative embodiment shown, two pairs of cam assemblies 30' are formed in each of the flanges 27', the cam assemblies of each pair being spaced as shown to define a clearance slot or passage 28'.

Each cam assembly includes a cam element 43, which is yielding or resilient by reason of the fact that it is formed from plastic material, and which has a recess 35' in its undersurface. As shown, each cam element 43 is inclined downwardly from its free edge 43a adjacent the access slot 28'. The end of each cam element 43 is provided with a vertical, downwardly directed stop shoulder 29' which restricts the longitudinal sliding movement of the shells to interconnect the same.

The light containing shell 10', which is also rectangular, has side walls 19' and end walls 46. The shell 10' is formed with two parallel, downwardly facing longitudinal track portions 18', the track portions as shown in FIG. 12 being defined by the lower portion 19'a of side wall 19', a longitudinal flange 21' extending inwardly from wall 19', and a side wall 20' depending from the inner edge of flange 21'.

As shown in FIG. 6, the inner side wall 20' is provided with a plurality of inclined follower portions 22', which portions extend part way toward the outer side wall 19', as shown in FIG. 12. The upper face of follower portions 22' may be provided with a retainer detent 24' locking with recess 35'.

As will be evident, the locking is effected in the embodiment of FIGS. 6 to 12 by passing the diffuser shell 11' upwardly so that the follower portions 22' pass through the space 28' in the flange 27' adjacent the cams 30'.

In FIG. 8, the parts have been shown preparatory to insertion of the cams 30' of the diffuser shell 11'. In FIG. 9 the cams 30' are disposed at a level to engage followers 22'. In FIG. 10 the parts are illustrated after a longitudinal movement has been effected of the diffuser shell 11' to cause interengagement between the detent 24' and recess 35'.

As in the prior embodiment, pairs of outstanding lugs 40' are provided in the longitudinal rims 25' of the diffuser shell 11'. A camouflaged set screw 38' comparable to the screw 38 of the prior described embodiment is advanced into position between a pair of lugs 40', to prevent relative movement between the shell halves to the extent necessary to effect separation thereof after the shell 11' is locked in position.

It will be appreciated from an inspection of the embodiment of FIG. 6 that each of the cam assemblies 30' may include two spaced cam elements 43, so located that if the shell 11' is rotated through 180.degree. in a horizontal plane from the position shown, the opposite cam element 43 of each assembly 30' will be engaged by follower 22' as in the case in the illustrated orientation. This arrangement facilitates mounting of the diffuser shell 11' regardless of its position.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that there is provided in accordance with the present invention an improved vandal resistant lighting fixture wherein access to the interior of the fixture, such as would be necessary for changing light bulbs or mounting and unmounting of the fixture, is limited to those individuals who are familiar with its construction and, hence, with the steps necessarily accomplished to effect separation of the shell halves, namely, initial retraction of the camouflaged set screws or like means used positively to prevent relative movement, and subsequent shifting movement of the shell halves to a position at which the latter are permitted to fall free of each other.

Claims

Having thus described the invention and illustrated its use, what is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A vandal resistant lighting fixture comprising, in combination, a light shell member having a depending open peripheral track portion, including parallel inner and outer side wall portions and a top wall, said inner wall portion of said track portion defining a downwardly facing open mouth, a resilient gasket seated in said track against said top wall, a lighting means supported interiorly of said light shell member, mounting means within said light shell for attaching said shell to an external support, said lighting means and mounting means being accessible only through said mouth portion, a diffuser shell adapted to be secured in sealing relation of said mouth of said light shell and including an upwardly directed rim member, said rim member of said diffuser shell including an upwardly facing terminal lip, said rim member of said diffuser shell being sized to fit in internal nested relation within the track portion of said light shell, said rim being slidable between releasing and locking positions within said track, said rim member and track portion including cooperative cam and follower means positioned to coact responsive to relative sliding movement of said rim within said track to said locking position to urge said lip of said diffuser shell into contact with said gasket and to prevent relative separating movements of said shells.

2. The lighting fixture in accordance with claim 1 in which camouflaged locking means are provided mounted on an external surface of said light shell and shiftable into engagement with said diffuser shell for locking said shells against relative sliding movement from said locking to said releasing position.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said diffuser shell includes, on the radial outermost surface thereof, a receiver groove, said groove, in the locked position of said shells, being aligned with said camouflaged locking means.

4. The lighting fixture in accordance with claim 1 wherein said track portion and rim member are circular in horizontal section, said diffuser shell including an annular flange member extending from the inner face of said rim and adapted to be disposed within said track portion, said cam means being defined by inclined portions on said flange and said follower means being defined by projection portions extending radially from said inner wall of said track toward said outer wall thereof.

5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said flange includes a clearance portion adapted to permit the passage therethrough of said follower portion upon axial relative movement of said shells.

6. The device in accordance with claim 5 wherein, in said locking position, said follower portions underlie portions of said flange.

7. A device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said cam means comprises a portion of said flange.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said track portion and rim are rectangular in horizontal section, the longitudinal extent of said track portion being greater than the longitudinal extent of said rim, whereby limited relative longitudinal movement between said rim and track portion may be effected, said cam and follower means being positioned to be engaged and disengaged responsive to said limited longitudinal relative movement.