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US 5,490,045 AGranted
Barrier light with lens-coupled, self-orienting limited field light source
AssigneeElgin Molded Plastics, Inc.
InventorHenry Lindner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved barrier light assembly is provided of the type wherein the lens subassembly is pivotable relative to the case subassembly. The assembly employs a limited field light source (preferably an LED with a field of about 34.degree.), and incorporates a self-orienting, lens coupled holding and positioning subassembly for such a light source whereby this light source remains fixed at the lens subassembly focal point with its emission center line extending along the lens center line regardless of the pivoted position of the lens subassembly.
Claims23
In a barrier light assembly of the type comprising in combination:
- a case subassembly;
- a lens subassembly adjacent to and supported by said case subassembly and pivotable relative thereto about a generally vertical axis, said lens assembly including a lens with peripherally associated wall portions which together with said lens extend about and define an interior chamber, said lens having a lens center line and also a lens focal point that is located in said chamber along said lens center line, said focal point being substantially coincident with said vertical axis;
- a housing subassembly for electrical components configured for nestable receipt in said case subassembly and having an elongated projecting pedestal which extends into said lens subassembly along said vertical axis;
- and
- a light source in said interior chamber case assembly;
- an improvement which comprises:
- said light source having a limited light emitting field that is distributed about an emission center line;
- holder means for said light source;
- and
- a self-orienting, lens subassembly coupled holding and positioning subassembly for said light source, said holding and positioning means comprising in combination:
- (1) bushing means slidably engaging said pedestal and rotatable relative thereto;
- (2) sleeve means slidably engaging said bushing means and including means for keying said sleeve means to said bushing means so that said sleeve means and said bushing means rotate together, and further including sleeve portions for engaging interior portions of said lens subassembly so that said sleeve means and said lens subassembly rotate together;
- and
- (3) bracket means interconnecting said bushing means with said holder means so that said light source is maintainable with said emission center line located approximately along said lens center line and with said light source located about at said focal point;
- an interrelationship between said light source, said holder means, said holding and positioning subassembly, said lens subassembly, said housing subassembly and said case subassembly being such that, when said lens subassembly is so pivoted, said light source remains at said lens focal point and said lens center line remains approximately coincident with said emission center line.
12 more elements
A barrier light assembly comprising in combination:
- (a) a case subassembly comprising:
- two portions which are in cooperative engagement along a perimeter region to define an interior cavity therewithin for receiving battery means,
- securing means for fastening together said portions in said engagement,
- said case assembly having an upstanding cylindrical case neck that terminates in an upwardly opening case mouth with a radially outwardly thickened circumferentially extending lip;
- (B) a lens subassembly comprising:
- a pair of dish configured members which matingly and abuttingly engage with one another along opposed peripheral edge portions to define an interior chamber therebetween with said members being oriented so as to have a common lens center line,
- fastening means for fastening together said members when so engaged,
- each one of said members being comprised of a substantially transparent material and having a central region with a lenticular configuration that has a focal point in a center portion of said chamber along said common lens center line,
- each said member further having an integral collar half located along an edge portion thereof, said respective collar halves being cooperative with one another to define a collar so that, when said members are so engaged, said lip is circumscribed slidably by said collar and a circular orifice is defined in said collar about a diameter extending from said focal point in said chamber whereby said lens subassembly is pivotable relative to said case subassembly about an axis corresponding to said diameter;
- (C) a housing subassembly for electrical components, said housing subassembly having a body portion configured for nestable receipt in said cavity adjacent said neck and further having an elongated, projecting hollow pedestal which upwardly extends through said mouth and into said chamber so that the axis of said pedestal extends along said diameter;
- (D) a limited field light source having an emission center line and an associated holder means for said light source;
- (E) a self-orienting, lens coupled holding and positioning subassembly for said light source and said holder means comprising in combination:
- (1) bushing means slidably engaging said pedestal and rotatable relative thereto;
- (2) sleeve means slidably engaging said bushing means and including means for keying said sleeve means to said bushing means so that said sleeve means and said bushing means rotate together, and further including sleeve portions for engaging interior portions of said lens subassembly so that said sleeve means and said lens subassembly rotate together;
- and
- (3) bracket means axially upstanding from said bushing means and including means for associating said holder means therewith along said diameter so that said light source is maintainable with said emission center line located approximately along said lens center line and with said light source located about at said focal point;
- an interrelationship between said light source, said holder means, said holding and positioning subassembly, said lens subassembly, said housing subassembly and said case subassembly being such that, when said lens subassembly is so pivoted, said light source remains at said focal point and said lens center line remains approximately coincident with said emission center line.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.