Abstract:
A lighting unit including a housing that has a base and opposing cover that is coupled to the base. A is lens disposed between the base and cover to form an inner receiving area. A light support member is disposed in the inner receiving area and supports a plurality of light sources. An axial opening extends through each of the cover and base, respectively. The axial opening has a central opening portion for receiving a support structure and an access opening portion. A mounting segment is releasably engagable with the housing and receivable in the access opening portion of the housing whereby removal of the segment provides access to the central opening portion and allows mounting of the housing on the support structure.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many commercial establishments use light fixtures mounted to a power pole since the pole provides both communication and power wiring, and a convenient place for supporting the light fixture. For example, stores with check out registers require a power pole for supplying communication and power wiring to the register as well as a register light to indicate when the register is open, closed, or assistance is required. 
     However, conventional register lights can be difficult to mount directly on the power pole, particularly after the power pole has been installed. For example, some conventional register lights must be disassembled and then reassembled on the power pole thereby requiring many steps to mount the register light. This can also result in a less aesthetically pleasing light due to the appearance of multiple parts assembled together. Also, several additional parts are often required to mount the register light. 
     Examples of conventional register lights and light fixtures include U.S. Pat. No. 6,265,984 to Molinaroli; U.S. Pat. No. 4,264,945 to Ullman; U.S. Pat. No. 4,225,909 to Scholz et al.; the subject matter of each of which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a lighting unit that is easily mounted on a support structure, such as a power pole. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a lighting unit that can be mounted to a support structure, such as a power pole, either before or after the power pole has been installed. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a lighting unit that requires only a few steps to mount the lighting unit on a support structure, such as a power pole, and does not require multiple additional parts to mount the lighting unit. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a lighting unit that once mounted on a support member, such as a power pole, provides an aesthetically pleasing appearance. 
     The foregoing objects are basically attained by a lighting unit including a housing that has a base and opposing cover that is coupled to the base. A lens disposed between the base and cover to form an inner receiving area. A light support member is disposed in the inner receiving area and supports a plurality of light sources. An axial opening extends through each of the cover and base, respectively. The axial opening has a central opening portion for receiving a support structure and an access opening portion. A mounting segment is releasably engagable with the housing and receivable in the access opening portion of the housing whereby removal of the segment provides access to the central opening portion and allows mounting of the housing on the support structure. 
     The foregoing objects are also attained by a method of mounting a lighting unit to a support member, including the steps of placing the lighting unit in a first direction on the support member that is substantially traverse to a longitudinal axis defined by the support member, so that the support member passes through an access opening portion defined in the lighting unit and is received in a central opening portion contiguous with the access opening portion. The method also includes the steps of securing the lighting unit to the support member and inserting a mounting segment into the access opening portion, thereby enclosing the support member. 
     By fashioning and mounting the lighting unit in the above manner, the lighting unit can be easily mounted to a support member, such as a support pole, with a limited number of steps, particularly when the power pole is already installed. 
    
    
     Other objects, advantages and salient features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with annexed drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring to the drawings which form a part of this disclosure: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lighting unit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention showing the lighting unit mounted on a support member; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the lighting unit illustrated in FIG. 1, showing a segment of the lighting unit inserted in place; 
     FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the lighting unit illustrated in FIG.1, with a cover of the lighting unit removed; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the lighting unit illustrated in FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the lighting unit illustrated in FIG. 1, showing the segment of the lighting unit being inserted into place. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a lighting unit  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention generally includes a housing  12  and a removable mounting segment  14  for facilitating mounting of lighting unit  10  onto a support member  16  regardless of whether support member  16  is installed or secured to support structures. 
     Housing  12  of lighting unit  10  includes a cover  18  and a base  20  with a lens  22 , reflector  24 , and light support  26  disposed therebetween, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Cover  18  and base  20  are substantially identical and thus the same reference numerals will be used to describe both. In particular, base  20  is inverted and mates with cover  18  to form housing  12 . Each of cover  18  and base  20  preferably has a generally disc or circular shape with inner and outer surfaces  28  and  30 . Inner surface  28  is generally concave and outer surface  30  is generally convex creating a dome shape. Although it is preferable that cover  18  and base  20  have a circular and dome shape, cover  18  and base  20  can have any shape such as a planar square or rectangular shape. Likewise, although housing  12  is preferably round or disc shaped, as seen in FIGS. 1-5, housing  12  can be various shapes such as any circular or polygonal shape. For example, cover  18  and base  20  can be substantially square with lens  22  and light support  26  also being substantially square to conform to the shape of cover  18  and base  20 . 
     Each of the cover  18  and base  20  defines an outer perimeter  32  with a concentric lens receiving groove  34  located near outer perimeter  32  and extending inwardly from inner surface  28 . Spaced from lens receiving groove  34  is a second concentric groove  36  located near the center of each of cover  18  and base  20 , as best seen in FIG.  4 . 
     As seen in FIGS. 3-5, an axial opening  38  is defined in cover  18  and base  20  by three depending walls extending from each of cover  18  and base  20  including first and second substantially parallel sidewalls  40  and  42  with a third end wall  44  extending between sidewalls  40  and  42  at a closed end  46 . Opposite closed end  46  is an open end  48  providing access to axial opening  38 . Outer surfaces  50  of each sidewall  40  and  42  are adapted to engage segment  14 . Also, as best seen in FIG. 5, sidewalls  40  and  42  include corresponding first slots  52  and  54 , respectively, for receiving a clamping member  56 . Additionally, one or both of sidewalls  40  and  42  can include a wire receiving groove  58  for facilitating mounting of lighting unit  10  without damaging the wiring  76  of lighting unit  10 , as seen in FIG. 5 (showing groove  58  in sidewall  40  only). Second slots  60  and  62  are spaced from first slots  52  and  54  on each sidewall  40  and  42 , respectively, for mating with segment  14 . Since base  20  is inverted, second slot  60  of cover first sidewall  40  aligns with second slot  62  of base second sidewall  42 , as seen in FIG.  5 . 
     Free edges  64  of sidewalls  40  and  42  and end wall  44  of each of cover  18  and base  20  abut one another when base  20  is inverted and mated with cover  18 , as best seen in FIG.  5 . Two fastener holes  66  and  68  are located on either side of first and second sidewalls  40  and  42  of each of cover  18  and base  20 . Fastener holes  66  and  68  align with each other to received fasteners  70  to mate cover  18  and base  20 . 
     Axial opening  38  includes two contiguous portions, a central opening portion  72  and an access opening portion  74 . Central opening portion  72  is adapted and shaped to receive support member  16  and access opening portion  74  is adapted and shaped to receive segment  14 . Although the shape of axial opening  38 , defined by sidewalls  40  and  42  and end wall  44 , is generally rectangular or square in cross section or plan view to conform to the generally square shape of support member  16 , axial opening  38  can be various shapes such as circular, triangular, or trapezoidal. Support member  16  can also be various shapes such as circular, triangular or trapezoidal as long as support member can be received in axial opening  38 . 
     As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, lens  22  is a transparent or opaque circular band received in lens receiving groove  34  of each of cover  18  and  20  so that lens  22  extends between cover  18  and base  20  and substantially encloses housing. Preferably, lens  22  is made of an acrylic material and diffuses light rays from light sources  80  disposed on light support  26 , thereby creating an even illumination. An inner receiving area  82  is generally defined between cover  18 , base  20  and lens  22 . 
     Light support  26  is received within inner receiving area  82  and rests on base inner surface  28 , particularly on second concentric groove  36 . Light support  26  is preferably an electronic circuit board that supports a plurality of light sources  80 , such as light emitting diodes (LEDs). Although light sources  80  are preferably LEDs, other light sources can be used such as conventional lamps or bulbs. Also, including a plurality of light sources  80  is preferable, however, only one light source is required. Light support  26  is circular with a center opening  78  axially aligned with central opening portion  72  of cover  18  and base  20  for receiving support member  16  and first and second sidewalls  40  and  42  and end wall  44  of both cover  18  and cover  20 . Preferably, LEDs  80  form a concentric circle with LEDs  80  being radially disposed around central opening  78 , as best seen in FIG.  3 . Wiring  76  electrically connects light sources  80  with a power source, as seen in FIG.  5 . 
     Reflector  24  is also received in inner receiving area  82  and is disposed between light support  26  and cover  18 . In particular, reflector  26  is spaced inwardly from lens  22  and rests on light support  26  so that LEDs  80  are located between reflector  24  and lens  22 , as seen in FIG.  3 . Reflector  24  is received in second concentric groove  36  extending from cover inner surface  28  when cover  18  and base  20  are mated thus securing reflector  24  in place. Reflector  24  is a reflective circular band that extends between cover  18  and base  20 . Preferably, reflector  24  is formed of a reflective cardboard or a textured foil. 
     As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, segment  14  includes opposing first and second walls  84  and  86  with a third end wall  88  extending therebetween. Each wall  84 ,  86  and  88  is rectangular in shape with first and second walls  84  and  86  being slightly curved forming a generally C-shape in cross section. Segment  14  is adapted and shaped to fit into access opening portion  74  of cover  18  and base  20  in a transverse direction with first wall  84  engaging cover  18 , second wall  86  mating with base  20 . Inner ends  89  of each of segment walls  84  and  86  and remote from end wall  88  are preferably adjacent support member  16 . Segment  14  can have various shapes such as circular, triangular or trapezoidal in plan view, as along as the shape conforms to the shape of access opening portion  74 . Preferably, inner ends  89  of segment  14  are substantially straight to conform to the generally square shape of support member  16 , outer end wall  88  is substantially curved to conform to the curvature of housing  12 , and segment  14  is substantially square or rectangular in plan view, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 5. Also, if support member  16  has a circular shape, for example, the inner ends  89  of segment  14  would be substantially curved. 
     Segment  14  is generally small relative to housing  12 , so that once segment  14  is received in housing  12 , segment  14  is about 20-30 degrees of the 360 degrees of the circumference of lighting unit  10 . As seen in FIG. 2, the width W 2  of segment  14  is substantially less than the width W 1  of housing  12  of lighting  10 . Also, the width W 2  is preferably just large enough to receive support member  16 . 
     Each wall  84 ,  86  and  88  includes an inner surface  90 ,  92  and  94 , respectively. Extending from inner surface  94  of end wall  88  are first and second snapping members  96  and  98  for engagement with second slots  60  and  62  of first and second sidewalls  40  and  42 , respectively, of cover  18  and base  20 . Preferably, first and second snapping members  96  and  98  are hooks or tabs with a catch at an end. However, any known attachment or engagement members can be used with segment  14  to couple segment  14  with housing  12 . 
     Assembly and Operation 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-5, assembly of lighting unit  10  initially requires assembly of housing  12  by inverting base  20  and placing lens  22  in lens receiving groove  34 , light support  26  on second concentric groove  36  of base  20 , and reflector  24  on light support  26  with light sources  80  being between lens  22  and reflector  24 , as seen in FIG.  3 . Cover  18  can then be placed on base  20  so that free edges  64  of first and second depending sidewalls  40  and  42  and end wall  44  of each of cover  18  and base  20  abut one another. In particular, since base  20  is inverted the free edges  64  of cover depending first and second sidewalls  40  and  42  will abut free edges  64  of base second and first sidewalls  42  and  40 , respectively. Lens  22  is received in lens receiving groove  34  of both cover  18  and base  20  and reflector  24  is received in second concentric groove  36  of cover  18 . Fasteners  70  can then be inserted through fastener holes  66  and tightened to mate cover  18  and base  20 . 
     As seen in FIG. 5, lighting unit  10  can be mounted to support member  16  from a side  100  of support member  16 , in a direction traverse to longitudinal axis  102  of support member  16 , rather than an end (not shown) of support member  16 . This is particularly advantageous when support member  16 , such as a power pole, is already installed in place, for example adjacent a cash register in a store with the ends of the power pole secured to supporting structures, so that mounting of lighting unit  10  is limited to the sides  100  of support member  16 . To mount lighting unit  10  on support member  16 , segment  14  is removed or disengaged with housing  12 , wiring  76  of light support  26  is placed in wire receiving groove  58  and housing  12  is placed on support member  16 . With wiring  76  received in wire receiving groove  58 , housing  12  can be placed on support member  16  without obstructing wiring  76 . Housing  12  is placed on support member  16  in a direction generally traverse to a longitudinal axis  102  so that support member  16  first passes through open end  48 , through access opening portion  74  and into central opening portion  72 . Once support member  16  is received in central opening portion  72  of housing  12 , housing  12  is secured to support member  16  by inserting clamp member  56 , such as a clamp bar, in first slots  52  and  54  of first and second sidewalls  40  and  42  of cover  18 . A fastener  104  can then be inserted through clamp member  56  and support member  16  thereby securing housing  12  to support member  16 . Although it is preferable to use clamping member  56  and fastener  96  to secure housing  12  to support member  16 , any known attachment can be used. 
     Once housing  12  is secured to support member  16 , wiring  76  is connected to wiring  106  of a power source (not shown). Preferably, wiring  106  is received in and extends through support member  16  and connects to wiring  76  of lighting unit  10 , as seen in FIG.  5 . Segment  14  can then be inserted into access opening portion  74  to cover wiring  76  and wiring  106 . Also, since segment  14  generally conforms to the shape of housing  12 , lighting unit  10  has an aesthetically pleasing appearance of a one-piece continuous housing. In particular, first wall  84  fits into access opening portion  74  at cover  18  so that inner surface  90  rests on outer surfaces  50  of first and second depending sidewalls  40  and  42  of cover  18  with first wall  84  being substantially flush with cover  18 , as seen in FIG.  2 . Similarly, inner surface  92  of second wall  86  rests on outer surfaces  50  of first and second sidewalls  40  and  42  of base  20  with second wall  86  being substantially flush with base  20 . Also, inner surface  94  of end wall  88  of segment  14  is generally flush with lens  22  with snapping members  96  and  98  engaging second slots  60  and  62  of first and second sidewalls  40  and  42  of both cover  18  and base  20 . Although snapping members  96  and  98  are preferable, any known attachment can be used to couple segment  14  with housing  12 . 
     Lighting unit  10  operates, for example, to indicate when a check our register is open or closed. Specifically, light unit  10  is illuminated via LEDs  80  when the check out register is open, turned off when the register is closed, and flashes twice when assistance is required. 
     To remove lighting unit  10  from support member  16 , segment  14  is removed from access opening portion  74  by pulling with sufficient force to overcome the snapping engagement between snapping members  96  and  98  of segment  14  and second slots  60  and  62  of cover  18  and base  20 . Wiring  76  of lighting unit  10  can then be disconnected from wiring  106  from the power source, allowing housing  12  to slide off support member  16  in a direction traverse to the support member longitudinal axis  102  so that support member  16  passes first through access opening portion  74  and then through open end  48 . 
     While a particular embodiment has been chosen to illustrate the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.