Abstract:
A retractable light/sound system for mounting on the eave of a structure includes a housing and an output subassembly. A hinge pivotably interconnects the housing and the output subassembly whereby the latter is pivotable between a retracted/stored position and an extended/display position. The output subassembly includes multiple lights and/or loudspeakers and provides output in response to input power and/or control signals from any control subsystem, which can include a microprocessor adapted for preprogramming to activate the output components in response to certain, predetermined input source conditions. The system is adapted for mounting on or in soffits, or on building fascias integrally with gutters.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to architectural light and sound systems, and in particular to a system with a retractable light/audio output subassembly adapted for interior or exterior mounting on a structure, such as at or near the eaves of a residential, commercial, industrial or institutional building.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    Lighting systems are available in a wide variety of configurations, which are designed to meet the requirements of particular applications. For example, architectural applications often involve both functional and aesthetic requirements. Both interior and exterior lighting can be designed to provide predetermined levels of illumination. For aesthetic purposes, lighting is often designed to enhance the visual appeal of a structure by providing high-visibility decoration.  
           [0005]    Decorative lighting can be associated with a theme. For example, the custom and practice of decorating residential and commercial structures with strings of lighting near Christmastime is well-established. The festive effects are enjoyed by many. For commercial building owners and managers, such lighting can perform a commercial purpose by attracting customers and showing community involvement.  
           [0006]    Other “themes” that can be marked by decorative lighting include patriotic and national events, vacations and holidays. For example, the Fourth of July is commonly observed by displaying the national colors red, white and blue. Still further, flashing lights and repeating patterns, such as “chase” patterns, can be used to attract attention.  
           [0007]    In addition to theme-related decorative lighting, an important objective of architectural lighting systems is to provide security. Exterior lighting is often designed to illuminate areas surrounding buildings. Occupants are thus provided with security during hours of darkness. A common type of architectural security lighting activates upon detecting people and objects around the building perimeter. Unauthorized intruders can thus be illuminated by sensor-activated spotlights.  
           [0008]    Sound systems have also been incorporated into structures. Like lighting, audio communication can both entertain, e.g. with piped music, and serve a security purpose, such as an alarm in a security system.  
           [0009]    Installing and maintaining architectural light and sound systems can present significant difficulties and costs. For example, periodic installation and removal are commonly practiced with theme-related lighting, such as Christmastime lights. Adverse weather can present difficulties, particularly since inclement conditions are often encountered during the year-end holiday season. Installation, removal and maintenance often necessitate working from ladders at substantial heights. Another problem associated with exterior lighting and sound systems relates to damage and deterioration from exposure to the elements. For aesthetic purposes, lighting and sound systems are often removed or concealed during periods of nonuse. In the case of seasonal, theme-related lighting, the use periods may extend for only a few weeks, after which they are removed and stored, all at considerable inconvenience and expense.  
           [0010]    These problems have been addressed by providing reconfigurable lighting systems. Prior art examples include those shown in the Robinson U.S. Pat. No. 3,692,993; Konecny U.S. Pat. No. 5,510,966 and Tapp U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,687. However, none of the previous architectural lighting systems includes the advantages and features of the present invention.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    In the practice of the present invention, a retractable light and/or sound system is provided that includes a housing adapted for mounting on or in a structure and a retractable light/sound output subassembly. The housing can be concealed within a soffit or surface-mounted at any desired interior or exterior location, such as under an eave. The light/sound output subassembly comprises a raceway mounting multiple, spaced lights and/or loudspeakers and is movable between retracted/storage and extended/display positions. Retraction and extension can be accomplished by a motorized or manual mechanism. The functions of the system can be controlled by a microprocessor receiving various inputs and preprogrammed to provide various lighting and sound effects in response. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a retractable lighting/sound system embodying the present invention, shown recessed into an eave of a structure with a light/sound output subassembly thereof retracted.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view thereof, shown with the light/sound output subassembly extended.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a first modified embodiment, shown surface-mounted on a soffit.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view thereof, shown with the light/sound output subassembly extended.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a second modified embodiment wherein the light/sound output subassembly is integrally formed with a gutter.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a third modified embodiment with first and second light/sound output subassemblies.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view thereof, shown with the light/sound output subassemblies extended.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the system, particularly showing a control subsystem thereof.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]    I. Introduction and Environment  
         [0021]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.  
         [0022]    Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up, down, front, back, right and left refer to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the embodiment being described and designated parts thereof. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.  
         [0023]    II. Preferred Embodiment Light/Sound System  2   
         [0024]    Referring to the drawings in more detail, the reference numeral  2  generally designates a light/sound system embodying the present invention. The system  2  generally comprises a housing  4 , an output subassembly  6  and a control subsystem  8 .  
         [0025]    Without limitation on the generality of useful applications of the light/sound system  2 , it is shown mounted in the cave  10  of a new or existing structure  12  including a roof  14  supported by an exterior wall  16 . The roof  14  terminates distally at a fascia header  18 , which is mounted on lookout rafters  20  and is covered by a fascia cover  22 . A soffit  24  includes a soffit panel  26  captured by the housing  4  at its inner edge  18 a and mounted on the underside of the fascia header  18  at its outer edge  18 b. The soffit panel  26  can comprise any suitable material, including, but not limited to, steel, aluminum, vinyl and wood.  
         [0026]    Each lookout rafter  20  includes an inner end  20 a attached to a ledger board  28  mounted on the exterior wall  16  and an outer end  20 b attached to the fascia header  18 . Each lookout rafter  20  includes a notch  30 , which is located at its inner end  20 a and is sized to receive the housing  4 .  
         [0027]    The housing  4  has a generally channel-shaped configuration with an inner/back wall  32 , an outer/front wall  34 , a top  36  and a receiver  38 , which is open downwardly at an opening  40 . An inner/back flange  42  extends rearwardly from the back wall  32  and is captured in a soffit channel  44  mounted on the structure exterior wall  16 . A front soffit channel  46  extends forwardly/outwardly from the housing front wall  34  and captures the soffit panel inner edge  26 a. The housing  4  can be attached to the eave  10  in any suitable manner. For example, mechanical fasteners  48 , such as nails or screws, can extend through openings in the back wall  32  and the top  34  and into the ledger board  28  and the lookout rafters  20  respectively. Other suitable fasteners can also be used.  
         [0028]    The output subassembly  6  generally comprises a raceway  52  with a longitudinally-extending passageway  54  accessible through bulb openings  56  formed in a raceway face  58 . First and second raceway extensions  60 ,  62  extend from the raceway  52  and form a substantially 90° right dihedral angle with respect to each other. A hinge opening  64  is formed near the pivot corner  66  of the raceway  52 . A hinge  68  extends therethrough and is mounted on the raceway  52  within the passageway  54 , and on the housing inner/back flange  42 . Various alternative hinge designs can be successfully employed with the present invention. For example, hinge parts can be integrally formed with the housing  4  and the raceway  52  whereby they snap together in a pivotable relationship. Individual hinges, or continuous piano-type hinges can be used. Moreover, the hinge can comprise a length of flexible material or some other construction adapted for allowing the output subassembly  6  to pivot with respect to the housing  4 . A trim piece  69  is placed over the hinge  68  for concealing same and partially enclosing a gap formed between the housing  4  and the raceway  52 .  
         [0029]    Various fasteners can be used to releasably retain the raceway in its retracted and extended positions. For example, a detent ball-and-receiver combination is shown and includes detent receivers  70  formed in the housing outer wall  34  and the top  36 . A detent plunger  72  is mounted on the second extension  62  and releasably engages the detent receivers  70  when the output subassembly  6  is in its fully-retracted and fully-extended positions (FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively). The fastener retainers can also comprise clips of various types, magnets (permanent and electrical), snaps, springs, solenoids and hydraulics. Moreover, the output subassembly  6  can be extended and retracted with a power or other device, such as an electric motor, whereby the detents  70 ,  72  may be unnecessary. Other suitable actuating devices include manual cranks, winches, rods, hydraulics, etc.  
         [0030]    Output components  74  are received in the passageway openings  56  and extend generally outwardly and downwardly from the raceway face  58  with the output subassembly  6  in its retracted and extended positions respectively. Although a decorative light  74  is shown, the output components can comprise a wide variety of lights and audio components. For example, the lights can comprise any suitable size, style and color, including light emitting diodes (LEDs), fluorescent, incandescent, fiber-optic, etc. Suitable audio output component(s) include loudspeakers, alarms, buzzers, chimes, etc. Electrical wiring  76  can be run through the passageway  54  for interconnecting the output components  74  and the control subsystem  8 .  
         [0031]    The system  2  can be made with any suitable material and production procedure. For example, steel, aluminum, plastic (e.g., PVC and other suitable plastics) can be used. The materials can be continuously extruded to provide housings and raceways of various lengths. Also, they can be fabricated from sheet metal using conventional bending procedures, and the parts can be fastened together in a suitable manner, including welding, riveting, screwing, etc.  
         [0032]    III. First Modified Embodiment Surface-Mounted Light/Sound System  102   
         [0033]    [0033]FIGS. 3 and 4 show a first modified embodiment light/sound system  102  adapted for mounting on a surface, such as a soffit panel  126  under an eave  1   0 . The system  102  includes a modified housing  104  with a modified hinge  168  configuration. It will be appreciated that the system  102  is adapted for mounting on various surfaces. For example, it can be located in various positions on the soffit panel  126  to achieve various desired aesthetic effects.  
         [0034]    IV. Second Modified Embodiment Light/Sound System and Integral Gutter  202   
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 5 shows a second modified embodiment light/sound system  202  wherein a housing  204  is integrally formed with a gutter  205 ; the housing top  236  forming the bottom of the gutter  205 . The system  202  can be mounted on a fascia header  218  as shown, or at various other suitable locations on a structure.  
         [0036]    V. Third Modified Embodiment Double Light/Sound System  302   
         [0037]    [0037]FIGS. 6 and 7 show a third modified embodiment of the present invention comprising inner and outer output subassemblies  306 a,b retractably mounted in a modified housing  304  with first and second receivers  338 a,b. First and second output components  374 a,b can be chosen for desired output effects. For example, the first/outer components  374 a can comprise decorative, seasonal-type lights. The second/inner components  374 b can illuminate a portion of the structure  312 , such as an interior or exterior wall  316 , with a “wall washer” lighting effect. The output subassemblies  306 a,b can be extended, retracted and operated independently or in conjunction with each other.  
         [0038]    VI. Control Subsystem  8   
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the system  2 , particularly showing a control system  8  thereof. A power source  80  can comprise the host building electrical power, or a stand-alone battery or generator power source. The control subsystem  8  includes a microprocessor  82  connected to a manual switch  84  for manually, selectively extending, retracting and operating the output subassembly. An audio source  86  can provide any suitable audio output, such as conventional public address (PA) music and paging, alarm, etc. A photovoltaic switch  88  can respond to conditions of light and darkness for automatic control through the microprocessor  82 . A switching circuit  90  can provide various output control signals, including varying lighting displays, flashing patterns, “chase” patterns, blinking, etc. A motion sensor  92  can be associated with the output subassembly  6  and can actuate the lights in response to sensing motions, such as those associated with intruders. The system  2  can thus serve a security lighting function.  
         [0040]    The output subassembly  6  includes both electrical light output components  74  and a loudspeaker  94 . The output signals to the output components  74 ,  94  can be controlled by the microprocessor  82 . A motor  96  is operably connected to the output subassembly  6  for extending and retracting same in response to control signals from a motor control  98  connected to the microprocessor  82 . Alternatively, operation of the output subassembly  6  can be accomplished manually, hydraulically, with a handcrank or with a suitable extended rod adapted for engaging the output subassembly  6  or an operating mechanism attached thereto.  
         [0041]    It is to be understood that the invention can be embodied in various forms, and is not to be limited to the examples discussed above.