Abstract:
A lighting control apparatus, comprising a shield having a reflective inner surface that blocks light emanating from a light fixture in a first direction, and redirects light emanating from the light fixture to a second direction; a clamp attached to the socket of the light fixture and deriving support therefrom; and a support structure attached to the clamp that supports the shield in a position suitable for blocking and redirecting the light emanating from the light fixture

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Many existing light fixtures, including outdoor post-top type fixtures, fail to properly control light as it leaves the fixture. Outdoor light fixtures have an expected life rating of 30 years or more, and many outdoor light fixtures were designed and installed prior to today&#39;s sensitivity to dark skies and light trespass regulations. 
         [0002]    Most existing fixtures offer very little in the way of lighting control. In some cases a lighting reflector is not part of the existing fixture. In other cases a minimally efficient reflector or refractor is part of the fixture and may or may not be removable. This inability to properly control light results in illuminating undesirable areas and inefficiently illuminating the target area. Examples of undesirable lighting are urban sky glow, light trespass, and glare. Existing solutions often require replacement of multiple components of the fixtures, resulting in a great increase in cost and complexity. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    In one exemplary embodiment, a lighting control apparatus may be disclosed. The apparatus can have a shield having a reflective inner surface that blocks light emanating from a light fixture in a first direction, and redirects light emanating from the light fixture to a second direction; a clamp attached to the socket of the light fixture; and a support structure attached to the clamp that supports the shield. 
         [0004]    In another exemplary embodiment, another lighting control apparatus may be described. The lighting control apparatus can have a shield having a reflective inner surface that blocks light emanating from a light fixture in a first direction, and redirects light emanating from the light fixture to a second direction; a clamp attached directly to the lamp of the light fixture, that supports the shield in a position suitable for blocking and redirecting the light emanating from the light fixture. 
         [0005]    In another exemplary embodiment, a lighting control apparatus can be described. The apparatus can have a means for blocking light emanating from a lighting fixture, and a means for attaching the light-blocking means to the light fixture. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0006]    Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments. The following detailed description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1A  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting control device. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1B  is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting control device. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2A  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting control device attached to an exemplary light fixture. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2B  is a rear view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting control device attached to an exemplary light fixture. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2C  is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting control device attached to an exemplary light fixture. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3A  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a secondary shield attached to an exemplary embodiment of a lighting control device. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3B  is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a secondary shield attached to an exemplary embodiment of a lighting control device. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4A  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting control device with an exemplary secondary shield attached to an exemplary light fixture. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4B  is a rear view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting control device with an exemplary secondary shield attached to an exemplary light fixture. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4C  is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting control device with an exemplary secondary shield attached to an exemplary light fixture. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5A  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting control device. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5B  is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting control device. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6A  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting control device attached to an exemplary light fixture. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6B  is a rear view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting control device attached to an exemplary light fixture. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6C  is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting control device attached to an exemplary light fixture. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7A  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a secondary shield attached to an exemplary embodiment of a lighting control device. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7B  is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a secondary shield attached to an exemplary embodiment of a lighting control device. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8A  is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting control device with an exemplary secondary shield attached to an exemplary light fixture. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8B  is a rear view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting control device with an exemplary secondary shield attached to an exemplary light fixture. 
           [0026]      FIG. 8C  is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting control device with an exemplary secondary shield attached to an exemplary light fixture. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the description discussion of several terms used herein follows. 
         [0028]    As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance or illustration.” The embodiments described herein are not limiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should be understood that the described embodiments are not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, the terms “embodiments of the invention”, “embodiments” or “invention” do not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation. “Data” should be understood to be any information in either organized or unorganized form and in any format. 
         [0029]    Generally referring to exemplary  FIGS. 1A-8C , embodiments described herein may include lighting control and efficiency enhancing devices that can be attached to existing light fixtures. Once installed, the devices can control the light emitted from the fixture&#39;s lamp, cutting down on nuisance light and increasing the fixture&#39;s overall efficiency. The devices can block a majority of the uncontrolled light leaving the fixtures and redirect it to a desired target. By redirecting the light, the fixtures&#39; overall efficiency can be increased, which can in some cases allow a lower wattage lamp to be used to save energy. 
         [0030]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a side view and  FIG. 1B  illustrates a front view of an exemplary embodiment of lighting control device  100 . Lighting control device  100  can contain primary shield  102 . Primary shield  102  can reduce the amount of light projected upward by a light fixture&#39;s lamp by blocking the light emanated in an upward direction, and collecting and redirecting this light as desired in a downward direction, for instance onto a sidewalk or roadway area. Primary shield  102  can be a hemispherical dome or any other type of dome, or any other shape as desired. Different sizes and shapes of primary shield  102  can provide different blocking, collecting, and redirecting patterns, allowing the user of lighting control device  100  to adjust the amount and direction of light that is blocked, collected, and redirected. Primary shield  102  can be constructed of any material, for instance anodized aluminum sheet metal. The inner surface of primary shield  102  can be reflective. Lighting control device  100  can also contain support arm  104 . Support arm  104  can be constructed of metal, plastic, for example heat-tolerant plastic, or any other desired material. Support arm  104  can be attached to primary shield  102  directly, through hinge  106 , or by any other desired attachment means. Lighting control device  100  can also contain socket attachment clamp  108 . Socket attachment clamp  108  can be adapted to engage and attach to the socket of a light fixture. Lighting control device  100  can also contain a bottom shield  110 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 2A  is an exemplary illustration of a side view of an exemplary embodiment of lighting control device  100  as installed in an exemplary light fixture.  FIG. 2B  illustrates a rear view of the same.  FIG. 2C  illustrates a front view of the same. Socket attachment clamp  108  can be attached to the fixture&#39;s socket  204 . Socket attachment clamp  108  can support support arm  104 , which can in turn support primary shield  102 . When primary shield  102  is in the operative position, as shown in  FIGS. 2A-C , it can reduce the amount of light projected upward by lamp  202  by collecting and redirecting this light as desired in a downward direction, for instance onto a sidewalk or roadway area. Primary shield  102  can be adjusted up, which can increase the amount of light that escapes upward and outward, or down, which can increase the amount of light redirected downward. Hinge  106  can allow primary shield  102  to be rotated rearward in order to allow lamp  202  to be installed in or removed from socket  2024   
         [0032]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  show illustrations of an exemplary embodiment of lighting control device  100  with an exemplary embodiment of an optional secondary shield  302  removably attached. Secondary shield  302  can block light that would previously have spilled laterally onto a property or home that may find this light undesirable. By blocking, collecting, and redirecting this light to a more useful or desired area, the fixture&#39;s overall efficiency can be increased. Secondary shield  302  can be constructed of any material, for example anodized aluminum sheet metal. The inner surface of secondary shield  302  can be reflective. Secondary shield  302  can be fitted to lighting control  100  by attaching to primary shield  102 , support arm  104 , hinge  106 , socket attachment clamp  108 , or in any other manner. Secondary shield  302  can be attached to lighting control device  100  with screws, snaps, hinges, or any other desired attachment method. Secondary shield  302  can be any size or shape, and can attach to lighting control device  100  at any angle. Different sizes and shapes of secondary shield  302  can provide different blocking and reflection patterns, allowing the user of lighting control device  100  to adjust the amount and direction of light that is blocked, collected, and redirected by lighting control device  100 . Secondary shield  302  can, for example, cover an angular range around the light fixture, for example ninety degrees, one-hundred-eighty degrees, two-hundred-seventy degrees, or any other desired range. The angle and position of secondary shield  302  can also be adjusted to regulate the amount and direction of light that is blocked, collected, and redirected by lighting control device  100 . For example, adjustment of secondary shield  302  may be made by way of a hinge, a slidable fitting coupled to primary shield  102  or any other desired manner of adjustment. 
         [0033]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of secondary shield  302  removably attached to an exemplary embodiment of lighting control device  100  as installed in an exemplary light fixture.  FIG. 4B  illustrates a rear view of the same.  FIG. 4C  illustrates a front view of the same. 
         [0034]      FIG. 5A  illustrates a front view and  FIG. 5B  illustrates a side view of another exemplary embodiment of lighting control device  100 . Lighting control device  100  can contain primary shield  502 . Primary shield  502  can reduce the amount of light projected upward by a light fixture&#39;s lamp by blocking the light emanated in an upward direction, and collecting and redirecting this light as desired in a downward direction, for instance onto a sidewalk or roadway area. Primary shield  502  can be a hemispherical dome or any other type of dome, or any other shape. Different sizes and shapes of primary shield  502  can provide different blocking, collecting, and redirecting patterns, allowing the user of lighting control device  100  to adjust the amount and direction of light that is blocked, collected, and redirected. Primary shield  502  can be constructed of any material, for instance anodized aluminum sheet metal. The inner surface of primary shield  502  can be reflective. Lighting control device  100  can also contain clamps  504 . Clamps  504  can be constructed of any material, for example metal wire or springs, or wire or springs made of a synthetic material, for example heat-tolerant plastic. Clamps  504  can be formed in any shape, for example ovals or circles. Clamps  504  can attach directly to the lamp of a light fixture and provide support for primary shield  502 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 6A  is an exemplary illustration of a side view of an exemplary embodiment of lighting control device  100  as installed in an exemplary light fixture.  FIG. 6B  illustrates a rear view of the same.  FIG. 6C  illustrates a front view of the same. Clamps  504  can be placed directly onto the fixture&#39;s lamp  602 , securing lighting control device in place by the force of friction provided by the squeezing action of Clamps  504 . Clamps  504  can support primary shield  502 . 
         [0036]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  show illustrations of an exemplary embodiment of lighting control device  100  with an exemplary embodiment of secondary shield  702  removably attached. Secondary shield  702  can block the light that would previously have spilled onto a property or home that finds this light undesirable. By blocking, collecting, and redirecting this light to a more useful area, the fixture&#39;s overall efficiency can be increased. Secondary shield  702  can be fitted to lighting control  100  by attaching to primary shield  502 , to clamps  504 , or in any other manner. Secondary shield  702  can be attached to lighting control device  100  with screws, snaps, hinges, or any other desired attachment method. Secondary shield  702  can be constructed of any material, for instance anodized aluminum sheet metal. The inner surface of secondary shield  702  can be reflective. Secondary shield  702  can be any size or shape, and can attach to lighting control device  100  at any angle. Different sizes and shapes of secondary shield  702  can provide different blocking and reflection patterns, allowing the user of lighting control device  100  to adjust the amount and direction of light that is blocked, collected, and redirected by lighting control device  100 . Secondary shield  702  can for instance, cover an angular range around the light fixture, for example ninety degrees, one-hundred-eighty degrees, two-hundred-seventy degrees, or any other desired range. The angle and position of secondary shield  702  can also be adjusted to regulate the amount and direction of light that is blocked, collected, and redirected by lighting control device  100 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 8A  illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of secondary shield  702  removably attached to an exemplary embodiment of lighting control device  100  as installed in an exemplary light fixture.  FIG. 8B  illustrates a rear view of the same.  FIG. 8C  illustrates a front view of the same. 
         [0038]      FIG. 9A  is an exemplary illustration of a front view of an exemplary embodiment of lighting control device  100  as installed in an exemplary light fixture.  FIG. 9B  illustrates a side view of the same. Primary shield  502  can be shaped to allow lamp  904  to extend through it when clamps  504  are secured to lamp  904 . This can allow primary shield  502  to block, collect, and redirect light as desired when socket  902  is oriented above lamp  904 , to one side of lamp  904 , or in any other orientation with respect to lamp  904 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 10A  illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of secondary shield  702  removably attached to an exemplary embodiment of lighting control device  100  as installed in an exemplary light fixture.  FIG. 10B  illustrates a rear view of the same.  FIG. 10C  illustrates a front view of the same. 
         [0040]    Lighting control device  100  can be attached to or used with any desired type of lighting fixture. According to certain embodiments, primary shields  102  and  502  need not be located above a light fixture, and can be oriented in any position in relation to the lamp of the light fixture to which they are attached, for instance on the side or underneath, in order to block collect, and redirect the light emanated in a desired pattern. Lighting control device  100  can be constructed of any desired material, for instance natural materials such as wood or stone, synthetic materials such as heat-tolerant plastic or rubber, or any type of metal. 
         [0041]    The foregoing description and accompanying drawings illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. 
         [0042]    Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.