Light bracket

A light bracket for mounting and supporting a light adjacent to a surface. Typically, the light bracket includes an elongate member configured to support the light and a first and a second locking arm, pivotally mounted at opposite ends of the elongate member. Typically, each of the arms includes an open position extending substantially perpendicular to the elongate member such that each of the arms is configured to mount to the surface and support the elongate member a distance from the surface. In addition, each of the arms typically is pivotable to a closed position extending substantially parallel to the elongate member such that a space is defined for the light between each of the arms and the elongate member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to lighting devices, and more particularly 
to a bracket for removably mounting a light to a display. 
Several qualities are desirable in light brackets used to removably mount a 
light to a surface. A removable light bracket should easily attach and 
detach from the surface to which it mounts. When attached, the light 
bracket should remain securely mounted, and should support the light in a 
fixed position and orientation in relation to the surface. When detached, 
the light bracket should become compact, so as to facilitate transport and 
storage. In the event that a light bulb breaks or bums out, a light 
bracket should allow the user to quickly and easily change bulbs. 
Several additional qualities are desirable when a light bracket is used to 
removably mount a light to a portable exhibit. A light bracket used with a 
portable exhibit should be portable. An exhibit is often moved from 
location to location by persons unfamiliar with its manner of assembly. 
Therefore, it is desirable that a light bracket used with an exhibit be 
easy to disassemble, pack, transport, unpack, and reassemble without loss 
or breakage. 
During disassembly, a single person, without the aid of a step stool or an 
instruction manual, should be able to detach the light bracket from the 
exhibit. During packing, it is desirable that the light bracket fold down 
to as compact a form as possible, and shield any fragile or sharp 
surfaces. During storage, it is desirable that the light bracket be able 
to stack in any orientation, boxed or unboxed. During unpacking it is 
desirable that the light bracket afford the user an area to grasp, away 
from fragile or sharp surfaces, to remove the device from its packaging. 
During assembly, it is desirable that the device be symmetrical, so that 
it is impossible to mount the device in an incorrect orientation. 
When a light bracket is used with an exhibit, it is desirable that the 
light bracket attach directly to the exhibit to save shipping costs and 
set up time that an external support device might require. To increase 
usable area inside the exhibit and to avoid unwanted collisions between 
exhibit goers and lighting devices, it is desirable that a light bracket 
mount on an outside wall, overhead, or in some other location inaccessible 
to exhibit goers. 
Several additional qualities are highly desirable when a light bracket is 
used to illuminate a display. A light bracket for a display desirably 
positions the light source to adequately illuminate the display. Adequate 
illumination of a display often requires that light be evenly distributed 
to the edges of the display and bright enough to make the display visible 
even in moderate ambient light. Further, a light bracket should be 
adjustable to support lights which illuminate displays of different sizes 
and shapes. 
Several additional qualities are highly desirable when a light bracket is 
used to backlight a display on a portable exhibit. The light bracket 
should position the light on the opposite side of the display from the 
viewer, so that the light shines in the direction of the back side of the 
display. The light should be diffuse so as not to cast any sharp shadow on 
the display in the event that an object comes between the light and the 
display. To minimize the space occupied by the display, it is also 
desirable that the light bracket be able to illuminate a display that is 
flush with the edges of the exhibit. 
Several problems exist with current removable light brackets. Many do not 
fold down, making them difficult to transport and store. Another problem 
with current removable light brackets is that they often do not protect 
their bulbs during shipping. Broken bulbs increase costs and frustrate 
exhibit owners. Lack of available replacement bulbs can result in an 
incomplete presentation and loss of business. 
Several additional problems exist with current removable light brackets 
tailored to backlight displays in portable exhibits. One problem is that 
these light brackets often attach to a freestanding support structure. It 
is desirable for a removable light bracket to utilize the exhibit frame 
for support. Because of the external support structure, current light 
brackets are often heavy and unable to fold down for storage. 
Another problem with these light brackets is that often they only provide 
support for point-sources of light, providing uneven illumination. Uneven 
illumination makes displays difficult to read and less effective in 
catching the eye of the customer. 
Yet another problem with these light brackets is that they often cannot 
support a light to backlight a panel that is flush with an interior wall 
of the exhibit. Many current light brackets resemble lightboxes, such as 
those used to view X-rays and slides. This type of device protrudes when 
hung from an exhibit wall. 
It is the object of the present invention to create a removable light 
bracket that provides support to a light which evenly illuminates a 
surface. It is a further goal of the present invention to create a light 
bracket that is quick and easy to assemble and disassemble, and which 
folds down to protect its light bulbs and become compact for storage. 
It is another object of the present invention to create an expandable light 
bracket that is able to mount to other units so that it can illuminate 
panels of varying sizes and shapes. 
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become 
more fully apparent as the description which follows is read in 
conjunction with the drawings. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention typically is in the form of a light bracket for 
mounting and supporting a light adjacent to a surface including the 
following components: (1) an elongate member configured to support the 
light; (2) a first and a second locking arm, pivotally mounted at opposite 
ends of the elongate member, each of the arms having an open position 
extending substantially perpendicular to the elongate member such that 
each of the arms is configured to mount to the surface and support the 
elongate member a distance from the surface, and each of the arms being 
pivotable to a closed position extending substantially parallel to the 
elongate member such that a space is defined for the light between each of 
the arms and the elongate member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Reference should now be made to FIGS. 1-5, which depict a preferred 
embodiment of the present invention. Light bracket 10 is symmetrical in 
two dimensions, so that the right side of the device mirrors the left and 
the bottom of the device mirrors the top. Additional views showing these 
other sides are not shown for the sake of brevity. 
As shown in FIG. 1, light bracket 10 includes an elongate member 12 and 
identical locking arms 14, 16 hinged at opposite ends of elongate member 
12. In a first, open position, locking arms 14, 16 mount to display 18 so 
that lights 20 mounted in fixtures 22 along the length of elongate member 
12 illuminate display 18. In a second, closed position, shown in FIG. 5, 
locking arms 14, 16 are substantially parallel to elongate member 12 to 
cover and protect lights 20. 
As shown in FIG. 2, locking arm 14 includes a pair of identical parallel 
panels 24, 26 connected by a bridging panel 28. Panel 24 is triangular in 
shape in the depicted embodiment, and includes an internal slot 30 that 
runs parallel to a proximate edge of panel 24 and a notch 32 that extends 
into panel 24 from the proximate edge. A first pin 34 extends through slot 
30 and attaches to elongate member 12, thereby forming a pin and slot 
hinge and hinging the locking arm 14 to elongate member 12. A shaft 34a 
(see FIGS. 3-5) of the first pin 34 is slightly smaller than the width of 
slot 30, allowing the first pin 34 to slide freely within slot 30. A cap 
34b of the first pin 34 is slightly larger than the width of slot 30 to 
prevent the first pin 34 from inadvertently dislodging from slot 30 and 
keeping panel 24 securely hinged to elongate member 12. Slot 30 includes a 
top end 30a and a bottom end 30b. In an alternative embodiment which is 
not depicted, slot 30 may also include an oversized hole of a diameter 
larger than cap 34b, so that locking arm 14 may be removed from the 
elongate member 12 when the oversized hole is positioned around the cap 
34b and the panels 24, 26 are biased away from the elongate member. 
A second pin 36 is attached to elongate member 12 at a distance toward the 
center of elongate member 12 from the first pin 34. While a variety of 
dimensions may be utilized, in the preferred embodiment the first pin is 
longitudinally displaced 5 cm and transversely displaced 0.75 cm along 
elongate member 12 from the second pin. The second pin alternately engages 
notch 32 or stop 38 of panel 24 when the locking arm 14 is in the open 
position or closed position, respectively. 
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a cantilevered button 40 is disposed at the 
distal end of locking arm 14. A first hook 42 is mounted to the 
cantilevered button 40 by a pair of pins 44. A frame 46 surrounds display 
18, and includes an outer lip 46a and an inner lip 46b. As shown in FIG. 
3, when locking arm 14 is in the open position and mounted to display 18, 
the first hook 42 engages the outer lip 46a of frame 46 of display 18. A 
radius 48 prevents panel 24 from rubbing against inner lip 46b when 
mounted. 
FIGS. 3-5 show locking arm 14 in an open position (FIG. 3), an intermediate 
position (FIG. 4), and a closed position (FIG. 5). In the open position, 
locking arm 14 extends outward from elongate member 12. The first pin 34 
rests at a top end 30a of slot 30, and the second pin 36 rests in notch 
32. In the preferred embodiment: pins 34, 36 screw down (here with an 
alien wrench--not shown) to further secure locking arm 14 in the open 
position. To move locking arm 14 from the open position to the closed 
position, pins 34, 36 are loosened, if necessary and hook 42 is disengaged 
from outer lip 46a by pushing the top of cantilevered button 40. Next, 
locking arm 14 is rotated counterclockwise relative to elongate member 12, 
as viewed in FIG. 4, until the second pin 36 is free of notch 32. Locking 
arm 14 is then slid outward until the first pin 34 comes to rest at a 
bottom end 30b of slot 30. From this position, locking arm 14 is rotated 
clockwise relative to elongate member 12 until stop 38 of panel 24 comes 
to rest against the second pin 36, as shown in FIG. 5. Pins 34, 36 screw 
down with an allen wrench to further secure locking arm 14 in the closed 
position. 
Light bracket 10 is typically used by sales and marketing representatives 
staffing exhibits at trade shows and conventions. Such a user will often 
first encounter light bracket 10 in its packaging. The user opens the 
packaging to find light bracket 10, compact and folded in the closed 
position, with locking arms 14, 16 protecting lights 20. A section of 
elongate member 12 between lights 20 affords the user a place to grasp the 
device to remove it from the box. Removing the device, the user discovers 
it is lightweight, normally constructed from aluminum and plastic 
materials. There are no loose parts to become lost or misplaced. No tools 
are required for assembly. An alien wrench optionally may be used for an 
extra degree of fastening, as described above. 
To open the light bracket and prepare it for mounting to display 18, the 
user first unscrews pins 34, 36, if necessary, and then rotates and slides 
locking arms 14, 16 from the closed position to the open position using 
the procedure described in detail above and shown in FIGS. 3-5. 
Once in the open position, the user can mount light bracket 10 to display 
18. The user mounts light bracket 10 to display 18 by positioning the hook 
42 of the first locking arm 16 on the inside edge of the outer lip 46a of 
frame 46, along the top edge of display 18. Once the first locking arm 14 
is engaged, the user can rotate the light bracket 10 while keeping 
pressure against the top of the frame 46 to engage the hook 40 of the 
second locking arm 16 with the outer lip 46a of frame 46 near the bottom 
of display 18. Once mounted, the user simply plugs the device into a 110 V 
electric outlet (not shown) and illuminates the display 18. 
The procedure for removal of light bracket 10 is the reverse of 
installation. 
Preferably, locking arms 14, 16 are made of plastic, such as ABS. 
Preferably elongate member 12 is made of aluminum. Preferably the device 
is powered by 110V alternating current. Alternatively, other forms of 
power may be used, including DC batteries and 220 V AC. The light bracket 
10 may be mounted in a vertical alignment, as in the preferred embodiment 
depicted in FIG. 1, or any other orientation, such as a horizontal 
alignment. 
FIGS. 6-9 show an embodiment of light bracket 10 including an elongate 
member 12 that includes two elongate members 12 coupled together by a 
coupling unit 50 to form a composite member 52. Coupling unit 50 is 
symmetrical so that the right side mirrors the left and the top end 
mirrors the bottom. 
As shown in FIG. 6, coupling unit 50 includes identical parallel panels 54 
linked together by a bridging panel 56. Coupling unit 50 defines a 
keyhole-shaped internal slot 58 including an elongate channel 58a and an 
oversized hole 58b at an outside end of slot 58. Coupling unit 50 also 
defines an L-shaped notch 60 including an elongate channel 60a and a 
recess 60b extending into panel 54 at right angles to elongate channel 60a 
at an inside end of notch 60. 
Coupling unit 50 mounts between two elongate members 12. To install 
coupling unit 50, the user positions the coupling unit 50 over an end of 
elongate member 12, so that the first pin 34 extends through the oversized 
hole 58b in slot 58 and the second pin 36 fits at the outside end of 
elongate channel 60a of notch 60, as shown in FIG. 7. The user next slides 
coupling unit 50 and elongate member 12 relative to each other so that the 
first pin 34 slides down slot 58 and comes to a rest at the end of 
elongate channel 58a. From this position, the user can rotate elongate 
member 12 into coupling unit 50 so that the second pin 36 fits snugly in 
recess 60b of notch 60, as shown in FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 9, 
installation of the coupling unit 50 increases the length of the light 
bracket 10, enabling the user to illuminate larger displays. 
The procedure for removal of elongate member 12 from coupling unit 50 is 
the reverse of installation. 
Various changes and modifications can be made to the preferred embodiment 
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
Those changes and modifications are to be encompassed within the claims 
that follow.