Carrying handle for an automated moving-mirror luminaire

A luminaire includes a mirror, a housing, and a carrying handle. The mirror is configured to controllably deflect a light beam emitted from the luminaire. The housing has a mirror end at which the mirror is located. The carrying handle is located at the mirror end of the housing and is configured to cause the luminaire to hang substantially vertically when supported by the carrying handle.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure generally relates to automated luminaires, and more specifically to a carrying handle for an automated moving-mirror luminaire.

BACKGROUND

Luminaires with automated and remotely controllable functionality (referred to as automated luminaires) are well known in the entertainment and architectural lighting markets. Such products are commonly used in theatres, television studios, concerts, theme parks, night clubs, and other venues. A typical product will provide control over pan and tilt functions of the luminaire, allowing an operator to control a direction the luminaire is pointing and thus a position of its light beam on a stage or in a studio. This position control is typically performed using one of two alternative systems. In one system, by mounting the luminaire head in a yoke that allows control of the head's position in two orthogonal rotational axes (referred to as a moving-yoke luminaire). In another system, by directing a light beam from a stationary luminaire via a mirror that can be tilted and rotated to controllably deflect the light beam (referred to as a moving-mirror luminaire). Automated luminaires are often installed for a first show and then relocated and installed again for a second show. Thus, it is desirable to improve convenience in installing, moving, hand-carrying, and transporting automated luminaires from show to show—or venue to venue.

Automated moving-mirror luminaires can be awkward to transport or hand-carry. The mirror is fragile and needs to be protected while the luminaire is being moved or otherwise handled, but such protection should not interfere with mirror motion while the luminaire is in use. Additionally, the center of gravity of a moving-mirror luminaire is typically towards the rear of the luminaire, away from the mirror.

Some moving-mirror luminaire carrying handles have been located on a rear or lateral side of the luminaire, which causes unsteady handling relative to the center of gravity. Further, such carrying handle positioning precludes setting the fixture down vertically on the floor on rear-mounted feet. For other moving-mirror luminaires, a suspension yoke of the luminaire may be used as a grip for handling. However, suspension yokes are often sharp edged, positioned in an unknown relationship to the center of gravity, and the yoke pivot point may not be secured to the luminaire housing, causing the luminaire to swing unexpectedly when lifted by the yoke.

SUMMARY

A luminaire includes a mirror, a housing, and a carrying handle. The mirror is configured to controllably deflect a light beam emitted from the luminaire. The housing has a mirror end at which the mirror is located. The carrying handle is located at the mirror end of the housing and is configured to cause the luminaire to hang substantially vertically when supported by the carrying handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Preferred embodiments are illustrated in the figures, like numerals being used to refer to like and corresponding parts of the various drawings.

The disclosure generally relates to a carrying handle for an automated moving-mirror luminaire. The handle is located on a side of the luminaire at the end adjacent to the mirror, away from the center of gravity. Such positioning provides a stable carrying position with the luminaire hanging almost vertically from the handle with its center of gravity below the handle. The handle's location also facilitates both removal from and insertion into a road case, as well as setting the fixture on the ground on rear mounted feet. The handle provides a safe and comfortable handling position, in contrast to carrying the luminaire by its suspension yoke.

The handle may alternately be situated on the end of the luminaire at the end adjacent to the mirror. Such positioning provides a stable carrying position with the luminaire hanging vertically, and also facilitates both removal from and insertion into a road case, as well as setting the fixture on the ground on rear mounted feet. Either handle provides a safe and comfortable handling position such that a unit can be safely held and carried in one hand.

FIG. 1presents a side view of an automated moving-mirror luminaire100according to the disclosure. The luminaire100comprises a housing104that, when installed, is supported by a suspension yoke106that pivots around a pivot point108and is clamped into position through a locking knob110. A center of gravity of the luminaire100is close to the rotational axis of the pivot point108. A light beam from an internal light source (not shown) is emitted from the housing104through a lens105and impinges on a mirror112located at a mirror end of the housing104. Using the mirror112, the light beam is controllably deflected to position the light beam as desired by a user. The housing104further includes a foot114located on a foot end face130of the housing104at a foot end of the housing104. The foot114allows the luminaire100to rest stably on the floor in a vertical orientation, i.e., with the mirror end of the housing104upwards.

In some embodiments, the foot114is a single foot, shaped for example in a partial or complete loop to provide a stable base on which the luminaire100rests. In other embodiments, the foot114is a plurality of individual feet elements that provide the stable base. The foot114shown inFIG. 1is one of two linear foot elements, the view of the second foot element being occluded by the visible foot element indicated by reference character114.

A carrying handle102is positioned on a side of the housing104, close to a mirror end face120of the housing104(which is opposite the foot end face130of the housing104), such that the carrying handle102is distant from the pivot point108and the center of gravity. The carrying handle102is located on a side of the luminaire100opposite the opening (“mirror opening”) through which the mirror112reflects light from the luminaire100. A carrying handle102ais provided in another embodiment according to the disclosure. The carrying handle102ais shown and described with reference toFIG. 2.

When the user lifts the luminaire100by carrying handle102, the user is aware that the center of gravity is near the pivot point108and expects the luminaire100to pivot (as needed) around the carrying handle102to hang substantially vertically with the center of gravity below the carrying handle102. Because the luminaire100is hanging substantially vertically, the luminaire100may be carried in a comfortable and stable way at the user's side. When the luminaire100is lowered to the floor, the feet114contact the floor and the luminaire rotates (as needed) to rest vertically in a stable way on the feet114. Furthermore, using the carrying handle102, the user may carry one automated moving-mirror luminaire100in each hand in a comfortable manner.

FIG. 2presents an orthogonal detail view of a portion of the automated moving-mirror luminaire100shown inFIG. 1. Further visible in this figure is a recess103in the housing104under or adjacent to the carrying handle102. The recess103is configured to reduce contact between the user's fingers and hand and the housing104when the user is grasping the carrying handle102in either the vertical and horizontal orientation. Contact between the user's fingers and hand and the housing104is reduced relative to contact experienced when grasping the carrying handle102of a luminaire100without a recess103. The recess103is optional, however, because in other embodiments, the carrying handle102arcs father from the side of the housing104than is shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. The greater arc of the carrying handle102in such embodiments reduces contact between the user's fingers and hand and the housing104without the use of a recess such as the recess103.

In another embodiment according to the disclosure, an aperture is formed in the mirror end face120of the housing104to create a carrying handle102a. As with the carrying handle102, when the user lifts the luminaire100by carrying handle102a, the luminaire100pivots (as needed) around the carrying handle102aand hangs substantially vertically. The luminaire100may then be carried in a comfortable and stable way at the user's side. The luminaire100may be lowered to the floor, to rest vertically in a stable way on the feet114. And, the user may carry one automated moving-mirror luminaire in each hand in a comfortable manner using the carrying handle102a.

FIG. 3presents a side view of a second automated moving-mirror luminaire200according to the disclosure. Luminaire200comprises a housing204that, when installed, is supported by a suspension yoke206, which rotates around a pivot point208and is clamped into position using a locking knob210. A center of gravity of the luminaire200is close to the rotational axis of the pivot point208. Light from an internal light source (not shown) exits the housing204through a lens205and impinges on mirror212, from whence it is controllably deflected to position the light beam as desired by the user. The automated moving-mirror luminaire200further includes feet214located on a foot end face230of the housing204at a foot end of the housing204. The feet214allow the luminaire to be set on the ground vertically, with the mirror212upwards. A carrying handle202is positioned on a mirror end face220of the housing204at the mirror end of the housing204and opposite the foot end face230of the housing204, such that the carrying handle202is distant from the pivot point208and the center of gravity.

The carrying handle202is oriented transversely to the opening through which the mirror212reflects light. The carrying handle202is configured to cause the luminaire200to hang vertically when carried. In other embodiments, the carrying handle202may be offset from the center of gravity and the luminaire200carried substantially vertically, as described with reference to carrying handles102and102a, shown inFIGS. 1 and 2.

In some embodiments, a recess (similar to the recess103described with reference toFIG. 2) may be provided under the carrying handle202.

When the user lifts the luminaire200by the carrying handle202, the user expects the luminaire200to hang vertically from the carrying handle202. Because the luminaire200is hanging vertically, the luminaire200may be carried in a comfortable and stable way at the user's side, and may easily be set onto the floor vertically, resting in a stable way on the feet214. The carrying handle202is configured to allow a user to carry one automated moving-mirror luminaire in each hand in a comfortable manner.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “substantially vertically” is defined as within +/−30° of vertical with the mirror end of the luminaire at the top and the foot end of the luminaire at the bottom. A handle of an automated moving-mirror luminaire according to the disclosure is defined as “at” or “near” the mirror end of the housing of the luminaire when the handle is configured to cause the luminaire to hang substantially vertically when supported by the handle.

While the disclosure has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments may be devised which do not depart from the scope of the disclosure herein. While the disclosure has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.