Lighting apparatus

A lighting apparatus includes a light housing, a base mount, an extension member, and a lighting arrangement. The light housing includes a first housing member moveably supported such that the first housing member is capable of rotating about a first longitudinal axis thereof, and a second housing member movably supported such that the second housing member is capable of rotating about a second longitudinal axis thereof. The lighting arrangement is provided in the light housing for forming a plurality of light sources of predetermined intensity, wherein when the first housing member and the second housing member are pivotally moved with respect to each other and rotatably moved about the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis respectively, the light sources are arranged to selectively and simultaneously provide illumination towards two illumination directions.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a lighting apparatus, and more particularly to a barbeque light in which a lighting arrangement is capable of generating different lighting effects for a wide variety of purposes.

2. Description of Related Arts

A conventional lighting apparatus, such as a conventional barbeque light, usually comprises a light housing, a base mount, an extension tube extended between the base mount and the light housing, and a plurality of illumination devices mounted in the light housing for providing illumination toward an area underneath the light housing. Very often, such a conventional barbeque light is used for providing illumination when a user is conducting barbeque activity, especially when this barbeque activity is conducted at night time and in outdoor environment. The light generated by this conventional barbeque light may be used by the user to inspect the food so as to ensure that all the food is completely cooked.

There are several disadvantages for this type of lighting apparatus. First, the light generated by the barbeque light can only be used for illuminating the area located underneath the light housing. While this arrangement is designed to provide illumination for the food, in some occasions however, people gathering around a barbeque spot may need light for other purposes. For example, the user may want to know what time it is. Since in the situation where the barbeque light is needed, there may not be enough light for the user to see his or her watch clearly. The user may move his or her arm near the barbeque rack so that he or she may see the watch by using the light illuminated by the barbeque light. However, this would mean the user's arm is moved to a location which is very close to the barbeque fire. This may harm the user's arm because it is a common phenomenon for a barbeque activity that the sparks or carbon particulates may come out from the charcoal used for cooking the food.

Second, even if the light housing can be designed to be capable of turning, the lighting apparatus itself cannot be used to perform several tasks. For example, when the light housing is turned so that the illumination devices face toward a user, while the light can be used to allow the user to see his or her watch, the illumination for the food may become attenuated so that other users cannot continue monitoring the conditions of the food. In other words, the light provided by the conventional lighting apparatus is primarily designed for performing a single task at one time. In other words, the conventional lighting apparatus can only provide a single source of light toward a predetermined direction as designed by the manufacturer thereof.

Because of these limitations, in practice, the lighting apparatus as described above is to be used for the designed purpose only. For example, the barbeque light as mentioned above will only be used for providing illumination during barbeque activities.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a lighting apparatus such as a barbeque light in which a lighting arrangement and a light housing are arranged to generate different lighting effects for a wide variety of purposes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lighting apparatus comprising a light housing which comprises a plurality of housing members, wherein the lighting arrangement is arranged to selectively generate illuminations in at least two different directions corresponding to different orientations of the housing members respectively.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lighting apparatus comprising a lighting arrangement which is capable of forming a plurality of light sources for accomplishing different objectives.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lighting apparatus in which a plurality of housing members are individually movable for providing illumination in different directions. In other words, the lighting apparatus of the present invention can be utilized for different purposes at the same time. For example, when the lighting apparatus is used as a barbeque light, one housing member may be used to provide illumination toward a food rack, while another housing member may be pivotally turned and rotated to provide illumination for a user to see his or her watch.

In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a lighting apparatus, comprising:

a light housing which comprises:

a first housing member moveably supported such that said first housing member is capable of rotating about a first longitudinal axis thereof; and

a second housing member movably supported such that said second housing member is capable of rotating about a second longitudinal axis thereof, wherein said second housing member is pivotally movable with respect to said first housing member;

a base mount;

an extension member extended between said light housing and said base mount; and

a lighting arrangement provided in said light housing for forming a plurality of light sources of predetermined intensity, wherein when said first housing member and said second housing member are pivotally moved with respect to each other and rotatably moved about said first longitudinal axis and said second longitudinal axis respectively, said light sources are arranged to selectively provide illumination towards two illumination directions corresponding to an orientation of said first housing member and said second housing member respectively.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the light housing further comprises a base housing member wherein the first housing member and the second housing member are pivotally mounted to the base housing member so that each of the first housing member and the second housing member are capable of pivotally moving with respect to the base housing member.

The base housing member comprises a top aesthetic member crafted and designed to form a predetermined pattern, and a base receiving member provided underneath the top aesthetic member for receiving the illuminators.

The base receiving member has a supporting portion and a protruded housing portion downwardly and integrally extended from the supporting base portion, wherein the illuminators are received in the housing portion for providing illumination toward a downward direction of the base housing member.

The lighting apparatus further comprises an operation switch, wherein the base receiving member further has an operation portion upwardly and integrally extended from a rear side of the supporting portion for accommodating the operation switch for controlling an operation of the lighting arrangement.

The top aesthetic member is overlappedly attached on a top side of the base receiving member and is aligned with the operation portion of the base receiving member for providing an aesthetic appearance to the lighting apparatus.

The first housing member is elongated in shape and has a first housing cavity and a first housing opening communicating the first housing cavity with an exterior of the first housing member, wherein the second housing member is elongated in shape and has a second first housing cavity and a second housing opening communicating the second housing cavity with an exterior of the second housing member, wherein the illuminators are also received in the first housing cavity and the second housing cavity, wherein the illumination generated by the corresponding illuminators propagates out of the first housing member and the second housing member through the first housing opening and the second housing opening respectively.

The light housing further comprises a first pivotal joint and a second pivotal joint mounted on two sides of the base housing member respectively, wherein the first housing member and the second housing member are mounted on the first pivotal joint and the second pivotal joint respectively so as to pivotally mount on the base housing member.

The first pivotal joint comprises a first joint body mounted on a side edge portion of the base receiving member of the base housing member, and a first connecting member rotatably mounted on the first joint body such that the first connecting member is capable of rotating about a longitudinal axis of the first joint body.

The second pivotal joint comprises a second joint body mounted on a side edge portion of the base receiving member of the base housing member at a position opposite to the first pivotal joint, and a second connecting member rotatably mounted on the second joint body such that the second connecting member is capable of rotating about a longitudinal axis of the second joint body.

The first connecting member has a first longitudinal portion rotatably connected to the first joint body, and a first transverse portion transversely extended from the first longitudinal portion and is rotatably connected to the first housing member.

The second connecting member has a second longitudinal portion rotatably connected to the second joint body, and a second transverse portion transversely extended from the second longitudinal portion and is rotatably connected to the second housing member.

Furthermore, the first housing member and the second housing member are shaped and sized to form a first clearance and a second clearance defined between a top surface of the first housing member and the supporting portion of the base receiving member, and between the second housing member and the supporting portion of the base receiving member respectively, wherein the first clearance and the second clearance allow the first housing member and the second housing member to be slightly and outwardly rotated about their longitudinal axis respectively even when the first housing member and the second housing member are not pivotally moved away from the base receiving member.

On the other hand, the lighting arrangement further comprises a control circuitry mounted in the light housing and is electrically connected to the illuminators and the operation switch, wherein control circuitry is programmed to control an illumination pattern of the illuminators so that the illuminators received in the first housing member, the second housing member and the base receiving member are arranged to be controlled to generate different lighting effects.

The first housing member has a first top surface which is curved for forming the first clearance, wherein the second housing member has a second top surface which is also curved for forming the second clearance.

The lighting arrangement further comprises a battery tray mounted between the top aesthetic member and the base receiving member, wherein the battery tray is adapted for detachably receiving at least one battery for providing power for the illuminators.

Thus, the top aesthetic member is movably and detachably mounted on the base receiving member for selectively exposing the battery tray to an exterior of the light housing so as to allow a user to replace the battery disposed in the battery tray.

On the other hand, the extension member is designed to have a predetermined flexibility and is extended between the base mount and the light housing in such a manner that a user is able to adjust a position of the light housing by slightly deforming a shape of the extension member.

The base mount comprises a clamping base provided at a lower end portion of the extension member, wherein the clamping base has an elongated longitudinal portion longitudinally extended from the lower end portion of the extension member, a first transverse portions transversely and spacedly extended from an upper end of the longitudinal portion, and a second transverse portion transversely extended from a lower end of the longitudinal portion and is positioned to be spacedly apart from the first transverse portion so as to constitute a substantially U-shaped cross sectional shape, and define a clamping cavity formed between the elongated longitudinal portion, the first transverse portion, and the second transverse portion, wherein the clamping base further has a through clamping hole formed on the second transverse portion, wherein the clamping hole is threaded on a sidewall thereof.

The base mount further comprises a mounting shaft arranged to threadedly engage with the threaded sidewall of the clamping hole, in such a manner that when the mounting shaft is rotated, the mounting shaft is arranged to vertically move along a longitudinal direction of the base mount.

The above mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly described and shown in the following detailed description, drawings, and the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIG. 1,FIG. 2A,FIG. 2B, andFIG. 3toFIG. 7of the drawings, a lighting apparatus, such as a barbeque light, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, in which the lighting apparatus comprises a light housing10comprising a first housing member11and a second housing member12, a base mount20, an extension member30extended between the light housing10and the base mount20, and a lighting arrangement40.

The first housing member11is moveably supported such that the first housing member11is capable of rotating about a first longitudinal axis thereof. Similarly, the second housing member12is movably supported such that the second housing member12is capable of rotating about a second longitudinal axis thereof, wherein the second housing member12is pivotally movable with respect to the first housing member11.

The lighting arrangement40is provided in the light housing10for forming a plurality of light sources of predetermined intensity, wherein when the first housing member11and the second housing member12are pivotally moved with respect to each other and rotatably moved about the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis respectively, the light sources are arranged to selectively provide illumination towards two illumination directions corresponding to an orientation of the first housing member11and the second housing member respectively12. When the illumination propagates along different orientations, different lighting effects are thereby generated to accomplish different practical purposes.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lighting arrangement40comprises a plurality of illuminators41received in the light housing10for providing illumination to generate the different lighting effects as mentioned above.

On the other hand, the light housing10further comprises a base housing member13wherein the first housing member11and the second housing member12are pivotally mounted to the base housing member13so that each of the first housing member11and the second housing member12are capable of pivotally moving with respect to the base housing member13and with respect to each other.

More specifically, the base housing member13comprises a top aesthetic member131crafted and designed to form a predetermined pattern such as a bug-like aesthetic appearance, and a base receiving member132provided underneath the top aesthetic member131for receiving the illuminators41. As shown inFIG. 2of the drawings, the base receiving member132has a supporting portion1321and a protruded housing portion1322downwardly and integrally extended from the supporting base portion1321, wherein the illuminators41are received in the housing portion1322for providing illumination toward a downward direction of the base housing member13. Thus, the base receiving member132further has a housing opening1323formed on the housing portion1322, wherein the illumination generated by the illuminators41is arranged to reach an exterior of the base housing member13through the housing opening1323.

Furthermore, the base receiving member132further has an operation portion1324upwardly and integrally extended from a rear side of the supporting portion1321, for accommodating an operation switch50of the present invention. In other words, the portable charger kit further comprises the operation switch50provided on the operation portion1324of the base receiving member132for controlling an operation of the lighting arrangement40.

The top aesthetic member131is overlappedly attached on a top side of the base receiving member132and is aligned with the operation portion1324of the base receiving member132for providing an aesthetic appearance to the lighting apparatus as a whole. The top aesthetic member131, however, is not only utilized for aesthetic purpose. Rather, it can also protect the base receiving member132and the first housing member11and the second housing member12so as to ensure that the electrical components of the present invention are well accommodated and protected.

The first housing member11is elongated in shape and has a first housing cavity111and a first housing opening112communicating the first housing cavity111with an exterior of the first housing member11. On the other hand, the second housing member12is also elongated in shape and has a second first housing cavity121and a second housing opening122communicating the second housing cavity121with an exterior of the second housing member12. The corresponding illuminators41are received in the first housing cavity111and the second housing cavity121, wherein the illumination propagates out of the first housing member11and the second housing member12through the first housing opening112and the second housing opening122respectively.

Furthermore, the light housing10further comprises a plurality of illuminator covers17mounted at the first housing opening112, the second housing opening122, and the housing opening1323of the base receiving member132respectively for protecting the illuminators41received in the first housing11, the second housing12, and the base receiving member132.

The extension member30is designed to have a predetermined flexibility and is extended between the base mount20and the light housing10in such a manner that a user is able to adjust the position of the light housing10by slightly deforming a shape of the extension member30.

The base mount20comprises a clamping base21provided at a lower end portion31of the extension member30, and has an elongated longitudinal portion211longitudinally extended from the lower end portion31of the extension member30, a first transverse portions212transversely and spacedly extended from an upper end of the longitudinal portion211, and a second transverse portion213transversely extended from a lower end of the longitudinal portion211and is positioned to be spacedly apart from the first transverse portion212so as to constitute a substantially U-shaped cross sectional shale on the part of the clamping base21and a clamping cavity215formed between the elongated longitudinal portion211, the first transverse portion212, and the second transverse portion213. Moreover, the clamping base21further has a through clamping hole214formed on the second transverse portion213. In this preferred embodiment, the clamping hole214is threaded on a sidewall thereof.

In order to mount the lighting apparatus onto an external object, the base mount20further comprises a mounting shaft22arranged to threadedly engage with the threaded sidewall of the clamping hole214. Thus, by rotating the mounting shaft22, the mounting shaft22is arranged to vertically move along a longitudinal direction of the base mount20.

Accordingly, the mounting shaft22further has a lower turning handle221and an enlarged upper clamping end222formed thereon, wherein when an external object is placed in the clamping cavity215, the user is able to turn and mounting shaft22through by turning the lower turning handle221so as to move the upper clamping end222upwardly along the clamping cavity215until the upper clamping end222biases against the external object so as to mount the lighting apparatus onto that external object.

As shown inFIG. 1,FIG. 2AtoFIG. 2Bof the drawings, the light housing10further comprises a first pivotal joint14and a second pivotal joint15mounted on two sides of the base housing member13respectively, wherein the first housing member11and the second housing member12are mounted on the first pivotal joint14and the second pivotal joint15respectively so as to pivotally mount on the base housing member13.

More specifically, the first pivotal joint14comprises a first joint body141mounted on a side edge portion of the base receiving member132of the base housing member13, and a first connecting member142rotatably mounted on the first joint body141such that the first connecting member142is capable of rotating about a longitudinal axis of the first joint body141. As shown inFIG. 2AandFIG. 2Bof the drawings, the first joint body141is tubular in structure and has substantially circular cross sectional area.

Similarly, the second pivotal joint15comprises a second joint body151mounted on a side edge portion of the base receiving member132of the base housing member13at a position opposite to the first pivotal joint14, and a second connecting member152rotatably mounted on the second joint body151such that the second connecting member152is capable of rotating about a longitudinal axis of the second joint body151. As shown inFIG. 2AandFIG. 2Bof the drawings, the second joint body151is also tubular in structure and has substantially circular cross sectional area.

On the other hand, the first connecting member142has a first longitudinal portion1421rotatably connected to the first joint body141, and a first transverse portion1422transversely extended from the first longitudinal portion1421and is rotatably connected to the first housing member11. Thus, the first housing member11can be rotated with respect to the first transverse portion1422(i.e. about a longitudinal axis of the first housing member11). Moreover, since the first connecting member142is rotatably mounted to the first joint body141, the first housing member11, being connected to the first connecting member142, is also rotatable with respect to the first joint body141(i.e. about a longitudinal axis of the first joint body141).

Similarly, the second connecting member152has a second longitudinal portion1521rotatably connected to the second joint body151, and a second transverse portion1522transversely extended from the second longitudinal portion1521and is rotatably connected to the second housing member12. Thus, the second housing member12can be rotated with respect to the second transverse portion1522(i.e. about a longitudinal axis of the second housing member12). Moreover, since the second connecting member152is rotatably mounted to the second joint body151, the second housing member12, being connected to the second connecting member152, is also rotatable with respect to the second joint body151(i.e. about a longitudinal axis of the second joint body151).

In this preferred embodiment, an external contour of an outer peripheral edge of the top aesthetic member131is designed and crafted to be substantially the same as the outer peripheral contour of the first housing member11and the second housing member12and the base receiving member132so that when the first housing member11and the second housing member12are pivotally moved to align with the base receiving member132, the top aesthetic member131is arranged to fittedly overlap on the first housing member11, the base receiving member132and the second housing member12. As such, the aesthetic appearance of the top aesthetic member131is imparted to the entire light housing10.

From the above description, it can be appreciated that by pivotally and rotatably moving the first housing member11and the second housing member12, different lighting effects can be created so that the present invention is capable of generating illumination in more than one orientation at the same time. As a result, the lighting apparatus can accomplish different lighting objective at the same time.

For example, as shown inFIG. 1of the drawings, when the first housing member11, the second housing member12and the base receiving member132are aligned with each other, the illumination generated from the illuminators41point in substantially the same orientation (i.e. pointing downwardly with respect to the light housing10in normal circumstances). The intensity of the illumination generated by the light apparatus is at the maximum because all the illuminators41point toward a single orientation. When the lighting apparatus is used as a barbeque light, the light generated from the light housing10may be used to illuminate the food placed on a barbeque food rack.

As shown inFIG. 4of the drawings, when the first housing member11and the second housing member12are pivotally moved away from the base receiving member132, the illumination area under the light housing10is increased to an extent which is proportional to the angles of inclination between the first housing member11and the base receiving member132, and between the second housing member12and the base receiving member132. In this illumination pattern, although the light intensity of the illumination generated by the light housing10is slightly decreased when compared with the illumination pattern mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the illumination area increases accordingly. So this illumination pattern is suitable when users wish to have a wider or larger area of illumination. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the first housing member11and the second housing member12can be pivotally moved away from the base receiving member132to form an angle of inclination between 0 degree and approximately 170 degrees.

As shown inFIG. 3of the drawings, when either one (or both) of the first housing member11or the second housing member12rotates about a longitudinal axis thereof, the illuminating orientation changes substantially. In this scenario, the illuminators41received in the first housing member11or the second housing member12point toward an orientation which corresponds to the orientation of the first housing member11or the second housing member12. For example, the first housing member11may be rotated in a direction which is away from the base receiving member132(i.e. outwardly rotated) so that the light generated by the illuminators41received in the first housing member11can be used to illuminate objects positioned at a corresponding side of the lighting apparatus. When the lighting apparatus is used as a barbeque light, this side illumination can be used to provide light to the user for, say, seeing his or her watch. It is important to mention here is that while the first housing member11or the second housing member12(or both) are rotated to provide side illumination to users of the present invention, the illuminators41received in the base receiving member132can still be used to provide light under the light housing10. In other words, the lighting apparatus is capable of simultaneously providing illumination to many different orientations.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the first housing member11and the second housing member12are capable of rotating about the corresponding longitudinal axis for 360 degrees.

In order to further increase the lighting effect of the present invention, the lighting arrangement40further comprises a control circuitry42mounted in the light housing10and is electrically connected to the illuminators41and the operation switch50. The control circuitry42can be programmed to control the illumination pattern of the illuminators41so that the illuminators41received in the first housing member11, the second housing member12and the base receiving member132can be controlled to generate different lighting effects. For example, the illuminators41received in the first housing member11can be controlled to blink at a predetermined frequency.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the illuminator covers17is transparent so as to allow the light to come out from the first housing member11, the second housing member12, and the base receiving member132. However, the illuminator covers17can also be made to have other colors or imparted with aesthetic patterns so as to further enhance the lighting effect of the present invention. Thus, while the lighting apparatus of the present invention is best used as a barbeque light, it can also be used to illuminator other objects and used in different circumstances, such as used as a book light.

Moreover, as shown inFIG. 6toFIG. 7of the drawings, the first housing member11and the second housing member12are shaped and sized to form a first clearance114and a second clearance124defined between a top surface of the first housing member11and the supporting portion1321of the base receiving member132, and between the second housing member12and the supporting portion1321of the base receiving member132respectively. These clearances114,124allow the first housing member11and the second housing member12to slightly and outwardly rotate about their longitudinal axis respectively even when they are not pivotally moved away from the base receiving member132.

In order to further facilitate these features, the first housing member11has a first top surface113which is curved for forming the first clearance114. Similarly, the second housing member12has a second top surface123which is also curved for forming the second clearance124.

Referring toFIG. 2AandFIG. 2Bof the drawings, the lighting apparatus of the present invention preferably utilizes disposable or rechargeable batteries as a power source for operating the illuminators41. More specifically, the lighting arrangement40further comprises a battery tray43mounted between the top aesthetic member131and the base receiving member132, wherein the battery tray43is adapted for receiving at least one battery, such as a Ni—MH disposable battery or other suitable rechargeable battery, for providing power for the illuminators41. Thus, the battery tray43is electrically connected to the control circuitry42so that it can manage and control the power delivered to the illuminators41. Alternatively, it is worth mentioning that the lighting apparatus can also utilize AC as a power source. In such a scenario, the lighting apparatus is electrically connected to an external AC power source for acquiring electricity for operating the illuminators41.

Accordingly, the top aesthetic member131is movably mounted on the base receiving member132for selectively exposing the battery tray43to an exterior of the light housing10so as to allow a user to replace the battery disposed in the battery tray43. A locking member44is provided at a front end portion of the top aesthetic member131for selectively locking the aesthetic member131on the base receiving member132.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is illustrative only and not intended to be limiting. All embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.