Multi-positional bar shaped light

A multi-positional bar shaped light assembly includes a rear housing defining an interior and an open front. The housing further has a rear wall defining two identical sets of mounting holes therethrough, one at a midpoint of the housing and a second set at one end of the housing. The second set being oriented at a right angle with respect to the first set. A printed circuit assembly is mounted within the rear housing and includes a plurality of linearly aligned light emitting diodes arranged thereon oriented to emit light through the open front of the rear housing. A reflector has an open back and is mounted to the printed circuit assembly, and a translucent lens is attached to the rear housing at the open front. A support stand is affixed to the rear housing at one of the first and second sets of mounting holes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Lighting has always been a necessity of everyday life. Throughout history, mankind has desired to illuminate the dark. Wood fires built on the ground, candles, oil lamps, gas lamps and others have been an evolutionary progression through the ages. With the advent of electricity and the invention of the incandescent light bulb in the late 19thcentury our quest for perpetual light was solved. Mankind no longer needed to stumble in the dark with the introduction of a variety of incandescent lighting devices.

Other than the introduction of neon and fluorescent lighting, innovation in the lighting world largely revolved around various applications of the incandescent light. Colored lights were the result of using colored glass for the bulb or of a colored coating to the lightbulb. However, the use of incandescent lightbulbs was limited by their relatively inefficient use of electricity resulting in a significantly high thermal signature. Incandescent lights were thus typically relegated to provide white light for general usage. For the most part, decorative lighting was limited to strings of incandescent lights, either white or colored, placed where the heat signature was of minimal consequence.

The latter part of the 20th century and early 21stcentury saw the development and introduction the light-emitting diode (LED). An LED is much more efficient in its usage of electricity thus reducing its size and thermal signature relative to an incandescent light and is thus more adaptable to a variety of applications. We have now seen the incandescent light bulb being replaced by the LED light bulb and with the ability of LEDs to now emit a variety of colors their use has penetrated almost every aspect of everyday life. The efficiency and low cost of LEDs now make possible lighting devices which are affordable to both purchase and operate and are readily adaptable for decorative purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, a multi-positional bar shaped light assembly comprises a rear elongate housing having a width greater than a height. The housing defines an interior and an open front, and further has a rear wall defining two identical sets of mounting holes therethrough, a first set at a midpoint of the rear housing width and a second set at one end of the rear housing at a midpoint of the rear housing height. The second set is oriented at a right angle with respect to the first set. A light emitting assembly is positioned and mounted within the rear housing and oriented to emit light through the open front of the rear housing. A support stand is affixed to the rear housing at one of the first and second sets of mounting holes.

In another aspect, the support stand includes a support base having a planar bottom surface and a stand support affixed to an opposite surface thereto, the support base and the support base are arranged at right angles one to the other. The stand support further defines a set of holes in a pattern identical to the first and second set of mounting holes defined in the rear elongate housing.

In a further aspect, the elongate housing is horizontally oriented when the support stand is affixed to the elongate housing utilizing the first set of mounting holes.

In an additional aspect, the elongate housing is vertically oriented when the support stand is affixed to the elongate housing using the second set of mounting holes.

In yet another aspect, the elongate housing further defines a cord recess formed therein such that an electrical cord providing electrical power to the light assembly is received in the cord recess and positionally maintained in the cord recess by the stand support structure.

In still a further aspect, the stand support is affixed to the elongate housing utilizing threaded fasteners.

In still another aspect, the housing further includes nuts embedded in the housing structure and in line with the mounting holes for receiving the threaded fasteners to secure the elongate housing to the support stand.

In a further aspect, the support base defines at least one hole therethrough, the hole for facilitating attachment of the support stand to a selected one of a vertical wall surface and a ceiling surface.

In still a further aspect, the stand support further defines an aperture therethrough for passage of an electrical cord providing electrical power to the light assembly.

In yet another aspect, a multi-positional bar shaped light assembly comprises a rear elongate housing having a width greater than a height. The housing defines an interior and an open front. The housing further has a rear wall defining two identical sets of mounting holes therethrough, wherein a first set is positioned at a midpoint of the rear housing width and a second set at one end of the rear housing at a midpoint of the rear housing height. The second set is oriented at a right angle with respect to the first set. A printed circuit assembly is positioned and mounted within the rear housing and includes a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged thereon and oriented to emit light through the open front of the rear housing. An electrical power cord extends through the rear elongate housing at a midpoint thereof and is electrically connected to the printed circuit assembly. A translucent lens is attached to the rear housing at the open front. A support stand is affixed to the rear housing at one of the first and second sets of mounting holes. The support stand includes a support base having a planar bottom surface and a stand support affixed to an opposite surface thereto. The support base and the stand support are arranged at right angles one to the other. The stand support further defines a set of holes in a pattern identical to the first and second set of mounting holes in the rear elongate housing.

In another aspect, the elongate housing is horizontally oriented with respect to the support base when the support stand is affixed to the elongate housing utilizing the first set of mounting holes.

In still another aspect, the stand support further defines an aperture therethrough for passage of the electrical cord providing electrical power to the light assembly.

In yet another aspect, the elongate housing is vertically oriented with respect to the support base when the support stand is affixed to the elongate housing using the second set of mounting holes.

In a still further aspect, the elongate housing defines a cord recess formed therein such that the electrical cord providing electrical power to the light assembly is received in the cord recess and positionally maintained in the cord recess by the stand support structure.

In another aspect, the stand support is affixed to the elongate housing utilizing threaded fasteners.

In a yet a further aspect, the housing includes nuts embedded in the housing structure and in line with the mounting holes for receiving the threaded fasteners to secure the elongate housing to the support stand.

In an additional aspect, the support base defines at least one hole therethrough, the hole for facilitating attachment of the support stand to a selected one of a vertical wall surface and a ceiling surface.

In another aspect a multi-positional bar shaped light assembly comprises a rear elongate housing having a width greater than a height. The housing defines an interior and an open front and has a rear wall defining two identical sets of mounting holes therethrough, a first set at a midpoint of the rear housing width and a second set at one end of the rear housing at a midpoint of the rear housing height. The second set is oriented at a right angle with respect to the first set. A printed circuit assembly is positioned and mounted within the rear housing and includes a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged thereon and oriented to emit light through the open front of the rear housing. An electrical power cord extends through the rear elongate housing at a midpoint thereof and is electrically connected to the printed circuit assembly. A translucent lens is attached to the rear housing at the open front. A support stand is selectively affixed to the rear housing at one of the first and second sets of mounting holes wherein the support stand includes a support base having a planar bottom surface and a stand support affixed to an opposite surface thereto. The support base and the stand support are arranged at right angles one to the other. The rear housing, when affixed to the support stand utilizing the first set of mounting holes, assumes a first orientation, and the rear housing, when affixed to the support stand utilizing the second set of mounting holes, assumes a second orientation at a right angle with respect to the first orientation.

In an additional aspect, the elongate housing further defines a cord recess formed between a first and a second mounting holes of the second set of mounting holes such that the electrical cord providing electrical power to the light assembly is received in the cord recess and positionally maintained in the cord recess by the stand support structure when the support stand is affixed to the rear housing utilizing the second set of mounting holes.

In a further aspect the support base defines at least one hole therethrough, the hole for facilitating attachment of the support stand to a selected one of a vertical wall surface and a ceiling surface.

Further embodiments and features of the invention will become apparent in conjunction with the detailed description of the inventions and their preferred embodiments provided hereafter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now to the drawings, and in particular,FIGS. 1-7, wherein one embodiment of the invention presents an elongate bar shaped light assembly120having a rear housing140comprising a shell146having a width greater than a height and including a rear wall148. A bezel160is affixed to a front portion of the rear housing140at a front periphery of the shell146utilizing the engagement of assembly tabs164to secure the bezel160to the rear housing140. The bezel160defines an opening162into an interior of the rear housing140. A translucent lens170is affixed to the bezel160whereby tabs172at a periphery of translucent lens170engage a lip174at opening162of the bezel160.

Rear wall148of housing140defines therethrough a power cord aperture149through which power cord122passes to the interior of the rear housing140. The rear wall148also defines a first set of horizontal mounting holes144at a lateral midpoint of the rear housing140for the attachment of a support stand110to support the light assembly120in a horizontal orientation. The rear wall148further defines a second set of mounting holes145oriented at a right angle to the first set of holes144to support the light assembly120in a vertical orientation. An interior portion of the housing140structure defining the mounting holes144,145receives at each mount hole location a pem-nut124press fit therein. The housing140also includes in an interior thereof a plurality of ribs150affixed to the rear wall148and further defining a plurality of mounting holes154and locating pins152extending forwardly therefrom to facilitate the mounting of a printed circuit assembly180. Ribs150provide a surface for supporting the printed circuit assembly180thereon.

Printed circuit assembly180includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs)184,185thereon. The LEDs184,185are oriented so that light emitted therefrom is directed through the front opening of the housing140. The LEDs184are multi-color LEDs and the LEDs185are cool white LEDs to provide the user with a selectable range of whites and colors. The printed wiring assembly180further includes a plurality of resistors183connected in series with the LEDs184,185to facilitate the proper functioning of the LEDs184,185. The printed circuit assembly180includes a plurality of mount holes186,186awherein the hole186ais slightly elongated to compensate for tolerance buildup. The mount holes186,186acorrespond to the position of the mount holes154in the rear housing140. In like manner, the printed circuit assembly180also defines alignment holes188,188afor the engagement of alignment pins152to ensure proper alignment of the printed circuit assembly180with respect to the mount holes154. Alignment hole188ais also slightly elongated to compensate for tolerance buildup.

A reflector130defines a rear aperture132him is affixed over the printed circuit assembly180and defines a rear aperture132of sufficient size to permit light emanating from the LEDs184,185to pass therethrough. The reflector130further includes mount tabs134which are positionally coincident with the mounting holes154in the interior of the housing140. The reflector130and printed circuit assembly180are affixed within the rear housing140with screws126engaging the structure defining the mounting holes154. The translucent lens170then attaches to the bezel160in the manner described above.

As illustrated inFIGS. 5-7, a support stand110, comprising a stand base112and a stand support114, can be attached to the bar shaped light assembly120at mounting holes144defined in the rear wall148of the housing140utilizing screws116to support the bar shaped light assembly120in a horizontal orientation. The support stand110extends under the light assembly120to prevent it from tipping while resting on a horizontal surface. Alternatively, the stand base112can be affixed to a vertical wall utilizing a fastener (not shown) extending through mount hole118defined by the stand base112. A wall mounting provides the user with an additional light orientation to fit the needs of the user.

FIG. 8provides a cross-sectional view of the light assembly120and the support stand110illustrating a screw116fastening the stand support114to the rear housing140. The screw116extends through the stand support114to engage the pem-nut124which has been press fit into the structure of the rear housing140.

FIG. 9provides a cross-sectional view of the light assembly120and support stand110illustrating the positioning of the cord aperture149proximate to the printed circuit assembly184termination of the electrical leads from power cord120(not shown) to the respective connections on the printed circuit assembly180for the proper functioning of the light assembly120.

FIG. 10provides a cross-sectional view of the light assembly120with the support stand110attached thereto and illustrates the mounting provisions including pem-nuts124for receiving a mounting screw116(not shown) and further illustrates a cord recess142formed in the rear wall148of the rear housing140. ViewingFIGS. 11 and 13-15in combination withFIG. 10, the support stand110maintains the light assembly120in a vertical orientation with the support base112of the support stand110resting on a horizontal surface. The cord recess142facilitates the passage of the power cord122between the rear housing140and the stand support114when the stand support114is affixed to the end holes145(FIG. 11) and as further illustrated inFIG. 13.

FIGS. 11-12illustrate the incorporation of an infrared (IR) receiver102with the power cord122. The power cord122typically is of a type having multiple leads contained therein and incorporates a USB connector to facilitate a connection with a computer so that the light assembly100can be controlled by a computer, a smart phone incorporating an appropriate application hosted thereon, or by using a dedicated IR remote190as illustrated inFIG. 16.

The IR receiver102is shown in an exploded view inFIG. 12and comprises a lower shell104and an upper shell103and having housed therein a printed circuit assembly106having the appropriate circuitry thereon for controlling the various lighting modes of the light assembly100. An IR detector107is positioned in conjunction with an IR lens109for the reception of IR signals from the IR remote control assembly190. A battery108maintains the software resident on the printed circuit assembly106.

The IR remote assembly190comprises a housing191with a plurality of user interface buttons thereon. Each button generates a unique IR signal to control different functions of the light assembly100. Power control buttons192function to turn the light assembly100ON and OFF. Button194functions to reset the LEDs184,185to a preset baseline lighting configuration. Button195functions to alternatively dim and brighten the light from the light assembly100. Buttons196function to select one of a series of preset colors. Buttons198are sequential mode selection buttons to select such functions facilitating the LEDs to flash, strobe, fade, or smooth.

Alternatively, in lieu of an infra-red remote assembly190and the infra-red receiver102, the desired remote control function can also be performed as a voice control function or also be controlled via Wi-fi.

In use, a user will configure the light assembly100for use either in a horizontal orientation by attaching the support stand110mounting holes144in the mid-area of the rear wall148. Alternatively, if the user desires the light to be oriented vertically, the light assembly120will be attached to the support stand110utilizing mounting holes145at the end of the rear wall148. The power cord122is received in the cord recess142proximate to the mounting holes145. A further alternative is to mount the support stand110to a wall in a desired orientation by attaching the support base112to the wall through mounting hole118. The power cord122is then plugged into a desired USB receptacle for providing power to the light assembly100, and if connected to a USB receptacle on a computer for also providing control functions via the computer. The IR remote control assembly190can be utilized to control the various modes and functions of the light assembly100as described above.

The above description is considered that of certain embodiments of the present invention only. Modifications of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art and to those who make or use the invention. Therefore, it is understood that the embodiments described herein are merely for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention hereof.