Abstract:
An adjustable spotlight fitting for use with an illuminated fiber optic bundle. A spherically contoured pivot element is received within a pivot housing and retained therein by an adjustable locking ring which clamps the pivot element in any angularly adjusted position. A focusing member is mounted by the pivot element for limited axial adjusting movement in relation thereto. A fiber optic bundle is inserted through the back of the pivot element and the exposed optical fibers at its terminal end are positioned within the focusing member. A lens, carried at the outer end of the focusing member, is movable by the focusing member toward and away from the fiber optic bundle for converging and expanding the area of illumination. Optical filters can be selectively installed behind the lens for various lighting effects.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is related to and claims the priority of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/418,060, filed Oct. 11, 2002. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In fiber optic lighting systems, a bundle of fibers, connected at one end to a remote light source, is led to a light emitting spotlight fitting through which the light is discharged on the subject area to be illuminated. Depending upon the desires of the designer, the light received through the fiber optic bundle can be expanded, shaped, concentrated, directionally oriented or some combination of one or more of the foregoing by the light emitting spotlight fitting. The present invention is directed to a novel and improved such spotlight fitting providing for easily adjustable control of the emission of light from a fiber optic bundle. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   Fiber optic lighting systems are advantageously employed in a wide variety of environments, among which are the lighting of merchandise displays. An example of such is the lighting of display cases for jewelry or the like. One or more fiber optic bundles are directed to individual discharge locations and are joined at their distal ends with light emitting terminal fittings which cause the light to be cast upon the desired areas. In many displays of this general type, it is desirable to aim and/or focus the light emitting fittings so that they cast light upon areas of specific size and location. Additionally, it is desirable that the fittings be provided with easily accessible elements to accommodate focus and/or aiming adjustments as desired for the display. 
   In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a light emitting spotlight fitting is provided which includes an adjustably positionable lens holder and reflective shroud, which can be quickly and easily released and repositioned and then resecured in a desired focus and/or orientation. In the device of the invention, the desired functions are provided in a highly simplified structure, which can be economically manufactured and installed and easily used. 
   In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a lens holder and reflective shroud are adjustable linearly with respect to the distal end of a fiber optic cable bundle, to provide for focus adjustment of the illumination emitted from the spotlight fitting, enabling the illuminated display area to be enlarged or contracted as needed or desired for a particular display. 
   Provisions also are made for universal pivoting movement of the reflective shroud, in addition to the linear focus adjustments, all with a device of simplified, inexpensive construction which can be easily installed and thereafter easily adjusted and manipulated without tools. 
   For a better understanding of the above and other features and advantages of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an adjustable spotlight fitting according to the invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the adjustable spotlight fitting of  FIG. 1   
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged, cross sectional view of the adjustable spotlight fitting of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view showing details of a pivot housing and associated elements forming part of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded cross sectional view of a reflective shroud and associated elements forming part of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to the drawing, the reference numeral  10  designates generally the spotlight fitting of the invention, which is adapted for convenient mounting in a panel  11 , typically forming a wall of a display case or the like. The device of the invention includes a pivot housing  12 , typically formed of aluminum and having a cylindrical body portion  13  for reception in an opening  14  provided therefore in the panel  11 . A circular flange  15  extends outward from the forward end of the pivot housing  12  and is adapted to be seated against the outer face  16  of the panel  11 , generally as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   In the illustrated form of the invention, the outer surface of the cylindrical body portion  13  of the pivot housing is threaded, for threaded engagement with a mounting nut  17 . As indicated in  FIG. 3 , when the pivot housing is installed in the panel  11 , the back end of the pivot housing projects through the opening  14  for engagement by the nut  17 . The nut is threadedly advanced along the pivot housing to engage the back surface  18  of the panel  11  and fix the pivot housing in position on the panel. 
   A pivot element  20 , typically formed of aluminum and having a spherically contoured outer surface portion  21 , is arranged to be seated within the pivot housing  12 , as shown particularly in  FIG. 3 . To this end, the pivot housing  12  is formed with an internal flange  22  defining an internal aperture  23 , the diameter of which is somewhat less than the diameter of the spherical portion  21  of the pivot element. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, for example, the spherical portion  21  may have a diameter of approximately 1.044 inches, while the diameter of the internal opening  23  may be on the order of 1.010 inches. The arrangement is such that the spherical portion seats well into the opening  23 , as shown generally in  FIG. 3 . 
   In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spherical portions  21  of the pivot element  20  comprise most of its surface, except for a short tubular extension at the back (to be described hereafter) and a cylindrical opening at the front. 
   A locking ring  25  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ), which also may be formed of aluminum, is provided for retaining the pivot element  21  in its seated position within the pivot housing. The locking ring has a front flange portion  26  and a rearwardly projecting cylindrical wall  27  provided along rearward portions of its outer surface with a threaded portion  28 . The threaded portion  28  is arranged for threaded engagement with an internally threaded portion  29  of the pivot housing  12 . Thus, after the pivot element  21  is seated in the pivot housing, the locking ring  25  is threadedly applied to the forward portion of the pivot housing, with forward portions of the pivot element  21  being seated in a contoured central opening  30  in the locking ring. 
   Pursuant to the invention, when the locking ring is threadedly tightened with respect to the pivot housing, the pivot element  21  is clamped between the internal flange  22  of the pivot housing and the front flange  26  of the locking ring, serving to lock the pivot element  21  in a predetermined position. By threadedly loosening the locking ring  25 , the pivot element  21  is released for universal pivoting adjustment in any direction, within the pivot limits of the unit, in the illustrated case approximately 33 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the device, in any direction. 
   As shown particularly in  FIG. 5 , the pivot element  20  is provided with front and back coaxially aligned cylindrical recesses  31 ,  32  which are joined via an intermediate opening  33 . The front recess  31  is internally threaded throughout most of its length, for threaded engagement with a threaded end portion  34  provided at the rearward end of a focusing member  36 . The focusing member  36 , which may be formed of aluminum, includes a tubular extension  35  projecting rearwardly from a reflecting shroud  37 . The tubular extension  35  has an internal passage  49  extending throughout and opening into the interior of the shroud  37 . 
   The shroud  37  is provided at its forward portion with an internal recess  38  for receiving and seating a focusing lens  39 . A second recess  40 , positioned forwardly of the lens-receiving recess  38 , is internally threaded at  41  for the reception of externally threaded walls  42  of an annular lens bezel  43 . The bezel can be easily installed and removed to accommodate changing or cleaning the lens  39 , for example. Additionally, it sometimes is desired to install a light-altering filter  44  behind the lens  39  for enhanced display effects. 
   As reflected particularly in  FIG. 3 , the focusing member  36  is joined with the pivot element  20  by engaging the respective threaded portions  31 ,  34  and rotating the focusing member. This is easily accomplished by first tightening the locking ring  25  to secure the pivot element  20  against rotation. Once the focusing member  36  is installed, its axial position, relative to the pivot element  20 , can be altered for focusing purposes by rotating the focusing element clockwise or counterclockwise, as may be desired. 
   A fiber optic bundle  45 , in itself well known, is inserted through the back end of the pivot element  20 . The fiber optic bundle typically comprises a plurality of optical fibers encased in a sheath  46  and provided at the end with a terminal collar  47  which exposes the ends  48  of the optical fibers. At its “upstream” end (not shown) the fiber optic bundle is associated with a suitable light source (not shown), such as the FOMH-100 Illuminator, marketed by Lighting Services Inc. of Stony Point, N.Y. The light source may be positioned at a suitably remote location, and may provide the input illumination to a plurality of fiber optic bundles, each leading to a spotlight fitting of the type described herein. 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , the fiber optic bundle is inserted through the back of the pivot element  20  and into the internal passage  49  of the tubular extension, to position the exposed ends  48  of the optical fibers at a predetermined distance beyond the forward end of the pivot element  20 . The fiber optic bundle is secured in the desired position by means of a resilient compression fitting  50  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) which surrounds the bundle  45  and is received within the back recess  32  of the pivot element. A retaining cap  51 , previously applied over the end of the fiber optic bundle, is formed with internally threaded side walls  52  engageable with an externally threaded cylindrical wall  53  at the back of the pivot element. After the compression fitting is seated within the recess  32 , the retaining cap  51  is applied over the back of the pivot element and tightened by means of the interengaging threads  52 ,  53  to axially compress the compression fitting  50  and cause it to tightly grip the fiber optic bundle and fix its position relative to the pivot element  20 . If desired, the compression fitting may be provided with a slotted side wall to facilitate the gripping action on the fiber optic bundle. 
   After the retaining cap  51  has been tightened, the fiber optic bundle is retained in an axially fixed position relative to the pivot element  20 , substantially as indicated in  FIG. 3 , with the exposed ends  48  of the optical fibers positioned adjacent the convergent end of the reflecting shroud  37 . By rotating the focusing member  36  relative to the pivot element  20 , the distance of the lens  39  from the exposed ends  48  of the optical fibers can be varied, to concentrate or disperse the pattern of light emitted from the fixture, as may be desired. Independently, the aiming of the fixture can be adjusted by simply loosening the locking ring  25  and manipulating the focusing element  36  as necessary to position the illuminated area in the desired position. Tightening of the locking ring  25  then secures the pivot element  20  in its adjusted position. Aiming and focusing adjustments thus can be accomplished completely independently of each other, if desired. 
   It will be understood, of course, that the fiber optic bundle  45  is relatively flexible, and easily accommodates the various angular manipulations of the pivot element  20  to enable universal aiming of the focusing member within angular limits of the device. 
   The device of the invention is of a particularly simplified and economical construction, and is easy to install and operate. Precise adjustment of the display illumination is easily accomplished by way of simple focusing adjustments (rotation of the focusing member  36 ) and aiming adjustments (universal pivoting of the pivot member  20  about its seat in the pivot housing). The fiber optic cable is easily connected to the device by simply inserting it through the back of the device and locking it in place by means of the compression fitting  50  and retaining cap  51 . The device is extremely compact and is very unobtrusive when mounted in a display case, for example. 
   It should be understood of course that the specific forms of the invention herein illustrated and described are representative only as a wide variety of modifications are contemplated within the scope and teachings of the invention. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following appended claims for determining the full scope of the invention.