Abstract:
A clamping device to hang lighting fixtures includes a hinge mechanism that enables the device to be folded out of the way for storage or for floor or ground use. The clamping device may include foot pads to add stability to the support of the lighting fixture. A curved portion of the main body of the device allows the clamp to secure lighting fixtures to an overhead pipe or rail.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to entertainment lighting, and more specifically is a device used to mount lighting fixtures during productions and for storage. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The type of light fixture mounting device that is the subject of the present invention is used in theatrical, musical, television, and other productions that require rented lighting fixtures. Many productions require lighting fixtures to be hung from a pipe or to sit on the floor of the stage or set piece. When the production is over, which may be days or months, these fixtures are typically packed into a road case to protect them during shipment. When these lighting fixtures are returned to the rental house they are usually unpacked, tested, and re-packed. This testing is done in either the hanging or floor orientation. In a typical hanging configuration, one or two clamping devices are mounted to the fixture before it can be hung. These clamps must be removed if the fixture is to be located on the floor. The time spent removing and assembling these clamping devices can add up to a considerable amount when there are hundreds of lights used in a show. Some shows travel to a new city every day or two. In these cases removing and assembling clamps adds up to a substantial cost. 
     Cases made for transportation are often fabricated to be tall enough to accommodate both the fixture and the clamping device. This requires that the case be much larger than actually required. With some shows that travel day after day all over the country and the world the extra cost for this wasted space is substantial. 
     Examples of prior art clamping devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. D457,410, issued May 21, 2002, “A Lighting Clamp”, and U.S. Pat. No. D453,671, issued Feb. 19, 2002, “A Lighting Clamp”, both by VanFange. Both of these clamps disclose the state of the art for lighting fixture clamping devices. They do a very good job of quickly securing a lighting fixture to a truss or pipe. The clamps typically require a bolt to fasten them to a lighting fixture. Tightening the bolts can take a lot of time if there are a many fixtures used in a production, or if the production is often moved from location to location. Further, if the bolts remain on the fixture during transportation in a case, the bolts take up a significant amount of space, sometimes up to an additional 20% of space. 
     Prior art lighting fixtures that could make use of the clamping devices disclosed by VanFange are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,590,955 by Bornhorst, “Variable Light Modifier ”, issued Sep. 24, 2002. 
     A prior art trunk that would be used to transport lighting fixtures with clamps is disclosed by Bornhorst in U.S. Pat. No. D347,113, “Storage and transportation trunk”. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mounting device that is always fastened to the lighting fixture, whether the fixture is hung from an overhead location or is located on the floor. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a lighting fixture mounting device that allows for the fixture to be hung on a pipe for a production while requiring little space when not in use. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a sturdy base when the lighting fixture is being used on the floor. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a lighting fixture mounting device that takes up little room when the lighting fixture is stored or is placed in a protective case. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a device to hang a lighting fixture from a pipe or truss member, or to support the fixture on the ground. The clamp portion of the device is hinged. The hinge allows the mounting device to fold out of the way so the entire assembly can be stored more compactly and so it can remain attached to a lighting fixture when the fixture is used on the floor. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention attached to an automated lighting fixture. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the present invention attached to an automated light hanging from a pipe. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the present invention as used while supporting an automated light on a flat surface. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the present invention installed on a second type of light fixture and in a storage or floor position. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the clamping device of the present invention holding the second type of light on a pipe. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , the present invention is a clamping device to hang a lighting fixture  1 . The lighting fixture  1  is shown with two of the clamping devices attached. A left side clamping device  10  is attached to the left side of the fixture  1 , and a right side clamping device  10 ′ is attached to the right side of the fixture  1 . The right side clamping device  10 ′ is a mirror of the left side clamping device  10 . A bolt  12  and a nut  14  fasten the clamping device  10 ,  10 ′ to the mounting holes (not shown) of the lighting fixture  1 . 
     A multiple section base  16  of the clamping device  10 ,  10 ′ comprises a plurality of bosses  18  that project inward from the base  16 . Foot pads  21  are situated on the bosses  18  to support the clamps and lighting fixture when used in a floor mount application. A through hole  20  in a center of each of the bosses  18  receives a pivot axle  22 . A slot  24  is formed between each section of the base  16 , each slot  24  receiving a clamp member  26  that extends from a C-shaped main body  28  of the clamping device  10 ,  10 ′. Each of the clamp members  26  includes a through hole  30  hole that is concentric with the through holes  20  in the bosses  18 . The pivot axle  22  passes through the through holes  20  in the base and the through holes  30  holes in the clamp member  26 . The above described hinge mechanism forms a structure that allows the clamp member to be rotated from a horizontal position as shown in  FIG. 1  through an angle of 90 degrees to a vertical position illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     Referring now chiefly to  FIG. 2 , with the clamping devices  10 ,  10 ′ in the vertical position, an upper end of the main body  28  of the clamping device  10 ,  10 ′ is affixed to a pipe  32  to hang the lighting fixture  1 . A securing means such as a set screw  34  is mounted on a lower end  36  of the main body  28  of each clamping device  10 ,  10 ′. The set screw  34  allows the clamping devices  10 ,  10 ′ to be securely fastened to the pipe  32 .  FIG. 2  depicts a typical configuration in which the lighting fixtures  1  are hung in a theater or musical production. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the lighting fixture  1  and the clamping devices  10 ,  10 ′ are shown with the clamping devices  10 ,  10 ′ retracted to the horizontal position. This configuration is one that is used when the lighting fixtures  1  are to be placed on the floor of a stage. This position would also be one that would be used for testing the fixture  1  in a shop environment, or when the fixtures  1  are packed into a road case or box for transportation. 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate a first alternate embodiment of the clamping device  10 ″ that is installed on a second type of light fixture  2 . The second type of light fixture  2  has only a single mounting hole. To stabilize the fixture  2  when it is placed on the floor, a base  16 ′ includes a plurality of support arms  38 . In the preferred embodiment, there are three equally spaced support arms  38 , with the clamp member  28  serving as one of the support arms  38 . The other support arms  38  are affixed to a peripheral support ring  40 . The support ring  40  allows the lighting fixture  2  to stand stably on the floor. The support ring  40  is also useful as an aid in dressing wiring away from the hot lighting fixture  2 .  FIG. 4  depicts the light fixture  2  in the floor or transportation position, and  FIG. 5  shows the light fixture  2  as hung from a pipe  32 . The clamping device  10 ″ includes the same hinge structure as clamping devices  10 ,  10 ′, which allows the main body  28  to swing through a ninety degree arc. 
     Any of the clamping devices  10 ,  10 ′,  10 ″, can be equipped with a lock or catch that fastens the clamp in the vertical and/or horizontal positions. A small amount of friction can be built into the hinge mechanism to accomplish the same purpose. 
     Further, any type of clamping mechanism can be used to secure the clamping member to the pipe. Some of these alternate mechanisms are disclosed in the cited prior art. 
     The above disclosure is not intended as limiting. Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the restrictions of the appended claims.