Patent Publication Number: US-2011051435-A1

Title: Luminaire mounting apparatus and system

Description:
FIELD 
     The disclosure relates generally to a luminaire mounting apparatus, and more particularly to a luminaire mounting apparatus for mounting at least one workstation luminaire. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Monitor stands with adjustable arms are commonly used to support visual display terminals (VDTs) at office workstations and allow for the positioning of the VDTs to accommodate a range of viewing requirements and ergonomic concerns. Where two or more VDTs are deployed in a single workstation, stands with multiple arms are offered eliminating the need for multiple supports that introduce clutter and interfere with office tasks. However, concerns over workstation clutter and appearance are increased by trends in energy efficient office lighting practice that promote the use of local task lights or task/ambient luminaires positioned in proximity to workstation tasks. These luminaires are known to add physical and visual clutter at or on an office workstation, especially when used in concert with monitor stands, and can interfere with office tasks and activities. Moreover, independently deployed VDT and lighting supports often have dissimilar styles and finishes that present an uncoordinated and unattractive workstation aesthetic. 
     In addition, while office task lights are generally designed to provide the user with a wide range of adjustability and flexibility, they do not anticipate the use of task/ambient luminaires (i.e. luminaires that simultaneously provide both downward task lighting and upward ambient lighting) such that their adjustability is inadequately constrained to prevent glare. 
     Accordingly, an apparatus that decreases the number of support systems necessary at a workstation would be desirable. It is also desirable that workstation mounted support systems limit the vertical position, tilt and rotation of task/ambient luminaires while providing for broad range rotation of VDTs or other workstation accessories. 
     SUMMARY 
     Disclosed is a luminaire mounting apparatus configured for usage with a mounting surface on or in proximity to a work station, the luminaire mounting apparatus including a mounting base configured for association with the mounting surface, at least one support arm associated with and extending from the mounting base, and at least one luminaire and at least one workstation resource being supported by the at least one support arm, wherein the at least one luminaire and the at least one workstation resource are disposed in proximity to the work station. 
     Also disclosed is a luminaire mounting system including a mounting surface on or in proximity to a work station, a mounting base mounted to the mounting surface, at least one support arm associated with and extending from the mounting base, and at least one luminaire and at least one workstation resource being supported by the at least one support arm, wherein the at least one luminaire and the at least one workstation resource are disposed in proximity to the work station. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention should be more fully understood from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments taken in conjuncture with the accompanying Figures in which like elements are numbered alike in the several Figures: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective, view of a luminaire mounting apparatus in an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the luminaire mounting apparatus of  FIG. 1 , the apparatus being shown in a mounting apparatus system; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic elevation view of the luminaire mounting apparatus of  FIG. 1 , the apparatus being shown in a mounting apparatus system; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic elevation view of the luminaire mounting apparatus of  FIG. 1 , the apparatus being shown in a mounting apparatus system; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic plan view of the luminaire mounting apparatus of  FIG. 1 , the apparatus being shown in a mounting apparatus system; 
         FIG. 6  a schematic partial plan view of the luminaire mounting apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic elevation view of the luminaire mounting apparatus of  FIG. 1 , the apparatus being shown in a mounting apparatus system; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic elevation view of a luminaire mounting apparatus in another exemplary embodiment, the apparatus being shown in a mounting apparatus system; 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view of a luminaire mounting apparatus in another exemplary embodiment, the apparatus being shown in a mounting apparatus system; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the luminaire mounting apparatus of  FIG. 9 , the apparatus being shown in a mounting apparatus system; 
         FIG. 11  is another perspective view of the luminaire mounting apparatus of  FIG. 9 , the apparatus being shown in a mounting apparatus system; and 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a luminaire mounting apparatus in another exemplary embodiment, the apparatus being shown in a mounting apparatus system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As is shown in Figures, the luminaire mounting apparatus  10  and system  11  includes a mounting base  12 , a luminaire support arm  14   a  associated with the base  12  at association point  15   a , and a resource support arm  14   b  associated with the base  12  at another association point  15   b . As shown, the luminaire support arm  14  supports a luminaire  16 , and the resource support arm  14   b  supports a workstation resource  18 . The workstation resource  18  may be a VDT(s), document holder(s), and/or any other resource that may be associated with a workstation or desk. Similarly, the luminaire  16  may be a task light, ambient lighting, and/or any other light associated with a workstation  20  or desk, and may incorporate one or more fluorescent lamp(s) and/or LED sources. 
     As is also shown throughout the Figures, an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus  10  may include luminaire support arms  14   a  and workstation resource support arms  14   b  with vertically stepped articulations  21  and swivel/rotation points  22 . The articulated segments  21  of the luminaire support arm  14   a  or the workstation resource support arm  14   b  may be affixed to each other, the base  12 , or the luminaire  16  and resource  18 , respectively, via connecting means (screws, apertures, bolts, pegs, etc.) that allow for the various rotations and translational movements shown in the Figures. The connection means that allow for such movement are of course well known in the art. 
     Referring now to the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the luminaires  16  are shown to rotate in cross-sectional planes that are perpendicular to a workstation mounting surface  24 . This rotation of the luminaires  16  is limited or prevented (at least, as discussed below, in relation to the workstation resource  18 ) to maintain relationship with lighted worksurface and/or ceiling. On the other hand, rotation of the workstation resources  18  is substantially unlimited. This is very clearly shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , wherein uptilt and downtilt of luminaires  16  is zero or near zero degrees, and the uptilt and downtilt of the workstation resource  18  is substantially more. To the extent that the luminaire is optically designed to provide glare control for seated and standing users when the luminaire is positioned parallel to the mounting surface, limiting the uptilt and downtilt of the luminaire in this manner will advantageously prevent unintentional glare. 
     Referring now to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 5 , the luminaire  16  and workstation resource  18  are shown to rotate in cross-sectional plane(s) parallel to the mounting surface  24 . In this embodiment, rotation of the luminaire  16  and workstation resource  18  is substantially the same, and limited only by contact with the support arms  14   a  and  14   b  respectively or features thereof. Taken together  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  5  demonstrate the respective rotational limitations and freedoms of the luminaire  16  and workstation resource  18 , regardless of any translational movement of the arms  14   a  and  14   b  and/or the rotation of the arms/arm segments  14   a / 21  and  14   b / 21  relative to the mounting base  12 . 
     Referring now to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 6 , the luminaire support arm  14   a  and the resource support arm  14   b  are translationally adjustable towards and away from said mounting base  12  via the articulated segments  21  discussed above. As shown, the luminaire  16  is extendable via the luminaire support arm  14   a  to a furthest luminaire extent  28  from the mounting base  12  and association point  15   a , and the work station resource  18  is extendable via the resource support arm  14   b  to a furthest resource extent  30  from the mounting base  12  and other association point  15   b . As is also shown, the furthest luminaire extent  28  is a greater distance from the mounting base  12  and association points  15  than the furthest resource extent  30 . In fact, at least a portion of the luminaire  16  should further away from the base  12  relative to the workstation resources  18  to prevent the workstation resource(s) from interfering with the delivery of light from the luminaire  16  to documents and other workstation tasks located on the mounting surface  24  at a distance from the mounting base  12  and beyond the extent of the workstation resource(s)  18 . 
     Referring now to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 7 , the luminaire  16  and workstation resource  18  are shown to be translationally adjustable towards and away from the workstation surface  24  via the support arms  14   a  and  14   b , respectively. The ability to adjust the workstation resource  18  in this manner addresses ergonomic relative to the user&#39;s posture. The ability to adjust the luminaire  16  in this manner allows the seated user to adjust the task lighting coverage and illuminance on the worksurface  24  and to raise the luminaire to facilitate visual communication with other co-worker(s) seated on the opposite side of worksurface  24 , i.e. where the luminaire  16  is positioned between the seated user and the seated co-worker(s). In this exemplary embodiment, the attachment point  15   a  to arm  14   a  supporting luminaire  16  is fixed and the translational freedom of luminaire  16  is limited such that the maximum and minimum distance between the luminaire  16  and the workstation surface  28  are predetermined to protect seated and standing users from glare due to the luminaire downlight and uplight, if any, respectively. Attachment point  15   b  to arm  14   b  (supporting the workstation resource  18 ) may or may not be fixed relative to the worksurface  24 , wherein the translational freedom of the workstation resource  18  may be substantially uninhibited, thus allowing for greater translational freedom than the luminaire  16 . 
     Referring now to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 8 , the luminaire mounting apparatus  10  is shown mounted to a wall  34  in proximity to the workstation  20  and workstation surface  24 . In this embodiment, the rotational and translational movements relative to the workstation  20  are maintained. In addition, the luminaire  16  (and furthest extent thereof) remains a greater distance from the association points  15  at the mounting base  12  than does the workstation resource  18  (and furthest extent thereof). Of course, the wall  34  shown in the Figure may be the wall of any office/edifice or a panel within a cubicle or the like. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 9 and 10  the apparatus  10  and system  11  may include any desirable number of support arms  14   a  and  14   b  (luminaire or resource) extending from any number of desirable bases  12 . These support arms may support any desirable number of luminaires  16  and workstation resources  18 . 
     While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or substance to the teachings of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is important that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the apportioned claims. Moreover, unless specifically stated any use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another.