Patent Publication Number: US-10323829-B1

Title: Multi-beam angle spotlight

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/530,342 filed Jul. 10, 2017, which is incorporated by reference in its&#39; entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to landscape and pathway spot lights, and in particular to systems, devices, and methods for adjusting and focusing a beam light spread to separate beams spreads of approximately 80 degrees, 60 degrees, 40 degrees and 20 degrees by a rotatable disc having a plurality of lenses thereon positioned in front of a primary lens fixed in front of an LED (light emitting diode) light source in a spotlight housing mounted on a stake, with a mechanically rotatable knob/wheel for adjustably rotating the single disc to the plurality of different positions. 
     BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
     Ground based landscape lighting directional fixtures having ground based spikes have typically been constructed to have a single beam angle set during the time of manufacture. This single beam angle option can limit the end user&#39;s application of the light. If a customer desires a different beam angle, their only option today would be to purchase a different fixture. 
     Purchasing a plurality of different fixtures can be an expensive and be time consuming and labor intensive to be installed. 
     Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary objective of the present invention is to provide systems, devices, and methods for adjusting and focusing a beam light spread to separate beam angle spreads by rotating a disc of lenses in front of a primary lens fixed in front of a light source. 
     A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide systems, devices, and methods for adjusting and focusing a beam light spread to separate beams spreads of approximately 80, 60, 40 and 20 degrees by a rotatable disc having a plurality of lenses thereon. 
     A third objective of the present invention is to provide systems, devices, and methods for adjusting and focusing a beam light spread to separate beam angle spreads by rotating a disc of lenses in front of a primary lens fixed in front of a light source. 
     A spotlight embodiment can include a single housing, a light source in the single housing for emitting a light beam with a light spread therefrom, a disc rotatably supported within the single housing in front of the light source, and a plurality of lens positioned about the disc for allowing light to pass therethrough, each of the plurality of lens for narrowing the light spread to different narrower light spread angles, the rotatable disc being controlled from outside the housing, wherein rotating the disc to each of the plurality of lenses, and narrows the light spread to each of the different narrower light spread angles. 
     The spotlight can further include a stake extending below the single housing for supporting the spotlight on a ground surface, and a pivot member attached between a top of the stake and a bottom of the housing for allowing the housing to pivot up and down relative to the stake. 
     The spotlight can further include a rotatable component for allowing the single housing to rotate in a parallel plane to the stake. 
     The light source can include an LED (light emitting diode). 
     The spotlight can further include a primary lens fixed in front of the light source for converting the light spread emission from the light source. 
     The plurality of lenses on the single disc can include three lenses. 
     The spotlight can further include a primary lens fixed in front of the light source for narrowing the light spread to approximately 80 degrees, a first lens on the rotatable disc for changing the light spread to approximately 20 degrees, a second lens on the rotatable disc for changing the light spread to approximately 40 degrees, and a third lens on the rotatable disc for changing the light spread to approximately 60 degrees. 
     The spotlight can further include a heat sink behind the light source. 
     The spotlight can further include a removable lens cap covering an open end of the housing. 
     The spotlight can further include a rotatable knob to rotate the disc. 
     The spotlight can further include a horizontal gear wheel attached to the rotatable knob, and a vertical gear wheel attached to the rotatable disc, wherein rotating the knob causes the horizontal gear wheel to rotate the vertical gear wheel which rotates the rotatable disc. 
     The spotlight can further include at least one rotatable lens on the rotatable disc having one or more lens for adjusting light spread. 
     The one or more lens can include a first lens on the single disc for changing the light spread to approximately 20 degrees, a second lens on the single disc for changing the light spread to approximately 40 degrees, a third lens on the single disc for changing the light spread to approximately 60 degrees, and a fourth lens on the single disc for changing the light spread to approximately 80 degrees. 
     A mountable light can include a cylindrical housing; 
     a light source in the cylindrical housing for emitting a light beam with a light spread therefrom, a disc rotatably supported within the cylindrical housing in front of the light source, and a plurality of lens positioned about the disc for allowing light to pass therethrough, each of the plurality of lens for narrowing the light spread to different narrower light spread angles, wherein rotating the disc to each of the plurality of lenses, and narrows the light spread to each of the different narrower light spread angles. 
     The mountable light can further include a primary lens fixed in front of the light source for converting the light spread emission from the light source. 
     The plurality of lenses on the single disc can include three lenses. 
     The mountable light can include a primary lens fixed in front of the light source for narrowing the light spread to approximately 80 degrees, a first lens on the rotatable disc for changing the light spread to approximately 20 degrees, a second lens on the rotatable disc for changing the light spread to approximately 40 degrees, and a third lens on the rotatable disc for changing the light spread to approximately 60 degrees. 
     The mountable light can include at least one rotatable lens on the rotatable disc having one or more lens for adjusting light spread. 
     The one or more lens can include a first lens on the single disc for changing the light spread to approximately 20 degrees, a second lens on the single disc for changing the light spread to approximately 40 degrees, a third lens on the single disc for changing the light spread to approximately 60 degrees, and a fourth lens on the single disc for changing the light spread to approximately 60 degrees. 
     The mountable light of can include a rotatable knob to rotate the disc, a horizontal gear wheel attached to the rotatable knob, and a vertical gear wheel attached to the rotatable disc, wherein rotating the knob causes the horizontal gear wheel to rotate the vertical gear wheel which rotates the rotatable disc. 
     Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments which are illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the main components of a stake mounted spotlight. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial exploded perspective view of the plural secondary lens on the rotatable disc spaced in front of the primary lens fixed in front of the light source that is mounted to a heat sink with rotatable knob/wheel of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is another perspective view of the secondary lens on the rotatable disc attached in front of the primary lens fixed in front of the light source that is mounted to the heat sink, with rotatable knob/wheel of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4A  is another perspective view of a front of  FIG. 3  showing rotational direction of the knob/wheel. 
         FIG. 4B  is a rear perspective view of a rear side of  FIG. 4A , showing gear parts between knob/wheel and the rotatable disc with the plural secondary lenses. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective exploded view of all the main components of the spotlight of the preceding figures with the stake. 
         FIG. 6  is an assembled perspective view of the ground based spot light of the preceding figures. 
         FIG. 7  shows is a partial exploded perspective view of a second embodiment arrangement of a rotatable set of lenses that does not require a fixed lens in front of the LED light source shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 8  shows an assembled perspective view of the components of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applications to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
     In the Summary above and in the Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features (including method steps) of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification does not include all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally. 
     In this section, some embodiments of the invention will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and prime notation is used to indicate similar elements in alternative embodiments. 
     The invention encompasses a user changeable lens assembly that gives the end user multiple, different beam angles. The directional fixture can utilize an LED as a light source which is centrally located inside the fixture. There is a disc that contains multiple lenses located in front of the LED light source. When the lens is positioned correctly in front of the light source, the angle of light is transformed. A knob on the outside of the fixture can be easily accessible by the end use. The user can turn the knob which changes the position of the disc. The disc can rotate in front of the LED light source allowing the user to change the beam angle. 
     A list of the main components will now be described.
       1  Spot light     10  cylindrical Housing/body     11  interior tabs     12  Fastener edge     14  pivot lever control on top of stake     16  rotatable stem on stake     17  threaded fastener     18  stake     20  heat sink     21  groove edges     23  spacer shaft     22  light source (LED (light emitting diode))     24  ratchet clips     25  axle for rotatable disc/wheel  40       26  multi-select turn knob/wheel     27  horizontal gear wheel     28  horizontal gear with ratchet/sprocket edges (part of gear components between knob/wheel  26  disc/wheel  40       29  fastener     30  primary lens support     32  fasteners for support  30       35  primary lens     40  rotatable disc/wheel with secondary multi-lens     42  first lens     44  second lens     46  third lens     47  clear/transparent portion on disc/wheel  40       48  vertical gear with ratchet/sprocket edges     50  lens cap     52  main lens     54  seal rings     55  rear cap housing mount     100  second embodiment arrangement for spot light     140  rotatable disc/wheel     142  first lens     144  second lens     146  third lens     148  fourth lens   

     First Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the main components of a stake  18  mounted spotlight  1 .  FIG. 2  is a partial exploded view of the plural secondary lenses  42 ,  44 ,  46  on the rotatable disc/wheel  40  spaced in front of the primary lens support  30  with primary lens  30  fixed in front of the light source  22  that is mounted to the heat sink  20 , with rotatable knob/wheel  26  of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is another perspective view of the secondary multi-lens  42 ,  44 ,  46  on the rotatable disc/wheel  40  attached in front of the primary lens support  30  with primary lens  35  fixed in front of the light source  22  that is mounted to the heat sink  20 , with rotatable knob/wheel  26  of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4A  is another perspective view of the front of  FIG. 3  showing rotational direction R of the knob/wheel  26 .  FIG. 4B  is a rear perspective view of a rear side of FIG.  4 A, showing gear parts  28 ,  48  between the knob/wheel  26  and the rotatable disc/wheel  40  with the plural secondary lenses  42 ,  44 ,  46 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective exploded view of all the main components of the spotlight  1  of the preceding figures with the stake  18 . 
       FIG. 6  is an assembled view of the ground based spot light  1  of the preceding figures. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , the novel spot light  1  can include a generally cylindrical housing/body  10  having a closed rear face and an opposite open end with a fastener edge  12 . Underneath the housing/body  10  can be a rotatable stem  16  that can be rotatably attached to the top of a downwardly protruding stake  18  by a rotatable fastener  17 . A turn knob  14  allows for the housing/body  10  to pivot up and down relative to stem  16  and ground engageable stake  18 . Additionally, the fastener  17  allows for the housing/body  10  to rotate in a horizontal plane relative to the stake  18 . The housing/body  10  and stake  18  can be made from molded plastic, and the like, and can include UV (ultra violet) resistant materials. 
     A disc shaped heat sink  20  can be mounted by groove edges  21  to interior tabs  11 . The heat sink  20  can be used to draw heat from the internal components inside. 
     Centrally mounted on the heat sink disc  10  can be a light source  22 , such as but not limited to a light emitting diode (LED). The light source  22  can be a white type light, or any type of colored, light, and the like. 
     Extending below the heat sink disc  20  can be mounted a multi-select rotatable knob  26 , attached to a gear wheel  27  by a fastener  29 . Rotating knob  26  will rotate a horizontal gear wheel  27  with gear sprocket edges  28 , the functionality of which will be described later. 
     Extending outward from the heat sink disc  20  can be spacer shaft  23  with an axle  25  extending therefrom that can pass through a central opening of the rotatable disc/wheel  40 . The spacer shaft  23  can position the rotatable disc/wheel  40  spaced apart from the heat sink disc  20 . A pair of ratchet clips  24  having inner ends attached to the heat sink disc  20  can have outer bent ends that can lock into the vertical sprockets  48  of the rotatable disc/wheel  40 , as the rotating turn knob  26  effectively rotates the rotatable disc/wheel  40  by gear components (sprockets)  28 ,  48 ). 
     A primary lens support  30  can be mounted over the light source  22  that is mounted to the face of the heat sink disc  20  by fasteners  32 . A primary lens  35  can cover the light source  22 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , the rotatable disc/wheel can be a disc shape and formed from a plastic (polycarbonate) materials. Each of the little circles (three are shown, but two or four or more can be used) are individual curved lenses  42 ,  44 ,  46  and a clear transparent portion  47  between lens  42  and  46 . 
     As will be explained below, rotating the disc/wheel  40  can change the focus to approximately 20 degrees, or approximately 40 degrees or approximately 60 degrees or approximately 80 degrees. 
     Covering the front open end of the housing/body  10  can be a lens cap  50  having a generally cylindrical ring shaped that can attached to the fastener edge  12  of the housing/body  10  by threads, snaps, and the like. The lens cap  50  can support a main light passable lens  52  that can be supported by rings  54 , such as gaskets, O-rings, and the like. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , basically, the LED light source  22  can be first focused through the primary lens  35  and then focused through each of the secondary lenses  42 ,  44 ,  46 , and clear/transparent portion  47  that are rotated in front of the LED light source  22  by the rotatable disc/wheel  40 . 
     The LED light source  22  can emit light in a generally 120 degree light spread. The invention is able to take the generally 120 degrees light spread, and focus it down to 20 degrees, or 40 degrees or 60 degrees or 80 degrees. 
     The primary lens  35  can focus the approximately 120 degree light spread from the LED light source  22  down to approximately 80 degrees. 
     In one embodiment, positioning the clear/transparent portion  47  can allow for the approximately 80 degrees spread to be emitted from the lens cap  50 . When the rotatable knob  26  is rotated clockwise, this causes the disc/wheel  40  to be rotated clockwise and the lens  46  can convert the approximately 80 degrees spread to approximately 60 degrees. Rotating the disc wheel  40  clockwise again allows for the lens  44  can then convert the light spread to approximately a 40 degree spread. Continuing to rotate the disc wheel  40  clockwise can allow for lens  42  to convert the light spread to approximately 20 degrees spread. 
     Although the disc wheel is described as rotating clockwise, the disc wheel  40  can also be rotated counter-clockwise by rotating the knob  26  counter-clockwise. 
     Although four lenses are shown and described, the invention can be used with more than four or less than four multi-lenses. 
     While the lenses allow for 20 degrees, 40 degrees, 60 degrees and 80 degrees, the invention can be used with approximately 20 degrees, approximately 40 degrees, approximately 60 degrees and approximately 80 degrees. Additionally, different degree angles can also be added less than approximately 20 degrees, and more than approximately 80 degrees, such as up to approximately 120 degrees, and the like, as well as different degrees between each of 20 degrees, 40 degrees, 60 degrees and 80 degrees, respectively. 
     Second Embodiment 
       FIG. 7  shows is a partial exploded perspective view of a second embodiment arrangement  100  of a rotatable set of lenses that does not require a fixed lens in front of the LED light source shown in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 8  shows an assembled perspective view of the components  100  of  FIG. 7 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7-8 , the rotatable disc wheel  140  can include four lenses  142 ,  144 ,  146  and  148 . Instead of having a separate primary lens  35  covering the light source  22 , all of the lens can be on the rotatable disc/wheel  140 . 
     This embodiment 100 can have the same components and work similarly to the components in the previous embodiment with the exception of only using lenses on the rotatable disc  140 . In this application, there can be four lenses  142 ,  144 ,  146  and  148 . Lens  148  can convert the approximately 120 light spread from light source  122  to approximately 80 degrees when lens  148  is positioned in front of the light source  22 . Rotating the disc  140  clockwise can allow for lens  142  to convert the light spread to approximately 60 degrees spread. Rotating the disc  140  clockwise can allow for lens  144  to convert the light spread to approximately 40 degrees. And rotating the disc  140  clockwise can allow for lens  142  to convert the light spread to approximately 20 degrees. 
     The term “approximately” can be +/−10% of the amount referenced. Additionally, preferred amounts and ranges can include the amounts and ranges referenced without the prefix of being approximately. 
     While the preferred embodiment shows a mechanically rotatable disc with a knob, the disc can be rotated by other techniques, such as but not limited to lever(s) with notches, sliders, magnets, and the like. 
     Although a preferred embodiment shows a rotatable disc in front of a fixed light source, the invention can work with more than one rotatable disc in front of the light source. 
     Although the rotatable disc has a plurality of lens, the invention can work with plural rotatable discs, each having one or more lens. 
     While the invention spotlight is generally described for use outdoors, the invention is not limited to outdoor use, and can be used indoors. 
     Although the invention describes ground based spotlight applications, the invention can be mounted to a support such as a post, against a wall, a ceiling, an overhang and the like, such as but not limited to track lighting, and the like. Additionally, the novel spotlight can be mounted on a stand that does not include a stake, and the like. 
     The spotlight can also be mounted on a ceiling fan, and the like. 
     While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.