Patent Publication Number: US-6220728-B1

Title: Quick release portable light mounting system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a quick mounting system for use with a work light. More specifically, the invention relates to a mount which releasably affixes a light housing to a support structure such as stand, clamp, or other support means. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In the work light field, there are many types of halogen work lights with several common ones, being a stand light, a portable floor light, and a clamp light. A stand light, as the name suggests, uses a stand to elevate a light housing, in most instances, several feet off the ground for use. A portable floor light, on the other hand, is often placed upon a floor through the use of a base or legs which typically elevate the light no more than several inches off of the floor. A clamp light has a light housing affixed to a clamp which, in turn, may be affixed to a wide variety of objects. 
     The present invention provides a mounting system which allows a typical light housing to be quickly and easily mounted to any number of different support structures such as a stand, base, legs, clamp, and the like. The mounting system does this by providing a post which has a groove on the support structure. The light housing, in turn, includes a bracket which has a catch. The catch is adapted to releasably engage the post for ease of mounting and dismounting. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The novel features which are characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. However, the invention&#39;s preferred embodiments, together with further objects and attendant advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 with the post detached from the mount. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the roller engaging the post. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing how the roller is disengaged from the post. 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view. 
     FIG. 6 shows an alternate embodiment of the present innovation in which the groove is located in the catch and the roller on the post. 
     FIG. 7 shows the engagement between the groove and rollers for the embodiment shown in FIG.  6 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Set forth below is a description of what are currently believed to be the preferred embodiments or best examples of the invention claimed. Future and present alternatives and modifications to the preferred embodiments are contemplated. Any alternates or modifications in which insubstantial changes in function, in purpose, in structure or in result are intended to be covered by the claims of this patent. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention provides a bracket or frame  10  to which a light housing  12  (shown partially in phantom) may be secured by fasteners  14 . Also included on frame  10  is a catch  20  which is adapted to releasably engage a post  30  which is located on a support  32  which may be a pole which extends upwardly from stand (not shown), a clamp, a support base, or some other suitable support to which the light housing may be affixed. Post  30  includes a groove  34 . 
     Catch  20  includes a cap  21 , interior spring  22 , and outer housing  23  defining a sleeve  24  having bore  25  and inwardly directed finger  45 . Coaxially located within bore  25  is second sleeve  26  which defines a second bore  27  which is adapted to receive post  30 . Sleeve  26  is mounted to bracket  10  and includes an aperture  40  in which roller  42  rests. 
     In use, light housing  12  is mounted to support  32  by inserting post  30  into bore  27  located in catch  20 . As shown in FIG. 3, post  30  is inserted until roller  42 , which is urged inwardly by finger  45 , engages groove  34 . The engagement is maintained by spring  22  which is urged against cap  21  and finger  45  and maintains finger  45  in the proper spatial relationship with respect to roller  42 . Roller  42  only partially extends through wall  47  of sleeve  26  and is prevented from passing through aperture  40  since the inner diameter of aperture  40  is sized to be less than the diameter of roller  42 . 
     By urging roller  42  against and into groove  34 , axial movement is prevented by the coaction between the roller and groove while rotational movement is still allowed for the positioning of the light on an object to be illuminated. In addition, a plurality of rollers may be used as well for ease of rotational movement. 
     To disengage worklight  12  from support  32 , roller  42  is released from its engagement with groove  34 . To do this, outer sleeve  23  is actuated in a manner to remove finger  45  from its engagement with roller  42 . This causes roller  42  to travel downwardly on sloped surface  50  away from and out of groove  34 . Once roller  42  clears groove  34 , the light may be disengaged from the support. 
     As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the location of the groove and roller may be switched. As shown, catch  60  defines a bore  64  in which groove  62  is located. Post  70 , on the other hand, may include thereon rollers  72  and  74  which partially extend from the post and are adapted to be depressed into post  70 . In use, coaction between groove  62  and rollers  72  and  74  is similar to the groove/roller engagement described above. As post  70  is inserted into bore  64 , rollers  72  and  74  are urged inwardly until they coact with groove  62 . Then, the rollers spring outwardly to inhibit any further axially movement while permitting rotational movement as described above. 
     It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the preferred embodiments described would be apparent to those skilled in the art. Changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is, therefore, intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the following claims.