Patent Publication Number: US-2005128758-A1

Title: Light fixture

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a light fixture for mounting to a surface.  
     BACKGROUND  
      Lighting arrangements for decks and other outdoor surfaces need to provide a suitable support for the light as well as being convenient for mounting purposes. Lighting arrangements also have to be aesthetically pleasing and provide suitable lighting for the surrounding area.  
      Many different designs and arrangements are previously available but there remains a requirement for an improved arrangement which holds the lamp conveniently and provides a suitable mounting for attachment to exterior surfaces.  
     SUMMARY  
      It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved light fixture.  
      According to the present invention there is provided a light fixture comprising: 
          a pipe of constant diameter shaped to define a vertical stand portion;     an arched upper section and a hanging portion which extends downwardly from the arched upper section generally parallel to the stand portion;     a mounting plate attached at or adjacent the bottom of the stand portion for attachment of the stand portion to a support surface;     a wire passing through the pipe for supplying electric power, and;     a lamp attached to the hanging portion for receiving the electric power.        

      In one arrangement the mounting plate is on one side of the stand portion parallel thereto.  
      In one arrangement the mounting plate is on the bottom of the stand portion at right angles thereto.  
      In one arrangement the wire extends through the open end of the stand portion and through the mounting plate.  
      In one arrangement the wire extends through an opening in the side of the stand portion above the mounting plate.  
      Preferably on the end of the hanging portion is mounted a fitting carrying a lampshade support dish to which a lamp shade is attached.  
      Preferably the lampshade support dish receives therein a photocell assembly.  
      Preferably the photocell assembly surrounds the fitting.  
      Preferably the photocell assembly is generally annular.  
      Preferably the lampshade support dish has a hole therethrough exposing a light receptor of the photocell assembly. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention:  
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a first embodiment of light fixture according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of a light fixture according to present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a vertical cross section of an arrangement similar to that of  FIG. 2 .  
       FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of a further light fixture according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the lamp and adjacent end of the tube of the embodiments shown above including an optional photocell for operating the lamp when the ambient light drops. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      As illustrated in  FIG. 1  through  3 , a light fixture  1  designed for mounted in fences, houses, garages, decks, concrete and stucco walls, picnic tables and the like. The fixture has a main elongate body  3  which is arranged to extend from a surface  5 . The elongate body is a hollow pipe of constant diameter shaped to define a vertical stand portion  7 . A first end  9  of the body is arched and extends to hang downwardly from the arch generally parallel to the main body. At a furthermost end  9 A of the first end a light  11  is arranged to be fixed thereto such that the light is positioned beside the vertical stand portion for illumination of the desired area.  
      A second end  13  of the elongate body is arranged for mounting to a surface. A mounting plate  15  attached to the second end is arranged to mounting to the surface.  FIGS. 2 and 3  show the second end inserted through a hole  17  drilled in the surface and the mounting plate fastened to a top side  19  of the surface. A furthermost end  13 A of the second end is hidden beneath or behind the surface such that a power supply  21  extending from the second end is hidden as well.  
      The power supply consists of a wire  23  which passed through the pipe for supplying electric power to the light.  
      In a second embodiment of the present invention there is illustrated, in  FIG. 4 , a wall mount plate  25  which is arranged to mount vertically on a wall  27  such that the light hangs away from the wall for illumination thereof.  
      The mounting plate can also be arranged such that the elongate body can be rotated thereon. The elongate body will be coupled to and through the mounting plate such that the elongate body can be twisted such that the light rotates about the elongate body enabling a user to position the light from one side to the other relative to the surface.  
      A photocell can be provided at the base of the light bulb that is at the outer end of the elongate tube or pipe.  
      The tube or pipe can be formed in two pieces with one piece slidable inside the other and rotatable within the other and locked in place by a thumb screw on the outer piece for adjustment of the length and/or angular orientation of the light relative to the mounting plate.  
      In the arrangement of  FIG. 1 , rather than have the electric lead escape from the pipe at the end of the pipe below the plate  15 , a hole in one side of the pipe may be provided just above the plate so that the lead is located above the plate and can be fed from the top of the base  5  on which the light fixture is carried.  
      In  FIG. 1 , the wire  30  emerges through a hole  31  and surrounding grommet  32  in the side of the stand portion of the tube adjacent to but spaced upwardly from the mounting plate  15 .  
      In  FIGS. 2, 3  and  4  the wire emerges from the open bottom end and thus passes through a hole in the mounting plate  15  thus requiring a hole to be drilled in the support  19 .  
      In  FIG. 4  the mounting plate  25  is carried on one side of the stand portion of the tube. This can be used for attachment to an upper plate of a mounting spike which extends downwardly from the upper plate into the ground. Thus the plate  25  is clamped to a similar plate at the top of the spike with the spike engaging into the ground so that the structure is engaged into the ground rather than onto a support, in a situation where no suitable support is available.  
      The electrical connections and arrangements can be provided which are suitable for connection to one hundred and ten volts supply. In the alternative, the arrangements can be designed for twelve volt or twenty-four volt low voltage systems thus avoiding the necessity for hard wiring of the electrical supply. In the alternative, electrical supply can be provided form a photo cell system which is mounted adjacent the electrical lamp.  
      In  FIG. 5  is sown the details of the mounting at the end of the hanging portion  9  of the tube. This computerises a fitting  40  with a screw threaded male section  41  which engages into a female screw thread  42  formed in the end of the hanging portion  9  of the tube. The fitting  40  has a central bore through which the wires pass to the lamp holder  43 . The central bore  44  extends through a shaft portion  45  which has an external screw thread  46 . A nut  47  engages onto the upper end of the shaft  4  and the second nut  48  engages onto a lower end of the shaft  45  thus holding the fitting in place on the shaft  45 . A strain relief element  49  is located on the end of the wire at the nut  47  so that it accommodates any pulling on the wire to prevent the pulling forces from being communicated through to the lamp holder  43 .  
      Under the fitting  40  is provided a mounting dish  50  which attaches to a lamp shade  51  of the glass globe type. The lamp shade is fastened to a threaded coupling  53  at the bottom of the flange portion  54  of the dish. The dish thus has a base  55  which is circular and surround the shaft  45  and extends outwardly beyond the fitting  40  and its edges  56  which extend beyond the end of the tube  9 .  
      The flange portion  54  extends downwardly from the base  55  to define a receptacle  56  within the confines of the mounting dish and within the bowl  51 . An annular photocell assembly  57  is provided which fits within the dish underneath the base  55  and surrounding the shaft  45 . The annular photocell assembly is a commercially available construction shaped and arranged to fit within the dish  50  so that its peripheral edge  58  is located inwardly of the flange portion  54 . A hole  60  is provided in the base  55  to communicate light through a cover  61  over the hole which is transparent through to a photocell receptor  62  on the photocell assembly  57 .  
      The arrangement is arrangement to inexpensively improve the lighting around residential or business or recreational areas. The arrangement provides added security by increasing illumination in these areas.  
      The device is suitable for lighting patios, decks, fence, picnic tables, barbeques, pathways, driveways, gardens and even within recreation rooms in view of the simple mounting arrangement which provide either the horizontal mounting plate or the vertical mounting plate as required.  
      The adjustment arrangement shown in  FIG. 3  wherein one tube slides within another tube of the stand portion allows adjustment of the height for example from forty six inches to seven five inches. The construction utilizing the dish clamped to the end of the tube provides a waterproof arrangement which is rain resistant.  
      The bulb  70  screws into the holder  43  and can be of any suitable type for the different voltages as required. Primarily where the arrangement is provided with electrical power from a main supply using hundred and twenty volt service, a fluorescent type bulb of the order of thirteen watts can be used.  
      The use of the photocell allows the device to be turned on automatically when the ambient light drops to a suitable level.  
      While embodiments of the present invention has been described in the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention. The invention is to be considered limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.