Abstract:
A light-motion sensor assembly, for use with a light, has a base plate. A light fixture is coupled to the base plate. A motion sensor has a housing for retaining one or more sensors for converting light signals into one or more electronic signals. A flexible conduit couples the motion sensor housing to the base plate, and the flexible conduit permits selective orientation of the motion sensor in various positions relative to the light fixture.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE  
       [0001]    This application claims priority to the Provisional Patent application, Application No. 60/470,834, filed on May 15, 2003, entitled “Flexible Conduit Light-Motion Sensor Assembly.” 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention relates to a light fixture and motion sensor assembly. More particularly, the invention relates to an outdoor light fixture coupled to a motion sensor by a flexible conduit such that the sensor may be placed at various orientations relative to the light fixture.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Light fixture-motion sensor assemblies are well known. Typically, the sensor is coupled to the light fixture such that the zone of detection and orientation of the sensor relative to the light fixture are limited. Therefore, there is a need for a light fixture-motion sensor assembly that permits adjustment of the sensor at various positions relative to the light fixture.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The present invention is directed to a light-motion sensor assembly for use with a light, comprising a base plate; a light fixture coupled to the base plate; a motion sensor having a housing for retaining one or more sensors for converting light signals into one or more electronic signals; a lens supported by the motion sensor housing for directing infrared to said sensors; and a flexible conduit coupling the motion sensor housing to the base plate, wherein the flexible conduit permits selective positioning of the motion sensor in various orientations relative to the light fixture. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    The features and inventive aspects of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description, claims, and drawings, of which the following is a brief description:  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is perspective view of a light and motion sensor assembly formed in accordance with the teachings of this invention.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the light and motion sensor assembly shown in FIG. 1, wherein the motion sensor has been re-positioned relative to the light fixture. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]    A detailed description of the present invention is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing figures. Terms of reference such as “central,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” or “side” may be used to facilitate an understanding of the present invention in view of the accompanying figures. The identified reference terms or other similar terms are not intended to be limiting, and one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the present invention may be practiced in a variety of spatial orientations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 shows an outdoor light fixture and motion sensor assembly  10  formed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. The assembly  10  includes a light fixture  12 , a motion detector  14 , base plate  16  and a flexible conduit  18 .  
         [0010]    As shown in FIG. 1, the light fixture  12  includes a housing  20 , fastener  22  and a coupling shaft  24 . The housing  20  is adapted to retain an illumination device such as an electrical light. The housing  20  may be any type of housing that is commonly known and used in the lighting industry. More particularly, the housing  20  may be specifically designed for indoor or outdoor lighting. Further still and more specifically, the housing  20  will be of the type used in light-motion sensor assemblies. Since the design of light fixture housings are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art no further description is deemed necessary.  
         [0011]    The housing  20  may be constructed of ceramic, metal, plastic or a combination of ceramic, metal or plastic. The housing  20  should provide sufficient durability for indoor or outdoor use. The choice of material selected may turn on the environment in which the assembly  10  will be used.  
         [0012]    The housing  20 , as is known in the lighting industry, includes a support structure (not shown) for receiving at least one illumination device such as a light bulb. The housing, also as is known in the industry, supports electrical circuitry that permits the illumination device to receive electrical power.  
         [0013]    Also shown in FIG. 1, the motion sensor  14  includes a housing  26 . The housing  26  is of the type used in the lighting industry for indoor or outdoor light and motion sensor assemblies. The design and construction of motion sensors and motion sensor housings, particularly those used with lighting devices, are well known to those of skill in the art. It is known that the housing  26  may be formed of a ceramic plastic, metal or a combination of ceramic, metal or plastic materials. The housing  26  also includes an internal compartment for housing electrical circuitry and one or more infrared sensors. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing  26  also includes an opening  28  for supporting a lens (not shown). The lens may be secured within the opening  27  using known techniques.  
         [0014]    The lens may be a Fresnel lens or any other lens that is used in conjunction with light and motion sensor assemblies. As known to those of ordinary skill in the art, lens directs infrared light to sensors retained within the housing  26 .  
         [0015]    The design and construction of the sensors (not shown) are well known to those of skill in the art. The sensors produce an electrical or electronic signal that corresponds to the amount of infrared light detected. The signal in turn is processed by electronic circuitry (not shown) to determine if motion has occurred. There are a number of ways in which the circuitry used to detect motion may be designed, and these techniques are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0016]    As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the assembly  10  also includes a flexible conduit  18 . The flexible conduit  18  may be selectively configured and positioned in various orientations, and may be formed of metal or plastic. For example, the flexible conduit  18  may be flexible steel tubing of the type available from VIMCO, Inc., 1356 Route 78, Java Center, N.Y. 14082, and sold under the designation Flexible Arms (Goosenecks) or Flexible Steel Tubing. The flexible conduit  18  may also be a Standard Convolution, Standard Wall conduit available from Joslyn Sunbank Company, LLC, 1740 Commerce Way, Paso Robles, Calif. 93446. Further still, the flexible conduit  18  may comprise gooseneck conduit/tubing or flexible tubing of the type typically used in the lighting industry.  
         [0017]    As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the flexible conduit  18  is coupled to the base plate  16  using mechanical fasteners. For example, each end of the flexible conduit  18  may be fitted with a collar  30 . The collar  30  may be press-fitted on the end of the flexible  18 . The metal collar  30  provides a mounting termination for attaching the flexible conduit  18  to the base plate  16  and the sensor housing  26 . Alternatively, the collar  30  could be affixed to the base plate  16  and motion sensor housing  26  using an adhesive, welding or other similar techniques.  
         [0018]    As best seen in FIG. 1, the base plate  16  provides a common connection point for the light fixture  12  and the sensor  14 . The base plate  16  is of a type used in conjunction with light-motion sensor assemblies. The design and construction of these types of base plates is generally known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The base plate  16  may also include an internal compartment adapted to house electrical circuitry for the light fixture and the motion sensor.  
         [0019]    As best seen in FIG. 1, the light-motion sensor assembly is formed by attaching the housing  20  of the light fixture  12  and the housing  26  of the motion sensor  14  to the base plate  16 . The housing  20  of light fixture  12  is coupled to the base plate  16  by the coupling shaft  24  using known techniques. As best seen in FIG. 1, the housing  20  may be secured to the support shaft  24  by a mechanical fastener  22 . The fastener  22  may be adapted to permit the housing to pivot or rotate about the connection point. This arrangement permits the housing  20  to be placed in various orientations. Alternatively, the fastener  22  may fixedly join the housing  20  to the coupling shaft  26  so that the housing  20  is not movable or rotatable. The mechanical fastener  22  may be a bolt, ball and socket joint or any other known mechanical fastener that permits fixed or rotational coupling of one device to another.  
         [0020]    The opposite end of the coupling shaft  24  is coupled to the base plate  16  using known techniques. For example, a mechanical fastener (not shown) may be used or the shaft may be support threads that mate with threads supported by an opening formed in the base plate  16 . Various methods for coupling the shaft  24  to the base plate  16  are known to those of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0021]    The flexible conduit  18  is coupled to the base plate  16  using mechanical fasteners, adhesive bonding, welding techniques or other known techniques that will permit the flexible conduit  18  to be oriented in various positions relative to the light fixture  12  yet remain securely fastened to the base plate  16 . As best seen in FIG. 2, the flexible conduit  18  permits the light sensor  26  to be positioned in various orientations relative to the light fixture  12 .  
         [0022]    While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be appreciated that numerous variations, modifications, and alternate embodiments are possible, and accordingly, all such variations, modifications, and alternate embodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of the invention.