Abstract:
A tool-less entry landscape fixture having a base structure, a fixture cover hingeably attached to the base structure, a flexible closing mechanism depending from said fixture cover, and a structure for retaining said flexible closing mechanism. Electrical components of the light fixture are sealed by sealing gaskets, preferably of silicone, located on an upper and lower circumference of the optical lens. The tool-less entry landscape fixture&#39;s flexible closing mechanism is operable by hand so that tools are not required for routine maintenance such as changing of a bulb. Moreover the tool-less entry landscape fixture has no small parts which require removal during routine maintenance.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a tool-less entry landscape fixture. More particularly, a landscape fixture having a plurality of arms hingeably connected to a fixture cover, requiring no tools to open the fixture cover and having no small parts which require removal during ordinary maintenance of the landscape fixture. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     There are various types of landscape fixtures for use in illuminating a garden, walkway, driveway, or yard. From time to time these fixtures require some type of maintenance to be performed, such as changing a light bulb. Although, many of these landscape fixtures have various means of accessing the internal electric components in order to perform the required maintenance, many of these various means require the use of tools to access the internal structures of the fixture. In addition, many of these fixtures have small removable parts which could easily be dropped or otherwise misplaced during ordinary maintenance of the fixture. 
     For example, one fixture described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,422 to Fischer, et al. has a hinged access but requires a separate tool for opening and closing the fixture in order to access the bulb. Moreover, the fixture requires the additional use of the described tool for removing and replacing a light bulb. 
     Another fixture such as the one shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,587,602 to Dean et al. teaches an outdoor light housing having a hingeably attached door. The access door is held in a closed position by a bolt, thus necessitating the use of a tool to open and close the fixture. Moreover the bolt could be lost when it is removed from the fixture during routine maintenance. 
     Herein, lies the problem with various lighting fixtures currently available. Many of these fixtures require the use of tools to access the internal structure of the fixture and maintain the light. This adds to the cost of maintaining the fixture because a plurality of maintenance tools have to be purchased. In addition many of the these fixtures have small parts which can easily be lost if placed on the ground during maintenance. For instance, if a person loses the door bolt of the lamp described in the Dean, et al. patent then the lighting fixture would be unsafe as water could enter the internal area of the structure housing electrical components. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide landscape fixture having tool-less access to the internal fixture structure. 
     It is a further objective of this invention to provide a landscape fixture having no small parts which require removal during ordinary maintenance, and which otherwise could be lost during maintenance of the landscape fixture. 
     It is still a further objective of the invention to provide a landscape fixture having a flexible latch for connecting a fixture cover to the landscape fixture. 
     It is still a further objective to have a long life light bulb sealed from weather elements within the tool-less entry light fixture. 
     It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a tool-less entry landscape fixture which provides an adequate seal of the bulb an other electrical components without the need of closing and retaining mechanisms which require tools to remove or loosen. Particularly, a tool-less fixture which securely seals with merely a manually releasable retaining mechanism is desired. 
     One embodiment of a tool-less entry landscape fixture has a base structure having an upper and a lower portion, a fixture cover hingeably connected to the base structure, and a flexible closing mechanism retaining the fixture cover to the upper portion of the base structure. The tool-less entry landscape fixture further comprises first and second hinges extending from first and second radially extending arms which are fixably attached to the base structure. The upper portion of the tool-less entry landscape fixture may be substantially conical in shape and has a shelf for placing a lens and the lower portion of the base structure is substantially cylindrical in shape, hollow, and may be partially threaded. The substantially bowl shaped fixture cover has a reflective coating on one side and has first and second hinge connection members depending therefrom and hingeably connected to the first and second hinges by means of first and second pins. The tool-less entry landscape fixture of the present invention may be substantially mushroom shaped and further comprises an optical lens which is cylindrical in shape having sealing gaskets made of silicone around an upper circumference and a lower circumference for sealing between the fixture cover and the upper portion of the base structure. The tool-less entry landscape fixture further comprises a light source of the halogen type housed beneath said fixture cover. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood when the detailed description of the preferred embodiment is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tool-less entry landscape fixture of the present invention in the open position; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the tool-less entry landscape fixture shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is top view of the upper portion of the tool-less entry landscape fixture of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a section view of the upper portion of the tool-less entry landscape fixture of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a section view of the upper portion of the tool-less entry landscape fixture of FIG. 1, which shows the closing mechanism; and, 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the tool-less entry landscape fixture of the present invention showing the lens in its properly seated position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring initially to FIG. 1, a perspective view of one embodiment of the tool-less entry landscape fixture of the present invention in the open position. FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the toolless entry landscape fixture  10  with the lens  54  in its seated position. FIG. 2 shows side view of a tool-less entry landscape fixture  10  having an exemplary height of about 20 inches in this embodiment. However, various heights may be utilized depending on the required environment. The toolless landscape entry fixture  10  is substantially mushroom shaped and has a base structure  18  comprising an upper portion  14  and a lower portion  12 . The lower portion  12  of the base structure  18  is cylindrical in shape and may have an outer diameter of about one-half inch. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that the size and shape of the upper and lower portion may vary. 
     The lower portion  12  of the base structure  18  is made of a decorative yet weather resistant material, for protection from rain, snow, sleet, wind, ice and the like. Preferably the lower portion  12  is made of die cast aluminum or die cast brass, however various other materials may be used. Within the lower portion  12  of the base structure  18  is housed a wire (not shown) for electrical communication with the light fixture  10 . The lower portion  12  affords the wire protection from the weather elements. 
     FIG. 2 also shows the upper portion  14  of the base structure  18 . The upper portion  14  is substantially conical in shape with an upper diameter  15  and a lower diameter  13 . The lower diameter  13  is nearly equivalent to the diameter of the lower portion  12 . Thus, the lower portion  12  and the upper portion  14  are press fit together, or held together in some other fashion known to one skilled in the art, but still maintain an aesthetically pleasing appearance. The upper portion  14  of the base structure  18  is preferably made of die cast brass or die cast aluminum, however it can be of some other weather resistant yet decorative material. The upper portion  14  provides protection from the weather elements for various electrical components which will be discussed below. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, hingeably attached to the upper portion  14  is a fixture cover  16  which is substantially bowl-like in shape. The fixture cover  16  is made of a weather resistant material, preferably die cast aluminum or die cast brass, however various materials could be substituted. The diameter of the fixture cover  16  is around five inches, however one of skill in the art will recognize this size and shape may vary. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, a top view of the upper portion  14  is shown as well as a cross-section of the upper portion  14 . First and second arms  22 ,  24  are radially extending from the perimeter of the upper diameter  15  of the upper portion  14 . The arms  22 ,  24  are spaced about 120 degrees apart. A third arm  20  radially extends from the upper portion  14  and is spaced about 120 degrees from first and second arms  22 ,  24 . Beneath each arm  20 ,  22 ,  24  are strengthening ribs  21 ,  23 ,  25  respectively, extending from the upper diameter  15  of the upper portion  14 . Arms  22  and  24  have upwardly extending and partially rotated hinges  26 ,  28  located at their respective ends. Hinges  26 ,  28  each have a hole located therein for receiving pins  30 ,  32 . Hinges  26 ,  28  are partially rotated about a vertical axis so that the brackets  34 ,  36  shown in FIG. 4 are properly aligned with hinge connection members  42 ,  46  depending from the fixture cover  16 . Each pin  30 ,  32  acts as a hingepin which brackets  34 ,  36  rotate about. Pins  30 ,  32  are preferably #8 screws. However one skilled in the art will recognize that various sizes and types of arms, pins or hinge mechanisms can be used and that these pins need not be removed for routine maintenance. The brackets  34 ,  36  are also connected via screws  38 ,  40  to hinge connection members  42 ,  46  depending from an inner side of the fixture cover  16 . This design allows the fixture cover  16  to hinge about pins  30 ,  32 . 
     Formed within the upper portion  14  is a shelf  56  for placing a lens  54  as depicted in FIGS. 4 and 6. The lens  54  is cylindrical in shape and hollowed in the center. The lens  54  is formed of glass or some other refractive material having a thickness of about {fraction (3/16)}″ and a diameter of about one and one-half inches (1.5″). Bonded around an upper and lower circumference of the lens  54  are upper and lower lens gaskets  58  and  60 . The upper and lower lens gaskets  58  and  60  are made of a rubbery-like substance, preferably silicone, which is soft, forms to surfaces with which it comes into contact, and is impervious to water. The lower lens gasket  60  seals against the shelf  56  when the lens is properly seated in the upper portion  14 . Moreover, when the fixture cover  16  is closed, the upper lens gasket  58  is seated in a lip  63 , which is formed by the fixture cover  16  and the reflective coating  68 . This design effectively seals electrical components housed within the upper portion  14  from weather elements such as rain, snow, sleet, ice, and the like. 
     Also shown housed within the upper portion  14  are various electrical components. A bulb socket  62  is housed within the upper portion  14 . The bulb socket  62  is connected to a socket bracket  64  which is fixedly attached to the upper portion  14  by two screws  70 ,  72 . However, one skilled in the art will recognize that various other means may be used to attach the socket bracket  64  to the upper portion  14 . The bulb socket  62  is electrically connected with the wire (not shown) which is housed within the lower portion  12  of the base structure  18 . The bulb socket  62  is further electrically connected with bulb  66 . The bulb  66  is preferably a long life halogen bulb, however various types of bulbs could be used in substitution. The bulb  66  can preferably be pushed into and pulled out of the bulb socket  62  for ease of maintenance. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, a different side section view shows another view of the upper portion  14 , and more specifically a closing mechanism  52 . Arm  20  is used to closably retain the fixture cover  16  over the upper portion  14  of the base structure  18 . A support bracket member  48  depends from an inner side of fixture cover  16 . Screw  50  connects the closing mechanism  52 , preferably a flexible latch, to the support bracket member  48 . When the fixture cover  16  is moved to a closed position closing mechanism  52  holds the fixture cover  16  closed by latching over a ledge  19 . To open the fixture cover  16 , a maintenance person bends the latch away from ledge  19 , thus providing the clearance necessary to open the fixture cover  16 . In this embodiment the closing mechanism  52  can be opened and closed easily by hand and thus no tools are necessary to access the inner area of the upper portion  14 . This characteristic requires that the closing mechanism  52  flex easily but not become permanently deformed. Therefore, the closing mechanism  52  is preferably made from a thin piece of metal or plastic having a thickness allowing the mechanism  52  to extend over a ledge  19  yet firmly retain the fixture cover  16  in the closed position. However, one skilled in the art knows that various other means may be utilized to connect the hinge cover and the base. 
     To use the tool-less entry landscape fixture  10 , the base structure  18  is partially buried in the ground via landscape mounting stake, junction box or a concrete pad. To facilitate this installation, the lower portion  12  of the base structure  18  may be partially threaded for removably attaching via landscape mounting stake, junction box, concrete pad or the like. As well, the wire which is connected to bulb socket  62  for providing power, must be connected to a voltage source, preferably low voltage on the order of around 12 volts. A pool of light emitted from the tool-less entry landscape fixture  10  can be adjusted by varying the installation depth of the fixture  10  into the ground or concrete pad. For instance, if the base structure  18  of the light fixture  10  is buried deeper, the pool of light will be smaller and appear brighter. However, if the base structure  18  has a more shallow depth, the pool of light will be larger and appear dimmer. 
     In order to change a bulb, as part of routine maintenance, a person should turn the power source off. The closing mechanism  52  may be released from its closed position by releasing it from ledge  19 . The fixture cover  16  may also be hingeably rotated to its open position, which allows access to the interior of the upper portion  14 . Lens  54  is removed and the old bulb replaced with a new bulb by pulling the old bulb from the bulb socket  62  and pushing a new bulb into the bulb socket  62 . Finally, the lens  54  is replaced, fixture cover  16  is rotated to a closed position, and the closing mechanism  52  is fastened over ledge  19 . 
     The present invention provides a tool-less entry landscape fixture having a base structure  18  with an upper portion  14  and a lower portion  12 . The upper portion  14  of the base structure  18  has a plurality of radial extending arms  20 ,  22 ,  24 . At least one of the radially extending arms is hingeably connected to a fixture cover  16 . These arms may alternatively be replaced with a continuous or semi-continuous shelf, (not shown) if required. One of ordinary skill in the art may modify the arm and hinge mechanism appropriately depending on the eventual usage and other requirements. Thus, the use of arms  20 , 22 , 24  in the shown embodiment is not considered limiting and various support structures may be readily used therefore. The fixture cover  16  can be sealingly closed against a lens  54  housed between the fixture cover  16  and the upper portion  14  of the base structure  18 . 
     The invention may be embodied in various forms without departing from its spirit and essential characteristics. The described embodiments are not to be considered as restrictive.