Abstract:
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a cupola and photocontrol receptacle assembly that allows a user to adjust the direction of the cupola base and the photocontrol receptacle simultaneously without using tools. A fixture housing may have an opening for receiving a photocontrol receptacle connection member and one or more ribs located in proximity to the fixture housing opening. A cupola base may include an opening for receiving the connection member and features adapted to detachably engaged the fixture housing ribs. In addition, a spring may be coupled to the connection member and configured to allow the photocontrol receptacle to move in a first direction upon the application of a force in the first direction and recoil when the force is removed or decreased.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a cupola and photocontrol receptacle assembly that allows a user to adjust the cupola and photocontrol receptacle without the use of tools. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A decorative covering, or cupola, may be used to house a photocontrol receptacle and/or photocontrol and attached to an outdoor light fixture. Generally, a photocontrol is a sensor that monitors the amount of light available from light sources, for example the sun, other than the attached light fixture and controls the operation of the light source contained in the light fixture. For example, a photocontrol sensor may automatically turn the attached lights on at dusk and off at dawn. 
         [0003]    Conventional cupola assemblies include a housing attached to the light fixture with a cupola base secured, such as by using screws, to the housing. The photocontrol is contained in a cupola base and connected to a photocontrol receptacle. The photocontrol receptacle is connected to the cupola base or the light fixture, such as by screws, and contains wiring or other structure that connects the photocontrol to an electric power source and/or the light fixture to allow the photocontrol to control the light source contained inside the light fixture. The cupola base includes a window or other opening to allow the photocontrol to monitor the amount of light outside of the cupola. A removable cupola cover is connected to the top of the cupola base as a decorative feature or to protect the photocontrol sensor or the light fixture from the environment. 
         [0004]    The orientation of the photocontrol receptacle often needs adjusting to align the photocontrol sensor with the cupola base window. To adjust the photocontrol receptacle in conventional cupolas, a user must remove the cupola cover, use a screwdriver or other tool to disconnect the photocontrol receptacle from the cupola base on the light fixture, rotate the photocontrol receptacle to the desired position, reattach the photocontrol receptacle using a screwdriver or other tool, and reattach the cupola cover. This process can be time consuming and frustrating to a user. 
         [0005]    In addition, the orientation of the cupola base window and photocontrol sensor often requires adjustment. For instance, the cupola base window may need to be adjusted away from the direction of the rising or setting sun to obtain a desirable control of the light source contained in the light fixture. Similarly, the cupola base window may need to be adjusted to point the window, and likewise the photocontrol sensor, away from other light sources that may affect the performance of the photocontrol sensor in controlling the light source contained in the light fixture. To adjust the cupola base window orientation, a user must typically remove the cupola cover, remove the photocontrol receptacle by using a screwdriver or other tool, detach the cupola base from the fixture housing by using a screwdriver or other tool, rotate the cupola base such that the cupola base window is oriented in the desired direction, reattach the cupola base to the fixture housing, reattach the photocontrol receptacle, and reattach the cupola cover. This process can also be time consuming and frustrating, especially if the user must repeat this procedure due to the changing lighting conditions around the cupola and/or a desire for changing the amount of light receivable by the photocontrol. 
         [0006]    Therefore, a need exists for a cupola assembly that does not require the user to adjust the orientation of the photocontrol with respect to the cupola base window and prevents the photocontrol from becoming misaligned with the cupola base window. A need also exists for a cupola assembly that allows a user to adjust the orientation of the photocontrol sensor and, correspondingly, the orientation of the cupola base window without using tools. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Accordingly, certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a cupola and photocontrol receptacle assembly that allows a user to adjust the direction of the cupola base and the photocontrol receptacle simultaneously without using tools. Certain aspects and embodiments of the present invention provide a fixture housing with an opening for receiving a photocontrol receptacle connection member and one or more ribs located in proximity to the fixture housing opening. A cupola base may include an opening for receiving the connection member and features adapted to detachably engage the fixture housing ribs. A spring may be coupled to the connection member and configured to allow the photocontrol receptacle to move in a first direction upon the application of a force in the first direction and recoil when the force is removed or decreased. 
         [0008]    To adjust the direction of the cupola base and the photocontrol receptacle of some embodiments of the present invention, a user lifts the cupola base relative to the fixture housing. The spring may be adapted to allow a relatively small amount of movement in one direction, such as vertically. When the user lifts the cupola base, the cupola base may become disengaged with the fixture housing. The photocontrol receptacle and, if installed, the photocontrol can be rotated simultaneously with the cupola base, thereby maintaining an alignment of the photocontrol and the cupola base window. When the user lowers or releases the cupola base, the spring recoils and can pull the cupola base in the opposite direction from which it was lifted. The cupola base can then re-engage the fixture housing, thereby restricting the cupola base from rotating relative to the fixture housing. 
         [0009]    Some embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus comprising a photocontrol receptacle comprising a base portion and a connection member. The apparatus may further comprise a fixture housing comprising an opening for receiving the connection member and at least one rib and a cupola base comprising an opening for receiving the connection member and at least one feature for detachably engaging the at least one fixture housing rib. The apparatus may also include a spring coupled to the connection member, the spring configured such that the photocontrol receptacle moves in a first direction upon the application of a force in the first direction and recoils when the force is removed or decreased. The at least one feature of the cupola base is configured to disengage with the at least one rib of the fixture housing when the photocontrol receptacle is moved in the first direction. 
         [0010]    Some embodiments of the present invention provide a photocontrol receptacle comprising a base portion and a connection member, a fixture housing comprising an opening for receiving the connection member and at least one rib, a cupola base comprising an opening for receiving the connection member and at least one feature configured to detachably engage the at least one rib, and a spring. The connection member is inserted in the cupola base opening and in the fixture housing opening. The spring is coupled to the connection member and configured such that the photocontrol receptacle moves in a first direction upon the application of a force in the first direction and recoils when the force is removed or decreased. The cupola base features may disengage with the at least one rib of the fixture housing when the photocontrol receptacle is moved in the first direction. 
         [0011]    Other embodiments may comprise a photocontrol receptacle comprising a base portion and a connection member extending from the base portion, the connection member comprising a primary flange and a locator flange, the primary flange having a different size than the locator flange. The cupola base may have a window for allowing light to enter the cupola base and an opening with a primary notch and a locator notch having a different size than the primary notch. The primary notch is configured to receive the primary flange and the locator notch is configured to receive the locator flange of the connection member. The primary notch and locator notch may be positioned to orient the photocontrol receptacle to a pre-set location relative to the cupola base window. 
         [0012]    In another embodiment, an apparatus comprises a fixture housing comprising a primary rib and a stop rib. The apparatus may also comprise a cupola base comprising a primary feature and a stop feature, the primary and stop features adapted to detachably engage the ribs. In one embodiment, the stop rib is adapted to engage the stop feature to limit rotation of the cupola base to less than 360°. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  shows a cupola and photocontrol receptacle prior to assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an assembled cupola base according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3   a  is a bottom view of a cupola base according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3   b  shows an expanded view of the cupola base features shown in  FIG. 3   a.    
           [0017]      FIG. 4   a  is a perspective view of a fixture housing according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4   b  shows an expanded view of the fixture housing ribs shown in  FIG. 4   a.    
           [0019]      FIG. 5   a  shows a cupola base prior to engagement with a fixture housing according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5   b  shows the cupola base shown in  FIG. 5   a  engaging the fixture housing. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6   a  is a bottom view of a photocontrol receptacle according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6   b  is an expanded view of the photocontrol receptacle connection member shown in  FIG. 6   a.    
           [0023]      FIG. 7   a  is a perspective view of a cupola base according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7   b  is an expanded view of the cupola base opening shown in  FIG. 7   a.    
           [0025]      FIG. 8   a  shows a photocontrol receptacle and a cupola base prior to engagement according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 8   b  shows the photocontrol receptacle engaging the cupola base shown in  FIG. 8   a.    
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]      FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of an unassembled cupola and photocontrol unit  100 . The unit  100  includes a photocontrol receptacle  102  with a base portion  104  that is generally circular and configured to connect with a photocontrol  106 . The photocontrol receptacle  102  also includes a connection member  108  extending from the base portion  104 . The connection member  108  includes flanges  110  extending outwardly relative to the connection member  108  for engaging a cupola base  112 . 
         [0028]    The cupola base  112  includes a window  114  to allow the photocontrol  106  to monitor the presence of light outside of the cupola base  112  and an opening  116  in the bottom of the cupola base  112 . The cupola base  112  also includes one or more features (not shown) located on the bottom surface. The cupola base opening  116  is configured to receive the connection member  108  and includes notches  118  configured to receive the connection member flanges  110 . When the connection member flanges  110  are received by the notches  118 , the rotational movement of the photocontrol receptacle is restricted. As described in more detail below, some embodiments provide a cupola base opening  116  with notches  118  of different sizes and a connection member  108  with flanges  110  of different sizes such that the photocontrol receptacle  102  is received in the cupola base opening  116  in one orientation to ensure alignment between the cupola base window  114  and the photocontrol sensor. 
         [0029]    The unit  100  also includes a fixture housing  120  adapted to be connected to a light fixture (not shown). The fixture housing  120  includes an opening  122  on the top of the fixture housing for receiving the connection member  108  and a plurality of ribs  124  surrounding the opening  122 . The ribs  124  detachably engage the cupola base features to restrict rotational movement by the cupola base  112  relative to the housing  120 . For instance, the cupola base features can receive the fixture housing ribs  124  and prevent movement except in the upward direction. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the cupola base  112  rests on top of the housing  120 . The ribs  124  may be any type of structure. Examples of ribs  124  include ribs, slots, protrusions, flanges, extensions, bumps, holes, knobs, hooks, and dimples. 
         [0030]    When the unit  100  is assembled, the connection member  108  may extend into the fixture housing  120  and may be attached to a spring  126 . The spring  126  may be disk shaped and adapted to exert a downward force on the connection member  108  and thus the photocontrol receptacle  102 . The base portion  104  exerts the downward force on the cupola base  112 , thereby assisting in the engagement between the cupola base features and the fixture housing ribs  124 . The spring  126  may be adapted to allow the cupola base  112  and photocontrol receptacle  102  to be lifted vertically upward a limited distance by a user. When the user lifts the cupola base  112 , the photocontrol receptacle  102  is also lifted. After the user lifts the cupola base  112 , the user may rotate the cupola base  112  such that the cupola base window  114  and, since the photocontrol receptacle  102  rotates with the cupola base  112 , the photocontrol sensor are in a desired position. 
         [0031]    The photocontrol receptacle  102 , cupola base  112 , and fixture housing  120  may be made from any suitable material. Examples of such material include polymers or metal molded, cast, or otherwise configured to selected shapes and specifications. The spring  126  may be made from metal or other material capable of having a resilient configuration and, in some embodiments, provide a recoil. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  illustrate one embodiment of the cupola base features  130  that may be used on a cupola base, such as cupola base  112 . The features  130  may be located on the bottom surface  132  of the cupola base  112 . The features  130  may be formed by extending areas of the cupola base outwardly relative to the cupola base bottom surface  132 , thereby creating features  130  and depressed areas or grooves  134  between the features  130  or by creating grooves  134  in the bottom surface  132 , thereby creating the features  130 . The features  130  may include primary features  136  around an outer portion of the bottom surface  132  and at least one stop feature  138  closer to the center opening  116 . In some cupolas, the wiring connecting the photocontrol to the light fixture and/or electric power source may be tangled if the cupola base  112  was allowed to rotate 360° or more. The stop feature  138  engages a stop rib (described below) associated with the fixture housing to prevent the cupola base  112  from rotating 360° or more. The features  130  may be any type of structure. Examples of features  130  include ribs, slots, protrusions, flanges, extensions, bumps, holes, knobs, hooks, and dimples. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  illustrate one embodiment of the fixture housing ribs  124  that may be used in a housing such as fixture housing  120 . The ribs  124  may be located on the top surface  140  of the fixture housing  120  and surround the fixture housing opening  122 . The ribs  124  may be formed using similar methods as those used to form the cupola base features. For instance, areas of the fixture housing outer surface  148  may be extended inwardly relative to the fixture housing top surface  140 , thereby creating ribs  124  and lowered areas  142  between the ribs  124  or portions of the top surface  140  may be added, thereby creating ribs  124  and areas  142  between the ribs  124 . When the ribs  124  engage or connect with the features  130 , as shown in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b , the cupola base  112  is prevented from rotating relative to the fixture housing  120 . The ribs  124  may include at least one stop rib  146 . The stop rib  146  is located and shaped to engage the stop feature  138  of the cupola base  112  to prevent the cupola base from rotating 360° or more. 
         [0034]    In some embodiments of the present invention, the cupola base does not include features or only includes a stop feature and the fixture housing does not include ribs or only includes a stop rib. In these embodiments, the cupola base may be rotated with or without lifting the cupola base and, due to the engagement of the photocontrol receptacle and the cupola base described in more detail below, the photocontrol receptacle, and thus the photocontrol sensor, does not rotate relative to the cupola base. Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention may include any desired number of ribs and features. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  show one embodiment of the bottom of a photocontrol receptacle  102 . The photocontrol receptacle  102  includes a base portion  104  and a connection member  108  extending from the base portion  104 . The connection member  108  may include a central portion  152  and support flanges  154 . The support flanges  154  may extend from the base portion  104  to the central portion  152  for supporting the connection member  108  and decreasing the chance that the connection member  108  becomes disconnected from the base portion  104 . The support flanges  154  may include connection flanges  110  that are adapted to engage notches  118  in the cupola base opening  116 , as shown in  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b . The notches  118  may be sized to receive the connection flanges  110 . As shown in  FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b , the photocontrol receptacle  102  may engage the cupola base  112  by aligning the connection flanges  110  with the cupola base notches  118  and inserting the connection member  108  through the cupola base opening  116 . After engagement, the photocontrol receptacle  102  is preferably prevented from rotating relative to the cupola base. 
         [0036]    In some embodiments, the support flanges  154  include at least one flange  160  having a different size than the other support flanges  154 . The cupola base  112  may include at least one notch  162  having a different size than the other notches  118 . The different sized notch  162  may be configured to only receive the different sized flange  160 , thereby requiring the photocontrol receptacle to be oriented in a particular direction relative to the cupola base  112 . For instance, the photocontrol receptacle  102  may be required to engage the cupola base  112  in a direction such that when the photocontrol is connected to the photocontrol receptacle  102 , the photocontrol sensor is aligned with a cupola base window  114 . 
         [0037]    The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the invention has been presented only for the purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and their practical application so as to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from its spirit and scope.