Patent ID: 6843589

Claim:
A low profile lighting system comprising: at least one headlight, at least one light fixture, an actuator, and a light unit housing; wherein said headlight is mounted on said light fixture, said light fixture being contained within a profile of said light unit housing when said headlight is not in use, and said actuator moves said light fixture to a position in which said headlight projects above a top surface of said light unit housing when said headlight is to be deployed said light fixture is pivotally mounted on a hinge, said hinge lying within an interior of said light unit housing, and an axis of rotation of said light fixture being outside said interior of said housing, said hinge comprises an actuator arm hinge mechanism and at least one stabilizing hinge mechanism, each said stabilizing hinge mechanism comprising at least one straight linkage bar, at least one eccentric linkage bar, and a three point hinge bar, and each said stabilizing hinge mechanism is pivotally connected to both said light fixture and a fixed portion of said light unit housing; and wherein said actuator arm hinge mechanism comprises an actuator arm socket and at least one straight linkage bar pivotally connecting said actuator arm socket to said light fixture, there being a first pivot point at a connection point of said straight linkage bar and said actuator arm socket, and a second pivot point at a connection point of said straight linkage bar and said light fixture, and a connecting lever pivotally connecting said actuator arm socket to a fixed portion of said light unit housing, there being a first pivot point at a connection point of said connecting lever and said actuator arm socket, and a second pivot point at a connection point of said connecting lever and said fixed portion of said light unit housing.