US2166394A - Floodlight mounting - Google Patents

Description

July 18, 1939.

R. E; CROSSLEY FLOODLIGHT MOUNTING Filed Aug. 27, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. BY M ATTORNEYS.

July 18, 1939. R. E. CROSSLEY FLOODLIGHT MOUNTING Filed Aug. 2'7, 1937 INVE OR.

ATTORNEYS,

Patented July 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLOODLIGHT MOUNTING poration of New York Application August 27, 1937, Serial No. 161,303

4 Claims.

This invention relates to floodlights, and more particularly to a mounting for the same.

The invention has as an object a structure embodying means quickly and conveniently adjustable for permitting proper focusing of the fioodlight, and the structure further includes the provision of means by which the floodlight can be quickly moved out of focused position to permit the same to be conveniently relamped and returned to initial position without disturbing the focus adjusting means of the light.

The invention has a further object a iloodlight mounting of the type referred to including means operable to urge the fioodlight to adjusted position, and to maintain the same in such position.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a front elevational View illustrating a fioodlight and mounting embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective View of the adjustable plate member.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspec tive view of the mounting mechanism illustrating the fioodlight in a focused position.

Figure 5 is a View, similar to Figure 4, illustrating the floodlight moved out of focused position.

The floodlight may be of any suitable size and structure. As here shown, the floodlight consists of a metallic casing substantially bell shaped and having a cylindrical rear portion II in which the lamp receptacle is mounted, and the light may be equipped with a suitable lens I2 carried by a frame l3 pivoted to the casing ID, as at l4. The frame l3 may be secured in closed condition by any suitable means, and is swung outwardly about the pivot or hinge 14 to permit access to the interior of the casing for the purpose of renewing the lamp or making repairs to the unit.

The particular mounting shown includes a U shaped bracket 15 provided with a suitable means, such as a base I6, for attachment to a pole or support. The fioodlight casing is pivotally mounted between the ends of the bracket l5, and is movable about the pivot to adjust the beam of the light vertically, and preferably the bracket I5 is adjustable relative to the base l6 about a vertical axis to effect proper focus of the beam in a horizontal direction.

The means for effecting the vertical adjustment of the light is arranged on one side of the 5 casing, and is cooperable with one arm of the bracket l5. However, if desired, or if the casing I0 is of comparatively large size, the adjusting mechanism may be incorporated on both sides of the casing in conjunction with both arms of the bracket l5.

The adjusting mechanism, to which my invention is directed, includes a plate member 2|] in the general form of a quadrant, and provided with a hub 2| formed with an aperture 22 to 15 receive the pivot pin or bolt 23 extending through the upper end of the adjacent arm of the bracket l5. The plate member is adjustable about the pivot 23, and is formed with an arcuate slot 24. The casing in is formed with a boss 25 pro- 20 vided with a threaded aperture to receive a cap screw 26. The cap screw 26 is located from the pivot 23 so as to permit adjustment of the plate 20 about the pivot 23, the cap screw 26 extending through the slot 24, and when the plate 20 is 25 properly adjusted it is maintained in adjusted position by tightening the screw 26.

As shown in Figure 3, the side or end of the hub 2|, confronting the adjacent arm of the bracket I5, is formed with a shoulder 21 and 30 the surface 28, extending from the outer edge of the shoulder 21, is of spiral formation extending inwardly toward the plate 20 and terminating at the bottom of the shoulder 21. The inner surface of the upper end of the arm of bracket I5 is formed complemental to the confronting side of the plate member 20, or its hub 2|. That is, the bracket is formed with a shoulder 30 and with a spiral or cam surface extending from the shoulder. The spiral surface 28 on plate member 20 and the complemental surface on the end of the bracket [5 extend in opposite directions so that the shoulders 21, 30 form cooperating stop members to limit pivotal movement of the plate 20 relative to the bracket I5. Inasmuch as the plate member 20 is secured in adjusted position to the fioodlight by cap screw 26, pivotal movement of the floodlight relative to the bracket [5 is also limited.

The outer surface of the boss 25 is preferably formed with a smaller boss 3| having a pointed end extending toward the plate member 20 and acting as a pointer cooperable with the graduations carried on the outer side of the plate member 20. The pivot 23 extends through the upper end of the bracket arm, through aperture 22 in plate member 20, and is threaded or otherwise fixed in the side of the casing Ill. The outer end of the pivot 23 is threaded and provided with a hand nut 33 which, when tightened, securely clamps plate member 20 and the bracket together.

Due to the fact that floodlights are often mounted an appreciable distance from the ground on poles and similar supports and are subject to considerable wind pressure, it is desirable that the entire floodlight unit be of particularly light weight and accordingly, these units are usually formed of aluminum. Due to the inherent characteristic of this metal of being extremely soft, ordinary clamping means to hold the floodlight in adjusted position are not satisfactory. If the clamping surfaces are serrated, or otherwise formed to increase their frictional engagement, the serrations rapidly become worn off and the clamping means becomes ineffective to maintain the light in focused or adjusted position. Also, due particularly to the mounting of these units, it is desirable that the structure include the provision of means whereby the lights may be shifted or moved from focused position in order to aid in the operation of relamping the unit.

It will be apparent with those familiar with floodlight construction that my invention provides a particularly simple, economical and efficient means for overcoming these difiiculties.

When the unit is initially mounted, it is only necessary to move the plate 2i! to bring the shoulder 21 into engagement with the shoulder 30. Thereafter, the floodlight is properly focused in the vertical position by moving the same about its pivot 23, and the cap screw 26 tightened. The hand nut 33 is then tightened and the unit is maintained in focused position.

To relamp the unit, it is only necessary to loosen the hand nut 33 and swing the floodlight to the desired position. For example, from the focused position in Figure 4 to the horizontal position in Figure 5. After the relamping operation has been completed, the floodlight is swung back into focused position. That is, until the shoulder 27 engages the shoulder 38 and the hand nut 33 is again tightened. In the event that the hand nut should not be properly tightened after the relamping operation, or should become. loosened due to expansion or contraction of the unit, the floodlight will not move out of focused position. Any movement out of focused position will result in engagement of the spiral surfaces on the confronting sides of plate member 20 and the arm of bracket i5, causing a binding or clamping of the parts. However, inasmuch as these surfaces are flat surfaces and of comparatively great area, they will not become unduly worn or damaged, It is to be understood that the bracket I5 is so formed that the spacing between the ends of the arms thereof snugly engages the sides of the casing when the plate member 20, or the shoulder 21 thereof, is in engagement with the shoulder 30.

What I claim is:

1. The combination of a relatively fixed supporting bracket and a floodlight pivotally mounted thereto, a plate member mounted on the iioodlight in juxtaposition to said bracket and being adjustable about said pivot relative to the floodlight, means operable to secure said plate to the floodlight in adjusted position, the confronting sides of said plate and bracket being formed with integral stop members cooperable to limit the pivotal movement of said plate and floodlight relative to said bracket, said plate member and bracket being also provided on their confronting sides with means cooperable to urge said plate member in a direction to bring the stop member thereof into engagement with the stop member on said bracket.

2. The combination of a relatively fixed supporting bracket and a floodlight pivotally mounted thereto, a plate member mounted on said pivot intermediate said bracket and the floodlight and being adjustable about said pivot relative to the floodlight, means operable to secure said plate to the floodlight in adjusted position, the confronting sides of said plate and bracket being formed with integral stop members cooperable to limit the pivotal movement of said plate and floodlight relative to said bracket.

3. The combination of a U shaped bracket, a floodlight casing pivotally mounted between the ends of said bracket, a plate member mounted on one of said pivots intermediate the end of said bracket and the casing, said plate member being adjustable about said pivot relative to said casing, the confronting sides of said plate and bracket being formed with fixed stop members cooperable to limit the pivotal movement of said plate relative to the bracket, means operable to secure said plate to the casing in adjusted position, and means for securing said plate against rotation relative to said bracket.

4. The combination of a U shaped bracket and a floodlight casing pivoted between the ends of said bracket, a plate member mounted on the casing intermediate the same and said bracket and being adjustable relative to said casing,

means operable to secure said plate to the casing in adjusted position, the confronting sides of said plate and bracket being formed with integral shoulders operable upon engagement to limit the pivotal movement of said plate and casing.

and the confronting sides of said plate and bracket being also formed with inclined surfaces extending from the respective shoulders in opposite circumferential directions.

ROYAL E. CROSSLEY.

Images