GB2521680A

GB2521680A - Combined maintenance lighting device

Info

Publication number: GB2521680A
Application number: GB1323176.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eyasu Berhane Hagos
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-12-31
Filing date: 2013-12-31
Publication date: 2015-07-01
Anticipated expiration: 2033-12-31
Also published as: GB2521680B; GB201323176D0

Abstract

Maintenance lighting device having circular stand 1, middle light source section 2, upper light source section 3, power cord 4, and single- and omni-directional light sources. Middle section 2 may be a truncated cone, with its largest radius further from the central stand axis than any other part of the device, and may have a fluorescent tube lamp 8 / light emitting diode strip / L.E.D. as an omni-directional light source. Power cord 4 may be retractable by a spring loaded reel. Upper section 3 may have directional floodlights 11 having vertical / horizontal angular adjustment, and circular tube guard 12. Lights 8, 11 may have independent power switches. Sections 2, 3 may be height adjustable, e.g. extendable post, with clamp 10, movement damper, and elastic limiter. Power outlet 6 and voltage transformer may be provided. Circular stand 1 may have supporting feet or wheels 7 with brake mechanism.

Description

A COMBINED MAINTENANCE LIGHTING DEVICE

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of lighting devices. More specifically, it relates to free standing combined light source devices for use in maintenance hangars.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The level of light in the maintenance areas is of great importance. Sufficient lighting ensures good visual inspection of the subject of maintenance, decreases time required to perform certain tasks and ensures safety; whereas poor lighting may even increase injury chance at a workplace. Therefore, there are many different lighting systems and setups that are used in the maintenance environments, such as in car garages, aircraft hangars and similar workplaces.

While typical ceiling lighting systems provide a good source of overhead lighting, there are many scenarios where different light source positioning may be required in order to efficiently perform a certain task. One of such scenarios is when additional lighting is required in the interiors of aircraft under maintenance or when maintenance is being carried out underneath the aircraft or vehicle. In these cases, portable and free-standing directional and omni-directional light source devices are used.

Various such lighting solutions exist in the prior art. For example, a United States patent U52005117340, published on 2nd June 2005, describes an omni-directional worklight, providing a high level of substantially omni-directional illumination. Briefly, the worklight includes an elongate lamp section including one or more lamp sockets for receiving one or more small fluorescent lamps such as compact fluorescent lamps of the screw-in variety. The lamp section includes a substantially transparent shield about the lamps and is structured and arranged to provide illumination substantially in a full circle about the lamp section. The lamp section is retractable into an elongate base section that is shaped and structured to receive the lamp section snugly in its interior In the retracted configuration the worklight forms a compact unit for carrying, transporting and storing the worklight.

The worklight may also include legs that may be retracted along the base section and deployed for supporting the worklight during use.

Another patent, describing an omni-directional light source device is presented in a European patent EP2241 796, published on 20th September 2010.

The movable multi-directional light stand includes a retractable top support rod that can be received into and connected with a hollow middle support rod. It also features a secondary rod, supporting a pendant light.

Other patents, presenting lighting devices describe directional lighting solutions. For example, a United States patent U54228489, published on 14th September 1980, presents a portable stand apparatus for electric flood lights. An improved portable stand for electric floodlights has a base, a series of self-locking interconnected poles, a crossbar for the support of electric floodlights, an adjustable crossbar bracket for positioning the crossbar as desired, adjustable lamp brackets for directing the light at a desired angle, and cord guides for the restraint of a removable electric cord on the exterior of the device.

Other similar free standing lighting devices, acting as directional light sources, are described in the following patents: CA2256810, published on 22nd July 1999, US6213626, published on 10th April 2001, US2003103357, published on 5th June2003, GB2490658, published on 14th November2012.

The mentioned prior art describes lighting devices that provide either directional or om ni-directional light. However, maintenance areas typically require both types of lighting: omni-directional lighting for general illumination of the work area and directional light for areas where visual inspection of fine detail is required.

Thus, typically both types of lighting devices must be used in work areas, increasing the overall number of light stands and the resulting power cables. This results in less free space remaining and increased hazard of tripping.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a free standing lighting device that contains both directional and omni-directional lighting sources. The device mainly comprises a circular stand, a truncated cone-shaped middle section and an extendable upper section. The middle section is fitted with either fluorescent tube lamps or light emitting diode strips in a circular pattern, providing omni-directional illumination.

The extendable upper section carries at least one directional light source, such as a floodlight and features a circular tube guard protecting the directional light sources.

The vertical and horizontal orientations of the floodlights can be adjusted and so the light may be aimed as required. As all the sections are circular and the middle section has the greatest diameter, the device can roll in one place around the smaller diameter section when it is tipped over, avoiding damaging the floor by overheating it at one spot. Furthermore, the light sources feature independent power switches and so may be turned off when not needed, thus allowing the user to efficiently use the electricity power and/or avoid unnecessary blinding light.

By combining both directional and omni-directional lighting sources in one free-standing device, this invention is especially beneficial in places where working area is limited. Also, the total cost of the maintenance area illumination is reduced as fewer stands are required. Furthermore, it results in less power cables lying around and so the tripping hazard, as described in the previous section, is significantly reduced.

The device may also contain an integrated voltage reducing transformer and/or feature power outlets for other lighting devices, reducing the need for external hardware. This further saves the working space in the maintenance areas.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The most preferred embodiment is illustrated in the drawings. The drawings are provided for explanatory purposes only and by no means limit the scope of the invention.

Figure 1. a front view of the most preferred embodiment of the invention, also showing the height adjustment of the upper light source carrying sec-tion (3) and the vertical angle adjustment of the floodlights (14).

Figure 2. an isometric view of the most preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3. a top view of the most preferred embodiment of the invention, also showing the horizontal angle adjustment of the floodlights (14).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the most preferred embodiment, depicted in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the combined maintenance lighting device comprises a circular stand (1), a truncated cone shaped middle light source carrying section (2) and an extendable post upper light source carrying section (3). The circular stand (1) further comprises a connecting pole (5) that spans vertically to the middle section (2) and carries a power wire inside, a retractable power cord (4), six power outlets (6) grouped in pairs 120 degrees apart and situated on top of the circular stand (1), and six freely rotating wheels (7) that are situated at the bottom of the circular stand (1), at least one of them featuring a brake mechanism. The retractable power cord (4) comes out from the side of the circular stand (1). The retraction mechanism is based on a spring loaded reel and is situated inside the circular stand (1). The six wheels (7) are freely rotating around their own axes and can also turn around their vertical mounting axes for easy repositioning of the device. The middle light source carrying section (2) is shaped as a truncated cone, which is wider at the bottom, having a diameter which is significantly greater than the diameter of the circular stand (1).

The lowest edges of the middle light source carrying section (2), having the greatest diameter, are rounded and reinforced or made from impact resistant material. This section contains a total of eight fluorescent tube lamps (8) as light sources, which are aligned so that their longitudinal axes are parallel to the outer surface of the cone. The fluorescent tube lamps (8) are grouped in pairs and these pairs are positioned around the symmetry axis of the truncated cone at intervals of degrees, resulting in a 360 degrees coverage. The pairs of tube lamps feature independent power switches (9), while the slots for tube lamps (8) feature light reflecting surfaces. The power is distributed through the wires routed inside the middle light source carrying section (2), to each of the power switches of the fluorescent tube lamps (8) and to the upper light source carrying section (3). The upper light source carrying section (3) is realised as a tube which slides into a higher diameter tube located in the middle section (2), forming an extendable post.

The middle section (2) also features a spring at the bottom of the higher diameter tube that it slides into. The spring softens descent of the upper light source carrying section (3). The higher diameter tube which is located on the middle section (2) also features a clamp (10) for fixing the position of the upper light source carrying section (3), which carries four floodlights (11). The floodlights (11) are positioned around the longitudinal symmetry axis of the upper section (3) at intervals of 90 degrees. Each of the floodlights face outwards from the symmetry axis of the upper section (3) when in neutral position. The floodlights (11) feature means of both vertical and horizontal angle adjustment that are based on bolts that can be tightened to fix the angles. The horizontal angle adjustment of the floodlights (11) is limited to 60 degrees to each side. Each of the floodlights (11) also features dedicated power switches positioned (9) on its top side. The upper light source carrying section (3) also features a circular tube guard (12) that is located slightly above the floodlights (11) and has an outer radius that is lower than the highest radius of the middle light source carrying section (2), yet higher radius than any distance from the symmetry axis of the upper light source carrying section (3) to any edge of a floodlight (11), that is set to any angle.

In another preferred embodiment, the middle light source carrying section (2) is shaped as a cylinder rather than a truncated cone. In this or an alternative embodiment, the middle light source carrying section (2) contains light emitting diode strips or tubes, rather than the fluorescent tube lamps (8). In this or yet another embodiment, the circular stand (1) or the middle light source carrying section (2) also features a voltage reducing transformer that is fitted inside. In this or yet another embodiment, the circular stand (1) features a lesser number of power outlets (6) or does not feature them at all. In this or yet another embodiment, the power outlets (6) are situated on the middle light source carrying section (2).

In another preferred embodiment, the number of fluorescent tube lamps (8) or light emitting diode strips contained in the middle light source carrying section (2) is higher or smaller than eight. In this or an alternative embodiment, the number of floodlights (11) contained in the upper light source carrying section (3) is higher or smaller than four.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A combined maintenance lighting device comprising a circular stand (1), a middle light source carrying section (2), an upper light source carrying section (3)andapowercord(4)characterised inthatitcontainsboth directional and omni-directional light sources.
2. A combined maintenance lighting device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the said middle light source carrying section (2) is shaped as a truncated cone.
3. A combined maintenance lighting device according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the higher radius of the said truncated cone of the middle light source carrying section (2) is significantly larger than any other perpendicular distance from the symmetry axis of the truncated cone to any other protruding part of the device.
4. A combined maintenance lighting device according to one of the claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the said middle light source carrying section (2) contains at least one fluorescent tube lamp (8) as a source of omni-directional light.
5. A combined maintenance lighting device according to one of the claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the said middle light source carrying section (2) contains at least one light emitting diode strip and/or tubes as a source of omni-directional light.
6. A combined maintenance lighting device according to one of the claims 1-5, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the said power cord (4) is retractable.
7. A combined maintenance lighting device according to claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the said retraction mechanism of the power cord (4) is based on a spring loaded reel, which is fitted inside the said circular stand (1).
8. A combined maintenance lighting device according to one of the claims 1-7, c h a r a c t e r i 5 e d in that the said upper light source carrying section comprises at least one directional floodlight (11) as a source of directional light.
9. A combined maintenance lighting device according to claim B, characterised in that at least one of the said directional floodlights (11) features means of horizontal and/or vertical angle adjustment.
10. A combined maintenance lighting device according to one of the claims 8-9, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the said upper light source carrying section further comprises a circular tube guard (12) located slightly above or below of the said floodlights (11).
11. A combined maintenance lighting device according to claim 10, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the outer diameter of the said circular tube guard (12) is significantly smaller than the highest diameter of the middle light source carrying section (2).
12. A combined maintenance lighting device according to one of the claims 1-11, characterised inthatatleastoneofthelightsources(8,11) features an independent power switch (9).
13. A combined maintenance lighting device according to one of the claims 1-12, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the upper light source carrying section (3) and/or the middle light source carrying section (2) feature means of height adjustment.
14. A combined maintenance lighting device according to claim 13, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the means of height adjustment of either or both of the light source carrying sections (2, 3) is realised as an extendable post with a hand-operable clamp (10).
15. A combined maintenance lighting device according to one of the claims 13-14, characterised inthatthemeansofheightadjustmentofthe upper light source carrying section (3) features a movement damper and/or an elastic limiter which acts at the minimum height setting.
16. A combined maintenance lighting device according to one of the claims 1-15, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that it also comprises at least one power outlet (6).S
17. A combined maintenance lighting device according to one of the claims 1-16, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that it also comprises a voltage reducing transformer that is enclosed in either the circular stand (1) or the middle light source carrying section (2).
18. A combined maintenance lighting device according to one of the claims 1-17, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the circular stand (1) further comprises at least three supporting feet or freely rotating wheels (7).
19. A combined maintenance lighting device according to one of the claims 18, characterised inthatatleastoneofthesaidfreelyrotating wheels (7) is fitted with a brake mechanism.Amendments to the claims have been filed as followsCLAIMS1. A combined maintenance lighting device comprising a circular stand (1), a middle light source carrying section (2), an upper light source carrying section (3) and a power cord (4) c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that it contains both directional and Omni-directional light sources and the middle light source carrying section (2) is shaped as a truncated cone.2. A combined maintenance lighting device according to claim 2, characterised in that a higher radius of the said truncated cone of the middle light source carrying section (2) is significantly larger than any other perpendicular distance from the symmetry axis of the truncated cone to any other protruding part of the device.3. A combined maintenance lighting device according to one of the claims 1-3, characterised in that the said middle light source carrying section (2) contains at least one fluorescent tube lamp (8) as a source of Omni-directional light.4. A combined maintenance lighting device according to one of the claims 1-3, characterised in that the said middle light source carrying section (2) contains at least one light emitting diode strip and/or tubes as a source of Omni-directional light. (45. A combined maintenance lighting device according to one of the claims 1-5, (Q characterised in that the said power cord (4) is retractable. r6. A combined maintenance lighting device according to claim 6, characterised in that the said power cord (4) is retractable by means of a retraction mechanism based on a spring loaded reel, which is fitted inside the said circular stand (1).7. A combined maintenance lighting device according to one of the claims 1-7, characterised in that the said upper light source carrying section comprises at least one directional floodlight (11) as a source of directional light.8. A combined maintenance lighting device according to claim 8, characterised in that at least one of the said directional floodlights (11) features means of horizontal and/or vertical angle adjustment.9. A combined maintenance lighting device according to one of the claims 8-9, characterised in that the said upper light source carrying section further comprises a circular tube guard (12) located slightly above or below of the said floodlights (11).10. A combined maintenance lighting device according to claim 10, characterised in that the outer diameter of the said circular tube guard (12) is significantly smaller than the highest diameter of the middle light source carrying section (2).11. A combined maintenance lighting device according to one of the claims 1-11, characterised in that at least one of the light sources (8, 11) features an independent power switch (9). 12. A combined maintenance lighting device according to one of the claims 1-12, characterised in that the upper light source carrying section (3) and/or the middle light source carrying section (2) feature means of height adjustment. (413. A combined maintenance lighting device according to claim 13, characterised in that the (0 means of height adjustment of either or both of the light source carrying sections (2, 3) is realised as an extendable post with a hand-operable clamp (10).14. A combined maintenance lighting device according to one of the claims 13-14, characterised in that the means of height adjustment of the upper light source carrying section (3) features a movement damper which acts as the minimum height setting.15. A combined maintenance lighting device according to one of the claims 1-15, characterised in that it also comprises at least one power outlet (6).16. A combined maintenance lighting device according to one of the claims 1-16, characterised in that it also comprises a voltage reducing transformer that is enclosed in either the circular stand (1) or the middle light source carrying section (2).17. A combined maintenance lighting device according to one of the claims 1-17, characterised in that the circular stand (1) further comprises at least three supporting feet or freely rotating wheels (7).18. A combined maintenance lighting device according to claim 18, characterised in that at least one of the said freely rotating wheels (7) is fitted with a brake mechanism. (4 r (0 r