Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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LIGHT FIXTURE APPARATUS WITH AUXILIARY LIGHT
Background and Summar~r of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to light fixture apparatus fir
mounting
on a wall of a room and, more particularly, to an improved patient auxiliary
light mounted to
the wall of a hospital room.
Some conventional hospital rooms are provided with a track mounted on a wall
of the hospital room. Lights, electrical outlets and various other ancillary
equipment are
mounted to this track. A typical example is the "Integris Patient Light and
Headwall System"
available from Hill-Rom of Batesville, Indiana, as is described in U.S. Pat.
No. 5,','35,593
issued April 7, 1998. The aforementioned auxiliary light source rotates about
an axis parallel
to the wall and may be used as an examination light. Such light has only one
degree of
freedom of adjustment.
The present invention provides an auxiliary or examination light for a
hospital
room which has more than one degree of freedom of adjustment.
The light fixture apparatus of the present invention is configured to be
mounted
onto the wall of the room, preferably a hospital room. It includes a support
frame mounted to
the wall and an auxiliary or examination light source coupled to the support
frame and
movable from a first stored position to a second deployed position. Also,
depending upon the
light fixture, it may include another light box coupled with a frame and
including a :light
source. A first switch in series with the auxiliary light source is opened
when the auxiliary
light is in the stored position and closed when the auxiliary light is in the
deployed position.
An on/off switch is connected in series with the first switch and the
auxiliary light source.
While the on/o~ switch is preferably coupled to the support frame, the first
is coupled to the
support frame to detect the stored or deployed position of the auxiliary light
source. A
transformer for the light source is coupled to the support frame and connected
electrically to
the first switch and the auxiliary light source. Also, a fan may be coupled to
the auxiliary light
source and connected electrically to the first switch and the auxiliary light
source.
A pair of telescopic members moves relatively to each other along a first axis
and couple the auxiliary light source to the support frame. Telescopic
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members allow the auxiliary light source to move from the stored position to
the
deployed position. The auxiliary light source is rotatably connected to a
first end of
the telescopic members. A bracket is pivotally connected to the first end of
the
telescopic members to pivot about a second axis transverse to the first axis.
The
auxiliary light source is connected to the bracket. This produces the pivotal
motion of
the auxiliary light source about the second axis. The auxiliary light source
is pivotally
connected to the bracket to pivot about a third axis transverse to the second
axis. A
stop is provided to limit the pivoting of the auxiliary source about the third
axis. Thus,
the light source has three degrees of adjustment, namely one, along the first
axis of the
telescopic members, two, pivoting about the second axis and three, pivoting
about the
third axis. Alternatively, the pair of telescopic members may rotate relative
to each
other. Again, a stop is provided to limit the relative rotation of the
telescopic
members. In this embodiment, the light source is pivotally connected to the
first end of
the telescopic members to pivot about the second axis transverse to the first
axis.
In both embodiments, the telescopic members are pivotally connected at
its second end to the support to pivot about a fourth axis transverse the
first axis. The
frame includes a stop and a spring biasing the telescopic members about the
fourth axis
towards the stop. A switch is provided adjacent the telescopic members to
sense the
pivoting about this fourth axis. This switch is a safety switch connected to
the
electrical system of the bed such that if the telescopic members pivot up, the
safety
switch will open and disconnect the power source to the bed.
A cover is coupled to the support frame and has a first contour
extending from the support frame. A housing for the auxiliary light source
has, in the
stored position, a second contour extending from the support which is similar
to the
first contour of the cover. The auxiliary light source housing has opposed end
walls
which in the stored position are transverse to the support frame. The lamp of
he
auxiliary light source is positioned in the housing such that the illumination
from the
lamp exits an aperture in one of the end walls.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention
will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention
when
considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Brief Description of the Dray nss
Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a light fixture apparatus
including the auxiliary light of a first embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a front view of a light fixture apparatus with the auxiliary light
in its stored position;
Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a filler wedge incorporating
the principles of the present invention;
Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of the
light housing assembly;
Fig. S is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of the
telescopic assembly;
Fig. 6 is a schematic of the auxiliary light assembly circuit;
Fig. 7 is a schematic of the safety switch circuit;
Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the
1 S light fixture apparatus according to the present invention;
Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the second embodiment of the
light housing assembly; and
Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the second embodiment of
the telescopic assembly.
A light fixture apparatus according to the first embodiment of the
present invention is illustrated in Fig. 1. The assembly includes a support
frame 10
which is mounted to the wall of the room and having covers 19 mounted thereto
which
may cover compartments or include lights, electrical outlets and other related
ancillary
items. In an opening between a pair of covers 19 as illustrated in Fig. 2, an
auxiliary
light assembly 40 is included with filler wedge assembly 20. The contour of
the wedge
filler assembly 20 and the auxiliary light assembly 40 in its stored position
illustrated in
Fig. 2 and extending from the support frame is similar or matches the contour
of the
covers 19. Thus, when the auxiliary light assembly 40 is in its stored
position, the light
fixture apparatus has a uniformed contour except for the handle 44 of the
auxiliary
light assembly 40. The auxiliary light assembly 40 moves between its stored
and
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deployed position by telescopic assembly 60 which also allows the auxiliary
light
assembly 40 to rotate or pivot about two transverse axis. A rail enclosure
assembly 90
is also provided as part of the assemblies related to the auxiliary light
assembly 40.
Details of each of these assemblies will be described with respect to the
remaining Figs.
The support frame 10 includes the ledge 12 to support various elements
as well as to provide a top to the track 14. Auxiliary equipment is received
in tack 14
as described in the previously referenced patent application. Support frame 10
includes fastener channel 16 in its face wall as well as fastener channels 17
and 18 in
the ledge 12.
The filler wedge assembly 20 is illustrated in Fig. 3 includes a wedge 22
having inside wall 24 and outside wall 26. A bracket at the back of inside
wall 24,
lying behind the wedge 22, is mounted to a bracket 30 by fasteners 29.
Fasteners 31
mount the bracket 30 to the back wall of wedge 22. Fasteners 27 secure the
outside
1 S wall 26 to the wedge 22. Switch 32 with feeler 34 is secured to bracket 36
by
fasteners 33. Bracket 36 is secured to the wedge 22 by fasteners 35. The
inside wall
24 has a slot 38 through which the feeler 34 extends. Switch 32 determines
whether
the auxiliary light assembly 40 is in its stored or deployed position.
Fasteners 37 in
Fig. 1 extend through openings in bracket 39 of the inside wall 24 and
received in
fastener channel 17 of ledge 12 to mount the filler assembly 20 to the support
frame
10.
The auxiliary light assembly 40 is illustrated in Fig. 4 and includes a
housing 42 with a handle 44 secured thereto by fasteners 43. A slide guide 46
is
mounted to the back of the housing 42 by fasteners 45 and engages wall 97 of
the
lower enclosure 94 of rail enclosure assembly 90 (see Fig. I) to guide the
auxiliary
assembly into its appropriately stored position. A bezel 48, having lens 50
mounted
thereto by retainer 52 and fasteners 51, is mounted to the end wall of housing
42 by
fasteners 47. A heat sink assembly 54 including lamps 58 is mounted to the
other end
of housing 42 by fasteners ~3. The lamp 58 preferably is halogen. The heat
sink
assembly 54 includes slots 55 and 56 therein to receive a portion extending
from the
other end wall plate 82 or mounting to the telescopic assembly 60. Opening 57
is also
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provided to receive a fan 59 to be described with respect to the second
embodiment
and illustrated in Fig. 9.
The telescopic assembly 60 is illustrated in detail in Fig. 5. A floating
plate 62 includes a hinge 64 secured thereto by fasteners 63. Fasteners 61
through
hinge 64 is received in and mounts the telescopic assembly to the support
frame 10
(See Fig. 1 ). A Z-bracket 66 is mounted to floating plate 62 by fastener 65.
As will be
discussed below, Z-bracket 66 cooperates with a limit switch 110 of Fig. 1 to
determine the position of the telescopic assembly 60 rotating about the axis
of the
hinge 64.
Extending from floating plate 62 is guide 68 for slide 70. Slide 70
includes an elongated recess 72 through which pin 74 extends and limits the
telescopic
movements of slide 70 within guide 68. At the end of slide 70, is an aperture
76
whose axis is an axis of rotation transverse to the sliding axis of slide 70.
A screw 78
extends through bracket 80 which is a U-channel bracket and aperture 76 to
pivotally
mount the bracket 80 to the end of the slide 70. Bearings 77 are also received
in
aperture 76 and a nut 79 and washer 81 receive the end of the screw 78. The
bearing
77 and the screw 78 may be brass impregnated with teflon. It should also be
noted
that slide 70 has a teflon coating and provides sufficient lubrication in the
guide 68.
End wall 82, which forms the end wall of the auxiliary light assembly
40, includes a bracket 84. The bracket 84 includes an arcuate slot 86 and an
opening
87. Fasteners 83 extend through the openings in the bracket 80 and slot 86 and
opening 87 in the bracket 84. Washers 85 and nuts 89 are provided on fasteners
83.
While parts 85 are flat washers, 85A is a conical washer and 85B is a thrust
washer.
The bracket 84 and consequently the end wall 82 and the light assembly 40
rotate
about the fastener 83 in opening 87. The fastener 83 in the arcuate slot 86
defines the
limit of rotation of end wall 82 and the auxiliary light assembly 40 to
approximately
under 90 degrees. Flange 88 extending from end wall 82 also extends over the
slide
70. The slots 55 and 56 in the heat sink 54 receive the brackets 80 and 84.
Fastener
75 of Fig. 1 mounts end wall 82 to the light assembly 40.
Referring to Fig. 1, springs 69 connected above floating plate 62 by
fasteners 71 and spring retainers 73 extending through openings 67 of the
floating
plate 62 and into ledge 12 of the support frame 10. Spring 69 biases the
floating plate
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62 against the ledge 12 which operates as a stop. This maintains the
telescopic
assembly 60 in its horizontal position. If the bed or any element of the bed
should
knock up against the auxiliary light assembly 40, the floating plate 62 will
pivot up
against the springs 69. As will be discussed below, Z-bracket 66 will
intersect safety
switch I 10 to indicate that the light assembly 40 has been moved from its
normal
position.
The rail enclosure assembly 90 as illustrated in Fig. 1 includes a top
cover 92 secured to the outside wall 26 of the filler wedge assembly 20 by
fastener 91.
As shown in Fig. 2, the cover 92 is a continuation of the contour of housing
42 of the
auxiliary light assembly. A lower enclosure 94 of the rail enclosure assembly
90
encloses the floating plate 62 and a substantial portion of the guide 68 and
all of the
spring 69. An opening 96 in the front wall of lower enclosure 94 allows the
extension
of the slide 70 therefrom and includes side wall 97. Mounted to the top of
lower
enclosure 94 is a channel 98. A flange 100 extending from the top of the lower
enclosure 94 receives fasteners 99 which mounts the enclosure to the support
frame 10
with the fasteners 99 being received in fastener channel 16.
A top plate 102 is mounted to the channel 98 by fasteners 1 O1. This
then forms the top enclosure. An upper enclosure 104 is mounted to the top
element
102 by fasteners 103 and to the top cover 92 by fasteners 105. A support 106
is
mounted to the front wall of lower enclosure 94 by fasteners 107. The support
106
engages the bottom of the auxiliary Light assembly housing 42 and supports it
in its
stored position. An on/off switch 108 is mounted to the upper enclosure 104. A
safety switch 110 is mounted to the top of lower enclosure 94 and has a
plunger 112
extending down therefrom to be aligned with the Z-bracket 66 of the telescopic
assembly 60. When the telescopic assembly 66 is rotated up out of its normal
position,
plunger 96 is depressed, opening switch l 10 and disconnecting the circuitry
to the bed.
A transformer 116 is secured to ledge 12 of the support bracket 10 by
double back tape.
Referring to the schematic of Fig. 6, the on/off switch 108 is in series
with the switch 32 which is closed when the light is in the extended position.
They are
connected through transformer 116 to light 58 and fan 59. Although the on/off
switch
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108 is shown to be connected to the support structure, it may also be provided
on the
auxiliary light assembly 40 if desired. If the on/ofI'switch 108 happens to be
closed
when the auxiliary light assembly is moved into a stored position, switch 32
will open.
This will prevent the light from staying on and from being overheated when it
is stored.
The schematic for the safety circuit is illustrated in Fig. 7. Safety
switch 110 which is open when the auxiliary light assembly, and more
specifically, the
telescopic assembly 60 is rotated from its normal position. Also illustrated
is safety
switch 118 which may be associated with other switches on the light fixture
assembly
connected to support frame 10. These safety switches are connected in series
with the
bed circuit. This is described in the aforementioned patent application.
The second embodiment of the auxiliary light assembly is illustrated in
Figs. 8-10. Those elements which have the same structures and fi~nctions have
the
same numbers as those of the embodiment of Figs. 1-7. The filler wedee
assembly 20
including switch 32 with feeler 34 is the same. The auxiliary light assembly
40 as
illustrated in Fig. 9 is substantially the same except that a fan 59 has been
added to the
heat sink 54 drawing air through opening 57. Also, the shape of the heat sink
54 is
shown as modified.
The major difference between the first and second embodiment is in the
telescopic assembly 60. Those elements which have been modified have the
letter "A".
The bracket 66A extending from the floating plate 62 cooperates with safety
switch
100 and plunger 112. Also mounted to bracket 66A is one end of the telescopic
elements which includes guide tubes 68A and slide tube 70A. As shown in Fig.
10, the
slide 70A includes a pin 74A extending therefrom and cooperates with a channel
within
guide 68A to limit the angular rotation of slide 70A with respect to guide 68A
to
approximately 90 ° . An end cap 120 is secured in the end of guide 68A
and secured
thereto by set screw 122. Pin 74A also engages the end cap 120 and therefore
limits
its extension along the first axis. Bracket 80A is pivotally mounted by screw
78 and
washer 81 to the end of slide 70A. Fasteners 83A mount the end wall 82A to the
bracket 80A. Slot 124 in end wall 82A allows the auxiliary light assembly 40
to rotate
over the slide 70A.
The upper portion of the rail enclosure 90 has been modified with the
location of the on/off switch 108 being centrally located. The location of the
safety
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switch 110 and the structure of the lower enclosure 94 has not been modified
from that
of the embodiment of the previous Figs.
Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in
detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration
and example
only, and is not to be taken by way of limitation. The spirit and scope of the
present
invention are to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims.
