Reversible mounting arm for pole-mounted light fixtures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11460175-B2
Application number	US-202117144603-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 8, 2021
Priority date	Jan 8, 2021
Publication date	Oct 4, 2022
Grant date	Oct 4, 2022

Abstract

A reversible mounting arm that is universal in that it can be used to mount a light fixture to either a flat or curved mounting surface, such as, but not limited to, a round or rectilinear-shaped pole. More specifically, one end of the mounting arm is designed for mating with a round pole having a curved sidewall (or other curved mounting surfaces) whereas the opposing end of the mounting arm is designed for mating with poles having a flat sidewall (or other flat mounting surfaces).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mounting arm for mounting a light fixture to a mounting surface, the mounting arm comprising a plurality of sidewalls that define a substantially hollow mounting arm body extending along a mounting arm axis and having a straight end and a curved end opposite the straight end, wherein each of the plurality of sidewalls terminates at the straight end in a straight edge integral to the mounting arm body and wherein at least one of the plurality of sidewalls terminates at the curved end in a curved edge integral to the mounting arm body, wherein the curved edge curves inwardly in a direction toward the straight end of the mounting arm and is symmetrical about the mounting arm axis, and wherein at least one mounting aperture is provided within the mounting arm body.

2. The mounting arm of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sidewalls comprises at least four sidewalls and wherein the at least one of the plurality of sidewalls that terminates at the curved end in the curved edge comprises a first opposing pair of the at least four sidewalls.

3. The mounting arm of claim 2 , wherein a second opposing pair of the at least four sidewalls terminates at the curved end in a straight edge integral to the mounting arm body.

4. The mounting arm of claim 3 , wherein the at least four sidewalls is exactly four sidewalls.

5. The mounting arm of claim 1 , wherein the curved edge comprises a radius of curvature of 1 to 3 inches, inclusive.

6. The mounting arm of claim 1 , wherein the at least one mounting aperture is formed integrally with one of the plurality of sidewalls.

7. The mounting arm of claim 1 , wherein the at least one mounting aperture comprises a mounting aperture axis that is substantially parallel to the mounting arm axis.

8. The mounting arm of claim 1 , wherein the mounting surface comprises a flat mounting surface and wherein the straight edge of each of the plurality of sidewalls at the straight end is configured to contact the flat mounting surface when the light fixture is mounted on the flat mounting surface with the mounting arm.

9. The mounting arm of claim 1 , wherein the mounting surface comprises a curved mounting surface, wherein at least one of the plurality of sidewalls terminates at the curved end in a straight edge that is integral to the mounting arm body and that is configured to contact the curved mounting surface when the light fixture is mounted on the curved mounting surface with the mounting arm.

10. The mounting arm of claim 9 , wherein the curved edge at the curved end is configured to contact the curved mounting surface when the light fixture is mounted on the curved mounting surface with the mounting arm.

11. The mounting arm of claim 10 , wherein the curved edge comprises a radius of curvature and wherein the curved mounting surface comprises a radius of curvature that is substantially the same as the radius of curvature of the curved edge.

12. The mounting arm of claim 1 , wherein the mounting arm comprises an aluminum extrusion.

13. The mounting arm of claim 1 , wherein the mounting arm body comprises a length and an outer profile that is consistent along the length of the mounting arm body.

14. A light fixture assembly comprising:
a. a light fixture comprising a housing wall and a recessed portion in the housing wall having a recess shape; and
b. a mounting arm comprising four sidewalls that define a substantially hollow mounting arm body extending along a mounting arm axis and having a mounting arm cross-sectional shape, a straight end, and a curved end opposite the straight end, wherein:
i. each of the four sidewalls at the straight end terminate in a straight edge integral to the mounting arm body;
ii. a first opposing pair of the four sidewalls terminates at the curved end in a curved edge integral to the mounting arm body and that curves inwardly in a direction toward the straight end of the mounting arm and that is symmetrical about the mounting arm axis; and
iii. a second opposing pair of the four sidewalls terminate at the curved end in a straight edge integral to the mounting arm body,

wherein the recessed portion is configured to receive the straight end when the mounting arm is in a first orientation and the curved end when the mounting arm is in a second orientation.

15. The light fixture assembly of claim 14 , wherein the light fixture further comprises at least one securing aperture formed in the recessed portion and having a securing aperture axis and wherein the mounting arm further comprises at least one mounting aperture provided within the mounting arm body and having a mounting aperture axis, wherein, when the straight end or the curved end of the mounting arm is received within the recessed portion of the light fixture, the securing aperture axis and the mounting aperture axis are substantially collinear.

16. The light fixture assembly of claim 15 , further comprising a fastener that extends at least partially through the at least one securing aperture and the at least one mounting aperture.

17. The light fixture of claim 16 , wherein an inner surface of the at least one securing aperture is threaded and wherein an end of the fastener is threaded such that the end of the fastener is screwed directly into the at least one securing aperture.

18. The light fixture assembly of claim 14 , wherein the recessed shape and the mounting arm cross-sectional shape are approximately the same.

19. A method of mounting a light fixture onto a mounting surface comprising:
a. providing a light fixture having a housing wall and a recessed portion in the housing wall having a recess shape, wherein at least one securing aperture having a securing aperture axis is formed in the recessed portion;
b. providing a mounting arm comprising four sidewalls that define a substantially hollow mounting arm body extending along a mounting arm axis and having a mounting arm cross-sectional shape, a straight end, and a curved end opposite the straight end, wherein:
i. each of the four sidewalls at the straight end terminate in a straight edge integral to the mounting arm body;
ii. a first opposing pair of the four sidewalls terminates at the curved end in a curved edge integral to the mounting arm body and that curves inwardly in a direction toward the straight end of the mounting arm and that is symmetrical about the mounting arm axis;
iii. a second opposing pair of the four sidewalls terminate at the curved end in a straight edge integral to the mounting arm body; and
iv. at least one mounting aperture having a mounting aperture axis is provided within the mounting arm body; and

c. mounting the mounting arm between the light fixture and mounting surface such that:
i. if the mounting surface is flat, the curved end of the mounting arm is positioned within the recessed portion of the housing wall and the straight end of the mounting arm is adjacent the mounting surface; and
ii. if the mounting surface is curved, the straight end of the mounting arm is positioned within the recessed portion of the housing wall and the curved end of the mounting arm is adjacent the mounting surface.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein positioning the mounting arm between the light fixture and mounting surface comprises securing a first end of a fastener to the light fixture and positioning the fastener within the at least one mounting aperture of the mounting arm.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein an internal surface of the at least one securing aperture of the light fi

Assignees

• Abl Ip Holding Llc

Inventors

• Gibson Jon Eric
• Chang Eric

Classifications

• F21V21/116

  Fixing lighting devices to arms or standards (F21V21/002 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F21V21/108 Primary

  Arms · CPC title

• F16M13/02

  for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle · CPC title

• F16M2200/06

  Arms · CPC title