Globe clamp with level mount

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9664513-B2
Application number	US-201414320121-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2014
Priority date	Jun 30, 2014
Publication date	May 30, 2017
Grant date	May 30, 2017

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a globe clamp with integrated mounting pads which can hold a level while a user adjusts the lighting device to which the globe clamp is coupled. In one example embodiment, the globe clamp includes a clamp body, which includes a top portion, a bottom portion, and an exterior contour. The top portion forms a first internal opening defined by a first inner surface. The bottom portion forms a second internal opening defined by a second inner surface. The exterior contour surrounds the top portion and the bottom portion. The exterior contour comprises at least one recess having a horizontal, flat surface, the recess configured to retain a level.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A globe clamp, comprising:
a top portion comprising a top outer surface and a top inner surface,
wherein the top inner surface defines a first internal opening,
wherein the top outer surface extends and widens from a top outer annular edge towards a bottom portion of the globe clamp,
wherein the top outer surface of the top portion defines an exterior contour that comprises one or more depressions and at least one level mount disposed between the one or more depressions,
wherein the at least one level mount comprises a recess having a horizontal, flat surface, and
wherein the at least one level mount comprises a reduced outer edge such that when a level is disposed within the recess on the horizontal, flat surface, at least a portion of the level extends and hangs off the reduced outer edge;

the bottom portion comprising a bottom outer surface and a bottom inner surface, the bottom outer surface extending substantially vertically upwards from a bottom outer annular edge towards the top outer surface and the bottom inner surface extending from a bottom inner annular edge towards the top inner surface,
wherein the bottom portion is larger in diameter than the top portion, and
wherein the bottom inner surface defines a second internal opening that is axially aligned with the first internal opening.

2. The globe clamp of claim 1 , wherein the first and second internal openings are tubular openings.

3. The globe clamp of claim 1 , wherein the horizontal, flat surface is substantially round and the recess is at least partially surrounded by a raised wall.

4. The globe clamp of claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion is configured to mount onto a support structure, and wherein the bottom portion comprises a coupling mechanism configured to couple to the support structure.

5. The globe clamp of claim 4 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a threaded surface.

6. The globe clamp of claim 1 , wherein the horizontal, flat surface comprises a perimeter, wherein a raised wall extends orthogonally from a portion of the perimeter.

7. The globe clamp of claim 1 , wherein the second internal opening has a larger perimeter than does the first internal opening.

8. The globe clamp of claim 1 , wherein the top portion is configured to receive and couple to a globe light.

9. An airfield light fixture, comprising:
a housing defining an inner chamber that is configured to house one or more electronic devices associated with the airfield light fixture;
a globe clamp comprising:
a top portion comprising:
an first exterior contour; and
a first interior surface, the first interior surface defining a first tubular opening, the first tubular opening traversing the top portion and defined by a central vertical axis, wherein the first tubular opening is configured to receive a lighting device; and

a bottom portion coupled to the top portion, the bottom portion comprising:
a second exterior contour; and
a second interior surface; the second interior surface defining a second tubular opening, the second tubular opening traversing the bottom portion, wherein the second tubular opening is configured to receive and couple to a proximal end of the housing via the second interior surface,
wherein the first exterior contour comprises a recessed portion having a flat surface that is configured to receive a level, the flat surface perpendicular to the central vertical axis, and

a coupler that is coupled to a distal end of the housing using one or more threaded fasteners such that the housing and the globe clamp coupled to the housing are adjustable with respect to the coupler when the one or more threaded fasteners are loosened and the housing and the globe clamp are locked in place when the one or more threaded fasteners are tightened.

10. The airfield light fixture of claim 9 , wherein the top portion and bottom portion are integrally formed and continuous.

11. The airfield light fixture of claim 9 , wherein the flat surface is at least semi-surrounded by a raised wall.

12. The airfield light fixture of claim 9 , wherein the recessed portion is configured to retain a bubble level.

13. The airfield light fixture of claim 9 , wherein the second interior surface comprises a plurality of mating threads.

14. The airfield light fixture of claim 9 , wherein the first tubular opening and the second tubular opening are coupled and the central vertical axis is common to both.

15. The airfield light fixture of claim 9 , wherein the recessed portion is partially bound by a wall and partially unbound.

16. A fixture clamp, comprising:
a clamp body that includes:
a top coupling portion configured to couple to and support a fixture;
a bottom coupling portion configured to mount to a support structure; and
an exterior contour comprising at least one level holder, the level holder having a flat surface and at least one raised wall, wherein the at least one level holder is configured to retain a level therein; and
an interior surface, the interior surface defining a through opening extending through the top coupling portion and the bottom coupling portion of the clamp body,
wherein at the top coupling portion, the interior surface comprises a substantially cylindrical surface,
wherein at the bottom coupling portion, the interior surface comprises a substantially cylindrical surface and a stepped surface disposed in between the substantially cylindrical surface of the top coupling portion and the substantially cylindrical surface of the bottom coupling portion, and
wherein the substantially cylindrical surface of the bottom coupling portion has a larger diameter than the substantially cylindrical surface of the top coupling portion.

17. The fixture clamp of claim 16 , wherein the through opening is configured to receive a portion of the fixture at the top portion and configured to receive a portion of the support structure at the bottom portion.

18. The airfield light fixture of claim 9 , further comprising a seal disposed between the housing and the globe clamp.

Assignees

• Gongola Paul John
• Blondin Sean Michael
• Cooper Technologies Co

Inventors

• Gongola Paul John
• Blondin Sean Michael

Classifications

• G01C9/26 Primary

  Details · CPC title

• F21V21/12

  capable of being elongated or shortened by the insertion or removal of intermediate pieces · CPC title

• F16B1/00

  Devices for securing together, or preventing relative movement between, constructional elements or machine parts · CPC title

• F21V21/08

  Devices for easy attachment to any desired place, e.g. clip, clamp, magnet · CPC title

• G01C9/24 Primary

  in closed containers partially filled with liquid so as to leave a gas bubble · CPC title