Apparatus, method, and system for tilted pole top fitter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9964267-B1
Application number	US-201615147655-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	May 5, 2016
Priority date	May 12, 2015
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a solution to installing a large number of lighting fixtures on a pole or other elevating structure in a manner that does not project light behind the pole/elevating structure, does not project light so to strike the pole/elevating structure and produce localized glare, does not produce uneven loading, and minimizes uncontrolled uplighting. Said solution is achieved, at least in part, by an envisioned tilted pole top fitter designed to offset rows of lighting fixtures to prevent both physical and photometric interference.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for preventing uncontrolled uplight or localized glare in an array of elevated lighting fixtures designed to light a target area comprising:
a. a pole having a length, a top, a front side generally proximate the target area, a back side generally opposite the front side and distal the target area, and generally opposing sides;
b. a fitter having a first and second end and affixed to the pole at or near the top of the pole at a pre-determined angle relative the length of the pole such that the ends are at two different elevations from one another, wherein the first end is proximate the front side of the pole and the second end is proximate the back side of the pole;
c. a first cross-arm affixed to the first end of the fitter and a second cross-arm affixed to the second end of the titter such that the first and second cross-arms are at different elevations from one another and on opposite sides of the pole;
d. one or more lighting fixtures producing a light output and affixed to the first and second cross-arms such that the light output from one lighting fixture does not (i) interact with any other lighting fixture and produce uncontrolled uptight or (ii) strike the pole and produce localized glare.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising one or more adjustable armatures adapted to pan and tilt the one or more lighting fixtures relative the length of the pole.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the pole, fitter, first and second cross-arms, and adjustable armatures are substantially hollow and adapted to house power wiring for the one or more lighting fixtures.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a third cross-arm adapted to removably bolt to the first or second cross-arm and to which one or more additional lighting fixtures are affixed.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising one or more additional cross-arms adapted to removably bolt to first, second, or third cross-arms and to which one or more additional lighting fixtures are affixed.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second fitter adapted to removably bolt to the fitter and to which one or more additional cross-arms or lighting fixtures are affixed.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a pair of spreader bars adapted to connect the first and second cross-arms wherein each of the pair of spreader bars is on opposing sides of the pole and at the same pre-determined angle relative the length of the pole as the fitter.

8. An apparatus for preventing uncontrolled uplight or localized glare in an array of elevated lighting fixtures designed to light a target area comprising:
a. a pole having a length, a top, a front side generally proximate the target area, a back side generally opposite the front side and distal the target area, and generally opposing sides;
b. a fitter having a first and second end and affixed to the pole at or near the top of the pole at a pre-determined angle relative the length of the pole such that the ends are at two different elevations from one another, wherein the first end is proximate the front side of the pole and the second end is proximate the back side of the pole;
c. a first cross-arm affixed to the fitter at or near the first end and a second cross-arm affixed to the fitter closer to the second end such that the first and second cross-arms are at different elevations from one another but both on the front side of the pole;
d. one or more lighting fixtures producing a light output and affixed to the first and second cross-arms such that the light output from one lighting fixture does not (i) interact with any other lighting fixture and produce uncontrolled uplight or (ii) strike the pole and produce localized glare.

9. A method of lighting a target area with an array of elevated lighting fixtures while preventing uncontrolled uplight or localized glare comprising:
a. identifying one or more requirements of the target area;
b. identifying one or more pole locations relative the target area;
c. identifying one or more characteristics of one or more lighting fixtures elevated at the one or more pole locations;
d. designing a pole top fitter to affix the one or more lighting fixtures to one or more poles at an elevated position at the one or more pole locations comprising:
i. positioning the one or more lighting fixtures on the pole top fitter such that the one or more characteristics of the lighting fixtures does not result in uncontrolled uplight or localized glare at the pole; and
ii. positioning the one or more lighting fixtures on the pole top fitter such that the requirements of the target area are met by the lighting fixtures.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of designing a pole top fitter to affix the one or more lighting fixtures to one or more poles at the one or more pole locations further comprises:
a. positioning the one or more lighting fixtures on the pole top fitter such that all the lighting fixtures project light forward of the pole; and
b. positioning the one or more lighting fixtures on the pole op fitter such that no light strikes the pole.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of positioning the one or more lighting fixtures on the pole top fitter such that the requirements of the target area are met by the lighting fixtures comprises:
a. panning and tilting each lighting fixture via an adjustable armature so to achieve a specific aiming angle;
b. ensuring no specific aiming angle of a lighting fixture causes physical or photometric interference with another lighting fixture; and
c. inserting a light-blocking device proximate any lighting fixture which produces undesired uplight after panning and tilting.

12. An apparatus to mount an array of lighting fixtures at an elevated position to a pole comprising:
a. a center cross-arm support having:
i. first and second opposite ends; and
ii. an opening through an intermediate portion to receive a portion of a pole;
iii. the portion of the pole having a longitudinal axis and the opening through the intermediate portion of the center cross-arm support configured to mount the center cross-arm support at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the portion of the pole;

b. a cross-arm mounted to each of the first and second opposite ends of the center cross-arm support; and
c. at least one mounting location for a lighting fixture and adjustable armature on each cross-arm.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the center cross-arm support comprises a substantially hollow and elongated housing.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the pole portion comprises a pole top fitter section that can be placed on top a pole.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 in combination with a pole and a plurality of lighting fixtures on the cross-arms.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the angle is selected to avoid physical and photometric interference between the plurality of lighting fixtures.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the angle is 30 degrees.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a mounting interface at one of first and second opposite ends of the center cross-arm support to receive a center cross-arm support extension having a cross-arm.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a mounting interface on at least one cross-arm to receive a cross-arm extension.

20. The apparatus of claim 12 in combination with a plurality of lighting fixtures mounted at adjustable armatures at the mounting locations on the cross-arms wherein:
a. ea

Assignees

• Musco Corp

Inventors

• Van Ee Nathanael J

Classifications

• F21V21/116

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

• F21V21/28

  adjustable in more than one plane · CPC title

• F21W2131/105

  of arenas or the like · CPC title

• F21V11/00

  Screens not covered by groups F21V1/00, F21V3/00, F21V7/00 or F21V9/00 (characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/502) · CPC title

• F21S8/086 Primary

  with lighting device attached sideways of the standard, e.g. for roads and highways · CPC title