Portable Fluorescent Lighting Device

This invention relates to portable lighting fixtures and more particularly to a work light which can be folded for transportation and installed at temporary work sites and the like.

Portable lighting fixtures are often needed for temporary illumination at construction sites, in motion picture studios, manufacturing plants, and situations where normal power can be interrupted, etc. Temporary lamps of the prior art have several shortcomings. Such lighting generally employs fluorescent lamps in view of the higher efficiency and low heat dissipation provided by this type of light source. Temporary lighting installations must be readily transportable and thus must be disassemblable or foldable so that they can readily be installed in and subsequently removed from their installation sites. At the same time, they must have rugged construction so that they can withstand the wear and tear incidental to the handling and usage involved. In addition, they must have stable supports so that they cannot readily be accidentally knocked over or otherwise displaced from their installed positions. Further, protection must be provided for the fluorescent lamps so that the hazard of their being accidentally broken is minimized.

The device of the present invention is a lighting fixture satisfying the aforementioned requirements and providing an improvement in this regard over portable lighting fixtures of the prior art. The device of the present invention affords the aforementioned improvements by utilizing a support frame employing a pair of similar elongated sections which are hingedly joined together at one end thereof. Each of these half sections includes a pair of spaced apart opposing longitudinal bar members which are joined at their ends by transverse bar members to form a rectangular frame section. A transverse foot member is attached to the free ends of each of the frame sections, these frame sections being spread apart in a triangular configuration to form a stand. The triangular spread between the two sections is limited by chains or straps attached between the stand sections. The fluorescent lamps are mounted in one or the other or both of the frame sections.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved portable lighting fixture which can readily be assembled and disassembled at an installation site.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved portable lighting fixture which is of durable construction and provides protection for fluorescent lamps installed therein.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a portable lighting stand which while readily portable, provides stable support for the lamps installed therein.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings of which,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a end elevational view of the preferred embodiment in its folded position;

FIG. 3 is a view taken on a plane indicated by 3--3 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane indicated by 4--4 in FIG. 3.

Referring now to the figures, a preferred embodiment of the device of the invention is illustrated. A pair of similar rectangular frame sections 11 and 12 are formed by spaced apart opposing bars 11a, 11b and 12a, 12b, which are joined together at their extreme ends by transverse bars 11c, 11d and 12c, 12d, respectively. End plates 11e and 11f, extend inwardly from frame 11, plate 11e being at the extreme end of the frame, while plate 11f is spaced upwardly along the frame from transverse bar 11c. Mounted between plates 11e and 11f is a conventional fluorescent lamp fixture 14 which has a pair of fluorescent lamps 15 and 16 installed therein. Surrounding each of lamps 15 and 16, is a transparent cover 17 and 18, respectively, which encloses the lamps and thus ameliorates the hazard from flying glass should the lamps be accidentally broken. The lamps are also protected by the frame sections 11 and 12. Sections 11 and 12 are hingedly joined together at one end by means of hinge member 20 which interconnects transverse frame section bar 12d and plate 11e. Transverse frame bars 11c and 12c are hollow, and telescopically fitted in each of these bars is a bar member 22 and 23 which form a pair of feet for the stand. For greater stability, the ends of the legs may be bent outwardly slightly. A chain or strap 25 is connected between frame sections 11 and 12 to limit the triangular spread between the sections. An attachment hook member 27 is provided to hold the two sections together when they are in the collapsed folded position for transportation. Foot members 22 and 23 are removably joined to transfers bar portions 11c and 12c, respectively, by means of bolts 30 and nuts 31.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that this is intended by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of this invention being limited only by terms of the following claims.