Pole-mounted lighting support system

Abstract

A pole-mounted lighting support system includes first and second bracket members, each of which includes upper and lower contact members. Each contact member includes two contact faces for contacting a pole. The upper and lower contact members on each bracket member are arranged in opposing relationship about a tent pole, and a fastener such as a bolt is used to connect opposing upper members and opposing lower contact members and to cause the contact faces to bear against the pole to secure the bracket members to the pole. Each bracket member includes fixture supports connected between the upper and lower contact faces and extending radially outward therefrom. The fixture supports include a plurality of apertures for interconnecting lighting fixtures to the supports.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the priority of Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/335,998, filed Nov. 2, 2001, the entire disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a pole-mounted lighting support system and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for interconnecting lighting fixtures with pole structures.

[0004] 2. RELATED ART

[0005] It has become increasingly popular to use large tent structures to define outdoor spaces for a variety of activities including banquets, events and other affairs. Lighting is always problematic within such structures because of the temporary nature of such structures and because of the inherent limitations of the structures. A particular problem that has not been adequately addressed in the past is the provision of aesthetically pleasing, yet functional, support structures for lighting fixtures.

[0006] In the past, lighting support systems designed for use in other environments have been rigged for attachment to poles. Not only are such lighting support systems generally unstable and unfit for the use to which they are put, but they are also aesthetically unpleasing.

[0007] Accordingly, what is desired, but has not heretofore been developed, is a lighting support system for a pole for lighting a tent structure.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a lighting support system that is interconnectable with a pole structure for supporting lighting fixtures on the pole.

[0009] It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a lighting support system which can be easily attached to a pole and which is aesthetically pleasing.

[0010] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a lighting support structure which is adjustable and can be attached to poles of various sizes.

[0011] It is even a further object of the present invention to provide a lighting support system which can support a plurality of light fixtures on a pole.

[0012] The pole-mounted lighting support system of the present invention includes first and second bracket members, each of which includes upper and lower contact members. Each contact member is generally v-shaped and includes two contact faces along the concave portion of the v for contacting a pole. Each contact member further includes planar end areas at each end. An aperture extends through each planar end for receiving a fastener. The upper and lower contact members on each bracket member are arranged in opposing relationship about a pole, and a fastener such as a bolt is used to connect the opposing upper and lower contact members together, respectively, to cause the contact faces to bear against the pole to secure the bracket members to the pole. Each pair of contact members on each bracket member are interconnected with fixture supports. The fixture supports have a number of portions. One portion of the fixture support is connected between the upper and lower contact members. Other portions of the fixture supports extend outward from the contact members where they could meet and join to form a generally triangular shaped fixture support structure. The fixture supports include a plurality of apertures for interconnecting lighting fixtures to the fixture supports in an amount and at locations desired to achieve a desired lighting effect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Other important objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following Detailed Description of the Invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the lighting support system of the present invention interconnected with a pole.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a top view of one bracket of the lighting support system of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a side view of a fixture support for the lighting support system shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The present invention generally relates to a pole-mounted lighting support system for attachment to a pole in a large tent structure, or other structure, for interconnecting lighting fixtures to the pole structure. The pole mounted lighting support system of the present invention includes first and second bracket members each of which include upper and lower contact members for contacting a pole and one or more fixture supports interconnected with the contact members for supporting light fixtures thereon. The bracket members are positioned in facing relation and are fastened together about a pole for connecting the lighting support structure to a pole.

[0018] FIG. 1 shows the lighting support structure of the present invention which is generally indicated at 10. The lighting support structure 10 includes first and second bracket members 20 which are similar in appearance, structure and function. Each bracket member includes upper and lower contact members 30 and 31, respectively. Each contact member 30 and 31 is generally v-shaped and includes two contact faces 32 and 34 along the concave portion of the v for contacting and connecting to the structure 10 to a pole 9 as will be hereinafter described. Each contact member also has a back face 36.

[0019] Each contact member additionally includes a generally planar area 38 at each end of the member. The planar area 38 includes an aperture 39 for receiving a fastener therethrough for interconnecting the bracket members 20 about a pole 9. The upper and lower contact members 30 and 31 are connected together by vertical member 42. Importantly, vertical member 42 could be part of support member 40, or a separate element. Vertical member 42 maintains the position between upper and lower contact members 30 and 31 in a desired relation.

[0020] Support member 40 is generally triangular shaped as shown in the figures, but same could take on any configuration desired such as rectangular, curved or even merely planar. As shown, in addition to vertical member 42, support member 40 includes upper and lower arms 44 and 46, respectively, which extend outward from the vertical member 42 and can meet at end portion 48 to form a generally triangular shape. A plurality of apertures 49 can be positioned along the upper and lower arms for interconnecting light fixtures with the support member 40.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a side view of the support member 40 showing the generally triangular shape of the support. As shown in FIG. 3 the support member 40 could be formed of a strip of quarter inch metal folded to a triangle or generally triangular shape. Of course, the shape, material and dimensions can be varied as desired. The support member 40 is preferably welded to upper and lower contact members 30 and 31, but could be connected by other known methods. The support member 40 can have its ends connected together for increased stability, or can be formed with an opening between any of the ends, as shown. In such a case, the open ends could be welded to one of the contact members 30 or 31.

[0022] In operation, the bracket structures 20 are positioned on opposite sides of a pole 9, the upper and lower contact members 30 and 31 of each of the bracket members 20 contacting the pole 9. Bolts 22 can be extended through apertures 39 in the planar area 38 of the upper and lower contact members 30 and 31 and tightened to squeeze the contact faces 32 and 34 against the pole 9 to retain the lighting support structure 10 on pole 9. Thereafter, or prior to attachment, light fixtures, not shown, can be interconnected with the support member 40 by attaching the light fixtures to the support members 40 by bolts, not shown, extending through apertures 49 in the support members 40. The light fixtures can thereafter be positioned to direct light in desired directions. Some light can be directed upward at the tent for a desired effect, and other light fixtures can be positioned to direct light downward.

[0023] The components of the present invention can be manufactured of any desired material. In a preferred embodiment, all of the components are manufactured of quarter inch metal. In order to increase the aesthetics of the lighting support structure 10, the same can be painted to match the color of the pole. For example, if the pole is white, the back can be painted white and the lighting support structure 10 would then match the pole 9. Variations in the materials can be made while remaining within the scope of the present invention. Similarly, changes to the configuration of the support members can certainly be made within the scope of the present invention.

[0024] Having thus described the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the foregoing description is not intended to limit the spirit and scope thereof. What is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A lighting support bracket for supporting lighting on a pole comprising:

first upper and lower contact members for contacting the pole and a first vertical member having upper and lower ends, the upper contact member connected to the upper end of the first vertical member and the lower contact member connected to the lower end of the first vertical member;

second upper and lower contact members for contacting the pole and a second vertical member having upper and lower ends, the upper contact member connected to the upper end of the second vertical member and the lower contact member connected to the lower end of the second vertical member;

means for interconnecting the first and second upper and lower contact members about a pole to attached the bracket to the pole; and

first and second upper and lower arms for supporting light fixtures, the first and second upper and lower arms connected at first ends thereof to the first and second vertical members.

2. The bracket of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second upper and lower contact members further comprise a pair of contact faces forming a V-shape for contacting the pole.

3. The bracket of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second upper and lower contact members include a pair of apertures for receiving bolts for interconnecting the first and second upper and lower contact members about the pole.

4. The bracket of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second upper and lower arms include at least one aperture for allowing a lighting fixture to be attached thereto.

5. The bracket of claim 1, wherein the second ends of the first and second upper and lower arms are joined together.

6. A lighting support system comprising:

a first bracket member comprising a first pair of contact members, a first vertical member connected to the first pair of contact members, and a first pair of arms connected at ends thereof to the first vertical member for supporting lights;

a second bracket member comprising a second pair of contact members, a second vertical member connected to the second pair of contact members, and a second pair of arms connected at ends thereof to the second vertical member for supporting lights; and

means for interconnecting the first pair of contact members to the second pair of contact members about a pole to secure the lighting support system to the pole.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein each of the first and second pairs of contact members include at least one aperture for receiving bolts for interconnecting the first and second pairs of contact members.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein each of the first and second pairs of contact members include a pair of contact faces for contacting a pole.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein each of the first and second pairs of contact members are generally V-shaped.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein each of the first and second pairs of arms include at least one aperture for allowing a lighting fixture to be connected thereto.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the bolts can be tightened to sandwich a pole between the first bracket member and the second bracket member.

12. A method of supporting lighting fixtures comprising:

providing a lighting support system having first and second bracket members, each of the bracket members having first and second upper and lower contact members and first and second upper and lower arms;

positioning the first and second bracket members about a pole at a desired height on the pole;

interconnecting the first and second upper and lower contact members with bolts;

tightening the bolts to draw the first and second upper and lower contact members against the pole and retain the lighting support system at the desired height on the pole; and

attaching lighting fixtures to the first and second upper and lower arms.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of positioning the first and second bracket members about the pole comprises positioning the first and second upper and lower contact members against the pole to sandwich the pole.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

untightening the bolts to move the first and second upper and lower contact members away from the pole;

positioning the lighting support fixture at a new location at the pole; and

re-tightening the bolts to secure the lighting support fixture at the new location.