LANDSCAPE LIGHTING FIXTURE AND MOUNT SYSTEM

Abstract

A light fixture ground stake that includes a slotted opening through the base disk and central neck. The slotted opening allows for installation of a light fixture with connected electrical wires without the need to pass the wires through the stake before connecting the electrical wires to both the fixture and an electrical source. In addition, a broken stake can be replaced with a new stake without the need to cut or disconnect the electrical wires.

Claims

1. A lighting device, comprising: an elongated spike body having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end configured for insertion into a substrate; a base disk affixed to the upper end of the spike body; a hollow central neck defining a passageway through the base disk and a part of upper end of the spike body; a slotted opening extending through the base disk and hollow central neck providing lateral access to the passageway; a spacer collar removably disposed within the hollow central neck and a stem nipple removably affixed in the hollow central neck within the spacer collar, wherein the spacer collar and stem nipple define an annular space there between, wherein a stem body from a light fixture is received within the annular space.

2. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the hollow central neck comprises an upper neck portion and a lower neck portion.

3. The lighting device of claim 2, wherein the lower neck portion is threaded.

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the spike body comprises a plurality of ribs having a decreasing width from the upper end to a point at the lower end.

8. The lighting device of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of ribs on the spike body comprises an offset proximate to the lower end that increases the width of each of the plurality of ribs before resuming the decreasing width.

9. A lighting device, comprising: an elongated spike body having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end configured for insertion into a substrate; a base disk affixed to the upper end of the spike body; a hollow central neck comprising an upper neck portion and a lower neck portion defining a passageway through the base disk and a part of the upper end of the spike body; a slotted opening extending through the base disk and hollow central neck providing lateral access to the passageway a spacer collar removably disposed within the hollow central neck; a stem nipple coaxially disposed in the spacer collar and removably affixed in the lower neck portion, wherein the spacer collar and stem nipple define an annular space there between, wherein a stem body from a light fixture is received within the annular space.

10. The lighting device of claim 9, wherein the lower neck portion is threaded and the stem nipple has a threaded base configured for screwing engagement with the lower neck portion.

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. The lighting device of claim 9, wherein the spike body comprises a plurality of ribs having a decreasing width from the upper end to a point at the lower end.

14. The lighting device of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of ribs on the spike body comprises an offset proximate to the lower end that increases the width of each of the plurality of ribs before resuming the decreasing width.

15. A lighting device, comprising: an elongated spike body having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end configured for insertion into a substrate; a base disk affixed to the upper end of the spike body; a hollow central neck comprising an upper neck portion and a lower neck portion defining a passageway through the base disk and a part of the upper end of the spike body; wherein the lower neck portion is threaded; a stem nipple having a threaded base configured for screwing engagement with the threaded lower neck portion and removably affixed therein; a spacer collar disposed within the hollow central neck and coaxially disposed around the stem nipple, wherein the spacer collar and stem nipple define an annular space there between, wherein a stem body as on from a light fixture is received within the annular space; and a slotted opening extending through the base disk and hollow central neck providing lateral access to the passageway.

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. The lighting device of claim 15, wherein the spike body comprises a plurality of ribs having a decreasing width from the upper end to a point at the lower end.

19. The lighting device of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of ribs on the spike body comprises an offset proximate to the lower end that increases the width of each of the plurality of ribs before resuming the decreasing width.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inventive lighting stake according to the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 is lowered perspective view of an inventive lighting stake according to the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a lowered perspective view of an inventive lighting stake according to the present invention including a light fixture;

[0013] FIG. 4 is side view of an inventive lighting stake according to the present invention;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a top view of an inventive lighting stake according to the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an inventive lighting stake according to the present invention taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

[0016] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an inventive lighting stake according to the present invention taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5;

[0017] FIG. 8 is an exploded view of an inventive lighting stake according to the present invention illustrating assembly of the same;

[0018] FIG. 9A is a close-up, perspective view of a step in assembling a light fixture with an inventive lighting stake according to the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 9B is a close-up, perspective view of another step in assembling a light fixture with an inventive lighting stake according to the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 9C is a close-up, perspective view of another step in assembling a light fixture with an inventive lighting stake according to the present invention; and

[0021] FIG. 9D is a close-up, perspective view of another step in assembling a light fixture with an inventive lighting stake according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] The present invention is directed to an improved lighting stake and mount. In the following detailed description, the improved lighting stake will be generally referred to by reference numeral 10. FIGS. 1-5 generally show the lighting stake 10 from different angles. The lighting stake 10 generally comprises a spike body 12, a base disk 14, and a central neck 16. The base disk 14 and central neck 16 have a slotted opening 18 that provides access to a pass-through opening 20 through the central neck 16.

[0023] The spike body 12 comprises two or more ribs 12a that provide a surface area against which earth or other substrate (not shown) can exert supporting forces. Preferably the spike body 12 comprises three to four ribs 12a to provide supporting forces in intersecting planes so as to provide the lighting stake 10 with greater stability. The ribs 12a may also include a notch or offset point 12b to provide a leverage surface to resist removal of the spike body 12 from the earth or other substrate holding the stake 10. The notch or offset point 12b acts to counter withdrawal of the spike body 12 from the earth.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 5-7, the central neck 16 is preferably cylindrical in shape, or closely approximating a cylinder, so as to be receptive to a typical stem 22 as might be used on a light fixture (not shown). The central neck 16 preferably has a wide upper portion 16a that passes through the center of the base disk 14 and a narrow lower potion 16b that is disposed immediately below the upper portion 16a. The lower portion 16b is preferably provided with threads so as to receive a stem nipple 24 with a threaded base 24a matching the threads in the lower portion 16b.

[0025] The stem nipple 24 preferably has an upper portion 24b designed for reception within a hollow collar 22a on the stem 22. The stem nipple 24 may include a shoulder 24c between the threaded base 24a and the upper portion 24b. The lower edge of the stem 22 preferably rests against this shoulder 24c. A spacer collar 26 may be disposed in the central neck 16 having an outer diameter approximately the same as the diameter of the central neck 16 such that the fit between the two is tight. The stem nipple 24 and spacer collar 26 are preferably hollow cylinders providing continuous passages through each.

[0026] FIG. 8 shows the stem 22, nipple 24, and collar 26 in the order in which they would be inserted into the central neck 16 of the stake 10. The stem nipple 24 preferably fits inside of the spacer collar 26 such that the threaded base 24a passes through an opening 26a in the bottom of the spacer collar 26. The shoulder 24c of the stem nipple 24 helps to secure the spacer collar 26 in the central neck 16. The upper portion 24b of the stem nipple 24 preferably has an outer diameter slightly smaller than both the shoulder 24c and the inner diameter of the spacer collar 26. This configuration leaves a small annular space 26a between the upper portion 24b and the spacer collar 26. This annular space 26a is preferably sized so as to receive the hollow collar 22a of the stem 22, and reliably and stably hold the light fixture on the stake 10.

[0027] FIGS. 9A-9D illustrate a method for assembling the inventive lighting stake 10 with a stem 22 and electrical wires 28 from a light fixture (not shown). As shown in FIG. 9A, electrical wires 28 connected to the light fixture extend from the stem 22 and are passed through the stem nipple 24 and spacer collar 26, with the opposite end of the wires 28 connected to an electrical source (not shown). At this step, the wires 28 are shown as starting to be passed through the slotted opening 18.

[0028] In FIG. 9B, the electrical wires 28 have been passed completely through the slotted opening 18 from the outer edge of the base disk 14 to the central neck 16. Once completely through the slotted opening 18, the wires 28 traverse the pass-through opening 20 so that the stem 22 is above the base disk 14 and the wires 28 extend from an underside of the base disk 14. The spacer collar 26 is then inserted into the central neck 16 followed by the stem nipple 24 into the spacer collar 26. As indicated by the twisting arrow in FIG. 9C, the threaded base 24a is threaded into the lower portion 16b of the central neck 16. The shoulder 24c of the stem nipple 24 exerts force against an interior surface of the spacer collar 26 so as to securely retain the same within the central neck 16.

[0029] At this point, as shown in FIG. 9D, the hollow collar 22a of the stem 22 is inserted into the annular gap 26a so as to securely hold the stem 22 in position relative to the lighting stake 10. Any slack in the wires 28 can be eliminated by pulling the wires 28 through the pass-through opening 20 from beneath the base disk 14. Once this assembly is completed, the lighting stake is ready to be placed into the ground or other substrate to support the light fixture.

[0030] The inventive stake 10 provides a mechanism whereby the stake 10 can be repaired or replaced without having to cut or disconnect any electrical wires 28. If, over time, the stake 10 breaks or otherwise becomes unusable, the stake can be removed without cutting the wires 28 or otherwise breaking any electrical connections by reversing the assembly steps described above. Once the stem 22, stem nipple 24, and spacer collar 26 are removed from the central neck 16, the wires 28 can be removed from the pass-through opening 20 by passing through the slotted opening 18. Then the entire assembly can be connected to a replacement stake 10 that is not broken or otherwise unusable.

[0031] Although various embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.