Light fixture foundation

Abstract

A light fixture foundation that has a hollow shaft with a tubular wall that extends along a central longitudinal axis, and a first cableway opening that extends through the tubular wall along a first axis that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A second cableway opening extends through the tubular wall along a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The second axis is laterally spaced from the first axis such that the first and second axes and the first and second openings are non-coaxial. A support member for supporting a lighting assembly is coupled to the shaft. The support member has a passageway in communication with the hollow shaft for receiving first and second cableways.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A light fixture foundation, comprising: 
 a hollow shaft having a tubular wall extending along a central longitudinal axis, a first cableway opening extending through said tubular wall along a first axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, a second cableway opening extending through said tubular wall along a second axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said second axis being laterally spaced from said first axis such that said first and second axes and said first and second openings are non-coaxial; and    a support member for supporting a lighting assembly coupled to said shaft, said support member having a passageway in communication with said hollow shaft for receiving first and second cableways.    
     
     
         2 . A light fixture foundation according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 a first cableway is received in said first cableway opening; and    a second cableway is received in said second cableway opening, and is substantially parallel and non-coaxial with said first cableway.    
     
     
         3 . A light fixture foundation according to  claim 2 , wherein 
 each of said first and second cableways, respectively, support electrical wiring.    
     
     
         4 . A light fixture foundation according to  claim 2 , wherein 
 said first and second cableways are co-planar.    
     
     
         5 . A light fixture foundation according to  claim 4 , wherein 
 said first and second cableways are at the same vertical level with respect to said shaft.    
     
     
         6 . A lighting fixture foundation according to  claim 2 , wherein 
 said passageway of said support member is co-axial with said hollow shaft; and    said first and second cableways extend through said passageway.    
     
     
         7 . A lighting fixture foundation according to  claim 6 , wherein 
 said support member is fixed to an axial end of said shaft.    
     
     
         8 . A lighting fixture foundation according to  claim 2 , wherein 
 said support member is a base plate having a width larger than a diameter defined by said shaft; and said base plate includes first and second notches for indicating the location of each of said first and second cableways, respectively.    
     
     
         9 . A lighting fixture foundation according to  claim 2 , wherein 
 said shaft includes a anchor for supporting said shaft and said support member.    
     
     
         10 . A light fixture, comprising: 
 a light fixture foundation including, 
 a hollow shaft having a tubular wall extending along a central longitudinal axis, a first cableway opening extending through said tubular wall along a first axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, a second cableway opening extending through said tubular wall along a second axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said second axis being laterally spaced from said first axis such that said first and second axes and said first and second openings are non-coaxial,  
 first and second cableways supporting electrical wiring and received in said first and second cableway openings, respectively, and  
 a support member coupled to said shaft, said support member having a passageway in communication with said hollow shaft and receiving said first and second cableways; and  
   a lighting assembly coupled to said light fixture foundation, having a light support coupled to a said support member, and a lighting unit supported by said light support and electrically connected to said electrical wiring of said first and second cableways.    
     
     
         11 . A light fixture according to  claim 10 , wherein 
 said light support includes a passageway in communication with said passageway of said support member for receiving said electrical wiring of said first and second cableways.    
     
     
         12 . A light fixture according to  claim 10 , wherein 
 said support member is a base plate fixed to an axial end of said shaft; and    said base plate is releasably attached to said light support.    
     
     
         13 . A light fixture according to  claim 10 , wherein 
 said second cableway is substantially parallel and non-coaxial with said first cableway.    
     
     
         14 . A light fixture according to  claim 13 , wherein 
 said first and second cableways are co-planar and located at the same vertical level with respect to said shaft.    
     
     
         15 . A light fixture according to  claim 10 , wherein 
 said shaft includes an anchor for supporting said light fixture foundation and said lighting assembly.    
     
     
         16 . A method of installation a light fixture foundation, the light fixture foundation having a shaft coupled to a support member, comprising the steps of: 
 excavating a trench having a depth and a width sufficient to receive the cableways of the light fixture foundation;    anchoring the foundation through the bottom of the trench so that first and second laterally offset openings of the shaft face first and second opposite directions, respectively, and the first and second openings defining first and second axes, respectively, substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the trench;    placing first and second cableways supporting electrical wiring in the trench on opposite sides of the shaft so the first cableway is aligned with the first opening and the second cableway is aligned with the second opening; and    inserting the first and second cableways into the first and second openings, respectively, so that the first and second cableways do not interfere with one another.    
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of 
 releasably attaching a light support to the support member; and    electrically connecting the electrical wiring of the first and second cableways with a lighting unit supported by the light support.    
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising the step of 
 excavating the trench so that the width of the trench is smaller than a width of the support member.    
     
     
         19 . A method of installation a light fixture foundation, the light fixture foundation having a shaft coupled to a support member, comprising the steps of: 
 anchoring the foundation so that first and second laterally offset openings of the shaft face first and second opposite directions, respectively;    excavating a trench having a depth and a width sufficient to receive cableways of the foundation so that a longitudinal axis of the trench is substantially parallel to first and second axes of the first and second openings, respectively;    placing first and second cableways supporting electrical wiring in the trench on opposite sides of the shaft so the first cableway is aligned with the first opening and the second cableway is aligned with the second opening; and    inserting the first and second cableways into the first and second openings, respectively, so that the first and second cableways do not interfere with one another.    
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19 , further comprising the step of: 
 aligning notches of the foundation indicating the relative positions of the first and second openings with the longitudinal axis of the trench prior to excavating the trench.