Mounting apparatus for area lighting fixtures

Abstract

A mounting apparatus for mounting a lighting fixture to a pole including a pole plate, a first mounting bracket mounted on the pole, a second mounting bracket adapted to be removably mounted to the first mounting bracket, and an extrusion adapted to be mounted to the second mounting bracket. The extrusion also adapted to have the light source mounted to it.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A mounting apparatus for attaching a lighting fixture to an associated pole comprising: 
 a first mounting element adapted to attach to the pole, the first mounting element comprising a central portion having first and second sidewalls extending from an inner surface of the central portion; and    a second mounting element adapted to matingly engage the first mounting element, the second mounting element comprising a central member having first and second arms extending from an inner surface of the central member.    
     
     
         2 . A mounting apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a first electrical connector mounted to the inner surface of the central portion of the first mounting element interposed between the first and second sidewalls; and  
 a second electrical connector mounted to the inner surface of the central member of the second mounting element interposed between the first and second arms.  
 
     
     
         3 . A mounting apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the central member of the second mounting element defines at least two holes adapted to receive fasteners to attach the lighting fixture to the second mounting element.  
     
     
         4 . A mounting apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second mounting element arms each have inner surfaces facing each other that are substantially perpendicular to the central member inner surface and contact surfaces opposite the inner surfaces that form an acute angle with the central member inner surface.  
     
     
         5 . A mounting apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first mounting element sidewalls each have a contact surface facing each other that form an acute angle with the central portion inner surface and an outer surface opposite the contact surface that are substantially perpendicular to the inner surface of the central portion inner surface.  
     
     
         6 . A mounting apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the central portion of the first mounting member includes a mounting surface having an arcuate shape opposite the inner surface.  
     
     
         7 . A mounting apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the central portion of the first mounting member defines at least two openings adapted to receive fasteners to attach the first mounting element to the pole.  
     
     
         8 . A mounting apparatus for attaching a lighting fixture to an associated plate disposed inside an associated utility pole, the apparatus comprising: 
 a first mounting bracket adapted to attach to the plate inside the pole, the first mounting bracket comprising a central portion, a first sidewall and a second sidewall both extending from the central portion, the central portion having a mounting surface adapted to match the pole and an inner surface wherein the first and second sidewalls and the inner surface define a channel;    a second mounting bracket comprising a central member, a first arm and a second arm both extending from the central member and both adapted to be received by the first mounting bracket channel;    a first electrical connector mounted on the central portion disposed in the channel of the first mounting bracket; and    a second electrical connector mounted on the central member of the second mounting bracket adapted to matingly engage with the first electrical connector.    
     
     
         9 . A mounting apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising a receiving arm having one end adapted to mount to the second mounting bracket and another end adapted to receive a lighting fixture.  
     
     
         10 . A mounting apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the receiving arm comprises an inner wall having at least one cylindrical element disposed on the inner wall.  
     
     
         11 . A mounting apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the central portion of the first mounting bracket defines at least two openings adapted to receive fasteners to fasten the first mounting bracket to the plate.  
     
     
         12 . A mounting apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the mounting surface is arcuate.  
     
     
         13 . A mounting apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the second mounting bracket includes a cap attached at an end.  
     
     
         14 . A mounting apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the cap includes an edge matching the contour of the mounting surface.  
     
     
         15 . A mounting apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the first electrical connector is a male adapter adapted to fit into the second electrical connector.  
     
     
         16 . A method of mounting a lighting fixture to a pole, the method comprising: 
 mounting a first mounting bracket to the pole;    connecting the fixture to a first end of an extrusion;    fastening a second end of the extrusion to a second mounting bracket;    slidably engaging the second mounting bracket with the first mounting bracket.    
     
     
         17 . A method of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 providing an electrical connector on the first mounting bracket;  
 providing an electrical connector on the second mounting bracket; and  
 matingly engaging the first mounting bracket electrical connector with the second mounting bracket electrical connector.