US2014171234A1PendingUtilityA1

Light source projecting lines defining activity area

41
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Sep 13, 2010Filed: Feb 21, 2014Published: Jun 19, 2014
Est. expirySep 13, 2030(~4.1 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Steven D. Vogt
A63C 19/065A63C 2203/14A63C 19/06
41
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Claims

Abstract

A lighting system, for use in combination with a basketball backboard device mounted on a pole, comprises a plurality of lighting devices positioned adjacent the basketball backboard device. The lighting devices comprise a housing, a connector, a first light source, a lens and a light filter, and a secondary light source. The lens focuses lines defined by the light filter. The first light source is positioned to project the lines on to an activity surface to define a foul lane for a basketball court. The connector connects the housing to the pole supporting the basketball backboard device. The secondary light source is positioned to simultaneously illuminate a backboard of the basketball backboard device while the first light source projects the lines through the lens and the light filter. The lines from the first light source combine together on the activity surface to define an area for a basketball game.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a housing;   a connector connected to said housing; and   at least one light source within said housing,   said connector connecting said housing to a basketball backboard device,   said at least one light source projecting lines defining a foul lane for a basketball court on a surface that is otherwise without lines, and   said at least one light source projecting light onto a basketball backboard of said basketball backboard device.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , said at least one light source comprising:
 a first light source projecting said lines defining said foul lane for said basketball court; and   a second light source projecting light onto said basketball backboard.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first lens focusing said lines defining said foul lane for said basketball court; and   a second lens focusing said light onto said basketball backboard.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a lens and a light filter operatively connected to said housing, said lens focusing said lines defined by said light filter on said surface to project said foul lane for said basketball court. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , said at least one light source simultaneously projecting said lines defining said foul lane for said basketball court and illuminating a playing area for a basketball game using contrasting colors. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising one of:
 a self-contained power source positioned within said housing, said self-contained power source being operatively connected to said light source and powering said light source; and   a power unit connected to an external power source, said power unit being operatively connected to said light source and powering said light source.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , said at least one light source comprising at least one of an incandescent bulb, a gas bulb, a light emitting diode (LED), and a laser. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus comprising:
 a housing;   a connector connected to said housing; and   at least one light source within said housing,   said connector connecting said housing to a pole of a basketball backboard device,   said at least one light source simultaneously:
 projecting lines defining a foul lane for a basketball court on a surface that is otherwise without lines, and 
 projecting light onto a basketball backboard of said basketball backboard device. 
   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , said at least one light source comprising:
 a first light source projecting said lines defining said foul lane for said basketball court; and   a second light source projecting light onto said basketball backboard.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a first lens focusing said lines defining said foul lane for said basketball court; and   a second lens focusing said light onto said basketball backboard.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising a lens and a light filter operatively connected to said housing, said lens focusing said lines defined by said light filter on said surface to project said foul lane for said basketball court. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , said at least one light source simultaneously projecting said lines defining said foul lane for said basketball court and illuminating a playing area for a basketball game using contrasting colors. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising one of:
 a self-contained power source positioned within said housing, said self-contained power source being operatively connected to said light source and powering said light source; and   a power unit connected to an external power source, said power unit being operatively connected to said light source and powering said light source.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , said at least one light source comprising at least one of an incandescent bulb, a gas bulb, a light emitting diode (LED), and a laser. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus comprising:
 a housing;   a connector connected to said housing;   at least one light source within said housing; and   a controller operatively connected to said at least one light source,   said connector connecting said housing to a basketball backboard device,   said at least one light source comprising a laser light source,   said controller controlling said laser light source to project lines defining a foul lane for a basketball court on a surface that is otherwise without lines, and   said at least one light source simultaneously projecting light onto a basketball backboard of said basketball backboard device with said laser light source projecting said lines defining said foul lane for said basketball court on said surface.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , said at least one light source comprising a second light source projecting light onto said basketball backboard, said second light source being different than said laser light source. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising a lens focusing said light onto said basketball backboard. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , said at least one light source simultaneously projecting said lines defining said foul lane for said basketball court and illuminating a playing area for a basketball game using contrasting colors. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising one of:
 a self-contained power source positioned within said housing, said self-contained power source being operatively connected to said light source and powering said light source; and   a power unit connected to an external power source, said power unit being operatively connected to said light source and powering said light source.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , said at least one light source further comprising at least one of an incandescent bulb, a gas bulb, and a light emitting diode (LED).

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