Portable light tower unit

Abstract

Expandable portable light tower units and methods for their use. The portable light tower unit includes a base, an extendable and retractable tower assembly supported on the base, an expandable and collapsible canopy assembly supported by the tower assembly above the base, and a lighting assembly supported on the tower assembly above the canopy assembly. The canopy provides shade beneath the lighting assembly.

1 . A portable light tower unit comprising:
 a base;   an extendable and retractable tower assembly supported on the base;   an expandable and collapsible canopy assembly supported by the tower assembly above the base; and   a lighting assembly supported on the tower assembly above the canopy assembly, the canopy providing shade beneath the lighting assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The portable light tower unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the tower assembly comprises multiple telescoping pole sections that include multiple upper movable pole sections and a lowermost stationary pole section mounted to the base, the movable pole sections being telescopically receivable in and extendable from the stationary telescoping section. 
     
     
         3 . The portable light tower unit according to  claim 2 , wherein the tower assembly comprises interlocking mechanisms that inhibit each of the movable pole sections from being retracted downward until all of the movable pole sections therebelow have been fully retracted. 
     
     
         4 . The portable light tower unit according to  claim 3 , wherein the interlocking mechanisms comprise anvil and receiver assemblies and, when a first upper pole section of the movable pole sections is fully retracted downward into a lower pole section of the telescoping pole sections, a pin of the receiver assembly located on the first upper pole section disengages a second upper pole section of the movable pole sections located above the first upper pole section to enable the second upper pole section to retract into the first upper pole section. 
     
     
         5 . The portable light tower unit according to  claim 3 , wherein the interlocking mechanisms comprise anvil and receiver assemblies and, when a first upper pole section of the movable pole sections is deployed upward, a pin of the receiver assembly located on a second pole section located below the first upper pole section engages the first upper pole section upon full extension of the first upper pole section, causing the first upper pole section and the second pole section to temporarily lock together. 
     
     
         6 . The portable light tower unit according to  claim 2 , further comprising an hydraulic pump supported on the base for hydraulically telescopically extending and telescopically retracting the movable pole sections relative to each other and relative to the stationary pole section. 
     
     
         7 . The portable light tower unit according to  claim 2 , wherein the lighting assembly comprises first and second lighting units that are mounted on an uppermost movable pole section of the movable pole sections, the first lighting unit surrounds the uppermost movable pole section, the second lighting unit is telescopically extendable downward from the first lighting unit to surround a second movable pole section below the uppermost movable pole section, and second lighting unit is telescopically retractable upward into the first lighting unit so that both of the first and second lighting units surround the uppermost movable pole section. 
     
     
         8 . The portable light tower unit according to  claim 2 , wherein the canopy assembly is deployed by telescopically extending one of the movable pole sections relative to the stationary pole section and is stowed by telescopically retracting the one movable pole section relative to the stationary pole section. 
     
     
         9 . The portable light tower unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one seating unit around or installed on the base of the light tower unit. 
     
     
         10 . The portable light tower unit according to  claim 9 , wherein the seating unit comprises foldable benches that are collapsible for subsequent transport or storage. 
     
     
         11 . The portable light tower unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises outriggers on which the base and the tower assembly are entirely supported. 
     
     
         12 . The portable light tower unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising a blind at least partially concealing the base. 
     
     
         13 . The portable light tower unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising electronic device charging facilities, cooling fans, misters, and/or accent lighting associated with the base. 
     
     
         14 . A method of using the portable light tower unit of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 transporting the portable light tower unit to a location while the tower assembly is in a retracted configuration and the canopy assembly is in a collapsed configuration;   extending the tower assembly to simultaneously expand the canopy assembly; and   powering the lighting assembly so that the lighting assembly generates light and the canopy assembly provides shade beneath the lighting assembly.