The Toro Company

Steven T O'Brien

Anthony N Pink

Jay J Kakuk

Robert W Beachy

Chadwick Aaron Shaffer

Thomas J Beckey

Steven J Svoboda

Joseph J Walto

Steven R Porter

Rodney D Lund

A conductive element for a low voltage outdoor light fixture including a body having first and second ends; a wire piercing element proximate the first end of the body, the wire piercing element extending out of the wire support surface; a light bulb mount proximate the second end of the body; at least one ear protruding from the body, wherein each of the ears forms an aperture with the body, the aperture opening towards the second end of the body. Also disclosed is a method of assembling a low voltage outdoor light fixture including providing a head unit defining an interior volume and a first wire support surface, the head unit including two openings extending between the interior volume of the cone and the first wire support surface, each of the openings including a shoulder formed within the opening; providing two conductive members, each of the conductive members including a body having first and second ends, a wire piercing element proximate the first end of the body, a light bulb mount proximate the second end of the body; and at least one ear forming an aperture opening towards the second end of the body; and inserting one of the conductive members into each of the openings in the head unit by moving the wire piercing element through the opening to a position in which the wire piercing element extends out of the first wire support surface, wherein the ear on the body of the conductive member interlocks with the shoulder in the opening, whereby movement of the wire piercing elements of the conductive members towards the interior volume of the head unit is prevented.

Light fixture conductors and methods of assembly

A light fixture includes a lamp contact supported by the fixture and a lamp electrically connected to the lamp contact. The light fixture also includes an electrical supply cable for delivering electrical power to the lamp contacts and lamp. The light fixture also includes a breakaway cable connector connected to the light fixture by a tab and a cable connector receiver formed in the fixture for receiving and mechanically restraining the cable connector. The lamp contacts are electrically connected to the cable when the cable is positioned on the light fixture and the cable connector is broken off of the light fixture and snapped into the cable connector receiver.

Low voltage deck light

The present invention provides for noise reduction during operation of a portable blower by reducing the noise or acoustic energy escaping from the inlet of the blower housing. The noise reduction is achieved in one respect by placing sound absorbing material in a plenum attached to the inlet opening of the blower housing. Other features of the preferred plenum include louvered openings and angled engagement members to draw the plenum tightly against the blower housing.

Portable blower with noise reduction

Outdoor light fixture

A cable connector for a low voltage electrical system. A preferred connector (22) includes a pair of electrically conductive jumper elements (62a, 62b) with a pair of spaced sharp protrusions (66) that are electrically connected. The preferred connector (22) includes a cap (52) consisting of electrically resistive material with means for engaging the jumper elements (62a, 62b). The preferred cable connector (22) includes a base (24) consisting of electrically resistive material with a plurality of channel-like cavities (26, 28, 30, 32) for accepting low voltage electrical cables (36, 38). The base (24) is sized so as to nest within cap (52) and the cavities (26, 28, 30, 32) are sized so as to receive the sharp protrusions (66) so that the cables (36, 38) are penetrated by the protrusions (66) and the base (24) nests within the cap (52). The preferred cable connector (22) also includes a fastening means for retaining cap (52) to the base (24) wherein the protrusions (66) penetrate the insulating material of the cables (36, 38) and make electrical contact with the conductive material of the cables (36, 38).

Cable connector

A deck light (20) including a post (22), cap (24) and lamp/lens assembly (26). Lamp/lens assembly (26) independently attaches to post (22) and cap (24) so that lamp/lens assembly (26) can be removed and separately attached to a deck member; or, alternatively, either post (22) or cap (24), or both, can be attached to lamp/lens assembly (26) and the combination can be attached in a variety of ways to the deck. Preferably, lamp/lens assembly (26) is about 31/2 inches wide and about 11/2 inches deep so that it (either alone or in combination with post (22) and/or cap (24) can be flush mounted to various deck members in a variety of ways. In a preferred embodiment, a stake (100) can be attached to the bottom of post (22) so that fixture (20) can even be used as a stake light.

Versatile light fixture

Outdoor lighting fixture

Post light fixture

A light fixture (10) including a bulb/lens assembly (12), a hollow post (14) and a ground stake (16). An assembly ring (18) having inner and outer 'fingers' (104 and 106, respectively) securely connects the bulb/lens assembly (12) to the post (14). Bulb/lens assembly (12) includes a lens (28) which carries a plurality of louvers (40, 42 and 44). Some of the louvers include legs (46, 50) and slots (60, 62) so that the distance between the louvers can be adjusted to vary the appearance of light fixture (10) and the amount of light produced thereby.

Growing community of inventors

Brooklyn Park, MN, United States of America

Steven T O'Brien