Grow lighting support system

Abstract

A grow lighting support system for supporting grow lights for promoting growth of crops, such as turf grass, is disclosed, wherein the grow lighting support system comprises a frame arranged to be placed on a ground surface, a first pair of elongate support arms for supporting grow lights thereon, and a pivot connection pivotably connecting the support arms to the frame, wherein the support arms are pivotable relative to the frame between an undeployed position and a deployed position in which the support arms extend from the pivot connection horizontally in mutually opposite directions and are arranged for supporting the grow lights above the ground surface for illuminating the ground surface, wherein the pivot connection comprises a single upright pivot axis about which both support arms of the first pair of support arms are pivotable between the undeployed and the deployed position.

Description

[0001] GROW LIGHTING SUPPORT SYSTEM

[0002] The present invention relates to a grow lighting support system for supporting grow lights for promoting growth of crops, such as turf grass. The present invention further relates to a method of promoting growth of turf grass.

[0003] The system can be used to enhance the growth of various types of plants, in particular lawn grass on a ground surface on which a sport is played, such as a football or baseball field, a rugby pitch, a tennis court or a golf course.

[0004] Grass growth on a sports surface depends on different factors, such as sunlight, temperature, shade, training and match hours, and the weather. The lack of natural sunlight and temperature, in combination with wear and tear, is often a cause of poor grass quality. Since it generally takes a long time to recover the grass of such playing surfaces if the grass grows by means of light from only the sun, and since some areas of the surface may receive more sunlight than others, enhancing the grass growth with grow lights when the playing surface is not in use reduces the recovery time of the grass surface. Grow lights simulate the sun, specifically light and heat thereof, and are thereby able to enhance grass growth. Therefore, with the help of grow lights, grass can grow and recover throughout the year, such that the quality of the playing surface can be consistently ensured.

[0005] Known grow lighting systems of the type referred to as lighting rigs, which can be used for enhancing turf grass growth for a sports pitch, comprise a frame arranged to be placed on, and movable along, a ground surface, and elongate support arms supporting grow lights thereon, wherein the support arms are pivotably connected to a horizontally extending elongate frame body of the frame, wherein each support arm is pivotable relative to the elongate frame body about a respective upright pivot axis between an undeployed position, in which the support arm extends parallel to and alongside the elongate frame body, and a deployed position in which the support arm extends transversely to the elongate frame body and is arranged for supporting grow lights above the ground surface for illuminating the ground surface. Such lighting rigs can be conveniently stowed after moving the support arms to the undeployed position.

[0006] There is a continuous aim to design such a lighting rig in such a way that the lighting rig, when undeployed, can be made as compact as possible for storage. For example, the lighting rig developed by SGL, which can efficiently enhance grass growth on a large scale, comprises a pair of elongate support arms that each have an additional hinge joint located about midway that allows the respective arm to be folded in an elbow-like manner. This technique has been adopted by others and has generally worked, although special attention is to be paid to keeping the relatively complex joint configuration well-maintained and to keeping the lighting rig balanced when unfolding the support arms to the deployed position. Furthermore, ensuring that this configuration is robust has thwarted the aim of simultaneously achieving that the lighting rig is lightweight.

[0007] It is thus an object of the present invention, amongst other objects, to provide an improved grow lighting support system, in particular a grow lighting support system wherein the aforesaid drawbacks are at least partially alleviated.

[0008] Hereto, a grow lighting support system for supporting grow lights for promoting growth of crops, such as turf grass, is provided, wherein the grow lighting support system comprises a frame arranged to be placed on a ground surface, a first pair of elongate support arms for supporting grow lights thereon, and a pivot connection pivotably connecting the support arms to the frame, wherein the support arms are pivotable relative to the frame between an undeployed position and a deployed position in which the support arms extend from the pivot connection horizontally in mutually opposite directions and are arranged for supporting the grow lights above the ground surface for illuminating the ground surface, wherein the pivot connection comprises a single upright pivot axis about which both support arms of the first pair of support arms are pivotable between the undeployed and the deployed position.

[0009] As both support arms are pivotably connected to the frame by a pivot connection with a single pivot axis and extend in mutually opposite directions in the deployed position, the moment of force applied to the pivot connection by one of the support arms can be counterbalanced by the moment of force applied to the pivot connection by the other support arm, such that a relatively simple configuration of the pivot connection can be achieved which is easy to maintain and lighter in weight. Hence, an improved grow lighting support system can be obtained.

[0010] For keeping the support system balanced efficiently, particularly in the deployed position or when moving the support arms to the deployed position, the support arms are preferably equal in length. More in general, the length of one of the support arms may be at least half of, preferably at least four-fifths of, more preferably substantially equal to, the length of the other support arm.

[0011] Additionally, or alternatively, it is preferred if the support arms extend collinearly in the deployed position for a further improved balance. The pivot connection may comprise for instance a swivel, which is arranged between the frame and the first pair of support arms to connect the support arms to the frame.

[0012] Furthermore, the frame may be provided with a motion mechanism arranged for moving the frame along the ground surface.

[0013] The support arms of the first pair may, also in the undeployed position, extend from the pivot connection horizontally in mutually opposite directions such that, also in the undeployed position, the moment of force applied to the pivot connection by the one support arm can be counterbalanced by the moment of force applied to the pivot connection by the other support arm. Alternatively, in the undeployed position, the support arms may extend from the pivot connection horizontally in substantially the same direction. In that case it is preferred if, in the undeployed position, the frame supports the support arms at, e.g., their distal end in addition to at the pivot connection, such that the support arms are supported in a balanced manner to alleviate the moment of force applied to the pivot connection by the support arms also in the undeployed position.

[0014] Herein, the term “horizontally” refers to a direction in which the support arms extend in the deployed position during normal use, which is a direction substantially parallel to the ground surface at least in the case wherein the system is deployed on a flat ground surface.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment of the grow lighting support system, the support arms of the first pair are integrally formed as an elongate support body, wherein the pivot connection rotatably connects the elongate support body to the frame, wherein the elongate support body is rotatable relative to the frame about the upright pivot axis to move the integrally formed support arms between the undeployed and the deployed position. By, in other words, combining the two support arms into one support member that is rotatable to the deployed position, a further simplification of the configuration can be achieved, and the two arms can be moved to the deployed position more quickly since both arms can be moved in a single action. Furthermore, the arms can be moved to the deployed position more safely, since it can be more easily ensured that the system remains balanced while moving the arms to the deployed position.

[0016] According to a further preferred embodiment of the grow lighting support system, the pivot connection is arranged to pivotably support the support arms on top of the frame. This way, it can be ensured that the support arms can freely rotate relative to the frame about the upright pivot axis. Furthermore, such a configuration enables the frame to further support the support arms, for instance at their distal end, in an efficient manner. Alternatively, the pivot connection may be arranged to pivotably support the support arms below the frame in a suspended manner.

[0017] The frame may comprise an elongate frame body extending horizontally, wherein the pivot connection pivotably connects the support arms of the first pair to the elongate frame body. The frame may further comprise support legs arranged at both ends of the elongate frame body to support the elongate frame body thereon, which is thereby raised from the ground surface. The support legs may be provided with said motion mechanism, which preferably comprises wheels rotatably arranged at the base of the support legs for moving the frame along the ground surface.

[0018] It is then preferred if, in the deployed position, the support arms extend transversely to the elongate frame body. This way, the ground surface can be effectively illuminated by the grow lights supported by the support arms.

[0019] Furthermore, the support arms preferably extend substantially parallel to and along the elongate frame body in the undeployed position. The support system can then be particularly compact for storage.

[0020] It is further preferred if the first pair of support arms and the elongate frame body are substantially equal in length in the undeployed position. This way, the system can be optimised to be relatively compact in the undeployed position as well as relatively extended in the deployed position. Preferably, in the undeployed position, the support arms do not protrude beyond the elongate frame body in the longitudinal direction thereof.

[0021] Preferably, the pivot connection is arranged in a centre of the elongate frame body seen in the longitudinal direction of the elongate frame body. In that case, the support arms of the first pair preferably extend from the pivot connection horizontally in mutually opposite directions in the undeployed position, such that the support arms in the undeployed position extend along the elongate frame body as much as possible for compactness.

[0022] The grow lighting support system may further comprise at least a second pair of elongate support arms for supporting grow lights thereon. In case the frame comprises an elongate frame body as described above, it is preferred if the second pair of support arms is pivotably connected to one of the ends of the elongate frame body, wherein the support arms of the second pair are pivotable relative to the elongate frame body between an undeployed position, in which the support arms of the second pair extend substantially parallel to and along the elongate frame body, and a deployed position, in which the support arms of the second pair extend from the elongate frame body in mutually opposite directions transverse to the elongate frame body. The first pair of support arms may then be pivotably connected by the pivot connection to the other end of the elongate frame body.

[0023] If the grow lighting support system however further comprises a third pair of elongate support arms for supporting grow lights thereon, it may be preferred if the third pair of support arms is pivotably connected to the other end of the elongate frame body, wherein the support arms of the third pair are pivotable relative to the elongate frame body between an undeployed position, in which the support arms of the third pair extend substantially parallel to and along the elongate frame body, and a deployed position in which the support arms of the third pair respectively extend from the elongate frame body in mutually opposite directions transverse to the elongate frame body. In that case, the first pair of support arms is preferably connected by the pivot connection to the centre of the elongate frame body.

[0024] The support arms of the second pair and / or of the third pair may be pivotable between the deployed and the undeployed position about respective upright pivot axes.

[0025] According to another aspect, a grow lighting support system for supporting grow lights for promoting growth of crops, such as turf grass, is provided, wherein the grow lighting support system comprises a frame arranged to be placed on a ground surface, at least a first elongate support arm for supporting grow lights thereon, and a pivot connection pivotably connecting the support arm to the frame, wherein the support arm is pivotable relative to the frame about an upright pivot axis between an undeployed position and a deployed position in which the support arm extends horizontally from the pivot connection and is arranged for supporting the grow lights above the ground surface for illuminating the ground surface, wherein the support arm is provided with an elongate extension member for supporting grow lights thereon, wherein the extension member is arranged parallel to the support arm and arranged slidable in a direction parallel to the support arm between a retracted position and an extended position. Preferably, the extension member is slidable between the retracted position and the extended position in the deployed position of the support arm.

[0026] By providing one or each of the one or more support arms with a respective extension member as defined above, the system can be made especially compact in the undeployed position. Furthermore, particularly if the extension member is to be moved from the retracted position to the extended position after pivoting the support arm to the deployed position, it can be more easily ensured that the system remains balanced while moving the arm to the deployed position with the extension member still in the retracted position. Preferably, the extension member is telescopically arranged in the respective support arm.

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment of the grow lighting support system, the frame comprises an elongate frame body extending horizontally, wherein the first support arm is pivotably connected to one of the ends of the elongate frame body, wherein the system comprises at least a second support arm for supporting grow lights thereon, wherein the second support arm is pivotably connected to the other end of the elongate frame body, wherein the support arms are pivotable relative to the elongate frame body about respective upright pivot axes between an undeployed position, in which the support arms extend substantially parallel to and along the elongate frame body, and a deployed position, in which the support arms extend horizontally transversely to the elongate frame body and are arranged for supporting the grow lights above the ground surface for illuminating the ground surface.

[0028] As the extension member of the first support arm is slidable between the retracted position and the extended position in the deployed position of the first support arm, the system can be made especially compact in the undeployed position. For instance, with the extension member in the retracted position, the support arms may extend collinearly in the undeployed position. Furthermore, the combined length of the support arms in the undeployed position can be equal to, or less than, the length of the elongate frame body while, in the deployed position of the support arms and in the extended position of the extension member, the combined length of the extension member and the support arms can be greater than the length of the elongate frame body. The support arms may be equal in length, wherein the length of the elongate frame body is preferably at least twice the length of the support members.

[0029] Preferably, each support arm is provided with an elongate extension member for supporting grow lights thereon, wherein the extension member is arranged parallel to the respective support arm and arranged slidable in a direction parallel to the support arm between an extended position and a retracted position.

[0030] The grow lighting support system is preferably a grow lighting support system according to any of the embodiments described above, although the advantage of providing the support arm with the extension member can also be achieved in a grow lighting support system without two support arms being pivotable between the undeployed and the deployed position about a single pivot axis. Further provided is a grow lighting system for promoting growth of crops, such as turf grass, wherein the grow lighting system comprises a grow lighting support system according to any of the above embodiments and grow lights for promoting growth of crops, wherein the grow lights are arranged on the one or more support arms of the grow lighting support system.

[0031] According to a further aspect, a method of promoting growth of turf grass is provided, wherein the method comprises the steps of: providing a grow lighting system as described above on the turf grass in the deployed position of the one or more support arms; illuminating the turf grass using the grow lights of the grow lighting system.

[0032] The step of providing the grow lighting system on the turf grass in the deployed position may comprise the steps of: providing the grow lighting support system of the grow lighting system on the turf grass in the undeployed position; pivoting the one or more support arms from the undeployed position to the deployed position.

[0033] If the one or more support arms are provided with a respective elongate extension member for supporting grow lights thereon, wherein each extension member is arranged parallel to the respective support arm and arranged slidable in a direction parallel to the support arm between a retracted position and an extended position, the step of providing the grow lighting system on the turf grass in the deployed position may further comprise the step of sliding the one or more extension members from the retracted position to the extended position, preferably subsequent to the step of pivoting the one or more support arms from the undeployed position to the deployed position.

[0034] The step of providing the grow lighting support system on the turf grass in the undeployed position may comprise the steps of: providing the grow lighting support system in the undeployed position on a ground surface, wherein the frame of the grow lighting support system is provided with a motion mechanism arranged for moving the frame along the ground surface; moving the grow lighting support system in the undeployed position along the ground surface onto the turf grass using the motion mechanism.

[0035] The grow lighting system may also be used for promoting growth of crops other than turf grass. In the following, the grow lighting support system according to the invention is further illustrated with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

[0036] Figure 1A represents a perspective view of a known lighting rig in a deployed position;

[0037] Figure IB schematically represents a top view of the rig of Figure 1 A moved out of the deployed position;

[0038] Figure 1C represents an isometric view of the rig of Figure 1A in an undeployed position;

[0039] Figures 2-4A represent isometric views of a grow lighting support system according to the present invention in respectively an extended deployed position, a retracted deployed position and an undeployed position;

[0040] Figure 4B represents a top view of the system of Figure 4A in the undeployed position.

[0041] In Figures 1A-C, a known lighting rig 1’ is shown. The rig 1’ comprises a frame 2’ comprising an elongate frame body 21’ extending horizontally and a pair of support legs 22’ respectively arranged at both ends of the elongate frame body 21 ’ to support the elongate frame body 21 ’ thereon. The support legs 22’ are each provided with a pair of wheels 20’ at their base for transporting the frame 2’.

[0042] The rig 1’ further comprises three pairs of elongate support arms 3a’, 3b’, 3c’ for supporting grow lights thereon. The support arms 3a’, 3b’, 3c’ are each pivotably connected to the elongate frame body 21’. Two pairs of elongate support arms 3a’, 3b’ are hinged at respectively both ends of the elongate frame body 21’, whereas the other pair of elongate support arms 3c’ is hinged to the elongate frame body 21’ at a centre thereof. The support arms 3a’, 3b’, 3c’ can hinge about respective vertical hinge axes from an undeployed position, as shown in Figure 1C, to a deployed position in which the support arms 3a’, 3b’, 3c’ extend perpendicularly to the elongate frame body 21’, as shown in Figure 1A.

[0043] Referring to Figure IB, the central support arms 3c’ are each provided with an additional hinge joint 30’ located about midway that allows them to be folded in an elbow-like manner back into the undeployed position, after which the other two pairs of support arms 3a’, 3b’ can be hinged towards the elongate frame body 21’ and the folded central support arms 3c’ into the undeployed position, in which the support arms 3a’, 3b’, 3c’ extend parallel to and alongside each other and the elongate frame body 21’ as shown in Figure 1C.

[0044] In Figure 2, an improved lighting rig 1 is shown. The rig 1 comprises a frame 2 comprising an elongate frame body 21 extending horizontally and a pair of support legs 22 respectively arranged at both ends of the elongate frame body 21 to support the elongate frame body 21 thereon. The support legs 22 are each provided with a pair of wheels 20 for transporting the frame 2.

[0045] For supporting grow lights, the rig 1 comprises two pairs of support arms 3a, 3b hinged at respectively both ends of the elongate frame body 21. The rig 1 further comprises an integrally formed elongate support member 3 rotatably supported, at its centre, on the centre of the elongate frame body 21 by a swivel-type pivot 4 arranged atop the elongate frame body 21. The elongate support member 3 forms a pair of central support arms 3c extending from the swivel 4 in mutually opposite directions.

[0046] The support arms 3a, 3b, 3c all have the same length L. Furthermore, each support arm 3a, 3b, 3c is provided with an elongate extension member 5 of substantially equal length, wherein the extension member 5 is telescopically arranged in the respective support arm 3a, 3b, 3c and is slidable between an extended position, as shown in Figure 2, and a retracted position.

[0047] The elongate support member 3 is rotatable relative to the elongate frame body 2 about a vertical rotation axis R while the support arms 3a, 3b at the ends of the elongate frame body 21 can hinge about respective vertical hinge axes. The support arms 3a, 3b, 3c are thereby pivotable relative to the elongate frame body 21 between a deployed position and an undeployed position.

[0048] As depicted stepwise in Figure 2, 3 and 4A-B, the lighting rig can be moved from a fully deployed position to the undeployed position and vice versa. In the fully deployed position, as shown in Figure 2, the pairs of support arms 3a, 3b, 3c extend parallel to each other and perpendicularly to the elongate frame body 21. The extension members 5 are shown in the extended position. Each of the support arms 3a, 3b, 3c and extension members 5 can support a plurality of grow lights (not visible in the drawings) for enhancing the growth of plants below them in the deployed position.

[0049] Before pivoting the support arms 3a, 3b, 3c to the undeployed position, the extension members 5 are first moved to the retracted position as shown in Figure 3. In the undeployed position, as shown in Figures 4A-B, the elongate support member 3 extends along, and the two pairs of support arms 3a, 3b extend alongside, the elongate frame body 21. As the extension members 5 of the support arms 3a, 3b at the ends of the elongate frame body 21 are slidable between the retracted position and the extended position in the deployed position of the support arms 3a, 3b, the rig 1 can be made especially compact in the undeployed position. In particular, with the extension members 5 in the retracted position, the support arms 3a, 3b can extend collinearly in the undeployed position as shown in Figures 4A-B, as opposed to alongside each other like the support arms 3a’, 3b’ of the known lighting rig 1’ shown in Figure 1C.

[0050] It has been found that, with the pivot configuration of the lighting rig 1 shown in Figures 2-4B, the number of hinges, and thereby the weight and complexity of the lighting rig, can be reduced.

[0051] Hence, an improved grow lighting support system can be obtained.

[0052] The drawings and the above description serve to illustrate specific embodiments of the invention and do not limit the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Grow lighting support system for supporting grow lights for promoting growth of crops, such as turf grass, wherein the grow lighting support system comprises a frame arranged to be placed on a ground surface, a first pair of elongate support arms for supporting grow lights thereon, and a pivot connection pivotably connecting the support arms to the frame, wherein the support arms are pivotable relative to the frame between an undeployed position and a deployed position in which the support arms extend from the pivot connection horizontally in mutually opposite directions and are arranged for supporting the grow lights above the ground surface for illuminating the ground surface, wherein the pivot connection comprises a single upright pivot axis about which both support arms of the first pair of support arms are pivotable between the undeployed and the deployed position.

2. Grow lighting support system according to claim 1, wherein the support arms are integrally formed as an elongate support body, wherein the pivot connection rotatably connects the elongate support body to the frame, wherein the elongate support body is rotatable relative to the frame about the upright pivot axis to move the integrally formed support arms between the undeployed and the deployed position.

3. Grow lighting support system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pivot connection is arranged to pivotably support the support arms on top of the frame.

4. Grow lighting support system according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the support arms are substantially equal in length.

5. Grow lighting support system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the frame comprises an elongate frame body extending horizontally, wherein the pivot connection pivotably connects the support arms to the elongate frame body.

6. Grow lighting support system according to claim 5, wherein the support arms extend transversely to the elongate frame body in the deployed position.

7. Grow lighting support system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the support arms extend substantially parallel to and along the elongate frame body in the undeployed position.

8. Grow lighting support system according to claims 4 and 7, wherein the first pair of support arms and the elongate frame body are substantially equal in length in the undeployed position.

9. Grow lighting support system according to claim 8, wherein the pivot connection is arranged in a centre of the elongate frame body seen in the longitudinal direction of the elongate frame body.

10. Grow lighting support system according to any of the preceding claims 5 - 9, further comprising at least a second pair of elongate support arms for supporting grow lights thereon, wherein the second pair of support arms is pivotably connected to one of the ends of the elongate frame body, wherein the support arms of the second pair are pivotable relative to the elongate frame body between an undeployed position, in which the support arms of the second pair extend substantially parallel to and along the elongate frame body, and a deployed position, in which the support arms of the second pair extend from the elongate frame body in mutually opposite directions transverse to the elongate frame body.

11. Grow lighting support system according to claims 9 and 10, further comprising a third pair of elongate support arms for supporting grow lights thereon, wherein the third pair of support arms is pivotably connected to the other end of the elongate frame body, wherein the support arms of the third pair are pivotable relative to the elongate frame body between an undeployed position, in which the support arms of the third pair extend substantially parallel to and along the elongate frame body, and a deployed position in which the support arms of the third pair extend from the elongate frame body in mutually opposite directions transverse to the elongate frame body.

12. Grow lighting support system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the support arms extend collinearly in the deployed position.

13. Grow lighting support system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the support arms are respectively provided with elongate extension members for supporting grow lights thereon, wherein each extension member is arranged parallel to the respective support arm and arranged slidable in a direction parallel to the respective support arm between a retracted position and an extended position.

14. Grow lighting support system according to claim 13, wherein each extension member is telescopically arranged in the respective support arm.

15. Grow lighting support system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the pivot connection comprises a swivel, which is arranged between the frame and the first pair of support arms to connect the support arms to the frame.

16. Grow lighting support system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the frame is provided with a motion mechanism arranged for moving the frame along the ground surface.

17. Grow lighting system for promoting growth of crops, such as turf grass, wherein the grow lighting system comprises a grow lighting support system according to any of the preceding claims and grow lights for promoting growth of crops, wherein the grow lights are arranged on the support arms of the grow lighting support system.

18. Method of promoting growth of turf grass, wherein the method comprises the steps of:- providing a grow lighting system according to claim 17 on the turf grass in the deployed position of the support arms;- illuminating the turf grass using the grow lights of the grow lighting system.

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