GB2025595A - Supporting globes in light fixtures - Google Patents

Abstract

To enable lamp globes of differing sizes and shapes to be supported on a single form of fixture, the fixture is provided with at least two movable members, each having arms 7, 8 and being pivotally mounted intermediate the arms on the end 9 of a bracket 5, 6 mounted on a base 1. Arms 7 hold the lamp globe 10 in position and arms 8 abut the lamp globe to lock the arms 7. The arms are formed from resilient wire so that they can adapt to various sizes and shapes of a lampshade. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION :- A light fixture The present invention relates to light fixutres for lamp globes.

There are previously known a large number of designs for fixtures adapted to carry lamp globes of all kinds. Linkages serving to secure the globe suffer from the disadvantage that they have to be operated differently, according to their construction, which also may be so that a fixture of one size can receive lamp globes of only one particular size and shape.

The result is that for different designs of lamp globes, designs perhaps dictated by fashion, it is necessary to manufacture a large number of different fixtures which most likely must be stored for a long time.

The purpose of the present invention is for this reason to provide a light fixture enabling positioning of a lamp globe by a simple pushing motion and permitting mounting not only of lamp globes having openings varying within wide limits, but also of lamp globes with necks around their openings, designed differently.

Thus it is possible to reduce the number of designs of fixtures for lamp globes to a substantial degree.

This simplifies manufacture and storage, and designers will more easily than previously be able to design lamp globes for different purposes.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a light fixture for a lamp globe, having at least two spaced apart movable members, each member having a pair of resilient arms of which one is capable of engaging the inside of the lamp globe in the area around the mouth of the globe, and the other arm being capable of abutting the inside of the mouth region of the globe to lock said one arm against motion and to hold the globe to the fixture.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawingsin which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a light fixture constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 shows the operation of the light fixture at the moment a lamp globe is about to be pushed in place.

Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 2, but with the lamp globe locked in position; Figures 4 and 5 are views corresponding to Figures 2 and 3, but showing another size and design pf the neck of the lamp globe; and Figure 6 is a view corresponding to Figure 3, but showing a different design of lamp globe.

Referring to Figure 1, the fixture comprises a base in the form of a disc 1 provided with bulb sockets 2, 3 of usual design. Two brackets 5, 6 are mounted on the disc 1. An end 9 of each of the brackets 5, 6 pivotally supports a resilient member having an upper arm 7 and a lower arm 8. The arms 7 and 8 are made from resilient wire and are shaped and dimensioned as described below.

Referring to Figures 2 to 6 the light fixture is shown in a very simplified manner, the bulb sockets and other components being deleted to simplify the understanding of the invention.

In Figure 2 a portion of a lamp globe 10 is shown, having a neck 11 in the region of a mouth 12, the inner diameter d of which is, for example, 60 mm.

When the lamp globe 10 is to be placed on the light fixture, the globe is pushed on to said fixture in the direction shown with the arrow 13. The edge 14 of the neck then abuts the arms 8 and pivots the movable members about the ends 9 of the brackets 5, 6, thus bringing the arms 7 closer to the inside of the lamp globe 10. As the lamp globe 10 is moved closer to the disc 1, the arms 8 snap into the neck 11 by being elastically deformed and adapt themselves to the inside of the neck. This is the situation shown in Figure 3. The abutment of the arms 8 on the interior of the neck 11 locks the arms 7 which thus hold the lamp globe in position. The force with which the globe is held can be adjusted by the stiffness of the arms 7 and 8.The holding force should of course be large, but not so large that an ordinary person cannot, without exerting too much effort, pull the lamp globe off by moving the globe in the direction shown by the arrow 15. Removal of the lamp globe can be facilitated by roving the brackets 5,6 towards each other by means of levers 14, 16, crank 18, spindle 20, and manually operabie crank 22 as shown in Figure 1.

Figures 4 and 5 show that the same fixture as shown in Figures 2 and 3 can be used for a lamp globe when the neck 11 is of another shape and size than the neck 11 of the lamp globe shown in Figures 2 and 3. The diameter D of the interior of the neck 11 is, for example, 75 mm, and the height H of the neck 11 is also larger than the corresponding dimension of the lamp globe shown in Figures 2 and 3. The mode of operation is, however, the same and therefore need not be described further.

In Figure 6 a portion of a lamp globe 10 is shown which has no neck but does have a mouth 12. The arms 8 frictionally engage the inside of the lamp globe 10 in the region of the mouth 12 and thus lock the arms 7 to hold the lamp globe in position.

It will be appreciated that many modifications may be made to the embodiment described without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, more than two resilient members comprising upper and lower arms may be provided.

1. A light fixture, for a lamp globe, having at least two spaced apart movable members, each member having a pair of resilient arms of which one is capable of engaging the inside ofthe lamp globe in the area around the mouth of the globe, and the other arm being capable of abutting the inside of the mouth region of the globe to lock said one arm against motion and to hold the globe to the fixture.

2. Afixture as claimed in claim 1 wherein the members are pivotally movable, the pair of arms of each member diverging from the pivot axis of the member as viewed along the pivot axis of the member and terminating in end portions for engaging the globe generally parallel to the pivot axis of

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION :- A light fixture The present invention relates to light fixutres for lamp globes. There are previously known a large number of designs for fixtures adapted to carry lamp globes of all kinds. Linkages serving to secure the globe suffer from the disadvantage that they have to be operated differently, according to their construction, which also may be so that a fixture of one size can receive lamp globes of only one particular size and shape. The result is that for different designs of lamp globes, designs perhaps dictated by fashion, it is necessary to manufacture a large number of different fixtures which most likely must be stored for a long time. The purpose of the present invention is for this reason to provide a light fixture enabling positioning of a lamp globe by a simple pushing motion and permitting mounting not only of lamp globes having openings varying within wide limits, but also of lamp globes with necks around their openings, designed differently. Thus it is possible to reduce the number of designs of fixtures for lamp globes to a substantial degree. This simplifies manufacture and storage, and designers will more easily than previously be able to design lamp globes for different purposes. In accordance with the invention there is provided a light fixture for a lamp globe, having at least two spaced apart movable members, each member having a pair of resilient arms of which one is capable of engaging the inside of the lamp globe in the area around the mouth of the globe, and the other arm being capable of abutting the inside of the mouth region of the globe to lock said one arm against motion and to hold the globe to the fixture. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawingsin which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a light fixture constructed in accordance with the invention. Figure 2 shows the operation of the light fixture at the moment a lamp globe is about to be pushed in place. Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 2, but with the lamp globe locked in position; Figures 4 and 5 are views corresponding to Figures 2 and 3, but showing another size and design pf the neck of the lamp globe; and Figure 6 is a view corresponding to Figure 3, but showing a different design of lamp globe. Referring to Figure 1, the fixture comprises a base in the form of a disc 1 provided with bulb sockets 2, 3 of usual design. Two brackets 5, 6 are mounted on the disc 1. An end 9 of each of the brackets 5, 6 pivotally supports a resilient member having an upper arm 7 and a lower arm 8. The arms 7 and 8 are made from resilient wire and are shaped and dimensioned as described below. Referring to Figures 2 to 6 the light fixture is shown in a very simplified manner, the bulb sockets and other components being deleted to simplify the understanding of the invention. In Figure 2 a portion of a lamp globe 10 is shown, having a neck 11 in the region of a mouth 12, the inner diameter d of which is, for example, 60 mm. When the lamp globe 10 is to be placed on the light fixture, the globe is pushed on to said fixture in the direction shown with the arrow 13. The edge 14 of the neck then abuts the arms 8 and pivots the movable members about the ends 9 of the brackets 5, 6, thus bringing the arms 7 closer to the inside of the lamp globe 10. As the lamp globe 10 is moved closer to the disc 1, the arms 8 snap into the neck 11 by being elastically deformed and adapt themselves to the inside of the neck. This is the situation shown in Figure 3. The abutment of the arms 8 on the interior of the neck 11 locks the arms 7 which thus hold the lamp globe in position. The force with which the globe is held can be adjusted by the stiffness of the arms 7 and 8.The holding force should of course be large, but not so large that an ordinary person cannot, without exerting too much effort, pull the lamp globe off by moving the globe in the direction shown by the arrow 15. Removal of the lamp globe can be facilitated by roving the brackets 5,6 towards each other by means of levers 14, 16, crank 18, spindle 20, and manually operabie crank 22 as shown in Figure 1. Figures 4 and 5 show that the same fixture as shown in Figures 2 and 3 can be used for a lamp globe when the neck 11 is of another shape and size than the neck 11 of the lamp globe shown in Figures 2 and 3. The diameter D of the interior of the neck 11 is, for example, 75 mm, and the height H of the neck 11 is also larger than the corresponding dimension of the lamp globe shown in Figures 2 and 3. The mode of operation is, however, the same and therefore need not be described further. In Figure 6 a portion of a lamp globe 10 is shown which has no neck but does have a mouth 12. The arms 8 frictionally engage the inside of the lamp globe 10 in the region of the mouth 12 and thus lock the arms 7 to hold the lamp globe in position. It will be appreciated that many modifications may be made to the embodiment described without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, more than two resilient members comprising upper and lower arms may be provided. CLAIMS

1. A light fixture, for a lamp globe, having at least two spaced apart movable members, each member having a pair of resilient arms of which one is capable of engaging the inside ofthe lamp globe in the area around the mouth of the globe, and the other arm being capable of abutting the inside of the mouth region of the globe to lock said one arm against motion and to hold the globe to the fixture.

2. Afixture as claimed in claim 1 wherein the members are pivotally movable, the pair of arms of each member diverging from the pivot axis of the member as viewed along the pivot axis of the member and terminating in end portions for engaging the globe generally parallel to the pivot axis of the member.

3. Afixture as claimed in claim 2 wherein the end portions of each pair of arms extend in opposite directions.

4. Afixture as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each member is mounted on a bracket, the brackets being movable away and towards each other, the fixture further comprising means for adjusting the position of the brackets to allowthe globe to be released.

5. Afixture as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the movable members are formed from resilient wire.

6. A light fixture for a lamp globe substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.