GB2151346A

GB2151346A - Lampholder unit

Info

Publication number: GB2151346A
Application number: GB08405009A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Manning
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-11-25
Filing date: 1984-02-27
Publication date: 1985-07-17
Also published as: HK42689A; GB8331607D0; GB2151346B; GB8405009D0

Abstract

A lampholder unit 10 is adapted to rotate a lampshade (not shown) and for the purpose is provided with a collar 14 rotatably mounted on a housing 11. In order that the lampshade may be of a standard size, the collar 14 is positioned with the plug 12 projecting through it. Hence, with an ordinary lampshade, the housing 11 would be inside the lampshade. A decorative accessory (not shown) may be used in place of a lampshade. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Lampholder unit This invention relates to a lampholder unit.

British Patent specification No. 2 057 663 A describes and claims a lamp holder adapted to support a lamp shade and comprising a motor for rotating the lamp shade.

According to the present invention there is provided a lampholder unit comprising a housing from which a plug projects for plugging the lampholder unit into a lamp socket, the housing including a socket for a lamp, a collar rotatably mounted to the housing for supporting a lampshade or decorative accessory and an electric motor housed within the housing and drivingly connected to the collar for rotating the collar and hence, when fitted, the lampshade or decorative accessory, the plug projecting throught the collar.

The present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a lampholder unit embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation of the unit to a larger scale, on the plane indicated by line Il-Il * in Fig. 3; Figure 3 is a plan view of the unit; Figure 4 is an underneath plan view of the unit; Figure 5 to 8 illustrate a lower housing part of the unit, Fig. 5 being a plan view, Figs. 6 and 7 respectively part-sectional views on planes indicated by lines VI-VI and VII-VII in Fig. 5 (Fig. 7 being to a larger scale) and Fig.

8 in an underneath plan view; Figures 9 to 11 illustrate a housing partition of the unit, Figs. 9 and 10 respectively being a plan view and a side elevation and Fig. 11 being a part-sectional view (to a larger scale) on a plane indicated by line Xl-Xl in Fig. 9; Figures 12 to 16 illustrate an upper housing part of the unit, Figs. 1 2 to 1 4 being respectively a plan view, a side elevational view and an underneath plan view, Figs. 1 5 and 1 6 respectively being a sectional view and an enlarged part-sectional view on planes indicated by an enlarged part-sectional view on planes indicated by lines XV-XV and XVI-XVI in Fig. 14; Figures 17 and 18 are a plan view and side elevational view respectively of a collar of the unit;; Figures 19, 20 and 21 are respectively a plan view, a partly sectioned side elevation and an enlarged partial plan view of a clamping ring of the unit; Figures 22 and 23 are plan views of two very low friction washers, made of polytetrafluoroethylene ("PTFE"), in the unit; and Figures 24 to 29 illustrate a first cog (Figs.

24 and 25), a second cog (Figs. 26 and 27) and a third cog (Figs. 28 and 29) of the unit, Figs. 24, 26 and 28 being plan views and Figs. 25, 27 and 29 being sectional side elevational views on diametral-axial planes.

Referring to the drawings, the lampholder unit 10 comprises a housing 11 from which a plug 1 2 projects for plugging the lampholder unit 10 into a lamp socket (not shown), the housing 11 including a socket 1 3 for a lamp (not shown), the housing 11 including a socket 1 3 for a lamp (not shown), a collar 14 rotatably mounted to the housing 11 for supporting a lamp shade (not shown) or decorative accessory (not shown) and an electric motor 1 5 housed within the housing 11 and drivingly connected to the collar 1 4 for rotating the collar 14 and hence, when fitted, the lamp shade or decorative accessory, the plug 1 2 projecting through the collar 14.

More particularly, the housing 11 comprises a lower housing part 11 a, a partition 11 b and an upper housing part 11 c, all of molded plastics material. The motor 1 5 is housed within the lower housing part 11 a, a boss 15a of motor 1 5 projecting through a hole 11 b' in the partition 11 b. The partition 11 b rests upon integral vertical ribs 11 a' around the interior of the lower housing part 11 a.The rim of the upper housing part 11 c screw-threadedly engages the rim of the lower housing part 11 a, thereby holding together the three housing parts 11 a, 11 b and 11 c, and unscrewing of upper housing part 1 1c from lower housing part 11 a is prevented by a screw lid, as shown in Fig. 2, engaging a boss 1 1f integral with partition 1 1b.

A clamping ring 1 6 screw threadedly and removably engages the collar 14, for clamping the lampshade (not shown) or decorative accessory (not shown) to the collar 14, for rotation therewith. Two very low friction washers 1 7a and 1 7b are arranged as shown between the collar 1 4 on the one hand and the partition 11 b and upper housing part 11 c on the other hand. It will be appreciated that the plug 1 2 comprises an ordinary, standard kind of lamp plug 1 2a and a tubular extension 1 2b of the partition 11 b, integral with partition 11 b, the plug 1 2a screw-threadedly engaging the tubular part 12b.Because of the fact that both the plug 1 2a itself and the tubular extension 1 2b are the same diameter as standard lamp plug, the lampholder unit 10 may accept a quite ordinary lampshade of a standard size, for fitting onto the collar 1 4.

That is to say, the lamp holder unit 10 does not have to be used with a special king of lampshade having an enlarged fitting, but may be used with a quite ordinary lampshade having the usual kind of fitting for an ordinary lamp socket. Likewise, the lamp socket 1 3 is of a standard, quite ordinary size and shape.

Both plug 1 2 and socket 1 3 may be of the "bayonet" type as used in Great Britain or the Edison screw-type as used in other countries.

For driving the collar 14, the motor 1 5 is fitted with a cog 18a (Figs. 24 and 25) which drivingly engages the rim of a second cog 18b (Figs. 26 and 27). The toothed hub of the second cog 1 8b drivingly engages the rim of a third cog 18c (Figs. 28 and 29), the toothed hub of which driving engages the toothed rim of the collar 14, so that there is a considerable step-down speed ratio between the motor 1 5 and the collar 14. Cogs 18b and 18c are mounted on fixed shafts 11 b11 and 11 b"' of the housing partition 11 b. The electric motor takes its power from the plug 12, via connections not shown. An on/off switch, not shown, may be provided for switching the motor on and off. In an event, the motor is preferably connected so that it can only be switched on when the lamp in the socket 1 3 is on. The effect of positioning the collar 14 so that the plug 1 2 (parts 1 2a and 12b) projects through it, is that, with the usual kind of standard lampshade, the housing 11 is contained within the lampshade. To remove the lampshade, one has to unplug the entire unit to from the socket (not shown) into which the plug 1 2 is plugged, and take off the clamping ring 1 6.

Claims

1. A lampholder unit comprising a housing from which a plug projects for plugging the lampholder a socket for a lamp, a collar rotatably mounted to the housing for supporting a lampshade or decorative accessory and an electric motor housed within the housing and drivingly connected to the collar for rotating the collar and hence, when fitted, the lampshade or decorative accessory, the plug projecting throught the collar.

2. A lampholder unit as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a lower housing part, a partition and an upper housing part, all secured together.

3. A lampholder unit as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the motor is housed within the lower housing part and is arranged to drive the collar through a series of cogs.

4. A lampholder unit as claimed in Claim 2 or 3. wherein the plug which projects through the collar comprises a plug proper and an extension of the partition.

5. A lampholder unit as claimed in any preceding claim, adapted to be fitted with a standard-sized lampshade.