GB2267959A

GB2267959A - Lamp with magnetic base

Info

Publication number: GB2267959A
Application number: GB9312345A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sidney Lionel Dean
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-06-18
Filing date: 1993-06-16
Publication date: 1993-12-22
Also published as: GB9312345D0; GB9212902D0

Abstract

An inspection lamp has a base 14 and a mount for a bulb, said base including a magnet so that it can be temporarily positioned to non horizontal ferromagnetic surfaces. A casing 2, 4 includes means for physically and thermally insulating a bulb mounted in said casing. The lamp mounting may be adjustable in position and the magnet heavy enough to act as a base on non-ferrous surfaces. <IMAGE>

Description

"LAMP" The invention relates to lamps and in particular to the type of lamp known as an inspection lamp (sometimes a "lead light").

Conventionally these have a torch-like handle from which projects a bulb, which may be partially shaded and which also has a hook or crocodile clip for suspending the lamp.

The hook does not allow the lamp to be accurately placed; the lack of directionality of the bulb coupled with the inefficiency of the hook or clip means that more often than not the bulb is shining in the eyes of the user rather than illuminating the worksite as intended. Furthermore, there is no means by which the lamp may be positioned or directed on a floor or other flat surface.

My solution to these problems is to provide a lamp with a base portion of which includes a magnet by which it may be mounted on any ferromagnetic surface.

The lamp is of a directional construction, being a modified "spot" lamp as used for domestic and commercial illumination and having a directional bulb or a concave reflector. Modification lies not only in the provision of the magnetic base but preferably also in the provision of a guard such as a heavy mesh over the bulb and in the provision of an insulating or heatdispersing lining between the bulb and its conventional casing, whereby the casing should remain cool enough to handle even when the bulb has been illuminated for some time.

The base portion including the magnet is preferably also arranged and constructed so that it allows the lamp to stand in a prearranged attitude on a flat substantially horizontal surface even if that surface is non-ferromagnetic. The magnet itself may be a disc magnet - such magnets being massive enough and of a sufficient diameter to provide a stable base for the lamp even on a non-ferromagnetic surface.

Preferably also there is an articulation between a directional bulb of the lamp and the base portion which allows pivotal movement about two orthogonal axes.

Preferably one of these is normal to a plane of the base, the other being parallel to that plane and intersecting with the former adjacent a casing of the bulb of the lamp. So that the lamp will remain in the attitude in which it is placed, the pivotal movement may be checked by tightenable nuts and/or friction washers.

A particular embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the lamp; and Figure 2 is a side view of a bracket arm.

A lamp 1 has a casing 2 containing an electric bulb (not shown) of the directional type. A lead 3 brings an electrical supply, either mains or low voltage, to the bulb. A heavy wire mesh 4 is secured at one end of the casing to protect the bulb. Between the bulb and the casing is inserted a heat insulator or a heat dissipator such as a sheet of metal foil or mesh, so that the temperature of the casing 2 is kept as low as possible.

A pair of lugs 5 project from one side of the casing and entrap between them one end 6 of a bracket 7 which forms part of a base portion of the lamp. The bracket has a bore 8 for receiving a bolt passing also through the lugs 5. One or more friction washers may be interposed between the end 6 and lugs 5 on that bolt.

The bracket 7 is joggled at 9 and 10 so that a base end 11 may be at right angles to end 6 and have an aperture 12 in it whose axis is in the median plane of the end 6.

The aperture is for receiving a bolt 13 for securing the base end 11 of the bracket and hence the casing to a base 14. A friction washer 15 may be interposed between the base end 10 and the base 14.

The base 14 is a compound disc magnet. It is comparatively massive and has a substantially planar undersurface, which may have a soft layer such as felt applied to it.

It can therefore stand stably on any more or less horizontal surface. Also the magnet will clamp itself to any ferromagnetic surface.

In either case the lamp as a whole can be rotated or the relative position of the base and the light source can be adjusted about the orthogonal axes of the pivots formed by the bolts, so that the light from the bulb is efficiently directed at the work-site.

The lamp will be especially useful for working on cars or other metallic objects when it may be securely clamped to a ferromagnetic part and be directed in any attitude, or can simply be stood on a horizontal surface and, once again, appropriately directed.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A lamp including a base portion and a mount for an electric light source, said base portion including a magnet.

2. A lamp according to claim 1 wherein a guard is provided which prevents direct access to a mounted light source.

3. A lamp according to claim 1 wherein an insulating or heat-dispersing lining is provided between a mounted light source and the casing.

4. A lamp according to any of the preceding claims wherein the base portion including the magnet is arranged and constructed so that it allows the lamp to stand in a pre-arranged attitude on a flat substantially horizontal surface even if that surface is nonferromagnetic.

5. A lamp according to any of the preceding claims wherein the magnet is a disc magnet.

6. A lamp according to any of the preceding claims wherein the light source is a directional bulb and there is an articulation between a directional bulb and the base portion which allows pivotal movement about two orthogonal axes.

7. A lamp according to claim 6 wherein one of the axes is normal to a planar undersurface of the base portion.

8. A lamp according to claim 7 wherein the other of the axes is parallel to said planar undersurface and intersecting with the one of the axes adjacent the mount.

9. A lamp according to any of claims 6, 7 and 8 wherein the pivotal movement may be checked by tightenable nuts and/or frictional washers.

10. A lamp substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.