US1542778A - Lighting fixture - Google Patents

Description

June 16, 1925.

T. J. NELSON LIGHTING FIXTURE Original Filed June 16 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 16, 1925, 1,542,778

T. J. NELSON I LIGHTING FIXTURE Original Filed June 16. 1920 2 sheets-sheet 2 7360 dore .l Wei 021.

Patented June 16, .1925.,

UNITED STATES i 1,542,718 PATENT OFFICE.

THEODOBE J'. NELSON, rOI' CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,.ASSIGNOR TO COLONIAL LAMP & FIX- TUBE WORKS, OF'CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

LIGHTING FIXTURE,

. Application led June 16, 1920, Serial No. 389,294. Renewed November 2l, 1924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, Tnnonons J. NELSON,-

a subject of the King of Sweden, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lighting Fixtures, of which the following is a specification.

In the present interior lighting systems it is customary to install electric fixtures in permanent locations, or provide fioor or table lamps which, although portable, are not adapted for adjustable mounting, or convenient for general use in various places where one may desire to have a lamp temporarily. A number of small portable electric fixtures have been produced which may be readily carried and suspended or supported in various Ways so as to afford a wide range of utility, and it is the purpose of this invention to provide a new fixture or lamp of this character.

The principal objects of my invention are to avoid the use of hooks, clamps, springs or other fastening devices for mounting the fixture in .desired positions; to adapt the fixture for mounting on supports of practically any size or shape; to provide a fixture which requires no actual connection or attachment to the support and may therefore 3 be conveniently changed from place to place and will not scratch or mar the support; to lprovide an improved fiexible hanger for a fixture; to adapt the fixture to maintain a level position when the hanger is attached thereto at orI close to one side; to hold the flexible hanger in place on a support by counterbalancing the weight of the fixture; to provide the hanger with ample surface to afford a substantial kfrictional engagement with a support; to prevent twisting and turning movement of the suspended fixture on a vertical axis; 'to conceal the conductors which lead to the illuminating element of the fixture and arrange same so that they serve as a reinforcement for the hanger; to adapt the fixture so that it may, if desired, be used as a small table lamp; to permit substantial adjustment of the fixture when it is mounted on a support; to provide a fixture of this character which may be folded iu a small compact form for shipping or carrying around from place to place; to provide an improved shade support; and in-general, to provide a simple, inexpensive, convenient and unique fixture of the above character which is capable of construction 1n a very attractive and pleasing form.

On the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective vlew of my improved fixture suspended over a bed end; Figure 2, an enlarged side view of the fixture with parts broken away and other parts in secti `n to disclose details of construction; Figurgb, an enlarged sectional view on the line 3 3 of Figure 2; Figure 4, an enlarged sectional view on the line 4--4 of Figure 2 with supporting strap omitted; Figure 5, a sectional view of the weighted end of the flexible support taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 2; Figure 6, a sectional view of the flex'ble support on the line 6 6 of Figure 2; igure 7, a fragmentar detail sectional iew on the line 7 7 o Figure 4 showing the manner of attaching ,the flexible support to the base of .the fixture; and Figure 8 is a detail view partly in section of the hinge joint of the fixture taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral l indicates a flat circular shell which forms the top of the fixture base and lhas an annular depending flange 2, and a short tubular stem 3 secured in any suitable manner to the raised central portion of the shell. This tubular stem 3 is provided at its outer end with a forked extension comprising a pair of spaced arms 4, each of which is pivotally connected with a corresponding arm 6 of a similar forked extension of another short tubular stem 8, which latter has a lamp socket 9 secured to the outer end thereof. A separate pivot 5 is employed for connecting each arm 5 with the corresponding arm 6 so as to leave a clear space therebetween through which the lamp cord 30 passes from the stem 3 to the stem 8, and I prefer to enclose the lamp cord at the joint bya flexible tube 36 of rubber or other suitable material, the ends of which are extended into the openings through the stems 3 and 8, as shown in Figure 8, so as to hold the tube in place and protect the wire at the point where it enters the stems 3 and 8.

The socket 9 has a lamp 10 secured therein in the usual manner, and I have provided a shade holder which is clamped onto the outer end of the socket 9 merely by mounting the lamp in the socket.

Electric sockets of the present type are usually provided with an annular corru- 4 at a short distance from the end thereof so as to leave a straight surface 12 projecting a short distance beyond the corrugatlon 11, In my construction I provide a ring 13 which fits onto the end portion 12 of the socket against the corrugation 11 and projects slightly beyond the end of the socket so as be engaged by the tapered base of the lamp 10 when the latter is screwed in the socket. Thus the lamp serves to hold the ring 13 in place on the outer end of the socket and provides a convenient mountlng enabling the shade holder to be turned about the end of the socket for adjusting the shade. The ring 13 has an arm 14 extending laterally therefrom, to the outer end of which are secured the ends 15 of a spring Iband 16, said ends being pivoted to the outer end of the arm 14 by the rivet 17, and the spring tension of the band provides frictional engagement to ho-ld the band and shade holder in any osition to which it is adjusted on the pivot 1 `The band 16 is of substantially circular form (or may be otherwiseshaped if desired) and extends around the socket 9 and the lamp 10 at a suitable distance therefrom so that when the ring is swung on the pivot 17, the outer extremity ofthe band will pass over or clear a lamp 10 of the ordinary size, which is used in this fixture. A semicylindrical shade 38 is secured at its edge to the band 16, as shown, and supported on a suitable marginal frame 18, and this shade may be constructed of fabric or any suitable material in ornamental form or otherwise as desired.

The base of the lamp is designed to support the fixture in an upright position when yused as a table lamp and is also designed to counterbalance the outwardly projecting` portions of the fixture when thelatter is suspended and for these purposes thev bottom of the base comprises a fiat circular weight 19 whic-h has a reduced portion inserted into the bottom of the shell 1. I prefer to cover the lower surface of the weight 19 with felt or other fabric to prevent the base-of the fixture from marring a surface against which it comes in Contact, and this is accomplished by placing a disk 20 of fabric over the bottom and turning the edges thereof up over the edges of the weight 19 and tying same by a cord 21 which is passed around the reduced portion of the weight which fits within the shell 1, the weight being preferably provided with an annular groove 22 allowing the cord and the fabric to bedrawn tight into the groove. The weight is retained in the shell 1 by a plurality of screws 23 which are passed through the annular iiange 2 of the Vshell and project into openings 24 provided therefor around the edge of the weight 19,

said screws having either a threaded connection with the shell 'or the Weight as dcsired.

For suspending the fixture there is a wide strap or tape 25 of suitable lenth which has one end secured to the top of the shell land the other end provided with a/weight 28,. capable of counterbalancing `the fixture. This strap is `pineferably of two-ply fabric or other flexible material, the upper covering of which may, if desired, consistl of an ornamental braid 26 which is sewed along the edges to the bottomv stripY 27 and at intermediate points, if desired, to properly reinforce and stifl'en thecstrip. The weight 28 is enclosed and secured in the outer end of the two-ply strap 25 and held in lace in any suitable manner as by cross stitc ings 29,. and the two strands 39 and 40 of the lamp cord 30 which has an attachment plug 31 at the outer,f end, are led into the outer end of the strap 25, and the two strands thereof sewed between the two parts 26 and 27 of the strap along the edges thereof by the means of stitchings 32 and 33 so that the two strands of lamp cords serve as a reinforcing or stiflening for the strap. The strap 25 is of suitable length as may be required for ordinary use, as for example suspending same over a bed end as shown, over a piano top or any other desirable support and also to permit the necessary vertical adjustment of the fixture, and the inner end of the strap is secured flatwiseto the shell 1 at a suitable point so that when the fixture is suspended the weight 19 will counterbalance the projecting arts of the fixture 'and cause same to hang reely in a ,horizontal or level position. e

For connecting the strap 25 to the shell 1, I prefer to provide the shell in its upper surface with a slot 34-of substantially the same length as the width of the strap, and the outer edge of this slot is formed with a plurality of inwardly projecting teeth 35. These teeth are bent inwardly so as to permit the end of the strap 25 to be inserted through the slot 34 whereupon the teeth are bent outwardly as indicated in Figure 7 so that the points` engage the material of the strap and lock same securely to the shell.

The two strands 39 and 40 of the lamp cord are brought together beyond the end of the strap 25 in the shell 1 and inserted through the nipples 3 and 8 and have the ends connected with the socket 9.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that this fixture may be readily used as a table lamp or may be suspended in a variety of places where required-to afford a convenient light, as for example, over a bed end or over the top of a piano, and in either case the outer extremity of the fixture comprising the socket 9 and nipple 8 may be swung on the hinges 5 to position the lamp 10 as required and the shade 18 may also be swung aroundthe lamp 10 and also swung upon the pivot 17 so as to afford a. universal adjustment of the shade and direct the light wherever re uired.

The broa band 25 not only affords a large friction surface to hold the lamp in the suspended position and offset slight dif ferences in the weight of the lamp and the counterbalance 28, but also on account of its width, serves to hold the lamp from twisting and turning when suspended. Furthermore, the strap is connected to the shell 1 so that the weight 19 counterbalances the outwardly extending parts of the fixture and holds the fixturein substantially a horizontal position and prevents the outer end of' the fixture dropping down to an angular position. This is also facilitated by the connection of the strap to the upper surface of the shell 1 at a distance inwardly from the edge, so that the outer edge of the lshell bears against the back of the strap and serves to prevent tipping of the fixture from the horizontal position.

`While I have shown and described my in-v vention in a particular form,`I am aware that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the rinciples-of my invention, the scope of W ich is to be determined bythe appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class` described, the combination of a flexible hanger, a Ifixture attached to and adapted to be suspended by the hanger and comprising a lighting element and counterweight therefor disposed at opposite sides respectively of the hanger and a weight on the hanger at a distance from the fixture for holding the latter counterpoised when' an intermediate portion of the hanger is engaged over a support.

2. In a lighting fixture, the combination of a substantially flat base, an arm extending laterally from one side of the base and provided with a lamp socket at the outer end, andia flexible hanger secured to the base at the side thereof from which the arm projects so that the parts at opposite sides of the hanger are substantially counterbalanced when the base occupies an upright position. f

3. In a lighting fixture, the combination of a stem having a lamp-socket at one end and an enlargement at the other end serving as a supporting base, a weight in the enlargement and a flexible hanger secured to and extending laterally from the inner face of said enlargement, so that the weight in the enlargement counterbalances the socket and attachments at the other end of the stem and maintains the fixture in a substantially level position when suspended by the flexible hanger.

4.7111 a lighting fixture, the combination f the weighted of a base having a flat supporting surface forsupportmg the fixture in an upright position, a stem connected to the base and adapted to extend upwardly therefrom when the latter is resting on said supporting surface, a lamp socket at the outer end of thestem, and a flat flexible hanger connected to the base, so as to suspend the latter in such a manner that the supporting surface of the base lies substantially in a vertical plane.

5. In a lighting fixture, the combination of a stem having a socket at one end and a weighted shell at the other end serving as a base for the fixture, and a flexible support, comprising circuit wires for the socket, connected to the shell at the inner side, so that shell counterbalanoes the socket and its attachments when suspended by said support, and holds the bottom surface of the base flat against the side surface of an upright member when the flexible support is engaged over the upper edge of such member.

6. In a lighting fixture, the combinationI of a stem having a base at one end and a lamp socket at the other end, a supporting strap secured to the base and of suitable width to hold the fixture against turning around a vertical axis when suspended by the strap, and a weight in the base and at the side of the strap opposite the socket and its attachments and adapted to counterbalance the socket and its attachments when the fixture is suspended by the strap.

7. The combinationwith a lamp having a socket with suitable base of a strap secured to the lamp and extending laterally therefrom substantially in a plane coincident with the center of gravity of the lamp, for suspending the latter in a horizontal position, said strap being provided with circuit wires extending lengthwise thereof and leading to the socket, and a weight at the outer end of the strap for counter-balancing the lamp when the strap is hung over a support.

8. In a lighting fixture, the combination of a base havingv a lamp socket mounted thereon, a strap connected to the base so as to afford a hanger for supporting the fixture in a level position, said strap being of suitable width to hold the fixture against turning movement around a vertical axis when suspended by the strap, circuit wires secured to and extending along the strap adjacent the edges thereof and leading to the lamp socket, and a weight at the outer end of the strap for counter-balancing the fixture when the intermediate portion ofv the strap is engaged over a support.

9. In a lighting fixture, the 'combination of a stem having a lamp socket at one end and an enlarged flat shell at the other end serving as a base for the fixture, a strap of suitable width to hold the fixture from turning on a vertical axis when suspended thereby and having one end inserted through the upper Wall of the shell, locking means adaptedto engage the inserted end o f the strap to secure same to the shell, circuit wires secured to and extending lengthwise of the strap and leading into the socket, a weight in the base for counterbalancing the socket and its attachments when the fixture is suspended -by the strap, and a weight at the outer end of the strap for counterbalancing the fixture when the intermediate portion of the strap is engaged over a support.

10. In a lighting fixture, the combination of an annularly enlarged base, a socket mounted on the base at a distance therefrom, and a flexible hanger secured to the upper surface of the base at a distance from the outer edge, so that when the fixture is suspended b v the flexible hanger an outer portion of the base engages against the hanger and serves to maintain the fixture in a level position.

11. In a lighting fixture, the combination of a base having a socket mounted thereon, means for suspending the fixture, a lamp adapted to be 'secured in the' outer end of the socket, a ring adapted to be secured to the outerend of the socket by the engagement of the lamp with the latter, an arm extending laterally from the ring and a frame comprising a longitudinal member extending around the lamp and socket and having the ends thereof pivoted to the outer end of the arm, and a lamp shade mounted on the frame.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination of a lighting fixture and a counterwei-ght connected by a flexible.

hanger so that the fixture is held in equilibrium, when the hanger is engaged over a support, said fixture comprising a lighting element spaced laterally from the flexible hanger and means at the opposite side of the flexible hanger for counterbalancing the lighting element.

.13. In a device of theuclass described, the combination of a lighting fixture, a flexible hanger connected to the lighting fixture at a point disproportionately distant from the opposite sides of the fixture, means compensatmg for the laterally offset connection of the hanger with the fixture so as to hold the latter in equilibrium when suspended by the hangen, a counterweight ,on the flexible y hanger at a distance from' the fixture for counterbalancing the latter, when the flexible hanger is engaged over a support and circuit Wires' leading through the flexible hanger to the lighting fixture.

V14. In a device of the class described the combination of a lighting fixture having a base, `a lighting element mounted' on and spaced from the base, a flexible hanger se-- cured to the face of the base nearest to the lighting element, so that the latter is counterbalanced by and holds the base in fixture is suspended flexible hanger.

15. In a device of the class described, the combination of a fixture and a counterweight connected by a flexible hanger, said fixture comprising a base having a li hting element mounted thereon and lateral y disposed froni the base, when the fixture is suspended by the hanger, said base being provided at the side remote from the lighting element with an upri ht face adapted to engage against the side ace of a support, when the hanger is engaged over the latter.

16. In a lig ting fixture, the combination of af base, flexible supporting means' for the base connected therewith at laterally spaced points so as to hold the base against lateral tilting in the plane of the spaced connections, said base being disposed substantially at one side of said plane, and having an arm extending laterally therefrom at the opposite side and provided with a socket at the outer end so that the weight of the base substantially counterbalances the parts at the opposite side of the plane and the base is maintained Aby the hanger in a substantially uprightfposition.

17. In a lighting fixture, the combination of a substantially fiat base having a slotat one side thereof adjacent the outer edge, an arm extending laterally from Said side of the base and provided with a socket at the outer end, a flexible stra-p having one end engaged in the slot and provided with a counterweight at the other end, and circuit wires combined with the strap and extending lengthwise thereof and leading through the slot into the base and connected through the arm with the socket.

18. In a fixture of the class described, the combination of a base having a lamp socket mounted thereon, said base being rovided With a supporting face which is a a-pted to rest on a horizontal surface and hold the socket at an elevation thereabove, a flexible hanger extending laterally from said base for suspending the base in an upright fposition with the socket at the side thereof, said flexible hanger comprising an electrical conductor having an attachment plug at the outer end thereof, and a weight mounted on t-he flexible hanger intermediate of the base and attachment plug for counterbalancing the fixture when the flexible hanger is hung over a support intermediate of the base and weight.

19. In a portable lighting fixture, the combination of a base having a supporting surface, a flexible han er connected with the base so as to suspend t e latter withthe supporting surface of the latter in upright position, a counterweight on the hanger for counterbalancing the fixture when an intermediate portion of 'the hanger is engaged from the front of the base, and a lamp sock-f et on the outer end of the arm.

20. In a, portable lighting fixture, the

combination of a base adapted to rest fiat upon a horizontal su portlng surface and having an arm exten ing outwardly there' from with a lamp socket at the outer end thereof, a flexible support connected with,

the base for suspending the latter so that the supporting surface thereof aumes an upright position to bear against a. vertical surface, and a counterweight on the flexible hanger at a distance from the base and adapted to counterbaance the latter when an mtermediate portion of the hanger is engaged .over a support.

21'. The combination of a. portable lighting fixture having a supporting base and a flexible hanger and adapted to be optionally supported by the base or hanger, said hanger having a counterweight attached thereto at a distance from the supporting base and being provided with a pair of electrical conductors therein projecting beyond the counterweight and provided with an attachment plug at the outer end.

A THEODORE J. NELSON.

Images