US1864756A - Light bracket - Google Patents

Description

-A. F. PlEPER June 28, 1932.

LIGHT BRACKET Filed Dec. 19, 1929 Patented June 28, 1 932 stars LIGHT BRACKET Application filed December 19, 1929. Serial No. 415,175. 3

The present invention relates to lighting fixtures and more particularly to an improved form of supporting means for the lampor lamps where it is desired to support the same in any one of a number of adjusted positions, such as is required in the operating lamps employed by dentists, physicians, and others.

It is old to provide pivoted lamp-supporting arms which are adapted to be maintained in adjusted position by virtue of some sort of frictional devices augmented by counterbalancing springs or other like devices. It is also old to provide means for adjusting the tension of the counterbalancing spring means, but, so far as I am aware, such adjustments are not easily made and are, as a matter of fact, usually neglected, the operator relying upon the frictional means to maintain the lamps in the position desired. Other disadvantages found in the devices of the prior art are that in some of them the force of the counterbalancing means is not exerted so as to afford a complete balance throughout the full range of the lamp supporting arm.

In other devices of the prior art, it is necessary to apply such'a degree of pressure on the friction devices that the position of the lamp-supporting arm is not easily adjusted.

It is, therefore, the principal object of my invention to provide a device wherein the above mentioned disadvantages are eliminated, and particularly to provide an adjustable lighting fixture wherein a better balance over the full range of the adjustment of the device is attained. Another object of my invention is to provide means, in connection with the counterbalancing means, for applying a small amount of friction to obviate frequent adjustments of the counterbalancing means.

' Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which 2-- Fig. 1 is an elevation of the preferred form of my invention and in which certain parts are shown in section; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1. i

In the drawing the reference ,numeral 1 refers to astationary-bracket of the usual type and adapted to be secured to a wall or the like. Pivotally mounted in the bracket 1 is a support 2 adaptedto swing horizontally about a vertical axis, the said support 2 being provided with a bearing portion 3 received by'the bracket 1. Y

The support 2 may be formedto provide a shoulder 4 to' cooperate with'the bracket 1 to hold the support 2 inproper position thereon. r v

The source of'light or lamps6 are supported at the outer end of a supporting arm 7 by means of a light supporting fitting 9 secured to the outer end of the arm 7. The lamp 6 shown is of the single light .type but it'is to be understoodthat a cluster of lights or other lighting'fixture may be'supported' at the outer end of the arm 7. The light supporting arm 7 is seen to consist of two telescoping members 10 and '11, the member 11 being-in the form of a'tube having at its outer end a ferrule 12 threaded thereon. The ferrule 12 is provided with an inwardly directed flange 13 which is adapted to cooperate with the outer end of the member 11 to force a washer 15 into frictional engagement Withthe member 10. As is clear from Fig. 1, the'members 10' and 11 are slidable one within the other so as to space the light 6 the desired distance from the support 2. In addition to its function of providing friction means adapted to maintain the members 10' and 11 in adjusted position, the ferrule 12 and the washer 15 may. also serve as means to limit the relative movement between the members 10 and 11. w

The arm 7 is pivoted to the support 2 by means of ayoke 17 threaded or otherwise secured to the member 11 at its inner end. The support 2 is provided with an outwardly directed lug 18 having an aperture 19 therein, which lug 18 is received between the friction ears 20 and 21, forming a part of the yoke 17. The friction ears 20 and 21 are also apertured and a bolt 22 is passed through the apertures in the ears and the lug just mentioned.

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The bolt 22 is provided with a head 23 and a nut 24. Tightening the nut 24 serves to exert friction between the ears 2'0 and 21 and the lug 18.

I shall now describe the novel counterbalancing means I have provided to balance the weight of the extended arm 7 and the lamps 6 carried thereby. Spaced from the bolt or pivot 22 and secured to the member 11 is a bracket 27 provided with an upstanding apertured lug 28. The support 2 is also provided with an upstanding apertured lug 30, the axis of which aperture is spaced vertically with respect to the axis of the bolt 22. The aperture in the upstanding lug 28 of the bracket 27 is so formed as to provide a sort of pivot point which is connected by a resilient force exerting means to the pivot established by the apertured lug 30 on the support 2. From the drawing, this resilient force exerting means is seen to consist of a rod 32 having a head or nut 33 at its outer end which is swiveled in an enlarged socket at the outer end of the aperture 35 and allows the rod 32 to pivot in the aperture 35 formed in the lug 28. A tubular member 38 receives the inner end of the'rod 32 and is provided with a cap 0; ferrule 39 threaded to the outer end there- 0 The inner end of the tubular member 38 is threadedly received by a yoke 41 which is provided with a pair of apertured ears 43 pivoted to the upstanding lug 30 by means of a pivot pin 44 which may be held in either of the ears 43 or the lug 30, as by a set screw 45.

The tubular member 38 is provided at its inner end with an elongated slot 47 in which a nut 48 is slidable, the nut 48 being threaded upon the inner threaded end of the rod 32. Between the cap or ferrule 39 and the slidable nut 48 is a compression spring 50, one end of which bears against the cap or ferrule 39, and the other end of which bears against the nut 48. The head or nut 33 is formed so that it is easily accessible for turning the rod 32 to adjust the position of the nut 48 and, hence, the tension in the spring 50, it being understood that, by virtue of its reception in the slot 47, the nut 48 is held non-rotatable therein.

In order to limit the relative movement between the rod 32 and the tubular member 38, I. provide a sleeve member 52 adapted to be received within the tubular member 38 and between the inner end thereof and the shoulder 54 of the threaded socket 55 in which the tubular member 38 is received. For this purpose the sleeve 52 is provided with an outwardly directed flange 57 (see Fig. l). The sleeve 52 is also provided with an inwardly directed flange 58. The threaded socket 55 is provided with a counter-bore 60 and the eX- treme inner end of the rod 32 is rounded so that it may contact with the bottom of the bore 60 without damaging the threads. The

inner end of the rod 32 also carries a pair of nuts 61 which are adapted to contact with the inwardly directed flange 58 formed on the sleeve 52. By this construction, the inward movement, as well as the outward movement of the rod 32, relative to the tubular member 38, is maintained between the operating limits.

It is obvious that these nuts 61 may be adjusted on the rod 32 and that the provision of two of such nuts allows one to be jammed against the other whereby they are maintained in the desired position or locked in place.

The operation of my device is believed to be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it appertains. The weight on the lamp 6 and the arm 7 is counterbalanced by the spring 50, the latter being adjusted, as by turning the head or nut 33 in the proper direction, so that its force exactly balances the weight of the parts just mentioned. The

spring 50 is so formed and of such a length that the arm 7 is held in any of its positions, within the operating range above referred to, thereby. In this way I find that very little, if any, friction is required, as on the pivotal connection 22, to aid the spring 50 in holding the arm 7 in adjusted position. However, the friction means I have provided at the pivot 22 allows for the application of friction to augment the force of the spring 50 where it is not desired to take care of slight changes in the tension of the spring by re-adjustment thereof.

While I have described, in connection with the accompanying drawing, the specific form in which I prefer to embody my invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific means which I have herein shown and described, and that, in fact, widely different means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of my invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A lightingfixture comprising a support, a light supporting arm swiveled to the support, means for holding said arm in adjusted position, said means comprising a tubular member and a relatively slidable rod therein, one pivoted to the arm and the other to said support, resilient means controlling the relative movement of said rod in said tubular member, and means for limiting the relative movement of the rod in said tubular member and comprising an abutment in said tubular member and a nut on said rod, said nut adapted to contact said abutment in the longitudinal movement of said rod.

2. A lighting fixture comprising a support. a light supporting arm swiveled tothe support, means for holding said arm in adjusted position, said means comprising a tubular member and a rod therein, one pivoted to the arm and the other tosaid support,.resilient means controlling the relative movement of the rod in said tubular member, and adjusting means to vary the force exerted by the resilient means, comprising a longitudinal slot in-said tubular member, a nut threaded on said rod, a lug on said nut adapted to register with said slot whereby turning ofsaid rod will move said nut longitudinally in said slot to vary the force of the resilient means.

8. A. lighting fixture comprising the comb-ination of a bracket, a support swiveled thereto, an arm pivoted to thesupport, said arm comprising a pair of telescoping tubes, a source of light secured to the outer end of said arm, counterbalancing means for said arm, said last named means including a bracketmounted on the inner end of said tubes, a rod secured to the bracket, a tubular 'memberire ceiving said rod and pivotedto said support at a point spaced vertically from the pivotal connection of the arm,"a spring encircling said rod and hearing at one end against the outer end of said tubular member, and a nut on the other end ofsaid rod and bearing against the other end of the: spring, said tubular member having a slot and said nut having a projec tion slidable in the slot whereby the nut is maintained in non-rotatable relation withthe tubular member, a sleeve having an inwardly directed flange and secured within the inner end of said tubular member and surrounding the inner end of said rod, and a pair of nuts threaded on the inner end. of said rod and cooperating with the flange to limit the movement of the rod relativeto the tubular mam,

ber.

4. A lighting fixture comprising the combination of a bracket, a support pivotally supported thereby for movement about a vertical axis, said support having an aperturedlug extending therefrom, an arm comprising a pair of telescoping members, one of which is provided with a yoke secured thereto, said yoke having a pair of apertured friction ears adapted to be pivotally mounted on said lug, adjustable pivot means extending through the apertures of said ears and said lug, a light supporting fitting carried by the other of said telescoping members, a source of light supported by said fitting, counterbalancing means for said arm and comprising a bracket mounted on said one telescoping member, said bracket having an aperture, a rod received at one end by said aperture and having a head engageable with said bracket, said rod being threaded at the other end, a tubular member receiving said rod and having at one end a ferrule threaded thereon through which said rod is slidable, said tubular member being provided at its other end with a yoke threaded thereon having a pair of apertured ears, said support having a second apertured lug spaced vertically from the first named apertured lug, said second lug having pivot means by which said tubular member is pivotally carried by said support, a spring within said tubular memberencircling said rod and bearing at oneend against said ferrule, a nut adjustably mounted on the threaded end of said rod, said tubular member having an elongated slot through which. a portion of said nut extends, a sleeve having an inwardly directed flange at one end and an outwardly directed flange at the other end, said last named flange being secured between the end of said tubular member and the yoke member threaded thereon, said yoke having a bore coaxial with said flange and tubular member, and at least one nutthreaded on the end of said rod and cooperating with said inwardly directed flange to limit the outward movement of said rod relative to the tubular member, the inner end of the rod adapted to contact with the bottom of the bore to limit the inward movement of the rod, said rod being rotatable by said head to adjust the tension of the spring.

5. .A support of the class described including a laterally extending arm,,said arm comprising a shaft and rod slidable thereinya yoke on said shaft and having a pair of spaced ears, a vertical bracket integral with said shaft, a mounting bracket, a vertical support swiveled in said last named bracket and comprising'a pair of spacedlugs, said ears adapt ed to frictionally embrace one of said lugs for vertical pivoting movement of said shaft, a counterbalancing means disposed between said integral bracket and the otherof said lugs, and means for limiting the posit-ion of said rod relative to said shaft and comprising an adjustable ferrule on said shaft and compressionme'ans on said rodwhereby tightening of said ferrule will lock said rod against longitudinal movement in said shaft.

6; A support of the class described including a laterally extending arm, a mounting bracket, a supporting head swiveled in said bracket for horizontal movement, a pair of spaced lugs integral with said head, a yoke threaded on one end of said arm and having spaced ears embracing one of said lugs, a counterbalancing means disposed between said arm and said other lug, said counterbalancing means comprising a tubular member havinga longitudinal slot therein. a yoke connected to said other lug and having aninternally threaded socket for the reception of said tubular member, a movable rod carried by the tubular member andconnected to said arm, a threaded member on said rod and registering with the slotin said tubular member, and

spaced ears embracing one of said lugs, a counterbalancing means disposed between said arm and said other lug, said counterbalancing means comprising a tubular member having a longitudinal slot therein, a yoke connected to said other lug and having an internally threaded socket for the reception of said tubular member, a movable rod carried by the tubular member and connected to said arm, a member threaded on said rod and registering with the slot in said tubular member for preventing rotation thereof, a cap on the end of said tubular member through which said rod extends, a compression spring disposed between said cap and threaded member, a sleeve disposed in said tubular member and receiving said rod, and stop means on the rod for limiting the movement thereof in the sleeve.

8. A support of the class described including a laterally extending arm, a mounting bracket, a supporting head swiveled in said bracket for horizontal rotation, a pair of spaced lugs integral with said head, a yoke threaded on one end of said arm and having spaced ears embracing one of said lugs, a counterbalancing means disposed between said arm and said other lug, said counterbalancing means comprising a tubular member, a yoke connected to said other lug and having a socket for the reception of said tubular member, a movable rod carried by said tubular member-and connected to said rod, a cap on the end of said tubular member through which said rod extends, a compression spring disposed between said cap and said threaded member for exerting a yielding force on said rod, a flanged sleeve dis posed between said tubular member and rod, and a nut on said rod and engaging said flanged sleeve for limiting the outward movement of said rod, said rod adapted to abut the end of said socket for limiting the inward movement thereof.

9. A lighting fixture comprising a support, a fixture supporting arm movably mounted on said support, a member connected with said support at a point spaced vertically of said arm, a rod rot'atably connected with said arm, and yielding means connecting the rod with said member and adjustable by turning said rod.

10. A lighting fixture comprising a support, a fixture supporting arm movably mounted on said support, a tubular member connected with said support at a point spaced vertically of said arm, a spring mounted nut member slidably and yieldably mounted in said member, and a rod having connected near one end with said arm for universal movement, the other end of said rod being threaded into said nut member whereby turning said rod adjusts the tension of said spring.

11. A lighting fixture comprising a support, a fixture carrying arm pivoted to said support for vertical swinging, a tubular member pivoted to said support, a rod member connected with said arm and movable relative to said tubular member, a spring biased between said members, means to adjust the tension of said spring, and separate means for adjusting the range of said relative movement.

12. A lighting fixture comprising a sup port, afixture supporting arm pivoted on said support, a member pivoted to said support at a point disposed eccentric with respect to the pivot for said arm, said pivoted member having abutment means, a first element rotatably connected with said arm, a second element having threaded engagement with said first element, said second element being movable along the pivoted member and held against turning with respect to said first element, and yielding means interposed between said second element and the abutment means on said pivoted member.

13. A lighting fixture comprising a support, a fixture supporting arm pivoted on said support, a member pivoted to said support at apoint disposed eccentric with respect to the pivot for said arm, said pivoted member having abutment means, a first element rotatably connected with said arm, a second element having threaded engagement with said first element, said second element being movable along the pivoted member and held against turning with respect to said first element, yielding means interposed between said second element and the abutment means on said pivoted member, said pivoted member being tubular for enclosing said yielding means and having a slot cooperable with said second element to prevent turning of said element with respect to the first element, and said yielding means being adjustable by turning said first element.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 13th day of December. 1929.

ALPHONSE F; lPIEPER.

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