US2166149A - Illuminating device - Google Patents

Description

July 18, 1939. R HOHL 2,166,149

ILLUMINATING DEVICE Filed Sept. 2, 1936 52 Sheets-Sheet 2 Eg s , mg Inven/Zoa y RusseZZL.HoPg/Z,

Patented July 18, 1939 2,166,149

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ILLUMINATING DEVICE Russell L. Hohl, New York, N. Y.

Application September 2, 1936, Serial No; 99,067

9 Claims. (01. 240 -73) My invention relates to illuminating devices. flared socket 5 into which is adapted to snap a The invention, which has among its objects the split resilient stud, comprising the prongs 1 (Fig. provision of improved reflecting means for a 6) carried by a plug-in lamp socket, the arrangelamp, will be best understood from the following ment being closely like that of the ordinary snap description when read in the light of the accomfastener. This socket comprises a shallow cup 5 panying drawings of an embodiment of the in- 9 of insulating material having a marginal wall vention, the scope of which latter will be more H. The prongs forming the stud l are struck particularly pointed out in the appended claims. up from a sheet metal plate It secured Within In the drawings: the cup, this plate also being formed to provide a Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an illuminating plug-in contact portion I5 extending through H device constructed according to the invention; an opening in the side wall of the cup.

2 is a side elevation according to Fig. 1; The contact l5 of the plug-in lamp socket is 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, shaped as indicated in Fig. 4 so that it will snap v with parts in elevation; between the jaws ll of a spring clip carried by, Figs; 4 and 5 are sections on the lines 44 and a wiring base the body of which is formed of 5'5 of Fig."3,"with parts in elevation; insulating material. This body comprises a base is a section through the plug-in lamp portion it which at one side thereof has a prosocket'on'the line 3- -3 of Fig. 1; jecting portion 2 l, the latter formed with a cavity Figj'l is anelevation of the end portion of the 23 receiving the jaws ll of the spring clip, which tubular lamp; cavity opens on the outer end of the projection Figi'8'shows afmodified form of illuminating 2| to form an opening through which the device, beingja section on the line 88 of Fig. 9 plug-in contact i5 may be inserted. The spring with'the wiring bases, lamps, reflectors and asclips are formed integrally with a base portion sociatedparts in'elevation; 2'? which has an ofiset portion 29 carrying a 25 Fig; 9is asection, on an enlarged scale, on the terminal iii to which a lead for energizing the 25 line 3-9 of Fig; -8; lamp filament may be connected.

Fig. 10 shows a'detail of Fig. 9 on an enlarged As shown, the wiring bases are carried at opscale; posite ends of a casing, conveniently formed as Fig. 11 showsa detail, being a fragment of a a channel-shaped extrusion having the webs 33 bottom view of the parts shown in Fig. 9 with and base 35. As shown, the base of the ex- 30 the lamps, and reflectors carried by the lamps, trusion at opposite ends of the casing is slotted as omitted; indicated at 31 for receiving the projecting por- Fig-.12 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 9, tion 2| of the wiring base and permitting the and corresponds to a fragment of Fig. 8 on an enbase portion IQ of the latter to be entered into 35 larged scale with the reflector in section; the casing. This base portion of the wiring base 35 Fig. 13 is a section on the line |3l3 of Fig. 9, rests against the inner side of the base 35 of the with parts omitted; extrusion and is secured thereto by screws 39. Fig.- 14- is an elevation of the reflector looking By this construction the terminals 3| are within from the right in Fig. 12; and the channel-shaped casing. Fig. 15 is a wiring diagram. As illustrated, the webs 33 of the channel- 40 Refer-ring'particularly to Figs. 1 to 7 of the shaped extrusion of the casing are formed with drawings, the source of light is afforded by an flanges 41, which latter are adapted to rest electric lamp having the elongated tubular glass against a wall W or other supporting structure bulb I. The details of this lamp, and of the and be secured thereto by screws passing through plug-in lamp. socket and Wiring base which supholes 43 formed in said flanges. At opposite 45 port the lamp, form no part of the present invenends the casing conveniently is provided with tion, and, being known, will be described only caps 15 secured thereto in any convenient manwith such particularity as is necessary to underner, as, for example, by screws 41'. stand the present invention. It will be understood that the casing may be of As illustrated, the lamp bulb I is provided at any suitable length, and, if desired, may carry opposite ends thereof with metallic caps 3 Fig. '7) any number of lamps I, said lamps when a pluwhich form the opposite terminals for the filarality thereof are employed preferably being ar ment (not shown) which extends lengthwise of ranged with their aXes in alignment. the bulb from one cap to the other. Each of As illustrated, along the lamp are distributed a, these filament terminal caps is provided with a, plurality of reflectors. These reflectors, which55 preferably are formed of sheet metal, are cupshaped. As shown, they comprise reduced cylindrical end portions 49 forming openings 5| through which the tubular lamp bulb extends. These cylindrical portions contact with the lamp bulb and frictionally secure the reflectors thereto. Sufiicient friction may be provided by slightly deforming with the fingers the portions 49 from their truly cylindrical shape, this being readily accomplished because the reflectors are made of thin sheet metal.

The reflectors illustrated further comprise portions 53 which are in tht shape of a frustum of a cone having flattened sides 55 adjacent the casing. At their medial portions the flattened sides 55 are shown as swelled out, as indicated at 57 (Figs. 3 and 5), so that the cylindrical portions 49 which grip the lamp bulb may extend into the larger ends of adjacent reflectors.

The reflectors shaped and arranged as illustrated permit direct rays from the lamp, when the latter is positioned vertically, to pass diagonally upward, while the rays which strike the reflectors are projected for the most part against the exterior of the adjacent reflector immediately above it. The net result is a diifused light. The illuminating device illustrated may be placed, for example, on a wall at opposite sides of a mirror or a dressing table with satisfactory results in respect to keeping direct rays of the eyes of the user of the mirror or dressing table. When placed on a ceiling with the lamps in horizontal position, the light is reflected toward the walls of the room to give a diffused light without subjecting persons within the room to the direct rays.

In the modification of the invention shown by Figs. 8 to 15 the wiring bases for a plurality of lamps are shown as carried by a conduit comprising a channel-shaped extrusion having the web 59 and opposite flanges 6|, this extrusion being secured to a wall, ceiling, or other support W by nails F extending through the web. The construction comprising this extrusion and associated parts forms part of the subject matter of my copending application Serial No. 93,852, filed August 1, 1936, and therefore will not be described herein with any more particularity than is necessary to convey an understanding of the present invention.

As illustrated, the web 59 of this extrusion is formed on its inner side with a pair of spaced, longitudinally extending ribs 63 and 65, on the edges of which are adapted to rest the bottom surfaces of the base portions IQ of the wiring bases for the lamps. These wiring bases preferably extend from one flange 6| to the other of the extrusion. The spaces between the two ribs 63 and 65 and between each of these and the adjacent flange 6| form channels or grooves for receiving the lead wires L for energizing the lamps and for receiving such auxiliary lead wires L as it may be desired to conduct, which lead wires L may be used for a different group of lamps than those energized by the lead wires L.

The flanges 6| of the base extrusion, as best illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, have thickened lower edge portions 51 provided with longitudinally extending grooves 69 into which fit the upper edge portions H of the side walls 13 of combined wiring-base retaining and reflector members, which latter are also in the form of elongated extrusions. Preferably all these extrusions are made of aluminum, or high content aluminum alloy, such as duralium, having the relatively soft properties of aluminum. Preferably the side walls of the grooves 69 are formed with longitudinally extending grooves 15 to provide one or more raised surfaces Ti which contact with the sides of the upper edge portions 1 l, and the metal of these parts, being soft, galls when the parts, which have a tight fit, are forced together, this affording sufficient friction to prevent separation of the parts except when they tend to be separated with considerable force.

As illustrated, the combined wiring-base retaining and reflector portion, which also form a cover for the channel of the base extrusion, is made in two parts each of which has an arcuate portion 19 the adjacent edges of which are formed with upward projecting ribs 8| which abut in the assembled device and the edges of which engage with the base portions IQ of the wiring bases to hold the latter against the ribs 63 and 55. The adjacent edge portions of the arcuate portions I9 of the extrusions as shown are notched at 83 (Fig. 11) through which the projecting portions 2| of the wiring bases extend. Conveniently, the arcuate portions of the extrusions are formed on their upper surfaces with longitudinally extending grooves 95 of V-shaped cross-section, as illustrated in Fig. 9, and, by sawing inward with a hack-saw from the edges of the arcuate portions to these grooves, the parts between the saw cuts may be readily broken off at the V-shaped grooves to form the notches which, when the arcuate portions are placed together, form the openings 83.

As illustrated, the side wall 13 of each wiringbase retaining extrusion is formed with a thickened portion 3? provided with a longitudinally extending groove 89 the upper portion of which is inclined outwardly, as indicated at 9|, to open on the exterior of the side walls. If desired, communicating with the grooves 39 may be provided holes 93 for the purpose of ventilating the interior of the conduit formed by the extrusions.

In the assembled device the wiring bases for adjacent ends of pairs of lamps may be placed back to back, as best illustrated in Figs. 8 and 11, for supporting a plurality of axially aligned lamps. Before assembling the extrusions the lead wires L are connected to the terminal screws 3| in the manner indicated in Fig. 15. Conveniently, a strip 95 of fiberboard or other insulating material is placed in the bottom of the groove formed by the ribs 63 and 65 of the base extrusion t to provide against the possibility of the screws 3| forming a short circuit if they become loose.

If desired, only one lamp may be provided, instead of a plurality thereof, in connection with the modification shown by Figs. 8 and 15. The openings formed by the ends of the extrusion of this modification may be closed in any convenient manner, as by a plate 97 indicated at the lower end of Fig. 8. These plates may be secured to the extrusions by screws which enter the ends of the grooves 89, into the side walls of which grooves the screws will self tap due to the soft nature of the metal of which the extrusions are formed.

The parts so far described of the modification shown by Figs. 8 to 15 form the subject matter of my copending application Serial No. 93,852, filed August 1, 1936.

In this modification of the invention the cupshaped reflectors carried by the lamps, as heretofore described, comprise cylindrical reduced end portions 49 through which the lamp bulbs extend and which frictionally grip the lamp bulbs. As illustrated, the conical portions 99 of the reflectors at the sides adjacent the support are flattened at opposite sides, as indicated at IEJE, these flattened portions lill being connected by the portions I03 and 5135 respectively formed to provide a groove and a fragment of a cylindrical surface, so that the reflector conforms to the lower portions of the side walls and the arcuate portions E9 of the wiring-base retaining extrusions.

The reflectors of the device shown by Figs. 8 to 15 produce the same effect as those described in connection with Figs. 1 to '7. In each of these modifications the face of the lamp holder, for example the arcuate portions '59 of Fig. 9, also may act as a reflector, particularly if it is desired to omit one or more of the reflectors carried by the lamps.

It will be understood that within the scope of the appended claims wide deviations may be made from the forms of the invention illustrated without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. An illuminating device having, in combination, an elongated lamp, an elongated holder for said lamp, carrying means for engaging said lamp at opposite ends thereof for supporting said lamp in parallel closely spaced relation to said holder, and a plurality of cupped reflectors be tween said means distributed along said lamp, said reflectors having reduced end supporting portions frictionally engaging said lamp and adapted to enter the open ends of adjacent reflectors, said reflectors at the sides thereof adjacent said holder being shaped to present surfaces closer to the axis of said lamp than at other portions thereof.

2. An illuminating device having, in combination, an elongated lamp, an elongated holder for said lamp, carrying means for engaging said lamp at opposite ends thereof for supporting said lamp in parallel closely spaced relation to said holder, and a plurality of cupped reflectors between said means distributed along said lamp, said reflectors having reduced end portions frictionally engaging said lamp and adapted to enter the open ends of adjacent reflectors, said reflectors having flattened sides adjacent said holder.

3. An illuminating device comprising a tubular lamp, a holder for said lamp comprising a base member and a cover member forming a chamber, a wiring-base for said lamp within said chamber, and a cupped reflector carried by said lamp, said reflector at the side thereof adjacent said cover member being shaped to present surfaces closer to the axis of said lamp than at the opposite side thereof.

4. An illuminating device comprising an elongated tubular lamp, a holder for said lamp comprising a base portion and a cover portion, the surface of the latter at the outer side of said holder being concave, wiring-bases for said lamp at opposite ends thereof carried by said holder, a cupped reflector carried by said lamp, said reflector having a portion of shape complementary to the concaved surface of said cover portion.

5. An illuminating device comprising an elongated tubular lamp, a holder for said lamp comprising a base portion and a cover portion, the surface of the latter at the outer side of said holder being concave, wiring-bases for said lamp at opposite ends thereof carried by said holder, a cupped reflector having a portion engaging said lamp and supported thereby, said reflector having a portion of shape complementary to the concaved surface of said cover portion.

6. An illuminating device having, in combination, an elongated concave reflector, an elongated tubular lamp associated with said reflector in spaced parallel relation thereto, a plurality of auxiliary cup-shaped reflectors surrounding said lamp and distributed therealong, said auxiliary reflectors being supported by said lamp and having the portions thereof adjacent said elongated reflector shaped to contact therewith.

7. An illuminating device having, in combination, a part presenting an elongated trough-like surface, a tubular lamp associated with said surface and arranged in spaced parallel relation thereto, a plurality of cup-shaped reflectors distributed along said lamp, which reflectors have reduced end portions frictionally engaging said lamp whereby they are supported thereby, said reflectors being deformed at one side thereof to provide elongated interiorly concave raised portions entering the trough formed by said troughlike surface and exteriorly contacting therewith.

8. A reflector having, in combination, a cupshaped body portion provided with a reduced neck adapted to engage the exterior of a tubular lamp, one side of said body portion being flattened.

9. A reflector having, in combination, a cupshaped body portion provided with a reduced neck adapted to engage the exterior of a tubular lamp, one side of said body portion being flattened and provided with an exteriorly convex and interiorly concave portion with a longitudinally extending groove at each side of said convex portion.

RUSSELL L. HOI-lL.

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