US2474484A

US2474484A - Electric lighting fixture

Info

Publication number: US2474484A
Application number: US20771A
Authority: US
Inventors: Vincent J Marchese
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-04-13
Filing date: 1948-04-13
Publication date: 1949-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 1966-06-28

Description

June 1949- v. J. IQIARCHESE 2,474,484

ELECTRIC LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed April 13, 1948 ZSheets-Sheet [B Jig. l 46 KIS 4? 45 so as I! 1111!! 11 777771 )1! III'IIII 2| 4 [0 n 5 6| 22 2o 56 591 u '3 I F 32 35 34 36 I9 84 33 7o 34 35 INVENTOR.

vincent J. Mar H552 BY l2; a I ATTORNEYS.

June 28, 1949. MARCHESE v2,474,484-

ELECTRIC LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed April 13, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4. INVENTOR.

Vim: ETfl' J. Mar" ch 5 ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 28, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC LIGHTING FIXTURE Vincent J. Marchese, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application April 13, 1948, Serial No. 20,771

Claims.

This invention relates to electric lighting equipment and more particularly to the electric circuit control of electric lighting fixtures, including portable electric lamps.

An important object of the invention is to provide an electric lighting fixture having a novel electric switch associated with movable and fixed structures of the fixture whereby a slight tilting movement imparted to one structure will cause actuation of the electric switch to either open or close the switch, so that the lamp associated with the fixture will be lighted or extinguished.

Another important object is to provide a novel electric lighting fixture having no electric switch portion, as a button, projecting outwardly from the fixture housing, yet the electric circuit to light the lamp or lamps of the fixture may be actuated from the exterior of the housing.

A further important object is to provide a portable electric lighting fixture, such as a table or floor lamp, which may be carried from place to place without accidentally operating the electric switch associated therewith.

Since the novel fixture preferably includes an outer movable structure which, upon oscillation will open or close an electric circuit, an object of the invention is to provide means, employing parts of the lamp lighting and extinguishing means to cause a visible flasher-type signal in the event the outer movable structure becomes accidentally tilted and remains tilted.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification and in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of an electric lighting fixture embodying the invention and including an upper housing portion in a vertical position.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the lower part of the lighting fixture of Figure 1, with the upper housing portion tilted to actuate an electric switch.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of a preferred electric switch which may be employed in the novel fixture.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a ratchet associated with the switch of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an electric wiring diagram of the fixture.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the novel electric lighting fixture is designated A and a conventional electric lamp as B.

The fixture A is shown as including a reciprocating and tilting housing or housing structure Ill, comprising a first or lower housing portion 1 l and second or upper housing portion I2, a support structure l3 including a lower support portion l4 over which the lower housing portion II extends and an elongated standard I5 carried thereby and supporting an electric lamp base-receiving socket structure IS, with an electric switch assembly I! carried by the housing l0 and support structure l3. The fixture also includes a solenoid-operated off-and-on switch assembly [8 and electrical wiring IS.

The housing structure In may be of any suitable material, as metal, hardened plastics, wood or combinations thereof, and the lower housing portion ll may be bell-like in shape, forming a skirt 20, open at its lower end and the housing portion Il may terminate at its upper end in a collar 2|. From this collar 2| may extend the upper housing portion l2 which is preferably elongated and tubular and fixedly secured to the collar in any approved way, as by rivets 22 which rivets may be employed also to secure a portion of the electric switch assembly H to be described. The portion I2 is preferably open at each end. Spaced below the upper open end of the housing portion I2 is a portion of means 23 to loosely support the housing structure In by the support structure l3. This may be a flange or shoulder 24 fixedly secured to and extending inwardly from the wall of the housing portion l2. Preferably, the flange provides a circular opening 25 and the diameter thereof is greater than the outside diameter of the standard l5 to be subsequently described. This flange 24 may be provided with an upstanding collar 26 engaging the inner surface of this wall and secured to the wall as by screws 21.

Referring now to the support structure I3, this may be of metal, plastics, wood and the like or combinations thereof. The lower support portion or base I4 includes a section 30 preferably somewhat bell-like in shape but smaller than the lower housing portion II which extends over it and is spaced therefrom. Thus, the section 30 contains a chamber 3| and from the lower end of the section 30 projects an outwardly-extending, substantially horizontal foot section or flange 32. Closing the mouth of the bell-like section 30 is a cover 33 which may be removably secured to the section 30 as by screws 34. If desired, the lower and vertical faces of the flange 32 may be faced with a protective covering 35, as felt with its outer horizontal face disposed below the hori zontal plane of the outer face of the cover 33. The wall of the section 3|] may be provided with electric conductonaccommodating passageway or

openings

36 and 31, and with an upwardly-opening axially-disposed, screw-threaded opening 38.

The standard I is preferably an elongated tube, much smaller in exterior circumference than the interior circumference of the upper housing portion I2 through which it extends, and provided with exterior screw threads at its lower end to accommodate the screw threads of the opening 38. A set screw 39 extending through the wall of the section and to the opening 38 may bear against the standard I5 in order to secure it against accidental rotation with respect to the support portion I4. The upper end of the standard I5 may be exteriorly screw threaded to receive the socket structure I6 to be subsequently described. Spaced below the upper end of the standard I5 and secured thereto, as by a screw 40 is a collar 4| constructed and arranged to support, upon its upper end, the innermost portions of the shoulder or flange 24 so that the shoulder and structure secured thereto may be rocked upon the upper face of the collar M which has an outer circumference much less than the inner circumference of the adjacent parts of the upper housing portion I2. This collar 4I forms, with the shoulder or flange 24, the means 23, referred to heretofore.

As stated, the standard I5 receives the socket structure It at the upper end of the former and this structure may be of any desirable material, as metal, plastic or wood. In the example shown, the structure I5 includes a' body portion having an upwardly-opening, partly screw-threaded electric lamp base-receiving socket 45 and a conductor receiving passageway 41 leading thereto and with the lower portion of the wall of this passageway provided with screw threads to cooperate with those at the upper end of the standard I5. From the lower end of the body portion 45 depends a skirt portion 48 having dual functions, since the socket 49 provided by the skirt portion and lower face of the body portion 45 receives the upper end of the upper housing portion I2 in a loose fit (so that this upper end can rock in the socket 49) and the socket 40 also receives the upper end of an expansion coil spring 50 which bears against the lower face of the housing portion 45 while the lower end of the spring bears against the upper face of the shoulder or flange 24. The spring 50 surrounds the adjacent part of the standard I5 and resiliently spaces the socket structure I6 from the shoulder 24. Since the socket structure is secured to the support structure I3 the spring tends to force the housing In downwardly but reaches its limit of expansion before the lower end of the lower housing portion II contacts a supporting surface upon which the support structure I3 rests. It is now obvious that the entire housing may be rocked or tilted with respect to the support structure I3, and that if one grasps the housing III, as at the upper portion I2, the weight of the support structure (either alone or with the added weight of the electric switch assembly I! to be described and which is secured to the support structure) will cause the support structure to move toward the center of gravity, compressing the spring 50 until the upper edge of the upper housing portion I2 contacts the base of the socket 49. Not only will this prevent the housing I0 and support structure from separating further and the fixture may be carried about, but it also affects, in a desirable way, the switch assembly I! to be next described. It is also obvious that, if the fixture is set down again, the housing I0 and support structure I3 will assume the relative positions shown in Figure 1 due to the expansion of the spring 50.

The electric switch assembly ll in the example shown, comprises a fixed contact 55 provided for by a cylinder 56 of electricity-conducting metal carried by the standard I5 at, preferably just above the juncture of the standard and support portion I4 but electrically insulated therefrom, as by the collar 51 of dielectric material interposed between the cylinder 56 and standard I5 and a disc 53 of dielectric material between the lower end of the collar 5! and upper face of the support portion I4. The movable contact 59 is provided by a ring 60 of electricity-conducting material facing, but normally spaced from, the fixed contact cylinder 56 and supported by a suitable bracket SI of dielectric material, preferably secured to the lower end of the upper housing portion I2 as by the rivets 22. When the parts of the fixture are as in Figure l, the electric switch is open but when the housing I0 is tilted, as in Figure 2, the switch is closed, since the two contacts engage one another. The electric switch assembly does not take the place of a conventional switch of an electric lamp socket, since the novel lamp is adapted to be both lighted and extinguished with the parts coming to a position of rest as in Figure 1.

Associated with the switch assembly Ii is an electrically-operated on-and-off electric switch assembly I8, shown more particularly in Figure 3. This may comprise a solenoid 65, pawl 66 and ratchet wheel 61 associated therewith and

electrical contacts

68 and 69, all carried in a suitable housing 70. The solenoid 65 comprises a conventional coil winding portion II and reciprocating armature 12. The latter is disposed to abut the intermediate portion of an inclined arm l3 pivotally carried, at its lower end, by the housing III and in turn, pivotally carrying the pawl 66 which is spring-urged by the retraction spring 14 to normall pivot toward the pivotal connection of arm and housing.

The free end of the pawl 66 is constructed and arranged to engage, one after another, the teeth I5 of the ratchet wheel 635, shown particularly in Figure 4, which wheel is pivotally carried by the housing Ill upon pivot IS. The wheel 63, in the example shown, has six teeth spaced substantially 60 apart, and is of a dielectric material. Secured to a face of the ratchet wheel is an electric current-conducting member 71 provided, in the example shown, with three spaced-apart projections I8 substantially apart which projections correspond in plan with the teeth I5 of the ratchet wheel. Each projection I8 has an arcuate edge 19 which merges into a like arcuate edge of the associated tooth I5. Arranged for their free ends to rub over the arcuate edges mentioned, particularly the arcuate edges 19 are the two spaced apart

electric contacts

68 and 69 of springy material. From Figures 3 and 4 it is apparent that the two

contacts

68 and 59 will both either contact the member ll at two edges l9 at the same time or, upon rotation of the ratchet wheel 60, will rub upon only the dielectric material teeth at the same time. Consequently each 128 rotation of the ratchet wheel will first either open or close the switch just described and then either close or open the same. The contacts 68 and (it may be carried by the housing 10 and electrically insulated therefrom.

With reference to the electric wiring i9, a lead 80 extends from one terminal of a conventional plug 8| to a block 82 and thence to one terminal in the base of the socket assembly it. Electrically connected ith the lead 88 is a lead 83 to the movable contact '59 of the switch assembly IT. From the other terminal of the plug 8| a lead 84 may extend to the block t2 and thence to the contact 68. Electrically connected with the lead 8 is a lead 85 to one end of the windings of the solenoid 65. From the other terminal in the socket assembly 86 a lead 86 may extend to the block and thence to the corn tact 69. From the fixed contact 55 of the switch assembly H, a lead 8? may extend to the block 82 and thence to the other end of the windings of the solenoid 55. If desired, a conventional thermostat 88 may be interposed in the wiring, such as in the lead 85, and suitably disposed within the housing It.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the fixture A, if a floor or desk lamp for example may be lighted or extinguished by simply tilting the housing I0 after which the housing is allowed to swing to a substantially vertical position. If the lower housing portion ii and the base portion M are of metal, the protective covering 35 upon the vertical face of the dense 32 will deaden any sound when. they meet. If the light is extinguished and it is desired to move the fixture to another location, the housing it] is grasped and because the movable contact 559 will then move upwardly and out of facing relationship with the fixed contact 55, no matter if there is some oscillation, there will be no electric circuit closure. If one desires to move a lighted fixture A, one need but support the lower support portion M by one hand and steady the housing Iii with the other as the fixture is moved.

The thermostat 88 is desirable, since an object might be moved or tipped accordingly against the housing ill and close the circuit to the solenoid, whereupon prolongated closure of the circuit might cause damage to the wiring, etc. By interposing the thermostat, the incidental warming up due to the solenoid circuit being closed will cause the thermostat to warm up and open the solenoid circuit, but when the thermostat again cools, it will close the circuit and energize the solenoid causing at 60 movement of the ratchet wheel and consequent changes in the lamp (from off to on or Vice versa). A repetition of the thermostatic and solenoidal actions will take place with consequent flashing of the lamp, thus providing a visible signal so that the obstruction will be brought to notice and may be removed.

Various changes may be made to the form of the invention herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electric lighting fixture, a support structure including a standard, a housing structure, including a tubular portion spaced from and extending about said standard, means for supporting said housing structure by said support structure so that said tubular portion may be oscillated with respect to said standard structure, including a ring-shaped element fixedly secured to the inner face of said tubular portion, intermediate the ends of said tubular portion and normally spaced from said standard, and a second ring-shaped element fixedly secured to the outer periphery of said standard, the outer periphery of said second element being less in circumference than the interior circumference of said tubular portion and greater in circumference than the circumference of the outer periphery of said first element, said first element being disposed upon said second element, coupling means to attach an electric lamp to the upper end of said standard, including a socket structure having a body portion provided with a lower face and a downwardly opening skirt portion extending from said face, with the upper end of said tubular portion disposed within said skirt portion and normally spaced therefrom and from said face, resilient means within said skirt portion and upper end of said tubular portion normally urging said upper end away from said face, a pair of electric terminals carried by said coupling means, an electric contact secured to the inner face of said tubular: portion beiow said first element, an electric contact secured to the outer face of said standard, normally spaced from said first contact and disposed within the path of travel of said first contact upon osciliation of said tubular portion, an oi f-and-on electric switch, electric means for actuating said switch upon abutment of said contacts, an electric lead from one of said contacts to one of said terminals, an electric lead from the other of said terminals to one of the terminals of said switch, a lead from the other of said contacts to the other ter-- minal of said off-and on electric switch, and means placing said electric means in circuit with said fixed contact and one of said terminals of said oif-and-on switch.

2. In electric lighting fixture, support structure including a standard, a housing structure including tubular portion spaced from and extending about said standard, means for sup porting said housing structure by said support structure so that said tubular portion may be oscillated with respect to standard structure, including a ring-shaped element fixedly secured to the inner face of said tubular portion, intermediate the ends of said tubular portion and normally spaced from said standard, and asecond ring-shaped element fixedly secured to the outer periphery of said standard, the outer periphery of said second element being in circun1ference than the interior circuinf *ence of said tubular portion and greater in circumference than the circumference of the outer periphery of said first element, said first element being disposed upon said second element, coupling means to attach an electric lamp to the upper end of said standard, including a socket structure having a body portion provided with a lower face and a downwardly opening skirt portion extending from said face, with the upper end of said tubular portion disposed within said skirt portion and normally spaced therefrom and from said face, resilient means within said skirt portion and upper end of said tubular portion normally urging said upper end away from said face, a pair of electric terminals carried by said coupling means, an electric contact secured to the inner face of said tubular portion, an electric contact secured to the outer face of said standard below said first element and normally disposed within the path of travel of said first contact upon tipping of said tubular portion and disposed out of the path of travel of said first contact when said tubular portion contacts said face, an off-and-on electric switch, electric means for actuating said switch upon abutment of said contacts, an electric lead from one of said contacts to one of said terminals, an electric lead from the other of said terminals to one of the terminals of said switch, a lead from the other of said contacts to the other terminal of said off-and-on electric switch, and means placing said electric means in circuit with said fixed contact and one of said terminals of said off-and-on switch.

3. In an electric lighting fixture, a support structure including a standard, a housing structure including a tubular portion spaced from and extending about said standard, means for supporting said housing structure by said support structure so that said tubular portion may be oscillated with respect to said standard structure, including a ring-shaped element fixedly secured to the inner face of said tubular portion, intermediate the ends of said tubular portion and normally spaced from said standard, and a second ring-shaped element fixedly secured to the outer periphery of said standard, the outer periphery of said second element being less in circumference than the interior circumference of said tubular portion and greater in circumference than the circumference of the outer periphery of said first element, said first element being disposed upon said second element, coupling means to attach an electric lamp to the upper end of said standard, including a socket structure having a body portion provided with a lower face and a downwardly opening skirt portion extending from said face, with the upper end of said tubular portion disposed within said skirt portion and normally spaced therefrom and from said face, resilient means within said skirt portion and upper end of said tubular portion normally urging said upper end away from said face, a pair of electric terminals carried by said coupling means, an electric contact secured to the inner face of said tubular portion, an electric contact secured to the outer face of said standard below said first element and normally disposed Within the path of travel of said first contact upon tipping of said tubular portion and disposed out of the path of travel of said first contact when said tubular portion contacts said face, and ofi-and-on electric switch, electric means for actuating said switch upon abutment of said contacts, an electric lead from one of said contacts to one of said terminals, an electric lead from the other of said terminals to one of the terminals of said switch, a lead from the other of said contacts to the other terminal of said off-and-on electric switch, and means placing said electric means in circuit with said fixed contact and one of said terminals of said off-and-on switch, said off-and-on switch and electrical means being carried by said support structure, and the weight of said support structure and last named means being greater than the weight of said housing structure.

4. In an electric lighting fixture, a support structure including a standard, a housing structure including a tubular portion spaced from and extending about said standard, means for supporting said housing structure by said support structure so that said tubular portion may be oscillated with respect to said standard structure, including a ring-shaped element fixedly secured to the inner face of said tubular portion, intermediate the ends of said tubular portion and normally spaced from said standard, and a second ring-shaped element fixedly secured to the outer periphery of said standard, the outer periphery of said second element being less in circumference than the interior circumference of said tubular portion and greater in circumference than the circumference of the outer periphery of said first element, said first element being disposed upon said second element, coupling means to attach an electric lamp to the upper end of said standard, including a socket structure having a body portion provided with a lower face and a downwardly opening skirt portion extending from said face, with the upper end of said tubular portion disposed within said skirt portion and normally spaced therefrom and from said face, resilient means within said skirt portion and upper end of said tubular portion normally urging said upper end away from said face, a pair of electric terminals carried by said coupling means, an electric contact secured to the inner face of said tubular portion, an electric contact secured to the outer face of said standard below said first element and normally disposed within the path of travel of said first, contact upon tripping of said tubular portion and disposed out of the path of travel of said first contact when said tubular portion contacts said face, an off-and-on electric switch, electric means for actuating said switch upon abutment of said contacts, an electric lead from one of said contacts to one of said terminals, an electric lead from the other of said terminals to one of the terminals of said switch, a lead from the other of said contacts to the other terminal of said off-and-on electric switch, and means placing said electric means in circuit with said fixed contact and one of said terminals of said off-andon switch, the weight of said support structure being greater than the weight of said housing structure.

5. In an electric lightin fixture, a support structure including a hollow base, providing a chamber, and a standard; a housing structure, including a lower hollow portion having an open lower end, and a. tubular portion extending upwardly from the lower hollow portion, said lower hollow portion being disposed about the upper part of said base and spaced therefrom, and the tubular portion being disposed about the lower part of said standard and spaced therefrom; means for supporting said housing structure from said support structure so that said housing structure may be rocked from side to side; means to couple an electric lamp to the upper end of said standard; a pair of electric terminals carried by said last-named means; electric switch means carried within said housing structure and by said support structure and operable upon rocking of said housing structure; an oif-and-on electric switch, electric means for actuating said last-named switch upon closing said first-named switch and disposed within said chamber; an

electric lead from one of the contacts of said 4 first-named switch to one of said terminals; an REFERENCES CITED electric lead from the other of said terminals to The OW g references are of record in the a contact of said last-named switch; a lead from file of this patent:

the other contact of said first-named switch to 5 the other contact of said second-named switch; UNITED STATES PATENTS a thermostat interposed in one of said leads, and Number Name Date disposed within said chamber adjacent said elec- 1,953,936 Kniltson D 1913 tric means; and means placing said electric 7 ,079 COndit July 3, 1928 means in circuit with said fixed contact and one 10 2,014,054 Rood et a1 Sept. 9 5 of said contacts of said olT-and-on switch. ,3 4,844 Hutt July 20, 1943 VINCENT J. MARCHESE.