US2727982A - Tube lamp mountings - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 20, 1955 E. E. GERSTNER 2,727,982

TUBE LAMP MOUNTINGS Filed June 23 1950 Cad/a5 8H Mad/Mafia,

United States Patent TUBE LAIVIP MOUNTINGS Elmer E. Gerstner, Fort Atkinson,

Thomas Industries Inc.,

Wis., assignor to a corporation of Delaware This invention relates to improvements in tube lamp mountings, and more particularly to a mounting having a retractable socket cap.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a tube lamp mounting or holder having a retractable socket cap to alternatively expose or conceal the lamp socket, or such portions thereof as need to be exposed for tube lamp replacement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tube lamp mounting having a retractable socket cap which is so mounted on the lamp bracket that manipulation of the cap may be accomplished independently of the socket and without disturbing the wiring or the position of the socket.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tube lamp mounting having detent means acting between the movable cap and the mounting bracket whereby to releasably position the cap in selected positions respecting the bracket and socket.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tube lamp mounting having a movable socket cap which may be selectively advanced to cover the mounting socket and engaged tube lamp prongs whereby to lock the tube in the mounting and prevent accidental separation of the tube from the mounting.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a tube lamp mounting with a laterally adjustable socket whereby minor lateral manipulation of the tube may be accomplished without disturbing the electrical connections.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cooperative set of lamp mountings, one of said mountings being provided with a concealed socket with encircling cap and the other of said mountings being provided with a socket and with a cap which is reciprocable thereupon and which has a retracted position to expose the socket for manipulation of the tube and which is movable to an advanced position concealing the socket and protectively encircling the base of the tube.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tube lamp mounting having a bracket with mounting portions and an extension therefrom to support the tube at an angle with the supporting surface.

Other objects will be more apparent to one skilled in the art upon an examination of the following disclosure.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a medicine cabinet with attached tube lamp mountings embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1 with the lamp removed.

Fig. 3 is an axial cross section taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 7 through a tube lamp mounting embodying the invention, the cap being advanced to position on its mount to conceal the socket.

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the top tube mounting shown in Fig. I, the cap being retracted to expose the socket.

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the bottom tube mounting shown ice in Fig. l with the cap in socket concealing position and illustrating a modification of the cap mount.

Fig. 6 is a front view of a tube lamp mounting embodying the invention.

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 88 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a section taken along the line 99 of Fig. 8.

The tube lamp mounting or holder comprises a bracket 10 of channel shape having a closed front panel 11 with ornamental and strengthening ribs 48 as shown in Fig. 6, and a normally open back as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The bracket is optionally provided with a rear closure 12 having flanges 13 fitting between the top 14 and bottom 15 of the bracket. As best shown in Figs. 2, 7 and 8 the front panel 11 of the bracket is of irregular contour and is shaped near one end to provide a non-planiform seat or saddle 19 in which the tubular cap 18 rides.

The saddle 19 is provided with a central aperture 20 (Fig. 3) which receives a fixture or tubular sleeve 21 or 22 which may have either of the forms shown in Fig. 7 or Fig. 8. In either case the fixture 21 or 22 is provided with a flange 23, 24 disposed within the cap 18 and I which engages the inner aperture margins 27 of a socket bracket 28. The socket bracket 28 (Fig. 3) carries a conventional tube lamp socket 29 having a side opening 30 giving access to the electrical spring contacts 31 (see Fig. 2).

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 8 the fixture 22 is threaded along the greater portion of its length and is provided with a lock nut 32 which acts against the inner surface of saddle 19 to hold the cap, socket and bracket in one unitary assembly.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 7 the fixture 21 is provided at its end opposite the flange 23 with a shoulder 33 which acts as a seat against which a compression spring 34 acts to yieldably bias the cap and socket into frictional contact with the saddle. As best shown in Fig. 4 the side wall of cap 18, if it is to be adjustable, is provided with a longitudinal slot 35 through which the fixture 21 extends and upon the side margins of which the socket bracket 27 coacts under the bias of the spring 34 to releasably hold the cap in selected positions respecting the bracket. The cap 18 may slide frictionally, laterally of the bracket and axially of the socket 29 to selectively expose or conceal the socket.

The retracted position of the cap is best shown in Fig. 4 Where a fragment of a tube lamp 39 is shown with its prongs 38 free to be manipulated into the socket 29. In Figs. 3 and 6 the cap is shown in its advanced position in which the socket is concealed and if the tube lamp is in position in the socket, the body of the tube lamp is Securely held in position against accidental displacement.

in order to define selected positions of the socket respecting the bracket, the socket and bracket are provided with detent means preferably comprising interengaging ribs and grooves. The ribs are indicated generally as 40 on the cap and the grooves are indicated generally as 41 on the bracket. In the embodiment illustrated, three interengaging ribs and grooves are provided to permit five separate adjustments of the cap respecting the bracket. The spring 34 will bias the ribs into engagement with the grooves at any selected position and it merely requires light finger pressure to disengage the cap from the bracket to change cap position so as to retract or advance the cap upon the socket.

The wiring 44 or 45 is led to the socket through internal bores 42, 43 in the respective fixtures. Because of the independent movement of the cap 18 the fixture and the socket remain relatively stationary during the manipulation of the cap. Consequently, the cap is adjusted Without disturbing the wiring or the socket and long troublefree adjustable operation of the retractable cap is made possible.

In the tube lamp holder shown in Figs. 5 and 8 the nut 32 holds the cap firmly in position and it is not contemplated that the cap be retracted, all manipulation being made at the upper mounting shownin Fig. 4.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 9, the bracket 10 is provided with a fiat mounting portion or wall 49 having a central opening 59 to receive a mounting nut and bolt assembly 51 and is further provided with smaller apertures 52 at either side of the central opening to receive the wiring. The mounting wall 49 is disposed at an angle with the rear wall 12 of the bracket so that upon mounting the bracket against a flat surface, such as wall 53 of the medicine cabinet indicated generally as 54 in Fig. l, the bracket will carry the sockets and engaged tube 39 outwardly from the wall and at an angle therewith. Thus the lamp tube is brought forwardly of the mirror 55 to more directly light the subject and to prevent shadows being cast upon the subject by the edges of the mirror.

In the preferred paired arrangement the tube lamp holder shown in Fig. 5 is used at the bottom of the cabinet and the tube lamp holder shown in Fig. 4 is used at the top of the cabinet, only the top cap 18 being adjustable. In this arrangement the tube lamp 39 is inserted in the lamp holders by retracting the top cap, engaging the lower prongs of the tube in the bottom socket and then manipulating the tube so as to pass its prongs into the side opening 30 and to engage the upper prongs with the top socket. The top cap 18 may then be advanced to conceal the socket and hold the tube. in removing the tube lamp 31 these operations are consecutively reversed. In this manner the tube lamp 39 is securely supported and confined by the bottom socket and cap during manipulation of the tube. It is, of course, entirely possible to make both top and bottom caps 18 retractable if desired.

The particular configuration of the bracket 10 is of importance in the mounting of the bracket and supported tube lamp as shown in Fig. 2. While the back 12 of the bracket may be substantially planiform, the front panel 11 of the bracket is desirably concave and the end saddle 19 in which the cap 18 is seated is also concave. The end wall 49 remote from saddle 19 is obliquely related to the back wall 12. The oblique structure of the end wall 49 requires the bracket to carry its saddle and tube lamp forwardly of the mirror 55 of the medicine cabinet. The concave wall 11 of the bracket tapers the bracket from the relatively wide saddle 19 to the narrow end wall 49, thereby permitting the mirror 55, in its I closed position, to normally extend laterally of the side wall 53 of the cabinet without interfering with the forwardly extending bracket.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is readily appreciated that an improved tube lamp holder havinga socket cap reciprocable on its mounting is provided. In one position the cap is advanced to conceal the socket and encircle the tube to prevent its accidental or inadvertent separation from the holder. In a different position the cap is retracted sufiiciently to permit manipulation of the tube for replacement purposes and the like.

In addition the socket mount is provided with a novel spring biased fixture which cooperates with the cap to hold it in various positions of adjustment and which maintains the wiring and the socket in fixed and protected position independently of socket cap movement. Furthermore, the spring biased fixture arrangement permits lateral adjustment of the socket in the cap during tube manipulation to facilitate insertion and removal of the lamp. The novel bracket construction permits effective positioning of the tube lamps on either side of a medicine cabinet so as to most effectively utilize the light therefrom and to present an ornamental and attractive appearance.

I claim:

l. A tube lamp mounting comprising a bracket, a lamp socket mounted in fixed position with respect to said bracket, electrical wires from said socket to said bracket, a tube lamp cap, means for mounting the cap on the bracket for reciprocating movement thereon between a retracted position relatively exposing the socket and an advanced position relatively concealing the socket, said socket remaining fixed during such movement to leave the wiring undisturbed, said means comprising a fixture between the bracket and socket, said cap having a slot through which said fixture extends, and detent means between the bracket and cap to selectively fix the position of the cap respecting the bracket.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the detent comprises interengaging ribs and channels on said cap and bracket, said mounting being further provided with resilient means for releasably holding said ribs and channels in engagement.

vided with a non-planiform surface adjacent the fixture for guided seatin contact with the cap.

4. In a fixture, a bracket adapted to be mounted in fixed position and provided with a wire for supply of electric current, a wire protecting member extending from said bracket, a lamp receiving member apertured to receive the wire protecting member, said protecting member being provided with connections to said bracket and to said lamp receiving member to provide for adjustment therebetween, and a lamp socket in said lamp receiving member fixed to said wire protecting member independentiy of said lamp receiving member, whereby wire connections to said socket and extending through the wire protecting member from the bracket are not disturbed by the adjustment of saidlamp receiving member respecting the socket and bracket.

5. A tube lamp mounting comprising a bracket having a seat, a tubular cap having a connection with the bracket on which it is axially slidable on said seat, and a socket mounted against axial movement on said bracket, said cap having a plurality of positions on said seat including a position in which the socket is exposed and a position in which the socket is housed by the cap.

6. The device of claim 5 in which the cap connection and socket mounting comprises a single fixture having fixed connection with the socket and sliding connection with the cap, said fixture comprising a conduit for wiring leading to the socket.

7. The device of claim 5 in which the bracket comprises a channel having a back and an end obliquely related to said back.

8. The device of claim 6 in which said fixture is provided with a seat and with resilient means mounted between said Seat and said bracket to frictionally engage the cap with the bracket.

9. The device of claim 8 in which said bracket and cap are provided with interengaging ribs and grooves com prising a detent, said detent'being releasable against the bias of the resilient means to permit relative movement between the cap and bracket.

10. A lamp bracket comprising a planiform rear wall, a concave front wall, a concave end wall and a planiform end wall obliquelyrelated to said rearwall, said concave front wall being tapered from said concave end wall to said planiform end wall, said planiform end wall being provided with means for mounting said bracket from the side of a cabinet having a mirror extending beyond the end wall and toward the concave front wall.

11. A- socket enclosing tube lamp mounting for a tube lamp having end prongs receivable into the socket in a.

movement transverse to the tube axis, said mounting comprising a bracket having a wall with an aperture and a cap retaining fixture extending through said-aperture in a direction transverse to the tube axis, a socket mounted onsaid fixture inrelat-ively stationary positionwith respect to the bracket, a tubular cap adapted to enclose the socket,

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the bracket is pro-- and means including said fixture for mounting said cap for reciprocatory movement on the axis of the tube lamp between a retracted position in which the socket is ex posed for reception of the tube lamp end prongs and an advanced position in which the end of the tube is confined.

12. The device of claim 11 in which said fixture is tubular, said socket being provided with electrical wires extending through said tubular fixture to said bracket and protected by said fixture notwithstanding movement of the cap.

13. The device of claim 11 in combination with resilient means biasing the cap into frictional engagement with the bracket wall during the course of said reciprocatory movement to impositively lock the cap in its respective positions of adjustment.

14. The device of claim 13 in which said cap is provided with an axial slot, the margins of the cap about said slot being impositively confined to the bracket wall under pressure of said resilient means.

15. A tube lamp mounting comprising a bracket, a lamp socket mounted on the bracket, a tubular socket cap and means mounting said cap on the bracket for sliding movement along its tubular axis to and from socket enclosing position, said means comprising a fixture on which the socket is fixedly secured, said cap having means slidably connected with said fixture.

16. The device of claim 15 in combination with resilient means impositively connecting said cap and fixture whereby to impositively lock the cap in selected position in the course of its sliding movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,829,328 Andersen Oct. 27, 1931 2,109,341 Rebl Feb. 22, 1938 2,201,543 Maerz May 21, 1940 2,301,238 Alm NOV. 10, 1942 2,345,982 Manchan Apr. 4, 1944 2,488,677 McCann Nov. 22, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 625,117 Great Britain June 22, 1949

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