US2935041A - Ornamental-illuminating request-for-service-indicating lamp - Google Patents

Description

May 3, 1960 G. D. ROVERE ORNAMENTAL-ILLUMINATING REQUEST-FOR-SERVICE-INDICATING LAMP Filed March 3, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l means.

lORNAMENTAL-llLUMlNA'llNGREQUEsTEflR- SERVICE-'INDICATING Guerino D. Rovere,tLosFAngeles, Calif.

. Application Match 3;.1958, :SekialiNoJ 18,7. 67

v1 Claim. :(Cl; 116-4132) The present invention relatesvto an' ornamental illuminating lamp ofthefkindacommonly used to' illuminate "tables in restaurants and the like, although not'so limited, which is manually controllably convertible into a signaling lamp for indicating to any waiter who can see h the lamp that service is desired by a person sitting adjacent to the lampsuch as-at a restaurant table,for

example.

A problem which has existed until the development of the present invention, is the difliculty which a restaurant patron encounters in gaining the attention of a --waiter when service is desired. "This is usually accom- -plished by trying to catch the waiters eye by waving at precisely'this problem which 'led to the development 'of the present invention, which completely overcomes-this unfortunate situation.

With the above'points in -mind,'itis an object'of'the present invention to provide an ornamental and/or illuminating lamp which also comprises a manually controllable request-for-service-indicating lamp adapted for use in positively gaining the attention of a waiter by producing a very distinctive signal indicating the desire for service of a restaurant patron, or'the likethe-request-for-service-indicating feature of the present invention being completely inoperative and in no way affecting the ornamental and/or illuminating features ofthe present invention during periods of use of the device abuttingly and supportingly cooperable with a chimney of said lamp for mounting said carrier therein with a top portion of said carrier adjacent an open top of'said chimney in a manually graspable position for ready removal of said carrier through said open top of said chimvney. It will be noted that this structure, which provides a complete and readily removable solid fuel light source of a transparently enclosed type, also provides an arrangement wherein the lamp chimney itself does not become soiled by the flame of the burning solid fuel in the manner of prior art solid-fuel-burning ornamentalillumination lamps, ,since the transparent and removable carrier of the present invention completely encloses the sides and bottom of ,the solid .fuel and wick. Therefore,

. the only portion of theapparatus which becomes soiled "is the removable carrier.

- signaling position;

. 2,935,94l "Patented May 3, 1960 Itis a further-object of the presentiinvention to pro- "vide a slightly-modified version ofthe device-described in-any of the above objects wherein the request-for-serv- *iceindicator may comprise a lampas indicatedabove or -may merely-comprise a supporting member provided with light-modifying means having 'an eifective light- -emission characteristic-visibly distinct from other portions thereof and also'provided with a signaling member -*controllably manually *movable with respect to said sup- =porting member'ina-manner elfectively uncovering said light-modifying -rneanswhena'patron desires 'to signal a waiter for service.

. Other and allied-objects -will--be :apparent to those skilled in-theart after a-careful-study of the accompany- --ing illustrations, the-present specification, and the ,appended claim.

To facilitate"understanding, reference will be made tothe hereinbelow=describeddrawings, in which:

.Fig. 1 is an elevational view of one illustrative embodiment of the present'invention withthesignaling member innormal non-signaling position;

Fig. 2 is a'vertical"sectional view taken in the direction'of the arrows II-II in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentaryelevational view of an aspect similar to Fig. 1butshowingvthesignaling member in "Fig..3A is 'aihorizontal sectional view taken in the direction ofthe'arr0Ws'IIIAIIIA in Fig. 3;

Fig. 4 is afragmentary vertical sectionahview'taken inthe direction of thearrows IV-IV in Fig. 3A;

*FigJS is a verticalsectional'view similar in aspect'to Fig. l but illustrating'a'slightlyimodified form of the present invention;

Fig. '6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional-view similar to the upper portion of Fig. 5 but illustrating another slightly modified form of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is another fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to the top portion of Fig. 5 or of Fig. 6 but'illustrating a slightly modified form of the present invention adapted to carry a lamp shade; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a top portion of a slightly modified form of the present invention with an exciting light source shown in diagrammatic relationship with respect thereto.

.Generally speaking, the present invention may be'said to comprise a request-for-service indicator which includes a supporting member which is provided with light-modifying means having an effective light-emission characteristic visibly distinct from other portions thereof, and further provided witha signaling member controllably manually movable with respect to said supporting member in a manner eifectively uncovering said light-modifying means. In the specific example illustrated, said request-for-service 'indicator takes the form ofan ornamental-illuminating request-for-service-indicating lamp simulating a large candle, and the supporting member referred to generically above, takes the form of a hollow housing or chimney 1 of at least partially light transmissive or translucent material such as frosted glass or the like, although not so limited, indicated generally at 1 and having an open top 2 trated includes mountingmeans controllably removably mounting said light source within said chimneyl. In

the specific example illustratedysaid mounting means is in a conveniently manually graspable position for ready upward removal of the entire carrier from within the chimney 1. Also, in the specific form of the invention illustrated, the supporting member generically referred to above, which is specifically shown in the figures as the chimney 1, is provided with a base indicated generally at 12 adapted to removably receive the bottom 3 of the chimney 1 and mount the entire chimney 1 in an up-.

standing position. In the specific example illustrated, this is accomplished by. means of 'a circular receiving tubular portion 13 carried by the base 12 and of very slightly larger interior diameter than the exterior diameter 7 of the bottom portion of the cylindrical chimney 1 and of a length such as to abut a circular lip 14 circumferentially carried by the chimney 1.

In the specific example illustrated, the light-modifying means generically referred to hereinbefore is carried by the chimney 1 adjacent the top thereof and takes the form of a plurality of portions 15 of the chimney 1 which have a light-transmission characteristic visibly distinct from other portions of the chimney 1, which are translucent, or the like, by suitable frosting or coating means usually of a generally white color and indicated at W. This can be accomplished, for example, by having the chimney 1 colored red at each of the portions 15, although the invention is not limited to this specific color or to this specific type of distinctive light-transmission characteristic. Each of the visibly distinct or colored portions 15 may be an integral part of the cylindrical wall of the chimney 1, such as by having the color disseminated therethrough, or may be applied to the surface thereof, as shown in the figures. It should be noted that in the specific example illustrated a plurality of the colored portions 15 are circumferentially spaced around the chimney 1 for purposes which will be explained more fully hereinafter. Also, in the specific example illustrated, the signaling member, generically referred to hereinabove, takes the form of a substantially cylindrical and opaque signal shield member indicated at 16 having light-transmissive window means taking the form of a plurality of windows 17 of the same number and spacing as the colored portions 15; said shield member 16 encircling the top portion of the chimney 1 and being rotatably carried thereby in a manner allowing manually controllable rotation of said shield 16 by means of any of a plurality of three actuating handles 18 spaced symmetrically around the chimney 1 so as to allow a user of the device to align the light-transmissive windows 17 with the light-modifying means or colored portions 15 in the manner shown in Figs. 3 and 4 when the patron wishes to signal a waiter that he desires service. It will be understood that when this occurs, light from the wick 8 of the burning fuel 7 contained in the transparent light source 4 will be effectively aligned (although angularly aligned in the positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4) with the light modifying means or colored patches 15 and said windows 17 whereby any waiter within sight of the apparatus will see, the illuminated colored patches 15 and instantly be made aware of the fact that the patron desires service. On the other hand, when any one of the handles 18 is manually grasped and rotated until the windows 17 are out of alignment with the light-modifying means or colored portions 15, a waiter looking at the device from a distance will not see the colored patches 15 at all and, therefore, will realize that no service is desired by the patron.

In the specific example illustrated, the shield 16 is mounted in encircling relationship around the upper portion of the chimney1 between an upper outwardly directed lip 19 and a lower outwardly directed lip 20 exteriorly carried by said chimney 1, and the opposed ends of said shield 16 are joined at one of the handles 18 and fastened together by the rivet means 21. It should be noted that the shield 16 is provided at the top and bottom thereof with inwardly directed flanges 22 and 23 which abut the exterior of the chimney 1 whereby to position the remainderof the shield 16 just out of contact with the exterior of the chimney 1. This is for the purpose of preventing the shield 16 from contacting the colored patches 15 and scratching or otherwise marring same. It should also be noted that the specific shield 16 illustrated is provided with a downwardly directed projection 24 cooperable with stop means comprising the spaced opposed ends 25 of the lip 20 which act to limit movement of the signal member or shield 16 between the signaling position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and the nonsignaling position shown in Figs. 1 arid 2.

It should be clearly noted that the present invention is not limited to the specific form of light source indicated generally at 4. ,Actually, any type of light source may be employed, and one such modification is illustrated in Fig. -5 wherein portions similar to the first version of the present invention illustrated in Figs. 1-4 are indicated by similar reference numerals, followed by the letter a," however. In this modification, the light source 4a comprises a longitudinal hollow .tubular member 26 which is adapted to contain therein a candle 27 having its wick 28 projecting upwardly through an aperture 29 in a removable cap member 30 carried by the tube 26. The bottom of the candle 27 is positioned on a follower member 31 which abuts the upper end of a coil compression spring 32, which has its lower end abutting the curved bottom 33 of the tube 26 whereby the spring 32 and the follower 31 bias the candle 27 upwardly as it is burned away at the top so as to continue to maintain the upper end of the candle 27 adjacent the cap 30 with the wick 28 in the projecting position shown in Fig. 5. The remainder of the device is substantially the same as that shown in Figs. l-4 and, therefore, will not be described in detail.

Fig. 6 illustrates another slightly modified form of the present invention and parts corresponding to those illustrated in the first form of the present invention will be indicated by similar reference numerals, followed by the letter b, however. In this modification of the present invention, the light source indicated generally at 4b is of an electrically energized type as indicated at 34. Otherwise this modification of the present invention is substantially the same as the first form illustrated in Figs. 14 and, therefore, no additional description of this specific modification is thought necessary.

Fig. 7 illustrates another slight modification of the present invention and parts similar to those illustrated in the first version of the present invention in Figs. 5 and 6 will be indicated by the same reference numerals, followed by the letter 0, however. In this modification, the shield 16c effectively carries a small lamp shade indicated generally at 35 by having a portion 36 of a wire lamp shade frame 37 fastened to the shield by suitable fastening means 38 whereby the lamp shade will be carried over the top of the chimney 1c in the position shown in Fig. 7 and will be controllably rotatable along with the shield 16c when the shield 160 is to be moved into signaling position or non-signaling position.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentaryview illustrating a slightly modified form of the present invention, and parts corresponding to those illustrated and described hereinbefore in earlier versions of the invention will be indicated by corresponding numbers, followed by the letter d, however. In this modification, there is an upstanding supporting member 1d which corresponds to the chimney 1 in the first form of the present invention but which, in the specific example illustrated in Fig. 8 does not contain a light source. In this modification, the light-modifying means 15d comprises luminescent patches adapted to effectively emit visibly perceptible light which is very distinct from the appearance of the remainder of the member 1d, whenever the patches 15d are in alignment with the windows 17d of the shield 16d, as a result of effective excitation of said luminescent patches 15d by radiation such as indicated diagrammatically by the spaced light source 39. Normally speaking, the light source 39 would include radiation in the ultra violet region (or any other region capable of exciting the luminescent material 15d) whereby the said luminescent patches would be readily visible by a waiter to indicate a patrons desire for service. It should be noted that the luminescent patches 15d may be of the fluorescent type adapted to be excited only during the receipt of radiation from the exciting lamp 39, or may be of the phosphorescent type adapted to be excited during receipt of radiation from the exciting lamp 39 and to reradiate or emit visible light for a substantial period of time after the exciting light source 39 is removed or turned off. It should also be noted that the position of the exciting light source 39 is unimportant and actually may be contained within the supporting member 1a in a manner very similar to that shown in Fig. 6, if desired, or it may be located in any region where its radiation will fall upon the luminescent patches 15d.

Incidentally, it' should be noted that the thickness of the sectioned frosting or coating means of generally white color, such as indicated at W in Fig. 2 (and similarly present in other modifications of the invention), and the thickness of the colored patches, such as indicated at 15 in Fig. 4 (and similarly present in other modifications of the invention), are such that normal hatching to indicate sectioning would not be readily discernible and, therefore, W as sectioned in Fig. 2 is shown as plain white without any hatching, and the colored patches 15 sectioned in Fig. 4 are shown in solid black with no hatching. This type of showing of W and 15 in section is done because it is more readily discernible than hatching would be in view of the dimensions involved.

It should be noted that the light source shown in Figs. 1-4 is specifically described, illustrated, and claimed in my co-pending patent application, Serial No. 718,766, filed concurrently herewith.

Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention will occur to those skilled in the art after a careful study hereof. All such, properly within the basic spirit and scope of the present invention are intended to be included and comprehended herein as fully as if specifically described, illustrated and claimed herein.

The exact compositions, configurations, constructions, relative positionings, and cooperative relationships of the various component parts of the present invention are not critical, and can be modified substantially within the spirit of the present invention.

The embodiments of the present invention specifically described and illustrated herein are exemplary only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is to be interpreted in the light of the prior art and the appended claim only, with due consideration for the doctrine of equivalents.

I claim:

An ornamental-illuminating request-for-service-indicating lamp simulating a large candle, comprising: a hollow chimney of at least partially light-transmissive material and open at the top and of hollow cylindrical shape simulating a large candle; a removable light source including a carrier having a top portion and a downwardly recessed bottom cup member adapted to carry therein a combustible solid fuel and wick means projecting upwardly therefrom, said cup member completely enclosing said fuel and wick means laterally and underneath same and being laterally light-transmissive; mounting means controllably removably mounting said carrier within said chimney with said top portion adjacent the open top of said chimney in a manually graspable and removable position; said chimney being provided with light-modifying means having a light-transmission characteristic visibly distinct from other portions thereof; and a substantially cylindrical and opaque signaling shield member having light-transmissive window means rotatably carried around said chimney and controllably manually rotatable around same into a position with said light-transmissive window means in alignment with said light-modifying means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,216,979 Freed Feb. 20, 1917 1,378,839 Cregier May 24, 1921 1,814,056 Nuckolls July 14, 1931 2,565,980 Moore Aug. 28, 1951 2,717,306 Meara Sept. 6, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 521,613 Great Britain May 28, 1940

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