US3066219A - Adjustable lamp - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 27, 1962 Filed June 8, 1960 J. J. DUDDY ADJUSTABLE LAMP 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Jmzs J .Duzwy 3,66,219 ADJUSTABLE LAMP James J. Daddy, 514 N. Metcalf St, Lima, Ohio Filed Home 8, 196%, Ser. No. 34,669 7 Claims. (e1. 2ae a'7 This invention relates to improvements in an adjustable lamp and, more particularly, in an adjustable lamp preferably including one or more extensible arms, or pedestal members, which arms, or pedestal members, are adjusta-ble in length. Essentially, the present invention comprises an improvement over applicants prior Patent No. 2,908,811, granted October 13, 1959. While the present invention illustrates certain of the principles of said prior patent, the present invention renders the structure described and claimed in said patent capable of far more latitude of use in many fields and offers substantial improvement thereover, especially in regard to the life of the lamp and its components.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a lamp in which 21 preferably extensible arm is pivotally inter-connected between a head member and a pedestal or support member, said structure embodying a flexible power conduit, referred to as an electric cord, and special construction is employed whereby the life of the cord is vastly increased, due to relative freedom from chafing and abrasion, especially during adjustable manipulation of the lamp and its various arms, couplings, and other components, including the lengthening and shortening of one or more of the extensible arms embodied in the lamp.

Another object of the present invention comprises the provision of an improved head construction designed and constructed to hold a conventional separable electric lamp socket comprising a body and cap member, the

outer end of the cap member being arranged to have a reflecting shade member connected thereto and, though the shade be subjected to relatively rough treatment, incident to pulling and adjusting the lamp into desired position, no separation between the body of the electric lamp socket and its cap may take place, due to the construction of the head and the manner in which the electric lamp socket is mounted therein.

A further object of the invention, ancillary to the immediately foregoing object, comprises the inclusion of arrangements, within the head which holds the electric lamp socket, affording shielded accommodations for the end of the electric cord connected to the electric lamp socket, as well as ventilating means to dissipate heat readily from the head, thereby prolonging the life of the electric lamp socket and the electric cord connected thereto.

Still another object of the invention is to provide couplings including pivotally connected members, one member of each coupling respectively being connected to the opposite ends of, preferably an extensible, arm member, said couplings being constructed so as to permit pivotal movement through an arc of at least 180 between the members of the couplings, thereby affording great latitude and substantially complete universality of movement between the electric lamp head, on one end of the extensible arm, and the pedestal, or other supporting means, connected to the other end of the arm.

Details of the foregoing objects and of the invention, as well as other objects thereof, are set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprising a part thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of one position of an adjustable lamp embodying the present invention, the pedestal and electric cord of said lamp being broken, in-

ice

termediate the ends thereof, to permit fore-shortening the view.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are exemplary views of the lamp shown in FIG. 1, but employing a smaller scale than used in FiG. 1, and illustrating, respectively, two different additional positions in which the lamp may be used relative to its supporting pedestal, both of said views also showing the adjustable arm partly extended over the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevation, broken intermediate the ends thereof to foreshorten the view, and showing the extensible arms and a socket-type pivotal fitting connected to one end of the arm, while a conventional electric lamp socket, connected to the outer end of the electric cord, is shown projecting beyond the outer end of the arm, said assembly embodying the principles of the present invention but being incomplete to the extent that it omits the housing for the electric lamp socket.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are plan views, respectively, of the outer and inner ends of the arm of the structure shown in FIG. 4, said views showing the portions of the pivotal fittings connected, respectively, to the opposite ends of the arm shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a vertical view of the inner face of one half of the composite head member of the lamp shown in F168. 1 through 3, shown on a larger scale than in said figures, and illustrating details of the head which are operable to engage the body and cap of a conventional separable electric lamp socket in a manner to hold the same against separation.

FIG. 8 is an end view of the half of the head structure shown in FIG. 7, part of the same being broken away to illustrate details of the front end of said head member.

PEG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but showing the inner face of the opposite half of the composite head shown in FIGS. 1 through 3.

H6. 10 is a partially sectioned top plan view of the half of the head illustrated in FIG. 7, and showing a fragmentarily illustrated longitudinal half of an electric lamp socket, positioned within said head, and the switch button of said socket extending through a hole provided therefor in the side wall of the head.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but showing a conventional electric lamp socket positioned within said half of the head and particularly showing the manner in which the end of the electric cord, which is connected to said socket, is positioned within the head and extends therefrom.

PEG. 12 is a side elevation of the head comprising the halves thereof shown in FIGS. 7 through 11 and illustrating the same in one exemplary position, relative to a fitting to which it is pivotally connected at one end of the extensible arm shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, a fragmentary portion of an exemplary shade also being shown connected in operative position relative to the end of the electric lamp socket which projects from the forward end of the head.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 6, it will be seen that the lamp assembly 19, which is shown in its entirety to best advantage in P16. 1, comprises a base 12 and a standard 14 both of which are shown in phantom since they merely comprise exemplary supporting means for the parts to the lamp to be described hereinafter, which embody the invention. The standard 14 also, preferably, has an extension 16 slidably extending thereinto, only the upper end of the same being shown in said figure. The upper end of extension 16 also has a vertical stud 18 extending upwardly therefrom, for purposes of extending into the socket 20 within the part 22 of pivotal fitting 24-.

A thumbscrew 26 is exemplary of one means of connecting the fitting 24 to the stud 18. Thus, the exemplary pedestal or standard 14 preferably is extensible vertically and the base 12 thereof, preferably, is sufiiciently heavy to prevent the lamp assembly it? from toppling while in US.

The lamp assembly lltl is designed for a plurality and relatively wide range of different uses, its pivotal and extensible adjustability permitting the same to have relatively wide and universal usefulness for illumination purposes in many situations. One extensive use to which the lamp assembly is very well adapted is that in connection with garage work, either at the bench or on vehicles, and either above, below or within the vehicle, regardless of whether the work is of a mechanical or body-repair nature. Photographic illumination is also another field to which the lamp assembly readily is adapted for use, as well as for general shop use, and construction work, either outdoors or indoors. By enumerating these particular uses, it is not intended to be restrictive but merely illustrative as to various fields in which the lamp assembly is useful.

To add to the maneuverability and latitude of uses for the lamp assembly, the same includes a preferably longi tudinally extensible arm 23, one end of which is fixed to part 36 of pivotal fitting 24, said part including a socket which receives the preferably tubular outer sleeve 32 of arm 2% which is fixed suitably within said socket. Slidable within outer sleeve 32 is an inner tubular member 34 and the longitudinal position of said inner member, relative to outer member 32, is maintained by adjustable screw 36 threaded through reinforcing collar 33, which is fixed to the outer end of sleeve 32, and into frictional engagement with inner member 34.

A second pivotal fitting 40 comprises a socket part 42 which receives the outer end of inner tubular member 34 and is fixedly connected thereto by an suitable means, such as press-fitting, or otherwise, as in regard to the manner in which one end of the outer sleeve 32 is fixed to the socket of part 36 of pivotal fitting 24. It will be seen that the socket part 42 of fitting 44) has a bifurcated end comprising a pair of cars 44, as best seen in FIG. 5, and the socket part of pivotal fitting 24, likewise, has a bifurcated end comprising a pair of ears 46. The ears 46 receive therebetween a curved and laterally extending tongue 48, and a clamping bolt 50 extends through suitably aligned apertures in the cars 46 and tongue 48 so as to frictionally clamp the extensible arm assembly 28 in any desired angular position, relative to the socket member 22 of the pivotal fitting 24, as well as the standard 14 to which said fitting is connected.

By reason of the fact that the head of the bolt 50 engages the exterior of one ear 46 and the nut 52 thereon engages the exterior of the other ear 46, it will be seen that when the ears 46 are frictionally tightened, respectively, against opposite surfaces of the tongue 48, and it is desired to pivotally adjust the arm assembly 28 relative to the standard 14, for example, there is no tendency for the nut 52 to loosen upon the outer end of bolt 54 The laterally offset position of bolt 56 relative to the vertical axis of socket 2%) permits pivotal movement of arm 28 to a substantially vertically downward direction, as shown in FIG. 2.

A composite head 54 is provided with a preferably integral laterally extending finger 56, the outer end of which extends between the cars 44 of socket part 42 of fitting 40, as shown in detail in FIG. 12. The cars 44 are pro- Vided with transversely aligned apertures to receive a clamping bolt 58, which extends through the aperture in the outer end of finger 56, whereby, upon tightening clamping nut 60, the finger 56 and, correspondingly, the head 54, will be held in any desired angular position within the possible limits of movement, as desired, rela- 9 0.1 16 e s le rm .28- r, Y

A limited number of positions of the head 54 relative 4 to the extensible arm 2%, as well as exemplary positions of the arm 28 relative to the standard 14, are shown, respectively, in FIGS. 1 through 3. To provide a substantial amount of maneuverability of the arm 28, head 54, and standard 14, relative to each other, the design of the pivotal fittings 24 and 40 is such that a minimum of 180 of arcuate movement is permitted. Further, the arrangement of the clamping bolt 58 and the nut 60, for clamping the finger 56 of head 54 relative to fitting 40, is similar to that of clamping bolt 50 of pivotal fitting 24, whereby angular adjustment of the head 54, relative to the extensible arm 23, may be effected without loosening the nut 69 upon the bolt 58.

Head 554, preferably, is bi-partite, and comprises two opposing complementary halves 62 and 64 which, for example, are shown, from the inner face view thereof, in FIG 7 and 9. The halves 62 and 64, respectively, are formed with concavities 66 and 68 which, in cross section, are substantially semi-cylindrical, as best shown in FIG. 3. Projecting radially from the inner surfaces of concavities 66 and 63 are similar positioning lugs 70 extending opposit ly toward each other. Also, arranged in circumferentially spaced position relative to each other around the outer, open end of the halves 62 and 64 of the head 54, are a plurality of additional positioning lugs '72, the same having arcuate spaces 74 therebetween.

The opposite, or rear, end of the halves 62 and 64 of the head 54 are provided with complementary, curved and semi-circular closure ends '76 and 78, said ends, respectively, having halves of ventilating holes formed therein, whereby when the two halves 62 and 64 are assembled in edge-abutting relationship, the halves of the holes $13 will cooperate to form effective heat-dissipating and ventilating holes.

The head 54 is constructed so as readily to receive, within the cooperating concavities 66 and 68 thereof, an electric lamp socket 82, of conventional type, the same comprising a cylindrical casing 84 and a detachably connected cap 36. The cap @6 has a circular band 83 which telescopically receives the rear end of casing 84 and elastic fingers 9%, on the inner end of head 84, engage an annular shoulder on circular band 83 to form a snapfit means detechably to connect the casing 84 to cap 86.

Such connection is convenient and appropriate for most uses. However, the outer end of casing 84 usually is provided with threads 92, onto which a socket end 94, see FIG. 12, of an exemplary reflecting lamp shade 96 is threadably connected. For purposes of moving the lamp and, especially, the head to which the lamp shade 96 is connected, to a more suitable position in use, it is not uncommon for mechanics, and the like, to roughly grab reflecting lamp shade 96 by the rim and move the lamp, as desired. In conventional lamps now in use, when such adjustment of the lamp takes place, it is not uncommon for the shade 96 to pull the casing 84 of the electric lamp socket 82 out of the cap 36, whereby the socket is disassembled and shorting of the electric wires can, and does, result, to say nothing of possible damage to the shade, socket, and the means to which the socket is connected. In addition, possibly the user receives an electric shock.

The present invention is designed to obviate such accidental separation of the body 84 of the electric lamp socket 82 from the cap 86 thereof. By reference, particularly, to FIG. 10, it will be seen that positioning means, comprising exemplary lugs 70 within the concavity 66, 68 of head 54, abut the exterior of cap 86 of electric lamp socket 82, While the additional positioning means comprising exemplary lugs 72, adjacent the forward end of the head 54, are received within annular portion 98 of casing 84 which extends between an annular shoulder Hit) and an annular rib 102. In effect, the positioning lugs 76 and 72 act as clamping means to prevent separation of the casing $4 from the cap 86 of electric lamp socket 82, when'the two halves-62 and 64 of the head are assembled around socket 82.

One of the halves of the head 54, such as half 62, has a hole 104 therethrough, through which the stem of switch-button 186 extends. Also, the finger portion 108 of each of the halves 62 and 64 have aligned holes 110 and 112. The holes 116 receive a clamping bolt 114 therethrough while the holes 112 are aligned to receive clamping bolt 58 therethrough, the latter bolt connecting the finger 56 to the socket part 42 of second pivotal fitting 40. Thus, it will be seen that simply by the expedient of two clamping bolts 58 and 114, the halves of the head are held securely in assembled relationship and enclose the electric lamp socket 82 therebetween, the cap and casing of said socket being securely held together against longitudinal separation.

The projection of the stem of switch-button 186 through the hold 104 in the head prevents rotation of the socket 82 within the head 54. For convenience, the half 62 of the head 54 also is provided with an exterior, square, recess 116, which receives a square nut to which the clamping bolt 114 is threadably connected. Accordingly, it is only necessary to use a screw driver to threadably connect the bolt 114 to the nut which is received complementarily within the square recess 116 and, thus, is prevented from rotating thereby.

The provision of positoning lugs 70 and 72 on the interior of the head 54 not only secure the cap and casing of the electric lamps socket 82 against separation, particularly'when the reflecting shade 96 may be manually moved, for purposes of changing the angle of the head relative to the extensible arm 28, but there is a second important function, namely, that of aiding in insulating the electric lamp socket 82 from the inner surfaces of the head 54 by providing an air space surrounding socket 82, thereby aiding in the dissipation of heat, which normally is imparted to the electric lamp socket 82 by the electric lamp held thereby, particularly if of substantial wattage, such as from 100 to 200 watts. To further enhance the ventilation of the interior of head 54, air readily may pass, either into or out of the interior of the head, said spaces cooperating with the ventilating holes 80 to elfect adequate and efficient ventilating of the interior of the head, whereby undue discomfort will not be experienced when an operator attempts to engage the head 54 manually, for purposes of adjusting the position thereof, relative to the extensible arm 28.

Further, it will be seen that the rear portion of the head 54, as is best shown in FIG. 10, has a substantial space 118 therein, said space communicating with the plurality of ventilating holes 80, whereby heat eminating from the electric lamp socket 82 into space 118 readily may pass therefrom to atmosphere. Further, it will be noted that, in practically any postion of the head 54-, relative to extensible arms 28, one of the ventilating holes 80 will be uppermost, thereby being in a position to permit the heat from space 118 readily to rise and exit through the uppermost hole 80, for example.

Further, the space 118, as best seen in FIG. 11, readily accommodates the end of the electric conduit, or cord, 120, which is connected to the electric socket 82. From FIG. 11, it will be seen, also, that the finger portions 103 of the halves 62 and 64 are hollow and have perimeter flanges 122 and 124 provided with complementary interruptions, said flanges being complementary to each other on the two halves of the head, whereby, when said flanges abut, there is an exit space 126 through which the electric cord 12!) passes. The perimeter flange 122 also terminates in an annular boss 128 so as to provide firm clamping of finger 56 by bolt 58 and also a curved surface 130 which is engaged by the cord 120, particularly when the head 54 is disposed angularly to the socket part 42 of pivotal fitting 40, as shown in FIG. 12. Under such circumstances, the cord 120 is curved around the circular exteriors of the cooperating bosses 130 and then extends around the exterior of the terminal end of finger 56, and into the interior of tubular member 34 of the extensible arm 28. By such construction, the end of the electric cord 120, which is connected to the electric lamp socket 82, sustains very little, if any, chaffing or rubbing, incident to pivoting of the head 54 about the outer end of extensible arm 28.

The cord extends from the outer end of arm 28, through the inner tubular member 34, for the full length thereof, and as best seen in FIG. 4, passes through part 30 of fitting 24 and between cars 46 of said part. The outer end of curved tongue 48 is, preferably, substantially semi-circular, as best seen in FIG. 4, and said semicircular curved outer surface merges with the curved exterior 130, whereby the electric cord 128 can extend along said smoothly curved exterior of the socket member of pivotal fitting 124. When the extensible arm 28 is extended to any desired length, up to the limit of movement which is controlled by relative lengths of the tubular sleeves 32 and 34 thereof, the electric cord 120 will be moved, relative to the pivotal fitting 24. Accordingly, the smoothy curved surface 130 offers ready sliding of the cord 120, relative thereto, with a minimum of abrasion and chaffing, such minimum damage and wear to the cord, likewise, resulting when the extensible arm 28 is pivotally moved, relative to the standard 14, or any other base, to which the socket member 22 of the pivotal fitting 24 is connected.

The preferred materials from which the lamp assembly 18 may be formed, and especially the base 12, standard 14, and extensible arm 28, is suitable metal, such as aluminum, brass, or the like. The pivotal fittings 24 and 40, as well as bi-partite head 54, likewise, may be formed, such as by casting, from metal, aluminum being highly appropriate for the purpose but others, such as brass or iron, being suitable. Zinc casting metal, com monly known as white metal, likewise, may be used for casting the pivotal fittings and head. Further, the pivotal fittings and, particularly, the head 54, may be formed by molding from suitable synthetic resin having appropriate strength and durability. Any suitable finish, either natu ral or applied, may be employed in connection with the various components of the lamp assembly and, especially, the pivotal fittings and head thereof.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the lamp assembly comprising the present invention and principally including the extensible arm 28, the pivotal fittings 24 and 40, respectively connected to opposite ends thereof, and the head 54, affords maximum protection for the electric cord 124 and the portions of the cord passing through and around the pivotal fittings are subjected to minimum abrasion and wear, incident to pivotal movement of the components of the pivotal fittings, when the position of the head 54 is adjusted relative to arm 28 and arm 28 is adjusted relative to its supporting means, such as standard 14. Further, the construction of the head 54 is such as to prevent accidental separation of the components of the electric socket from each other, especially when the reflecting lamp shade 96 is connected to the exposed outer end of the electric socket and pivotal adjustment of the head 54 is effected by movement of lamp shade 96. Still further, desirable ventilating and dissipation of heat from the electric socket within the head is afforded, together with protection of the end of the electric cord connected to the electric socket within the head.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in its several preferred embodiments, and has included certain details, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and described since the same may be carried out in other ways falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. An electric lamp comprising, in combination, an elongated arm, an electric cord extending longitudinally thereof, a hollow head closed at one end and open at the other, a supporting member extending substantially radially from and narrower than said head, means pivotally connecting said member to one end of said arm, an electric lamp socket smaller in size than the interior of said head and mounted therein, said lamp socket having a socket end and comprising a separably connected casing and cap having end portions of smaller diameters than the intermediate portion of said casing and cap when connected and said electric cord being connected to said socket, the open end of said socket projecting beyond the open end of said head and having means on said projecting end to be engaged by a lamp shade for support of said shade thereby and a portion of said open end of said socket engaging said head adjacent the open end thereof to prevent outward movement of said socket relative to said head, and securing means within said head intermediately of the ends thereof engageable with said cap of said electric socket to prevent relative separative movement thereof from said casing of said socket and also support said electric socket in spaced relationship to the interior surfaces of said head, thereby to provide at least partial heat insulation between said head and socket.

2. The electric lamp set forth in claim 1 futher characterized by said securing means for said casing and cap of said electric lamp socket comprising stubby projections extending radially inward from the interior surface of said head and engageable with said casing and cap when the parts of said head are connected together.

3. The electric lamp set forth in claim 1 further characterized by the cap of said socket being spaced in an axial direction from the interior of the closed end of said head to provide a space to accommodate the end of the electric cord connected to said socket, said cord entering said socket through a hole in said cap and the closed end of said head having ventilation holes therein.

4. The electric lamp set forth in claim 3 further characterized by said open end of said head having circumferentially arranged arcuate spaces extending therearound between said head and the open end of said socket to permit the circulation of air therethrough and augment the ventilation afforded by the ventilation holes in the closed end of said head.

5. An electric lamp assembly comprising, in combination, a hollow head closed substantially at one end and open at the other, a supporting tongue-like projection extending from said head and having means thereon to connect the same to supporting means, an electric lamp socket comprising a separably connected casing and cap having end portions of smaller diameters than the intermediate portion of said casing and cap when connected and the outer end of said casing having a socket opening therein to receive an electric lamp bulb, said socket being substantially coincident with the open end of said holder head and a portion of said open end of said socket engaging an interior portion of said head adjacent the open end thereof to prevent outward movement of said socket relative to said head, and securing means within said head intermediately of the ends thereof engageable with said cap of said electric socket to prevent relative separative movment thereof away from said casing of said socket and said securing means also supporting said electric socket in spaced relationship to the interior surfaces of said head, thereby to provide at least partial heat insulation between said head and socket.

6. The electric lamp set forth in claim 5 further characterized by the cap of said socket being spaced in an axial direction from the interior of the closed end of said head to provide a space to accommodate the end of an electric cord when connected to said electric lamp socket through a hole provided therefor in said cap and the closed end of said head having ventilation holes therein.

7. The electric lamp set forth in claim 6 further characterized by said open end of said head having circumferentially arranged arcuate spaces extending therearound between said head and the open end of said socket to cooperate with the ventilation holes in the closed end of said head to permit circulation of air through said head in an axial direction and thereby cool said electric lamp socket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,046,573 Ellis Dec. 10, 1912 1,429,443 McFaddin Sept. 19, 1922 1,622,333 Meschenmoser Mar. 29, 1927 1,776,477 OKeefe Sept. 23, 1930 1,865,928 LaVigne et al. July 5, 1932 2,221,505 Benander Nov. 12, 1940 2,374,971 Benander May 1, 1945 2,535,916 Gradisar Dec. 26, 1950

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