US3167258A

US3167258A - Light fixture

Info

Publication number: US3167258A
Application number: US112052A
Authority: US
Inventors: Earl G Wilde
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-05-23
Filing date: 1961-05-23
Publication date: 1965-01-26
Anticipated expiration: 1982-01-26

Description

Jan. 26, 1965 E. s. WILDE 3,167,258

LIGHT FIXTURE Filed May 23. 1961 INVENTOR. EARL G. WILDE ATTORNEY in FIGURE 1.

United States Patent 3,167,258 LIGHT FIXTURE Earl G. Wilde, 2518 29 /2 St, Rock Island, Ill. Filed May 23, 1961, Ser. No. 112,052 9 Claims. (Cl. 240-413) This invention relates to a light fixture and more particularly to a fixture adapted for having mounted therein a bulb or lamp capable of generating intense heat.

Heretofore lamp fixtures of this type have been permanently adjusted relative to proper focusing in relation to the reflectors at the factory or place of manufacture. In some fixtures there has been provision for adjustment adjacent the connectors or sockets which hold the lamps or bulbs. However, adjustment inside the fixture or fixture casing creates certain problems due primarily to the intense heat generated by the bulb. If the light has been burning, it must be shut down for a period so that the fixture becomes cool enough to prevent burns or discomfort to the maintenance man. With the light shut off, there is lacking the feature or advantage of being able to adjust the lamp while having visual inspection of its beam. In other words, the light must be shut down and the lamp adjusted. The light is then turned on and if the result is not satisfactory it must be again shut down and the lamps adjusted. In many instances the switch is at a distant point. Consequently adjustment is either a two man job or it may be done by one man who must move between the switch and light each time the lamp is adjusted. Since the fixture is normally in high location, this creates a relatively serious problem.

It is therefor one of the main objects of this invention to provide adjustment structure on the fixture by which adjustment may occur while the light is burning and without being subject to the intense heat of the bulb and reflectors.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a lamp fixture of a unique and novel nature which is com pletely sealed against moisture and foreign particles and yet may be adjustable and opened without injury to the sealing elements of the fixture.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the nature of the invention is better understood from the following disclosure and as shown in the accompanying drawings. FIGURE 1 is a front and side perspective view of the entire lamp incorporating the structure of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a rear perspective view of the lamp shown FIGURE 3 is a front view of the lamp with portions broken away to show interior structure and showing a portion of the lens door in the open position.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged view taken at the corner of the lens shown at 7 in FIGURE 3 and showing a portion of the gasket in section.

Referring now to the drawings, the lamp itself is composed in its preferred form of a cast aluminum casing 10 with a parabolic rear wall 11 and end walls, one of which is indicated at 12. The casing normally opens forwardly. The' casing 10 is supported from underneath by means of a two-piece knuckle joint 13 composed of one part 14 integral with the casing 10 and a second part 15 having a depending hollow section 16 threaded on the outside for ice mounting on a support, not shown. Wires 18 extend through the knuckle joint 13. The two

parts

14, 15 are connected by a bolt and nut combination 6 which may be loosened to permit tilting of the lamp at the desired inclination. A gasket 17 is positioned between the

parts

14, 15.

The casing 10 has an outwardly projecting rectangular flange 19 with a forwardly facing peripheral edge 20 and a peripheral shoulder or ledge 21 just rearward of and inward of the edge 20.

The casing 10 has a series of internal ribs 22 projecting inwardly from the internal surface of the wall 11. The ribs 22 extend completely around the surface of the wall 11 and terminate at the shoulder 21. A highly polished U-shaped or, to be more exact, a parabolic shaped reflector panel 25 is positioned on the ribs 22. The ribs 22 are tapped at 28 to receive tap screws 26 which fix the panel 25 thereto. The ribs 22 are sufficiently close together that they provide adequate support for the panel. The ribs 22 also serve as a means for dissipating the intense heat of the lamp since they provide a layer of air between the reflector panel 25 and the casing wall 11.

The end walls 12 are also provided with internal reenforcing ribs, such as at 27, which extend from the casing wall 11 to the shoulder 21. r The ribs 27 are suitably tapped to receive screws 29 which hold

end reflector panels

30, 31. The panels 38, 31 have parabolic edges conforming to and lying against the internal surface of the reflector panel 25. The

panels

30, 31 are also highly polished to reflect light. The outer edges of the end panels 3%, 31 are flanged or formed outwardly, at 32, to have offset portions lying adjacent the ends of the ribs 27 which receive the aforementioned screws 29. The end panels 3%, 31 are provided with

circular openings

34, 35 through which opposite ends of a highly concentrated incandescent quartz lamp or bulb 36 may extend. The

openings

34, 35 are sufliciently large to accommodate adjustment of the lamp relative to the casing 10 or reflector panel 25.

Highly critical in operation of the quartz type lamp is its proper positioning relative to the reflector panel 25.

Normally the positioning is done very accurately at the factory. The bulb is normally positioned substantially in the focus axis of the panel 25. However, due to handling and shipping the bulb is often received out of proper focus in respect to the reflector. Consequently there is provided adjusting means in the casing structure itself which permits minute positioning of the bulb or lamp 36.

Opposite ends of the bulb 36 extend into sockets or

connectors

40, 41, each having bulb receiving means. Since the

connectors

40, 41 and their supporting structure are identical, details thereof will be limited to that adjacent the end panel 30 and in respect'to the connector 40. Cast intergally with the casing end wall 12 are a pair of parallel spaced apart ribs or

tracks

42, 43 which extend fore and aft toward the open end of the casing 10. Positioned between the

tracks

42, 43 is a U-shaped bracket 44 with inner and

outer leg portions

45, 46 having opposite edges contacting and adapted for sliding relation with the

tracks

42, 43. The bracket 44 also has a bight portion 47 facing the end deflector 30 and has an opening 48 therein through which the end of the connector 40 may extend. The connector 40 has a rigid flange 49 lying against the bight portion 47 and connected thereto by screws 50. As is obvious, the connector 40 faces the respective opening 34 in the reflector panel 30.

The leg portion 45 is tapped to receive an adjusting element in the form of a set screw 55, the shank of which extends'throu'gh the casingwall ll 'adja'cent the rearmost extremity thereof. The casing 11' is'co untersunk at 56 'to receive the screw' head. Surrounding the screw 55, and extending between the casing wall 11 and bracket leg 45 is a c'oil spring :57 which'normally' biases the bracket 44'and connector 40 outwardly toward the open side of the casing. The'screw 55 is provided with a'suitable wrench receivingfmeans or head to permit What is claimed-is i i l. A lamp fixture comprising: a lamp casing including a forwardly opening parabolic wall and integral end Walls 7 for closing the ends of theparab'olic fwall, said walls havrotation thereof. The head is generally larger than the} opening for the bolt and consequently a seal isretained.

' By' viewing theyarious'figuresof the drawingsit be-fl comes apparent that positioning of the quartz" lamp 3 6', j to its exact focus point relative to the-reflectorpanels may,

be done by turning/the screws, such as at 55, at opposite "ends-of the casing 11. By'so doing the maintenance man ing a forwardly facing rectangular peripheral edge and an internal rectangular shoulder inwardly and rearwardly of the peripheral edge, said casing walls further having internal rib sectionsga 'parabolic'reflector facing forwardly and lying adjacent the ribs; means fixing the reflector to the ribs; end reflectors adjacent and fixed 'to the ribs on the endwallsof the casing and having p'arabolicedgesengaging the internal curvature of the parabolic reflector, said endtreflectors having alined openings; a pair 'of bulbcon- 'nectors disposed between the end reflectors and the end may adjust the bulb 36 :at a position rea'rward'fof the The casing 10 is closed at its open end by lens structure 'which includes a tempered lens 601and a supporting rim or lens frame '61'which conforms substantially to the; f vrectangular shape of the flange 19. The rim61 is pro 1 vided with a peripheral rearwardly facing edge 62 which normally faces and lies adjacent theforwardly facing casing 11 where he willxb'e shielded from the intense heatof'the bulb and also while viewing-"the eifective results of his adjustments. i

edge20 of the flange 19. 'Thejmain portion 'of the, lens 7 frame 61 isa ledge lying opposite the shoulder for ledge 21 of. the casing 10 and, defining therewith a peripheral groove receiving the peripheral edge of the lens 60. j The casing 10-hastwo pairsof depending lugs 65, '66 spaced apart to accommodate a pair of

lugs

67, 68 on the lens frame 61. The

lugs

65, 66, 67, 68 are hingedly interconnected topermit the lens structure to swing open and;

shut. Atop the casing wallr11, there 'is mounted thereon a spring clip 70 of a'conventional overtoenter'lock design which isv adapted to extend over therim 61 andretain the rim 61 under pressurized contact with the casing 10;

At each corner of thecasing 10 there is cast'arearwardly' projecting boss portion 72. The purpose of the'bos's' por-,

tion 72 is to provide sufficient material at the corners to have a countersunk opening 73. Each corner of the lens 7 60 is'rounded at 75 (FIGURE 7) 'andat each corner of 1 the rim 61 there is provided an excess thickness 76 which is normally'in alignment with'the openings73- of the casing 10; A U-shaped' rubber gasket 80 with opposite legs thereoflying adjacent opposite or inner and ou'tersurfaces of thelens 60 extends around the completepe-f walls of the casings and having bulb receiving means facing therespective openings; an elongated filament bulb disposed acrossthelamp casing substantially on theffocus axis of the parabolic'reflector and having opposite ends 7 extending through the respe'ctivetopenings in the 'end reflectors and supported in the bulb receiving means;

meansmounting the connectors to said casing including tracks rigid with and internally of the 1 end walls and extendin'g for'e and aft toward the open end of the casing,

and guideimeans on the connectors engaging the tracks to permit movement of the filament bulb toward or away fromthe open end .of the'casing; means extending through ;the main'casing connected respectively to thejguide means 1 for selectively adjusting the filament bulb relative to the a rectangular shoulder oifset inwardly of the peripheral surface, said shoulder of saidcasing andsaid shoulder of the frame defining a rectangular peripheral groove accomslits at the corners for. accommodating the clips whereby ripheral edge of the lens. The lens'60 is supportedo'n 7' the rim 61 byvmeans'of cornerclips 81 which are thin plate elements partially overlyinggthe edge of' lens frame 61 and the';inne r surfaoeof the lens-160. The clips 81 are'supported on the corners 76 of the. rim'61 by means of screws 82. As maybe seen in FIGURES 3, 5 and 7, there is provided a slit, indicated at 83,in the gasket 80 through which the clip 81 may 'extendj-to contact directly the surface ofthe lenst60. It will be noted'that one legportion of the gasket 80 is outward of the clip 81so that V as therirn is closed the gasket leg willsealagainst the clip 81. In the closed position. between jthe rim and casing it will also benoted that opening 73 accommodates f the head of the screw 81. Also-as is- 'clearlyevidentin moisture seal completely around the'lens 60. The spring lock 70 maintains sufficient pressure between the 80, the lens 60, and the surrounding structure.

While onlyone form of the invention has beenshown,

it 'should'b'e recognized thatlother forms and variations will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it should be understood that thepresent disclosure was shown in detailed manner for the purpose or clearlyrand concisely a k s modating the peripheral edge of the lens; aYU-shaped V gasket extending around the edge of the lens with the legs thereof disposed adjacent the inner and outer surfaces respectivelyof the'lens; corner clips adjacent each ofthe rounded corners of the lens having portions thereof overlying and in engagement with'th'e lens surface and fixed to the lens frame-whereby said lens willnormally be retained on the frame, said gaskethaving ,therein'edge said clips will be'disposed between portions of legs of 5 saidtU-shaped gasket and the inner "surface of thelens.

2, A lamp fixture comprisingi a, lamp casing opening.

forwardlyand closed by walls at'its rear and ends, said walls having 'a"forwardly facing rectangular peripheral edge and an internal rectangular shoulder inwardly and rearwardly of the peripheral edge; a parabolic reflector v mounted in the casing and facing forwardly; end reflectors supported in the casing at opposite ends of the parabolic reflector'and having substantially parabolic edges engaging the internal curvature of the parabolic reflector, said end reflectors having alined openings; a pair of bulb connectors disposed between the end reflectors and the walls I V V H v j 7 fof the casings and having bulb receiving ameans facing 7 FIGURE 4, the gasket 81normally rests against the r shoulder 21 and the rim 61, thereby maintaining a perfect} posed across .the lamp casing substantially on the focus illustrating the principles ofrthetinventiom'and it was not the intention to limit or narrow the invention beyond the broad conc'eptsetforth in therappended claims.

,axis, of the parabolicreflector and having opposite ends extending through the respective-openings in :the endreflectors and supported in the bulb receiving means; means counting the connectors to said casing including tracks rigid with the'casing walls and extending fore and aft toward the open end of the casing,,andy guide means on the connectorsengagingthe tracks to permit movement of tthe filarnent bulb toward ,or away from the open endof the casingjmeans extending through, the casing connected respectively to the guide means for selectively, adjusting the filament bulb relative to the reflectors, said 5 latter means having adjusting elements external of the said casing and said shoulder of the frame defining a rectangular peripheral groove accommodating the peripheral edge of the lens; a U-shaped gasket extending around the edge of the lens with the legs thereof disposed adjacent the inner and outer surfaces respectively of the lens; corner clips adjacent each of rounded corners of the lens having portions thereof overlying and in engagement with the lens surface and fixed to the lens frame whereby said lens will normally be retained on the frame, said gasket having therein edge slits at the corners for accommodating the clips whereby said clips will be disposed between portions of legs of said U-shaped gasket and the inner surface of the lens.

3. A lamp fixture comprising: a lamp casing opening forwardly and closed by walls at its rear and ends, said walls having a forward rectangular edge; rectangular lens means supported on the casing for closing the forward open side thereof; a parabolic reflector mounted in the casing and facing forwardly; end reflectors supported in the casing at opposite ends of the parabolic reflector and having substantially parabolic edges engaging the internal curvature of the parabolic reflector, said end reflect rs having alined openings; a pair of bulb connectors disposed between the end reflectors and the walls of the casings and having bulb receiving means facing the respective openings; an elongated filament bulb disposed across the lamp casing substantially on the focus axis of the para bolic reflector and having opposite ends extending through the respective openings in the end reflectors and supported in the bulb receiving means, the openings being such as to accommodate fore and aft movement of the bulb; means mounting the connectors to said casing ineluding tracks rigid with the casing walls and extending fore and aft toward the open end of the casing, and guide means on the connectors engaging the tracks to permit movement of the filament bulb toward or away from the open end of the casing; and means extending through the casing walls connected respectively to the guide means for selectively adjusting the filament bulb relative to the reflectors, said latter means having adjusting elements external of the casing walls for effecting the adjustment,

4. A lamp fixture comprising: a lamp casing including a forwardly opening U-shaped wall and integral end walls for closing the ends of the U-shaped wall, said U-shap-ed wall further having internal parabolic ribs; a parabolic reflector facing forwardly and lying adjacent the ribs; means fixing the reflector to the ribs; end reflectors adjacent and fixed to the ribs on the end walls of the casing and having parabolic edges engaging the internal curvature of the parabolic reflector, said end reflectors having alined openings; a pair of bulb connectors disposed between the end reflectors and the end walls of the casings and having bulb receiving means facing the respective openings; an elongated filament bulb disposed across the casing substantially on the focus axis of the parabolic reflector and having opposite ends extending through the respective openings in the end reflectors and supported in the bulb receiving means, the openings being such as to accommodate fore and aft movement of the bulb; means mounting the connectors on said casing including tracks rigid with and internally of the end walls and extending fore and aft toward the open end of the casing, and guide means on the connectors engaging the tracks to permit movement of the filament bulb toward or away from the open end of the casing; and means extending through the casing walls and connected respectively to the guide means 6 for selectively adjusting the filament bulb relative to the reflectors, said latter means having adjusting elements external of the casing walls for effecting the adjustment.

5. A lamp fixture comprising: a lamp casing opening forwardly and having a forwardly facing rectangular peripheral edge and an internal rectangular shoulder facing forwardly and inwardly and rearwardly of the peripheral edge; a reflector within the casing; a bulb including bulb connector means within the casing; means mounting the connector means to said casing to permit movement of the bulb toward or away from the reflector, said mounting means including elements extending through the casing wall for selectively adjusting the bulb relative to the reflector; a rectangular shaped lens having inner and outer surfaces and rounded corners for closing the forward opening of the casing; a rectangular shaped lens frame bordering the lens and having a peripheral surface facing and normally in contact with the forward peripheral surface of the casing and a rectangular shoulder offset inwardly of the peripheral surface, said shoulder of said casing and said shoulder of the lens frame defining a rectangular peripheral groove accommodating the peripheral edge of the lens; a U-shaped gasket extending around the edge of the lens with the legs thereof disposed adjacent inner and outer surfaces respectively of the lens; corner clips adjacent each of the rounded corners of the lens having portions thereof overlying and in engagement with a surface of the lens and fixed to the lens frame whereby said lens will normally be fixed on the shoulder of the frame, said gasket having therein edge slits at the corners for accommodating the clips whereby said clips will be disposed between portions of a leg of said Ushaped gasket and the inner surface of the lens.

6. A casing having a U-shaped back wall opening forwardly and end walls and internal ribs extending inwardly from the internal face of the casing; internal reflector means bearing against the ribs and including a forwardly opening parabolic shaped reflector with opposite ends adjacent the end walls, and a pair of end reflectors adjacent to but spaced from the end walls; a pair of bulb connectors disposed at least partially in the respective spaces between the end reflectors and the respective end walls; an elongated bulb positioned substantially on the focus axis of the parabolic reflector with opposite ends thereof supported by and connected to the respective bulb connectors, there being openings in the end reflectors sufficiently large to permit movement of the bulb and bulb connectors; means in the spacing between the end reflectors and end walls mounting each bulb connector on the casing for movement fore and aft and in respect to the forwardly opening parabolic reflector including a pair of adjusting elements extending through the casing Wall and operatively connected to the respective adjusting means for effecting movement of the respective ends of the bulb, said elements having portions external of the casing for effecting the movement.

7. The invention defined in claim 6 in which the casing is a completely sealed structure except for the forward opening and further characterized by a lens structure closing the forward opening and sealing the casing.

8. The invention defined in claim 7 in which the adjusting elements are threaded studs threaded through the back wall adjacent the respective end walls.

9. A sealed casing having a U-shaped back wall, end walls closing the ends of the U-shaped Wall, and a lens structure sealing the forward opening defined by the U-shaped and end walls; internal ribs rigid with and extending inwardly from the internal face of the U-shaped casing wall; internal reflector means bearing against the ribs and including a forwardly opening parabolic shaped reflector with opposite ends adjacent the end walls, and a pair of end reflectors adjacent to but spaced from the end walls; a pair of bulb connectors in the respective spaces between the end reflectors and the respective end walls; an elongated bulb positioned sl lbstanti allyxofi the V -Refe're1jces Cited inthefi1e of this patent focus axis ofthe parabolic reflector with "opposite endsv T T T E thereof supported by and cdnnectedto therespective bulb -6 1 E g a I I 3 Oct 7 connectore, therebeing openings in the/end reflectors-'sufli- E 0 7 5 j clently large to permit l'novement of the bulb axid bulb ,5 :O7O" l Buchanan n; connectors; 'and me'ar lisjnjthe spacing -between the end 1 0;'83' Wymah' 0018:1929 reflec tors and end Walls mounting ea'ch bulb Iconne ctor 1,752 273 1 Lewis V 1930 on the casing for' movement fore aiid ftin lresfiect to f'-i2,323, ')73 'Netting" J un'e29', 1943 the for war'd ly opening parabolic"r'efleetofl and'ihcludi g ,Q l f h g I--- A 24,1943 a Pa O adjusting nt sm through h -3 m 71 9Pfr-fi-ff l :lMa 52 -.Wall and, opelatively connected to the respective con-, 7 stmcr g 'T"''- i 1 11956 .nectors'for effecting movement of'the'lesp'ective end's of FOREIGN ,PATENTS

Claims

6. A CASING HAVING U-SHAPED BACK WALL OPENING FORWARDLY AND END WALLS AND INTERNAL RIBS EXTENDING INWARDLY FOR THE INTERNAL FACE OF THE CASING; INTERNAL REFLECTOR MEANS BEARING AGAINST THE RIBS AND INCLUDING A FORWARDLY OPENING PARABOLIC SHAPED REFLECTOR WITH OPPOSITE ENDS ADJACENT THE END WALLS, AND A PAIR OF END REFLECTORS ADJACENT TO BUT SPACED FROM THE END WALLS; A PAIR OF BULB CONNECTORS DISPOSED AT LEAST PARTIALLY IN THE RESPECTIVE SPACES BETWEEN THE END REFLECTORS AND THE RESPECTIVE END WALLS; AN ELONGATED BULB POSITIONED SUBSTANTIALLY ON THE FOCUS AXIS OF THE PARABOLIC REFLECTOR WITH OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF SUPPORTED BY AND CONNECTED TO THE RESPECTIVE BULB CONNECTORS, THERE BEING OPENINGS IN THE END REFLECTORS SUFFICIENTLY LARGE TO PERMIT MOVEMENT OF THE BULB AND BULB CONNECTORS; MEANS IN THE SPACING BETWEEN THE END REFLECTORS AND END WALLS MOUNTING EACH BULB CONNECTOR ON THE CASING FOR MOVEMENT FORE AND AFT AND IN RESPECT TO THE FORWARDLY OPENING PARABOLIC REFLECTOR INCLUDING A PAIR OF ADJUSTING ELEMENTS EXTENDING THROUGH THE CASING WALL AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE RESPECTIVE ADJUSTING MEANS FOR EFFECTING MOVEMENT OF THE RESPECTIVE ENDS OF THE BULB, SAID ELEMENTS HAVING PORTIONS EXTERNAL OF THE CASING FOR EFFECTING THE MOVEMENT.