US3238366A - Lighting fixture including concealed swivel assembly - Google Patents

Description

March 1, 1966 N. R. SCHWARTZ LIGHTING FIXTURE INCLUDING CONCEALED SWIVEL ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 8 1963 INVENTQR. /V/47//4/V K. 5664 74/67] 4:720; Ell A, 5455?, $5123 5 SUP/E March 1, 1966 N. R. SCHWARTZ 3,238,356

LIGHTING FIXTURE INCLUDING CONCEALED SWIVEL ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 8 1963 United States Patent 3 238 366 LIGHTING FIXTURE INGLUDING CONCEA-LED SWIVEL ASSEMBLY Nathan R. Schwartz, Yonkers, N.Y., assignor to Swivelier Company, Inc., Nanuet, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 314,718 8 Claims. (Cl. 24073) This invention relates to a lighting fixture, and more particularly to a lighting fixturehaving a swivel assembly which is concealed from view within the lamp shade or reflector thereof.

It is among the objects of the invention-to provide a lighting fixture designed to swivel abouta stationary support, in which the swivel assembly and associated operating elements of the fixture are enclosed within the lamp shade and thus concealedfrorn view, :presentinga clean, neat and uncluttered design.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a fixture which is economical-to produce-and yet which is rugged and reliable, and which may be readily assembled and disassembled-employing a minimuminumber of tools and assembly operations.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a lighting fixture which may be employed with numerous style-s and shapes of lamp shades, made 'ofany desired materials .toprovide suitable esthetic effects.

The lighting fixture of the invention, consonant with such objectives, includes a mounting memberadapted'to be secured to a wallor other suitable supporting surface, a lamp shade, housing substantially allofthe operating mechanism .of the fixture, including a suitable swivel assembly, and a mounting arm fixedat one end to the mounting member and rotatably secured a-t theopposite end'to the swivel assembly to facilitate substantially complete-rotation of the'shade ofzthe fixture about a first axis and approximately 50 rotation about a second axis.

The operating mechanism of the lighting fixture is constituted of a swivel assembly, including a swivel=housing defining an inner cavity having an elongated opening alignedwith a similar 'openingin the shade, .anda swivel ball unitreceived within such :cavityand rotatably .connected to the .mounting arm. An extension assembly is mounted adjacent the swivel assembly, which extension may comprise aswitchmechanism including an actuating element extending outwardly of the shade to facilitate operation thereof, and a socket assembly is mounted within the shade adjacent'the swivel assembly for supporting a suitable light bulb. The extension and socket assemblies aresuitably secured to the swivel housing in fixed, aligned relation, the extension assembly :maintainingthe swivel housing and the lamp shade in engaged relation, as described more fully below. The structure thus'provided *both facilitates simple assembly and disassembly :of the lighting fixture and presen-ts'an attractive .overall appearance with the operating mechanism, including the swivel assembly, concealed from view within the lamp shade.

The natureand objects of the invention will be more apparent from a consideration'of the following detailed description of one preferred embodiment thereof, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, of a lighting fixture in accordance with the invention;

'FIGUREIZ is an exploded perspective view illustrating the operating mechanism of the lighting fixture hereof;

FIGURE 2A shows a portion of FIGURE 2 enlarged; and

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevation of the unitary cast swivel housing constructed in accordance with the invention.

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Referring to the drawings, the lighting fixture hereof comprises a supporting canopy 11 or other suitable mount-ing member, e.g., a mounting bracket, for supporting the fixture on a wall or similar supporting surface, to which is secured a side-supporting arm 12 rotatably supporting a lamp shade 13 which encloses and conceals the operating mechanism of the'fixture.

.It will be understood that the specific construction of the supporting canopy 11 is not apart of the present invention and any supporting construction, such as that described in my copending application Serial No. 32,438, now Patent No. 3,122,331 granted on February 25, 1964 may be utilized for the mounting member hereof.

Thesupporting arm '12 is secured to canopy '11 as by a nut 14en'gaging a threaded stem 15 thereof. A sleeve 16 is mounted on the stem to facilitate rigidly engaging the canopy 11 and arm 12 when the nut 14 is tightened; the sleeve is .provided with internal shoulders 17 (FIG- URE 2A) which are engaged by ledges defined by partially removing the thread of stem 15, as at 18, upon tightening 'the nut. The sleeve thus provides a simple yet rugged connection which conceals the threaded exterior of the stem and, at the same time, imparts an attractive external appearance to the supportingarm 12.

The shade may have any desirable configuration, e.g., frustoconical as depicted, and may be constituted of any suitable material, e.g., of metal, fiber glass, polyethylene or thelike. Asshown, a first elongated, generallyelliptical aperture 19, and a second aperture .21, are defined in the conical side wall 22and planar end wall 23, respectively, ofthe shade. If desired, the shade may also be providedwith any number of decorative vent openings 24 facilitating air circulation about the light bulb employed.

Mounted'withinthe shadei13 in fixed, aligned relation are a swivel assembly .25, a switch assembly 26 and a socket assembly 27,.best illustrated in FIGURE 2.

The swivel assembly comprises a swivel housing 25 desirably formed-in a single cast piece, whose lower portion defines a cavity 29 for receiving and mounting a swivel ball unit indicatedat 31.

The swivel ballunit shown includes a swivel ball 32, a cup washer .33, a loaded compression spring 34 for exerting pressure through the cup washer upon the swivel ball, and .a spring retaining washer 35 for maintaining the assembledunitwithin the cavity 29;

An elongated and opening 36 is provided :in the wall of the lower portion of the swivel housing adjacent :the cavity 29, aligned with and-adjacent to the elongated aperture 19 in the lamp shade; the end of the supporting arm 12 opposite from the stem 15 thereof extends through the aligned openings 19' and 36 and is rotatablysecured in known manner to the swivel ball .32 thereat.

The aligned openings=19and 36 are so';positioned and theirlengths are such-that the swivel housing28'and the rest of the operatingmechanism secured thereto and to the shade 13, asdescribed more fully hereinafter, can pivot through substantially a 50 arc with respect to the swivel ball unit 31 and the fixed mounting arm 12 secured thereto. Moreover, the rotatable connection between the arm 12 and the swivelball 32 is such as to enable-the latter, the swivel housing 28and the rest'ofthe-mechan-ism housed within the shade 13 to rotate substantially completely about the axis ofthe mounting arm. The rotation of the swivel ballabout the -rnounting arm is desirably limited by the provision of stop-lugs, and suitable indents may be provided to prevent rotation of the swivel ball relative to the swivel housing, in a manner well known in the art and disclosed, for example,-in the'aforesaid copending application Serial No. 32,438. The present invention is not, however, restricted to the use of any particular swivel ball unit and it will be understood that the unit described above is illustrative only and not intended in a limiting sense.

Disposed between the aligned openings 19 and 36, respectively, of the swivel housing and lamp shade, and substantially coextensive in size therewith, is an insert member 37 (FIGURE 3). The insert, which is cut-out or otherwise shaped to abut the mounting arm 12 where it extends through the aligned openings 19 and 36, may be suitably supported on the swivel housing 28, as between guide ridges 38 formed integrally therewith. The insert is constituted of a material simulating the outside surface of lamp 13 in order to conceal the swivel ball unit '31 from view from outside of the lamp shade. When the shade is provided with a brass finish, for example, the insert 37 is provided of a brass-toned plastic material, e.g., of polyethylene terephthalate film, commercially available as Mylar.

The lower portion of the swivel housing 28 additionally includes a pair of hollow positioning lugs 39 which are internally threaded to facilitate aligning and positioning the socket assembly 27 in fixed relation with respect to the swivel assembly 125, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The upper portion of the swivel housing defines a recess 41 in which a switch housing 42 of the switch assembly 26 is received. The switch housing is positioned within the recess 41 by a switch positioning web 43 formed integrally with the lower portion of the swivel housing. An extension member 44 is also provided having an aperture, e.g., a slot 45, with which a portion of switch assembly is engaged, as described below.

The switch assembly 26 includes a threaded nipple 46 secured to the switch housing 42 and extending through the slot 45 in the extension member 44 lengthwise of the recess 41 defined by the swivel housing. A nut 47 engages the nipple 46 and vbears against the underside of the extension 44 to maintain the switch housing and the associated elements of the switch assembly in fixed, aligned relation with respect to the swivel housing.

Mounted externally of the lamp shade 13 is a further element of the switch assembly 26, a switch knob 48. The switch knob bears against the flat upper surface 23 of the shade and includes a hollow, internally threaded socket 49 which is engaged by the threaded nipple 46. It will be noted that tightening of switch knob 48 thereby simultaneously interlocks the lamp shade 13 with the switch assembly 26 and the swivel assembly 25 secured thereto.

A pivotally movable threaded switch shaft 51 is connected to the switch mechanism within the switch housing 42 and extends through the nipple 46 into the interior of the socket 49. The shaft is connected to a threaded adapter 52 which extends through the socket 49 and is connected at its opposite end to a switch extension knob 53 mounted atop switch knob 48, and serves as a switch actuating element to facilitate manual operation of the lighting fixture.

It is intended, however, that the switch assembly may be replaced by an extension assembly in which, for example, a flanged threaded nipple, a threaded nipple and nut combination or a boss formed integrally with the swivel housing 28 is utilized in place of the switch housing 42. -It such case it will be understood that the switch extension knob 53 may be eliminated and the switch knob 48 utilized solely to facilitate the interlocking engagement of lamp shade and swivel housing. Alternatively, the switch knob 48 may also be eliminated and the extension assembly comprise suitable screw means securing the shade directly to the swivel housing. When such an alternative structure is employed, a suitable switch mechanism for operating the lighting fixture may be associated with the mounting canopy or a conventional wall switch may be so employed.

The socket assembly .27 includes a light socket 54 and a baflle washer 55 which are provided with aligned apertures 56 and 57, respectively, with which the positioning lugs 39 of the swivel housing are, in turn, aligned. A pair of closing screws 58 are passed through the aligned apertures and threada-bly engaged with the internal threads of lugs 39 to secure the socket assembly to the swivel housing in fixed relation. As shown in the drawing, the positioning lugs 39 are shouldered so as to pass through the apertures 56 in the baflle washer and abut the apertures 57 in the socket when secured by the closing screws, to provide the desired spaced relation between the respective elements. It will also be note that the bafiie washer, which may desirably be constituted of a plastic material such as a Mylar disc, is provided with apertures 59 and serves as a partition between the socket assembly 27 and the swivel assembly 25, concealing the latter from view from the lower, expanded portion of the lamp shade 13.

The lighting fixture is conveniently wired in the conventional manner by connecting one of a pair of wires 61, 62 from the switch mechanism to the socket 54, the wire 61 passing through one of the apertures 59 in the baffle washer 55. The other wire 62 is threaded, together with a lead extending from the socket through the bafiie washer, through the spring retaining washer, the remainder of the hollow swivel ball unit 31 and through the hollow mounting arm 12 to the canopy '11.

One outstanding advantage of the present invent-ion is the extreme simplicity with which the lighting fixture hereof may be assembled or disassembled. To assemble the device, the swivel ball unit 31 is initially assembled and attached to the arm 12 in known manner; the swivel ball unit is then fitted into the cavity 29 of the swivel housing 28 by rolling the swivel housing relative to the spring retaining washer 35. The switch housing 42 may thereafter be mounted within the recess 41 of the swivel housing positioned above the positioning web 43 thereof. By running the switch nut 47 up threaded nipple 46 until it bears against the underside of extension member 44, the switch housing is firmly locked in place. The socket assembly 27 is additionally simply assembled to the swivel assembly by passing the closing screws 54 through the socket and baffle washer apertures and screwing the same into the tapped holes in the lugs 39. A composite assembly is thereby produced which can readily be mounted within the lamp shade .13.

To provide the completed fixture, the composite previously wired assembly, upon which the insert 37 has previously been mounted, is inserted into the shade so that the threaded stem 15, from which the sleeve 16 is initially removed, protrudes through the elongated side aperture 19 in the shade, and the threaded nipple 46 protrudes through the end aperture 21 in the shade. The switch knob 48 is then tightened against the nipple, e.g., by employing a hex head wrench inserted into a hexagonal socket 64 provided in the upper surface of the switch knob, to thereby secure the shade in assembled relation with respect to the composite switch-swivelsocket assembly.

The adapter 52, having the switch extension knob 53 secured thereto, is thereafter dropped through the switch knob and engaged with the switch shaft 51, completing the switch assembly.

Finally, the mounting arm 12 is mounted to the canopy 11 by seating the shouldered sleeve 16 on the arm, passing the arm through the canopy aperture and tightening nut 14, thereby securing the canopy and the arm in a rigid assembly.

The thus completed assembly provides a rugged and yet simply constructed and assembled lighting fixture which is attractive and ornamental in design. Since various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention described without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that the preceding description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A lighting fixture including a concealed swivel as sembly, which comprises:

(a) a lamp shade having a first elongated aperture disposed in one side thereof and a second aperture disposed in one end thereof;

(b) a swivel assembly mounted within the shade, said assembly including 1) a swivel housing defining an inner cavity having an elongated end opening aligned with and positioned adjacent the elongated side aperture in the shade, and

(2) a swivel ball unit received in the inner cavity of the swivel housing;

(c) a switch assembly, at least a portion of which is mounted within the shade adjacent the swivel assembly, and which includes means mounted externally of the shade, extending outwardly of said second aperture thereof, for controlling the operation of the switch mechanism;

(d) a socket assembly mounted within the shade adjacent the swivel assembly;

(e) means securing the switch assembly and the socket assembly to the swivel housing in fixed, aligned relation therewith;

(f) a mounting member for supporting the fixture on a suitable supporting surface; and

(g) a mounting arm secured at one end to the mounting member, extending through the first elongated aperture in the shade and the aligned elongated opening in the swivel housing, and being rotatably secured at its opposite end to the swivel ball unit to facilitate swiveling the shade relative thereto.

2. The lighting fixture as defined in claim 1, in which said switch assembly includes a switch knob mounted externally of the shade and engaging said one end thereof, the knob being secured in fixed relation with respect to the swivel housing and thereby maintaining the swivel housing and the shade in a unitary, rigid assembly.

3. The lighting fixture as defined in claim 1, in which said swivel housing is an integral, cast member through one wall of which the elongated end opening in the swivel housing extends, said wall including means supporting an insert for engaging said mounting arm adjacent said end opening and concealing such opening, the material of said insert simulating the outer walls of the lamp shade.

4. The lighting fixture as defined in claim 1, in which the swivel housing includes (1) a lower portion defining said cavity for receiving and mounting the swivel ball unit;

(2) an upper portion defining a recess for housing a switch element of said switch assembly, and having a roof segment for securing said switch assembly in fixed relation with respect to said swivel housing;

(3) a positioning member formed on the upper surface of the lower portion of the swivel housing for positioning said switch assembly in said recess; and

(4) a plurality of positioning members formed integrally with the lower portion of the swivel housing for engaging said socket assembly and positioning the same in fixed relation with respect to the swivel housing.

5. A lighting fixture including a concealed swivel assembly which comprises (a) a lamp shade having an elongated aperture disposed in one side thereof and having a planar surface at one end thereof in which a second aperture is defined;

(b) a swivel assembly mounted within the shade, said assembly comprising (1) a unitary swivel housing including a lower portion defining a cavity having an elongated. opening which is disposed adjacent the elongated aperture in said shade and is aligned and substantially coextensive in size therewith, and which lower portion includes a plurality of positioning lugs formed integrally therewith, said swivel housing additionally including an upper portion defining a recess, and including an apertured roof segment, and (2) a rotatable swivel ball unit received in said cavity; (c) aswitch assembly mounted adjacent the swivel assembly in fixed, aligned relation therewith and ineluding a switch housing disposed in said recess in the swivel housing and mounted in fixed relation therewith by means associated with the apertured roof segment of the swivel housing, a switch knob mounted externally of said shade-engaging the planar end surface thereof and secured in fixed relation with respect to said switch housing to thereby maintain the shade and the swivel housing in a unitary, rigid assembly, and a switch actuating means extending outwardly of said switch knob and secured to the switch mechanism to facilitate manual operation of the lighting fixture;

(d) a socket assembly mounted within the shade adjacent the swivel housing and positioned in fixed, aligned relation therewith by means secured to said positioning lugs formed integrally with the swivel housing;

(e) a mounting canopy for supporting the lighting fixture on a suitable supporting surface;

(f) a mounting arm secured at one end to the canopy, extending through the elongated aperture in the shade and the aligned elongated opening in the swivel housing, and being rotatably connected to the swivel ball unit; and

(g) an insert member aligned with and interposed between said elongated apertures, said member abutting the mounting arm and simulating the outside material of the lamp shade to thereby conceal the swivel assembly from external view.

6. The light-ing fixture as defined in claim 5, in which the swivel housing includes a positioning member adjacent said recess for positioning said switch housing therein, and in which the switch assembly includes a threaded nipple connected to said switch housing having a nut engaged therewith, said threaded nipple passing through a slot in the apertured roof segment of the swivel housing and said nut bearing against said r-oof segment to maintain the switch assembly in fixed relation relative to said swivel housing;

a switch shaft connected at one end to the switch mechanism in the switch housing and extending longitudinally of and within said threaded nipple;

a switch control element mounted externally of said shade in abutting relation with said switch knob, for actuating and deactuating the switch mechanism; and

an adapter element extending longitudinally of and within the switch knob and secured at one end to said switch shaft and at the opposite end to said switch control element.

7. The lighting fixture as defined in claim 5, in which said socket assembly includes a battle washer and a socket, each of which is provided with apertures aligned with the positioning lugs of the swivel housing, said assembly also including a plurality of closing screws extending through said socket and said baflle washer and being secured to said positioning lugs to maintain the swivel assembly and the socket assembly in fixed, aligned relation.

8. A lighting fixture including a concealed swivel assembly, which comprises:

(a) a lamp shade having an elongated aperture disposed in one side thereof;

(b) a swivel assembly mounted within the shade, said assembly including 1) a swivel housing defining an inner cavity having an elongated end opening aligned with and positioned adjacent the elongated side aperture in the shade, and

(2) a swivel ball unit received in the inner cavity of the swivel housing;

(0) an extension assembly, at least a portion of which is mounted within the shade adjacent the swivel assembly and which includes means for securing the lamp shade and swivel housing in fixed interlocked relation;

(d) a socket assembly mounted within the shade adja- 0 cent the swivel assembly and including means securing the same to the swivel housing in fixed aligned relation therewith;

(e) a mounting member for supporting the fixture on a suitable supporting surface; and

8 (f) a mounting arm secured at one end to the mounting member, extending through the first elongated aperture in the shade and the aligned elongated opening in the swivel housing, and being rotatably secured at its opposite end to the swivel ball unit to facilitate swiveling the shade relative thereto.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,925,294 2/ 1960 Schwartz. 2,925,489 2/1960 Schwartz. 3,057,994 10/ 1962 Irmischer 240-81 3,122,331 2/ 1964 Schwartz 240-73 15 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A LIGHTING FIXTURE INCLUDING A CONCEALED SWIVEL ASSEMBLY, WHICH COMPRISES: (A) A LAMP SHADE HAVING A FIRST ELONGATED APERTURE DISPOSED IN ONE SIDE THEREOF AND A SECOND APERTURE DISPOSED IN ONE END THEREOF; (B) A SWIVEL ASSEMBLY MOUNTED WITHIN THE SHADE, SAID ASSEMBLY INCLUDING (1) A SWIVEL HOUSING DEFINING AN INNER CAVITY HAVING AN ELONGATED END OPENING ALIGNED WITH AND POSITIONED ADJACENT THE ELONGATED SIDE APERTURE IN THE SHADE, AND (2) A SWIVEL BALL UNIT RECEIVED IN THE INNER CAVITY OF THE SWIVEL HOUSING; (C) A SWITCH ASSEMBLY, AT LEAST A PORTION OF WHICH IS MOUNTED WITHIN THE SHADE ADJACENT THE SWIVEL ASSEMBLY, AND WHICH INCLUDES MEANS MOUNTED EXTERNALLY OF THE SHADE, EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID SECOND APERTURE THEREOF, FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF THE SWITCH MECHANISM; (D) A SOCKET ASSEMBLY MOUNTED WITHIN THE SHADE ADJACENT THE SWIVEL ASSEMBLY; (E) MEANS SECURING THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY AND THE SOCKET ASSEMBLY TO THE SWIVEL HOUSING IN FIXED, ALIGNED RELATION THEREWITH; (F) A MOUNTING MEMBER FOR SUPPORTING THE FIXTURE ON A SUITABLE SUPPORTING SURFACE; AND (G) A MOUNTING ARM SECURED AT ONE END TO THE MOUNTING MEMBER, EXTENDING THROUGH THE FIRST ELONGATED APERTURE IN THE SHADE AND THE ALIGNED ELONGATED OPENING IN THE SWIVEL HOUSING, AND BEING ROTATABLY SECURED AT ITS OPPOSITE END TO THE SWIVEL BALL UNIT TO FACILITATE SWIVAL THE SHADE RELATIVE THERETO.

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