US3278203A

US3278203A - Swivel connector for lamps and the like

Info

Publication number: US3278203A
Application number: US342758A
Authority: US
Inventors: Snyder Gerson
Original assignee: Snyder Manufacturing Co Inc
Current assignee: Snyder Manufacturing Co Inc
Priority date: 1964-02-05
Filing date: 1964-02-05
Publication date: 1966-10-11
Anticipated expiration: 1983-10-11

Description

Oct. 11, 1966 G. SNYDER SWIVEL CONNECTOR FOR LAMPS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 5, 1964 mvsnron: GERSON SNYDER FIGB ATTYS.

Oct. 11, 1966 s. SNYDER SWIVEL CONNECTOR FOR LAMPS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 5, 19

: Arms h l FF Q 3,278,203 SWIVEL CUNNECTUR FQR LAMPS AND THE LIKE Gerson Snyder, Wynnewood, Pa, assignor to Snyder Manufacturing Company, Philadelphia, Pa, :1 corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Feb. 5, 1964, Ser. No. 342,758 5 Claims. (Cl. 285-160) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in swivel connectors, and more particularly to swivel connectors for lamps to connect the shade and socket assembly to the fixed standard of the lamp in a manner to permit the shade assembly to be adjustably positioned with respect thereto. The invention is especially adapted for use in conjunction with so-called pole-lamps comprising a vertical tubular pole or standard to which one or more lamp shade socket assemblies are adjustably secured by a connector through which the electrical cord or wire passes from the pole or standard to the shade for connection to the lamp socket mounted therein.

One of the difficulties which has plagued the art prior to the present invention has been the failure to provide a swivel connector of the type described which can be connected readily and efficiently to both the lamp pole and the shade and which is constructed and arranged so that frequent manipulation of the swivel to adjustably position the shade relative to the pole will not damage the electrical cord or wire which passes through the swivel.

With the foregoing in mind, an object of the present invention is to provide a swivel connector of novel construction and arrangement which effectively overcomes and eliminates the difficulties and objections of similar connectors heretofore available.

Another object of the invention is to provide a swivel connector as described, certain .parts of which embody novel features of construction and arrangement for securely attaching the connector to the pole and shade of the lamp in a relatively simplified, practical and efficient manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a swivel connector having the attributes set forth embodying novel features of construction and arrangement for limiting rotary adjustment of the lamp shade relative to the pole or standard to prevent unlimited twisting of and resultant damage to the electrical cord or wire passing through the connector.

A further object of the invention is to provide a swivel connector embodying the foregoing features of construction and arrangement which is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and which may be quickly and economically installed and assembled.

These and other objects of the invention and the features and details of the construction and arrangement of parts embodied in the swivel connector are hereinafter fully set forth and described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial side elevation view of a pole lamp incorporating between the pole and lamp shade a swivel connector made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the portion of the pole lamp shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the limit of rotational movement of the lamp shade relative to the pole about the longitudinal axis of the swivel connector;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view longitudinally through the swivel connector of the present invention showing the connections thereof to the lamp pole and lamp shade;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of one end of the swivel connector illustrating the manner in Which the shade is securely attached to the lamp pole;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of the opposite end nited States Patent 0 ice of the connector illustrating the manner in which the same is securely attached to the lamp shade;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view on line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view in reduced scale on line 7-7 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view in reduced scale on line 8-8 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the component parts of the swivel connector showing the same relatively separated for purposes of illustration;

FIGS. l0, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are perspective views of certain components of the swivel connector illustrating the features and details of the construction thereof.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a swivel connector embodying the present invention is designated C and is shown in conjunction with what is known in the trade as a pole-lamp, comprising a tubular pole or standard P and at least one lamp shade and socket assembly S which is adjustably connected to the pole P by the swivel connector C.

The swivel connector C com-prises an external tapered body member 1 and a detachable cap member 2 together with certain internal parts hereinafter described. The external body member 1 of the connector C has a continuous bore or passage extending coaxially therethrough, and this bore or passage is of stepped construction, as best shown in FIG. 3, to provide successive portions of respectively greater diameter progressively from the outer end of the member 1 to the inner end thereof, as indicated at 3, 4, 5 and 6 respectively. As shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the bore portion 3 is initially provided adjacent the outer end thereof with a reduced neck portion 7, the purpose of which is described hereinafter.

One of the features of the swivel connection of the present invention resides in the means provided for attaching the opposite ends of the connector to the pole P and shade assembly S, respectively. In the past this has usually been accomplished by providing threaded portions on opposite ends of a connector and securing them to the pole P and shade assembly S by means of nuts, a tedious and difficult task not only in initial assembly of the lamp, but particularly when the nuts become loose and drop off .as a result of repeated adjustment of the shade assembly S relative to the vertical or standard pole P.

In accordance with the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9 of the drawings, the outer end face of the body member 1 of the connector C is provided with a first pair of endwise projecting lugs 8 of radially elongated configuration arranged diametrically at opposite sides of the bore through the body member 1, and a second pair of endwise projecting lugs 9 of circumferentially arcuate configuration arranged diametrically at opposite sides of said bore and equally spaced circumferentially with respect to the lugs 8. By this construction and arrangement the wall thickness of the body member 1 between the adjacent lugs 8 and 9 is substantially reduced and weakened at points 12 for a purpose hereinafter described.

To receive the projecting lugs 8 and 9 of the body member 1, there is formed in the pole or standard P a circular opening 10 of a diameter just slightly larger than the external diameter of the arcuate lugs 9, and having diametrically disposed vertically extending slots o-r recesses 11 of a size and configuration to receive the radially elongated lugs 8 in the manner and relationship shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings.

To attach and secure the body member 1 of the connector C to the pole or standard P, the lugs 8 and 9 on the outer end face of the body member 1 are inserted into the opening 10 and slots 11 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 of the drawings. A rotary power tool 13 is inserted into the bore of the body member 1 from the outer end thereof and brought to bear against the reduced neck portion 7, previously described. The tool 13 exerts a radial force on the neck portion 7 sufficient to fracture the wall portion of the body member 1 at the points 12, for example as shown at 12a in FIG. 13 and to force the pairs of lugs 8 and 9 radially outward into interlocking engagement with the adjacent portions of the pole or standard P, for example, as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. The provision of radially elongated lugs 8 and the interlocking engagement thereof in their vertically extending slots 11 of the pole lamp opening 10 effectively secures the body member 1 against rotation with respect to the pole or standard P.

Mounted in the bore of the body member 1 is the female member, generally designated 15, of a ball and socket joint, the male member of which is generally designated 16. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 9, the female member 15 has an enlarged head portion 17 which is received within the largest diameter portion 6 of the bore through the body member 1 of the connector and a tubular sleeve portion 18 of smaller diameter which extends coaxially from the head portion 17 through the bore portion a substantial distance into the bore portion 4. The female member 15 is free to rotate within the body member 1 about the axis thereof within predetermined limits determined by a lug 19 provided externally on the head portion 17 of the female member 15 and disposed for cooperative engagement with a lug 20 provided interiorly of the bore surface 6 of largest diameter. Preferably the lug 20 is provided at the top of the bore surface 6, as shown in FIG. 3, so that coaxial rotation of the female member 15 within the body member 1 is permitted through a substantial arc, for example as shown by the arrows in FIG. 2 of the drawings, but nevertheless an arc of less than 360.

As also shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, an expansion spring 21 is provided in the bore portion 5 of the body member 1 and circumscribes the sleeve portion 18 of the female member 15. This spring 21 seats against the annular shoulder 5a provided between the bore portions 4 and 5 of the body member 1 and its other end engages against a confronting shoulder 17a formed by the inner face of the head portion 17 of the female member 15.

The head portion 17 of the female member 15 is provided with a semi-spherical socket or recess 22 which receives therein the semi-spherical ball portion 24 of the male member 16. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 11 of the drawings, the semi-spherical recess or socket 22 of the female member 15 is provided with an axially extending arcuate lug or projection 25 which engages within a correspondingly formed axially extending slot or groove 26 in the semi-spherical ball portion 24 of the male member 16. By this construction it will be observed that pivotal or rotational movement of the male member 16 relative to the female member 15 is permitted in a plane containing the rotational axis of the female member 15 and substantially normal to the direction of rotation thereof. Both members 15 and 16 of the universal joint have a continuous bore or passage extending coaxially therethrough for passage of an electrical cord from the pole P to the shade assembly S. The slot or groove 26 is cut-back or recessed as at 26a and a diametrically disposed cut-out recess 26b is provided, as shown in FIG. 3, to afford clearance for the electrical cord so that the latter will not be damaged by rotation of the male and female members 16 and 15 relative to one another.

The male member 16 is attached and secured to the lamp shade and socket assembly S much in the same manner as the body member 1 is attached and secured to the lamp pole or standard P. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, the bore or passage through the male member 16 is provided adjacent its outer end with a reduced neck portion 27 and the exterior of the reduced outer end portion 28 is provided with oppositely disposed fiat surface portions 29. To receive this outer end por- 4. tion 28 of the male member 16, an opening 30 of corresponding configuration is formed in the lamp shade S and an associated washer 31 disposed interiorly of the lamp shade S to provide additional support and rigidity to the assembly.

To attach and secure the male member 16 of the connector to the lamp shade assembly S, the outer end portion of the member is inserted into the opening 30 and through the washer 31 as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings. A rotary power tool is then inserted into the bore and brought to bear against the reduced neck portion 27 of the member 16. The tool 13a exerts a radially outward force on the neck portion 27 sufiicient to fracture the end wall of the member 16 as indicated at 28a in FIG. 14 and thereby force the adjacent end portions of the member 16 radially outward into interlocking engagement with the adjacent portions of the shade assembly S, for example, as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawing.

The semi-spherical portion 24 of the male member 16 is retained seated in the semi-spherical recess 22 of the female member 15 by means of the detachable cap member 2 previously mentioned. The cap member 2 comprises an axially transverse web portion 35 and an outer axially extending continuous peripheral flange portion 36. The web portion 35 of the cap 2 has a central opening 37 therethrough of smaller diameter than the maximum diameter of the semi-spherical ball portion 24 of the male member 16 and this opening is provided with a corresponding concave surface portion adapted to seat against the semi-spherical surface of the ball portion 24 of the said member 16, for example, in the relation shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings.

The radially extending continuous peripheral flange portion 36 of the cap 2 has an internal diameter large enough to receive therein the circumferentially extending arcuate radial flange portions 38 provided on the outer surface of the inner larger end of the connector body member 1 as shown most clearly in FIGS. 3, 9 and 10 of the drawings. A pair of lugs 39 having inclined inner cam surfaces 39a are provided interiorly of the flange portion 36 of the cap 2 at diametrically opposite locations thereon and these lugs 39 are positioned to engage behind the arcuate flange portions 38 on the body member 1 and secure the cap member 2 on the body member 1 substantially in the manner of a bayonet type connection.

This may be accomplished by positioning the cap 2 circumferentially with respect to the body member 1 so that the lugs 39 of the cap 2 may be passed between the arcuate flange portions 38 on the body member 1 by movement of the cap axially over the inner end of the body member 1 and then rotating the cap in the clockwise direction with respect to FIG. 10 to engage the lugs 39 behind the arcuate flange members 38 of the body 1. In this connection, it will be noted, with reference to FIG. 9 of the drawings, that the inner surfaces of the flange portions 38 are inclined in the clockwise direction with reference to FIG. 10 to provide cam surfaces 40 (FIG. 9) for cooperative engagement by the cam surfaces 39a of the lugs 39 during circumferential movement of the cap 2. The cam surfaces 40 are of less circumferential extent than the flanges 38 and when the cap 2 has been rotated sufficiently the lugs 39 ride off of the cam portions 40 and drop behind a shoulder 41 thereby locking the cap member 2 on the body member 1 against accidental disconnection. Diametrically opposed stops are provided by axial flange portions 38a (FIG. 9) to limit rotational movement of the cap 2 on the body 1.

With the cap member 2 thus locked on the body member 1 as described, the expansion force of the spring 21 serves to maintain the male and female members 16 and 15 firmly seated against each other and against the cap member 2 and the latter in turn against the body member 1 so that there is sufficient frictional engagement between the moving parts of the connector to maintain the lamp shade assembly 5 in the position to which it is adjustably manipulated within the limits of movement provided by the connector C. It will be apparent, of course, that the body member 1 and the male member 16 must be separately and independently attached to the lamp pole or standard P and the shade assembly S, respectively, before the connector is assembled and the cap 2 detachably secured upon the body member 1 as described.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is not intended to limit the invention to such disclosure and it is contemplated 1 that changes and modifications may be made and incorporated therein within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A swivel connector comprising a body member, a female socket member mounted in said body member and axially rotatable therein, intercooperating lugs on said body and female members operable to predeterminedly limit rotation of the latter relative to the body member, a male ball member rotatably seated in said female member, a lug on one of said male and female members engaged in a slot in the other thereof to limit rotational movement of the male and female members relative to each other to a plane containing the rotational axis of the female member, a cap member engaging the male member and detachably interlocked with the body member to retain the male member seated in the female member, a spring acting between the body member and female member operable to maintain the male and female members under compression relative to the cap member and the latter relative to the body member to prevent accidental disconnection of the cap member and maintain the male and female members in the positions to which adjusted relative to one another and the body member, circumferentially arranged axially projecting oppositely disposed pairs of circumferentially arcuate and radially elongated lugs at the outer end of said body member arranged for insertion through an opening in a support, the portions of the body member intermediate adjacent of said lugs being fracturable by a predetermined radial force applied internally of the body member to displace said lugs radially outward into interlocking engagement with the adjacent wall portion of said support.

2. A swivel connector comprising a body member, a female socket member mounted in said body member and axially rotatable therein, intercooperating lugs on said body and female members operable to predeterminedly limit rotation of the latter relative to the body member, a male ball member rotatably seated in said female member, a lug on one of said male and female members engaged in a slot in the other thereof to limit rotational movement of the male and female members relative to each other to a plane containing the rotational axis of the female member, a cap member engaging the male member and detachably interlocked with the body member to retain the male member seated in the female member, a spring acting between the body member and female member operable to maintain the male and female members under compression relative to the cap member and the latter relative to the body member to prevent accidental disconnection of the cap member and maintain the male and female members in the positions to which adjusted relative to one another and the body member, circumferentially arranged axially projecting oppositely disposed pairs of circumferentially arcuate and radially elongated lugs at the outer end of said body member arranged for insertion through a correspondingly configurated opening in a support, the portion of the body member intermediate adjacent of said lugs being fracturable by a predetermined radial force applied internally of the body member to displace said lugs radially outward into interlocking engagement with the adjacent wall portion of said support,

the radially elongated pair of said lugs when engaged in the correspondingly configurated portions of the opening in the support operating to prevent axial rotation of the body member relative to the support.

3. A swivel connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the male ball member is also provided at the outer end with circumferentially arranged axially projecting circumferentially arcuate lugs for insertion through an opening in an adjacent structure, and the portions of the member between adjacent lugs are weakened and fracturable by a predetermined radial force applied internally of the member to displace said lugs outwardly into interlocking engagement with the adjacent wall portion of said structure.

4 A swivel connector comprising a body member, a female socket member mounted in said body member and axially rotatable therein, a male ball member rotatably seated in said female member, a cap member engaging the male member and detachably interlocked with the body member to retain the male member seated in the female member, a spring acting between the body member and female member operable to maintain the male and female members under compression relative to the cap member and the latter relative to the body member to prevent accidental disconnection of the cap member and maintain the male and female members in the positions to which adjusted relative to one another and the body member, circumferentially arranged axially projecting oppositely disposed pairs of lugs at the outer end of said body member arranged for insertion through an opening in a support, the portion of the body member intermediate adjacent of said lugs being fracturable by a predetermined radial force applied internally of the body member to displace said lugs radially outward into interlocking engagement with the adjacent wall portion of said support.

5. A swivel connector comprising a body member, a female socket member mounted in said body member and axially rotatable therein, a male ball member rotatably seated in said female member, a cap member engaging the male member and detachably interlocked with the body member to retain the male member seated in the female member, a spring acting between the body member and female member operable to maintain the male and female members under compression relative to the cap member and the latter relative to the body member to prevent accidental disconnection of the cap member and maintain the male and female members in the positions to which adjusted relative to one another and the body member, circumferentially arranged axially projecting oppositely disposed pairs of lugs at the outer ends of said body member and male ball member respectively arranged for insertion through openings in adjacent structures, the portions of the body member and male ball member intermediate adjacent lugs being fracturable by a predetermined radial force applied internally of the said members to displace said lugs radially outward into interlocking engagement with the adjacent wall portions of the adjacent structures, and said lugs when engaged with said wall portions operating to prevent axial rotation of the body member and male ball member relative thereto.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,867,206 7/1932 Brady 248-223 X 2,859,983 11/1958 May 285269 X 3,104,067 9/1963 Stiifel 285-269 X 3,154,283 10/1964 Spinnato. 3,179,367 4/1965 Rapata 248-223 X NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES C. LOGAN, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

4. A SWIVEL CONNECTION COMPRISING A BODY MEMBER, A FEMALE SOCKET MEMBER MOUNTED IN SAID BODY MEMBER AND AXIALLY ROTATABLE THEREIN, A MALE BALL MEMBER ROTATABLY SEATED IN SAID FEMALE MEMBER, A CAP MEMBER ENGAGING THE MALE MEMBER AND DETACHABLY INTERLOCKED WITH THE BODY MEMBER TO RETAIN THE MALE MEMBER SEATED IN THE FEMALE MEMBER, A SPRING ACTING BETWEEN THE BODY MEMBER AND FEMALE MEMBET OPERABLE TO MAINTAIN THE MALE AND FEMALE MEMBERS UNDER COMPRESSION RELATIVE TO THE CAP MEMBER AND THE LATTER RELATIVE TO THE BODY MEMBER TO PREVENT ACCIDENTAL DISCONNECTION OF THE CAP MEMBER AND MAINTAIN THE MALE AND FEMALE MEMBERS IN THE POSITIONS TO WHICH ADJUSTED RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER AND THE BODY MEMBER, CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ARRANGED AXIALLY PROJECTING OPPOSITELY DISPOSED PAIRS OF LUGS AT THE OUTER END OF SAID BODY MEMBER ARRANGED FOR INSERTION THROUGH AN OPENING IN A SUPPORT, THE PORTION OF THE BODY MEMBER INTERMEDIATE ADJACENT OF SAID LUGS BEING FRACTURABLE BY A PREDETERMINED RADIAL FORCE APPLIED INTERNALLY OF THE BODY MEMBER TO DISPLACE SAID LUGS RADIALLY OUTWARD INTO INTERLOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ADJACENT WALL PORTION OF SAID SUPPORT.