US3491231A

US3491231A - Low voltage lighting fixture

Info

Publication number: US3491231A
Application number: US624062A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenneth A Larkin
Original assignee: WEMAC CO
Current assignee: WEMAC CO
Priority date: 1967-03-17
Filing date: 1967-03-17
Publication date: 1970-01-20
Anticipated expiration: 1987-01-20

Description

Jan. 1970 K. A. LARKIN 3, 9

LOW VOLTAGE LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed March 17, 1967 IA/VJ/VTOK Ken/191% IZ [ark/)7 Arram/anr United States Patent 3,491,231 LOW VOLTAGE LIGHTING FIXTURE Kenneth A. Larkin, Los Alamitos, Califi, assignor to Wemac Company, Inglewood, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Mar. 17, 1967, Ser. No. 624,062 Int. Cl. F21v 7/14 US. Cl. 24041.25 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A lamp for use with a low voltage source has a dual filament low voltage lamp bulb and a reflector having reflective circular bands surrounding the bulb. A three way switch is provided for energizing the filaments individually or collectively. The reflector, electrical socket, lamp bulb, and switch are all contained in a truncated cone element having a larger open end and a smaller closed end.

The use of low voltage lighting systems is becoming more common because of the advantages of low voltage lighting systems over standard household high voltage lighting systems. For example, the requirements for the installation of low voltage lighting systems are less stringent than the requirements for the installation of high voltage lighting systems. For example, the size of the electrical wiring and the insulation required for low voltage lighting systems are simpler and less expensive than that required for the common type wiring now used in the home. In addition to the increasing use of low voltage lighting systems in the home, a common use for low voltage lighting systems is in vehicles such as trailers and boats, since the low voltage lighting systems may be driven directly 01f of the standard battery-generator system used with the trailers and boats.

One drawback to the use of low voltage lighting systems is the unavailability of particular types of fixtures or lamps which may be necessary so as to produce desired lighting functions. For example, it is often desirable to have a variable amplitude lighting fixture so that the light output can be adjusted to a desired amplitude depending upon the particular condition under which the lighting fixture is to be used. For example, the lighting fixture may have a first setting to produce low amplitude light output, usable as a night light or a running light and other settings to provide for increased light.

It has been proposed to provide for a dual amplitude light output lighting fixture by using a switch mechanism to adjust the voltage supplied to the filament of the lamp in the lighting fixture. This structure is relatively expensive since it is necessary to provide means for reducing the voltage. For example, some systems use tapped transformers and other systems use voltage dividing networks. Another method which has been proposed is the use of continuously variable dimmer mechanisms. In either case, the systems are relatively bulky and expensive.

The present invention is directed to a low voltage lighting fixture which provides three levels of light output. Specifically, the present invention uses a commercially available l2-volt dual filament automobile lamp as the lamp portion of the lighting fixture and a three-way switch to selectively energize the filaments in the dual filament lamp. Heretofore, no one has thought that this type of an automobile lamp could be used in a low voltage lighting fixture With a three-way switch. The present invention, therefore, has the l2-volt dual filament automobile lamp connected into an electrical socket which receives the lamp and has the three-way switch connected to the electrical socket. The three-way switch then provides a selective energization of the filaments so as to See energize the filaments individually and collectively to provide the three levels of light output. The present invention also includes mounting the filament in a reflector having reflective circular bands to concentrate the light output and wherein the entire structure is mounted within a truncated cone so as to provide a uniquely compact three-way low voltage lighting fixture.

A clearer understanding of the invention will be had with reference to the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 shows the three-way low voltage lighting fixture constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

FIGURE 2 illustrates the structure contained within the truncated cone shown in FIGURE 1.

In FIGURE 1, a lighting fixture 10 includes a base 12. Two

wires

14 and 16 extend from the base 12 for connection to an appropriate low voltage power source such as a 12-volt power source. A hollow upstanding member 18 extends from the base 12. The wire 14 runs within the upstanding member 18 and the wire 16 is connected to the base. A swivel joint 20 is attached to the upper portion of the upstanding member 18 and includes a hollow ball and socket so as to provide for freedom in motion at the upper end of the upstanding member 18.

A truncated cone member 22 is connected to the swivel joint 20. The truncated cone member 22 may, therefore, be swiveled about the upstanding member 18 through the use of the swivel joint 20. The internal construction of the lighting fixture included within the truncated cone 22 may be seen in greater detail in FIGURE 2.

In FIGURE 2 an electrical socket 50 is used to receive a low voltage dual filament lamp 52, such as a l2-v0lt dual filament automobile lamp. The electrical socket 50 is spring loaded by a spring 62 and the dual filament lamp 52 has a plug-in swivel-type base which includes outwardly extending

members

54 and 56. The electrical socket 50 includes

openings

58 and 60 to receive the

extensions

54 and 56 thereby locking the dual filament lamp within the electrical socket 50. The spring member 62 contained in the electrical socket 50 provides for good contact of the lamp 52 within the socket 50.

A flange member 64 extends from one end of the electrical socket and is used to support a three-way switch 66. The three-way switch is connected to the electrical socket through the use of

wires

68 and 70. A knob member 72 extends from the three-way switch 66 so as to provide control of the three-way switch 66. Also, the wire 14 is connected to the three-way switch 66 and the threeway switch 66 is connected to the wire 16 through the metal housing of the lighting fixture 10.

A reflector 74 extends from the end of the electrical socket 50 opposite the three-way switch 66 and surrounds the dual filament lamp 52. The reflector 74 includes a plurality of reflective circular bands 76 to concentrate the light energy produced by the dual filament lamp 52. As can be seen in FIGURE 1, the entire structure of the reflector 74, electrical socket 50, dual filament lamp 52 and three-way switch 66 is contained within the truncated cone 22. The truncated cone 22 has a large open end and the light energy is directed out of this open end and the truncated cone 22 has a small closed end and the knob 72 extends from the small end so as to provide for external control of the three-way switch 66.

In the operation of the lighting fixture of the present invention, the

wires

14 and 16 are connected to a low voltage source such as a l2-volt source. The base 12 is mounted in the desired location and a 12-volt dual filament automobile lamp, such as the lamp 52, is inserted in the electrical socket 50. The 12-volt dual filament automobile lamp is the type used to provide a running night light plus a stop function in automobiles and includes

dual filament

78 and 80. The type of dual filament lamp is particularly adapted for use in the lighting fixture of the present invention, and this type of lamp has never been used in a low voltage lighting fixture so as to provide for a three level light output by the selective energization of the filaments individually and collectively.

The filament 78 may be a low intensity filament and the filament 80 may be a high intensity filament. When the three-way switch 66 is turned to the first position, the filament 78 is energized so as to provide for a low intensity light output. When the three-way switch is turned. to the second position, the filament 78 is deenergized and the filament 80 is energized so as to provide for an intermediate intensity light output. When the three-way switch 66 is turned to the third position, both

filaments

78 and 80 are energized to provide for the high intensity light output. Finally, the three-way switch may be turned to the off position so as to deenergize the lighting fixture. The reflector 74 provides for a concentration of the light energy produced by the dual filament lamp 52 as as to maximize the light energy from the low voltage lighting fixture of the present invention.

The present invention, therefore, includes a novel threeway low voltage lighting fixture which uses a l2-volt dual filament automobile lamp. The present invention satisfies a particular need in the low voltage lighting fixture field and satisfies this need simply and inexpensively when compared with the prior art structures. It is to be appreciated that the present invention has been disclosed with reference to a particular embodiment but that various adaptations and modifications may be made. The invention is, therefore, only to be limited by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. For use with a low voltage power source, a lighting fixture for receiving a dual filament, low voltage lamp having contact areas for connection with the dual filaments, including an electrical socket for receiving the dual filament, low voltage lamp and including a plurality of contacts for energizing the contact areas of the low voltage dual filament lamp a three-Way electrical switch for connection to the low voltage source and electrically connected to the electrical socket for selectively energizing the filaments of the low voltage dual filament'lamp with the low voltage to successively energize the dual filaments individually and collectively and a reflector having reflective circular bands surrounding the dual filament lamp and wherein the reflector, electrical socket, dual filament lamp and three-way electrical switch are all contained in a truncated cone element having a larger open end and a smaller closed end.

2. The low voltage lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein the low voltage dual filament lamp has a plug-in, swivel type base and the electrical socket is spring loaded and designed to receive the plug-in, swivel type base.

3. For use with a low voltage power source, a lighting fixture for receiving a 12-volt, dual filament automobile lamp having a plug-in, swivel type base including a spring loaded socket for receiving the 12-volt dual filament automobile lamp and including contacts for engaging contact portions of the plug-in, swivel type base;

a three-way electrical switch for connection to the low voltage power source and electrically connected to the electrical socket for selectively energizing the filaments of the 12-vo1t dual filament automobile lamp with the low voltage to successively energize the dual filaments individually and collectively;

a reflector having reflective circular bands surrounding the dual filament lamp; and

a pivotally mounted truncated cone having an open end and a closed end, and wherein the reflector, electrical socket, 12-volt dual filament lam-p and three-way -electrical switch are all contained in the truncated cone.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,689,378 10/1928 Broughton 240--41.25 1,738,426 12/1929 Finkelstein 24041.36 X 2,245,793 6/1941 Kurlander 240-4l.25 2,885,539 5/1959 McDermott 24081 X 3,238,366 3/1966 Schwartz 24081 X 3,263,069 7/1966 Krucki 240-81 X NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner MONROE H. HAYES, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.