US3593020A - Lighting fixture - Google Patents

Abstract

An improved lighting fixture comprising a mounting base member, a readily removable globe retainer member, the said members being interconnected by a bayonet connection which provides a degree of yielding relative movement between the mounting base and globe retainer, to render the fixture resistant to damage when exposed to high wind, vibration or shock.

Description

United States Patent Inventor Anthony C. Donate Woodridge. NJ.

Appl. No. 841.078

Filed July .1969

Pcteated July I3. 1971 Assignee Llghtoller Incorporated New York, NY.

LIGHTING FIXTURE "ChhuJDrewhgFlp.

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SL521. 84. I00. I25. I28, I29, 137. 145,73 QD; 248518.343

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/l956 9ll9$9 8/1967 8/1967 lll968 4/I968 Moran Wince Leibl H Kepenach Sclafanium. DevineJr. .v

Primary Examiner- Louis J Capozi Allorney-Arthur Bi Colvin 240/8 X ZAOIIOO 240M 28 243/318 240/!37 ABSTRACT: An improved lighting fixture comprising a mounting base mem her. a readily removable globe retainer member, the said members being interconnected by a bayonet connection which provides a degree of yielding relative movemen! between the mounting base and globe retainer, to render the fixture resistant to damage when exposed to high wind. vibration or shock PATENIEDJULHIB?! SW 1 OF 3 3.593020 INWIN'IOR. ANTHONY C. DONATO ATTORNEY PATEmi-imuualsn 3 593020 sum 2 OF 3 INVENTOR. ANTHONY C. DONATE) ATTORNEY ii i LIGHTING FIXTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the Invention This invention is in the field of lighting fixtures, and more particularly, outdoor lighting fixtures although, of course, the fixture of the present invention is not confined to outdoor use The invention is further related to an outdoor fixture providing a weather-sealed atmosphere, the fixture being particularly adapted to commercial use in that the globe may be removed and reassembled for relamping with a minimum of effort and time loss.

The invention further relates to a durable fixture having particular utility in areas where the fixture may be subjected to such disruptive influences as high wind, vibration or shock.

THE PRIOR ART Conventional lighting fixtures, and particularly those in tended for outdoor use, have typically incorporated a base or mounting element for connection to a post, standoff or like support. The fixtures incorporate mounting means for supporting a globe and base, preferably together, defining a weathertight assembly.

The globe must, of course, be removable. to permit relamping.

Desirably, the operations required to remove the globe and reassemblir; I. should be susceptible of being effected without tools and in a minimum of time. The importance of simplifying removal and replacement of the globe is magnified in municipal and commercial installations wherein, in some cases, many hundreds of lighting fixtures are installed, which fixtures may often be disposed in locations accessible only with the use of ladders or the like.

Fixtures which utilize screws for interconnecting the parts are subject to corrosion in the area of the screws or bolt receiver threads and also, of course, often require the use of screw drivers or like tools to permit relamping.

ln known fixtures, in order to effect a weatherproof condition, it has been customary to interpose neoprene or like gasketing material between the interengaging parts of the fixlure. When the fixture is opened, as for relamping, pressures on the neoprene are relaxed, pressure being reapplied when the fixture is closed.

It has been determined that normal weathering and the action of opening and closing of the fixture result in premature distortion and deterioration of the gasket material. Such distortion and deterioration are accelerated in areas in which the fixture is exposed to high wind conditions or vibration, since, as will be readily appreciated, such factors will also tend to cause compression and releasing of the gasket material.

In certain structures wherein significant gasketing is not employed or where the gaskets have deteriorated, exposure of fixtures to wind or vibration or shock caused by impact against the pole, for example, supporting the globe, will result in breakage.

Likewise, upon remounting of a fixture and particularly a fixture requiring the tightening of screws or bolts, breakage may occur as a result of over tightening, or as a result of tightening a fixture in which the globe protecting gasketing has, for one or another reason, become displaced from its normal protective position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An improved electric fixture comprising a base member, a globe assembly including a retainer frame on which the globe is removably clamped, and bayonet connector means interposed between the globe retainer and the base member. The bayonet connector means incorporates a floating plate, yieldably biased toward support means on the base member.

The base and globe retainer incorporate interengaging, complemental rotary guide means for facilitating connection of the bayonet components of the base member and retainer frame.

The globe assembly may be attached to and removed from the base assembly by a simple relative rotary movement of the noted parts which movement may be effected by gripping the globe.

In the engaged position of the bayonet components, the floating plate is lifted away from the support means by the camming action of the bayonet connectors, the yieldingly pressed floating plate thus biasing the retainer frame against the base member to provide a rattle-free and weather tight connection.

With the parts thus assembled, relative movement of the globe retainer assembly with respect to the base member is possible, such relative movement being compensated for by movement ofthe yielding floating plate.

The device described has numerous advantages as contrasted with fixtures heretofore known.

Assembly and disassembly may be effected by a simple rotative movement, without the use of tools.

The globe and globe retainer are permitted to tilt relative to the base member, to minimize the likelihood of damage from high wind, vibration or shock conditions. The relative movement is permitted by the yielding connection between the floating plate and base member and, thus, does not tend to stress or compromise the gasketing material which, when once applied to the globe, is not released and recompressed on subsequent relampings.

The device presents a clean and aesthetic appearance, the parts being held in intimate juxtaposed relation by the yieldingly biased floating plate, such that the break or interruption between the base member and globe retainer assembly is hardly visible.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved lighting fixture.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a durable lighting fixture which permits a degree of relative movement between the globe-retaining assembly and the base assembly, such relative movement being accommodated between springingly connected rigid parts rather than by induced flexures in gasketing material.

A further object of the invention is the provision ofa fixture of the type described in which the globe assembly may be removed and reassembled without the use of tools, the as sembly not employing corrosion prone screws or like expedients.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a fixture of the type described in which the globe component is uniformly stressed toward the base member.

Still a further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the type described wherein the globe retainer and the base member incorporate interfitting, bayonet latching components, the latching components of the globe retainer portion having associated clamping means for securing the globe to the globe retainer.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a fixture of the type described which is resistant to weathering and presents a highly aesthetic appearance.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown one of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a lamp assembly in accordance with the invention, mounted on a fragmentary pole section;

FIG. 2 is an exploded preassembly perspective view of the components ofthe lighting fixture;

FIG. 3 is a magnified horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a lighting fixture 10 comprising a globe assembly I1 and a base assembly [2. While in the illustrated embodiment the fixture I0 is shown mounted at the uppermost end of a light pole or stanchion 13, it will be appreciated that the fixture is not limited to such use and may, for instance, be used in applications in which the base is disposed in any angular orientation. For instance, the base 12 may be fixed to a ceiling, a vertical bulkhead, or at the end of a horizontal standoff.

in the illustrated embodiment the base 12 includes a mounting plate 14 of partispherical configuration, including an upstanding axial hub 15 defining a downwardly directed mounting socket 15'. A plurality of mounting screws 16 extend radially inwardly and at a slight angle toward the post 13, the screws being threadedly connected in complementally tapped apertures 17 in the hub 15 From the foregoing it will be appreciated that connection of the base assembly 12 to the post 13 is effected by driving the respective screws 16 into contact with the periphery of the post Preferably, the screws 16 are of the Allen-type, tightening being effected before mounting the globe G, by inserting an Allen wrench through the clearance space defined between the base assembly 12 and the floating plate hereinafter described.

The baseplate [4, which is preferably formed of cast aluminum or like corrosion resistant metal, is provided with a series of integral, upstanding mounting studs 18, three being illustrated. The studs include at their upper ends reduced diameter, substantially cylindrical guide sections 19 and are internally tapped as at 19' to receive complementally threaded plate retainer screws 21. The axes of the cylindrical guide portions [9 of the three studs are disposed in parallel alignment. The floating plate 20 is provided with three spaced apertures 22 which register with and loosely fit over the cylindrical portions 19 of the studs.

The diameter of the apertures 22 is such that clearance is provided to permit both axial sliding movement of the plate 20 with respect to the studs 18 and also a relative tilting movement between the plate 20 and the plate [4, without binding of the apertures on the studs.

The guide portions 19 of the studs 18 are separated from the main body portion by annular support shoulders 23, the shoulders being of greater size than the diameter of the apertures 22 so that the undersurface of the plate 20 rests on the stop shouldersl The floating plate 20 is yieldably and movably secured to the [2 by resilient retainers 24, each in the form of a leaf spring, having depending foot portions 25, 25, and a raised central bridge portion 26. The bridge portion is apertured, as at 27, the plate retainer screws 2] being passed through the apertures 27 in the springs and tightly threaded into the tapped portions 19' ofthe studs,

It will be observed that in the assembled position, the feet of the springs 24 press against the upper surface of plate 20 so as yieldingly to force the plate downwardly against the support shoulders 23 ofthe studs IS.

The plate 20 includes a series of angularly separated radially extending bayonet flanges 28, three appearing in the illustrated embodiment. The flanges, as best appreciated from FIGS. 2 and 3, include upwardly inclined entrance guide cams 29. The under portion of the flanges adjacent the cams 29 define slide surfaces 30 terminating in retainer detents 31.

As will be more fully appreciated from a discussion of the globe assembly, the bayonet flanges 28 interlock with complemental components of the globe assembly so as firmly to secure the globe assembly to the floating plate 20.

The globe assembly includes a globe retainer casting or ring 32. The outer periphery of the globe retainer casting 32 defines an annular partispherical segment which, when assembled with the base plate l4, forms a matching configuration as at 32' (FIG. 4) with the periphery of the baseplate 14. such that the baseplate l4 and the globe casing 32 together preferably give the impression ofa continuous, partispherical surface, the clearances between the noted parts being suffi cient only to provide the relative movement hereinafter described As best shown in FIG. 4, the lowermost portion of the casting 32 has an annular recess defining an annular shoulder or guide trackway 33 matching an opposed outwardly directed peripheral rim portion 34 of the baseplate 14.

A continuous depending flange 35 is formed on the casting 32 adjacent the shoulder 33, the annular flange 35 encompassing and coacting with the upwardly directed outer periphery 36 of the rim 34. It will be understood that the interfit of the portions 33, 34, 35 and 36 provides a rotary locator function to facilitate installation of the globe assembly to the base assembly, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

The globe casting 32 is provided with a series of spaced pairs of clearance slots 37 to receive the screws 40 for mounting of the arcuate globe retainer bayonet flanges 38. The arcuate flanges 38 include apertures 39 complementally spaced to register with the slots 37. The apertures 39 are tapped, the flanges 38 being fixed to the casting 32 by the screws 40 which extend upwardly through the slots 37, the screws being tightly threaded into the tapped apertures 39 of the flanges 38. The undersurfaces of the slots 37 are countersunk, as at 41, to provide clearance for the heads of the screws 40.

The bayonet flanges 38 include depending entrance lips 42 and terminal stop shoulders 43. Additionally, the flanges include raised detent projections 44.

The globe member G is retained on the casting 32 by the inclined arcuate peripheral clamp shoulders 47 of the flanges 38 as shown in FIG. 4. An annular gasket 45, which is U- shaped in vertical section, is disposed about the mouth of the opening 45 of the globe G. The casting includes a gasket receiver trough 46.

It will be appreciated that to assemble the globe G to the casting 32, the globe G with the gasket 45 positioned thereon, is positioned so that the gasket 45 is mounted within the trough 46, the flanges 38 being thereafter connected by screws 40 to the casting 32. in the mounted position of the flanges, the arcuate inclined peripheral clamp shoulders 47 bear against the upper surface of the gasket 45, thus securely locking the globe G to the casting 32 without any direct contact between the globe and the casting 32 or flanges 38.

The baseplate 14 may include spaced mounting shoulders 48, having tapped apertures 49 formed therein for the connec tion ofa diffuser assembly 50. The diffuser assembly which is employed when clear glass or plastic globes G are to be used, comprises a generally tubular sleeve 50 including a base flange 51 having clearance slots 52 through which screws 53 may be threaded. The slots 52 may include enlarged portions of a size to accommodate the head of the screws 53 which are loosened during the application of the sleeve 50, the sleeve being thereafter partially rotated to align the shank portions of the screws with the constricted portions of the slots. The screws may thereafter be tightened to maintain the sleeve 50' in position.

As best shown in FIG. 4, the sleeve 50' is threaded at its upper end 54 to receive internally threaded clamping washers 55, 56 between which washers the lower flange or base of a cylindrical translucent diffuser D may be clamped. Normally a yieldable gasket will be interposed between the noted parts to avoid damage to the diffuser D.

A socket 57 designed to receive a bulb B is mounted at the upper end of the axial hub 15 forming part of baseplate 14. For this purpose, screws 59 are directed downwardly through appropriately spaced apertures formed in an insulating portion of the socket 57, into tapped apertures 60 formed in inwardly directed ears 58 at the upper end 61 of the hub 15 and extending above such upper end to define a clearance space between the noted parts. This clearance space, which leads through the baseplate 14 to the interior of the pole l3, permits air and vapor circulation between the interior of the globe and the pole to avoid condensation, overheating and pressure problems.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that mounting and demounting of the globe assembly H to the baseplate 14 may be readily accomplished To effect mounting of the globe assembly, the globe G is grasped and lowered so that the flanges 38 fixed to the casting 32 are disposed in the arcuate spaces between the bayonet flanges 28 of the floating plate 20. The opposed guide surfaces 33, 34, 35 and 36 of the casting 32 and baseplate [4, respectively, align the parts and allow a ready interengagement of the respective bayonet components of the base and the globe assembly.

with the globe thus positioned, an initial rotary movement of the globe assembly (clockwise in the illustrated embodiment) will cause the lips 42 to be engaged under the cam portions 29 of the flanges 28. Continued rotary movement will cause a bodily lifting of the floating plate 20, the detent projections 44 being continuously advanced toward the detent retainers 31.

When the projections 44 are in registry with the retainers 3], having been moved from the position shown at 440 in FIG. 3 to the position shown at 44b, the plate will snap downwardly, firmly securing the globe retainer casting or ring 32 to the baseplate. In this assembled position, stop shoulders 43 of the bayonet flanges 38 will be disposed adjacent the portions 29 of the flanges 28 to prevent relative rotary movement beyond the desired position. Removal of the globe assembly is, of course, effected by counter rotation of the globe assembly relative to the base.

From the foregoing it will be evident that there is provided a lighting fixture wherein the globe component is mounted to the base component in manner to permit yieldable relative movement oi these parts not only in a rotary direction (in the course of installing and removing the globe) but also in other directions normal to the plane in which the parts are rotated.

Specifically, when a lateral force is applied to the globe, as may be expected in high wind areas, the axis of the globe G may be displaced from the axis of the baseplate 14. The axial displacement is made possible by the fact that the globe assembly is not clamped rigidly to the baseplate, but, rather, is held between a portion of the baseplate and a yieldable mounted floating plate 20. The floating plate 20 is urged against the retainer ring portion 32 of the globe assembly by the springs 24, which serve the double function of providing the biasing forces required to effect the bayonet connection and also permitting additional yielding and relative movement between the parts, where required.

The globe is firmly secured to the retainer ring and any yielding is thus accommodated between the ring and the base plate. By this arrangement the likelihood of wind damage and impact damage is minimized.

lt will be further observed that the yieldability is accomplished without significant flexure of the gasketing material or the requirement of employing gasketing of great thickness. Such flexure or the use of such thickened gasketing is disadvantageous in that it is subject to weathering, rotting and breakdown under repeated flexure and may ultimately be compromised, with resultant loosening or even release of the globe.

Still a further advantage of the spring-biased bayonet connection and floating plate arrangement of the present invention is that the same adds to the weatherproof nature of the construction in that the opposed portions of the baseplate and globe retainer ring are pressed tightly against each other in the assembled position ofthe parts as at 33, 34 of FIG. 4.

Assembly and disassembly for rel-amping may be effected without loosening or tightening any screws, as is required in fixtures heretofore known.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the present invention provides an improved lighting fixture which is resistant to stresses. such as wind and impact, which is weathertight, and which may be readily assembled and disassembled for relamping.

By fitting the globe to the mounting ring with a rather rigid connection and providing for relative movement between the ring and base, wear and breakdown of the globe retainer gasket is minimized.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A lighting fixture comprising a mounting base member, a globe retainer member having a globe, complemental rotary guide means formed on said members for aligning said members for relative rotary movement in a given plane, means on said globe retainer member for securing said globe thereto, first bayonet means fixed to one of said members, second bayonet means mounted on said other member engageable with said first means responsive to relative rotation of said members in said plane, said second bayonet means being yieldable movably mounted to said other member, whereby said members, in the engaged position of said bayonet means, may be moved relative to each other.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and second bayonet means include complemental detent means disposed in nested position in the engaged position of said bayonet means, for restraining relative rotation of said members.

3. A device in accordance with claim I wherein a floating plate member is provided carrying said second bayonet means, said plate being yieldingly biased toward said first bayonet means by a plurality of angularly spaced apart springs.

4. A device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said second bayonet means comprises a plurality of radially directed flanges, and said first bayonet means includes locking flanges complementally engageable with the radial flanges of said plate, said locking flanges being removably secured to said globe retainer member, said locking flanges having portions releasably to clamp said globe to said retainer member.

5. A device in accordance with claim 4 in which each of said radially directed flanges is arcuate having an upwardly inclined lip at one end defining a guide cam and each of said locking flanges is also arcuate having a downwardly directed lip at one end defining an entrance lip designed to move beneath said guide lip upon relative rotation of said radially directed flanges and said locking flanges.

6. A device in accordance with claim 4 in which each of said radially directed flanges is arcuate having an upwardly inclined lip at one end defining a guide cam and each of said locking flanges is also arcuate having a downwardly directed lip at one end defining an entrance lip designed to move beneath said guide lip upon relative rotation of said radially directed flanges and said locking flanges, said first and second bayonet flanges including complemental detent means disposed in nested position in the engaged position of said flanges for restraining relative rotation of said members.

7. A device in accordance with claim 4 in which each of said radially directed flanges is arcuate having an upwardly inclined lip at one end defining a guide cam and each of said locking flanges is also arcuate having a downwardly directed lip at one end defining an entrance lip designed to move beneath the guide lip upon relative rotation of said.radially directed flanges and said locking flanges, each of said locking flanges at the end thereof remote from the downwardly inclined lip having an upstanding lip defining a stop member adapted to abut against the upwardly extending lip of said radially directed flanges to prevent relative rotation of said members when said complemental detent means are in nested position.

8. A device in accordance with claim 4 including a yieldable gasket separating said globe from said retainer member and said locking flanges. the force required to shift said globe retainer member relative to said base member being less than the force required to compress said gasket, whereby relative movement between said globe and base member under wind, vibration and impact conditions is accommodated by relative movement between said globe retainer and base member.

9. An outdoor lighting fixture having a high resistance to damage when subjected to high wind and impact factors. com prising a mounting base member, a globe retainer member, complemental rotary guide means on said members for aligning same for relative rotary movement in a predetermined plane, a plurality of angularly spaced-apart, coplanar support shoulders extending from said base member, a floating plate, spring means yieldingly urging said plate against said shoulders, a first series of bayonet flanges on said plate, a second series of bayonet flanges removably secured to said globe retainer member. a globe, means on said second series of bayonet flanges clampingly to connect said globe to said retainer member, said first and second series of bayonet flanges being shiftable into relative interlocked and releasing positions responsive to relative rotary movements of said base member and retainer member in said plane, said floating plate in said interlocked position of said flanges, being movable clear of said shoulders yieldingly to bias said base and retainer members against each other, said members being movable relative to each other in directions normal to said plane.

107 A device in accordance with claim 9 in which said mounting base member comprises a circular plate having an axial hub rising from the inner surface thereof, said hub having an axial socket to receive a mounting member, a plurality of circumferentially spaced threaded openings extending through said hub, and a locking screw in each of said threaded openings adapted to coact with the end of said mounting member in said socket to lock the latter in position.

11 A device in accordance with claim 9 in which said mounting base member comprises a circular plate having an outwardly extending peripheral rim, said globe retainer member comprising an annulus having an annular recess in its inner periphery of diameter just slightly greater than the outer diameter of said peripheral rim and defining an annular shoulder, said peripheral rim, said annular shoulder and adjacent peripheral surfaces of said rim and said recess defining said complementary rotary guide means.

12. A device in accordance with claim 9 in which said mounting base member comprises a circular plate having an axial hub rising from the inner surface thereof, an electric lamp socket secured to the inner end of said axial hub and axially aligned therewith, said hub having an axial passageway therethrough, means being provided to space at least a portion of the adjacent ends of said socket and said hub.

13. A device in accordance with claim 9 in which said hub is of reduced diameter at its inner end defining a mounting portion at the root end of said reduced diameter portion, a sleeve is secured at one end to said mounting portion and extends coaxially with said socket encompassing the latter, coacting clamp members secured to the free end of said sleeve and a diffuser member secured at one end by said clamp members to said sleeve and extending outwardly therefrom.

14. A device in accordance with claim 9 in which a plurality of circumferentially spaced studs extend upwardly from the inner surface of said mounting base member, each of said studs being of reduced diameter at its free end defining an annular support shoulder, said floating plate comprising an annulus having circumferentially spaced apertures through which the reduced diameter ends of said studs extend, said spring means being secured to the outer ends of said studs to react against said annulus, said first series of bayonet flanges comprising arcuate strips extending outwardly from the periphery of said annulus, said second series of bayonet flanges also comprising a plurality of arcuate strips, the arcuate spacing between the first series of bayonet flanges on said annulus being greater than the length of each of the second series of bayonet flanges.

Claims (14)

1. A lighting fixture comprising a mounting base member, a globe retainer member having a globe, complemental rotary guide means formed on said members for aligning said members for relative rotary movement in a given plane, means on said globe retainer member for securing said globe thereto, first bayonet means fixed to one of said members, second bayonet means mounted on said other member engageable with said first means responsive to relative rotation of said members in said plane, said second bayonet means being yieldable movably mounted to said other member, whereby said members, in the engaged position of said bayonet means, may be moved relative to each other.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and second bayonet means include complemental detent means disposed in nested position in the engaged position of said bayonet means, for restraining relative rotation of said members.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein a floating plate member is provided carrying said second bayonet means, said plate being yieldingly biased toward said first bayonet means by a plurality of angularly spaced apart springs.

4. A device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said second bayonet means comprises a plurality of radially directed flanges, and said first bayonet means includes locking flanges complementally engageable with the radial flanges of said plate, said locking flanges being removably secured to said globe retainer member, said locking flanges having portions releasably to clamp said globe to said retainer member.

5. A device in accordance with claim 4 in which each of said radially directed flanges is arcuate having an upwardly inclined lip at one end defining a guide cam and each of said locking flanges is also arcuate having a downwardly directed lip at one end defining an entrance lip designed to move beneath said guide lip upon relative rotation of said radially directed flanges and said locking flanges.

6. A device in accordance with claim 4 in which each of said radially directed flanges is arcuate having an upwardly inclined lip at one end defining a guide cam and each of said locking flanges is also arcuate having a downwardly directed lip at one end defining an entrance lip designed to move beneath said guide lip upon relative rotation of said radially directed flanges and said locking flanges, said first and second bayonet flanges including complemental detent means disposed in nested position in the engaged position of said flanges for restraining relative rotation of said members.

7. A device in accordance with claim 4 in which each of said radially directed flanges is arcuate having an upwardly inclined lip at one end defining a guide cam and each of said locking flanges is also arcuate having a downwardly directed lip at one end defining an entrance lip designed to move beneath the guide lip upon relative rotation of said radially directed flanges and said locking flanges, each of said locking flanges at the end thereof remote from the downwardly inclined lip having an upstanding lip defining a stop member aDapted to abut against the upwardly extending lip of said radially directed flanges to prevent relative rotation of said members when said complemental detent means are in nested position.

8. A device in accordance with claim 4 including a yieldable gasket separating said globe from said retainer member and said locking flanges, the force required to shift said globe retainer member relative to said base member being less than the force required to compress said gasket, whereby relative movement between said globe and base member under wind, vibration and impact conditions is accommodated by relative movement between said globe retainer and base member.

9. An outdoor lighting fixture having a high resistance to damage when subjected to high wind and impact factors, comprising a mounting base member, a globe retainer member, complemental rotary guide means on said members for aligning same for relative rotary movement in a predetermined plane, a plurality of angularly spaced-apart, coplanar support shoulders extending from said base member, a floating plate, spring means yieldingly urging said plate against said shoulders, a first series of bayonet flanges on said plate, a second series of bayonet flanges removably secured to said globe retainer member, a globe, means on said second series of bayonet flanges clampingly to connect said globe to said retainer member, said first and second series of bayonet flanges being shiftable into relative interlocked and releasing positions responsive to relative rotary movements of said base member and retainer member in said plane, said floating plate in said interlocked position of said flanges, being movable clear of said shoulders yieldingly to bias said base and retainer members against each other, said members being movable relative to each other in directions normal to said plane.

10. A device in accordance with claim 9 in which said mounting base member comprises a circular plate having an axial hub rising from the inner surface thereof, said hub having an axial socket to receive a mounting member, a plurality of circumferentially spaced threaded openings extending through said hub, and a locking screw in each of said threaded openings adapted to coact with the end of said mounting member in said socket to lock the latter in position.

11. A device in accordance with claim 9 in which said mounting base member comprises a circular plate having an outwardly extending peripheral rim, said globe retainer member comprising an annulus having an annular recess in its inner periphery of diameter just slightly greater than the outer diameter of said peripheral rim and defining an annular shoulder, said peripheral rim, said annular shoulder and adjacent peripheral surfaces of said rim and said recess defining said complementary rotary guide means.

12. A device in accordance with claim 9 in which said mounting base member comprises a circular plate having an axial hub rising from the inner surface thereof, an electric lamp socket secured to the inner end of said axial hub and axially aligned therewith, said hub having an axial passageway therethrough, means being provided to space at least a portion of the adjacent ends of said socket and said hub.

13. A device in accordance with claim 9 in which said hub is of reduced diameter at its inner end defining a mounting portion at the root end of said reduced diameter portion, a sleeve is secured at one end to said mounting portion and extends coaxially with said socket encompassing the latter, coacting clamp members secured to the free end of said sleeve and a diffuser member secured at one end by said clamp members to said sleeve and extending outwardly therefrom.

14. A device in accordance with claim 9 in which a plurality of circumferentially spaced studs extend upwardly from the inner surface of said mounting base member, each of said studs being of reduced diameter at its free end defining an annular support shoulder, said floating plate comprising an annulus having circuMferentially spaced apertures through which the reduced diameter ends of said studs extend, said spring means being secured to the outer ends of said studs to react against said annulus, said first series of bayonet flanges comprising arcuate strips extending outwardly from the periphery of said annulus, said second series of bayonet flanges also comprising a plurality of arcuate strips, the arcuate spacing between the first series of bayonet flanges on said annulus being greater than the length of each of the second series of bayonet flanges.

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