US3760177A

US3760177A - Lighting device

Info

Publication number: US3760177A
Application number: US00226877A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Levy
Original assignee: ACLA Inc
Current assignee: NOMA INTERNATIONAL Inc A CORP OF
Priority date: 1972-02-16
Filing date: 1972-02-16
Publication date: 1973-09-18
Anticipated expiration: 1990-09-18

Abstract

The lighting device, preferably in the form of an electrified hurricane lamp, comprises a base, a holder, and a hollow simulated candle assembly which are fitted together as a unitary piece, and a chimney which is accommodated by the holder. The candle assembly includes a hollow member having a lower portion for mating with an opening in the base and a tapered upper portion for mating with a passage in the holder, and a socket and bulb arrangement disposed at a top end of the hollow member and having conductor wires for connecting to a power source. The hollow member preferably includes an annular ridge disposed intermediate the lower portion and tapered upper portion for limiting the position of the base and holder relative to the candle assembly.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 Levy [ LIGHTING DEVICE [75] Inventor: George D. Levy, Boston, Mass. [73] Assignee: Aela,Inc.,Boston, Mass. I

[22] Filed: Feb. 16, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 226,877

[111 3,760,177 1 Sept. 18, 1973 Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-Michael D. Harris Attorney-David M. Driscoll t al.

[ 57] ABSTRACT The lighting device, preferably in the form of an electrified hurricane lamp, comprises a base, a holder, and a hollow simulated candle assembly which are fitted together as a unitary piece, and a chimney which is accommodated by the holder. The candle assembly includes a hollow member having a lower portion for mating with an opening in the base and a tapered upper portion for mating with a passage in the holder, and a socket and bulb arrangement disposed at a top end of the hollow member and having conductor wires for connecting to a power source. The hollow member preferably includes an annular ridge disposed intermediate the lower portion and tapered upper portion for limiting the position of the base and holder relative to the candle assembly;

11131515133 Drawing Frgine's Pmmwsw 3760 .17?

SHEET 1 [IF 3 PRIOR ART PATENTEDSEPQIQH v 3,760'177 SHEET 3 or 3 LIGHTING DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains in general to lighting devices preferably of the electrified hurricane lamp type. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a lighting device that may be fabricated inexpensively using basically three component parts preferably of plastic which are easily assembled without the need for providing additional fasteners such as a mating bolt and nut arrangement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the prior art there presently exists electrified hurricane lamps most of which are used as ornamental pieces at the holiday season. The prior art drawing of FIG. 1 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a prior art electrified hurricane lamp. This prior art lamp generally comprises a base 10, a holder 12, a candle assembly 14, and an adapter 16. The holder 12 includes a plurality of teeth 13 which flex outwardly when a chimney 15 is inserted inside thereof. The candle assembly 14 may include a typical socket l7 and bulb 18 along with conductive wires 21 coupling from the socket 17 to a source of power (not shown). For this purpose an aperture 19A is provided in the candle assembly 14 and an aperture 198 is provided in the holder 12 for accommodating the conducting wires 21.

FIG. 1 also shows a bolt 20 and associated nut 22. The base 10 and wall 23 of the holder 12 both have apertures for accommodating the bolt 20. Similarly, the adapter 16 contains a central aperture for accommodating the bolt 20, and when the adapter, holder and base are in position the nut 22 is tightened on the bolt 20 to provide a unitary structure. The lower end 14A of the candle assembly 14 rests within the adapter 16.

Some of the drawbacks associated with the particular arrangement shown in FIG. I are that the candle assembly 14 is not rigidly held with reference to the adapter 16 and thus is easily displaceable therefrom, that additional features are needed in the form of bolt 20 and nut 22 thereby adding to the cost of the device, and that the assemblytime for the device is longer than is the case with the present invention also adding to the cost of the device. In addition, in the prior art arrangement it is necessary to provide the

conductor accommodating apertures

19A and 198 in approximately the position shown thereby making it necessary for the wires to extend from the device well above the base 10. This is definitely not aesthetically pleasing and the lamp is more likely to be knocked over than if the wires extended from the base.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, one important object of the present invention is to provide an improved lighting device preferably of the electrified hurricane lamp type.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved lighting device in accordance with the preceding object and that requires no additional fasteners other than the possible use of adhesives or glues.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a lighting device in accordance with preceding objects that is simple in construction, relatively inexpensive to fabricate, and that may be assembled far quicker than similar, known prior art devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To accomplish the foregoing and other objects of the present invention the lighting device generally comprises a base, a candle assembly, and an upper part or holder. These component parts are preferably fabricated of plastic and the base preferably has a flat bottom surface for resting the device on another object such as a table. The candle assembly includes a hollow member having a lower portion and a tapered upper portion, and an illuminating member disposed within the top end of the hollow member. The illuminating member preferably includes a socket, a bulb disposed in the socket, and conducting means extending through the hollow member and coupling power to the socket and bulb. The base includes means defining an opening for snugly receiving the lower portion of the hollow member and the upper part or holder also includes means defining a passage for snugly receiving the tapered upper portion of the hollow member. In accordance with the method of assembly of the device of the present invention the base and holder are fitted to the hollow member from opposite directions to form a unitary piece, and the conducting wires are now allowed to extend throughthe hollow member into the base and through an aperture in the base to preferably an AC power receptacle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Numerous other objects, features and advantages of the invention should now become apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational perspective view partially in cross-section of a prior art lighting device of a similar type to the device of the present invention and discussed hereinbefore;

FIG. 2 is an elevational perspective view partially in cross-section of a lighting device of the electrified hurricane lamp type constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a somewhat enlarged elevational view of the candle assembly of FIG. 2 partially cut away to expose the lamp socket; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the base shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings and in particular to the elevational perspective view of FIG. 2, there is shown a lighting device constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention and generally comprising a base 30, an upper part or holder 32, a candle'assembly 34, and a chimney 36. The base 30, holder 32 and candle assembly, 34 may be fabricated of a colored plastic material or may be spray painted whereas the chimney 36 is preferably fabricated of a clear plastic or glass.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 4 the base 30 includes a bottom edge surface 38 which may rest upon another object. The base 30 also includes an aperture 39 for accommodating the conductor wires 68 which connect to a source of power such as the typical volt AC power source available in most buildings or homes. The bottom portion 40 of the base may be of a rounded design or may be of a flat design or of any other type of ornamental design such as the one shown in the drawings. The top portion 42 of the base 30 stands upwardly in a wall 43 which is annular in shape (see FIG. 4). The wall 43 defines an opening 44 for accommodating the candle assembly 34 and has a bottom wall 45 with an aperture 46 disposed therein. Aperture 46 is for accommodating the conducting wires coupled from the lamp socket. The wall 43 also includes a plurality of vertical ribs 47 extending inwardly therefrom which assure a snug fit between the base 30 and the candle assembly 34.

The candle assembly 34 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 generally comprises a hollow member 54 having a lower portion 50 separated from a tapered upper portion 58 by an annular ridge 52, and an electrical assembly 56. The upper tapered portion 58 has its largest circular cross-sectional diameter along a plane 60 adjacent to ridge 52.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings the lower portion 50 extends within opening 44 and its downward position is limited by annular ridge 52. However, in another embodiment the downward position of the candle assembly 34 may be limited by virtue of the fact that the bottom edge thereof rests upon bottom wall 45 of the base 30.

The top end 61 of the hollow member has the socket 64 fitted therein. The socket 64 typically includes an inner lining 66 of metal and there are two conductor wires 68 extending, respectively, from the metal liner 66 of the socket and a center contact 69 disposed in the middle of socket 64. In an alternate embodiment the socket assembly 56 may be of the type disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,594,705. FIG. 2 shows a bulb 72 which is mateable within the metal liner 66 of the socket 64. The wires 68 extend through the hollow member 54 through the aperture 46 and the hole 39 in the base to a typical AC power socket.

One mode of assembly of the components shown in FIGS. 2--4 is to initially position the holder 32 at the top end 61 of the hollow member 54 without the bulb 56 being in place. The holder 32 is then slid downwardly, fits snugly with the tapered portion 54 and rests on or adjacent the top surface of ridge 52. Thereafter, lower portion 50 is forced into aperture 44 and the three

parts

30, 32 and 34 are formed as a unitary piece. Thereafter, the conductor wire 68 is coupled through the hole 39 and the opening 46 to the top end of the candle assembly 34. The conductor wire may then be soldered to the socket 64 or fastened by other suitable means, and the socket is then depressed into the top end of the holder 34.

It is noted that the holder 32 includes a plurality of teeth 33 which are flexible in an outward direction. When the chimney 36 is inserted inside thereof these teeth deflect outwardly slightly and hold the chimney 36 securely with respect to the holder 32.

During the assembly of the base, holder and candle assembly these parts are so constructed that a forcefit should be sufficient to securely couple the parts together. However, it may be desirable in some instances to apply an adhesive to these parts when they are assembled so that they are strongly bonded one to the other.

Having described one preferred embodiment of the lighting device of the present invention it should now become apparent that the principles of this invention are applicable to other embodiments and modifications of the ones shown herein. For example, it is contemplated that the rather elongated hollow member 54 can be replaced by a shorter member and an actual wax candle can then be placed therein in place of the socket assembly 56. For this type of embodiment there would be no need for an electric cord and thus the hole 39 and passage 46 could be eliminated.

What is claimed is:

l. A lighting device comprising:

a base a candle assembly including;

a hollow member having a lower portion and a tapered upper portion, tapering to a larger diameter at a bottom end,

and an illuminating member disposed at a top end of the hollow member;

said base having means defining an opening for snugly receiving the lower portion of the hollow member;

and an upper part disposed about said hollow member and having means defining a passage for snugly receiving the tapered upper portion of the hollow member;

said base and .upper part being disposed about said hollow member with facing edges adjacent each other 2. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein said hollow member. includes means defining a ridge extending therefrom for demareating the lower portion from the tapered upper portion.

3. The lighting device of claim 2 wherein said hollow member has a circular cross section and said ridge is annular.

4. The lighting device of claim 3 wherein said illuminating member includes a socket disposed within a top end of the hollow member for receiving a bulb, and conductor means connected to said socket and for connection to a source of power.

5. The lighting device of claim 4 wherein said means defining an opening in said base includes an annular wall having vertically arranged ribs extending inwardly thereof for facilitating the snug fit of the lower portion of said hollow member therein.

6. The lighting device of claim 5 wherein said means defining an opening includes a bottom wall for limiting the downward position of said hollow member relative to said base, said bottom wall having a hole therein for accommodating said conducting means.

7. The lighting device of claim 5 wherein said lower portion of said hollow member and said base are disposed with a top surface of the annular wall defining the opening lying adjacent to or touching under the annular ridge, and wherein the upper part is disposed over the tapered portion of the hollow member with a bot tom surface lying adjacent to or touching over the annular ridge.

8. The lighting device of claim 5 wherein said base has a hole therein for accommodating the conducting means.

9. The lighting device of claim 8 further comprising a chimney, wherein said upper part includes a holder for receiving the chimney.

10. The lighting device of claim 9 wherein said hollow member includes means simulating a wax candle.

11. A lighting device of the electrified hurricane lamp type comprising;

a base piece having a flat bottom resting surface,

an elongated generally cylindrically shaped hollow member having a lower annular portion, a tapered portion of said hollow member therein;

a holder disposed about said hollow member and having means for facilitating the snug fit of the lower portion of the hollow member;

and a chimney;

said holder including means for receiving said chimney in an upright position;

said base and holder being disposed about said hollow member with facing edges adjacent each other.

Claims

1. A lighting device comprising: a base a candle assembly including; a hollow member having a lower portion and a tapered upper portion, tapering to a larger diameter at a bottom end, and an illuminating member disposed at a top end of the hollow member; said base having means defining an opening for snugly receiving the lower portion of the hollow member; and an upper part disposed about said hollow member and having means defining a passage for snugly receiving the tapered upper portion of the hollow member; said base and upper part being disposed about said hollow member with facing edges Adjacent each other.

2. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein said hollow member includes means defining a ridge extending therefrom for demarcating the lower portion from the tapered upper portion.

7. The lighting device of claim 5 wherein said lower portion of said hollow member and said base are disposed with a top surface of the annular wall defining the opening lying adjacent to or touching under the annular ridge, and wherein the upper part is disposed over the tapered portion of the hollow member with a bottom surface lying adjacent to or touching over the annular ridge.

11. A lighting device of the electrified hurricane lamp type comprising; a base piece having a flat bottom resting surface, an elongated generally cylindrically shaped hollow member having a lower annular portion, a tapered portion with a larger diameter at its lower end, and an annular ridge extending from the hollow member intermediate the lower portion and tapered portion; an electrical assembly including a socket for receiving a bulb disposed within a top end of the hollow member, and conductor wires connected electrically to said socket extending through said hollow member and out the bottom thereof; said base having an annular wall defining an opening and means for facilitating the snug fit of the lower portion of said hollow member therein; a holder disposed about said hollow member and having means for facilitating the snug fit of the lower portion of the hollow member; and a chimney; said holder including means for receiving said chimney in an upright position; said base and holder being disposed about said hollow member with facing edges adjacent each other.