WO1991003684A1

WO1991003684A1 - Portable light socket dimmer

Info

Publication number: WO1991003684A1
Application number: PCT/AU1990/000397
Authority: WO
Inventors: Geoffrey John Daley
Original assignee: Fabaro Pty Limited
Priority date: 1989-09-05
Filing date: 1990-09-05
Publication date: 1991-03-21

Abstract

A dimmer assembly for a portable lamp comprising a plurality of detachably interconnected modules. In a particular form the number of modules is four comprising an upper socket module comprising socket collar (1/2) and socket (3/4a, 4b); a second module comprising an S.C.R housing (8); a third module comprising a potentiometer core (12) and a potentiometer control collar (13); a fourth module comprising a support collar assembly (31a, 31b/32a, 32b). In a particular form, a support bracket component of a lamp shade for the portable lamp can be suported by the dimmer assembly in a manner whereby the relative positions of the lamp shade and a light globe before installation of the dimmer assembly can be maintained after the dimmer assembly is installed in the portable lamp. The dimmer assembly provides a convenient, adaptable, portable dimmer assembly comprising a plurality of detachably interconnected modules for detachable connection to a portable lamp.

Description

PORTABLE LIGHT SOCKET DIMMER. This invention relates to portable lamp dimmer control devices and is particularly applicable for use with any.^' ~ upwards facing lamp globe. socket into which the device of this invention might be secured. The device incorporates a power control system which allows the adjustment of the intensity of light emanating from the lamp globe that is . , inserted into the upper portion of the device.

The device may also however, be configured with a lamp switch or mounting adaptor for the devices' incorporation as an original component in the fabrication of all types of table or pedestal lamps.

Predominantly, power controllers have been designed fo utilisation with fixed lighting applications in conjunction with a wall mounted light switch, and as such are unsuitable for use with portable lighting which is plugged into a general purpose power outlet.

There have been many prior designs for portable power controllers that enable those lights randomly connected to any general purpose outlet, to be dimmed to the required level, however no prior art power controller has addressed all of the problems associated with a portable dimmer.

It is an object of this invention to provide a fully featured portable dimmer useful with table or pedestal lamps Accordingly, in one broad form of the invention, there is provided a dimmer assembly for a portable lamp, said assembly comprising a plurality of detachably interconnected modules; said dimmer assembly being adapted to be electrically and mechanically connectable by a first end into a light socket of said portable lamp generally in the same manner as a light globe; said dimmer assembly being adapted to receive a light globe in a second end, whereby said light globe can be controllably dimmed by said dimmer assembly.

Preferably at least one of said modules includes manual dimmer control means operable from the exterior of said module. Preferably said dimmer control means comprises a peripheral control collar whereby rotation of said control collar causes the degree of illumination emitted by said light globe to be varied.

Preferably the dimmer assembly includes lamp shade support means whereby the relative positions of said lamp shade and said light globe may be maintained when said dimmer assembly is installed upon said portable lamp.

Preferably at least one of said modules includes means by which said lamp shade may be releasably secured to said dimmer assembly.

Preferably said means by which said lamp shade may be releasably secured to said dimmer assembly comprises clamping a part of said lamp shade between adjacent ones of said modules. Preferably said adjacent ones of said modules comprise the two modules closest to said second end of said dimmer assembly. Preferably one of said adjacent ones of said modules includes a collar adapted, upon rotation, to mechanically urge said part of said lamp shade against the other one of said two modules whereby said part of said lamp shade is maintained clamped between said two modules

Preferably said modules when assembled form a plurality of complimentary peripheral body openings and internal ducts that facilitate the ventilation of the electrical components located within said dimmer assembly. Preferably one of said modules includes orientation sensing means whereby said dimmer assembly is rendered inoperable if it is tilted too far from its usual operating axis.

Preferably said orientation sensing means comprises a gravity switch.

Preferably that module comprising said first end of said dimmer assembly includes a support collar that is adapted to be engaged with the periphery of said light socket whereby said dimmer assembly may be rigidly but releasably affixed to the body shell of said light socket of said portable lamp.

In a particular preferred form said support collar engages with a screw thread upon the periphery of said body shell of said light socket by means of complimentary screw thread.

Preferably said support collar comprises two complimentary threaded rings, a primary male ring being releasably affixed to a secondary female ring. Preferably that module at said_. first end of said dimmer assembly includes an alternative direct mounting adaptor module adapted to be releasably affixed to a lamp base and connected directly to a power supply cable. In a particular preferred form that module adapted to receive said light globe incorporates a socket adapted to accept a bayonet cap globe.

In an alternative particular preferred form that module adapted to receive said light globe incorporates a socket adapted to accept a screw cap globe.

In a particular preferred form the number of said detachably interconnected modules is four.

By way of example only, certain embodiments of the device of the current invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 depicts a portable bayonet embodiment of the invention, portrayed on the left in perspective from above, and portrayed on the right in perspective from below, Fig. 2 is a section view of a portable, bayonet socket embodiment of the dimmer, Fig. 3 is a section view of a portable, screw socket embodiment of the invention, showing also the wiring layout that is typical of all described embodiments of the dimmer,

Fig. 4 is an exploded section view of the parts of the upper end, socket module of all described bayonet socket embodiments of the dimmer, Fig. 5 is an exploded section view of the parts of the upper end, socket module of all screw socket embodiments of the dimmer, Fig. 6 is an' exploded section view of the parts of the upper and lower mid section modules of all described embodiments of the invention, Fig. 7 is the top plan view of the components tha-t ^"- comprise a typical Silicone Controlled Rectifier (S.C.R.) Controller used in any embodiment of the invention that is intended for use with a 240 volt 50 Hz power supply, Fig. 7a is a bottom plan view of the printed circuit board component of the S.C.R. controller of figure 7, Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the potentiometer core that is used in all described embodiments of the invention, Fig. 8a is a bottom plan view of the potentiometer core of figure 8, Fig. 9 is an exploded section view of the parts of the lower end socket adaptor module of the portable, bayonet socket embodiment of the invention, Fig. 10 is an exploded section view of the parts of the lower end socket adaptor module of the portable, screw socket embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 11 is an exploded section view of the parts of a direct mounting adaptor module that may substitute the socket adaptor modules of both bayonet and screw socket embodiments of the dimmer, - ^•

Fig. 12 is an exploded section view of the parts of a portable, bayonet socket embodiment of the invention, Fig. 13 is an exploded section view of the parts^' of a portable, screw socket embodiment of the invention, Fig. 14 is an exploded section view of the parts of a fixed, bayonet socket, direct mount, embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 15 is an exploded section view of the parts of a fixed, screw socket, direct mount, embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings bayonet and screw socket embodiments of the invention incorporate parts that perform the same function but are necessarily of a different shape. The following specification will describe each embodiment simultaneously with bayonet socket embodiments enumerated first and screw socket embodiments enumerated second.

Figures 4 and 5 each depict a dimmer's upper socket module which consists of a decorative, globe socket collar 1 or 2 which is screwed down upon the peripheral thread of socket 3 or 4a/4b so as to secure the lamp shade bracket against shoulder 52 or 53. Socket 3 or 4a/4b is a moulded plastic, lamp globe socket which is host to two prefabricated, brass terminals 5 or 6 and 7 which are fixedly positioned by the heads of the screws 18 within the holes provided in socket 3 or 4a/4b to enable screws 18 to be tightened so as to clamp the active and neutral wires that - come from items 11 and 21 or 22 or 23 (see figures 3, 9, 10, and 11) to form part of the circuit to the light globe. The screw moulded interior of socket 4a may alternatively be shaped to accommodate a screw moulded, cylindrical, metal , socket liner connected to terminal 6. Around the lower circumference of the socket 3 or 4a/4b there are six grooves that extend upwards from the base only so far as to open into the six corresponding grooves that occupy the top rim of the S.C.R. housing 8. On the bottom of the socket 3 or 4a/4b these grooves extend inwards to open over six holes in the top of the S.C.R. housing 8 thereby providing exit ducts for any excess heat within the S.C.R. housing 8.

Figures 6, 7, 7a, 8 and 8a depict the mid components that are common to all described embodiments of the invention. The afore mentioned upper socket module is supported upon the top of the S.C.R. housing 8 which is releasably secured to it by screws 9 which pass through the globe socket 3 or 4a/4b (see figures 4 and 5), through the top of the housing 8, through the holes 58 in the S.C.R. printed circuit board 11 (see figures 7 and 7a) , through the holes 59 in the potentiometer core 12 (see figures 8 and 8a) and are screwed into the holes 66 in the socket adaptors 14 or 15 (see figures 9 and 10) or in the direct mounting adaptor 16 (see figure 11). The screws 9 have their shaft -8-

covered from their head to the upper .surface of the potentiometer core 12 by insulation tubes 10 to prevent their causing a short circuit of the S.C.R. The S.C.R. circuit_, design depicted in figures 7 and 7a is appropriate for use with a 240 volt 50Hz A.C. mains power supply.

Circuit board 11 incorporates heat sink 37, capacitor 38, resistor 39, capacitor 40, diode 41, triac 42, capacitor 43, resistor 44 and torroid 45, but of course such design and components will necessarily vary from country to country, therefore the specific design and components of the S.C.R. are incidental to the objective of this specification and therefore S.C.R. items_ ll and 37 to 45 (see figures 7 and 7a) will be referred to collectively as item 11. The S.C.R. is connected by wires, to the socket terminal 5 or 7 (see figures 4 and 5), to the adaptor terminal 19 or 20 (see figures 9, 10 and 11) and to the potentiometer core 12 (see figure 3) . The wires that connect to terminals 61 and 62 which are bent into recesses 55 on the potentiometer core 12, (see figures 8 and 8a) pass through hole 60 in the circuit board 11 (see figures 3, 7 and 7a). The wires that connect to the socket and mounting adaptor terminals pass through holes 57 in circuit board 11 (see figures 7 and 7a) and holes 56 in the potentiometer core 12 (see figures 8 and 8a) . In order to insulate terminals 61 and 62 from contact with the circuit board 11 a plastic disk 11a (see figure 3) is placed between the circuit board 11 and the terminals 61 and 62. The potentiometer core 12 features around its edge six recesses 54 that correspond with six recesses 51 in the bottom rim of the S.C.R. housing 8 so as to facilitate the entry of cool air into the interior of the S.C.R. housing. The potentiometer core 12 further incorporates a slot 65 which engages a corresponding key 66 on the S.C.R. housing 8 so as to maintain alignment therebetween. On the underside of the broadest part of the potentiometer core 12 is a raised portion covering 45 degrees of arc (see figure 8a) , the remaining flat surface area accommodates a power supply track 63 and a resistance track 64, which are swept by a brush 13a that is secured within a similar 45 degree raised portion 13b of the potentiometer control collar 13. These raised portions engage each other and prevent further movement in the chosen direction when the control collar is rotated up to 270 degrees of arc in either direction around lower portion of the potentiometer core.

The spring assisted brush 13a is designed in such a way as to be able to move up or down within its housing in control collar 13 so as to account for any irregularities in the surface of the potentiometer core 12. Terminal 61 is connected to one end of track 63 and track 64, whilst terminal 62 is connected to only the other end of track 64. Parts 12 and 13 acting together constitute the potentiometer that is used to regulate the firing angle of the triac 42 in the S.C.R. circuit board 11 which in turn controls the amount of power directed to the light globe. Figures 9, 10 and 11 each depict an alternative embodiment of the invention's lower adaptor module, and each, module contains an adaptor core 14 or 15 or 16, which, directly supports the potentiometer core 12 and is releasably secured to it by screws 9 which are screwed into holes 66.

The adaptor core 14 or 15 or 16 houses a terminal 21 or 22 or 23 which is fixedly positioned by the heads of the screws 17 or 18 within the holes provided in the adaptor core 14 or 15 or 16 thus enabling screws 17 or 18 to be tightened so as to clamp the neutral wire that comes from item 5 or 6 (see figures 3, 4 and 5) to form part of the circuit to the light globe. The adaptor core also accommodates in the same manner, another terminal 19 or 20 which is connected by a wire to the S.C.R. 11 circuit board and which accepts into its lower chamber a plunger 24 or 25 which is shorter than its host chamber and has a conical lower end. (In an alternative embodiment, the plunger may be substituted by a small quantity of mercury.) The plunger is captured within the chamber by securing terminal cap 26 or 27 or 28 in the recess formed for it in the bottom of the appropriate adaptor core. When assembled and held upright, the plunger falls against the terminal cap's eccentrically located, conical, top recess which forces the plunger sideways against the side of the accommodating chamber thereby providing a positive electrical connection whilst in this upright position. If the device is inverted, the plunger falls away from the terminal cap and breaks the circuit. In Figure 10 it will be observed that the terminal cap 27 has a tag affixed to it to facilitate connection with the positive terminal 29 that is moulded into the neutral, shell 30 which is pressed over the adaptor core 15 making contact also with the tag affixed to the neutral terminal 22.

In Figure 11 the direct mount adaptor's terminal cap 28 and terminal 23 are each designed to clamp a wire from.-th general purpose power outlet. Around the circumference of the adaptor core 14 or 15 (see Figures 9 and 10) is found a projecting flange 67 which engages a corresponding recess 68 in the support collar 31a/31b or 32a/32b which is designed to be able to be made in two parts so that this invention can be supplied with a choice of accessory threads to suit differing socket specifications. When the portable dimmer's socket adaptor is fully inserted into the host socket, the support collar 31a/31b or 32a/32b may be screwed down upon the host socket, clamping flange 67 against the rim of the host socket. In figure 11 portion 33 of this embodiment is adapted to fit directly onto the bottom of adaptor core 16, portion 33 being provided with two pairs of fins on opposite sides of its inner cylindrical surface to prevent independent rotation of portion 33 relative to portion 16. Portion 33 is secured to adaptor core 16 by collar 34, and tube 35 is provided to pass through the neck of the lamp base, engaging with the internal threaded portion of adaptor portion 33. Nut 36 is applied to the remote end of tube 35. The power supply cable is passed through shaft 35 and is wired to the appropriate terminals 23 and 28.

When fully assembled, the accessory embodiments of the invention may be inserted i'nto an appropriate lamp socket, or the direct mount embodiment affixed to a lamp -base. A lamp shade is placed upon the dimmer's globe socket and secured by the socket collar. The appropriate globe is inserted into the dimmer's globe socket and when power is supplied to the - dimmer, potentiometer control ring 13 is rotated to vary the current flowing through the potentiometer core 12 which regulates the current supplied by S.C.R. circuit board 11 to the light globe, resulting in the required degree of illumination from the globe.

The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention, and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A dimmer assembly for a portable lamp, said assembly.^' - comprising a plurality of detachably interconnected modules; said dimmer assembly being adapted to be electrically and mechanically connectable by a first end into a light socket of said portable lamp generally in the same manner as a light: globe; said dimmer assembly being adapted to receive a light globe in a second end, whereby said light globe can be controllably dimmed by said dimmer assembly.

2. A portable lamp dimmer assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said modules includes manual dimmer control means operable from the exterior of said module.

3. The dimmer assembly of claim 2 wherein said dimmer control means comprises a peripheral control collar whereby rotation of said control collar causes the degree of illumination emitted by said light globe to be varied.

4. The dimmer assembly of any previous claim^"including lamp shade support means whereby the relative positions of said lamp shade and said light globe may be maintained when said dimmer assembly is installed upon said portable lamp.

5. The dimmer assembly of claim 4 wherein at least one of said modules includes means by which said lamp shade may be releasably secured to said dimmer assembly.

6. The dimmer assembly of claim 5 wherein said means by which said lamp shade may be releasably secured to said dimmer assembly comprises clamping a part of said lamp shade between adjacent ones of said modules.

7. The dimmer assembly of claim 6 wherein said adjacent ones of said modules comprise the two modules closest to said second end of said dimmer assembly.

8. The dimmer assembly of claim 7 wherein one of said adjacent ones of said modules includes a collar adapted, upon rotation, to mechanically urge said part of said lamp shade against the other one of said two modules whereby sai'd part of said lamp shade is maintained clamped between said two modules

9. The dimmer assembly of any previous claim wherein said modules when assembled form a plurality of complimentary peripheral body openings and internal ducts that facilitate the ventilation of the electrical components located within said dimmer assembly.

10. The dimmer assembly as claimed in any previous claim wherein one of said modules includes orientation sensing means whereby said dimmer assembly is rendered inoperable if it is tilted too far from its usual operating axis.

11. The dimmer assembly of claim 10 wherein said orientation sensing means comprises a gravity switch.

12. The dimmer assembly of any previous claim wherein that module comprising said first end of said dimmer assembly includes a support collar that is adapted to be engaged with the periphery of said light socket whereby said dimmer assembly may be rigidly but releasably affixed to the body shell of said light socket of said portable lamp.

13. The dimmer assembly of claim 12 wherein said support collar engages with a screw thread upon the periphery of said, body shell of said light socket by means of complimentary screw thread.

14. The dimmer assembly of claim 12 wherein said support collar comprises two complimentary threaded rings, a primary male ring being releasably affixed to a secondary female ring.

15. The dimmer assembly of any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein that module at said first end of said dimmer assembly includes an alternative direct mounting adaptor module adapted to be releasably affixed to a lamp base and connected directly to a power supply cable.

16. The dimmer assembly of any previous claim wherein that module adapted to receive said light globe incorporates a socket adapted to accept a bayonet cap globe.

17. The dimmer assembly of any one of claims 1 to 15 inclusive wherein that module adapted to receive said light globe incorporates a socket adapted to accept a screw cap globe.

18. The dimmer assembly of any previous claim wherein the number of said detachably interconnected modules is four.