Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
Field of the Invention
The present~ invention relates to ball housing and
support combinations, ventilating fixtures, and adjustable reading
lamp fixtures.
1 sackground of the Invention
Vehicles adapted for long distance transportation must
provide adequate sources of lighting and ventilation for passengers.
For example, most airplanes and many buses in commercial passenger
use today include overhead fixtures to provide these functions.
Generally, such fixtures include an air outlet, adjustable within
a conical region, equipped with a closure valve. Adiacent the air
outlet is frequently positioned an incandescent lamp fixture,
which sometimes may be adjustable in one or more directions.
Advantageously, the number of light or air fixtures overhead
corresponds to the number of passenger seats below, so that each
passenger may adjustthe air flow and lighting as desired.
The principal object of the present invention is to
provide a device which may be used as a combination reading lamp
and ventilation fixture.
A further object is to provide an improved support,
ball housing, and bezel element combination, particularly useful
in such a fixture, whereby the ball housing may be oriented over a
wider range of positions by the passenger than has been heretofore
possible.
Another object is to provide an adjustable reading lamp,
particularly useful in such a fixture, which provides for the
simple adjustment of the lightbeam pattern.
A further object is to provide a reading lamp fixture
which may be adjustable by a passenger in a transportation vehicle
and which may be easily serviced.
Summary of the Invention
These and other objects are achieved by providing an
orientable light and ventilating fixture comprising a housing
having a channel extending axially therethrough, said housing
being adapted for movement to position an axis thereof at any
desired orientation within a conical reyion; a socket assembly
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1 mounted at one end of said housing channel and defining anair-
flow passage into said channel, said assembly being adapted to
engage an electric lamp bulb extending into said channel; and
a bezel element removably insertable within said housing through
the other end thereof and containing an airflow channel communi-
cating with said housingchannel Eor orienting the direction of
airflow through said housing channel. A plenum may cover the
socket assembly, channel and rear portion of the housing, and
may communicate with a suitable device such as an air conditioner,
fan or heater, so that air maybe moved in either direction
through the plenum, channel and an inner chamber of the housing.
The bezel element may be mounted on the housing (which
may be a ball type housing) to be removable through the front
opening thereof. The bezel element may include an integral
shield member to intercept a portion of light emanating from
the electric lamp, so that glare may be reduced. The bezel
e7ement may also include means for mounting a reflector behind
the electric lamp, the reflector including a central opening
having a diameter greater than the outside diameter of the bulb
of the electric lamp, so that the bezel element and reflector
may be removed easily from the entire assembly without first
disengaging the electric lamp from its socket. Additionally,
the bezel element may include means for mounting the reflector
at a plurality of positions along the axis of the ball housing,
so that by adjusting theaxial position of the reflector, the
light-beam pattern may be varied.
As described more in detail below, special
structural arrangments maybe provided to prevent axial
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1 withdrawal of the bezel element from the ball housing,
but permitting such withdrawal after rotation of the bezel
within the housing. Also, specia:L arrangeMents are provided
for enlarging the angular movement of the ball housing with
respect to its support, and for providing a limit for such
movement.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The preferred embo~iment of the invention is explained
below with reference to the accompanying figures in which:
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional elevational view with
parts broken away of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, including a
plenum;
Figure 3 is a plan view partly in section taken along
line 3-3 of Figure 2; and
Figure 4 is an elevational view with parts broken away
of a plurality of combination reading light and air ventilators
mounted in a rack.
1 Description of a Preferred Embodiment O~ the Invention
Ball Housing and Support Assembly
Referring to the drawings, where Fig. 1 shows an exploded
rear perspective view of a preferrea embodiment, a support 10 is
adapted to engage a ball housing 12 by including a circular openins
14 having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the ball
housing 12. A flexible gasket 16 is positioned onto the rear
surface of the support 10. A clamp ring 18 with a circular opening
26, having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the ball housing,
is secured to the support 10 and behind ring 18, as ~y four screws
20, washers 22 and nuts 24, to hola a portion of the ball housing 12
between support 10 and ring 1~, and projecting partially through
both opening 14 and ring 18. However, the ball housing 12 may be
positioned at a variety of orientations while remaining stable in
any position in whlch it is left, since the gasket 16 will exert
frictional force on the ball housing to inhibit it from changing
position unless deliberately manipulated.
~ The ball housing 12 incluaes a circular front opening 28
(shown in Fig. 3), an inner chamber 30 and a circular rear opening
32 parallel to opening 28, the openings being in planes perpendicular
to the principal axis of housing 12. The ball housing 12 includes
a lip 34 formed thereon immediately adjacent rear opening 32 and
extending axially rearward of housing 12 and also substantially
completely around the periphery of opening 32. Ball housing 12
is adapted to have its principal axis adjusted to any desired
orientation within a conical region. ~bsent other constraints,
the width of the con~ is determined by the lip 34, which constrains
the ball housing 12 from movement beyond a predetermined angular
displacement of the ball housing relative to the axis of the ring
1 opening 26 and support opening 14.
Means are provided to prevent excessive rotational
movement of ball housing 12 around its principal axis. While
other arrangements are possible, in the preferred embodiment the
support 10 includes an anti-rotation projection 36 (see Fig. 3)
formed thereon and extending radially inward within circular
opening 14 in support 10. While dimensions may vary, satisfactory
results are obtained in a preferred embodiment where circular
opening 14 is approximately 6 cm. in diameter, and projection 36
extends approximately 2 mm. radially inward from support 10
and is approximately 3 to 4 mm. wide.
A channel 38 is formed longitudinally along the outer
surface of ball housing 12 and engages projection 36. The
channel 38 includes sidewalls lying in planes containing or
substantially parallel to the principal axis of the ball housing
12. The base of channel 38 has a curvature substantially
matching the curvature of the outsiàe surface of the ball
housing 12. Channel 38 has a depth and width respectively
slightly greater than the height and width of projection 36.
Conveniently, channel 38 extends from front opening 28 of ball
housing 12 across the outside surface thereof to rear opening 32.
In a preferred embodiment having the dimensions specified
above, the channel has a depth of approximately 3 mm. and a
width of approximately 8 mm. This arrangement constrains the
rotational movement of ball housing 12 about its principal axis
beyond a predetermined and preferably small angle. Ball
housing 12 may be rotated until projection 36 is met by a
sidewall of channel 38. However, projection 36 and channel 3~
do not interfere with the orientation of the axis of housing 12
within the predetermined conical region.
,
1 Socket Assembly
A socket assembly 50 is mounted on ball housing 12 at
the rear portion thereof. Socket assembly 50 includes an
electrically conductive mounting member 52 which may be
approximately in the shape of a top hat. Mem~er 52 includes
a first cylindrical portion 5~ adapted to engage the base o~
an electric light bulb 56, illustratively of the bayonet type.
Bulb 56 includes radial projections 58 formed on an electrically
conductive base 60 and a central contact 62 electrically insulated
from the base 60. Mounting member 52 includes on its cylindrical
portion 54 channels 64 positioned to allow the projections 58 of the
bulb to pass through the sidewalls of cylindrical portion 54, which
also includes notches 66 at the rear portion thereof and adjacent
channels 64. Notches 66 are adapted to receive pro]ections 58,
so that the bulb 56 may be inserted through the inner chamber
30 o~ ball housing 12, allowing projections 58 to pass through
channels 64, after which the bulb may be slightly rotated to
position the projections 58 in the respective notches 66.
Mounting member 52 also includes a second portion 6~
lllustratively in the shape of a flat ring at the end of first
portion 54 opposite notches 66. In the preferred embodiment, the
flat ring portion 68 has an outside diameter smailer than the
diameter of rear opening 32 and is suitably mounted on ball housing
12, as by means of a plurality of rivets 70 passing through flat
ring portion 68 into standoff mounts 72 formed on the rearward
portion of ball housing 12. Standoff mounts 72 extend radially
inward of the rear op~ening 32 and, if desired, may also extend
axially rearward of the ball housing. Accordingly, the mounting
member 52 is held in spaced relationship from the ball housing 12
:
1to form a substantially annular channel 74 therebetween.
An air passage may be formed by alternative means, however, such
as one or more openings in ring portion 68 or hous~g 12. J
A terminal base 76 formed of an electrically insulating
5material is mounted on the flat portion 6~ of mounting member 52.
Terminal base 76 includes first and second terminals 78, ~0 for
connecting a suitable power source to the light bulb 56. First
terminal 78 is electrically contiguous to flat ring portion 68.
A second terminal 80 also mountecl on base 76 supports a lug 82
10formed of an electrically conductive material, which lug extends
from the second terminal 80 to the rear center of cylindrical
portion 54, so that when light bulb 56 is inserted, lug 82 engages
the central contact 62 of the bulb, and, upon being displaced
slightly rearward by the bulb, provides a force resiliently urging
15the bulb forward so that projections 58 are firmly engaged in
notches 66.
Bezel Element Assembly ~ v
Referring to Figures 1 and ~, a bezel element 100 is
removably secured to and mostly within ball housing 12. The bezel
element 100 includes a first portion 102 insertable through front
opening 28 into the inner chamber 30 of ball housing 12. Means are
provided on the first portion 102 to cooperate with means provided
on the inside surface of inner chamber 30 to removably secure
the bezel element 100 to the ball housing 12. Illustratively,
first portion 102 includes a shoulder 104 extending radially
outward from a neck portion 106. Neck 106 has a diameter slightly
smaller than the diameter of opening 28 and than the inside diameter
of chamber 30. ',houlder 104, in comparison with opening 28, has a
slightly larger diameter so that bezel first portion 102 may be
inserted axially into chamber 30 through front opening 28 until the
shoulder 104 meets the outer perimeter of ball housing 12 forming
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1 opening 28, thereby preventing further movement of the be~el 100
axially inward.
A plurality of substantially flat fingers 108 are formed
on bezel element 100 and extend from neck 106 axially rearward.
Each finger incluaes an integral spring detent 109 formed thereon
and extending radially outwardly of the bezel element 100. Each
spring detent 109 includes a pair of sidewalls 110, a front end
wall 112, and a rear end wall 114. A cutout 116, illustratively
shaped as a U, may extend around each detent 10~. Preferably the
bezel element first portion 102 is formed of a resilient material
such as a synthetic polymeric material (for example, polystyrene,
polyethylene, or polypropylene), so that the detent 109 and the
supporting structure of finger 10~ may be displaced slightly without
damage due to the natural resilience of the material. Consequently,
each detent 109 will exert a force radially outward if displaced
radially inward.
One or more channels 120 are formed on the inside surface
of the ball housing 12. In the preferred embodiment the number of
channels 120 is the same as the number of detents 109; however, it
is not necessary to have a corresponding number, so long as at least
one detent 109 and at least one channel 120 are provided. Each
channel 120 includes an end wall 122 located preferably at a distance
from-the front opening 28 of the ball housing 12 substantially equal
to the distance between spring detent front end wall 112 and shoulder
104. After bezel element 100 is inserted into ball housing chamber
30, it may be adjusted so that spring detents 10~ overlie
corresponding channel6 120. The width of each channel 120 at the
base thereof is approximately equal to the width of each spring
detent 109, so that the resilience of the material forming the bezel
1 first portion 102 will urge the spring detents 109 into the
channels 120. The end wall 122 of channel 120 meets the
front end wall 112 of detent 109, so that bezel element 100
may not be axially withdrawn from the ball housing 12 until
after disengagement of the detents 109.
Each channel includes a pair of sidewalls 124, 126.
In a preferred embodiment, sidewall 124 is substantially radial
with respect to the principal axis of the ball housing 12, while
sidewall 126 is slanted with respect to the axis. Specifically,
sidewall 126 is slanted so that channel 120 has a width at its
base smaller than its width at its top, the slanted wall being
adapted to serve as a ramp. By this arrangement, after the
first portion 102 of the bezel element 100 is inserted into the
inner chamber 30 of ball housing 12, with accompanying bending
of detents 109 inward, bezel element 100 may be rotated around
the axis of the ball housing 12 until the spring detents 109
fall into the corresponding channels 120. To disengage the
bezel element 100, a user may apply a rotational torque to the
bezel element 100, causing certain of the sidewalls 110 of the
detents 109 to slide along the slanted channeI sidewalls 126,
ultimately disengaging each detent 109 from its respective
channel 120 by the consequent ramp action. Rotation of the
bezel element 100 in the opposite direction will be prevented
by the channel radial sidewall 124 meeting the detent radial
sidewall 110. After the detents 109 disengage from the
corresponding channels 120, the bezel element 100 may be
withdrawn axially from the ball housing 12. Alternative
arrangements may be devised, so that the bezel element 100
may be rota.ted in either direction, for example. It is not
necessary that the channel sidewalls include a slanted wall;
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1 so long as there is either a slanted detent sidewall or a
slanted channel sidewall, the detents 109 will be disengaged
when the bezel element 100 is rotated about its axis.
To facilitate insertion of the first portion 102
through the front opening 28 of ball housing 12 into its
inner chamber 30, each spring detent 109 may inclu~e`a slanted
rear end wall 114 so that the base of each detent 10~ is longer
than the top thereof, to act as a ramp.
Fingers 108 of the bezel element 100 provide a unique
mount for a reflector 130 for light bulb 56. Each of thè fingers
108 includes one or more notches 132 on the inside surface thereof.
Each notch is shaped to support a portion of the outer perimeter
of reflector 130, which in cross-section may be elliptical,
parabolic, or shaped otherwise as desired. The resilience of
the material forming the fingers 108 allows the fingers to be
slightly displaced radially outward until the periphery of the
reflector 130 is positioned within a desired notch 132. There-
after, the finger 108 is released, allowing it to return to its
original position to engage the reflector 130. In the preferred
embodiment, a plurality of axially displaced notches 132 are use~
on each of the fingers 108, so that the reflector 130 may be put
in a variety of positions along the principal axis of the ball
housing 12. By varying the axial positlon of the reflector 130,
the beam shape of the light bulb 56 may be adjusted to have a
narrow, normal, or wide divergence. Obviously, other equivalent
arrangements may be used to engage a reflector 130 with the bezel
element 100.
The reflector 130 includes an opening 134 having a
diameter greater than the outside diameter of light bulb 56. As
a result, the bezel element 100, while still engaging reflector
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1 130, may be disengaged from ball housing 12 even though light
bulb 56 remains mounted in the socket assein~ly 50~ In this way,
the unit may be easily serviced, such as for replacement of a
light bulb or other purposes.
Bezel element 100 also includes a second portion 140
which is positioned outwardly of the ball housing 12 when bezel
element 100 is mounted therein. As mentioned above, when
bezel element 100 is mounted in ball housing 12, shoulaer 104
abuts the outer perimeter of ball housing 12 which forms
opening 28. Bezel element second portion 140 includes a ridge
142 extending from shoulder 104 to a trunk portion 144. In a
preferred embodiment, ridge 142 forms a substantially smooth
continuation of the outer surface of ball housing 12 and
tapers radially inward to the trunk portion 144. Accordingly,
the second portion 140 of bezel element 10d does not unduly
limit the maximum angular displacement of the axis of the ball
housing 12 within the support 10 and the support circular open-
ing 14. By this arrangement, in fact, the maximum angular dis-
placement of the ball housing 12 from its axis is made greater
than angular displacements heretofore available.
Bezel trunk portion 144 in the preferred embodiment
is substantially cylindrical, but may be tapered slightly.
Other shapes may be used. The trunk portion 144 may function
to direct the flow of air, discussed more fully below, and
provides a surface for a user to grip in order to aajust the
position of the ball housing 12 with respect to the support 10.
Bezel element 100 may also include an inner light
shield 150 integral therewith. As illustratively shown in the
drawings, the shield 150 is formed as a hollow truncated cone
positoned concentrically within bezel element 100 and supported
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1 by shield supports 152 extending from the inside surface of
bezel element 100 to the outside surface of the conical shiela
150. The shield 150 is oriented so that its smaller opening
faces outward, while its larger opening is closer to the light
bulb 56 when mounted. Consequently, a portion of the light
emanating from light bulb 56 will be intercepted by the inside
portion of the conical inner shield 150 to reduce glaring of
the light rays. Alternative shapes may be used for shield 150,
such as a disc mounted parallel to and concentric with opening 28.
Ventilator Equipment
~he described apparatus may be used as an air venti-
lator by providing a plenum 160 covering the rear portion of
ball housing 12. Conveniently, plenum 160 may be securea in an
airtight fashion to the rear surface of clamp ring 18, so that
plenum 160 will cover socket assembly S0, the generally
annular channel 74 between ball housing 12 and socket
assembly 50, and the rear of the ball housing 12. Airflow
means such as a hose 162 may communicate with plenum 160 and
with a distant unit such as a fan, heater, air conditioner, or
other device. Consequently, air may be moved in either direc-
tion, illustratively from hose 162 to plenum 160, through
channel 74, through re~lector opening 134 and axially along
bulb 56 as well as around the sides of reflector 130 through
inner chamber 30 of ball housing 12, past housing front
opening 28 and out through trunk portion 144 of bezel element
100. If desired~ the outer surface of ball housing 12 may
include a plurality of flutes or channels 166 extending longi-
tudinally along the housing. Consequently, air may then also
move through flut:es 166 on the outside of ball housing 12
and radially outwardly of trunk portion 144.
, :
1 Electrical connection for the light bulb 56 may be
made by running wires through the air hose 162 or alterna-
tively, through an appropriate opening 16~ in the plenum 160.
The present invention therefore provides a combination
reading light and ventilator fixture. A wide range of orienta-
tion of the principal axis of a ball housing with a bezel
element is provided where the diameter of the bezel element
adjacent the ball housing is smaller than the diameter of the
front opening of the housing. The bezel element provides a
unique mount for a reflector, and by including a plurality of
axially spaced notches formed on a plurality of finger pro-
jections, the reflector position may be adjusted to vary the
beam spread of a light bulb. The finger projections support
a unique bezel element mounting arrangement including at least
one spring detent adapted to cooperàte with at least one
corresponding channel formed on the inside surface of the ball
housing. By including an end wall on the channel, and at least one
slanted sidewall to act as a ramp on either the detent or channel,
a unique mounting arrangement obtains whereby a bezel element
is demountably secured within a ball housing. The bezel element and
ball housing provide an adjustable reading fixture which may be
serviced by simple rotation and axial withdrawal of the bezel
element from the housing to give easy access to the light bulb ana
reflector.
To those skilled in the art it will be apparent that
the present invention may take a variety of forms. It is pre-
ferred, therefore, that the foregoiny description be taken in
an illustrative sense, and that the scope of protection affordea
be determined by the appended claims.
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