Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FIEhD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a light fixture to
position a light bulb close to a surface and more
particularly to a weatherproof light fixture, for outdoor
use or use in a humid atmosphere, which is capable of
being adjusted to direct light as desired.
BACRGROUND OF INVENTION
Numerous types and forms of light fixtures are
known and used to hold incandescent or fluorescent light
bulbs. Typically such fixtures comprise a socket attached
to a base which is in turn attached in some manner to an
electrical outlet or a surface. The socket is connected
to a local electricity supply. In other cases the light
socket may be separated from the base of the fixture by a
chain, pipe or other apparatus depending upon the specific
configuration of the fixture. Most often light fixtures
are made from metal, wooden or glass components.
In the case of outdoor light fixtures, and
specifically those designed to hold floodlights, the
configuration of the fixture is often considerably
different from'f;hat bf $n indoar'~fixture. For~~xamplW, ~s
floodlights are normally intended to be focused upon a
specific object or area, outdoor fixtures for holding
floodlights are typically designed so as to enable the
direction of the light to be altered. This is often
accomplished through the use of a hinge or ball and socket
type connection between the socket holding the bulb and
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base of tha fixture.
In the case of a hinge joint connection, the
fixture will allow movement and focusing of the light bulb
through approximately 180° in a single plane. That is, the
hinge joint will allow movement only within the plane of
the joint. The joint is usually adjustable through
loosening and tightening a screw, bolt or nut and to
prevent droop and unwanted movement, the screw, bolt or
nut holding the joint must often be tightened with the use
of tools. In damp or freezing conditions the hinge joint
can become rusted or frozen and cease to function
properly.
9n the other hand, a ball and socket structure
will allow practically unlimited movement within the semi-
spherical area defined by the surface to which the fixture
is attached. However, in order to focus on any specific
area, fixtures employing a ball and socket mechanism
typically require a clamping means to hold the joint fast
and prevent unwanted movement of the light bulb. Due to
the nature of a ball and socket joint, such clamping means
are often complex and difficult to use. The clamping
means may :also::be .subject to corrosion as~d:.freezing ~,as. W n
the case of the hinge joint.
In the past, various clamping mechanisms have
been developed to hold the socket portion of an adjustable
floodlight fixture in a specific position. These
mechanisms have often involved the use of nuts, bolts,
clasps, screws or other forms of fasteners. The
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difficulty has been in developing a clamping mechanism
secure enough to prevent droop of the fixture yet simple
and easy enough to operate without the use of tools or
external devices. In addition, the prior art devices
typically are formed of steel or various other metals
which may oxidize over time or become difficult to operate
in freezing temperatures. Further, in the case of metal
components, low temperatures normally result in a
contraction of the metal making the mechanisms more
difficult to operate.
SUMP~iARy OF THE INVEIdTIOid
The invention therefore provides a weatherproof
light fixture which overcomes these disadvantages by
providing a means to rotate a light socket manually,
without the use of tools or other apparati, such that
light can be focused on any area within the semi-spherical
field of the fixture, where such means axe not
susceptible to oxidation or affected adversely by
fluctuations within normal temperature ranges.
Accordingly, the present invention in one of its
aspects provides a weatherproof lig'htwfixture eomp~ising;
a body for receiving the stem of a light bulb, said body
comprised of a generally hollow portion having first and
second end portions, said first end portion being open and
said second end portion being rotably attached to a cap,
a base for securing said fixture to a surface, a shaft for.
connecting said cap to said base, said shaft being rotably
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mounted to said base and fixedly attached to said cap, a
clamp for restricting the rotational movement of said
shaft relative to said base, and means for restricting the
rotational movement of said hollow portion about said cap.
In another aspect the invention provides a
weatherproof light fixture comprising a body for receiving
the stem of a light bulb, said body comprised of a
generally hollow portion having first and second end
portions, said first end portion being open and said
second end portion being rotably attached to a cap, a base
for securing said fixture to a suxface, a shaft for
connecting said cap to said base, said shaft being rotably
mounted to said base and fixedly attached to said cap, the
axis of said shaft being perpendicular to said base and
the plane of rotation between said hollow portion and said
cap being at a 45 degree angle to the axis of said shaft,
a manually actuatable clip, having a rest position and a
displaced position, located on said hollow portion of said
body, said clip restricting rotational movement of said
hollow portion about said cap through the engagement of
teeth'on said clip with corresponding teetfi~on-said cap,
and a clamp 'for restricting 'the rotational mbvement of
said shaft relative to said base wherein said clamp
comprises a sleeve encompassing said shaft and adapted to
engage the surface of said base.
Further objects and advantages of the invention
will become apparent from the following description, taken
together with the accompanying drawings.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TB~ DR~~1TNGS
For a better understanding of the present
invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried
into effect, reference will now be made, by way of
example, to the accompanying drawings which show the
preferred embodiments of. the present invention in whichr
Figure 1 is a perspective view from above and in
front of a light fixture according to the present
invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective view from below and
behind of the light fixture shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along
the line 3-~ of the light fixture shown in Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a detailed view of the area 4 as
shown in Figure 3 with a clip in its displaced position.
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along
the line 5-5 of Figure 3.
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along
the line 6-6 of Figure 3.
Figure 7 is an enlarged view of a base portion
of the light fixture of Figure 2,' with a clamp in' a
disengaged'configuration.
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along
the line 8-8 of Figure 3.
Figure 9 is a variation of Figure 4 showing an
alternate embodiment of the invention.
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DESCRIPTTOivi OF PREFERRED E.MBODIPiENT
Figure 1 shows a light fixture according to the
present invention generally indicated at 2. The light
fixture 2 has a body 4 comprised of a hollow portion 6
having a first end 8 which is open and a second end 10
which is enclosed. The body 4 is capable of receiving the
stem of a light bulb 90 (shown in ghost outline in Figure
3) through the open first end 8 and into a light socket 30
shown in Figure 3.
The second end 10 of the body 4 is enclosed by
a cap 12, as is more clearly shown in Figure 2. A hollow
shaft 18, of generally circular cross-section, is fixed to
the side of the cap 12 and connects the body 4 to a base
14 which is in turn secured to a surface 16. Surface 16
would typically be a wall or soffit surface and base 14
would, in most instances, be secured to an electrical box
through the use of screws (not shown) passing through
holes 20 in the base 14. However, the base 14 could also
be mounted on various other surfaces or through the use of
other fastening means including nails, rivets, clamps and
glue.
In order to allow for the directing.rox.focusing
of a light bulb upon a specific area, the hollow portion
6 is rotably attached to the cap 12 as indicated at 22.
As is more clearly shown in Figure 3, the cap 12 contains
a circular recess 24 which receives a cylindrical
projection 2fi of the hollow portion 6. Axial means 95
connect the hollow portion 6 to the cap 12 and provide an
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axis for rotation therebetween. In the preferred
embodiment the axial means 95 comprises a screw 28 which
passes through a channel 32 in the cap 12 and is threaded
into hollow portion 6 in order to hold the body 4
together. The screw 28 also acts as an axis of rotation
allowing the hollow portion 6 to rotate about the cap 12.
The screw 28 is preferably threaded into the hollow
portion 6 and moves freely within the channel 3 to allow
rotational movement of the hollow portion 6. The
reception of the cylindrical projection 26 into the recess
24 assists in maintaining the stability of the structure
by preventing lateral movement.
In a further embodiment of the present
invention, and as is shown in Figure 9, the axial means 95
comprises outwardly extending prongs 87 which engage a
socket 88 in cap 12 to notably attach the hollow portion
6 to the cap 12.
To keep water and debris from inhibiting the
rotational movement a trim plug 34 is used to seal off the
outer portion of the channel 32. An 0-.ring 36 is placed
around the.cylindrical projection 26-in order to arcate a
water~ti:ght seal between the hallow portion.6. and the cap
12.
Once the hollow portion 6 has been positioned
such that the light is focused in the desired direction,
it is important to restrict further rotational movement or
droop. To accomplish this the hollow portion 6 includes
means (noted generally as 37) to restrict its rotational
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movement about 'the cap 12. In the preferred embodiment
means 37 comprises a clip 38 which engages the cap 12.
The clip 38 is formed from a flexible resilient plastic
material and is manually actuatable from a rest position
to a displaced position. Biasing means (noted generally
as 39) enhance the tendency of the clip 38 to return to
its rest position when displaced. Figure 3 shows the clip
38 in its rest position whereas Figure 4 shows the clip 38
in its displaced position.
The engagement of the clip 38 with the cap 12 xs
accomplished through the interlocking of teeth 40 on the
clip 38 with corresponding teeth 42 on the cap 12. When
the clip 38 is in its rest position the teeth 40 of the
clip 38 mesh with the corresponding teeth 42 of the cap
12 and thereby prevent rotational movement of the hollow
portion 6.
In order to rotate the hollow portion 6, the
clip 38 must be moved from its rest position to its
displaced position to unlock the teeth 40 and the teeth
42, as is more clearly shown in Figure 4. Displacement of
the clip 38 can ~be accomplished through movement of the
clip 38 away. from. the cap l2 bythe~ use of grasping means
44.
In the preferred embodiment the clip 38 is
further comprised of first and second semi-circular
straps, 46 and 47 respectively. First and second semi-
circular straps 46 and 47 are connected at their ends by
hinges 48. The resulting structure is of a saddle-shaped
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configuration and is preferably formed from a flexible and
resilient material. Semi-circular straps 46 and 47 are
held in a correspondingly shaped recess 49 on the surface
of hollow portion 6 with the first semi-circular strap 46
bearing against the surface 51. Holes 53 in 'the hinges 48
engage posts 55, which extend from hollow portion 6, to
hold the clip 38 on the surface of hollow portion 6.
When the clip 38 is moved from its rest position
to its displaced position the semi-circular strap 46 is
prevented from moving due to contact with the surface 51
thereby creating a biasing force within the hinges 48.
This biasing force enhances the tendency of the clip 38 to
return to its rest position when displaced. Following the
rotational movement of the hollow portion 6 to its desired
position, the clip 38 is simply released after which it
returns to its rest position thereby locking the hollow
portion 6 in place about the cap 12 through the meshing of
the teeth 40 on the clip 38 and the teeth 42 on the cap
12.
As is shown in Figures 5 and 6, the teeth 42 on
the cap 12 are continuous about its circumference.whereas,
in the preferred embodiment, the .clip 38 extends over only
a part of the surface of hollow portion 6.
According to the present invention the body 4 of
the light fixture 2 is notably attached to the base 14 by
the shaft 18. Shaft 18 is threaded in part and rotational
movement of the shaft Z8 is accomplished by screwing the
shaft 18 into a threaded hole 57 in the base 14 as is
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shown in Figure 3. External threads 50 on the shaft 18
correspond with internal threads 52 of the hole 5? such
that the shaft 18 can be connected to the base 14 while
allowing for rotational movement therebetween.
The ability to rotate the shaft 18 about the
base 14 allows for the direction of light from the light
fixture 2 to any specific point in the semi-spherical
field of the fixture. That is, through the combination of
rotating the hollow portion 6 about the cap 12 and,
through rotating the shaft 18 about the base 14, light
from the fixture 2 can be focused in any direction within
the field defined by the surface 16 and the fixture 2.
Again, once the light fixture 2 has been
adjusted to its proper position through rotation of the
hollow portion 6 about the cap 12, and through rotation of
the shaft 18 about the base 14, it is desirable to
restrict the rotational movement of the shaft 18 about the
base 14 to "lock" the fixture in place. To accomplish
this, the fixture 2 further comprises a clamp, generally
noted as 54 an Figure 3.
The clamp 54 is further comprised of a sleeve 56
and a nut 5$. The sleeve~56.is slideably mounted over the
shaft 18 and has teeth 60 on its surface adjacent the base
14. The base 14 includes corresponding teeth 62 adapted
to mesh with the teeth 60 on the sleeve 56 when the sleeve
56 and the base 14 come into contact, In order to
restrict rotational movement of the shaft 18 about the
base 14, shaft 14 includes at least one flattened portion
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64 upon its generally circular surface. The internal
surface of the sleeve 56 also includes at least one
flattened portion 65 which aligns with the flattened
portion 64 of the shaft 18 when the sleeve 56 is placed
over the shaft 18. In this manner, the sleeve 56 is
slideably mounted on the shaft 18 and the engagement of
flattened portions 65 and 66 prevent rotational movement
of the sleeve 56 about the shaft 18. Accordingly, the
teeth 60 on the sleeve 56, when engaged with the teeth 62
of the base 14, prevent the rotational movement of the
sleeve 56 about the base 14 and, due to the interlocking
of flattened portions 64 and 65, the sleeve 56 in turn
prevents the rotational movement of the shaft 18.
According to the present invention, the
interlocking of the teeth 60 and 62 is enhanced through
the action of the nut 58 against the sleeve 56. The nut
58 is threaded onto the shaft 18 such that it can be
tightened against the edge of the sleeve 56 thereby
ensuring the integrity of the bond created between the
interlocking teeth 60 on the sleeve 56 and the teeth 62 on
the base 14.
Tn order to aid in the tightening of the nut 58
against sleeve 56, raised griping ridges 66 are spaced
around the exterior surface of the nut 58. These gripping
ridges provide a means for tightening the nut 58 securely
against the sleeve 56 without the necessity of using
wrenches or tools. In addition, in the preferred
embodiment the surface of the nut 58 which contacts the
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sleeve 56 includes raised nibs 68 which bear against the
sleeve 56. The nibs 68 reduce the frictional contact
between the nut 58 and sleeve 56. This reduction in
friction enhances the ability to tighten the nut 58
against the sleeve 56 with minimal force.
To be weatherproof and effective for use in an
outdoor or humid atmosphere, the light fixture 2 is
equipped with a seal 70 mounted about the opening in the
first end 8 of hollow portion 6. As is more clearly shown
in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the seal 70, in its preferred
embodiment, comprises an outer edge 72 and has two
inwardly projecting annular ridges 74 which bear against
the stem of the light bulb 90 when received into the light
socket 30.
The seal 70 also comprises outwardly extending
tabs 92 which engage holes 94 in the hollow portion 6 to
releasably secure the seal 70 within the hollow portion 6.
Through the engagement of tabs 92 with holes 94, the seal
70 is securely held in place, and yet, can be readily
replaced if desired.
The seal 70 is comprised of a flexible
rubberized material such that it forms a weather resistant
barrier against the stem of the light bulb 90 to prevent
moisture or humidity from entering the hollow interior of
portion 6. The weatherproofness of the light fixture 2 is
further enhanced by the fact that in the preferred
embodiment all components, with the exception of the light
socket 30 and screw 28, are formed from a weather
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resistant material and preferably from an impact resistant
plastic.
The light socket 30 is held securely within the
hollow portion 5 through screws or bolts 76 (shown in
ghost outline in Figure 3). Electrical wires 78 run from
connections on the light socket 30 through an opening 80
in hollow portion 6 and into the cap 12. An opening 82 in
the cap 12 allows the wires to then pass through the cap
12 and then through a hollow channel 86 in the shaft 18
and eventually through the base 14 to be connected to an
exterior electrical supply. A sufficient length of the
electrical wires 78 is left within the internal portion of
the cap 12 and the hollow portion 6 to allow for
rotational movement of the hollow portion 6 about 'the cap
12. However, in order to prevent the electrical wires 78
from being twisted by more than one revolution (due to the
rotation of the hollow portion 6) the cylindrical
projection 26 of hollow p~artion 6 contains a stop 84 which
projects into the recess 24 of the cap 12. When the
hollow portion 6 is rotated about the cap 12, the stop 84
will bear against the electrical wires 78 at the point
that they pass through the'~opening~ 82. The stop 84
thereby prevents rotational movement of the hollow portion
6 by more than 360° in either direction. This feature does
not affect the ability of the light fixture 2 to focus
light in any particular direction, however, it prevents
the electrical wires 78 from being continually twisted
around in the same direction.
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In use, the base 14 of the light fixture 2 may
be mounted to a surface 16 through the application of any
of the fastening means previously described. The light
bulb 90 may then be inserted through the open first end 8
of the hollow portion 6 and received by the light socket
30.
To focus the light on a specific area the clip
38 is moved from its rest position to its displaced
position thereby disengaging the teeth 40 on the clip 38
from the teeth 42 on the cap 12. The hollow portion 6 may
then be rotated to any position about the cap 12. The
clip 38 is then released and the biasing means 39 force
the clip 38 back to its rest position. The teeth 40 and
42 then interlock and prevent further rotational movement
of the hollow portion 6.
Next the nut 58 is rotated so as to release the
sleeve 56 from the base 14 and allow the shaft 18 to be
rotated to its desired position. Once the light has been
directed or focused in the proper direction, the nut 18 is
then tightened against the sleeve 56 such that the teeth
60 on the sleeve 56 engage the teeth 62 on the base 14 to
provide a clamping means preventing further rotational
movement of the shaft 18.
Through the use of plastic components, the O-
ring 36 at the junction of the hollow portion 6 and the
cap 12, and through the use of the seal 70, the light
fixture 2 is of a weatherproof construction and suitable
for outdoor or high humidity indoor applications. Ar~thex
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advantage of the light fixture 2 is the fact that
adjusting the direction of the light is relatively simple
and does not require the use of any tools. Further,
through the use of replaceable seals 70 having different
internal diameters, the light fixture 2 can be readily
adapted for use with light bulbs of varying
configurations.
It is to be understood that what has been
described are the preferred embodiments of the invention
and that it is possible to make variations to these
embodiments while staying within the broad scope of the
invention. Some of these variations have been discussed
above while others will be apparent to those skilled in
the art to which this invention pertains. Fox example,
the biasing means 39 for the clip 38 has been described
specifically as comprising first and second semi-circular
straps 46 and 47 and hinge 48. However, various other
biasing means capable of returning the clip 38 from its
displaced position to its rest position could also be
used. Also, while the preferred embodiment shows the
rotational axis of the hollow portion 6 about the cap 12
being a screw 28, in other instances the axis may take the
form of a bolt, rivet, or other similar type structures.
