Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
TITLE: Adjustable two bulb lamp adapter.
BACKGROUND:
This invention fills the need for an adapter to provide to the ubiquitous
three-way
incandescent lamp holder a means to allow replacement of a two filament
incandescent
electric light bulb with an electrical device containing two separate
adjustable light bulb
holders permitting continued use of the existing four position switching
mechanism to
function as a three-way lamp holder. The higher energy consumption of the
three-way
incandescent light bulb can be replaced by two energy efficient Compact
Fluorescent
Light (CFL) bulbs with the same three-way functioning and thus eliminate the
need to
replace the higher cost three-way CFL if one level fails. Other two bulb
adapters are
available however mechanisms are not being supplied to adjust the adapter to
the
three-way switching means in the widely used four position switched lamp
holder. This
invention can also be adjusted for use in a single filament type lamp socket
for
improving light intensity by using two CFL bulbs. This invention embodies
rotating
sockets and rotating base which improve over existing two bulb adapters by
permitting
configuration adjustments to accommodate the confinements encountered in lamp
shade shapes and mounting hardware. These features allow positioning bulbs to
provide optimum directing for lighting needs.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
Lamp adapters containing two light bulb sockets have existed since 1928 (U. S.
Patent
1,672,664). Other lamp adapters with provisions to adjust the aim of light
bulb socket
have been recorded prior to this invention. Lamp adapters with provision to
allow use of
single filament light bulbs to replace and function as the three-way (two
filament) light
bulb are recorded prior to this invention. None have all of the combined
functions of this
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invention. Relevant patents and application for patents are described in the
following
paragraphs.
U. S. Patent 2,231,565 describes a socket adapter that installs into a single
filament
type light fixture socket. Said adapter having one separate receiving socket
for use of a
single filament light bulb. The receiving socket being provided with a central
pivoting
mechanism at its base to allow adjusting the aim of the light bulb to any
horizontal
position and limited vertical positions. No provision is included to use a
functional three-
way light bulb having two separate filaments.
U. S. Patent 4,835,748 describes an electric light fixture adapter having a
light bulb
screw base for installing into an electric lamp socket and provided with two
additional
fixed separate sockets oriented with centerlines parallel to screw base
centerline to
receive single filament light bulbs. Both sockets are electrically connected
to operate
two single filament light bulbs simultaneously. No provision is included to
use a
functional three-way light bulb having two separate filaments.
U. S. Patent Application publication 2008/0261427 Al (one way to three-way
light bulb
adapter) describes a device that installs into a three-way electric light
fixture and
functions as a three-way (two-filament) light bulb. The device provides one
socket fixed
on centerline of receiving fixture and two sockets on opposite sides of same
centerline
both fixed at 45 degrees aimed down. Each socket is for receiving a single
filament light
bulb and are alternately operated by the four position switch in the receiving
electric
fixture. All bulb positions are fixed.
U. S. Patent Application publication 2011/0189894 Al (refers to as a
conversion kit)
describes a device that contains a threaded light bulb base with two attached
sockets
arranged into a fixed "Y" configuration for the purpose of replacing a three-
way bulb with
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two separate single filament light bulbs. The device functions as a three-way
light bulb
when operated by the four position switch in the receiving electric fixture.
Other publication: SATCOTm Two Light Socket Adapter 150W Medium, Satco Part
No.
77607 was first time noticed Jan 26, 2014 by the applicant. This device
contains a
threaded bulb base with two attached light bulb sockets arranged in a "Y"
configuration
for use with single element light bulb fixtures. Each of the two sockets is
provided with a
ball joint base that allows limited adjustment of socket aim. Both bulbs
operate
simultaneously. No provision is included to use a functional three-way light
bulb having
two separate filaments.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
1. A two bulb holder lamp adapter with each holder separated for independent
rotation,
closely positioned near the male screw base and with electrical connections to
allow
each bulb holder limited rotation in a plane parallel or nearly parallel to
the axis of the
adapter base threads. With the invention positioned in a normal upright
attitude, this
feature allows each of the two bulb holders to be independently rotated to
positions from
vertical to below horizontal to achieve optimum distribution of lighting
effects from the
two bulbs and to be positioned if necessary to avoid possible interferences to
any
original lamp hardware. The invention adapter may be installed in any position
corresponding to the required positioning of the receiving bulb socket. This
provision will
also permit positioning of each bulb to achieve optimum clearance between an
existing
shade and the bulb for heat related safety concerns.
2. A two bulb holder lamp adapter fitted with a male screw base shaped to
replicate the
electrical contact elements of a two filament light bulb base and incorporated
therein
with electrical provisions for an adjustable shunt for selecting, prior to
installation, the
current path to cause the invention adapter to operate as a two filament bulb
with two
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-05-20
separate single filament bulbs installed. This arrangement allows each
separate single
filament bulb to replace each separate filament of a two filament light bulb.
The same
shunt can also be adjusted to a current path to permit the adapter to operate
the two
single filament bulbs both "on" or "off' simultaneously when installed in a
conventional
lamp holder with a two position switch normally used for single filament light
bulb
operation or installed in a lamp holder with a four position switch normally
for a two
filament light bulb operation. A simple single pole electric switch to permit
the
aforementioned functions can be substituted for the adjustable shunt by
installing said
switch at some location selected away from the male screw base.
3. A two bulb holder lamp adapter with a single male screw base fitted with
electrically
conducting metal collector rings and contactors to permit the invention lamp
adapter to
be installed into an existing lamp holder by turning an integral insulated
"thumb wheel"
attached to the conducting screw threads of the adapter base. This feature
allows the
invention adapter to be installed into electrical connection while the
position of the two
bulb holders can held in a preselected location. This improvement permits
installation of
the invention adapter into confined spaces such as would be encountered in a
lamp
holder containing a shade with a harp type support in place. With these
provisions the
two bulb unit can also be rotated in a carousel fashion in a plane located at
or near 90
degrees to the axis of the adapter base threads with no stop limits required
and locked
into final position by tightening the "thumb wheel".
4. The provision of a spring loaded device on the supporting mechanism of the
rotatable bulb holder is incorporated to offer adequate rotational resistance
to allow
each bulb holder to be adjusted to position without the need for an added
locking-
unlocking device to be operated by the user installer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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FIG. 1 is a side view of the two bulb holder lamp adapter showing the screw
base and a
partial cross section of one bulb holder with rotating mechanism and an
external view of
the opposed second bulb holder.
FIG. 2 is the top exterior view of lamp adapter shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is the right side exterior view of lamp adapter shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the adapter screw base showing details of
electrical
embodiments allowing independent rotation of the screw portion of the base
during
installation and removal of invention.
FIG. 5 is a view of lamp adapter shown in FIG. 3 with CFL bulbs installed and
one bulb
holder positioned vertically and the other rotated below horizontal.
FIG. 6 is view of lamp adapter shown in FIG. 3 with CFL bulbs installed and
both bulb
holders rotated below horizontal.
FIG. 7 is a view of lamp adapter shown in FIG. 3 with CFL bulbs installed and
both bulb
holders rotated to the horizontal position.
FIG. 8 is a view of lamp adapter shown in FIG. 3 with CFL bulbs installed and
both bulb
holders rotated to positions between vertical and horizontal.
FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the lamp adapter incorporating two bulb holders
of the
design similar to Part 3 in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND BEST MODE OF IMPLEMENTATION
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Refer to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The adjustable two bulb lamp adapter consists of
the main
components comprising the body 1, cylindrical element 2 with attached screw
shell 23
(which is the major portion of a three way light bulb base) and two bulb
holders 3 and 4
each constructed of a suitable material having sufficient strength, endurance
and
electrical insulating properties to safely support metal conductors, light
bulbs and metal
connecting parts. The subject adjustable two bulb lamp adapter will be
referred to as the
adapter or the adjustable two bulb lamp adapter in the following
specifications.
Refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 displays the adjustable two bulb lamp adapter in a
front view with
a cross sectional view of bulb holder 4 and a partial cross sectional view of
the upper
portion of body 1 included. The two bulb holders 3 and 4 are held in contact
with body 1
by pivot rod 5. Pivot rod 5 provides a shaft about which socket holders 3 and
4 can
rotate within preset limits. The body 1 extends from the bottom to the top and
is the
main support structure. The body 1 having a cylindrical shape on the lower end
for
holding a three way light bulb base comprising elements 1, 2, 7, 8, 23 having
exact
dimensions to allow installation into the receiving socket of an electric lamp
fixture.
What is different is the adapter three way light bulb base is modified to
incorporate two
separated components to allow the threaded shell 23 to rotate freely around
the lower
portion of adapter body 1.
Refer to FIG. 4. This drawing is a cross section view of the three way light
bulb base
which is the lower portion of the adapter body 1 (FIG. 1 shows the three way
light bulb
base with comprising elements 1, 2, 7, 8 & 23). The elements shown are
electrical
conductors or electrical insulators and have the purpose of providing paths
for electric
current to travel from the receiving socket of an electric light fixture to
the adapter's light
bulb holders 3 and 4. The base of a three way light bulb incorporates three
electrical
connections to energize two separate filaments in a three way light bulb. The
outer
threaded shell is the common electrical connection and the center tip provides
for the
first hot electrical connection and an intermediate ring, which adjoins the
center tip,
provides for the second hot electrical connection. These connections as they
apply to
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the adjustable two bulb lamp adapter are described by the following four
paragraphs for
reference to FIG. 4.
The center electrode 7 is a fixed electrical conductor and is for connection
to the first
electrical hot connection in a receiving bulb socket of an electric light
fixture. Electrode 7
is electrically isolated except for the electrical connections providing a
current path to
center hot connection 30 in bulb holder 4. The current path is through
conducting
elements listed in the following: electrode 7 connected to the tension nut 16
connected
to lock washer 15 connected to ring strip 14 connected to flexible conductor
27
connected to center hot connection 30 of bulb socket in bulb holder 4.
The intermediate ring 8 is a fixed electrical conductor and is for connection
to the
second electrical hot connection in a receiving bulb socket of an electric
light fixture
having a four position switch for energizing a three way light bulb.
Intermediate ring 8
is electrically isolated except for electrical connections providing a current
path to
center hot connection 32 in bulb holder 3. The current path is through
conducting
elements listed in the following: intermediate ring 8 connected to ring 11
connected to
ring strip 12 connected to flexible conductor 25 connected to center hot
connection 32
of bulb socket in bulb holder 3.
Threaded shell 23 is permanently fixed to cylindrical element 2 and is for
threading
insertion into the receiving bulb socket of an electric light fixture whereby
connecting to
the electrical common connection of the receiving bulb socket. Cylindrical
element 2,
with threaded shell 23 attached, is positioned centered on a cylindrical
portion at bottom
of body 1 and is free to rotate in either direction. Threaded shell 23 is
electrically
isolated except for electrical connections providing a current path to the
common
electrical connection of the threaded shell 29 in bulb holder 4 and
simultaneously
connecting to the common electrical connection of the threaded shell 31 in
bulb holder
3. The current path to bulb holder 4 Is through conducting elements listed in
the
following: threaded shell 23 connected to ring 22 connected by sliding contact
to foot
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strip 20 connected to flexible conductor 26 connected to internally threaded
shell 29 of
bulb holder 4. The current path to bulb holder 3 is through conducting
elements listed in
the following: threaded shell 23 connected to ring 22 connected by sliding
contact to
foot strip 19 connected to flexible conductor 24 connected to internally
threaded shell 31
of bulb holder 3.
Cylindrical element 2 is shaped on the upper end to have a ring flange
configuration
extending outward to serve as a wheel like device (also called a thumb wheel)
to be
grasped by human fingers to rotate attached threaded shell 23 for screw
threading
installation and removal from a lamp fixture light bulb socket. (FIGS. 1, 2
and 3 have
the number 2 lined to the said ring flange which is an integral part of
cylindrical element
2) This embodiment allows installation and removal of the adjustable two bulb
lamp
adapter by only rotating cylindrical element 2 (with attached threaded shell
23) while
holding the upper portion of adapter against rotating. This is advantageous
for
situations where rotating entire adapter is restricted by closely positioned
lamp parts
such as a lamp shade support harp.
FIG. 1 includes a partial cut away cross section of bulb holder 4 with an
internally
threaded screw shell 29 and center contact 30 for receiving a single filament
electric
light bulb. FIG. 1 includes a partial cut away section of upper section of
body 1
displaying flexible conductor 26 connected to internally threaded screw shell
29 and
flexible connector 27 connected to center contact 30 of bulb holder 4. (Bulb
holder 3
uses flexible conductors 24 and 25 for electrical connections.)
Refer to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. These figures show two possible configurations of
the bulb
holders 3 and 4. The adapter can be manufactured containing two of matching
bulb
holders of either type bulb holder 3 or bulb holder 4 or any other bulb holder
envelope
meeting the requirement for rotation. The optimum arrangement is one that
positions
each of the two bulb holders 3 and 4 as near as possible to the location of
the adapter's
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three way light bulb base without interfering with safe operation in a lamp
fixture having
a two position switch or a lamp fixture having a four position switch.
Refer to FIGS. 1 and 2. A compressed spring 6 is centered on pivot rod 5 to
provide
pressure between the integral end cap of pivot rod 5 and the housing of bulb
holder 3
or bulb holder 4 to produce resistance to rotation of each bulb holder 3 or
bulb holder
4. This feature eliminates the need for a locking device to secure bulb
position after
each rotation adjustment.
Refer to FIG. 4. The adapter incorporates a simple mechanism for a user to
change
the adapter to operate as a single filament bulb when installed in a lamp
fixture having
a two position switch. The mechanism for changing is to electrically connect
center
electrode 7 and intermediate ring 8. The devices to achieve this connection
are shunt
9 (a conducting thin strip) and insulator plate 17. One end of shunt 9 is
permanently
connected to center electrode 7 and the opposite end positioned adjacent to
intermediate ring 8. Insulator plate 17 is hinged captive to body 1 and when
moved to
topside of shunt 9, shunt 9 is forced into contact with ring 8. This allows
both bulb
holders 3 and 4 to receive electrical power simultaneously. (FIG. 4 shows
shunt 9 and
insulator plate 17 positioned to operate the adapter as a three way light bulb
wherein
bulb holder 3 is independently energized to simulate one filament of a three
way light
bulb and bulb holder 4 is independently energized to simulate the second
filament of a
three way light bulb when the adapter is operated in a lamp fixture having a
four
position switch).
Refer to FIGS. 5, 6, 7 & 8. Each of these Figures display a random position of
adapter
bulb holders with installed CFL bulbs. Both bulb holders 3 and 4 can be
independently
positioned to vertical or to any position from vertical to the respective
below horizontal
positions shown by rotation about pivot rod 5.
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Refer to FIG. 9. This figure shows one of many possible configurations of the
lamp
adapter. The two opposed bulb holders shown are identical and similar to bulb
holder
4 shown on FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. These bulb holders may be of any workable
configuration and either matched or unmatched.
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