U.S. patent number 3,745,327 [Application Number 05/237,383] was granted by the patent office on 1973-07-10 for lighting unit arrangements for needed and/or decorative lighting using definite forms such as light blocks.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Dixson, Inc.. Invention is credited to Dennis J. Lowery, Robert E. Merchant.
United States Patent |
3,745,327 |
Lowery , et al. |
July 10, 1973 |
LIGHTING UNIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR NEEDED AND/OR DECORATIVE LIGHTING
USING DEFINITE FORMS SUCH AS LIGHT BLOCKS
Abstract
For needed and/or decorative lighting in homes, offices, clubs
and other dwellings, lighting units, such as light block units,
usable as a single unit and in groups, create white and/or colored
artificial light. They may be arranged, one adjacent another, as
walls of light, decorative strips of light, room dividers of light,
accent groups of light, and walls designs of light. Each light
block unit has: at least one light source, comprising an electric
light bulb, socket, and wires; a reflector caseback, which receives
screw and/or adjesive fasteners to secure it to a building
structure, which holds a light socket, to guide wires through the
light block unit and on to adjacent light blocks, while the wires
remain concealed throughout an overall arrangement of light block
units, and which abuts adjacent casebacks at one or more
preselected locations for the correct overall spacing of several
light block units without requiring measurements beyond selecting
the location of the first light block unit to be installed; a
casefront or cover to conceal the caseback and its electrical
attachments while providing an overall light passing cover, which
is preferably snapped on and off providing ready access to the
bulb, which may be white or colored. Several light block units, up
to a presently recommended limit of thirty-six may be connected to
the same lead-in electrical circuit, which inturn may incorporate
several plugs and switches.
Inventors: |
Lowery; Dennis J. (Grand
Junction, CO), Merchant; Robert E. (Grand Junction, CO) |
Assignee: |
Dixson, Inc. (Grand Junction,
CO)
|
Family
ID: |
22893486 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/237,383 |
Filed: |
March 23, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/227;
362/311.13; D26/80; 362/146 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21S
8/033 (20130101); F21V 17/164 (20130101); F21S
2/005 (20130101); F21W 2121/00 (20130101); F21V
23/002 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F21S
2/00 (20060101); F21S 8/00 (20060101); F21V
17/00 (20060101); F21v 021/00 (); F21p 001/02 ();
F21s 001/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;240/9R,1R,52R,73R,73DA |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Peters, Jr.; Joseph F.
Claims
We claim:
1. A lighting unit to create useful and decorative artificial
lighting, comprising:
a. a formed caseback having:
1. holes to optionally receive fasteners used to secure it to a
structure of a building,
2. integral back mating surface structures to optionally receive
adhesives to secure it to a mating structure of a building,
3. an integral front accessible receiving structure centrally
positioned to receive a light bulb socket,
4. multiple front accessible integral sets of routing structures
spaced to selectively receive electrical wires to be arranged in
selective routes to and from a light socket to be secured to the
centrally positioned structure,
5. recessed front accessible spaced integral receiving and guiding
structures spaced along the caseback edges to accommodate
electrical wires, and
6. spaced front accessible flexible protuberances to releasably
interfit with protuberances on a casefront;
b. electrical lighting components including:
1. light bulb socket secured to the integral front accessible
receiving structure centrally positioned on the caseback,
2. a light bulb secured in the socket, and
3. electrical wires connected to the light bulb socket and
extending across the front of the caseback through selected
multiple sets of routing structures and beyond into selected
recessed receiving and guiding structures at the caseback edges,
and
c. a formed light transmitting casefront removably secured over the
top of the formed caseback to fully enclose the sides and front of
the caseback and all the electrical lighting components secured and
positioned on it, having:
1. recessed side edge accessible spaced integral receiving
structures spaced along the casefront edges to accommodate the
electrical wires, and
2. inside accessible spaced integral protuberances to releasably
interfit with the flexible protuberances on the caseback.
2. Multiple lighting units, all as claimed in claim 1, positioned
in contact with each other so each lighting unit will have some of
its respective recessed receiving structures in alignment with
those on an adjacent lighting unit, whereby the electrical wires
extend directly from one unit to another unit while remaining
concealed within the casefronts.
3. Multiple lighting units, all as claimed in claim 2, each unit
having sufficient respective recessed receiving structures
available for alignment so the lighting units are arrangeable
selectively in a continuous side to side alignment, in a continuous
side to side perpendicular configuration, and in a continuous
corner to corner configuration.
4. A lighting unit to create useful and decorative artificial
lighting, comprising:
a. a formed caseback having:
1. securement means to secure the back of the caseback to a
structure of a building,
2. a front accessible central receiving structure to receive a
light bulb socket,
3. routing structures to selectively receive electrical wires
arranged to and from a light bulb socket to be secured to the
central receiving structure,
4. front accessible spaced edge recessed receiving structures to
accommodate electrical wires which continue on, and
5. front accessible spaced releasable interfitting connecting
structures to be used with complementary interfitting connecting
structures on a casefront;
b. electrical lighting subassembly having:
1. light bulb socket secured to the front accessible central
receiving structure of the caseback,
2. a light bulb secured in the socket, and
3. electrical wires connected to the light bulb socket and
extending across the front of the caseback through selected routing
structures and beyond into selected edge recessed receiving
structures, and
c. a formed light transmitting casefront removably secured over the
top of the formed caseback to enclose the electrical lighting
subassembly, having:
1. side edge accessible spaced recessed receiving structures to
accommodate the electrical wires which continue on, and
2. inside accessible spaced releasible interfitting connecting
structures to be used with complementary interfitting connecting
structures on the formed caseback.
5. Multiple lighting units, all as claimed in claim 4, positioned
adjacent each other so each lighting unit will have some of its
respective recessed receiving structures in alignment with those
like recessed receiving structures on an adjacent lighting unit,
whereby the electrical wires extend directly from one unit to
another unit while remaining behind the casefronts.
6. Multiple lighting units, all as claimed in claim 5, each
lighting unit having a sufficient number of spaced respective
receiving structures available for selection, so the lighting units
are arrangeable on a structure of a building selectively, in a
continuous side to side alignment, in a continuous side to side
perpendicular configuration, and in a continuous corner to corner
configuration.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Lighting both for needed illumination and decoration has generally
required preplanning at the time a dwelling has been designed or is
to undergo remodeling. This is true even to provide a minimum
source such as a wall outlet. Often outlets are placed wrong at the
outset, or as time passes and the use of a dwelling changes,
outlets become inconvenient to get to. As a consequence the use of
a long extension cord is required or they are abandoned. Moreover,
the need for outlets of any kind is often not realized or forgotten
in certain places and consequently never installed.
To remedy some of these design defects initially noticed and/or
subsequently recognized, and also to open up an all new approach to
designing for adequate and/or decorative lighting, lighting units
in various almost self contained arrangements, such as groupings of
the illustrated light blocks, are now available. They are used in
various places throughout a dwelling, many of which previously were
not served by any lighting unit. Their planning, purchase,
mounting, assembly, maintenance, and rearranging, is conveniently
undertaken often by the lady of the home. After the first light
block is located and secured, its caseback structure is utilized to
locate the adjacent light blocks without undertaking further
measurements and without being concerned for alignment of
continuing pathways for the wiring. Throughout a grouping of light
blocks positioned immediately adjacent one to another, in a variety
of positions, the wiring remains concealed under all the light
passing and decorative casefronts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To aid in overcoming lighting deficiencies of present dwellings and
to plan better lighting for new dwellings, and moreover to add
decorative lighting to both present and proposed dwellings,
lighting units, such as the illustrated light blocks, are now
available. Each light block is independently secureable to a
supporting structure and after making measurements for locating the
first one, others of a group of any pattern are located without
making further measurements. The light blocks are arranged as walls
of light, strips of light, room dividers of light, accent light,
free form design wall light, night light, and added light, for
gaining additional lighting and/or decorative lighting.
In each group the wires remain fully concealed behind all the
illuminated casefronts which snap on and off their respective
casebacks. Light sockets with their bulbs are secured to the
casebacks. Wires are routed in the casebacks to and from light
sockets following various pathways aligned with selected pathways
of other casebacks, which are controllably spaced adjacent one
another in different overall patterns. Upon final assembly and
during subsequent changes both colored light bulbs and colored
casefronts are arranged and/or interchanged to acquire different
effects of the overall lighting decoration furnished by the light
blocks. The planning, installation, subsequent rearrangements and
maintenance of groupings of light blocks are all often conveniently
undertaken by the lady of the home.
DRAWINGS OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The preferred embodiment of the lighting unit assembly arranged in
a somewhat block form and referred to as a light block is
illustrated in respect to its use and its construction in the
drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a grouping of eight light blocks
arranged on a wall near an entry;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a grouping of four light blocks
mounted on a wall of a stairway;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a grouping of four light blocks to
illustrate three ways of positioning one light block adjacent to
another;
FIG. 4 is an elevational view indicating how two groups of light
blocks are secured to a common wall and are positioned with only
their corners touching to conceal the continuing wires, and yet
they are arranged in two very different appearing groups;
FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of four light blocks with their
casefronts removed to show the caseback and its support and routing
of the electrical wires, sockets, and bulbs, and also its wire
pathways which also serve as spacers in arranging adjacent light
blocks in various selected overall lighting patterns;
FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the caseback of the light
block;
FIG. 7 is a back perspective view of the caseback of the light
block.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the casefront to indicate how its
edges are cut away to accommodate wires and wire passageways, and
to show eight protuberances arranged to cooperate with at least
four flexible projections on the caseback during the snap on
placement of the casefront on and over the caseback; and
FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial perspective view of an edge portion
of the casefront to illustrate one of the protuberances utilized
during the snap on placement of the casefront on and over the
caseback.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Groupings of Lighting Units - Light Blocks
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, lighting units 10, known in
reference to this preferred embodiment as light blocks 10, are
grouped together to provide adjacent lighting units to create light
where needed and/or to create merely decorative light. After
installation, no wires are noticeable providing an outlet from a
major circuit is also covered by one of the light blocks 10.
However, in many instances, pre-existing wall outlets are not
easily covered. Otherwise, the only wire appearing would be a
lead-in wire to a wall socket or other connecting place to the
major circuit of a dwelling. Throughout such decorative groupings,
the fronts 12 of each light block 10, referred to as casefronts 12,
are often made of different colored materials to create multiple
colored effects or uniform colored effects. The resulting colors
are further modified and/or supplemented by also using colored
electric light bulbs in the interiors of the light blocks.
Preferably, the casefronts 12 are made of medium impact polystyrene
material which may or may not be colored during manufacture.
Resulting colors are quite varied such as aztec gold, tangerine,
raspberry, berry red, bristol blue and avocado. Also there will
always be white casefronts available to meet the sole objective of
better lighting and to be intermixed with other color casefronts
for decorative lighting.
Mounting of Casebacks and Placement of Wiring and Bulbs
As illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, the caseback 14 of the light
block 10 serves many important purposes. As particularly shown in
FIG. 5, a group of four casebacks 14 may be mounted so the
adjoining casebacks 14 present a different overall wire pathway.
The electrical conductor or wiring 34 continues on from the male
plug 28, through optional line switch 30 and beyond through each
light block 10, wherein it is wired to the respective light sockets
19 having bulbs 20. Then often, by using an optional female plug
26, the wire pathway may be continued on to additional light
blocks. The additions are subject, however, to a preferred
restriction of only 36 light blocks being supplied from the same
lead-in cord. In contrast to the continuous electrical wiring 34
shown in FIG. 5, such wiring may be provided in shorter runs using
more in line plugs and receptacles.
As further illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, to create: the selective
entry and/or exit wiring passageways 18 preferably located in eight
places about each caseback 14; the cooperating wire routing pins
24; the light socket holders 22; the mounting adhesive surface
areas 31 and/or fastener hole structures 32; and the spacing tabs
16, often also serving as the wiring passageways 18, a high impact
polystyrene material in opaque white is preferably molded into such
overall form as the illustrated caseback 14. All other colored
casebacks 14 are available.
Form and Snap on Securement of Casefronts
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, each lighting unit 10,
referred to as a light block 10, when assembled appears
substantially as the casefront 12 appears, for it completely covers
the caseback 14, wires 34, socket 19, and bulb 20. The casefront 12
is further illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. As observed in the
perspective view of FIG. 8 each corner and the middle of each side
of the casefront 12 is formed with an opening 36 to accommodate the
combined purpose structure of the wire passageway 18 and spacer tab
16 of the caseback 14.
When the materials used for the casefront 12 and caseback 14 are
sufficiently resilient, such as the polystyrene materials, then a
snap on and pull off assembly process may be relied upon. Spaced
around the interior edge of the casefront are eight protuberances
38 arranged so any directional placement of the casefront 12 on and
over the caseback 14 will secure them together. Then at least at
four places about the caseback 12, it is formed with flexible and
deflectable protuberances 40 which releasibly interfit with the
protuberances 38 on the casefront 12 when the latter is snapped on
into place as part of the final assembled light block 10.
Other Possible Embodiments and Overall Purpose
The decorative and/or added lighting furnished by using lighting
units 10 in the illustrated outer block form referred to as light
blocks 10, is also realized by using other geometric forms, such as
hexagons. For continued concealment of the wires, the other forms
to be selected should have sufficient abutable surfaces
conveniently located. If so provided with sufficient abutable
surfaces to conceal the electrical wires, then, circles,
rectangles, triangles, etc., could be used. Although incandescent
lamps are illustrated, fluorescent lamps might be designed to be
used in such lighting units. Possibly printed circuits might be
adaptable. However, throughout the considerations of all
embodiments, the overall purpose remains to give the purchaser the
opportunity to preplan his or her decorative lighting, which often
also serves as needed illumination, thereafter to select the
lighting units and accessories therefore, and then quite often to
install them by himself or herself. Moreover, if color changes are
subsequently wanted, changing of colored bulbs and/or colored
casefronts is conveniently undertaken. Also if the change wanted
includes repositioning of the lighting units this is reasonably
accomplished as the casebacks are rearranged.
* * * * *