Lamp

Abstract

A battery-operated lamp is provided with an L-shaped base and an offset translucent globe or cover housing. The bulb is actuated by a position-responsive switch whereby the lamp may be turned on or off by tilting the lamp onto one of two faces of the base. The configuration is such that cover housing remains elevated and the lamp has the same appearance in either the on or the off position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to lamps and more particularly is directed towards a battery-operated lamp that is actuated by a position-responsive switch.

2. Summary of the Prior Art

Battery-operated lamps are available in a wide variety of designs and for various purposes such as emergency lights, flashlights, camping and the like. Battery-operated table lamps have also been produced, particularly for use on outdoor patios where electrical outlets may not be readily available. It has also been proposed to employ position-responsive switches as a means for turning a lamp on or off. However, lamps embodying such features thus far have not been satisfactory from the standpoint of cost, convenience, reliability of operation and illumination. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved battery-operated lamp actuated by change of angular position. A further object of this invention is to provide a battery-operated table lamp having base and cover housing portions of cooperating construction and design whereby the lamp will be balanced, the cover housing will remain elevated and will provide the same appearance in either operative position. Still another object of this invention is to provide a lamp that is actuated by change of angular position wherein the cover housing remains out of contact with any supporting surface regardless of the operative position of the lamp base.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention features a battery-operated lamp that is actuated by change of angular position comprising an L-shaped base and an offset translucent cover housing detachably connected thereto. Batteries are mounted within the base in each leg thereof to provide balance and a bulb is also mounted in the base to extend into the cover housing. A position responsive switch is in a circuit between the batteries and the bulb so that, when the lamp is resting on one face of the base the bulb will be on, whereas if the lamp is tipped 90.degree. to rest on the other base the bulb will go off. The offset positioning of the cover housing maintains the cover housing portion raised above the supporting surface to provide a wide area of illumination without marring either the cover housing or the furniture on which the lamp is resting. An alternative arrangement includes a rechargeable battery employed in place of dry cells.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a lamp cover housing made according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of the base portion of the lamp,

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a modification thereof,

FIG. 4 is a view in side elevation of the assembled lamp,

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing a modified cover housing,

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the FIG. 5 cover housing in use, and,

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are detailed views showing different types of position responsive switches.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and to FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular, the reference character 10 generally indicates a cover housing that is adapted to detachably connect with a base 12.

The cover housing 10 in FIG. 1 has a cubistic configuration preferably formed of a translucent plastic material by molding, casting or the like. The cover housing of FIG. 1 includes top, front and sidewalls 14, 16, 18 and 20, respectively of corresponding size and shape and rear and bottom walls 22 and 24, respectively. The walls 22 and 24 are formed with a common L-shaped opening 26 of rectangular outline defined by rectangular openings in each of the walls 22 and 24 inboard from the edges of the walls except at their common corner where the openings merge. Formed about the opening 26 is an inwardly projecting lip 28 extending along the sides of the opening and at each transverse end the lip is formed with a rib 30 and groove 32 parallel to one another and facing towards the common corner. The ribs and grooves are adapted to engage with grooves and ribs 34 and 36, respectively, formed in the base 12 and by which the parts are snapped into locking engagement.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the base 12 has an L-shaped configuration and typically is of molded plastic construction for mating engagement with the cubistic cover housing 10. The base 12 is somewhat narrower than the cover housing so that when the cover housing is mounted to the base, the cover housing will overhang the base to a certain extent for better illumination. the base housing includes leg portions 38 and 40 of corresponding size, shape and length and formed with outer flat faces 42 and 44 perpendicular to one another and parallel, respectively, to the rear wall 22 and the bottom wall 24 of the cover housing when the two parts are assembled. The matching legs of the base when connected to the cover housing permit the lamp to rest on either face, 42 or 44, without changing the appearance or balance of the lamp.

The base 12 is hollow and is formed with an L-shaped opening 46 across its inner section oppositely the walls 42 and 44 and adapted to register with the opening 26 of the cover housing. Formed about the base opening 46 is an outwardly projecting marginal lip 48 which bears against the lip 28 of the cover housing when the parts are assembled. The lip 48, at its ends, is formed with the grooves 34 and ribs 36 which are coextensive with the rib 30 and grooves 32 of the cover housing. The parts are assembled by snapping the cover housing onto the base. This is done by merely pushing the two parts together with the lip 48 fitting within the opening 26 and the cooperating grooves and ribs snapping together. The parts are readily separated by prying the cover housing from the base until the ribs and grooves are released.

The base 12 is adapted to contain at least a pair of dry cell batteries (not shown), one being mounted within the leg 38 while the other is mounted within the leg 40 so that the lamp will be balanced in either rest position. The interior of the base is provided with conductive spring contacts 50 and 52 mounted to the sidewalls of the base by means of integral pins 54 or the like. The contact 52 is connected by a conductive strip 56 to a position responsive switch 58 which, in turn, is connected to a lamp-mounting bracket 60. The bracket 60 is also connected through a conductor 62 to the contact 50. The bracket 60 preferably is mounted diagonally in the corner of the base and is formed with a tapped circular opening 64 to receive a bulb 66' threaded thereto.

The switch 58 of the illustrated embodiment comprises a finger 66 pivoted from an arm 70 between a U-shaped offset bend 72 formed in an extension of the bracket 60. The bracket 72 is shaped so that one side of it will come in contact with the pivoted contact 66 when the base is resting in the position shown in FIG. 2 but if the lamp is tilted 90.degree. so that the base rests on the face 42, the finger 66 will swing clear of any conductive element and the circuit will be open. The circuit equivalent of the switch 58 is best shown in FIG. 7.

In FIG. 8, there is illustrated a modification of the position-responsive switch and in this embodiment an unbalanced swinging arm 74 is pivoted in spaced relation between a pair of diagonally positioned contacts 76 and 78. In FIG. 8, the switch is shown in the open position and it will be understood that when the lamp is tilted 90.degree. to the right the swinging arm 74 will engage the contacts 76 and 78 to close the circuit and thereby illuminate the bulb.

In FIG. 9 there is illustrated another modification of the switch and, in this embodiment, a pair of contacts 80 and 82 is mounted within an enclosure 84 carrying and guiding a conductive rod 86 disposed for free movement therein. The switch of FIG. 9 is shown mounted in the FIG. 3 embodiment and is disposed in a diagonal position so that, in the FIG. 3 position, for example, the rod 86 will be away from the contacts 80 and 82 to keep the switch open. However, if the lamp is tilted 90.degree., the rod will drop into engagement of both contacts to close the circuit. The enclosure for the switch is kept sufficiently small to prevent the rod from jamming open or closed.

Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, there is illustrated a modification of the invention and, in this embodiment, a rechargeable battery unit 88 is mounted in a base 12' in place of the dry cell batteries of the principal embodiment. In the FIG. 3 embodiment, a cord 90, having a plug 92, is provided to permit recharging of the battery 88 as required. When recharging, the cover housing is first removed and the plug 92 separated from its holding clamp 94 and plugged into a standard AC outlet for a time sufficient to recharge the battery. When recharged, the cord and plug are returned to the base and the cover housing re-attached.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is illustrated a further modification of the invention and, in this embodiment, a cover housing 10' is provided in a spherical configuration adapted to fit over the same base 12 of the principal embodiment without altering the base configuration. As best shown in FIG. 5, the spherical cover housing 10' is formed with an arcuate opening 26' about which extends a lip 28' having cooperating ribs and grooves 30' and 32' by which the cover housing is locked with the base.

The lamp is particularly useful as a night light where a low-intensity light is temporarily needed. It is particular useful in a mursery or near a bedroom phone since it is turned on and off by simply tipping it from one base to the other to provide sufficient light to move about with safety. Since the cover housing is maintained in a raised position whether the lamp is on or off neither the cover housing itself or any supporting furniture surface will be scratched one by the other. By keeping the cover housing raised in either rest position, any heat that might be given off by the bulb is kept away from the supporting surface and has the further advantages of casting better light.

Claims

Having thus described the invention what I claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A lamp comprising

a. a symmetrical and relatively small opaque L-shaped base comprising a pair of mutually perpendicular matching rectilinear legs, each of said legs having side walls and one flat face, said flat faces intersecting at a 90.degree. angle for providing balanced support for resting said base on a support surface in one of two rest positions,

b. said legs being hollow and formed with an L-shaped opening opposite said flat faces,

c. battery mounting means mounted in each leg of said base and adapted to support a battery in each leg for balancing said base,

d. bulb mounting means mounted within the opening of said legs and adapted to support a bulb extending out through said opening,

e. a position responsive switch mounted in said base and operatively connected to said bulb and battery, and

f. a symmetrical translucent and relatively large hollow cover housing formed with an L-shaped opening therein adapted to detachably connect with said base and having an outside dimension in excess of the dimension of the L-shaped opening of said legs,

g. said cover housing opening being in registration with said base opening when said base and cover housing are connected whereby said cover housing will overhang the sides and ends of said base legs,

h. said base legs being dimensioned to maintain a clearance between said cover housing and a support surface when said lamp is resting on either of said flat faces.

2. A lamp according to claim 1 wherein said base is formed with a lip extending about said base opening, the opposite ends of said base lip being formed with parallel ribs and grooves, said cover housing being formed with a lip extending about said cover housing opening, the opposite ends of said cover housing lip being formed with parallel ribs and grooves for cooperating engagement with said base lip ribs and grooves.

3. A lamp according to claim 1 wherein said switch includes a conductive finger pivotally mounted in said base and electrically connected at its pivot end to one of said bulb and battery, and a fixed contact mounted adjacent the opposite end of said finger, said contact being electrically connected to the other of said bulb and battery, said switch being pivoted about an axis parallel to the intersection of both of said faces whereby said switch will open and close according to the rest position of said lamp.

4. A lamp according to claim 1 wherein said switch includes an enclosure, a pair of contacts mounted in said enclosure, one contact being connected to said battery and the other to said bulb, and a conductive member movably disposed in said enclosure and adapted to engage both of said contacts in one position of said lamp and disengage said contacts in another position.

5. A lamp according to claim 1 wherein said switch includes a pair of fixed spaced contacts connected respectfully to said battery and said bulb and an unbalanced conductive finger pivoted between said contacts and adapted to engage both of said contacts in one position of said lamp and disengage therefrom in another position.