U.S. patent number RE44,373 [Application Number 11/788,015] was granted by the patent office on 2013-07-16 for lighting apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Adesso Inc.. The grantee listed for this patent is Duan-Cheng Hsieh, Lee Schaak. Invention is credited to Duan-Cheng Hsieh, Lee Schaak.
United States Patent |
RE44,373 |
Hsieh , et al. |
July 16, 2013 |
Lighting apparatus
Abstract
A lighting apparatus includes a support member, a lighting unit
mounted on one end of the support member, and a lamp shade mounted
on the lighting unit. The lighting unit includes a containment
member having a mounting portion mounted on the support member, a
flared wall portion extending from a periphery of the mounting
portion in a first direction away from the support member, and a
partition plate disposed inside the flared wall portion in a second
direction transverse to the first direction so as to define a
closed accommodating space and an open accommodating space on two
sides of the partition plate. The partition plate is formed with a
cord hole. A socket member is disposed in the open accommodating
space for mounting a light bulb thereon. An insulated conductive
cord member has a first end portion connected electrically to the
socket member, and a second end portion that extends into the
closed accommodating space via the cord hole in the partition
plate. A power cord member has a first connecting end to be
connected electrically with a power supply, and a second connecting
end that extends into the closed accommodating space and that is
connected electrically to the second end portion of the insulated
conductive cord member.
Inventors: |
Hsieh; Duan-Cheng (Taipei,
TW), Schaak; Lee (Dix Hills, NY) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hsieh; Duan-Cheng
Schaak; Lee |
Taipei
Dix Hills |
N/A
NY |
TW
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Adesso Inc. (New York,
NY)
|
Family
ID: |
23346312 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/788,015 |
Filed: |
April 17, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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10365627 |
Sep 4, 2007 |
Re. 39810 |
|
|
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09012362 |
Nov 9, 1999 |
5980071 |
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09042212 |
Dec 21, 1999 |
6004012 |
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Reissue of: |
09343486 |
Jun 30, 1999 |
6203178 |
Mar 20, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
362/414; 362/431;
362/353; 362/453; 362/441; 362/410 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21V
17/007 (20130101); F21V 27/00 (20130101); F21V
1/14 (20130101); F21S 6/002 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F21S
8/08 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;362/414,431,227,318,410,353,453,441 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Alavi; Ali
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Leason Ellis LLP
Parent Case Text
.Iadd.RELATED APPLICATIONS.Iaddend.
.Iadd.More than one reissue application has been filed for the
reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 6,203,178. The present application is a
continuation reissue application of U.S. Reissue patent application
Ser. No. 10/365,627, filed on Feb. 12, 2003, entitled "LIGHTING
APPARATUS" (reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 6,203,178 and now issued as
Reissued U.S. Pat. No. Re. 39,810); which is a
continuation-in-part, relates to, and claims priority from U.S.
patent Ser. No. 09/012,362, filed on Jan. 23, 1998, entitled
"LIGHTING FITTING," now U.S. Pat. No. 5,980,071, issued on Nov. 9,
1999, and U.S. patent Ser. No. 09/042,212, filed on Mar. 13, 1998,
entitled "LIGHTING FITTING," now U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,012, issued on
Dec. 21, 1999. .Iaddend.
Claims
We claim:
.[.1. A lighting apparatus including a support member, a lighting
unit mounted on one end of said support member, and a lamp shade
mounted on said lighting unit, wherein said lighting unit
comprises: a containment member having a mounting portion mounted
on said one end of said support member, a flared wall portion
extending from a periphery of said mounting portion in a first
direction away from said support member, and a partition plate
disposed inside said flared wall portion in a second direction
transverse to the first direction so as to define a closed
accommodating space on one side of said partition plate proximate
to said mounting portion, and an open accommodating space on the
other side of said partition plate, said partition plate having a
center portion and a pair of cord holes offset from said center
portion; a mounting bracket disposed in said open accommodating
space and including an elongated middle portion mounted on said
center portion of said partition plate, and first and second end
portions disposed at opposite side of said middle portion and bent
respectively relative to said middle portion so as to form first
and second anchoring surfaces, respectively; a pair of socket
members retained respectively on said first and second anchoring
surfaces and adapted for mounting a respective light bulb thereon;
a pair of insulated conductive cord members, each having a first
end portion connected electrically to a respective one of said
socket members, and a second end portion extending into said closed
accommodating space via a respective one of said cord holes; and a
power cord member having a first connecting end adapted to be
connected electrically to a power source, and a second connecting
end extending into said closed accommodating space and connected
electrically to said second end portions of said insulated
conductive cord members..].
.[.2. The lighting apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said
mounting portion of said containment member is formed with a
mounting post that projects into said closed accommodating space
and that has said center portion of said partition plate and said
middle portion of said mounting bracket mounted thereon..].
.[.3. The lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
lamp shade has one end extending into said open accommodating space
and mounted on said partition plate..].
.[.4. The lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
partition plate has a screw post unit that extends into said open
accommodating space, and said lamp shade has a skirt portion with a
mounting side that extends into said open accommodating space, and
that is formed with a fastening lug unit for mounting on said screw
post unit of said partition plate, said skirt portion diverging in
a direction away from said partition plate..].
.[.5. The lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
support member includes a lamp base and an upright lamp post having
a lower end mounted on said lamp base and an upper end with said
mounting portion of said containment member mounted thereon, said
lamp post being formed with an axially extending cord passage for
extension of said first connecting end of said power cord member
therethrough..].
.Iadd.6. A light fitting for a lighting arrangement having a pair
of light bulbs comprising: a containment member, comprising: an
upper body having a bottom wall provided with a center portion at a
first center thereof and formed with a communicating hole; and a
wall portion extending from a periphery confining said bottom wall;
a power cord member led through said communicating hole and into
said wall portion to form a first contact terminal; a mounting
bracket including an elongated middle portion that defines a
mounting area for securement to said center portion and that has a
bottom wide surface and a top wide surface, and first and second
end portions disposed at opposite sides of said middle portion;
said first and second end portions being bent, respectively, to an
acute angle relative to and towards said bottom wide surface of
said middle portion along two parallel lines which incline at a
predetermined angle relative to a perpendicular line crossing a
longitudinal direction of said middle portion so as to form first
and second anchoring surfaces, respectively; a pair of socket
members adapted to receive the light bulbs; a pair of insulated
conductive cord members, each having one end portion connected
conductively to a respective one of said socket members, and
another end portion led to form a second contact terminal coupled
to said first contact terminal; and a lampshade having an upper
wall with a second center, a skirt portion, and a through opening
to permit said mounting bracket to extend downwardly and outwardly
of said upper wall and into said wall portion, and to permit
alignment of said mounting area of said mounting bracket with said
second center when said upper wall of said lampshade body is
mounted to the light fitting. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.7. The light fitting of claim 6, wherein said acute angle
ranges between 38 to 52 degrees. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.8. The light fitting of claim 6, wherein said predetermined
angle ranges between 26 and 36 degrees. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.9. A lighting fixture for a lighting arrangement having a
pair of light bulbs spaced from an open-accommodating space,
comprising: a containment member having a communicating hole; a
power cord extending through said communicating hole; a mounting
bracket supported by the containment member and including an
elongated middle portion, and first and second end portions
disposed at opposite sides of said middle portion, said first and
second end portions being respectively bent to an acute angle
relative to and towards said middle portion along two parallel
lines which incline at a predetermined angle relative to a
perpendicular line crossing a longitudinal direction of said middle
portion so as to form first and second anchoring surfaces at said
first and second end portions, respectively; a pair of socket
members respectively mounted on said first and second anchoring
surfaces, adapted to receive the light bulbs, and electrically
connected to said power cord; and a lampshade supported by the
containment member, said lampshade having an opening, wherein said
mounting bracket is disposed in the open-accommodating space.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.10. The lighting fixture of claim 9, wherein said acute angle
ranges between 38 to 52 degrees. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.11. The lighting fixture of claim 9, wherein said
predetermined angle ranges between 26 and 36 degrees. .Iaddend.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a lighting apparatus, more particularly to
a lighting apparatus which has conductive cord members concealed
within a closed accommodating space so as to provide safety when in
use and which includes a lamp shade detachable therefrom such that
a plurality of the lamp shades can be stacked one over another to
facilitate storage and transport of the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional lighting apparatus 1 includes a
support member 11, a lighting unit 14 mounted on the support member
11, and a lamp shade 15 mounted on the lighting unit 14.
As illustrated, the support member 11 includes a lamp base 10 and
an upright post 110 having a lower end mounted on the lamp base 10
and an upper end supporting the lighting unit 14 thereon. The
upright post 110 defines an axially extending cord passage
therethrough. The lighting unit 14 includes a socket member 12
fixed on the upper end of the upright post 110 to receive a light
bulb therein, and an insulated cord member 13 disposed in the cord
passage. The insulated cord member 13 has one end connected
electrically to the light bulb via the socket member 12, and a
second end adapted to be connected electrically to a power supply.
The lamp shade 15 includes a top portion 151, a skirt portion 152
extending downwardly and divergently from the periphery of the top
portion 151, and a retention member 150 extending downwardly from
the top portion 151 and mounted on the upper end of the post 110
around the socket member 12 so as to shield the light bulb.
Some of the disadvantages that result from the use of the
conventional lighting apparatus are as follows:
(1) There is only one socket member 12 in the conventional lighting
apparatus for receiving a light bulb, such as an incandescent lamp.
The light bulb accordingly provides a poor lighting effect. In case
a halogen lamp is used, a better lighting effect can be achieved.
However, the halogen lamp will raise the ambient temperature of the
conventional lighting apparatus.
(2) The conventional lighting apparatus is bulky and therefore
occupies a relatively large amount of space during storage and
transport. Even though the lamp shade 15 can be detached relative
to the upright post 110, the lamp shades 15 of several conventional
lighting apparatus cannot be stacked one over another due to the
presence of the retention members 150.
In a co-pending U.S. application, entitled "LIGHT FITTING FOR AN
INCANDESCENT LIGHTING ARRANGEMENT", filed on Jan. 23, 1998 by the
applicant, there is disclosed a light fitting including a lampshade
body, a mounting bracket, a pair of socket members, a pair of
insulated conductive cord members, a containment member, a pair of
incandescent bulbs, and a power cord member.
In another co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/042,212,
entitled "LIGHT FITTING FOR AN INCANDESCENT LIGHTING ARRANGEMENT",
filed on Mar. 13, 1998 by the applicant, there is disclosed a light
fitting including a containment member, a mounting bracket, a pair
of socket members, and a lampshade body.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of this invention is to provide a lighting apparatus
which includes a pair of light bulbs that can provide a lighting
effect comparable to that of a halogen lamp with the same wattage
as the light bulbs, and a lamp shade that can be easily detached
from a containment member such that a plurality of the lamp shades
can be stacked one over another to facilitate storage and transport
of the same.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a lighting
apparatus which has cord members concealed within a closed
accommodating space of the lighting apparatus such that accidental
touching thereof can be avoided.
Accordingly, the lighting apparatus of the present invention
includes a support member, a lighting unit mounted on one end of
the support member, and a lamp shade mounted on the lighting unit.
The lighting unit includes a containment member having a mounting
portion mounted on the support member, a flared wall portion
extending from a periphery of the mounting portion in a first
direction away from the support member, and a partition plate
disposed inside the flared wall portion in a second direction
transverse to the first direction so as to define a closed
accommodating space on one side of the partition plate proximate to
the mounting portion, and an open accommodating space on the other
side of the partition plate. The partition plate has a center
portion and a pair of cord holes offset from the center portion. A
mounting bracket is disposed in the open accommodating space of the
containment member, and includes an elongated middle portion
mounted on the center portion of the partition plate, and first and
second end portions disposed at opposite sides of the middle
portion and bent respectively relative to the middle portion so as
to form first and second anchoring surfaces, respectively. A pair
of socket members are retained respectively on the first and second
anchoring surfaces of the mounting bracket and are adapted for
mounting a respective light bulb thereon. Each of a pair of
insulated conductive cord members has a first end portion connected
electrically to a respective one of the socket members, and a
second end portion that extends into the closed accommodating space
via a respective one of the cord holes in the partition plate. A
power cord member has a first connecting end adapted to be
connected electrically with a power supply, and a second connecting
end that extends into the closed accommodating space and that is
connected electrically to the second end portions of the insulated
conductive cord members.
.Iadd.The mounting bracket of the lighting apparatus of the present
invention also can include an elongate middle portion that defines
a mounting area for being secured to the anchoring area. The
elongate middle portion has a bottom surface, a top wide surface,
and first and second end portions which are disposed at opposite
sides of the middle portion. The first and second end portions are
bent, respectively, to an acute angle relative to and towards the
bottom (wide) surface of the middle portion along two parallel
lines which incline with a predetermined angle relative to a
perpendicular line that crosses a longitudinal direction of the
middle portion so as to form first and second anchoring surfaces,
respectively. .Iaddend.
Preferably, the lamp shade has one end extending into the open
accommodating space of the containment member and mounted
detachably on the partition plate. A skirt portion of the lamp
shade extends outwardly from the open accommodating space. After
being detached from the containment members, a plurality of the
lamp shades can be stacked one over another to facilitate storage
and transport of the same.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features and advantages of this invention will become more
apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiment of this invention, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional lighting
apparatus;
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the preferred embodiment of a
lighting apparatus of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment, wherein a
support member is not illustrated for the sake of clarity;
FIG. 4 is a partly sectional view of the preferred embodiment,
illustrating an interior thereof; .[.and.].
FIG. 5 illustrates how a plurality of lamp shades employed in a
plurality of the preferred embodiments can be stacked one over
another for storage and transport.[...]..Iadd.; .Iaddend.
.Iadd.FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate two different views of a bracket
member in accordance with the invention; and .Iaddend.
.Iadd.FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view of an embodiment of the
invention, illustrating the lighting arrangement of the
incandescent bulbs. .Iaddend.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the preferred embodiment of the
lighting apparatus of this invention is shown to be embodied in a
stand lamp that includes a support member 3, a lighting unit 4
mounted on the support member 3, and a lamp shade 5 mounted on the
lighting unit 4. The lighting unit 4 includes a containment member
40, a mounting bracket 42, a pair of socket members 43, a pair of
insulated conductive cord members 47, and a power cord member
6.
As illustrated, the containment member 40 has a mounting portion
400 mounted on the support member 3, a flared wall portion 400A
extending from a periphery of the mounting portion 400 in a first
direction away from the support member 3, and a partition plate 41
disposed inside the flared wall portion 400A in a second direction
transverse to the first direction so as to define a closed
accommodating space 45 on one side of the partition plate 41
proximate to the mounting portion 400, and an open accommodating
space 46 on the other side of the partition plate 41. The partition
plate 41 has a center portion 411 and a pair of cord holes 412
offset from the center portion 411.
The mounting bracket 42 is disposed in the open accommodating space
46 of the containment member 40, and includes an elongated middle
portion 420 mounted on the center portion 411 of the partition
plate 41, and first and second end portions 412,422 disposed at
opposite sides of the middle portion 420. The first and second end
portions 412,422 are bent respectively relative to the middle
portion 420 so as to form first and second anchoring surfaces
423,424, respectively. Two passage holes are formed respectively
through the anchoring surfaces 423,424 of the mounting bracket
42.
.Iadd.In certain embodiments the mounting bracket 42, which is
disposed in the open accommodating space 46 of the containment
member 40, includes an elongated middle portion 420 that defines a
mounting area for being secured on the center portion 411 of the
partition plate 41. The middle portion in an embodiment
so-constructed has a bottom wide surface 420C, a top wide surface
420B, a first end portion 421 and a second end portion 422 that are
disposed at opposite sides of the middle portion 420. The first end
portion 421 and the second end portion 422 are bent, respectively,
to an acute angle relative to and towards the bottom wide surface
420C of the middle portion 420 along two parallel lines which
incline with a predetermined angle relative to a perpendicular line
that crosses a longitudinal direction of the middle portion 420 so
as to form first and second anchoring surfaces 423,424,
respectively. .Iaddend.
The socket members 43 are retained respectively on the first and
second anchoring surfaces 423, 424 of the mounting bracket 42, and
are adapted for mounting a respective light bulb 44, such as an
incandescent lamp, thereon.
Each of the insulated conductive cord members 47 has a first end
portion connected electrically to a respective one of the socket
members 43 via a respective one of the passage holes in the
anchoring surfaces 423, 424, and a second end portion extending
into the closed accommodating space 45 via a respective one of the
cord holes 412 in the partition plate 41.
The power cord member 60 has a first connecting end 61 adapted to
be connected electrically to a power source (not shown), and a
second connecting end 60 extending into the closed accommodating
space 45 of the containment member 40 and connected electrically to
the second end portions of the insulated conductive cord members
47.
In the preferred embodiment, the mounting portion 400 of the
containment member 40 is formed with a mounting post 401 that
projects into the closed accommodating space 45 and that has the
center portion 411 of the partition plate 41 and the middle portion
420 of the mounting bracket 42 mounted thereon. The lamp shade 5
has one end 51 extending into the open accommodating space 46 of
the containment member 40, and is mounted detachably on the
partition plate 41. The partition plate 41 further has a pair of
screw posts 413 that extend into the open accommodating space 46 of
the containment member 40. The lamp shade 5 has a skirt portion 53
with a mounting side 50 that extends into the open accommodating
space 46, and that is formed with two fastening lugs 54 for
mounting on the screw posts 413 of the partition plate 41 such that
the skirt portion 53 diverges in a direction away from the
partition plate 41.
Preferably, the support member 3 includes a lamp base 2 and an
upright lamp post 30 that has a lower end 32 mounted on the lamp
base 2 and an upper end 31 with the mounting portion 400 of the
containment member 40 mounted thereon. The lamp post 30 is formed
with an axially extending cord passage for extension of the first
connecting end 60 of the power cord member 6.
The mounting post 401 is preferably formed with an external thread
such that the mounting post 401 can extend through the center
portion 411 of the partition plate 41, and a through hole 42H in
the middle portion 420 of the mounting bracket 42. An internally
and externally threaded first locking nut 48 is mounted on the
mounting post 401, and has an outwardly and radially extending
abutment flange 480 to abut against the mounting bracket 42 around
the hole 420H thereof in order to retain the mounting bracket 42 as
well as the partition plate 41 in the containment member 40. A
second locking nut 49 is threaded on the first nut 48 to enhance
positioning of the mounting bracket 42 on the partition plate 41
such that once the mounting bracket 42 is installed in the open
accommodating space 46, the mounting bracket 42 is exposed
outwardly of the opening 57 (see FIG. 2) in the mounting side 50 of
the lamp shade 5. Due to the inclined arrangement of the first and
second anchoring surfaces 423,424 relative to the middle portion
420 of the mounting bracket 42, the light bulbs 44 mounted thereon
cooperatively provide a lighting effect comparable to a halogen
lamp which has the same wattage as that of the light bulbs 44.
Another aspect to note is that, the insulated conductive cord
member 47 and the power cord member 60 are concealed in the closed
accommodating space 46 of the containment member 40. As such,
accidental touching of the cord members 47, 60 is consequently
avoided to provide safety for the user of the lighting apparatus of
the present invention.
.Iadd.With further reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, it can be
appreciated that the mounting bracket 42 includes a middle portion
420 that mounts to the top of the lamp and is flanked by end
portions 421,422 that anchor light sockets. In order to prevent the
bulbs from clashing with one another, the end portions 421,422 are
bent upwardly from the top of the lamp at an angle such that the
light sockets (and any bulbs seated therein) project from the top
of the lamp at an acute angle (.alpha., .beta.). In addition, the
end portions 421,422 are bent along lines which locate the light
sockets so that light bulbs seated in the respective sockets pass
one another without contact. In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4,
the mounting bracket 42 has end portions 421,422 bent at an
unspecified angle. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the end portions
421,422 are bent along parallel lines at an angle .theta. relative
to a line L that is perpendicular to the direction of elongation of
the mounting bracket. In certain preferred embodiments, the acute
angle (.alpha., .beta.) ranges between 38 to 52 degrees, while the
predetermined angle ranges between 16 to 26 degrees. .Iaddend.
As best shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of the lamp shades 5 can be
stacked one over another after detachment from the corresponding
containment members 40 in order to facilitate the storage and
transport of the same.
With the present invention thus explained, it is apparent that
numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing
from the scope and spirit of this invention. It is therefore
intended that this invention be limited only as indicated in the
appended claims.
* * * * *