Ceiling lighting figures are hot wired to electrical wiring in the ceiling which in turn is wired to an electrical source of power. Changing a lightbulb requires a person engaging in a dangerous activity of standing on a tall ladder. Changing a lightbulb or other electrical work to be performed while the fixture is still wired is a dangerous activity.
The present invention relates to the field of an apparatus which facilitates safely changing a lightbulb or performing electrical work on a ceiling lighting fixture which is eight or more feet above the floor of the room from which the ceiling lighting fixture is located. While using a lighting fixture as an example, it is within the spirit and scope of the present invention to also have the work performed on any apparatus which is in a high location and is powered by electricity and requires lowering to ground level for work to be performed on it.
The following five patents are the closest prior art known to the inventor which relate to the subject of the present invention:
1. U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,349 issued to John W. Falls et al. on Apr. 14, 1992 for “Motorized Chandelier Lift System”;
2. U.S. Pat. No. 7,033,048 issued to Jeong-Hoon Sin on Apr. 25, 2006 for “Equipment for Highly Mounted Lamp Having Ascending and Descending Function”;
3. U.S. Pat. No. 8,733,985 issued to Greg Lyle Storm on May 27, 2014 for “Horizontally and Vertically Mountable Fixture Extension that Can Be Lowered for Service”;
4. U.S. Pat. No. 9,175,835 issued to Steven C. Machiorlette on Nov. 3, 2015 for “Pendant Light Fixture and Support Stud”;
5. Chinese Patent Publication No. CN207849160U published on Sep. 11, 2018 for “An Improved Collapsible Ceiling Lamp”.
The present invention is an electricity disconnect apparatus adapted for use with a housing which has the electrical connection inside the ceiling and then a baffle which contains a socket which can be electrically disconnected from the electrical connection of the housing so that the baffle and a source of illumination such a lightbulb contained therein can be lowered. For example, the baffle is in a high ceiling and it is dangerous to climb a ladder or otherwise gain access in order to change the lightbulb. The innovation of the present invention enables the lowering of the baffle and an electrical disconnection from the hard wired electricity in the ceiling so that the baffle and lightbulb can be lowered to a distance where it can be reached by anyone standing on the floor and simply disconnect the lightbulb and replace it with a new lightbulb without running the risk of an electrical shock.
It is also within the spirit and cope of the present invention to have an electrical disconnect of any other apparatus which is powered by electricity and is hot wired to a source of electricity and requires lowering from a ceiling height so that the apparatus can be repaired or replaced. This includes, but is not limited to, other apparatuses such as a surveillance camera, a sound speaker and a smoke detector.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus to disconnect a ceiling fixture from electrical wiring in the ceiling to provide a safe fixture which is lowered to a level where a person standing on the ground can replace a lightbulb or make other safe adjustments to the ceiling lighting fixture.
It is another object of the present invention to incorporate a pair of cables when lowering a ceiling fixture to the ground to reduce the possibility of the cables becoming entangled. In prior art embodiments using a single cable, the cable may twist and turn and become entangled.
It is also an object of the present invention to employ the basic principles of the electrical disconnect apparatus of the present invention to disconnect the source of power to any other ceiling apparatus such as a surveillance camera, a sound speaker, or a smoke detector so that it can be safely lowered to the ground without being electrically powered while the electricity portion remains in the ceiling so that a person can safely make the appropriate change or modification in the electrically powered apparatus without risking the risk of shock or electrocution.
Further novel features and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, discussion and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings.
Referring particularly to the drawings for the purpose of illustration only and not limitation, there is illustrated:
Although specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that such embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative of but a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which can represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined in the appended claims.
The present invention includes three major innovative components. The first major innovation are components which cause the lighting fixture retaining a source of illumination such as a baffle with a socket or plug which retains a lightbulb to be disconnected from wires leading to a source of electricity. The second major innovation is having two cables, instead of one, provide balance and eliminate twisting of the cables as the electrical assembly is raised back to the ceiling after appropriate repairs or replacement have been made. The third innovation is a wraparound cable balance springs which provide enough upward movement once the electrical conducting element touches a first magnet electric conducting piston and therefore the apparatus can continue its rotation until an electrical connection is reestablished.
The first example which will be discussed is a source of illumination wherein the present invention electrical disconnect apparatus is employed. Referring to
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The movable portion includes a lower non-electrical conducting material housing 100 which surrounds a lower housing interior chamber 120 which retains a T-shaped electricity conducting permanent magnet 90. A second cable 1800 includes a “passive” wire which extends through sidewall 110 of lower non-electrical conducting material housing 100 and is in electrical contact with T-shaped electricity conducting permanent magnet 90 and is electrically connected to the socket assembly at its opposite end.
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The pulley system 2000, main compression spring 3000, cables affixed to the socket assembly, and the balancing springs on the cables are all integral to the present invention electrical circuit connection breaking assembly 10. But the key innovative feature is set forth below. Referring to
The “hot” wire 50 extends from the cable 1700 and is in electrical contact with the non-magnetic electricity conducting cylindrical member 30. The “hot” wire 50 is pinched between the non-electricity conducting member 20 (which is material such as Teflon®) and the non-magnetic electricity conducting cylindrical member 30. The non-magnetic electricity conducting cylindrical member 30 surrounds an interior chamber 70 which retains a magnetic electricity conducting piston 60 having a body 62 with a sidewall 64 and a central post 66 which extends downwardly from bottom surface 68 of magnetic electricity conducting piston 60. The chamber 70 is surrounded by a portion of the non-electrical conducting material housing 20 on the bottom with an opening 20-O to enable central post 66 to pass through. The top of the chamber 70 is covered by an isolator 80 made of non-magnetic electricity conducting material and the sidewall is surrounded by non-magnetic electricity conducting cylindrical member 30. The chamber 70 includes an interior open space 72 between the top surface 59 of body 62 and isolator 80. A piston spring 74 surrounds central post 66. The piston spring 74 is between bottom surface 68 and a chamber interior surface 22 of non-electrical conducting material housing 20.
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The “hot” wire 50 extends from the cable 1700 and is in electrical contact with the non-magnetic electricity conducting cylindrical member 30. The “hot” wire 50 is pinched between the non-electricity conducting member 20 (which is material such as Teflon®) and the magnetic electricity conducting cylindrical member 30. The non-magnetic electricity conducting cylindrical member 30 surrounds an interior chamber 70 which retains a magnetic electricity conducting piston 60 having a body 62 with a sidewall 64 and a central post 66 which extends downwardly from bottom surface 68 of magnetic electricity conducting piston 60. The chamber 70 is surrounded by a portion of the non-electrical conducting material housing 20 on the bottom with an opening 20-O to enable central post 66 to pass through. The top of the chamber 70 is covered by an isolator 80 made of non-electricity conducting material and the sidewall is surrounded by non-magnetic electricity conducting cylindrical member 30. The chamber 70 includes an interior open space 72 between the top surface 59 of body 62 and isolator 80. A piston spring 74 surrounds central post 66 is between bottom surface 68 and a chamber interior surface 22 of non-electrical conducting material housing 20.
The movable portion includes a lower non-electrical conducting material housing 100 which surrounds a lower housing interior chamber 120 which retains a T-shaped electricity conducting magnet 90. In the connected position, the top surface 92 of electricity conducting T-shaped magnet 90 is in contact with post 66. A second cable 1800 includes a passive wire when electricity is disconnected which extends through sidewall 110 of lower non-electrical conducting material housing 100 and is in electrical contact with T-shaped electricity conducting magnet 90 and is electrically connected to the socket assembly at its opposite end.
To activate the present invention, the winch 2000 is released and the pulley is activated as previously described. The cables begin to lower the metal plate 6000 and socket assembly 5000. The main spring 3000 which is in a state of compression creates a downward force on the lamp socket 5100, the socket assembly 5000, the metal plate 6000, the baffle 7000 and retained bulb 5700. This causes the electricity conducting T-shaped magnet 90 to be disconnected from the post 66 of the electricity conducting piston 60. The piston spring 74 further pushes the electricity conducting piston 60 further upward into chamber 70. This causes the electrical connection between the ferro-magnetic electricity conducting piston 60 and electricity conducting T-shaped magnet 90 to be disconnected. Therefore, the connection to the hot wire 50 from cable 1700 is disconnected. The “hot” portion of hot wire 50, cable 1700 leading to junction box 1600 and electricity conducting piston remain at ceiling level with the “hot” portion remaining in, or connected to the canister 1100. The remaining components affixed to the steel plate 6000 and the non-electricity conducting lower portion affixed to the steel plate 6000 are lowered away. The cable 1800 connected to lamp socket 1800 travels with the steel plate 6000 and is “passive”.
The assembly is lowered to a desired level and a signal to the motor 2480 causes the motor to stop. The locking gear box 2490 also locks any further movement and the lower assembly is suspended and supported by the two cables 1470 and 1472.
Therefore, the assembly including the light bulb 5700 can be replaced or other components including the baffle 7000 and trim 7150 can be changed or otherwise lowered so that components can be repaired. With no electrical connection, the work is at ground level so no ladder needs to be used and no risk of electrical shock will occur.
Therefore, through the present invention, the socket assembly 5000 and baffle 7000 are safely lowered away from the ceiling with the electricity disconnected so the bulb can safely be replaced.
For additional clarification, when the motor 2480 is stopped, the winch 2000 is released and there is a spring force in the center that pushes on the socket assembly to give it a downward motion so that the socket assembly along with the baffle, the plate to which it is affixed and which contains the dynamic portion of the electrical disconnect assembly and the baffle and the lighting go down. The disconnect is at the location where the magnet meets the ferro-magnetic electricity conducting piston. The piston spring is there to cause the piston to move upwardly so someone cannot accidently touch the piston 60 because the system is still hot when it is in the ceiling. However, with the electrical disconnect, the magnet and the non-magnetic material and the wiring to the socket are now not hot because the electricity has been disconnected.
After the lightbulb is replaced other work performed, it is time to return the lowered assembly back to the canister 1100. A signal to the motor 2480 causes it to rotates in a reverse direction so the cables ends 2470 and 2472 are rewound on the drum 2442 of pulley 2440.
Having two cables instead of one provides balance and eliminates twisting of the cables as the assembly is raised back to the ceiling. The wraparound cable balancing springs 1474F and 1474S provide enough upward movement once the first T-shaped electrical conductor 90 touches the first magnetic electricity conducting piston 60 and therefore, the drum can continue its rotation until the second T-shaped electrical conductive magnet touches the magnetic electricity conducting piston 60 and completes the circuit.
As the T-shaped electrical conducting magnet 90 draws closer to the post 66 of ferro-magnetic electricity conducting piston 60, the magnetic attraction overcomes the force of piston springs 74 which go into compression and the main spring 3000 compressed by winch 2000 upward motion, When the electricity conducting magnet 90 comes in contact with post 66 of ferro-magnetic electricity conducting piston 60, the electrical contact is restored. The motor 2480 is stopped and the fixture is returned to its normal electrical state.
Of course the present invention is not intended to be restricted to any particular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment, or any specific use, disclosed herein, since the same may be modified in various particulars or relations without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention hereinabove shown and described of which the apparatus or method shown is intended only for illustration and disclosure of an operative embodiment and not to show all of the various forms or modifications in which this invention might be embodied or operated.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
5105349 | Falls et al. | Apr 1992 | A |
7033048 | Sin | Apr 2006 | B2 |
7410150 | Falls | Aug 2008 | B1 |
8733985 | Storm | May 2014 | B2 |
9175835 | Machiorlette | Nov 2015 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country |
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207849160 | Sep 2018 | CN |