Claims
- 1. A convertible modular lantern, comprising:a mount assembly; a housing connected to and supported by the mount assembly; a downrod and light cluster assembly mechanically connected to said housing; and a shade assembly attached to said housing and disposed in surrounding relationship with said downrod and light cluster assembly, at least a portion of said shade assembly permitting the transmission of light therethrough; said downrod and light cluster assembly including a support member and at least one lamp socket mounted on said support member and a light bulb disposed in each of said at least one lamp socket, said downrod and light cluster assembly further including a hollow downrod attached to and extending upwardly from said support member and a first plurality of electrical wires, each of said first plurality of electrical wires being electrically coupled at one end thereof to each of said lamp sockets and extending upwardly within said hollow downrod, said downrod and light cluster assembly further including a second plurality of electrical wires, each of said second plurality of electrical wires being electrically coupled at one end thereof to each of said lamp sockets; said downrod and light cluster assembly further including an upper electrical connector and a lower electrical connector, said first plurality of electrical wires terminating at an opposite end thereof in said upper electrical connector, said second plurality of electrical wires terminating at an opposite end thereof in said lower electrical connector; said lantern further including a third electrical connector, said third electrical connector being engaged with and electrically connected to one of said upper and lower electrical connectors, said lantern further including a third plurality of wires connected to and extending from said third electrical connector.
- 2. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 1, wherein:said upper said electrical connector, said lower electrical connector and said third electrical connector each comprise an electrical block connector.
- 3. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 1, wherein:said upper electrical connector, said lower electrical connector and said third electrical connector each comprise a keyed electrical block connector.
- 4. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 1, wherein:said upper electrical connector and said lower electrical connector each comprise a female, keyed electrical block connector, said third electrical connector comprising a male, keyed electrical block connector.
- 5. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 1, wherein:said housing comprises an upper housing, said mount assembly being connected to an upper portion of said upper housing; said third electrical connector is electrically connected to said upper electrical connector; said upper housing is attached to an upper portion of said shade assembly; and said lantern further includes a decorative finial attached to said mount assembly proximate said upper housing.
- 6. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 5, further comprising:a lower housing attached to a lower portion of said shade assembly.
- 7. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 6, further comprising:a second decorative finial, said second decorative finial being attached to said lower housing.
- 8. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 6, further comprising:a tail attached to and extending downwardly from said lower housing.
- 9. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 1, wherein:said housing comprises a lower housing, said mount assembly being attached to a lower portion of said lower housing; said third electrical connector is electrically connected to said lower electrical connector; said lower housing is attached to a lower portion of said shade assembly.
- 10. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 9, further comprising:an upper housing attached to an upper portion of said shade assembly and a decorative finial attached to an upper portion of said upper housing.
- 11. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 10, further comprising:a second decorative finial attached to said mount assembly proximate said lower housing.
- 12. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 10, further comprising:a tail attached to said mount assembly proximate said lower housing.
- 13. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 1, wherein:said mount assembly includes a hollow backplate and a hollow arm connected to and extending away from said backplate, said arm including a distal end portion; said distal end portion being attached to said housing.
- 14. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 13, wherein:said third plurality of wires connected to and extending from said third connector is routed through said hollow arm and said hollow backplate of said mount assembly.
- 15. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 13, wherein:said hollow backplate and said hollow arm are made as a one piece construction.
- 16. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 15, wherein:said hollow backplate and said hollow arm comprise a one piece casting.
- 17. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 1, wherein:said shade assembly has a polygonal cross-sectional shape.
- 18. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 17, wherein:said shade assembly has a hexagonal cross-sectional shape.
- 19. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 1, wherein:said shade assembly includes a frame and a plurality of light transmitting panels; said frame is attached to said housing; said light transmitting panels are retained in position by said frame.
- 20. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 19, wherein:said frame includes an upper flange, a lower flange and a plurality of substantially vertically extending members attached to and interconnecting said upper and lower flanges; one of said upper and lower flanges is attached to said housing; said lower flange includes an inner shelf portion with a central opening formed therein.
- 21. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 20, wherein each of said substantially vertically extending members of said frame is disposed between an adjacent pair of said light transmitting panels.
- 22. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 1, wherein:said at least one lamp socket comprises three of said lamp sockets and each of said light bulbs comprises a candelabra based light bulb.
- 23. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 1, wherein:said downrod is attached at a lower end thereof to said support member; said downrod and light cluster assembly further includes a hollow inner cup attached to said support member, said inner cup including an aperture formed therethrough; said second plurality of wires is routed through said aperture whereby said lower electrical connector is disposed exterior of said inner cup.
- 24. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 23, wherein:said downrod and light cluster assembly further includes a hollow outer cup which is disposed in surrounding relationship with said inner cup, said outer cup being attached to a lower end of said inner cup; said inner cup and said outer cup form a cavity therebetween, said lower electrical connector being disposed in said cavity.
- 25. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 23, wherein:said support member comprises a plate.
- 26. A convertible modular lantern for installation on a structure, the structure having a source of 120 vac electrical power, said lantern comprising:a mount assembly which is mounted to the structure; a housing connected to and supported by the mount assembly; a downrod and light cluster assembly mechanically connected to said housing; and a shade assembly attached to said housing and disposed in surrounding relationship with said downrod and light cluster assembly, at least a portion of said shade assembly permitting the transmission of light therethrough; said downrod and light cluster assembly including a support member and at least one lamp socket mounted on said support member and a light bulb disposed in each of said at least one lamp socket, said downrod and light cluster assembly further including a hollow downrod attached to and extending upwardly from said support member and a first plurality of electrical wires, each of said first plurality of electrical wires being electrically coupled at one end thereof to each of said lamp sockets and extending upwardly within said hollow downrod, said downrod and light cluster assembly further including a second plurality of electrical wires, each of said second plurality of electrical wires being electrically coupled at one end thereof to each of said lamp sockets; said downrod and light cluster assembly further including an upper electrical connector and a lower electrical connector, said first plurality of electrical wires terminating at an opposite end thereof in said upper electrical connector, said second plurality of electrical wires terminating at an opposite end thereof in said lower electrical connector; said lantern further including a third electrical connector and a third plurality of electrical wires connected to and extending from said third electrical connector; said third electrical connector being electrically connected to one of said upper electrical connector and said lower electrical connector of said downrod and light cluster assembly and said third plurality of wires being electrically connected to the source of 120 vac power of the structure, thereby operatively illuminating said light bulb disposed in said at least one lamp socket.
- 27. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 26, wherein:said housing and said mount assembly each include a hollow interior; said third electrical connector is disposed within said hollow interior of said housing; said third plurality of electrical wires is routed from said third electrical connector through said hollow interior of said mount assembly to the source of 120 vac electrical power of the structure.
- 28. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 27, wherein:said mount assembly includes a hollow backplate and a hollow arm connected to and protruding from said backplate, said arm including a distal end portion being attached to said housing; said third plurality of electrical wires is routed through said hollow arm and said hollow backplate of said mount assembly.
- 29. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 28, wherein the structure includes an electrical junction box;said hollow backplate is mounted to the electrical junction box.
- 30. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 26, wherein:said upper electrical connector, said lower electrical connector and said third electrical connector each comprise an electrical block connector.
- 31. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 26, wherein:said upper electrical connector, said lower electrical connector and said third electrical connector each comprise a keyed, electrical block connector.
- 32. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 26, wherein:said upper electrical connector and said lower electrical connector each comprise a female, keyed electrical block connector, said third electrical connector comprising a male, keyed electrical block connector.
- 33. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 26, wherein:said housing comprises an upper housing, said mount assembly being connected to an upper portion of said upper housing; said third electrical connector is electrically connected to said upper electrical connector; said upper housing is attached to an upper portion of said shade assembly; and said lantern further includes a decorative finial attached to said mount assembly proximate said upper housing.
- 34. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 33, further comprising:a lower housing attached to a lower portion of said shade assembly.
- 35. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 34, further comprising:a second decorative finial, said second decorative finial being attached to said lower housing.
- 36. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 34, further comprising:a tail attached to and extending downwardly from said lower housing.
- 37. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 33, wherein:said lantern further includes an interior cavity formed by said upper housing and said shade assembly; said first plurality of wires exits from said hollow downrod into said interior cavity whereby said upper electrical connector is disposed within said interior cavity; said mount assembly includes a hollow interior; said third electrical connector and said upper electrical connector are disposed within said interior cavity, said third plurality of electrical wires being routed from the third electrical connector and through the hollow interior of the mount assembly to the source of 120 vac electrical power of the structure.
- 38. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 26, wherein:said housing comprises a lower housing, said mount assembly being attached to a lower portion of said lower housing; and said third electrical connector is electrically connected to said lower electrical connector; said lower housing is attached to a lower portion of said shade assembly.
- 39. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 38, further comprising:an upper housing attached to an upper portion of said shade assembly and a decorative finial attached to an upper portion of said upper housing.
- 40. The convertible modular lantern as recited in claim 39, further comprising:a second decorative finial attached to said mount assembly proximate said lower housing.
- 41. A kit of component parts for a convertible modular lantern, comprising:a mount assembly; at least one housing coupled to said mount assembly; a shade assembly coupled to said housing; a downrod and light cluster assembly coupled to said housing, said downrod and light cluster assembly including a support member and at least one lamp socket mounted on said support member and a light bulb disposed in each of said at least one lamp socket, said downrod and light cluster assembly further including a hollow downrod attached to and extending away from said support member and a first plurality of electrical wires, each of said first plurality of electrical wires being electrically coupled at one end thereof to each of said lamp sockets and extending within said hollow downrod, said downrod and light cluster assembly further including a second plurality of electrical wires, each of said second plurality of electrical wires being electrically coupled at one end thereof to each of said lamp sockets; said downrod and light cluster assembly further including an upper electrical connector and a lower electrical connector, said first and second plurality of electrical wires terminating in said upper and lower electrical connectors, respectively; said kit further including a third electrical connector and a third plurality of wires connected to and extending from said third electrical connector.
- 42. The kit of component parts as recited in claim 41, further comprising:at least one decorative finial coupled to said mount assembly; and a plurality of fasteners including a plurality of open couplings coupling said mount assembly to said downrod and light assembly.
- 43. The kit of component parts as recited in claim 42, further comprising;at least one tail coupled to said mount assembly.
- 44. The kit of component parts as recited in claim 41, wherein:said at least one housing comprises an upper housing and a lower housing.
- 45. The kit of component parts as recited in claim 42, wherein:said plurality of fasteners further includes a plurality of threaded nipples and a plurality of threaded screws.
CROSS-REFERENCES
The subject application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional patent application having Ser. No. 60/108,407, filed on Nov. 13, 1998, entitled: “Convertible Modular Lantern”.
US Referenced Citations (11)
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/108407 |
Nov 1998 |
US |