Patent Application
20080030980
Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.
In view of the foregoing, another aspect of this embodiment is that socket base 116 has mounting holes 150 (only one shown) such that the tabs 151 of lamp socket 118 can mount by snapping in place. The size of mounting holes 150 is determined by the size of the tabs 151 on the socket 118. One having skill in the art would recognize that the design of socket base 116 can be modified to accommodate differing sockets 118 and still be within the spirit of the current invention. In this embodiment light rail 130 is shown such that electrical wiring can be run down a bore 128 of the rail frame 130. This access 128 is used to provide electricity to the opposite end of the lamp 126 without exposing the wiring to the heat of the lamp while still maintaining an attractive luminaire. In operation the rail frame 130 may a rotatable hub on each end. Thus socket holder 116 provides a means for passing electricity to the lamp 126, providing structural support for the socket 118 and for holding the position of the light rail when set screw 134 is tightened. The light rails can be made from many materials that are structurally strong enough and can handle the necessary material stresses (for example, temperature, humidity, flammability . . . etc). In the embodiment shown, the light rail is manufactured from aluminum.
References in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “an example embodiment”, etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art to effect such feature, structure or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. Parts of the description are presented using terminology commonly employed by those of ordinary skill in the art to convey the substance of their work to others of ordinary skill in the art.
A light rail 230 is attached to the socket base 216 such that the ligth rail rotates with the socket base 216. A portion of the light rail 231 is affixed to the socket base 216 and has an elongated hole 246 for the stop pin 236 to pass through and a second hole 252 for the threaded portion of the socket base 216 to pass through. The socket holder 216 has a bore 250 to allow for passage of electrical wiring to control the lamp (not shown). The wires would extend from a lamp socket (not shown), through the bore 250 in the socket base 216 and into the cavity in the center of the housing 236. The wires would extend further outside the housing 236 through hole 254 and exit the housing. In the example shown, the light rail has an escutcheon 242 to cover the socket and socket holder 216.
In operation the rotatable hub rotates until the stop tab on the housing 238 contacts the stop pin 236. The stop pin, by having some play allows for rotation in excess of 360 degrees. The amount of rotation determined by the length of slot 248. The stop pin provides protection from rotating the rotatable hub to a point where the wiring would bunch and experience stress to the point of damaging the luminaire. In this illustration the light rail 230 can be easily changed with light rails of differing shapes. Also the design of the housing 238 provides for easy mounting to a support arm (not shown) to fix a luminaire to a ceiling, wall or other support structure.
The housing 238 has two extended members 260 and 262 for mounting to a support arm and further to a support structure such as a wall, ceiling or other fixture. The extended members reach out from the body of the housing enclosing an opening 254 for passage of electrical wires (not shown). The extended members 260 and 262 each are drilled and tapped to provide a female threaded hole for a mounting screw 244. The extended members 260 and 262 each have tapered edges to facilitate entry into a support arm. The housing 238 provides a cavity for passage of electrical wires used to power a lamp. The electrical wires may pass through the hole 254 into the cavity and further through the center bore 250 of the socket base 216. The design of the hub allows rotation of the wires when the hub is rotated and it provides for electrical wiring hidden from a user.
In the present disclosure, the housings, and hubs and other elements are manufactured from aluminum, however one skilled in the art would recognized that other materials would be suitable as long as they had the structural strength for the loads, and were of adequate fire resistance to operate the lighting system safely.
The above illustration provides many different embodiments or embodiments for implementing different features of the invention. Specific embodiments of components and processes are described to help clarify the invention. These are, of course, merely embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention from that described in the claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in one or more specific examples, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60835663 | Aug 2006 | US |
