Patent Application
20240044463
This disclosure relates to light assemblies and, more particularly, to pendant light assemblies.
Pendant light assemblies are light fixtures which are suspended from an overlying support, such as ceiling or beam, for example. Pendant light assemblies are noteworthy for their ability to create interesting and pleasing visual effects, whether suspended singly or in a group, and are therefore popular for use in foyers, dining rooms, restaurants, and similar locations.
It will be appreciated that aesthetic appeal is a critical component in installations of the kind described above. Although many prior pendant light assemblies have been attractive in a general sense, certain challenges remain. For example, many prior pendant light assemblies require unsightly brackets or similar fittings to support them on the ends of the suspension cords, or worse yet, use chains and hooks or other cumbersome and/or visually unappealing arrangements.
Although aesthetic factors play a role in decorative pendant light assemblies, utilitarian considerations cannot be completely ignored. For example, the suspension structure of the pendant light assemblies must be sturdy, durable, and able to withstand loads imposed by both the weight of the light assembly itself and external forces acting thereon such as those created by cleaning and other disturbances. The structure must also allow the bulb to be changed or subject to other maintenance without excessive difficulty. Moreover, it is desirable that decorative light assemblies are manufactured at a reasonable cost while presenting an interesting and appealing appearance.
According to an aspect of this disclosure, a pendant light assembly includes a mounting assembly, an elongated member assembly depending from the mounting assembly, a pendant assembly secured to the elongated member assembly, and a head assembly selectively attached to the pendant assembly. The pendant assembly includes a shell assembly and a swivel mount assembly. The swivel mount assembly includes a swivel assembly and a socket. The swivel assembly includes a housing and a swivel arm that are movably coupled together by a ball joint.
In aspects, the swivel arm may include a proximal ball and the housing may define a ball cavity. The proximal ball may be received within the ball cavity to define the ball joint and longitudinally fix the swivel arm relative to the housing.
In aspects, the pendant light assembly may include a socket that is threadedly coupled to a distal portion of the swivel arm. The socket may be threadedly coupled to the head assembly. The head assembly may include a head and a head mounting assembly. The head mounting assembly may be mounted to the head and threadedly coupled to the socket. The head mounting assembly may include an internal clasp and an external clasp. The internal clasp may be supported within the head. The external clasp may be disposed on an outer surface of the head and secured to the internal clasp.
In aspects, the pendant light assembly may include a socket flange disposed between and supported by the internal clasp and the external clasp. The socket flange may be threadedly coupled to an outer surface of the socket. The internal clasp and the external clasp may be secured together by fasteners. The socket flange may be secured to the external clasp by fasteners. The socket flange may extend through the internal clasp and seat on the internal clasp by a lip of the socket flange.
In aspects, the elongated member assembly may include a threaded nipple that threadedly couples to a proximal end portion of the housing of the swivel assembly.
In aspects, the swivel arm may be polyaxially pivotable relative to the housing to move the head assembly between a plurality of positions relative to the pendant assembly and a longitudinal axis defined by the housing.
According to another aspect, this disclosure is directed to a pendant light assembly including a pendant assembly and a head assembly. The pendant assembly includes a shell assembly and a swivel mount assembly. The shell assembly includes a first shell and a second shell that is disposed on the first shell. The swivel mount assembly includes a housing and a swivel arm that is polyaxially coupled to the housing. The head assembly is secured to the swivel arm and polyaxially movable relative to the shell assembly as the swivel arm moves relative to the housing to position the head assembly in a plurality of different positions relative to the shell assembly.
In aspects, the head assembly may include a head and a head mounting assembly that couples the head to the pendant assembly. The head mounting assembly may include two clasps and a socket flange supported between the two clasps. The two clasps may be disposed in parallel relation to one another and extend transversely across a longitudinal axis of the swivel arm. The socket flange may be coupled to the swivel mount assembly. Stoppers may be coupled to at least one of the clasps. Each of the clasps may support at least one cushion that is positioned to engage the head.
In aspects, the housing may define a longitudinal axis. The head assembly may be axially movable relative to the swivel arm as the head assembly rotates about the longitudinal axis. The swivel arm may support a socket that is received within the head mounting assembly to couple the head assembly to the pendant assembly.
In aspects, the socket may be threadedly coupled to the head mounting assembly.
According to yet another aspect, this disclosure is directed to a pendant light assembly including a housing, a shell assembly extending from the housing, and a swivel arm that is pivotably coupled to the housing by a ball joint. The swivel arm supports a socket on a distal end portion thereof. The pendant light assembly includes a head secured to the socket by a socket flange. The head is movable relative to the shell assembly as the socket moves relative to the housing in response to pivoting movement of the swivel arm relative to the shell assembly.
Other aspects, features, and advantages will be apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims that follow.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate aspects of this disclosure and, together with a general description of this disclosure given above, and the detailed description given below, explain the principles of this disclosure, wherein:
Aspects of this disclosure are described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views. As used herein, the term “distal” refers to that portion of structure closer to a user, while the term “proximal” refers to that portion of structure, farther from the user.
In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the present disclosure in unnecessary detail.
With reference to
As seen in
Pendant assembly 16 of pendant light assembly 10 includes a shell assembly 16a and a swivel mount assembly 16b.
Shell assembly 16a of pendant assembly 16 includes an upper shell 162 and a lower shell 164 that is mounted underneath upper shell 162 such that upper and lower shells 162, 164 are disposed in a layered arrangement with upper and lower shells 162, 164 being disposed laterally offset relative to one another and positioned to define a triangular and/or crescent-shaped opening 165. Upper and lower shells 162, 164 may have a bowl-shaped or hemispherical configuration as seen in
With reference to
Turning now to
With reference to
As seen in
With reference to
The phrases “in an aspect,” “in aspects,” “in various aspects,” “in some aspects,” “in other aspects” or the like may each refer to one or more of the same or different aspects in accordance with the present disclosure. A phrase in the form “A or B” means “(A), (B), or (A and B).” A phrase in the form “at least one of A, B, or C” means “(A); (B); (C); (A and B); (A and C); (B and C); or (A, B, and C).”
Various aspects disclosed herein may be combined in different combinations than the combinations specifically presented in the description and accompanying drawings. It should also be understood that, depending on the example, certain acts or events of any of the processes or methods described herein may be performed in a different sequence, may be added, merged, or left out altogether (e.g., all described acts or events may not be necessary to carry out the techniques).
Certain aspects of the present disclosure may include some, all, or none of the above advantages and/or one or more other advantages readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the drawings, descriptions, and claims included herein. Moreover, while specific advantages have been enumerated above, the various aspects of the present disclosure may include all, some, or none of the enumerated advantages and/or other advantages not specifically enumerated above.
The aspects disclosed herein are examples of the disclosure and may be embodied in various forms. For instance, although certain aspects herein are described as separate, each of the aspects herein may be combined with one or more of the other aspects herein. Specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Like reference numerals may refer to similar or identical elements throughout the description of the figures.
Securement of any of the components of the disclosed devices may be effectuated using known securement techniques such welding, crimping, gluing, fastening, etc.
Persons skilled in the art will understand that the structures and methods specifically described herein and shown in the accompanying figures are non-limiting exemplary aspects, and that the description, disclosure, and figures should be construed merely as exemplary of aspects. It is to be understood, therefore, that this disclosure is not limited to the precise aspects described, and that various other changes and modifications may be effectuated by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. Additionally, the elements and features shown or described in connection with certain aspects may be combined with the elements and features of certain other aspects without departing from the scope of this disclosure, and that such modifications and variations are also included within the scope of this disclosure. Accordingly, the subject matter of this disclosure is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described.
