US3061717A - Adjustable lighting unit - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 30, 1962 BARRETT ADJUSTABLE LIGHTING UNIT Filed Feb. 16, 1961 INVENTOR.

LEON BARRETT Filed Feb. 16, 1961, Ser. No. 89,702 3 Claims. (Cl. 2140-81) This invention relates generally to lighting units, and more particularly relates to pole mounted light units wherein the lighting fixture itself is vertically adjustable continuously between upper and lower predetermined positions. P-ull-down lighting fixtures are not per se new, in the past such variable vertical positioning being accomplished by means of a travelling reel type of mechanism. The present invention differs from these known types of pull-down fixtures in that no travelling reel mechanism is utilized, and the actual structure effective for accomplishing the variable vertical positioning of the pull-down light is concealed within the lamp stand to thereby provide the composite lighting unit with a more pleasing appearance. Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel adjustable lighting unit having a pull-down light fixture which does not utilize a cord reel mechanism.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel adjustable lighting unit in which the apparatus permitting variable vertical adjustment of the light xture is completely concealed within the housing of the lighting unit so that it does not impair the visual appearance thereof.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel adjustable lighting unit as aforesaid in which the variable vertical adjustability of the light carrying xture is achieved by means of a novel ltting structure and a counterweight mechanism acting conjointly therewith and with the electrical cord of the lighting unit.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specication in conjunction with an examination of the appended drawings, wherein:

'FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the adjustable lighting unit according to the invention illustrated as embodied in a pole type lamp, the stand of which extends between the floor and the ceiling;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmented longitudinal sectional view through the standard of the lighting unit of FIGURE l as would be seen when viewed along the lines 2 2 of that figure;

:FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view as would be seen when viewed along the lines 3 3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view such as would be seen when viewed along the lines 4 4 of FIGURE 3.

In these several figures, like elements are denoted by like reference characters.

Referring lirst to FIGURE 1, for a general overall organizational understanding of the lighting unit, there will be seen a tubular standard pole type of lamp generally indicated at 10- including a lower tubular section 11, an upper tubular section t12, and a pair of floor and ceiling engaging pads 13 each carrying a height adjusting section 1S threadedly engaged with a pair of fittings 14 secured to the upper and lower tubular sections 12 and 11. The upper and lower tubular sections 11 and 12 are secured together by means of a tting 20 to which is secured, and from which laterally extends, a lamp bracket 18 positionally holding a lamp and shade assembly 19. A line cord 16 pa-sses into the lower end of the lower tubular section 11 through a strain relief 3-5 disposed through the bottom threaded fitting 14 and extends upward therefrom to the on-otc power switch designated 3,961,717: Patented Oct. 30, 1962 as 17, continuing upward therebeyond to engagement with the fitting 20 and laterally out through the lamp bracket 18 to the socket of the lamp and shade assembly 19. Disposed within the lower tubular section 11 and adapted to ride vertically therewithin below the level of the fitting 20 is a counterweight 32, shown in FIGURE 2, which permits a portion of the line cord 16 to move upward and downward within the lower tubular section 11 of the lighting unit and thereby allow for vertical motion of the lamp and shade assembly 19 in the manner illustrated in phantom in the showing of FIGURE 1.

Turning now to the detail views of FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, and principally to the showing of FIGURE 3, it is observed that the fitting 20 includes a main hollow tubular portion 21 counterbored at top and bottom to form the annular shoulders 22 and 23 respectively, and having an external lateral projection 24 formed as a continuation of an internal radially inward projecting formation 25. The internal formation 25 includes a curved passage 26 facing downward and having the passage lower portion substantially coaxial 4with the axis of the lower tubular section 11, the passage 26 extending vertically within the internal formation 25 and then curving radially outward centrally through the external lateral projection 24. The horizontally extending portion of the curved passage 26 which extends outward through the external lateral projection 24 is counter-bored as at 27 to provide a socket for the end of the horizontal tubular stem 28 of the lamp bracket 18, the bracket lstem 28 being secured within the socket 27 by means of a set screw 29 projected through and threadedly engaged with a suitable hole in the external projection 24. Formed in the top of the internal projecting formation 25 of the fitting 20 is a rounded crown groove 30 which lies in a plane substantially transverse to the axis of the external lateral projection 24.

As best seen in FIGURE 2, the line cord 16 extends upward through the lower tubular section 11 from the switch 17 and passes over the top of the internal formation 25 by disposition within the rounded crown groove 3ft, then passing downward through the lower tubular section 11 and through a suitable anti-friction roller 33a revolubly tted in the hanger 33 of the counterweight 32, about which roller the line cord 16 again reverses direction and passes upward through the lower tubular section 11 into and through the curved passage 26 of the internal formation 25 and outward to the lamp and shade assembly 19 through the bracket 18. A-s the lamp and shade assembly 19 is pulled downward, a portion of the line cord 16 is pulled outward through the lamp bracket 18 and fitting 20 and causes the counterweight 32 to rise within the lower tubular section 11. Manual raising of the lamp and shade assembly 19 allows the counterweight 32 to descend within the lower tubular section 11 and thus draw the line cord 16 back thereinto through the lamp bracket 18 and fitting 20.

Stable positioning of the lamp and shade assembly 19 is achieved Iby lproperly lixing the mass of the counterweight 32 so that when the lamp and shade assembly 19 is released the counterweight 32 does not tend of itself to automatically pull the lamp and shade lassembly 19 b ack upward into engagement with the lamp bracket 18. Similarly, the mass of the counterweight 32 is sufficient to insure that the lamp and shade assembly 19 cannot of itself `automatically vertically descend without an actual pull being exerted thereupon. The weight relationship between the lamp and shade assembly 19 and the counterweight 32 is not overly critical because of the friction components introduced into the system by causing line cord 16 to be engaged on a curve within the passage 26 of the fitting 20. Thus, when the ylamp and shade assembly 19 is not provided with a positive downi ward pull or an upward lift, the frictional forces within the structure are suiiicient to maintain it in stable position. However, positive downward pull on the lamp assembly 19 can overcome this system friction, and an upward. lift on the lamp and shade assembly 19 is sufficient to allow the mass of the counterweight 32 to overcome the system friction and draw the line cord back into the unit.

In order to rigidity the pole structure so that the upper and lower tubular sections 11 and 12 remain in coaxial alignment when the floor and ceiling pads 13 are engaged to physically support the lamp structure 10, a split tube section 31 is employed in conjunction with'the fitting 2). The `split tube 31 is first pushed endwise into the fitting so that a portion of the split tube extends both above and below the itting in the manner best seen in FIG- URE 3, vthe split being obviously required to allow passage of the tube 31 through the fitting 26 without being obstructedV by the internally projecting formation 2S. Outward expansion of the walls of the split tube 3l is restricted by the, central tubular portion 21 of the fitting 20 so that an annular clearance is provided between the outer surface of the split Vtube 31 and the counterbored opposite ends of the fitting 20. The fitting 2d with the split tube 31 installed therein may now be seated downward upon the top of the lower tubular section l1 until the upper end of the latter bears against the annular shoulder 23 of the itting 20. In similar fashion, the upper tubular section 12 is `now slid down over the split tube 31 Aand between the latter and the counter-bored upper end of the itting 20 until the lower end of the upper tubular section 12 seats upon the annular shoulder 22. The lower and upper tubular sections 11 and 12 are thereby sandwiched between the top and bottom counterbores of the fitting 20 and the outer surface of the split tube 31, the latter pressing outward to iirmly engage the sections `11 and 12, Y

lFinally, the lamp bracket V18 is provided with a truncated conical seat 34 which mates withk the upper endV Having now described my invention in connection with a particularly illustrated embodiment thereof, it ywill beY l and external projection being provided with a passage completely therethrough extending vertically upward from the bottom of the former within the hollow standard and curving radially outward through the latter and opening into the hollow lamp bracket, said internal formation also including a rounded, crown groove formed at the top thereof and disposed in a plane substantially orthogonal to the plane of said passage, said flexible means extending rst upward through the standard and over the tting internal-formation by disposition within the crown groove, then extending downward within the standard and loosely through an eye in said weight and turning upward into and through said itting passage outward to said lighting tixture through said hollow larnp bracket.

2. The lighting unit according to claim 1 wherein said vertical hollow standard comprises an upper tubular section and a lower tubular section secured together in coaxial alignment by said tting, said tting comprising a vertical tubular portion of larger diameter than that of both the upperand lower tubular sections of said standard and Vbeing top and bottom vertically recessed to snugly receive therewithin the ends of said hollow standard sections, and a split tube extending completely through said fitting upward and Ydownward therebeyond and projectingV into said hollow standard sections in snug engagement with the inside walls thereof.

3. A titting lcomprising a main portion and a split tube conjointly operative for iixedly securing together in coaxial alignment the upper and lower sections of a lightunderstood that changes and modifications may occur from time to time .to thoseV persons normally skilled in the art without departing from the essential scope or spirit of the invention, and accordingly, it is intended to claim the same broadly, as well as speciiically as indicated by the appended claims. Y

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A lighting unit comprising in combination, a vertically positionally adjustable' lighting fixture, a vertical ing unit in which the upper section of the lighting unit includes -a downwardly projecting hollow tubular portion and the lower section of the lighting unit includes an upwardly projecting hollow tubular portion, said itting main portion being of larger diameter than that of both the upper and lower sections tubular portions of the lighting unit and being top and bottom vertically recessed to snugly receive therewithin the ends of said lighting unit ltubular portions, and said split tube extending completely through said tting main portion upward and downward therebeyond and projectable into said lighting unit hollow tubular portions in snug engagement with the inside walls thereof, Ysaid tting main portion also including an external lateral projection and an internal formation in radially inwardly, directed extension thereof, said internalY formation and external projection being provided with a continuous passage completely therethrough extending upward from the Ibottom of the former and curving radially outward through the latter, said tube extending through said litting main portion and being longitudinally split Yso that it may fbe projected through the iitting main portion lwith the said internal formation of the latter disposed therewithin through the split.

A y References Cited in the file of this patent Y UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,069,295,

Sage et al. Aug. 5, 1913 ,1,348,949 Johansson Aug. l0, 1920 1,589,845 Faeth lune 22, 1926 2,024,655 Metz et al. Dec.jl7, 1935 2,793,286 Stiiiel May 21, 1957 Y j FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain June 29, 1960

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