US3904865A - Threaded bulb cover device - Google Patents

Abstract

A cover device is provided for being threadably mounted on a threaded bulb. The cover device has a portion which is internally threaded for positioning on the bulb. This internally threaded portion is formed on the cover device or connected thereto by rods or other means. The cover can be mounted for axial movement on the threaded bulb to provide different light effects. Flanges are mounted on a cover device to deflect the light and cylindrical projections are also used to provide means for the light to pass therethrough. The cover device is used on a bulb which projects in any direction; that is, for example, either upwardly or downwardly. Fiber optic filaments can extend from an internally threaded portion to provide light therethrough.

Description

[ 1 Sept. 9, 1975 THREADED BULB COVER DEVICE [76] Inventor: Jack N. McCarthy, Meadowood Rd., Tolland, Conn. 06084 [22] Filed: Mar. 21, 1974 [2]] Appl. No.: 453,523

Related US. Application Data [60] Division of Ser. No. 361,629, May 18, 1973, Pat. No. 3,808,419, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 185,934, Oct. 4, 1971, Pat. No. 3,757,105.

[52] US. Cl 240/10 L; 240/1 LP; 240/100; 240/108 [51] Int. Cl. F21V 3/00 [58] Field of Search..... 240/10 R, 1 LP, 10 T, 10 L, 240/46.55, 100, 108, 136

3,721,815 3/1973 Wall 240/10 L 3,727,043 4/1973 Wall 240/10 L 3,727,044 4/1973 Mowroy 240/10 L Primary Examiner.loseph F. Peters, Jr.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A cover device is provided for being threadably mounted on a threaded bulb. The cover device has a portion which is internally threaded for positioning on the bulb. This internally threaded portion is formed on the cover device or connected thereto by rods or other means, The cover can be mounted for axial movement on the threaded bulb to provide different light effects. Flanges are mounted on a cover device to deflect the light and cylindrical projections are also used to provide means for the light to pass therethrough. The cover device is used on a bulb which projects in any direction; that is, for example, either upwardly or downwardly. Fiber optic filaments can extend from an internally threaded portion to provide light therethrough.

4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTED SEP 9 I975 SHEET 2 OF 3 THREADED BULB COVER DEVICE RELATED APPLICATION This application is a division of co-pending Application Ser. No. 361,629, filed May 18, 1973, now US. Pat. No. 3,808,419 which was a continuation-in-patt of Application Serial Number 185,934, filed Oct. 4, 1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,757,105.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the field of electric bulb cover devices and no cover was found similar to the constructions shown herein. US. Pat. No. 3,721,815 shows an adapter for covering a bulb and is believed to be representative of devices now used to cover bulbs having a member contacting the bulb. The abovementioned patent is a continuation-in-part of U.S.Pat. No. 3,624,385. Other lamp attachments are shown in the references cited in those patents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide a cover device for threadable mounting on a threaded bulb for providing a desired lighting effect.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cover device which can be threadably moved axially on a threaded bulb and provide varying degrees of light and different colors, if desired. This type of arrangement can be used, for example, as a night light.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cover device for a ceiling light which can be connected directly to the bulb and not require elaborate mounting from a ceiling fixture.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cover device for a threaded bulb which is located on the stem of a lamp. Said cover device can be comprised of two members threadedi to the bulb if necessary to provide a'desired effect. I

A further object of the invention is to have a flange on a cover device which will cooperate with a reflecting cover to control light therefrom. A cover device could have a plurality of flanges which would aid in cooling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of a light device having a threaded bulb with the cover device in cross section;

FIG. 2 is an end view of a light device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a modification threaded bulb;

FIG. 4 is another modification of a cover device; FIG. 5 is another modification of a cover device shown on a'threaded bulb extending downwardly from a ceiling; and V FIG. 6 is another modification of a cover device shown on a threaded bulb extending upwardly from a lamp base;

FIG. 7 is another modification of a cover device; and F IG. 8 is another modification of a cover device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an electric light device 2*having a threaded bulb 4 attached to a base assembly 6 wherein the threads are engageable from the bulb end. The base assembly 6 is of the type having two prongs 8' mounted for insertion into an electric outlet'of a home. The base of a'cover device for'a assembly 6 includes a projecting portion 10 which has an internally threaded opening therein to receive the threaded base portion of the threaded bulb 4. (A bulb of this type is shown and described in parent'U.S. applicationSer. No. 185,934, filed Oct. 4, 1971, now US. Pat. No. 3,757,105.) The base'assembly 6 includes within, the wiring from each of the prongs 8 to each of two metallic contacts within the internally threaded opening in projecting portion 10, said contacts being positioned so as to engage conventional metal contacts on the base portion of bulb 4. Means can be provided to prevent the threaded base portion from turning in the projecting portion 10 if necessary.

While the externallythreaded bulb 4 has been described as removably attached to the base assembly 6 by a conventional threaded engagement, the externally threaded bulb 4 can be fixedly mounted on the base assembly 6 so as to form a unitary structure. This type of construction is common among night lights where a contoured bulb is fixedly formed to a base having prongs thereon for insertion into' an electrical source. To control the amount of light put out by the externally threaded bulb 4, a cover means or device 14 is placed thereon and adapted to be moved up and down the length of the bulb to control the exposed surface of the externally threaded portion of the bulb. The cover means or device 14 is formed of a central cylindrical member 16 internally threaded along its length to mate with the external threads on the bulb 4, one end being open while the other end' is closed at 18; the cylindrical member 16 being of such a length as to include the full length of the threaded bulb 4.

In FIG. 1, the cylindrical member 16 is shown threadably engaging the bulb for approximately two-thirds the length 'of the bulb. The open end of the cylindrical member 16 has a flange 20 extending outwardly therefrom to provide a light deflector. It can be seen from FIG. 1 that the light emanating from the bottom portion of the threaded bulb will be deflected sidewardly for a distance. This flange can be made of various sizes,

7 depending on the type of light control desired.

Four openings 30 are equally positioned around the closed end of the cylindrical member 16 and cylindrical projections 32 extend outwardly from the cylindrical member 16 around each opening. While these cylindrical projections 32 can be of various lengths, they are shown as approximately one-half of the length of the cylindrical member 16. Each colored lens 34 is fixedly positioned at the free end of the cylindrical projections 32 in a recess. This can be done by any means desired such as by gluing or bonding. These lens can be of different colors, depending on the use of the cover means fleeting light from that portion so it extends radially from the bulb. Very little light will show through the lens 34.Then, as the cover means '14 is placed completely over the externall'y threaded bulb 4, there will be no light emanating from below the flange 20 and we will have a subdued light emanating from the four lens 34. These lens can be of any color desired to-match room decoration or provide a desired effect.

If it is desired not to have any light emanate from the lens 34 until the cover means 14 has been threaded on the bulb 4 to a point where the bulb engages the holes 30, the top of the bulb 36 can be painted black or have an opague flat disc fixed thereto.

For further control, an annular flange 22 can extend from the end of flange to further deflect and diffuse light deflected by the flange 20. This flange can be transparent and of a desired color. The cylindrical member 16, flange 20 and cylindrical flanges 32, for a night light will be opaque or made from a material which will transmit very little light. The cylindrical projections 32 provide a spoke-like arrangement for manual turning of the cover means 14.

The modification shown in FIG. 3 is similar to that shown in FIG. 1 wherein a mechanical means is provided in the cover means 14A to prevent light from getting into the cylindrical projections 32A until the top of the bulb reaches the openings A. The mechanical means is a flat cover 38A located within the cover means 14A and a spring 40A located between the closed end of the cover means 14A and the cover 38A. The flat cover 38A can be threaded into its internal position or made slightly smaller than the threads on the interior of the cover means 14A. In FIG. 3 the cover 38A has a flange to receive the spring and this cover has to be positioned in the end of the cover means or device 14A by having the end formed of a separate piece. The end is fixed in place after the cover 38A and spring 40A have been put in place. In FIG. 3, each lens 34A are shown fixed at the bottom of the cylindrical projections 32A in the same manner as before.

FIG. 4 shows a simplified cover means 143 which is positioned on bulb 4B. The electric light device in this instance is a type wherein a deep-cupped shade 52 is formed around the bulb socket of the device which is usually attached to the end of a metal tube 54 through which wiring extends to the device. This type of covering can usually be found on pole-type lamps. A toggle switch 56 is located at the end of the device where it is fixed to the tube 54. The cover means 14B is formed having a central cylindrical member 16B internally threaded to mate with the external threads on the bulb 4B, with one end being open while the other end is closed and has an outwardly extending flange 58. Flange 58 is sized to be smaller than the opening 60 at the end of the shade 52 so that when the cover means 14B is within the opening 60, an annular space is left between the edge of the flange 58 and the opening 60. It can be seen from FIG. 4 that as the cover means is moved down the length of the bulb, the exposed portion of the bulb next to the base of the bulb will be enlarged, providing a greater amount of light to pass around the cover means and through the annular space between the edge of the opening 60 and the edge of the flange 58. Here again the cover means 14B can be opaque or transparent and colored.

As shown in FIG. 5, a ceiling fixture is provided with a threaded bulb 4C having a different cover means 14C. The cover means 14C comprises an internally threaded ring member 74 with a plurality of rods or links 76 connecting it to a large cover or deflector 78. It can be seen that the cover or deflector 78 in FIG. 5 will deflect the light toward the ceiling and prevent direct rays from providing too bright a light in a room.

The cover means as shown in the above figures can also be used on a light fixture where the bulbs project upwardly. In this case, the covering means is merely threaded downwardly over the bulb, except for the modification in F IG'. 5 where the ring 74 is threaded on the bulb and then the rods are hooked onto openings on the ring member 74 and openings on the deflector 78. The deflector can be raised or lowered by moving the ring member 74 on the threaded portion of the bulb 4. If more adjustability is desired, the rods 76 can be made adjustable in length. It can thus be seen that chains or wire can be used in place of the rods.

In the modification shown in FIG. 5, the rods 76 can be threaded at their lower ends and extend through openings in the deflector 78 with decorative nuts engaging the threaded rods to support the cover means or device 14C. These rods 76 would be pivotally mounted to the ring member 74.

FIG. 6 shows an installation on a lamp having a threaded bulb 4D wherein an internally threaded ring 74D is placed on the bulb while rods 76D extend between openings around the ring 74D and openings fixed to the inner side of a rounded cover or deflector 78D. The rounded cover or deflector 78D has an opening 92 in the bottom for receiving the stem 94 of the lamp 90. This modification can also have the rods 76D threaded at their outer ends and extend through openings in the deflector 78D with nuts engaging the ends of the threaded rods to support the cover device 14D.

A decorative addition to the lamp is the use of a second internally threaded ring 96 placed on the bulb 4D composed of a clear transparent plastic or glass or other light-conducting rigid material. Fiber optic filaments 98 are connected to said ring 96 by having one end fixed in a hole in the ring. The filaments then extend out of a hole 100 in the top of the rounded cover or deflector 78D. Holes could be formed in the side of the rounded cover or deflector 78D and small groups of filaments 98 could extend from the end of the ring 96 through each of said holes. These fibers can be made clear or of many different colors. If there is no room for a second ring, or if one is not desired, the first support ring can be made of the light-conducting rigid material and the fibers can be connected to the first support ring as shown and described on the second ring.

FIG. 7 shows a solid-shaped decoration which can be formed of a plastic, such as lucite, into which the threads of the bulb 4 can be screwed.

FIG. 8 shows a cover 1 1 1 having an upwardly extending portion 112 and a downwardly extending portion 114. A portion 116 intermediate the ends is formed having an internally threaded section so as to be threaded onto the threaded bulb 4. The threaded bulb is connected to a socket 118 which is hanging down on a cord 120. The cover 111 can be positioned anywhere on the bulb 4 and each of the portions 112 and 114 can be separate colors, or one portion can be clear, while one portion is colored. A movement of the cover 111 along the bulb would vary the proportion of light extending through the portions 112 and 114. The cover can be repositioned to obtain any desired effect of a combination of colors.

I claim:

1. A cover device for an electric light device having a bulb with external threads therealong, said cover device having a member with an opening having internal her being capable of transmitting light in a direction transverse to said axis, fiber optic filaments being fixed to said member, said fiber optic filaments having one end extending into said member for receiving light through said member from within said opening having internal threads.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said member is formed as a ring, and said filaments extend from a surface on said ring.

Claims (4)

1. A cover device for an electric light device having a bulb with external threads therealong, said cover device having a member with an opening having internal threads for receiving a threaded bulb, said member being formed of a light-conducting rigid material, fiber optic filaments fixed to said member spaced from said opening having internal threads.

2. A cover device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said member is a ring, and said filaments are spaced around a surface on said ring.

3. A cover device for a bulb with external threads therealong, said cover device including a member having an opening with internal threads extending along an axis for receiving external threads of a bulb, said member being capable of transmitting light in a direction transverse to said axis, fiber optic filaments being fixed to said member, said fiber optic filaments having one end extending into said member for receiving light through said member from within said opening having internal threads.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said member is formed as a ring, and said filaments extend from a surface on said ring.

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