US1938555A - Household lighting unit - Google Patents

Description

. 5, 1933. J. o. CADIEUX HOUSEHOLD LIGHTING UNIT Filed July 25, 19:50

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M a w.

Dec. 5, 1933. J. o; CADIEUX HOUSEHOLD LIQHTING UNIT Filed July 25, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 Jas epk 0. QJz'ea/Z- Mun Patented Dec. 5, 1933 HOUSEHOLD LIGHTING UNIT Joseph 0. Cadieux, llierlden, Conn, assignor to Connecticut Telephone 8; Electric Corporation, Merlden, Conn, a corporation of Delaware Application July 25, 1930. Serial No. 470,587

4 Claims. (ct 240-81) My invention relates particularly to lamps suitable for household illumination.

One object is to provide a simple, compact and reliable lamp of the incandescent gas type. So-

called neon and similar gas tubes have been utilized for signalling and advertising purposes but so far as I am aware no convenient and practical form of such lamp has been devised for what would ordinarily be termed "household illumi- 13 nation, such as table lamps, floor lamps, ceiling lights and drop lights. Such lamps to be practical should operate on the usual 110 volt or 220 volt commercial power mains and in view of the fact that such tubes in order to be eifectively and eilloiently' luminescent must have an applied voltage of somewhere from 1000 to 5000 or 10,000

volts, it is necessary to step-up the commercial current. I have therefore endeavored to provide a compact form of construction which is easily portable and can be readily installed and embodying transforming means as well as the luminescent tube. Such a construction comprises a casing including a transformer adapted to be supported within a form of body which can be made ornamental and connected to the housing as a socket having terminals directly connected with the high potential output of the transformer. The gas tube itself is mounted within a base preferably provided with prongs adapted to be connected detachably with the terminals in the socket. I also may provide a switch for controlling the circuit and preferably this is mounted in the housing and arranged in the input or low potential side of the transformer.

The tube itself containing the incandescible gas is preferably coiled helically and protected within a globe which is mounted in the same base which supports the tube. A shade may be conveniently secured directly to this globe so as to provide a compact and conveniently useful assembly.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical section showing a lamp embodying the improvements of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the socket.

Figs. 3 and 4 are diagrams showing circuit arrangements for such a lamp.

Fig. 5 is a side view of a table lamp of my invention, a portion of the shade being broken 50 away.

Fig. 6 shows the invention as applied to a floor lamp.

Fig. 7 shows the invention applied to a drop light or pendent.

Fig. 8 is a side view and section showing the invention with a modified form applied to a ceiling light.

The body 10 of the lamp may be of any suitable design and adapted to contain the housing 11 within which is mounted the transformer 12 which may be completely impregnated with or embedded in a suitable insulating composition.

The socket 14 has a flange 15 secured to the top of the body, for instance, by screws 16 secured in inserts 17 in the upper edge of the body. The socket and the transformer housing may be secured together by a number of screws such as 18.

The socket contains circuit terminals 19 preferably in the form of spring clips secured by eye- 7 lets 20 in the bottom of chambers 21. The output or high potential leads 22 of the transformer are directly connected to these terminals 19 in the eyelets 20. The socket is preferably provided with a flange 23 and an insulating disc 24 is in- 7 serted within the flange and adapted to cover the upper ends of the chambers 21 with the exception of small openings through the disc 24 provided for the prongs 25 of the lamp proper.

The lamp has an insulating base 26 from which go the prongs 25 extend. The glass tube 27 contains the gas used for illuminating purposes and the ends of the tube are provided with suitable electrodes 28 connected to the respective prongs 25.

A globe 29 has its lower edge secured within a 35 flange of the base 26 so as to provide a conveniently assembled and protected device which can be transported, sold and used with a minimum likelihood to breakage. This lamp is adapted to be inserted into the socket and readily removed 9Q but it will be seen that the high potential terminals 19 in the socket are so completely housed and guarded that there is practically no danger of accidental contact with them even when the lamp is removed.

Preferably I provide a suitable form of switch such as 30 which is secured in the socket member 14 and connected in the low potential side of the transformer so that the switch will not be subjected to the destructive effect of the high poten 10 tial current.

In some cases it may be desirable to employ a resistance 31 to cut down the current and reduce or dim the light and for this purpose a special switch or rheostat 32 may be employed as indicated in Fig. 3.

The construction above described has the great advantage of extremely low power consumption and at the same time produces a pleasant and mellow light, the color of which may be suited to 11.

the particular needs of the individual case by the use of an appropriate gas or mixture of gases.

For convenience in handling and assembly I may provide a shade .35 which may have a spider 36 secured directly to the top of the globe 29 by means of a screw 37 passing through the rubber washer 38 and clamp unit 39. In this way the lamp tube and shade may be handled together and obviously the shade may be readily removed when desired for the substitution of another shade or the replacement of a tube.

In the construction shown in Fig. 6 the invention is embodied in a floor type lamp having a pedestal 40 with a receptacle 41 at the top in which is mounted the transformer and socket combination previously described.

In the construction shown in Fig. '7 the lamp is embodied in a drop-light having a canopy 43 with a supporting chain 44 and a shell 45 which encloses the transformer and socket combination and also supports a shade or globe 46. In this case I have shown a switch with a pull-type chain or cord 47.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 8 the transformer and socket combination is mounted within an outlet box 50 which also supports the globe 51. I have also shown a modification of the lighting tube 52 adapted to give a wider dispersion of the light.

It will be apparent that the other modifications may be made in the details of construction and arrangement and in the combination of parts.

I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, a gas tube comprising a base portion, spaced terminal clips in said base portion, a tube having electrodes adapt ed to be detachably mounted in said clips, and rigid conducting terminal prongs connected to said clips and projecting exteriorly of said base for insertion in a socket connected to a source of electrical energy and a globe mounted in said base enveloping said clips and gas tube.

2. In a gas lamp, a housing, a transformer mounted therein, a socket mounted thereon and forming an extension thereof and cover therefor, depressed pockets formed in said socketand extending inwardly of said housing, terminal clips mounted in said pockets in electrical engagement with said transformer, a gas tube comprising a base portion, spaced terminal clipsin said base portion, a tube having electrodes adapted to be detachably mounted in said clips, and rigid nonfragile terminal prongs connected to said clips and projecting exteriorly of said base for detachable engagement with the terminal clips mounted in the socket pockets.

3. In a portable household lighting unit, a housing, a transformer mounted therein, a socket mounted on said housing and. forming an extension thereof and cover therefor, depressed pockets formed in said socket and extending inwardly of said housing, terminal clips mounted in said pockets at their innermost ends for engagement with the prongs of a lampsaid housing, socket and associated parts forming a unitary structure adapted to detachably receive a lighting tube having rigid conductive prongs projecting therefrom so as to engage said terminal clips in said pockets when the tube is inserted in said socket.

4. A household lighting unit including a base structure having an opening in its upper end, a housing having a projecting flange engaging said base structure so that the housing is supported substantially therewithin, a transformer mounted within said housing and protected thereby, a socket structure seated upon said housing and forming a detachable cover therefor and having recesses extending downwardly, terminal clips supported within said recesses and connected to said transformer output, and a tube base unit having rigidly separated terminal prongs adapted to enter said recesses and detachably engage said terminal clips therewithin.

JOSEPH O. CADIEUX.

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