Illumination – Supports – Standard-type support
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-10
2001-08-28
O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Supports
Standard-type support
C362S410000, C362S413000, C362S418000, C362S428000, C248S371000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06280066
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the display of lamps in large retail outlets and more particularly to the securement of such lamps on overhead tilted shelves for optimum display of the lamps.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Lamps such as floor lamps and table lamps are commonly purchased for decorative as well as lighting purposes. There are thousands of different lamp designs that are available to a purchaser. A purchaser understands that different lamps will satisfy his or her lighting requirements and it is the decorative appeal that determines selection.
A table lamp is typically placed on a table of some sort and often a wood table. The table places the lamp at a height that is about at eye level when seated but is quite visible from a standing position. Such is also true for floor lamps. The purchaser wants to examine the lamp design as visualized for example on such a table when making his purchase.
Large retail stores or outlets in particular want to maximize the use of display space and overhead shelving is common for displaying items such as lamps. The overhead shelving also places the display out of the reach of customers and avoids the disruption that occurs from customer handling. To enable purchasers to ideally examine merchandise displayed on overhead shelves, the shelves may be tilted. Such is not feasible for table lamps or floor lamps as such lamps are top heavy and tilting of the shelf can result in tipping the lamp off the shelf. Thus, lamps when displayed on overhead shelving are commonly displayed on non-tilted shelves and such is unsatisfactory for examining the lamp's decorative appeal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The provision of visually exposed brackets to secure a lamp to a tilting shelf is generally not considered satisfactory. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the structure of the lamp itself is utilized for securement to a tilted shelf. Almost all lamps are structured to have a decorative body portion with a socket provided at the top (over which a lamp shade is mounted) and a base portion at the bottom either as part of the body or as a separate component. A tube extends from the base through the body to the socket and it performs a dual function. The tube is threaded at the top and bottom. It is secured at its top to the socket, inserted down through the body and base and then a nut is threaded onto the bottom of the tube to secure the base (if separate), body and socket together. The tube also functions as a conduit for extending an electrical cord from the base to the socket. The cord often projects from within the base out through a hole in the base, the projecting cord end being fitted with an electrical plug that can be connected to an electrical outlet. The bottom of the base is often covered with a felt or similar covering to avoid scratching a table top.
Once the nut is threaded onto the bottom end of the tube, only a short stub of the tube end is exposed. However, it is the stub end of the tube that provides for the mounting of the lamp. The felt cover is removed and the plug is removed from the cord end (e.g., as by cutting). The cord is pulled back into the base and inserted through a coupler and a tube extension (the combination referred to as a coupling). The coupler is provided with female threads to fit the threads of the stub shaft and the tube extension is then threadably secured to the other end of the coupler. A tilted shelf is provided with a hole that receives the tube extension. The inserted end of the tube extension is then fitted with a fastener, e.g., a nut, that threadably fits the end of the extension. The cord end is inserted down through the coupler, tube extension and nut and fitted with a plug and connected to an electrical outlet under the shelf. A viewer is able to examine the lamp from a side view even though the lamp is sitting on an overhead but tilted shelf and without the distractions of brackets or the like. It will be understood that the under side of the shelf can be covered as desired.
The invention will be more fully understood and appreciated upon reference to the following detailed description having reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 0175660 (1876-03-01), Sankey
patent: 5019753 (1991-05-01), Strauss
Harrington Robert L.
O'Shea Sandra
Zeade Bertrand
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