Illumination – Supports – Special switch operator
Reexamination Certificate
1994-06-14
2001-01-09
Sember, Thomas M. (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Supports
Special switch operator
C362S427000, C362S404000, C362S229000, C362S287000, C439S017000, C200S227000, C200S051070
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170967
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates generally to lighting apparatus and, more particularly, to micro-miniature lighting apparatus which provides easy and flexible adjustment of lighting direction while eliminating mechanical parts typically associated with directional lamp adjustment and on-off light-switching functions.
2. Description of Related Art
Presently, in the advertising industry, emphasis is being placed on point-of-purchase advertising located in retail outlets such as grocery stores and various other retail establishments. Generally, an effort is being made to render such point-of-purchase displays more attractive so as to promote sales while the consumer is in the store. The inventors have recognized that improved microminiature lighting could readily enhance the attractiveness of point-of-purchase displays, for example, by implementing “welcoming” lighting which comes on gradually as customers approach a particular display.
Typical lighting applications employ lamps with associated fixturing. Typically, the lamps mechanically interlock with the fixtures, for example, by a screw-in connection, or by means of prongs which plug into a cooperating female receptacle. Variable positioning or “aiming” of lighting is provided by mechanisms employing complex mechanical interconnection such as conventional “track” lighting. On-off lamp switching is similarly achieved conventionally by mechanisms of considerable mechanical complexity.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to improve lighting apparatus;
It is another object of the invention to improve miniature lighting apparatus;
It is yet another object of the invention to provide miniature lighting apparatus particularly suited to point-of-purchase displays;
It is a further object of the invention to simplify lighting apparatus;
It is another object of the invention to provide lighting apparatus suitable for miniature track lighting applications;
It is another object of the invention to provide such improved lighting apparatus adaptable to numerous lighting apparatus support structures and various types of conventional individual lamps;
It is another object of the invention to provide improved lighting apparatus which eliminates conventional electromechanical connection between lighting fixtures and the lamps they mount;
It is another object of the invention to provide lighting apparatus which eliminates conventional on-off electromechanical switches; and
It is another object of the invention to provide lighting apparatus which provides microminiaturization in a wide variety of applications, while at the same time achieving high performance and low cost.
These objects and advantages are achieved according to the invention by providing a lamp unit mounting receptacle and a cooperating lamp unit. The structure of the cooperating lamp unit and receptacle permit pop-in insertion and removal of lamp units at any desired position and the capability to turn the lamp units on or off by merely turning them manually or otherwise manually changing the position of the lamp unit with respect to the receptacle or housing. The direction of illumination provided by the lamp units is also changed by simply manually pointing the lamp units in the desired direction. The invention contemplates the provision of lamp units directly pluggable into and removable from a mounting track with the entire elimination of cumbersome intervening fixturing.
According to one feature in accordance with the invention, an electromechanical ball conductor element is provided in the form of a separate, subminiature “lighting fixture,” into which a conventional lamp unit inserts. The combined structure of the fixture and lamp provides the multiple capabilities of aiming and on/off switching, as well as lamp insertion and removal. A second feature according to the invention is the further combining of the ball fixture and the lamp element into a single integral unit. Thus, the ball conductor element effectively becomes an integral “base” for a modified conventional lamp. According to this second aspect of the invention, the “lighting fixture” is eliminated and the structure reduced in complexity to just the ball-fitted lamp and its mounting track.
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patent: 5072216 (1991-12-01), Grange
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patent: 5359501 (1994-10-01), Stevens
patent: 0188736 (1985-12-01), None
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patent: 9011471 (1990-10-01), None
Usher Scott
Walsh Terrence C.
Jacob Arthur
Sember Thomas M.
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