Illumination – Plural light sources – With modifier
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-21
2001-05-08
Spyrou, Cassandra (Department: 2872)
Illumination
Plural light sources
With modifier
C362S417000, C362S355000, C362S356000, C362S376000, C362S377000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227680
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to electric lamps and, more particularly, to electric lamps suitable for use in institutional housing settings.
The institutional housing market includes such institutions as colleges and universities, nursing homes, hospitals and military barracks. Typically, these institutions provide housing for people who do not directly own or rent their units and do not provide their own furnishings. Rather, it is up to the institution to provide the furnishings for the individual housing units.
Generally, such institutions seek to provide furnishings that create a home-like rather than institutional atmosphere. Although this can be easily achieved by using standard furnishings intended for use in the home, the realities of institutional use frequently render such home furnishings unacceptable for a number of reasons. Furnishings used in an institutional setting are typically subjected to greater use and abuse than their counterparts in the home. Accordingly, they are generally constructed of heavier and more durable materials than standard home furnishings. Similarly, they are sometimes the subject of deliberate acts of vandalism, which further necessitates durable construction. Finally, in the case of residents whose physical or mental condition makes the possibility of self harm a real concern, institutional furnishings must take such concerns into account.
One aspect of institutional furnishing that contributes greatly to creating a home-like setting and feel is lighting. Through the use of appropriate lamps and lighting fixtures, it is possible to create a warm, home-like setting and feel. However, lamps and fixtures, by their very nature, are often fragile, easily damaged items, particularly when designed for home use. Such lamps are easily disassembled or damaged making them attractive to vandals, senile patients or others who might intentionally or unintentionally subject the lamp to treatment not ordinarily encountered in the home. A robust, heavy-duty construction that would otherwise stand up to such use and abuse, however, works counter to the soft, warm, home-like feel that is sought to be created. Lamps and fixtures intended for use in the institutional housing market therefore need to address competing, and often contradictory, concerns.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a tamper resistant lamp including a support, a light bulb mounted on the support, a harp assembly mounted on the support adjacent the light bulb for supporting a lampshade, and a rigid, light transmissive, diffuser/guard assembly coupled to the harp and substantially fully enclosing the light bulb for resisting unauthorized access to the light bulb while permitting the passage of light through the diffuser/guard assembly.
The invention also provides an institutional lamp having a base, a support column extending upwardly from the base, a diffuser positioned at an end of the support column opposite the base, a primary light bulb disposed within the diffuser, a secondary light bulb also disposed within the diffuser and operable to develop a lesser quantity of light than the primary light bulb, and an electrical switch operable to selectively actuate either or none of the primary and secondary light bulbs.
The invention also provides an institutional lamp having a base, a support column extending upwardly from the base, a harp assembly mounted on the support column opposite the base, a diffuser positioned at an end of the support column opposite the base, a primary light bulb disposed adjacent the harp assembly, a secondary light bulb also disposed adjacent the harp assembly and operable to develop a lesser quantity of light than the primary light bulb, an electrical switch operable to selectively actuate either or none of the primary and secondary light bulbs, a rigid, light transmissive, diffuser/guard assembly coupled to the harp and substantially fully enclosing the primary and secondary light bulbs for resisting unauthorized access to the light bulbs while permitting the passage of light through the diffuser/guard assembly, a lampshade mounted to the harp assembly substantially encircling the diffuser/guard assembly, and a locking finial engaging the harp assembly for securing the lampshade to the harp assembly, the locking finial including a locking element for resisting unauthorized disengagement of the locking finial from the harp assembly.
It is an object of the invention to provide a new and improved lamp that is well suited for use in institutional housing settings, but that contributes to a warm, home-like setting and feel in use.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a new and improved lamp that is durable in use while maintaining the appearance of a lamp suitable for use in a home.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a new and improved lamp that is not readily disassembled by unauthorized personnel.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a new and improved lamp that is durable but economical in manufacture.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a new and improved lamp that is convenient for use by residents whose mobility or dexterity may be impaired.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4626972 (1986-12-01), Wolf
patent: 5023522 (1991-06-01), Mansour
patent: 5174648 (1992-12-01), Clary
patent: 5392204 (1995-02-01), Schumaker
patent: 5611618 (1997-03-01), Sawyer
patent: 5702180 (1997-12-01), Huang
Boutsikaris Leo
Ryan Kromholz & Manion S.C.
Schumaker Lighting, Inc.
Spyrou Cassandra
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