LIGHTING APPARATUS

• US 20010017777A1
• Filed: 10/03/2000
• Published: 08/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Twinbird Corporation
• Original Assignee: Twinbird Corporation
• Inventors: Honda, Takashi, Hori, Masahiko, Maruyama, Kaname
• Granted Patent: US 6,375,339 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/353
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 6/003 for task lighting, e.g. for reading or desk work, e.g. angle poise lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/02 with provision for adjustment F21V17/04 - F21V17/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/164 the parts being subjected to bending, e.g. snap joints
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/00 Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes

Abstract

Abstract of Disclosure

A lighting apparatus which enables a shade to be easily attached, detached and rotated with a simple structure and an enhanced degree of freedom in design. Grooves 9,10 defining arc-shaped portions 15,16, respectively, are formed around an axis of a head 4, to which is mounted a fluorescent light bulb 7. A shade 8 which is formed with protrusions 17, 18 opposite to the grooves 9, 10 is mounted to the head 4 so as to cover the fluorescent light bulb 7. By pressing the protrusions 17, 18 of the shade 8 into the grooves 9, 10 of the head 4, the shade 8 can be very easily mounted to the head 4. By lifting up the shade 8 from the head 4, the shade 8 can be very easily removed from the head 4. In addition, the shade 8 can be rotated by allowing the protrusions 17, 18 formed on the shade 8 to slide along the arc-shaped portions 15, 16. As such shade 8 allows a simple integral structure, degree of freedom in designing a lighting apparatus can be enhanced.

Claims

1. A lighting apparatus which comprises:

a head having a socket;

an electric light bulb mounted to the socket of the head; and

a shade for covering the electric light bulb,

wherein one of the head and the shade is formed with a protrusion, while the other thereof is formed with a groove which is opposite to the protrusion, whereby the shade is mounted to the head by allowing the protrusion to engage with the opposite groove.

2. A lighting apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein one of the groove and the protrusion is formed around an axis of said head so that at least a part thereof may construct an arc-shaped portion such that the protrusion or the groove opposite thereto may be slidable relative to the arc-shaped portion,

whereby said shade is mounted to the head in a manner capable of rotating around the axis of said head.

3. A lighting apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein said head and shade are each formed with at least one pair of the protrusions or the grooves.

4. A lighting apparatus according to

claim 2

, wherein said head and shade are each formed with at least one pair of the protrusions or the grooves.

5. A lighting apparatus according to

claim 2

, further comprising:

a flexible engagement portion formed in the groove, said flexible engagement portion being partially cut away, corresponding to upper and lateral ends of the groove, having a stopper projection adjacent to a distal end thereof, whereby said arc-shaped portion is formed from a lower end of said groove to the stopper projection.

6. A lighting apparatus according to

claim 2

, further comprising:

a cylindrical axial portion formed at a proximal side of said head;

a cylindrical bearing provided at an inside of the proximal side of said shade, corresponding to said axial portion;

a leading groove which is formed along the axis of the head, perpendicularly to said groove, said leading groove being formed with a flexible engagement portion which is partially cut away in portions where it communicates with said groove and also where it corresponds to upper and lower ends of the said groove, respectively, while the flexible engagement portion is formed with a stopper projection at an end adjacent to the said groove.

7. A lighting apparatus according to

claim 2

, further comprising a lug provided on an inside surface of said shade, said lug abutting onto a top surface of said head to thereby properly position the shade.

8. A lighting apparatus according to

claim 2

, wherein said protrusion allows a lower end thereof to be positioned downwardly of the axis of the head when the shade is mounted thereto.