SINGLE RECESSED BASE LIGHT

• US 3,753,217 A
• Filed: 08/31/1971
• Issued: 08/14/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Erich Willfurth
• Original Assignee: Erich Willfurth
• Inventors: Willfurth, Erich
• Primary Examiner(s): Queisser, Richard C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yasich, Daniel M.
• Application Number:
  US05/176,514
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 240/2W,78H,7.3,41.1,73BC 248/216 52/28 312/242
• US Class Current: 362/146
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2011/1048 with lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/00 Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A recessed light primarily for use in a staircase to be positioned within a recess in the baseboard or wall at one side of the staircase to illuminate a tread of the staircase. There may be one such light for each tread or they may be spaced in any desired manner to illuminate selected treads. The recessed light is formed as an open housing from a section of a sheet metal reentrant face with upper and lower lips to engage the upper and lower edges of a recess into which the housing snugly fits. The lips may be secured to said recess edges by nailing or by a suitable adhesive and may also be formed with integral projecting teeth or prongs to be driven into the recess edge portions for securing the housing in place. Provided centrally of the concave face of the housing is an opening for an electric light bulb. Each end of the housing is provided with an end wall so as to completely close off the recess. The housing may also take the form of a square-shaped frame at the outer edge of the concave face, the sides of the frame forming lips engageable with the outer side edge portions of the recess into which the housing is fitted.

Claims

1. In combination with a staircase and an adjacent upright wall, an electric light for a housing, the housing comprising a reentrant inverted base for at least one stair including a tread and a riser:

a. The inverted base being of thin, stiff, flexible metal and providing;

1. a concave back section, 2. a lower lip section extending forwardly of said back section, 3. a row of vertically depending prongs at the edge of said lower lip section, 4. an upper lip section extending forwardly of said back section, 5. a row of horizontal rearwardly directed prongs at the edge of said upper lip section, 6. a closure plate at each end of said concave back section secured thereto with each having a vertical forward edge, b. an electric light bulb socket mounted rearwardly of said back section with its bulb receiving portion extending slightly forwardly of said back section through an opening therein, c. there being an opening in said wall at the base thereof adjacent to an end of said one stair tread to receive said inverted base, and d. said rows of upper and lower prongs respectively securing said inverted base to said wall and stair tread, whereby an electric light for the socket is recessed and will illuminate said stair tread.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein:

a. said wall opening is rectangular, a-1. the length of said opening corresponding substantially to the width of said tread, and a-2. the height of said opening being less than the height of said riser, b. said end closure plates being vertical and parallel, and c. the forward vertical edges of said closure plates being substantially Co-planar with the upper lip section and the depending teeth of the lower lip section, whereby said concave back section defines a recessed concave wall and with said end closure walls secured thereto at each end thereof defines the electric light housing.

3. a row of vertically depending prongs at the edge of said lower lip section,

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein:

a. the forward terminal edge portions of the electric light housing are substantially co-planar;

whereby in the mounted position of said electric light housing said forward terminal edge portions will lie substantially in the vertical plane of the outer surface of said wall.

5. a row of horizontal rearwardly directed prongs at the edge of said upper lip section,

6. a closure plate at each end of said concave back section secured thereto with each having a vertical forward edge, b. an electric light bulb socket mounted rearwardly of said back section with its bulb receiving portion extending slightly forwardly of said back section through an opening therein, c. there being an opening in said wall at the base thereof adjacent to an end of said one stair tread to receive said inverted base, and d. said rows of upper and lower prongs respectively securing said inverted base to said wall and stair tread, whereby an electric light for the socket is recessed and will illuminate said stair tread.

7. In combination with a staircase and an adjacent upright side wall, a recessed electric light housing with a light for at least one stair including a lower tread, a riser and an upper tread having its forward portion overhanging the riser, comprising:

a. said light housing formed from sheet metal and mounted in said side wall and open at its front providing;

a concave back wall emerging at its forward edge portion into a square formation, a lateral flange formed integral with the front edge of each side of the forward edge portion, b. there being a square opening in said side wall adjacent to the end of the lower tread, c. the sides of the opening adjacent said lower tread and said riser being equally spaced therefrom, d. said housing secured in said side wall by press fitting into said square opening; and

e. said concave back wall being arcuate about an axis centrally therethrough that extends horizontally so that it can serve as a reflector to direct light rays from said light upon a surface of said tread.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein:

a. said lateral flanges are of the same width and co-planar defining a square frame, and b. in the mounted position of said housing the inside surface of said frame will engage the outer surface of said wall.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein:

a. said concave wall is provided with a central opening therein, and b. an electric light bulb socket mounted rearwardly of said concave wall with its bulb receiving portion extending through said central opening and projecting slightly forwardly of the concave wall at said opening.

10. The combination of claim 9, wherein:

a. said square wall opening and said forward square end of said housing are complimentally dimensioned such that the the forward square end of said housing will engage the sides of the wall opening by a pressure fit, and b. said frame being of such a width that the edge of the lower side thereof will seat on the upper surface of the lower tread, and the edge of the rear side thereof will engage the forward surface of said riser and extend from the lower tread to the underside of the overhanging portion of the upper tread.