Modular illumination device

• US 4,096,379 A
• Filed: 08/24/1976
• Issued: 06/20/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Taylor Albert
• Original Assignee: Albert Taylor
• Inventors: Taylor, Albert
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Monroe H.
• Application Number:
  US05/717,236
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 240/9 R, 240/10 R, 240/10 T, 240/2 R
• US Class Current: 362/235
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/10 with light sources attached to loose electric cables, e.g. Christmas tree lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/005 for several lighting devices in an end-to-end arrangement, i.e. light tracks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/004 mounted on the exterior of houses or other buildings to illuminate parts thereof

Abstract

A modular illumination device comprising a plurality of rigid hollow illumination housings, means for separably joining each of these housings to an adjacent housing, a plurality of lamps disposed within each of the illumination housings, electrical coupling means for coupling the lamps in adjacent illumination housings, and power coupling means for coupling a power source to the plurality of lamps.

Claims

1. A modular illumination device comprising:

a plurality of rigid hollow illumination housings each forming a chamber therein and having at least one surface thereof permitting the transmission of light therethrough, each of said plurality of said housings having a uniform cross section throughout the length thereof;

affixment means disposed on a first free end of each of said illumination housings, said affixment means for separably joining to a second free end of an adjacent illumination housing, said affixment means having exterior surfaces extending parallel to and contiguous with the exterior surfaces of said illumination housings;

a plurality of incandescent lamps, at least one of said plurality of lamps disposed in each of said chambers of each of said plurality of illumination housings;

electrical coupling means for electrically coupling said plurality of lamps when said plurality of illumination housings are joined, wherein a portion of said electrical coupling means is disposed secured to and housed within said affixment means, the remaining portions of said electrical coupling means located on said second free end of said adjacent illumination housing being disposed within said affixment means when said illumination housing is joined to said adjacent housing; and

power coupling means for coupling a power source to said plurality of lamps, said power coupling means having a power coupling housing, said power coupling housing devoid of any illumination source, said power coupling housing having a crosssection along the entire length thereof equivalently dimensioned to said uniform cross-section.

2. A modular illumination device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said affixment means comprises a cup-like portion provided on each of said first free ends, said cup-like portion dimensioned to capture and frictionally removably retain therein the exterior surface of an adjacent said second free end.

3. A modular illumination device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrical coupling means comprises a plurality of electrical plugs, one of said plurality of electrical plugs fixedly secured to each of said first free ends of said illumination housings, and a plurality of electrical sockets, one of said plurality of electrical sockets fixedly mounted on each of said second free ends of said illumination housings, said electrical sockets for capturing and removably retaining therein an adjacent said electrical plug of an adjacent cojoined illumination housing.

4. A modular illumination device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said power coupling means comprises said power coupling housing having first and second free ends thereof, respectively, dimensioned to be removably joined with said second and first free ends of a pair of said plurality of illumination housings, said power coupling housing having an electrical plug and socket and a line cord coupled thereto.

5. A modular illumination device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of illumination housings have a substantially rectangular cross-section.

6. A modular illumination device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of illumination housings has the first and second free ends thereof falling in transversely disposed planes.

7. A modular illumination device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said illumination housings has a plurality of substantially keyhole shaped mounting holes located therein.