Compact electric discharge lamp-and-ballast unit, and plug-in ballast module therefor
First Claim
1. As a new article of manufacture adapted for use as a detachable ballast means for a compact electric discharge lamp, an elongated module having a medial segment and a pair of laterally-extending offset segments each of which contains electrical components that comprise parts of the ballast circuit,the thickness and width dimensions of said module being less than the length dimension thereof and said medial segment having plug-in type contact means that is connected to said electrical components and engageable in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the module.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A single-ended compact fluorescent lamp having an envelope that is partitioned or of multi-U-bent shape and defines a tortuous arc path is combined with a plug-in ballast module which is elongated in a lateral direction but has a low profile and a narrow width. The resulting decrease in the overall height dimension of the unit formed by the mated lamp and module, together with the narrow width of the module, permit the unit to fit within the harp component of a table lamp or similar lighting fixture and be used as a replacement for an incandescent lamp. The screw-in socket of the lamp fixture is provided with a threaded adapter plug which enables the lamp-ballast unit to be plugged into the adapter after it has been inserted between the spaced support rods of the harp component. Alternatively, the threaded plug is made a part of the module and constitutes an integral threaded base member which permits the lamp-ballast unit to be screwed directly into the fixture socket after the harp component has been temporarily removed.
74 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. As a new article of manufacture adapted for use as a detachable ballast means for a compact electric discharge lamp, an elongated module having a medial segment and a pair of laterally-extending offset segments each of which contains electrical components that comprise parts of the ballast circuit,
the thickness and width dimensions of said module being less than the length dimension thereof and said medial segment having plug-in type contact means that is connected to said electrical components and engageable in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the module.
-
4. A compact lamp-ballast unit adapted for placement and use in a lighting fixture such as a table lamp or the like that has socket means located within a harp component which is arranged to support a lamp shade and defines an opening of predetermined size and shape, said lamp-ballast unit comprising the combination of;
-
an elongated electric discharge lamp of single-ended construction having terminal means at one end adapted for plug-in type electrical connection, the overall height and width dimensions of said lamp being less than the corresponding dimensions of the opening defined by said harp component, and a ballast module of laterally elongated configuration seated in abutting relationship with the terminal end of the discharge lamp and having a pair of offset segments that are joined by a medial segment which includes a first contact means that is in force-fitted plug-in engagement with the terminal means of the discharge lamp and releasably couples the ballast module and lamp in mated operative relation, said ballast module being of such length along its laterally elongated dimension that the offset segments extend beyond the sides of the discharge lamp and said module thus exceeds the width dimension of the opening defined by the harp component of the lighting fixture, the medial segment of said ballast module having a second contact means that is located on a part of the module remote from the first contact means and is adapted to engage and electrically connect with the socket means of the lighting fixture, the configuration of the ballast module and the width of the medial segment thereof being such that the lamp-ballast unit has overall height and width dimensions which permit the unit to fit within the opening of the harp component when the unit is properly oriented with respect to the lighting fixture and is seated in the socket means thereof. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification