Long-life luminaires

• US 5,012,157 A
• Filed: 10/18/1988
• Issued: 04/30/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Standard Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Al R. Roshdieh, John F. Walton
• Inventors: Roshdieh, Al R., Walton, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): LaRoche, Eugene R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shingleton, Michael B.
• Application Number:
  US07/259,320
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 315/66, 315/71, 315/93, 315/122, 315/179, 315/185 R, 315/185 S, 315/192
• US Class Current: 315/66
• CPC Class Codes: H01K 1/62 One or more circuit elements structurally associated with the lamp
• CPC Class Codes: H01K 5/00 Lamps for general lighting H01K9/00 - H01K13/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01K 7/04 for indicating

Abstract

There is provided a luminaire primarily for use with exit signs and other emergency-type lighting comprising a series string of low-voltage, extremely long-life bulbs positioned within an enclosure for protection and electrically connected to a standard base whereby luminaires having lives of 10 to 30 years may replace standard bulbs without the requirement of retrofitting.

Claims

1. A long-life luminaire for signs powered by power company standard voltages for use in emergency lighting and signs comprising:

a string of individual long-life, low-voltage light bulbs electrically connected in series;

means for connecting said string across a source of said power company voltages;

said light bulbs having a life of five years at 14 volts and ten years at 12 volts,

at least one varistor electrically connected in parallel with the entire said string of light bulbs;

said string of light bulbs having two ends,

the spacing between the light bulbs in the center of said string being greater than towards the ends of said string of light bulbs.

2. A long-life luminaire for signs powered by power company standard voltages for use in emergencies, comprising:

a first string of individual long-life, low-voltage light bulbs having electrical ends electrically connected in series;

means for connecting said string across a source of electrical energy;

a resistor connected in series with said string of bulbs;

said resistor having a resistance approximately equal to that of one of said bulbs when at incandescent temperature; and

at least one varistor connected across said electrical ends of the entire string of the long-life, low-voltage lamps only.

3. The long-life luminaire of claim 2 further comprising

said varistor and resistor connected in series across said power company standard voltages with said varistor in parallel with said string of light bulbs.