Party lamp

• US 6,644,834 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2002
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Beacon Power Incorporated (RGA Labs, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Louis J. Christen & Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Christen, Louis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sawhney, Hargobind S.
• Application Number:
  US10/139,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20030012025A1
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 362/351, 362/363, 362/307, 362/310, 362/311, 362/293, 362/362, 362/353, 362/355, 362/360, 362/361, 362/809, 362/343, D26/118, D26/119, D26/128, D26/135, D26/137
• US Class Current: 362/311.09
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/007 using rotating transparent or colored disks, e.g. gobo wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/02 changing colors F21S10/002 - F21S10/007, F21S10/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/00 Producing particular characteristics or distribution of the light emitted by means of a combination of elements specified in two or more of main groups F21V1/00 - F21V11/00 controlling the distribution of the light emitted by adjustment of elements F21V14/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/00 Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses with refracting properties F21V5/00; with reflecting properties F21V7/00; characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/506

Abstract

A portable lamp for providing mixed direct and diffused light. The lamp is especially suited for providing pleasant lighting conditions at a table or workbench. A hollow cover is mounted upon a base. A light bulb inside the cover provides light, the bulb being powered by a self contained power source such as a battery. The cover, which may be spherical, has a translucent upper portion for transmitting diffused light, a medial transparent portion for transmitting undiffused light directly to the tabletop, and an opaque lower portion. A conical shaped reflector within the cover serves to reflect light emitted by the bulb to the translucent and transparent portions of the cover. Colored translucent disks may be removably attached inside the cover to add color to the diffused light.

Claims

1. A lamp apparatus comprising:

a hollow cover defining an interior space, said cover comprising an upper translucent portion, a medial transparent portion, and a lower substantially opaque portion;

means for mounting a light bulb centrally within said interior space; and

a reflector disposed within said interior space for directing light from said bulb toward said medial transparent portion.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cover comprises an upper translucent portion, a medial transparent portion, and a lower opaque portion.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said hollow cover is a substantially spherical globe.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a base connected to said lower opaque portion.

5. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said upper translucent portion is threadably engagable with said medial transparent portion.

6. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said upper translucent portion comprises an upper hemisphere, said medial transparent portion comprises an equatorial band, and said lower opaque portion comprises a lower hemisphere.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a power supply self-contained within said interior space.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for mounting comprises at least one electrical socket, and further comprising a light bulb removably insertable into each said socket.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said light bulb is selected from the group consisting of incandescent bulbs and light emitting diodes.

10. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said reflector extends radially outward from said socket for directing light from said bulb toward said medial transparent portion.

11. An apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising:

a stem depending downward from an inside surface of said upper hemisphere; and

at least one thin translucent disk removably attachable to said stem.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein when said translucent disk is attached to said stem, the perimeter of said at least one disk contacts said inside surface of said upper hemisphere.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said at least one disk comprises a plurality of interchangeable disks of differing colors.

14. A lamp apparatus for providing direct and diffused lighting, said lamp comprising:

a hollow globe substantially enclosing an interior space, said globe comprising an upper translucent portion, a medial transparent portion, and a lower opaque portion;

a light bulb socket located within said interior space; and

a reflector within said interior space and extending radially outward from said socket for directing light from said bulb toward said medial transparent portion.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said hollow cover is a substantially spherical globe.

16. An apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising a base integrally molded with said lower opaque portion.

17. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said upper translucent portion is threadably engagable with said medial transparent portion.

18. An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said upper translucent portion comprises an upper hemisphere, said medial transparent portion comprises an equatorial band, and said lower opaque portion comprises a lower hemisphere.

19. An apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising a power supply self-contained within said interior space.

20. An apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising a light bulb removably insertable into each said socket.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said light bulb is selected from the group consisting of incandescent bulbs and light emitting diodes.

22. An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said reflector extends radially outward from said socket for directing light from said bulb toward said upper translucent portion and said medial transparent portion.

23. An apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising:

a stem depending downward from an inside surface of said upper hemisphere; and

at least one thin translucent disk removably attachable to said stem.

24. An apparatus according to claim 23 wherein when said translucent disk is attached to said stem, the perimeter of said at least one disk contacts said inside surface of said upper hemisphere.

25. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said at least one disk comprises a plurality of interchangeable disks of differing colors.

26. A lamp apparatus for providing direct and diffused lighting, said lamp comprising:

a cover comprising a substantially spherical globe at least partially surrounding an interior space, said globe comprising an translucent upper hemisphere, an transparent equatorial band, and an opaque lower hemisphere;

at least one light bulb socket located centrally within said interior space; and

a substantially frusto-conical reflector within said interior space, said socket located at the apex of the imaginary cone containing said frusto-conical reflector, and said reflector extending radially inward at least partially from the upper edge of said opaque lower hemisphere toward said socket.

27. An apparatus according to claim 26 further comprising a base integrally molded with said opaque lower hemisphere.

28. An apparatus according to claim 26 wherein said translucent upper hemisphere is threadably engagable with said transparent equatorial band.

29. An apparatus according to claim 26 wherein said transparent equatorial band comprises an annular clear lens.

30. An apparatus according to claim 29 further comprising a light bulb removably insertable into each said socket.

31. An apparatus according to claim 30 wherein said light bulb is selected from the group consisting of incandescent bulbs and light emitting diodes.

32. An apparatus according to claim 31 wherein said reflector reflects light from said bulb toward said upper translucent portion and said medial transparent portion.

33. An apparatus according to claim 32 further comprising:

a stem depending downward from an inside surface of said upper hemisphere; and

at least one thin translucent disk removably attachable to said stem.

34. An apparatus according to claim 33 wherein when said translucent disk is attached to said stem, the perimeter of said at least one disk contacts said inside surface of said upper hemisphere.

35. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said at least one disk comprises a plurality of interchangeable disks of differing colors.