Variable power control adapter

Claim 1

An adjustable power control device of the type adapted to threadably engage a conventional electric lamp socket to which a source of electrical power is connectable for enabling the magnitude of the electrical power provided to an electric lamp to be selectively varied, said power control device comprising: a generally tubular housing of electrically insulating material and having upper and lower ends, said housing being provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced elongated slots therethrough arranged intermediate the ends of the housing and extending lengthwise thereof, a stationary support plate fixedly secured within said housing intermediate the ends thereof and defining a transverse partition within said housing disposed above the elongated slots therein, said support plate being provided with a plurality of radially spaced ventilating slots therethrough arranged between the central portion and the periphery of the support plate, an externally threaded base member fixedly secured to the lower end of said housing and providing a male connector for threadably connecting the control device to the electric lamp socket so as to enable the control device to be coupled to the source of electrical power through the electric lamp socket, an internally threaded upwardly opening socket member fixedly secured within said housing to the central portion of said support plate and disposed radially inwardly with respect to the housing wall and the ventilating slots in said support plate, said internally threaded socket member and said housing wall cooperating to define an annular passageway therebetween in registration with said ventilating slots, said internally threaded socket member providing a female connector for threadably receiving the electric lamp so as to enable the electric lamp to be coupled to the source of electrical power through the control device, a manually adjustable electric control circuit fixedly secured within said housing to the central portion of said support plate in depending relation therefrom, said electric control circuit being disposed within said housing at a location in registration with the elongated slots in said housing, said electric control circuit being electrically interconnected between said base member and said socket member to provide electrical coupling therebetween and being selectively adjustable for varying the magnitude of the electrical power to be provided to the electric lamp, a thumbwheel mounted within said housing for rotation with respect thereto about an axis transverse to the longitudinal extent of said housing, said thumbwheel being located in registration with one of the elongated slots in said housing and including a portion thereof protruding outwardly of said housing through said one elongated slot to enable the position of said thumbwheel to be manually adjusted. means coupling said electric control circuit to said thumbwheel such that said electric control circuit is responsive to the rotation of said thumbwheel to vary the electrically conductive state of said electric control circuit for enabling the magnitude of the electrical power provided to the electric lamp to be selectively varied, and said elongated slots in said housing, said ventilating slots in said support plate, and said annular passageway defined between the housing wall and the radially inwardly disposed socket member cooperating to provide an unimpeded path for air flow extending through said housing supplying ventilation for said electric control circuit.