US4004144A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluorescent light unit
Assignee: A AND M WHITEMETAL CASTING Inc
•
Filing: 1975-08-22
•
Granted: 1977-01-18
•
Expires: 1995-08-22
Abstract
Abstract A fluorescent light unit which is adapted for use in a conventional table lamp, hanging fixture, or wall fixture, and which includes a centerpost structure with a tube disposed about the centerpost and a plurality of fluorescent lamps at circularly spaced locations about the tube, and with the centerpost structure including or carrying a ballast unit for the lamps. The lamps and tube are mounted by top and bottom structures which are connected to the centerpost structure and which are constructed to pass an updraft of air through these structures and through the tube and about the ballast to cool the latter.
Inventors
- 👤 Andre L. Chako
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 22:45
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21S; F21S6/00; F21S6/002; F21S8/00; F21S8/03; F21S8/033; F21S8/04; F21S8/06; F21V; F21V21/00; F21V21/02; F21V21/10; F21V21/116; F21V23/00; F21V23/02; F21V29/00; F21V29/50; F21V29/70; F21V29/74; F21V29/83; F21Y; F21Y2103/00; F21Y2113/00; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B20/00; Y02B20/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
242 words
A lighting unit comprising: a vertically extending centerpost structure; two vertically spaced top and bottom structures connected to upper and lower portions respectively of said centerpost structure and interconnected thereby and projecting laterally therefrom; and a generally vertically extending tube disposed about said centerpost structure in spaced relation thereto and engaged and located at its upper and lower ends by said top and bottom structures respectively; said top and bottom structures extending laterally from said centerpost structure to the location of said tube and including lamp mounting electrical sockets projecting laterally outwardly beyond the tube to positions for mounting a plurality of generally vertical fluorescent lamps at the outside of said tube and at circularly spaced locations thereabout; said centerpost structure including at least one fluorescent lamp electrical ballast unit connected to the rest of the centerpost structure and located vertically between said top and bottom structures and within said tube with an air circulation space provided at the outside of the ballast unit and between it and said tube; said top and bottom structures both being open to air flow upwardly therepast at locations radially between said centerpost structure and said tube in a relation providing a continuous upflow path through which circulating air may flow first upwardly past said bottom structure, then upwardly within said tube and about said centerpost structure and said ballast unit to cool the latter, and then upwardly past said top structure and into the atmosphere.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
242 words
A lighting unit comprising: a vertically extending centerpost structure; two vertically spaced top and bottom structures connected to upper and lower portions respectively of said centerpost structure and interconnected thereby and projecting laterally therefrom; and a generally vertically extending tube disposed about said centerpost structure in spaced relation thereto and engaged and located at its upper and lower ends by said top and bottom structures respectively; said top and bottom structures extending laterally from said centerpost structure to the location of said tube and including lamp mounting electrical sockets projecting laterally outwardly beyond the tube to positions for mounting a plurality of generally vertical fluorescent lamps at the outside of said tube and at circularly spaced locations thereabout; said centerpost structure including at least one fluorescent lamp electrical ballast unit connected to the rest of the centerpost structure and located vertically between said top and bottom structures and within said tube with an air circulation space provided at the outside of the ballast unit and between it and said tube; said top and bottom structures both being open to air flow upwardly therepast at locations radially between said centerpost structure and said tube in a relation providing a continuous upflow path through which circulating air may flow first upwardly past said bottom structure, then upwardly within said tube and about said centerpost structure and said ballast unit to cool the latter, and then upwardly past said top structure and into the atmosphere.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A lighting unit as recited in claim 1, in which said centerpost structure has upper and lower portions which are connected to said top and bottom structures respectively and which are connected to different portions of said ballast unit and interconnected only by said ballast unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
A lighting unit as recited in claim 1, in which said centerpost structure includes two upper and lower tubes connected to said top and bottom structures respectively with said ballast unit located vertically between and rigidly connected to said tubes in a relation interconnecting said two tubes only through the ballast unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
A lighting unit as recited in claim 1, in which said centerpost structure includes two upper and lower vertically aligned tubes connected at first ends to said top and bottom structures respectively, with said ballast unit located vertically therebetween, said centerpost structure including two brackets connecting second ends of said two tubes to upper and lower ends respectively of said ballast unit in a relation connecting said two tubes together rigidly through said ballast unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
A lighting unit as recited in claim 4, in which each of said brackets has a first portion disposed transversely of the axis of said tubes and containing an opening into which an end of a corresponding one of said two tubes is threadedly connectable, each of said brackets having a second portion turned vertically and connected to a vertically extending flange of said ballast unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A lighting unit as recited in claim 5, including two plates associated with said two brackets respectively, and screws for securing said plates to said vertically turned portions of said brackets with said flanges of the ballast clamped tightly between the plates and vertically turned portions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A lighting unit as recited in claim 1, in which said bottom structure has a portion forming an internal thread centered about a vertical axis and adapted to be connected to an external thread of a lamp base.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A lighting unit as recited in claim 1, including a lamp base connected to said bottom structure to support it, and a lamp shade connected to said top structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A lighting unit as recited in claim 1, in which each of said top and bottom structures includes a bracket connected to said centerpost structure and having arms projecting outwardly therefrom and carrying said sockets.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
A lighting unit as recited in claim 1, in which each of said top and bottom structures includes a bracket connected to said centerpost structure and having arms projecting outwardly therefrom and carrying said sockets, said sockets having horizontal portions projecting outwardly beyond said tube for attachment to said lamps, and having portions turned axially at the inner side of said tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
A lighting unit as recited in claim 10, in which each of said brackets has additional arms spaced circularly from said first mentioned arms and projecting outwardly to the location of said tube and having locating lugs projecting axially to engage and locate the outer side of said tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
A lighting unit as recited in claim 1, in which said top and bottom structures include brackets having arms projecting outwardly to the location of said tube and having lugs engaging the tube in a relation locating it against radial movement.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
103 words
A lighting unit as recited in claim 1, in which each of said top and bottom structures includes a bracket having a central portion connected to said center post structure and having a first pair of arms projecting in diametrically opposite directions and carrying two of said sockets, each of said brackets having a second pair of arms projecting in diametrically opposite directions circularly intermediate said first arms with terminal lugs which are turned to engage the outer side of said tube, each of said sockets having a vertically turned insulative portion engageable with the inner side of said tube in locating relation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
A lighting unit as recited in claim 13, including a connector part secured to the underside of said bracket of said bottom structure and containing an internal thread connectable to an external thread of a lamp base tube to secure said unit thereto.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
A lighting unit as recited in claim 14, in which said centerpost structure has an upper portion connected to said top structure and projecting upwardly therebeyond and adapted to mount a lamp shade and having external threads to which a shade retaining finial is connectable.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
64 words
A lighting unit as recited in claim 14, in which said centerpost structure includes two vertically spaced top and bottom tubes connected to said top and bottom structures respectively in vertical alignment with said ballast unit connected vertically therebetween, and with said top and bottom tubes connected to upper and lower ends respectively of the ballast unit and interconnected only by said ballast unit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
A lighting unit as recited in claim 16, in which said top tube of said centerpost structure has a portion extending through said bracket of said top structure and about which a lamp shade is mountable and having external threads to which a finial for retaining the lamp shade is connectable.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2267145A
Cited
US2293924A
Cited
US2323172A
Cited
US2364854A
Cited
US2641687A
Cited
US3141620A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-01-18 | 1980-07-19 | 1981-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-01-18 | 1984-07-19 | 1985-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-01-18 | 1988-07-19 | 1989-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |