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US4858089A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Lighting fixture having improved heat dissipation characteristics

Assignee: EASTROCK MANUFACTURING & TECHNOLOGY Inc ("EMTI")
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Filing: 1987-12-02
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Granted: 1989-08-15
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Expires: 2007-12-02
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Abstract

Abstract A lighting fixture, e.g., lamp holder, to allow fluorescent and other non-incandescent lamps to be operated from incandescent sockets or from line voltage, with satisfactory heat dissipation, even at higher wattages. The fixture is structured to cause air to circulate through the holder so as to dissipate heat generated during operation of a lamp in the fixture. A radiative heat dissipator may also be provided to improve cooling still more.

Inventors

  • 👤 Michael S. Pietro

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 01:10
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21V; F21V29/00; F21V29/50; F21V29/70; F21V29/83; F21V19/00; F21V19/04; F21Y; F21Y2103/00; F21Y2103/30; F21Y2103/37

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim 97 words
An apparatus for operating a lamp, said apparatus comprising: a housing having a mounting for mounting the lamp, and a connector for electrically connecting a lamp mounted in said apparatus to a source of electrical power, said connector comprising electrical contacts for engaging contacts of the lamp; a ballast compartment for receiving a reactive ballast for stabilizing power applied to the lamp; and cooling means comprising at least one vent disposed at a position intermediate said mounting and said ballast compartment to provide cooling to both the lamp and the reactive ballast during operation of the lamp.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 97 words
An apparatus for operating a lamp, said apparatus comprising: a housing having a mounting for mounting the lamp, and a connector for electrically connecting a lamp mounted in said apparatus to a source of electrical power, said connector comprising electrical contacts for engaging contacts of the lamp; a ballast compartment for receiving a reactive ballast for stabilizing power applied to the lamp; and cooling means comprising at least one vent disposed at a position intermediate said mounting and said ballast compartment to provide cooling to both the lamp and the reactive ballast during operation of the lamp.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vent is arranged to allow heated air to rise in path confined between said lamp and said ballast compartment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 39 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ballast compartment, said mounting and said housing each have an axis of symmetry and said axes are mutually coincident, and said vent being disposed between said ballast compartment and said mounting.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 88 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said mounting is adapted to mount a lamp of a type having a starter housing extending in one direction from a lamp base and an envelope through which light is emitted in operation extending in a second direction from the lamp base, said mounting defining a chamber for receiving the starter housing of the lamp; and wherein said chamber is displaced from said ballast compartment in a direction which coincides with the first direction of a lamp mounted in said mounting.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 31 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cooling means further comprises a thermally-conductive reflector joined to said housing in such a manner as to dissipate heat from the lamp radiatively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 38 words
An apparatus to claim 5 wherein said vent is arranged to allow heated air to move, and said reflector is disposed so as to confine the moving heated air to a path between said lamp and the ballast.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 69 words
An apparatus for operating a lamp, said apparatus comprising: a ballast for stabilizing power applied to operate the lamp; a mounting in electrical contact with said ballast for mounting the lamp; and a housing having said ballast mounted therein, said housing including circulation means allowing air to circulate through said housing to a position passing both said ballast and the lamp to provide cooling during operation of the lamp.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 69 words
An apparatus for operating a lamp, said apparatus comprising: a ballast for stabilizing power applied to operate the lamp; a mounting in electrical contact with said ballast for mounting the lamp; and a housing having said ballast mounted therein, said housing including circulation means allowing air to circulate through said housing to a position passing both said ballast and the lamp to provide cooling during operation of the lamp.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 28 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said circulation means comprises a vent disposed intermediate said ballast and said mounting and arranged to allow heated air to rise.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 30 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said vent is disposed so as to allow the heated air to rise in a path confined between said ballast and the lamp.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 27 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a thermally-conductive reflector joined to said housing in such a manner as to dissipate heat from the lamp radiatively.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 38 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said circulation means is arranged to allow heated air to move, and said reflector is arranged to confine the moving heated air to a path between said lamp and said ballast.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 17 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said vent is disposed between said mounting and said ballast.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 101 words
An apparatus for electrically and mechanically mounting a lamp, said apparatus comprising: a connector for removably connecting said apparatus to a source of power; a ballast electrically connected to said connector, said ballast stabilizing power applied to the lamp; and a housing joined to said connector and containing said ballast, said housing having a mounting in electrical contact with said ballast for mounting the lamp, and said housing including circulation means comprising at least one vent disposed at an intermediate portion of said housing between said ballast and said mounting for allowing air to circulate through said housing to dissipate heat.
Claim 16
Independent Claim 101 words
An apparatus for electrically and mechanically mounting a lamp, said apparatus comprising: a connector for removably connecting said apparatus to a source of power; a ballast electrically connected to said connector, said ballast stabilizing power applied to the lamp; and a housing joined to said connector and containing said ballast, said housing having a mounting in electrical contact with said ballast for mounting the lamp, and said housing including circulation means comprising at least one vent disposed at an intermediate portion of said housing between said ballast and said mounting for allowing air to circulate through said housing to dissipate heat.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 26 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said ballast, said mounting and said housing each have an axis of symmetry and said axes are mutually coincident.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 30 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said at least one vent is arranged to allow heated air to rise in a path confined between said lamp and said ballast.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 27 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a thermally-conductive reflector joined to said housing in such a manner as to dissipate heat from the lamp radiatively.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 38 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said circulation means is arranged to allow heated air to move, and said reflector is arranged to confine the moving heated air to a path between said lamp and said ballast.
Claim 21
Independent Claim 81 words
An apparatus for electrically and mechanically mounting a lamp and for directing light generated by the lamp, said apparatus comprising: a generally conical reflector; a housing to which said reflector is joined, said housing having a mounting for mounting the lamp; a ballast disposed within said housing, said ballast stabilizing power applied to the lamp; and at least one vent defined at an intermediate position on said housing, said vent allowing air to be channeled through said housing past said ballast.
Claim 22
Independent Claim 81 words
An apparatus for electrically and mechanically mounting a lamp and for directing light generated by the lamp, said apparatus comprising: a generally conical reflector; a housing to which said reflector is joined, said housing having a mounting for mounting the lamp; a ballast disposed within said housing, said ballast stabilizing power applied to the lamp; and at least one vent defined at an intermediate position on said housing, said vent allowing air to be channeled through said housing past said ballast.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 40 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said reflector has a diffuser for diffusing light produced by the lamp, said reflector defining at least one hole to permit passage of air between the interior and the exterior of said reflector.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 38 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said reflector, said housing, said ballast and said mounting each have an axis and wherein said axes are mutually coincident, and said vent is disposed between said ballast and said mounting.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

FR698909A Cited
US2016474A Cited
US4004143A Cited
US4503358A Cited
US4503360A Cited
US4497016A Cited
WO1986002986A1 Cited
US4723200A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-08-14 1993-02-13 1993-08-15 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-08-14 1997-02-13 1997-08-15 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-08-14 2001-02-13 2001-08-15 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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