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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION-FIELD OF APPLICATION
This invention relates to swivels; and more particularly, to swivels for
lamps and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION-DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Many lamps, or lighting devices merely mount a bulb on a fixed base or
support post. While relatively simple in construction such a lamp
configuration lacks versatility in that if the user desires to illuminate
a particular location they must move the entire lamp. This is not always
possible or desirable.
Other lamps incorporate one or more swing arms. One end of the swing arm is
usually supported by or mounted to a support post; while the other end of
the swing arm supports or carries the lighting elements of the lamp (i.e.
the bulb socket, bulb, shade etc.). Many swing arm lamps utilize swivels,
or swivel assemblies, to mount the swing arm to the support member and
thus enable the swing arm and lighting elements carried thereby to be
swung about an axis of rotation through the support member. Thus, a
greater versatility is provided by such a lamp since the lighting elements
can be selectively positioned to illuminate any one of many desired
locations.
Some swing arm lamps connect the swing arm to its support member by a
swivel; while others utilize a pair of swing arms connected one to the
other by a swivel or swivel assembly. It is also possible in such swing
arm lamps to not only connect the swing arms to each other by a swivel but
also to connect a swing arm to its support member by a swivel. In such
swing arm lamps even greater versatility is provided for selective
positioning of the illuminating members of the lamp in that the swing arms
can be selectively positioned with respect to the support post and with
respect to each other.
Some swivels, or swivel assemblies, are relatively complex in construction
and accordingly in cost thus adding undesirably to the cost of the lamp.
Many swivel assemblies utilize a pair of members connected together so as
to facilitate relative swivelling movement between the members. However,
if such swivel members are not secured to each other so as to prevent
separation thereof then it is possible that they may separate and elements
of the lamp may be damaged.
Other swivel assemblies may be interconnected to permit relative rotation,
or swivelling action, about an axis of rotation through the swivel; but so
as to prevent relative displacement of one swivel member with respect to
the other along the axis of rotation. However, to provide such a
connection by a headed screw which passes through one member and coacts
with the other usually leaves an ugly and obtrusive screw head extending
from the swivel assembly. In addition, an opening must be formed through
at least one swivel member for the headed screw and the opening must be
tapped. The drilling of the opening and tapping of same are relatively
expensive operations and add unwanted cost to the swivel assembly. Other
swivels may eliminate the obtrusive screw head by utilizing a sunken hex
screw but these still require the expense of drilling the opening and of
forming screw threads therein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and improved
swivel assembly.
It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved swivel
assembly for a lamp.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a new and improved
swivel assembly for swing arm lamps.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a new and improved
swivel assembly for interconnecting lamp swing arms to each other and to
the lamp support member.
It is yet still another object of this invention to provide a new and
improved interconnection for the members of a lamp swivel assembly.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved
method and procedure for interconnecting the members of a lamp swivel
assembly.
This invention involves lamp swivel assemblies; and contemplates
interconnecting the members of the swivel assembly together so as to
permit relative rotation of one with respect to the other about an axis of
rotation passing through the swivel assembly, but so as to prevent
relative movement of one swivel member with respect to the other along
said axis of rotation. The interconnection is provided by a swaging
operation which displaces a piece of the material of one swivel member
into a grove formed in the other swivel member.
Other features and advantages of the invention in its details of
construction and arrangement of parts will be seen from the above from the
following description of the preferred embodiments when considered with
the drawing and from the appended claims. In addition, these and other
objects and advantages of the present invention will become evident from
the description which follows:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
In the drawing:
FIG. 1 is a perspective showing of a lamp incorporating the instant
invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged isometric view of the swivel assembly of the lamp of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the swivel assembly of FIG. 2 assembled
together; and
FIG. 4 is an enlarged isometric view of an alternate embodiment of lamp
swivel assembly.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
For convenience, the invention will be described as applied to a lamp
wherein a pair of light sources are each carried at one end respectively
of a pair of first tubular swing arms mounted to move with respect to each
other. The other ends of the swing arms are connected by a swivel assembly
to a first end of a second tubular swing arm. The other end of the second
swing arm is, in turn, mounted to a swivel assembly carried at the top of
a lamp support post the bottom of which is mounted to a base adapted to be
placed upon a floor. The swing arms, swivels, support posts and base are
formed of brass. It should be understood, nevertheless, that: a single
light source may be carried by a pair of swing arms mounted in parallel
fashion to the swivel assembly but so as not to move with respect to each
other; that other arrangements of light sources and swing arms are
possible; that the swing arms, swivels, support post, and base may be
formed from other metals, or from plastic, wood or other suitable
materials or combinations thereof; and that the lamp support post may be
sized to facilitate placement of the lamp upon a table desk, credenza,
wall bracket, or the like.
With reference to FIG. 1, there is generally shown at 10 a lamp
incorporating a first light source 12 and a second light source 14 each
respectively carried by a swing arm assembly 16 that is, in turn,
supported by a support post 18 which extends up from a base 20.
Support base 20 and support post 18 are formed from suitable metal such as
brass, or which has been brass plated. Support post 18 extends up from
base 20 a distance appropriate to support light sources 12 and 14 from the
floor. Support post 18 and base 20 may otherwise be sized to support light
sources 12, 14 off a table, desk or the like.
Light sources 12, 14 are each identical in construction and incorporate
conventionally available bulb sockets 32, 34 which receive bulbs 36, 38
and mount conical shades 42, 44. A thumb switch 46, 48 is provided
respectively for sockets 32, 34 to facilitate turning bulbs 36, 38 on and
off. Shades 42, 44 may be of any convenient configuration and disposed
with bulbs 36, 38 and sockets 32, 34, to face up (as shown) down, out or
in any desired direction. If desired, sockets 32, 34 may be mounted to
swivels which are in turn carried by swing arm assembly 16 so that light
source 12, 14 may be disposed in any one of many selected positions.
Bulb sockets 32, 34 are each connected to swing arms 40 and 50
respectively, of swing arm assembly 16, at ends 42, 52 thereof. The
connection is accomplished by forming socket 32, 34 with internally
threaded openings and by forming ends 42, 52 of arms 40, 50 with external
threads, and thereafter threading sockets 32, 42 onto ends 42, 52 of arms
40, 50. Other suitable connecting means may also be utilized to connect
sockets 32, 34 to arms 40, 50.
The other ends 43, 54 of swing arms 40, 50 are similarly connected to end
elements 60, 62 of a swivel assembly 64 (i.e. ends 43, 54 of arms 40, 50
are formed with external threads that are mated with internal threads 66,
68 (FIG. 2) of openings 72, 74 formed in end elements 60, 62 of swivel
assembly 64). A center element 80 is interconnected to end elements 60,
62, as will be hereinafter explained, and forms therewith swivel
assemblies 64. An opening 82 (FIG. 2) is formed through center element 80
and has threads 84 formed therein to receive external threads formed at
end 88 of a swing arm 90 the other end 92 of which is threaded into a
swivel 94 carried on top of post 20.
Support post 18 is formed from tubular stock and of a suitable material
such as brass, steel, aluminum or the like. Post 18 is of circular
cross-section but may be of any other convenient cross-section; and may
also be formed from solid bar stock where suitable. An appropriate finish
may be applied to the outer surface of post 18. The lower end 96 of post
18 is secured by suitable means to base 20 which is fabricated from a
suitable material compatible with that of support post 18.
Swing arms 40, 50, and 90 are also formed of tubular stock of circular
cross-section, and of a material corresponding to the material used for
support post 18. An electrical conductor 100 of suitable material extends
from base 20 through suitable channels in post 18, arm 90, swivel assembly
64, arms 40 and 50 to be connected to bulb sockets 32, 34 and switches 46,
48 thereof. A suitable male plug 102 is provided at the end of conductor
100 to facilitate connection of lamp 10 to an appropriate source of
electricity.
End elements 60, 62 are connected to center element 80 so as to permit
rotation thereof about a vertical axis of rotation X--X (FIG. 1) extending
through swivel assembly 64. It should be recognized that axis of rotation
X--X may extend in any direction depending upon the disposition of swivel
assembly 64.
Each end element 60, 62 is formed of tubular stock with openings 72, 74
respectively and with threads 66, 68 respectively formed therein. A center
opening 110, 112 extends through elements 60, 62 respectively; with the
walls 114, 116 thereof having a uniform thickness for a first portion of
the lengths thereof and being of reduced thickness and enlarged diameter
at 118, 120 for the remainder thereof to provide swivel seats 130, 132
respectively. The outer diameters of end elements 60, 62 are formed
identical to the outer diameter of center element 80.
A first end 140 of center element 80 and a second end 142 of center element
80 are each formed of reduced diameters and with grooves 144, 146
respectively formed thereabout. The reduced diameters of ends 140, 142
provide shoulders 150, 152 on a central portion 156 of center element 80.
Ends 140, 142 are of diameter to facilitate insertion thereof into
enlarged portions 118, 120 of end elements 60, 62 respectively with a
sliding fit. The lengths of ends 140, 142 correspond to the lengths of
enlarged portions 118, 120 of end elements 60, 62 so that end walls 160,
162 of ends 140, 142 butt up against shoulders 130, 132 of end elements
60, 62 and so that shoulders 150, 152 of outer element butt up against end
walls 164, 166 of end elements 60, 62 respectively.
Swivel assembly 64 is assembled so that end elements 60, 62 may rotate
about axis of rotation X--X but so that they may not slide along axis X--X
and away from center element 80. This is accomplished as shown in FIG. 3,
by forming swages 200, 202 in end elements 60, 62 by conventional swaging
process and tools. Each swage 200, 202 is formed by applying pressure to
the material of end elements 60, 62 to displace such material so that a
projecting lug like portion thereof 210, 212 extends into enlarged
portions 118, 120. Each projection or lug 210, 212 is located and sized to
extend into its respective groove 144, 146 of ends 140, 142 of center
element 80, but so as to permit relative rotation between end elements 60,
62 and center element 80. The sides of lugs 210, 212 coact with the side
walls of grooves 144, 146 to prevent sliding movement of end elements 62,
64 along axis X--X and away from center element 80 once so assembled.
Swivel 94 may be similarly formed.
If desired, the swivel assembly may be formed as shown for swivel assembly
300 of the embodiment of FIG. 4. Swivel assembly 300 includes only one end
element 302 formed identical to end element 60 and 62 of the embodiments
of FIGS. 1-3. The other element 304 is formed with an end 306 thereof
similar to ends 140, 142 of center element 80 of the embodiment of FIGS.
1-3; but with an end 308 that is of uniform outer and inner diameter.
Thus, swivel assembly 300 includes only two elements (302, 304) and is
utilized to interconnect only two swing arms and not three as shown for
the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3.
It should be understood that while the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 shows the
light source swing arms 40, 50 extending from end elements 60, 62 and the
center element 80 utilized to connect swing arm assembly 16 to support
post 18 that other arrangements are possible. Thus, end element 62 may be
the one connected to swing arm 90 while light source swing arms 40, 50
extend from end element 60 and center element 80 respectfully.
Alternatively, a single light source may be carried by a pair of parallel
disposed swing arms extending from end element 60 and center element 80.
As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and
as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is
to be understood that all matter herein described or shown in the
accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a
limiting sense. Thus, it will be understood by those skilled in the art
that although preferred and alternative embodiments have been shown and
described in accordance with the Patent Statutes, the invention is not
limited thereto or thereby, since the embodiments of the invention
particularly disclosed and described herein above are presented merely as
an example of the invention, coming within the proper scope and spirit of
the appended claims, will of course readily suggest themselves to those
skilled in the art. Thus, while there has been described what is at
present considered to be preferred embodiments of the invention, it will
thus be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and
modifications may be made therein, without departing from the invention,
and it is therefore, aimed in the appended claims to cover all such
changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the
invention, and it is understood that, although I have shown the preferred
form of my invention, that various modifications may be made in the
details thereof, without departing from the spirit as comprehended by the
following claims.
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