Rotatable Lamp Fixture

This invention relates to a rotatable lamp fixture, and particularly one which may be rotated by motor means mounted within the fixture itself.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a rotating lamp fixture including a motor for rotating the fixture, the motor being mounted within the fixture itself.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotatable lamp fixture in the nature of a hollow shell, the shell being rotatably supported on a support member disposed within the shell and including a motor mounted within the shell itself which when energized will be effective to rotate the spherical shell about the support member.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent when considering the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a lamp fixture embodying the invention herein;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken through line 2--2 of FIG. 1 showing the motorized arrangement within a spherical shell for revolving the shell about a vertical support member; FIG. 3 is a plan view taken through line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view taken through line 4--4 of FIG. 2.

Turning now to the drawings wherein like reference characters in the several views refer to similar parts, 10 indicates generally a rotatable lamp fixture which may be suspended by a chain 12 from a room ceiling 13 by a hook 14 or other suitable means. The lamp fixture 10 comprises a spherical shell member 16 which may be made of two hemispherical shell portions, upper portion 16a and lower portion 16b. The fixture 10 also includes a support platform 18 mounted in the middle of the shell 16, a vertically extending support member 20 on which the spherical shell member is rotatably mounted, and a motor 22 mounted on the platform 18 for driving the spherical shell about its vertical support member and a light bulb socket 24 mounted within the shell.

The spherical shell may be of varying sizes. Examples of normal sizes may be anywhere from 12 inches to 24 inches in diameter but this is not to be construed as limiting the size in either direction. It will be apparent from the remaining description that the shell can be formed in other shapes, the spherical shape being used here as illustrative only. The shell member should be made of a rigid material, preferably a plastic or heavy cardboard. Even a light metal could be used if that would be desirable.

The outside surface of the spherical shell preferably has a reflective surface formed thereon. The outside surface may be covered with small pieces 26 of a mirror-like or other reflective substance so that when the shell is being rotated, light from a remotely positioned lamp may be directed onto the shell so that the mirror-like surfaces cast moving reflections on the walls and ceilings of the room in which the fixture is located.

The shell member 16 preferably is constructed in two halves or hemispherical portions 16a and 16b which may be attached together by suitable means such as a plurality of suitable latching mechanisms 28 to join the two halves. Other means may be used for securing the two halves together, and conceivably the two shell portions might be threaded onto each other.

Means is provided for supporting the motor 22 within the shell 16. Such support means preferably is a circular support platform 18 which is of a diameter substantially as large as the sphere diameter.

Means also is provided for supporting the platform 18 within the shell 16. This may be accomplished by providing ledge means attached to or formed integrally with the lower shell portion as indicated by the inwardly extending ledge section 30. The platform 18 may be secured to the ledges by gluing or other suitable means.

Support means is provided to rotatably support the shell member 16. Such support may include a vertically extending tubular member 20 on which is mounted a bearing assembly 32. One portion of the bearing assembly is attached to the upper end of the support member 20. The shell 16 may be constructed with an opening 34 in the upper surface thereof to permit the support member 20 to extend therethrough. It will be observed from FIG. 2 that the shell 16 rests on or is attached to the upper movable bearing portion.

Support member 20 preferably is of tubular construction so that electrical wiring 36 may extend therethrough and be connected at its outer end to an electrical plug 38 which is adapted to fit into any normal household electrical socket. The wiring extends from the lower end of the tube 20 and is connected to electrical terminals 40 which may be supported on the gear 42. These terminals extend through the gear 42 and terminate in electrical contacts 44a and 44b on the underside of gear 42.

The horizontally disposed gear 42 is attached to the lower end of the support member or tube 20 by means of a bracket 46 or other suitable means.

The motor 22 is mounted on the upper side of the support platform 18. The motor may be constructed with proper reduction gearing to drive a small pinion gear 48 which meshes with the large gear 42. Other means may also be provided, the objective to be achieved being to turn the shell slowly about its support member.

A plate 50 of insulating material may be disposed on and connected to the central portion of the platform 18. A pair of spaced concentric electrical contacts rings 52a and 52b are disposed in the plate 50 or at least are connected to the platform 18 and insulated from each other. These circumferentially extending contact rings 52a and 52b are contacted by the stationary electrical contacts 44a and 44b during the operation of the lamp fixture. While the circumferentially extending electrical contact rings 52a and 52b are here shown as disposed on the insulating disc, and consequently as the movable contacts, it will be appreciated that their position could be reversed with the stationary contacts connected to the lower portion of gear 42.

Adjusting means by way of an adjusting nut 53 positioned under the bearing assembly may be provided to adjust the height of the shell. This can be advantageously used to adjust the degree of contact between the movable and stationary electrical contacts.

An electrical light socket 24 is suspended from the lower side of the platform 18 and, of course, is appropriately electrically wired into the electrical wiring circuit along with the motor. The socket 24 may be suspended from the platform 18 or from the lower shell portion 16b either by a rigid connection, or as shown, by a plurality of resilient supports 54. If the latter type of suspension is used it is effective to bias a spherically shaped light bulb 56 as shown in FIG. 2 into contact with edge of the opening 58 in the lower part of the shell half 16b. Such an arrangement, of course, may be made to enhance the overall ornamental characteristics of the lamp. It will, of course, be recognized that other types of light bulbs can be used and that the light socket can be suspended in a variety of ways, either from the lower side of the platform 18 or from the inner wall of the lower shell half 16b. An on-off switch 60 may be incorporated in the electrical cord arrangement to control the on-off operation of the lamp fixture. This on-off switch may be a dimmer switch to further enhance the decorative effect of the lamp.

If desired the fixture also could have incorporated therein a sound speaker unit which could be appropriately connected to a radio receiver.

While the operation of the lamp fixture should be reasonably clear from the above description I will describe briefly its operation. When the switch 60 is turned on the motor is energized and the motor will drive the pinion gear 48. Since the large gear with which the pinion gear meshes is stationary, the motor, the platform and the entire shell member 16 will be driven slowly about the large gear 42.

In order to achieve some interesting lighting effects a floodlight or other directional light may be mounted somewhere in the room and directed onto the spherical shell member to which mirror reflecting surfaces or other reflecting surfaces have been glued or otherwise attached.

While the lamp fixture herein is illustrated as being hung from a support it should be recognized that the fixture could be supplied with a support mounting which would permit it to stand on a table or the like.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed it will be appreciated that this is shown by way of example only, and the invention is not to be limited thereto as other variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art and the invention is to be given its fullest possible interpretation within the terms of the following claims.