Abstract:
Method and apparatus are described for a lighting fixture for providing a lighting source of a first wattage range and a lighting source of a second wattage range, wherein the lighting sources may be activated simultaneously or independently, depending on the desired illumination level.

Description:
[0001]    This invention relates to a lighting fixture that comprises a lighting source of a first wattage range and a lighting source of a second wattage range. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0002]    [0002]FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of a lighting fixture according to the present invention.  
         [0003]    [0003]FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the lighting fixture.  
         [0004]    [0004]FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the lighting fixture.  
         [0005]    [0005]FIG. 4 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0006]    Referring to FIGS.  1 - 3 , a lighting fixture according to one embodiment of the present invention is given the reference numeral  10 . It is understood that the lighting fixture  10  retains all necessary conventional electrical components for the fixture to function as a commercial or residential lighting source, including meeting applicable industry and governmental standards.  
         [0007]    The lighting fixture  10  comprises a base  14  which retains conventional mechanical attachment means well known by those skilled in the art. The base  14  may be attached to a surface (not shown), such as a wall, for mounting the lighting fixture. It is understood that the base  14  also retains conventional wiring for supplying electricity from a conventional source to the lighting fixture  10 , as will be described below. Furthermore, it is understood that a conventional switching means is operably connected to the lighting fixture  10  to control the flow of electricity to the fixture.  
         [0008]    An arm  16  is affixed to the base  14 . The arm  16  is operably connected to the base  14 , and hence also retains conventional wiring for supplying electricity to the lighting fixture  10 . A light bar  18  attaches to the arm  16 , the arm spacing the light bar from the base  14 , and hence the wall.  
         [0009]    A lighting assembly  20  is affixed to the light bar  18 , and is operably connected to the wiring of the arm  16  and the base  14 . When supplied with electricity, the lighting assembly  20  provides a lighting source of a first wattage range. The first wattage range is for light bulbs 25W to 100W, and is suitable for general illumination. Substantially similar lighting assemblies  20 ′ and  20 ″ may also be affixed to the light bar  18  for providing additional lighting sources of the first wattage range. As the lighting assemblies  20 ′ and  20 ″ are substantially similar to the above-described lighting assembly  20 , they will not be described in detail.  
         [0010]    The lighting assembly  20  attaches to the light bar  18  via a pedestal  22 . A housing  24  is attached to the pedestal  22 , the housing having a rim  25 . A light socket  26  is disposed in the housing  24 , the housing providing an aesthetic and protective covering for the socket. The base  14 , arm  16 , light bar  18 , and pedestal  22  may be hollow to provide a passage for wiring to be supplied to the light socket  26 .  
         [0011]    It is understood that the light socket  26  is a medium base, also referred to as a standard base or Edison base. A conventional light bulb  28  is disposed in the light socket  26 .  
         [0012]    A lighting assembly  30  is also attached to the light bar  18  at a distal end of the light bar, and is operably connected to the wiring of the arm  16  and the base  14 . When supplied with electricity, the lighting assembly  30  provides a lighting source of a second wattage range. The second wattage range is for light bulbs 4W to 7W, and is suitable for special purposes illumination, such as a night light. A night light is a well known term of art in the industry. Generally, it refers to a low wattage light that is left on in dark conditions to sufficiently illuminate an area to guide, or allow navigation of a room by, a user without being obtrusive. A similar lighting assembly  30 ′ may be disposed at the other distal end of the light bar  18  for providing an additional lighting source of the second wattage range.  
         [0013]    The lighting assembly  30  comprises a light socket  32  and a conventional light bulb  34 . It is understood that the light socket  32  is a candelabra base. A decorative globe  36  is connected to the lighting assembly  30  to provide an aesthetic covering for the light bulb  34 . The globe  36  may screw into the distal end of the light bar  18 , or may be affixed by any conventional means.  
         [0014]    In one embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 4, a decorative globe  38  is connected to the lighting assembly  20  via the rim  25  by any conventional means. It is understood that the additional lighting assemblies  20 ′ and  20 ″ may also have decorative globes. It can be appreciated that the globe  38  may be of any decorative shape, and the rim  25  of a diameter consistent to interact with standard globe base diameters in the industry.  
         [0015]    In operation, the conventional switching means associated with the lighting fixture  10  enables a user to choose between four lighting settings by selectively activating the lighting assembly  20  and the lighting assembly  30 . The user determines a desired illumination level, and then selects a lighting setting.  
         [0016]    The first setting activates only the lighting assembly  20 , thus generally illuminating an area adjacent to the fixture  10 .  
         [0017]    The second setting activates both lighting assemblies  20  and  30 , thus also generally illuminating an area adjacent to the fixture  10 . It is understood that due to the nature of the first and second wattage ranges, the second setting may not provide perceptibly greater illumination than the first setting.  
         [0018]    The third setting activates only the lighting assembly  30 , thus providing a night light in an area adjacent to the fixture  10 .  
         [0019]    Finally, the fourth setting activates neither the lighting assembly  20  nor  30 . In practice, this may be a default setting.  
         [0020]    In an alternative embodiment, not depicted, the fixture  10  contains two lighting assemblies substantially similar to the above-described lighting assembly  20 . In another alternative embodiment, the fixture  10  contains four lighting assemblies substantially similar to the above-described lighting assembly  20 . In a further alternative embodiment, the fixture  10  contains five lighting assemblies substantially similar to the above-described lighting assembly  20 .  
         [0021]    Although only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. For example, the lighting fixture  10  may comprise a variety of shapes. The fixture  10  may have any number of lighting assemblies similar to lighting assembly  20 , and oriented in a variety of orientations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims.