Abstract:
An electric lightbulb is provided for use with lightbulb sockets in either 110V or 220V screw type or bayonet circuits. The lightbulb includes a lamp portion and a cap portion, with the cap portion preferably containing circuitry. When the switch is on a high setting the lightbulb of this invention will last approximately twice as long as conventional incandescent bulbs, but at a low setting the bulb of this invention will last at least ten times as long as a conventional incandescent bulb. The lamp portion includes a filament attached to wires which are secured to the base of the lamp as well as to wires which are secured to an insulative sheath which is also held adjacent the base of the lamp. A metallic disk is maintained in contact with the sheath as well.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a lightbulb, and more particularly to one which has associated therewith increased efficiency and longer life when compared to existing incandescent lightbulbs. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The efficacy, in terms of electrical efficiency, of an electrical luminary such as a lightbulb is obtained by dividing the total light output (lumens) by the power input (watts), thereby calculating the lumens per watt. As is well known, with conventional incandescent bulbs most of the energy input into a bulb ends up wasted as heat. In most cases the figure approximates 95% or greater. For this reason, a bulb that produces 720 lumens of light requires 60 watts, with a resulting efficacy of 12 lumens per watt. On the other hand, if none of the energy input into a bulb was lost as heat, then only one watt of electricity would produce a light output of 340 lumens! 
     There have been a number of attempts to solve the problem. For example, fluorescent bulbs have been developed as an alternative light source. However, some people do not care for the appearance of things when viewed in the light given off by these type of bulbs. Furthermore, many of the fluorescent lights which exist are incompatible with standard electrical light sockets. Those which are compatible and which are called compact fluorescent bulbs are often at least twenty times as costly as incandescent bulbs, and as such consumers have not found them to be a viable option. Yet another drawback associated with fluorescent bulbs is that they also contain phosphorus and mercury which raise environmental concerns. 
     Attempts have also been made to increase the life of incandescent lightbulbs, so that instead of the average life of 750 hours, a lightbulb may last over 1000 hours, with some being advertised as lasting up to 3000 hours. However, associated with lightbulbs which last longer is an increase in price. Still further, the efficacy of such lightbulbs is drastically reduced, since in order to obtain the same amount of light a higher power bulb using more electricity must be utilized. 
     Therefore it is apparent that the need exists for a simple, yet more efficacious electric lightbulb. It is also apparent that it would be even more desirable if such a lightbulb was also one having a life longer than that associated with such conventional bulbs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with this invention, an electric lightbulb is provided which is more efficacious than standard lightbulbs. The lightbulb is comprised of a lamp and a cap. The lamp has a base with a bulb secured to the base. The base has connected thereto one end of a pair of lead wires, with the lead wires having their opposite ends connected to a filament. The filament is in contact with a gas. A portion of the pair of lead wires are encircled by glass, with the glass encircled by as well as having secured thereto a metallic disk. The cap contains electrical circuitry to reduce the voltage fed into the lamp. 
     The cap may either be of a screw-type for placement in a screw style electrical socket, or of bayonet-type for placement in a bayonet style electrical socket. The filament is a coiled coil, also being supported by a plurality of support wires, each of which support wires has one end in contact with the filament and another end in contact with the glass which encircles the lead wires. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the glass comprises an inner stem and an outer stem. In this embodiment, the support wires are in contact with the inner stem, while the outer stem is secured to the base. The gas associated with this embodiment is a mixture of an inert gas and a halogen gas. More preferably, the gas is a mixture of xenon and bromine. Most preferably, the ratio of xenon to bromine is 98:2. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, the glass is an inner bulb secured to the base. The inner bulb contains a halogen gas. In this embodiment, the bulb encases the inner bulb and metallic disk. The bulb contains an inert gas, or alternatively contains air. 
     The cap comprises a housing having a switch to control the light output of the lamp. The base is secured within cap. 
     There is also disclosed a lightbulb having a lamp and a cap. The lamp has a base and a bulb secured to the base, the base having connected thereto one end of a pair of lead wires, with the lead wires having their opposite ends connected to a filament, with the filament being a coiled coil, and with the filament being in contact with a mixture of an inert gas and halogen gas. A portion of the pair of lead wires is encircled by glass. The filament is also supported by a plurality of support wires, each of which support wires has one end in contact with the filament and another end in contact with the glass which encircles the lead wires, with the glass comprising an inner stem and an outer stem, and the support wires being in contact with the inner stem, and with the outer stem being secured to the base. The glass is encircled by and has secured thereto a metallic disk. The cap contains electrical circuitry to reduce the voltage fed into the lamp. 
     The cap may be either a screw-type for placement in a screw style electrical socket, or a bayonet-type for placement in a bayonet style electrical socket. 
     There is also disclosed a lightbulb having a lamp and a cap. The lamp has a base with a bulb secured to the base, with the base having connected thereto one end of a pair of lead wires. The lead wires have their opposite ends connected to a filament, with the filament in contact with a gas. A portion of the pair of lead wires are encircled by glass, with the glass being an inner bulb containing a halogen gas. The inner bulb is secured to the base, and the glass is encircled by and has secured thereto a metallic disk, with the bulb encasing the inner bulb and the metallic disk. The bulb contains an inert gas or just air at a pressure of one atmosphere. The cap contains electrical circuitry to reduce the voltage fed into the lamp. 
     The primary objective of this invention is to provide an electric lightbulb that is significantly more efficacious than existing conventional incandescent lightbulbs. 
     Another objective is the providing of an improved electric lightbulb which not only enjoys a greater efficacy than standard lightbulbs, but also enjoys a longer life. 
     These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the lightbulb made in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded front elevational view on an enlarged scale of the preferred embodiment of the lamp component of the invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a modified cap component of the invention. 
     FIG. 4 discloses electrical circuitry associated with the invention. 
     FIG. 5 discloses modified electrical circuitry associated with the invention. 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded front elevational view on an enlarged scale of a modified embodiment of the lamp component of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Having reference to the drawings, attention is directed first to FIG. 1 which illustrates an electric lightbulb made in accordance with this invention and designated generally by the numeral  10 . This lightbulb comprises a lamp  12  and a cap  14 . As can be appreciated from a comparison of FIGS. 1 and 2, the lamp  12  has a base  15  secured to an outer bulb  18 , a filament  20 , wiring  22  completing a circuit of the type well known in the art from the base  15  to the filament  20  and then from the other end of the filament back to the base, and a plurality of support wires  25  one end of each support wire being connected to the filament with the other end being connected to a stem member  28 . 
     The two lead wires  22  are made to pass through the hollow stem  28  which is preferably fabricated from glass, which glass stem is held in place by being secured within a second glass stem  29 , the outer surface of which second stem  29  is secured to the conventional glass seal  30  in the base to which seal the bulb  18  is also secured. The bulb itself once secured to the base  15  is filled with a gas  40 . Also secured to the exterior glass stem  29  is a disc member  35 . 
     The life of a conventional incandescent bulb is dependent on the filament material, which is typically tungsten. The heat generated inside the incandescent bulb causes the tungsten to evaporate over time. The evaporation of the tungsten molecules ends up being deposited at the bottom of the bulb, thus causing used bulbs to appear somewhat black near the base. This black coating has the additional unpleasant consequence of further reducing the light output of the used bulb. As the filament loses more and more molecules to evaporation, it eventually breaks. 
     The filament  20  associated with the lightbulb of this invention is fabricated as can best be seen in FIG. 2 as a coiled coil. In other words, a straight wire is coiled, and then the coiled wire is coiled about itself to extend the distance between the two lead wires to which the opposite ends of the filament are secured. Moreover, the filament of this invention has a low impedance. It will also be appreciated that in addition to the two lead wires  22 , a plurality of support wires  25  preferably at least three in number are provided to hold the filament  20  in place and minimize or altogether prevent its sagging, as well as to minimize the effect of vibration on the filament  20 . 
     The metallic disc member  35  is affixed on the outside of stem  29  close to the screw portion of the lamp by means well known in the art, such as by an adhesive or by a friction-fit. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the disc member  35  is a thin aluminum disc preferably {fraction (1/64)}″ thick and 1″ in diameter. The disc reflects heat back onto the filament, which then causes the temperature of the filament to increase. The increased temperature of the filament causes it to release more photons, which means that more light is produced than would otherwise by the case. More of this light is then reflected away from the lamp base. 
     Also on the interior surface of the bulb in the preferred embodiment of the invention is a reflective coating  60 , with the reflective coating preferably extending from a place just beyond the filament  20  to the base of the bulb. This reflective coating  60  causes the light emitted towards the base to be reflected away from the base, so that more of the light actually emitted from the bulb is efficiently used. The remainder of the bulb surface may be coated with a light frosting or coating  70 , so that the bulb appears frosted or, as some refer to it, so that the light is softened. 
     With respect to the base  15 , it should be appreciated that the preferred embodiment of the invention uses an E-17 base, which is of an intermediate diameter. This is to prevent the direct use of the lamp in a E-26, standard sized light socket, where it would burn out much faster than intended. In fact, it would burn out very quickly due to the increased power input the lamp of this invention is not intended to use, and that is the reason for the circuitry within the cap  14  as will be discussed below. 
     With respect to the gas  40 , it is not fluorescent, but preferably is a halogen gas, such as bromine, in combination with another gas such as xenon. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the gas mixture is made up of a combination of bromine and xenon, an inert gas, in a ratio of 98 parts xenon to 2 parts bromine. It is believed that the xenon gas, due to its relatively heavy molecular weight, effectively “presses” against the filament so as to inhibit or slow the evaporation of the molecules from the filament, such as tungsten molecules. It is also believed that the bromine aids in the redeposition of filament molecules back onto the filament, thereby prolonging the life of the filament and consequently the bulb. Additionally, due to the interaction between the gas, or combination thereof, associated with this invention and the filament, the brightness of the bulb is also increased when compared to lightbulbs that do not incorporate the gas or gases herein disclosed. 
     Having discussed the lamp portion  12  of the invention, the cap portion  14  will now be discussed aided by a comparison of FIGS. 1 and 3. The cap  14  contains circuitry  75  to assist in achieving the objectives of this invention. Part of the circuitry is a switch  78  connected to a rheostat or variable resistor as shall be discussed below. The cap  14  accommodates the base  15  of the lamp, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 respectively, provides for attachment to either a 110 V screw style or 220 V bayonet style socket. Thus it will be recognized that one of the lamps  12  could be used with both styled caps, either screw or bayonet type having pins  80 . Both caps have a disc-shaped housing  85  preferably made of plastic, that is located directly adjacent the screwed in lamp. The housing  85  accommodates switch  78 , plus circuitry  75  if needed. 
     When assembled, the overall length of the lightbulb of this invention is about the same as that of a regular 60 Watt incandescent lightbulb, so that it is easily used where conventional bulbs have been used. For example, in the preferred embodiment of this invention the diameter of the base of the lamp is {fraction (7/16)}″ and the distance from where the lamp joins the base to the tip of the base is ½″. With respect to the screw style of cap, the overall diameter is {fraction (15/16)}″, and the overall height of the cap is 1{fraction (1/16)}″. With respect to the bayonet style of cap, the overall diameter is {fraction (14/16)}″ and the overall height of the cap is {fraction (10/16)}″. Of course, it should be appreciated that the size of the lightbulb may vary so as to be easily substituted for bulbs of varying watts, as well as being of both the “A” and “Globe” shape of bulb. 
     Within the cap  14 , an electronic circuit is mounted, with the circuit being of the type known as a phase control circuit. Examples of phase control circuits which could be used with the invention are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The primary purpose of these circuits is to reduce the line RMS voltage to the voltage that is actually fed into the lamp of this invention. 
     Turning now to FIGS. 4 and 5, in FIG. 4 the circuit is shown as having a current source connecting end  104  as well as a bulb connecting end  106 . A resistor  110  is preferably a variable resistor connected to the switch  78  on the cap  14  in a manner well known in the art. The resistor is a ¼ to ½ watt and 50 to 220K, resistor with the resistor in the preferred embodiment being a ¼ watt, 120 K resistor. By changing the resistance, the light output changes. For example, increasing the resistance decreases the light output. The switch  78  is shown as having three positions, which in the preferred embodiment permit the resistor to provide light output corresponding to 100, 75, and 40 watts, although it could be made to be other combinations. 
     Connected to the variable resistor  110  is a thermistor  120 . A source for this thermistor  120  is Keystone PNRL1004-104.7K-15501 or a similar thermistor. Thermistor  120  is directly connected to the resistor  110 . The circuitry shown in FIG. 4 has a capacitor  130 , preferably of the 200 volt ceramic type, and also with a preferred value of 0.01 mf connected to the thermistor  120 . This circuit also has a second thermistor  140  of the same type as thermistor  120 . Thermistor  140  is directly connected to resistor  150  which once again is a ¼ to ½ watt 50K resistor, with the preferred embodiment having values of ¼ watt and 120 K respectively. Another capacitor  160 , which is also a high temperature capacitor, is connected to the circuit between resistor  150  and diac  170 . 
     The electrical circuitry of FIG. 4 includes a heating resistor  180 , which in this case is a ¼ watt 8.2K resistor, that is connected to the circuitry on each side of a triac  190 . The triac  190  is also directly connected to diac  170 , with the triac being similar to a Teccor Q200423 with a V drm  equal to 200 to 400 volts and an I f  of 4 to 8 Amps, however the values in the circuit shown in FIG. 4 are 200 volts and 4 Amps respectively. The diac in this embodiment is similar to a General Electric STU having a Vbr equal to 35-45 volts. 
     Turning now to FIG. 5, it may be appreciated that a circuit is disclosed wherein a current source connecting end  204  as well as a bulb connecting end  206 . Resistor  210  is preferably a variable resistor of suitable value, and in the preferred embodiment of the invention can provide up to 18K of resistance. Connected to the resistor is a diac  220 , preferably similar to a Teccor HT40. Also electrically connected to the diac is a triac  230  which is preferably similar to a Teccor Q2004L3. The electrical circuitry also comprises a capacitor  240 , preferably a 0.1 mF capacitor. 
     The circuit shown in FIG. 5 also includes a pair of diodes  250 ,  255  connected in the circuit to another pair of diodes  260 ,  265 . Intermediate the two pairs of diodes in the circuit are three resistors,  270 ,  275 , and  280  respectively, having resistances of 4.7M, 2.2M and 2.7K respectively. All three of these resistors are connected to a transistor  290 , and with a 1.0 mF capacitor  295  located adjacent resistor  270 . 
     Although a high efficient “Torroid” transformer could also be used in place of an electronic circuit as another means to step down the line voltage, it consumes more energy in the transformer than does the preferred embodiment of the invention. Yet another alternative would be to convert the line AC voltage into DC positive pulses by using a bridge rectifier or two diodes. For a 110 V line RMS voltage, the rectified positive DC will have a peak of about 156 V. A DC to DC converter may also be used to further reduce the voltage which is fed into the lamp of this invention. 
     Utilization of the above design improvements results in a lightbulb having a dramatically improved efficacy. For example, a lightbulb which produces 720 lumens of light may be fabricated according to this invention so as to only require 32 watts. The savings in energy of 46% is accomplished without diminishing the light output. Meanwhile, lightbulbs made in accordance with this invention typically will have at least twice the life of conventional incandescent bulbs. Indeed, it is possible to manufacture a lightbulb using the disclosed invention which results in a lightbulb with a life in excess of 40,000 hours when the switch is set at a “low” setting so as to use less power. Thus lightbulbs made utilizing this invention not only have a higher efficacy, but a longer life. 
     Another embodiment of a lamp is shown in FIG.  6 . In this modified lamp embodiment  300 , the lamp has a base  315  secured to an outer bulb  318 , a filament  320 , and wiring  322  completing a circuit of the type well known in the art from the base  315  to the filament  320  and then from the other end of the filament back to the base. The two lead wires  322  are made to pass through an opening in inner bulb  328  which is preferably fabricated from quartz glass, and which inner bulb contains therein only a halogen gas  334 . A stem  329  holds the inner bulb in place by being secured to the conventional glass seal  330  in the base to which seal the outer bulb  318  is also secured. The outer bulb itself is filled with an inexpensive inert gas  340  or air at a pressure of one atmosphere. The primary purpose of the outer bulb is to protect the inner bulb from accidentally being touched. Also secured to the exterior of the inner bulb, preferably at stem  329  is a disc member  335 . 
     The metallic disc member  335  is affixed on the outside of stem  329  close to the base  315  by means well known in the art, such as by an adhesive or by a friction-fit. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the disc member  335  is a thin aluminum disc preferably {fraction (1/64)}″ thick and ill in diameter. The disc reflects heat back onto the filament, which then causes the temperature of the filament to increase. The increased temperature of the filament causes it to release more photons, which means that more light is produced than would otherwise by the case. More of this light is then reflected away from the lamp base. 
     Also on the interior surface of the bulb in the preferred embodiment of the invention is a reflective coating  360 , with the reflective coating preferably extending from a place just beyond the filament  320  to the base of the bulb. This reflective coating  360  causes the light emitted towards the base to be reflected away from the base, so that more of the light actually emitted from the bulb is efficiently used. The remainder of the bulb surface may be coated with a coating  370 , so that the bulb appears frosted or, as some refer to it, so that the light is softened. 
     With respect to the base  315 , it should be appreciated that the modified embodiment of the invention also uses an E-17 base. Once again, this is to prevent the direct use of the lamp in a E-26, standard sized light socket, where it would burn out faster than intended. 
     It will be readily apparent from the foregoing detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the several modifications thereof that a particularly novel and extremely efficacious lightbulb is provided. The device is relatively simple to fabricate, however, it results in a device which provides a significant increase in the electrical efficiency of lightbulbs over bulbs previously known. 
     While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.