Abstract:
A chandelier includes a central support member that extends from a ceiling support to a distributor plate. A number of removable arms connected to the distributor plate. An electrical connection is made from the central support to the arms at the distributor plate. The electrical connection is completed and broken as the arms are connected and removed from the distributor plate.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates generally to the art of chandelier manufacturing and more specifically to an improved method of making an electrical and mechanical connection between the body and the arms of a chandelier. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The art of chandelier manufacturing dates back centuries. It has evolved from the manufacturing of candelabras and was revolutionized by the invention of the light bulb. Today, many chandeliers are mass manufactured and delivered fully assembled or completely dismantled depending on its size and difficulty to reassemble. 
   A typical design is shown in FIG.  1 . It includes a central support member  100  that extends from a ceiling support to a distributor plate  102 . The upper portion of the central support member  100  is made of a chain  104 . A lower portion of the central support member  100  is made of a tube  106 . In between the chain  104  and the tube  106 , a number of decorative elements are used both to enhance the appearance of the central support member  100  and to provide support for the distributor plate  102 . 
   The distributor plate  102  is composed of a metal disc. It has a hole in its center that is used to connect to tube  106 . It has a plurality of holes about its perimeter that are used to attach to arms  108 . Specifically, an inner end of arms  108  extends through the perimeter holes of distributor plate  102  and attaches thereto. An outer end of arms  110  each supports a lamp socket  110 . 
   Electricity is supplied to the lamp socket  110  from the top of the central support member  100 . Specifically, electrical wires are threaded through chain  104 , through any intermediate elements and through tube  106 . Likewise, electrical wires from the lamp socket  110  are threaded through arms  108 . Twist-type electrical connectors  112  commonly are used to complete the path between the wires running through the central support member  100  and the wires running through the arms  108 . 
   For elaborate chandeliers, due in part to their size, the final assembly is made at installation. In other words, these chandeliers are shipped in pieces; the arms  108  are shipped disconnected from distributor plate  102 . At installation, the arms  108  are attached and the necessary electrical connections are made. The distributor plate  102  with its plurality of connections are then covered with decorative elements to conceal their unsightliness. This is a time consuming process, usually performed on a scaffold, and depending upon local regulations, may require the employment of a licensed electrician. 
   In addition, arms  108  may be made of glass or other breakable materials. In the event that an arm  108  is damaged or must be removed for any reason, the decorative elements covering the distributor plate  102  must be removed and the electrical and mechanical connection must be undone. For a large chandelier with many arms and decorative elements, disassembly is often time consuming and involves the return of scaffolding, and the employment of a licensed electrician. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic of a typical two-tiered chandelier design with a center support  200 , a top distributor plate  202  and a bottom distributor  204 . Many large chandeliers have two or more distributor plates. Each has to be assembled with its plurality of arms, and then covered with decorative elements before the next distributor is added. If any of the upper arms are damaged disassembly could result in a project as large as the initial installation of the chandelier. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   To overcome these difficulties, an improved arm connection provides electrical terminations that complete and disconnect the electrical path as the arm is attached and removed, respectively. 
   According to one aspect of the invention, a chandelier includes a distributor plate, connections, arms, pairs of wires and light-bulb sockets. The connections extend through the distributor plate. Each of the connections includes a pair of electrical terminations. The arms each removeably attach to one of connections. Each of the arms includes a pair of electrical terminations. When the arms are attached to the connections, the pair of electric terminations of the arms connects with the electrical terminations of the connections. The pairs of wires each extend through one of the arms and connect with the electrical terminations of the arms. The light-bulb sockets attached to the arms and electrically connect with the pairs of wires. 
   According to further aspects of the invention, the distributor plate is made of a metal disc. The connections are evenly spaced about the perimeter of the metal disc. The connections each define a circular flange extending there from. The circular flange joins the connections to the metal disc. One side of the circular flange is notched so that when the connections are positioned about the perimeter of the metal disc, the notch is positioned nearest the circumference of the metal disc so that the circular flange does not extend past the metal disc. The connections each include a cylinder extending through the distributor plate. A first end of the cylinder is substantially hollow so that it may receive one of the arms. The electrical terminations of the connections are positioned at the base of the hollow portion of the cylinders. An exterior end of the cylinder is threaded. The arms each include a circular rib fixedly joined to the arm and a rotatable ring positioned over the circular rib. An interior surface of the rotatable ring is threaded. The rotatable ring defines an inner aperture having a diameter smaller than the circular rib. When the arms are positioned in the connections, the threaded interior surface of the rotatable ring engages the threaded exterior end of the cylinder; the inner aperture of the rotatable ring presses against the circular rib. The exterior of the rotatable ring defines a plurality of holes evenly distributed about its circumference to receive a pair of tool prongs used to tighten the engagement of the rotatable ring with the threaded exterior end of the cylinder. The pair of electrical terminations of the connections includes an insulator disc with a first terminal substantially centered on the insulator disc and a second circular terminal substantially concentric with the insulator disc. Each of the pair of electrical terminations of the plurality of arms comprises a first and a second prong spaced to match the radial distance between the first terminal and second circular terminal. 
   According to a further aspect of the invention, the connection comprises a cylinder extending from the distributor plate. The arm comprises a hollow cavity configured to receive the cylinder and a set screw configured to attach the arms to the connections. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, a chandelier includes a central support member, a first plate, a first plurality of sockets and a first plurality of arms. The central support member extends substantially from a top to a bottom of the chandelier. The first plate attaches to and is supported by the central member. The first plurality of sockets attach to the first plate. The first plurality of sockets includes an electrical connection. The first plurality of arms each has an electrical connection. Each one of the first plurality of arms is removeably attached to a respective one of the first plurality of sockets. When the first plurality of arms is attached to the first plurality of sockets the electrical connections of the first plurality of arms complete an electrical path with the electrical connections of the first plurality of sockets. When the first plurality of arms is removed from the first plurality of sockets the electrical connections of the first plurality of arms breaks the electrical path with the electrical connections of the first plurality of sockets. 
   According to further aspects of the invention, the central support member comprises an upper chain connected with a lower tube. The lower tube attaches to the center of the first plate. The first plate comprises a metal disc. The first plurality of sockets each comprises a cylinder extending through the first plate. At least a portion of the cylinder defines a chamber suitable to receive an end of one of the first plurality of arms. The electrical connections of the first plurality of sockets each include a first insulator disc and a first and a second terminal. The first terminal is positioned at the center of the first insulator disc and the second terminal extends along a radial path of the first insulator disc. The electrical connections of the first plurality of arms each include a second insulator disc and a third and a fourth terminal. The third terminal is positioned at the center of the second insulator disc. The fourth terminal extends along a radial path of the second insulator disc. The fourth terminal has substantially the same circumference as the second terminal. The chandelier further includes a first plurality of light bulb sockets each one attached to one of the plurality of arms and electrically connected with a respective one of the electrical connections of the plurality of arms. 
   According to further aspects of the invention, the chandelier also includes a second plate, a second plurality of sockets and a second plurality of arms. The second plate attaches to and is supported by the central member below the first plate. The second plurality of sockets attached to the second plate. Each of the second plurality of sockets includes an electrical connection. The second plurality of arms each have an electrical connection. Each of the second plurality of arms is removeably attached to a respective one of the second plurality of sockets. When the second plurality of arms is attached to the second plurality of sockets the electrical connections of the second plurality of arms complete an electrical path with the electrical connections of the second plurality of sockets. When the second plurality of arms is removed from the second plurality of sockets the electrical connections of the second plurality of arms breaks the electrical path with the electrical connections of the second plurality of sockets. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, a light fixture includes a body, connections, arms, light bulb sockets and electrical paths. The connections attach to the body. The arms each removeably couple with one of the connections. The light bulb sockets each connected with one of the arms. The electrical paths begin in the body, extending through the connections, through the arms and connect with the light bulb sockets. The electrical paths include an electric connection at the arm connections. The electrical path from the body to the light bulb socket is completed when the arms are joined to the arm connections. The electric path from the body to the light bulb socket is broken when the arms are removed from the arm connections. 

   
     SUMMARY OF THE DRAWING 
       FIG. 1  is a side view, partially exploded, of a prior art chandelier. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of a prior-art two-tiered chandelier. 
       FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional side view, partially exploded of one preferred arm connection from a chandelier distributor plate. 
       FIG. 3B  is a side view of the arm connection of FIG.  3 A. 
       FIG. 3C  is a top view of the electric terminals of the arm connection of FIG.  3 A. 
       FIG. 4A  is an cross-sectional side view of an arm socket used to join with the arm connection of FIG.  3 A. 
       FIG. 4B  is a side view of the arm socket of FIG.  4 A. 
       FIG. 4C  is a top view of the arm socket of FIG.  4 A. 
       FIG. 5A  is a cross-sectional side view of another preferred arm socket used to connect a chandelier arm to a distributor plate. 
       FIG. 5B  is a side view of the arm socket of FIG.  5 A. 
       FIG. 5C  is a top view of the arm socket of FIG.  5 A. 
       FIG. 6A  is a cross-sectional view of a ring used to attach an arm to the arm socket of FIG.  5 A. 
       FIG. 6B  is a side view of the ring of FIG.  6 A. 
       FIG. 6C  is a top view of the ring of FIG.  6 A. 
       FIG. 7A  is a cross-sectional view of an arm termination used to attach an arm to the socket of FIG.  5 A. 
       FIG. 7B  is a side view of the arm termination of FIG.  7 A. 
       FIG. 7C  is a top view of the arm termination of FIG.  7 A. 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic drawing showing the electrical path through a chandelier. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, a distributor plate  302  is made of an aluminum disc. The distributor plate  302  defines a plurality of holes  304  evenly spaced about its circumference. An arm connector  306  is attached to the distributor plate  302  at each hole by a hollow threaded rod  308 . More specifically, arm connector  306  defines a lower threaded hole  310  that engages the threaded rod  308 . The treaded rod  308  passes through one of the holes  304  in distributor plate  302 , then through a washer  312 , then through a nut  314 . The arm connector  306  is tightened on opposite sides of the distributor plate  302  against nut  314 . This secures the connector  306  to the distributor plate  302 . 
   Wires  316  and  318  pass through the threaded rod  308  and terminate at electrical connector  320 . Wire  316  joins with a center terminal and wire  318  joins with a radial terminal described below with reference to FIG.  3 C. 
   Turning to  FIG. 3B , a side view of arm connector  306  is shown. The exterior of arm connector  306  is a short cylinder. The side wall of this cylinder defines a recessed channel. This is used to form a secure connection with the arm socket described below with reference to FIG.  4 A. 
   Turning to  FIG. 3C , the electrical connector  320  is further described. It includes a disc-shaped insulator  324 . One electric terminal is made at the center of the terminal by screw  326 . The other electric terminal is made by an annular ring  328 , that is concentric with the disc-shaped insulator  324 . 
   Turning to  FIG. 4A , an arm socket  400  used to mate with arm connector  306  is described. The arm socket  400  is substantially formed as a hollow cylinder with an interior ring  402  (also shown in  FIG. 4C ) extending across its middle. The interior ring separates the interior into an upper and a lower cavity. The upper cavity receives and is bonded to a hollow chandelier arm. The lower cavity receives and mates with the arm connector  306 . At least one side screw  404  is turned through a threaded hole (shown in  FIG. 4A ) to engage channel  322 . 
   A second electrical connection  406  is positioned just below ring  402 . Electrical connection  406  has the same design as connector  320 . When the arm socket  400  is placed upon the arm connector  306 , these matching connectors complete an electrical path between the main body of the chandelier and the light sockets at the outer ends of the arms. 
   Turning to  FIG. 5A , another preferred distributor plate-to-arm connection is described. In this embodiment, an arm socket  500  extends through a larger hole  504  in distributor plate  502 . Each of the larger holes is surrounded by at least one smaller hole  506 . These smaller holes are used to attach a flange  508  from the arm socket  500  to the distributor plate  502 . Specifically, a screw  510  passes through a hole in flange  508  and then through the smaller hole  506  in distributor plate  502 . 
   The arm socket  500  is substantially a hollow cylinder with a plate bottom  512 . An electric connector  513  in the same design as shown in  FIG. 3C  is positioned against the plate bottom  512  and the electrical wires pass though a hole  514  (shown in  FIG. 5C ) in the plate bottom  512 . The inner end of an arm terminates in the mating electrical connection. 
   The exterior portion  509  of the connector  500 , above flange  508 , is threaded. This is used to join with an arm connection described below in  FIGS. 6A and 7A . The flange  508  is notched along one side  514 . When the socket  500  is positioned in the hole  504 , the side  514  is oriented toward the outer rim of distributor plate  502 . Consequently, flange  508  does not extend past the outer rim of disc  502 . 
   Turning to  FIGS. 6A and 7A  preferred arm termination parts that are used to mate with arm socket  500  are described. These consist of two principal members, namely a ring  600  and an arm termination  700 . A ring  600  is slid up the inner end of a chandelier arm. The interior of ring  600  is threaded to mate with the treads  509 . The upper face of the ring  600  defines a plate  602  with a narrowed aperture  604 . The arm is sized just to fit within the aperture  604 . The top of plate  604  define a plurality of holes  606  about its circumference. These are used to receive the prongs of a tightening tool. 
   Arm termination  700  is substantially cylindrical. It defines an interior cavity  702  of substantially the same diameter of an arm. The hollow chandelier arm is bonded within the interior cavity so that the arm termination  700  becomes the end of the chandelier arm. Arm termination  700  includes a flared top  704 . This flared top  704  is wider than the aperture  604  of the ring  600 . To attach an arm to a distributor plate, the arm termination  700  is pushed inside the arm socket  500 . The ring  600  slides down the arm and engages the threads  509 . As the ring is rotated and tightened, the aperture  604  presses against flare (or rib)  704  so that the arm makes a firm connection with the distributor plate. 
   The bottom of arm termination  700  also defines an inner plate  706 , which in turn defines an interior hole. The mating electrical connector  708  is positioned below the inner plate  706 . As the arm is secured, the electrical connector  708  completes a path with electrical connector  513 . 
   Turning to  FIG. 8 , one preferred electrical schematic diagram is described. A main pair of electrical wires  802  extends through the body  803  of the chandelier. The main pair of wires  802  pass below the distributor plate and are split into multiple pairs of wires  804  and terminate at an electrical connection  806 . The electrical connection  806  is made and broken as an arm is connected and removed, respectively, from a chandelier. Multiple pairs of wires  808  extend through the hollow arms of the chandelier. These terminate in light bulb sockets  810 . 
   Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many modifications and variations are possible without departing from the teachings of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be encompassed within the scope of the following claims.