Lighting fixture with enclosed wiring

A lighting fixture (100) for outdoor use having electric wiring (154) enclosed in a rear support arm (140). The lighting fixture includes an upper support arm (112) and a plurality of downwardly disposed supporting rods (118) connected to the lamp housing (116) and the upper support arm.

BACKGROUND OF PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to electric lighting fixtures. More particularly it relates to light fixtures with enclosed electric wiring therein.

2. Background of the Invention

Long before the invention of the light bulb, lighting fixtures have been commonly used both indoor and outdoor. They have been used first with gas lighting systems and were later designed for use with electric light bulbs. The main purpose of lighting fixtures is to enclose the light bulbs therein and provide protection to the light bulb from external sources. Another common use of the lighting fixtures in some applications is to divert the direct beam of light so as to provide adequate lighting in a room. Yet another common use of lighting fixtures is to provide protection from external weather conditions and to prevent water or other sorts of harmful influence from contacting the lighting bulbs, light socket, wiring electrical connectors and other components of the lighting system. Still another common use of light fixtures is for decorative purposes internally in a home, externally at the entrance of a house, or in any other location where both light source and decoration is needed. It should be also understood that other uses for lighting fixtures are available and it is up to the user to determine the best use.

Generally, lighting fixtures have different designs and are used in different applications. Some are hung from ceilings and others are hung on walls. Wall hung lighting fixtures are commonly used in many applications both indoor and outdoor. There are many forms and shapes of wall hung lighting fixtures. One form of wall hung lighting fixture10, as illustrated inFIG. 1(and disclosed in prior art patent D440,007) includes a lamp housing16attached at top to support arm14that is attached to a backplate12affixed to a wall. Electrical wiring for such a fixture is encased in the support arm14and thereby concealed from view (for aesthetic purposes) and sheltered from the weather for safety and reliability purposes. Such fixtures are typically used in outdoor settings where protection for the electrical wiring from contact with water is critical. Another such an outdoor fixture20is illustrated inFIG. 2(and disclosed in prior art patent D434,873). The lamp housing26is supported by and attached at the bottom by support arm24that is attached to backplate22attached to a wall. Electrical wiring is enclosed in support arm24and thereby protected from water. The wiring is concealed from view for aesthetic purposes. Referring now toFIG. 3, therein is disclosed a lighting fixture30commonly used in today's indoor applications. The wiring33is commonly passed through the support bracket32and is threaded down a supporting rod or chain34connected to the lamp housing6. Threading the wire around the chain or rod is normally acceptable in indoor applications, however, the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) specifies that for outdoor use where the wiring may be exposed to water that externally threading the wiring is not acceptable.

In view of the foregoing, an outdoor lighting fixture that is aesthetically pleasing and in accordance with the UL safety requirement is needed. The lighting fixture of the present invention is aesthetically pleasing, wherein the lamp housing appears to be supported by an upper support and hanging rods and the electric wiring is concealed in a rear support arm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a lighting fixture having a lamp housing that appears to be suspended from an upper support arm wherein the electrical wiring is enclosed in a rear support arm. The lighting fixture includes an upper support arm and a plurality of downwardly disposed hanging rods attached at the proximal end to the support arm and at their distal end to the lamp housing. The fixture further includes a rear support arm connected to a backplate for mounting on a wall wherein the electric wiring from the lamp backplate to the lamp housing is enclosed in the rear support arm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1,2, and3are prior art fixtures as previously discussed and described in the Background section of this application.

FIGS. 4,5, and6illustrate a side view, a top view and a bottom view of an exemplary embodiment of the lighting fixture100of the present invention. A lamp housing130is connected to a curved upper support arm112securely fixed to a backplate109using one or more connecting mechanisms110aand110b.The connecting mechanisms110aand110bmay be part of the upper support arm112. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that upper support arm112may be attached directly to backplate109by any conventional means such as screws, bolts, welding, etc., with or without connector110aand110b.It should be understood that the connecting mechanisms110aand110bmay include one or more connectors. Upper support arm112is connected via a plurality of hanging rods118to the lamp housing130. The end of the upper support arm112may have various shapes or ornamentation113in order to provide a decorative look. The lower end of the upper support arm112may also have a decorative final172. It should be understood that the upper support arm112does not have to be curved and may be of any shape and/or structure. Backplate109is secured to wall105by any manner known in the art.

The upper support arm112at its distal end includes treble hanger114which includes a plurality of hooks116. It should be understood that the hanger114may be any type of holder that includes hooks or attachment means for attaching hanging rods118to the hanger114. The number of hooks116is preferably equal to the number of hanging rods118. It should be understood that it is preferably desirable to have three hanging rods118as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. These three hanging rods118may be evenly disposed around the circumference of the lamp housing130. The hanging rods118may have a decorative member122. Each one of the hanging rods118includes a connector ring120at the upper end and a connector ring124at the lower end. The first ring20is connected to one of the plurality of hooks116while the second ring124is connected to a decorative hook shaped holder126disposed on the lamp housing130. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that chains, cables, ropes or other materials may be used instead of hanging rods118to connect lamp housing130to upper support arm112.

The lamp housing130includes globe128preferably made of transparent material or at least a semi-transparent material that will allow light to pass therethrough. The fixture may include a decoration142around the upper portion of lamp housing130. A decorative crown131may be included on the top of lamp housing130. A decorative member134may be disposed on the bottom of lamp housing130.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a rear support arm140connects the lighting fixture to the backplate109. The rear support arm140also encloses therein the wiring for the lighting fixture as will be explained in detail hereinafter. The rear support arm140is located at the rear of the lighting fixture and is thus concealed from direct view. Thus, a viewer standing in a position directly in front of the lighting fixture or even at an angled view will not be able to see the rear support arm140. This provides the desirable illusion that the lamp housing130is suspended from the upper support arm112and hanging rods118.

The lighting fixture components may be of any adequate material that is appropriate for outdoor exposure including but not limited to aluminum, copper, brass, bronze, nickel, or a ferric material that has been coated or plated for rust prevention.

Referring now toFIG. 7, there is shown an exemplary embodiment of the lighting fixture of the present invention illustrated in a cross-sectional side view showing the components therein. The lighting fixture100, as described hereinabove, is vertically hung from upper support arm112using a plurality of supporting rods118. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that all, a portion of, or none of the weight of lamp housing130may actually be carried by upper support arm112. Likewise, all, a portion of, or none of the weight of lamp housing130may be carried by rear support arm140.

The lamp housing130includes therein a tube160fixed in place at the top by the crown131and at the bottom to the base166of the lamp housing130. The tube160is hollow to allow electric wiring154to pass therein. The tube160has an opening158preferably at a position adjacent to the level of the rear support arm140as to allow the electric wiring154passing therein to be extended through a connector tube150disposed inside the rear supporting bracket140. In the preferred embodiment, electric wiring154will terminate at a first end in a conventional junction box where it will be connected to a source of electric current.

The electric wiring154is connected at a second end to the lamp socket164fixed to the base166of the lamp housing130. It will be understood that one or more candle style electric sockets and bulbs may be used or standard sockets for standard light bulbs may be used for the source of illumination. Alternatively, any type of electric receptacle and electric light source may be used for the source of illumination. The rear support arm140is connected to backplate109and lamp housing130by any means known in the art such as friction fit, welding, brazing, or threaded connectors. The wire154after passing through the rear support arm140and a conventional junction box may be connected to a switch (not shown) to turn on/off the power supply. When the switch is in the “on” position, electricity passes through the wire154to the lamp socket(s)164which in turn lights the lamp(s)168.

In an alternate exemplary embodiment, the connector tube150may be formed as an integral part of the rear support arm140. In such an embodiment, the rear support arm140may be hollow or include a tubular opening formed or bored therethrough.