Interchangeable lamp apparatus having a detachable plug

An interchangeable lamp apparatus having a detachable plug which is positionable in one of a plurality of orientations with respect to a base of the lamp apparatus. A construction of the base protects against undesired electrical shock when the plug is detached from the base whereby current can flow through the base and the lamp apparatus only when there is continuity across first contacts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 This invention relates to an interchangeable lamp apparatus having a
 detachable plug which is positionable in one of a plurality of
 orientations with respect to a base of the lamp apparatus and a
 construction of the base protects against undesired electrical shock when
 the plug is detached from the base.
 2. Description of Related Art
 Conventional lamps have a base or stand and a bulb which is insertable into
 a socket disposed within the base or stand. While these conventional lamps
 may provide adequate light, they also have several disadvantages.
 One disadvantage of conventional lamps is that if the base is connected to
 a power supply with the bulb detached from the base, there is a
 substantial risk of electrical shock, for example, if a person places his
 or her finger or another conductive object in an open socket of the base.
 Another disadvantage of conventional lamps is that an attached bulb is
 limited to one orientation or position with respect to a base.
 Conventional light bulbs are inserted into the base and rotated to a
 position where a conductor of the bulb contacts the socket within the
 base.
 It is apparent that there is a need for a lamp apparatus having a base with
 interchangeable decorative bulbs of different size, shape and/or color. It
 is also apparent that there is a need for a lamp apparatus having a base
 design that minimizes the risk of electrical shock when the plug is in a
 detached position. Further, it is apparent that there is a need for a lamp
 apparatus wherein the plug is positionable in a plurality of orientations
 with respect to the base of the lamp apparatus, so that the decorative
 bulb and the base can be arranged in different aesthetic combinations.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 It is one object of this invention to provide a lamp apparatus that has a
 detachable plug, allowing interchangeabilty of other plugs, each with a
 bulb having a different size, shape, configuration and/or color.
 It is another object of this invention to provide a lamp apparatus having a
 base designed to minimize the risk of electrical shock when the plug is in
 a detached position.
 It is still another object of this invention to provide a lamp apparatus
 having a plug that is positionable in a plurality of orientations with
 respect to the base of the lamp apparatus.
 The above and other objects of this invention are accomplished with a lamp
 apparatus having a base with a bore. The bore is defined by a support wall
 molded into, integrated with or otherwise attached to the base.
 Preferably, the support wall is a segmented wall formed by at least two
 arcuate segmented wall portions.
 At least two first contacts are connected to the base and spaced apart from
 each of the other first contacts. For example, the first contacts can be
 separated from each other by the segmented wall portions. The first
 contacts are recessed, such as in a radially outward direction, from the
 support wall defining the bore and away from the bore. Preferably, but not
 necessarily, the first contacts are spring-loaded or biased radially
 inward, toward the bore. Each first contact is electrically connected to a
 power supply.
 A second contact, for example an electrode, is mounted with respect to the
 base and is exposed to the bore. The second contact is spaced apart from
 each of the first contacts. The second contact is electrically connected
 to the power supply.
 Electric current can flow through the base and the lamp apparatus only when
 there is continuity across the first contacts and the second contact. As a
 result of the spacing of each first contact with respect to the other
 first contacts and the second contact, an electric system is closed only
 when there is simultaneous contact across each of the first contacts and
 the second contact. This safety feature minimizes the risk of electrical
 shock if, for example, a person places his or her finger or another
 conductive object into the bore while the base is connected to the power
 supply. This safety feature is enhanced when the first contacts are
 recessed from the support wall and away from the bore.
 The lamp apparatus has a detachable plug, mateable with the bore. A first
 conductor and a second conductor are connected with respect to the plug.
 In one preferred embodiment of this invention, the first conductor is a
 conductor ring having at least two projections which extend radially
 outward from a periphery of the conductor ring.
 The bulb is an electrical ornamental or decorative bulb wherein a voltage
 is applied across one or more inert gases within the bulb to create a
 plurality of traveling electrical arcs in one or more colors. In such an
 embodiment, the bulb may be non-symmetrical. The bulb may be made of a
 transparent or translucent glass having any size, shape, configuration,
 symmetry and/or color.
 When the detachable plug is inserted into the bore, the projections of the
 conductor ring are positioned within projection entry slots radially
 offset with respect to a corresponding first contact and molded into,
 integrated with or otherwise attached to the support wall.
 In one preferred embodiment of this invention, after each projection is
 positioned within a corresponding projection entry slot, the plug is
 rotatable to a locked position wherein each first contact contacts a
 corresponding projection and the second contact contacts the second
 conductor of the plug.
 The plurality of projections of the conductor ring and the plurality of
 first contacts allow for the positioning of the plug in a plurality of
 orientations with respect to the base. The plug is detachable and
 replaceable with a second similar plug having a different bulb.
 The lamp apparatus has an electric system capable of detecting small gas
 leaks from the bulb. As inert gas leaks from the bulb, an electric surge
 or spike results from the increased electric demand to produce electrical
 arcs within the bulb. The electric surge opens the electric system and the
 electric system cannot close for a delay period.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
 A lamp apparatus 5 according to a preferred embodiment of this invention
 comprises a base 10 having a bore 15. Bore 15 is defined by a support wall
 16. Preferably but not necessarily, support wall 16 is molded into,
 integrated with or otherwise attached to base 10 by means well known to
 those skilled in the art. Preferably, support wall 16 is a segmented wall
 formed by at least two segmented wall portions 18, as shown in FIG. 3. In
 one preferred embodiment of this invention, support wall 16 is formed by
 four arcuate segmented wall portions 18 equally spaced apart from each
 other to define bore 15 having a generally circular shape, as shown in
 FIGS. 2 and 3. It is apparent to those skilled in the art that support
 wall 16 may comprise a continuous wall or may be formed by a plurality of
 segmented wall portions 18 or tabs defining bore 15 having any general
 geometric shape, for example a rectangle or triangle.
 As shown in FIG. 3, at least two first contacts 13 are connected to base
 10. First contacts 13 are made of any suitable conductive material known
 to those skilled in the art. It is apparent to one skilled in the art that
 any number of first contacts 13 may be used, for example, three, four or
 five first contacts 13, without departing from the basic principles of
 this invention. In one preferred embodiment of this invention, each first
 contact 13 is spaced apart from each of the other first contacts 13. First
 contacts 13 are separated from each other by segmented wall portions 18,
 as shown in FIG. 3. In another preferred embodiment of this invention,
 first contacts 13 are equally spaced about support wall 16 defining bore
 15. First contacts 13 are recessed, such as in a radially outward
 direction, from support wall 16 defining bore 15 and away from bore 15.
 Preferably, but not necessarily, first contacts 13 are spring-loaded or
 biased radially inward toward bore 15. A first power lead 14 electrically
 connects each first contact 13 to a power supply (not shown). Preferably,
 the power supply provides a 12 V dc current to lamp apparatus 5. Any power
 supply known to those skilled in the art may be used to provide sufficient
 power to operate lamp apparatus 5.
 A second contact 11, for example an electrode, is mounted with respect to
 base 10 and is exposed to bore 15. Preferably, but not necessarily, second
 contact 11 is mounted on an inner surface of a bottom plate 7 of base 10
 and aligned with bore 15, as shown in FIG. 3. Second contact 11 is spaced
 apart from each first contact 13. Second contact 11 is electrically
 connected to the power supply (not shown) via a second power lead 12.
 In one preferred embodiment of this invention, as shown in FIG. 7, second
 contact 11 has a generally circular periphery and an inner surface 18. It
 is apparent to those skilled in the art that second contact 11 may have
 any periphery, for example, a rectangular or triangular periphery. Second
 contact 11 is mounted with respect to bottom plate 7 of base 10 and
 aligned with bore 15. Preferably, but not necessarily, second contact 11
 is mounted to a plate 20, which is connected to bottom plate 7 by a
 fastening means, for example a screw 40. Any fastening means known to
 those having ordinary skill in the art may be used to fasten plate 20 to
 bottom plate 7.
 Electric current can flow through an electrical system of lamp apparatus 5
 only when there is continuity across each first contact 13 and second
 contact 11. As a result of the spacing of each first contact 13 with
 respect to other first contacts 13 and second contact 11, the electric
 system is closed only when there is simultaneous contact across each first
 contact 13 and second contact 11. This safety feature minimizes the risk
 of electrical shock if, for example, a person places his or her finger or
 another conductive object into bore 15 while base 10 is connected to the
 power supply. This safety feature is enhanced when first contacts 13 are
 recessed from support wall 16 and away from bore 15.
 As shown in FIG. 5, lamp apparatus 5 further comprises a detachable plug
 21, having a support surface 22, mateable with bore 15. Plug 21 further
 comprises a bulb 30. A first conductor 24 is connected with respect to
 plug 21. Preferably, first conductor 24 is mounted to a first end portion
 31 of plug 21. First conductor 24 is made of any suitable conductive
 material known to those skilled in the art.
 In one preferred embodiment of this invention, first conductor 24 comprises
 a conductor ring 25, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Preferably, but not
 necessarily, conductor ring 25 has a generally circular periphery. It is
 apparent to those skilled in the art that conductor ring 25 may have any
 periphery, for example, a rectangular or triangular periphery.
 Conductor ring 25 comprises at least two projections 26, which extend from
 the periphery of conductor ring 25. Conductor ring 25 may comprise any
 number of projections 26, for example three, four or five projections,
 without departing from the basic principles of this invention. In one
 preferred embodiment of this invention, projections 26 are equally spaced
 around the periphery of conductor ring 25, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6.
 As shown in FIG. 4, preferably but not necessarily, each projection 26
 forms at least one aperture 29. Aperture 29 may have any suitable shape
 and/or dimensions. During the manufacture process of plug 21, material
 forming plug 21 flows through aperture 29 to securely connect conductor
 ring 25 with plug 21.
 A second conductor 23 is connected with respect to plug 21. Preferably,
 second conductor 23 is mounted to a second end portion 32 of plug 21, as
 shown in FIG. 5. Second conductor 23 is made of any suitable conductive
 material known to those skilled in the art. A first wire 27 and a second
 wire 28 are connected to second conductor 23. First wire 27 and second
 wire 28 extend through a cavity 43 of plug 21 and emerge from cavity 43 of
 plug 21 within bulb 30. In one preferred embodiment of this invention, an
 electrode 35 is connected with respect to first wire 27 and second wire
 28, as shown in FIG. 5.
 In one preferred embodiment of this invention, bulb 30 is an electrical
 ornamental or decorative bulb wherein a voltage is applied across one or
 more inert gases within bulb 30 to create a plurality of traveling,
 ethereal electrical arcs in one or more colors. In such an embodiment,
 bulb 30 may be non-symmetrical. Bulb 30 is preferably made of a
 translucent glass. Any suitable material known to those skilled in the art
 may be used to produce bulb 30, being transparent or translucent, of any
 size, shape, configuration, symmetry and/or color.
 Lamp apparatus 5 according to this invention enables multiple
 configurations of bulbs 30, specifically decorative electrical arcing
 bulbs to be interchangeable with one another. For example, the horn-shaped
 bulb shown in FIG. 7 may be exchanged with a mushroom-shaped bulb or a
 spherical bulb.
 Lamp apparatus 5 according to a preferred embodiment of this invention is
 capable of detecting small gas leaks from bulb 30. The leakage of inert
 gas from bulb 30 results in a higher demand for electricity to produce the
 electrical arcs within bulb 30. The higher demand for electricity produces
 an electric surge or spike which automatically opens the electric system
 of lamp apparatus 5. Once the electric system is open, there is a time
 delay, preferably about 3 seconds, before the electric system can be
 closed to operate lamp apparatus 5. For example, if bulb 30 breaks and
 exposes electrode 35, connected to first wire 27 and second wire 28, to
 atmosphere, the electric system opens to minimize the risk of electrical
 shock.
 When plug 21 is mated with or inserted into bore 15, projections 26 engage
 with base 10 and support surface 22 of plug 21 contacts a recessed surface
 19 of base 10. Support surface 22 provides a stable mounting surface when
 plug 21 is in the inserted position. In the inserted position, projections
 26 of conducting ring 25 are positioned within projection entry slots or
 entry slots 17, as shown in FIG. 3. Each projection entry slot 17 is
 preferably radially offset with respect to a corresponding first contact
 13 and molded into, integrated with or otherwise attached to support wall
 16 to form a support surface 33, which each corresponding projection 26
 contacts.
 In one preferred embodiment of this invention, after each projection 26 is
 positioned within a corresponding projection entry slot 17, plug 21 is
 rotatable to a locked position wherein each first contact 13 contacts a
 corresponding projection 26 of conducting ring 25 and second contact 11
 contacts second conductor 23 of plug 21.
 In one preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 7, second conductor 23 is
 mateable with second contact 11. Second conductor 23 contacts inner
 surface 18 of second contact 11 when plug 21 is in the inserted position.
 The plurality of projections 26 of conductor ring 25 and the plurality of
 projection entry slots 17 and corresponding first contacts 13, allow plug
 21, having a non-symmetrical bulb 30, to be positioned in a plurality of
 orientations with respect to base 10 so that decorative bulb 30 and the
 base 10 can be arranged in different aesthetic combinations. Plug 21 is
 detachable and replaceable with a second similar plug 21 having a
 different bulb 30.
 While in the foregoing specification this invention has been described in
 relation to certain preferred embodiments, and many details are set forth
 for purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the
 art that this invention is susceptible to additional embodiments and that
 certain of the details described in this specification and in the claims
 can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of
 this invention.