Vibration-tolerant lamp mounting assembly

A door-mounted vibration-tolerant lamp assembly comprising: a brace for mounting the lamp assembly to an exterior surface of a door, the door mounting brace having a body section and at least one mounting bracket disposed outwardly from the body section; an elastic mount having a first and second mounting bracket, wherein the first mounting bracket is affixed to the mounting bracket of the door mounting brace and the second mounting bracket is capable of supporting a lamp thereon; at least one first resilient pad disposed between the first mounting bracket of the elastic mount and the mounting bracket of the door mounting brace such that the resilient pad absorbs a substantial amount of the vibration that is generated when the door is moved to a closed position; and at least one second resilient pad disposed on the elastic mount in closer proximity to the second mounting bracket than to the first mounting bracket such that the second resilient pad acts to dampen movement of the lamp and the elastic mount when the door is moved to the closed position and when power is applied to the lamp.

This invention relates to a lamp mounting assembly which can better 
tolerate vibration and shock than conventional lamp mounting assemblies. 
This mounting assembly is suitable for mounting on movable surfaces such 
as rotisserie oven doors. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
It is well known that lamps which are subjected to repeated or intense 
vibration and shock typically fail and must be replaced far more rapidly 
than other lamps. The delicate nature of the lamp glass and metal 
filament, among other things, contributes to the vulnerability of lamps to 
outside stressors. In addition, lamps in these circumstances are more apt 
to shatter or explode. This constitutes a serious safety concern. 
Nonetheless, many designs which require lighting also require lamps to be 
mounted on surfaces which must accept repeated and intense vibration and 
shock. The inventors herein have developed a unique mounting apparatus for 
installing a lamp in such a setting. This mounting apparatus serves to 
dampen the forces applied to the mounting surface, so that substantially 
less, and/or optimally, no vibration or impact ultimately reaches the 
lamp. 
Lights mounted on movable surfaces are subject to stresses and vibrations 
of much greater magnitude than are those mounted on stationary surfaces. 
Furthermore, lights mounted to doors that engage and lock only with the 
application of substantial force are vulnerable to even greater shocks and 
vibrations. These vibrations can lead to the rapid degradation of the 
light filament, which is extremely delicate and can easily be damaged by 
repeated or intense shocks. The inventors have developed a novel mounting 
assembly for mounting a lamp that effectively dampens the vibrations that 
are transmitted to a door mounted lamp. This mounting assembly also 
includes a time delay relay switch to allow vibrations to subside before 
allowing electricity to pass to the lamp. This delay mechanism also 
contributes to maximizing lamp life. In addition, this mounting assembly 
includes a mechanism for gradually turning the lamp on, once power is on. 
This gradual brightening function also serves to enhance lamp life. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The door-mounted vibration-tolerant lamp assembly of the present invention 
comprises: a means for mounting the lamp assembly to an exterior surface 
of a door, the door mounting means having a body section and at least one 
mounting bracket disposed outwardly from the body section; an elastic 
mounting means having a first and second mounting bracket, wherein the 
first mounting bracket is affixed to the mounting bracket of the door 
mounting means and the second mounting bracket is capable of supporting a 
lamp thereon; at least one first resilient pad disposed between the first 
mounting bracket of the elastic mounting means and the mounting bracket of 
the door mounting means such that the resilient pad absorbs a substantial 
amount of the vibration that is generated when the door is moved to a 
closed position; and at least one second resilient pad disposed on the 
elastic mounting means in closer proximity to the second mounting bracket 
than to the first mounting bracket such that the second resilient pad acts 
to dampen movement of the lamp and the elastic mounting means when the 
door is moved to the closed position and when power is applied to the 
lamp. 
Other embodiments are disclosed wherein the resilient pads have one or more 
integral holes to accept attaching means, wherein the resilient pads are 
attached to the elastic mounting means by screws inserted through the 
integral holes in the resilient pads, wherein the elastic mounting means 
is attached to the mounting bracket by means of loose nut plates and 
screws that have a resilient insert, and wherein the resilient insert is 
formed of nylon. 
The present invention also encompasses a lamp assembly further comprising a 
time delay mechanism to control power to the lamp, a mechanism for 
gradually turning on the lamp, a first switch that, when activated, causes 
the time delay mechanism, or the mechanism for gradually turning on the 
lamp, or both, to be activated, and a second switch that, only when 
activated sequentially or simultaneously with the first switch, cause the 
time delay mechanism, or the mechanism for gradually turning on the lamp, 
or both, to be activated. 
A further preferred embodiment is a door-mounted vibration-tolerant lamp 
assembly which comprises: a means for mounting the lamp assembly to an 
exterior surface of a door, the door mounting means having a body section 
and a first and a second mounting bracket disposed substantially 
perpendicularly from the body section; two elastic mounting means, each 
having an inner and an outer mounting bracket, wherein the outer mounting 
brackets of the first and second elastic mounting means are affixed to the 
first and second mounting brackets of the door mounting means, and the 
inner mounting brackets of the first and second elastic mounting means are 
capable of supporting a lamp thereon; one first resilient pad disposed 
between each of the outer mounting brackets of the elastic mounting means 
and the first and second mounting brackets of the door mounting means such 
that the resilient pads absorb a substantial mount of the vibration that 
is generated when the door is moved to a closed position; and a second 
resilient pad disposed on each of the elastic mounting means in closer 
proximity to the inner mounting bracket than to the outer mounting bracket 
such that the second resilient pad acts to dampen movement of the lamp and 
the elastic mounting means when the door is moved to the closed position 
and when power is applied to the lamp. 
It is thus an object of this invention to provide a lamp mounting assembly 
which maximizes lamp life and minimizes lamp damage and the need for lamp 
replacement. Another object of this invention is to provide a lamp 
mounting assembly which dampens vibrations imparted to a lamp from the 
mounting surface. 
Another object of this invention is to provide a lamp mounting assembly 
suitable for use on moving surfaces, and in particular, moving surfaces 
which are subject to vibrational or impact forces. Another object of this 
invention is to provide a lamp mounting assembly that utilizes a time 
delay relay switch to send electricity to the lamp only after sufficient 
damping of vibration and shock has occurred to allow safe operation. A 
further object of this invention is to provide a lamp mounting assembly 
which utilizes a mechanism that allows the lamp to be powered and lit 
gradually (like a dimmer switch) to maximize lamp life. 
These and other objects and advantages of the lamp mounting assembly of the 
present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the 
following description of preferred embodiments, claims and appended 
drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lamp mounting 
assembly is attached to the exterior of an oven door to provide 
illumination to the working area and the contents of the oven. This oven 
door is subject to repeated opening and closing, to slamming, accidental 
jarring, and to the forces required to engage the door fastening 
mechanism. To minimize the vibrations and shock imparted to the lamp, the 
mounting assembly of the current invention is employed. 
The features of this preferred embodiment may be demonstrated and 
understood with reference to FIGS. 1-4. Oven door 1 constitutes the 
mounting surface herein. As seen in FIG. 3, mounting bracket 3 is rigidly 
attached to the oven door 1 by means of screws 20. Screws 20 pass through 
and attach grounding lug 18, elastic lock nut 11, flat washer 12, and 
rigid clamp 17 to mounting plate 3. Rigid clamp 17 accepts cable assembly 
19 which in turn supplies electricity to the mounting assembly. A 
grounding wire in cable assembly 19 is attached to ground lug 18 to 
effectively ground the mounting assembly. 
Two elastic mounts 14 are movably attached to mounting bracket 3 by 
resilient screws 16 having nylon inserts and loose washers 16. Resilient 
pads 15, made of silicone rubber, are situated between the abutted 
surfaces of mounting bracket 3 and elastic mounts 14. Screws 16 pass 
through holes integral in resilient pads 15 and are affixed by two-hole 
nuts 13. Additional resilient pads 15 are attached to the front surfaces 
of elastic mounts 14 by means of screws passing through elastic lock nuts 
11 and flat washers 12. These resilient pads are located approximately 
two-thirds of the length of the elastic mount away from the first 
resilient pads. Pins of lamp sockets 6 and 7 extend through apertures in 
elastic mounts 14 and engagingly accept lamps 5 which sit between elastic 
mounts 14 and face one another. Truss head screws 8 extend through and 
attach sockets 6 and 7 to elastic mounts 14. Thus, sockets 6 and 7 rest 
against the second set of resilient pads 15 that are mounted to the front 
face of elastic mounts 14. Lamp reflector 4 is attached to heat shield 2. 
Heat shield 2 is then affixed to mounting bracket 3, completing the 
mounting assembly. 
In a further preferred embodiment, the mounting assembly also comprises a 
time delay relay switch 24. This switch 24 allows the mounting assembly to 
completely or adequately dampen applied forces before the lamp is 
activated. This switch could also be incorporated into the assembly of 
FIG. 3 within sockets 6 and 7, or in a switch located on the oven or oven 
door 1 or other control surface. 
In another preferred embodiment, the mounting assembly also comprises a 
gradual activation mechanism or dimmer 30 which allows the lamp to come on 
gradually, slowly progressing from off to dim to bright. This mechanism 
also functions to maximize lamp life. In the preferred embodiment shown by 
FIG. 3, this mechanism could be incorporated into the sockets 6 and 7, or 
could be controlled by a switch 24 located on the oven or oven door 1 or 
other control surface 25. 
In a further preferred embodiment, activation by an operator of two 
switches 26, either sequentially or simultaneously, causes either the time 
delay or the gradual-on mechanism or both to be activated (see FIG. 5). 
As shown in FIG. 5, in one embodiment, when door 1 is moved to a closed 
position, relay switch 24 is activated. Time delay relay 24 sends a signal 
to microcomputer 28 having memory 29. Microcomputer 28 sends a signal to 
light dimmer 30 after the appropriate time has passed, as stored in memory 
29. Light dimmer 30 is then activated, and gradually sends current from 
power supply 31 to lamp 5. Lamp 5 is then gradually lit. 
Other preferred embodiments are apparent from this disclosure. For example, 
this lamp mounting apparatus is suitable for any vehicle, appliance, 
cabinet, or other door lamp. The resilient pads, elastic mounts and 
mounting brackets can be used in different shapes and spatial 
orientations, suitable to other functions. Resilient pads can be used in 
multiples at each attachment point, and can be added to other points of 
contact. The resilient pads can be attached with adhesive or other means 
of attachment. The "lamp" of the present invention can also cover any 
similarly sensitive device which must be mounted, such as a thermometer or 
other sensor. These examples are demonstrative of, but do not limit, the 
various uses and applications to which the lamp mounting apparatus of the 
present invention is suited.