Fluorescent light with threaded connector

A portable fluorescent light, utilizing a fluorescent tube mounted in an elongated, transparent, plastic housing. Sockets for the fluorescent lamp are mounted to the interior of the housing and electrical circuitry within the housing supplies current to operate the lamp. The circuitry includes a ballast and a starter that are also mounted within the tubular housing at one end. A threaded lamp connector of the type normally found on incandescent light bulbs extends outwardly from one end of the housing and is associated with the electrical circuitry to provide an electrical connector for connecting the light to a conventional alternating current power source. The threaded connector is adapted to be threaded into a standard threaded female socket, such as might be found at the end of an incandescent-trouble-light cord unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to portable lights, such as safety inspection lights 
or "trouble" lights, and especially to the type of portable light that 
utilizes a fluorescent lamp rather than an incandescent bulb. More 
particularly, the invention relates to an improvement in portable 
fluorescent light units to adapt such units for use in association with 
separate power cords with threaded female sockets on one end. 
Portable fluorescent lights have many advantages compared with other types 
of "trouble" lights, etc., and they are used to particular advantage in 
garages where automotive service is performed, as well as in otherwise 
unlighted areas, such as attics, that are used infrequently. Prior art 
units of this type generally utilize a tubular, transparent, plastic 
housing of fairly sturdy construction and a fluorescent lamp, such as a 
15-watt, 17-inch lamp mounted thereon. The electrical circuit elements, 
including sockets and a starter, are also mounted in the housing. A 
ballast is provided, usually on a power cord. 
Most such portable lights in the prior art have had an integral power cord 
that is sufficiently long to enable light to be carried around a 
relatively large area. In many circumstances, this is desirable; however, 
in other circumstances, it is desirable to have a power cord for the light 
that also serves as an extension cord for a portable power tool that is to 
be used in an otherwise inaccessible area in which the light is to be used 
to illuminate. 
Also, prior art portable lights of the type described, with integral power 
cords, cannot be connected to standard threaded incandescent light bulb 
receptacles unless special adapters are used. 
The portable fluorescent light design of the present invention, however, 
avoids the difficulties indicated above and affords other features and 
advantages heretofore not obtainable. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is among the objects of the invention to provide a portable fluorescent 
light with self-contained starter and ballast that may be connected to a 
power source by means of a threaded female connector of the type found on 
standard incandescent light bulbs. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a trouble light construction 
that does not include a self-contained power cord, but which may be 
connected directly to the threaded socket at the end of a power cord for a 
standard incandescent trouble light unit. 
These and other objects and advantages are achieved by the novel portable 
fluorescent light construction of the invention wherein the unit is 
provided with a fluorescent lamp and sockets and electrical circuit means 
including a switch for connecting the unit to a power source. The 
fluorescent lamp and associated electrical circuit elements are mounted in 
an elongated, transparent, tubular housing to which the lamp sockets are 
firmly mounted. The circuitry includes a ballast and starter mounted 
within the housing and a threaded male electrical connector located 
externally of the light and at one end thereof. The threaded male 
connector is supported by the ballast and electrically connected in the 
circuitry so that when the threaded connector is threaded into a 
conventional incandescent light bulb socket, it may be used to energize 
the fluorescent lamp.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a portable 
fluorescent light 10 embodying the invention, and comprising a transparent 
tubular housing 11, a fluorescent lamp (for example, of 17-inch length) 
located in the tubular housing 11, two sockets 13 and 14 to which the ends 
of the fluorescent lamp 12 are connected in a conventional manner, a 
ballast 16, and a starter 17. A pair of plastic covers 18 and 19 are 
placed over each end of the housing 11, the cover 18 having a central 
opening therein coaxial with the housing 11 and adapted for the purpose to 
be described below. 
The sockets 13 and 14 are mounted within the housing 11 by means of screws 
21 and 22, two of which are extended in diametrically opposed relationship 
through the housing and into each of the sockets 13 and 14, respectively. 
The ballast 16 is located on the housing 11 at the lefthand end thereof as 
viewed in FIG. 2 and is affixed by rivets to a bracket 23, which in turn 
is secured to the housing 11 by screws 24. The ballast and sockets 13 are 
all electrically connected by appropriate conductors to provide circuitry 
that serves to energize the lamp 12. 
In order to connect the portable fluorescent light 10 to a power source, 
there is provided at the lefthand end thereof, adjacent the ballast 16 as 
viewed in FIG. 2, a threaded connector 25 of the type normally utilized on 
conventional incandescent light bulbs for connecting the bulb to a 
conventional threaded female socket. The connector 25 is of a 
conventional, commercially available construction and includes a housing 
26 formed of electrical insulating material, a central contact 27, and an 
annular contact part 28 with external threads formed therein and being 
attached to the forward portion of the housing 26. The rearward portion of 
the housing 26 has a cylindrical recess formed therein in which the 
starter unit 17 is positioned. A pair of radially extending arm portions 
29 have openings that receive screws 31 for attaching the connector 25 to 
the ballast 16. It will be noted that the heavy ballast 16 is located 
close to the connector 25 so as to minimize cantilever type loading at the 
threaded connection. 
The most advantageous utilization of a lamp constructed as described above 
is in association with a conventional trouble light power cord 34 and 
receptacle 35, as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1. The receptacle 35 
normally includes a threaded female socket adapted to receive an 
incandescent bulb. In the present case, the threaded connector 25 is 
merely threaded into the threaded female socket in the receptacle 35 of 
the power cord, which also serves as an extension cord for the user. 
Accordingly, the fluorescent light may be substituted for an incandescent 
light, which presents certain disadvantages and is more easily broken. It 
is particularly advantageous to use the arrangement of the trouble light 
of the invention in automotive applications where, should an incandescent 
bulb break, inflammable material might be ignited, resulting in an 
explosion, etc. 
While the invention has been shown and described with respect to a specific 
embodiment thereof, this is for the purpose of illustration rather than 
limitation, and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other 
variations and modifications of the specific form herein shown and 
described may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the 
invention. Accordingly, the patent is not to be limited in scope and 
effect to the specific embodiment herein shown and described, nor in any 
other way that is inconsistent with the extent to which the progress in 
the art has been advanced by the invention.