Abstract:
An exterior light fixture includes a housing configured to be mounted to an exterior vertical wall. A luminaire is connected via a projecting arm to the housing and powered by electrical wires running therethrough. The housing includes a rotatable door which, when rotated from a closed position to an open position, exposes a ground fault interrupter circuit providing preferably three-pronged sockets to deliver grounded, protected AC current for consumer use.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to wall lamps, especially exterior wall lamps. 
   There are various categories of lighting apparatus. One broad division of these apparatus is interior versus exterior lighting. A second broad division concerns the voltage used in such lamps, e.g. lamps which are powered by standard alternating current which in the United States is typically 120 volts AC versus low-voltage or direct-current lighting. The present invention concerns lighting which is powered by standard voltage, alternating current supply 
   It is known to combine a lighting fixture with an electrical outlet. Thus, Miller U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,969 shows a wall mounted lighting fixture adapted to be placed over a bed, such as in a hospital for example, and includes electrical sockets  17  on a side face thereof. This does not, however, solve the problem of providing a convenient source of lighting on exterior surfaces of edifices such as homes, stores, restaurants and the like. 
   Humphrey U.S. Pat. No. 6,871,985 discloses a post lamp for outdoor lighting. This is not, however, a permanent fixture and is not a wall fixture nor any other kind of permanently-mounted fixture. Instead, it is portable and requires its own electric wire to extend to a power source. At the top of the pole is a luminaire, and at the base of the pole is an electric socket. 
   DeKay U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,734 discloses an interior wall lamp assembly having an elongated hollow conduit carrying and concealing electric current-carrying wires connected at the bottom end of the hollow conduit to an AC plug so that the device can be plugged into a wall socket. The device includes adhesives or Velcro fasteners to adhere the elongated member to a vertical wall. A projecting arm extends from the top of the elongated conduit to a lamp socket or the like. DeKay shows an auxiliary electric socket  11  mounted along a side wall of the elongated hollow conduit, 
   Simon U.S. Pat. No. 3,188,379 illustrates a weatherproof electrical installation with a pivotally-attached hood apparatus. This, however, provides no lighting function and is, by definition, not a wall lamp. An alternative arrangement for protecting electric sockets in outdoor use is Sanner U.S. Pat. No. 4,266,266 which, like Simon, is not a light source but rather an outdoor electric socket fixture having downward facing sockets. 
   None of these patents, however, provides an exterior wall lamp which also provides a source of protected AC current for other uses. None of these solves the problem of needing access, around the outside of a house or other building, to standard AC power without adding extra, separate fixtures dedicated thereto. 
   An object of the present invention is to increase the utility of an exterior wall lamp fixture to provide a source of AC power for other applications and, preferably, while preserving esthetic features of the fixture. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a lamp fixture for mounting to a wall, preferably an exterior wall. The lamp fixture includes a housing member and a luminaire extending directly from the housing or connected thereto by another structure such as a projecting arm. The housing includes an electrical outlet of the type designed to connect to two-or-three prong AC plugs. Preferably the electric outlet is a ground fault interrupter type outlet. Preferably a movable door or hood covers the electric outlet. When the outlet is not in use, preferably the door in the closed position preserves the profile of the housing. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In describing the present invention reference is made to accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exterior lamp fixture according to aspects of the present invention and showing the fixture with the door in a closed position; 
       FIG. 2  is a rear perspective exploded view of a partially-assembled device of  FIG. 1 , but with the door in a partially open position; and 
       FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the assembled device of  FIG. 1  (without showing a rear cover plate). 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1 through 3  depict an exterior wall lamp embodying various aspects of the present invention. Fixture  10  includes a housing  12  configured to be connected along a vertical wall, typically an exterior wall. Projecting from the housing  12  is a projecting arm  14 , and extending upward from arm  14  is a luminaire  16 . It will be understood that the particular shapes, configuration, and ornamentation are not confined to the illustrative embodiment shown in the figures As is commonly known, there are various ornamentations and embellishments for lighting products which may be configured to present contemporary, modern, classic, neoclassic, Rococo, colonial, Early American, and numerous other architectural appearances. The structures are typically made of a cast metal although synthetic products are also used. The present invention includes all such architectural appearances and shapes and is not limited to the specific material from which the structure is made. 
   Fixture  10  is typically mounted to an electrical box or other fitting at an elevated location on an exterior wall. The manner of connection is well established in the art, and like fixture  10  uses the standard connections and fittings Accordingly, it will be understood that like fixture  10  is ordinarily connected to a source of single phase alternating current, typically 120 volts, or such other standard electrical power provided to residences in the United States and other countries. Wires (not illustrated) located within housing  12  connect to the wires available within the wall structure to which fixture  10  is being connected. The internal wires within fixture  10  extend through a cavity in projecting arm  14  and connect electrically in standard manner to one or more light sockets  18  within luminaire  16 . The socket or sockets  18  receive one or more lamps and, when power is turned on through a switch, which is typically located at an inside location available to the user, create light which radiates through a globe  20  typically made of glass or plastic and providing illumination for the area surrounding fixture  10 . Typically a protective roof or dome  22  is provided above the one or more lamps to protect them from inclement weather. Various mechanical components are included in the light fixture  10  as customary in the industry and well-known to the art. 
     FIGS. 1 and 2  show that projecting arm  14  extends generally perpendicularly from a central location of a front wall  24  of housing  12 . Face  24  is typically but not necessarily a flat member In addition to front wall  24 , housing  12  includes top and bottom walls  26 ,  28  and side walls  30  and  32 . 
   In the illustrated embodiment, a door or hood  34  is movable with respect to housing  12 . In the illustrated embodiment, door  34  is a generally rectangular structure engaging an axle member  35  extending horizontally within bearings  36  located at the top of door  34 . These constitute an illustrative pivoting arrangement. Hence, door  34  is connected to articulate with respect to the rest of housing  12 . It will be appreciated that the axle and bearing arrangement  35 ,  36  may include further or alternative structure to maintain door  34  in a non-vertical position through a friction fit or, alternatively, may allow door  34  to articulate completely freely so that after being lifted up by a user, it falls to its rest position through the force of gravity. The rest position is shown in  FIG. 1  wherein door  34  is vertical and parallel to its adjacent wall  30 , thus giving the appearance from a front view of a housing for an exterior wall lamp. 
     FIG. 2  is a rear perspective partially-exploded view of most of the structure of device  10 . It illustrates fixture  10  where door  34  is in a partially opened position. Moving door  34  in this fashion exposes the front face of an electric socket  40 . Preferably socket  40  is configured to receive a three-prong AC plug. More preferably, electrical socket  40  is adapted to receive up to two standard three-prong AC connectors in a vertical configuration where one socket is located vertically above the other socket. Preferably the socket  40  is a ground fault interrupter (GFCI) of standard construction. Electrical socket  40  is connected to the side wall  30  by screws  44 . The interior electrical wiring of housing  10  is arranged to provide AC power to not only the luminaire  16  but also to the electrical socket  40 . 
   Still referring to  FIG. 2 , the front of electrical socket  40  fits into an aperture  46  in side wall  30 . Illustratively, a ridge  48  projects outward laterally from side wall  30  and circumscribes aperture  46 . Ridge  48  need not be rectangular (the shape of aperture  46 ) but can have other shapes. In the illustrated embodiment, ridge  48  forms a six-sided closed polygon with the two vertical portions being longer than the other four portions of this polygon. Thus, it will be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3  that ridge  48  has substantially vertical portions that flank and are parallel to the side, vertical edges of aperture  46 . Ridge  48  also includes four additional portions, two of them extending above the top of aperture  46 , and two of them extending below the bottom of aperture  46 . Illustratively, the ridge extends beyond apertures that receive screws  44  (which are used to secure electrical socket  40  to housing  12 . 
   Laterally outward from ridge  48  is a frame  50  which extends outwardly from sidewall  30  and illustratively is rectangular in shape to correspond to the overall shape of door  34 . Thus, the ridge  48  is within a region defined by frame  50 . Preferably frame  50  is integral with housing  12  and extends laterally therefrom. Preferably the forward portion of frame  50  is at or near the front wall  24  of housing  12 . For aesthetic purposes, it may be slightly rearward thereof. Preferably the rear vertical portion of frame  50  is aligned or slightly offset from the rear of housing  12 . As shown in the figures, frame  50  is slightly larger than door  34 , and the axle  34  and bearings  36  are located laterally and vertically within the space defined by frame  50 . However, axle  35  and bearings  36  may extend further laterally away from sidewall  30  than frame  50  extends, as seen in the figures. It will be seen also that the axle  35  and bearings  36  are generally located at the top portion of frame  50 . 
   Door  34  may comprise a member of substantially constant thickness or may itself have perimeter walls which extend further back toward housing  12  to form a cavity behind the front face of door  34 . Preferably door  34  is a single, integral member. Preferably the door  34  is generally rectangular in shape and fits within frame  50 . Illustratively but not necessarily the front face of door  34  may be located further laterally away from housing  12  than the outermost edges of frame  50 . A benefit of this is that a user can grasp the bottom of door  34  more easily when it projects laterally outward beyond frame  50 . In one embodiment, the door  34  in the closed position is parallel to side wall  30  and comes to rest upon the outside of ridge  48  which may be used to form a seal. Alternatively, when door  34  is in the closed position, it need not touch any portion of ridge  48 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , the electrical socket  40  is shown connected to side wall  30 , and a bracket  52  is provided for mechanical connection of the housing  12  to the exterior wall or to a rear wall (not illustrated) of housing  12 . Illustratively, bracket  52  includes a rear, vertically extending portion  54  connected to a transverse portion  56  which connects to a front member  58 . Preferably member  58  is attached to the rear face of front wall  24 . 
   A rear wall for housing  12  may be included and may connect to housing  12  via screws or other fasteners associated with rear vertical member  54  or otherwise. Alternatively, the rear vertical member  54  may be connected directly to the exterior wall. 
   In use, after fixture  10  has been installed on a wall, it is usable to provide illumination as is customary but it provides the further versatility of being a source of power for electrical devices. Illustratively, such devices could be a power tool, an extension cord for seasonal lighting or other purposes, lawn maintenance equipment or the like, or numerous other apparatus calling for AC power. The electrical socket  40  is convenient and secure when the ground fault interrupter circuit is used.