Abstract:
A fitter for a lighting fixture is provided that is made primarily from glass, plastic, or a similar material. The novel fitter design is affixed to the lighting fixture near a socket, and is used to hold in place a removable shade. The shade may rest in the novel fitter, or may be removably attached to it using mechanical attachment means.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present application relates generally to lighting fixtures, and more specifically to elements used to retain glass shades in place on lighting fixtures.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    Electric lighting fixtures are available in a large variety of designs. Many designs have a number of similarities, because of their function. For example, fixtures must include one or more sockets for a light bulb to be connected. In many commonly available fixtures the socket is sized to fit a standard sized bulb, which may come in various wattages. Others utilize specialty bulbs having various sizes and shapes.  
           [0005]    Many fixture designs include a shade of some type to cover the bulb and socket. One design of such shade is to provide a glass, plastic, or similar material shade that is a little larger than the bulb, and that mounts on or near the socket. Such shades can be clear, translucent, colored, or patterned. They may also be sculpted to any of a number of aesthetically pleasing shapes.  
           [0006]    When glass and similar shades are used, provision must be made for holding the shade in position. Often, a fitter is provided for this purpose. The fitter is more or less permanently attached to the fixture, in fixed relationship to the socket. The shade is removable, and attached to the fitter. The fitter performs the function of holding the shade in place, and provides an important secondary function of adding an attractive and aesthetically pleasing look to the fixture.  
           [0007]    Heretofore, fitters used with lighting fixtures have been made from the same material as the fixture itself, or a similar material. For example, fitters are often made from brass or a similar metal having a finish compatible with the fixture itself. They may also be made from plastic, or similar rigid material. Fitters known in the prior art have been made from opaque materials such as those listed, and their design and use has become well know in the art.  
           [0008]    It would be desirable to provide a fitter for a lighting fixture that utilized a novel construction, thereby providing a different style and look for lighting fixtures. It would be desirable for such a novel fitter design to be generally compatible with available lighting fixture designs.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    In accordance with the present invention, a fitter for a lighting fixture is provided that is made primarily from glass, plastic, or a similar material. The novel fitter design is affixed to the lighting fixture near a socket, and is used to hold in place a removable shade. The shade may rest in the novel fitter, or may be removably attached to it using mechanical attachment means.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a view of a part of a lighting fixture utilizing a fitter in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a view of a portion of FIG. 1, illustrating attachment of a preferred fitter in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a view illustrating attachment of a preferred fitter in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a view illustrating attachment of a shade to the fitter of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0015]    In the following description, the improved lighting fixture fitter will generally be referred to as a glass fitter. This will be understood by those skilled in the art from the following description as including fitters made of materials other than glass, such as plastic, acrylic, and similar materials. The novel fitter is intended to provide an aesthetic look different from those previously available by providing a material for the fitter that differs from that used in the fixture itself. This generally requires that the fitter be separately attached to the fixture, rather than being formed integrally therewith.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 shows a portion of a lighting fixture including a single bulb socket of a standard type. An arm  12  of the fixture holds a glass fitter in a fixed position surrounding a socket  16 . Fitter  14  is preferably attached to arm  12  as shown in more detail in FIG. 2. In FIG. 1, a glass shade  18  can be positioned to rest inside fitter  14 . Shade  18  has an enlarged lower opening  20  that fits over the socket  16 . Shade  18  and fitter  14  preferably have been shaped so that the outer surface of shade  18  and the inner surface of shade  14  have approximately or exactly the same contour. This allows fitter  14  to retain shade  18  in position.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 illustrates details of attaching fitter  14 . Arm  12  includes a shoulder  20  that supports fitter  14 . An arm projection  22  extends beyond the shoulder  20 , and is externally threaded. Fitter  14  has an opening  24  in the lower end thereof that fits over projection  22 , but is smaller than shoulder  20 . Lock nut  26  fits on the threads of projection  22 , and holds fitter  14  firmly in place.  
         [0018]    As shown, during manufacture, fitter  14  is attached to arm  12  before socket  16  is installed. Socket  16  has a diameter that is usually larger that the diameter of hole  26 , so that the fitter  14  must be attached before socket  16  is installed. Thus, fitter  14  is not a part that is normally removable. If socket  16  is designed to be removable, fitter  14  can also be removed. However, this is not normally the case for lighting fixture designs. Commonly, one or more washers (not shown) will be provided to maintain fitter  14  in position. A rubber or other soft washer (not shown) may be included where fitter  14  contacts arm  12  to minimize breakage.  
         [0019]    As previously described, fitter  14  is preferably made from glass or other material that differs from the material used to make arm  12  and the remainder of the fixture. Use of glass with a typical brass fixture provides a notable contrast that results in a very different look than that provided with a brass or other opaque fitter. If fitter  14  is clear or translucent, light from a bulb can pass through the fitter as well as shade  18 , providing different illumination patterns than fixtures with opaque fitters. In addition, glass and similar materials can be cut or cast to forms difficult or impossible to achieve with an integral brass fitter, and can be finished with various mattes, colors, and other surface finishes to provide a pleasing look in connection with the fixture. The glass can be molded or cast to include a color or pattern selected to complement the fixture.  
         [0020]    As previously described, the “glass” fitter can actually be made from other materials, such as acrylic or plastic. Formation of the fitter from materials different from those used for the remainder of the fixture give decorating styles that depart from the norm for brass and similar fixtures. The fixture designed is now provided with greater flexibility in designing new fixtures for sale and installation.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 illustrates details of a second embodiment of a fitter in accordance with the present invention. This design is useful in fixtures in which the shade does not simply rest on top of the fitter, and can be used as shown even of the fitter is above the shade. Fitter  14  is attached to arm  12  and shoulder  20  as previously described using a nut  26 , and perhaps additional washers as needed and previously described. As before, fitter  14  is installed before a socket, because the opening  24  in fitter  14  is smaller than the socket.  
         [0022]    In this embodiment, a lamp socket  26  includes external threads  28  suitable for accepting a large nut  30 . Once fitter  14  has been installed, socket  26  is attached. Thereafter, usually at the time the fixture is finally installed, a shade is provided and held in position by large but  30 . This is illustrated in FIG. 4, showing shade  32  held in position against fitter  14  by large nut  30 . In this embodiment, socket  26  and large nut  30  are preferably made from plastic having a hardness sufficient to support the shade  32  without any significant deformation.  
         [0023]    Bulb  34  is installed after shade  32 , and can easily be removed and replaced as in the prior art. Generally, shade  32  can only be removed without bulb  34  in position, because opening  36  at the base of shade  32  is only slightly larger that socket  26 . Large nut  30  is appropriately sized to maintain shade  32  firmly in position against fitter  14 . As previously described, the mating surfaces of fitter  14  and shade  32  are shaped to provide a close fit and help support shade  32  in position.  
         [0024]    The described new fitter design allows significantly different decorating looks to be achieved in lighting fixtures because the fitter can be made to contrast with or complement the remainder of the fixture as desired. Use of glass or other materials allows the fitter to be transparent or translucent, and changes the lighting patterns provided by the fixture. In prior art fitters having opaque materials, light is blocked from passing through the fitter itself, but can pass through a glass fitter of the described design. Because the fitter is made from a different material, it must be installed after the remainder of the fixture is manufactured. This allows easy redesign of the fixture, using different fitters with the same brass remainder of the fixture.  
         [0025]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.