Abstract:
A low-power illumination apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a mounting for securely mounting to a building surface in a residence or building. A light bulb socket is electrically connected to an external power source through a hollow housing which holds the socket and the electrical wiring providing the power. The housing may include decorative aspects.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/669,172, filed Apr. 7, 2005. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to decorative lighting fixtures, and, more particularly to a low-power lighting fixture.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     Many devices and methods are known for illumination within residences and other buildings. In many cases, lights are desired on surfaces in buildings such as window sills, mantels or other planar surfaces. It is also known to use low-power lighting as this reduces the temperature of the light and thus, the danger of burns to people and pets and the danger of fire should the lighting be placed near flammable materials. The most common type of device used is a lamp or candle shaped light having an electrical cord which supplies power from an electrical outlet. These types of devices are often unsteady and the cords are unsightly.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,869 discloses a bracket for mounting these electric candles. The bracket stabilizes the candle and directs the candle&#39;s electrical cord toward an electrical outlet, hiding a portion of the cord.  
         [0007]     Newer devices are designed to plug into outlets located in a window sill. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,977 teaches a light which simulates a candle for placement in a window sill. The device includes a plug at its terminal which is inserted into an electrical outlet in the window sill. U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,360 discloses an electrical candle which plugs into an electrical socket in a window sill. U.S. Pat. No. 6,837,594, an improvement to U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,360, discloses a low-power illumination device which plugs directly into an electrical outlet in a window sill. While these devices eliminate the electrical cord used in prior devices, they are not securely attached to the window sill as electrical plugs are easily removed from electrical outlets. The devices disclosed also do not protect against water leaking in from the window or water spillage adjacent to the electrical socket.  
         [0008]     Of the illumination devices invented, there are none that provide a secure apparatus for mounting a low-power illumination apparatus in a window sill or other surface inside a residence or other building. Additionally, the prior art does not teach a device which protects against water leaking into a window and causing damage.  
         [0009]     Through the details of the present invention set forth below it will be shown that the low-power illumination apparatus by its low-voltage operation and the avoidance of surface wiring provides for a safe and convenient system that minimizes the chances of accident and injury. Through the use of low-voltage, the low-power illumination apparatus may be continuously operated with power consumption held to a low level and heat dissipation held to safe levels to prevent injury to persons or pets and to prevent combustion of surrounding or proximate flammable materials. Further, the secure embedded attachment of the low-power illumination apparatus to a wood structure minimizes the chances of the low-power illumination apparatus and its attendant low-voltage wiring from being separated, thus minimizing the chance of electrical shorts from the exposed wiring. Further continuous wiring from the attachment of the low-voltage wiring to a low-voltage power source to the screws within the low-power illumination apparatus helps prevent the chances of electrical shorting and its incumbent dangers if water were to accidentally be introduced at the base of the low-power illumination apparatus. Lastly, the decorative bases which are integral structural components of the low-power illumination apparatuses may be of different materials, colors and designs to accommodate and accentuate the proximate interior design.  
         [0010]     An object of the present invention is to provide a low-power illumination apparatus which provides a secure attachment.  
         [0011]     An object of the present invention is to provide a low-power illumination apparatus which provides a water resistant attachment means.  
         [0012]     An object of the present invention is to provide a low-power illumination apparatus which reduces the chance of exposed wires and the resultant dangers.  
         [0013]     Finally, it is an object of the present invention to accomplish the foregoing objectives in a simple and cost effective manner.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     The present invention addresses these needs by providing an electrically powered low-power illumination apparatus for mounting to a building surface. A hole is formed within the surface which hole securely accepts a mounting device. The mounting device is preferably scored or roughened to improve the connection between the hole and the mounting device. If desired, adhesive, nails, screws, threaded mating surfaces or other more secure means may be used. A mounting spigot is connected to the mounting device, preferably through threaded mating surfaces such that the mounting spigot is flush with the building surface and both the mounting device and spigot are contained within the hole. Both the mounting spigot and mounting device have holes through which an electrical wire may extend. The apparatus further includes a socket connected to the mounting spigot for accepting a light bulb which is electrically connected to an electrical wire so that power may be provided to the socket to light the bulb. The socket is preferably connected to the mounting spigot by means of threaded mating surfaces. A hollow housing houses the socket at the distal end such that access to the socket is provided and such that the electrical wire extends from the socket, through the housing, through the hole in the mounting spigot and through the hollow mounting device such that electrical power may be supplied to the socket. Finally, a closure device may be provided which may be secured to the mounting device upon removal of the mounting spigot.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     A more complete description of the subject matter of the present invention and the advantages thereof, can be achieved by the reference to the following detailed description by which reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0016]      FIG. 1   a  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a low-power illumination apparatus as mounted in a window sill according to the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 1   b  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a low-power illumination apparatus as mounted on a mantel according to the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a low-power illumination apparatus as mounted on a wall according to the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a low-power illumination apparatus as mounted in a window sill according to the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is an exploded side view of the preferred embodiment of a low-power illumination apparatus according to the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a side cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of a low-power illumination apparatus according to the present invention in the uninstalled orientation;  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a side cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of a low-power illumination apparatus according to the present invention in the uninstalled orientation;  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is a side cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of a low-power illumination apparatus according to the present invention in the uninstalled orientation;  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is a view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the mounting system of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the mounting system of an alternate embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the mounting system of an alternate embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0028]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the mounting system of the preferred embodiment of the present invention in the closed and sealed orientation.  
     
    
     ELEMENT LIST  
       [0029]      20  insert chamber  
         [0030]      22  threaded mounting device hub  
         [0031]      24  threaded mounting device spigot  
         [0032]      26  threaded coupling  
         [0033]      28  threaded hollow rod  
         [0034]      29  hollow rod with threaded ends  
         [0035]      30  chamberbase fixture  
         [0036]      32  candlestick pedestal  
         [0037]      34  candelabra lamp holder  
         [0038]      36  candle sleeve  
         [0039]      38  low-power electric lamp  
         [0040]      40  threaded nut  
         [0041]      42  washer  
         [0042]      43  wood mounting block  
         [0043]      44  window sill  
         [0044]      45  fireplace mantel  
         [0045]      46  low-voltage wiring  
         [0046]      50  sconce fixture base  
         [0047]      54  fixture mounting arm  
         [0048]      56  wall escutcheon plate  
         [0049]      58  fixture mounting down rod  
         [0050]      60  lamp base  
         [0051]      64  low-power illumination apparatus  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0052]     The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention.  
         [0053]     As generally shown in  FIGS. 1A, 1B ,  2  and  3 , the stable secure mounting of the low-power illumination apparatus  64  is accomplished, as will be shown below, through attachments to a mounting block which may be a window sill  44 , bead board rail, fireplace mantel  45 , stair casing rail, wall board, newel post, ceiling board or other similar wood component of a building structure.  
         [0054]     Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the low-power illumination apparatus  64  of the present invention is shown in a configuration having the appearance of a window sill  44  candle and a candle on a fireplace mantel  45  respectively. Both candles are designed to appear as though they are set upon a window sill  44  or fireplace mantel  45  where, in fact, as will be shown in paragraphs that follow, the low-power illumination apparatus  64  is fixedly attached to window sill  44  or fireplace mantel  45 . The details of the electrical and mechanical attachment of the low-power illumination apparatus, as best shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , are hidden by the candlestick pedestal  32  and the candle sleeve  36 .  
         [0055]     In another embodiment as shown in  FIG. 2 , the low-power illumination apparatus  64  of the present invention is shown in the configuration having the appearance of a wall mounted sconce fixture, which is fixedly attached as shown in  FIG. 7  to wood mounting block  43 . The details of the electrical and mechanical attachment of the low-power illumination apparatus  64 , as best shown in  FIG. 7 , are hidden by the wall escutcheon plate  56 , fixture mounting arm  54 , sconce fixture base  50  and candle sleeve  36 .  
         [0056]     In another embodiment as shown in  FIG. 3 , the low-power illumination apparatus  64  of the present invention is shown in the configuration of a fixture assembly with overhead mount which is fixedly attached as shown in  FIG. 8  to wood mounting block  43 . The details of the electrical and mechanical attachment of the low-power illumination apparatus  64 , as best shown in  FIG. 8 , are hidden by the wall escutcheon plate  56 , the fixture mounting down rod  58  and lamp base  60 .  
         [0057]     The low-power illumination apparatus  64  illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  as a window candle having details best shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  includes a candelabra lamp holder  34  inside the candle sleeve  36  having coupled thereto a low-power electric lamp  38  which is supplied electrical power via low-voltage wiring  46 . The low-voltage wiring  46  is to be coupled to a low-voltage power source (not shown) such as a 12 VDC, 12 VAC or other low-voltage power source. The low-voltage power source could be incorporated into a control panel (not shown) which could include a time clock such that the time would automatically turn on and off the electric candle or a rechargeable battery as a back-up in the event of main power failure. The control panel could also be configured so that multiple low-power illumination apparatuses  64  could be grouped for control purposes so lights in individual rooms or in certain exterior windows could be turned on and off as a group. Low-power lamp  38  is preferably a low-wattage incandescent bulb, and may be formed in the shape of a candle flame or any other desired configuration. The bulb is threadably inserted into a lamp socket which is part of the candelabra lamp holder  34  (shown in  FIGS. 4, 5  and  7 ) or into a lamp base  60  (shown in  FIG. 8 ) and may thereby be interchanged with bulbs of different shapes. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, low-power lamp  38  is a 3 W to 6 W incandescent bulb driven by the low-voltage power source in order that the invention may be continuously operated with power consumption held to a low level and heat dissipation held to safe levels to prevent injury to persons or pets and prevent combustion of surrounding or proximate flammable materials. Several such low-power illumination apparatuses  64  may be separately wired to achieve a desired decorative effect. Alternatively, multiple apparatuses of the various embodiments of the present invention may be placed throughout a dwelling or other building to provide low levels of light at night as in windows or darkened stairways and hallways. When controlled by a central control panel containing a battery back-up or alternate power source, the apparatuses could also function as minimal lighting in the event of main power failure.  
         [0058]     Low-voltage wiring  46  is routed from each low-power illumination apparatus  64  through the walls of the building or structure to the low-voltage power source (not shown) to provide electrical power separately to each low-power illumination apparatus  64 . As best shown in  FIGS. 5, 6  and  7 , the low-voltage wiring  46  is pulled through insert chamber  20 , through the hole in the center of threaded mounting device hub  22 , through the hollow center of threaded mounting device spigot  24  and hence through either the threaded coupling  26 , the threaded hollow rod  28 , the hollow rod with threaded ends  29  ( FIG. 11 ) or the fixture mounting down rod  58  ( FIG. 8 ). The low-voltage wiring  46  is then fixedly attached to low-voltage electrical attachments on the candelabra lamp holder  34  ( FIGS. 5, 6  and  7 ) or in the lamp base  60  ( FIG. 8 ). As illustrated in  FIGS. 5, 7  and  8  and best shown in  FIGS. 9, 10  and  11 , holes are drilled in the window sill  44  (or, as desired, the mounting block  43  or the fireplace mantel  45 ) to a size specification to, in the preferred embodiment, accommodate insert chamber  20  which is preferably made of an inflammable, flexible, supportive, non-conductive material such as rubber and additionally to a size specification required so that the threaded mounting device  22 , which preferably includes a scored or roughened outer surface, must be forcibly inserted into the hole causing its rough outer surface to bind and grip the exposed wood of the hole in the window sill  44  thus creating a mechanical coupling point for threaded mounting device spigot  24  which will securely maintain the upright, horizontal or hanging embodiments of the present invention. Alternately, threaded mounting device hub  22  could be secured in the hole by use of glue, a threaded base, set-screws or other secure means. The depth of the drilled hole in the window sill  44  to receive the threaded mounting device hub  22  shall be of the precise depth such that the exposed top edge of the threaded mounting device hub  22  shall be below the plane of the surface of the window sill  44  such that the top surface of the threaded mounting device spigot  24  is preferably flush with the window sill  44  when installed.  
         [0059]     As shown in  FIG. 12 , flush mounted decorative plug  23  may be inserted into threaded mounting device hub  22  in the event that the low-power illumination apparatus  64  is removed. As previously described, the depth of the drilled hole in the window sill  44  to receive threaded mounting device hub  22  shall be of the precise depth such that the exposed top edge of threaded mounting device hub  22  shall be below the plane of the surface of the window sill  44  such that the top surface of flush mounted decorative plug  23  shall be flush with the window sill  44  when installed. As shown in  FIG. 12 , the low-voltage wiring  46 , once disconnected from the low-voltage power supply (not shown), may be disconnected from the candelabra lamp holder  34  ( FIGS. 5, 6  and  7 ) or the lamp base  60  ( FIG. 8 ) and coiled and stored in the insert chamber  20 .  
         [0060]     In order to accommodate various base designs such as a candlestick pedestal  32 , a chamberbase fixture  30  or a wall escutcheon plate  56 , illustrated in  FIGS. 5, 6 ,  7  and  8  and best shown in  FIGS. 9, 10  and  11 , the threaded mounting device  24  may have a female threaded opening to accommodate a threaded hollow rod  28  ( FIG. 9 ) or a hollow rod  29  with threaded ends ( FIG. 11 ) or a fixture mounting down rod  58  ( FIG. 8 ). Alternatively, the threaded mounting device  24  may have a male threaded opening to accommodate a threaded hollow rod  28  ( FIG. 9 ) used in conjunction with a threaded coupling  26  ( FIG. 10 ). All of these embodiments provide for the secure attachment of and linking together of the various base embodiments to the candelabra lamp holder  34  ( FIGS. 5, 6  and  7 ) or the lamp base  60  ( FIG. 8 ) and to the threaded mounting device spigot  24 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 6 , a threaded nut  40  and a washer  42  may be used in conjunction with a threaded hollow rod  28  to securely fasten the chamber base embodiment to a threaded mounting device spigot  24 .  
         [0061]     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that there may be many combinations of a candlestick pedestal  32  ( FIG. 5 ), a chamberbase fixture  30  ( FIG. 6 ), a wall escutcheon plate  56  ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ) or other similar embodiments and the various attachment mechanisms in the form of a threaded hollow rod  28  ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ), a fixture mounting arm  54  ( FIG. 7 ), a fixture mounting down rod ( FIG. 8 ) or other similar embodiment which are dependent on the exact design of the bases and fixtures.  
         [0062]     The tubular body  36  can be made of different materials and in different colors and designs to accommodate holiday or seasonal themes or the proximate interior design to aid in flexibility of use. As described above, the low-power illumination apparatus of the present invention by its low-voltage operation and the avoidance of surface wiring provides for a safe and convenient system that minimizes the chances of accident and injury. Further, in its embodiment as illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  and best shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the secure embedded attachment of the chamberbase fixture  30 , the candlestick pedestal  32  or any similar decorative base to a mounting block such as a window sill  44  minimizes the chances of the low-power illumination apparatus and its attendant low-voltage wiring  46  from being separated, thus minimizing the chance of electrical shorts from the exposed wiring. Further the attachment of the low-voltage wiring  46  to the screws on the candelabra lamp holder  34  prevent the chances of electrical shorting and its incumbent dangers if water were to accidentally be introduced to insert chamber  20 .  
         [0063]     Obviously, many modifications may be made without departing from the basic spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that within the scope of the appended claims, the inventions may be practiced other than has been specifically described herein. Many improvements, modifications, and additions will be apparent to the skilled artisan without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as described herein and defined in the following claims.