Abstract:
Disclosed herein is an adjustable induction lamp adapter that is also extendable. The adjustable induction lamp adapter attaches to an induction lamp by clamping onto an induction lamp bar. The clamping is achieved through the use of a removable end cap at the base of the adjustable induction lamp adapter, wherein the end cap has a cutout and screw to hold the induction lamp bar in place. The adjustable induction lamp adapter is designed to also be able to extend in length by attaching one or more extension adapters.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a induction bulb adapter, and more particularly to an extendable induction bulb adapter. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     Induction lamps have many advantages over other conventional lamps. The primary difference between an induction lamp and a conventional lamp is that an induction lamp is electrode-less. Being electrode-less, induction lamps enjoy a longer life than conventional lamps that are dependent on an electrode. Generally, electrodes will end up failing in normal lamps, such as normal fluorescent lamps, shortening their life. In addition, induction lamps have a sealed tube, made possible by not having electrodes. As the tube can be perfectly sealed, induction lamps may also experience a longer life than conventional lamps because the gas cannot escape through worn out seals. Induction lamps are also very energy efficient, do not exhibit flickering, and are dimmable. 
     Due to the many advantages of induction lighting, there is a general desire to retrofit existing lighting systems with induction lamps. One of the most popular fitting systems for lamps is the Edison screw. There are existing means of connecting and powering an induction lamp to an Edison screw fitting. A popular means is with internal induction lamps, which tend to be more compact and styled like a conventional candescent light bulb. There are also existing means for connecting and powering an external induction lamp to an Edison style socket. One popular means is through the use of a round shaped external induction lamp attached to an adapter that allows the lamp to be connected and powered by an Edison style socket. The adapter generally is comprised of an Edison screw, connected to a cylindrical shaft, which is fixedly attached to the external induction lamp at the other end. 
     One popular application for induction lamp retrofitting is with high bay and low bay lighting systems. Due to the design of the high bay and low bay dome, the position of the induction lamp relative to the dome may significantly affect the effectiveness of the light refraction. With existing external induction lamp retrofits, the adapter has a fixed length, and is not adjustable. As such, to adjust the induction lamps position, the adapter must be replaced with an entirely different one with the appropriate shaft length. Though the desire of adjustability has been described with high and low bay lighting, there is a desire for adjusting the position of the induction lamp beyond high and low bay lighting. There is thus a desire within the industry for a more convenient and flexible means of adjusting the positioning of an external induction lamp. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a preferred embodiment, an induction lamp base adapter is capable of being screwed into an Edison style socket at one end and attached to an induction lamp at another end. Wiring which runs through the shaft of the adapter carries the current from the Edison style screw to the induction lamp. An end cap with a specialized shape and screw placement is utilized to securely clamp the adapter to an induction lamp bar. The induction lamp base adapter may be extended in length through the use of one or more extension adapters. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of an embodiment of an induction lamp base adapter; 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of an induction lamp base adapter; 
         FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a round induction lamp with a connector bar; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of an of a round induction lamp with a connector bar, attached to an induction lamp base adapter; 
         FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of an embodiment of an induction lamp base adapter with the end cap removed; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of an induction lamp extender; 
         FIG. 7  is a top perspective view of an embodiment of an induction lamp extender; and 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of an induction lamp base adapter with an induction lamp extender. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  show a preferred embodiment of an induction lamp base adapter. At the top is the Edison screw  110 , which attaches to a corresponding Edison style socket. As is well known in the industry, there are a number of various sizes for Edison screws, such as E5, E10, E11, E12, E14, E17, E26, E27, E29, E39, and E40. Below the Edison screw is the hollow cylindrical shaft  120 , which can be of various lengths. As shown, the bottom portion of the cylindrical shaft  120  has male threading  130 . At the bottom of the induction lamp base adapter is an end cap  140  that is screwed in by four screws to the cylindrical shaft  120 . The end cap  140 , as will be seen, is used to fixedly attach the induction lamp to the induction lamp base adapter. The end cap  140  is attached to the cylindrical shaft  120  by the end cap screws  150 , which enter an opening in the end cap, and screw into screw holes in the bottom ring area portion of the cylindrical shaft. 
       FIG. 3  shows a top perspective view of an embodiment of an induction lamp that may be attached to an induction lamp base adapter. The induction lamp is comprised of a circular induction bulb  310 , induction coils  320 , and handle  330 . As is known to those skilled in the art, the circular induction bulb  310  is actually comprised of two halves, which work together to have the appearance of one circular induction bulb. The induction lamp bar  330  is fixed attached to the induction coils, and is designed to specifically attach to an induction lamp base adapter. In this embodiment, the induction lamp bar  330  is comprised of a crossbar that attaches to the two induction coils  320 . The crossbar has two sidewalls that extend outward from the induction coils  320 . Between the two sidewalls is a floor with two induction lamp bar screw openings  340 . The induction lamp bar screw openings  340  are shown as elongated openings, and may also be circular openings. In this embodiment, there is also an opening in the center. The use of these openings can be seen in  FIG. 4 . 
     The end cap  140  is removed from the cylindrical shaft  120 , by removing the end cap screws  150 . In the preferred embodiment, the end cap  140  is circular shaped, with a sidewall that extends towards the cylindrical shaft  120 . There are cut outs of the sidewall at two opposing ends of the sidewall, and the cut outs are approximately the same size as a cross section of the induction lamp bar  330 . This allows for the end cap  140  to be fitted under the induction lamp bar  330 , such that the induction lamp bar  330  embed into cut outs of the sidewall of the end cap  140 . The end cap  140  is then attached to the cylindrical shaft  120 , using the end cap screws  150 . There is an end cap screw opening positioned at each cut out of the end cap  140 . This allows for the end cap screws  150  positioned at the cut out, to enter through the two induction lamp bar screw openings  340 . Once the end cap screws  150  are screwed in, the induction lamp bar  330  will become fixedly attached to the induction lamp base adapter. The induction lamp bar  330  is unable to twist around relative to the induction lamp base adapter due to the shape of the cutouts. In addition, the induction lamp bar  330  is unable to slide along the cutout due to the end cap screws  150  being positioned through the induction lamp bar screw opening  340 . This is shown in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 2  shows an embodiment of the end cap  140  without a hole in the center. In contrast,  FIG. 4  shows an end cap  420  with a hold in the center. Other than having a hole in the center, the end cap  420  of  FIG. 4  is identical to the end cap  140  of  FIG. 2 . The purpose of the center hole in the end cap  420  is to allow the wiring, which runs down the inside of the cylindrical shaft  120 , to come out. The wiring carries the electrical current from the Edison screw. Having the wiring exit from the hole in the end cap  420  works fine if there is loose wire, which can fit through the center hole of the end cap  420 . In addition, there is also a hole in the center of the induction lamp bar  330  for allowing the wiring to pass through. However, if there is a harness  520  attached at the end of the wiring  510 , such as in  FIG. 5 , then the size of the harness  520  may be prohibitively large to fit through a center hole in the induction lamp bar  330  and/or end cap  420 . In this case, the wiring may simply exit out of the induction lamp base adapter through the cutout of the end cap  140 . The harness provides the convenience of being able to quickly and easily attach to a receiving harness adapter on the induction lamp. 
     The induction lamp base adapter has male threading  130  at the base of its cylindrical shaft  120 . The purpose of the male threading  130  is to allow for an extension adapter to be attached. A preferred embodiment of an extension adapter can be seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The extension adapter in  FIGS. 6 and 7  has a hollow cylindrical shaft  610 , with female threading  710  at the top and male threading  620  at the bottom. The bottom, or base, ring area also has end cap screw holes  630 , which are positioned in the same layout as the end cap screw holes in the induction lamp base adapter. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the extension adapter may be screwed onto the base of the induction lamp base adapter by attaching the male threading  130  to the female threading  710 . The end cap  140  can then be attached to the base of the extension adapter in the same manner as when attaching to the induction lamp base adapter. The wiring that goes down through the cylindrical shaft  120  of the induction lamp base adapter can extend down the cylindrical shaft  610  of the extension adapter. There may be various lengths of the extension adapter. In addition, multiple extension adapters can be chained together to extend the length as desired. This chaining is possible since the extension adapter also has male threading at the base, allowing it to also attach to another extension adapter. 
     The present invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. While there have been described herein, what are considered to be preferred and exemplary embodiments of the present invention, other modifications of the invention shall be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings herein and, it is, therefore, desired to be secured in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.