Abstract:
An adapter assembly for converting a fluorescent lamp fixture to accept lamps of a different size than the fixture is configured to accommodate. The assembly comprises two adapters in combination with a support rod. The adapters are located at the respective ends of the support rod and plug into the sockets of the fixture. The adapters comprise sockets slideably disposed on a tongue portion for adjustment of the vertical position of the new fluorescent lamp.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims priority from a provisional application, Ser. No. 60/557,421, filed Mar. 30, 2004. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention is directed to the field of fluorescent lighting fixtures, and in particular to apparatus for mounting lamp tubes in such fixtures.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     In the effort to reduce the power consumption of fluorescent lamps used in room lighting, modem electronic techniques have been applied to reduce not only the power consumption, but also the size of fluorescent lamp tubes. This has been accomplished without a sacrifice in the luminosity of the smaller lamps. Thus a smaller fluorescent lamp tube can produce a comparable amount of light on a one-for-one basis as did older, larger lamp tubes and do so while consuming less electrical power than the older tubes.  
         [0004]     Individuals and facility managers wishing to take advantage of the economies offered by the new lamp tubes, however, face a decision. The new lamp tubes are smaller in at least two dimensions, length and diameter, than their predecessors. Unless there is a way to fit the new size lamp tubes in the existing fixtures, not only would individuals and facility managers have to replace old lamp tubes with new ones, but also replace the old fixtures at the same time. That can present an expense that discourages the prospective users from making the change at all.  
         [0005]     Thus, there is a need for adaptive hardware to allow the new dimension lamp tubes to be fitted into old lamp fixtures. The present invention is an example of one such adaptive apparatus.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     An adapter assembly for converting a light fixture having fluorescent lamp sockets from one size fluorescent lamp to another comprising a pair of adapters connected to a support rod with first and second ends. The adapters are located at the respective ends of said support rod. Each of the adapters comprises a main body to which the support rod is connected, and further comprises connecting pins for connection to the light fixture sockets. The adapters each further comprise a tongue portion whereon is disposed a socket for mounting a fluorescent lamp. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a depiction of the adapter connected to the support rod and having a fluorescent lamp mounted in the adapter.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2   a  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the adapter.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2   b  is a partial perspective view of a second embodiment of the adapter. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     For the purpose of adapting a smaller, shorter tube into a fixture that was designed to accommodate a larger, longer tube, the invention is an adapter and support apparatus into which the shorter tube may be mounted. The adapter passes the electrical connections from the standard mounting sockets in the fixture through into the adapter.  
         [0012]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the illustration shows the complete adapter assembly  10 . The assembly comprises two lamp adapters  12 , one at each end of the assembly. The adapters  12  are connected to each other by a support rod  14 . Finally, a lamp tube  16  is shown mounted in the adapters  12 . For the purpose of this description, reference to the conversion from a larger lamp fixture to the smaller lamp tube using the adapter assembly will be made as follows: the larger lamp fixture will be assumed to be a T-12 fluorescent lamp fixture and the smaller will be assumed to be a T-5 fluorescent lamp tube. Persons skilled in the art will recognize that other conversions are possible.  
         [0013]     The adapters  12  are mounted on each end of the support rod  14 . The support rod  14  provides a stable mechanical mount for the adapter  12  at the rod ends and for the lamp tube  16  that connects into the adapters  12 . The electrical contact pins (not shown) on the lamp tube  16  engage a socket  18  on the adapters  12 . This socket  18  is movable up and down along the inwardly facing tongue  20  of the adapter  12  so that the distance of the lamp tube  16  from the support rod  14  may be adjusted as necessary.  
         [0014]     The support rod  14 , in some applications, may contain the electronic ballast (not shown) that provides the energizing electronic signal that makes the fluorescent tube turn on and emit light. The ballast may also be a dimmable ballast that permits control of the luminosity of the fluorescent lamp mounted in the fixture.  
         [0015]     The support rod  14  joins to the adapters  12  at the respective ends of the rod. The support rod  14  of the apparatus may provide an aperture at each end into which a protrusion on the adapter  12 , shaped to fit the aperture, may be inserted for frictional engagement of the adapter to the end of the support rod. Alternatively, the protrusion may be at the ends of the rod and fit into an aperture in the adapter. Once engaged at each end of the support rod  14 , two adapters  12  may support a fluorescent tube between them  16 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 2   a  shows an exemplary embodiment of the adapter  12 . The adapter comprises a main body  28 . On the outside of the main body  28  are the connecting pins  30  for connection to the original lighting fixture for the larger lamp that is being replaced. Each adapter  12  plugs into the old receptacles in the fixture and is supported within the fixture from the connection of the pins  30  on each adapter to the receptacles in the fixture. The connecting pins may extend from a rotatable base (not shown) in the socket body  28  so that the pins can be rotated into the proper position and locked in the fixture while maintaining the vertical orientation of the adapter  12 . The main body  28  is also adapted to be joined to the support rod  14  in one of the ways described above (mating protrusions and apertures on the rod  14  and the adapter main body  28 ), or in another manner that suitably joins the rod and adapter in a firm connection.  
         [0017]     The adapter further comprises a tongue portion  20  the descends from the main body  28 . A socket  18  is slideably disposed either on or within the tongue portion  20 .  FIG. 2   a  shows the socket  18  disposed on the tongue portion, mounted in a vertical slot  22  that permits the socket to be moved up or down as necessary to accommodate the fixture.  FIG. 2   b  shows the socket  18  disposed within the tongue portion, slideable up and down in the tongue portion. In this configuration, one or more small guide pins (not shown) on the rear of the socket travel in a vertical slot  32  on the outward side of the adapter  12  and prevent the socket from rotating. The socket  18  may be locked in place along the tongue slot by any one of a number of common means, such as friction locks, snaps, pins, screws and the like.  
         [0018]     The socket  18  is configured with the appropriate grooves  36  for entry of the connecting pins at the ends of the fluorescent lamp tube  16 . The socket has provision for accepting and locking into the socket the two connecting pins on a fluorescent lamp that is common to most fluorescent sockets known to those skilled in the art.  
         [0019]     Electrical power is supplied to the fluorescent lamp tube  16  in one of at least two ways. If the ballast in the old fixture is electrically compatible with the new lamp tubes, then one configuration of the adapter routes the electrical power from the mounting pins  30  on the adapter, through the tongue portion  20 , and into the socket  18  into which the new lamp is mounted. Alternatively, a new ballast may be required. That ballast may be disposed within the support rod  14 . If so, its power output can be routed through the support rod and into the adapters  12  to the sockets  18 .  
         [0020]     In use, two adapters  12  are assembled with a support rod  14 . The adapters  12  are plugged into the light fixture sockets and preferably locked such that the adapter tongue portions  20  extend vertically downward from the support rod  14 . A new fluorescent lamp tube  16  is then mounted in the sockets  18  that are slideably adjustable on the adapter tongues. In this manner, an old light fixture originally configured for a T-12 lamp tube can be converted to accommodate a new T-5 lamp tube. The facility need not suffer the cost of replacing the old light fixtures to take advantage of the economies associated with the conversion to the more efficient lamps.  
         [0021]     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.