Patent Publication Number: US-2013250547-A1

Title: Lighting conversion apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to and incorporates herein by reference U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/613,058 filed on Mar. 20, 2012. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a lighting conversion apparatus, and more precisely to a screw-in apparatus for converting a recessed light into a non-recessed light. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     A recessed light is installed into a hollow opening in a ceiling, rather than a standard light fixture which hangs below the ceiling. When installed, the recessed light appears as a light emanating from a hole in the ceiling. The bulb used in recessed lighting screws into the socket, which is recessed into the hollow opening so that the bulb sits near the level of the ceiling. 
     However, once installed, an end-user has few options for removing a recessed light. To uninstall a recessed light, the housing must be removed and the hole in the ceiling must be (at least partially) repaired. Further, recessed lights do not always provide the appropriate amount or directionality of light. Recessed lights generally provide “down lighting,” which can produce certain negative aesthetic effects. For example, placing a recessed light too far from a wall can result in a “scalloping” shadow effect in which the downwardly directed light does not reach the top portion of a wall. Down lighting can also result in other strange shadow effects on objects and faces, if not supplemented with other levels and layers of light. 
     Specific advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the attached drawings and the description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     A lighting conversion apparatus is designed to convert a recessed light into a non-recessed light. A threaded electrical contact is designed to screw into the existing socket of a recessed light. The socket is connected to a socket extension, which is in turn connected to a socket extension base. A canopy is attached to the socket extension base, and fixtures extend from the canopy. 
     In operation, the socket extension is fully extended from the socket extension base. The threaded electrical contact is then screwed into the existing socket of a recessed light. Once screwed in, the lighting conversion apparatus may be entirely supported by the socket/electric contact connection. The threaded electrical contact can draw electricity from the existing socket, and provide same to the fixtures through standard electrical wiring. Such wiring is preferably contained within the socket extension/socket extension base, and preferably extends into and through the canopy to the fixtures. 
     However, not all recessed lights are the same depth. The socket of one recessed light may be closer to or further from the ceiling as compared to any other recessed light. Therefore, either the socket extension preferably includes at least one row of teeth. The socket extension base preferably includes at least one finger which engages with the teeth. Alternatively, the socket extension base may include at least one row of teeth while the socket extension includes at least one finger. 
     Once the threaded electrical contact is engaged with the socket, the extended socket extension and socket extension base, when fully extended, serve to position the canopy away from the ceiling. To place the canopy adjacent the ceiling, a user presses upwardly on the canopy, causing the socket extension to be retracted into the socket extension base, effectively “telescoping” the socket extension into the socket extension shaft, until the canopy is flush with the ceiling. As the socket extension collapses into the socket extension base, the at least one finger allows the teeth to pass in only one direction, ratcheting along each successive tooth. However, the finger does not allow the teeth to pass back in the other direction, thereby holding the socket extension and socket extension base in a truncated position. 
     It is noted that in order to uninstall the lighting conversion apparatus, it need merely be unscrewed from the socket. The fingers may have tabs which allow the fingers to be manually pulled away from the teeth to allow the socket extension to be fully extended again. By unscrewing the apparatus and re-extending the socket extension from the socket extension base, the apparatus is essentially reset so that it can be reused. In this manner, the light conversion apparatus is adjustable to substantially any recessed lighting depth. The canopy can be pushed flush with the ceiling, and the fingers/teeth of the socket extension/socket extension base hold the canopy in place. The weight of the light conversion apparatus may be about 5 pounds. 
     Once installed, a variety of light weight decorative shades may be installed using a center stem system similar to what is standard in the lighting industry, as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. A shade in fabric, glass or acrylic may be designed and used. In addition, in one embodiment, a fixture may have functional and decorative directional lighting built into the apparatus. This design allows for a variety of shades and decorative lighting fixtures to be installed to the apparatus. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example lighting conversion module according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a longitudinal cross-sectional perspective view of the example lighting conversion module of  FIG. 1 , as installed in a recessed light. 
         FIG. 3  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a socket extension and socket extension base according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a longitudinal cross sectional view of an example lighting conversion module with a center stem, according to an example embodiment. 
     
    
    
     It should be understood that the present drawings are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments disclosed herein are sometimes illustrated by fragmentary views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should also be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein. Like numbers utilized throughout the various figures designate like or similar parts or structure. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a lighting conversion module  1  is shown, which is configured for use with an existing recessed light housing  2  with an existing socket  5  (best seen in  FIG. 2 ). Lighting conversion module  1  includes a threaded electrical contact  10  at the distal end of an adjustable shaft  12 . The adjustable shaft  12  is comprised of socket extension  15  and socket extension base  20 . Socket extension base  20  is connected to a canopy  25 , which is in turn connected to one or more lighting fixtures  30 . 
     In operation, the adjustable shaft  12  is positioned within the existing recessed light housing  2 . The threaded electrical contact  10  is then engaged with and screwed into socket  5 . The mechanical connection between socket  5  and electrical contact  10  preferably supports the weight of the lighting conversion module  1 . The engagement of the socket  5  and the electrical contact  10  also provides electrical power to the lighting conversion module  1  from socket  5 . 
     Once the electrical contact  10  is engaged with socket  5 , the adjustable shaft  12  extends downwardly therefrom, and canopy  25  is connected to the bottom of the adjustable shaft  12 . Adjustable shaft  12  is preferably extendable to a length at which the canopy  25  is positioned at a level which is at least adjacent the bottom of the surrounding ceiling More preferably, adjustable shaft  12  is extendable to a length at which the canopy  25  is positioned below the level of the ceiling. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, an initial gap is present between the canopy  25  and the ceiling when the electrical contact  10  is engaged with socket  5 . 
     In order to reduce or eliminate the gap between the canopy  25  and the ceiling, socket extension base  20  may at least partially slide into (or “telescope into”) socket extension  15  to shorten the length of adjustable shaft  12 . Alternatively, socket extension  15  may telescope into socket extension base  20 . Such telescoping action may be initiated merely by a user pressing upwardly on the canopy  25  or light fixture  30 . The canopy  25  may thereby by positioned to abut or nearly abut the ceiling surrounding the existing recessed light housing  2  such that canopy  25  covers the hole in the ceiling created by the existing recessed light housing  2 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , in order to maintain the shortened length of adjustable shaft  12 , socket extension  15  may include at least one row of teeth  35  extending longitudinally along the socket extension  15 . Socket extension base  20  may have a corresponding number of fingers  40  for engagement with the at least one row of teeth  35 . As will be understood, socket extension  15  may alternately include at least one finger  40  while socket extension base  20  may alternately include at least one row of teeth  35 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment of adjustable shaft  12  with two rows of teeth  35  and two fingers  40 . Fingers  40  and teeth  35  are cooperatively size, shaped and positioned to allow movement of the socket extension  15  and socket extension base  20  relative to one another in one direction, but to prevent such movement in the other direction. As pressure is applied to canopy  25  and adjustable shaft  12  becomes shorter, fingers  40  and teeth  35  slide past one another such that socket extension base  20  can telescope into the socket extension  15  (or vice versa). However, movement of the socket extension  15  and socket extension base  20  in the opposite direction is prevented by the engagement of finger(s)  40  with teeth  35 . Thereby, finger(s)  40  and teeth  35  prevent the extension of adjustable shaft  12 , unless separated from one another by a user. 
     Lighting conversion module  1  may be uninstalled from the existing recessed light housing  2  merely by unscrewing electrical contact  10  from socket  5 . Additionally, a finger  40  may be shaped to allow the fingers  40  to be manually pulled away from the teeth  35  to allow the adjustable shaft  12  to be fully extended again. By unscrewing the apparatus  1  and re-extending the socket extension  15  relative to the socket extension base  20 , the apparatus  1  is essentially reset so that it can be reused. In this manner, the light conversion apparatus  1  is adjustable to substantially any recessed lighting depth. The canopy  25  can be pushed flush with the ceiling, and the fingers  40  and teeth  35  of the socket extension  15  and socket extension base  20  hold the canopy  25  in place. The weight of the light conversion apparatus may be about 5 pounds. 
     Standard electrical wires, as would be known in the art, preferably connect the electrical contact  10  with light fixture(s)  30 . Such electrical wires (not shown) are preferably run from electrical contact  10 , through a cavity in adjustable shaft  12 , through canopy  25  and to light fixture(s)  30 . However, such electrical wires may be external to the adjustable shaft  12  and/or canopy  25 . Light fixture(s)  30  may include at least one directional spotlight, or other types of lighting fixtures. 
     In an alternative embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , a lighting conversion module includes a center stem  110  which extends downwardly from canopy  25 . Center stem  110  allows a shade  130  to be held in place via decorative nut  120 . Shade  130 , as shown in  FIG. 4  is a glass dome, though it is recognized that shade  130  may be made of any suitable material, may be any color or combination of colors, may have a desired size or shape, or a variety of sizes and shapes, etc. 
     Thus, there have been shown and described embodiments of a novel lighting conversion module  1 . As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. The terms “having” and “including” and similar terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of “optional” or “may include” and not as “required”. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present invention will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.