Patent Publication Number: US-10330280-B2

Title: Tension fit for a bulb of a lamp

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/844,092, filed on Jul. 9, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present invention concerns a shield for a bulb of a lamp, such as a shield for an electric candle lamp. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electric candle lamps are often used in windows to present an aesthetically pleasing and welcoming exterior appearance to a home during night time hours. Electric candle lamps typically include a base, a shaft that resembles a candle, and a light bulb positioned at the top of the shaft that resembles a burning candle. Electric candle lamps are often positioned on window ledges and may come in contact with curtains or blinds. The bulbs of electric candle lamps have been known to melt or turn plastic blinds a darkened color due to the heat that emanates from the bulb. This causes damage to the blind and also represents a potential fire hazard. 
     In addition, electric candle lamps have been known to be knocked over and displaced from their window ledges. Since the bulbs are often made of glass, they may shatter on the floor, causing a hazard to people and pets. In addition, broken bulbs may continue to receive an electrical charge since the candle lamps often remain plugged in, which can result in a fire hazard. 
     SUMMARY 
     A shield for a bulb of a lamp is disclosed and claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a candle lamp having a first example shield installed thereon; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the example shield of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of a candle lamp and a second example shield, with the shield installed around the candle bulb; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the candle lamp and second example shield of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view, e.g., the side that faces a window, of the candle lamp and second example shield of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the candle lamp and second example shield of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional front view of the second example shield, taken at line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of the second example shield, taken along line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of a third example shield for a candle lamp; 
         FIG. 10  is a bottom perspective view of the third example shield of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of the third example shield of  FIG. 9 ; and 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of the third example shield of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The example shield  10  is for use around a light bulb  12  and is used to help deter fire hazards, to help deter the light bulb glass from shattering and/or breaking, and to add decoration to a light fixture. A light fixture that may utilize the example shield is an electric or battery powered candle lamp  14 , although other types of lighting may also derive a benefit from the invention described herein. 
     The example shield  10  will accommodate various bulb sizes and may come in different shapes, sizes and colors. The examples shown and described herein are for illustration purposes only. The invention is not limited to the sizes and shapes shown herein. 
     Example colors for the shield  10  may include clear, solid, semi-clear, and fluorescent, among other colors. The shield  10  may be made of plastics, acrylics, metal, tin, aluminum, pewter, brass, iron, bronze, steel, wood, leather, copper and other materials. The shield  10  may be etched, imprinted or shaped with a design to accommodate holidays and home themes. For example, the covers may be holiday themed, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine&#39;s Day, St. Patrick&#39;s Day, Fourth of July, or may be lifestyle themed, such as country, nautical, Tuscan, classic/contemporary, modern, biblical, American colonial, southwestern, military, or other designs. The interior surfaces or exterior surfaces of the shield  10  may be coated, if desired (not shown). For example, the interior surfaces may be coated with a reflective coating. The interior or exterior surface may be coated with an anti-reflective coating or a colored coating in order to change the color of the underlying material. The interior surfaces may be coated with a light blocking material, if desired. 
     Referring to the figures,  FIGS. 1 and 2  depict a first example shield  10 .  FIGS. 3-8  depict a second example shield, and  FIGS. 9-12  depict a third example shield, including in some cases the shield in its environment on a candle lamp  14 . The candle lamp  14  may be any type of candle lamp  14 . The candle lamp  14  has a base  16 , a shaft  18 , a candle bulb  12 , and a power source (not shown). The shaft  18 , as shown, is cylindrically shaped. While the examples shown herein relate to use of the example shield  10  on a candle lamp  14 , other types of lamps or lighting fixtures may derive a benefit from the example shield  10 . For example, the shield  10  could be used on a conventional lamp (not shown) that would normally utilize a shade. The shield  10  could be used instead of a shade, if desired. The shield  10  could be used to direct the light from the lamp  14  in a chosen direction by positioning the shield  10  in a preferred way on the lamp  14 . Any type of lamp  14  or lighting fixture may be utilized with the concept of the shield  10 , as described herein, and for other purposes as may be found. 
       FIG. 1  depicts a first example shield  10  installed on a candle lamp  14  and  FIG. 2  depicts the shield in an uninstalled configuration. The shield  10  includes an upper portion  20  and a base portion  30 . The upper portion resembles the shape of a candle lamp bulb, but could be other shapes. The base portion  30  is configured to seat around the top end of a shaft  18  of a candle lamp  14 . The base portion  30  is generally cylindrical, or cuff-like, and includes a slit  32  that allows the base portion  30  to open and close. In the example shown, the slit  32  extends upwardly into the lower part  22  of the upper portion  20 . The base portion  30  may be sized to be slightly smaller in diameter than the outer diameter of the shaft  18  in order to permit the base portion  30  to snuggly seat around and grip the shaft  18  of the candle lamp  14 . The slit  32  in the base portion  30  allows the base portion  30  to expand around the shaft  18 . If a different lamp  14  or lighting fixture is used, the base portion  30  of the shield  10  may seat around the socket portion of the lighting fixture (not shown) and be sized accordingly. Where a socket portion is not utilized, the base portion  30  may seat around another portion of the lamp  14  that is positioned below the bulb. In addition, the base portion  30  could be configured of a different type of expandable material that permits its use on more varied diameters, if desired. 
       FIGS. 3-6  depict the second example shield  10  installed on a conventional candle lamp  14 . The shape of the shield  10  resembles that of the first example shield  10 , but can be more easily manufactured and removed from a mold given the shape of the opening of the shield  10 . In particular, in the first example shield  10 , the shield  10  was substantially egg-shaped and had a circumference that was greater than one half the circumference of an egg, such that the front edge  26  of the shield  10  bent inwardly around the opening of the shield  10 . In contrast, the second example shield  10  has a rear portion  40  that is substantially egg-shaped, such that half of the shield  10  is substantially egg-shaped. Then the front portion  42  of the shield  10  extends outwardly perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Y-Y of the candle lamp  14  from the largest dimension of the egg-shape in order to cover the bulb entirely, but is open at the front opening  44  in order to permit light from the bulb  12  to exit the shield  10  and for the bulb  12  to be replaced. Thus, the circumference of the front opening  44  is greater in the second example shield  10  than that of the first example shield  10 . By providing the opening  44  in a perpendicularly extending fashion (with the perpendicular angle being defined from the longitudinal axis Y-Y of the length of the shield  10 ), as described, the part may be more readily removed from any mold during the manufacturing process. Other shapes may be used including ellipsoid, ovoid, oval, super ellipsoid, Cassini ovals, Cartesian ovals, and variations thereof, as well as other novelty shapes, the invention not being limited to a particular shape. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  depict cross-sectional views of the second example shield  10  shown in  FIGS. 3-6  installed on a candle lamp  14 . As shown the shield  10  has an upper portion  20  and a base portion  30 . The upper portion  20  is substantially egg-shaped, but could be other shapes. The base portion  30  is configured to seat around the top end of a shaft  18  of a candle lamp  14 . The base portion  30  is generally cylindrical, or cuff-like, and includes a slit  32  that allows the base portion  30  to open and close. In the example shown, the slit  32  extends upwardly into the lower part  22  of the upper portion  20 . The base portion  30  may be sized to be slightly smaller in diameter than the outer diameter of the shaft  18  in order to permit the base portion  30  to snuggly seat around and grip the shaft  18  of the candle lamp  14 . The slit  32  in the base portion  30  allows the base portion  30  to expand around the shaft  18 . 
     The shield  10  has a total length L, with the upper portion  20  having a length L-BULB and the base portion  30  having a length L-BASE. The upper portion  20  has a maximum width W-BULB and the base portion  30  has a width W-BASE. The base portion  30  is like a cuff in the examples shown, but could be another shape. The slit  32  in the cuff  30  has a width W-Slit. The shield  10  has a total depth D 1  and a depth of the egg-shaped portion is D 2 . Since a perpendicular flange  42  extends outwardly from the front of the egg-shaped portion  40 , D 2  is typically less than D 1 . The walls of the shield  10  are relatively thin and have a thickness T. The upper portion  20  has a shape so that spacing is provided between the walls of the upper portion  20  and the bulb  12 . 
     The cylindrical cuff  30  of the base portion has an inner diameter ID 2  at the bottom opening  42  of the base portion  30  and the inner diameter ID 2  of the cuff  30  is constant until it reaches a transition point  48  where the cuff  30  joins with the upper portion  20  of the shield  10 . At the transition point  48 , an inwardly extending lip  34  creates an inner diameter ID 1  that is smaller than inner diameter ID 2  of the cuff  30 . The lip  34  is configured to rest on the top of the candle lamp shaft or cylinder  18  and helps to deter or prevent the shield  10   10  from sliding down the shaft  18  of the candle lamp  14 . The lip  34  is a protruding ring that is positioned at the inner, top end of the cuff. The cuff  30  includes an open slit  32  and the inner diameter of the cuff is slightly undersized compared to the cylinder or shaft  18  of the candle lamp  14  so that the cuff stretches or bends over the shaft  18  in order to provide a tension fit to hold the shield  10   10  in position around the shaft  18 , with the slit  32  providing the cuff with the ability to bend around the shaft  18 . For example, if the candle shaft  18  is 0.875 inches, the cuff  30  may be 0.844 inches. Other dimensions may alternatively be used. The lip  34  is shown as being a continuous ring-shaped protrusion, but does not have to be ring-shaped or continuous. It could be other shapes. 
     While the base portion  30  of the shield  10  is designed to be sized so that it seats around a portion of the lamp  14  in order to hold the shield  10  in place, there may be embodiments where it is not advantageous to position the base portion  30  around a portion of the lamp  14 . Thus, additional attachment mechanisms (not shown), such as, for example, clear gel sticky tabs, or other attachment mechanisms, may be used to assist in holding the base portion  30  on the lamp  14 . These additional attachment mechanisms may be used in addition to or instead of the base portion  30 , if desired. 
       FIGS. 9-12  depict an example where the shape of the shield  10  resembles a lamp shade, but is otherwise similar in design to the examples discussed above. In particular, the upper portion  20  of the lamp shade  10  is substantially a truncated cone that extends from a narrower top end  50  to a wider bottom end  52 . The top truncated part of the cone  50  has a rib structure  54  to aid in maintaining the shape of the shade  10 . The bottom edge  56  of the shade  10  is coupled to a base portion  30  by a rib  58  that extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Y-Y of the shade  10 , with the longitudinal axis Y-Y being defined along the length L of the shade  10 . The rib  58  is a substantially flat portion that extends from the top  60  of the base portion  30 . Otherwise, the base portion  30  is as previously described in connection with  FIGS. 1-8 . The base portion  30  has a slit  32  extending along the length of the base portion  30 . The base portion  30  also includes a protruding ridge or ledge  34  that extends inwardly from an inner surface of the base portion  30 . The rib  58  that couples the base portion  30  to the lower end  52  of the shade  20  has about the same width as the outer diameter OD of the base portion  30 . The rib  58  could have other widths, if desired. The open bottom end  52  of the shade  20  and the open ribbed structure  54  at the top of the shade permits hot air from the bulb  12  to be released upwardly and downwardly from the shade  20 . As is evident other shapes and sizes may be utilized, other than those shown. 
     The shield  10  upper portion forms an enclosure that surrounds at least a portion of the bulb  12 . In the examples shown, the upper portion  20  encloses more than half of the exterior of the bulb  12  such that if the candle lamp  14  were to fall onto a flat surface, such as the floor, no part of the bulb would be exposed to the flat surface. The shield  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-8  has an oval or ovoid shape with a peak  24  above the top of the candle bulb  12 . The upper portion  20  may conform to the shape of the bulb, or may be different from the bulb. The upper portion  20  may have a peak  24  or may be rounded or squared at the top thereof. The upper portion could be circular with a truncated portion  26  at one side. Any number of shapes may be used for the shield  10 . The example upper portion  20  is shown as being solid, but could be non-solid, such as a cage (not shown). The cage could have a pattern to aid in making the shield  10  more decorative. There are embodiments where the bulb may not be covered in its entirety that fall within the scope of the claims. 
     A shield for a bulb of a lighting base includes an upper portion and means for coupling the upper portion to a lighting base. The upper portion is for partially encircling a bulb. The means for coupling the upper portion to a lighting base is for suspending the upper portion around a bulb so that it does not come into contact with the bulb. 
     The means for coupling the upper portion to a lighting base may be a base portion that is coupled to and is positioned below the upper portion. The upper portion may be open on a front side thereof. The upper portion may be closed on a rear side thereof. The upper portion may be substantially ovoid or egg-shaped and may have an open side on one side thereof and is enclosed on the other side thereof. The base portion may be substantially cylindrical. The base portion may include an attachment feature for coupling the base portion to the lighting base. The attachment feature may be a tension fit that is provided by an inner diameter that is smaller than an outer diameter of a lighting base, with the base portion including a longitudinally extending slit through the surface thereof for permitting the base portion to flex around a lighting base. The base portion may include an internal stop that permits the base portion to engage a lighting base and to remain in position on the lighting base without sliding down the lighting base. 
     The upper portion may be substantially solid on a part thereof that partially encircles a bulb of the lighting base. The upper portion may be made of a plastic material and the base portion may be made of a plastic material. The upper and base portions of the shield may be integrally molded into a single part. The upper portion and base portion may be fire resistant. The upper portion may be bulbous and have a larger internal diameter and height than an external diameter and height of a bulb of a lighting base. The upper portion may include a decorative treatment. The upper portion may be substantially egg shaped, egg-shaped with a peak, Cassini oval-shaped, ovoid, ellipsoid, super ellipsoid, or combinations thereof. The base portion may be coupled to the upper portion by a rib that extends perpendicular to the length of the upper portion. 
     The upper portion may have a truncated cone shape resembling a lamp shade, with a wider portion of the truncated cone being positioned at a bottom end of the upper portion and a narrower portion of the truncated cone being positioned at an upper end of the upper portion. An open rib structure may join the top end of the truncated cone together. 
     In another embodiment, a shield for a bulb of a lighting base includes a first portion for partially encircling and protecting a bulb and a second portion for coupling the shield to a lighting base. The first portion partially encircles the bulb such that if the lighting base, bulb and shield are dropped on a surface, the surface cannot come into contact with the bulb. The first portion has a length and at least one side of the first portion, as defined along the length of the first portion, is open to the bulb. 
     The first portion of the shield may include a first part that forms a back part of the first portion and a second part that forms a front part of the first portion. The second part may include a flange that extends at least in part substantially perpendicular to an edge of the first part and with the perpendicular direction being defined in relation to the length of the first part. 
     The term “substantially,” if used herein, is a term of estimation. While various features are presented above, it should be understood that the features may be used singly or in any combination thereof. Further, it should be understood that variations and modifications may occur to those skilled in the art to which the claimed examples pertain. The examples described herein are exemplary. The disclosure may enable those skilled in the art to make and use alternative designs having alternative elements that likewise correspond to the elements recited in the claims. The intended scope may thus include other examples that do not differ or that insubstantially differ from the literal language of the claims. The scope of the disclosure is accordingly defined as set forth in the appended claims.