Patent Publication Number: US-6905225-B2

Title: Floodlight and spotlight adapter and enclosure

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for providing replacement of lighting instruments by utilizing an adapter housing, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for interchanging lightbulbs within a weather-protected housing. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention began out of a need for a device to adapt light bulbs of differing sizes, types and connection methods, such as, for exemplary purposes only, threaded engagement, bayonet engagement, pin contact engagement or otherwise, for use in applications requiring a light bulb having a different connector. 
   Although various devices and methods of adapting lighting instruments are known, each such device and method possesses inherent disadvantages when compared to the present invention. 
   Specifically, devices and methods have been described that merely provide an extension to move the point of contact of the bulb remotely from the socket. Other devices are disadvantageous in that they only modify an existing socket to take a shorter bulb or form permanent installations. Other devices are limited to a single type of application. 
   While some or all of the above-referenced devices may be utilized for providing lighting fixtures, they fail to provide a weatherproof device that effectively permits utilization of differing size and style bulbs and lenses, where users may change the type of bulb or lens to suit their needs, different seasons, different applications or the like. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Briefly described, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and meets the recognized need for such a device by providing a method and apparatus for allowing use of light bulbs of different sizes and types in a conventional light fitting suitable for indoor or outdoor use. 
   More specifically, the present invention in its preferred embodiment is an adapter unit having a housing with a lens cover, wherein the housing permits installation of a light bulb therein via a female socket on the interior thereof. The adapter may be secured within a standard female socket by means of a male connector located on the outer portion of the adapter. 
   A feature and advantage of the present invention is that it allows different sizes and types of light bulbs to be utilized in different size and type of sockets. 
   A feature and advantage of the present invention is that it is weatherproof. 
   A feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to accommodate different types of lenses, or lenses of different colors. 
   A feature and advantage of the present invention is its ease of manufacture and low cost of production. 
   A feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to replace expensive light bulbs by adapting inexpensive light bulbs to weatherproof conventional sockets. 
   These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description and claims when read in light of the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Having thus described the invention in general terms, the present invention will be better understood by reading the Detailed Description of the Preferred and Selected Alternate Embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing figures, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in which like reference numerals denote similar structures and refer to like elements throughout, and in which: 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  are cross-sectional side views of a device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 1C  is a front view of FIG.  1 B. 
       FIG. 2A  is an exploded side view of the electrical connection and grommet components of a device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2B  is a side view of the assembled electrical connection and grommet components of a device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2C  is a front view of the assembly shown in FIG.  2 B. 
       FIG. 2D  is a perspective view of the assembly shown in FIG.  2 B. 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  are side and front plan views, respectively, of the lens component of a device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a front plan view of an alternative lens component of a device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED AND ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
   In describing the preferred and selected alternate embodiments of the present invention, as illustrated in the Figures, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The invention, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish similar functions. 
   The present invention is suitable for utilization as a lamp enclosure for replacing indoor and outdoor flood and spotlight bulbs with a standard light bulb. The standard light bulb is contained in a fitting that appears and functions like an outdoor light bulb. The need for such an adapter arises because light bulbs typically may have different envelope sizes, lighting patterns, and connecting interfaces that provide interconnection between a socket and a plug formed on the light bulb. To provide power to the light bulb, the connecting interface provides the matching insulated bipolar electrical connections required to energize the bulbs. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B and  1 C, adapter  10  preferably has diffused glass housing  20  preferably coated with reflective mirrored coating  30  on its interior surface  40 . 
   Preferably formed at first end  50  of housing  20  is opening  52  wherein first end  50  preferably possesses threads  60  formed therein. Threads  60  are preferably adapted to threadably engage threaded lens  70 , wherein threaded lens  70  is preferably manufactured from any suitable material, such as, for exemplary purposes only, glass or plastic, and wherein threaded lens  70  further preferably includes threads  75 . Threads  75  preferably permit removably attaching lens  70  to housing  20  by threading thereinto. 
   Second end  80  of housing  20  is preferably formed to accept grommet  90 , wherein grommet  90  is preferably made of a suitable weatherproof material, such as, for exemplary purposes only, glass, plastic or rubber. Converter  120  is removably attached within grommet  90  such that threaded male plug shell  150  of converter  120  extends outward and away from second end  80 . After removal of lens  70 , bulb B is installed within adapter  10  by threading into converter  120 , as is further described below. Lens  70  is thereafter preferably threadably reinstalled, and adapter  10  may then be installed into any standard electrical socket by threading threaded male plug shell  150  thereinto. 
   Housing  20  of adapter  10  is preferably conical. Preferably formed through center  100  of second end  80  of housing  20  is opening  110 . Grommet  90  is preferably retained within opening  110  and is preferably held in interference fit therein. Converter  120  is preferably held in interference fit within grommet  90 . In an alternative embodiment, grommet  90  may have internally molded threads to accept complementary threads formed on female socket  122  (shown in  FIG. 2A ) of converter  120 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B,  2 C and  2 D, wherein grommet  90  and converter  120  are shown in exploded view. Converter  120  preferably possesses electrically-conductive female socket  122  and male plug shell  150 , wherein female socket  122  is preferably inserted within the interior walls of male plug shell  150 , and preferably affixed therein via electrically-conductive means, such as, for exemplary purposes only, lead-tin solder. As such, female socket  122  is preferably in electrical communication with threaded male plug shell  150  and forms one pole of an electrical circuit. Alternatively, female socket  122  may be welded or brazed into male plug shell  150 , or female socket  122  and male plug shell  150  may be machined out of a single piece of electrically-conductive material. Female socket  122  and male plug shell  150  may be of different sizes and types of connection in order to facilitate adapting different sizes and types of light bulbs between sockets. 
   The other pole of the electrical circuit required to provide power through adapter  10  preferably includes connector  130 . Connector  130  is extends through insulator  140  and preferably extends through center of threaded male plug shell  150  and center of female socket  122 . Connector  130  then preferably extends through second insulator  142 . Finally connector  130  is preferably secured rigidly in place, preferably via first contact portion  132  and second contact portion  134 , which are comprised of any suitable electrically-conductive material, such as for exemplary purposes only, lead-tin solder. Insulators  140  and  142  serve to isolate the electrical pole formed by first contact portion  132 , connector  130  and second contact portion  134 . 
   Threaded male plug shell  150  preferably has threads  155  thereon, preferably suitable for insertion and securing of threaded male plug shell  150  within a standard electrical socket. Female Socket  122  preferably has formed therein threads  125 , preferably suitable for accepting the desired form of connection for the bulb B that is to be utilized. 
   Upon installation of adapter  10  in a standard socket, converter  120  will derive power from adapter  10 . When bulb B, having a male threaded plug of the same outer dimension as the internal dimension of female socket  122 , is installed within converter  120 , it is preferably energized with electrical current through first contact portion  132 , connector  130 , second contact portion  134  and converter  120 . 
   Thus, two poles of the electrical circuit are preferably provided and adapter  10  is preferably energized when threaded male plug shell  150  is preferably retained within an electrical socket of the same dimension. 
     FIGS. 3A and 3B  show a glass cover lens  70  of the present invention preferably having threads  75  molded therein for preferably securing lens  70  within housing  20 . Lens  70  further preferably has a plurality of sections  175  for purposes of diffusing light upon energizing bulb B. Lens  70  preferably has tangs  200  to afford a purchase enabling the turning of lens  70  while threading into housing  20 . By utilizing a frosted light bulb B within apparatus  10 , a diffuse light is readily achieved. In an alternative embodiment, lens  70  may be frosted and bulb B may be clear or frosted in order to produce diffuse light. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4 , illustrated therein is an alternative embodiment of the present invention, wherein cover lens  70  is formed with a plurality of concentric circles  180 , or other focusing lens design, in the face thereof in order to provide a spot lighting effect. Concentric circles  180  focus the light reflected by reflective mirrored coating  30 . By utilizing a clear light bulb B within apparatus  10 , a bright spotlight is readily fashioned. 
   It is envisioned in alternate embodiments that lens  70  may be attached to housing  20  by other suitable means. For instance, lens  70  may be formed to snap into housing  20  by means of an interference fit when pressed into housing  20 , as best illustrated in FIG.  5 . In a further alternative embodiment, lens  70  may additionally have a sealing gasket set in place prior to pressing lens  70  into housing  20 . Lens  70  may alternatively include curved slots  300  formed therein to engage pins  310  located on housing  20 , and lens  70  is thereby locked to housing  20  via pins  310  and slots  300 , as best depicted in FIG.  6 . 
   It is contemplated in a further alternative embodiment that housing  20  may be made from any material, such as rubber, glass, plastic or metal. 
   It is further contemplated in an alternative embodiment that adapter  10  may be made in any size suitably complementary to the size of selected bulb B. 
   It is contemplated in an additional embodiment that light bulbs having bayonet or pin contacts may be converted to threaded installation via use of adapter  10  wherein female socket  122  of converter  120  would receive bayonet or pin contacts. 
   It is envisioned in an alternative embodiment that adapter  10  may be fashioned such that female socket  122  of converter  120  is sized and shaped to accept therein any type of bulb connection apparatus. 
   It is envisioned in an alternative embodiment that adapter  10  may include more than one housing, more than one lens, more than one connector and/or more than one grommet. 
   It is further envisioned in an alternative embodiment that lens  70  may be attached to housing  20  by a clipping means, such as, for exemplary purposes only, grooves and ridges, or hinges and snaps.  FIG. 7  depicts such a suitable clipping means wherein latches  420  include hinge pins  430  suitable for allowing latches  420  to move. Ridges  440  are molded into lens  70 . Latches  420  engage ridges  440  and snap thereon, thus securing lens  70  to housing  20 . 
   It is contemplated in an alternative embodiment that a gasket may be utilized to further seal against moisture by placing the gasket over converter  120  prior to installation. 
   It is further contemplated in an alternative embodiment that opening  52  of housing  20  may take shapes other than circular, such as, for exemplary purposes only, elliptical or rectangular. Accordingly lens  70  will similarly have an elliptical or rectangular shape so as to suitably engage housing  20 . 
   Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein, but is limited only by the following claims.