Patent Publication Number: US-10323833-B2

Title: Light bulb with a rotating base

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to light bulbs which rotate to direct light. 
     SUMMARY 
     This invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art and, in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available systems and methods. Accordingly, a light bulb which rotates to direct light has been developed. Features and advantages of different embodiments of the invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. 
     A light bulb is disclosed herein, which in general, includes a light transmitting bulb portion and a base portion. The light transmitting bulb portion includes a first gear and an aperture. The base portion includes a second gear. The first gear is rotated independently of the second gear to direct light produced by the light bulb in a direction defined by a rotational position of the light transmitting bulb portion. 
     The base portion may include an Edison screw. The light transmitting bulb portion may rotate synchronously with the base portion in a clockwise direction until a predetermined torque is reached. The light transmitting bulb portion may rotate synchronously with the base portion in a counter-clockwise direction before and after a predetermined torque is reached. The light transmitting bulb portion may further include a light reflecting portion on an inner surface of the light transmitting bulb portion. The light reflecting portion may be substantially parabolic in shape. The substantially parabolic shape may form a parabolic reflector which may include more than 40% of an inner surface of the light transmitting bulb portion. 
     The light bulb may include one or more light sources. The one or more light sources may be LED (light emitting diode) light sources. Light transmitted from the one or more LED light sources may be transmitted through the light transmitting bulb portion of the light bulb when the light bulb is “on”. The light transmitting bulb portion may be pulled away from the base portion to disengage the first gear from the second gear. The light transmitting bulb portion may be rotatable while the light bulb is turned “on” without rotating the one or more LED light sources. The LED light sources may transmit light through the aperture in the light transmitting bulb portion. The aperture may be formed by a size of the light reflecting portion. The light bulb may further include a controller and a power supply operably connected to the one or more light sources. Additionally, the controller may include a processor, memory, and one or more transceivers. The light bulb may further include a spring. The spring may push the light transmitting bulb portion toward the base portion. 
     The first gear and the second gear may interlock to screw the base portion into a light socket. Also, the first gear and the second gear may interlock to unscrew the base portion out of a light socket. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  depicts a light bulb in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  depicts a light bulb with an exposed light source; 
         FIG. 3  depicts a perspective cross-section of a light bulb base portion; 
         FIG. 4  depicts part of a perspective view of a bottom of a light transmitting bulb portion of a light bulb; 
         FIG. 5  depicts a cut out section view of a light bulb; 
         FIG. 6  depicts an embodiment similar to  FIG. 5  with parts of a light bulb moved to different positions; 
         FIG. 7  depicts a schematic diagram in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  depicts an embodiment of a light bulb in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 9  depicts a side view of a light bulb assembly; and 
         FIG. 10  depicts an electrical power source connected to a light bulb. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the Figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the invention, as represented in the Figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is merely representative of certain examples of presently contemplated embodiments in accordance with the invention. The presently described embodiments will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. 
     A detailed description of the claimed invention is provided below by example, with reference to embodiments in the appended figures. Those of skill in the art will recognize that the components of the invention as described by example in the figures below could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the detailed description of the embodiments in the figures is merely representative of embodiments of the invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as claimed. 
     In some instances, features represented by numerical values, such as dimensions, mass, quantities, and other properties that can be represented numerically, are stated as approximations. Unless otherwise stated, an approximate value means “correct to within 50% of the stated value.” Thus, a length of approximately 1 inch should be read “1 inch+/−0.5 inch.” 
     Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. Those of skill in the art will understand that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, may be implemented by computer readable program instructions. Additionally, those of skill in the art will recognize that the system blocks and method flowcharts, though depicted in a certain order, may be organized in a different order and/or configuration without departing from the substance of the claimed invention. 
       FIG. 1  depicts a light bulb in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Light bulb  100  includes light transmitting bulb portion  105  and base portion  103 . Light transmitting bulb portion  105  includes first gear  106  and aperture  104  (aperture meaning a space through which light passes). Base portion  103  includes second gear  108 . First gear  106  is rotated independently of second gear  108  to direct light produced by light bulb  100  in a direction defined by a rotational position of light transmitting bulb portion  105 . 
     Aperture  104  may be made of any of a variety of materials, including glass, fused silica, tempered glass, aluminum oxynitride, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl butyral (PVB), etc. Kaolin may also be deposited on an inner surface of aperture  104 . Light transmitting bulb portion  105  may include vents to allow for circulation of air inside and outside of light transmitting bulb portion  105 . Aperture  104  may be any of a variety of shapes, including spherical, ovoidal, elliptically paraboloidal, polyhedral, etc. light transmitting bulb portion  105  may include a masked portion  102 . 
     First gear  106  may have teeth which mesh with teeth of second gear  108 . First gear  106  may be concentric with second gear  108 , and a certain magnitude of torque may be required to act upon first gear  106  before first gear  106  may move independently of second gear  108 . In some embodiments, for example, base portion  103  may include cap  110 , wherein cap  110  may be an Edison screw, which may require 3 lbf ft of torque to be applied to light bulb  100  about a centric axis of cap  110  to install light bulb  110  within a corresponding light bulb socket. In some further embodiments, if more than 3 lbf ft of torque is applied to light transmitting bulb portion  105  in a clockwise direction, first gear  106  may move independently of second gear  108  such that base portion  103  may not be over-torqued, thus avoiding risks of breaking light bulb  100 . If torque may be applied to light transmitting bulb portion  105  in a counterclockwise direction, first gear  106  may couple with second gear  108  such that base portion  103  may be removed from a light bulb socket. In other words, light transmitting bulb portion  105  may rotate synchronously with base portion  103  in a clockwise direction until a predetermined torque is reached. Light transmitting bulb portion  102  may also rotate synchronously with base portion  103  in a counter-clockwise direction before and after a predetermined torque is reached. 
     Light rays  118  are a result of an inner reflection of masked portion  102 . Masked portion  102  provides a reflective inner surface and a masked outer surface. Light transmitting bulb portion  105  transmits light waves  118  and  120  through a light transparent aperture  104 . Light ray  120  are rays not reflected from an inner reflective surface but directly transmitted from the light source through aperture  104 . When bulb portion  105  reaches a predetermined torque, bulb portion  105  may be rotated in a clock-wise direction allowing aperture  104  and light rays  118  and  120  to be directed in any rotational direction within a 360-degree radius around light bulb  100 . 
     The predetermined torque may be selected based upon material strengths of materials within light bulb  100 , type of light bulb cap, and necessary torque values to secure base portion  103  to a light bulb socket. In some additional embodiments, cap  110  of base portion  103  may be a bayonet cap. 
     First gear  106  and second gear  108  may interlock to screw base portion  103  in a light socket. First gear  106  and second gear  108  may also interlock to unscrew base portion  103  out of a light socket. 
       FIG. 2  depicts a light bulb with an exposed light source. Light bulb  200  may include light transmitting bulb portion  205 . Light transmitting bulb portion  205  may include aperture  204  and light reflecting portion  203 . Light reflecting portion  203  may be on an inner surface of light transmitting bulb portion  205 . Light reflecting portion  203  may reflect light from one or more light sources  214  such that light emitted from light sources  214  may be directed toward and out of aperture  204 . Light reflecting portion  203  may be substantially parabolic in shape, such that multiple rays of reflected light  218  reflected by light reflecting portion  203  may be substantially parallel to each other and in a general direction toward aperture  204 . Aperture  204  may subsequently transmit reflected light  218  and non-reflected light  220  to an environment outside of light bulb  200 . In some embodiments, the substantially parabolic shape forms a parabolic reflector which includes more than 40% of an inner surface of light transmitting bulb portion  205 . In some embodiments, light transmitting bulb portion  205  may include masked portion  202  including to an outside surface of light transmitting bulb portion  205  which may be adjacent and concentric with light reflecting portion  203 . In addition, aperture  204  may also transmit non-reflected light  220  which may be emitted directly from light sources  214 . 
     Light sources  214  may be light emitting diode (LED) light sources which transmit light through aperture  204  in light transmitting bulb portion  205 . LED light sources  214  may be RGB LEDs. LED light sources  214  may be dedicated color LEDs. Hollow tube  216  provides a path for light source wiring to reach a controller within a base portion of the light bulb. Tube  216  provides a support for light sources  214  and provides a non-movable connection to the base portion of the light. The light transmitting bulb portion  205  rotates around tube  216  and light sources  214 . 
     Light transmitting bulb portion  205  may additionally include first gear  206  which may mesh with second gear  208 . Aperture  204  may change its angular position with respect to a light bulb socket as first gear  206  is rotated with respect to second gear  208 . 
       FIG. 3  depicts a perspective cross-section of a light bulb base portion. Light bulb base portion  300  of a light bulb may include support tube  316  and one or more light sources  314 . One or more light sources  314  may be induction light sources, LED light sources, or ionization light sources. Light sources  314  may be any of a variety of light sources, including incandescent light bulbs, fluorescent light bulbs, arc lamps, vapor lamps, etc. 
     In some embodiments, one or more light sources  314  may be LED light sources. Light transmitted from one or more LED light sources may be transmitted through an aperture of a light transmitting bulb portion (described above with reference to  FIG. 1 ) of the light bulb when the light bulb is “on”. Light bulb base portion  300  may further include controller  330  and a power supply operably connected to one or more light sources  314 . The power supply may be connect to light sources  314  via controller  330 , power wire  336 , and power wire  322 , wherein power wire  336  may be connect to a live electrical wire via electrical contact  312  and power wire  322  may connect to an electrical ground via metallic cap  310 . Controller  330  may include processor  340 , memory  334 , and one or more transceivers  332 . Transceivers  332  may include Bluetooth, SureFi, WiFi, and other known home automation technologies. Transceivers  332  may enable light bulb base portion  300  to connect with remote databases, local user devices, or Internet enabled devices. Memory  334  may include programming necessary to communicate wirelessly with remote devices and to control light sources  314  of light base  300  based on programming and/or remote user devices. Controller  330  may include circuitry to regulate power output to light sources  314 . Support tube  316  may include light source wires  328  for each of light sources  314 . Inner area  326  of support tube  316  may enclose material to separate light source wires  328  from each other; this material may be foam, Styrofoam, any of a variety of ferrous or non-ferrous metals with coatings around light source wires  328 , glass, fused silica, tempered glass, aluminum oxynitride, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl butyral (PVB), etc. 
     Light bulb base portion  300  may include spring  338 . Spring  338  may bias a second spring push surface (not shown) such as to maintain a force between a gear or other surface, such as an elastomeric material, and gear  308 . Spring  338  may maintain said force on first spring push surface  309  as well. A stationary portion  342  may provide a fixed connection between tube  316  and a body of the base portion as shown in  FIG. 3 . Stationary portion  342  may also provide a mounting surface for a circuit board, processor  340 , controller  330  and battery  344  below the stationary portion  342 . Battery  344  may be a rechargeable battery. 
       FIG. 4  depicts part of a perspective view of a bottom of a light transmitting bulb portion of a light bulb. Light transmitting bulb portion  400  may include first gear  406 , spring  438 , and second spring push surface  411 . Spring  438  may develop a force against second spring push surface  411  as well as a force against a first spring push surface (depicted above in  FIG. 3 ). These developed forces may maintain equilibrium and maintain a relative distance between first gear  406  and a second gear (depicted in  FIG. 1 ). 
       FIG. 5  depicts a cut out section view of a light bulb. Light bulb  500  may include a fixed lower end stop  542 , first spring push surface  509 , second spring push surface  511 , spring  507 , first gear  506 , and second gear  508 . Spring  507  may be concentric with first spring push surface  509 , second spring push surface  511 , first gear  506 , and second gear  508 . Spring  507  may also maintain a force on first push surface  509  which is equal and opposite to a force spring  507  may also maintain on second push surface  511 . When first push surface  509  and second push surface  511  move relatively closer together, spring  507  may maintain a stronger force on each such that first gear  506  and second gear  508  may remain relatively close together. Proximity of first gear  506  and second gear  508  may force first gear  506  and second gear  508  to rotate synchronously with a clockwise torque until a predetermined torque is reached. Proximity of first gear  506  and second gear  508  may also force first gear  506  and second gear  508  to rotate synchronously with a counter-clockwise torque before and after a predetermined torque is reached. 
     Light bulb  500  may also include controller  530  which may enable wireless communications, data processing, and Internet connectivity to light bulb  500 . Controller may be electrically connected to one or more light sources within light bulb  500 . Light bulb  500  may additionally include power source  544  which may store and supply power to controller  530 . Power source  544  may be a capacitor, a battery, an electrical line, etc. 
       FIG. 6  depicts an embodiment similar to  FIG. 5  with parts of a light bulb moved to different positions. Light bulb  600  may include first gear  606 , second gear  608 , light transmitting bulb portion  605 , base portion  603 , spring  607 , first spring push surface  609 , and second spring push surface  611 . Light transmitting bulb portion  605  may be pulled away from base portion  603  to disengage first gear  606  from second gear  608 , as shown. Compressed spring  607  may, simultaneously, maintain and increase a force on first spring push surface  609  and maintain and increase a force which may be equal and opposite on second spring push surface  611 . If light transmitting bulb portion  605  is released from being pulled, in a compressed position, spring  607  may maintain a force between first gear  606  and second gear  608  such that a relatively larger frictional force may be applied between surfaces of first gear  606  and second gear  608  than may have been present before pulling light transmitting bulb portion away from base portion  603 . Additionally, if light transmitting bulb portion  605  is released from being pulled, meshed teeth between first gear  606  and second gear  608  may reengage. Spring  607  may subsequently push light transmitting bulb portion  605  toward base portion  603 . 
     LED light sources (not shown) may be included in light transmitting bulb portion. Light transmitting bulb portion  605  may be rotatable while light bulb  600  is turned “on” without rotating the one or more LED light sources or any other light sources. When bulb portion  605  reaches a predetermined rotational torque, bulb portion  605  may be rotated in a clock-wise direction allowing an aperture to be directed in any rotational direction within a 360-degree radius around light bulb  600 . 
       FIG. 7  depicts a schematic diagram in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, wherein components  710 - 724  are contained in a light bulb base portion  300  as shown in  FIG. 3 . In some embodiments, light sources  720  may be electrically coupled to controller  716  by two or more wires  722  and  724 , Wires  722  and  724  may be duplicated for each light source of light sources  720 . That is each light source of light source  720  may include one or more individual wires connecting to controller  716  enabling individual control of each light source by controller  716 . Power supply  710  may contain a power transformer, regular, rectifiers, capacitors, etc. needed for suppling power to controller  716 . Battery  718  may be a rechargeable battery which supplies either primary or secondary power to light sources  720  and wireless transceiver  716  by way of controller  716 . Battery  718  may be recharged based on programming in memory of controller  716 . Programming may direct controller to charge battery  716  based on a state-of-charge of battery  718 . Wireless transceiver  716  may be coupled to battery  718  to power it when power source when other power sources  706  are not available. In some embodiments, wireless transceiver may charge battery  718  with power obtained via power supply  710 . Wireless transceiver  716  may include a controller. The controller may use power from power source  710  and battery  718  to turn “on” lights  720  by way of one or more light wires  722 . 
     Remote device  726  may include user devices such as smart phones, iPads, iPods, laptops, tablets, and computers; other remote devices may include Internet routers, Internet bridges, Internet switches, remote database servers, remote websites, and remote networks. 
       FIG. 8  depicts a magnified perspective view of internal gears. Light bulb  800  may include spring  803 , second push surface  806 , first internal gear  802 , second internal gear  804 , and light transmitting bulb portion  808 . First gear  802  may be integral to a first push surface, and second gear  804  may be integral to second push surface  806 . Gear  802  and gear  804  may be pushed together by forces maintained by spring  807 . While gear  802  and gear  804  are meshed together, light transmitting bulb portion  808  may rotate synchronously with base portion  803  in a clockwise direction or in a counter-clockwise direction before and after a predetermined torque is reached. If gear  802  is pulled away from gear  804 , light transmitting bulb portion  808  may rotate independently of base portion  803  in a clockwise or in a counterclockwise direction, until gear  802  is released. Spring  807  may restore gear  802  and gear  804  to a meshing position. Controller  810  and battery  812  may enable a user and/or embedded programming to control light bulb  800 . 
       FIG. 9  depicts a side view of a light bulb assembly. Light bulb  900  may include a light transmitting bulb portion  906  and a base portion  908 . While first gear  902  and second gear  904  are meshed together, light transmitting bulb portion  906  may rotate synchronously with base portion  908  in a clockwise direction or in a counter-clockwise direction before and after a predetermined torque is reached. If first gear  902  is pulled away from second gear  904 , light transmitting bulb portion  906  may rotate independently of base portion  908  in a clockwise or in a counterclockwise direction, until gear  802  is released. A spring may be included to restore first gear  902  and second gear  904  to a meshing position. Light transmitting bulb portion  906  is shown in a removed position in relation to base portion  908 . Light transmitting bulb portion  906 , while in a removed position, can be rotated independently form base portion  908  and light directed through light transmitting portion  906  can be rotationally directed in a 360-degree movement according to an aperture in the light transmitting bulb portion  906 . 
       FIG. 10  depicts an electrical power source connected to a light bulb. Electrical system  1000  may include power source  1002  which is connected to a light bulb. The light bulb may have masked portion  1008  and aperture  1006 . Aperture  1006  allows light  1004  to pass through it. Masked portion  1008  may block light  1004  and may also redirect or reflect light  1004  that impinges on an inner surface inside masked portion  1008  such that nearly all light  1004  may be directed out of aperture  1006 . In some embodiments, masked portion  1008  is made of a material which reflects heat as well as light on an inner surface while absorbing heat on an outer surface. Light aperture  1006  may be rotated to direct light  1004  in a 360-degree rotation around the light bulb while the light bulb is installed and while the light is on.