Patent Publication Number: US-7210811-B1

Title: Ceiling mounted swing arm lighting apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to lighting apparatus and more particularly to ceiling mounted lighting apparatus. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Lighting apparatus in the form of floor lamps, table lamps, wall mounted lamps and ceiling mounted lamps are well known in the lighting industry. These lighting apparatus take various forms and may include general area lighting, task lighting or a combination of general area and task lighting. It has also been known in the prior art to incorporate one or more swing arms to provide a more versatile positioning of the lighting element. Typically one end of the swing arm is supported by or mounted to a support post, while the other end of the swing arm supports or carries the lighting element of the lighting apparatus. Such swing arm lamps utilize swivel assemblies to mount the swing arm to the support member, thus enabling the swing arm and the lighting elements to be swung about an axis of rotation through the support member. It is also known in floor lamps and table lamps and, in some instances, wall mounted lamps, that a pair of swing arms are connected one to the other by a swivel or swivel assembly to provide even greater versatility for selective positioning of the lighting elements of the lamp in that the swing arms can be selectively positioned with respect to the support post and with respect to each other. 
   Where a multiplicity of lighting elements disposed upon a ceiling mounted lighting apparatus is desired such has been accomplished by the utilization of track lighting; that is, a track is mounted on the ceiling and the lighting element is then supported within the track and can be positioned laterally along the track to accomplish the desired positioning of the lighting element. 
   Prior to the present invention, applicant is unaware of any ceiling mounted lighting apparatus which includes a plurality of swing arms which are connected one to the other by a swivel assembly and, in turn, are pivotally connected at one end thereof to a support post extending from a ceiling mount. Attempts in the prior art to provide such a structure have been unsuccessful because the plurality of swing arms and lighting elements connected to each such swing arum was sufficiently heavy to apply a load to the support post causing the support post to bend or the swing arms to droop to such a degree that the structure either became mechanically unsafe or esthetically displeasing. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A ceiling mounted lighting apparatus which includes a canopy adapted to be affixed to a ceiling fixture and including first and second support posts affixed to the canopy, a first articulated arm is pivotally interconnected to the first support post and a second articulated arm is pivotally interconnected to the second support post with a plurality of lights carried by each of the articulated arms and the apparatus includes means for bracing the first and second support posts to carry the weight of the first and second articulated arms and lights. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the embodiment of the lighting apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a partial exploded view illustrating the support posts and the swivel assembly connecting an articulated arm thereto; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken about the lines  3 — 3  of  FIG. 1  illustrating in partial exploded form various components of the lighting apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken about the lines  4 — 4  of  FIG. 1  illustrating the swivel assembly interconnecting segments of the articulated arm; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a bushing utilized in the swivel assembly; 
       FIG. 6  is a plan view of an adapter plate used in mounting the lighting apparatus of the present invention to a ceiling fixture; and 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a ceiling mounted lighting apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The ceiling mounted lighting apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention is specifically directed to a swing arm structure having a plurality of swing arms extending from each of a pair of support posts. The support posts are connected to and extend from a canopy or pan-shaped member which is adapted to be affixed to the ceiling of a residence structure. The swing arms are each articulated in that they include segments, each carrying a separate light and are pivotally connected together by a swivel assembly. The articulated arm is, in turn, connected to the support posts by a swivel assembly. To carry the load of the articulated arms with the associated lights thereon, the support posts include a means for bracing. By reference now to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated in perspective view a ceiling mounted lighting apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention. As is therein shown, the lighting apparatus  10  includes a canopy  12  which is adapted to be connected to a ceiling  14  of a structure typically utilized as a residence, office, or the like. The canopy  12  is in the form of a pan-like structure, having a bottom  16  and a continuous lip or edge  18 . A first support post  20  is connected to the bottom  16  of the canopy  12  and extend downwardly therefrom. A second support post  22  is connected to the bottom  16  of the canopy  12  and extends downwardly therefrom. The support posts  20  and  22  are displaced usually in a diametrically opposed manner from each other adjacent the outer perimeter of the canopy  12 . A first articulated arm  24  is connected to the support post  20  and extends outwardly therefrom. A second articulated arm  26  is connected to the support post  22  and extends outwardly therefrom. The articulated arm  24  includes segments  28  and  30  which are pivotally connected together by a swivel assembly  32 . The arm  28  carries an illumination device such as a lamp  34  while the arm  30  carries an illumination device such as a lamp  36 . The articulated arm  24  is connected to the support post  20  by a swivel assembly  38 . 
   The articulated arm  26  includes a first segment  40  and a second segment  42  which are connected together by a swivel assembly  44 . The segment  40  carries an illumination device such as a lamp  46  while the segment  42  carries an illumination device such as a lamp  48 . The articulated arm  26  is connected to the support post  22  by a swivel assembly  50 . 
   The articulated arms  24  and  26  are typically formed of metal tubes and the lamps are affixed thereto by members  54  also formed of metal tubes that are attached to the arms in such a way that the lamps may be rotated about the axis  52  of the member. The lamps are connected to the member  54  in such a way that the lights may also be manipulated as shown by the arrow  56 . It will be understood that although the above description is with respect to the attachment of lamp  48  to the segment  42 , such is applicable to each of the remaining lamps  34 ,  36  and  46 . Such rotation about the axis  52  and as shown by the arrow  56  allows positioning of the lamps so as to illuminate any desired area or object. However such rotation and manipulation is limited in rotational extent to prevent damaging the electrical wiring which is carried through the hollow tubes from an appropriate fixture mounted within the ceiling  14  to which the canopy  12  is attached. 
   To permit the support posts  20  and  22  to carry the load created by the weight of the articulated arms  24  and  26  and the lamps carried by them, a pair of braces  58  and  60  are connected between the support posts  20  and  22 . The brace  58  is connected adjacent the lower end of the support posts while the brace  60  is connected adjacent the upper end of the support posts with the swivel assemblies  38  and  50  which support the arms  24  and  26  interposed between the point where the braces  58  and  60  connect to the support posts  20  and  22 . As a result of this interconnection, as the weight of the arm  24  causes a clockwise rotational moment to be applied to the support post  20 , the forces generated thereby are transmitted by way of the cross brace  58  to the support post  22 . In turn, when the weight of the arm  26  causes a counter clockwise rotational moment to be applied to the support post  22  the forces generated thereby are transmitted by way of the cross brace  58  to the support post  20 . It will be understood by those skilled in the art that these forces generated by the weight of the two arms  24  and  26  attempting to move the lower ends of the support posts toward each other are effectively compressively absorbed by the cross brace  58  and cancel each other cut, thereby providing a stable apparatus. In a similar fashion the clockwise rotational moment caused by the weight of the arm  24  and the counter clockwise rotational moment caused by the weight of the arm  26  will cause forces generated thereby to be applied to the support posts  20  and  22  respectively and will attempt to move the upper ends of the support posts away from each other. These forces are however absorbed by and effectively cancelled by the cross brace  60  connected between the upper ends of the support posts  20  and  22  thereby further enhancing the stability of the structure. 
   By referring now more particularly to  FIG. 2 , the support posts and the manner in which the articulated arms  24  and  26  are pivotally secured thereto is shown in greater detail by the exploded view. As is therein illustrated, the support post  20  comprises a tubular element  62  which receives a plug  64  which defines a groove  66  therein. As is illustrated, the plug  64  is hollow as shown at  68  so that approximate electrical wiring may pass therethrough. The connector  38  to which the arm section  28  is affixed is also hollow and the upper end  70  thereof slips over the end of the plug  64 . A plurality of threaded elements such as allen screws  72  and  74  or the like are threadably received within threaded openings in the connector  38  and the ends thereof are received within the groove  66  thus affixing the connector  38  to the support post  20  to thereby provide a part of the swivel assembly for the articulated arm  42 . At the lower end, there is provided a pair of hollow elements  76  and  78  between which the cross brace  58  is connected. The hollow elements  76  and  78  each receive a plug  80  and  82  formed in a similar manner to the plug  64  to provide an appropriate groove  84  and  86 , respectively. Additional threaded elements such as allen screws  88  and  90  are threadably received within threaded openings in the bottom of the connector  38  so that when the connector  38  is slipped over the end of the plug  80 , the allen screws  88  and  90  will engage the groove  84  within the plug  80  which thereby completes the swivel assembly supporting the arm  24 . A similar structure exists with regard to the support post  22  to provide a swivel assembly for connecting the element  50  which supports the articulated arm  26 . 
   Referring now more particularly to  FIG. 3 , there is illustrated in partial cross-sectional and exploded view, the manner in which the lighting apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention is connected to the ceiling. As is therein shown, the member  62  includes a threaded reduced diameter portion  92  which receives in a threaded fashion the lower end of an extension  94 . The extension  94  may be of various lengths depending upon how far from the canopy  12  the user wishes the articulated arms  26  and  24  to be. Such is illustrated by breaking the member  94  into two sections. Received within the upper internally threaded end of the element  94  is an externally threaded nipple  96 . The nipple  96  extends through an opening  98  in the lower surface  16  of the canopy  12 . Disposed internally of the canopy  12  is a reinforcing bar  100  which includes an opening  102  provided therethrough which mates with the opening  98  in the surface  16  of the canopy  12 . The threaded nipple  96  extends through the openings  98  and  102  so as to extend to the top surface of the reinforcing bar  100 . A lock washer  104  is disposed over the end of the threaded nipple  96  and a threaded nut  106  is secured to the external threads on the nipple  96  to secure the support post  20  to the canopy  12 . An adapter ring  108  is secured by screws, bolts or other fasteners to a junction box  110  which is disposed within the ceiling of the structure in which the lighting apparatus is to be utilized. A threaded bolt  112  is threadably received within an opening the adapter ring  108  and extends through an opening  114  in the bottom  16  of the canopy  12 . A decorative internally threaded nut  116  is threaded over the end of the bolt  112  to hold the assembly structure as above described securely in place on the junction box  110 . A structure similar to that shown in  FIG. 3  is duplicated with regard to the support post  22 . 
   The plug  64  which is received in the element  62  is further shown in perspective view in  FIG. 5  and is threaded in place on internal threads at the lower end of the member  62  the threads  118  being illustrated on the plug  64 . The plug also defines a flange  120  which further includes a shoulder  122  which abuts against the lower end of the member  62  when the plug is threaded in place. It should be understood that the plugs such as  64 ,  80  and  82  may be formed with threads as illustrated in  FIG. 5  and threadably secured in place or alternatively, may be smooth surfaced and secured in place by an interference fit. 
   Reference is now made to  FIG. 4 , which illustrates the swivel assembly between sections of the articulated arm  24 . As is therein shown, the swivel assembly  32  includes a downwardly directed cup-shaped member  124  connected to the arm  28 . Also included is an upwardly directed cup-shaped member  126  which is connected to the arm  30 . A plug  128  defines a groove  130  and a through axial opening through which the wiring (not shown) passes. The plug  128  has the lower end  132  thereof press fitted within an opening  134  of the upwardly directed cup-shaped member  126 . The upper portion  136  of the plug  128  is slightably received within the opening  138  of the downwardly directed cup-shaped member  124 . When in place, a threaded allen a screw or the like  140  is threaded through an opening  142  so that the end thereof is received within the groove  130 . As a result, the arms  28  and  30  may be rotated one relative to the other. It should also be understood that the plug  128  may be retained in position within the upwardly directed cup-shaped member  126  by being threaded therein with a plug of the type as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   Reference is now made to  FIG. 6 , which is a plan view of a mounting plate  108  above described in conjunction with  FIG. 3 . As is therein shown, the plate  108  includes a central opening  144  through which the wiring from the junction box  110  may pass. Threaded openings  146  and  148  are provided to receive the threaded bolts such as illustrated at  112  in  FIG. 3 . Various other openings are provided as shown to receive appropriate fasteners to secure the mounting plate to the junction box  110  as will be understood by those skilled in the art. 
   By reference now to  FIG. 7 , an alternative embodiment of a ceiling mounted lighting apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention is illustrated. As is shown in  FIG. 7 , each of the articulated arms  150  and  152  which are connected to the canopy  154  contain three distinct segments, each carrying a separate lamp thereon. Each of the segments are connected together by a swivel assembly as shown at  156 ,  158 ,  160  and  162 . The support posts  164  and  166  which pivotally support the articulated arms  150  and  152  are constructed and operate in the manner above described with regard to the description of the previous embodiment. 
   There has thus been described a ceiling mounted lighting apparatus having articulated swing arms affixed to support posts which include means for bracing so as to carry the weight of the articulated arms and the lamps which are affixed thereto. While there has been described what is at present considered to be a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims. Thus, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that although preferred embodiments have been shown and described, the invention is not limited thereto or thereby since the embodiments of the invention as disclosed and described are presented merely as an example of the invention coming within the proper scope and spirit of the appended claims.