Patent Abstract:
A lamp comprises a base, a flexible arm extending from the base, and a lampshade attached to the other end of the flexible arm by means of two cooperating connecting members that allow the lampshade to be rotated about a first axis and about a second axis perpendicular to the first. The base may be slidably held by a bracket attached by adhesive or by other bonding material, to a computer monitor, workstation, or other device. A socket within the lamp shade accepts a high intensity bulb such as a 13-watt compact fluorescent bulb.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to lamps, and more particularly to a lamp for placement atop or in close proximity to a personal computer monitor or a word processing terminal, the position of the lampshade and lamp element being readily adjustable to provide desired illumination to documents and other materials under scrutiny. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is often the case that a person, while using a personal computer or a data processing terminal, finds it necessary to refer to notes or other documents. It is obviously preferable that those documents be near to the terminal and keyboard in order to minimize the amount of effort involved, and it is helpful if the documents are well-lighted for ready viewing. However, space is usually at a premium at a computer workstation, and there is often little room for a desk lamp or other lamp of the ordinary variety. Computer users must often rely on the overhead lighting in the room to illuminate the documents under scrutiny, or on a desk or floor lamp located some distance away from the computer. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a lamp that may be placed on and attached to a computer monitor, and may be adjusted in position to provide illumination to adjacent areas as selected by the computer user. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a lamp with a lampshade and lighting element that may be rotated about two mutually perpendicular axes to provide illumination that is adjustable in direction. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a lamp that can deliver high intensity light to a selected work area adjacent a computer monitor. 
     Other features and objects of this invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing objects are achieved, and the aforementioned problems solved, by one illustrative embodiment of the invention in which a lamp comprises a base, a flexible arm extending from the base, and a lampshade attached to the other end of the flexible arm by means of two cooperating connecting members that allow the lampshade to be rotated about a first axis and about a second axis perpendicular thereto. The base may be removably held by a bracket attached by adhesive or other means to a computer monitor, workstation, or other device. A standard socket within the lampshade may receive a high intensity bulb such as a 13 watt compact fluorescent bulb. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lamp constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lamp being mounted on a computer monitor, with the flexible arm extending from the base of the lamp and attached to a first connecting member, a second connecting member being attached to and rotated on the first connector member, and the lampshade being rotated about its attachment to the second connecting member. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the lamp of FIG. 1, with the lampshade returned to its home (i.e., unrotated) position. 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the lamp of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a partial cut-away view of the internal structure of the lamp as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG.  5   a  is a plan view of the inner side of the bottom half of the second connecting member as seen in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG.  5   b  is a plan view of the outer side of the bottom half of the second connecting member shown in FIG.  5   a.    
     FIG.  5   c  is a sectional view of the bottom half of the second connecting member, taken along line  5   c — 5   c  of FIG.  5   a.    
     FIG.  6   a  is a plan view of the outer side of the top half of the second connecting member as seen in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG.  6   b  is a cross-sectional view of the top half of the second connecting member shown in FIG.  6   a , taken along line  6   b — 6   b  of FIG.  6   a.    
     FIG.  6   c  is a cross-sectional view of the top half of the second connecting member shown in FIG.  6   a , taken along line  6   c — 6   c  of FIG.  6   a.    
     FIG.  6   d  is a plan view of one of the two molded projections within the second connecting member that, in cooperation with the side wall, hold the collar in place to permit rotatable connection of the lampshade to the member. 
     FIG.  7   a  is a plan view of the inner side of the top half of the first connecting member as seen in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG.  7   b  is a sectional view taken along the line  7   b — 7   b  of FIG.  7   a.    
     FIG.  8   a  is a plan view of the inner side of the bottom half of the first connecting member as seen in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG.  8   b  is an elevational view of the side wall of the first connecting member formed when the two halves shown in FIGS.  8   a  and  7   a  are mated, providing a substantially oval aperture to capture the lip at the end of the flexible arm. 
     FIG. 9 is a length-wise sectional view of the flexible arm. 
     FIG.  10   a  is a plan view of the end of the collar that is received within the lampshade to rotatably attach the lampshade to the second connecting member. 
     FIG.  10   b  is a sectional view of the collar of FIG.  10   a , taken along lines  10   b — 10   b  of FIG.  10   a.    
     FIG.  11   a  is a partial plan view of the upper half of the lampshade, showing the molded projections for holding one end of the collar in position so that the lampshade is rotatable thereon. 
     FIG.  11   b  is a plan view of one of the pair of projections within the upper half of the lampshade, that hold the smaller end of the collar within the lampshade, and illustrating the stop that limits the amount of rotation that the lampshade may undergo. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1, the lamp of the present invention, designated generally by reference character  10 , is shown in position atop a computer monitor. Lamp  10  has a base  12  to which is attached a flexible arm  14 . At the other end of arm  14 , a first connecting member  16  is fixed, which member in turn is rotatably attached to a second connecting member  17 . Lampshade  18  extends from and is rotatably attached to second connecting member  17 . The outer housing of flexible arm  14  is comprised of commercially-available accordian-fold plastic tubing like that used in flexible flashlights. A length of standard flexible metal conduit tubing (not shown) extending the length of the arm permits arm  14  to maintain a desired position once the arm is bent or flexed. Arm  14  is preferably flexible substantially in all directions about its locus of attachment to base  12 . Connecting member  17  may be rotated about its attachment to connecting member  16  in an arc of about 90 degrees in either direction, as more fully described below. Lampshade  18  may be rotated about its attachment to connecting member  17  through an arc of slightly less than 180 degrees in either direction. Bulb element  30  is seen in position within lampshade  18 . An on-off switch  20  is located atop base  12 . 
     Turning to FIGS. 2 and 3, base  12  of lamp  10  is slidably and removably insertable into bracket  22 , which bracket may be affixed to the computer terminal by adhesive means shown at  24 . A compact fluorescent lamp element  30  is mounted within lampshade  18 . Reflecting metallic layer  32  is affixed to the inside wall of lampshade  18 . Lower connecting member  16  is fixed to the end of flexible arm  14 , as described more fully below. Upper connecting member  17  is attached to lower connecting member  16  by means of a cylindrical projection that extends from member  17  into member  16 , as shown in FIG.  4 . Lampshade  18  is attached to upper connecting member  17  by means of a collar  46 , as shown in FIGS. 4, and  10   a  and  10   b . Lines  26  and  28  are merely decorative and have no functional role. 
     The internal construction of lamp  10  is illustrated in FIG.  4 . Current is supplied to the lamp via conventional power cord  40 , which is connected to ballast  42  mounted within base  12 , the output thereof being supplied through electrical wiring  43  at the proper voltage to operate fluorescent bulb  30 . The preferred embodiment here described employs a 13-watt compact fluorescent bulb available from Osram as Model 13W/827. Wiring  43  is threaded through flexible arm  14  and into lower connecting member  16 , fixedly attached to the distal end of arm  14 . An aperture  76  in member  16  (FIG.  7   a ) cooperates with a curved opening  52  in the bottom wall of upper member  17  (FIG.  5   a ) to permit wiring  43  to be threaded into member  17 , and then through member  17  into lampshade  18 , where it is connected to a standard fluorescent lamp socket  49 . 
     As stated above, lower connecting member  16  is affixed to the distal end of flexible arm  14 . Upper connecting member  17  is rotatably attached to lower connecting member  16  by a threaded bolt  44  held within cylindrical projection  62  (FIG.  6   b ) which extends downwardly from member  17  into member  16 , and is fastened thereto by threaded fastener  45  within member  16 . Lampshade  18  is attached to upper connecting member  17  by means of a short, cylindrical collar  46 , described more fully below. 
     FIGS.  5   a - 5   c  and  6   a - 6   d  depict the construction of the upper connecting member  17 . Member  17 , as well as the base  12 , the lower connecting member  16 , the outer casing of lampshade  18 , and collar  46 , are preferably molded of high impact plastic. FIGS.  5   a  and  5   b  depict the inner and outer sides, respectively, of the bottom half  50  of upper connecting member  17 . Semi-circular curved opening  52  permits electrical wiring  43  to be threaded from lower connecting member  16  into upper connecting member  17  as shown in FIG.  4 . Opening  52 , in cooperation with projection  87  on the top of the lower connecting member  16  (FIGS.  7   b  and  8   b ) also serves to limit the rotation of upper connecting member  17  to about 90 degrees in either direction, at which points projection  87  contacts an end of curved opening  52  to prevent further rotation. 
     Circular aperture  54  receives therethrough a cylindrical projection  62  molded into the interior of top half  50  of upper connecting member  17  (FIGS.  6   a  and  6   b ). Threaded bolt  44  held in and extending from projection  62  (FIG.  6   b ) receives a fastener  45  within the lower connecting member  16 , to hold the upper connecting member in position and rotatable with regard to the lower connecting member. (See FIG.  4 ). Screws introduced through holes  58  (FIG.  5   b ) and molded projections  56  (FIG.  5   a ) mate with corresponding molded projections  64  (FIG.  6   b ) in the top half  51  of upper connecting member  17  to hold the two halves together. 
     FIGS.  5   c  and  6   c  depict the mating projections within the two halves of upper connecting member  17  that serve, along with the side walls, to hold in place the collar  46  by which lampshade  18  is rotatably attached to upper connecting member  17 . Semi-circular openings  59  and  69  in the side wall mate to form a circular opening to receive cylindrical collar  46 , the other end of which is attached to lampshade  18 , to permit the lampshade to rotate around said collar, as explained below. 
     As to the construction of lower connecting member  16 , FIG.  7   a  depicts the inside of the top half  70 . Molded tubular projection  72  extends inwardly (see FIG. 4) to receive, in its bore  75  (FIG.  7   b ), projection  62  from upper connection member  17 , the threaded bolt  44  projecting through aperture  73  in tubular projection  72  into the interior of member  16 , where a fastener  45  (FIG. 4) is attached to hold the upper connecting member  17  in position with respect to lower connecting member  16 , and rotatable on projection  62  seated within bore  75 . Small circular aperture  76  in the top half  70  of member  16  permits wiring  43  to be threaded into curved opening  52  in the bottom half of the upper connecting member  17  (FIGS.  5   a  and  5   c ). 
     Turning to FIGS.  8   a  and  8   b , screws introduced through inward projections  82  in the bottom half  80  of the lower connecting member  16  mate with projections  74  in the top half  70  to fasten the two halves together. Circular projection  87  surrounds aperture  76  at the top surface of the lower connecting member  16 , and fits within curved opening  52  in the bottom of upper connector member  17 , to prevent rotation of member  17  beyond about 90 degrees in either direction, as stated above. 
     One end of flexible arm  14  (FIG. 9) is received within the substantially oval aperture  85  in the side wall  84  (FIG.  8   b ) of lower connecting member  16 , while the other end is received within a similar aperture in base  12  (not shown). Each end of flexible arm  14  includes a substantially oval projecting lip  90  slightly larger than the aperture  85  in the side wall  84  of lower connecting member  16  (FIG.  8   b ). The end of the arm  14  is thus captured in place when the halves of lower connecting member  16  are screwed together. The like aperture in base  12  similarly captures lip  90  at the other end of flexible arm  14 . Electrical wiring  43  is threaded through the flexible arm, and is held in place within a length of standard flexible metal conduit tubing extending the length of the arm (not shown). 
     FIGS.  10   a  and  10   b  depict the cylindrical collar  46  that connects lampshade  18  to upper connecting member  17  and permits rotation of the lampshade with respect to member  17 . Collar  46  comprises a central tubular section  101  having a thin, back member  102  projecting outwardly from the edge thereof, the back member  102  having a flat edge  106 . Back member  102  is captured between the side wall and a pair of molded projections  57  (FIG.  5   a ) and  67  (FIGS.  6   a  and  6   d ) in upper connecting member  17 . These projections mate to form a circular aperture similar to the circular aperture in the side wall, the aperture in these projections facilitating the threading of wiring  43  through collar  46  into the lampshade  18 . Collar  46  projects outwardly through the circular opening created when semi-circular wall openings  59  and  69  are mated. The flat edge  106  of back member  102  rests against the interior wall of the lower half of upper connecting member  17 , and, in cooperation with projections  57  and  67  and side wall  84 , prevents collar  46  from rotating. 
     Extending axially from the other end of central section  101  is cylindrical projection  103 . Raised circumferential lip  104  on projection  103  is captured within lampshade  18  by means of mating projections  48  (FIG. 4) in the upper and lower halves of lampshade  18 . FIGS.  11   a  and  11   b  provide a closer view of projections  48 . The central section  101  of collar  46  is received through a circular opening  114  formed in the side wall of lampshade  18  when the bottom and top halves of lampshade  18  are snap-fit together, corresponding to the circular opening formed in the side wall of upper connecting member  17  when semi-circular openings  59  and  69  are mated. Smaller cylindrical section  103  rests on the mating pair of projections  48  closest to the side wall of the lampshade, and circumferential lip  104  is captured between the mating pairs of projections  48  when the two halves of lampshade  18  are mated. Lampshade  18  may thus be rotated around collar  46 , projections  48  serving to capture circumferential lip  104  of collar  46 , to hold lampshade  18  in position vis-a-vis upper connecting member  17  as the lampshade is rotated. Finger  105  formed in lip  104  projects therefrom at an angle of slightly less than 90 degrees with respect to flat edge  106 . Finger  105  cooperates with a corresponding stop  111  located between projections  48  (FIGS.  11   a  and  11   b ) within the top half of lampshade  18  to prevent lampshade  18  from turning more than about 180 degrees in either direction, because finger  105  will then hit stop  111  at that point. Electrical wiring  43  is threaded from upper connecting member  17 , through the bore of collar  46 , and into the interior of lampshade  18  for connection to socket  49 , as shown in FIG.  4 . 
     The preferred embodiment of the lamp here shown may be removably attached atop the monitor of a personal computer, as shown in FIG. 1, by means of a c-shaped bracket  22  (FIGS.  1 - 3 ) into which base  12  may be slidably and removably secured. An adhesive pad  24  affixed to the bottom of bracket  22  may be utilized to affix bracket  22  to the monitor. 
     Thus the lamp of the present invention provides a highly adjustable source of high intensity illumination, readily employable at a data processing workstation, personal computer, or other device. Various other changes could be made to the preferred embodiment described above, without departing from the scope of the subject invention. Thus, although only one embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated, these and other modifications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and other obvious changes are intended to be covered by the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5