Abstract:
A fixture for a light that facilitates the mounting of a cover to a base of the light fixture. The base of the fixture includes at least one frictional spring member, which can lock the cover onto the base. The frictional spring members can provide adequate force to securely lock the cover onto the base of the fixture, yet allow for easy removal and re-installation of the cover onto the base.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a fixture for a light, and in one aspect, the invention relates to a means for mounting a cover to a base of the fixture.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Light fixtures generally include a base and a shield, and are used to retain an electrical receptacle and an illumination source. Light fixtures serve both a practical and a decorative purpose, as they provide protective hardware in which an electrical receptacle for a light can be mounted, and are available in many different styles.  
           [0003]    Conventionally, the shield of the light fixture is mounted in a socket portion of the base of the fixture with screws which are positioned around the periphery of the socket in which the shield is placed. In general, the shield is placed in the socket of the base and each screw around the periphery of the socket is tightened until the force from the plurality of screws against the shield secures the shield in the base.  
           [0004]    However, in order to perform routine maintenance on the light fixture, for instance, cleaning, or bulb replacements, the same procedure must be repeated. Specifically, each screw that is used to retain the shield must be loosened in order to release the shield from the socket of the base, and likewise, each screw must be tightened when remounting the shield. This procedure can become cumbersome, as screwdrivers and other hand tools are oftentimes necessary. Further, for instances when the light fixture is located overhead, it becomes especially troublesome to work with the fixture. Moreover, for persons suffering from joint debilitating illnesses where small screws and screw drivers are difficult to grasp, it becomes especially difficult to work with these conventional light fixtures.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    Accordingly, the present invention provides a light fixture that facilitates the removal and mounting of a cover, or shield, from and to a base of the light fixture.  
           [0006]    In one aspect of the invention, a fixture for a light comprises a base, and a cover that is positioned on the base, wherein the cover is held against the base by at least one frictional spring member.  
           [0007]    In another aspect of the present invention, a fixture for a light comprises a base and at least one frictional spring member provided in the base wherein the at least one frictional member is adapted to secure a cover to the base. Each frictional spring member extends upwardly from the base to a position above an upper surface of the base, extends downwardly and outwardly in a direction away from a center of the base, and extends downwardly and inwardly in a direction toward a center of the base.  
           [0008]    In another aspect of the invention, a fixture for a light comprises a base having an upper surface, wherein an interior portion of the upper surface has a recess therein, a cover having a projecting flange and a rim, wherein the projecting flange corresponds to at least a portion of the recess in the upper surface of the base such that the projecting flange can be positioned in the recess, wherein the cover is held against the base by at least one frictional spring member which each extends upwardly from the recess in the upper surface and contacts the rim of the cover to secure the cover to the base.  
           [0009]    According to another aspect of the invention, a method of making a fixture for a light comprises the steps of providing a base with at least one orifice therethrough, and positioning a frictional spring member in each the at least one orifice in said base, wherein the frictional spring member extends upwardly from said base and is adapted to secure a cover to the base.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    Other advantages and features of the invention will become more apparent with reference to the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiment thereof in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numbers have been applied to like elements, in which:  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a light fixture according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a base for the light fixture of FIG. 1;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cover for the light fixture of FIG. 1; and  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the light fixture of FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]    Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a light fixture  90  according to one embodiment of the present invention. According to FIG. 1, light fixture  90  includes a base  100  and a light cover  300 , each of which will be described in greater detail with reference to FIGS.  2 - 4 .  
         [0016]    Base  100 , which is illustrated in greater detail in FIG. 2, is characterized by a side surface  101 , an upper surface  102 , a recessed portion  103  of upper surface  102 , and a wall  106  extending between upper surface  102  and recessed portion  103 . According to one embodiment, a portion of side surface  101  forms a plane that is inclined relative to upper surface  102  of base  100 . However, base  100  can be of any shape or configuration without departing from the scope of the present invention. Similarly, although the present illustrations depict that recessed portion  103  is bounded by wall  106 , which forms a circular perimeter that defines recessed portion  103 , the peripheral contour and outline of recessed portion  103  is not limited to any particular shape. For example, the peripheral contour of recessed portion  103  can be formed by linear segments.  
         [0017]    According to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, base  100  is provided with slots  104   a  and an opening  105   a  through the surface of recessed portion  103 . Preferably, opening  105   a  is an orifice in which an electrical receptacle  105   b  can be positioned, while slots  104   a  are orifices in which frictional spring members  104   b  can be positioned.  
         [0018]    In a preferred embodiment, opening  105   a  is provided in a central part of recessed portion  103 , as it will serve as a position through which an electrical receptacle  105   b  can be positioned to power an illumination source. However, the positioning of opening  105   a  is not limited to any particular position, and can be formed through any portion of base  100 . Alternatively, instead of a single opening for an electrical receptacle, a plurality of openings can be formed according to the number of electrical receptacles that will be used. Also, electrical receptacles can be formed integrally into the body of base  100 , in which case opening  105   a  could be omitted from the construction of base  100 .  
         [0019]    In one embodiment, slots  104   a  are preferably provided at diametrically opposed positions in recessed portion  103  of upper surface  102 . Each slot  104   a  can be of an appropriate shape and size corresponding to a shape and size of the portion of a frictional spring member  104   b  that will be inserted into slot  104   a . As will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, although FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment where two slots  104   a  are provided through the surface of base  100 , any number of slots can be provided. Also, the positioning of the slots in the surface of base  100  is not limited to the diametrically opposed configuration that is illustrated, slots  104   a  can be provided at any position in base  100 . Further, frictional spring members  104   b  can be provided in base  100  by any manner including integrally formed into base  100 , locked into base  100  with a tab locking assembly, or welded into base  100 .  
         [0020]    Each frictional spring member  104   b  is preferably a spring clip. In one embodiment, the shape of frictional spring member  104   b  generally corresponds to that of a “c”. Accordingly, when frictional spring member  104   b  is positioned in slot  104   a , the frame of frictional spring member  104   b  extends upwardly from recessed portion  103  to a position above upper surface  102 , curves in a direction away from a center of recessed portion  103  and extends downwardly and outwardly toward wall  106 , then curves in a direction toward the center of recessed portion  103  and extends downwardly and inwardly in a direction toward the center of recessed portion  103 , and away from wall  106 . In a preferred embodiment, frictional spring members  104   b  are formed such that when positioned in slots  104   a , at least a portion of each of frictional spring members  104   b  extends substantially to wall  106 .  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is an illustration of cover  300  of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment. As shown, cover  300  has a flange  301  and a rim  302  at an end thereof. In general, flange  301  forms a lip at one end of cover  301 , which, as will be explained later, will aid in mounting cover  300  onto base  100 . Rim  302  corresponds to a portion of cover  300  that bridges flange  301  to the rest of cover  300 , and is generally a flat surface. Although cover  300  is illustrated as an enclosed light shield, any light shield or cover can be used, including partially enclosed light shields.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of FIG. 1. As shown, when cover  300  is being mounted onto base  100 , flange  301  of cover  300  will encounter frictional spring members  104   b , which project above the surfaces of base  100 . Applying a downward force to cover  300  displaces frictional spring members  104   b  inwardly toward a center of recessed portion  103 , as frictional spring members  104   b  compress due to the force of cover  300  sliding downwardly. Accordingly, as flange  301  continues to slide downwardly over frictional spring members  104   b , the surfaces of frictional spring members  104   b  slide along the inside surface of flange  301  in a compressed state as they continue to deform inwardly, under the downward force of cover  300 . Frictional spring members  104   b  are released from the compressed state as frictional spring members  104   b  expand onto rim  302  of cover  300  after sliding along the length of the inside surface of flange  301 . Flange  301  is thus fully inserted into recessed portion  103  of base  100 , and rim  302  of cover  300  is flush against the upper surface  102  of base  100 . Thus, a portion of frictional spring members  104   b  contact rim  302  of cover  300  and hold cover  300  against base  100 .  
         [0023]    According to the above described method of mounting cover  300  to base  100 , frictional spring members  104   b  are used to secure cover  300  against base  100 . More specifically, because the length of flange  301  is sufficient to allow frictional spring members  104   b  to rest on rim  302  when cover  300  is fully inserted into base  100 , frictional spring members  104   b  are able to apply sufficient force to lock cover  300  onto base  100 . Moreover, the force of frictional spring members  104   b , which hold cover  300  against base  100  can substantially prevent any rotation of cover  300  on base  100 .  
         [0024]    In order to remove cover  300  from base  100 , it is only necessary to reverse the operation previously described for mounting cover  300  onto base  100 . Specifically, by pulling cover  300  away from base  100  in a direction perpendicular to upper surface  102  of base  100 , cover  300  slides over frictional spring members  104   b  in a direction away from base  100  until cover  300  is entirely removed from base  100 , and frictional spring members  104   b  are released back to their original positions. Because it is more likely that base  100  will be mounted onto a surface, base  100  can be held in place and a force perpendicular to, and away from upper surface  102  of base  100  can be applied to cover  300  in order to release cover  300  from frictional spring members  104   b.    
         [0025]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to a presently preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications, alternatives, variations, and substitution of parts and elements, may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, although the above description was made in reference to a light fixture with two frictional spring members, any number of frictional spring members can be used. Further, although the shape illustrated and described with reference to flange  301  and recessed portion  103  is circular, flange  301  and recessed portion  103  can be of any shape. Further, although base  100  has been described with a recessed portion  103  in which flange  301  of cover  300  can be inserted, any base and cover configuration can be used. Thus, the present application is intended to cover such modifications, alternatives, variations and elements as fall within the scope of the appended claims.