Abstract:
A lamp having at least a portion of a body formed of translucent material defining a hollow chamber within which a low light level light bulb is housed. A portion of the body is removable to provide easy access to the light bulb for removal and changing when required.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to lamps and more particularly to a lamp which includes a general-area lighting means and, in addition, includes a low light level lighting means and is directed specifically to a structure permitting easy replacement of the low light level light bulb. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Floor lamps, desk lamps and table lamps are all very well known in the lighting industry. Many of such lamps contain multi-position switches for changing the level of illumination provided by the general area lighting means incorporated within such lamps. Low light level lamps, commonly referred to as night lights, are also well known in the lighting industry and are constructed having many different configurations. It is also known in the prior art to incorporate a low light level light bulb into a table lamp, floor lamp or desk lamp. In many instances, the incorporation of the low light level light bulb accomplishes the additional function of providing a more decorative appearance to the body of the lamp. The present invention is specifically directed to a lamp, which can be a desk lamp, table lamp or floor lamp, of the type which also incorporates as an integral part thereof a low light level bulb housed within the body of the lamp to provide decoration as well as a night light function. In such prior art structures, it is extremely difficult to replace the low light level light bulb when it has burned out. Prior art lamps of this type generally require extensive dismantling of the lamp to gain access to the interior of the lamp to replace the low light level light bulb. In one such prior art lamp the base had to be removed to replace the bulb. 
   Therefore, there is need in the lighting industry for a lamp which incorporates both a general area lighting means and a low light level light bulb (night light) which also provides a means for ready access to the low light level light bulb so that it may be easily changed when such is required. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A lamp having a low light level bulb housed within a hollow chamber which includes an enclosure defining the hollow chamber and means for supporting the bulb within the chamber. At least a portion of the enclosure is formed of translucent material and the lamp includes means in the enclosure for providing access to the low light level bulb to change the bulb. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of a table or desk lamp constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a partial cross-sectional view of the lamp illustrated in  FIG. 1 , taken about the lines  2 — 2  thereof; 
       FIG. 2A  is a fragmentary view showing the securing ring; 
       FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of the lamp of  FIG. 1  with the upper portion removed therefrom; 
       FIG. 4  is a partial view of the lamp shown in  FIG. 2 , illustrating removal of the low light level light bulb from the structure; 
       FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the lamp housing the low light level bulb; and 
       FIG. 6  is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of a member for supporting the low light level light bulb. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   A lamp constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention provides general area lighting and at the same time includes a low light level illumination bulb such as a night light which is contained within the body of the lamp and when illuminated provides both a decorative feature for the lamp and a night light function. This is accomplished by having the body of the lamp constructed from translucent material or alternatively having portions thereof constructed of translucent material. A multi-way switch  22  is incorporated as a part of the lamp&#39;s structure so that the general area lamp or the night light or both may be energized as desired. The low illumination level light bulb is easily replaceable by removing a locking ring and lifting a portion of the body to gain access to the bulb which may then be replaced and reinserted into the lamp after which the top and the locking ring are reassembled. The night light portion of the lamp in accordance with the present invention may be utilized on any type of lamp structure such for example as a desk lamp, a table lamp or a floor lamp without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. 
   One form of a lamp constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 1  to which reference is hereby made. As is therein shown a table lamp  10  includes a pedestal  12  which supports a body  14 . Extending upwardly from the body  14  is a tubular member  16  which supports a light socket  18  for receiving a typical light bulb (not shown) for use as a general area lighting means. A multi-way switch  22  is provided to allow energization of the general area lighting means or the night light. A saddle  20  is affixed to the member  16  and receives the typical wire lampshade support (not shown). A low illumination light bulb (night light)  24  is disposed internally of the body  14  as indicated by the dashed lines. The body  14  is constructed of translucent material such as plastic, glass, fabric or the like depending upon the particular design criteria and decorative environment in which the lamp is to be utilized. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the body  14  is constructed of translucent glass and is supported within a decorative fixture  26  carried by the pedestal  12 . It should be expressly understood that the pedestal  12  may be eliminated and the stem of a floor lamp substituted for it with the pedestal then being the terminus of the floor lamp and upon which the floor lamp is supported during use. 
   The construction of the lamp constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention is illustrated in more detail in FIG.  2 . The body  14  includes an enclosure  28  defining a hollow chamber  30 . The bulb  24  is disposed internally of the chamber  30 . The chamber  30  is essentially closed at the top thereof by a member  32  which is supported upon the upper edge  34  of the enclosure  28 . An appropriate gasket or similar elastomeric material  36  is contained about the periphery of the upper most part of the enclosure. The elastomeric material  36  cushions the contact between the upper portion  34  of the enclosure  28  and the member  32 . The bulb  24  is contained within a typical light bulb socket  38  which has a pair of clips  40  and  42  affixed thereto. Preferably the enclosure  28  is constructed of material which is translucent in nature to allow a low light level to be emanated from the lamp  10  when the bulb  24  is illuminated. Alternatively the enclosure  28  may be constructed of material which is partially opaque and partially translucent to provide desired decorative affects depending upon the environment in which the lamp  10  is to be used. A top plate or cap  44  includes a periphery  46  which is seated on a ledge or within a groove  48  formed upon the upper surface  50  of the member  32 . 
   Disposed within the chamber and extending between the pedestal  12  and the socket  18  is a hollow conduit  52  which receives electrical wires. The conduit is held in place by an appropriate washer and nut combination  54  disposed within a cavity  56  defined by the pedestal  12  at the opposite end of the chamber  30  there is provided a washer or spacer member  58  which is supported on top of a sleeve  60  surrounding the conduit  52 . The conduit extends through a central orifice in the member  32  and is secured in place by an appropriate nut  62  which also functions to hold the member  32  in place on top of the enclosure  28 . As illustrated, the conduit  52  is separated into two portions with the upper portion extending through the extension  16  and being supported upon a bracket  64  which is held in place with an additional nut  66  thus securing the bracket in its lower most portion between the nuts  62  and  66 . An additional nut  68  secures a lower end of the upper section of the conduit  52  to the top of the bracket  64 . As is illustrated, the extension  16  is also threaded onto the lower threaded portion of the conduit  52 . 
   The lower outer periphery of the extension  16  is threaded as shown at  70  in FIG.  2 A. The threads  70  receive a solid ring  72  which is used to lock the top plate or cap  44  in place for normal use of the lamp  10 . This ring, however, may be turned preferably in a counter-clockwise rotational direction to release it from the threads  70 , thus allowing the solid ring  72  to move upwardly over the outer surface of the extension  16 . When such occurs, the top plate or cap  44  may then be moved upwardly by grasping the upper portion thereof. When such occurs, the top plate or can  44  is moved away from the upper member  32  of the enclosure, thus allowing access to the clips  40  and  42 . 
   This operation is better illustrated in  FIG. 3 , to which reference is hereby made. As is therein illustrated, the solid ring  72  has been unscrewed from the threads  70  on the bottom portion of the extension  16 . The top plate or cap  44  has then been moved upwardly from its seat  48  thus exposing the clips  40  and  42 . By compressing the clips  40  and  42  inwardly, the bulb  24  and its socket  38  may be removed through the opening  74  provided in the member  32 , which bridges the upper surface of the enclosure  28  to define the chamber  30 . 
   As is clearly shown in  FIG. 4 , the light socket  38  is formed with the clips  40  and  42  secured thereto. The clips are formed from spring metal so that when pressure is released the clips  40  and  42  will move outwardly, that is, away from the central axis of the light socket  38  in such a way that they will engage the periphery of the opening  74  defined by the upper member  32 . By so doing, the bulb  24  is secured in place internally of the chamber  32  to function as a traditional night light. As is clearly shown in  FIG. 5 , the combination of the member  32  and the top plate or cap  44  provides an adequate cavity  76  for receiving the night light socket and clips without interference from the structure defining the chamber and the top plate. As is clearly illustrated in  FIG. 4 , when the clips  40  and  42  are pressed together, the socket  38  and its bulb  24  may easily be removed from the chamber  30  by extracting it through the opening  74  defined by the member  32 . The bulb  24  may then be changed as desired and by reversing the procedure, that is, inserting the bulb  24  and the socket  38  through the orifice  74  and allowing the clips  40  and  42  to naturally extend outwardly, the bulb is then replaced within the chamber  30  for its normal functioning as a night light or decoration. 
   Although the upper member  32  which provides a means for supporting the lamp  24  is illustrated as a solid disk defining an orifice for receiving the bulb, it should be understood that any number of additional configurations of such a supporting means for the lamp may be utilized. One alternative member is shown in  FIG. 6 , to which reference is hereby made. As is therein indicated, there is provided a ring  80  having a center section  82  with a plurality of spokes or arms  84 ,  86 ,  88  and  90  interconnecting the center section  82  and the rim  80 . The structure as shown in  FIG. 6  may be substituted for the central disk-like portion of the member  32  by providing a ledge or seat within which it can be received. The lamp socket  38  may then be provided with a hook-type structure which could be placed over one of the arms  84  through  90  to allow the bulb  24  to extend into the chamber  30 . It would be obvious to those skilled in the art that through the utilization of a structure such as shown in  FIG. 6 , when the top plate or can  44  is removed as above described, one may simply reach in and unhook the light socket and burned-out bulb and replace the burned-out bulb as desired.