Abstract:
A lighting fixture suitable for use in a bathroom, vanity, or similar application includes an extended fixture with multiple light bulbs. The light bulbs are spaced from the fixture in such a manner that the bulbs do not lie on a single line. The back plate may have a curving portion for supporting the bulbs in a non-linear manner, or individual spacers of different lengths may be used to project the bulbs different distances from a planar backplate.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to lighting fixtures, and more specifically to a multiple bulb fixture suitable for use in bathrooms, vanities, and the like. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Lighting fixtures for use in bathrooms and vanities, are available in a number of designs. One of the overall goals of any such design is to provide illumination such that a person is able to get a relatively clear look at their face, hair, and other body parts. A wide variety of fixture designs have been used in an attempt to provide appropriate lighting. 
     One basic fixture design is often referred to in the industry as a “bath bar” or “vanity bar.” This fixture design consists of an extended bar having, typically, three to six individual lights projecting from the front. The bar can be placed over a mirror to provide lighting to those standing in front of the mirror. 
     The individual lights connected to the bar vary widely in type. They can be, for example, simple spherical light bulbs, typically frosted or clear, which are screwed into light sockets. They may also be more complicated fixtures, typically involving bulbs oriented in a vertical direction and partially covered by a glass shade. The shade may be frosted or partly frosted, and decoratively shaped to match any desired décor. The light bulb used in such an arrangement may be a normal bulb, or a specially designed decorative bulb. 
     Other approaches to bathroom and vanity fixtures have included placement of lights vertically along the side of a mirror, placement of lights in the ceiling above the mirror, and various combinations of these and other designs. 
     As yet, the single, elongated vanity bar design remains very popular, but does not always provide the lighting pattern desired. It would be desirable to provide improvements in such a lighting fixture. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, a lighting fixture suitable for use in a bathroom, vanity, or similar application includes an extended fixture with multiple light bulbs. The light bulbs are spaced from the fixture in such a manner that the bulbs do not lie on a single line. The back plate may have a curving portion for supporting the bulbs in a non-linear manner, or individual spacers of different lengths may be used to project the bulbs different distances from a planar backplate. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of a vanity bar light fixture in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of a preferred vanity bar light fixture in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a first alternative embodiment of a vanity bar light fixture in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a second alternative embodiment of a vanity bar light fixture in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a third alternative embodiment of a vanity bar light fixture in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a fourth alternative embodiment of a vanity bar light fixture in accordance with the present invention; and 
     FIG. 7 is a fifth alternative embodiment of a vanity bar light fixture in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, individual lights are mounted to vanity bars and similar fixture elements with a wide variety of supporting arms, shades, and so forth. In the drawings, the bulbs are shown attached to a vanity bar using simple cylindrical projecting arms which contain light bulb sockets, with spherical bulbs being screwed into these sockets. However, it will be understood that many different types of decorative arms may be used with the present invention. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a preferred vanity bar lighting fixture  10  includes a backplate  12 . Backplate  12  is illustrated as a rectangular backplate, but any decorative backplate can be used with the present invention. 
     Backplate  12  typically varies in length between approximately two feet and four feet, depending upon the number of bulbs to be included with the fixture. Common backplate dimensions are also two inches to six inches in height and typically less than two inches in thickness. 
     Fixture  10  includes five bulbs,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 . It will be understood by those skilled in the art that a different number of bulbs can be used as desired. Also, as described above, although decorative, spherical bulbs are shown in the drawings, other types of fixtures and bulbs can also be used. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of lighting fixture  10 . Bulbs  14 - 22  are mounted on decorative arms  24  which are, in this embodiment, cylindrical shrouds covering wires, socket, and mounting hardware (not shown) for the corresponding bulb. Decorative shrouds  24  are conventional, and are attached to a curved element  26  in a conventional manner. 
     Curved element  26  is preferably hollow, and attached to backplate  12  at the ends. Element  26  is used for mounting and supporting the shrouds  24 , and as a passageway for electrical wiring (not shown) which runs from each socket to an external power cable  28 . The power cable  28  exits from the back of backplate  12 , with the various wires for each socket being wired together in parallel within the backplate  12 . 
     As shown, curved member  26  is attached to backplate  12  only at the ends, leaving a gap  30  between curved member  26  and backplate  12 . However, if desired, the backplate can have a protruding front which approximates the curve of curved member  26 , so that the region between the front portion of curved member  26  and the back side of backplate  12  is an enclosed space in which wires and connectors can be run. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, shrouds  24  are each bolted to curved member  26  in an identical manner, so that each shroud  24  projects at a right angle from the surface of curved member  26 , giving a different angle with relation to the plane of backplate  12 . Another approach for attaching shrouds to the curved member  26  is shown in FIG.  3 . 
     In FIG. 3, shrouds  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  and  40  are attached to curved member  26  so as to support lights  14 - 18  respectively. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, shrouds  32 - 40  are parallel, each projecting approximately 90° away from the plane of backplate  12 . This is accomplished by one of two methods. In the first, flat regions (not shown) can be provided on the curved member  26 , so that identical shrouds  32 - 40  can be used. In a second approach, each of the shrouds  32 - 40  can be manufactured so as to have an angled side where they are attached to curved member  26 . The angle of each shroud is matched to the curvature of member  26  so that the center line of the cylindrical shroud is perpendicular to backplate  12 . 
     If the shrouds are simple cylinders, identical shrouds can be used on opposite ends. Thus, for example, shroud  32  can be identical to shroud  40 , with the shrouds installed with an orientation 180° from each other. In a similar manner, shrouds  34  and  38  can be identical. 
     If lighting fixtures are used which are not simple cylinders such as shrouds  32 - 40 , other arrangements may be necessary if it is desired that the individual fixtures are parallel in a manner similar to that shown in FIG.  3 . 
     In FIG. 4, another alternative embodiment is shown. In this embodiment, a curved member  46  is provided which curves closer to the backplate  12  in the middle, and extends further on the ends where it is supported by brackets  44 . In a manner similar to that described in connection with FIG. 3, shrouds  46  are preferably connected to curved member  42  so that each light projects essentially perpendicularly with respect to the plane of backplate  12 . If desired, shrouds  46  can be connected to curved portion  42  so that they are each at right angles to curved portion  42  at the point where they meet, which would cause all light bulbs to project somewhat toward a common central point. The arrangement shown in FIG. 4 may be more aesthetically pleasing, however. 
     FIGS. 5,  6  and  7  are directed to alternative embodiments in which the shrouds are connected directly to a substantially planar backplate, but are different lengths to give various positioning effects to the lights themselves. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, end supports  46  at each end of backplate  12  are relatively short, with medium length supports  48  toward the middle, and a longer support  50  supporting middle light  18 . This gives a pattern for the lights similar to that of FIGS. 2 and 3. 
     Referring to FIG. 6, end supports  52  are the longest, with intermediate length supports  54  and shortest support  56  progressing toward the middle of backplate  12 . This gives a location for lights similar to that of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment which has longest supports  58  on either end of backplate  12 . An intermediate length support  60  is located in the middle, with shorter supports  62  between the middle and ends of the backplate  12 . As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, various arrangements of varying length supports can be used in addition to the pattern shown in FIG.  7 . 
     The embodiments shown in FIGS. 5-7 involve varying length supports which are connected to the backplate  12 . This requires supports of more than one length to be manufactured, but does not involve attachment of an extra curved member such as member  26  shown in FIG.  2 . The variable length supports of FIGS. 5-7 can, of course, be used in concert with curved supports or fronts such as curved support  26  to achieve many different types of non-linear lighting patterns. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.