US2954460A - Illuminated light pull cord - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 27, 1960 c. J. RANFIELD 2,954,460

ILLUMINATED LIGHT PULL CORD Filed Dec. 25, 1957 INVENTOR. Gkar/es J fia/zf/e/d ILLUMINATE'D LIGHT PULL com) Charles J. Raniield, 305 W. 13th St., Kansas City 5, M0.

Filed Dec. 23, 1957, Ser. 'No. 704,389

1 Claim. 01. 240-78) This invention relates to electrical lighting systems and, more particularly, to improvements in same for automatically providing a low power, illuminated indicator of the location of a switching control whenever the latter is so conditioned that the main light or lights are extinguished.

An important object of the invention is to provide, in a lighting system including a fixture having a light producing device therein and a manually operable switch for con trolling the operation of the device, means mechanically coupled with the switch for use in actuating the same and including a low wattage consuming, i-lluminable lamp electrically coupled by the means with the switch, whereby the lower power lamp will be energized to indicate the location of the switch actuating means for the main lighting device whenever the latter is deenergized.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention to be described for purposes of illustration, the indicatorlamp may be in the nature of a neon bulb or other low power, glow discharge apparatus, while the switch operating means may comprise a pair of insulated conductors which serve both as a switch operating pull cord with the indicator lamp suspended thereon and as the conductive means for effecting electrical connection with the indicator lamp. It will be understood by those skilled in the art, however, that, in a broader sense, the invention contemplates a variety of possible arrangements, in some of which the indicator lamp might be disposed adjacent a wall switch or the like rather than suspended from a pull cord, in others of which the switch might be disposed with the indicator lamp in an assembly suspended by wires from the main light fixture, etc.

Further objects of the invention will be made clear or become apparent as the following description thereof progresses,

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a preferred form of lighting fixture, switching assembly and combination pull cord and indicator means, as contemplated by the invention, parts being broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1, with the fixture broken away to show the internal arrangement of parts; and

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the electrical aspects of the invention.

It has long been a problem for persons entering a darkened room to find the switch for operating the lighting system to illuminate the room, particularly where the switch or the actuating means therefor includes a pull cord or the like which is. suspended from a ceiling fixture in the middle of the room. Broadly, this invention contemplates the provision of an auxiliary, low power consuming lamp adjacent or forming a part of the switch or actuating means therefor which will automatically be energized whenever the switch is so conditioned that the main lighting system for illuminating the room is deenergized.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, and particularly Fig. 1 thereof, the numeral generally desigtates atent 1 nates an illustrative form of light fixture mounted upon a ceiling 12 and broadly including a hollow base portion 14, a socket portion 16 having a conventional electric light bulb 18 therein and a translucent shade 20 mounted thereon. Also mounted on the base 14 is an electrical switch generally designated 22 which may be of the type having a pull chain 24 adapted for shifting the working parts thereof between alternate positions thereof.

A lever assembly generally designated 28 is pivotally mounted upon a bracket 30 secured to the base 14 and has a short arm 32 secured to the chain 24 and a long arm 34 extending laterally from the base 14. Conductive means generally designated 36, which may comprise apair of separate conductors encased in a flexible insulating cover emerge from the base 14 through an opening 38 therein, are physically connected to the long arm 34 of the lever 28 adjacent the outermost end thereof by clamp means 40, and depend therefrom to a position within the reach of a person entering the room containing the fixture 10. At the bottom of the conductive means 36 is fastened a pull knob assembly 42 having a translucent portion 44 for exposing to view illumination from a neon bulb or the like housed Within the assembly 42.

Referring next to Fig. 2, the details of certain parts and connections normally enclosed within the base 14 of fixture 16 are illustrated. It will be seen from such figure that the socket portion 16 has coupled therewith a pair of conductors 50 and 52 for supplying energy to the main illuminating bulb or device 18, and that the conductive means 36 includes a pair of separately insulated conductors 54 and 56.

The electrical connections between the various parts of the apparatus utilized in the invention will be more clear from Fig. 3, and reference is made at this time to such schematic diagram. The numerals and 102 designate the two sides of an electrical power supply main. One of the conductors leading tothe main lighting device 18 through the socket 16 is coupled with power line 100 by the conductor 50. The conductor 52 leading to the other side of the lamp 18 is coupled with a stationary contact 142 of the switch 22, which it will be seen is of the single pole, double throw type and includes, besides the contact 142, a contact 144 and a pole piece 46 which is alternately engageable with the contacts 142 and 144. It will be understood that each time a pull is exerted upon the chain 24, the pole piece 46 shifts out of engagement with the contact 142 or 144 with which it has previously been engaged and into engagement with the other of such contacts 142 and 144. Pole piece 46 is coupled by a conductor 58 with the power line 102.

The conductor 54 which forms a part of the conductive means 36, is coupled with the conductor 50 by means of a conductor 60 which preferably has connected in series therewith a current limiting resistor 62. Similarly, the conductor 56 of conductive means 36 is coupled with contact 144 by means of a conductor 64 which preferably has connected in series therewith a limiting resistor 66. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that one or both of the limiting resistors 62 and 66 could be omitted, if desired, but they are preferably provided in order to limit the amount of electricity whichmay pass along the conductors 54 and 56 to a value which would not be lethal or dangerous to a person coming in contact therewith when pulling upon the assembly 42, even in the event that the insulation upon one or both of the conductors 54 and 56 had been cut or worn to a point where the person might make contact therewith.

Disposed within the assembly 42 and adapted to be viewed through the translucent portion 44 of the latter, is a glow discharge lamp 68, which may be in the form of a conventional, low wattage neon bulb.

Considering now the operation of the apparatus, it will be seen that when the pole piece 46 of switch 22 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 3, an energizing circuit for the main light producing bulb or device 18 is completed from power line 1% through conductor 5%, lamp 18, conductor 52, contact 142, pole piece 46, and conductor 58 to power line 162. This is the normal condition of the apparatus when the room is illuminated'by the lighting device 18. it will be observed that, at this time, the circuit to the glow discharge lamp on is broken, as there is no necessity for the lamp 6% being energized at this time.

Upon a person exerting a pull on the assembly 42, such pull will be transmitted by the physical connection of the conductive means 36 with arm 48 of lever 28 to the latter, and such lever 28 will be swung upon the bracket 39 to move arm 32 for exerting an increasing pull upon the chain 24. Upon the chain 24 being thus pulled, the pull piece 46 of switch 22 will be shifted past a dead center or toggling position and will move out of engagement with the contact 142 and into engagement with the contact 144, where it will remain until the chain 24 is again pulled.

Upon shifting of the pole piece 4-6 out of engagement with the contact 142, the above traced energizing circuit for the lamp 155 will be broken and the main lighting device 18 deenergized. The movement of pole piece 46 into engagement with the contact 144 will complete an energizing circuit for the neon or other glow discharge lamp 6% traceable from power line 1% through conductor 50, conductor 69, limiting resistor 62, conductor 54, lamp 68, conductor 56, limiting resistor 66, conductor 64, contact 144, pole piece 46 and conductor 58 to power line 102.

With the glow discharge lamp 68 thus energized, it will be easy for a person entering the otherwise darkened room to quickly locate the pull assembly 142 because of the radiations from the energized lamp 63 emanating through the translucent portion 4.4 of assembly 42. Thus, a person may walk directly to a position for pulling upon the assembly 42 to operate the chain 24 and switch 22, which will result in shifting of the pole piece i6 into engagement with the contact 142 and the energization of the main lighting device 18.

It will thus be apparent that the invention is adapted for accomplishing the above mentioned and other worthwhile objects. It will also be apparent, however, that a number of minor modifications or changes could be made from certain details of the construction shown and described for illustrative purposes without departing from the true spirit and intention of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the invention should be limited only by the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

in electrical lighting apparatus, a ceiling fixture having a hollow base portion and a socket portion; a filament type electric lamp mounted in said socket portion of the fixture and having a pair of electrical terminals; a single pole, double throw switch mounted on said base portion of the fixture and having a pair of contacts, a pole piece adapted for engagement alternately with the contacts and an actuating chain operably coupled with said pole piece for shifting the latter between said contacts; an L-shaped lever assembly pivotally mounted on said base portion of the fixture and provided with a first leg operably coupled with said chain and a second leg extending outwardly from said first leg and the chain for shifting of the latter in response to swinging movement of said lever; a glow discharge lamp having a pair of terminals; means adapted for electrically coupling one terminal of the filament lamp with one side of a source of electrical power; means electrically coupling the other terminal of the device with one of said contacts; means adapted for electrically coupling said pole piece with the other side of said source;

conductive means having a pair of electrical conductors therein in electrically insulated relationship, said conductive means depending from said fixture, one of said conductors electrically coupling one of said terminals of the glow discharge lamp with the other of said contacts, the other of said conductors being adapted for electrically coupling the other of said terminals of the glow discharge lamp with said one side of said source; and connector means securing the conductive means intermediate the ends thereof to the outer extremity of said second leg of the lever with sufiicient play being provided in said conductive means between the fixture and said connector means to permit free swinging movement of the lever about the axis of rotation thereof in response to downward pulling on said conductive means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,147,949 Keen July 27, 1915 1,434,727 Allen Nov. 7, 1922 2,134,695 Bigman Nov. 1, 1938 2,214,317 Bash et al Sept. 10, 1948 2,528,555 Samson Nov. 7, 1950

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