US3506820A - Combined light source and article of furniture - Google Patents

Description

A ril 14, 1970 M. J. SHANNON 3,506,820

' COMBINED LIGHT SOURCE AND ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed Ot. 11." 19s7 INVENTOR. MICHAEL J. SHANNON 3% FM, dawn M his ATTORNEYS 3,506,820 COMBINED LIGHT SOURCE AND ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Michael J. Shannon, 130 Greenwood Ave., Bend, Oreg. 97701 Filed Oct. 11, 1967, Ser. No. 674,506 Int. Cl. F21v 33/00 U.S. Cl. 240-4 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combined light source and article of furniture consisting of a chair or the like having mounted in the top of the back thereof a step-down transformer for transforming a conventional household 110 Volt AC power signal into a reduced A-C power signal. The household power signal is supplied to the input winding of the transformer by a power cord which extends through the chair to a plug outside the chair adapted for engagement with a conventional wall socket. The output winding of the transformer is connected to a socket similarly mounted in the chair for removable engagement with a connector carried by an articulated support arm. On its other end, the support arm carries a small concentrated and directed light source which operates on the reduced voltage supplied across the output winding of the transformer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to articles of furniture and, more particularly, to articles of furniture such as chairs and the like which are provided with adjustable light sources It is known to provide a light source in combination with a chair to facilitate reading or working by a person sitting in the chair. For example, Patent No. 2,744,997 to Sefsik et al. discloses a reading lamp having a flexible support cable mounted in the upper end of a pipe built into the back of a chair. The lamp, which is of conventional size, is supplied with house current through a power cord which extends through both the pipe and the cable to the lamp. While the arrangement disclosed in the above-mentioned patent and similar prior art arrangements provide illumination for the area in and around the chair to thereby facilitate reading or working by a person sitting in the chair, these arrangements have not met with substantial commercial success. The primary reason for this lack of commercial acceptance is the fact that, in general, a room having one or several chairs provided with such lamps does not present a pleas ng appearance to one entering the room. In addition, these arrangements do not provide for an easy and quick removal of the lamps from the chairs so that the lamps, rather than the chairs and the overall decor of the room, attract the most attention whether or not they are in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a combined light source and article of furniture which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a combined light source and article of furniture wherein the light source can be easily and quickly removed from one chair and moved to another chair or concealed in a drawer when not in use.

These and other objects of the invention are accomplished by mounting a step-down transformer in an article of furniture such as a chair, connecting a source of conventional household A-C power to the input side of the transformer and connecting the output side of the transformer to a small source of concentrated light operating United States Patent ice on a reduced voltage and carried by a support arm which is removably mounted on the chair.

Preferably, the transformer is mounted in the top of the back of the chair and is housed by a casing which includes an eletcrical socket coupled to the output winding of the transformer for removably receiving a plug carried by the support arm. In addition, the support arm is preferably articulated so that the light source can be easily adjusted to provide the desired illumination. With this arrangement provided in several chairs in the room, it can be seen that the requirement for numerous lamps is eliminated and that a single light carrying arm can be moved from one chair to another or concealed in a drawer when not in use so that the overall decor of the room and the design of the individual chairs retain their prominence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a combined light source and article of furniture arranged according to the present invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly broken away, of the FIGURE 1 embodiment showing the light source detached from the article of furniture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In an illustrative embodiment of a combined light source and article of furniture arranged according to the present invention, as shown in FIGURES l and 2, the article of furniture comprises a chair 10 of any known and conventional type. The chair 10 includes a frame 12 formed of wood, a covering 14 of suitable material, such as leather or fabric and a stufling 16 of suitable material such as foam rubber, cotton or the like. Secured to the frame 12 by a plurality ofbolts 17 and disposed in the top of the back 18 of the chair 10 is a casing 20. Alternatively, the casing 20 maybe mounted in one of the arms of the chair 10, as will be apparent hereinafter.

Mounted in the casing 20 is a step-down transformer 22 which may be of any known and conventional type and, accordingly, supplies an output voltage signal across its output winding which is reduced with respect to the voltage signal supplied to the input winding of the transformer. As is known, the reduction in the output voltage is dependent upon the step-down ratio of the transformer. For example, if the transformer has a step-down ratio of eighteen to one and a volt A-C power signal is impressed across the primary winding of the transformer, an output voltage signal of approximately six volts will appear across the output winding of the transformer.

The input winding of the transformer 22 is connected to one end of a power cord 24 which extends downwardly over a substantial portion of its length within the chair and thence through an opening 26 formed in the chair 10 and beyond the chair where it is terminated at its other end by a plug 28. The plug 28, which may be either of the conventional two or three prong type, is adapted for insertion into the usual household outlet (not shown) provided in the room in which the chair is situated.

Mounted in a recess formed in the top wall of the casing 20 is an electrical socket 30 which is coupled through a power cable 31 to the output winding of the transformer 22. The socket 30 is adapted to receive and make electrical contact with a plug 32 carried on one end of an articulater support arm 34. For the purpose of this description, the size of the support arm ha been exaggerated, as should be apparent. The arm 34, which pref erably of lightweight construction, includes a first hollow cylindrical rod 36 which is frictionally pivotable about the plug 32, a second hollow cylindrical rod 38 which is frictionally pivotable about the first rod 36 and a shade 40 which is frictionally pivotable about the second rod 38. Because of the frictional engagement between the components of the support arm 34, it can be seen that the arm 34 may be vertically adjusted along its length to any desired position. For even greater flexibility of movement, the electrical socket 30 mounted in the casing 20 may also be made pivotable so that the articulated arm 43 could be adjusted to extend over either shoulder of the person sitting in the chair at his option.

Mounted in the frictionally pivotable shade 40 and electrically coupled to the plug 32 by a pair of conductors (not shown) extending through both the second cylindrical rod 38 and the first cylindrical rod 36 is an electrical socket 42. The electrical socket 42 is constructed to receive a small concentrated and directed light source 44 which operates on a reduced voltage. A typical light source suitable for use in the present invention is the commercial Tensor light which operates on a reduced voltage, such as, for example 6 volts. As above-mentioned, for light source operating on a reduced voltage such as 6 volts, the transformer 22 mounted in the casing has a step-down ratio of approximately eighteen to one.

In operation, the plug 28 terminating the power cord 24 is inserted into an appropriate wall socket (not shown) provided in the room in which the chair 10 is placed. The household A-C power voltage is thereby coupled to the input winding of the transformer 22 through the cord 24. The articulated arm 34 is then secured to the chair by inserting the plug 32 of the arm into the electrical socket 30 mounted in the casing 20. The reduced voltage appearing across the output winding of the transformer 22 is coupled to the electrical socket 42 carrying the light source 44 through the power cable 31, the socket 30, the plug 32 of the arm 34 and the conductors (not shown) extending inside the arm and coupled on opposite ends to the plug 32 and the socket 42. Accordingly, the light source 44 will be energized and will illuminate a specific area in and around the chair. The area of illumination and, acordingly, the displacement between the person sitting in the chair and the light source 44 can be suitably adjusted by pivoting the shade or by pivoting either or both the cylindrical rods 36 and 38.

From the above, it can be seen that with the above described arrangement provided in a number of chairs in a room, the necessity for numerous room lamps is eliminated and that the single removable light carrying arm 34 can be transported from one chair to another or disposed in a drawer when not in use. In addition, there will be no detraction from the overall appearance of the room or from the individual articles of furniture in the room in that, on a general inspection, one entering the room would not perceive the slight modification to the articles of furniture required by the present invention.

Although the invention has been described herein with reference to a specific embodiment, it should be understood that the invention is susceptible of considerable variation and modification. For example, a conventional switch may also be mounted on the casing 20 for controlling the electrical connection between the outlet of the transformer 22 and the socket 30. In this manner, energization of the small light source 44 could be controlled by the person sitting in the chair 10 at any time after insertion of the plug 32 of the articulated support arm 34 into the socket 30. In addition, as above-mentioned, the transformer 22 need not be mounted in the top of the back 18 of the chair but may be mounted in the arm of the chair. Also, a desk or table could be provided with the abovedescribed arrangement without substantial modification. Accordingly, all such variations and modifications within the skill of the art are included within the scope of this invention as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A combined light source and article of furniture comprising a transformer mounted entirely within the article of furniture, means for connecting the input winding of the transformer to a source of power voltage, receptacle means positioned in the article of furniture and coupled to the output winding of the transformer, a support arm carrying connector means on one end thereof for removable engagement With the receptacle means and .a small source of directed light mounted on the other end of the support arm and connected to the connector means for illuminating a specified area in and around the area of the article of furniture.

2. A combined light source and article of furniture according to claim 1 wherein the article of furniture comprises a chair and wherein the transformer comprises a step-down transformer mounted in the top of the back of the chair.

3. A combined light source and article of furniture according to claim 2 wherein there is further provided a casing mounted on the top of the back of the chair for housing the transformer and wherein the receptacle means comprises an electrical socket mounted in the casing adjacent the outer surface of the chair and connected to the output winding of the transformer, and wherein the connector means comprises an electrical plug.

4. A combined light source and article of furniture according to claim 2 wherein the small source of directed light comprises a source of concentrated and directed light operating at a voltage which is reduced with respect to the voltage supplied to the input winding of the transformer.

5. A combined light source and article of furniture according to claim 1 wherein the receptacle means comprises a female member having electrical contacts therein and the connector means comprises a male member having electrical contacts associated therewith and wherein the support arm comprises an articulated arm extending over and above the article of furniture and further including means connecting the small source of directed light to the male member.

6. A combined light source and article of furniture according to claim 1 wherein the means connecting the input winding of the transformer to a source of power voltage comprises a power cable extending over a substantial portion of its entire length within the article of furniture and terminating outside the article of furniture in a connector.

7. A combined light source and article of furniture comprising receptacle means positioned in the article of fumiture adjacent an outer surface thereof, means adapted to supply a power voltage signal, transformer means operatively connected between the power voltage supply means and the receptacle means for supplying a selectively reduced power voltage signal to the receptacle means, a support arm carrying connector means on one end thereof for removable engagement with the receptacle means and a small source of directed light mounted on the other end of the support arm and connected to the connector means for illuminating a specific area in and around the article of furniture.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,930,993 10/1933 Blodgett 240-4 2,021,836 11/1935 Daly 240-4 2,744,997 5/1956 Sefsik et a1. 240-4 3,005,088 10/1961 Sharpe 240 -4 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner F. L. BRAUN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 24052.1

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