BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to portable and fixturable lighting means, particularly of a type capable of being used interchangeably either with incandescent lamps or with non-self-ballasted fluorescent lamps.

2. Cross-reference to Related Applications

The present patent application is partly related to two previous patent applications of mine entitled "Two-Terminal Rapid Start Fluorescent Lamp" (Ser. No. 06/285,943; filed July 23, 1981) and "Fluorescent Lamp Assemblies" (Ser. No. 342,736; filed Jan. 26, 1982.)

3. Description of Prior Art

Fully self-ballasted fluorescent lamps of a type that is capable of being used in ordinary portable and fixtured lighting products with regular Edison screw-in lamp sockets do presently exist, and can in fact be purchased from Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Bloomfield, N.J.

However, to the best of my knowledge, there presently exist no lighting products of a type that is capable of being used properly and interchangeably with either regular incandescent lamps or non-self-ballasted fluorescent lamps; nor have such products ever been described in literature known to me.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Objects of the Invention

One object of the present invention is that of providing for portable as well as fixturable lighting products that can properly and interchangeably be used either with regular incandescent lamps or with non-self-ballasted fluorescent lamps.

This as well as other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and claims.

Brief Description

The present invention relates to the concept of providing portable and fixturable lighting products that may be used interchangeably with either regular incandescent lamps or with non-self-ballasted fluorescent lamps.

In one preferred embodiment, this incandescent-fluorescent compatibility is accomplished by using in the lighting product an Edison-type of screw-in lamp socket with three lamp-contacting terminals--such as would be used with conventional three-way incandescent lamps. This socket's outer terminal (the one normally connecting with the threaded portion of a regular incandescent lamp) is connected directly with one side of the power line; its middle terminal (the one normally connecting with the middle terminal of a regular three-way incandescent lamp) is connected to the other side of the power line through a current-limiting inductor means; while its center terminal (the one connecting with the center terminal of a regular three-way incandescent lamp) is connected directly to the other side of the power line. Thus, with it mounted on a three-way screw-base, with a non-connected center terminal and with a built-in starter, a fluorescent lamp can be safely used in a three-way lamp socket--without a chance of being directly subjected to the full non-current-limited line voltage. Also, a regular incandescent lamp can be used in the same lamp socket--being thereby automatically connected to the center terminal.

In another preferred embodiment, a high-frequency inverter-type ballast is effectively substituted for the current-limiting inductor means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic circuit diagram of the preferred embodiment of the invention as adapted to operate with a regular choke-type of ballast.

FIG. 2 shows details of a fluorescent lamp adapted to be used with the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a variation of the preferred embodiment adapted for operation with a high-frequency inverter-type ballast.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiment of the present invention is schematically illustrated by FIG. 1.

Shown in FIG. 1 is a source 1 of AC voltage, which voltage source may be an ordinary household electric power line. The output from source 1 is applied to the two input terminals 2a and 2b of a housing means 2. Fastened to this means is a lamp socket 3, which socket has three lamp-contacting electrodes: a threaded outer electrode 3o, a middle electrode 3m, and a center electrode 3c. Input terminals 2a and 2b are connected directly to socket electrodes 3o and 3c, respectively. Socket electrode 3m is connected with input terminal 2b by way of a current-limiting inductor means 4, which inductor means is located within said housing means 2.

FIG. 2 illustrates a fluorescent lamp assembly 5 adapted to be screwed into and properly used in the lamp socket of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1. This assembly consists of a U-shaped pre-heat fluorescent lamp 6 and a fluorescent lamp starter 7, both of these being mounted on an ordinary three-way lamp base 8 (the kind of base used with ordinary three-way incandescent lamps). Lamp 6 has two cathodes: cathode 6A with input terminals 6Aa and 6Ab, and cathode 6B with input terminals 6Ba and 6Bb. Connected between terminals 6Ab and 6Ba is the lamp starter 7. Lamp base 8 has three terminals: a threaded outer terminal 8o, a middle terminal 8m, and a center terminal 8c. Cathode input terminal 6Aa is connected directly to outer lamp base terminal 8o; cathode input terminal 6Bb is connected directly with middle lamp base terminal 8m; while center lamp base terminal 8c is left non-connected.

Lamp assembly 5, by way of its base 8, is adapted to be screwed into lamp socket 3 of FIG. 1. When base 8 is in place in lamp socket 3, base terminals 8o, 8m, and 8c make contact with socket electrodes 3o, 3m, and 3c, respectively.

With reference to FIG. 2, the operation of the arrangement of FIG. 1 may be explained as follows. With fluorescent lamp assembly 5 inserted into socket 3, electrical connections are completed between the fluorescent lamp, the inductor means, and the AC voltage source; and thus the fluorescent lamp will start and operate in the usual manner. With an ordinary incandescent lamp in the socket instead (such a lamp having both an outer and a center electrode, but no middle electrode, on its base), electrical connections are completed directly between the lamp and the AC voltage source; which therefore provides for the incandescent lamp to operate in the usual manner.

In other words, due to the non-connection of the center electrode on the fluorescent lamp base, the source of AC voltage is prevented from being directly connected to the fluorescent lamp; yet, by way of the middle electrode on its base, the fluorescent lamp is disposed to connect with the power line by way of the inductor means, thereby being disposed to operate properly when placed in the socket.

On the other hand, due to the absence of a middle electrode on the base of an ordinary incandescent lamp, the incandescent lamp will not make connection with the inductor means; yet, because it does have a center electrode on its base, the incandescent lamp is disposed to make direct contact with the power line voltage, thereby also being disposed to operate properly when placed in the same socket.

Another preferred embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 3. The arrangement of FIG. 3 is essentially identical to that of FIG. 1, except that the inductor means 4 has been substituted with a high-frequency inverter-type ballast means 4I, which high-frequency ballast means has two power input terminals, 4Ia and 4Ib, and two output terminals, 4Ix and 4Iy, with input terminal 4Ia being connected or connectable with output terminal 4Ax. Otherwise, the alpha-numeric designations of FIG. 3 have the same meanings as the corresponding designations of FIG. 1.

The arrangement of FIG. 3 operates in a manner completely analogous to that of FIG. 1. However, due to the higher frequency provided for the fluorescent lamp, different types of fluorescent lamp assemblies may be used. For instance, it would be possible to use fluorescent lamp assemblies of the types disclosed in the previously cited patent applications of mine.

I believe that the present invention and its several attendant advantages and features will be understood from the preceeding description. However, without departing from the spirit of the invention, changes may be made in its form and in the construction of its component parts; the form herein presented merely representing its peferred embodiment.