Lamp with safety features

• Main Authors: LO DAVID, MARINO FRANCIS E
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 17.04.2001
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: BLASTING; FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMSTHEREOF; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HEATING; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHERARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; SYSTEMS THEREOF; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ARTCOLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLEEXTERIORS; WEAPONS

A lamp including a base for supporting the lamp on a surface, an upwardly directed shade assembly having a top opening to permit light and heat to be directed outwardly therefrom and a stem extending between and connecting the base to the shade assembly. A light socket is provided within the shade assembly and an electrical circuit provides power to the light socket. The shade assembly includes at least a lower shade portion and an upper shade portion. The upper and lower shade portions forming an interface therebetween. The upper shade portion is removably attachable from the lower shade portion for purposes of packaging. The shade assembly opening is also provided with a protective guard extending substantially across the opening. The electrical circuit includes a safety interface device positioned at the interface of the lower shade portion or the upper shade portion such that power to the light socket is terminated unless the upper shade portion is properly affixed to the lower shade portion. In preferred embodiments, the safety interface device is either a switch device or an electrical connector device. Accordingly, the lamp cannot be operated unless properly assembled so that a desired distance is maintained between the heat source and the protective guard on which combustibles may contact.