Granted Patent B1

US 7,137,721 · App. 10/865,820 · Granted Nov 21, 2006

Abstract

Claims (10)

1. A weatherproof outdoor pivoting lighting assembly for a lamp having a forwardly diverging glass envelope and a threaded electrical connection end, said lighting assembly comprising: a thin wall housing having a peripheral wall and a base wall providing an outwardly opening cavity, said peripheral wall frontally terminating with a transverse annular flange; a socket mounted in said cavity having electrical connection means for electrically and mechanically engaging said electrical connection end of said lamp with said envelope adjacent said flange of said housing; an opening in said base wall of said housing; a power cord including a first end for connection with a source of power and a second end extending through said opening in said base wall and electrically connected with said electrical connection means on said socket; a first gasket member formed of an elastomeric material, said first gasket member having an annular body, said first gasket member having an inner surface including a front interior surface conforming to said envelope and provided with a pair of axially spaced inwardly projecting narrow sealing ribs for locally compressively engaging said envelope to establish inner sealing interfaces therebetween, said inner surface having an outwardly extending annular groove for receiving said flange with the surfaces of said groove engaging said flange to establish an outer sealing interface therebetween, said inner surface further including a cylindrical section adjacent said groove and overlying an outer surface of said housing adjacent said flange, said outer surface of said housing including aperture means and said cylindrical section includes inwardly projecting means extending through said aperture means for axially and circumferentially retaining said front gasket on said housing; and bracket means including pivot means for mounting at a outdoor location and positioning said lamp unit at a desired inclination with respect thereto.

2. The weatherproof outdoor pivoting light assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said bracket means includes a base for mounting on a planar substrate.

3. The weatherproof outdoor pivoting light assembly 1 wherein said bracket means includes a base having a tapered end for insertion into a ground area at said location.

4. The weatherproof outdoor pivoting light assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said projecting means includes a shank section in said apertures means terminating with a enlarged tip having deflectable sections accommodating insertion through said aperture means and engaging an inner surface of said housing adjacent said aperture means for retaining said front gasket on said housing.

5. The weatherproof outdoor pivoting light assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said tips have a triangular configuration.

6. The weatherproof outdoor pivoting light assembly as recited in claim 1 including a rear gasket for sealing between said base wall of said housing and said power cord, said rear gasket having an annular body formed on an elastomeric material including a cylindrical inner surface for slidably compressively receiving said power cord and establishing a cord sealing interface therewith, an outer surface having a front section insertable through said opening and a center section having an outwardly opening groove for receiving the surface of said base wall surrounding said opening and establishing a rear sealing interface with said housing.

7. The weatherproof outdoor pivoting light assembly as recited in claim 6 including an annular retaining member in said cavity and mechanically attached to said power cord for limiting rearward movement thereof.

8. The weatherproof outdoor pivoting light assembly as recited in claim 7 including mechanical fastener means for attaching said socket to said base of said housing and form limiting forward movement of said power cord and said socket.

9. A weatherproof outdoor pivoting lighting assembly for a lamp unit of a parabolic aluminized reflector type characterized by a front glass envelope having a curved rear section and a rear threaded electrical connection end extending from the rear curved section, said lighting assembly comprising: a thin wall housing, said housing having side and base walls forming an outwardly opening cavity and an annular flange at the front of said side wall; an electrical socket carried in said cavity for electrically and mechanically engaging the electrical connection end of the lamp unit with the envelope adjacent said flange of said housing; an opening in said base wall of said housing; a power cord including a first end for connection with a source of power and a second end extending through said opening in said base wall and electrically connected with said socket; an annular first gasket member formed of an elastomeric material, said first gasket member having an inner wall forming an axial opening, said inner wall having a frontal curved section complementary to the curved rear section of the glass envelope; at least one annular inwardly projecting narrow annular sealing surface formed on said frontal curved section for locally compressively engaging the curved rear section of the envelope to establish a first sealing interface therebetween; an inwardly opening annular groove formed in said inner wall rearwardly of said curved section for receiving and compressively engaging said flange to establish a second sealing interface; a second gasket member extending through said opening in said base wall, said second gasket member having an annular body formed of an elastomeric material, said annular body having a cylindrical inner surface compressively engaging said power cord to establish a cord sealing interface therewith, said annular body having an outer surface compressively engaging said base wall at said opening to establish a rear sealing interface with said housing; and bracket means including pivot means for mounting said housing at an outdoor location and positioning said lamp unit at a desired inclination with respect thereto.

10. The lighting assembly as recited in claim 9 wherein a pair of annular sealing surfaces are formed on said curved section of said first gasket member for establishing plural sealing interfaces with the curved rear section of the glass envelope.

Assignments (9)