LIGHTING ASSEMBLY HAVING AN INTEGRATED COFFEE/TEA HEATER

Abstract

A lighting assembly, including: (a) a frame sub-assembly; and (b) an electronics sub-assembly, wherein the electronics sub-assembly includes at least one light, and at least one heating element associated with the frame sub-assembly.

Claims

1. A lighting assembly, comprising: a frame sub-assembly, wherein the frame sub-assembly includes a base member having a top horizontal surface; and an electronics sub-assembly, wherein the electronics sub-assembly includes at least one light, and a heating element, wherein the heating element is positioned within the base member, and wherein the heating element includes an annular surface that is positioned subjacent and parallel to the top horizontal surface of the base member.

2. The lighting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the heating element is adapted to heat coffee/tea cups, mugs, and/or glasses to a plurality of predetermined temperatures.

3. (canceled)

4. The lighting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the frame sub-assembly includes a floor lamp, a table lamp, a desk lamp and/or a task lamp.

5-9. (canceled)

10. The lighting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the frame sub-assembly further includes a light/lamp shade.

11. The lighting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the frame sub-assembly comprises a 110-volt AC outlet.

12. The lighting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the frame sub-assembly comprises a USB charging outlet.

13. The lighting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the frame sub-assembly comprises a heat sensor, a smoke sensor, and/or a carbon monoxide sensor.

14. The lighting assembly according to claim 13, wherein the frame sub-assembly includes an audio output alarm that is triggerable by the heat sensor, the smoke sensor, and/or the carbon monoxide sensor.

15. The lighting assembly according to claim 14, wherein the heating element automatically shuts off when the heat sensor, the smoke sensor, and/or the carbon monoxide sensor is triggered.

16. The lighting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the heating element includes a pressure and/or temperature sensor associated therewith.

17. The lighting assembly according to claim 16, wherein the at least one heating element remains off unless the pressure sensor senses a coffee/tea cup, mug, and/or glass filled with a sufficient amount of fluid so as to prevent over heating of the coffee/tea cup, mug, and/or glass.

18. The lighting assembly according to claim 17, wherein the heating element is positionable among an off position, a first on position, a second on position, and a third on position.

19. A lighting assembly, comprising: a frame sub-assembly, wherein the frame sub-assembly includes a base member having a top horizontal surface; and an electronics sub-assembly, wherein the electronics sub-assembly includes at least one light, and a heating element, wherein the heating element is positioned within the base member, and wherein the heating element includes an annular surface that is positioned subjacent and parallel to the top horizontal surface of the base member, and wherein the electronics sub-assembly includes a male plug that receives 110-230V AC current via a conventional outlet, a stepdown transformer that lowers the input voltage from 110-230V AC to 12V AC, an AC/DC converter that converts the AC to DC current using a PN junction diode in a 4-diode configuration to provide for full wave rectification, a smoothing capacitor that converts rippled or pulsating DC current to pure, non-pulsating DC current, and a 3-pin integrated circuit voltage regulator that regulates output to a predetermined voltage.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] Certain embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by the accompanying figures. It will be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that details not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may be omitted.

[0035] It will be further understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

[0036] The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

[0037] FIG. 1 of the drawings is a pair of perspective views of a floor lamp of the present invention with and without a coffee mug, wherein the lamp without the coffee mug is augmented with a fragmented enlarged view showing the heating element;

[0038] FIG. 2 of the drawings is a pair of perspective views of an alternative floor lamp of the present invention with and without a coffee mug, wherein the lamp without the coffee mug is augmented with a fragmented enlarged view showing the heating element;

[0039] FIG. 3 of the drawings is a pair of perspective views of a swingarm table lamp of the present invention with and without a coffee mug;

[0040] FIG. 4 of the drawings is a pair of perspective views of a downbridge table lamp of the present invention with and without a coffee mug;

[0041] FIG. 5 of the drawings is a pair of perspective views of an incandescent task lamp of the present invention with and without a coffee mug;

[0042] FIG. 6 of the drawings is a pair of perspective views of an LED task lamp of the present invention with and without a coffee mug;

[0043] FIG. 7 of the drawings is schematic representation of an electronics sub-assembly for use in accordance with the present invention; and

[0044] FIG. 8 of the drawings is schematic representation of an alternative electronics sub-assembly for use in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0045] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and described herein in detail several specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

[0046] It will be understood that like or analogous elements and/or components, referred to herein, may be identified throughout the drawings by like reference characters. In addition, it will be understood that the drawings are merely schematic representations of one or more embodiments of the invention, and some of the components may have been distorted from their actual scale for purposes of pictorial clarity.

[0047] Referring now to the drawings, and collectively to FIGS. 1 and 7-8, lighting assembly 10 is shown as generally comprising frame sub-assembly 12 and electronics sub-assembly 14. Electronics sub-assembly 14 includes one or more lights 16 (i.e., lights or sockets therefor) and one or more heating elements 18 that are associated with, integrated into, and/or form part of frame sub-assembly 12. The heating element is adapted to heat coffee/tea cups, mugs, and/or glasses to a plurality of predetermined temperatures (e.g., 104° F., 131° F., 158° F.; an off position, a first on position (low heat), a second on position (medium heat) and a third on position (high heat), etcetera).

[0048] Preferably, heating element 18 is positioned subjacent to any surrounding adjacent surfaces to help prevent both liquid spills and fires caused by unintended objects making contact with the heating element. Such a configuration also makes it more difficult for an infant/toddler to accidently touch the heating element.

[0049] In accordance with the present invention, non-limiting examples of frame sub-assembly 12 include floor lamps, table lamps, desk lamps and/or task lamps.

[0050] As is best shown in FIG. 1, frame sub-assembly 12 may include a floor lamp comprising a plurality of generally upright or substantially vertical (e.g., more vertical than horizontal and/or greater than 45 degrees from the surface upon which the lighting assembly is placed) legs 20, lower shelf 22, and upper shelf 24. In this configuration, heating element 18 is associated with or forms part of upper shelf 24.

[0051] Referring now to FIG. 2, frame sub-assembly 12 may also include a floor lamp comprising ground engaging base member 26, lower support post 28, upper extension post 30, and side table 32 positioned between the lower support post and the upper extension post. In this configuration, heating element 18 is associated with or forms part of side table 32.

[0052] As is best shown in FIG. 3, frame sub-assembly 12 may further include a table lamp comprising base member 34, extension post 36, and articulating swing arm 38. In this configuration, heating element 18 is associated with or forms part of base member 34.

[0053] Referring now to FIG. 4, frame sub-assembly 12 may include a table lamp comprising base member 40, extension post 42. In this configuration, heating element 18 is associated with or forms part of base member 40. In this implementation, the coffee/tea cups, mugs, and glasses are heated using dual sources, namely heating element 18, as well as incandescent light 16. Notably, the socket holding light 16 is inverted such that the largest portion of the bulb is proximate the item being heated. This implementation provides for both direct (i.e., from heating element 18) and indirect (i.e., from light 16) heating of the item being heated.

[0054] As is best shown in FIG. 5, frame sub-assembly 12 may also include a task lamp comprising base member 44, extension post 46, and light housing 48. In this configuration, heating element 18 is associated with or forms part of base member 44. This configuration also provides for dual heating and is especially efficient at dual heating because of the direction of the incandescent bulb, metal light housing 48 that has a high heat capacity, and the proximity of the bulb to the item being heated.

[0055] As is best shown in FIG. 6, frame sub-assembly 12 may also include a task lamp comprising base member 44, extension post 46, and swivel and pivoting LED light housing 49. In this configuration, heating element 18 is associated with or forms part of base member 44.

[0056] In many configurations of the present invention, light 16 is at least partially covered by light/lamp shade 50. It will be understood that the light shade is optional.

[0057] In one embodiment of the present invention, lighting assembly 10 includes 110-volt AC 52 (See FIGS. 7-8) outlet, which is preferably associated with, integrated into, and/or forms part of any component (e.g., base, shelf, side table, etcetera) of frame sub-assembly 12. Such an outlet allows for convenient use and/or charging of, for example, TVs, monitors, computers, tablets, phones, toaster ovens, toasters, vacuum cleaners, etcetera—without going being a desk or piece of furniture to reach the outlet.

[0058] In another embodiment of the present invention, lighting assembly includes USB charging port/outlet 54 (See FIG. 8), which is preferably associated with, integrated into, and/or forms part of any component (e.g., base, shelf, side table, etcetera) of frame sub-assembly 12. Again, such a port or outlet allows for convenient charging of, for example, phones and/or watches—without going being a desk or piece of furniture to reach the outlet.

[0059] In an attempt to minimize and/or prevent the real and present danger of a fire, lighting assembly 10 preferably includes heat sensor, smoke sensor, and/or carbon monoxide sensor 56 (See FIGS. 7-8), which is preferably associated with, integrated into, and/or forms part of any component (e.g., base, shelf, side table, light, lamp shade, post, etcetera) of frame sub-assembly 12. When triggered, such a sensor can sound audible alarm 78 and/or automatically turn off heating element 18 and/or light 16. Alternatively, when triggered, such a sensor can convert light 16 into a strobe light. Moreover, when triggered, such a sensor can communicate with communication module 58 to notify first responders or the homeowner of an emergency condition via pre-generated alert, text, email, and/or any other form of communication and/or notification.

[0060] Suitable examples of heat, smoke, and/or CO sensors include those commercially available from Gentex Corporation in Zeeland, Michigan, as well as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,329,214 entitled “Gas Detection Unit,” U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,274 entitled “Electrochemical Gas Sensor Cells Using Three Dimensional Sensing Electrodes,” U.S. Pat. No. 5,331,310 entitled “Amperometric Carbon Monoxide Sensor Module for Residential Alarms,” U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,648 entitled “Gas Sensor Based on Protonic Conductive Membranes,” U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,493 entitled “Photon Absorbing Bioderived Organometallic Carbon Monoxide Sensors,” U.S. Pat. No. 5,650,054 entitled “Low Cost Room Temperature Electrochemical Carbon Monoxide and Toxic Gas Sensor with Humidity Compensation Based on Protonic Conductive Membranes,” U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,969 entitled “Electrochemical Sensor With A Non-Aqueous Electrolyte System,” U.S. Pat. No. 5,958,200 entitled “Electrochemical Gas Sensor,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,172,759 entitled “Target Gas Detection System with Rapidly Regenerating Optically Responding Sensors,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,200,443 entitled “Gas Sensor with a Diagnostic Device,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,936,147 entitled “Hybrid Film Type Sensor,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,948,352 entitled “Self-Calibrating Carbon Monoxide Detector and Method,” U.S. Pat. No. 7,077,938 entitled “Electrochemical Gas Sensor,” U.S. Pat. No. 7,022,213 entitled “Gas Sensor and Its Method of Manufacture,” U.S. Pat. No. 7,236,095 entitled “Solid State Sensor for Carbon Monoxide,” U.S. Pat. No. 7,279,081 entitled “Electrochemical Sensor,” U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0145494 entitled “Liquid Electrochemical Gas Sensor,” U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0091007 entitled “Gas Detecting Device with Self-Diagnosis for Electrochemical Gas Sensor,” U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0120924 entitled “Proton Conductor Gas Sensor,” and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0196770 entitled “Liquid Electrochemical Gas Sensor,” all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety—including all references cited therein.

[0061] In another aspect of the present invention, lighting assembly 10 includes pressure and/or temperature sensor 60, which is preferably associated with, integrated into, and/or forms part of heating element 18. Such a sensor prevents heating element from turning on unless the sensor senses a coffee/tea cup, mug, and/or glass filled with a sufficient amount of fluid so as to prevent over heating of the coffee/tea cup, mug, and/or glass. The temperature sensor can automatically shut off heating element 18 if a predetermined, threshold or safety temperature is exceeded—even without triggering any other sensors, such as the CO sensor.

[0062] Light 16 is preferably an incandescent, florescent, and/or LED light. With reference to FIG. 8, if light 16 includes one or more LEDs, then the LEDs may be dimmable (i.e., intensity controlled via PCB/Controller 62 in cooperation with switch 64. The LEDs may also be color controlled (e.g., warm, cool, etcetera) in accordance with the teachings disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,844,116 entitled “Systems and Methods for Controlling the Spectral Content of LED Lighting Devices” and U.S. Pat. No. 9,848,475 entitled “LED Light Source and Method for Adjusting Color Tone or Color Temperature of LED Light Source”—all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety including all references cited therein.

[0063] With further reference to FIG. 8, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, lighting assembly 10 rectifies 110-230V AC current to clean, non-pulsed 12V DC using the following steps. First, male plug 66 receives 110-230V AC current via a conventional outlet. Second, stepdown transformer 68 lowers the input voltage from 110-230V AC to 12V AC. Third, AC/DC converter 70 converts the AC to DC current using a PN junction diode in a 4-diode configuration to provide for efficient full wave rectification. Fourth, the smoothing capacitor 72 converts the rippled or pulsating DC current to pure, non-pulsating DC current. This is important for the longevity of all DC components associated with electronics sub-assembly 14. Fifth, a 3-pin integrated circuit voltage regulator 74 regulates output to a predetermined voltage best applicable primary to PCB/Controller 62.

[0064] Lighting assembly 10 may also optionally include primary and/or secondary electrochemical cell 76. Electrochemical cell 76 may provide the sole source of any required DC current and/or augment the DC current output from voltage regulator 74. Notably, electrochemical cell 76 is isolated from conversion components 66-74 so that a failure of these components does not interfere with the DC operation of the lighting assembly.

[0065] In one embodiment, electrochemical cell 76 of lighting assembly 10 preferably comprises, a secondary electrochemical cell, such as a lead acid, NiCad, NiMH, and/or lithium-ion battery and/or fuel cell. Preferred examples of lithium-ion batteries include lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO.sub.2) batteries, lithium manganese oxide (LiMn.sub.2O.sub.4) batteries, lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (LiNiMnCoO.sub.2) batteries, lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO) batteries, lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (LiNiCoAlO.sub.2) batteries, and lithium titanate (Li.sub.4Ti.sub.5O.sub.12) batteries. In one embodiment, electrochemical cell 76 comprises a secondary electrochemical cell having an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte, wherein at least one of the anode, cathode, and electrolyte are monitored by circuit board/controller 62, wherein variables pertaining to the structural integrity of the anode, the cathode, the electrolyte, a passivation layer associated with the anode and/or the cathode, and/or the cycle life of each component—including electrolyte level, are stored in a memory module. In this embodiment, the secondary electrochemical cell participates in reversible redox reactions. In addition, electrochemical cell 76 may be coupled with at least one of a fixed capacitor, a variable capacitor, and a polarized capacitor to regulate the storage of potential energy within lighting assembly 10.

[0066] The foregoing description merely explains and illustrates the invention and the invention is not limited thereto except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0067] While certain embodiments have been illustrated and described, it should be understood that changes and modifications can be made therein in accordance with ordinary skill in the art without departing from the technology in its broader aspects as defined in the following claims.

[0068] The embodiments, illustratively described herein may suitably be practiced in the absence of any element or elements, limitation or limitations, not specifically disclosed herein. Thus, for example, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” etcetera shall be read expansively and without limitation. Additionally, the terms and expressions employed herein have been used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the claimed technology. Additionally, the phrase “consisting essentially of” will be understood to include those elements specifically recited and those additional elements that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed technology. The phrase “consisting of” excludes any element not specified.

[0069] The present disclosure is not to be limited in terms of the particular embodiments described in this application. Many modifications and variations can be made without departing from its spirit and scope, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Functionally equivalent methods and compositions within the scope of the disclosure, in addition to those enumerated herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing descriptions. Such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. The present disclosure is to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to particular methods, reagents, compounds compositions or biological systems, which can of course vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting.

[0070] In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.

[0071] As will be understood by one skilled in the art, for any and all purposes, particularly in terms of providing a written description, all ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all possible subranges and combinations of subranges thereof. Any listed range can be easily recognized as sufficiently describing and enabling the same range being broken down into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths, etcetera. As a non-limiting example, each range discussed herein can be readily broken down into a lower third, middle third and upper third, etcetera. As will also be understood by one skilled in the art all language such as “up to,” “at least,” “greater than,” “less than,” and the like, include the number recited and refer to ranges which can be subsequently broken down into subranges as discussed above. Finally, as will be understood by one skilled in the art, a range includes each individual member.

[0072] All publications, patent applications, issued patents, and other documents referred to in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication, patent application, issued patent, or other document was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference in its entirety. Definitions that are contained in text incorporated by reference are excluded to the extent that they contradict definitions in this disclosure.

[0073] Other embodiments are set forth in the following claims.