CONNECTOR AND ASSOCIATED LIGHTING ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A connector for use in association with a lighting assembly that allows for components to be quickly assembled in an easily aligned configuration, including: a body having a first end, a second end, an interior sidewall, and an exterior sidewall; wherein the first end of the body and the second end of the body define a length therebetween; wherein a portion of the exterior sidewall of the body is threaded proximate the first end; wherein a portion of the exterior sidewall of the body is non-threaded proximate the second end; a first aperture associated with the first end of the body; a second aperture associated with the second end of the body; and a conduit positioned between the first aperture and the second aperture, wherein the conduit is adapted for containing an electrical cord from an associated lighting assembly.

Claims

1. A connector for use in association with a lighting assembly that allows for components to be quickly assembled in an easily aligned configuration, comprising: a body having a first end, a second end, an interior sidewall, and an exterior sidewall; wherein the first end of the body and the second end of the body define a length therebetween; wherein a portion of the exterior sidewall of the body is threaded proximate the first end; wherein a portion of the exterior sidewall of the body is non-threaded proximate the second end; a first aperture associated with the first end of the body; a second aperture associated with the second end of the body; and a conduit positioned between the first aperture and the second aperture, wherein the conduit is adapted for containing an electrical cord from an associated lighting assembly.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the threaded portion of the exterior of the sidewall of the body proximate the first end and the non-threaded portion of the exterior of the sidewall of the body proximate the second end cooperatively enable a first component and a second component of the lighting assembly to be quickly assembled in an easily aligned configuration.

3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the body is generally tubular and includes an annular exterior sidewall.

4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the body is generally tubular and includes an annular interior sidewall.

5. The connector according to claim 4, wherein the interior sidewall of the body is non-threaded.

6. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the conduit is positioned substantially parallel to the length of the body.

7. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the conduit is positioned parallel to the length of the body.

8. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of surface area of the threaded portion of the exterior sidewall of the body to the non-threaded portion of the exterior sidewall of the body ranges from approximately 1:1 to approximately 10:1.

9. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of surface area of the threaded portion of the exterior sidewall of the body to the non-threaded portion of the exterior sidewall of the body ranges from approximately 4:1 to approximately 6:1.

10. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of surface area of the threaded portion of the exterior sidewall of the body to the non-threaded portion of the exterior sidewall of the body is approximately 5:1.

11. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector is fabricated from a metal, a metal alloy, a natural resin, a synthetic resin, a plastic, a composite, wood, and/or combinations thereof.

12. A lighting assembly, comprising: a first generally tubular component, wherein at least a portion of an interior sidewall of the first generally tubular component is threaded; a second generally tubular component, wherein at least a portion of an interior sidewall of the second generally tubular component is threaded; and a connector, comprising: a body having a first end, a second end, an interior sidewall, and an exterior sidewall; wherein the first end and the second end of the body define a length therebetween; wherein a portion of the exterior sidewall of the body is threaded proximate the first end; wherein a portion of the exterior sidewall of the body is non-threaded proximate the second end; a first aperture associated with the first end of the body; a second aperture associated with the second end of the body; a conduit positioned between the first aperture and the second aperture, wherein the conduit is adapted for containing an electrical cord from an associated lighting assembly; and wherein the threaded region proximate the first end and the non-threaded region proximate the second end cooperatively enable the first component and the second component of the lighting assembly to be quickly assembled in an easily aligned configuration.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] 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.

[0029] It will be further understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

[0030] The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

[0031] FIG. 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of a connector in accordance with the present invention;

[0032] FIG. 2 of the drawings is a front view of the connector of FIG. 1;

[0033] FIG. 3 of the drawings is a rear view of the connector of FIG. 1;

[0034] FIG. 4 of the drawings is a left side view of the connector of FIG. 1;

[0035] FIG. 5 of the drawings is a right side view of the connector of FIG. 1;

[0036] FIG. 6 of the drawings is a top view of the connector of FIG. 1;

[0037] FIG. 7 of the drawings is a bottom view of the connector of FIG. 1;

[0038] FIG. 8 of the drawings is a cross-sectional view of the connector taken along line VIII of FIG. 5;

[0039] FIG. 9 of the drawings is a fragmented perspective view of a connector associated with a lighting assembly;

[0040] FIG. 10 of the drawings is a perspective view of a connector associated with a lighting assembly showing an aligned configuration;

[0041] FIG. 11 of the drawings is a fragmented perspective view of a prior art connector associated with a lighting assembly; and

[0042] FIG. 12 of the drawings is a perspective view of a prior art connector associated with a lighting assembly showing a typical misaligned configuration due to cross-threading.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0043] 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.

[0044] 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.

[0045] Referring now to the drawings, and to FIGS. 1-8 in particular, connector 10, for use in association with a lighting assembly that allows for components to be quickly assembled in an easily aligned configuration, is shown as generally comprising generally tubular body 12 having first end 14, second end 16, generally annular interior sidewall 18, and generally annular exterior sidewall 20. The first end of the body and the second end of the body define a length (L) therebetween. A portion 22 of exterior sidewall 20 of body 12 is threaded proximate first end 14. A portion 24 of exterior sidewall 20 of body 12 is non-threaded proximate second end 16. Connector 10 includes first and second apertures 26 and 28, respectively. Conduit 30 is positioned between the first aperture and the second aperture, and is adapted for containing an electrical cord from an associated lighting assembly (e.g., electrical plug/cord, components/rods, light source/bulb, shade, etc.; see FIGS. 9-10).

[0046] In accordance with the present invention, connector 10 allows a user to quickly and easily assemble, for example, components of a lamp or lighting assembly in an aligned configuration so that interface misalignment seams are minimized and/or eliminated. As is best shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, and without being bound to any one particular theory, it is believed that small gap 32 between the non-threaded portion of the connector and the interior sidewall of lower lamp component (e.g., lower rod) 34 facilitates the desired alignment quickly and easily between lower lamp component 34 and upper lamp component 36. By way of contrast and as is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, conventional, fully-threaded connectors do not allow for easy and cooperative threaded alignment of lamp components, which often times results in an undesirable misaligned component interface or gap—between, for example, lower and upper components 34 and 36, respectively.

[0047] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ratio of surface area of the threaded portion of the exterior sidewall of the body to the non-threaded portion of the exterior sidewall of the body ranges from approximately 1:1 to approximately 10:1, more preferably ranges from approximately 4:1 to approximately 6:1, and most preferably is approximately (i.e., +/−15 percent) 5:1.

[0048] In accordance with the present invention, connector 10 comprises a unitary and/or monolithic body fabricated from a metal, a metal alloy, a natural resin, a synthetic resin, a plastic, a composite, wood, and/or combinations thereof.

[0049] 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.

[0050] 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.

[0051] 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.

[0052] 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.

[0053] 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.

[0054] 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.

[0055] 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.

[0056] 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.

[0057] Other embodiments are set forth in the following claims.