WO2000063615A1

WO2000063615A1 - Electric candlestick and lamp holder tube for use therein

Info

Publication number: WO2000063615A1
Application number: PCT/SE2000/000725
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ebbe Klasson
Original assignee: Gnosjö Konstsmide Ab
Priority date: 1999-04-19
Filing date: 2000-04-17
Publication date: 2000-10-26
Also published as: AU4632600A; SE512434C2; SE9901374L; SE9901374D0

Abstract

An electric candlestick (1) has an elongate frame (2) with vertical through bores (6) which each receive a lamp holder tube (7). A downwardly open duct (4) for accommodating electric lines (5), which are connected to the lamp holder tubes, extends along the underside of the frame (2). A cover element (13) is arranged at the underside of the frame (2) to cover the duct (4). The bores (6) extend into the duct (4) through its bottom (15). The lamp holder tubes (7) are inserted into the respective bores (6) from the underside of the frame (2). Each lamp holder tube (7) has a stop abutment (14) which rests against the bottom (15) of the duct (4) to prevent upwards extraction of the lamp holder tube (7), a turning stop means (14) which engages with the frame (2) to prevent turning of the lamp holder tube (7) about its longitudinal axis, and a stop member (16) which rests against the cover element (13) to prevent downwards pushing-out of the lamp holder tube (7).

Description

ELECTRIC CANDLESTICK AND LAMP HOLDER TUBE FOR

USE THEREIN

The present invention relates to an electric candlestick having an elongate frame which has essentially vertical bores starting from the top face of the frame and each receiving a lamp holder tube, and which at its underside has a downwardly open duct extending along the frame and adapted to accommodate electric lines, which are connected to the lamp holder tubes, a cover element being arranged at the underside of the frame to cover the duct. The invention also relates to a lamp holder tube for use in such a candlestick.

In a prior-art candlestick of this type, each lamp holder tube has at its end radially projecting, axially directed ribs. When mounting the candlestick, each lamp holder tube is inserted from above in its bore in the frame, the axially directed ribs, during insertion of the lamp holder tube, engaging in the frame material surrounding the bore, so that the lamp holder tube is non-rotatably retained in the bore. The lamp holder tube is axially held by means of a glue which is applied to the lamp holder tube before inserting it into the bore. In a further prior-art candlestick of this type (SE 8800130-0) , the glue has been replaced by a locking ring slipped onto the lamp holder tube and having an external toothing which is made to engage with the frame material surrounding the bore.

When mounting these two prior-art candlesticks, first the lamp holder tubes are inserted and fixed in the manner described above. Then electric lines are inserted through the duct at the underside of the frame into the bores and are passed through the fixed lamp holder tubes to be connected, outside the same, to contact sheets on a lamp fitting arranged for each lamp holder tube. The lamp fittings are then snapped in from above in the respective lamp holder tubes. This part of the mounting, which in addition to these operations also comprises screwing-in of light bulbs in the lamp fittings, fixing of an electric cable, mounting of cover elements and feet, is fair- ly complicated and, especially if glue is used, also time consuming.

Therefore there is a need for simplifying the mounting and especially designing the candlestick and the lamp holder tubes in such manner that a premounting of lamp holder tubes and lamp fittings with electric lines connected thereto and screwed-in light bulbs is possible to carry out to make the actual final mounting of the electric candlestick quick and easy.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electric candlestick which satisfies this need.

This object is achieved with an electric candlestick which is of the type defined by way of introduction and is characterised in that the bores extend into the duct through its bottom, that the lamp holder tubes are inserted into the respective bores from the underside of the frame, and that each lamp holder tube has a stop abutment resting against the bottom of the duct to prevent upwards extraction of the lamp holder tube, a turning stop means engaging with the frame to prevent turning of the lamp holder tube about its longitudinal axis, and a stop means resting against the cover element to prevent the lamp holder tube from being pushed out downwards .

A further object of the present invention is to provide a lamp holder tube which is particularly suited for use in such a candlestick.

This object is achieved with a lamp holder tube, which is characterised in that it is adapted to be inserted into its bore from the underside of the frame, and that it has a stop abutment which is adapted to rest against the bottom of the duct to prevent the lamp holder tube from being extracted upwards, a turning stop means which is adapted to engage with the frame to prevent turning of the lamp holder tube about its longitudinal axis, and a stop means which is adapted to rest against the cover element to prevent the lamp holder tube from being pushed out downwards. The stop abutment is in a preferred embodiment formed of a lateral flange projecting from the lamp holder tube. The lateral flange constitutes in a preferred embodiment a portion of a rectangular sheet which is essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lamp holder tube and which has two opposing lateral edges, whose mutual distance is equal to the width of the duct, the lamp holder tube being adapted to be placed in the candlestick in such manner that said lateral edges extend parallel with the duct to form said turning stop means. The stop means suitably consists of two projections which are placed at said lateral edges and which extend in the extension of the lamp holder tube.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a partial sectional view of a portion of an electric candlestick according to the invention,

Fig. 2 shows, partly in longitudinal section, a lamp holder tube according to the invention provided with a lamp fitting and electric lines connected thereto, and Fig. 3 corresponds to Fig. 2 but shows the lamp holder tube in a position rotated through 90° in relation to the position in Fig. 2.

Fig. 1 shows a portion of an electric wooden candlestick 1, which has two legs 2 (of which only one is shown) which are arranged at an angle to each other, and a base plate 3 attached to each leg 2. The two legs 2 form the frame of the candlestick.

Each leg 2 has at its underside a downwardly open duct 4 which extends along the leg and in which electric lines 5 are accommodated. An electric cable (not shown) for connecting the candlestick 1 to an electric voltage source extends into the duct 4 through a groove at the base of the other leg (not shown) . The electric lines 5 are connected to this cable.

Each leg 2 has bores 6 extending from the top face of the frame vertically through each leg 2 and leading to its duct 4. A lamp holder tube 7 of plastic is received in each bore 6.

Each lamp holder tube 7 has in its upper portion an inserted conventional lamp fitting 8 of plastic which is fixed by snap-in action and into which a lamp or bulb 9 is screwed. The lamp fitting 8 has two diametrically opposed arms 10, which together with two diametrically opposed shoulders 11 on the inside of the^' lamp holder pipe 7 form a snap catch for locking the lamp fitting 8 in the lamp holder tube 7. The lamp fitting 8 also has two contact sheets 12 which are each connected to a line 5 and are in contact with the bulb 9 screwed into the lamp fitting 8.

Each leg 2 has two internal grooves, positioned opposite to each other, in the lateral walls defining the duct 4. A cover sheet 13 is inserted into the grooves to cover the duct 4 and is kept in place by the base plate 3.

The lamp holder tubes 7 are inserted from below into the respective bores 6. Each lamp holder tube 7 has at its lower end a rectangular sheet 14 which is arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lamp holder tube 7 and has a centre hole, whose diameter is equal to the inner diameter of the lamp holder tube in the lower portion. The short side of the rectangular sheet 14 has a length, which, as is evident from Fig. 3, is equal to the outer diameter of the lamp holder tube 7 in the lower portion. The long side of the sheet 14 is, as is evident from Fig. 2, only insignificantly longer than the short side. The two longitudinal side edges of the sheet 14, whose distance from one another is equal to the width of the duct 4, extend parallel with the duct 4 and abut against the side walls thereof and thus prevent the lamp holder tube 7 from turning in its bore 6. The short side portions of the sheet 14 project on each side of the lamp holder tube 7, one short side portion forming a stop abutment which rests against the bottom 15 of the duct 4 and thus prevents further insertion of the lamp holder tube 7, or in other words prevents the lamp holder tube 7 from being extracted upwards.

Two projections 16 of the same length extend on each side of the centre hole of the sheet 14 a distance down- wards from the long side portions of the sheet 14. The projections 16 rest against the cover sheet 13 and thus prevent the lamp holder tube 7 from being pushed out downwards. The length of the projections 16 is, as should be evident, dependent on the angle of inclination of the legs 2 and is thus adjusted thereto. For lamp holder tubes 7 of one and the same design, i.e. with one and the same length of the projections, to be used in candlesticks having their legs differently angled, instead the depth of the duct 4 is advantageously adjusted to the angle of the legs.

By the frame of the candlestick 1 and the lamp holder tubes 7 being designed in the manner described above and, thus, the lamp holder tubes being insertable into the bores 6 from below, an extensive premounting of the candlestick can take place. In this premounting, a

"lamp loop", which consists of lamp holder tubes 7, lamp fittings 8 inserted therein and having screwed-in bulbs 9 and lines 5 connected to the contact sheets 12 and a cable connected to the lines 5 and having a plug connec- tor, is prepared and then, in the final mounting of the candlestick, arranged thereon quite simply by the lamp holder tubes 7 being inserted into the bores 6. The final mounting also comprises insertion of the cover sheets 13 in their grooves and fixing of the base plates 3 to the legs 2.

Claims

1. An electric candlestick having an elongate frame (2) , which has essentially vertical bores (6) starting from the top face of the frame and each receiving a lamp holder tube (7) , and which at its underside has a downwardly open duct (4) extending along the frame and adapted to accommodate electric lines (5) , which are connect- ed to the lamp holder tubes, a cover element (13) being arranged at the underside of the frame (2) to cover the duct, c ha ra c t e r i s e d in that the bores (6) extend into the duct (4) through its bottom (15) , that the lamp holder tubes (7) are inserted into the respec- tive bores (6) from the underside of the frame (2) , and that each lamp holder tube (7) has a stop abutment resting against the bottom (15) of the duct (4) to prevent upwards extraction of the lamp holder tube (7) , a turning stop means (14) engaging with the frame (2) to pre- vent turning of the lamp holder tube (7) about its longitudinal axis, and a stop means (16) resting against the cover element (13) to prevent the lamp holder tube (7) from being pushed out downwards.

2. A candlestick as claimed in claim 1, c ha r - a c t e r i s e d in that the stop abutment is formed of a lateral flange projecting from the lamp holder tube (7) .

3. A candlestick as claimed in claim 2, c har a c t e r i s e d in that the lateral flange constitutes a portion of a rectangular sheet (14) which is essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lamp holder tube and which has two opposing lateral edges, whose mutual distance is equal to the width of the duct (4) and which extend parallel with the duct and form said turning stop means.

4. A candlestick as claimed in claim 3, cha r a c t e r i s e d in that said stop means consists of two projections (16) placed at said lateral edges and extending in the extension of the lamp holder tube (7) .

5. A lamp holder tube for use in an electric candlestick (1) as claimed in claim 1, said candlestick having an elongate frame (2) which has essentially vertical bores (6) starting from the top face of the frame and each adapted to receive a lamp holder tube (7) and which at its underside has a downwardly open duct (4) extending along the frame and adapted to accommodate electric lines (5) for connection to the lamp holder tubes (7) , and a cover element (13), which is adapted to be mounted on the underside of the frame (2) to cover the duct, the bores (6) extending into the duct (4) through its bottom (15) , c ha ra c t e r i s e d in that it is adapted to be inserted into its bore (6) from the underside of the frame (2) , and that it has a stop abutment which is adapted to rest against the bottom (15) of the duct (4) to prevent the lamp holder tube (7) from being extracted upwards, a turning stop means (14) which is adapted to engage with the frame (2) to prevent turning of the lamp holder tube (7) about its longitudinal axis, and a stop means (16) which is adapted to rest against the cover element (13) to prevent the lamp holder tube (7) from being pushed out downwards .

6. A lamp holder tube as claimed in claim 5, c ha ra c t e r i s e d in that the stop abutment is formed of a lateral flange projecting from the lamp holder tube (7) .

7. A lamp holder tube as claimed in claim 6, c ha ra c t e r i s e d in that the lateral flange constitutes a portion of a rectangular sheet (14) which is essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lamp holder tube (7) and which has two opposing lateral edges, whose mutual distance is equal to the width of the duct (4) , the lamp holder tube (7) being adapted to be placed in the candlestick (1) in such manner that said lateral edges extend parallel with the duct to form said turning stop means .

8. A lamp holder tube as claimed in claim 7, c ha r a c t e r i s e d in that said stop means con- sists of two projections (16) which are placed at said lateral edges and which extend in the extension of the lamp holder tube (7) .