The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 03, 2002
Filed:
Dec. 20, 1999
Ellis Yan, South Russell, OH (US);
Technical Consumer Products, Inc., Aurora, OH (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates primarily to a fluorescent lighting fixture having a novel plug-in replaceable electronic ballast that can be replaced without the need of dismantling the installed fixture. In a second embodiment of the present invention, the attachment means is comprised of a ballast housing having a threaded portion that engages the mating threaded indentations found in a recess found in the base of the lighting fixture and is rotatable therein for attachment. This novel attachment and engaging means, thereby reduces the number of components needed for the manufacture of the lighting fixture, concomitantly reducing the assembly time and assembly costs. Alternatively, the attachment means is comprised of a plurality of vanes found typically at the base of the ballast housing as used in a light source apparatus. This attachment means is comprised of a ballast housing having a plurality of vanes that engages the mating threaded indentations found the base of the lighting fixture. The ballast housing is rotatably drawn flat, abutting the surface of the fixture base into a binding frictional engagement. A lamp support bracket, securely attached to the end of the ballast housing opposite its mounting base, is bat-winged shaped to allow the fluorescent lamp to be positioned close to the base of the lighting fixture to permit a stylized dome-shaped cover to be snap-fitted to the base of the fixture. The dome-shaped cover, having a circumferential ridge on its skirt, is securely held in place by snapping the cover past three nibs in the base plate, spaced preferably 120 degrees apart.