Patent · US Expired

Compact dimmable fluorescent lamps with central dimming ring

US5596247A · kind A · utility

38Cited by
94References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 3, 1994
Grant dateJan 21, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 3, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH05B41/02
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A compact dimmable fluorescent lamp includes a dimming control ballast within a base which installs directly on an existing incandescent or other lighting fixture. The lamp mounts a fluorescent illumination element and includes an accessible dimmer control member connected to the dimming control ballast. In the preferred embodiment, a rotatable lamp globe both covers the fluorescent lamp and is coupled to the control element. The globe thus provides the dual functions of decoratively covering the fluorescent lamp tubes and serving as the dimmer control by rotating the globe to vary the amount of power that is supplied to the lamp. In other embodiments, a rotatable external annular ring extends substantially around the circumference of the lamp base and is connected to the dimming ballast control to serve as the dimmer control.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.