Street Light Technical Information Willis Lamm   STREET LIGHTS: Patents from 1960 through 1962

Patents are an effective way to understand the development of street lighting in the United States. In this section I have posted patents as I located them. (Early patents are difficult to locate as they were not cross-indexed.) All patents are listed in order of their filing dates. Click on the patent number or thumbnail to view the entire patent.

The 1960s saw an increased push towards mercury vapor and fluorescent lamp improvements as well as more reliable photocontrols, since chattering photocontrols were hard on mercury vapor lamps.

Patent No. 3048833 Filing date: May 13, 1960 Patent date: August 7, 1962 Title: Photoelectric Control Device for Street Lights Inventor: George W. Bernheim Assignee: Vericontrol Associates Claims: Twist lock design for photocontrols with adjustments.
Patent No. 3080475 Filing date: March 28, 1960 Patent date: March 5, 1963 Title: Rotatable Head for Luminaires Inventor: Alfred W. Corwin Assignee: McGraw-Edison Co. Claims: Rotatable latching collar for side mount luminaires.
Patent No. 3141620 Filing date: May 5, 1960 Patent date: July 21, 1964 Title: Lighting Device Inventor: Kenneth F. Guggemos Claims: Vertical fluorescent post mount luminaire.
Patent No. 3160350 Filing date: June 1, 1960 Patent date: December 8, 1964 Title: Street Lighting Luminaire Inventor: Charles H. Rex and David L. Wood Assignee: General Electric, Inc. Claims: Improved clamshell mercury vapor luminaire.
Patent No. 3031582 Filing date: June 3, 1960 Patent date: April 24, 1963 Title: Mounting Element for Photoelectric Control Unit or Similar Article Inventor: Winfield H. Benner and Leslie G. Wynne Assignee: Sigma Instruments, Inc. Claims: Twist lock adapter mount for photocontrols.
Patent No. 3031582 Filing date: June 3, 1960 Patent date: April 24, 1963 Title: Mounting Element for Photoelectric Control Unit or Similar Article Inventor: Winfield H. Benner and Leslie G. Wynne Assignee: Sigma Instruments, Inc. Claims: Twist lock adapter mount for photocontrols.
Patent No. 3080491 Filing date: August 10, 1960 Patent date: March 5, 1963 Title: Photoelectric Controller Inventor: Edward Keith Howell Assignee: General Electric Co. Claims: Improved photoelectric control sensitivity.
Patent No. 3130923 Filing date: October 20, 1960 Patent date: April 28, 1964 Title: Lighting Fixture Inventor: Isaac Goodbar Claims: Full cut-off luminaire that changes optical properties during rainstorms.
Patent No. 3094220 Filing date: November 2, 1960 Patent date: June 18, 1963 Title: Mast Arm Inventor: Donald W. Harling Assignee: McGraw-Edison Co. Claims: Mast bracket arm that holds two tandem luminaires.
Patent No. 3096030 Filing date: November 4, 1960 Patent date: July 2, 1963 Title: Luminaire for Directional Lighting Inventor: Donald W. Harling Assignee: McGraw-Edison Co. Claims: Fluorescent luminaire with directional intensity.
Patent No. 3131871 Filing date: November 28, 1960 Patent date: May 5, 1964 Title: Combination Rail and Luminaire Inventor: John P. FOulds Assignee: General Electric Co. Claims: Combination guard rail and horizontal luminaire.
Patent No. 3099405 Filing date: January 6, 1961 Patent date: July 30, 1963 Title: Luminaire Inventor: Donald E. Husby Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp. Claims: Bucket refractor with interchangeable segments.
Patent No. 3065339 Filing date: January 16, 1961 Patent date: November 20, 1962 Title: Luminaire Inventor: James H. Fahey, Jr. Assignee: Joslyn Manufacturing and Supply Co. Claims: Mervury vapor cobrahead with fewer overheating issues.
Patent No. 3098668 Filing date: February 27, 1961 Patent date: July 23, 1963 Title: Street Light Bracket Connection Means Inventor: Jordan Paine Claims: Easily detachable upsweep bracket arm for steel masts with rear conductor entry.
Patent No. 3163365 Filing date: March 21, 1961 Patent date: December 29, 1964 Title: Lanterns for Street Lighting Inventor: Richard William Stevens Assignee: Thorne Electrical Industries Claims: Reduced glare fluorescent luminaire.
Patent No. 3071683 Filing date: April 20, 1961 Patent date: January 1, 1963 Title: Luminaire Inventor: Lauritz A. Queale Claims: Cobrahead with access door for ballast and easily removable ballast components.
Patent No. 3170634 Filing date: June 19, 1961 Patent date: February 23, 1965 Title: Luminaire Inventor: Donald W. Harling Assignee: McGraw-Edison Co. Claims: Clamshell in post mounted luminaire.
Patent No. 3398273 Filing date: September 1, 1961 Patent date: August 20, 1968 Title: Luminaire with Optical Refracting Members Inventor: Charles H. Rex and Marvin L. Brom Assignee: General Electric Co. Claims: Improved prismatic gumball refractor.
Patent No. 3176189 Filing date: October 23, 1961 Patent date: March 30, 1965 Title: Photoelectric Light Control System Inventor: Michael A. Tabet Claims: Solid state photoelectric control.
Patent No. 3179793 Filing date: January 17, 1962 Patent date: April 20, 1965 Title: Street Lighting Luminaire Inventor: Kurt Franck Assignee: Holophane Co. Claims: Improved prismatic ovate (clamshell) refractor.
Patent No. 3113730 Filing date: February 15, 1962 Patent date: December 10, 1963 Title: Luminaire Inventor: William H. Dorman and Daryl D. Sullivan Assignee: Corning Glass Works Claims: 4-Way Directional prismatic cobrahead refractor.
Patent No. 3209154 Filing date: April 9, 1962 Patent date: September 28, 1965 Title: Light Responsive System Including Load Circuit with Solid State Switch Inventor: Robert J. Maring Assignee: Federal Aviation Administration Claims: Solid state photocontrol with more reliable load switch.
Patent No. 3190600 Filing date: November 14, 1962 Patent date: June 22, 1965 Title: Mast Arm and Brace for Luminaires Inventor: Alfred H. Stanley Assignee: Joslyn Manufacturing and Supply Co. Claims: Long mast (bracket) arm with single guy brace.

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Please note: This index is a work in progress. If you notice an error or are aware of something that is missing, please feel free to Email me. Thanks!