no.switch desk lamp by shira paz from israel
designer's own words:
This project is a direct result of curiosity,
Curiosity to see how things work, how mechanisms work,
Even as a child , I was fascinated by the woodpecker toy , by the fact that it comes to life at the touch of a hand , pecking its way down without a motor or electricity using only the power of nature .
The Woodpecker toy inspired me to design a lamp that uses gravity as a power switch,
gravity and friction works together to operate this lamp.
The lamp is designed so that it does not give details or expose what it really is, in its closed position it is hard to guess what is the use of this object, it raises our curiosity and call us to come and find out.
Because this table lamp has no power switch, its operating method is a kind of magic, magic of nature, and like magic,
it causes the user, wonder and curiosity.
The lamp consists of 3 parts:
Lamp head – made of teak wood, threaded on the lamp pole, contains the light socket, one of its end is designed as a grip and contains a weight, there is a hole slightly larger than the diameter of the lamp pole, In that hole there are tiny strips of aluminum conductors.
Lamp pole – made of aluminum, covered by insulated parts that leave two narrow stripes of aluminum exposed to both sides of the entire length. The pole conducts electricity from the lamp base to its head.
Lamp base - made of teak wood, is connected to the power cord, contains the transformer, and conductive pins, made of copper, which conduct electricity from the base to the lamp pole.
Operating method:
Gravity pulls down the weight at the end of the lamp head, in that moment the lamp head is locked at an angle on the pole, a friction with the lamp pole is created and the tiny strips of aluminum in the lamp head hole are pushed and locked into the narrow aluminum strips of the lamp pole,That closes an electric circuit and the lamp comes on.
When the lamp head is in a horizontal position, it can move freely along the lamp pole.
In this position no friction is created, no circuit is closed and therefore the light is off.
The lamp’s head can be adjusted to a desirable position; lower position for specific illumination or higher to light the whole desk.
When the lamp is not in use, the lamp head is placed horizontally on the lamp base.
The lamp is designed in clean lines in order to highlight the operating mechanism.
Lamp head is designed in a way that the end that contains the weight is actually looks heavier and it is shaped as a grip,
guiding the user how to operate the lamp.
In its closed position the lamp head resting on its base and complements harmoniously the shape into a perfect yin and yang shape.
The lamp made of fine teak wood, in order to warm up the office look, details are made of aluminum.
‘no.switch’ desk lamp in its several ‘on’ positions and in it’s ‘off’ position.
on mode – Gravity pulls down the weight at the end of the lamp head, the head is locked at an angle on the pole and the lamp comes on.
[jwplayer config=”mplayer” width=”818px” height=”600px” file=”https://static.designboom.com/wp-content/compsub/377821/2013-10-12/video_1_1381571178_291ea888f8f951e08a66d326fce465b1.mp4″ html5_file=”https://static.designboom.com/wp-content/compsub/377821/2013-10-12/video_1_1381571178_291ea888f8f951e08a66d326fce465b1.mp4″ download_file=”https://static.designboom.com/wp-content/compsub/377821/2013-10-12/video_1_1381571178_291ea888f8f951e08a66d326fce465b1.mp4″]
video
. Off mode – When the lamp is not in use, the lamp head is placed horizontally on the lamp base
‘no.switch’ desk lamp – mechanism description
‘no.switch’ desk lamp – Elements
‘no.switch’ desk lamp – Elements & dimensions