AU2007284062A1

AU2007284062A1 - An improved light tube assembly

Info

Publication number: AU2007284062A1
Application number: AU2007284062A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Mark Mario Buso; Robert Enrico Buso
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-08-18
Filing date: 2007-08-13
Publication date: 2008-02-21
Also published as: WO2008019427A1

Description

WO 2008/019427 PCT/AU2007/001132 -1 AN IMPROVED LIGHT TUBE ASSEMBLY FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to electrical components. More particularly, although not exclusively, it discloses an improved fluorescent light tube assembly for light boxes and signs. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION With existing fluorescent lamps the tubes are typically mounted between lamp holders on a light fitting support rail which also carries the ballast, capacitor and starter components for the tube. There is however no provision in these lamp assemblies for interconnecting banks of fluorescent tubes as required for example in illuminated signs or ceiling installations. Consequently each lamp assembly currently has to be separately connected to the mains supply using individual plugs and power points which are hard-wired into the sign support fi-ame or ceiling. Such installations are therefore time consuming and expensive. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention to ameliorate the aforementioned disadvantage and accordingly a lamp assembly of a type for fitting as multiples in an illuminated sign, ceiling or other installation is disclosed; said lamp assembly including a connection means for receiving cable plugs to WO 2008/019427 PCT/AU2007/001132 -2 interconnect said assembly with a power supply either directly or via another like assembly in said installation. Preferably said lamp assembly comprises a fluorescent tube. It is further preferred that said lamp assembly includes all necessary components for operating said tube such as ballast, starter and capacitor. It is further preferred that said connection means comprises male and female plug bases for respective incoming and outgoing power cables. It is further preferred that said plug bases are located one adjacent the other on a support rail of the lamp assembly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The currently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings in which: figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a fluorescent lamp according to said invention, WO 2008/019427 PCT/AU2007/001132 -3-figure 2 is a side elevation view of the lamp assembly of figure 1, figure 3 is a sitopde elevation view of the lamp assembly of figure 1, with figure 3 is a top elevation view of the lamp assembly of figure 1 with the fluorescent tube omitted, figure 4 is a detailed perspective view of the plug bases for the lamp assembly of figure 1, figure 5 is a schematic circuit diagram showing three interconnected lamp assemblies according to the invention, and figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a fluorescent lamp assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to figures 1 to 3 there is a fluorescent light assembly which comprises a folded metal support rail 1 with lamp holders 2 at each end and a fluorescent tube 3 extending the length of the rail between said holders. Also mounted along the rail are a starter 4, ballast 5 and capacitor 6 of conventional design. The complete wiring circuit for the aforementioned lamp holders, starter, ballast and capacitor is not shown in detail as it would be familiar to a person skilled in the art.

WO 2008/019427 PCT/AU2007/001132 -4 As best shown in figures 2 and 3 spaced apart fixing brackets 7 of any suitable design may also be fitted to the back of the rail. The support rail 1 is preferably of reduced width (with this embodiment about 20 nun) to minimise the appearance of shadows or dark areas in sign illumination as occurs with the wider support rails of prior art lamps. In accordance with this invention the rail 1 is also fitted with a pair of connectors 8, 9 as best shown in figures 2 and 4. These are preferably mounted on a flange 10 which extends up from the side lip 1 I of the support rail. Preferably, as shown in figure 5 the upper connector 8 is in the form of a male three pin plug base which engages a female power-in plug 12 and the lower connector 9 is in the form of a three pin female plug base which engages a male power-out plug 13. During installation of multiple lamp assemblies such as for example in illuminated signs the light tubes can be quickly and easily connected to mains power by plug in cables extending between the respective power-out connectors 9 and the power-in connectors 8 of said assemblies. As shown in figure 5 the upper lamp assembly is connected directly to mains supply via its WO 2008/019427 PCT/AU2007/001132 -5 male power-in plug 12. The additional two assemblies are then connected in tandem using power cables 14 with male/female plugs 16, 17 extending between the aforementioned power-in and power-out plug bases 8, 9. While only three lamp assemblies are shown in figure 5 the invention extends to any number in accordance with installation requirements. With the second embodiment of the invention shown in figure 6 the main components which correspond in function to those of figures 1 to 5 are identified by the same numbers which however are primed (') to distinguish them. With this embodiment the mounting fittings at each end for the lamp holders 2' are of similar form. They comprise metal straps 18 extending across the width of the support rail 1' and spot welded in place. The straps are folded upward from the rail into a square U shaped configuration as shown in figure 6 to form planar side and top faces with rectangular apertures 19 to receive the lamp holders 2'. This allows said lamp holders and the fluorescent tube 3' to be fitted either directly in fi-ont of the rail 1' or to one side. Mounting the tube to one side as shown reduces the clearance space and thus the required thickness for illuminated sign boxes.

WO 2008/019427 PCT/AU2007/001132 -6 The power-in and power-out connectors 8' and 9' are mounted to an L shaped flange 10' and face along the rail 1' in the direction of one of the lamp holders 2'. The flange 10' with this embodiment is also spot welded in place across the width of the rail 1'. Multiple lamp assemblies according to this second embodiment (as used for example in sign illumination) can be connected in tandem in a similar manner to that of the first embodiment shown in figure 5 It will thus be appreciated that this invention at least in the form of the embodiments disclosed provides novel and improved forms of lamp assemblies to enable multiple installations without separate hard-wired power points and plugs. It is envisaged by the inventor that lamp assemblies according to this invention may reduce installation times and costs by up to 80%. Clearly however the examples described are only the currently preferred forms of the invention and a wide variety of modifications may be made which would be apparent to a person skilled in the art. For example the design, type and placement of the power-in and power-out connectors may be modified following further development work by the inventors. Also, while the preferred emnbodiments relate to a specific design of fluorescent lamp WO 2008/019427 PCT/AU2007/001132 -7 assembly as used in signage the invention extends to other types of light assemblies as may be used for example in ceiling installations.

Claims

1. A lamp assembly of a type for fitting as multiples in an illuminated sign, ceiling or other installation, said lamp assembly including a connection means for receiving cable plugs to interconnect with a power supply either directly or via another like assembly in said installation.

2. The lamp assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lamp assembly includes a fluorescent tube.

3. The lamp assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said connection means includes male and female plug bases for respective incoming and outgoing power cables.

4. The lamp assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said assembly includes a support rail with lamp holders and mounting fittings therefor at each end.

5. The lamp assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein said mounting fittings include straps folded out from said rail into a square U shaped WO 2008/019427 PCT/AU2007/001132 -9 configuration to form planar side and top faces with apertures to mount said lamp holders at a range of positions.

6. The lamp assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein one of said range of positions locates said fluorescent tube to one side of said rail to thereby reduce required internal clearance space in said illuminated sign or ceiling installation.

7. The lamp assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein said male and female plug bases are mounted on a common flange welded to or comprising part of said support rail.

8. The combination of the lamp assembly as claimed claim 7 interconnected with at least one other like lamp assembly.

9. A sign or ceiling installation which includes the combination as claimed in claim 8.

10. A lamp assembly substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1 to 5 or figure 6.