AU3314099A

AU3314099A - Light fitting

Info

Publication number: AU3314099A
Application number: AU33140/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Ferguson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-06-03
Filing date: 1999-06-02
Publication date: 1999-12-16
Anticipated expiration: 2019-06-02
Also published as: AU759306B2

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

STANDARD

PATENT

LIGHT FITTING The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: The invention relates to a multiple configuration light reflector arrangements for olighting purposes, for example for horticultural, factory and warehouse lighting.

An adjustable lighting reflector construction used in horticultural lighting installations is described in Australian Patent Applications 64800/94 and 24416/95. In that construction, a pair of resilient sheet members are attached together by overlapping angled flanges along their edges and bolted together. The reflector members are then S" bent back against their angled attachment and retained in that position by a chain, to o. 20 form a double parabolic reflector. A lampholder is then attached.

This construction is advantageous in some respects, in that it can be flat-packed for shipment and is adjustable in reflector shape, but is cumbersome and time consuming to assemble. Also the lampholder mounting arrangement is prone to sagging following the cantilevered installation of the lamp.

The present invention aims to provide an alternative construction.

A first form of the invention provides a multiple configuration reflector for lighting purposes, including a longitudinal spine and at least one reflector panel of sheet material, the panel having attachment means adapted for attachment to the spine along either of two longitudinal edges of the panel, such that the panel forms different reflector shapes depending on which side of the panel is attached to the spine.

Preferably, the attachment means are located at respective edge regions of the panel, the angular displacement of the panel relative to said respective edge regions differing between the two sides to cause said different reflector shapes. Preferably, the reflector includes a pair of said panels attached to the spine.

A second form of the invention relates to mounting of a lampholder to a reflector, whereby the lampholder has one or more upper surfaces abutting a lower surface of the reflector, fasteners attaching the lamp holder to the reflector, means for connection of a lamp to the lampholder at a position spaced below the reflector and cantilevered from the lampholder, the reflector having a slot which is transverse to the direction of the cantilever and receives a portion of or attachment to the lampholder such that pivoting of the lamp holder due to torque from the lamp weight is limited by engagement of the lamp holder portion or attachment with the slot.

Preferably, the lampholder is adapted to fit onto the reflector in two different orientations, preferably inverted relative to each other, the position of the lamp on the 20 lampholder being such that the two orientations result in different lamp positions or S "focal lengths.

A third form of the invention relates to a light diffuser for positioning under the lamp, including at least two sheet members having a series of light-transmitting apertures therethrough, the sheet members being fixable in a plurality of positions relative to each other such that the degree of coincidence of the apertures, and therefore the amount of light transmitted, may be varied.

Further preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic oblique view of a preferred reflector; Fig. 2 is an end view of the reflector of Fig. 1 in a first configuration; Fig. 3 is an end view of the reflector of Fig. 1 in a second configuration; Fig. 4 is an end view of reflector of Fig. 2 with lampholder and light diffuser attached; Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective of the lampholder; Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-section showing attachment of the lampholder to the reflector in Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is an end view of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is an oblique view of a preferred light diffuser; Fig. 9 is a partial plan view of the light diffuser of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a schematic perspective of an arrangement employing two spines and two lampholders; and Fig. 11 shows an alternative attachment of the reflector panels to the spine so as to allow cooling.

Fig. 1 shows the general construction of the reflector, including a longitudinal spine 10 of sheet metal folded into a V-shape with outstanding horizontal attachment flanges 12, and a pair of concave reflector panels 14.

Both longitudinal edge regions of the reflector panels 14 have attachment holes 16 corresponding to holes in the flanges 12 of spine 10, so that each panel can be 20 reversibly attached to the spine 10 by bolting.

Each reflector panel is assymetrical, the two edge regions being disposed at different angles to the reflector panel profile, so that changing the edge region attached to the spine will change the orientation of the reflector panels and thus change the oversall reflector profile. In Figs. 2 and 3, it will be noted that the reversal of the reflector panels 14 results in reflector configurations of differing depth and width. It will also be noted that the reflector panels are preferably formed with a multi-faceted shape approximating true double-parabolic, rather than continuous curves.

The panels 14 and spine 10 are formed by pressing or roll forming of sheet metal such as steel or aluminium, and may be coated by powder coating or painting.

-1 The edges of the panels have outstanding flanges 18 with matching holes therethrough (see Fig. for attachment of spring wire hanging brackets 22 (see Fig.

2 and 3) for the unit. These right-angled flanges 18 also serve to strengthen the reflector panels.

The spine 10 has one or more transverse slots 24 adjacent either end for engagement with a lampholder, as will be described below.

Figs. 4 to 7 illustrate a preferred lampholder 26 and its attachment to the reflector.

The lampholder body is folded from sheet metal, having a generally rectangular face 28 with trapezoidal cut-outs 30 at its top and bottom. Side flanges 32 that are longer than the rectangular face are folded over at their ends to form tabs 34 with holes 36 for bolting to the reflector.

The lampholder supports a junction or control gear box 38, receiving power cord and a lamp connector 42 suitable for a tubular or ovoid lamp, or fluorescent tube. The lamp connector is assymetrically disposed relative to the lampholder height, so that reversing the lampholder varies the lamp-to-reflector spacing and therefore the light pattern.

S. The angled sides of the trapezoidal cut-out 30 are generally parallel to the V of the spine 10, with the top of the front face 28 projecting into slot 24 in the spine. This engagement between the lampholder and the slot limits pivoting (sagging) of lampholder and lamp caused by the cantilevered weight of the lamp. Sagging is also minimised by the attachment tabs 34 being folded from the side flanges, with fold 44 generally parallel to the direction of the cantilever, rather than folded from the front face 28.

As shown in Fig. 4, the bottom of the lampholder 26 may support a light diffuser 46, shown in more details in Figs. 8 and 9. The diffuser consists of a bottom, channelshaped tray 48 with a regular series of slots 50 therethrough. This tray is connected to the lampholder by bolts passing through holes 52 in its extended side flanges 54.

Supported within the tray 48 is an upper, channel-shaped member 56 with a corresponding regular series of slots 58. The tray and member also have corresponding, elongated bolting holes 60, allowing their connection together with an adjustable degree of co-incidence of slots 50 and 58, and hence providing an adjustable degree of shading of the area directly under the lamp.

Fig. 10 shows an arrangement in which a pair of the spines 10a, 10b are used for connection of two offset lampholders 26a, 26b.

Fig. 11 is a detailed end view of a modified means of attachment of the reflector panels 14 to the spine 10, whereby the panels are spaced from the spine by nuts or •°.other spacers 62 to allow hot air (denoted by the large arrows) to escape.

*c The inventions described herein allows manufacture of a multiple configuration light ~and reflector which is quickly and easily assembled (without tools if wing nuts are used) yet packs relatively flat, with the fasteners, lamp, lampholder and diffuser fitting within the curvature of the reflector panels when packed.

20 While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments and examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all modifications which would be obvious to those skilled in the art are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. A multiple configuration reflector for lighting purposes, including a longitudinal spine and at least one reflector panel of sheet material, the panel having attachment means adapted for attachment to the spine along either of two longitudinal edges of the panel, such that the panel forms different reflector shapes depending on which side of the panel is attached to the spine.

2. The reflector of claim 1 wherein the attachment means are located at respective edge regions of the panel, the angular displacement of the panel relative to said respective edge regions differing between the two sides to cause said different reflector shapes. 9 9 S

3. The reflector of claim 1 including a pair of said panels attached to the spine.

4. A lampholder for mounting to a reflector, the lampholder having one or more upper surfaces adapted to abut the lower surface of the reflector, fasteners adapted to attach the lampholder to the reflector, means for the connecting of a lamp to the lampholder at a position spaced below the reflector and cantilevered from the S.i 20 lampholder, the reflector having a slot which is transverse to the direction of the cantilever and receives a portion of or attachment to the lampholder such that pivoting of the lamp holder due to torque from the lamp weight is limited by engagement of the lamp holder portion or attachment with the slot.

5. The lampholder of claim 4 being adapted to fit onto the reflector in two different orientations inverted relative to each other, the position of the lamp on the lampholder being such that the two orientations result in different lamp positions or focal lengths.

6. A light diffuster for positioning under a lamp, including at least two sheet members having a series of light-transmitting apertures therethrough, the sheet members being fixable in a plurality of positions relative to each other such that the degree of coincidence of the apertures, and therefore the amount of light transmitted, may be varied.

7. A multiple configuration reflector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 and Figures 10 and 11.

8. A lampholder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 4 to 7.

9. A light diffuser substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 8 and 9. DATED this 2nd day of June 1999 THE SUNNYFIELD ASSOCIATION Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: HALFORD CO S. 55 S S *c S