AU598879B2 - Improved light fitting end cap - Google Patents

Description

1 I COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Patent Act 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number Lodged :PH08719 :28 October 1986 Complete Specification Lodged Accepted Published Priority Related Art This document contains the amendments inade under Section 49 and is correct for printing.

Name of Applicant Address of Applicant Actual Inventor Address for Service :IMPROVED LIGHT FITTING END CAP S 9-10 Nowill Street, Condell Park, New South Wales Clarence Keith Buckley F.B. RICE CO., Patent Attorneys, 28A Montague Street, BALMAIN. 2041.

Complete Specification for the invention entitled: IMPROVED LIGHT FITTING END CAP The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to Us:ir~ i L r 1 -I The present invention relates to light fittings and more particularly to the provision of end caps that facilitate ease of removal and replacement of diffusers to allow ready access to the interior of the fitting for removal or replacement of the light source.

Typical light fittings for fluorescent tubes and the like comprise end caps having screw fitting locations for securing the end cap to its housing. Once end caps are fitted to the housing with an associated diffuser in place access can be gained to the interior of the fitting via removal of the diffuser. Such removal is achieved by first removing a separable part of the end cap. One way of securing the separable part of the end cap to its remainder has been by screws or external biased clips.

Screws can be generally inconvenient as their removal can be costly in time and then the screws may be mislaid so that only a minimum number of screws are used to secure the separable part to the remainder of the end cap. Where biased clips or projections are formed on the end cap to hold the separable part to the remainder they may be over stressed thus deforming or breaking off the clips and so rendering them useless in retaining the separable part.

for a light fitting comp, ising a first part adapted be secured to the fitting and a second part separa mounted to the first part such that its removal fr the first part when in situ on the fitting enab ready removal/replacement of a light di user, said second part comprising at least one rece or opening adapted to r ive a resilient detent formed on the first part, sa resilient detent being released from the recess or ening by pushing said detent inwardly of the seco part and stop meant on the first part to limit the ward movement of the detent so as to resist ormnemaon o fe4-acturo of the dotcnt when it la The present invention consists in a two part end cap for a light fitting comprising a first part adapted to be secured to the fitting to cover an end of the fitting and define an inside region between the fitting end and the first part and a second part separably mounted to the first part such that its removal from the first part when in situ on the fitting enables ready removal/replacement of a light diffuser, said second part comprising at least one recess or opening adapted to receive a resilient detent formed on the first part, said resilient detent being released from the recess or opening by pushing said detent inwardly toward the inside region, and stop means on the first part to limit the inward movement of the detent so as to resist permanent deformation or fracture of the detent when it is pressed inwardly to release the second part from the first part.

prcc~c inwadly torelea e h seGOndI par~t-fGm4e-frst An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a two part end cap in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 showing the two parts clipped together; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation view of the region X of Fig. 1.

In the drawings the end cap 10 comprises downwardly tapering side walls 1 which in use retain the resilient flanges of a light diffuser (not shown) which has a substantially U-shaped cross-section as understood by the addressee.

In this =mbodiment the first part 2 com~rprises resilient hooks 3 formed integrally with the plastics moulding of the first part. The hooks 3 are adapted to locate and retain first part 2 against an associated housing for a light fitting (not shown).

To fit second part 4 to first part 2 all that is required is to push fit part 2 against part 1 so that pins are pressed inwArdly of part 2 and then spring outwardly to mnate with respective slots 6 in part 4. Pins 5 are located on resilient fingers 7 To separate part 4 from part 2 each, of pins 5 are depressed inwardly so that they are substantially frev of respective slots 6 then part 4 can be withdrawn downwardly (eas shown in Figs. I and 2) from part 2.

The inward movement of pins 5 and fingers 7 is limited by contact with faces 8 formed at the lower extremities of part 2 ao that the fingers 7 can be prevented from overstVessing which could destroy their resilience or lend to their fracture or separation from -3part 2.

By use of these end caps a continuous run of light fittings can be mounted with their end caps abutting as removal of their diffusers and globe or tube changing can be effected without removing the entire end cap. Downward removal of parts 4 of end caps facilitates ready access to the interior of each fitting.

In addition, the fingers 7 are protected from over stressing during removal and replacement of part 4 and the only tool required to carry out that operation would be some means for pushing each pin 5 inwardly prior to withdrawing part 4 downwardly of part 2. Thereafter the diffuser can be removed by pulling it downwardly which slightly closes its flanges as it is pulled downwardly against inwardly tapering walls i.

It will be recognised by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and modifications may be made to the invention as described above without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described,,

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Claims (7)

1. A two part end cap for a light fitting comprising a first part adapted to be secured to the fitting to ccver an end of the fitting and define an inside region between the fitting end and the first part and a second part separably mounted to the first part such that its removal from the first part when in situ on the fitting enablBs ready removal/replacement of a light diffuser, said second part comprising at least one recess or opening adapted to receive a resilient detent formed on the first part, said resilient detent be~ng released from the recess or opening by pushing said detent inwardly toward the inside region, and stop means on the firsc part to limit the inward movement of the detent so as to resist permanent deformation or fracture of the detent when it is pressed inwardly to release t.he second part from the first part.

2. An end cap as defined in claim 1 wherein the first part includes a base which formis an end cover of the light fitting with at least two opposed side walls extending perpendicularly from the base at opposite side edges thereof, two said detents being formed one at a co'mmon end of each respective side wall and being resiliently deformable toward one another, so as to allow their engagement with respective and cooperative said recesses of said second part.

3. An end cover as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said detents has a corresponding said stop mean8 contiguous with the respective side wall and the base, each stop means extending substantially parallel to its respective side wall.

4. An end co~ver ais defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein each of said first and second parts are formed in mioulded plastics material, An end cover as defined in any one of the preceding claims wheroin the first part includes, contiguous 'vr 0 r therewith, a pair of opposed resilient hooks adapted to 1 engage corresponding edges of the light fitting so as to engage the end cap with the fitting.

6. An end cover substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.

7. A light fitting including a respective end cap, being as defined i.n any one of the preceding claims, at each of two respective ends of the fitting.

8. The light fitting as defined in claim 7 wherein the second parts of the end caps retain a light diffuser in its place. DATED this 19th day of April 1990 LUXALITE LIGHTING PTY. LTD. Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: F.B. RICE CO.