AU6989198A - Lamp fitting - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant: UTILUX PTY LIMITED A.C.N. 003 070 148 Invention Title: Lamp Fitting The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 LAMP FITTING The present invention relates generally to fittings for electric lamps. From one particular aspect, the invention relates to electrical connector for electric lamps, and from another more particular aspect relates to an arrangement for mounting a lamp fitting to a substrate. Ih a preferred embodiment, the application relates to lamp fittings for mounting in cabinets, such as in fridges. The invention is not limited to this application, however.

Lamp fittings for light globes usually comprise a plastics or otherwise insulating housing mounting electrical contacts or terminals for making electrical contact with the electrical terminals of the light globe, and also a means for fixing the fitting to a substrate, such as a wall or 15 other surface which houses electrical wiring for connection *to a power supply.

There are a variety of ways of fixing the light globe within conventional light fittings. One way is by providing a screw thread on the base of the light globe and a 20 corresponding thread within the fitting housing. Another is by way of a bayonet fitting, the light globe being provided with pins and corresponding recesses being provided within the light fitting housing to receive and retain the pins.

With bayonet fittings, some sort of resilient mechanism is 25 usually required to push against the base of the light globe 4444 se". to ensure that the pins are retained in the recesses in the fitting housing.

Light fittings are generally mass produced articles and manufacturing costs, including labour costs are significant.

For lighting fittings installed in cabinets, such as fridge interiors, for example, as well as the manufacturing cost of the fitting, the labour costs of installation in the cabinet (usually done on an assembly of the fridge) are also significant. In the majority of cases, it is necessary to insert the light globe on assembly of the fitting within the fridge. Screw-in fittings, which have often been used, are 411/S:14589HV 1 e 3 labour intensive and can lead to problems such as repetitive strain injury (RSI). Use of a bayonet-type fitting would reduce the amount of labour required to insert the bulb and also reduce the likelihood of RSI. A problem here, however, is that some sort of resilient mechanism is required to push against the base of the light globe so that th bayonet pins are retained in the bayonet recesses. The provision of such resilient means may increase manufacturing costs.

Fixing of the light fitting to the cabinet wall is also generally quite labour intensive. In the prior art, the fittings have either been screwed to the cabinet wall or glued. Both processes are labour intensive. An interference, or clip fit would be desirable, but the problem here is that cabinet walls may be of different thicknesses from cabinet to cabinet so that if an interference fitting were used it would only be suitable for one particular cabinet.

The present invention provides an electrical terminal arranged to be mounted within the base of a housing of a *.4 20 light fitting and including first and second contact members either one of the first and second contact members being arranged to make contact with a terminal of an electric too* light globe when the light globe is inserted in the base, which of the first or second makes contact being dependent 25 upon the orientation of the electrical terminal within the base.

Either one of the first or second contact members can therefore be used to make contact with the terminal of the light globe, depending upon orientation of the electrical terminal within the base. Preferably, the first and second contact members are displaced from each other, and positioned such that a pair of such like electrical terminals can be used to provide electrical contacts for all the contacts of a light globe (which usually includes two contacts). The first contact member of one electrical terminal would make contact with the first terminal of the 411/S:14589HV M 0 4 light globe and the second contact member of the second electrical terminal would make contact with the second contact of the electric light globe. This thus requires the manufacture of only a single electrical terminal to provide both contacts for the light globe.

In an alternative embodiment, the light -fitting could provide mountings for two light globes, back to back. With the electrical terminal of this invention, preferably only a pair of electrical terminals would be required to provide electrical connections to the back-to-back light bulbs. The first contact of one terminal would make contact with one light bulb and the second contact of the one terminal would make contact with the other light bulb. Similarly for the other terminal. Two light bulbs can therefore be driven through a pair of alike terminals.

The electrical terminal preferably comprises a conductive back bone which mounts the first and second contact members, the first and second contact members S•extending away from the conductive backbone and preferably 20 being resilient, so as to provide a resilient means for assisting retention of a bayonet connector of the light globe within a bayonet recess and maintaining good contact with the light globe contact.

The first and second contact members preferably extend 25 in opposite directions, and preferably the contact that is not being used to connect to the terminal of the light globe is arranged to abut against a wall of the housing of the light fitting to assist in retaining the terminal in position and assist in supporting the first contact against 30 the light globe terminal.

Alternatively, as discussed above, it would be possible to mount a pair of light globes back-to-back. In this case, both contacts of the electrical terminal would contact a light globe, the contact discussed above which is not being used to connect to the terminal of the first light globe, would connect to the terminal of the second light 411/S:14589HV 5 globe back-to-back with the first light globe.

Preferably, the first and second contact members are displaced from each other along the backbone.

Preferably, a distal end of the terminal is arranged to extend from the base of the light fitting for connection to an electrical conductor for connection to a power supply.

Preferably, the electrical contact is arranged to extend into the base of the light fitting from a side of the housing of the light fitting.

The present invention further provides a light fitting arranged to mount a pair of electrical terminals in accordance with the aspect of the invention discussed above, and including a housing having a base within which the electrical terminals are arranged to extend.

The base preferably includes mounting means for mounting the electrical terminals, the mounting means being arranged to mount a first of the electrical terminals such that its first contact is oriented to contact a terminal of .oo.oi light globe, when the light globe is inserted in the base, and the second of the electrical terminals such that its second contact is orientated to contact a terminal of the light globe.

In an alternative embodiment, as discussed above, the second of the electrical terminals would be arranged to 25 contact a second light globe mounted back-to-back to the first light globe, in a dual light globe fitting. One electrical terminal, therefore, contacts and provides an 9 "00" electrical connection to a pair of light globes.

9 The housing preferably includes retention means for 30 retaining a bayonet pin of a bayonet-type fitting light globe.

The light fitting preferably further includes a mounting arrangement for mounting the fitting to a substrate, the mounting arrangement being an interference fitting arranged to mount to substrates having different thicknesses.

411/S:14589HV 6 The substrate may be a cabinet wall. Interference fittings are preferably clip fittings arranged to be inserted through cabinet walls of at least two different thicknesses, to mount the light fitting thereto.

The present invention yet further provides a light fitting, comprising a housing and a mounting arrangement for mounting the housing to the substrate, the mounting arrangement being an interference fitting arranged to mount to substrates having different thicknesses.

The arrangement is preferably for mounting to cabinet walls, such as fridge walls.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a light fitting which can be mounted to the interior of a cabinet, such as a fridge, for example, and which can be easily assembled from a minimal number of parts. Using the electrical terminal discussed above it is only necessary to manufacture a single type of terminal to provide both electrical contacts for a light globe.

Further, the resilient arrangement of the electrical contact 20 assists in mounting a bayonet-type fitting light globe.

This assembly is facilitated by the mounting arrangement enabling an interference fit to the cabinet wall. Labour and manufacturing costs are, preferably, reduced.

In an alternative embodiment, as discussed above, a 25 dual-socket light fitting may be provided mounting light globes back-to-back. In this case only a pair of electrical terminals is needed to provide all the contacts for the pair of back-to-back light bulbs.

The present invention further provides a light fitting, comprising a housing and mounting arrangement for mounting light globes back-to-back, the housing being arranged to mount a pair of electrical terminals in accordance with the aspect of the invention discussed above, whereby the pair of electrical terminals provide all electrical contacts for the pair of light globes.

The electrical terminal or light fitting of the present 411/S:14589HV 7 invention may be used in general application for contact and/or mounting of light globes, whether a domestic or industrial, and they are not limited to application merely with cabinets, such as fridges.

Features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments thereof, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from above and behind of a light fitting in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a further perspective view of the light fitting of figure i, from below and behind; Figure 3 is a side view from one side of the light fitting of figure 1, illustrating the fitting mounted to a cabinet wall; Figure 3A is a detail from figure 3 illustrating mounting to a thin wall section; Figure 3B is a detail from figure 3 illustrating 20 mounting to a thick wall section; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a electrical terminal in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is a top view of the electrical terminal of figure 4; S 25 Figure 6 is a side view from one side of the electrical terminal of figure 4; *Figure 7 is a side view showing the inside of one part of the light fitting of figure 1, mounting the electrical 0 terminal of figure 4; 30 Figure 8 is a further side view showing the inside of one part of the terminal of figure 1 from one side; Figure 8a is a view from the front of the part of figure 8; Figure 9 is a side view showing the inside of another part of the light fitting of figure 1; Figure 9a is a front view of the part of figure 9, and 411/S: 14589HV 8 Figure 10 is a front view of the terminal of figure 1, showing it mounting a pair of electrical terminals in accordance with figure 4.

The light fitting illustrated in figures 1 to 3 and 7 through 10 is suitable for mounting within the interior of a cabinet, such as the interior of a fridge, to the cabinet wall. It is intended to provide a mounting for a light globe for illuminating the interior of the cabinet. This embodiment includes features which preferably reduce manufacturing and assembly costs. These features include a novel and inventive mounting arrangement for mounting the fitting to the cabinet wall. They also include a novel electrical connector mounted within the fitting and a novel mounting arrangement for the electrical connector.

In more detail, with reference to the figures, a light fitting in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is generally designated by reference numeral i.

The fitting includes a housing 2, of insulating material, 2 o5 and including a base 3. The base 3 is arranged to receive 20 within it (figure 7) a pair of electrical connectors (only one is shown in figure 7) and forms a receptacle for receiving a bayonet-fitting type light globe (not shown) The electrical connector 20 and base receptacle 3 will be described in more detailed later. The novel mounting arrangement for mounting the light fitting 1 to a substrate wall will now be described.

The fitting 1 also includes a mounting arrangement which includes a base plate 11 and an interference mounting, comprising clips 12a, 12b extending from the base plate 11.

Clips 12a, 12b each respectively have a surface 13a, 13b arranged to abut against the internal surface of a substrate wall, such as a cabinet wall, to retain the light fitting 1 in position on the cabinet wall. Locating studs 14, 15 also extend from the base plate 11 and may be inserted in holes drilled in the cabinet wall to assist with positioning of the base plate 11.

411/S:14589HV 9 Surfaces 13a and 13b of clips 12a and 12b are positioned differently with respect to each other, so that 13a will provide a fit with a wall of greater thickness and 13b will provide a fit with a wall of lesser thickness.

This is best illustrated in figure 3. This shows a fitting 1 mounted to a wall (shown in cross section, reference numerals 16a, 16b). The wall 16a, 16b is of two different thicknesses. Obviously in operation, the fitting will be mounted to a wall having the same thickness. Figure 3 provides an illustration, however, of how the same fitting 1 could be mounted to cabinet walls having different thicknesses.

Figure 3a is a detail showing the mounting to a relatively thin wall, 16b. The interference fit is provided by surface 13b of clip 12b. Clip 12a does not operate. In figure 3b, the mounting is to a relatively thick wall, 16a.

This time the surface 13a and clip 12a are operational to provide the interference fit.

This arrangement can be used to mount the light fitting 1 to walls having different thicknesses. This preferably S' reduces labour and manufacturing costs. Because the fit is a simple interference fit all the labour required is to push the arrangement into a hole in the cabinet wall, as illustrated in figure 3. It is not necessary to manufacture 25 different mounting arrangements, as one arrangement can fit into different cabinet wall thicknesses.

e An electrical terminal in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in figures 4 to 6 and is shown mounted within a light fitting 1 in figures 7, 2, and The terminal, designated generally by reference numeral comprises a first contact member 21 and a second contact member 22. Either one of the contact members 21 and 22 may be arranged to make contact with a terminal of an electric light globe inserted within the base member 3 of the fitting 1, depending upon the orientation with which the terminal 411/S:14589HV 0is mounted within the base.

A conductive backbone 23 mounts the contacts 21 and 22 spaced from each other along the backbone 23. Figure 7 shows one half 31 of the light fitting i, from the inside.

An electrical connector 20 is mounted within the base 3 in a first orientation, with the contact member 21 extending upwardly and the contact member 22 extending downwardly towards a bottom wall 24 of the base 23. The contact members 21 and 22 are preferably resiliently mounted to the backbone 23 (by virtue of the metal having a "springiness" the terminal is preferably of conductive metal). When a light globe is inserted within the base member 3 (Fig 7) one contact of the light globe will be brought into contact with the contact member 21 of the electrical terminal 20. The resilience of the contact 21 will provide a force on the contact of the light bulb in a direction outwardly of the base member 3. The contact 22 (which, in the arrangement of Figure 7, does not provide any electrical connection) will assist in providing this resilient force by virtue of it 20 abutting against the wall 24 and by virtue of contact member 22 also being resilient. A retention means 25 is provided in the wall of the base 3 and is in the form of a recess for retaining a bayonet pin of a light globe. The resilience of ."contact members 21 and 22 assists in retaining the light S. 25 globe in the bayonet recess 25. Depressions 27 and 28 are provided in the backbone 23 at the base of the contacts 21 and 22 respectively, assist in providing the resilience.

The electrical terminal 20 is arranged to extend into the base 3 from the side and a further contact 29 extends outwardly of the base plate 11. The further contact 29 is arranged to be connected to an electrical conductor for connection to a power supply.

The light fitting 1 is assembled from a pair of separate halves, 30 and 31 (figures 8 and The figure 7 illustration shows the same half 31 of fitting as figure 9, but the figure 7 illustration also shows an electrical 411/S:14589HV 11 terminal 20 mounted therein.

Referring to figures 7, 9 and 9a a first mounting means 32 is provided within the base 3 for mounting the electrical terminal 20. The mounting means includes webbing members 33, 34 and 35 forming a slot 36 for receiving the electrical connector 20. The electrical terminal 20 is-formed with a kink or step 37 which fits with a projection 38 from webbing 32 and acts to assist with orientation and also to fix the terminal 20 within the slot 36.

Webbing arrangement 32, 34, 35 is such that it forces the terminal such that contact 21 extends into the base member 3 and contact 22 extends to the wall 24.

Referring to figure 8, 8a a similar webbing arrangement is provided to that shown in figure 7, but the orientation of the webbing arrangement in figure 8 is the reverse of that in figure 7. The webbing arrangement is designated by reference numeral 32a, 34a, 35a. This webbing arrangement is arranged to receive a further electrical terminal 20 but is in reverse orientation to the webbing arrangement of 20 figure 7 so that the further electrical terminal 20 is inverted with respect to the first electrical terminal *e The result is that the fitting 1 and base member 3 mount a pair of electrical terminals 20, having reversed orientations to each other, such that for the first terminal 25 20 the contact 21 will make contact with the terminal of an electric light globe and for the second terminal 20 the 9 contact 22 will project upwardly into the cavity in the base member 3 to make contact with the other terminal of the electric light globe. This is best seen in figure 10 which shows the two halves 30, 31 of the fitting 1 joined and retaining two terminals 20, such that contact 21 of the first terminal extends into the cavity formed by the base 3 and contact 22 of the second terminal extends into the cavity formed by the base member 3.

It is thus possible to use exactly the same type of electrical terminal 20 to provide both contacts 21 and 22 411/S:14589HV

A.

12 for electrical connection to a light globe. Further, the resilience of the terminals assists in retaining the light globe within the bayonet fitting 25. Again, manufacturing costs are reduced and component parts are preferably minimised to facilitate ease of assembly.

Another feature of this embodiment of the invention is that the respective halves 30, 31 (figure 8 and figure 9) of the light fitting 1 clip together. This reduces labour costs. Half 30 incorporates clips 41 and 42 which fit into slots 43 and 44 of half 31.

As discussed in the preamble of the specification, an alternative embodiment of the present invention provides a light fitting for mounting dual-back-to-back light globes.

This embodiment is not shown in the drawings, but referring to figure 7, if the wall 24 is removed and the base 3 extended to provide mounting for a further light globe, in a similar manner to the base 3 illustrated in figure 7, then that further light globe can be mounted back-to-back to a further light globe, using the contact 22 shown in figure 7 as the electrical contact for the further light globe. The other contact of the other electrical connector would provide another contact for the further light globe.

Where dimensions are given in the drawings it will be appreciated that they are exemplary only and not limiting.

25 It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made ~to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments a c without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

411/S:14589HV

Claims (3)

1. An electrical terminal arranged to be mounted within the base of a housing of a light fitting and including first and second contact members either one of the first and second contact members being arranged to make contact with a terminal of an electric light globe when the light globe is inserted in the base, which of the first or second makes contact being dependent upon the orientation of the electrical terminal within the base.

2. The combination of a light fitting mounting and a pair of electrical terminals in accordance with claim 1, the first of the electrical terminals having its first contact member in an orientation to contact the contact of a light bulb when inserted and a second of the electrical connectors having its orientation such that the second contact member is arranged to contact the contact of a light globe when inserted.

3. An electrical terminal in accordance with claim i, *comprising a conductive backbone mounting the first and 20 second contact members spaced from each other along the backbone, the first and second contact members extending in substantially opposite directions from each other away from the backbone and being resilient so as to provide resilient means for assisting retention of a bayonet connector of a light globe within a light fitting. Dated this 3rd day of June, 1998 UTTLUX PTY LIMITED By their Patent Attorney GRIFFITH HACK 411/S:14589HV