EP0736730A1

EP0736730A1 - Device for orienting a lighting apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP0736730A1
Application number: EP96830159A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Paolo Targetti
Original assignee: Targetti Sankey SpA
Current assignee: Targetti Sankey SpA
Priority date: 1995-04-05
Filing date: 1996-03-28
Publication date: 1996-10-09
Also published as: DE736730T1; TW356911U; ITFI950032V0; ITFI950032U1; IT238729Y1

Abstract

An orientation device applied to a lighting apparatus comprising a fixed support (1) to which is attached in a rotatable manner a mobile support (2) comprising a plate (3) and an ogival wall (4) to the inside of which a spotlight (5) is fixed. The rotatable connection (7) between the mobile support (2) and the fixed support (1) makes it possible to extract the first from the second. The fixed support (1) comprises an external ring (8) in which an internal ring (9) engages circumferentially in a sliding manner. To the internal ring (9) is fixed the end (11a) of a flexible curved rod (11) which engages in a frictioned sliding manner in a vice (13) that is integral with the mobile support (2). The extraction movement is easily carried out from the outside of the lamp without having to dismount the light or intervene on the locking means.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of lighting and more precisely to a device for orienting a lighting apparatus such as, in particular but not exclusively, an encased lamp.
In the field of lighting many types of systems are known for the orientation of lights with respect to the supports holding them which make it possible to direct light rays where desired.
With particular regard to encased lamps, these comprise a spotlight fixed to the inside of a fixed support which normally is a ring shaped support suited to engage in a seat formed in a wall or ceiling of the space to be illuminated.
There exist lamps for encasement in which the spotlight is in a fixed position with respect to the fixed support, whereas in many other types of lamps the spotlight is able to be oriented with respect to the fixed support.
In one type of lamp in which the spotlight is orientable, the latter is mounted in a mobile support of a tubular form, substantially in the shape of an elbow, which is able to slide in an arcuate guide connected to the fixed support. The sliding point of connection between the guide and the mobile support moves integrally with the latter along a curvilinear trajectory defined by the arc shaped guide, thus allowing the entire mobile support to rotate around an ideal point in space, with the result of a extraction movement (and the inverse) of the mobile support relative to the fixed support. The arc shaped guide can in turn rotate axially 360° with respect to the fixed support since it is integral with an annular element which engages circumferentially in a sliding manner in an annular seat formed in the fixed support itself. The orientation consists, therefore, in an extraction movement (and the inverse) and a movement of axial rotation.
The type of lamp just described has, however, the inconvenience that, in order for the mobile support to be extracted (and the inverse), it is often necessary to intervene on a locking screw which, when the encased lamp is already mounted, is difficult to access and, in any case, cannot be reached without dismounting the entire lamp from its seat. In fact, even if it is possible not to tighten the locking screw forcefully, in order to allow the movement of the mobile support and thus extract (or insert) the spotlight, pushing the mobile support from the outside, two distinct inconveniences occur in any case. The first is that the locking screw loosens easily, for example with the use or in the presence of vibrations, causing an undesired change of position of the spotlight. Furthermore, having to exert force on the mobile support, if the locking screw is not sufficiently loosened, the arcuate guide can become deformed and consequently abut against the mobile support itself.
In another type of existing lamp, the mobile support is in the shape of an elbow hinged to the fixed support, and locking it in a chosen position is carried out by means of a screw or clamp which causes the interference of an element frictioning against the external surface of the mobile support itself. One inconvenience of this type of lamp is that, every time one wishes to vary its orientation by changing the degree of extraction of the mobile support with respect to the fixed support, it is necessary to intervene on this screw or clamp to release the rotation and then newly intervene to lock it into the new position. Moreover, the frictional element can cause scratches in the colour finish of the mobile support thus damaging its aesthetic value.
The object of the present invention is to provide a device for orienting a lighting apparatus which allows both the person installing the lamp and the person using it to easily vary its position at any time without having to act on locking means or dismount the lamp in any way and which does not present the further inconveniences of the known devices described above.
This object is accomplished by the orientation device according to the present invention whose novel feature is that the mobile support is rotationally connected to the fixed support so that the former can be extracted from the latter, and that an arcuate rod is provided substantially concentric with the rotatable point of connection of the mobile support with respect to the fixed support with which it is integral, said rod engaging in a frictioned sliding manner in a vice integral with the mobile support.
Preferably, the rod is an arcuate cylindrical element which engages in a rectilinear hole formed in the vice, so that a frictioned sliding is caused by the friction between the curved tract of the rod and the cylindrical walls of the hole.
According to a preferred embodiment, the rod is simply an arcuate spring projecting from the fixed support.
The fixed support is preferably formed by an external ring, which can be encased in a wall or ceiling, and an internal ring which engages circumferentially in a sliding manner in the external ring.
The invention will now be illustrated with the following description of one of its possible embodiments, given as an example and not limitative, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

figure 1 is a sectional view according to a diametrical plane of an encasement lamp with an orientation device according to the invention;
figure 2 shows the lamp of figure 1 with an orientation device according to the invention illustrated in a different operative position.

With reference to the above-mentioned figures, an orientation device according to the invention is applied to a lighting apparatus of the type to be encased in a wall or ceiling comprising a fixed support 1 to which is rotatably connected a mobile support 2 comprising a plate 3 and an ogive wall 4 to the internal part of which a spotlight 5 with its relative light socket 6 is fixed.
The rotatable connection between mobile support 2 and fixed support 1, which allows for a relative extraction movement of the former with respect to the latter, occurs by means of a pivot 7 at one end 3a of plate 3.
Fixed support 1 comprises an external ring 8 necessary for the encasement of the apparatus and an internal ring 9 which engages circumferentially in a sliding manner in external ring 8.
To internal ring 9, which is integral with pivot 7, the end 11a of a rod 11 curved in the shape of a circular arc with its centre coinciding geometrically with pivot 7 is fixed by means of a screw 10. Rod 11 can be, for example, composed of a portion of steel thread and have, therefore, with respect to end 11a, a certain elasticity and flexibility equal to that of a spring.
To plate 3, in correspondence with end 3b opposite to end 3a which is connected rotationally to fixed support 1, is integrally fixed a vice 13 having a ferrule 14 with a rectilinear axial hole 15 in which rod 11 slidingly engages.
As shown in figure 2, it is possible to vary the degree of extraction of mobile support 2 from a position (figure 1) in which axis B of spotlight 5 is substantially coincident with axis A of fixed support 2 to a position in which axis B of spotlight 5 has the maximum inclination with respect to axis A of fixed support 1.
In the position of maximum inclination of figure 2, end 3b of plate 3 abuts against a step 16 formed on the inside of internal ring 9 of fixed support 1.
The relative movement of frictioned sliding of rod 11 in hole 15 of ferrule 14 makes it possible for the user to vary the degree of extraction of spotlight 5 orienting it in the desired direction by simply gripping mobile support 2 and rotating it with respect to pivot 7 in any stable position wished. In fact, in this way, axis B is oriented in the direction in which one wishes to direct the light, shifting it from axis A according to any angle comprised between the two extreme positions.
The main advantage of the device according to the present invention is that, thanks to the frictioned coupling of the vice and the rod, the new position reached by the spotlight, after the extracting or inserting rotation carried out by the user, is absolutely stabile even in the presence of vibrations and at the same time is extremely simple to shift to a new position without having to dismount the lamp or intervene on the locking means. Ferrule 14, furthermore, does not require any adjustment or maintenance since the resistance to sliding of rod 11 is provided essentially by a geometric interference with the rectilinear form of hole 15.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiment will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without undue experimentation and without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. The means and materials for carrying out various disclosed functions may take a variety of alternative forms without departing from the invention. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Claims

Orientation device of a lighting apparatus, said apparatus comprising a fixed support (1) to which a mobile support (2) for at least one spotlight (5) or similar light source is connected, by virtue of which an extraction movement of the latter with respect to the former is allowed for, characterised in that the mobile support (2) is rotationally connected to the fixed support to which, in turn, is fixed the end (11a) of an arcuate rod (11) concentric with the rotatable point (7) of connection of said mobile support (2), said rod (11) engaging in a frictioned sliding manner in a vice (13) integral with said mobile support (2).
Device according to claim 1 wherein said vice (13) comprises a rectilinear hole (15) in which said rod (11) engages, said sliding engagement being braked under the effect of the friction between the curved portion of said rod (11) which engages in said vice (13) and the internal rectilinear walls of said hole (15).
Device according to claims 1 and 2 wherein said fixed support comprises an external ring (8) for the encasement of the lighting apparatus (5) and an internal ring (9) which engages circumferentially in a sliding manner in said external ring (8), said mobile support (2) and said vice (13) being fixed to said internal ring (9).
Device according to the previous claims wherein said mobile support (2) comprises an ogive wall (4) in which said spotlight (5) is housed and a plate (3) integral with said ogive wall (4) comprising, at one end, said vice (13) and, at the other end, a rotation pivot (7) for the rotatable connection to said fixed support (1).
Device according to claim 4 wherein said plate is suited to abut against a step (16) formed on the inside of said fixed support (1).