EP0855003A1

EP0855003A1 - Lamp assembly mounting

Info

Publication number: EP0855003A1
Application number: EP96930294A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Peter Charles Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-10-13
Filing date: 1996-09-20
Publication date: 1998-07-29
Anticipated expiration: 2016-09-20
Also published as: ES2174100T3; DE69619997D1; NZ318036A; EP0855003B1; ATE214799T1; DE69619997T2; AU711036B2; GB9520931D0; EP0855003B9; WO1997013999A1; BR9610921A; AU6940296A

Abstract

A means for mounting a dichroic lamp assembly in a light fitting, comprising a mounting member which is a one-piece component of resilient material, having respective portions for holding the lamp assembly and for engaging with a light fitting.

Description

Title: LAMP ASSEMBLY MOUNTING

Description of the invention

This invention relates to light fittings and to the mounting of lamp assemblies therein.

The invention has been devised in relation to the mounting of lamp assemblies each comprising a lamp and a reflector therefor, such a lamp assembly being hereafter referred to as a lamp assembly of the kind specified, and in particular the invention has been devised in relation to a lamp assembly of the kind specified in which the lamp is a miniature low voltage metal filament halogen lamp. Such a lamp assembly is commonly referred to as a dichroic lamp because the reflector reflects light but does not reflect heat from the lamp. It is to be appreciated, however, that the invention would be equally applicable to lamp assemblies of the kind specified wherein the lamp is of type other than a miniature low voltage metal filament halogen lamp, for example a lamp in which the light source is an electrical discharge rather than a heated filament.

Light fittings for receiving dichroic lamps are known wherein the lamp is held in a lamp-receiving part by engagement between the lamp-receiving part and a flange portion which characterLstically i.s provided at the front periphery of the dichroic reflector. For example, the flange might abut an annular seating in the lamp-receiving part and a spring device such a.s a circlip engage the flange and lamp-receiving part to retain them in engagement. Alternatively, a spring device might engage the reflector adjacent the flange to retain it. It is then necessary to provide for co-operation between the lamp-receiving part and the remainder of the light fitting and in many fittings such engagement must accommodate tilting and/or .swivelling of the lamp-receiving part relative to the rest of the fitting in order to enable the light emitted from the lamp to be directed as required. This renders the light fitting complex and expensive.

It is broadly the object of the present invention to provide for a more simple and economical mounting of a lamp of the kind specified in a light fitting. According to one aspect ot the present invention, I provide the combination of a lamp assembly ot the kind specified and a mounting means therefor, wherein said mounting means comprises a mounting member having respective portions resiliently holding the lamp assembly and for resilient engagement with a light fitting wherein the lamp afcSsembly is to be mounted.

According to another aspect of the invention, I provide the mounting means of the combination according to the first aspect of the invention

Preferably the mounting member is a one-piece member of resilient material. Conveniently it may be of metal, formed to the required shape by appropriate pressing and bending operations To give it the necessary resilience, it may be of spring steel.

Preferably the portion ot the mounting member for holding the lamp assembly comprises opposed formations extending towards one another and engageable with oppositely outwardly facing grooves or recesses on a rear portion of the lamp assembly. Such formations of the mounting member may be engaged with the lamp assembly by displacing them away trom one another against the resilience of the mounting member and then, when the lamp assembly is appropriately position, allowing then, to move towards one another into engagement therewith.

Preferably the mounting member comprises a pair of arm portions which extend from the region of said formations engageable with the lamp assembly and which are provided, at or adjacent their free ends, with formations which are engageable with the light fitting

Preferably said formations are adapted, when engaged with a light fitting, to provide for pivotal movement of the lamp assembly about an axis extending between said formations.

Preferably the mounting member further comprises a portion for holding an electrical connector member Dichroic lamps characteristically are electrically connected to a power supply by two connection pins protruding from the rear of the lamp engageable with connection sockets m a ceramic connector block to which flexible electrical cables are connected. The mounting member according to the invention preferably receives such a connector block.

The mounting member may further have a portion adapted to receive end parts of electrical cables which are connected to the block, which end parts may be suitably insulated and protected.

According to another aspect of the invention, I provide a light fitting in which a lamp assembly of the kind specified is mounted, wherein such mounting is effected by a mounting means in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

The light fitting may have a pair of appropriately configured opposed recesses in which said formations at the free ends of the arms are engaged, in which case the lamp a..sembly is capable only of such pivotal movement relative to the light fitting about said axis.

Alternatively, the light fitting may be provided with an inwardly facing annular recess with which. said formations are engaged, in which case the lamp afcSsembly and mounting member are able to move rotationally relative to the light fitting with said formations of the mounting member moving around .said recess. Such movement is additional to the pivotal movement of the lamp as.sembly as aforesaid, enabling the lamp assembly to undergo universal pivotal movement to face in any required direction relative to the light fitting (subject of course to limitations on such movement imposed by the dimensions of the light fitting, the ability to have electrical connections to the lamp assembly made by suitable flexible cables and .so on).

The mounting member may also hold a heat shield member. In a light fitting with a lamp assembly having a heat shield member mounted therein, the heat shield member may be engagable with the light fitting frictionally and/or as a detent to restrain movement of the lamp assembly relative to the light fitting.

The heat shield member preferablv cooperates with the light fitting to provide no or substantially no clear passage between front and rear of the fitting. This gives the fitting a high fire rating. The fitting preferably comprises a portion defining a formation which is generally in the form of an annular groove for engagement by a retaining member to enable the fitting to be retained in assembled relationship with, for example, a ceiling panel.

The invention also provides the combination of a light fitting comprising a portion defining a formation generally in the form of an annular groove, and a retaining member having a portion engagable with .said annular groove formation and a portion engagable with part of a building element or structure, to hold the light fitting in as.sembled relation with the building element or structure.

Preferably the retaining member comprises a part-circular formation which is snap engagable with said annular groove formation, and at least one limb extending from said part circular formation

In particular, the retaining member may comprise two limbs extending generally in opposite directions away from said part-circular formation, and engagable with support members ol a suspended ceiling

These and other features of invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, ot vvhiclv-

FIGURES 1 and 2 are respectively side and end elevations of a first embodiment of light fitting in which a lamp assembly is mounted in accordance with the invention;

FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 are respectively side and end elevations and a plan view of a further embodiment of light fitting in which a lamp assembly is mounted in accordance with the invention, having the additional feature of a heat shield;

FIGURE 6 is an elevation of a further embodiment of light fitting in accordance with the invention;

FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 are respectively side and end elevations and a plan view of a mounting member in accordance w ith the invention :,

FIGURE 10 is an elevation of a further embodiment of light fitting in which a lamp assembly is mounted in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 11 is an exploded perspective view of the light fitting of Figure 10.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, these show a light fitting which in plan view is of circular configuration and comprises a flange 10 which forms the front of the fitting, visible when it is installed as described hereafter, and a rearwardly extending body portion indicated generally at 1. The body portion 11 adjacent the flange 10 has a portion 12 which affords an annular recess whose base 13 may be of generally part spherical configuration or of shallower curvature. Behind the portion 12 the body 1 1 of the light fitting has a generally cylindrical portion 14 of reduced diameter compared with that of the base 13 of the recess portion 12.

The flange 10 on the light fitting enables it to be mounted in an aperture in a panel 41 such as, for example, a panel in a suspended ceiling. The flange 10 abuts the front face of such panel, with the fitting being retained to the panel by a pair of spring clips 42 engaging the portion 14 of the light fitting body and pressing against the rear face of i c panel 41.

The light fitting receives a lamp and reflector assembly indicated generally at 15 and which is of the type usually referred to a.s a dichroic lamp. It comprises a reflector 16 which may be of parabolic or generally parabolic form to produce a beam of light, which light emerges through a transparent screen or lens 17. Within the reflector there is supported a low voltage metal filament- halogen lamp and electrical conductors leading to such lamp extend through a rear portion 18 of the lamp assembly 15. Such electrical conductors terminate in connection pins indicated at l^l> and electrical connection with such pins is established by way of a ceramic connector block 20. Flexible electrical conductors lead to the connector block 20 by way of electrical and heat insulating sleeves 21 behind the connector block. The lamp assembly 15 is supported in the light fitting by a mounting member whose principal constructional features are shown in Figures 7 to 9 (although the mounting member shown in Figures 7 to 9 is actually that used in the light fittings shown in Figures 3 to 6; its dimensions differ slightly from that used in Figures 1 and 2). The mounting member, indicated generally at 22 in Figures 1 and 2 is a one-piece component made of a resilient material such as spring steel by appropriate stamping, pressing, folding, etc operations. It comprises a body portion 23 with two spaced wall portions 24. At the front end of the wall portions 24, there are oppositely inwardly extending folded formations 25 from which respective arms 26 extend forwardly and outwardly. Rearwardly of the wall portions 24 there are base portions 27 which extend towards one another, and these are joined by a rearwardly extending U-shaped portion 28. Approximately mid-way between the formations 25 and the ba.se portions 27 the walls 24 have relatively small opposed inwardly extending formations 29.

Adjacent the ends of the arms 26 they have oppositely outwardly extending pivot formations 30. These formations, which may as illustrated be pressed into the arms 26 or possibly alternatively be provided by additional elements secured thereto, are part-α-rculai in configuration and have slightly domed base portions a.s indicated at 31 to substantiallv conform to the curvature of the base 13 of the annular recess poi tion 12 of the light fitting The free ends of the arms 26 beyond the formations 30 have tabs 32.

The body portion 23 of the mounting member holds the lamp assembly 15. The formations 25 of the mounding member resiliently engage oppositely facing recess formations 33 in the rear portion 18 of the lamp assembly adjacent the reflector 16. The ceramic connector block 20 is held in the body portion 23 by the formations 29 therein, abutting the base portions 27. The connector sleeves 21 lie within the U-shaped portion 28 ot the mounting member. The formations 30 of the mounting member engage the base 13 υf the annular recess portion 12 of the light fitting, and the engagement is such that the mounting member and lamp assembly held thereby is able to pivot about a transverse axis extending between the formations 30. Such axis is indicated at 34 in Figure 7. The formations 30 are also able to move rotationally around the annular recessed part 12 of the light fitting, so that within limits (defined by contact between the lamp assembly and the rear part 14 of the light fitting) universal movement of the lamp assembly relative to the light fitting i.s possible.

The portion 28 of the mounting member prevents contact of any potentially flammable material that might lie behind the light fitting with hot parts of the lamp assembly and its associated components.

Referring now to Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings, these show a further embodiment in accordance with the invention whose principal features are the same as above described in relation to Figures I and 2. In Figures 3, 4 and 5, however, there is additionally provided a somewhat cup-shaped heat shield member 36. The heat shield member 36 is conveniently a metal pressing , and has a front rim portion 37 which terminates adjacent the forward-most part of the reflector of the lamp assembly, and a rear base portion 38 which is held by the mounting member in the region of its formations 35. The body portion 11 of the light fitting is the same as above described but because of the presence of the heat shield member 36 the lamp assembly is carried relative to the light fitting at a position wherein the lamp assembly protrudes slightly forwardly of the flange 10 of the light fitting. The rear of the heal shield 36 adjacent the base portion thereof engages the light fitting adjacent the portion 14 of the latter, to provide a frictional resistance to movement of the lamp assembly relative to the light fitting. The engagement of formations 30 with the annular recess in the light fitting is such that the lamp assembly is urged rearwardly so that such engagement occurs. This provision may be advantageous in, f r example, environments where there is vibration. The rear of the heat shield may be non-smooth, to improve the ability of the lamp assembly to retain a set position.

The embodiment shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings further is distinguished from that of Figures 1 and 2 in that the mounting member does not have tabs 32. Such tabs could be provided as in Figures 1 and 2 to enable the mounting member to be squeezed by the fingers to displace its formations 30 towards one another to enable it to be fitted into and removed from the light fitting, but in practice such removal and fitting is possible by appropriately applying pressure to the lamp assembly if the tabs are not present.

The heat shield 36 prevents temperatures measurable behind the light fitting from exceeding a predetermined value, enabling the light fitting to be used in certain environments where such requirements exist.

Referring now to Figure 6 of the drawings, this shows a further embodiment of light fitting in accordance with the invention, whose principal features are the same as those shown in Figures 3 to 5, but with the difference that the light fitting, instead of having a flange 10, has a relatively small annular lip 40. This enables mounting of a number of such light fittings in close proximity to one another in a luminaire.

Referring now to Figures 10 and 11 of the drawings, these show a further embodiment of light fitting which, as for the fittings previously described, is circular in plan view. It comprises a frontal flange 110 from which a body portion 111 extends rearwardly, the body portion 111 affording an annular recess 112 with a base 113. Behind the portion 112, the body 111 has a portion 109 which extends inwardly followed by an annular rearwardly and outwardly extending portion 108 which defines a radially outwardly facing annular groove 107. The groove 107 provides for mounting of the light fitting in, for example, a panel in a suspended ceiling in the manner described hereafter.

The light fitting receives a dichroic lamp assembly indicated generally at 115. The lamp assembly 115 is supported in the light fitting by a mounting member 122 whose principal features of its configuration are as above described with reference to Figures 7-9 of the drawings. Thus the mounting member has forwardly and outwardly oppositely extending arms 126 provided at its ends with respective formations 130 (without the tabs 32 shown in Figures 7-9). The mounting member 122 further holds the lamp assembly 115, and a ceramic connector block 120 by which an electrical connection is established with the lamp assembly 115. Electrical cables 105 extend rearwardly from the connector block 120.

The assembly further comprises a cup shaped heat shield member 136. The heat shield member has a front rim portion 137 and a rear portion 138 defining an aperture through which the lamp and mounting member assembly extends. The rear portion 138 includes two opposed part-cylindrical formations which partly embrace the ceramic connector block 120 when the light fitting is assembled.

The heat shield member 136 has two oppositely disposed openings 139 through which the end parts of the arms 126, with the pivot formations 130 thereon, extend. The assembled condition of the light fitting, as shown in Figure 10 is reached by firstly fitting the mounting member and a lamp assembly to a heat shield member, and then fitting such sub-assembly rearwardly into the light fitting, resiliently deforming the arms 126 towards one another until their pivot formations 130 are able to. snap into engagement with the base 113 of the recess 112 of the light fitting. Normally one of the pivot formations 130 would be thus engaged, followed by the other formation. The dimensions of the parts are such that when such assembly has been carried out, the rear surface of the heat shield member 136 has contact with the light fitting in a substantially uninterrupted line in the annular region between the parts 109, 108 of the light fitting. By virtue of this, there is no or virtually no clear passage between the front and rear of the light fitting. The light fitting thus achieves a high fire safety rating for use in suspended ceilings or the like.

The assembly of lamp and heat shield is able to tilt and rotate in the light fitting in the manner above described. Rotation through an angle of more than 180° may be prevented by providing pressed indentations 140 in the base 113 of the recess 112 in the light fitting, to be contacted by the formations 130 on arms 126. The front rim portion 137 of the heat shield member may be able to pass just beneath the edge of the flange 110 of the light fitting as shown in Figure 10, to provide a detent so that such a position of maximum tilting can be held in a vibration-resistant manner.

When the light fitting is to be installed in, for example, a suspended ceiling, an insulating washer as shown at 104 would be interposed between the flange 110 and a panel of such ceiling. The light fitting may be retained in such a panel by a retaining member 143 which as shown in Figure 11 may take the form of an elongate length of thick metal wire with a part-circular portion 144 which is able to be snap engaged, by resilient deformation, with the groove 107. The ends of the piece of wire may take the form of limbs long enough to extend to rest upon the panel supports of the suspended ceiling, so that the weight of the light fitting is borne by the supports rather than the panel.A transformer or other low voltage electrical power supply for the halogen lamp assembly or an electrical connector block, may be carried by an end of the retaining member 143.

Alternatively a spring clip or clips as the clips 42 may be used to retain the light fitting in a ceiling .panel. One such clip may be used in conjunction with a retaining member having one limb only extending from a part-circular portion engaging groove 107. Even if not required for retaining the light fitting in a panel, e.g. if two spring clips as 42 are' used, a retaining member engaging the groove 107 may be used to carry a transformer or a connector block.

The heat-insulating washer 104 could if desired be shaped to extend from the region of the flange 100 to overlie additionally the portions 111, 108 of the light fitting. If this is done, a further improvement in the fire safety rating of the light fitting is obtained, by preventing high temperatures being reached behind the fitting.

The invention thus provides a means of mounting \3. lamp assembly which is simple and economical in manufacture and convenient in use. The mounting member may, when suitable tooling has been established, be mass- produced at competitive cost. Removal and fitting of the lamp assembly, including the mounting means, from and to the light fitting can readily be effected. In the case where the light fitting is retained in a panel of a suspended ceiling by a retaining member 143 whose limbs rest on the panel supports of the ceiling it will be appreciated that not only is the weight of the light fitting borne by the supports rather than the panel but also the light fitting will, in the event of fire, help support such panel in the region thereof above the flange of the light fitting.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawing, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:-

1. A mounting means for a lamp as<.embly of the kind specified, comprising a mounting member having respective portions for resiliently holding the lamp assembly and for resilient engagement with a light fitting wherein the lamp assembly is to be mounted.

2. A mounting means according to Claim 1 wherein the mounting member is a one-piece member of resilient material.

3. A mounting means according to Claim 2 wherein the mounting member is of metal.

4. A mounting means according to Claim 3 wherein the mounting member is of spring steel.

5. A mounting means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said portion of the mounting ^Jmember for holding the lamp assembly comprises opposed formations facing one another and engageable with oppositely outwardly facing grooves or recesses on a rear portion of the lamp assembly.

6. A mounting means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the mounting member comprises a pair of arm portions extending from the portion of the mounting member which holds the lamp as.sembly, said arm portions being provided, at or adjacent their free end.s, with formations engageable with a light fitting.

7. A mounting means according to Claim 6 wherein said formations are adapted, when engaged with a light fitting, to provide for pivotal movement of the mounting member about an axis extending between said formations.

8. A mounting means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the mounting member further comprises a portion for holding an electrical connector member for establishing an electrical connection to the lamp.

9. A mounting means according to Claim 9 wherein the mounting member further comprises a portion adapted to receive end parts of electrical cables extending to the electrical connector member.

10. The combination of a lamp assembly of the kind specified and a mounting means according to any one of the preceding claims, said mounting member holding the lamp assembly.

11. The combination according to Claim 10 further comprising a heat shield member held by the mounting member.

12. The combination according to Claim 11 wherein said heat shield member is held by said portion of the mounting member which holds the lamp assembly.

13. A light fitting having the combination according to any one of Claims 10 to 12 fitted therein, said mounting member holding the lamp assembly and engaging the light fitting.

14. A light fitting according to Claim 13 a.s appendant to Claim 6 comprising a pair of opposed recesses in which aid formations' at the free ends of the arms of the mounting member are engaged.

15. A light fitting according to Claim 13 as appendant to Claim 6 comprising an inwardly facing annular recess in which said formations at the free ends of the arms are engaged, whereby the mounting member and lamp assembly are able to move rotationally relative to the light fitting.

16. A light fitting according to Claim 14 or 15 and as appendant to Claim 12, wherein said heat shield member engages the light fitting frictionally to restrain movement of the lamp assembly relative to the light fitting.

17. A light fitting according to Claims 14 or 15 and as appendant to Claim 12, or according to Claim 16, wherein said heat shield member is engagable with the light fitting as a detent to hold a set position of the lamp assembly relative to the light fitting.

18. A light fitting according to any one of Claims 13 to 17 as appendant directly or indirectly to Claim 11, wherein said heat shield member cooperates with the light fitting to provide no or substantially no clear passage between front and rear of the fitting.

19. A light fitting according tσ any one of Claims 13 to 18 comprising a portion defining a formation generally in the form of an annular groove for engagement by a retaining member.

20. The combination of a light fitting comprising a portion defining a formation generally in the form of an annular groove, and a retaining member engagable with said annular groove formation and further comprising a portion engagable with a building element or structure to retain tHe light fitting in assembled relation therewith.

21. The combination according to Claim 20 wherein the light fitting is as claimed in any one of Claims 13 to 19.

22. The combination according to Claim 20 or Claim 21 wherein said retaining member comprises a part-circular formation having snap engagement with said annular groove formation, and at least one limb extending therefrom.

23. The combination according to Claim 22 wherein said retaining member comprises two limbs extending generally in opposite directions away from said part-circular formation, and of sufficient length to engage supports of a suspended ceiling structure.

24. A suspended ceiling structure having the combination of light fitting and retaining member claimed in Claim 23 fitted in a panel of the ceiling and wherein said limbs of the retaining member rest on support members for said ceiling panel.

25. A mounting means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

26. The combination of a lamp assembly of the kind specified and a mounting means therefor, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

27. A light fitting substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, or Figures 3 to 5, or Figure 6, or Figures 10 and 11, of the accompanying drawings.

28. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or as shown in the accompanying drawing.