EP0965790B1

EP0965790B1 - Lighting armature with a box and at least one arm

Info

Publication number: EP0965790B1
Application number: EP99201902A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dirk Maria Karel Rosalia Verelst
Original assignee: Massive NV
Current assignee: Massive NV
Priority date: 1998-06-17
Filing date: 1999-06-15
Publication date: 2006-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 2019-06-15
Also published as: DE69933612T2; DE69933612D1; EP0965790A1; HUP9902039A3; BE1012995A5; HU9902039D0; ES2275328T3; HUP9902039A2

Description

The present invention concerns a lighting armature with a box and one or several arms. (An "armature" in this context is a "fixture".)
Such lighting armatures are used among others as ceiling armatures, whereby the box is fixed to the ceiling. On the arm or arms are fixed lighting apparatuses such as spots. A lighting fixture of this type is disclosed in US 3735 329 A. Since the arm or each arm must be able to support the spots or such, it must be solid. That is why, in such known lighting armatures, this arm is made of metal, in particular of a metal tube in which the electric wiring is provided.
In particular because this metal tube must be treated, for example painted, the manufacturing of these known lighting armatures is relatively time-consuming and expensive.
As the metal is conductive, it is difficult to obtain a high degree of electric insulation.
Due to the metal, the lighting armature is also relatively heavy, which is inconvenient when mounting it to a ceiling.
The present invention aims a lighting armature with a box and at least one arm which avoids these disadvantages and thus whose manufacture is relatively simple and relatively inexpensive, and which makes it possible to easily obtain a high degree of insulation and even to obtain a lighting apparatus of class II according to the international standards.
This aim is reached according to the invention in that at least one arm is made of plastic, but is reinforced with a reinforcement provided in it, in particular a metal reinforcement profile.
Thanks to the reinforcement profile, the arm can be made of plastic and consequently it can easily be entirely finished, but nevertheless offer enough resistance against bending and torsion so as to support one or several lighting apparatuses.
Preferably, the arm is U-shaped and thus provided over almost its entire length with a groove which is open on top, whereas the metal reinforcement profile is entirely flush-mounted in said groove, preferably on top of the wiring which extends in this groove.
Preferably, also the cover of the box or even the entire box is made of plastic.
In the above-mentioned known lighting armatures, the arm, or every arm if there are several, is fixed to the box during the manufacturing, in particular welded onto it.
This implies that the packing of these armatures for transport and selling purposes is voluminous. For example in the case of an armature with two opposite arms, said packing must be at least as long as the entire armature.
In order to remedy this disadvantage as well, according to a particular embodiment of the invention, the arm or every arm if there are several, and the box may be separate elements and the box and the arm may have co-operating coupling elements for coupling the arm to the box.
The individual arm is packed uncoupled from the box and it is connected to said box on the spot, for example after the box has been fixed to a wall or ceiling.
The arm is provided with a wiring which has to be connected after the arm has been mounted.
The box may consist of a base and a cover which can be attached to it, whereby the coupling elements of the box are then provided on the base.
Preferably, the coupling elements are such that they allow for a coupling without any tool being required.
According to one embodiment, the coupling elements of an arm contain wings provided on either side on one end thereof, whereas the co-operating coupling elements of the box have parts situated at a distance from one another in between which the wings can be moved.
The coupling elements of the box may also contain a springy element which can prevent the wings from extending in one direction.
In order to better explain the characteristics of the invention, the following preferred embodiment is described as an example only without being limitative in any way, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 represents a view of a disassembled lighting armature according to the invention;
figure 2 represents a side view with a partial section of an arm of the lighting armature of figure 1;
figure 3 shows a view in perspective of the base of the box of the lighting armature of figure 1;
figure 4 shows a view in perspective of the cover of the box of the armature of figure 1;
figure 5 shows a section according to line V-V in figure 3, but with one arm fixed to the base;
figure 6 shows a section according to line VI-VI in figure 3, also with one arm fixed to the base.

The lighting armature represented in figure 1 mainly consists of a round box 1 composed of a base 2 and a cover 3, and of two arms 4 which can be coupled to the base 2 diametrically opposed to one another and which are provided with connecting bushes 40 for snapping in, clamping or attaching spots in any other way whatsoever.
The arms 4 are bent downward in the given example, but it is clear that they may have other shapes as well, such as for example an S-shape or such.
The arms 4 are made of plastic, but they are reinforced with a metal reinforcement profile 5 provided in it, for example a rail.
This reinforcement profile 5 is a separate part and each arm 4 is thus composed of this latter and a U-shaped body 6 made of plastic which is open on top and is thus provided with a groove 7 in which the reinforcement profile 5 is flush-mounted and clamped, as represented in figure 2.
The depth of the above-mentioned groove 7 is larger than the thickness of the reinforcement profile 5, except on one end where the body 6 has a protruding part 8 on the top side in which the groove 7 is exactly as deep as the reinforcement profile 5 is thick.
On the above-mentioned end, the part is closed, but the body 6 under the part 8 is open, whereas the other end of the body 6 is closed.
The reinforcement profile 5 goes so deep in the groove 7 that a space 9 remains open underneath it for the wiring which is not represented in the figures and which is connected to electric contacts in the connecting bushes 40. Under the part 8, this space 9 opens into the surrounding space via an opening 10 for the above-mentioned wiring.
On the above-mentioned end of the body 6 provided with the part 8 stands a wing 11 on either side, against the top edge, whose thickness increases somewhat towards the free end. The wings 11 form coupling elements for coupling the arms 4 to the base 2.
The base 2 is also made of plastic and mainly consists of a bottom 12 and a standing edge 13 on the bottom side, i.e. the side turned towards the cover 3, on the perimeter thereof, which is extended up to the top side.
As is represented in detail in figures 3, 5 and 6, this edge 13 is provided with a recess 14 on the bottom side, in two places which are diametrically opposed, in which fits an arm 4.
These recesses 14 open into the space 15 between two standing edges 16 on the bottom 12 which are connected to the edge 13 with their ends and which are reinforced by supports 17.
Opposite every recess 14 are provided one or several ribs 18 on the bottom 12, for example two ribs 18.
At a short distance of every recess 14, facing one another and situated closer to one another, said two edges 16 have parts 19 which are situated at a distance from one another which is almost equal to the width of an arm 4 and which are situated at a short distance from the bottom 12, such that the wings 11 of an arm 4 can go underneath it.
Near the centre of the bottom 12, between the edges 16 and opposite every pair of parts 19, is formed a springy element in the shape of a lip 20 in the bottom 12. This lip 20 has a barb 21 on its free end turned towards the parts 19 and on the side of the cover 3.
Two parts 19 and a lip 20 with its barb 21 form coupling elements 19-20-21 provided on the base 2 for coupling one arm 4 to the base 2 which work in conjunction with the above-mentioned coupling elements formed of the two wings 11 on this arm 4.
Thanks to the parts 19 and the lips 20, the arms 4 can be coupled separately to the base 2 without any tool being required.
Apart from the above-mentioned space 15 between the edges 16, the bottom 2 is further provided among others with openings 22 surrounded by edges 23 for applying screws for fixing the base 2 onto for example a ceiling, of a passage 24 for the current supply which is sealed by a plate which can be forced out, and of a clamping mechanism 25 for clamping the wiring. Next to this clamping mechanism 25 is situated an extra passage 26 sealed by a plate which can be forced out, which opens on the top side against the ceiling.
The cover 3 is also made of plastic and provided with the necessary recesses 27 for the two arms 4.
On the inside of the cover 3 are provided projections 28 which snap in openings 29 provided in the edge 13 of the base 2 and which are such that a tool such as a screwdriver is required to snap the cover 3 from the edge 13 again.
Save for the reinforcement profile 5, all parts are made by means of injection moulding.
The wiring is provided in the arms 4 in the workshop, so that one end protrudes from the opening 10, after which the reinforcement profile 5 is pressed in the groove 7. It is clear that this reinforcement profile 5 cannot have any sharp edges on the side of the wiring.
The arms 4, which are usually already equipped with the required spots on the connecting bushes 40, the base 2 and the cover 3 are put separately in a packing in order to be transported to the user who assembles and mounts the lighting armature as follows.
After the corresponding plate has been forced out, the current supply is put through the passage 25 or the passage 26 and the base 2 is fixed to a ceiling by means of screws provided through the openings 22.
Subsequently, a first arm 4 is coupled to the base 2. To this end, the end with the wings 11 is placed in the centre of the space between the two edges 16 against the bottom 12 with the arm 4 through a recess 14 in the edge 13, after which the arm 4 is pushed outside over the ribs 18, whereas the lip 20 is pushed upward by the above-mentioned end.
During this movement, the wings 11 slide somewhat clamped under two parts 19 of the edges 16 until the wings 11 are stopped by close-fitting parts 13A situated next to the recess 14 on the edge 13. The reinforcement profile 5 pushes against the ribs 18. In this farthest position, the above-mentioned end of the arm 4 is situated past the lip 20 which springs back and prevents the arm 4 from moving back with its barb 21, so that the arm 4 is coupled firmly to the base 2.
The arm 4 can be moved back, for example in order to disassemble the armature, if the lip 20 is pushed temporarily upward by means of a tool, for example a screwdriver, until the arm 4 has moved past said barb 21.
Also the other arm 4 is now coupled to the base 2 in the above-mentioned manner.
Finally, the wiring of the arms 4 and the current supply are connected to one another in the usual manner, after which the cover 3 is snapped over the base 2.
Although the arms 4 are made of plastic, they will not bend thanks to their reinforcement profile 5.
The wiring can be very easily applied through the open groove 7.
This reinforcement profile 5 is not visible. Only a large part of the body 6 is visible and this part may have a finished look at the time of the manufacturing. There is no need for sanding, degreasing, painting or such, although a metal coating on the plastic is not excluded. There is no danger of rusting either, such as in the case of steel armatures.
The same applies to the cover 3.
As the box 1 as well as the arms 4, save for the reinforcement profile 5, are made of plastic, an excellent electric insulation is obtained. The lighting armature may be of safety class II in compliance with the international standards.
The armature as a whole is relatively light and can be packed in a relatively compact packing. The arms 4 can be easily and quickly coupled separately to the base 2 and without any tool being required, and this can be easily done by the user.
It is clear that the number of arms must not necessarily be equal to two. The lighting armature may also contain only one arm 4 or it may have more than two arms 4.
The invention is by no means limited to the above-described embodiments represented in the accompanying drawings; on the contrary, such a lighting armature with a box and at least one arm can be made in all sorts of variants while still remaining within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Lighting fixture containing a box (1) from which a base (2) can be fixed to a wall or ceiling, and further containing at least one arm (4)for supporting lighting apparatuses such as spots, which arm (4), is coupled with said base (2), characterised in that said arm is made of plastic and is reinforced with a metal reinforcement profile (5) provided therein, and in that the arm (4) is provided of a generally U-shaped cross-section and is thus provided over almost its entire length with a groove (7) which is open on top, whereas the metal reinforcement profile (5) is entirely flush-mounted in said groove (7).
Lighting fixture according to claim 1, characterised in that the reinforcement profile (5) only partly fills the groove (7) of the arm (4), so that there remains a space (9) for the wiring under said reinforcement profile (5) which opens with one opening (10) in an end of the arm (4), on the outside thereof.
Lighting fixture according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that also the cover (3) of the box (1) and preferably the entire box (1) is made of plastic.
Lighting fixture according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the arm (4), or every arm (4) if there are several, and the box (1) are separate elements and in that the box (1) and the arm (4) have co-operating coupling elements (11, 19-20-21 respectively) for coupling the arm (4) to the box (1).
Lighting fixture according to claim 4, characterised in that the box (1) consists of a base (2) and a cover (3) which can be attached to it and in that the coupling elements (19-20) of the box (1) are provided on the base (2).
Lighting fixture according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the coupling elements (11 and 19-20-21) are such that they allow for a coupling without any tool being required.
Lighting fixture according to any of claims 4 to 6, characterised in that the coupling elements (11 and 19-20-21) allow for a reversible coupling, whereby a tool is preferably required to uncouple them.
Lighting fixture according to any of claims 4 to 7, characterised in that the coupling elements (11) of an arm (4) contain wings (11) provided on either side on one end thereof, whereas the co-operating coupling elements (19-20-21) of the box (1) have parts (19) situated at a distance from one another in between which the wings (11) can be moved.
Lighting fixture according to claims 5 and 8, characterised in that the base (2) has a bottom (12) and a standing edge (13) on the perimeter thereof, and in that the parts in between which the wings (11) can be moved are formed of the bottom (12) or ribs (18) provided on it on the one hand, and of parts (19) of edges (16) provided on either side of a recess (14) in the first-mentioned edge (13) on the other hand.
Lighting fixture according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the coupling elements (19-20-21) of the box (1) also contain a springy element (20-21) which prevents the wings (11) from extending in one direction.