FR2628183A1 - Reading lamp without flex - has two part support rod comprising two supply conductors each of semi-circular shape - Google Patents

Abstract

The spotlight includes a base and a lamp housing (3) connected together by a support rod (5). The support rod forms the conductors to supply power to the light. The rod is made from two semicircular section rods of conducting material, joined with a layer of insulation between them. The lamp housing has a fitted supporting it on the rod, with a pair of sliding contacts touching the two half-round conductors (51,52). The rod may be supported in the base by a ball and socket joint allowing a degree of movement.

Description

(i) FRENCH REPUBLIC Publication no .: 2,628,183 (use only

  for NATIONAL INSTITUTE. reproduction orders)

FROM THE OWNER (= INDUSTRIAL

  OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY National registration number 88 02970 PARIS

  {Int Cl ': F 21 S 1/12; F 21 V 19/00, 23/00.

@ A1 PATENT APPLICATION

  Filing date: March 1st, 1988. Q Applicant (s): CLAMER Jean-Jacques and RION Pascal.

- FR. ) Priority:

  Q Inventor (s) Jean-Jacques Clamer; Pascal Rion.

  (4 Date of public availability of the

  application: BOPI "Patents" n 36 of September 8, 1989.

  6 References to other national documents appearing

rented: r Holder (s)

O Agent (s): Cabinet Poncet.

(Wireless spot.

  57 The invention relates to a luminaire comprising a base 1.54 joined to a housing 3 by a rod 5 forming electrical conductors. The rod 5 comprises two metal half-cylinders 51, 52 4 t separated by an insulating plate 53. The housing 3 slides on the rod and has two sliding contacts for

  selectively rub on both of the half-cylinders 51 ,.

52, and power the lamp 4.

Co5 I N

WIRELESS SPOT

  The present invention relates to luminaires for lighting

  homes, offices or other.

  The invention relates more specifically to luminaires for dwellings comprising a base provided with electrical input conductors for connection to an external source of electrical energy supply, a box containing an electrical light source, mechanical connection means connecting the housing and base, and electrical connecting conductors for bringing electrical energy from the input electrical conductors to the electrical source

from light.

  In such luminaires existing on the market, the mechanical connection means connecting the housing and the base generally consist of a rigid rod having no electrical conduction function; electrical conduction is then ensured by wires, either visible outside the rigid rod, or inserted inside the rod which for this purpose has an axial hole. When the wires are placed outside the rod, they are visible and harm the aesthetic effect thus obtained; when the wires are inserted inside the rod, this requires using a rod whose diameter is sufficiently large; he is not then

  possible to use a very thin rod.

  Furthermore, in known luminaires, a switch, disposed on the connection wires, on the housing or on the base, makes it possible to control the supply of the electric light source by

electric energy.

  The object of the present invention is in particular to avoid the drawbacks of known luminaires, by proposing a new particularly simple luminaire structure, in which the connecting members between the case and the base of the luminaire simultaneously act as mechanical and 'electrical connection devices. According to another object of the invention, this new structure makes it possible to use, for the connection between the housing and the base, rigid connecting rods whose diameter is very small, clearly

  smaller than the diameter required when electric conductors

  that are inserted inside the rigid connecting rod.

  According to another object of the invention, the new structure eliminates the use of a switch, the switch function can be provided by the rigid connecting rod and the housing. To achieve these and other objects, in the luminaire according to the present invention: - the mechanical connection means comprise a rod with a substantially circular section, fixed to the base at its first ends - the housing includes a through hole, - the housing is slidably mounted on the rod with little play, the rod passing through the housing hole, and braking means ensuring the braking of the housing on the rod, - the rod is provided with at least two longitudinal conductive tracks

  external, electrically isolated from each other, electrically connected

  tric respectively to a first and second electrical input conductor, - the housing comprises at least a first and a second electrical contact piece, kept in contact with the rod and spaced apart and insulated from one another so as to be in contact respectively with the first and the second conductive track, the electrical contact parts being electrically connected to the terminals of the source

electric light.

  According to an embodiment allowing the supply by the sector, the luminaire further comprises an electric supply to transform the electric energy of the sector into an electric energy to

low voltage and DC voltage.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the rod is formed of two metal semi-cylinders insulated from each other by a longitudinal diametral insulating plate, the electrical contact parts being diametrically opposite. Preferably? the diametral insulating plate has a thickness greater than the width of a piece of

electric contact.

  According to one embodiment, the housing comprises: - an outer casing provided with two rod passage holes, - a sliding inner core, provided with a rod passage hole, and carrying the electrical contact parts and the electric light source, - means for biasing the core in translation in the envelope and selectively ensuring braking and blocking of the housing on the rod

in any chosen position.

  Other objects, features and advantages of this

  The invention will emerge from the following description of embodiments.

  tion particular, made in connection with the accompanying figures, among which: - Figure 1 is a general side view of a luminaire according to the present invention; - Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a housing according to the present invention; - Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a base according to the present invention; and - Figures 4 and 5 are schematic cross-sectional views along the plane I-I of Figure 2, in two respective positions of the

case relative to the rod.

  In an embodiment shown in the figures, the luminaire according to the present invention comprises a base 1 provided with electrical input conductors 2 for connection to an external source of electrical energy supply. A housing 3, of conical shape, contains an electrical light source 4. A rod 5, of substantially circular section, is fixed to the ground at its first end 6. The housing 3 comprises a through hole 7, for example

  perpendicular to the axis I-I of the cone, allowing the passage of the rod 5.

  The housing 3 is slidably mounted on the rod 5, the rod 5

  passing through hole 7 of the housing with little play.

  The rod 5 is formed by two metal half-cylinders 51 and

  52, isolated from one another by a diametrical insulating plate longitudi-

  nale 53 to which they are secured, for example by gluing or snap-fastening. In the base 1, the first metal half-cylinder 51 is connected to a first of the electrical input conductors 2, while the second half-cylinder 52 is connected to a second of the electrical input conductors 2. The rod 5 is electrically isolated from the base 1, and is advantageously articulated on the base according to its first end 6. An example of such an insulating articulation is shown in FIG. 3: the end 6 of the rod 5 comprises an insulating spherical ring 10, housed in a spherical female housing of a

2 6 2 8 1 8 3

  insulating part 11 secured to the base 1. The part 11 has a lower recess 12 of sufficient size to allow the passage of the electrical conductors 2 whatever the chosen orientation of the rod 5. The angular movement of the rod 5 is limited by the walls themselves of the rod 5 when they come to bear on the upper lips of the part housing 11. The part 11 maintains the spherical crown 10 with sufficient friction to ensure the maintenance of the rod 5 in any chosen orientation, the orientation being able to be modified by manual action of the user on the rod 5 and the base 1. A limit stop 54, arranged for example at the free end of the rod 5, limits the stroke of the housing, which can thus be

  moved by sliding between the stop 54 and the part 11.

  The housing 3 comprises an outer casing 13 metallic, electrically conductive, electrically insulated from the rod 5 in the area of the hole 7 of the housing. For this, electrically insulating seals

  8 and 9 are fitted on the edges of the hole 7, and rub on the rod 5.

  The casing 13 is hollow, and its inner recess 14, of

  also conical in shape, contains a core 15 of electrical material-

  insulating. The core 15 comprises a hole 16 for the passage of the rod 5, the hole 16 normally being opposite the hole 7 of the envelope 13. The core 15 is movable in the envelope 13, by displacement along the axis II of the envelope, and is biased towards the base of the cone by a spring 17. The force of the spring 17 causes a braking effect of the housing 3 on the rod 5, so that the housing 3 remains in

  position on the rod 5 in the absence of a request from the user

tor.

  The core 15 carries the electric light source 4, represented

  shown in FIG. 1, and for this comprises two female connectors 18 and 19 hollow cylindrical intended to receive the two conductive rods

  forming the power supply terminals of the electric light source 4.

  The electric light source 4 can advantageously be a halogen lamp of a type commonly used in commerce, and comprising such conductive rods fitting into the female connectors 18 and 19.

  The female connector 18 is electrically connected to the enclosure.

  lope 13 by an elastic conductor 20. The female connector 19 is electrically connected to a first electrical contact piece 21 by an elastic conductor 22, the elastic conductor 22 and the contact piece 21 being inserted in a bore 23 of the core 15, l bore 23 opening into hole 16 of the core. Likewise, the casing 13 is electrically connected to a second electrical contact part 24, by means of an elastic conductor 25. The elastic conductor 25 and the contact part are inserted in a second bore 26 of the core 15. The bore 26 also opens into the hole 16 of the core. The contact parts 21 and 24 are held in abutment against the surface of the rod 5 by the elastic conductors 22 and 25 such as helical compression springs. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the bores 23 and 26 of the core are substantially parallel to the axis II, and opposite one another relative to the hole 16 of the core, so that the contact parts 21 and 24 come to rest on the

  rod 5 in two diametrically opposite zones of the rod.

  Preferably, the electrical contact parts 21 and 24 are metal balls, ensuring a rolling or sliding on the rod 5. The thickness of the plate 53 insulating the two metal semi-cylinders 51 and 52 from one another the rod 5 is greater than the

  contact surface of the balls 21 or 24 on the rod 5.

  The device must preferably be supplied with low voltage and direct current. O must for example supply the input conductors 2 with a DC voltage of 12 volts. If you want to supply the device from the mains, you must

  provide an additional electrical device for transforming

  mer the electrical energy of the sector into a continuous electrical energy at low voltage, for example of 12 Volts, and providing the necessary power corresponding to the electrical light source 4 chosen. The operation of the device is as follows: under the effect of the spring 17, urging the core 15 in the direction of the base of the conical envelope 13, there is friction of the walls of the hole 16 of the core and of the seals 8 and 9 of the casing casing 13 on the rod 5, slowing down the movements of the casing 3 to maintain it in a position

  whatsoever on the rod in the absence of stress from the user.

  Thus, the box 3 can be freely positioned in any

  rod area 5, and can be freely rotated all around the rod.

  When the housing 3 is positioned as shown in FIG. 2, with its first contact part 21 in contact with the first half-cylinder 51 of rod 5, and with the second contact part 24 in contact with the second half-cylinder 52 of the rod 5, the electrical energy conveyed by the rod 5 is transmitted to the electric light source 4 by the contact parts 21 and 24, the elastic conductors 22 and 25, the casing 13, the elastic conductor 20, and the connectors females 18 and 19. This position is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 4. On the other hand, when the housing 3 is rotated by approximately 90 degrees, as shown in FIG. 5, the contact parts 21 and 24 come into contact with the central insulating plate 53, so that the source

  light 4 is no longer supplied with electrical energy.

  Thus, the rotational movement of the housing 3 around the rod 5 makes it possible to control or interrupt the operation of the luminaire, without it

  either need to provide a switch.

  By rotation of the spherical crown 10 in its part housing 11, the rod 5 and the housing 3 can be freely oriented on the

base 1.

  In the embodiments shown, the rod 5 is formed of two metal half-cylinders. Other embodiments can be envisaged within the framework of the present invention, by providing a rod having more than two conductive parts isolated from each other, or having external conductive parts printed on the external surface of a central insulating rod. . It is also possible to arrange the contact parts 21 and 24 in non-diametrically opposite orientations. You can also use a

  non-conical casing 3, for example cylindrical, spherical or other.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

  which have been explicitly described, but it includes the various

  variants and generalizations contained in the field of claims

the following.

Claims (8)

  1 - Luminaire, comprising a base (1) provided with electrical input conductors (2) for connection to an external source of electrical energy supply, a housing (3) containing an electrical light source (4), mechanical connection means (5) connecting the housing (3) and the base (1), and electrical connection conductors for bringing electrical energy from the input electrical conductors (2) to the electrical source of light (4), characterized in that: - the mechanical connection means comprise a rod (5) of substantially circular section, fixed to the base (1) at its first end (6), - the housing (3) comprises a hole through (7), - the housing (3) is slidably mounted on the rod (5), the rod passing through the hole (7) of the housing, braking means ensuring the braking of the housing on the rod, - the rod 5 is provided with at least two longitudinal conductive tracks   electrically isolated from each other, electrically connected   only respectively to a first and a second electrical input conductor (2), - the housing (3) comprises at least a first (21) and a second (24) electrical contact parts held in contact with the rod (5) and spaced and isolated from each other so as to be in contact respectively with the first (53) and the second (51) conductive track, the electrical contact parts (21, 24) being connected   electrically across the electrical light source (4).   2 - A luminaire according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises an electrical supply for transforming the electrical energy of the sector into low voltage electrical energy and continuous voltage.   3 - Luminaire according to one of claims 1 or 2, character-   in that the rod (5) is formed by two metal half-cylinders (51, 53) insulated from each other by a longitudinal diametral insulating plate (53), the electrical contact parts (21, 24) being diametrically opposite.   4 - Luminaire according to claim 3, characterized in that the diametral insulating plate (53) has a thickness greater than the   width of an electrical contact piece (21, 24).   - Luminaire according to any one of claims 1 to 4,   characterized in that the housing (3) comprises: - an outer casing (13) provided with two through holes (7) of the rod, - an inner sliding core (15), provided with a through hole (16) of the rod, and carrying the electrical contact parts (21, 24) and the electrical light source (4), - means (17) for biasing the core (15) in translation in the envelope and selectively ensuring braking and blocking the   case on the rod in any chosen position.   6 - Luminaire according to claim 5, characterized in that the means for urging the core in translation in the envelope is a spring (17).   7 - Luminaire according to any one of claims 1 to 6,   characterized in that the rod (5) is articulated on the base (1) according to its first end.   8 - Luminaire according to any one of claims 1 to 7,   characterized in that the contact parts (21, 24) are conductive balls housed in bores (23, 26) of the housing and stressed   resting on the rod (5) by springs (22, 25). / d28183 1/3 52 \ 51 53, - "" 5   Fig. 1 ez s 1 8 3 2/3 Fig. 2 l 24 Fi9.2 51 --- 5   Fig. 352 Fig. 3 3/3 i24 Fg553 Fig. 4 Fig. 5