GB2082744A - Adjustable Lighting Apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Adjustable lighting apparatus comprises a shaped back plate (1) and a substantially parallel shaped front plate (7) which plates are spaced apart by triangular end panels so as to form smaller and larger apertures (15, 16), these apertures having corresponding openable shutters (17, 18). At least one fluorescent or other rectilinear, tubular source of light (25) extends fixedly and perpendicularly between the two end panels and has a reflector (28) turnable, against frictional opposition, about its own longitudinal axis or an axis spaced a short distance therefrom. Each apparatus may be mounted in any desired position and may, for example, be suspended from an upright elongate support (33). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Adjustable Lighting Apparatus This invention relates to adjustable lighting apparatus. The adjustability which is provided is both by way of direction and intensity and apparatus in accordance with the invention is readily movable from one position to another.

Known adjustable lighting apparatus tends to be complicated and therefore expensive and can be difficult to adjust in practice and not readily transferable from one position of use to another.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide adjustable lighting apparatus of simple construction and versatile usage and whose commercial cost will not be such as to discourage its employment in relatively large numbers in, for example, business premises. Apparatus in accordance with the invention is particularly, but by no means exclusively, suitable for employment in conjunction with modular partitioning that is provided to subdivide relativeiy large enclosed spaces into offices, workshops and other rooms.

According to the invention, there is provided adjustable lighting apparatus which comprises a shaped back plate, a shaped front plate which is substantially parallel thereto and end panels which interconnect said back and front plates in such a way that apertures are formed between those back and front plates, the apparatus also comprising shutter means selectively operable to open or close said apertures, at least one tubular source of electric light that is of rectilinear configuration arranged to extend between the end panels in a direction which is substantially parallel to said back and front plates and at least one reflector arranged in reflecting relationship with the source of light, or with one of the sources of light, so as to be turnable adjustably about an axis coinciding with, or substantially parallel to, the longitudinal axis of that tubular source of light.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of one end of an adjustable lighting apparatus in accordance with the invention, two tubular sources of light and certain other elements which form parts of the apparatus being omitted, Figure 2 is a diagrammatic end elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1 and illustrates one way of employing that apparatus and one of the possible positions of adjustment therefor, and Figure.3 is a diagrammatic end elevation showing two of the adjustable lighting apparatuses of Figures 1 and 2 in alternative positions of possible adjustment.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, and particularly to Figure 1 thereof, the apparatus comprises a shaped back plate 1 which may conveniently, but not essentially, be formed from twenty SWG mild steel sheet. The back plate 1 has a back portion 2 which will usually be disposed in a vertical or substantially vertical position when the apparatus is in use, the upper edge of said back portion 2 being joined by a tight 900 bend to a top portion 3 which top portion projects forwardly away from the back portion 2 and is itself joined, in turn, to a front rim 4 by a further tight 900 bend. The lower edge of the back portion 2 is joined by a tight 3150 bend to an oblique portion 5 which projects upwardly and forwardly away from its integral junction with the lower edge of the back portion 2 at an angle of substantially 450 to both the horizontal and the vertical.The upper edge of the oblique portion 5 is integrally joined by a tight 900 bend to a lower rim 6 which projects obliquely rearwardly towards the back portion 2 itself but whose rearmost edge is spaced forwardly from that back portion 2 by a significant distance.

The apparatus also comprises a shaped front plate 7 which front plate 7, also, is preferably, but not essentially, formed from 20 SWG mild steel sheet. The front plate 7 is shaped to form narrower and wider parallel portions 8 and 9, an interconnecting oblique portion 10 and a rim 11.

The oblique portion 10 is integrally connected to one edge of the narrower portion 8 by a tight 1350 bend and the opposite edge of the oblique portion 10 is integrally connected to the wider portion 9 by a tight 3150 bend. The rim 11 is integrally connected to the edge of the narrower portion 8 which is remote from the oblique portion 10 by a tight 900 bend and it can be seen in Figure 1 of the drawings that the free edge of the rim 11 is substantially coplanar with, but spaced from, the free edge of the wider portion 9.

Oblong lugs which are not shown in the drawings are perpendicularly bent over from the plate portion 2 and the rims 4 and 6 of the back plate 1 at the opposite ends of that back plate and similar lugs are perpendicularly bent over from the parallel portions 8 and 9 of the front plate 7 at the opposite ends of that front plate. Small bolts or self-tapping screws or the like are employed to secure these lugs to symmetrically similar or identical panels 1 2 of the apparatus, only one such end panel 12 being visible in Figure 1 of the drawings.

The two end panels 12 are both preferably, but not essentially, formed from 20 SWG mild steel sheet and each of them is of generally rightangled triangular configuration comprising an upright plate 13 from each of the three edges of which a corresponding rim 14 projects perpendicularly in a direction away from the centre of the apparatus.The three corners of the upright plate 13 have respective angular magnitudes of 90". 450 and 450. When assembled, the small bolts or self-tapping screws or other fastenings which have been mentioned above secure the lugs of the back plate 1 to each upright plate 1 3 in such a position that the back portion of said back plate 1 substantially registers with that edge of the upright plate 13 of the end panel 12 which can be seen in Figure 1 of the drawings that is substantially vertically disposed, the arrangement at the opposite end of the apparatus which is not visible in Figure 1 being symmetrically identical.The lugs at the opposite ends of the front plate 7 are secured by further small bolts, self-tapping screws of other fastenings to the upright plates 1 3 of the two end panels 12 in such positions that the tight 31 50 bend between the wider portion 9 and the oblique edge 10 of the front plate 7 registers with one of the 450 corners of the two upright plates 13.

When the fastening has been completed, the two end panels 1 2 maintain the shaped back plate 1 and shaped front plate 7 in parallel relationship with one another, said plates 1 and 7 defining a space between them which space, when the back portion 2 of the plate 1 is vertically or substantially vertically disposed, presents an upwardly facing aperture 1 5 (Figures 2 and 3) and an obliquely downwardly facing aperture 16 (Figures 2 and 3).

Shutter means in the form of a smaller shutter 1 7 and a larger shutter 1 8 are provided to close, when required, the smaller aperture 1 5 and the larger aperture 16, respectively. The two shutters 17 and 1 8 are conveniently, but not essentially, made from 1 8 SWG mild steel sheet, the larger shutter 17 having narrow rims which are bent over at 450 in opposite directions at its opposite longer edges and the smaller shutter 18 having a single rim which is bent over at 450 along one of its longer edges.Apertured lugs 1 9 of which only one is illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings are perpendicularly bent over from the material of the shutters 1 7 and 18 at the short end edges thereof and small pivot bolts or the like which are not illustrated turnably connect said lugs 1 9 to the end panels 12 of the apparatus and this enables either shutter to occupy a substantially fully closing position relative to the corresponding aperture or a fully open position in which the rim, or one of the rims, thereof acts as a stop in cooperation with the front plate 7 to prevent said shutter from being "opened" beyond a predetermined extent.

As can be seen in Figure 1 of the drawings, the upright plate 13 of each end panel 12 is formed with at least one, and preferably two, holes 20, each hole 20 being of such a size as to receive a corresponding tube support 21 that is in the form of a right circular cylindrical 18 SWG mild steel tube conveniently having an overall axial length of substantially 93 millimetres and a diameter of 38.1 millimetres which is designed to match the standard diameter of contemporary fluorescent light tubes.The end of each tube support 21 which is remote from the centre of the apparatus is provided with a perpendicular annular flange 22 that is formed with three holes at 1200 intervals around the longitudinal axis of the support 21, said holes being employed in conjunction with small bolts or self-tapping screws or other fastenings in firmly but releasably securing said flange to the margin of one of the holes 20 in the upright plate 13 of the corresponding end panel 12 This arrangement will be clear from a study of Figure 1 of the drawings. A disc 23 is fitted inside each tube support 21 at a location which is conveniently 1 7 millimetres inwardly from the end of that support 21 which is remote from the corresponding flange 22.The disc 23 is formed with a flat and therefore does not completely close access to the interior of the support 21 frorn, the neighbouring end thereof. A narrow slot 24, which conveniently has a width of about 4 millimetres, extends inwardly from said end of the tube support 21 for a distance of about 17 millimetres and the corresponding disc 23 is formed with a small tab which fits in the slot 24 to prevent said disc 23 from turning inside the support 21. Tack welds (not shown) are preferably also used to secure the disc 23 in its appointed position.

The apparatus comprises at least one, and preferably two, tubular sources of electric light that are of rectilinear configuration, such sources advantageously being standard commercially available fluorescent light tubes 25 as shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. If such tubes 25 are to be used, then the apparatus is so dimensioned as to have an axial length which will match one of the standard lengths of fluorescent tube which is commercially available.In any case, the opposite ends of the or each tube fit against the discs 23 in the inwardly facing open ends of the two, or corresponding two, tube supports 21, the wiring (not shown) to the or each tube 25 extending over the flats of the corresponding discs 23 and through the tube supports 21 to the outer sides of the end panels 12 where, if required, starting chokes, condensers, suppressors and the like which are not shown in the drawings are accommodated.

The two (in the embodiment which is being described) fluorescent tubes 25 extend throughout most of the distance between the two opposed end plates 1 2 of the apparatus and the glass of each tube is surrounded, very close to the inner end of the neighbouring tube support 21, by an externally knurled ring 26 whose inside diameter substantially matches the external diameter of the tube 25 concerned (thus usually having an internal diameter of substantially 38.1 millimetres) but the inside surface of the ring 26 being gently tapered in one direction throughout its preferred axial length of substantially 7 millimetres. The ring 26 is formed from a synthetic plastics material which may conveniently be nylon containing a black colouring pigment and the gently tapering circular inner surface of the ring frictionally grips the glass of the tube 25 which it surrounds in such a way that it can readily be turned manually around the longitudinal axis of that tube but will not move involuntarily relative thereto. Three pins 27 project by distances of substantially 20 millimetres axially towards the centre of the apparatus from one side of each ring 26 at two locations which are diametrically opposed with respect to one another around the longitudinal axis of said ring and at a third intermediate location which is midway around the ring between the first two.The three pins 27 of each of the two rings 26 that correspond to each tube 25 firmly but releasably engage the opposite ends of a corresponding reflector 28 that is basically of semi-cylindrical configuration, being formed from metal having a polished or otherwise highly reflective concave surface. The opposite longer edges of each reflector 28 are in the form of retrorse lips 29 which engage resiliently about the corresponding pair of diametrically opposed pins 27 whilst, at least at each of its opposite axial ends each reflector 28 is formed with a rearwardly bulging groove (not illustrated) in which is resiliently engaged the third of the corresponding group of three pins 27.It will thus be appreciated that each reflector 28 is frictionally secured at each of its opposite ends to a corresponding one of the rings 26, by way of the respective group of three pins 27, so that, by turning the rings 26 concerned about the longitudinal axis of the corresponding fluorescent tube 25, the reflector 28 under discussion will be displaced with those rings 26 and will be maintained frictionally in any chosen setting as long as may be desired.

As can be seen in Figure 1 of the drawings, each end of the apparatus is finished by the provision of a corresponding cover 30 which may once again conveniently, but not essentially, be formed from 20 SWG mild steel sheet. The covers 30 match the end panels 12 inasmuch as they are of right-angled triangular configuration having the same angular magnitude at each corner as do the corresponding corners of the plates 1 3 of the end panels 12. The covers 30 are also formed at each edge with perpendicularly bent-over rims but the overall size of each cover 30 is marginally smaller than that of the co-operating end panel 12 so that the rims of the cover 30 will fit slidably inside the rims of that panel 12.One of the two covers 30 for each apparatus has a number of holes 31 formed close to that edge of the body of said cover 30 which, when the apparatus in question is used in a horizontal or substantially horizontal position, will be uppermost. The number of holes 31 matches the number of fluorescent or other lighting tubes 25 that is provided so that, in the present case, there are two of the holes 31 formed in the single cover 30 which can be seen in Figure 1 of the drawings.Each hole 31 receives a corresponding diagrammatically illustrated switch 32 and it will be evident that wiring which is not illustrated in the drawings connects the tubes 25 and any ancillary equipment that is not illustrated to a source of electric power (usually mains electricity) through the intermediary of the corresponding switches 32, a sufficient length of cable being provided beneath at least the cover which carries the switches 32 to enable that cover to be withdrawn from the corresponding end panel 12 without said wiring becoming taut.

When, as will usually be the case, wiring must extend to each of the opposite ends of the or each tube 25, that wiring may conveniently pass beneath the lower rim 6 and behind the oblique portion 5 of the shaped back plate 1 where it will not be visible but can readily be reached if and when required.

Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings illustrate two examples of different modes of use of adjustable lighting apparatus in accordance with the present invention. The two Figures of drawings which have just been mentioned show apparatus in accordance with the invention disposed in a horizontal or substantially horizontal position in which each apparatus extends substantially horizontally perpendicular to the plane of the Figure of drawings concerned. It is emphasised that the apparatus is illustrated diagrammatically in Figures 2 and 3 and that, in particular, all of the details of shape of the back plate 1, the front plate 7, the smaller shutter 17, the larger shutter 18 and the reflectors 28 are not shown in Figures 2 and 3.The apparatus is illustrated in those Figures in use in an office partitioning system where that upright rim of each end panel 12 which corresponds to the one of which only a small part can be seen through one of the holes 20 in Figure 1 of the drawings is formed with keyhole slots or other fastening means to enable said rims, and thus the whole of the apparatus, to be suspended at any chosen level from lateral parts of two spaced supports 33 between which will usually be disposed a vertically extending partition whose general plane is perpendicular to that of Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. The construction of the upright elongate supports 33 does not form the subject of the present invention but it is noted that they form the subject of out British Design Registration No. 988056 to which reference may, if required, be made.Other upright supports could, of course, be employed in place of the supports 33 including plain walls in office, domestic and other premises.

Figure 2 shows the apparatus employed with both the smaller shutter 1 7 and the larger shutter 1 8 open and both substantially semi-cylindrical reflectors 28 occupying such positions around the longitudinal axes of the corresponding fluorescent light tubes 25 that the light emanating from those tubes 25 will be directed generally obliquely downwardly through the aperture 16. The light from both tubes 25 may be directed onto a desk, work bench or the like to illuminate the performance of any task which may be undertaken thereon. Some light will, of course, escape upwardly through the aperture 1 5 and will give a certain amount of ambient illumination reflected from the ceiling and the partition panel, or at least one wall, of the room or other enclosure in which the apparatus is used.If too much "task" light is being emitted, one of the switches 32 may be operated to extinguish the corresponding tube or, for example, the upper reflector 28 as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings may be turned clockwise, in Figure 2. through substantially 1350 so that the greater part of the light emitted by the upper tube 25 will become "ambient" illumination leaving only the lower tube 25 to operate as a "task" light. It is noted that Figure 3 of the drawings illustrates both of the two apparatuses of that Figure adjusted into the mode of use which has just been described, Figure 3 showing one apparatus at one side of a partition and the other apparatus at the opposite side thereof in back-to-back relationship with the first apparatus. Other arrangements are, of course, possible.For example, where a large amount of "task" light and a large amount of "ambient" light are required, one apparatus may be disposed as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, except that its smaller shutter 1 7 is closed, with a second identical apparatus located above it in an inverted position, the second apparatus also having its smaller shutter 17 closed so that the two substantially horizontally disposed and closed shutters 1 7 are located immediately one above the other. The larger shutter 1 8 of the upper inverted apparatus will be open and its two reflectors 28 will be so positioned that the light from the corresponding two tubes 25 will be emitted upwardly and outwardly through the corresponding obliquely orientated aperture 16.

Where only more or less concealed "ambient" lighting is required, a single apparatus may be arranged in an inverted position as compared with the apparatus that is shown in Figure 2, the reflectors 28 being arranged to cast the light upwardly out of the open obliquely facing aperture 16 whilst the smaller now downwardly facing aperture 1 5 may be closed or be open to allow some light to escape downwardly. It will be apparent that a number of other arrangements are possible by turning the reflectors 28 to appropriate angular positions about the axes of the corresponding fluorescent tubes 25 and by opening or closing the shutters 17 and 1 8 as may be required.In particular, an apparatus in accordance with the invention may be vertically or substantially vertically disposed rather than being horizontally or substantially horizontally disposed as has so far principally been described.

Although the tubes 25 will usually be standard commercially available fluorescent lighting tubes, it is to be understood that this is not essential and that other tubular sources of light that are rectilinear in shape can be used as alternatives, such as tubular lights containing elongate filaments. In such a case, at least one dimmer switch may be incorporated in addition, or as an alternative, to the or each switch 32. Whilst it is preferred that the reflectors 28 should be of substantially semi-cylindrical configuration and be adjustably turnable about axes that substantially coincide with the longitudinal axes of the tubes 25, this is not absolutely essential. Reflectors of, for example, parabolic shape could be employed and said reflectors could be turntable adjustably about axes that are substantially parallel to, but spaced short distances from, the longitudinal axes of the corresponding tubes 25. It is within the scope of the invention for an apparatus in accordance therewith to comprise only single tubular source of light 25 or numbers of tubes 25 which are greater than two.

Claims (14)

Claims

1. Adjustable lighting apparatus which - comprises a shaped back plate, a shaped front plate which is substantially parallel thereto and -- end panels which interconnect said back and front plates in such a way that apertures are formed between those back and front plates, the apparatus also comprising shutter means selectively operable to open or close said apertures, at least one tubular source of electric light that is of rectilinear configuration arranged to extend between the end panels in a direction which is substantially parallel to said back and front plates and at least one reflector arranged in reflecting relationship with the source of light, or with one of the sources of light, so as to be turntable adjustably about an axis coinciding with, or substantially parallel to, the longitudinal axis of that tubular source of light.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the shaped back plate has opposed rims, at least one of which is so shaped that an electrical conductor can be visually concealed behind said rim whilst still allowing access to that conductor.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein said end panels each comprise a substantially planar plate of triangular configuration.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said plates of the two panels are of symmetrically similar right-angled triangular configuration.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each end panel is formed around substantially the whole of its periphery with a perpendicularly bent-over rim.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein the or each tubular source of light is disposed in a substantially fixed position in the apparatus with the reflector, or a corresponding one of the reflectors, coupled to members which are turnable around the tubular source itself, at locations adjacent the opposite ends thereof, against frictional resistance.

7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said members are in the form of rings formed from a synthetic plastics material.

8. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said material is nylon containing a colouring pigment.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 8, wherein each member has three substantially parallel but spaced pins projecting in the same direction therefrom, which direction, when the apparatus is assembled, is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular source of light or corresponding tubular source of light.

10. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the or each reflector has retrorse lips, and, at least at its opposite axial ends, bulging grooves located between the retrorse lips, the lips and grooves being so positioned as to be firmly but resiliently engaged by the three pins of the corresponding turnable members to enable the or each reflector to be turnable with those members.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each reflector is of substantially semi-cylindrical or substantially parabolic configuration.

1 2. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each tubular source of light is a fluorescent lighting tube.

1 3. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the shutter means comprises two substantially planar shutters pivotally connected to the remainder of the apparatus.

14. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 13, wherein each shutter has a rim which is arranged to cooperate with said front plate in the manner of a stop to prevent the corresponding aperture being "opened" beyond a predetermined extent.

1 5. Adjustable lighting apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.