GB2083719A

GB2083719A - Magnetically switched lighting device

Info

Publication number: GB2083719A
Application number: GB8029161A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: SMART JOHN VICTOR
Current assignee: SMART JOHN VICTOR
Priority date: 1980-09-09
Filing date: 1980-09-09
Publication date: 1982-03-24

Abstract

A lighting device comprises a light source (14), a power supply (12) and a switching device (10) of a magnetically actuable type which are embedded together in a block (16) of electrically insulating material to form an integral self-contained unit. The switching device (10), which is preferably in the form of a reed relay, is connected to the power supply and to the light source such that when a magnet (18), located externally of the said unit by adjacent to the switching device (10) e.g. on a cupboard door, the switching device (10) is such that the light source (14) is de-energised. When the magnet (18) is removed by relative displacement of the magnet and the unit as by opening the door the switching device (10) enables the light source (14) to be energised by the power supply (12). An ambient light level sensor may prevent the lamp being energised, during daylight. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Lighting device The present invention is concerned with lighting devices.

There is a need in many situations for a portable, self-contained lighting device which can be easily set up to be operated automatically in response to the movement of relatively displaceable components, such as a cupboard and cupboard door or drawer.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a portable, self-contained lighting device comprising a light source, a power supply and a switching device combined together into an integral self-contained unit, the switching device being connected to the power supply and light source such that normally the light source is de-energised but actuation of the switching device causes the light source to be energised The switching device can be purely mechanical, electro-mechanical or purely electronic.

The light device can include a means for attachment thereof to a desired component. For example, the light device could be screwed or bolted in position or could use double-sided adhesive to enable it to be simply stuck in position. Any suitable such means can be used.

Advantageously, the components of the lighting device are embedded in electrically insulating material so that the overall configuration of the device is simply a plain sided block having little or no protrusions, external wires and the like.

In one preferred embodiment, the switching device is a reed relay having an associated permanent magnet which is not contained within the main body of the lighting device. The magnet may comprise,-for example, a disc or bar magnet which, when placed adjacent the reed relay, which is located within the body of the lighting device, causes the relay to be activated to hold the light source de-energised.

When the magnet is displaced from the latter position its field is insufficient to activate the relay and the latter drops out to thereby energise the light source and provide illumination ofthe area in which the lighting device has been positioned.

The invention is described further hereinafter, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa highly diagrammatic illustration of one embodiment of a lighting device in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 is a basic circuit diagram of the device of Figure 1.

The device of Figure 1 comprises a reed relay 10, battery 12, and lamp unit 14 which, with the associated wiring, are embedded in a block 16 of suitable electrical insulator material, e.g. perspex, or a plastics resin. As indicated in the circuit diagram of Figure 2, the battery 12 is normally disconnected from the lamp 14 by the contacts of the reed relay 10 which are held open by the presence of the permanent magnet 18. When, however, the magnet 18 is moved to the position showed by chain line in the drawings, the relay contacts close to energise the lamp 14 and provide illumination of the area in which the block 16 has been placed.

The block is, for example, attached to a fixed wall of a cupboard and the magnet 18 is attached to the cupboard door such that when the door is in a closed position the magnet is located sufficiently close to the relay 10 to hold the contacts open. However, when the cupboard door is opened the magnet is displaced to a position in which the relay contacts close whereupon the lamp is energised and the interior of the cupboard is illuminated.

There are clearly many situations in which this unit may be used, particularly in do-it-yourself situations, e.g. in connection with doors, flaps, lids or other covers of darkened areas such as the interiors of cupboards, handbags, boxes, containers and even clothes pockets and the like for which illumination is required when opened.

Although not illustrated, the device may include means for sensing the ambient light level and for preventing the lamp from being energised in the event that the ambient light level is above a predetermined level, e.g. in ambient daylight conditions it might be a waste of the internal batteries to illuminate a cupboard interior, whereas at night time an internal light to the same cupboard could be very useful.

The reed relay embodiment is preferred because of its simplicity, ruggedness and lack of externally moving parts. However, the switching device could equally well utilize a mechanically displaceable member which is physically engaged by say a door or drawer to hold the contacts open, opening of the door or drawer being arranged to break the engagement with the displaceable member whereby it assumes a position in which the contacts are closed to energise the lamp.

1. A lighting device comprising a light source, a power supply and a switching device which are embedded together in a block of electrically insulating material to form an integral self-contained unit, the switching device being of a magnetically actuable type and being connected to the power supply and to the light source such that when a magnet is located externally of said unit in a predetermined position adjacent to the switching device, the latter device is controlled by the magnet into a condition such that the light source is de-energised but, when the magnet is caused to be removed from said position by relative displacement of the magnet and said unit, the switching device is arranged to enable the light source to be energised by the power supply.

2. A lighting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the switching device is a reed relay.

3. A lighting device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the magnet is a permanent disc or bar magnet.

4. A lighting device as claimed in claim 3 including means enabling the unit and the magnet to be attached respectively to relatively displaceable components, such as a cupboard and cupboard door or drawer.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Lighting device The present invention is concerned with lighting devices. There is a need in many situations for a portable, self-contained lighting device which can be easily set up to be operated automatically in response to the movement of relatively displaceable components, such as a cupboard and cupboard door or drawer. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a portable, self-contained lighting device comprising a light source, a power supply and a switching device combined together into an integral self-contained unit, the switching device being connected to the power supply and light source such that normally the light source is de-energised but actuation of the switching device causes the light source to be energised The switching device can be purely mechanical, electro-mechanical or purely electronic. The light device can include a means for attachment thereof to a desired component. For example, the light device could be screwed or bolted in position or could use double-sided adhesive to enable it to be simply stuck in position. Any suitable such means can be used. Advantageously, the components of the lighting device are embedded in electrically insulating material so that the overall configuration of the device is simply a plain sided block having little or no protrusions, external wires and the like. In one preferred embodiment, the switching device is a reed relay having an associated permanent magnet which is not contained within the main body of the lighting device. The magnet may comprise,-for example, a disc or bar magnet which, when placed adjacent the reed relay, which is located within the body of the lighting device, causes the relay to be activated to hold the light source de-energised. When the magnet is displaced from the latter position its field is insufficient to activate the relay and the latter drops out to thereby energise the light source and provide illumination ofthe area in which the lighting device has been positioned. The invention is described further hereinafter, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa highly diagrammatic illustration of one embodiment of a lighting device in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 is a basic circuit diagram of the device of Figure 1. The device of Figure 1 comprises a reed relay 10, battery 12, and lamp unit 14 which, with the associated wiring, are embedded in a block 16 of suitable electrical insulator material, e.g. perspex, or a plastics resin. As indicated in the circuit diagram of Figure 2, the battery 12 is normally disconnected from the lamp 14 by the contacts of the reed relay 10 which are held open by the presence of the permanent magnet 18. When, however, the magnet 18 is moved to the position showed by chain line in the drawings, the relay contacts close to energise the lamp 14 and provide illumination of the area in which the block 16 has been placed. The block is, for example, attached to a fixed wall of a cupboard and the magnet 18 is attached to the cupboard door such that when the door is in a closed position the magnet is located sufficiently close to the relay 10 to hold the contacts open. However, when the cupboard door is opened the magnet is displaced to a position in which the relay contacts close whereupon the lamp is energised and the interior of the cupboard is illuminated. There are clearly many situations in which this unit may be used, particularly in do-it-yourself situations, e.g. in connection with doors, flaps, lids or other covers of darkened areas such as the interiors of cupboards, handbags, boxes, containers and even clothes pockets and the like for which illumination is required when opened. Although not illustrated, the device may include means for sensing the ambient light level and for preventing the lamp from being energised in the event that the ambient light level is above a predetermined level, e.g. in ambient daylight conditions it might be a waste of the internal batteries to illuminate a cupboard interior, whereas at night time an internal light to the same cupboard could be very useful. The reed relay embodiment is preferred because of its simplicity, ruggedness and lack of externally moving parts. However, the switching device could equally well utilize a mechanically displaceable member which is physically engaged by say a door or drawer to hold the contacts open, opening of the door or drawer being arranged to break the engagement with the displaceable member whereby it assumes a position in which the contacts are closed to energise the lamp. CLAIMS

5. A lighting device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 including means for sensing the ambient light level and for preventing the light source from being energised in the event that the ambient light is above a predetermined level.

6. A light device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.