GB2133196A

GB2133196A - An electric light fitting for sales display

Info

Publication number: GB2133196A
Application number: GB08323976A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Detlef Hesterberg
Original assignee: WESCHO LADENBAU GmbH
Current assignee: WESCHO LADENBAU GmbH
Priority date: 1982-12-31
Filing date: 1983-09-07
Publication date: 1984-07-18
Also published as: NL8303674A; BE897940A; FR2538937B1; GB8323976D0; ATA299083A; IT1171696B; FR2538937A1; AT382703B; IT8323001A0; CH662167A5

Abstract

An electric light fitting in particular a long-panel fitting for a sales display has a lampshade (2) which is substantially opaque and has at least one window (3). In addition, the window (3) has a diffusing screen (6) which extends over its entire area, and at least one transparency (7) replaceably fixed on the outside of the diffusing screen, on which transparency a picture of the goods and a symbol assigned thereto can be reproduced. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An electric light fitting The invention relates to an electric light fitting, in particular a long-panel fitting for a sales display, having a lampshade which is substantially opaque.

The installation of light fittings, particularly long-panei fittings, on or in display counters for goods, shelf systems, or similar facilities for the presentation of goods for sale, is known, these long-panel fittings being, for the most part, located above the goods which they are illuminating.

In addition, price markers, are arranged in or on the counters, or similar facilities, used for displaying the goods, in order to meet the requirement to display prices.

In such arrangements, particularly when a multiplicity of different goods are involved, for example foodstuffs, all with different prices, it is, nevertheless, often very difficult, time-consuming and expensive to position the price-markers in a manner such that they, too, are illuminated, and that, in each case, the correct price-marker is assigned to each of the products on sale.

A main object of the invention is to extend by simple means the field of application of such a light fitting.

According to the invention there is provided an electric light fitting, in particular a long-panel fitting for a sales display, having a lampshade which is substantially opaque, characterised by at least one window in the lampshade, which window has a diffusing screen which extends over its entire area, and at least one transparency which is replaceably fitted on the outside of the diffusing screen, on which transparency a picture of goods displayed and at least one symbol can be reproduced.

This arrangement ensures that the signs for identifying the goods are adequately illuminated at all times and, in consequence, can also be readily recognised by the customer, when the light fitting is installed in a display counter, or similar facility, in a manner such that the lampshade window, or windows, lie in the field of view of the buyer, or potential buyer, who is looking at the goods.

In some circumstances it is advantageous, for example in the case of central sales counters, or similar facilities, to whicfrthe buyer has access from several sides, to incorporate a light fitting, in accordance with the invention, on more than one side.

The signs for identifying the goods no longer require the setting-up spaces which were hitherto required inside the furniture used for displaying the goods.

Furthermore, it is now possible to arrange the goods in the display furniture in a manner which is independent of the arrangement, at any particular time, of the signs employed for identifying the goods.

It is advantageous, particularly when longpanel light fittings are used, that there be a plurality of windows arranged side-by-side, spaced apart and having diffusing screens.

An embodiment which, inter alia, facilitates manufacture and reducces production costs comprises a common diffusing screen for all the windows.

It is additionally advantageous for a common fixing arrangement to be provided for all the transparencies, which is designed in a manner such that the transparencies can be fixed or detached, as appropriate, independently of one another.

An embodiment which further facilitates manufacture, and which, moreover enables the transparencies to be arranged in a space-saving manner, has an elongated window extending along the lampshade, the height of this window corresponding to that of a transparency, and its length corresponding to an integral multiple of the width of a transparency.

By the above means, the transparencies can be fixed to the lampshade.

In addition, it is advantageous that the diffusing screens be replaceably fixed to the lampshade in order that they may be exchanged, for example with diffusing screens which are more or less densely coloured, in order to produce special effects at will.

The diffusing screens can be dimensionally stable, and can be designed to be self-supporting.

To this end preferably the diffusing screens are designed in the form of thin, flexible sheets.

The transparencies may be fitted on the diffusing screen, in order to enable the transparencies to be attached to the diffusing screen or to be detached following its removal from the light fitting.

In order to ensure that the diffusing screens form a dimensionally stable assembly, even when they are flexibie, and/or to ensure that flexible transparencies rest flat against the duffusing screen, the diffusing screens are outwardly curved about an axis, and each transparency is fixed to the diffusing screen following the curvature thereof.

An embodiment of the means for fixing transparencies, which is particularly easy to manufacture, and which ensures that the transparencies are positioned correctly and securely and which also enables them to be fitted easily and quickly or removed easily and quickly, is characterised in that the arrangements for fixing the transparencies are designed in the form of slim rails, extending along the lampshade, at the top and bottom of the window, and having in their facing surfaces grooves which are aligned along the rails, into which grooves those edge portions of the transparencies which face these grooves can be push-fitted in a replaceable manner.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows in perspective a portion of a long-panel electric light fitting according to the invention, Figure 2 shows a shop counter in cross-section, and Figure 3 shows a shelf system for goods in cross-section.

An electric, long-panel light fitting, for the sales display of goods, comprises an elongated lamphousing, made of metal, with a lampshade 2, which is moulded-on, and which screens a fluorescent tube or similar device, in the lateral direction. This fluorescent tube or similar device which is omitted from the drawing, is installed in the lamp-housing in a replaceable manner.

As can be seen from Figures 2 and 3, light fittings of this type can be installed, for example, in a shop counter, or on a shelf system for goods, in alignment with the length of the counter or shelf system, and above the goods which they are illuminating.

A window 3 is located in that side of the lampshade 2 which faces the buyer or the potential buyer, this window 3 extending over the entire length of the lampshade 2.

In addition, slim rails 4 are moulded onto the lampshade 2, which rails are aligned with the upper and lower surfaces of the edge of the window, are paraliel to one another, and form with the lampshade 2 grooves 5 which are aligned along the lampshade 2, the openings of which grooves 5 face one another. In addition, the grooves, which extend at least almost as far as the end walls of the housing, which end walls are not shown, are designed to be open at their ends.

An outwardly curved pre-shaped and dimensionally stable diffusing screen 6, made for example of opal glass, is inserted into the grooves 5, in a replaceable manner and a plurality of transparencies 7 are arranged replaceably in front of the diffusing screen 6, side-by-side and without play, their upper and lower edge portions likewise engaging into the grooves 5, and such that they rest against the diffusing screen 6, in close contact with it and following its curvature.

It is also possible, in place of a dimensionally stable diffusing screen 6, to provide a diffusing screen 6 which is made from a flexible, flat material, the width of this screen 6 being greater than the distance between the grooves 5, so that an outward curvature is imposed on it during the operation of fitting it into the grooves 5.

It is also possible to mould on the diffusing screen slim rails 4, which form the push-in grooves 5 for the transparencies 7. A picture of the goods themselves, if possible a coloured picture, is reproduced on the transparencies 7, together with the associated price, for example price per weight-unit.

The lampshade 2 can also be premanufactured, and fastened to the housing 1 which supports the filament-type lamp, in particular in a detachable manner. Moreover, the production of the housing 1, and of the lampshade 2, is in no way restricted to manufacture from metal, the only requirement being that the lampshade should be substantially opaque on the side facing the person viewing the goods, in order to prevent dazzle, caused by the filament-type lamp itself, or by any similar lamp, while the transparencies 7 are being viewed.

Claims

1. An electric light fitting, in particular a long panel fitting for a sales display, having a lampshade which is substantially opaque, characterised by at least one window in the lampshade, which window has a diffusing screen which extends over its entire area, and at least one transparency which is replaceably fitted on the outside of the diffusing screen, on which transparency a picture of goods displayed and at least one symbol can be reproduced.

2. An electric light fitting according to Claim 1, characterised in that the symbol is the price of the goods.

3. An electric light fitting according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that the lampshade has a plurality of windows which are arranged side-by-side, are spaced apart and have diffusing screens.

4. An electric light fitting according to Claim 3, characterised in that the lampshade has a common diffusing screen for all the windows.

5. An electric light fitting according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that a common fixing arrangement is provided for a number of transparencies, which is designed in a manner such that the transparencies can be fixed or detached, as appropriate, independently of one another.

6. An electric light fitting according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised by an elongated window extending along the lampshade, the height of which window corresponds to that of a transparency, and the length of which window corresponds to an integral multiple of the width of a transparency.

7. An electric light fitting according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that arrangements for fixing transparencies are fitted on the lampshade.

8. An electric light fitting according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the or each diffusing screen is/are replaceably fixed to the lampshade.

9. An electric light fitting according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised by diffusing screens which are dimensionally stable and which are designed to be self-supporting.

10. An electric light fitting according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the or each diffusing screens is/are in the form of a thin, flexible sheet.

11. An electric light fitting according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the arrangements for fixing transparencies are fitted on the diffusing screen.

12. An electric light fitting according to any one of Claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the or each diffusing screen is/are outwardly curved about an axis, and each transparency is fixed to a diffusing screen following the curvature thereof.

13. An electric light fitting according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the or each diffusing screen is/are designed in such a manner such that it is outwardly curved about an axis which is parallel to the length of the fitting.

14. An electric light fitting according to any one of Claims 1 to 13, characterised by arrangements for fixing the transparencies in the form of slim rails extending along the lampshade at the top and bottom of the window, and having in their facing surfaces grooves which are aligned along the rails, into which grooves those edge portions of the transparencies which face these grooves can be push-fitted, in a replaceable manner.

15. An electric light fitting for illuminating a display, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.