GB2168551A

GB2168551A - A light fitting

Info

Publication number: GB2168551A
Application number: GB08529915A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jorgen Johansson
Original assignee: FAGERHULTS AB
Current assignee: FAGERHULTS AB
Priority date: 1984-12-13
Filing date: 1985-12-04
Publication date: 1986-06-18
Also published as: SE8406354D0; DK159736C; DK580085D0; FI82764B; IT1182081B; ES296300U; FI854873A; NO854827L; SE458635B; FI82764C; GB8529915D0; DE3543561A1; IT8548906A0; DK159736B; NL8503444A; DK580085A; FI854873A0; SE8406354L; ES296300Y

Abstract

A light fitting (12) with means forming a coupling for an electric lamp bulb bracket (17), comprises at least one partition wall (26) closely bridging an aperture in the bracket, adjacent to a connection end of the bracket. The partition wall (26) is thus located in relation to the aperture and extends in such way that it separates electric connection lines (18, 19) coupled to connectors in the bracket (17). The bracket is retained in the fitting by means of snap-in tongues (15). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A light fitting This invention relates to a light fitting of electrically insulating material with means forming a coupling for an electric light bulb bracket, comprising at least one partition wall of the same material mounted on the reverse side of the fitting as seen from said coupling means, wherein the coupling means ends in an aperture being accessible from said reverse side.

Existing electro-technical standard specifications require a certain minimum gap between power lines connected to the bracket of an electric light bulb, in order to keep the power lines separated in a touch and fash-over safe manner.

The reason for this requirement is that normal polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic insulated electric connection lines risk damage from the heat release of an electric light bulb of normal output installed in a heavy current installation.

The manufacturer of light fittings usually solves this problem by equipping a fitting with a connection block mounted an appropriate distance from the bracket and with heat resistant insulated electric lines from the connection block to the connectors on the bracket.

In this way the installation contractor can install standard wiring material into the connection block. However, this arrangement results in a considerable increase in price for the product, because of the need for the connection block, special heat resistant insulated electric lines and also the mounting of these in the light fitting.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a light fitting that meets the above mentioned regulations in a simpler and more economic way.

According to the invention a light fitting is characterised in that the partition wall is thus located in relation to the aperture and extends uninterrupted in such a way that for a predetermined extent it compulsorily maintains sufficient distance, in use, between electric connection lines leading to connectors in the bracket to be held by the coupling means.

Preferably the partition wall bridges said aperture without any appreciable gap, and the partition wall is at least 8mm wide.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the partition wall is formed by two parallel plates abutting a connecting end of the bulb bracket, with an intermediate air gap, and the distance between the outsides of the plates is at least 8mm.

Desirably the free edges of the partition wall, distal to the fitting abut, in use, the inside of a body that encloses the fittings.

Preferably a transverse wall extends to each side of the partition wall having slit formed clearances for the connection lines.

Desirably each of the partition walls forms an individual tubular channel.

An example of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a section through a translucent cover and associated body enclosing a light fitting according to the present invention, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the inside of the light fitting.

In Fig. 1 a light fitting 12 is mounted in a body 13 over an electric connection box 10 fitted in a wall 11. The front of the body 13 is closed by a translucent cover or globe 14.

By means of snap-in tongues 15 the light fitting 12 carries a bracket 17 for an electric light bulb 16. Connection lines 18, 19 lead to the bracket 17, where they are attached to connectors 20, 21 at the connecting end 1 7a of the bracket.

As Fig. 2 shows, the light fitting 12 has a box-formed inner compartment 22 delimited by side walls 23 and 24 and a transverse wall 25. The compartment 22 is divided by two partition walls 26 into two larger partitions 27, 28 and one intermediate, smaller partition 29. Slits 30 in the tranverse wall 25 lead into the two large partitions 27 and 28 respectively. Further walls 31 and 32 in the light fitting 12 define a tubular coupling. The bracket 17 can be inserted into this tubular coupling and locked in place by the snap-in tongues 15, abutting a flange 33 surrounding an opening 33a. The bracket 17 is of a standard type equipped with guides making it impossible to insert it into the coupling in all positions but two (180 separated), wherein it is held against rotation.In both of these coupling positions both partition walls 26 abut against the connecting end 1 7a of the bracket so the connectors 20, 21 each face one of the partitions 27 or 28.

The light fitting 12 also has a screw hole 34 for fastening on the body 13. This body, in its turn, has means (not shown in the drawings) to fasten it to the wall 11, and a raised part 1 2a facilitating installation of the lines 18, 19 leading from the connection box 10.

The light fitting 12 is dismounted from the body 13 before this is mounted over the connection box 10. Holes are then made in a lining plug 35 of soft plastics material that is mounted in an opening 13a in the bottom wall of the body 13, and the electric lines 18, 19 in the box 10 are pushed through said holes.

Subsequently the body 13 can be screwed onto the wall 11. The lines 18, 19 are then cut off at a convenient length, deisolated at their respective free ends and pushed into the connectors 20, 21 in the bracket 17 mounted in the light fittng 12. Now the light fitting 12 is ready to be mounted into the body 13.

This is carried out whilst ensuring that the lines 18, 19 are confined in their respective slits 30, positioning the light fitting in its pro per location in the body and fastening it with a screw in the hole 34. The lines 18, 19 are now safely separated for a predetermined extent, namely from the connectors 20, 21 to the slits 30, at a sufficient distance from the connectors to reduce the heat to an acceptable level. Therefore the installation contractor can use standard wiring material all the way into the light bulb bracket, without contravening the above mentioned electro-technical standard specifications.

In Fig. 1 it can be seen that the light fitting 12 engages with the lamp body 13, so that the only possible communication with the two partitions 27, 28 is through the respective slits 30, thus preventing any accidental mislaying of the lines over into the other partition or outside of these. The light fitting is accordingly well protected against unintentional touch in its depicted form.

The light fitting according to the invention can be manufactured by press casting of a sufficiently heat resistant insulating material.

The invention is not limited to the above described example, as several other embodiments are possible within the scope of the following claims. The body 13 is not necessary for the invention, as the light fitting can be mounted directly on a wall or a roof and have its own connections for a lamp globe.

Spacers can be used to maintain the distance between the partition walls 26. The partitions 27, 28 can also be formed as tubular channels or pipes. Alternative light sources can be used instead of the light bulb 16, e.g. a flourescent tube.

Claims

1. A light fitting of electrically insulating material with means forming a coupling for an electric light bulb bracket, comprising at least one partition wall of the same material mounted on the reverse side of the fitting as seen from said coupling means, wherein the coupling means ends in an aperture being accessible from said reverse side, characterised in that the partition wall is thus located in relation to the aperture and extends uninterrupted in such a way that for a predetermined extent it compulsorily maintains sufficient distance, in use, between electric connection lines leading to connectors in the bracket to be held by the coupling means.

2. A fitting as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the partition wall bridges said aperture without any appreciable gap.

3. A lamp fitting as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the partition wall is at least 8mm wide.

4. A fitting as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the partition wall is formed by two parallel plates abutting a connecting end of the bulb bracket, with an intermediate air gap.

5. A fitting as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the distance between the outsides of the plates is at least 8mm.

6. A fitting as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the free edges of the partition wall, distal to the fitting, in use, abuts the inside of a body that encloses the fitting.

7. A fitting as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that a transverse wall extends to each side of the partition wall having slit formed clearances for the connection lines.

8. A fitting as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that each of the partition walls forms an individual tubular channel.

9. A light fitting substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.