GB2198225A - Lighting unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a lighting unit adapted to be fitted to an existing in-situ lighting track. Very frequently different lighting tracks are fitted in different locations in the same establishment, obliging the user to carry in stock a considerable number of different support means each to suit a particular lighting track fitted. The object of the invention is to avoid this disadvantage, which objective is met by a construction comprising an abutment member on which is mounted or adapted to be mounted a plurality of low-voltage luminaires, said abutment member being provided with at least one means adapted to engage with an in-situ lighting track and to secure the abutment member to the in-situ lighting track, a transformer associated with each luminaire or a group of luminaires, to transform mains voltage to the low voltage required for each luminaire, and there being an electrically conductive contact means located on or adjacent to the abutment means, whereby an electrical connection between the existing lighting track and each luminaire via a transformer may be achieved. <IMAGE>

Description

LIGHTING UNIT This invention relates to a lighting unit adapted to be fitted to an in-situ lighting track.

Lighting systems are known where a so-called lighting track is connected to a mains electric supply and is strategically positioned at a desired location, and a number of luminaires and associated lamps positioned on the track as requi red.

A principal disadvantage of such systems to the user is that frequently, in a large store or the like, lighting tracks of different manufacturers are fitted in different areas, and whilst such tracks have the common factor of the use of a generally U-shaped or C-shaped channel section, the tracks of different manufacturers are of different design, only able to accept luminaires with mounting fittings of a design to suit the track. Thus, the user is obliged to carry in stock a number of luminaires with different mounting fittings as frequently, on changing a display, one luminaire or a number of luminaires cannot simply be removed from one track and transferred to another, because the second track is from a different manufacturer. This is both inconvenient and expensive.

The expense of keeping an excess number of luminaires in stock has been increased since the advent of low voltage lamps, each luminaire for such lamps being provided with a transformer to convert mains voltage applied to the track, to the lower voltage required by the lamp.

The object of the invention is to provide a means of avoiding the above disadvantages.

According to the present invention, a lighting unit adapted to be fitted to an in-situ lighting track comprises an abutment member on which is mounted or adapted to be mounted a plurality of low-voltage luminaires, said abutment member being provided with at least one means adapted to engage within an in-situ lighting track and to secure the abutment member to the in-situ lighting track, a transformer associated with each luminaire or a group of luminaires, to transform mains voltage to the low voltage required for each luminaire, and there being an electrically conductive contact means located on or adjacent to the abutment means, whereby an electrical connection between the existing lighting track and each luminaire via a transformer may be achieved.

Thus the lighting unit of the invention is adapted to be securable to a considerable number of existing lighting tracks of diffrent manufacturers, enabling the user to remove a group of ' u .. r.ai res froir one location and secure them in place in another irrespective as to the particular type of lighting track at that other position. This removes the need for a number of luminaires each with a mounting fitting to suit but one type of track, to be held in stock.

Thus, the lighting unit in accordance with the invention is adapted to be mounted on an in-situ lighting track, to provide various advantages such as a fitting adaptability to all currently known lighting tracks, and an ability to fit, or remove a plurality e.g., four, low voltage luminares as a group with the lighting unit in accordance with the invention.

Preferably, the abutment member is itself elongated and is e.g., of U-section, or box section and depending on its length, several individual engagement means may be provided, spaced apart along the track.

In one embodiment, the or each engagement means is a narrow, elongate plate-like member mounted on a spindle that extends through the abutment member, to an operating knob and a lock nut lying externally of the abutment member.

Preferably, spacer means of appropriate profile are also provided on the abutment means to ensure a positive engagement between the abutment member and the in-situ lighting track to which it is presented. Thus, with substantially all existing lighting tracks being either of generally U-shaped or C-shaped channel section, the base of which has fixing means to secure it to an appropriate support, e.g., part of a ceiling, the abutment means of the invention can be presented to the opening of the channel with the elongate, plate-like member set such that it can pass into the interior of the channel, when it is turned through an appropriate angle e.g., 98o or so to engage behind the inturned edges of the channel, and the lock nut tightened to secure the abutment means to the channel. It is further preferred to provide two spindles and associated elongate plate-like members one to each end of the elongated U or box section track-like abutment means.

In an alternative embodiment, the or each engagement means is plate like, with a pair of track grips each with a terminal rim, the plate-like engagement means being rotatable about a centre pivot, there being a pivot pin extending from the plate-like engagement means and into a box-like housing there being an operating lever pivotally secured to the lower end of the pivot pin and a torsion spring secured by one end to the pivot pin and by the other end to the operating lever.

Preferably, means are provided on the box-like housing to provide for the positive location of the operating lever in a required position.

Thus, with the plate-like engagement means rotated to a positon where the track grips can be inserted into the opening of a generally U-shaped or C-shaped channel section, the track grips can be positioned within the channel section and the operating lever moved to rotate the plate via the spring until such time as the track grips bear against the sides of the channel section, a further movement of the operating lever then applying a force through the spring to the track grips to a degree sufficient to provide a positive location of the track grips on the sides of the channel section, and the operating lever is then locked in its o pe r a t iv e po s i t i o n.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mounting fitting in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a transverse section through the mounting fitting of Figure It Figure 3 corresponds to Figure 1, but shows a second embodiment of the invention and Figure 4 is a transverse section through the mounting fitting of Figure 3.

In Figures 1 and 2 a mounting fitting for luminaires comprises an elongate generally U-shaped member 1 of a sufficient length to accommodate as many luminaires as are to be supported. Along the length of the U-shaped member a number of securing means are provided (one only shown) whereby to allow the U-shaped member to be secured to an existing lighting track of a variety of different designs. Thus, each securing means comprises a screwed stem 2 extending through an appropriate hole in the base of the member 1 and through a corresponding hole in a support plate 3 secured across the edges of the sidewalls of the member 1. Secured to the end of the screwed stem 2 is a winged plate 4 and a locknut 5 is provided on the screwed stem and lying outside the base of the member 1.

Thus, with the locknut 5 in a release position, the stem 2 can be rotated to bring the winged plate 4 to an inline position and when the member 1 can be presented to a lighting track 6 with the winged plate 4 passing into the interior of the lighting track. The stem can then be rotated to bring the winged plate 4 to a transverse position and the locknut 5 operated to tighten against the base of the member 1 and to bring the winged plate 4 into a position where it traps the inturned ends of the lighting track 6 against the support plate 3. This embodiment of the invention therefore allows the location of luminaires on a very wide range of existing conventional lighting tracks and avoids completely the need for the user to maintain a stock of different support means each to suit a number of different lighting tracks that the user may have installed.To provide an electrical connection between the lighting track and the luminaires via a transformer, any conventional means can be employed.

In the erboditrent illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the support means for the luminaires is formed by an elongate box like structure 7 to which a number of securing means (one only showr,) are attached. In this embodirnent the securing means comprises 2 fabricated box-like structure 8 on which a rotatable plate 9 is mounted the rotatable plate 9 supporting two upstanding track grips 18. The plate 9 is secured to a pivot pin 11 extending to an opening in the box-like structure 8 and into its interior, the pivot pin being encircled by a torsion spring 12 secured by one end to the pivot pin 11 and by its other end to the free end 13 of an operating lever 14 rotatably mounted on the end of a pivot pin.The operating lever extends transversely and out of the housing through a slot 15 in the sidewall 16, which slot has a castillated upper edge that can be engaged by the operating lever and hence the operating lever held in any required position.

Thus, with the plate 9 rotated to bring the track grips into a generally longitudinally aligned position, the support can be presented to a lighting track 17 with the track grips passing into the interior of the lighting track. The operating lever is then rotated to cause the rotation of the plate and hence the track grips until such time as the track grips engage the side of the lighting track, a further movement of the operating lever then applying a tension to the spring in turn to cause the track grips to engage the sides of the lighting track with a force sufficient to provide a positive engagement as between the lighting track and the luminaire support. The operating lever is then caused to engage an appropriate notch in the castillating edge of the slot 15.

As with the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4 again provides in relatively simple manner a means of applying one construction of luminaire support to a wide range of existing conventional lighting tracks. Again, electrical connection between the lighting track and the luminaires by a transformer can be effected by any suitable and conventional means.

Claims (7)

1. A lighting unit adapted to be fitted to an insitu lighting track comprising an abutment member on which is mounted or adapted to be mounted a plurality of low-voltage luminaires, said abutment member being provided with at least one means adapted to engage within an in-situ lighting track and to secure the abutment member to the in-situ lighting track, a transformer associated with each luminaire or a group of luminaires, to transform mains voltage to the low voltage required for each luminaire, and there being an electrically conductive contact means located on or adjacent to the abutment means, whereby an electrical connection between the existing lighting track and each luminaire via a transformer may be achieved.

2. A lighting unit as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the or each engagement means is a narrow, elongate plate-like member mounted on a spindle that extends through the abutment member, to an operating knob and a lock nut lying externally of the abutment member.

3. A lighting unit as claimed in Claim 2, wherein spacer means of appropriate profile are provided on the abutment member to ensure a positive engagement between the abutment member and the in-situ lighting track to which it is presented.

4. A lighting unit as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the or each engagement means is plate like, with a pair of track grips each with a terminal rim, the plate-like engagement means being rotatable about a centre pivot, there being a pivot pin extending from the plate-like engagement means and into a box-like housing, an operating lever pivotally secured to the lower end of the pivot pin and a torsion spring secured by one end to the pivot pin and by the other end to the operating lever.

5. A lighting unit as claimed in Claim 4, wherein means are provided on the box-like housing to provide for the positive location of the operating lever in a required position.

6. A lighting unit substantially as hereinbefore described wtih reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

7. A lighting unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.