GB2359937A

GB2359937A - Lamp housing adaptor

Info

Publication number: GB2359937A
Application number: GB0005202A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dan Warman
Original assignee: Illuma Lighting Ltd
Current assignee: Illuma Lighting Ltd
Priority date: 2000-03-03
Filing date: 2000-03-03
Publication date: 2001-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 2020-03-03
Also published as: GB0005202D0; GB2359937B

Description

2359937 LAMP HOUSING ADAPTOR The invention relates to an adaptor for

enabling a lamp housing which is adapted for connection to a standard low voltage (eg 12v) lampholder to be connected to a standard 5 high voltage (eg 240v) lampholder.

A standard low voltage lampholder is of generally cylindrical shape having two small pin holes in one end face for receiving the pins of a low voltage lamp. On the other end the lampholder has wiring connections. In some applications, the lampholder is fixed to the lamp housing and to this end, the lamp housing is constructed with an integral formation including a pin and a recess spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the spacing between two through holes formed on the lampholder.

The present invention provides an adaptor so that such a lamp housing can be converted for use with high voltage.

Accordingly, the invention provides an adaptor for enabling a lamp housing adapted for connection to a standard low voltage lamp holder to be connected to a standard high voltage lampholder, the adaptor comprising: a body having two generally opposite sides; wherein the body is provided with a formation on the first side which is adapted to fit onto a formation in the lamp housing intended to receive and support a low voltage lampholder and is provided on the second side with a formation adapted to receive and support a high voltage lampholder.

Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the lamp housing of a spotlight; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing an adaptor mounted on the lamp housing; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing a standard high voltage lampholder mounted on the adaptor; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing a high voltage lamp connected to the lampholder; Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 but with a different standard high voltage lampholder mounted on the adaptor; Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing a high voltage lamp connected to 15 the lampholder; Figure 7 is a plan view of tile adaptor; Figure 8 is an edge view of the adaptor looking along the arrow A of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a cross-section through the adaptor taken on the line B-B of Figure 7; and Figure 10 is an edge view of the adaptor looking along the arrow C of Figure 7.

The lamp housing 1 shown in Figures 1-6 is for a track-mounted spotlight and is -3 pivotably connected to a stem 2 which is adapted to be coupled both mechanically and electrically to a high voltage lighting power track in known manner. The lamp housing, however, is of the type which normally receives a low voltage lamp and to this end is provided with an integral formation 3 intended to receive and support a standard low voltage lampholder (not shown). The formation 3 includes a pin 4 and a recess 5 which are spaced apart by a distance D I corresponding to the spacing between two through holes formed in a standard low voltage lampholder.

An adaptor 6 (see Figures 7-10 in particular) comprising a generally cylindrical body having two generally opposite sides 7, 8 and a cylindrical edge 9 can be mounted onto the formation 3. On the first side 7, the body is provided with a formation which is adapted to fit onto the formation 3 of the lamp housing and includes a recess 10 adapted to receive the pin 4. The body 6 also has a through hole 11 adapted to receive a screw 12 intended to tap into the recess 5. The centres of the recess 9 and the through hole 11 are spaced apart by the same distance DI as are the centres of the pin 4 and the recess 5.

The body 6 is formed with a channel 13 open towards the second side 8 and extending from the through hole 10 to the edge 9. In use, an earth wire 14 passes up the channel and is connected between the screw 12 and the body 6.

On the second side 8, the body is provided with a formation which is adapted to receive and support a standard high voltage lampholder. A first type of standard high voltage lampholder 15 is shown in Figures 3 and 4 and is of the type which holds a lamp 16 of the type shown in Figure 4. A second type of standard high voltage lamp holder 151 is shown in Figures 5 and 6 and holds a lwnp 161 of the type shown in Figure 6.

The formation on the second side 8 of the body 6 includes a pin 17 adapted to be received in a first hole formed in the lampholder 15, 151 and a recess 18 which is adapted to receive a screw 19 passing through a second hole in the lampholder. The pin 17 and recess 18 are spaced apart by a distance D2 corresponding to the spacing between the through holes formed in the lampholder 15, 15 1.

The body 6 is shown in greater detail in Figures 7-10. In addition to the features already described, the body includes an annular wall 20 on its first side 7 which helps location on the formation 3. The second surface 8 is also profiled to aid location of the high voltage lainpliolder. The channel 13 has a cylindrical end portion 131 adapted to receive a circular electrical connector. The pin 17 rises from the body adjacent the cylindrical end portion 131 and has a crescent shape as a result. The body is formed as a single piece of metal by moulding, pressing, or machining or a combination thereof.

Claims

1. An adaptor for enabling a lamp housing adapted for connection to a standard low voltage lamp holder to be connected to a standard high voltage lampholder, the adaptor comprising:

a body having two generally opposite sides; wherein the body is provided with a formation on the first side which is adapted to fit onto a formation in the lamp housing intended to receive and support a low voltage lampholder and is provided on the second side with a formation adapted to receive and support a high voltage lampholder.

2. An adaptor as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the formation on the first side of the body includes a recess adapted to receive a pin formed on the lamp housing and the body has a through hole for a screw intended to tap into a corresponding recess on the lamp housing; the recess and through hole on the body being spaced apart by a distance D l corresponding to the spacing between two through holes formed in a standard low voltage lampholder.

3. An adaptor as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the formation on the second side of the body includes a pin adapted to be received in a first hole formed in a high voltage lampholder and a recess adapted to receive a screw passing through a second hole in the high voltage lamp holder; the pin and recess on the second side of the body being spaced apart by a distance D2 corresponding to the spacing between two through holes formed in the low voltage lampholder.

4. An adaptor as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the body is formed with a channel open towards the second side of the body and extending from the through hole in the body to an edge of the body.

5. An adaptor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body is generally cylindrical.

6. An adaptor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body is formed as a single piece.

7. An adaptor substantially as described herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A lamp housing, adaptor and lampholder substantially as described herein with 15 reference to the accompanying drawings.