GB2404771A

GB2404771A - Combined wall luminaire and picture frame support.

Info

Publication number: GB2404771A
Application number: GB0318092A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robin Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-08-01
Filing date: 2003-08-01
Publication date: 2005-02-09
Also published as: GB0318092D0

Abstract

A wall luminaire includes light source 10 fixed to a bracket whose arms 5 supports a proprietary pre-assembled picture frame 11 enclosing a translucent panel 13 which is illuminated from the rear. Open sides permit the lamp to provide ambient lighting to the wall and surroundings. The luminaire supports the picture frame with arms 5 terminating in flanges 6 which closely fit into a groove on the inner side of the frame moulding 14. Small blocks in the groove 14 stop the frame sliding down the support bracket. Tension in the arms 5 maintain the picture frame in position and the picture frame 11 may be easily clipped on or off the arms 5.

Description

WALL LUMINAIRE AND PICTURE FRAME SUPPORT The invention relates to a type of wall luminaire which provides a flexible suspension system for a proprietary pre-assembled picture frame. Printed artworks even when well illuminated do not offer the vibrancy which can be achieved when translucent panels (either plain or supporting a photographic transparency) are used. Light boxes are well known in the sales promotional field and illuminate translucent coloured pictures to great effect but they are expensive due to the sophistication of their internal lamps. Light boxes do not provide ambient light for their surroundings. Existing wall luminaires may have decorative panels but the decorative element, if any, can not easily be changed and the scope of the available options is limited. The object of the invention is to combine into one unit a wall mounted luminaire which provides ambient illumination of the wall washer type and rear illumination of a decorative translucent panel which is enclosed in a frame supported by a system allowing for simple fixing or removal. Accordingly this invention provides a metal wall secured bracket holding a light source. The wall bracket has two arms which securely support a picture frame, enclosing a translucent panel, parallel to the wall. The lamp illuminates the panel from behind. Light from the lamp also is reflected over the rear surrounding wall to provide ambient lighting in the room. The picture frame and translucent panel can be easily clipped on and off the wall bracket allowing for easy change of the frame/panel combination. The support system for the picture frame exploits the groove in the inner edge of the mouldings used in pre-assembled frames. The bracket may be hung to support picture frames of two different sizes by using either the length or width dimension. Proprietary pre assembled picture frames are available in the UK market made of aluminium, plastic or wood. The mouldings of these frames are manufactured with a groove on their inner edge which is normally used to accept the spring clips which secure the back boards. The invention specifically uses this groove to lock onto flanges running along the ends of the arms on the bracket. Tension in the bracket ensure the picture frame is securely anchored on the bracket arms. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows a view of the whole luminaire with the position of the proprietary picture frame shown. Figure 2 shows a plan of the top of the luminaire attached to the wall and supporting the picture frame. Figure 3 shows a cross-section of the connection between the between the flange on the arm of the luminaire and the groove on the inner side of the moulding of the proprietary picture frame which provides the support for the frame. As shown in figure 1, the luminaire consists of a back section 2 drilled to allow for screw fixing to a wall 3 and to allow for access for AC power supply 4. The luminaire should be positioned on the wall at eye level. One arm 5 is drilled to accept and support a batten type lamp holder 9 in such a way that a lamp 10 fitted into the lamp holder is held parallel to the inside wall of the back section and to the translucent panel 13 held in the frame. The light emitting part of the light source 10 is postioned in the centre of the luminaire bracket to provide a central point of illumination for the panel. Two right angled bends form two arms 5 which terminate in outward facing flanges 6 (explained in detail in Figure 3) The position of the proprietary frame 11 can be seen held in position by the arms 5. As seen in Figure 2 a plan of the invention from above showing attachment of the back section 2 to the wall 3. The position of the lamp 10. The position of the translucent panel 13 held in place by the proprietary frame 11 can be seen held in position by the arms 5. As seen in figure 3 a cross-section of one of the two supporting flanges 6 fitting into the groove 14 in the moulding of the picture frame 11 to provide support. The flange 6 is of a precise overall width to ensure a close fit into the groove in the moulding 14. Its sides comprise the end of the arm 5, and the end of an additional bracket 7. Tension in the arms of the wall bracket ensure that the integrity of the union between flange and frame moulding is maintained but this can be overcome to change the picture frame. Small blocks (not shown) fastened into the groove 14 in the picture frame on the upper side of the arm ensure the picture frame is held in a central position on the luminaire arms 5 and does not slip down. The luminaire may be fastened to the wall using the same fixing holes in the back section 2 in either a "landscape" or "portrait" aspect to accommodate pictures of either orientation and of different sizes - a smaller frame is held across its longer dimension, a larger frame held across its shorted dimension.

Claims

1. A wall luminaire comprising a lamp and wall bracket adapted for releasably securing a proprietary commercially available pre-assembled picture frame.

2. A wall luminaire as in claim 1 where the picture frame is held in a position in relation to the lamp to permit rear illumination of the contents of the picture frame.

3. A wall luminaire as in claim 2 which also permits light to be dispersed into the room by reflection off the rear supporting wall to provide ambient light.

4. A wall luminaire as in claim 1 wherein the support mechanism for the picture frame makes use of grooves existing in the mouldings of proprietary picture frames.

5 A wall luminaire as in claim 4 wherein the picture frame supporting mechanism allows for easy repeated installation and removal of the picture frame(s).

6 A wall luminaire as in claim 4 whose picture frame support mechanism requires a modification t o the picture frame to arrest sliding in the position of the picture frame on the support.

7. A wall luminaire as in preceding claims which can accommodate picture frames made from aluminium, plastic or different styles of wood.

8. A luminaire substantially as herein described and illustrated in the a accompanying drawings.