GB2428524A

GB2428524A - A lamp holder and lamp end cap for a low-energy lamp

Info

Publication number: GB2428524A
Application number: GB0514712A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shaun Davis
Original assignee: SEYMOUR DESIGN Ltd
Current assignee: SEYMOUR DESIGN Ltd
Priority date: 2005-07-19
Filing date: 2005-07-19
Publication date: 2007-01-31
Anticipated expiration: 2025-07-19
Also published as: GB0514712D0; CN201252319Y; GB2428524B; WO2007010248A1

Abstract

A lamp holder for a low-energy lamp, comprising a housing, electrical connection means, and a male interference member 21. The male interference member is connected to, and extends from, the housing. The male interference member is adapted to be received by a corresponding receptacle aperture on a lamp end cap 3 of a lamp, thereby enabling connection of the lamp end cap to the lamp holder, and hence enabling an electrical connection to be formed therebetween. Lamps not provided with a corresponding receptacle aperture, such as standard incandescent lamps, are prevented from connecting to the lamp holder by the male interference member.

Description

A LAMP HOLDER AND LAMP END CAP FOR A LOW-ENERGY LAMP

This invention relates to a lamp and lamp holder. More specifically, this invention relates to an end cap for a low-energy lamp and a dedicated lamp holder for such.

On 1 April 2002, the UK Government introduced the Building Regulations Approved Document Li, relating to conservation of fuel and power in dwellings. This document recomends that reasonable provisions should be made for dwelling occupiers to obtain the benefits of energy efficient lighting. Under these regulations, builders are required to ensure that 30% of the lighting in new homes uses low-energy lamps.

It is not sufficient that builders provide standard lamp fittings with low-energy lamps, as the low-energy lamps may be removed and replaced with non-low-energy incandescent lamps. Therefore, to comply with the Li Regulations, low-energy lamp holders must be provided which do not permit connection of standard incandescent lamps.

Low-energy lamps such as PL lamps require a ballast to regulate the current within the lamps. The ballast may be provided as an integral part of the lamp or as part of the lamp holder. There are low-energy lamps currently provided which comprise an integral ballast. Such low- energy lamps are designed to be received by standard lamp holders, to enable retro-fitting of low-energy lamps into existing standard lamp holders. However, whilst this compatibility enables the low-energy lamps to be retro- fitted into existing lamp holders, it also enables them to be removed and easily replaced with standard incandescent fittings. Therefore, as discussed above, such lamps are not sufficient to comply with Li regulations.

Therefore, it is current practice for new home builders to provide a dedicated low-energy lamp holder with an integral ballast, usually suspended from the ceiling by a trailing wire. Such lamp holders require dedicated low- energy lamps. As the ballast is contained in the lamp holder, these lamps are not suitable for retro-fitting into standard lamp holders. In addition, incorporation of the ballast into the lamp holder undesirably increases the size of the lamp holder.

Generally, low-energy lamp holders with built-in ballasts have a diameter of approximately 40mm. In contrast, standard UK lamp holders have an approximate diameter of 30mm. These larger low-energy lamp holders are considered aesthetically unpleasing by many consumers. To make matters worse, standard lamp shades do not fit onto the larger dedicated lowenergy lamp holders, so consumers are not able to hide the lamp holders.

Therefore, it is common for the purchaser of a new home to replace the low-energy lamp holders fitted by the builder with a standard lamp holder, which takes a normal incandescent lamp. This process negates the purpose of the Li regulations.

One solution to this problem would be to provide integrated light fittings which can not be easily replaced, such as flush fittings. However, such fittings are not suited to rooms such as living rooms where home owners generally prefer fittings such a single pendant with a lamp shade, or more decorative fittings such as 3 and 5 arm pendants. Furthermore, the dedicated lamps for such fitting are not able to be retro-fitted into standard lamp holders.

It is therefore desirable to provide an improved lamp holder and lamp which address the above problems, and/or provide a dedicated lamp holder which prevents connection of non-low energy lamps; and/or a lamp which is connectable to the low-energy lamp holder whilst being able to be retrofitted to standard lamp holders, and/or which provide improvement generally.

According to the present invention there is provided a lamp holder, and lamp end cap, as described in the accompanying claims.

In a first aspect of an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a lamp holder for a low-energy lamp, comprising a housing, electrical connection means, and a male interference member. The male interference member is connected to, and extends from, the housing. The male interference member is adapted to be received by a corresponding receptacle aperture on a lamp end cap of a lamp. The male interference member is received by, and extends within, the corresponding receptacle aperture of the lamp end cap, thereby enabling connection of the lamp end cap to the lamp holder, and hence enabling an electrical connection to be formed therebetween.

In this way, lamps not provided with a corresponding receptacle aperture, such as standard incandescent lamps, are prevented from connecting to the lamp holder by the male interference member. This advantageously ensures that only low-energy lamps adapted to be received by the male interference member may be fitted to the lamp holder, thereby ensuring compliance with current Li regulations.

Preferably, the male interference member and the housing are coaxial. This enables the lamp end cap to rotate about the male interference member when connecting to the lamp holder.

The male interference member may be annularly tapered towards its tip, thereby enabling it to be more easily received by the receptacle groove of the end cap.

The electrical connection means is connected in use to a power supply, such as a domestic electrical power supply. The electrical connection means is preferably an electrical socket. The electrical socket may comprise a pair of pin receiving slots.

In a second aspect of an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a lamp end cap for connection to a low energy lamp, comprising a housing, electrical connection means, and a receptacle aperture. The receptacle aperture is adapted to receive a corresponding male interference member of a lamp holder. The male interference member is received by the receptacle aperture thereby enabling the electrical connection means of the lamp end cap to interconnect with the corresponding electrical connection means of the lamp holder. The receptacle aperture advantageously enables the lamp end cap to connect to a dedicated lamp holder having a male interference member. In addition, the receptacle aperture does not itself provide any physical interference, and thereby enables the lamp end cap to be connected to standard lamp holders. As such, the lamp may be connected to a dedicated lamp holder and retro- fitted to a standard lamp holder.

Preferably, the receptacle aperture is coaxial with the housing, thereby enabling the lamp end cap to be rotated about the male interference member.

Preferably, the housing of the lamp end cap is adapted to receive a lowenergy lamp including a ballast.

The electrical connection means of the lamp end cap may comprise a pair of electrical connection pins. These pins may be diametrically larger at one end than the other.

Preferably, the lamp end cap is adapted to be received by a lamp holder not having a male interference member.

In another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a lamp assembly comprising a lamp holder and a lamp end cap. The lamp holder comprises a first electrical connection means, a lamp end cap housing and a male interference member. The lamp end cap comprises second electrical connection means, a lamp housing and a receptacle aperture. The male interference member is adapted to be received by the receptacle aperture, thereby enabling connection of the first electrical connection means to the second electrical connection means.

Preferably, the male interference member and the lamp end cap housing are coaxial, and the receptacle aperture and the lamp housing are also coaxial.

The male interference member may be annularly tapered towards its tip.

Preferably, the first electrical connection mans is an electrical socket, and the second electrical connection means comprises a pair of electrical connection pins. The electrical socket may comprise a pair of pin receiving slots. The electrical connection pins may be diametrically larger at one end than the other.

Preferably, the lamp end cap is adapted to receive a low-energy lamp including a ballast.

The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is an exploded view of the lamp and lamp holder assembly according to an embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the lamp and lamp holder assembly of Figure 1; FIGURE 3 shows a plan view from above of the lamp holder shown in Figures 1 and 2; FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the lamp holder of Figure 4; FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross sectional view of the lamp holder of Figure 4; FIGURE 6 is a plan view from below of the lamp end cap of Figures 1 and 2; FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the lamp end cap of Figure 6; FIGURE 8 is a vertical cross sectional view of the lamp holder of Figure 6; FIGURE 9 is perspective view of a lamp holder according to another embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 10 is a plan view from above of the lamp holder of Figure 9; FIGURE 11 is a plan view from above of the lamp end cap corresponding to the lamp holder of Figure 9; FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of the lamp end cap of Figure 11; FIGURE 13 is a vertical cross sectional view of the lamp end cap of Figure 11.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the lamp assembly 15 comprises a low-energy lamp 5, a lamp end cap 3, and a lamp holder 1. The low-energy lamp 5 comprises a low-energy lamp section 13 and a ballast section 11. The combination of the low-energy lamp 5, and the end cap 3 constitutes what is commonly referred to a light bulb, but which will hereon in be referred to as a lamp. The low-energy lamp section 13 is preferably a florescent lamp such as a PL lamp or any other suitable low-energy florescent lamp. The ballast section 11 is connected to the low-energy lamp section 13, and regulates the current flow thereto. The end section 2 of the ballast section 11 is adapted to be fitted to the lamp end cap 3. When the ballast section 11 is attached to the lamp end cap 3, an electrical connection is formed therebetween.

The lamp end cap 3 provides an intermediate connection between the lowenergy lamp 5 and the lamp holder 1.

Referring also to Figures 6 to 8, the lamp end cap 3 comprises a lamp housing 27, electrical connection pins 9 and a receptacle aperture 7. The lamp housing 27 comprises an upper housing section 33, which is tapered towards its end, and a lower housing section 35, which define inner chambers 37 and 39 respectively. The lamp end cap 3 has an upper surface 32, which faces away from the low-energy lamp 5. Electrical connection pins 9 extend from the upper surface 32 of the end cap 3 away from the end cap 3. The electrical connection pins 9 are attached to the end cap 3 via pin receiving apertures 31. The electrical connection pins 9 extend through the pin receiving apertures 31 into the chamber 37 of lamp housing 27. Inner chamber 39 is adapted to receive the end section 2 of the ballast section 11, such that an electrical connection is formed between the electrical connection pins 9 and the ballast end section 2.

The receptacle aperture 7 is located in the centre of the upper end of the end cap 3. The receptacle aperture 7 is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the lamp end cap 3. As can be seen from Figure 8, the receptacle aperture 7 extends partially within the upper surface 32 of the lamp end cap 3, and is preferably annularly tapered to correspond with the annular taper of the male interference member. As such, the upper surface of the end cap remains sealed to the atmosphere.

The lamp end cap 3 connects to the lamp holder 1. The lamp holder 1 comprises a housing 19, an electrical socket 18, and a male interference member 21. The lamp holder 1 may also comprise screw holes 22 for securing the lamp holder to an additional structure. The housing 19 defines a chamber 24 for receiving the lamp end cap 3. The chamber 24 is annually tapered inwards at its base to correspond to, and accommodate, the tapered end section 33 of lamp end cap 3. The socket 18 comprises two diametrically opposed pin receiving slots 23. The slots are connected to electrical cables 17, to enable connection of the lamp holder 1 to a power supply, such as a domestic electrical power supply.

As can be seen from Figures 7 and 8, the electrical connection pins 9 of the end cap 3 are diametrically larger at their free end than at their base. The larger end diameter corresponds to the enlarged sections 26 of the pin receiving slots 23. The electrical connection pins 9 are inserted into the pin receiving slots 23 via the enlarged pin receiving sections 26. The end cap 3 is then rotated such that the electrical connection pins 9 abut the ends of the pin receiving slots 23 opposite the enlarged pin receiving sections 26. The width of the pin receiving slots 23 are reduced at these ends to a width less than the - 9-.

diameter of the larger ends of the electrical connection pins 9, such that the pins may not be removed from the pin receiving grooves 23 by a force applied along the longitudinal axis of the pins 9 without being rotated back to the enlarged pin receiving sections 26.

The male interference member 21 is connected to, and extends away from, the base 25 of the inner chamber 24 of the housing 19, and has a longitudinal axis coaxial with the central axis of the housing 19. As the end cap 3 is inserted into the lamp housing chamber 24, the male interference member 21 is received by the receptacle aperture 7 of the end cap 3. The diameter of the interference member 21 is equal to or less than the diameter of the receptacle aperture 7. Preferably the male interference member 21 is annularly tapered towards its tip, such that the diameter of the end furthest away from the base 25 of the housing 19 is less than the diameter of the receptacle aperture 7, and less than the diameter of the base of the male interference member 21. When the end cap 3 is inserted into the inner chamber 24 of the housing 19, the male interference member 21 is coaxial with the receptacle aperture 7, such that the end cap 3 is rotatable about the male interference member 21. This enables rotation of the lamp end cap 3 to connect the electrical connection pins 9 within the pin receiving slots 23.

The dual pin receiving slots 23 of socket 18 advantageously isolate the internal electrical connections of the lamp holder 1 from the inner chamber 24, such that a user may not accidentally receive a shock from the lamp holder 1 if their fingers are inadvertently placed into lamp holder 1. Other means of electrical connection of the lamp end cap 3 to the lamp holder 1 could also be employed, such as those commonly found on screw thread or bayonet lamp fittings.

Figure 9 shows a further embodiment of the invention, in which additional interference members 30 are provided as further means of preventing attachment of non-low-energy lamps. As can be seen from Figures 9 and 10, the interference members 30 are lugs which extend from the inner wall 12 of the lamp holder housing 19. The lugs 30 are arranged such that they interfere with the end caps of standard incandescent lamps. The lugs 30 are diametrically opposed on the inner wall 12 of the lamp holder housing 19.

Referring to Figures 11 to 13, the lamp end cap 3 may be provided with annular grooves 29 in the upper section 33 of the end cap housing 27. The annular grooves 29 partially extend around the periphery of the upper section 33 of the end cap housing 27. The annular grooves 27 are symmetrical and diametrically opposed about the central axis of the end cap 3. The angular distance through which the annular grooves 29 extend corresponds to the angle through which the end cap is rotated during securement of the electrical connection pins 9 to the socket 18, i.e. the angle between the first end and the second end of the pin receiving slots 23. As can be seen from Figure 13, the cross sections of the annular grooves 27 correspond to the shape of the lugs 30. As such, when the end cap 3 is inserted into the lamp holder 1, the lugs 30 are received by the annular grooves 29, thereby enabling connection of the electrical connection pins 9 to the electrical socket 18 of the lamp holder 1.

Whilst the lamp end cap 3 is shown with two annular grooves 29, and the lamp holder 1 is shown with two lugs 30, the lamp holder 1 may be provided with a single lug 30, in which case the end cap 3 will only require a single corresponding annular groove.

Providing a dedicated lamp holder 1 for a low-energy lamp 5, which does not have an integrated ballast, advantageously enables the lamp holder 1 to be dimensioned such that it will accommodate standard lamp shades and lamp fittings. In addition, the lamp holder 1 may be incorporated into decorative light fittings such as pendant light fittings, without detracting from the visual appearance of such fittings. Furthermore, by incorporating the ballast 11 into the lamp 5, rather than the lamp holder 1, failure of the ballast 11 only requires replacement of the lamp 5 and does not result in failure of the light fitting to which the lamp holder 1 is attached. Providing a lamp holder without an integrated ballast also enables the consumer to vary the wattage of the lamp, as the lamps themselves may be provided in varying wattages. In contrast, current dedicated PL lamp holders have integrated ballasts designed for a specific wattage lamp, and therefore the wattage is not able to be varied.

The low-energy lamp end cap 3 and lamp holder 1 arrangement of the claimed invention advantageously provides a more versatile low-energy lamp. Currently, low- energy lamps fall into one of two categories, namely those which can be fitted into standard incandescent light fittings, and those which fit into dedicated low-energy lamp holders. These two categories of low- energy lamps are not interchangeable. The present invention provides a low- energy lamp arrangement which is able to be fitted to a dedicated low- energy lamp holder and which is also able to be retro-fitted to a standard lamp holder. Presently, the cost of low energy lamps is significantly greater than the cost of standard incandescent lamps, which is seen as a barrier to the take up of low energy lamps by consumers. By providing a common low-energy lamp which fulfils both purposes, the volume of low energy lamps manufactured may be increased considerably thereby reducing the cost of such lamps. Reducing the cost of low energy lamps, and enabling them to be fitted to standard dedicated low energy lamp holders, should further encourage consumers to use these products instead of current non-low-energy incandescent lamps.

Furthermore, fluorescent lamps can not generally be dimmed without the use of expensive switch gear. However, CFL's have now been developed which are able to dimmed without such expensive switch gear. These lamps have the circuitry required to enable dimming incorporated into the lamp. Therefore such lamps can be provided with the end caps of the present invention, thereby enabling dimmerable lamps to be provided for dedicated lamp holders without the need to replace the lamp holder itself. This is not possible with current dedicated lamp holders, in which the ballast is built-in, and can therefore not be replaced easily with a dimmerable version.

It will be appreciated that in further embodiments various modifications to the specific arrangements described above and shown in the drawings may be made. For example, whilst it is described that the electrical connection between the lamp end cap 3 and the lamp holder 1 is made using a two pin connection method, other methods of electrical connection of the lamp to the lamp holder may be provided. Furthermore, whilst the lamp 5 is referred to throughout the description as a low- energy lamp, the lamp end cap and lamp holder arrangement of the present invention may also be applied to non-low energy lamps to provide a dedicated end cap and lamp holder connection arrangement.

Claims

1. A lamp holder comprising: electrical connection means; a housing; and a male interference member, wherein the male interference member is connected to, and extends from, the housing, and is adapted to be received in use by a corresponding receptacle aperture of a lamp end cap to enable the lamp end cap to be connected to the lamp holder.

2. The lamp holder of claim 1, wherein the male interference member and the housing are coaxial.

3. The lamp holder of claims 1 or 2, wherein the male interference member is annularly tapered towards its tip.

4. The lamp holder of any preceding claim, further comprising a second interference member.

5. The lamp holder of claim 4, wherein the second interference member extends inwardly from an inner wall of the housing.

6. The lamp holder of claims 4 or 5, further comprising a third interference member, the interference member extending from an inner wall of the housing.

7. The lamp holder of any preceding claim, wherein the electrical connection means is an electrical socket.

8. The lamp holder of claim 7, wherein the electrical socket comprises a pair of pin receiving slots.

9. The lamp holder of any preceding claim, wherein the electrical connection means is connected in use to a power supply, such as a domestic electrical power supply.

10. A lamp end cap comprising: electrical connection means; a housing; and a receptacle aperture, wherein the receptacle aperture is adapted to receive a corresponding male interference member of a lamp holder.

11. The lamp end cap of claim 10, wherein the receptacle aperture is coaxial with the housing.

12. The lamp end cap of claims 10 or 11, wherein the housing is adapted to receive a low energy lamp including a ballast.

13. The lamp end cap of any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the electrical connection means comprises a pair of electrical connection pins.

14. The lamp end cap of claim 13, wherein the electrical connection pins are diametrically larger at one end than the other.

15. The lamp end cap of any of claims 13 to 17, wherein the lamp end cap is adapted to be received by a lamp holder not having a second male interference member.

16. The lamp end cap of any of claims 10 to 16, further comprising a groove extending around at least part of the periphery of the housing for receiving in use a corresponding second interference member of a lamp holder.

17. The lamp holder of claim 16, further comprising a second groove for receiving in use a third male interference member.

18. A lamp assembly comprising: a lamp holder comprising first electrical connection means, a lamp end cap housing and a male interference member; and a lamp end cap comprising second electrical connection means, a lamp housing and a receptacle aperture, wherein the male interference member is adapted to be received by the receptacle aperture thereby enabling connection of the first electrical connection means to the second electrical connection means.

19. The lamp assembly of claim 18 wherein the male interference member and the lamp end cap housing are coaxial.

20. The lamp assembly of claims 18 or 19, wherein the receptacle aperture and the lamp housing are coaxial.

21. The lamp assembly of any of claims 18 to 20, wherein the male interference member is annularly tapered towards its tip.

22. The lamp assembly of any of claims 18 to 21, wherein the first electrical connection means is an electrical socket.

23. The lamp assembly of claim 22, wherein the electrical socket comprises a pair of pin receiving slots.

24. The lamp assembly of any of claims 18 to 23, wherein the second electrical connection means comprises a pair of electrical connection pins.

25. The lamp assembly of claim 24, wherein the electrical connection pins are diametrically larger at one end than the other.

26. The lamp assembly of any of claims 18 to 25, wherein the lamp end cap is adapted to receive a low energy lamp including a ballast.

27. A lamp holder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying figures.

28. A lamp end cap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying figures.

29. A lamp assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying figures.