GB2433310A

GB2433310A - Low profile lighting device

Info

Publication number: GB2433310A
Application number: GB0625179A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan James Friedman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-12-19
Filing date: 2006-12-18
Publication date: 2007-06-20
Also published as: GB0625179D0; WO2007071953A1; GB0525787D0

Abstract

A lighting device (10) contains one or more LEDs and is of low-profile, being suitable for location on a wall without needing to be recessed into the wall. Electrical connections between the lighting device and the power source are made using ribbon cable (15) exiting via an opening (35) in the side of the device, and lying flush with its base (24). The device can thus be fitted directly onto the wall without the need for access from behind.

Description

LOW PROFILE LIGHTING DEVICE

The present invention relates to LED-containing lighting devices and their installation onto surfaces, in particular installation onto flat surfaces for domestic use.

A number of different, typically wall-mounted lighting devices are known for domestic use. It is possible nowadays to obtain a high power output from relatively small LED-based devices meaning that more and more lights are now made including LEDs in various combinations and to produce various different lighting effects. Coloured LEDs are available and diffusers can be used to combine colours.

A known wall-mounted lighting device contains LEDs in a cylindrical unit mounted below a diffuser. An electrical connection out of the rear of the device enables it to be mounted, for example, in a recess in a skirting board. A number of such devices in a row gives a pleasing lighting effect. Control units can turn the lights off as a whole or one-by-one.

Another lighting unit is known which is slimmer in dimension and can be mounted directly onto the skirting board surface rather than requiring a recess. Again, electric wires out of the rear of the device connect it to power supply and control units.

A further known device has access to power using standard cabling via the side of its frame. It is fitted using screws that are located whilst the device is partially disassembled.

Many other specific LED-containing lights and light fittings are known, for example those described in JP200I-325808, US 6609804, US2005/0219860, US6076936, US6793369 and GB2324901.

A difficulty with many known devices is that they are relatively bulky and must be recessed so as not to protrude into the room. This is the case even with the slimmer, surface-mounted device which preferably is located in a recess. Known devices have power supply cables exiting from the rear, and are fitted by passing the cable through a hole, for example, in the wall or in a skirting board or other support structure. To fit the devices requires access to the space behind the wall or skirting board etc. As with many types of electrical installation, floor boards and/or skirting boards have to be removed in order to complete installation and connect up the cabling. This process is both time-consuming and messy, in that removing and replacing boards often means there is some surface damage and there needs to be decoration work carried out after installation. Generally, known devices use cabling that requires recessing or chasing or special conduits, meaning that significant redecorating must be carried out if the cable is to be hidden.

Generally, known devices are not designed for ease of installation but for the lighting effect to be achieved. Also, generally, known devices are not designed for fitting to surfaces when there is no access to the rear of the device through the surface. Whilst a specific device is known which can be fitted without access to the rear of the surface, this device is bulky and requires partial disassembly to enable fixing screws to be located.

It is an object of the invention to provide a lighting device which overcomes these problems or at least provides an alternative. An aim of specific embodiments of the invention is to provide an LED-based lighting device which can be installed without the need to gain access to the rear of skirting boards or walls or other surfaces on which it is mounted.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a lighting device, comprising:-a housing, an LED within the housing, and a ribbon cable to connect the LED to a power source, wherein the housing has a base portion for mounting the light on a surface and the ribbon cable exits a side of the housing, adjacent to the base portion and flush with the base.

The present invention also provides a lighting device, comprising:-a housing, having a base and a side, an LED in the housing, and a cable to connect the LED to a power source, wherein the cable exits the housing through the side so that the base can be mounted onto a flat surface. In use, such devices can thus be directly mounted onto a surface, preferably a flat one, with no requirement to access the device from the rear and no requirement to provide a channel through or in the surface.

The invention also provides a method of fitting a light to a surface corn pnsing:-providing a light according to the invention, locating the light on the surface, and attaching a power cable to the light, with the cable exiting the side of the housing but flush with the base of the light.

The present invention provides an LED -containing light, suitable for a wide range of uses, and particularly suited for domestic fitting in houses and vehicles. LEDs operate at safe, low voltage and lend themselves well to such uses, being easily driven via transformers in the home or at voltages used inside cars, for example. In a specific embodiment of the invention described in examples below, a housing contains the LED, and has a flat base for mounting the light on a flat surface and a front side from which light is emitted. This specific light is preferably low-profile, in that its height is relatively small compared to its width, and can be mounted onto a surface without needing a recess in the surface but will not protrude excessively. The power cable exits the side of the housing, lying on and against the surface and so the light is quickly and easily fitted.

The invention thus provides a lighting device, comprising:-a housing, having a base and a side, an LED in the housing, a cable to connect the LED to a power source, wherein the cable exits the housing through the side so that the base can be mounted onto a flat surface.

It is optional for the device to be provided without the cable pre-fitted, so the invention also provides a light comprising a housing, having a base and a side, an LED in the housing, and an exit in the side for location of a cable to connect the LED to a power source, wherein the cable when located exits the housing through the side so that the base can be mounted onto a flat surface. A lighting device of the invention thus comes with the cable (whether attached or not), whereas a light does not.

The housing preferably has a base which is generally flat, being designed to be located onto a flat surface, and has sides and a top, and light is emitted from the housing through the top, optionally via a lens or diffuser positioned over the LED.

The base can also in certain embodiments be designed to fit into a predetermined location, and be shaped and configured accordingly, with the exit for the power cable remaining on the side so that the base and cable can be flush mounted.

The cable preferably exits via an opening in the housing at the bottom of the side, adjacent to and optionally continuing into the base. In typical use, the base of the housing butts up against the surface, but the opening means that the cable is not pinched between the housing and the surface. The opening may be so dimensioned that the cable is a tight fit, but preferably is such that there is no damage to the cable by being compressed when the light is attached to the surface. Fitting of the light generally is by screws or nails and hence the base will be tightly fastened, but where the opening continues into the base there is a cut-away portion which ensures adequate clearance for the cable.

The housing can also have a cable channel in its base, which connects with the opening in the side, and the cable runs along the channel and exits the housing via the opening. Hence, the housing can be mounted flush with (i.e. flat onto) a flat surface and the cable then exits the side, again flush with the surface. When the light is mounted on a flat surface, the surface and the channel form an enclosed conduit for the cable.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the cable is a ribbon cable and the height of the channel is the same as or slightly more than the height of the cable. Typically the cable is about 0.2mm or less in height, or about 0.1mm in height and thus also is the channel.

The housing can be made of a number of suitable materials, including metal, plastic and composites. Aluminium has been used in lights made to date. It is typically stuck onto or screwed onto a surface, with light emitted via a diffuser or lens. Different coloured LEDs can be used and the light can contain one LED or a plurality of LEDs, optionally of different colours.

The invention in specific embodiments provides a lighting device, comprising-a housing, an LED within the housing, a nbbon cable to connect the LED to a power source, wherein the housing has a flat, base portion for mounting the light on a flat surface and the ribbon cable exits a side of the housing, adjacent to the base portion and flush with the base.

The invention in specific embodiments also provides a light, comprising-a housing, having a base and a side, an LED within the housing, an opening in the side of the housing for location of a ribbon cable to connect the LED to a power source, wherein the base of the housing is for mounting the light on a flat surface and the ribbon cable exits a side of the housing, adjacent to the base portion and flush with the base.

The cable connects the LED to a power source, typically positioned some distance from the light, which may include simple on/off controls or also more complex controls such as dim, fade and timer-controls. The cable exits a side of the housing, so that a light of the invention with a flat base can be mounted onto a flat surface without pinching the ribbon cable between the housing and the surface.

The housing of a light described in more detail below has a base, sides and a top.

The base is flat and a ribbon cable exits the housing at the bottom of the side adjacent to the base and such that it lies flat against the surface on which the light is mounted, the housing has one, two or more screw holes for attachment of the light to the surface with screws or other suitable fittings. It is preferred that no disassembly of the device is needed to access the screw holes. In a light of the invention, described in more detail in the examples, the light can be located on a surface and screws screwed through the holes whilst the light is in situ. Blanking plugs can then optionally be affixed over the screw heads. The screw holes can be used for drilling holes in the surface whilst the light is in the desired location.

The housing of the light can be various shapes, and as set out in the examples can be approximately square or round, having an outer metal rim with the LED inside the rim and covered by a lens. Reference to sides of the housing refers in this latter light to the side constituted by the circumference of the cylindrical housing.

The housing can contain one or a plurality of LEDs, which can be all of the same type or colour or can be a mixture. For example, the LEDs can all be white. There can be one red, one green and one blue LED. There can be one red, one green, one blue and one white LED. Other combinations are also suitable.

The base of the housing is preferably flat and solid. This facilitates fixing of the light using adhesive -for example onto surfaces which do not take screws. An adhesive pad can be attached to the base. Fixing putty can be used so the light can removably be attached, for example in a temporary installation. The base can be solid and designed that substantially no light exits from the rear. This can be desirable if the light is fixed to a translucent surface and the user does not want light to come through the surface. The solid base, with access to the LED(S) only via the conduit for the power cable, can also protect the electrical components from ingress of moisture or water through the rear.

The device is flat and wide, preferably having a height of 7mm or less, more preferably 6mm or less and further preferably 5mm or less. Specific embodiments described below are about 4mm high.

The lens when present can be clear, diffusing, coloured or a combination of two or more.

Known ribbon cable can be used with the invention, ribbon cable being generally flat and containing a plurality of conductors in an insulator. There are usually at least two conductors but there can be typically from three to ten. The cable used in a specific embodiment has five conductors, each insulated from each other. Each conductor is a flat, metallic strip, laid flat and side-by-side in the insulator, the resultant cable being flat and wide. The cable used in the example has typical ribbon cable dimensions in that its height is only a small fraction of its width. The height of that cable is approximately 0.1mm. Typically, the ribbon cable would be 0.25mm or less in height, preferable 0.2mm or 0. 15mm or less. The width of the cable used in the example is approximately 5mm, but the width is largely dictated by the number of insulators and so too can vary.

An advantage of the ribbon cable is its extremely low height and hence its extremely low profile. It is essentially so flat, i.e. of such small height, that it can be run along and over a surface without the need for a channel to be recessed into the surface and, as a result, without the need for the cable to be run through holes or cavities.

The cable, once in place, can easily be painted or decorated over, for example with wallpaper or lining paper, to render it almost completely invisible, certainly invisible from any reasonable distance. The cable can be folded, for example to chase around a corner, whilst remaining sufficiently thin to be decorated over without being obtrusive.

The invention also provides a method of fitting a light to a surface comprising:-providing a light according to the invention, locating the light on the surface, and attaching a power cable to the light, with the cable exiting the side of the housing.

By locating, we refer to placing the light in the desired position. It is usual for the light to be fixed in place or attached, for example using adhesive or screws or nails.

The method optionally also comprises attaching the cable to the surface, running away from the light. This can be done using glue, pins or other fittings.

Conveniently, the method comprises decorating, such as painting over the cable. For example, the cable is laid flat over the surface, such as the surface of a skirting board or wall and the cable is then painted over. In preferred embodiments, the cable is a ribbon cable.

A lighting device of a specific embodiment has four LEDs in a housing connected to power via a ribbon cable. Two screw holes allow for attachment to a surface, and the screws are then concealed by blanking plugs. A diffusing lens over the LEDs protects the LEDs from wear as well as diffusing their light output. The ribbon cable exits the side of the device in a small recess so that the unit and cable sit flush on a flat surface. This is possible because the ribbon cable has a thickness of just 0.1mm.

In another example of the invention in use, a lighting unit is secured to a surface, for example, a skirting board, using screws. The ribbon cable exits the side of the unit, flush with the surface. The cable is so thin that it can be run along the surface, typically being attached with adhesive. After installation, a coat of paint is sufficient for the cable to be concealed. Because the cable is so thin it can then not be seen other than by very close inspection.

The ribbon cable currently used in specific embodiments is six metres in length with five silver electric lines inside. In the current unit, the middle line is blank, the two left-hand lines are live and the two right-hand lines are ground. Different combinations can be used. Different lines can be used so that LEDs can be controlled individually. The ribbon cable plugs into a controller which can control lots of units, the current device being capable of powering and controlling twenty units, though a different controller could do more. All LEDs can be turned on and off individually or as a group.

A remote control can be associated with the controller so the lights can be controlled by someone sitting in an armchair etc. It is an advantage of the invention that the housing and the cable lie fiat on a surface.

In use of the specific embodiment, it is not necessary to provide a recess for the light -as the light is of sufficiently low profile to mean that even without a recess it does not project obtrusively into the room. It is not necessary to provide a channel for the cable - the cable does not exit the back of the light and the cable is flat and can easily be hidden without the time and cost and disturbance of having to cut a channel through wood or plaster or other surfaces. It is easy to decorate over the cable to render it virtually invisible.

The invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Fig. 1 shows schematic representations of round and square-shaped embodiments of the invention, with detail of the square-shaped embodiment; Fig. 2 shows further detail of the squareshaped embodiment of the invention; Fig. 3 shows further detail of the round-shaped embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 4 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the invention comprising a wall tile.

Examples

Referring to all of figures 1, 2 and 3, a lighting device of the invention is shown generally as 10, and there are shown devices having both a round housing (12) or a square housing (13). The lighting devices comprise a lens (14) and ribbon cable (15) exiting from the base (24) of the device.

Referring to the exploded diagram of the lighting device in fig. 1, the lens (14) has screw holes (26) through which screws pass and there are corresponding further -10-screw holes (32) in the housing, for attachment of the light fitting device to a surface.

The lens (14) sits flush with the top surface of the device (22). After location of the screws, blanking plugs (28) are positioned over the screws to obscure them and to give the device a smooth external finish.

An LED (not shown) is positioned on the printed circuit board (30) located within the housing. Power is supplied to the LED via ribbon cable (15) exiting via cable hole (34) and thereafter running along a recess (36) which forms a channel in the base. The housings (12, 13) are of aluminium and hence hard wearing, and the lens and blanking plugs are plastic. The ribbon cable is 5mm in diameter, with a height of 0.1mm and contains 5 individual metallic cables for connection to a power source (not shown). The housings comprise chamfered edges, these are either linear (16-19) or circular (20).

Referring to figures 2 and 3, these show in more detail views of the square and round housings. The recessed channel (36) in base (24) is open along its length and forms an opening (35) in the side. It is dimensioned so as to be approximately 1-2mm wider than the ribbon cable and to have a depth of approximately 0.1mm so as to accommodate the ribbon cable as a tight fit. The remainder of the base is solid and flat. In use, the device does not emit light from its rear, though a little may escape via the conduit through which the power cable passes. Round housing (12) is 50mm in diameter and 4mm high. Square housing (13) is 50mm by 50mm and 4mm high. The housings both accommodate the same-sized internal components, namely the printed circuit board with LED(s), lens and plugs. Hence, the housings are of different external shapes and are interchangeable, this being another general feature of the lights.

An example of an alternatively shaped housing can be seen in figure 4, illustrating a lighting device in a wall tile housing (11). The lens (14) can be seen sitting flush in the top surface of the tile to give a smooth external finish.

When mounted on a flat surface, the ribbon cable is connected to the LED and then runs through cable hole (34) and along the channel (36), exiting the housing flush with the flat surface on which the lighting device is mounted. Screws attach the -11 -lighting device to the surface. The cable is run away from the lighting device and can be decorated or painted over, without the need for access to the rear of the base through the surface on which it is mounted. Looking at the light from the front, it is then not possible to see the cable, and the cable does not appear to exit the side of the device. The opening in the side is so small that this is not visible other than at extremely close distance.

The invention thus provides a low profile device for mounting onto a flat surface.

Claims

Claims 1. A lighting device, comprising-a housing, an LED within the

housing, a ribbon cable to connect the LED to a power source, wherein the housing has a flat, base portion for mounting the light on a flat surface and the ribbon cable exits a side of the housing, adjacent to the base portion and flush with the base.

2. A lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a cable channel in its base, which connects with an opening in the side, and the cable runs along the channel and exits the housing via the opening.

3. A lighting device according to claim 2, wherein the cable channel is open along its length and forms the opening in the side.

4. A lighting device according to any previous claim, wherein the housing has a base, sides and a top, the base is flat and the ribbon cable exits the housing at the bottom of the side adjacent to the base such that when the device is mounted onto a flat surface the ribbon cable lies flat against the surface.

5. A lighting device according to any previous claim, comprising one, two or more screw holes for attachment of the light to the surface with screws or other suitable fittings.

6. A lighting device according to any previous claim, wherein the housing is approximately square or round, having an outer metal rim with the LED inside the rim and covered by a lens.

7. A lighting device according to any previous claim, wherein the housing contains a plurality of LEDs, which are all of the same type or colour or are a mixture of types or colours.

8. A lighting device according to any previous claim, wherein the ribbon cable comprises from two to ten conductors.

9. A lighting device according to any previous claim, wherein the ribbon cable is 0.25mm or less in height.

10. A lighting device according to any previous claim, wherein the ribbon cable is 0.20mm or less in height.

11. A lighting device according to any previous claim, wherein the ribbon cable is 0.15mm or less in height.

12 A lighting device according to any previous claim, being 6mm or less in height.

13. A lighting device according to claim 12, being 5mm or less in height.

14. A lighting device, comprising:-a housing, having a base and a side, an LED in the housing, a cable to connect the LED to a power source, wherein the cable exits the housing through the side so that the base can be mounted onto a flat surface.

15. A lighting device according to claim 14, having a base which is generally flat, being designed to fit onto a flat surface, and also having sides and a top, wherein light is emitted from the housing through the top, via a lens or diffuser positioned over the LED.

16. A lighting device according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the cable exits via an opening in the housing at the bottom of the side, adjacent to the base.

17. A lighting device according to any of claims 14 to 16, wherein in use the housing may be mounted flush to the surface without the cable being pinched between the housing and the surface. -14-

18. A lighting device according to any of claims 14 to 17, wherein the opening is so dimensioned that in use the cable is a tight fit between the opening and the surface.

19. A lighting device according to any of claims 14 to 18, wherein the housing comprises a cable channel in its base, which connects with the opening in the side, and the cable runs along the channel and exits the housing via the opening.

20. A lighting device according to claim 19, wherein the cable channel is open along its length and forms the opening in the side.

21. A lighting device according to any of claims 14 to 20, wherein the cable is a ribbon cable.

22. A method of fitting a lighting device to a surface comprising:-providing a lighting device according to the invention, locating the lighting device on the surface, and attaching a power cable to the light, with the cable exiting the side of the housing but flush with the base of the light.

23. A method according to claim 22, comprising attaching the lighting device on a flat surface with the cable exiting the housing abutting the surface.

24. A method according to claim 22 or 23, comprising decorating over the cable.

25. A method according to claim 24, comprising laying the cable flat onto the surface, running away from the lighting device, and painting or decorating over the cable.

26. A light comprising a housing having a base and a side, an LED in the housing, and an exit in the side for location of a cable to connect the LED to a power source, wherein the cable when located exits the housing through the side so that the base can be mounted onto a flat surface 27. A light according to claim 26, wherein the cable exits the side adjacent to the surface and in use lies flat against the surface.

28. A light, comprising-a housing, having a base and a side, an LED within the housing, an opening in the side of the housing for location of a ribbon cable to connect the LED to a power source, wherein the base of the housing is for mounting the light on a surface and the ribbon cable exits a side of the housing, adjacent to the base portion and flush with the base.

29. A lighting device substantially as hereinbefore described and claimed.

30. A light substantially as hereinbefore described and claimed.

31. A method of fitting a lighting device to a surface substantially as hereinbefore described and claimed.