GB2457871A

GB2457871A - Light fitting assembly with hinged terminal block

Info

Publication number: GB2457871A
Application number: GB0800425A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Staniforth
Original assignee: NVC
Current assignee: NVC
Priority date: 2007-10-18
Filing date: 2008-01-11
Publication date: 2009-09-02
Also published as: GB0800423D0; GB0800425D0; GB0720402D0; GB2454028A

Abstract

An assembly of a light fitting and a terminal block includes a bracket 12 connected at one end to the light fitting 1 and at its other end to the terminal block 4. The bracket has a first section 14 which is rigidly secured to the light fitting and a second section 15 rigidly secured to the terminal block. The bracket sections are connected together through a hinge which enables the second bracket section 15 selectively to be positioned above or to one side of the first bracket section 14. Suitable for a recessed downlighter.

Description

* 2457871 Terminal Block Brackets This invention relates to terminal block brackets for ceiling or wall mounted electric light fittings and to assemblies of such fittings and tenninal blocks employing such brackets.

Light fittings recessed into ceilings or walls are well known. Such light fittings are 5. known as downlights. On assembly, downlights and similar electrical fittings need to be connected to a mains source of electricity. This connection is conventionally achieved by means of a terminal block which receives and interconnects wires or cabling of the fitting and a mains source. On installation of the fitting, an aperture is cut into a ceiling or wall panel and terminals of the light fitting are connected through 10. wires or cabling to terminals of the terminal block which is in turn connected via terminals to mains connected wires or cables. The assembly of the fitting and the terminal block is then inserted into the aperture and secured in place.

The heat generated by downlights and other light fittings can be considerable and can represent a fire risk. For this reason it is advantageous not to locate a terminal block 15. on or in contact with the housing of a light fitting but to attach the terminal block to the housing through a bracket secured to one end to the fitting.

Examples of terminal block brackets can be seen from GB2426321, GB2436139, GB2415245 and GB2422191. In each of these documents, the terminal block is positioned above and to one side of the respective light fitting through a fixing 20. bracket rigidly attached at one end to the top of the light fitting and at its other end to the terminal block. Such an arrangement reduces the amount of heat transferred from the light fitting to the terminal block but creates significant installation difficulties.

For safety purposes, the diameter of the aperture cut into the respective ceiling or wall panel should match as closely as possible the diameter of the light fitting; if, however, 25. the terminal block extends outwardly to one side of the fitting an aperture which is substantially larger than the fitting diameter Is often necessary to enable the fitting to be correctly sited and secured behind the ceiling or wall panel. In addition, difficulties which occur when Installing such an assembly often lead to excessive installation times.

One known way of overcoming the problem described in the preceding paragraph is 5. to position the terminal block above the light fitting rather than to one side. However, on many occasions height restrictions within a ceiling or wall structure prevent the installation of light fittings having such terminal blocks.

In one aspect, the present invention provides an assembly of a light fitting and a terminal block, the assembly including a bracket connected at one end to the light 10. fitting and at its other end to the terminal block, the bracket having a first section secured rigidly to and supported by the fitting and a second section secured rigidly to and supporting the terminal block, the bracket sections being connected together through a hinge which enables the second bracket section selectively to be positioned above or to one side of the first bracket section.

15. In a preferred arrangement, one bracket section includes an upstanding stop which bears against a surface of the other bracket section when the latter is inclined to the former to restrict the extent of angular movement between the bracket sections.

Preferably the upstanding stop is provided on the first bracket section and bears against a surface of the second bracket section when the latter is inclined to the first 20. bracket section. The upstanding stop may lie in a plane which is substantially normal to the surface of the first bracket section remote from the light fitting.

Alternatively or additionally, the first bracket section includes a lengthwise extending stop which bears against a surface of the second bracket section when it is positioned alongside the first bracket section to prevent movement of the second bracket section 25. to a position in which the terminal block lies In contact with or close to the light fitting.

The light fitting may comprise a downlight.

In another aspect the invention relates to a bracket for carrying a terminal block for connection to an electrical fitting, the bracket including a first section including means for connection to an electrical fitting and a second section including means for 5. connection to a terminal block, a hinge which connects the first bracket section to the second bracket section, and means for restricting the arc of movement of the second bracket section relative to the first bracket section.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- 10. Figures 1 and 2 are respectively side and plan views of a terminal block and light fitting assembly in accordance with the invention; and Figures 3, 4 and 5 are respectively plan, end and side views of a bracket which connects the terminal block to the light fitting shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The illustrated light fitting comprises a downlight having a housing 1 which is open at 15. one end and is formed at its other end with a top 2. The top 2 is formed with an opening 3 through which electrical wiring or cabling of an electric light positioned within the housing can pass to a terminal block 4.

The housing I has a lip 5 which borders its open end and which locates against the adjoining edge of a wall or ceiling panel when the downlight is installed. The open 20. end of the downlight can be closed by a suitably dimensioned transparent cover.

The downlight is secured in place within a ceiling or wall space by means of spring mounted clips. Each clip include downwardly extending arms 7 joined to a spring pieceS. Each piece 8 locates In an Inverted "H" shaped opening 9 formed in opposed sides of the housing 1 and operates to urge the arms 7 downwardly. The ends of the * S arms 7, in use, bear against the upper surface of the ceiling or wall panel in which the downlighter is mounted to hold It firmly in place.

The terminal block 4 for the light is carried on a bracket 12 which comprises two sections 14,15 connected together by a hinge 16. The end of bracket section 14 5. remote from hinge 16 is secured rigidly to the outer surface of the top 4 of the housing 1 by rivets. The tenninal block 4 (not shown in Figures 3 to 5) is rigidly secured to the bracket section 15. Bracket section 14 has an upstanding stop 18 and a lengthwise extending stop 19 at its end adjacent the hinge 16. These stops bear against adjacent end surfaces of the bracket section 15 to restrict movement of the 10. bracket section and the tenninal block mounted on the bracket section to the positions shown in full and broken lines in Figure 1. Thus, in this embodiment of the invention, the terminal block carrying bracket section 15 can move freely between a position in which the terminal block 4 is sited above the light fitting and a position in which it lies to one side of the light fitting. It will be appreciated that these stop 15. positions can be varied to change to extent of movement of one bracket section relative to the other.

When locating a downlight or other electrical fitting into, for example, a ceiling space, an aperture is cut in an appropriate ceiling panel and the downlight pushed up into the ceiling space with the arms 7 of the sprung clips 6 pulled inwards towards the 20. housing 1. If, as is conventional, the terminal block bracket is a solid one piece structure, installation of the downlight will either prove to be extremely cumbersome or a larger aperture will be required. In the present invention, because the bracket 12 is formed in two sections joined together by the hinge 16, during installation of the downlight through the cut aperture the terminal block is held in the position shown in 25. broken line in Figure 1 and then, once through the aperture, moves of its own volition to the position shown in full line in Figures 1 and 2. Once in position, the arms 7 move outwards and locate against the ceiling panel to hold the downlight in place.

The described bracket has application to ceiling or wall mounted electrical fittings other than downlights.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing merely descriptive of one embodiment of the invention and that modifications can readily be made without departing from the true 5. scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims.

Claims

Claims I. An assembly of a light fitting and a terminal block, the assembly including a bracket connected at one end to the light fitting and at its other end to the terminal block, the bracket having a first section secured rigidly and supported by the fitting and a second section secured rigidly to and supporting the terminal block, the bracket sections being connected together through a binge which enables the second bracket section selectively to be positioned above or to one side of the first bracket section.
2. An assembly as claimed in claim I wherein one bracket section includes an upstanding stop which bears against a surface of the other bracket section when the latter is inclined to the former to restrict the extent of angular movement between the bracket sections.
3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the upstanding stop is provided on the first bracket section and bears against a surface of the second bracket section when the latter is inclined to the first bracket section.
4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the upstanding stop lies in a plane which is substantially normal to the surface of the first bracket section remote from the light fitting.
5. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the first bracket section includes a lengthwise extending stop which bears against a surface of the second bracket section when it is positioned alongside the first bracket section to prevent movement of the second bracket section to a position In which the terminal block lies in contact with or close to the light fitting.
6. An assembly as claimed in clahn 5 whereIn the lengthwise extending stop Is not inclined to the first bracket section.
7. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the light fitting is a downllght.S S
8. A bracket for supporting a terminal block for connection to an electrical fitting, the bracket including a first section including means for connection to an electrical fitting and a second section including means for connection to a terminal block, a hinge which connects the first bracket section to the second bracket section, and means for restricting the arc of movement of the second bracket section relative to the first bracket section.
9. In combination, a light fitting, a terminal block and a supporting bracket substantially as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
10. An assembly of a light fitting and a terminal block as herein described and as described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.