GB2462593A

GB2462593A - Exterior lighting with rotatable glare shield

Info

Publication number: GB2462593A
Application number: GB0814446A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Stanley Raine
Original assignee: LIGHTING FOR GARDENS Ltd
Current assignee: LIGHTING FOR GARDENS Ltd
Priority date: 2008-08-07
Filing date: 2008-08-07
Publication date: 2010-02-17
Also published as: GB0814446D0

Abstract

An exterior spotlight which can be waterproof to IP 66 requirements has a rotatable glare shield 18 which is seated in an opening 30 in the front end of the spotlight body to prevent light spill. A window 34 is fitted in the opening 30 and secured by a circlip 38 and sealant 42. A further O-ring 46 is seated between the outer surface of the glare shield and a bevelled surface 48 of the opening 30. The glare shield can be manually rotated in a stepless manner into any desired position but is held with sufficient frictional force to remain in its adjusted position when subjected to forces normally applied in usage and, in particular, up to achieving IP 66 weatherproofing standards.

Description

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

This invention relates to exterior lighting, for example electrical lighting used in gardens and other outdoor locations.

Exterior lighting must be weatherproof to a suitable degree, particularly against ingress of water which can arise not only from rain but from irrigation systems, general garden watering, cleaning by use of pressure hoses and garden water features. A typical ingress penetration ("IP") rating is that * ** set by IP 66. This in brief means that the light fitting is to be watertight so that it can resist water applied using a pressure hose. * * *

When using an exterior spotlight in a garden it is often S..

important to shield the light source within the light from view from positions located outside the angle of the beam S...

which the light projects, in order to avoid unpleasant glare when viewed from a building, path, patio or other viewpoint in or adjacent the garden. This angle is typically an included angle of up to 60 degrees.

It is known to fit exterior light fittings with glare shields which in general take one of two forms. First, there are integral glare shields in which the glare shield forms part of the front bezel assembly of the fitting and is attached to its lens in a manner which achieves the required ingress penetration rating. The IP rating is usually achieved by a screw-threaded or bayonet action which locks the glare shield in place on three or more fixing lugs on the body of the light fitting. There is however no facility to rotate the glare shield in order to provide glare protection from any desired angle. Some types of integral glare shield have lug fittings with two or three alternative positions. These cannot achieve a steplessly variable number of positions and, moreover, tend to detach if rotated beyond a certain point.

A second approach which has been taken is to form the glare shield as an attachment fitted to the front of the light fitting. This necessarily means that the glare shield has a diameter greater than that of the light fitting itself and/or involves visible external fittings. Although this arrangement can provide a steplessly variable change of angle and a suitable IP waterproof rating, the visible fasteners detract from the aesthetic appearance of the spotlight.

* * The present invention provides an exterior light fitting :::::: comprising a body, means for mounting a light source within the body, a light-output aperture in the body, a light-transparent window in the aperture and a glare shield * positioned around the aperture to the exterior of the window, S..

the glare shield being mounted for rotation relative to the body and comprising a circumferential wall which varies in S...

length parallel to the rotational axis, the mounting being such as to provide for manual rotation of the glare shield about the axis to a selected position of use yet to restrain the glare shield against unwanted rotation in use of the light fitting.

Thus, axial pre-loading of the glare shield and/or the frictional means acting between the glare shield and the body can provide for a steplessly variable change of the glare shield angle.

Advantageously, the glare shield has a circular cylindrical shape, the axial length width varies continuously around the circumference thereof.

Preferably, the glare shield abuts the window at its end adjacent the body.

Advantageously, the glare shield has a peripheral flange at its rearward end, the flange extending behind a peripheral lip on the aperture.

Preferably, the rear surface of the flange abuts the window.

Conveniently, an 0-ring is seated on the flange and acts between the flange, the adjacent outer peripheral wall of the glare shield and the lip.

* ,* Advantageously, the 0-ring acts on a bevelled edge surface of the lip. * * *.S.

Light fittings according to the present invention can * achieve a suitable IP rating and can have a particularly neat *** and pleasing aesthetic appearance. S... * . S...

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings of this

specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a garden spotlight; Figure 2 shows the body part of the spotlight of figure 1, partly in longitudinal section; Figure 3 shows the forward part of the body of the spotlight of figure 1, in longitudinal section on an enlarged scale; and Figure 4 shows part of figure 3 on an even more enlarged scale.

Figure 1 shows a garden spotlight 10 which comprises a cylindrical body 12 which is mounted at the upper end of a spike 14 by means of which the spotlight can be secured by penetration into the earth. Between the spike 14 and the spotlight body 12, there is a knuckle joint 16 which provides for movement of the body 12 relative to the spike 14. The spotlight body 12 has a glare shield 18 at its forward end.

Turning now to figure 2, this shows the spotlight body 12 partly in longitudinal section. It will be seen that the body 12 consists of a rear cylindrical cup-shaped part 20, to which the upper end of the spike 14 is attached, and a front * *, cylindrical part 22 which are joined by a screw connection formed by threads 24 on the forward end of the cup-shaped part and the front body part 22. A light source, here shown in *:::: 15 the form of a low voltage lamp 26 is fitted in a suitable * socket 28 mounted in the cup-shaped part 20 and connected *.

electrically through a cable (not shown) which extends through a sealed aperture in the body 12. The body 12 and spike 14 **..

are made from stainless steel in this embodiment.

The forward end of the front body part 22 has a circular opening 30 which is defined by a circular lip 32 extending around the body 12. A glass window 34 is seated behind the lip 32 in the forward end of the front body part 22. A gasket 36 is seated behind the lip 32 and contacts the outer periphery of the front face of window 34 which is secured by a circlip 38 received in a peripheral groove 40 in the inner wall of the front part 22 of the spotlight body 12. The window is further sealed by sealing material 42 located behind the circlip 38.

The glare shield 18 has the shape of a right circular cylinder which varies in axial length from a maximum, shown at its upper edge in figure 2, to a minimum shown at its lower edge. The glare shield 18 has a short outer peripheral flange 44 at its rearward end. The rear face of the flange 44 abuts the front face of the window 34. The flange 44 supports an 0-ring 46 which is received in an annular cavity formed by the flange 44, the rearmost part of the cylindrical wall of the glare shield 18 and the surface 48 of' the window opening which is bevelled to taper towards the front of the opening 30.

The glare shield 18 is held as described by the window 34, the circlip 38 and the sealing material 42, in such a manner that its rotational position can be adjusted manually * * but it will remain in its adjusted position without moving when subjected to the kind of external forces to which it is S...

5.. subjected in use, including not only gravity but the impingement of pressure hoses, for example up to IP 66 * standards, etc. At the same time, the mounting of the glare S..

shield 18 on the body 12, the fitting of the window 34 in the body, the securing together of the body parts 20, 22 by the screw threads 24, the fitting of the spike 14 to the body 12 and the aperture through which the supply cable leaves the body 12 are all suitable to prevent ingress of water in use of the spotlight and when being tested to, for example IP 66 standards.

It will be seen that the light fitting provides a particularly convenient and aesthetically pleasing arrangement in which the position of the glare shield can be adjusted steplessly into any circumferential position but which at the same time maintains weatherproof ing up to IP 66 standards.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An exterior light fitting comprising a body, means for mounting a light source within the body, a light-output aperture in the body, a light-transparent window in the aperture and a glare shield positioned around the aperture to the exterior of the window, the glare shield being mounted for rotation relative to the body and comprising a circumferential wall which varies in length parallel to the rotational axis, the mounting being such as to provide for manual rotation of the glare shield about the axis to a selected position of use * ** yet to restrain the glare shield against unwanted rotation in :::::: use of the light fitting. *****:::: 15
2. A light fitting according to claim 1, in which the * glare shield has a circular cylindrical shape, the axial *** length width varies continuously around the circumference thereof. * a

S.....

* 20
3. A light fitting according to claim 1 or 2, in which the glare shield abuts the window at its end adjacent the body.
4. A light fitting according to any preceding claim, in which the glare shield has a peripheral flange at its rearward end, the flange extending behind a peripheral lip on the aperture.
5. A light fitting according to claim 4, in which the rear surface of the flange abuts the window.
6. A light fitting according to claim 5, in which an 0-ring is seated on the flange and acts between the flange, the adjacent outer peripheral wall of the glare shield and the lip.
7. A light fitting according to claim 6, in which the 0-ring acts on a bevelled edge surface of the lip.
8. An exterior light fitting substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. * ** * * * * ** ***. * * *. * S S *5 * * *S.S I... * S S...S..... S *