GB2524999A

GB2524999A - Lighting fixtures

Info

Publication number: GB2524999A
Application number: GB1406382.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gary Iley
Original assignee: SYGNET SIGNS Ltd
Current assignee: SYGNET SIGNS Ltd
Priority date: 2014-04-09
Filing date: 2014-04-09
Publication date: 2015-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 2034-04-09
Also published as: GB201406382D0; GB2524999B

Abstract

A trough light has a main body 2 with a light-generating unit and an engagement end 6b having an outer surface 18 with a cylindrical profile. A mounting bracket 36 has a mounting end 38a that is mountable to a support surface and an engagement end 38b defining an opening 42 and having an inner surface with a cylindrical profile that is complimentary to that of the outer surface 18. The engagement end 6b of the main body 2 is slidably received within the opening 42 to secure the main body 2 and the mounting bracket 36 together. The main body 2 can pivot relative to the mounting bracket 36 to alter the angle of the main body 2 relative to the mounting bracket 36.

Description

TITLE

Lighting fixtures

DESCRIPTION

Field of Invention

The present invention relates to lighting fixtures, and in particular to adjustable trough lights that are often used for exterior illumination, e.g., to illuminate signs.

Back2round Art Conventional trough lights comprise a main body, typically an aluminium extrusion, which contains a fluorescent tube or LED strip. The main body can have a suitable profile and can be adapted to receive a separate lens part, e.g., a polycarbonate lens.

The axial ends of the main body can be closed by end caps. Cables can supply electricity to the fluorescent tube or LED strip and can exit through an opening in one of the end caps.

Trough lights are typically designed to be located above or below a sign that is to be illuminated. The main body is mounted to a support surface (e.g., a wall or fascia) by a plurality ofmounting brackets that are spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the main body. The mounting brackets can be connected to the main body in different ways, one of which is by means of a basic hinged connection that allows the main body to be positioned at different angles relative to the support surface. The ability to adjust the main body allows the lighting effect to be changed.

The mounting brackets can have any suitable shape, can hold the main body at any suitable distance from the support surface, and can be secured to the support surface by any suitable means, e.g., mechanical fixings.

The main body can be any suitable length and can be mounted using any suitable number of axially-spaced mounting brackets.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides an improved lighting fixture (e.g., a trough light) comprising: a main body including a light-generating unit (e.g., a fluorescent tube or LED strip) and an engagement end having an outer surface at least part of which has a substantially cylindrical profile; and at least one mounting bracket including a mounting end that is adapted to be mountable to a support surface and an engagement end defining an opening and having an inner surface at least part of which has a substantially cylindrical profile that is complimentary with the substantially cylindrical profile of the outer surface of the engagement end of the main body, and wherein, in use, the engagement end of the main body is slidably received within the opening to secure the main body and the at least one mounting bracket together while permitting the main body to pivot relative to the at least one mounting bracket such that the angle of the main body relative to the at least one mounting bracket can be selectively ad] usted.

The main body can include a housing end that is shaped and sized to receive the light-generating unit.

The main body can have any suitable length and a plurality of mounting brackets will typically be spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the main body. Each mounting bracket will typically have the same construction.

The opening will normally be defined by opposing edges of the engagement end of each mounting bracket and the angular distance between the opposing edges will determine ihe angle through which ihe main body can be pivoted. In oilier words, the main body typically can be pivoted in each direction until it comes into contact with an opposing edge. The chord distance between the opposing edges will be less than the outer diameter of the engagement end of the main body such that the main body is retained securely within the opening in use. To assemble the lighting fixture, the engagement end of the main body can be axially slid into the engagement end of each mounting bracket or v/ce versa. The angular distance between the opposing edges can be selected with reference to the adjustment requirements of the lighting fixture but in one arrangement will typically be between about 100 and about 160 degrees, more typically about 150 degrees, and the main body will be able to pivot relative to each mounting bracket through substantially the same angle.

The outer and inner surfaces are typically in sliding contact. Such sliding contact can include axial sliding contact (i.e., when the lighting fixture is assembled and the main body is inserted into the engagement end of each mounting bracket) and angular sliding contact (i.e., when the main body is pivoted relative to each mounting bracket). The respective substantially cylindrical profiles will typically be selected so that the engagement end of the main body is a close tolerance fit within the opening of each mounting bracket, But it is also possible for the lighting fixture to include means such as a bushing or a surface layer or coating between the inner and outer surfaces to make it easier to pivot the main body within the opening.

The main body can comprise a lens part at the housing end. The lens part can be made of a suitable material, e.g., polycarbonate, and can be fitted to the main body.

The main body can be an aluminium extrusion with a suitable profile that can define features for fitting the lens part, light-generating unit etc. The profile can also define an axial channel for receiving a separate insert part -see below.

The main body can comprise a main part that defines the housing end and the engagement end and a separate insert part, optionally also in the form of an aluminium extrusion. The insert part is typically receivable in an axial channel defined in the engagement end of the niain body. When the insert part is received in the channel ii cooperates with the main part to define an enclosed, axially-extending, internal passageway in which any cables for the light-generating unit can be accommodated, The insert part typically has an outer surface that defines part of the outer surface of the engagement end of the main body when the insert part is received in the channel, The insert part can include one or more openings to allow the cables to exit the internal passageway, The inert part can include one or more engagement features which cooperate with complimentary engagement features provided on the main body in order to retain the inert part within the channel.

The lighting fixture can further comprise at least one end cap for closing an axial end of the main body. The at least one end cap can be releasably secured to the main body by mechanical fixings, e.g., screws.

The at least one end cap can be adapted to accommodate the cables so that they can pass from the housing end of the main body where the light-generating unit is located and into the internal passageway at an axial end of the main body.

The engagement end of each mounting bracket can include at least one threaded opening for receiving a mechanical fixing (e.g., a grub screw) that can be used to selectively retain the main body at a desired angle relative to the mounting bracket, The mounting end of each mounting bracket can include one or more openings to allow it to be secured to the support surface, e.g., for receiving mechanical fixings such as screws, Drawings Figure t is an exploded side view of part of a trough lighting fixture according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the trough lighting fixture of Figure 1; Figures 3A and 3B are side views of the trough lighting fixture of Figure 1 showing how the main body can be adjusted relative to the mounting bracket; Figure 4 is a detail view of an end cap of ihe trough lighting fixture of Figure I; Figure 5 is a side view of an end part of the trough lighting fixture of Figure 1 with the end cap removed and the LED strip installed; and Figure 6 is a cross section view of the end part of the trough lighting fixture of Figure 5.

With reference to Figures I to 6, a trough lighting fixture includes a main body 2 and mounting bracket 36. Although only one mounting bracket is shown, it will be readily appreciated that in practice a plurality of identical brackets will be axially spaced along the main body. It will also be readily appreciated that the main body 2 can have any convenient axial length and that only a part (or axial section) of the main body is shown in Figures 2 and 6 for clarity.

The main body 2 includes a main aluminium extrusion 4 which defines a housing end 6a and an engagement end 6b. The main aluminium extrusion 4 defines an axially-extending opening 8 which is closed by a polycarbonate lens 10, The edges of the polycarbonate lens 10 are shaped and sized to be received in fitting features or channels U of the main aluminium extrusion 4.

An LED strip 14 (see Figures 5 and 6) is mounted to a substantially planar mounted part t6 of the main aluminium extrusion 4.

The engagement end 6b of the main aluminium extrusion 4 has an outer surface 18 with a substantially cylindrical profile and an axially-extending channel 20, An insert aluminium extrusion 22 is received in the channel 20 and includes engagement features which cooperate with complimentary engagement features on the sidewalls of the channel. The engagement end 6b (i.e., the base 20a of the channel 20) and the insert aluminium extrusion 22 define an enclosed, axially-extending, internal passageway 24 therebetween. The outer surface of the insert aluminium extrusion 22 has the same substantially cylindrical profile as the engagement end 6b of the main aluminium extrusion 4.

The axial ends of the main body 2 are closed by aluminium end caps 26 (see Figures 4 and 6) which are secured to the main body by screws which pass through openings 28 in the end caps. At least one of the end caps 26 includes a peripheral sidewall 30 that defines a recessed area 32 for accommodating the cables 34 that provide electricity to the LED strip 14. Figures 5 and 6 show how the cables 34 extend from the LED strip 14 axially towards the end cap 26 before extending laterally along the inner face of the end cap and back along the internal passageway 24 in the engagement end 6b of the main body. The cables 34 can exit the internal passageway 24 though openings (not shown) in the insert aluminium extmsion 22. The openings (not shown) may be located substantially adjacent a mounting bracket in use. The end cap can also be formed with a channel or passageway that is sized and shaped to accommodate the cables.

Each L-shaped mounting bracket 36 has a mounting end 38a that is adapted to be mountable to a support surface by screws which pass through openings 40, and an engagement end 38b. The engagement end 38b defines an axially-extending opening 42 and has an inner surface 44 with a substantially cylindrical profile that is complimentary with the substantially cylindrical profile of the outer surface 18 of the main aluminium extrusion 4, The opening 42 is defined by opposite edges 46a, 46b of the engagement end 38b and the angular distance between the opposite edges will determine the angle through which the main body 2 can be pivoted relative to the mounting brackets 36. Figures 3A and 3B show how the main body 2 can be pivoted in each direction until it comes into contact with an edge 46a, 46b. The angular distance between the edges 46a, 46b is about tSO degrees and this determines the angle through which the main body 2 can be pivoted.

The chord distance (labelled D in Figure 1) between the edges 46a, 46b is less than the outer diameter of the engagement end 6b of the main aluminium extrusion 4 such that the main body 2 is securely, but pivotally, retained within the opening 42 in use. To assemble the lighting fixture, the engagement end 6b of the main body 2 is axially slid into the engagement end 38b of each mounting bracket 36.

The engagement end 38b ol' each mounting bracket 36 includes two threaded openings 48 for receiving grub screws (not shown) that can be used to selectively retain the main body 2 at a desired angle relative to the mounting bracket 36. Tn other words, the grub screws can be tightened until they are contact with the outer surface of the engagement end 6b of the main aluminium extrusion 4 or the insert aluminium extrusion 22.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A lighting fixture comprising: a main body including a light-generating unit and an engagement end having an outer surface at least part of which has a substantially cylindrical profile; and at least one mounting bracket including a mounting end that is adapted to be mountable to a support surface and an engagement end defining an opening and having an inner surface at least part of which has a substantially cylindrical profile that is complimentary with the substantially cylindrical proffle of the outer surface of the engagement end of the main body, and wherein, in use, the engagement end of the main body is slidably received within the opening to secure the main body and the at least one mounting bracket together while permifting the main body to pivot relative to the at least one mounting bracket such that the angle of the main body relative to the at least one mounting bracket can be selectively adjusted.
2. A lighting fixture according to claim 1, wherein the outer and inner surfaces are in sliding contact.
3, A lighting fixture according to claim I or claim 2, wherein the main body includes a housing end that is shaped and sized to receive the light-generating unit.
4. A lighting fixture according to claim 3, wherein the main body comprises a lens part at the housing end.
5. A lighting fixture according to any preceding claim, wherein the main body comprises an insert part that is receivable in a channel in the engagement end of the main body and when received in the channel defines an internal cable passageway.
6. A lighting fixture according to claim 5, wherein the insert part has an outer surface that defines part of the outer surface of the engagement end of the main body when the insert part is received in the opening.
7. A lighting fixture according to any preceding claim, further comprising at least one end cap for closing an axial end of the main body.
8. A lighting fixture according to claim 7, wherein the at least one end cap is releasably secured to the main body by mechanical fixings.
9, A lighting fixture according to any preceding claim, further comprising a plurality of mounting brackets spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the main body.
10. A lighting fixture according to any preceding claim, further comprising at least one threaded opening in the engagement end of each mounting bracket for receiving a mechanical fixing that can be used to selectively retain the main body at a desired angle relative to the mounting bracket.
11. A lighting fixture according to any preceding claim, wherein the main body can pivot through an angle of between about 100 and about 160 degrees, more preferably about 150 degrees.
12. A lighting fixture according to any preceding claim, being a trough light.H. A lighting fixture substantially as described herein and with reference to the drawings.Amendments to the claims have been filed as followsCLAIMS1. A lighting fixture comprising: a main body including a light-generating unit and an engagement end having an outer surface at least part of which has a substantially cylindrical profile; and at least one mounting bracket including a mounting end that is adapted to be mountable to a support surface and an engagement end defining an opening and having an inner surface at least part of which has a substantially cylindrical profile that is complimentary with the substantially cylindrical profile of the outer surface of the engagement end of the main body, and wherein, in use, the engagement end of the main body is slidably received within the opening to secure the main body and the at least one mounting bracket together while permitting the main body to pivot relative to the at least one mounting bracket such that the angle of the main body relative to the at least one mounting bracket can be selectively adjusted; and wherein the main body comprises an insert part that is receivable in a channel in the engagement end of the main body and when received in the channel defines an internal cable passageway.2. A lighting fixture according to claim 1, wherein the outer and inner surfaces are in sliding contact.3. A lighting fixture according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the main body includes a housing end that is shaped and sized to receive the light-generating unit.4. A lighting fixture according to claim 3, wherein the main body comprises a lens * 25 part at the housing end.****** * 0 5. A lighting fixture according to any preceding claim, wherein the insert part has an outer surface that defines part of the outer surface of the engagement end of the main body when the insert part is received in the opening. * * * ** 6. A lighting fixture according to any preceding claim, further comprising at least one end cap for closing an axial end of the main body.7. A lighting fixture according to claim 6, wherein the at least one end cap is releasably secured to the main body by mechanical fixings.8. A lighting fixture according to any preceding claim, further comprising a plurality of mounting brackets spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the main body.9. A lighting fixture according to any preceding claim, further comprising at least one threaded opening in the engagement end of each mounting bracket for receiving a mechanical fixing that can be used to selectively retain the main body at a desired angle relative to the mounting bracket.10. A lighting fixture according to any preceding claim, wherein the main body can pivot through an angle of between about 100 and about 160 degrees.11. A lighting fixture according to claim 10, wherein the main body can pivot through an angle of about 150 degrees.12. A lighting fixture according to any preceding claim, being a trough light.
13. A lighting fixture substantially as described herein and with reference to the drawings. * * * *. * . * * S S... * . . S* *S 0.*.S S