GB2532751A

GB2532751A - Lighting assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2532751A
Application number: GB1421007.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mettham Paul; Thorpe Andrew
Original assignee: ANSELL ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: ANSELL ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 2014-11-26
Filing date: 2014-11-26
Publication date: 2016-06-01
Also published as: IE20150415A1; GB201421007D0

Abstract

A lighting assembly comprises a LED light source and a light support 14 supporting the light source and having a central aperture for the passage of light from the lighting assembly. One or more lenses 26, 36 are located over the central aperture and are supported by the lighting assembly. They are able to vary the spread of light from the light source outwardly from the lighting assembly, either singly or in combination, based on the light refraction provided by each lens or the combination.

Description

Lighting Assembly The present invention relates to a lighting assembly.

With an increasing focus on energy and cost savings, the use of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) is becoming a popular choice of light source. Furthermore, in many domestic, business and industrial, etc. situations, it is desired to have recessed lighting, generally comprising the light source in a light fitting which is either directly or indirectly connected to and supported by a ceiling. Such recess lights are often termed 'down lights' in the sense of providing light from their light source in a generally downward direction from the ceiling.

It is sometimes desired to 'direct' the projecting light from the light source. It is known to provide the light source in a gimbal or gimbal mount, able to alter the direction of the light from the light source to a user's or installer's desire. However, this requires one or more additional mounts or gimbal assemblies, increasing the manufacturing complexity and cost.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a lighting assembly able to vary the spread of light from a light source without using gimbals.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lighting assembly comprising: a light source, a light fitting including a light support supporting the light source and having a central aperture for the passage of light from the lighting assembly, and one or more lenses able to vary the spread of light from the light source, the or each lens being locatable over the central aperture and supported by the lighting assembly.

In this way, the or each lens, either singly or in combination or through their combination, can vary the spread of light from the light source outwardly from the lighting assembly, based on the nature of light refraction provided by the or each lens or its combination.

Preferably, the light source is an LED light element. LED light elements are well known in the art, particularly in relation to down lights and down lighting.

Optionally, the lighting assembly is a down light, preferably a recessed down light.

As mentioned above, recessed down lights are generally locatable in ceilings and the like in domestic situations, as well as in business and industrial locations. LED lighting is increasingly considered to have a significant cost benefit, as well as low or no maintenance. Recessed lighting can be conveniently located in a ceiling, whether a solid ceiling, or formed from one or more pieces or panels, to provide a wholly or substantially 'flat' ceiling. The present invention is equally applicable to the location of the lighting assembly in a wall or other extended surface, and is not limited to being located in a ceiling.

The light fitting of the lighting assembly of the present invention may include a ceiling fixture or a wall fixture supporting the light support. The ceiling fixture or wall fixture may comprise a surrounding body intended to be attached or fixed to the ceiling or wall, optionally by the use of one or more fixtures on or with the ceiling fixture or wall fixture, many of which are known in the art.

The one or more lenses may be supported by any part of the lighting assembly, including the light source. Preferably the one or more lenses are supported by light support. Preferably, the lighting assembly includes a plurality of lens support apertures. The lens support apertures may have any suitable size, shape or design, and are preferably radially spaced around the central aperture of the light support.

The light support may include 2, 3, 4, 5 or more lens support apertures, preferably extending around a constant radial position from the centre of the light support.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a first lens of the lighting assembly includes a plurality of upstanding lugs adapted to provide the support of the first lens by the light support.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the lighting assembly comprises a second lens including a plurality of upstanding lugs adapted to provide the support of the second lens by the light support.

The upstanding lugs of the first lens may be the same or different to the upstanding lugs of the second support. Preferably, the upstanding lugs of the second lens are co-radial but offset from the upstanding lugs of the first lens when in use. That is, the upstanding lugs of the first lens are located around the same radial circle or circumference from the centre of the light support as the upstanding lugs of the second lens, such that the support of the lenses provided by the light support is co-radial also.

Thus, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the lighting assembly comprises a plurality of lenses, and a light support comprising a plurality of lens support apertures, wherein at least two of the lenses are supported in the same lens support aperture.

Optionally, the at least two lenses are a first lens and a second lens as described hereinabove, each having upstanding lugs which are co-radial but offset, and which are locatable in the same lens support aperture.

In this way, the upstanding lugs of the first and second lenses are able to 'nest' alongside each other in the same lens support aperture when both first and second lenses are supported by the light support.

Optionally, the or each lens is supported by the lighting assembly using a plurality of snap-fittings thereinbetween. Where a lens is supported by upstanding lugs, the lugs may comprise an enlarged or offset head portion relative to a neck portion or the remaining portion going to the lug, adapted to be located in or through a suitable aperture in the lighting assembly, and optionally resiliently supported to locate at least part of the enlarged or offset head portion on one or more edges of a lens support aperture.

Optical lenses designed to somehow change any aspect of a beam of light are well known in the art. Lenses are, typically for refracting light in one or more directions from the light source, including converging or diverging, due to at least some part of the surface of the lens being arranged to differently reflect or refract or bend light from a light source hitting the lens.

Lenses may have a range of shapes, generally being planar and having one or more surfaces or elements between the surfaces to refract the light. Suitably, the or each lens of the present invention is wholly or substantially flat.

With the use of one or more lenses in the present invention, the light from the light source can be refracted as desired.

The or each lens is preferably locatable co-axially with a longitudinal axis passing through the light source in the outward direction of light.

The amount or degree of refraction of light by a lens may be as desired, and the invention is not limited by the variation possible of the spread of light outwardly from the lighting assembly from the light source.

The spread of light from the light source is generally defined in relation to a longitudinal axis passing through the light source in the outward direction of light. Using the example of this axis being 'vertical' from a lighting assembly arranged in a ceiling, a typical conventional down light is designed to provide a "600" spread of light, i.e. all light spreading to a 30" angle from the vertical longitudinal axis, such that the conical angle of the overall spread of the light is 60". This is shown diagrammatically in Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings, from which a light source SO provides a 60o conical spread of light 52 around the vertical axis shown.

Each lens used in the present invention may vary the spread of light in one or more directions in relation to the same longitudinal axis.

Thus, according to one aspect of the present invention, a first lens alters the spread of light from the light source in one direction by 15°.

The present invention may include any number of lenses, and one embodiment comprises the use a first lens and a second lens. Optionally, the second lens alters the spread of light from the light source in one direction by 15 ° more than the first lens.

The or each lens of the present invention may be designed to be locatable over the central aperture and be permanently supported by the light support. In an alternative embodiment, the or each lens is releaseably securable to the light support.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lighting assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a reverse perspective view of a ceiling fixture and light support of the light assembly in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a top perspective view of the light support in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a top perspective view of a first lens for use in the present invention; Figure 5 is a top perspective view of a second lens for use in the present invention: Figure 6 is a bottom perspective view of the ceiling fixture and light support of Figure 2 in close corporation with the fitting of the first lens and/or second lens of Figures 4 and 5; Figure 7 is a bottom perspective view of the location of the first lens of Figure 4 with the ceiling fixture and light support of Figure 2; Figure 8 is a bottom perspective view of the location of the first and second lenses of Figures 4 and 5 with the ceiling fixture and light support of Figure 2; and Figures 9-11 are diagrammatic side views of a light source and varying spreads of light therefrom.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a lighting assembly 2 comprising a light source (not shown) having a top housing 4, a lead of plug connector 6, a main housing 8 acting as a ceiling fixture, and having a bottom flange 10, and two spring-wings 12. As is expected in the art, the flange 10 is located in, on, or with a ceiling or wall, and the spring-wings 12 are adapted to secure the lighting assembly 2 to the ceiling or wall, commonly by acting on one side of the ceiling compared to the location of the flange 10 on the other side.

Figure 2 shows a bottom perspective view of the flange 10, generally in the form of ceiling fixture adapted to have its upper side against a ceiling or wall in a manner known in the art. Within the flange 10 is a light support 14 shown in more detail in Figure 3.

Figure 3 shows the light support 14 having a light support able to support a light source (not shown) such as one or more LED lighting elements in a manner known in the art. The light fitting 14 also has an upstanding wall 18 for connection with the ceiling fixture 8, and three lens support apertures 20. The lens support apertures are co-radial and extend partially around a co-axial circle of the central aperture 22 shown in Figure 2. The lens support apertures 20 have upstanding walls which are co-axial with the upstanding wall 18.

Figure 4 shows a first lens 26 comprising a flat refraction portion 28 having a surround 30, and six upstanding lugs 32 extending from the surround, each lug 32 having a resilient portion with an enlarged head portion. In the arrangement shown in Figure 4, it can be seen that the upstanding lugs 32 are divided into three 'sets of two', with each 'set' arranged in an arcuate manner around the surround 30, and adapted to be aligned with a portion of the lens support apertures 20. Between each 'set' of upstanding lugs 32, the surround 30 has an indentation 34 compared to the remainder of the circumference of the surround 30.

Figure 5 shows a second lens 36 comprising a central flat refraction portion 38 and a surround 40. The second lens 36 has three upstanding lugs 42, equally spaced around the circumference of the surround 40, and being arcuate.

In the present invention, each upstanding lug 42 of the second lens 36 is locatable in the indentation 34 of the surround 30 of the first lens 26, such that when the second lens 36 is nested against the first lens 26, so that their refraction portions 28 and 38 are close, the upstanding lugs 42 of the second lens 36 fit in the indentations 34 of the surround 30 of the first lens 26, and the upstanding lugs 42 are then co-radial with the upstanding lugs 32 of the first lens 26. Preferably, where the upstanding lugs 42 and 32 are co-radial, the height of the enlarged heads of the upstanding lugs 42 of the second lens 36 are the same as the enlarged heads of the upstanding lugs 32 of the first lens 26.

Figure 6 shows a bottom perspective view of the location of the first lens 26 and second lens 36 with the light support 14. The present invention is not limited by the requirement for both the first and second lenses 26, 36 to be used, either lens 26, 36 could be solely used, and the present invention is not limited for the lighting assembly 2 to only accept in use two lenses. The skilled man can understand that the present invention can use one or more lenses. Preferably where a plurality of lenses is used, they can be nested in the same way as the first and second lenses 26, 36 shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6.

Figure 7 shows the location of the first lens 26 in the light fitting 14, wherein the upstanding lugs 32 of the first lens 26 have been located in the lens support apertures 20. Preferably this is by a snap-fitting arrangement such that the enlarged heads of the upstanding lugs 32 fit over an edge of the upstanding walls of the lens support apertures 20 so that the first lens 26 is supported by the light fitting 14.

Figure 8 shows the location of the second lens 36 nested against the first lens 26 and now supported by the light fitting 14. Preferably, the upstanding lugs 42 of the second lens 36 are also snap-fitting in the lens support apertures 20 of the light fitting 14 in a co-radial but offset manner compared with the upstanding lugs 32 of the first lens 26.

The refraction of the first lens 26 and/or second lens 36 may be as desired in the art. In one example, the light support 16 provides a beam angle of 60 degrees as shown in Figure 9. The dimensions, angles etc. shown in Figures 9-11 are not to scale.

Figure 9 shows a general light source 50 in a general vertical arrangement so as to provide a 'down light' therefrom, shown as a spread of light 52. The spread of light is all 30° from a vertical axis, being the longitudinal axis along the light source. The spread of light shown in figure 9 is therefore a typical 60° downward beam or cone of light, i.e. all light spreading to a 30° angle from a conventional down light.

Using the present invention, the addition of a first lens 26 below the light source 50 as shown diagrammatically in Figure 10, is able to vary the spread of light 52a to achieve a spread extending only 15° from the vertical axis in one direction, and now 45° in another direction. Thus, the spread of light is still a 60° cone overall, but it appears to be "angled" in relation to the vertical axis. This provides the same or a similar effect to physical rotation of the light source 50 if it were arranged to pivot within a conventional lighting assembly. Pivoting of conventional down lights is generally achieved through one or more pivot mechanisms, sometimes termed a gimbal fitting. This requires additional parts and fittings to accommodate a pivoting arrangement, increasing the size of the overall light fitting as well as providing a moving mechanism which can go wrong and a mechanism more likely to attract dust and dirt.

The use of one or more lenses able to vary the spread of light derived from the light source according to the present invention provides a smaller, more convenient and non-moving part arrangement, less likely to have any mechanical fault, and less likely to attract dust and dirt.

Figure 11 shows the location co-axially of the first lens 26 and a second lens 36 below the light source 50, so as to vary the spread of light from the light source 52b to 0° in one direction, and 60° in another direction. Again, this spread of light may be the same or similar to further pivoting of the light source 50 in a conventional arrangement to a greater angle than shown in Figure 10, but the present invention has achieved the variation in the spread of light through the use of one or more fixed lenses, rather than requiring any pivot mechanism.

The skilled man can see that the use of other lenses can vary the angle of the spread of light in other directions to be greater or less than 60°, all whilst having no moving parts in the lighting assembly.

The present invention also provides a lighting assembly which is easier to seal against a surface such as a ceiling as there are no moving parts such as of a gimbal mechanism, which assists preventing moisture ingress through the surface. It also allows the lighting assembly to be slimmer and/or smaller lighting assembly, whilst still achieving a variation of the spread of light.

The present invention provides a convenient way to refract the light from a light source, in particular a LED down light, in one or more directions and/or angles, by the simple application of one or more additional lenses, preferably in a snap-fitting manner to achieve easy location and fitting with the light fitting of the light assembly, once the desired direction and/or angle of light is chosen.

Optionally, the or each lens in the lighting assembly is releaseably securable to the light fitting, such that it can be removed and/or changed should the direction and/or angle of light desired from the light source be desired to differ.

Claims

Claims 1. A lighting assembly comprising: a light source, a light fitting including a light support supporting the light source and having a central aperture for the passage of light from the lighting assembly, and one or more lenses able to vary the spread of light from the light source, the or each lens being locatable over the central aperture and supported by the lighting assembly.
2. A lighting assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the light source is an LED light element.
3. A lighting assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the light fitting includes a ceiling fixture or a wall fixture supporting the light fitting.
4. A lighting assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1-3 wherein the lighting assembly includes a plurality of lens support apertures.
5. A lighting assembly as claimed claim 4 wherein the one or more lenses are supported by the light support and a plurality of lens support apertures are radially spaced around the central aperture of the light support.
6. A lighting assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a first lens includes a plurality of upstanding lugs adapted to provide the support of the first lens by the light fitting.
7. A lighting assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a second lens includes a plurality of upstanding lugs adapted to provide the support of the second lens by the light fitting.
8. A lighting assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the upstanding lugs of the second lens are co-radial but offset from the upstanding lugs of the first lens.
9. A lighting assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising a plurality of lenses, and a light support comprising a plurality of lens support apertures, wherein at least two of the lenses are supported in the same lens support aperture.
10. A lighting assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each lens is supported by the light fitting using a plurality of snap-fittings thereinbetwe en.
11. A lighting assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each lens is flat.
12. A lighting assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a first lens alters the spread of light from the light source in one direction by 15 degrees.
13. A lighting assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising a first lens and a second lens.
14. A lighting assembly as claimed in claim 13 wherein the second lens alters the spread of light from the light source in one direction by 15 degrees more than the first lens.
15. A lighting assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims being a downlight.
16. A lighting assembly as claimed in claim 15 being a recessed downlight.
17. A lighting assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each lens is releasably securable to the light fitting.
18. A lighting assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.