GB2575133A

GB2575133A - Luminaire with moveable optical element

Info

Publication number: GB2575133A
Application number: GB201820619A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leck Alexander
Original assignee: John Cullen Lighting Ltd
Current assignee: John Cullen Lighting Ltd
Priority date: 2018-12-18
Filing date: 2018-12-18
Publication date: 2020-01-01
Anticipated expiration: 2038-12-18
Also published as: GB201820619D0; GB2575133B8; GB2575133B

Abstract

A luminaire 100 comprises a mounting plate (102, Fig. 1) and a body 104. An optical element 200 is mounted on a support 202. The optical element 200 is arranged on a first side of the mounting plate 102 to direct light from the first side of the mounting plate 102 through the mounting plate 102 to a second side of the mounting plate 102. The support 202 has a first mounting point 400 and a second mounting point 402. The optical element 200 is pivotable about the second mounting point 402, by moving the first mounting point 400 towards or away from the mounting plate 102, to vary a direction along which the optical element 200 directs light through the mounting plate 200. A first adjuster 112 extends through the mounting plate 102 and is coupled to the first mounting point 400 such that movement of the first mounting point 400 towards and away from the mounting plate 102 is controllable using the first adjuster 112 from the second side of the mounting plate 102.

Description

Luminaire with Moveable Optical Element

Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to a luminaire with a moveable optical element, and more particularly to a luminaire with an optical element that can be tilted and panned to adapt a light beam emitted from the luminaire. The disclosure has particular application to such a luminaire in the form of a recessed uplighter.

Background

Luminaires that allow users to alter the direction of a light beam emitted from the luminaire are known. Such luminaires find utility in controlling the way in which objects or spaces are illuminated, e.g. to highlight certain features, without changing the location of the luminaires. However, these luminaires are often difficult to operate and they may not be adjustable by a consumer or end user, but instead only by a specialist installer. The process can be difficult, lengthy and complicated. In particular, luminaires that are recessed, such as a recessed uplighter, typically need to be removed from the recess in which they are installed in order to adjust the lighting direction. This is particularly problematic, as it is only possible to be certain that an adjusted lighting direction is suitable once the luminaire is placed back in the recess, with the result that the adjustment may need to be performed iteratively, with the luminaire being removed and re-installed a number of times before a desired adjustment is completed.

Summary of Disclosure

Aspects of the present disclosure are set out in the appended claims.

According to one aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a luminaire comprising:

a mounting plate;

an optical element arranged on a first side of the mounting plate to direct light from the first side of the mounting plate through the mounting plate to a second side of the mounting plate;

-2a support on which the optical element is mounted, the support comprising a first mounting point and a second mounting point, the support being pivotable about the second mounting point, by moving the first mounting point towards or away from the mounting plate, to vary a direction along which the optical element directs light through the mounting plate; and a first adjuster extending through the mounting plate and coupled to the first mounting point such that movement of the first mounting point towards and away from the mounting plate is controllable using the first adjuster from the second side of the mounting plate.

Optionally, the first adjuster is in threaded engagement with a first carriage, which first carriage is coupled to the first mounting point, such that movement of the first mounting point towards and away from the mounting plate is controllable by rotating the first adjuster relative to the first carriage.

Optionally, the first mounting point is mounted slidably with respect to the first adjuster to accommodate movement of the first mounting point towards and away from the first adjuster as the optical element pivots about the second mounting point.

Optionally, the second mounting point is movable towards and away from the mounting plate, the luminaire comprising a second adjuster extending through the mounting plate and coupled to the second mounting point such that movement of the second mounting point towards and away from the mounting plate is controllable using the second adjuster from the second side of the mounting plate.

Optionally, the optical element is also pivotable about the first mounting point, by moving the second mounting point towards or away from the mounting plate, to vary the direction along which the optical element directs light through the mounting plate.

Optionally, the second adjuster is in threaded engagement with a second carriage, which second carriage is coupled to the second mounting point, such that movement of the second mounting point towards and away from the mounting plate is controllable by rotating the second adjuster relative to the second carriage.

Optionally, the second mounting point is mounted slidably with respect to the support to accommodate movement of the second mounting point towards and away from the second adjuster as the support pivots about the first mounting point.

Optionally, the mounting plate is a faceplate of the luminaire.

-3Optionally, the mounting plate has a window of translucent material through which the optical element is arranged to direct the light.

Optionally, the luminaire comprises a body in which the optical element and the support are housed. The body and the mounting plate may together enclose the optical element and the support.

Optionally, the luminaire comprises a light source associated with the optical element, the light source being mounted on the support. The light source may be a light emitting diode.

Optionally, the luminaire comprises an electrical coupling for the light source, the electrical coupling being located on the luminaire distal to the mounting plate.

The disclosure also extends to any novel aspects or features described and/or illustrated herein. Further features of the disclosure are characterised by the other independent and dependent claims.

Any feature in one aspect of the disclosure may be applied to other aspects of the disclosure, in any appropriate combination. In particular, method aspects may be applied to apparatus aspects, and vice versa.

Any apparatus feature as described herein may also be provided as a method feature and vice versa. As used herein, means plus function features may be expressed alternatively in terms of their corresponding structure.

It should be appreciated that particular combinations of the various features described and defined in any aspects of the disclosure can be implemented and or supplied and/or used independently.

Preferred embodiments are described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is an illustration of a luminaire according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Figure 2 is an illustration of the luminaire from an end at which a mounting plate is located, with a window insert and adjuster covers removed.

Figure 3 is an illustration of the luminaire from the end at which the mounting plate is located, with the window insert and an optical element insert removed.

-4Figure 4 is a sectional illustration of the luminaire with an optical element in a first position.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional illustration of a part of the luminaire with the optical element in the first position.

Figure 6 is an illustration of the optical element, along with a support, housing and first and second carriages of a first adjuster and a second adjuster.

Figure 7 is a sectional view of the luminaire with the optical element in a second position.

Figure 8 is a sectional view of the luminaire with the optical element in a third position.

Detailed Description

Referring to Figures 1 to 6, a luminaire 100 according to a first embodiment comprises a mounting plate 102 and a body 104. In this embodiment, the luminaire 100 is a recessed uplighter. The body 104 is arranged for being accommodated in a recess in the floor or ground, leaving the mounting plate 102 around the same level as the floor or ground, facing upwards. In particular, the mounting plate 102 and body 104 are together generally sealed so as to prevent ingress of water into the luminaire 100.

In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting plate 102 is generally annular, with a window 106 at its centre, and is locatable at an end of the body 104. The mounting plate 102 is secured to the body by a fastener 108. In the illustrated embodiment, the fastener 108 comprises four elements evenly spaced around the mounting plate 102. Each element of the fastener 108 is a bolt extending through the mounting plate 102 and cooperating with a threaded bore in the body 104 to secure the mounting plate 102 to the body 104 removably. In other embodiments, the fastener 108 is of a different type, such as a thread around the periphery of the mounting plate 102 that cooperates with a corresponding thread on an inwardly facing surface of the body 104 directly.

The window 106 is a hole in the mounting plate 102. In the illustrated embodiment, the window 106 is circular and located coaxially with the periphery of the mounting plate 102. It is possible for the window 106 to be empty, e.g. to be a void, in some embodiments. However, in the illustrated embodiment the window 106 houses a window insert 110, such that the window 106 is closed by the window insert 110. The

-5window insert 110 is translucent. In some embodiments, the window insert 110 is transparent, coloured or tinted. In the illustrated embodiment, the window insert 110 is frosted. Figure 1 shows the luminaire 100 with the window insert 110 in position in the window 106 and Figures 2 and 3 show the luminaire 100 with the window insert 110 removed.

It will be appreciated that, in the illustrated embodiment, the mounting plate 102 is the part of the luminaire 100 that remains visible when the body 104 is received in the recess in the floor or ground. As such, the mounting plate 102 may be described as a faceplate. However, in other embodiments, components of the luminaire 100 are located outwardly of the luminaire 100 relative to the mounting plate 102. In particular, it is envisaged that in some embodiments a separate faceplate will be provided, covering the mounting plate 102, outwardly of the mounting plate 102. This may offer different options for the decorative appearance of the luminaire 100 and/or improve prevention of water ingress into the luminaire 100.

Referring to Figures 2 to 6, an optical element 200 is housed within the body 104. The optical element 200 is mounted on a support 202 along with a light source 300. In the illustrated embodiment, the optical element 200 comprises a collimator 302 for directing light from the light source 300 through the window 106 of the mounting plate 102. The collimator 302 extends around the light source 300 and is arranged so as to direct light travelling sideways from the light source 300, relative to the window 106, towards and through the window 106. In the illustrated embodiment, optical element 200 is a frustum, with the smaller end of the frustum towards the light source 300.

Optionally, the optical element 200 has an optical element insert 204 located between the light source 300 and the window 106. In this embodiment, the location of the optical element insert 204 is also between the collimator 302 and the window 106. The optical element insert 204 is arranged such that light from the light source 300 passes through the optical element insert 204 before arriving at the window 106. In some embodiments, the optical element insert 204 is arranged to change the colour of the light passing through the window 106, or to alter the distribution of light from the light source 300. In the illustrated embodiment, the optical element insert 204 is diffuser. More specifically, the optical element insert 204 is translucent, e.g. a pane of translucent material, with a frosting or suitable surface finish arranged to diffuse light.

The support 202 has two mounting points; a first mounting point 400 and a

-6second mounting point 402. The first mounting point 400 and the second mounting point 402 are located in different positions on a plane transverse to the direction in which the optical element 200 is arranged to direct light through the window 106. This means that movement of either one of the first mounting point 400 or the second mounting point 402 towards or away from the window 106 tilts the support 202, and hence the optical element 200, such that precise direction in which the optical element 200 directs light through the window 106 changes.

In the illustrated embodiment, the support 202 is annular and the first mounting point 400 and the second mounting point 402 are located on the outer perimeter of the support 202, diametrically opposed to one another. The optical element 200 is located centrally on the support 202, between the first mounting point 400 and the second mounting point 402, e.g. within a central void of the annulus. A diameter of the support 202, e.g. from the first mounting point 400 to the second mounting point 402, is similar to a diameter of the window 106, such that the support 202 is mountable within the width of the body 104.

The first mounting point 400 and the second mounting point 402 each comprise a pivot oriented to allow the support 202 to rotate towards and away from the window 106.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first mounting point 400 and the second mounting point 402 are each arranged to allow the support 202 to rotate around a respective axis, which axes are each parallel to one another. More specifically, the first mounting point 400 and the second mounting point 402 are each a rod or shaft aligned along, e.g. tangential to, the circumference of the support 202, diametrically opposed to one another. In the illustrated embodiment, the first mounting point 400 and the second mounting point 402 are each part of the shaft of a respective bolt secured to the support 202.

The luminaire 100 has a first adjuster 112 and a second adjuster 114. The support 202 is mounted on the first adjuster 112 and the second adjuster 114. In more detail, the first mounting point 400 is mounted on the first adjuster 112 and the second mounting point 402 is mounted on the second adjuster 114 in order to mount the support 202 in the luminaire 100, e.g. on the mounting plate 102.

The first adjuster 112 and the second adjuster 114 each comprise a carriage 404 mounted on a shaft 406. In this embodiment, the shaft 406 of the first adjuster 112 and the shaft 406 of the second adjuster 114 are each threaded and the carriages 404 each

-7have a thread bore 407 that cooperates with the thread of the shaft 406. More specifically, the thread of the shaft 406 engages with the threaded bore 407 to hold the carriage 404 on the shaft 406. The shaft 406 is longer than the threaded bore 407, and the threaded bore 407 extends all the way through the carriage 404. This allows the carriage 404 to ride on the shaft 406, to different positions along the length of the shaft 406, by rotating the shaft 406 within the threaded bore 407.

The shaft 406 of each of the first adjuster 112 and the second adjuster 114 passes through the mounting plate 102 from a first side of the mounting plate 102 facing towards the inside of the luminaire 100 to a second side of the mounting plate 102 facing towards the outside of the luminaire 100. At the end of each shaft 406, on the second side of the mounting plate 102, is an actuator 408. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator 408 is a head with a socket, slot or recess that allows a tool to mate with the actuator 408 to rotate the actuator 408 and hence the shaft 406. Indeed, in the illustrated embodiment, the shaft 406 and actuator 408 are implemented using a bolt with a bolt head. The bolt head has a screw drive, which in the illustrated embodiment is a cross drive, such as a Philips or Frearson drive.

The actuator 408 is accommodated in a recess 410 in the mounting plate 102. The recess 410 is chamfered and the actuator 408 is tapered towards the shaft 406 in a way that corresponds to the chamfer, such that the actuator 408 sits in the recess 410 stably. An adjuster cover 412 is mountable in the recess 410 over the actuator 408. The adjuster cover 412 extends across the whole width of the recess 410 to seal the recess and reduce water ingress through the mounting plate 102 at the locations of the first adjuster 112 and the second adjuster 114. The adjuster cover 412 has a seal 414 around its periphery that cooperates with an inwardly facing surface of the recess 410 to improve the water-tightness. In this embodiment, the seal 414 is an O-ring seal.

The carriage 404 of the first adjuster 112 has a bearing 416 for accommodating the first mounting point 400 and the carriage 404 of the second adjuster 114 has a bearing 416 for accommodating the second mounting point 402. The bearings 416 allow the first mounting point 400 and the second mounting point 402 to rotate relative to the carriages 404 as the support 202 tilts towards and away from the window 106. The bearings 416 also allow the first mounting point 400 and the second mounting point 402 to slide towards and away from the first adjuster 112 and the second adjuster 114 as the support 202 rotates. It is possible for each bearing 416 to be a bore for accommodating

-8the first mounting point 400 or the second mounting point 402. However, in the illustrated embodiment, each bearing 416 is a slot, channel or guide extending towards the support 202, allowing the first mounting point 400 or the second mounting point 402 to both rotate and slide relative to the carriage 404. More specifically, each bearing 416 comprises two parallel slots in which either the first mounting point 400 or the second mounting point 402 is accommodated therebetween.

The support 202 carries a housing 418 that, together with the support 202, surrounds the optical element 200 and the light source 300. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 418 is generally cup-shaped. A hole 420 is provided in the housing 418 to allow a wire or cable (not shown) to be coupled to the light source 300 through the housing 418. Similarly, there is a hole 422 in the body 104 to allow the wire or cable to extend to the outside of the luminaire 100 for coupling to an electrical supply.

In use, the luminaire 100 is located in the floor or ground. The wire or cable is first coupled to the electrical supply, then the body 104 placed in the recess in the floor or ground. The recess may be a hole in a panel behind which there is a void, or a cupshaped recess with similar dimensions to the luminaire 100. With the luminaire 100 positioned in the recess, the mounting plate 102 is around the same level as the floor or ground, facing upwards. This means that the body 104 is not accessible without removing the luminaire 100 from the recess. Rather, the luminaire 100 is only accessible via the mounting plate 102.

With the luminaire 100 in position on the recess, the position of the optical element 200 can be adjusted to orient the optical element 200 and obtain a light beam directed as desired.

By way of example, with the optical element 200 initially in the position shown in Figure 4, that is as close to the window 106 as possible, a user may move the optical element 200 using the first adjuster 112. First, the adjuster cover 412 covering the actuator 408 of the first adjuster 112 is removed to allow a tool, such as a standard screw driver, to engage with the actuator 408 of the first adjuster 112. The user then rotates the actuator 408 of the first adjuster 112, e.g. clockwise, using the tool. This causes the shaft 406 to rotate within the threaded bore 407 of the carriage 404 of the first adjuster 112. Consequently, a portion of the shaft 406 moves from a side of the carriage 404 distal to the window 106 to a side of the carriage 404 proximate to the window 106. This increases the length of a part of the shaft 406 on the side of the

-9carriage 404 proximate to the window 106 and allows the carriage 404 move away from the window 106. The freedom of the carriage 404 to move away from the window 106 allows the support 202 to drop away from the window 106 under the force of gravity. More specifically, the first mounting point 400 is free to drop away from the window 106 whereas the second mounting point 402 remains in positon. This means that the support 202 rotates away from the window 106 around the second mounting point 402, to the position shown in Figure 7. This rotation causes the optical element 200 and hence the direction in which light is directed by the optical element 200 to tilt towards the first adjuster 112, or to the right in the orientation shown in Figure 7. By rotating the actuator 408 by an appropriate amount, the user can control the amount of the tilt. Once a suitable angle of tilt has been achieved, the adjuster cover 412 covering the actuator 408 of the first adjuster 112 is replaced.

It should be noted that, in the position shown in Figure 7, the first mounting point 400 and the second mounting point 402 are both at different locations in the bearings 416 of the carriages 404 of the first adjuster 112 and the second adjuster 114. As well as rotating, the first mounting point 400 has moved away from the first adjuster 112 and the second mounting point 402 has moved away from the second adjuster 114. This occurs because, with the support 202 tilted at an angle to the virtual shortest straight line between the first adjuster 112 and the second adjuster 114, the distance along the support 202 from the first adjuster 112 to the second adjuster 114 is longer.

By way of further example, with the optical element 200 in the position shown in Figure 7, that is tilted towards the first adjuster 112, the user may additionally move the optical element 200 using the second adjuster 114. To do this, the user removes the adjuster cover 412 covering the actuator 408 of the second adjuster 114 to allow the tool to engage with the actuator 408 of the second adjuster 114. The user then rotates the actuator 408 of the second adjuster 114, e.g. clockwise, using the tool. This causes the shaft 406 of the second adjuster 114 to rotate within the threaded bore 407 of the carriage 404 of the second adjuster 112. Consequently, a portion of the shaft 406 moves from the side of the carriage 404 distal to the window 106 to the side of the carriage 404 proximate to the window 106. This increases the length of a part of the shaft 406 on the side of the carriage 404 proximate to the window 106 and allows the carriage 404 move away from the window 106. The freedom of the carriage 404 of the second adjuster 114 to move away from the window 106 allows the support 202 to drop

-10away from the window 106 under the force of gravity. This time the second mounting point 402 is free to drop away from the window 106 whereas the first mounting point 400 remains in the position that it dropped to previously. This means that the support 202 rotates away from the window 106 around the first mounting point 400, to the position shown in Figure 8. This rotation causes the optical element 200 and hence the direction in which light is directed by the optical element 200 to tilt again, this time back towards the second adjuster 114. By rotating the actuator 408 by an appropriate amount, the user can again control the amount of tilt. Once a suitable angle has been achieved, the adjuster cover 412 covering the actuator 408 of the second adjuster 114 is replaced.

In the position shown in Figure 8, the support 202 is parallel to the window 106, similarly to the position shown in Figure 4. However, the support 202 is spaced further away from the window 106. This different distance causes a change in the optical path length between the optical element 200 and the window 106. This panning of the optical element 200 is used to change the shape of the light beam, by reducing the field of view through the window 106 from the optical element 200. In particular, if the window insert 110 is a lens, changing the focal position at which the optical element 200 is located with respect to the lens in this way can re-focus the light beam.

It will be appreciated that the support 202 can be oriented at any number of different angles of tilt or distances from the window 106, with the limits of the lengths of the shafts 406 of the first adjuster 112 and the second adjuster 114.

In the illustrated embodiment, the support 202 has two mounting points (400, 402). However, other embodiments have other numbers of mounting points. In particular, in some embodiments, only one of the mounting points is moveable. For example, the first mounting point 400 is as described above, but the second mounting point 402 is fixed relative to the window 106, only accommodating rotation of the support 202 as the first mounting point 400 is moved. This means that the optical element 200 can only be tilted and not panned using the mounting points. In other embodiments, three or more mounting points are provided, each of which is moveable as described above. In these embodiments, each of the mounting points is adapted also to rotate perpendicularly to the axes of rotation described above, e.g. to twist, so as to accommodate others of the mounting points being moved to different distances away from the window 106. In such embodiments, three adjusters are provided, corresponding to each of the three mounting points, to facilitate adjustment of the

- 11 support 202.

The luminaire 100 has been described above in the form of a tilting uplighter.

However, this is only one possible implementation of the luminaire 100. In other embodiments, the luminaire 100 is implemented in different contexts, in particular as a 5 tilting downlighter. In such an implementation, the first and second adjusters 112, 114 are secured to the body 104 of the luminaire 100 so they do not fall out as the luminaire 100 is inverted from the orientation in which it is shown in the accompanying drawings.

In one embodiment, a cuff is provided around the shaft 406 of each of the first adjuster

112 and the second adjuster 114 for this purpose, which cuff is retained in a bore in the 10 body 104 distal to the actuator 408. The body 104 is also adapted to be securable in a void in a ceiling, or such like.

It will be understood that the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above purely by way of example, and many modifications can be made whilst remaining within the scope of the accompanying claims.

Reference numerals appearing in the claims are by way of illustration only and shall have no limiting effect on the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A luminaire comprising:

a mounting plate;

a support on which the optical element is mounted, the support comprising a first mounting point and a second mounting point, the support being pivotable about the second mounting point, by moving the first mounting point towards or away from the mounting plate, to vary a direction along which the optical element directs light through the mounting plate; and a first adjuster extending through the mounting plate and coupled to the first mounting point such that movement of the first mounting point towards and away from the mounting plate is controllable using the first adjuster from the second side of the mounting plate.

2. The luminaire of claim 1, wherein the first adjuster is in threaded engagement with a first carriage, which first carriage is coupled to the first mounting point, such that movement of the first mounting point towards and away from the mounting plate is controllable by rotating the first adjuster relative to the first carriage.

3. The luminaire of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first mounting point is mounted slidably with respect to the first adjuster to accommodate movement of the first mounting point towards and away from the first adjuster as the support pivots about the second mounting point.

4. The luminaire of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second mounting point is movable towards and away from the mounting plate, the luminaire comprising a second adjuster extending through the mounting plate and coupled to the second mounting point such that movement of the second mounting point towards and away from the mounting plate is controllable using the second adjuster from the second side of the mounting plate.

5. The luminaire of claim 4, wherein the support is also pivotable about the first mounting point, by moving the second mounting point towards or away from the mounting plate, to vary the direction along which the optical element directs light through the mounting plate.

6. The luminaire of claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the second adjuster is in threaded engagement with a second carriage, which second carriage is coupled to the second mounting point, such that movement of the second mounting point towards and away from the mounting plate is controllable by rotating the second adjuster relative to the second carriage.

7. The luminaire of any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the second mounting point is mounted slidably with respect to the second adjuster to accommodate movement of the second mounting point towards and away from the second adjuster as the support pivots about the first mounting point.

8. A luminaire according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting plate is a faceplate of the luminaire.

9. The luminaire of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting plate has a window of translucent material through which the optical element is arranged to direct the light.

10. The luminaire of any one of the preceding claims, comprising a body in which the optical element and the support are housed.

11. The luminaire of claim 10, wherein the body and the mounting plate together enclose the optical element and the support.

12. The luminaire of any one of the preceding claims, comprising a light source associated with the optical element, the light source being mounted on the support.

13. The luminaire of claim 12, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.

14. The luminaire of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an electrical coupling for a/the light source, the electrical coupling being located on the luminaire

5 distal to the mounting plate.