IL185833A - Luminaire with external modular lampshade - Google Patents

Description

LUMINAIRE WITH EXTERNAL MODULAR LAMPSHADE Pearl Cohen Zedek Latzer P-9839-IL The present invention relates to lighting fixtures.

More particularly, the invention provides an easily attached/detached modular lampshade or diffuser.

Lighting fixtures are available today in greater variety than ever before to serve all purposes - indoors, outdoors, public and private areas in ships, aircraft and land vehicles. The example described in the present text concerns the type of light fixture, to be referred to as a luminaire, which is mounted in a wall recess, typically in an outdoor installation, hence it must be waterproof to^withstand rain or irrigation.

In many applications a diffuser or lampshade is not essential but is beneficial in producing the specific lighting geometry desired to most economically meet the project specifications, including the prevention of glare. Often the demands on the luminaires are almost contradictory. For example an institution such as a museum, a house of prayer or a shopping mall may wish to have the entrance steps leading thereto illuminated during hours when open to the public, and may wish to illuminate the outer walls of the building and not the steps during the periods when the institution is closed. Furthermore a multi-purpose hall may be used for a wedding ceremony where direct lighting is suitable, and on the following day the same hall may be needed for a solemn memorial service where indirect lighting is more suitable.

Moreover, such shades are also a matter of personal taste. Accordingly, many types of fixtures are manufactured to meet different purposes or tastes.

In the prior art, luminaires of the type discussed in the present document which are equipped with diffusers, reflectors or shades have these components attached to the body of the luminaire usually by 4 screws, although in a few luminaires only two or tliree screws are used. A screwdriver is essential to add or to remove/replace the shade. Thus exchanging the external shade, reflector or diffuser is inconvenient, and where dozens of such light fixtures are installed exchange of these external components will not be carried out even if some benefit would ensue.

Due to the above, and to different needs and tastes, many models are manufactured, a matter which requires storage space and a large variety of shapes.

In view of this state of affairs it is the object of the present invention to obviate the disadvantages of prior art luminaires and to provide a method of shade attachment which makes exchange of the shade a short task not requiring any tools.

Furthermore, a large variety of shades of different shapes could be held by respective stores with a small quantity of housings.

The present invention achieves the above object by providing a luminaire comprising three, main parts, a housing, an internal sealed cover and an external light diverter shade unit disposed over the outer face of said luminaire housing and which can be removed and replaced at any time and to any need or taste.

The shade unit is attached to the body of said luminaire by means of at least one spring catch activated when a force towards the body of said luminaire is applied to said shade unit, and release thereof is possible in response to finger pressure on said spring catch.

In a most preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a luminaire wherein a plurality of said shade units of different design may be provided together with said luminaire.

In an even most preferred embodiment points of sale need to hold only shades to meet different needs and tastes, rather than the whole fixture.

It will thus be realized that the novel luminaire of the present invention is so easily exchanged that for example the operator of a multi-purpose hall will not hesitate to change the lampshades of a multiplicity of luminaires when this is helpful in providing the desired atmosphere for whatever event is being arranged.

The invention will now be described further with reference to the accompanying drawings, which represent by example preferred embodiments of the invention. Structural details are shown only as far as necessary for a fundamental understanding thereof. The described examples, together with the drawings, will make apparent to those skilled in the art how further forms of the invention may be realized.

In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a frontal perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the assembled luminaire according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the luminaire as seen in FIG. 1 ; FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded view of the luminaire; and FIG. 4 is a perspective partly sectional view of the luminaire.

There is seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 a luminaire.10 configured for partial in-wall or in-ceiling installation. The housing 12 of the luminaire comprises an outer section 14, and an inner section 16 arranged to be inserted in a wall or ceiling cavity. One of several cable entry apertures 18 is seen piercing the inner section 16 of the housing 12.

An external light diverter and shade unit 22 is disposed over the outer face of the housing 12. The shade unit 22 can be removed and replaced without the use of tools, due to a closing catch unit 24 integral with housing 12 of the luminaire activated when a force is applied to move the shade unit 22 closer to the housing 12 of the luminaire. The shade unit 22 carries the catch shoulder 28 (FIG. 4).

Release of the shade unit 22 is affected by applying finger pressure on the spring catch 24, bending same inwards for disengagement from the shoulder 28.

With regard to the rest of the figures similar reference numerals have been used to identify similar parts.

Turning now to FIG. 3 being an exploded illustration of the luminaire, there is seen the lampshade unit 22. A portion of the generated light is radiated through a central elliptical aperture 30 while a pair of full-length diverters 32 allow light to exit in opposite sideways directions. Within the luminaire there is provided a lamp 34 and a cover therefore 36 attached to housing 14 by means of screws 38. In intermediate cover 36 and housing 14 there is placed seal 40 within groove 42, providing a sealed compartment for lamp 34 to withstand rain or irrigation water.

The example seen in the diagrams has a catch unit 24 at each end as this was how the prototype was manufactured. It is however feasible to replace one of the flexible catch units 24 with a rigid sliding connection. Furthermore it will be obvious that the flexible spring catch 24 integral to the housing 12 of the luminaire could be part of the external shade unit and the rigid shoulder 28 would then be disposed on the luminaire housing.

The scope of the described invention is intended to include all embodiments coming within the meaning of the following claims. The foregoing examples illustrate useful forms of the invention, but are not to be considered as limiting its scope, as those skilled in the art will be aware that additional variants and modifications of the invention can readily be formulated without departing from the meaning of the following claims.

Claims (5)

1. A luminaire comprising three main parts, a housing, an internal sealed lamp cover and an external light diverter shade unit disposed over the outer face of said housing and which can be removed and replaced without the use of tools.

2. The luminaire as claimed in claim 1, being configured for partial in- wall or in-ceiling installation.

3. The luminaire as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shade unit is attached to the body of said luminaire by means of at least one spring catch activated when a force towards the body of said luminaire is applied to said shade unit, and release thereof is possible in response to finger pressure on said spring catch.

4. The luminaire as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of said shade units of different design is provided together with said luminaire.

5. A luminaire substantially as described hereinbefore and with reference to the accompanying drawings.