WO1986003277A1

WO1986003277A1 - Ceiling roses

Info

Publication number: WO1986003277A1
Application number: PCT/GB1985/000543
Authority: WO
Inventors: Patrick John Doherty
Original assignee: Kudos Lighting Limited
Priority date: 1984-11-27
Filing date: 1985-11-26
Publication date: 1986-06-05
Also published as: GB8617435D0; AU5200386A; GB2179209A; EP0203134A1; GB2179209B

Abstract

A ceiling rose comprising a base assembly (1) to be secured on a flat surface, a cover assembly (11) which is mountable on the base assembly, and first terminals (2-5) supported by the base assembly for connection to a supply cable. The cover assembly comprises second terminals (13) connected to a lighting assembly (18), the arrangement of the terminals being such that each of the second terminals is electrically connected to a corresponding one of the first terminals when the cover assembly is mounted on the base assembly.

Description

CEILING ROSES

The present invention relates to ceiling roses. A conventional ceiling rose comprises a base assembly which in use is secured to a flat surface such as a ceiling, a cover, and a lighting assembly which may be for example a bulb holder, or a bulb holder shade combination, or a lighting pendant. The wires of a supply cable which projects from the surface on which the base assembly is secured extend through an aperture in the base and are connected to terminals supported on the base. After the base assembly is positioned and connected to the supply cable^", wires which extend from the lighting assembly are passed through a central aperture on the cover and secured to the ^' base terminal. The cover is then screwed or snap-fitted onto the base assembly.

The connection of the lighting assembly to the terminals of the base is difficult to accomplish, primarily because the wiring connection between the lighting assembly and the base terminals must b.e made in situ. This often involves the installer working whilst standing on a ladder and looking upwards in poor lighting conditions. The installer is working with his hands above his head which is tiring and a screw-driver or terminal screw can easily be dropped, or an insecure connection can be made. Thus, initial installation of such ceiling roses is difficult and time consuming, as is re-fitting of wires to the ceiling rose when for example the lighting assembly is to be changed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved ceiling rose which obviates or mitigates the above problems. According to the present invention there is provided a ceiling rose comprising a base assembly adapted to be secured on a flat surface, a cover assembly which is mountable on the base assembly, and first terminals supported by the base assembly for connection to a supply cable, wherein the cover assembly comprises second terminals for connection to a lighting assembly, the arrangement of the terminals being such that each of the second terminals is electrically connected to a corresponding one of the first terminals when the cover assembly is mounted on the base assembly.

Thus, when a ceiling rose in accordance with the invention is installed the installer first has to secure- the base assembly to the ceiling or other surface upon which the ceiling rose is to be mounted. The wires which are .normally left projecting from the ceiling are then connected to the terminals in the base assembly. When a pendant lampholder is to be fitted to the base assembly the installer can either purchase the pendant lampholder already wired to the cover assembly or wire the pendant lampholder to the cover assembly at his leisure in ideal conditions, for example on a workbench. The installer then simply has to push the cover assembly onto the base assembly and the pendant lampholder is automatically connected to the supply cable which has previously been connected to the terminals supported by the base assembly. When the installer wishes to connect a batten lampholder to the base assembly, rather than having to manipulate very short lengths of wire previously connected to a batten lampholder he again simply has to "plug" the cover assembly which incorporates an integral lampholder onto the base assembly. The speed at which the installer can work and his working conditions are accordingly greatly improved.

Where the cover assembly is to be used with a pendant lampholder, the cover assembly may incorporate a cable grip and the terminals supported by the cover assembly may be mounted on an electrically insulating body which is a snap-fit in the cover assembly. The terminals to which the cable of the pendant lampholder is connected may be of the type which define apertures through which insulated wires may be inserted, the wires then being stripped by pushing the terminals into appropriate slot formations.

Where the base • assembly is to be used with a batten lampholder, that is one in which the lampholder is directly mounted on the cover assembly rather than connected via a flexible cable, the cover assembly may comprise a simple cover defining -an aperture and the lampholder may be inserted into the aperture from one side of the cover and secured to the cover by a locking member, for example a bulb shield. The _ bulb shield may be simply screwed onto the body of the lampholder.

The cover assembly will normally be a snap-fit on the base assembly but could alternatively be secured by screws. In either case removal of the cover assembly and therefore exposure of the terminals within the ceiling rose would require the use of a tool.

The ceiling rose in accordance with the present invention could be used with a safety lampholder of the type described in published European Patent Specification No. 0 101 257.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be '.escribed by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :- Fig. 1 is an exploded sectional view through a ceiling rose in accordance with the present invention for use with a pendant lampholder;

Fig. 2 is a sectional perspective view through a 5 batten lampholder cover assembly for use with the base assembly illustrated in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively exploded perspective views of the base assembly and cover assembly of a second embodiment of the present ₁₀ invention;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the base assembly of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the base assembly of Fig. 5 taken on the line VI-VI of Fig. 5; and _]_5 Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the

.cover assembly of a batten lampholder for use with the base assembly illustrated in Figs. 3, 5»and 6.

Referring to Fig. 1, the drawing illustrates a base assembly in the form of a _ moulded plastics body

2₀ 1 supporting terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5 beneath a protective covering 6. The terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5 correspond the the conventionally labelled terminals

"loop", "line", "neutral", and "earth". A supply cable (not shown) is connected to the terminals such

25 that the terminal 3 is connected to the live conductor of the supply cable and the terminal 4 is connected to the neutral conductor of the supply cable. It is thus necessary to connect a lighting assembly to the terminals 3_.and 4.

₃₀ The covering 6 defines apertures 7 giving access to spring contacts 8 and 9 which are in contact respectively with terminals 3 and 4. The base assembly body also supports spring arms 10 the purpose of which is to secure a cover assembly to the

₃₅ base assembly. Fig. 1 also shows the components of a cover assembly, these components being a moulded body 11, a terminal assembly comprising a moulded support frame 12 and electrically conducting terminals 13 defining pins 14, and a cable grip 15. In use wires 16 of a cable 17 connected to a lampholder 18 are inserted through the cable grip 15 and connected to the terminals 13. The frame 12 is then forced into snap-engagement with a socket 19 defined by the body 11 and the cable grip 15 is tightened so as to tightly grip the cable, 17. The body 11 of the cover assembly is then pushed into engagement with the base assembly so that the ends of the spring arms 10 engag^'e in apertures 20 in the body 11. This also causes the pins 14 extending from the terminals 13 to pass through the apertures 7 and make contact with the spring contacts 8 and 9. The lampholder is th-us automatically connected to the terminals 3 and 4 simply by pushing the body 11 of the cover assembly onto the base assembly.

It will be appreciated that the wires 16 can be secured to the terminals 13 in ideal conditions and the installer therefore can avoid the inconvenience of making direct connections between the relatively small wires 16 and the terminals 3 and 4 of the base.

Once the cover assembly has been secured on the base assembly it can only be removed by using a tool to push in the tips of the spring arms 10 and thereby disengage them from the apertures 20. Furthermore any tension applied to the cables 17 is transmitted to the body 11 of the cover assembly and thence to the base assembly.

Where it is desired to mount a batten lampholder rather than a pendant lampholder, .the base assembly of Fig. 1 can also be used but with the cover assembly illustrated in Fig. 2. Equivalent components shown in Figs. 1 and 2 carry the same reference numerals. In the case of Fig. 2 however a lampholder having a body 21 is secured in an aperture 22 defined by the cover assembly body 11. A bulb shield 23 is screwed onto the lampholder body 21 so as to prevent the lampholder body being removed from the cover 11.

The lampholder comprises terminals 24 from which pins 25 extend. When the body 11 of Fig. 2 is pushed onto the base assembly as shown in Fig. 1 the pins 25 penetrate the apertures 7 and contact the spring contacts 8 and 9 and thereby contact the terminals 3 and 4. Thus in exactly the same way as in the case of the embodiment of Fig. 1 the lampholder can be connected to the base assembly without requiring any in situ wiring. Furthermore the pendant lampholder cover assembly of Fig. 1 can , be replaced by the batten lampholder assembly of Fig. 2 or vice versa without any rewiring being necessary.

Turning now to the embodiment of the. invention illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6, this exhibits the same basic interelationship between the base assembly and cover assembly as in the case of the embodiment of Fig. 1. The base assembly comprises a body 26 which is generally circular in form and defines a central terminal housing 27 in which connectors are located, the connectors comprising loop connector 28, live connector 29, neutral connector 30 and earth connector 31. The connectors are secured in the terminal housing 27 by a cover plate 32 such that screw heads of the connectors are accessible through apertures of the housing. Thus a supply of electricity, passing through the surface to which the base assembly is secured and through one of a plurality of apertures in the base assembly (best seen in Fig. 5) may be secured to the connectors.

A central area of the terminal housing is provided with an upstanding wall 33 defining an enclosure 34 into which live and neutral^' terminals 35 and 36 respectively extend. The terminal 35 is shown displaced from the enclosure 34 to- assist an unde standing of its structure. As can be seen in Fig. 6, the terminals 35 and 36 do not project beyond the wall 33 and are resiliently deformable, that is they are capable of being moved a small amount in the direction perpendicular to the surface on which the base assembly is mounted.

Extending from a periphral region of the base assembly body 26 on diametrically opposite sides are two side clips 37, 38, each s-ide clip comprising an arm 39 extending from the surface of the base assembly body and a head 40 extending generally transversely of the arm. A shoulder is provided between the arm and the head on. the radially outer side thereof. The thickness of the arm 39 is such that the head 40 may be deflected a small amount radially inwardly, returning to its original position under its own resilience. Referring now to Fig. 4, the illustrated cover assembly comprises a body 41 having a generally circular but somewhat dished face portion 42 and a peripheral wall 43. Extending through the centre of the face portion 42 is an aperture 44 which is bounded on the outside by a generally cylindrical shroud 45. An interior circumferential surface of the shroud 45 is threaded, and extending from the face portion 42 on the interior of the shroud, being spaced short distances, from the threaded surface thereof, are gripping members 46 of which there are conveniently three. On diametrically opposed sides of the peripheral wall 43 two openings 47 are provided, the sizes of which are sufficient to receive the heads 40 of the side clips (Fig. 3). The cover assembly also comprises a terminal carrier 48 to which electric cables connected to a pendant lampholder may be connected. The terminal carrier 48 is in the form of a plastics moulding, adapted to be snap-fitted into engagement with the cover assembly on the interior side thereof, and comprises connection means in the form of two contact elements 49, 50 each of which comprises a contact plate provided with a key hole opening 51, and which is slidable in one of two slots 52 extending through the carrier housing. Extending through the carrier housing, and passing through the respective slots 52, are two apertures 53. The contact elements 49, 50^' are each slidable within their respective slots 52 between inoperative positions, in which the larger portions of the openings 51 are aligned with the respective apertures 53, and in which a sheathed cable may be passed through the opening 51 and through the aperture 53, and an operative position, produced by sliding the contact element into the slot 52 into a position in which the narrow part of the opening 51 is in alignment with the respective aperture 53. The edges defining the narrow part of each opening 51 are sharp, and cut through the insulation of the cable, thereby engaging the core of the cable and establishing electrical contact therewith.

Thus, an electric cable may be electrically connected with the contact elements 49 and 50, the cable passing through the terminal carrier 48 and through the central aperture in the cover assembly. The cover assembly also comprises a securing member or cable grip 54 having a central aperture through which a cable may be passed and having a shank portion 55 which may be force-fitted into the space between the inner wall of the shroud 45 and the three gripping members 46 of the cover assembly. The exterior of the shank 55 is screw-threaded, and on being threaded into the shroud forces the gripping members 46 radially inwardly to tightly grip the cable extending therethrough.

Thus a cable (not shown) can be connected electrically to the terminal carrier 48 and then physically secured to the cover assembly so that it canno^'t be pulled therefrom. The other end of the cable (not shown) remote from the cover assembly can then be electrically connected to a bulb holder having a bo^*dy 56 over which a. cover 57 is subsequently snapped, a shield 58* being screwed onto the bulb holder in a conventional manner. In use of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6, the lighting assembly comprising the oulb holder is wired to the terminal carrier 48 with the cover assembly separated from the base assembly. The cover assembly is then offered to the base assembly, chamfered outer surfaces of the side clips 37, 38 being engaged by the peripheral wall 43 of the cover assembly and being resiliently deformed radially inwardly until the heads 40 of the side clips pass into the openings 47. The shoulders of the side clips, between the arms 39 and heads 40 thereof, engage with respective walls of the openings 47 to retain the cover assembly securely in position on the base assembly.

When the cover assembly is in position on the base assembly, end faces 59 of the contact elements supported by the terminal carrier 48 pass into the opening 34 of the base assembly bounded by the wall 33 and electrically contact the corresponding live and neutral terminals 35, 36. Referring now to Fig. 7, an alternative cov-er assembly to that illustrated in Fig. 4 is shown. In the arrangement of Fig. 7 rather than providing a pendant lampholder connected by a wire to the rest of the cover assembly, a batten lampholder is secured to the body 60 of the cover assembly. The cover assembly thus comprises the body which defines a large aperture 61, a lampholder body 62 which can be inserted part-way through the aperture 61, and a shield 63 which can be screwed onto the lampholder body 62 so as to retain it within the aperture 61. Although this is not shown in Fig. ^*7 the lampholder body 62 supports termina-ls^* the orientation of which corresponds to the orientation of the terminals of the terminal carrier 48 of Fig. 3. Thus, when the cover 60 of Fig. 7 is mounted on the base assembly as illustrated in Figs. .3, 5 and 6 the lampholder is automatically electrically connected to the terminals 35 and 36 of the base assembly. Thus, as with the case of the embodiments of Figs. 1 and 2, the batten lampholder cover assembly of Fig 7 can be replaced by the pendant lampholder assembly of Fig. 4 or vice versa without requiring any rewiring.

In the described embodiments the terminals supported on the cover assembly make contact with the terminal blocks in the base assembly indirectly via spring members. It would be possible to arrange for direct contact, for example by making the cover assembly terminals resilient and positioning them so that they bear directly against the terminal blocks when the cover and base assemblies are brought together In Fig. 1 the cover assembly terminals 13 are mounted on a support frame 12 which is a snap fit on the cover body 11. The terminals 13 could be mounted directly on the cover body 11 if desired.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A ceiling rose comprising a base assembly adapted to be secured on a flat surface, a cover assembly which is mountable on the base assembly, and first terminals supported by the base assembly for connection to a supply cable, wherein the cover assembly comprises second terminals for connection to a lighting assembly, the arrangement of the terminals being such that each of the second terminals is electrically connected to a corresponding one of the first terminals when the cover assembly is mounted on the base assembly.

^* 2. A. ceiling rose according to claim 1, wherein the second terminals are adapted for connection to the wires of a cable _ connected to a pendant lampholder.

3. A ceiling rose according to claim 2, wherein the cover assembly comprises a cable grip for ^' securing a cable connected to a pendant lampholder

4. A ceiling rose according to claim 2 or 3. wherein the second terminals are supported on an electrically insulating body which is a snap fit in the cover assembly

5. A ceiling rose according to claim 2. 3 or 4.. wherein the second terminals are slidable within slots defined by the cover assembly, the second terminals defining apertures into which insulated wires may be inserted and from which the insulation may be stripped by sliding the terminals in the said slots.

6. A ceiling rose according to claim 1 wherein the cover assembly incorporates a lampholder having a body which supports the said second terminals.

7. A ceiling rose according to claim 6, wherein the cover assembly comprises a cover defining an aperture, the lampholder the body of which extends through the aperture from one side thereof, and a locking member which may be secured to the lampholder body so as to prevent removal of the lampholder body from the cover.

8. A ceiling rose according to any preceding claim, wherein the first terminals comprise spring strips supported by the base assembly so as to be deflected by the second terminals when the cover assembly is mounted on the base assembly.

9. A ceiling rose according to any preceding claim wherein the cover assembly is a snap fit on the base assembly.

10. A ceiling rose substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 or Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings .