WO1997025570A1

WO1997025570A1 - Lighting fixture

Info

Publication number: WO1997025570A1
Application number: PCT/GB1997/000011
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Davidson
Original assignee: Barker, John, Arthur
Priority date: 1996-01-03
Filing date: 1997-01-03
Publication date: 1997-07-17
Also published as: AU1385797A; GB9600027D0; GB9718348D0; GB2313659A

Abstract

A lighting fixture comprises a hollow body (2) and outwardly extending flanges (3, 4). At least one of the flanges is adapted to be mounted on the body at a variable distance from the other.

Description

LIGHTING FIXTURE

This invention relates to lighting fixtures, and more particularly to a lighting fixture adapted to extend through an aperture in a wall, ceiling, or partition.

A large variety of designs of lighting fixture have been proposed to enable a light bulb, spot light, neon tube, or similar illuminating means to be located in an aperture in a wall, ceiling or partition. Such lighting fixtures can comprise, for example, resilient locating arms which can be forced through the hole in the wall, ceiling or partition, upon insertion of the lighting fixture, and then expand on the side of the wall, ceiling or partition remote from the side of insertion, in order to secure the body of the lighting fixture in place. In other known embodiments, the body of the lighting fixture is screwed or bolted to the wall, ceiling or partition at points adjacent to the hole within which the lighting fixture is located.

There are considerable difficulties associated with the existing lighting fixtures. Those having resilient expandable locating means require the hole to be very accurately drilled, because if it is over-size, the locating means may not be able to expand sufficiently to prevent the lighting fixture from falling out of the hole. This can be a particular problem when it is required to change a light bulb or spot light and the lighting fixture is subjected to axial forces.

Lighting fixtures that are screwed or bolted to the wall, ceiling or partition, can leave unsightly screws or bolt heads visible, and are often insecurely mounted, particularly if the wall, ceiling or, partition is made from a friable material.

It is also possible to locate the lighting fixture by the use of an adhesive, or a filler or sealant, which is pressed between the body of the fixture and the wall, ceiling or partition, and which sets to locate the lighting fixture firmly in place. This, however, has the disadvantage that the lighting fixture cannot be readily removed if required, for example, for cleaning, maintenance, or repair purposes.

In W095/27165 there is described and claimed a duct adapted to extend through an aperture in a wall or partition and comprising a sleeve and outwardly extending flanges adapted to overlie the opposed outer surfaces of the wall or partition at the opposite ends of the sleeve, at least one of said flanges being adapted to be pushed onto an end of the sleeve to lockingly engage same. UK patent application number GB9519840.4 describes a duct comprising a sleeve and outwardly extending flanges, at least one of the flanges being adapted to be mounted on the sleeve at a variable distance from the other. The duct can be adapted to extend through an aperture in a wall or partition, and may comprise a sleeve and outwardly extended flanges adapted to overlie the opposed outer surfaces of the wall or partition at the opposed ends of the sleeve, at least one of the flanges being adapted to be pushed onto an end of the sleeve and into locking engagement therewith. The sleeve and flanges may form an enclosure for electronic equipment, for example, a circuit board or boards and components for a cable television or telecommunications inlet to a building.

UK patent application number GB9524873.8 describes a duct comprising:

A first sleeve, a second sleeve, and a sleeve connector, wherein the outer, and/or inner, surfaces of the first and second sleeves are each provided with axially spaced formations which co-operate with means on the inner, and/or outer periphery of the sleeve connector to ensure locking engagement therewith, whereby the first and second sleeves can be connected together. The entire disclosures of all the above patent applications are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a lighting fixture capable of locating an electrical lighting device wholly or partly within an aperture in a wall, ceiling, or partition.

According to the present invention there is provided a lighting fixture comprising a hollow body and outwardly extending flanges, at least one of the flanges being adapted to be mounted on the body at a variable distance from the other.

In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a lighting fixture adapted to extend through an aperture in a wall, ceiling or partition, the lighting fixture comprising a hollow body, and outwardly extending flanges adapted to overlie the opposed outer surfaces of the wall, ceiling or partition, at least one of the flanges being adapted to be pushed onto the hollow body and into locking engagement therewith.

The lighting fixture may comprise a plurality of flanges each adapted to be pushed onto the hollow body and to be received in locking engagement therewith. In another embodiment, however, at least one of the flanges may be formed integrally with the hollow body and at an end thereof.

The hollow body can be of cylindrical cross-section, although other cross-sections, for example, elliptical, rectangular, square, or polygonal, may also be used as appropriate.

The hollow body may be formed with cut-out portions in the walls thereof, through which fingers can be passed in assembling the lighting fixture, as will be explained in more detail hereinafter.

For ease of entry into the hole in the wall, ceiling or partition, the hollow body may be tapered, with a taper angle of from 5 to 30°, as appropriate.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, the hollow body is formed from a moulded plastics material, for example, a polyolefin such as polyethylene, a polycarbonate, or any other suitable plastics material.

Preferably the hollow body is provided at an end thereof with an electrical connector means for the electrical lighting device, which may, for example, comprise a screw-in or bayonet-type light fitting or holder. Preferably the hollow body is moulded around the light fitting or holder.

The outer surface of the hollow body may be provided with axially spaced formations which co-operate with means on the inter periphery of a flange to ensure locking engagement therewith. These formations can, for example, comprise circumferential ribs which may be of rectangular, or other cross sections.

The flanges are preferably of generally convex form whereby their peripheral edges can engage the wall, ceiling, or partition surfaces with the central parts of the flanges engaging the hollow body being outwardly spaced from the wall, ceiling, or partition surface. Preferably the flanges are formed from a resilient material, for example a plastics material, such that, when they are positioned on the sleeve in use, they press firmly against the wall, ceiling or partition surfaces and locate the hollow body against movement.

The means on the flange or flanges which co-operates with the outer surface of the hollow body to form the locking engagement can, for example, comprise one or more inwardly directed circumferential projections. The locking means can, for example, be circumferential teeth, circumferential lugs, or similar discreet or continuous projections. The locking engagement of the flange or flanges with the hollow body can be of a permanent nature, that is to say, once the flange has been pushed into position it cannot readily be displaced without, for example, damaging or breaking the circumferential projection on the flange. Alternatively, the locking engagement can be releasable, for example, by the use of circumferential projections which can be displaced by a firm axially directed pull on the flange, enabling the flange to be withdrawn from the hollow body. When the locking engagement is releasable, the locking means on the flange or flanges is preferably formed from a resilient material, for example, a plastics material, or mounted on a resilient support.

The hollow body may form an enclosure for an electrical lighting device, for example, a light bulb, neon tube, or a spot light, such that the electrical lighting device is positioned substantially in the hole in the wall, ceiling or partition, and lies substantially flush with the surface of the wall, ceiling or partition.

One or more of the flanges may be integral with other formations to enable the performance of an additional function, for example, the central aperture of one of the flanges may be closed by a mesh or grid, in order to protect the electrical lighting device, or may comprise a transparent or translucent cover.

The hollow body may be cut from an extended length thereof, and can, for example, be formed from an extruded plastics sleeve and cut to length as appropriate. In such a case the light fitting can either be a separate component, or can be contained in, for example, an end cap which is fitted over or into an end of the hollow body.

The flanges can, for example, be formed by injection moulding and can also be circular, elliptical, square, or polygonal, as appropriate. Preferably at least one of the flanges is resiliently deformable such that it can be radially deformed in order that it can be passed through the hole in the wall, ceiling, or partition. This provides a very considerable advantage in that it is not necessary to obtain access to the side of the wall, ceiling, or partition remote from the installer, since the resilient flange can be pushed through the hole before the hollow body is positioned therein, and the flange can then be manipulated using the cut-out portions in the hollow body through which the installer's fingers can be passed, and pulled over the hollow body and into locking engagement therewith. An embodiment of a lighting fixture according to the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying Drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows an exploded side elevation, partly in section, of a flanged hollow body and a locking flange of a lighting fixture according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows an assembled lighting fixture according to the invention, in side elevation, partly in section, positioned in an aperture in a wall; and

Figure 3 shows, in side elevation, an assembled lighting fixture according to the invention, positioned in a wall, and including a spotlight fitted therein.

Referring firstly to figure 1, the lighting fixture illustrated generally at 1 comprises a cylindrical hollow body 2 and a resilient annular locking flange 3.

The hollow body 2 is formed from an injection moulded plastics material, and has an integrally moulded flange 4 at one end thereof. The upper portion 5 of the body is tapered and has cut-out portions 6, leaving axially directed ribs 7 peripherally disposed around the body. The lower part 8 of the body is provided with a series of axially spaced projections 9 which extend around the periphery of the body 2. The cut-out portions

6 extend into the lower part of the body 8 providing finger holes 10.

The locking flange 3 is also formed from a plastics material, and has a sloping peripheral wall 11 and a projection 12 carrying a locking tooth 13 which extends around the inner periphery of the flange 3. The tooth 13 has a sloping face 14 and an abutment face 15.

The top of the hollow body 2 has an upstanding boss 16 which is moulded around a metal lamp holder 17 having a screw thread 18.

The assembled lighting fixture is shown in figures 2 and 3. A circular hole 20 is cut in a plasterboard ceiling 21 and the cylindrical hollow body member 2 inserted therein until the flange 4 abuts against the outer surface of the plasterboard ceiling 21. The annular locking flange 3 is then pushed or pulled down over the hollow body 2 until the tooth 13 engages the projecting ribs 9.

The sloping surface 14 enables the tooth 13 to be forced over the ribs 9 until the periphery 11 of the locking flange contacts the inner surface of the plasterboard ceiling 21. The locking flange 3 is then firmly locked in position and the lighting fixture firmly held in the hole 20.

If the hole 20 in the ceiling 21 can only be accessed from one side, the resilient plastics locking flange 3 is first radially deformed and pushed through the hole 20. The hollow body 2 is then inserted in the hole and the locking flange 3 manipulated over the body by the installer, using the cut-out portions 6 as finger holes. Once the locking flange 3 is positioned adjacent to the circumferential projections 9 it can be firmly pressed in place using the finger holes 10.

The assembled lighting fixture carrying a spotlight 22, is shown in figure 3. The screw connector of the spotlight 22 is screwed into the holder 17 (see figure 1) positioned within the upstanding boss 16. The front surface 23 of the spotlight 22 lies practically flush with the flange 4 of the lighting fixture in this embodiment.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. All of .the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A lighting fixture comprising a hollow body and outwardly extending flanges, at least one of the flanges been adapted to be mounted on the body at a variable distance from the other.

2. A lighting fixture according to claim 1 wherein the flanges are adapted to overlie the opposed outer surfaces of a wall, ceiling or partition, at least one of the flanges being adapted to be pushed onto the hollow body and into locking engagement therewith.

3. A lighting fixture according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein at least one of the flanges is formed integrally with the hollow body and at an end thereof.

4. A lighting fixture according to any of the preceding claims wherein the hollow body is of cylindrical cross-section.

5. A lighting fixture according to any of the preceding claims wherein the hollow body is formed with cut-out portions in the walls thereof, through which fingers can be passed in assembling the lighting fixture.

6. A lighting fixture according to any of preceding claims wherein the hollow body is formed from a moulded plastics material.

7. A lighting fixture according to any of the preceding claims wherein the hollow body is provided at an end thereof with an electrical connector means for an electrical lighting device.

8. A lighting fixture according to any of the preceding claims wherein the hollow body is provided with axially spaced formations which co-operate with means on the inner periphery of a flange to ensure locking engagement therewith.

9. A lighting fixture according to any of the preceding claims wherein the flanges are of generally complex form whereby their peripheral edges can engage the surface of a wall, ceiling or partition with the central part of the flanges engaging the hollow body being outwardly spaced from the wall, ceiling or partition surface.

10. A lighting fixture according to any of the preceding claims wherein flanges are formed from a resilient material such that, when they are positioned on the sleeve in use, they press firmly against the surface of a wall, ceiling or partition and locate the hollow body against movement.