WO2012105851A1

WO2012105851A1 - Mounting bracket for a light source

Info

Publication number: WO2012105851A1
Application number: PCT/NO2012/050015
Authority: WO
Inventors: Njård R. LONE
Original assignee: Lampekonsulenten As
Priority date: 2011-02-04
Filing date: 2012-02-03
Publication date: 2012-08-09
Also published as: NO20110203A1

Abstract

A device for a light source (1) comprising a mounting bracket (3) and a light member holder (10) structured in a manner allowing it to be fixed to the mounting bracket (3), wherein the light member holder (10) is movably fixed to the mounting bracket (3). A method of mounting the light source (1) is also described.

Description

MOUNTING BRACKET FOR A LIGHT SOURCE

This invention concerns a light source comprising a mounting bracket and a light member holder. More particularly, the invention concerns a mounting bracket with a shape that fits most known connection points in ceilings and walls for a light source and the fixing of the light member holder to the mounting bracket.

In new buildings and also in context of reconstruction of existing buildings, it is known to place electric wires, which may be connected to an electric supply network, concealed within walls, roofs/ceilings and floors. A so-called connection box is mounted where it is desirable to establish a connection point for an electric apparatus. Usually, it is concealed in a wall, roof/ceiling or in a floor. The connection box may be sufficiently large for it to accommodate e.g. a contact, a so-called plug socket, for an electric plug or contact plug. The skilled person mounting the electric installation will terminate the required wires in such a contact, and in a safe manner fulfilling the local safety regulations. The user may then connect his electric apparatus in a known manner to the contact by means of the plug of the apparatus. The plug and the plug socket form a reliable and safe electric connection. If the connection point is intended to supply an electric light source, for example a lamp, in some areas the skilled person will terminate the required live wires in a suitable plug socket. The connection box will accommodate the plug socket, and a cover concealing the connection box in the wall or ceiling will be provided with a recess to allow a plug to be connected to the plug socket. The user then attaches the lamp to the cover and plugs the adapted plug of the lamp into the plug socket. By so doing, the known advantages of a safe electric connection are achieved. In other areas, especially in those areas where no statutory requirements exist with respect to a plug-plug socket connection between the electric light source and the electric network, the skilled person may terminate the required live wires in a suitable electric connection junction, for example a terminal block, also known in the field as a sugar cube. The sugar cube will be available for the user by virtue of being visibly located at the front side of the cover concealing the connection box. The user then connects the electric wires of the lamp to the sugar cube. Incorrect connections may thus take place, for example by connecting a live wire to earth, or by not tightening the connections sufficiently so as to risk overheating, or by short- circuiting the wire mains. For this reason, among other things, more and more authorities introduce requirements requiring that electric light sources are to be connected to the electric network by means of a plug-plug socket connection.

A number of covers for connection boxes in ceilings are provided with a suspension hook. It is intended especially for lamps of the pendulum type. The mounting piece of the lamp is inserted onto the hook or is fixed to the hook in some other way, such that the weight of the lamp is supported by the hook and by the cover onto which the hook is attached. The lamp may be supported by the electric wire or, for example, by a suitable support element, for example a metal wire. Further, the lamp may be provided with a ghdable body, a so-called canopy, which may be conveyed up and down along the wire or support element of the lamp. In its upper operational position, the canopy will conceal the cover, the hook and the electric connection point.

It is also known for the skilled person to mount fixed lamp sockets to the connection box. These are generally lamp sockets adapted to incandescent bulbs of a type known per se, for example incandescent bulbs with a screw socket cap E27, or halogen bulbs, for example with a socket GU10 or G9.

Requirements with respect to efficient mounting of a light source to electric connection points, i.e. both fast and reliable mounting thereof, bring about a desire for the least possible work operations and the least possible components to be present in what is to be mounted. Parts having a universal shape allowing them to fit in most situations will also increase the efficiency. Mounting of electric light sources in established

connection points must consider whether a wall point or a ceiling point is involved, whether the cover is provided with a hook or without a hook, whether the cover is provided with a plug socket or not. International standardization is also lacking. The boxes may have different diameters, the plug socket may have different shapes, and the plane defined by the curvature of the hook may have different directions relative to the placement of the plug socket in the cover. Moreover, it is desirable to be able to establish a connection point without use of a box, whereby an electric cable is visibly carried onto the connection point. Furthermore, it is also of advantage for the light source to be quickly and easily mounted to the mounting part of the light source after having fixed the mounting part to the connection point.

The object of the invention is to remedy or to reduce at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or at least to provide a useful alternative to the prior art.

The object is achieved by virtue of features disclosed in the following description and in the subsequent claims.

In the following, reference to a light source is intended to imply an assembly comprising a mounting part, hereinafter referred to as a mounting bracket; at least one light-emitting light member, for example an incandescent bulb, halogen bulb or a LED; and a light member holder, for example a E27 screw socket, a GU10 socket, a G9 socket or a LED holder. The at least one light-emitting light member is provided with electric energy through an electric cable or via electromagnetic waves, and the emitted light is electromagnetic radiation comprising waves having a wavelength within visible light, and a holder for the light-emitting light member. Optionally, the light source may be provided with a lamp glass, a diffusor or a screen, or the light source may be without any of this.

In a first aspect, the invention concerns a device for a light source comprising a mounting bracket and a light member holder structured in a manner allowing it to be fixed to the mounting bracket, wherein the light member holder is movably fixed to the mounting bracket.

The light member holder may be hingedly fixed to the mounting bracket. In an alternative embodiment, the light member holder may be glidingly fixed to the mounting bracket. The advantage thereof is that it provides access to a central portion of the mounting bracket to allow the mounting bracket to be fixed to a base without separating the mounting bracket and the light member holder.

The mounting bracket may be provided with a mounting member structured in a manner allowing it to be fixed to a hook, wherein the mounting member comprises ribs forming a hook opening. The advantage thereof is that the mounting member may be attached to a hook from several sides.

The mounting bracket may be provided with a holding device structured in a manner allowing it to hold the light member holder onto the mounting bracket in a closed position. Further, the mounting bracket may be provided with a terminal block structured in a manner allowing it to provide light members on the light member holder with electric energy from an electric network.

In a second aspect, the invention concerns a method of mounting a light source as described hereinbefore, wherein the method comprises fixing a mounting bracket to a base, and rotating the light member holder inwards in the direction of a central portion of the mounting bracket after having fixed the mounting bracket to the base.

Hereinafter, an example of a preferred embodiment is described and is depicted on the accompanying drawings, where:

Fig. 1 shows, in accordance with the invention, a perspective view of a light source with a mounting bracket and a light member holder being in an open position, wherein the mounting bracket is shown with its rear side facing downwards;

Fig. 2 shows, in the same scale as that of Figure 1, a perspective view of the mounting bracket as seen from the rear side of the mounting bracket, and with the light member holder being in a closed position, and a cover with a hook onto which the mounting bracket may be fixed;

Fig. 3 shows, from a slightly different angle, a perspective view of the light source, as depicted in Figure 2, and with the light member holder being in an open position;

Fig. 4 shows, from a different angle than that of Figure 3, a perspective view of the light source after having hitched the light source onto the hook; and

Fig. 5A-C shows, in larger scale, a mounting member for the light source viewed from three different sides.

In the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a light source. The light source 1 comprises a mounting bracket 3 and a light member holder 10. The light member holder 10 is provided with light-emitting light members 20. The light members 20 are shown as so-called light-emitting diodes (LED) on the outwardly facing surface 12 of the light member holder 10. The LED's 20 are placed on the surface 12 in such a manner that a sufficient and satisfactory light is provided in the desired direction. Required electric apparatuses for providing each individual LED 20 with electric energy is not shown. The manner in which this is carried out is known in the art.

The light member holder 10 is movably fixed to the mounting bracket 3. The drawings show that the light member holder 10 is fixed to the mounting bracket 3 with a hinge 4. The hinge 4 comprises a first mounting part 41 fixed to the light member holder 10, and a second mounting part 43 fixed to the mounting bracket 3. The mounting part 41 rotates about the axis 45.

Further, the mounting bracket 3 comprises two through slits 34 extending radially and in opposite direction with respect to a central portion 33. The width of the slits 34 is adapted to screws (not shown) formed to be attached to a ceiling box (not shown) or a wall box (not shown). The length of the slits 34 is adapted to allow them to go together with ceiling boxes and wall boxes of known sizes, and these boxes (not shown) are provided with screw mountings positioned diametrically opposite each other. By so doing, the mounting bracket 3 may be attached to most known wall boxes and ceiling boxes. Yet further, the mounting bracket 3 is provided with through bores 32 for allowing the mounting bracket 3 to be fixed by means of screws inserted through the bores 32 and onto a selected, flat base (not shown). Three bores 32 are shown in the drawings.

Moreover, the central portion 33 of the mounting bracket 3 comprises a recess 36. The recess 36 comprises a contact portion 362 and a hook portion 364. The contact portion 362 is formed in a manner allowing it to provide access to all recesses 66 in a cover 6 covering ceiling boxes and wall boxes. The recess 66 provides access for a plug (not shown) into a plug socket (not shown) accommodated by the ceiling box or the wall box being concealed by the cover 6. Some covers 6 may be provided with an upward edge (not shown) around the recess 66 on the external surface 69 of the cover 6. Some covers 6, at the rear side 68 thereof, may be provided with the plug socket being accommodated in the ceiling box or the wall box. The contact portion 362 is also sufficiently large to accommodate this upward edge. By so doing, and when in an operational position, the rear side 35 of the mounting bracket 3 may bear completely against the outwardly facing surface 69 of the cover 6, even if the cover 6 is provided with an upward edge. The open hook portion 364 allows a suspension hook 62 not to become an obstacle to the mounting of the mounting bracket 3. The suspension hook 62 will project through the mounting bracket 3 in the hook portion 364.

Furthermore, the central portion 33 of the mounting bracket 3 comprises a suspension fastener 38. In its operational position, the suspension fastener 38 projects

substantially perpendicularly away from the base onto which the mounting bracket 3 is fixed. The suspension fastener 38 comprises two guides 382. Each guide 382 is provided with a foot screw 384 rotatably attached to the free end portions 386 of the guides 382. The guides 382 are structured in a manner allowing them to

accommodate an end portion 52 of a mounting member 5. The mounting member 5 is not shown in Figure 1, but it is shown in Figures 2-4, and in further detail in Figures 5A-C.

The mounting member 5 comprises an end portion 50, threaded bores 52, a central hook fastener 54 and ribs 56. The end portion 50 is formed so as to fit in a

complementary manner with the guide 382. The threaded bores 52 are structured to accommodate the foot screw 384. The ribs 56 extend from the end portion 50 onto the hook fastener 54, and such that the hook fastener 54 lies in another plane than the plane defined by the end portions 50. In pairs, the ribs 56 form an intermediate hook opening 58. When in an operational position, the hook fastener 54 will face against the base, whereas the end portion 50 will be further away from the base. The mounting member 5 may be comprised of a metal or of a plastics material, for example a form-casted plastics material.

Further, the mounting bracket 3 comprises a radial wire channel 37 extending from the central portion 33 onto a rim portion 31. The mounting bracket 3 also comprises a tension unloader 39. In the rim portion 31, the mounting bracket 3 is provided with fasteners 7 for a lamp glass or diffusor (not shown), which may be comprised of e.g. glass or polycarbonate, or a screen. The fastener 7 is shown as a bayonet fastener. In the rim portion 31, the mounting bracket 3 is further provided with a terminal block 8 for connection of electric wires (not show).

The mounting bracket 3 is further provided with a holding device 9 for allowing the light member holder 10 to be fixed in a closed position. The holding device 9 comprises a first base 92, a locking pin 94 projecting up from the base 92, a second base 96 and locking lips 98 projecting up from the second base 96. The locking lips 98 are comprised of a resilient material and are structured to grip around the locking pin 94 when the locking lips 98 and the locking pin 94 are forced against each other. Correspondingly, the locking lips 98 will release the grip around the locking pin 94 when being forced away from each other. In the drawings, the first base 92 is shown fixed to the mounting bracket 3 and the second base 96 is shown fixed to a rim portion 14 in the light member holder 10.

The light source 1 is prepared for mounting by virtue of the mounting member 5 spanning the hook portion 364, and such that the hook fastener 54 extends above the rear side 35 of the mounting bracket 3, whereas the end portions 50 are in approximately the same plane as the plane of the central portion 33 of the mounting bracket 3, as shown in figures 2-4. The light member holder 10 is in an open position and may be rotated freely about the hinge 4, as shown in figures 3 and 4. When mounting the mounting bracket 3 on the cover 6 provided with the suspension hook 62, the hook fastener 54 is hitched onto a hook eye 64. If the plane of the hook eye 64 coincides with the foot screws 384, the hook eye 64 is placed in the hook openings 58 of the mounting member 5, as shown in figure 3. If the plane of the hook eye 64 is perpendicular to the direction between the foot screws 384, the mounting member 5 is hitched sideways onto the hook 62. When the hook 62 is placed correctly in the mounting member 5, the hook connection is tightened by tightening the foot screws 384, whereby the mounting member 5 is carried away, within the guides 382, from the free end portion 386. If the cover 6 is of the type provided with a recess 66 for a plug socket, the light source 1 may be provided with a corresponding plug (not shown) connected to the terminal block 8. The potential upward edge of the cover 6 will project through the contact portion 362 without preventing mounting and fixing of the mounting bracket 3. The plug is inserted in the plug socket by virtue of being conveyed through the contact portion 362 and the recess 66. The light member holder 10 is rotated into place, whereby the locking lips are brought into engagement with the locking pin 94. Thus, the mounting of the light source 1 is finished and is prepared for subsequent mounting of, for example, a lamp globe (not shown). A fast and secure connection of the light source 1 has been achieved. This has been achieved by virtue of the light member holder 10 being hingedly attached to the mounting bracket 3, which makes it simple to gain access to the central portion 33. Simultaneously, an electric connection between the light member holder 10 and the terminal block 8 remains untouched. If, by way of comparison, the light member holder 10 must be attached to the mounting bracket 3 upon being rigidly mounted to the cover 6, it may be necessary also to fix the wires of the light member holder 10 to the terminal block 8. Thus, several work operations must be carried out.

If the connection box, which is concealed by the cover 6, does not accommodate a plug socket, but e.g. a terminal block, the light source 1 may be provided without a plug. The method is the same as above, but the required electric wires from the ceiling box or the wall box are inserted in the terminal block 8 in a known manner.

During mounting in a cover 6 without a hook 62, the cover 6 is removed and the mounting bracket 3 is fixed in the screws that fixed the cover 6 to the ceiling box or the wall box. The screws of the ceiling box or the wall box are inserted through the slits 34. Otherwise, the method is the same as described hereinbefore.

During mounting in places without a wall box or a ceiling box, the mounting bracket 3 is fixed with screws inserted through the bores 32. An electric wire, which is connected to the electric network, may be carried through the wire channel 37 and onto the terminal block 8. Otherwise, the method is the same as described hereinbefore. In an alternative embodiment, the wire from the light source 1 may be provided with a standard plug for electric apparatuses, the standard plug of which is to be connected to ordinary plug sockets in, for example, a wall. The electric wire is carried through the tension unloader 39.

In the figures, the light member holder 10 is shown in an embodiment providing a particularly low building height. The invention, however, is not restricted to this embodiment, and the light member holder 10 may be assigned a different design. In the figures, the light member holder 10 is shown with LED's as light members 20. The invention is not restricted to light members 20 of this type, but also comprises light members 20 of, for example, the incandescent filament type and the halogen bulb type.

In the figures, the light member holder 10 is shown hmgedly fixed to the mounting bracket 3 to allow access to the central portion 33, and such that the axis of rotation 45 substantially is parallel to the mounting bracket 3. For the same purpose, and in an alternative embodiment (not shown), the light member holder 10 may be rotatably fixed to the mounting bracket 3 in a portion between the central portion 33 and the rim portion 31, and with an axis of rotation being substantially perpendicular to the mounting bracket 3. In a further alternative embodiment, the light member holder 10 may be displaceabiy fixed to the mounting bracket 3. The displacement direction may be along a portion extending radially on the mounting bracket 3.

Claims

P a t e n t c l a i m s

1. A device for a light source (1) comprising a mounting bracket (3) and a light member holder (10) structured in a manner allowing it to be fixed to the mounting bracket (3), c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the light member holder (10) is movably fixed to the mounting bracket (3).

2. The device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the light member holder (10) is hingedly fixed to the mounting bracket (3).

3. The device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the light member holder (10) is glidmgly fixed to the mounting bracket (3).

4. The device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the mounting bracket (3) is provided with a mounting member (5) structured in a manner allowing it to be fixed to a hook (62), wherein the mounting member (5) comprises ribs (56) forming a hook opening (58).

5. The device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the mounting bracket (3) is provided with a holding device (9) structured in a manner allowing it to hold the light member holder (10) onto the mounting bracket (3) in a closed position.

6. The device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the mounting bracket (3) is further provided with a terminal block (8) structured in a manner allowing it to provide light members (20) on the light member holder (10) with electric energy from an electric network.

7. A method of mounting a light source (1) according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises fixing a mounting bracket (3) to a base,

c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n rotating a light member holder (10) inwards in the direction of a central portion (33) of the mounting bracket (3) after having fixed the mounting bracket (3) to the base.