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(11) | EP 1 085 258 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | A lamp |
| (57) A lamp comprising an electric light bulb (8) mounted on a body (2) comprising two
rigid support members (18,20) which are electrically conductive and electrically insulated
from each other. The light bulb (8) comprises two electrical terminals (34,36) mounted
in contact with the respective support members (18,20). The lamp also comprises means
(10,12) for connecting an electric power supply to the conductive support members
(18,20). The main body (2), therefore, provides the entire electrically conductive
path between the power supply and the light bulb (8). |
[0002] Lamps comprise a light bulb that is connected to, or within, a supporting structure. An electrical cable extends from a light bulb on the supporting structure, to a mains supply.
[0003] The present invention provides a lamp comprising a light bulb attached to a supporting structure, wherein the supporting structure itself provides the electrical connection between the electricity supply and the light bulb.
[0004] The present invention further provides a lamp comprising an electric light bulb mounted on a body comprising two rigid support members, the support members being electrically conductive and electrically insulated from each another, the light bulb comprising two electrical terminals mounted in contact with respective ones of the support members, and the lamp comprising means for connecting an electric power supply to the conductive support members, thereby to supply power to the light bulb.
[0005] Preferably, the two rigid support members comprise sheet material having two major conductive surfaces electrically insulated from each other. The body is preferably made from laminate sheet material, and that the laminate sheet material has three layers.
[0006] Advantageously, the body comprises a plastics material laminated between two metal sheets. One metal sheets may be earthed while the other metal sheet may be coated with an insulative material. Alternatively, each support member of the body is coated with an insulative material.
[0008] The supporting structure may provide the entire electrically conductive path between the supply and the bulb.
[0009] Preferably, the supporting structure extends in two dimensions, as a planar structure or as a structure comprising two or more planes, for example in the shape of an arch, a pyramid, or a cube.
[0010] The supporting structure is preferably made from a three-layered composite material, which may comprise plastics insulation laminated between metal plates. For example, the product known as ALUCOBOND® , a laminated sheet material of plastic in between layers of aluminium, available from Alusuisse Singen GmbH has been found suitable. Any other sheet laminate material having three layers consisting of an insulator material in between two layers of conductive material may also be used however. The laminate sheet may form the totality of the lamp supporting structure and thus provide the electrical connection between the light bulb and the electricity supply. Consequently, no wires, or electrical leads, or rods, or other one-dimensional conductor arrangement, are required in order to supply electrical power to the bulb.
[0011] The supporting structure will essentially provide two dimensional supply-and-return conductive paths, electrically insulated from one another. The insulation is preferably provided by a sheet of material, but it is also envisaged that insulating bars, struts or spacers could perform this function.
[0012] Preferably, for safety reasons, the lamp operates at low voltage, for example, at 12 volts supplied from a transformer connected to the mains.
[0013] A lamp in accordance with the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :
Figure 1 is front view of the lamp;
Figure 2 is a side view of the lamp of Figure 1;
Figure 3 illustrates the electrical connection between two layers of a lamp supporting structure; and
Figure 4 illustrates the connection between a light bulb and the lamp supporting structure of figure 3.
[0014] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the lamp comprises a supporting structure 2 made from a 4 mm thick laminate sheet material, 479 mm long by 110 mm wide. The supporting structure 2 can be shaped to form any configuration. In the embodiment herein described, the supporting structure 2 is formed in the shape of a arch. It is clearly apparent however, that the supporting structure can be any desired shape. An aperture 4 is provided in one limb 6 of the supporting structure. Apertures may also be provided at one or more other locations on the supporting structure 2. A bulb 8 is mounted in the, or each, aperture 4. An electrical lead 10 extends from a connection 12 in the other limb 14 of the supporting structure 2, to the power supply. A 12V transformer (not shown) is provided between the power source, for example, mains supply, and the supporting structure 2 so as to reduce the electrical potential of the supporting structure to avoid injury to a person contacting the lamp.
[0015] Referring now to Figure 3, the supporting structure is made from a sheet laminate material known as ALUCOBOND®, this material comprises a layer of plastics material 16 sandwiched between two layers 18,20 of aluminium. Electrical current is supplied from the conductors of the lead 10 to the two conductive layers 18,20 respectively, by means of two bolts 22, 24. The bolts 22, 24 are secured to the supporting structure 2 such that bolt 22 has a conductive washer 26 abutting the inner layer 18 of aluminium, while the other bolt 24 has a conductive washer 28 abutting the outer layer 20 of aluminium. At their other ends, bolts 22, 24, are secured by nuts 30 and are insulated from the conductive layers 18, 20 respectively, by insulating washers 32 and enlarged holes in the layers 18, 20 in that region. Electrical power is, therefore, transferred from the power source, to and through the conductive layers 18, 20 of the entire supporting structure 2.
[0016] The outer layer 20, and the inner layer 18 if desired, may be decorated, or painted, to give the lamp any desired aesthetic appeal.
[0017] Referring to Figure 4, a standard halogen light bulb 8 having two terminals 34, 36, in the form of short, resilient, conductive leads, is attached to the supporting structure 2. The light bulb 8 is mounted on the supporting structure 2 such that one terminal lead 34 abuts an indented portion of the inner layer 18 of aluminium, providing good electrical connection therewith, hand the other terminal lead 36 abuts an indented portion of the outer layer 20 of aluminium, also providing good electrical connection therewith. Therefore, current flows from the supporting structure 2 to the light bulb 8 to complete the electrical circuit from the power supply lead 10.
[0018] In a further embodiment (not shown in the drawings) an insulative casing, or material is placed over the outside and inside of the supporting structure 2. In this embodiment, a transformer need not be required, and the light bulb 8 may be supplied with mains power, provided the insulative material is capable of preventing injury to a person contacting the lamp. Alternatively, the inner layer 18 of aluminium of the supporting structure 2 may be earthed, with the additional insulation being provided only on the outer layer 20 of the structure. For example, the supporting structure 2 of the lamp may comprise two conductive layers for the electrical supply, insulated from each other, and an additional outer and/or inner insulating layer, preferably in the form of a laminated configuration.
1. A lamp comprising an electric light bulb mounted on a body comprising two rigid support
members, the support members being electrically conductive and electrically insulated
from each another, the light bulb comprising two electrical terminals mounted in contact
with respective ones of the support members, and the lamp comprising means for connecting
an electric power supply to the conductive support members, thereby to supply power
to the light bulb.
2. A lamp according to claim 1, wherein the two rigid support members comprise sheet
material having two major conductive surfaces electrically insulated from each other.
3. A lamp according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the body is made from laminate sheet
material.
4. A lamp according to claim 3, wherein the laminate sheet material has three layers.
5. A lamp according to claim 4, wherein the body comprises a plastics material laminated
between two metal sheets
6. A lamp according to claim 5, wherein one metal sheet is earthed and the other metal
sheet is coated with an insulative material.
7. A lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each support member of the body
is coated with an insulative material.
8. A lamp according to any preceding claim wherein the light bulb is a halogen light
bulb.