[0001] The present invention refers to a support frame for flush-fit light fitting.
[0002] Flush-fit light fittings in holes in false ceilings are known from the Italian patent
no. 1312436, which are provided with a fastening and removal device. In addition to
simplifying the installation of said light fittings, said device facilitates maintenance
considerably. In fact the fittings can be removed without causing damage to the false
ceiling.
[0003] Flush-fit light fittings are usually produced industrially in series according to
the type of lamp that will be mounted. In particular the outside casing will have
different openings, in terms of dimensions, number and shape, according to whether
the lamp intended for it needs a single or a double fixture. A lamp-holder support
is also needed to fasten the lamp, which obviously will vary in accordance with the
lamp itself.
[0004] Therefore for each lamp, with different shape and dimension, it is necessary to have
various types of external casings and lamp-holder supports.
[0005] The object of the present invention is to industrially produce a support frame for
flush-fit light fittings that is adaptable to different types of lamp, whether they
are single-capped or dual-capped.
[0006] In accordance with the invention this object is achieved with a support frame characterised
in that it is made up of a reticular structure comprising an external perimeter that
holds up devices for fixing to a false ceiling and to an external casing of the light
fitting, and a plurality of bridges connecting different zones of the external perimeter
and shaped so as to hold up support means for lamps, electrical cables, terminal blocks
and the like.
[0007] The industrial production of the frame according to the present invention leads to
considerable economic advantages, as the same frames can be used for different types
of lamp.
[0008] These and other characteristics of the present invention will be made more evident
by the following detailed description of two embodiments thereof, illustrated as non-limiting
example in the enclosed drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a top plan view of a first frame according to the present invention
that supports a light fitting fitted with a 70 Watt dual-capped iodide lamp;
Figure 2 shows a section according to line II-II of Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a top plan view of the same frame that supports a 150 W iodide lamp
or dual-capped quartz-iodine lamp;
Figure 4 shows a section according to line IV-IV of Figure 3;
Figure 5 shows a top plan view of the same frame that supports a single-capped iodide
lamp;
Figure 6 shows a section according to line VI-VI of Figure 5;
Figure 7 shows a top plan view of a second frame according to the present invention,
that supports a 70 Watt iodide or dual-capped quartz-iodine lamp;
Figure 8 shows a section according to line VIII-VIII of Figure 7;
Figure 9 shows a top plan view of the second frame that supports a single-capped iodide
lamp;
Figure 10 shows a section according to line X-X of Figure 9;
Figure 11 shows an axonometry of the frame of Figure 9.
[0009] In a first embodiment (Figures 1-6) a frame 1 comprises (Figures 1, 3 and 5) an external
perimeter 2, two diametrical bridges 5 and a further diametrical bridge 6 which in
the intersection zone show a single hole 18.
[0010] Said external perimeter 2, circular, not flat and of varied thickness, has holes
17 and supports a cavity 3, inside which a terminal block 4 is fitted. The external
perimeter 2 can also be polygonal.
[0011] The diametrical bridges 5 and 6 have at one end, with angular distance of 120°, fixing
devices 8 (Figures 2 and 4) made up of a body 9 having a hole 13 for a screw 14 for
fixing the frame 1 to a base flange 16 of a light fitting 50, and an axial cavity
10 inside which a spring 11 is housed that elastically presses a fastening lever 12
downwards. The details of this fixing device are described in greater detail in the
Italian patent no. 1312436.
[0012] The diametrical bridges 5 also have holes 15, jumpers 19, internally threaded holed
protuberances 20 and hollow supports 22. Said hollow supports 22 house fixtures 23
for a dual-capped lamp 31 (Figures 2 and 4) and are linked to the corresponding diametrical
bridge 5 by means of a plate 24 which is integral part of the lamp-holder fixtures
23 and is fitted with holes 25 for fastening screws 26.
[0013] Said fixtures 23 are inserted into windows 27 made in an external casing 28 of the
light fitting 50, which is made integral with the base 16 by means of a screw fixing
system 30.
[0014] One of the two diametrical bridges 5 can for example be used for fixtures 23 of a
150 Watt iodide lamp (Figures 1 and 2), while the other can be used in a similar manner
for a 70 Watt iodide lamp or quartz-iodine lamp (Figures 3 and 4).
[0015] The frame 1 can also be used for single-capped lamp (Figures 5-6), thanks to the
presence of a plate 7 integral with the external perimeter 2, to which a single fixture
21 for lamp 32 is fixed by means of screws 33.
[0016] A second embodiment (figure 7-11) of the frame 1 according to the present invention
appears very similar to the first, with however one single diametrical bridge 5 (instead
of the two of the previous one) and a thinner and more regular external perimeter
2.
[0017] These small differences are due to the smaller dimensions of the light fitting 50
and therefore of said second frame 1. In fact it is problematical to add the other
diametrical bridges 5-6.
[0018] The methods of using the two embodiments of the frame 1 are quite simple. Once said
frame 1 has been produced by moulding in a plastic material the springs 11 are inserted,
with respective levers 12, in the specific cavities 10 of the support devices 8.
[0019] When the lamp to be used has been chosen the fixtures 23 and 21, the outside casing
28 and the base 15 are assembled, using mainly the screw-on fixing systems.
[0020] The wires (not shown in the figures) that connect the fixtures 23 and 21 with the
terminal block 4 are passed through the holes 15 and under the jumpers 19 thus enabling
the wires themselves to remain together avoiding problems of excessive cluttering.
[0021] The terminal block 4 is finally inserted into the cavity 3.
[0022] The light fitting is now ready to be installed on any false-ceiling.
[0023] It is therefore easy to understand the great flexibility in the choice of the frame
1 (different embodiments), and above all the variety of the type of support to be
used for the fixtures 23 and 21 for each frame 1 in accordance with the type of lamp
used.
1. Support frame (1) for flush-fit light fitting characterised in that it is made up of a reticular structure comprising an external perimeter (2) that
holds up means (8) for fixing to a false-ceiling or similar and to an external casing
of the light fitting, and a plurality of bridges (5-6) connecting different zones
of the external perimeter (2) and shaped so as to hold up support means for lamps
(31-32) of various types, electric cables and terminal blocks (4).
2. Frame according to claim 1, characterised in that said external perimeter (2) is circular.
3. Frame according to claim 1, characterised in that said external perimeter (2) is polygonal.
4. Frame according to claim 1, characterised in that said fixing means (8) comprise a body (9) fitted with a cavity (10) inside which
a spring (11) is housed that presses elastically a fastening lever (12).
5. Lamp-holder frame according to claim 1, characterised in that said bridges (5-6) comprise at least a first bridge (5) fitted with hollow supports
(22) for fixtures (23) for dual-capped lamps (31).
6. Frame according to claim 5, characterised in that said bridges (5-6) comprise another first bridge for supporting dual-capped lamps
(31) of a different type.
7. Frame according to claim 1, characterised in that said external perimeter (2) also supports a plate (7) for supporting a fixture (21)
per single-capped lamp (32).
8. Frame according to claim 1, characterised in that said external perimeter (2) also supports a cavity (3) for housing a terminal block
(4) and said bridges (5) have holes (15) and jumpers (19) for the passage of electric
wires for connection to the lamp (31, 32).