A SYSTEM FOR FASTENING OF A DOWNLIGHT

Abstract

 The invention relates to a system for fastening of a downlight. The system comprising: a support member which can be attached to a hole in a surface as a ceiling or a wall; a downlight fixture for connection with the support member, said downlight fixture comprises an inner member and an outer member, said inner member being for connection with a light source and said outer member being for connection with the support member, said inner member and said outer member being connected such that said inner member can be tilted relative to the outer member, wherein, the downlight fixture comprises a gasket arranged such that it seals the connection between the outer member and the inner member.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a system for fastening of a downlight, said system comprising: a support member which can be attached to a hole in a surface as a ceiling or a wall; a downlight fixture for connection with the support member, said downlight fixture comprises an inner member and an outer member, said inner member being for connection with a light source and said outer member being for connection with the support member, said inner member and said outer member being connected such that said inner member can be tilted relative to the outer member.

[0002] There are various types of downlight fixtures available. Downlights are very popular for multiple reasons.

[0003] The downlight fixtures heretofore known, suffer from several disadvantages which include being difficult to use, being difficult to install, being unduly complex, and being difficult to remove.

[0004] Downlight fixtures are usually connectable with a circular support member (but it may well be, for example, square) which is fastened in a hole in a surface as e.g. a ceiling or wall. Depending on the design of the support members it can be made differently, e.g. as a square. The downlight fixture is usually made with a flange that forms a stop when the downlight fixture is inserted into the support member.

[0005] Downlight fixtures - also called fixture in the following - and a support member are usually connectable by means of snap coupling means so that the fixture can be brought in and out of engagement with the support member. This is an advantage when, for example, a light source needs to be replaced, because when replacing a light source, one can simply remove the fixture with the light source from the support member rather than having to remove both the fixture and the support member.

[0006] In the known technology, the snap coupling means usually comprise resilient steel brackets, which during deformation are inserted between the downlight fixture and the support member, so that the spring forces in the steel bracket hold the parts together. The snap coupling means may also comprise threads or couplings of the bayonet coupling type. These known snap-coupling means require a user to perform several actions to disassemble a fixture from a support member.

[0007] The light source itself, which is usually an LED, is also retained in the known fixtures by means of a steel bracket.

[0008] In known fixtures, moisture penetration also poses a problem, as moisture penetrates through the fixture and into electrical components contained in the fixture. This problem is particularly associated with fixtures that are made so that the light source can be angled/tilted, because these fixtures typically comprise an inner part with light source, which can be tilted relative to an outer part, which is fixed to a building part and moisture/water penetrates between the two mutually moving parts.

[0009] It is an object of the invention to solve or minimize one or more problems associated with known fixtures.

[0010] According to the invention, this is achieved in that the fixture comprises a gasket arranged such that it seals the connection between the outer member and the inner member.

[0011] In an embodiment of the invention, the gasket is held by means of releasable coupling means, so that the gasket can be replaced. A gasket placed between mutually movable parts will be subject to wear when these parts move. It is therefore an advantage if the gasket can be replaced.

[0012] In one embodiment, the gasket is made of silicone. A gasket placed between mutually movable parts will be subject to abrasive wear (wear due to a rubbing or abrasive action) when these parts are moved. Silicone is a material with high resistance to abrasive wear.

[0013] In an embodiment of the invention, the fixture includes snap coupling means mutually adapted to snap coupling on a support member, such that said snap coupling means hold the fixture releasably fastened in the support member when the fixture is inserted into the support member. The fixtures snap coupling means are in an embodiment made as resilient tabs provided on the outside of the fixture.

[0014] In an embodiment of the invention, the inner member comprises resilient tabs located on an inner side on the inner member, which resilient tabs are adapted for snap engagement with a flange made on an LED bulb. The outer member comprises resilient tabs for engagement with the support member. The two units are separated by a gasket that prevents water from penetrating through the fixture.

[0015] Other embodiments are recited in the dependent claims.

[0016] An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the figures where:

fig. 1 shows in perspective a fixture-according to the invention;

fig. 2 shows in perspective a fixture according to the invention;

fig. 3 shows in perspective a fixture, where the inner member is tilted relative to the outer member;

fig. 4 shows in perspective an exploded view of an inner member comprising two parts;

fig. 5 shows the inner member from figure 4 having the two parts connected;

fig. 6 shows in perspective a LED light bulb;

fig. 7 shows in perspective an outer member;

fig. 8 shows in perspective a cylindrical member.

fig. 9a and 9b show in perspective a fastening member seen from two sides;

fig. 10 shows in perspective a cylindrical member being provided with a gasket;

fig. 11 shows in perspective an exploded view of a gasket and a cylindrical member.

[0017] In figure 1 is shown a fixture 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. The fixture is usually equipped with a cylindrical body comprising a flange 2. The fixture is for insertion through an opening in a surface such as e.g. a ceiling or wall. The fixture is held in the opening by a support member (not shown in the figures) which is normally fastened in the opening by the support member gripping on both sides of the ceiling or wall through the opening. The purpose of the support member is that it should function as a holder for wires and the fixture and at the same time it will normally also function as a screen / cover for the fixture. Support members are well known to those skilled in the art and will therefore not be explained further in this application. Although the fixture is referred to as cylindrical, this should not be taken literally - as a round cylinder - as the fixture can of course have many other shapes, such as a square pipe and similarly, the support member and opening through the wall / ceiling can also have other shapes.

[0018] The fixture is provided with a flange 2 for abutment against a surface such as a wall or ceiling when the fixture is inserted into the support member. The fixture is made, on its outside, with external snap-engaging means 3, which are to hold the fixture in correspondingly engaging means in the support unit. The external snap means and the support unit are preferably mutually adapted such that a user can insert or remove the fixture from / to the support member by hand.

[0019] In Figure 2, the fixture is seen in perspective obliquely from below towards the sides 5, 2, which will be visible from below, when the fixture is placed on the underside of a horizontal ceiling.

[0020] When a fixture is placed in a ceiling or wall, it is advantageous if its light source can be tilted so that the light can be directed in different directions depending on the current need of the user. Accordingly, many prior art fixtures are made as two essentially concentrically placed members. These two members being an outer member and an inner member. The outer member is attached to the ceiling / wall and the inner member, in which the light source/spot is located, is tiltable fastened to the outer part. This is also the case with the fixture according to the invention comprising an outer member 4 and an inner member 5, which can be tilted relative to the outer member 4. In the embodiment shown in the figures, this is achieved in that the inner member 5 and the outer member 4 are assembled via a shaft joint comprising two shafts 9 (shown in figures 4 and 5), placed 180 degrees offset on the inner members 5. The shafts 9 engage with two complementary openings 8 made in the outer member 4. However, the openings could also be made in the inner part while the axles could be made in the outer part. In a preferred embodiment, the materials, shafts, and openings are adapted such that the shafts 9 can be "clicked" into and out of mutual engagement with the openings by simply utilizing the flexibility in the elements.

[0021] In figure 3, is shown how the inner member 5 can be tilted relative to the outer member 4 and the rotation is also indicated by an arrow located at the shaft opening 8. Between the inner member and the outer member is placed a gasket 14 (not visible in figure 3 but visible in figures 7, 10 and 11).

[0022] Figure 4 shows an embodiment of an inner member 5 which comprises two parts, namely a holding part 10 and a sliding part 11. The two parts 10, 11 are, in use, placed coaxially. In the lower end of the sliding part 11 (as shown in the figure) a flange 12 is formed, which is to form an abutment for a light bulb as e.g. a spot as shown in Figure 6.

[0023] In the embodiment shown, the sliding part is formed with two shafts 9, of which only one is visible in figure 4, which two shafts enable tilting of the inner part relative to the outer part. In connection with the shafts 9, the inner part 5 is provided with reinforcements 30. When the inner member 5 is tilted relative to the outer member 4 the sliding part 11 slides in a sealing manner against the gasket placed between the outer member 5 and the inner member 4.

[0024] In Figure 5, the two parts 10, 11 are assembled and together they form the inner part 5, which in the shown embodiment is cylindrical.

[0025] Normally the two parts are glued together, but they can of course be assembled in other ways, well known to the person skilled in the art. The inner part 5 is on the inside provided with inner snap coupling means 6. These snap coupling means are adapted and placed at a suitable distance from the lower flange 12 such that the snap coupling means 6 can releasably grip an edge 12 on a spot (as shown in Figure 6) and thereby releasable fastens the spot to the inner part.

[0026] In the embodiment shown, the inner part is provided with three internal snap coupling means 6, arranged symmetrically - with a displacement of 120 degrees - however, the number of snap coupling means may be varied by the person skilled in the art, and the displacement between these need not be 120 degrees either.

[0027] The provision of an inner member made by two parts entails a more watertight fixture. In prior art fixtures, inner members are made as single parts having designs being substantially like the design of the holding part 10 and the snap-coupling means provided in prior art fixtures thus form openings in the sides. These openings - in the prior art fixtures - leave passages for moisture and water to any electric light source placed inside the inner part. This poses a safety problem, especially if the fixture is placed in a bathroom. By making the inner part 5 with a holding part 10 and a sliding part 11 as shown, the sliding part 11 forms a waterproof "shield", which covers the openings behind the snap coupling means 6 in the holding part 10.

[0028] In an embodiment of the invention non penetrating cavities are formed in the sliding part 11. These cavities are situated behind the snap coupling means when the two parts are connected (the cavities are not shown in the figures). These cavities allow the snap coupling means 6 of the inner part to be deformed against the outside of the inner part without touching. This entails an easier insertion (or extraction) of bulbs into the inner part.

[0029] Figure 7 shows an embodiment of an outer part 4 comprising: a cylindrical body 4a provided with a flange 2; a gasket 14, and four identical holding members 15. Each of the holding members comprise two outer snap-engaging means 3 for engaging with a support member (as explained in relation to Figure 1).

[0030] The gasket 14 prevents water from penetrating through outer member 4 and into the electrical components. The gasket 14 further prevents water from penetrating between the outer member 5 and the inner member 4. In the embodiment shown, the gasket 14 sits behind the holding parts 15 (i.e. towards the center of the cylindrical body). The gasket 14 is preferably made of plastic, rubber, or silicone / silica gel. Silicone is typically more resistant to abrasion, shock, and temperature effects than ordinary plastic. In connection with the above discussion of Figure 4, it was explained that the inner part 5 was provided with reinforcements 30 in the area around the shafts 9. Figure 7 shows how the gasket 14, in the embodiment shown, is formed with an opening/section 31 complementary to these reinforcements. The section 31 forms space for the reinforcements 30, such that the inner part 5 can be tilted relative to the outer part 4 - as shown in figure 3- without the reinforcement 30 hitting the gasket 14.

[0031] Figure 8 shows a holding member 15 pulled out of engagement with the cylindrical body 4a. The holding member 15 shown in figure 8 is oriented with the front side facing out of the figure and the upper side facing upwards. In figure 9a the backside of the holding member 15 is shown in perspective seen from below, and in figure 9b the frontside of the holding member is shown in perspective seen from above. The fixture normally comprises four identical holding members 15, but only one is shown in figure 8. As can be seen in figure 8, the cylindrical body 4a is made with support flanges 32, these support flanges are mutually adapted to the side surfaces 40, 41 of the holding members 15 (as shown in figure 9a) so that the side surfaces 40, 41 of the holding members abut the support flanges when the holding member is inserted into the cylindrical body 41. When a holding member 15 is inserted into the cylindrical body 4a, the middle part 42 (as shown in Figure 9a) abuts the back of complementary engaging means 17 formed therein in the cylindrical body 4a. In the embodiment shown, the engaging means 17 in the cylindrical body 4a are formed with openings with which the snap-engaging means 16 in the holding members can engage.

[0032] Figures 9a and 9b show a holding member in perspective. In figure 9a the holding member is shown from the back and obliquely from below, and in figure 9b the holding member is shown from the front and obliquely from above. The front, back and the directions right, left, top, and bottom are defined in figure 8, the holding member here being shown from the front with the upper side 18 upwards and with the right side part 40 shown to the right. In the embodiment shown in these figures, the holding member 15 comprises a left 41 and a right side part 42. These side parts are displaced relative to the middle part 42. Both the side parts, 40, 41 and the middle part 42 are made with resilient snap-engaging means 3 and 16. The upper side 18 of the holding members 15 comprises a support flange 19 adapted to the gasket 14 (shown for example in Figures 10 and 11) so that the support flange 19 abuts against the upper surface 14a of the gasket, shown in Figure 10, when the holding member is clicked in place in the outer part. "Clicked in place" in this connection means that the snap coupling 16 means is in engagement with the opening in the engaging part 17. Thereby, the holding members 15 also fastens the gasket 14 in the cylindrical outer body 4a. When a holding member 15 is pressed into place, it occurs during deformation of the holding snap coupling 16, which is clicked into resilient engagement with the opening in the engaging part 17 (shown in e.g. figure 8). To make room for this deformation, the gasket 14 is made with cavities 14e which can be seen in figure 10.

[0033] Figure 10 shows in perspective a cylindrical body 4a with a gasket 14 inserted. The gasket is formed with an upper surface 14a, which is mutually adapted to the support flange 19 of the holding members 15. The gasket is thereby fixated in the cylindrical body. Preferably, the gasket 14 is made as a plastic or rubber and / or silicone-containing gasket but the person skilled in the art can choose other materials.

[0034] In figure 11 the gasket 14 is shown pulled out from the cylindrical body 4a and here it is seen how the cylindrical body may be formed with guide grooves 14dd mutually adapted to complementary guides in the gasket 14. In the embodiment two guide grooves are shown. The gasket is preferably made with cavities 14e so that the engaging means 16 of the holding members can be deformed into the cavities 14e when the holding members 15 are "clicked into place"/mounted in the cylindrical body 4a.

Claims

1. A system for fastening of a downlight, said system comprising:
a support member which can be attached to a hole in a surface as a ceiling or a wall; a downlight fixture for connection with the support member, said downlight fixture comprises an inner member and an outer member, said inner member being for connection with a light source and said outer member being for connection with the support member, said inner member and said outer member being connected such that said inner member can be tilted relative to the outer member, wherein, the downlight fixture comprises a gasket arranged such that it seals the connection between the outer member and the inner member.

2. A system for fastening of a downlight according to claim 1, wherein, the gasket is held by means of releasable fastening means, so that the gasket can be replaced.

3. A system for fastening of a downlight according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the gasket is made of silicone.

4. A system for fastening of a downlight according to any of the claims 1-3, wherein, the downlight fixture includes snap coupling means mutually adapted to snap coupling on the support member, such that said snap coupling means holds the fixture releasable fastened in the support member when the fixture is inserted into the support member.

5. A system for fastening of a downlight according to any of the claims 1-4, wherein, the fixtures snap coupling means are made as resilient tabs provided on the outside of the fixture.

6. A system for fastening of a downlight according to any of the claims 1-5, wherein, the inner member comprises resilient tabs located on an inner side of the inner member, which resilient tabs are adapted for snap engagement with a flange made on an LED bulb.

7. A system for fastening of a downlight according to any of the claims 1-6, wherein, the downlight fixture includes at least one releasable holding means comprising resilient tabs for engagement with the support member.

8. A system for fastening of a downlight according to claim 7, wherein, the downlight fixture includes four releasable holding means comprising resilient tabs for engagement with the support member.

9. A system for fastening of a downlight according to claim 7 or 8, wherein, the holding means comprise a flange for abutment with an upper surface on the gasket.

10. A downlight fixture for use in a system according to any of the claims 1-9, said downlight fixture comprises an inner member and an outer member, said inner member being for connection with a light source and said outer member being for connection with the support member, said inner member and said outer member being connected such that said inner member can be tilted relative to the outer member, wherein, the downlight fixture comprises a gasket arranged such that it seals the connection between the outer member and the inner member.

Drawing