IMPROVED PENDANT OR CEILING MOUNTED LUMINAIRE WITH QUICK DISCONNECT FEATURES

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a quick disconnecting means in/for a mounted luminaire in accordance with the first part of claim 1.

[0002] A luminaire of the art (see CH-A-424983) as mentioned at the beginning having disconnecting features, comprises a fixed housing having formed thereon means for mounting said fixed housing to the ceilings, means in said fixed housing for receiving electrical conduits and hinge means for pivotably fastening a pivotable housing. Said pivotable housing is pivotably hung on said hinge means. Furthermore, an angular sliding rod is provided which can be shifted into first, second and third positions for locking the housing together. Also, the housing of the luminaire of the art are provided with electrical plug-type connections common in the art.

[0003] Certainly, the known luminaire as mentioned above enables mechanical disconnections of the housing only after electrical disconnection of the plug has been accomplished. However, it is not suggested how such luminaire - in its disconnection condition - may expose electrical connection elements which are finger-safe..

[0004] A luminaire housing is known from CH-A-521 500, especially teaching to make the ground connection terminal longer than the remaining power connection terminals within the common plug-type connector.

[0005] Therefore, the invention as claimed is intended to improve the luminaire method at the beginning in terms of safety and maintenance. Particularly, a luminaire shall be provided which may be ceiling- mounted and which has through-way capabilities permitting building electrical wiring to be run straight through the top castings of the luminaire and other luminaires which are installed and at the same time as the electrical conduit and permanent building electrical boxes. Also internal fusing capabilities shall be provided within the housings of the luminaire. These problems are solved by the invention in accordance with the features characterized in claim 1.

[0006] Thus according to the applicant's invention a ceiling mounted luminaire is provided which allows a luminaire to be quickly disconnected by swinging a pivotable housing downwardly to expose a safety protected hot female terminal block and also provides for the installation of fixed housings which are wired and left to receive the rest of the luminaire immediately at some future time. In a typical installation many of these housings are installed even when only a portion of them may be used at any one time and then as lighting demands change different ones are utilized.

[0007] Yet another object and advantage of the invention is to provide a new and novel pendant or ceiling mounted luminaire which has internal fusing capabilities contained within a male terminal block which is disconnected from the power source for servicing when the pivotable housing is swung downward.

[0008] These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a review of the drawings and from a study of the preferred embodiment which is given by way of illustration only.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009] 

FIG. 1 is a side view of Applicant's new and improved pendant or ceiling mounted luminaire;

FIG. 2 is an end view, taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A is a side view of the fixed housing of Applicant's invention;

FIG. 2B is a partial perspective view of the fixed housing of Applicant's invention illustrating the outside casing of the fixed housing adapted to receive a pivotable housing to mount a luminaire;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the fixed housing with its cover removed illustrating the swinging down of the pivotable housing disconnecting a female terminal block and a male terminal block;

FIG. 4 is a view, looking along line 4­4 of FIG. 3 showing the female terminal block position in the top fixed housing but not showing the housing proper for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 showing internal electrical terminal connections and showing the finger-safe safety feature positioned over the electrical connections;

FIG. 6 is a side view, taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4 showing in further detail the female terminal block positioned in the top fixed housing of the Applicant's invention;

FIG. 7 is a plan view, taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 3 looking into the intermediate pivotable housing portion of the Applicant's improved pendant or ceiling mounted luminaire and showing the internally positioned male terminal block of the Applicant's invention; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view, taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7 showing the male electrical connections of the terminal block and also showing the fuse connections positioned on each side of the male connections.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

[0010] Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a side view of the Applicant's improved pendant or ceiling mounted luminaire, generally indicated by the reference numeral 10. The luminaire 10 includes a fixed housing 12, a pivotable housing 14, and a ballast housing 16. The ballast housing 16 contains a ballast for an appropriate lamp and also serves as heat sinkforthe ballast. The ballast housing 16 may be formed in the configuration shown in FIG. 1 or may be formed in other configurations known in the art.

[0011] The ballast housing 16 of FIG. 1 also contains a socket 18 for receiving the lamp of the luminaire, the lamp not being shown in the drawing. Attached to the bottom of the ballast housing is a wire yoke assembly 60 supporting a reflector 20 which surrounds the lamp of the luminaire and reflects the light downwardly to the user of the luminaire. The reflector 20 is attached by suitable means to a yoke assembly 60.

[0012] The fixed housing 12 has formed thereon a through-way means hereinbefore described which comprises a pair of drilled and tapped holes 22 and 24 which are formed in opposite side walls 26 and 28 of the top fixed housing in 12. The drilled and tapped holes 22 and 24 allow a plurality of electrical conduits 30 and 32 to be positioned therein permitting electrical connection of similarily positioned luminaires.

[0013] The luminaire 10 may be ceiling mounted by mounting the top fixed housing 12 directly to a celing or as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 may be mounted on a pipe 34 in order to be positioned closerto the floor of the area to be lighted. The pipe 34 may be screwed in to the top wall of the top fixed housing 12 in a drilled and tapped hole formed in the top wall but not shown in the drawings. Alternately a hook, loop or other flexible hanging method may be screwed into the top wall of this top fixed housing 12.

[0014] Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B of the drawings, the fixed housing can be installed, wired and left to receive the restofthe luminaire and thus serve as a power hanger for the rest of the luminaire. A solid hinge 38 formed on and extending outwardly from the fixed housing 12 is provided with a plurality of rib strengtheners 39 and is adapted to receive an easily removable hinge bar 36. The hinge bar 36 is fastened to the pivotable housing 12 by a pair of screws 37. A latch engaging surface 46 on the fixed housing 12 is adapted to cooperate with a pivotable latch 44 (shown in FIG. 3).

[0015] In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 3 the cover for the electrical elements contained therein has been removed for purposes of clarity. The pivotable housing 14 is pivotable downwardly from the top fixed housing 12 by means of the hinge bar 36 and the solid hinge 38. When pivoted downwardly about the hinge bar 36, the pivotable housing 14 disconnects a female terminal block 40 in the top fixed housing 12. A male terminal block 42 is positioned in the pivotable housing 14. The female terminal block 40 is electrically hot being connected to electrical connections entering through either the mounting pipe 34 or the holes 22 and 24 as hereinbefore described. In orderto disconnect the male terminal block 42 from the female terminal block 40, the pivotable latch 44 is disengaged from the latch engaging surface 46 formed on the fixed housing. The pivotable latch 44 is contained by a pin 48 mounted between two upstanding pin holders 50 and 52. The pivotable latch 44 contains on the end thereof a washer 54 and a wing nut 56 which is threaded on the threaded outer end of the latch. It can be seen in FIG. 3 then how the washer 54 is utilized to engage the latch engaging surface 46 to lock the top fixed housing 12 and the pivotable housing 14 together.

[0016] The ballast housing 16 may be positioned immediately beneath the pivotable 14 and is fixedly attached thereto by means of a plurality of bolts or other devices as is known in the art. It can be seen then by referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, that in electrically disconnecting the terminal blocks 40 and 42 of the Applicant's invention, the pivotable housing 14 and the attached ballast housing 16 would be swung downwardly in the direction shown by the arrow 58 to pivot about the horizontally positioned hinge bar 36 shown in FIG. 3. The lamp socket 18 along with the reflector 20 would also pivot accordingly since they are attached to the ballast housing 16. FIG. 3 would then represent the manner in which the pivotable housing 14 would be pivoted downwardly upon the opening of the Applicant's improved luminaire.

[0017] Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawings, there is shown in detail the female terminal block 40 positioned in the fixed housing 12. The female terminal block 40 contains a plurality of wings 62 and 64 having formed therein a plurality of holes 66 and 68 to which may be positioned a plurality of screws 70 and 72, shown in FIG. 3 of the drawing. The screws 70 and 72 are screwed into a drilled and tapped boss formed on the internal surface of the fixed housing 12 and are used to secure the female terminal block 40 tightly within the fixed housing 12. The drilled and tapped bosses are not shown in the drawing for purposes of clarity. The female terminal block 40 contains a plurality of female clips 74, 76, and 78 which are positioned within the terminal block 40 in the manner shown. Each female. clip is electrically connected internally in the female block as will be described more fully hereinafter and to a plurality of terminal screws 80, 82 and 84 respectively. The electrical parts of the female terminal block, being electrically hot, are enclosed by an Underwriters Laboratory, Inc. finger-safe plastic cover 86 so as to be electrically safe in accordance with the Underwriters Laboratory Standard 1572, dated March 26, 1980 herein incorporated by reference.

[0018] Referring now to FIG. 5 of the drawings, there is a sectional view, taken along 5-5 of FIG. 4, showing the female clips 74, 76 and 78 positioned within the female terminal block 40 and further showing the plurality of screws 80, 82 and 84. It can be seen that the screws 84 are electrically connected to the female clips by means of the electrical connection 88.

[0019] Referring now to FIG. 6 of the drawings, there is shown a side view, taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4, illustrating in greater detail the plurality of screws 80, 82 and 84 and how they are electrically connected to the various electrical wires utilized with the luminaire. As has been previously mentioned, an electrical connector 88 connects the female clip 78 with its electrical screw attachment 84. In a similar manner, an electrical connection 90 electrically connects the female clip 76 with its electrical screw 82. The electrical connection 92 electrically connects the female clip 74 with its screw 80. In this manner, the electrical wires 94,96 and 98, may be connected to the various female block terminals to electrically hot wire the terminal use in the luminaire.

[0020] Referring now to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 of the drawings, there is shown in greater detail the internal portions of the pivotable housing 14 showing the mating male terminal block 42 of Applicant's invention. The mating terminal male terminal block 42 is positioned in the pivotable housing 14 and comprises an elongated rectangular shaped terminal block having formed in the central portion thereof a plurality of electrical male terminal elements 100, 102 and 104. The male terminal block 42 is fixedly attached to the pivotable housing 14 by means of a plurality of screws 106 and 108 positioned in a drilled and tapped set of holes formed in the casting for the housing 14. The male terminal block 42 also contains at least two fused receptacles 110 and 112 which are positioned on opposite sides of the male electrical terminal elements 100, 102 and 104 and are dispersed for receipt of a fuse where desired by the user of the luminaire. The fuse receptacle 110 is adapted to electrically connected to the male terminal element 100 and the fuse receptacle 112 is adapted to electrically connected to the male terminal element 104 internally or by means of external jumper leads in the male terminal block 42 with fuses being positioned in the fuse receptacles 110 and 112 as desired. The central male terminal element 102 may be utilized to ground the intermediate pivotable housing casing 14 by means of a wire 114 fixedly attached to the housing by means of a screw 116 fixed in a drilled and tapped hole formed in the housing.

[0021] Referring now to FIG. 8 of the drawings, there is shown in greater detail, a cross sectional view, taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7 showing the three male terminal elements 100, 102 and 104 positioned within a plurality of recesses 118, 120 and 124 formed in the plastic male terminal block 42. The three male terminal elements 100, 102 and 104 are fixedly attached to the male terminal block 42 by means of the rivets 124, 126 and 128. It can also be seen in FIG. 8 how the fuse receptacles 110 and 112 are fixedly attached to the male terminal block 42 by means of the rivets 130 and 132.

[0022] From the foregoing it can be seen that there has been provided by the subject invention, a new and improved pendant or ceiling mounted luminaire having improved quick disconnect features of the type hereinbefore described.

Claims

1. Quick disconnecting means in a mounted luminaire, comprising

a) a fixed housing (12), which can be mounted to the ceiling, containing an electrical female terminal block (40); the fixed housing (12) further having formed thereon through-way means (22, 24) comprising a pair of drilled and tapped holes formed in opposite side walls of the top fixed (12);

b) a pivotable housing (14) received by said fixed housing (12) via hinge means (38), the pivotable housing (14) having positioned therein a mating male terminal block (42) to connect and disconnect with said female terminal block (40) upon pivoting upward and downward, respectively, said male terminal block (42) comprising an elongated, rectangular shaped terminal block;

c) means (52, 54, 44) associated with the fixed housing (12) and the intermediate pivotable housing (14) for locking the housings together; characterized in that

d) said locking means (52, 54, 44) comprise a pivotable latch (44) positioned on the pivotable housing (14) and a locking surface (46) positioned on the fixed housing (12), said pivotable latch (44) .comprising a threaded eye bolt (52) and a wing nut (54);

e) said female terminal block (40) has at least three female terminal elements in the central portion thereof and has formed thereon a finger-safe plastic cover over at least the top portion of the terminal block so that the fixed housing (12) can be left to serve as a power hanger to receive the rest of the luminaire;

f) said male terminal block (42) has formed thereon at least three electrical male terminal elements in the central portion thereof and further comprises at least two fuse receptacles positioned on opposite sides of the male electrical elements for receipt of a removable fuse, the fuse receptacle elements being electrically connected to at least two of the male terminal elements so that the male terminal block (42) may be used without a fuse, with one removable fuse or with two removable fuses as desired.

2. Quick disconnecting means as defined in claim 1 wherein the male terminal block (42) contains at least one removable fuse positioned in the fuse element for fusing at least one of the three electrical terminal elements in the terminal block.

3. Quick disconnecting means as defined in claim 2 wherein the male terminal block (42) contains at least two fuse elements for receiving removable fuses and connecting at least two of the three electrical terminal elements of the terminal block.

4. Quick disconnecting means as defined in any of claims 1-3, characterized in that at least one of the male electrical terminals is a ground connection and is positioned higher than the other male terminals so that upon connection with the female terminals it connects first and upon disconnection with the female terminals it disconnects at last thereby providing a safety improvement in the luminaire which prevents shorts from coming in contact with the person activating the disconnect feature.

Ansprüche

1. Schnellentkupplungsvorrichtung an einer Leuchte mit Befestigungsvorrichtung, welche umfaßt:

a. ein fester Gehäuseteil (12) für die Deckenbefestigung umfaßt einen elektrischen Aufnahmekontakt (40); am festen Gehäuseteil (12) sind Bohrungen (22, 24) vorgesehen, und zwar in den gegenüberliegenden Seitenwänden des festen Gehäuseteils (12);

b. ein schwenkbar Gehäuseteil (14) ist in dem festen Gehäuseteil (12) mittels eines Scharniers (38) aufgenommen; der schwenkbare Gehäuseteil (14) enthält einen entsprechenden Steckkontakt (42) zum Herstellen einer Verbindung oder Unterbrechen derselben mit dem Aufnahmekontakt (40) durch Auf- und Abschwenken, wobei der Steckkontakt (42) längliche, als rechteckige Platten ausgebildete Kontakte umfaßt;

c. eine Schließvorrichtung (52, 54, 44), welche einerseits mit dem festen Gehäuseteil-(12), andererseits mit dem schwenkbaren Gehäuseteil (14) verbunden ist, um beide Gehäuseteile miteinander zu verschließen; und wie folgt gekennzeichnet ist:

d. die Schließvorrichtung (52, 54, 44) umfaßt eine Schwenklasche (44), welche am schwenkbaren Gehäuseteil (14) angebracht ist und eine Schließfläche (46), welche am feststehenden Gehäuseteil (12) vorgesehen ist, wobie die Schwenklasche (44) einen Schraubbolzen (52) und eine Flügelmutter (54) aufweist;

e. der Aufnahmekontakt (40) hat wenigstens drei Kontaktelemente in seinem Zentrum; am Aufnahmekontakt (40) ist ein Fingerschutz-Kunststoffdeckel vorgesehen, der sich wenigstens über den Oberteil des Steckkontakts erstreckt, so daß der feststehende Gehäuseteil (12) als Verankerungsteil dient, an welchem die restliche Leuchte aufgehängt ist;

f. der Steckkontakt (42) besitzt wenigstens drei Steckerelemente in dessen Zentrum und ferner wenigstens zwei Aufnahmen für auswechselbare Sicherungen, welche an gegenüberliegenden Seiten der Steckerelemente angeordnet sind und wobei die Aufnahmen für die Sicherungen elektrisch verbunden sind mit wenigstens zwei der Steckerelemente, so daß der Steckkontakt (42) ohne, mit einer oder mit zwei auswechselbaren Sicherungen verwendbar ist.

2. Schnellentkupplungsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Steckkontakt (42) wenigstens eine auswechselbare Sicherung in einer Aufnahme enthält zur Absicherung wenigstens einer der drei Steckerelemente in dem Steckkontakt.

3. Schnellentkupplungsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Steckkontakt (42) wenigstens zwei auswechselbare Sicherungen besitzt, die mit wenigstens zwei der drei Steckerelemente Steckontakts verbunden sind.

4. Schnellentkupplungsvorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß wenigstens ein Steckerelement eine Erdung ist und höher angeordnet ist als die anderen Steckerelemente, so daß diese beim Herstellen einer Verbindung mit den Kontaktelementen zuerst in Kontaktlage tritt und beim Unterbrechen der Verbindung die Kontaktlage zuletzt aufgibt, in Art einer Sicherheitseinrichtung in der Leuchte, welche Kurzschlüsse verhindert über eine Person welche die Schnellentkupplungsvorrichtung betätigt.

Revendications

1. Moyens de déconnexion rapide dans un luminaire monté, comprenant

a) un boîtier fixe (12), qui peut être monté au plafond, contenant un bloc (40) à bornes électriques femelles, le boîtier fixe (12) comportant en outre, formés sur lui, des moyens traversants (22, 24) comprenant une paire de trous percés et filetés formés dans des parois latérales opposées du dessus fixe (12);

b) un boîtier pivotant (14) reçu par ledit boîter fixe (12) à l'aide de moyens à charnière (38), le boîter pivotant (14) comportant, positionné à l'intérieur, un bloc (42) à bornes mâles complémentaires destiné à une connexion et une déconnexion avec ledit bloc (40) à bornes femelles à la suite d'un pivotement vers le haut et vers le bas, respectivement, ledit bloc (42) à bornes mâles comprenant un bloc à bornes de forme rectangulaire, allongée;

c) des moyens (52, 54, 44) associés au boîtier fixe (12) et au boîter pivotant intermédiaire (14) afin de verrouiller les boîtiers l'un à l'autre;

caractérisés en ce que

d) lesdits moyens de verrouillage (52, 54, 44) comprennant un verrou pivotant (44) positionné sur le boîtier pivotant (14) et une surface de verrouillage (46) positionnée sur le boîtier fixe (12), ledit verrou pivotant (44) comprenant un boulon à oeil fileté (52) et un écrou à oreilles (54);

e) ledit bloc (40) à bornes femelles comporte au moins trois éléments de bornes femelles dans sa partie centrale et, formé sur lui, un capot en matière plastique de sécurité pour les doigts sur au moins la partie supérieure du bloc à bornes afin que le boîtier fixe (12) puisse être laissé pour servir de dispositif de suspension et d'alimentation pour recevoir le reste du luminaire;

f) ledit bloc (42) à -bornes mâles comporte, formés sur lui, au moins trois éléments de borne électriques mâles dans sa partie centrale et comprend en outre au moins deux logements à fusibles positionnés sur des côtés opposés des éléments électriques màles afin de recevoir un fusible amovible, les éléments de logement de fusible étant connectés électriquement à au moins deux des éléments de borne mâle afin que le bloc (42) à bornes mâles puisse être utilisé sans fusible, avec un fusible amovible ou avec deux fusibles amovibles, comme souhaité.

2. Moyens de déconnexion rapide selon la revendication 1, dans lesquels le bloc (42) à bornes mâles contient au moins un fusible amovible positionné dans l'élément de fusible afin de faire fondre au moins l'un des trois éléments de bornes électriques situés dans le bloc à bornes.

3. Moyens de déconnexion rapide selon la revendication 2, dans lesquels le bloc (42) à bornes mâles contient au moins deux éléments de fusible destinés à recevoir des fusibles amovibles et connectant au moins deux des trois éléments de bornes électriques du bloc à bornes.

4. Moyens de déconnexion rapide selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisés en ce que au moins l'une des bornes électriques mâles est une connexion de masse et est positionnée plus haut que les autres bornes mâles afin que, lors d'une connexion avec les bornes femelles, elle se connecte en premier et que, lors d'une déconnexion des bornes femelles, elle se déconnecte en dernier pour apporter ainsi une amélioration de la sécurité dans la luminaire, que empêche des courts-circuits d'entrer en contact avec la personne réalisant le déconnexion.

Drawing