NZ228553A - Lamp reflector and diffuser - Google Patents

Description

228553 Priority Date(s^ Complete Specification Publication Bate* 27 NOV 1990 P.O. Journal, l>!o: E8&; Patents form No 5 PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION LIGHT FITTING #WE THORN EMI PTY. LIMITED, a company incorporated in the A.C.T., of 100 Glover Street, Cremorne 2090, N.S.W., Australia do hereby declare the invention for which #we pray that a Patent may be granted to me/us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 1 228 5 5 3 This invention relates to a light fitting and in particular, but not exclusively, to a fluorescent type light fitting.

In view of the technological development of lights and, in particular, fluorescent tubes, the lights 10 are becoming considerably smaller. Although the lights are becoming smaller, their light output does not diminish with the decreasing size of the tube. Thus, modern fluorescent tubes which are relatively small can be made to have the same light output as older, much 15 larger tubes. Since the fluorescent tubes are becoming 228 5 5 3 much smaller the light eminating from the tubes tends to come from a small area which tends to produce a "hot spot" when the light is viewed.

The object of this invention is to provide a 5 light fitting which overcomes this problem.

The invention may be said to reside in a light fitting, said light fitting having means for supporting and powering a light source, at least one reflector element for reflecting light produced by said light 10 source and a cover member for covering said light source such that said light source is hidden from view when the light source is installed for use and is viewed from an area which is to be illuminated by the light source, said cover means allowing light from said light fitting to 15 reach said reflector element such that said reflector element reflects light into the area to be illuminated.

Since the invention includes a cover member which covers the light and the fact that the cover member allows light to reach the reflector element ensures that 20 light is reflected into the area to be illuminated thereby providing a generally uniform intensity of light in the area and prevents the "hot spot" produced by a small light source being viewed from the area illuminated by the light fitting.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a light fitting embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view from beneath; Figure 3 is a plan view from beneath of the light fitting of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a view along the line 4-4 of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a view along the line 5-5 of Figure 3; 228 5 Figure 6 is a bottom perspective view showing a louvre element partly separated from the light fitting; Figure 7 is a partial view similar to Figure 4 but with the louvre element partly separated from the 5 light fitting; and Figure 8 is a partial view similar to the view of Figure 5 but corresponding to the partially separated light fitting of Figure 7.

With reference to the drawings, a light fitting 10 10 is shown which comprises a light fitting body 12 and a louvre 14 supported in said body 12. The body 12 includes an outer flange 16, a pair of end walls 18, a pair of stepped side walls 20 and a roof 22. The stepped side walls 20 include a first wall part 20a, a generally 15 horizontal section 20b forming the step and an inclined section 20c. The horizontal section 20b include a pair of slots 24 for receiving a louvre retaining clip 26. As is best seen in Figures 4 and 5 the body also includes a terminal 30 which supports two sets of lights each 20 comprising a pair of small fluorescent tubes 32. The pair of tubes 32 are provided as a unit and a support clip 34 is provided at the opposite end of tubes 32 from the terminal 30 to assist in supporting the tubes 32 in the light fitting. The clip 34 is secured to the upper 25 wall 22 of the light fitting. The body 12 also supports a pair of semi-circular reflectors 36 which extend along the length of the sets of fluorescent tubes 32.

As is best seen in Figure 2, the louvre 14 includes a plurality of V-shaped vanes 40 which extend 30 generally parallel to the tubes 30 and a plurality of similarly shaped vanes 42 which extend transverse to the vanes 40 and through the vanes 40. The vanes 40 and 42 may be secured at their intersections by any suitable means such as welding, gluing or the like. The louvre 14 35 is provided with semi-circular end plates 46 at the ends of the vane? 42. The end plates 46 have a configuration 2 2 8 5 which generally match the shape of the reflector elements 36 retained in the body 12. The end plates 46 at the end of the louvre 14 adjacent the terminal 3 0 have rectangular cut-outs 48 for enabling the fluorescent 5 tubes 32 and the post 30 to project therethrough. The louvre also has an outer frame in the form of a flange 50 from which the end plates 46 extend and arcuate side walls 52. The arcuate side walls 52 have secured to them the clips 2 6 which can be pushed together and inserted 10 through the slots 24 in the horizontal walls 20b. The natural resiliency of the clips 26 which tend to push the legs of the clips apart retain the louvre 14 in the body section by frictional engagement between the legs of the clips 26 and the slots 24.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, three sets of vanes 42 extend between the end plates 46. The outer two vanes 42 form cover members for covering the fluorescent tubes 32 along the entire lengths of the fluorescent tubes 32 so that the fluorescent tubes 32 are 20 hidden from view when the light is viewed from an area illuminated by the light. The middle vane 42 generally forms a continuation of the inner halves of the reflector elements 36 and the arcuate end walls 52 form a continuation of the outer halves of the reflector 25 elements 36. Thus, the walls 52, reflector elements 36 • and vane 42 generally form a complete semi-circular or half oval reflecting surface for reflecting light from the fluorescent tubes 32. Light is able to reach all parts of the complete reflector elements from the tubes 30 32 as is shown by the arrows, and be reflected into the area to be illuminated. The vanes 40 also form reflectors which further assist in diffusing light into the area to be illuminated. However, the outer V-shaped vanes 42 hide the fluorescent tubes from direct view thus 3 5 preventing people in the illuminated area from seeing the tubes if they look up at the light source and thus 2 2 8 5 prevent them from seeing the "hot spot" caused by the relatively high intensity light output from the small tubes.

In order to remove the louvre 14 to enable 5 tubes to be changed or other work to be carried out, the louvre 14 is simply grasped and drawn downwardly so that the sides of the slot 24 force the legs of the clip 26 inwardly as the louvre is drawn downwardly. The clips 26 have bent end sections 2 6a which engage the horizontal 10 section 20b to prevent the louvre from completely falling away from the fitting body 12. If it is desired to completely remove the light louvre 14 the clips 26 are further squeezed together so that the ends of the sections 26a are moved inwardly of the ends of the slot 15 24 so that clip can completely pass through the slot 24 to release the louvre 14 from the light fitting.

Since modification within the spirit and scope of the invention may readily be effected by persons skilled within the art, it is to be understood that this 2 0 invention is not limited to the particular embodiment described by way of example hereinabove. 228553

Claims (9)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS :

1. A light fitting, said light fitting having means for supporting and powering a light source, at least one reflector element for reflecting light produced by said light source and a cover member for covering said light source such that said light source is hidden from view when the light source is installed for use and is viewed from an area which is to be illuminated by the light source, said cover means allowing light from said light fitting to reach said reflector element such that said reflector element reflects light into the area to be illuminated.

2. A light fitting according to Claim 1, wherein said cover means comprises at least one substantially V-shaped element arranged beneath said light source, said V-shaped element covering the light source when the light fitting is viewed from said area beneath the light fitting.

3. The light fitting according to.Claim 1, wherein said light fitting has a body portion in which said light source is supported and said cover means forms part of a louvre which is coupled to said body portion, said louvre having a plurality of first elements extending in a first direction and a plurality of second elements extending in a direction transverse to that of the first elements, at least one of said elements forming said cover means for covering said light source.

4. The light fitting according to Claim 3, wherein said at least some of said elements are substantially V-shaped with the open end of the V-shaped elements being arranged adjacent said light source and beneath said light source to thereby cover said light source.

5. The light fitting according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said reflector element is of U-shaped cross-section having an open end and a closed base, the reflector being arranged with the open end „ > f £ «'V xx C>\ . 228553 - 8 - below the base when the light fitting is in use, said light source being arranged adjacent the base of the reflector element so that light can be reflected from an interior surface of the U-shaped reflecting element.

6. The light fitting of Claim 5 when appended to Claim 3, wherein said louvre has end plates which match the shape of the U-shaped reflector element so that the end plates substantially close ends of the U-shaped reflector element.

7. The light fitting according to Claim 3, wherein said louvre and body portion have interengaging clip means for securing the louvre to the body portion.

8. The light fitting according to Claim 7, wherein the clip means includes a pair of legs and the body portion includes a slot for receiving the legs, said legs being adapted to be moved towards one another to enable the legs to pass through said slot and to spring away from one another on release to frictionally engage the slot to retain the louvre to the body portion.

9. A light fitting substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. WEST-WALKER, McCABE pen ATTORNEYS FOR THE APPLICANT ^«S£p/91