EP1109270A2

EP1109270A2 - Socket-outlet for lighting fixture

Info

Publication number: EP1109270A2
Application number: EP00660227A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lars Didriksson; Erik Fagerström; Ari Hartikainen; Kurt Karlsson; Jukka Turunen; Esko Keskinen
Original assignee: Ensto Busch Jaeger Oy
Current assignee: ABB Busch Jaeger Oy
Priority date: 1999-12-14
Filing date: 2000-12-11
Publication date: 2001-06-20
Also published as: NO20006362D0; NO20006362L; EP1109270A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a socket-outlet for lighting fixtures, the socket-outlet comprising a body (4, 6, 11) and a female connector (1) arranged to the body, the connector comprising conductor joints (2) for receiving electric wires and female coupling elements (3) for providing a contact between the conductor joints and the coupling elements of a male connector. To allow a more versatile socket-outlet than before to be provided, the female connector (1) in question is in the form of a part which is separate from the body and which is provided with fastening members (9) for fastening the female connector (1) to fastening members (10) arranged to the body.

Description

The present invention relates to plug and socket connectors for lighting fixtures, and particularly to lighting socket-outlets through which electricity can be supplied to different lighting fixtures. One of the standards relating to socket-outlets for lighting fixtures is SFS 5799 "Luminaire couplers. Requirements for construction and testing", which specifies requirements set for the construction of lighting sockets. Although the present invention is suitable for use in connection with lighting sockets conforming to the above standard, it is to be noted that the invention can also be applied to other plug and socket connectors meant for lighting fixtures.
In prior art solutions for lighting fixtures, a male connector is attached to the electric wire of the lighting fixture. Correspondingly, a socket-outlet is arranged on the ceiling or the wall for the lighting fixture, the socket-outlet comprising a female connector coupled to the mains. Since the male and female connectors are each other's counterparts, the lighting fixture can be connected to the mains by inserting the male connector into the socket-outlet.
One of the drawbacks in the above prior art socket-outlets is that they are tailored for a single purpose of use, and therefore the range of different socket-outlet models is relatively wide. With regard to ceiling-mounting, for example, there is a socket-outlet specifically designed for surface-mounted lighting fixtures, and, correspondingly, a socket-outlet that can be recessed when the socket-outlet is to be installed so that it is at least partially recessed in the ceiling. Moreover, with regard lighting fixtures mounted on a wall, there is a specific socket-outlet for surface-mounting and a different one for recessed mounting. It is apparent that the manufacture, warehousing and handling of so many different socket-outlets is inconvenient, and causes costs.
It is an object of the present invention to solve the above problems and to provide a solution that facilitates the manufacture and handling of socket-outlets meant for lighting fixtures and thereby allows the costs of their manufacture to be reduced. This object is achieved with a method of the invention for manufacturing a socket-outlet for a lighting fixture. The method of the invention is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: manufacturing a separate female connector which comprises conductor joints for receiving electric wires, female coupling elements for providing a contact between the conductor joints and the coupling elements of a male connector, and fastening means; manufacturing at least two bodies designed for different mounting environments and providing said at least two bodies with means that allow said female connector to be fastened to the respective body by means of said fastening means; and selecting one of the above mentioned bodies for use, according to the requirements set by the mounting environment, when the lighting socket-outlet is to be assembled and fastening said female connector to the selected body.
The invention further relates to a socket-outlet for lighting fixtures, the socket-outlet comprising: a body; a female connector arranged to the body, the connector comprising conductor joints for receiving an electric wire and female coupling elements for providing a contact between the conductor joints and the coupling elements of a male connector; and a cover plate to be fastened to the body. The socket-outlet of the invention is characterized in that said female connector is a part separate from the body and provided with fastening members to allow the female connector to be fastened to fastening members arranged to the body.
The invention is based on the idea that by manufacturing the female connector in the lighting socket-outlet as a part which is separate and independent from the body, the part being provided with fastening members, and, in addition, by manufacturing bodies suitable for different mounting environments, one and the same female connector can be used in any one of the bodies meant for different mounting environments.
The body of the socket-outlet may consist of a plural number of separate parts, such as a raised ring, a support bar and a separate cover portion. The separate female connector can be fastened to any of these parts. Alternatively, the body may be made of two parts, in which case it is composed of for example the raised ring and the cover plate, to which the separate female connector is to be fastened. If desired, the lighting socket-outlet may also be manufactured without the cover plate.
The modular lighting socket-outlet of the invention thus enables socket-outlets that are to be mounted to different environments to be assembled using at least some common components. For example, common components can be used both in recessed and surface-mounted lighting socket-outlets. The possibility to use common components in different mounting environments reduces the manufacturing costs of the socket-outlet, and facilitates the warehousing and handling of the parts. The components of a socket-outlet to be mounted to a specific site do not need to be selected in advance, because the components are interchangeable to the extent possible. This allows the electrician to select the components that are needed at the mounting site, whereby components best suitable for the purpose can be used.
The lighting socket-outlet of the invention also significantly facilitates the electrical installation work involved, because the socket-outlet of the invention allows the female connector to be removed from the body during the mounting work. For example, the electrician can take the connector in his hand to fasten the electric wires and then install it in its place into the body, after the electric wires have already been fastened. This possibility facilitates the mounting work significantly, because lighting socket-outlets are typically mounted to places that are difficult to reach (on the ceiling, for example).
The preferred embodiments of the method and lighting socket-outlet of the invention are disclosed in the accompanying dependent claims 2 and 4-5.
In the following, the invention will be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 shows a first preferred embodiment of a lighting socket-outlet of the invention;
Figure 2 shows a second preferred embodiment of the lighting socket-outlet of the invention;
Figure 3 shows a third preferred embodiment of the lighting socket-outlet of the invention; and
Figure 4 shows a fourth preferred embodiment of the lighting socket-outlet of the invention.
Figure 1 shows a first preferred embodiment of a lighting socket-outlet of the invention. The socket-outlet of Figure 1 is of the type that is surface-mounted on a ceiling, and it comprises a female connector 1.
The lighting connector 1 is in the form of an enclosed plastic module provided with conductor joints 2 for receiving electric wires and coupling elements 3 for providing a contact between the conductor joints 2 and the coupling elements of a male connector (not shown in the Figures). The connector 1 shown in the Figure represents an unearthed model, although an earthed version is also possible. An earthed connector is provided with an earth pin. The earth pin can be made hollow, a significant material saving being thereby achieved in comparison with an earth pin made of a solid material.
The body of the socket-outlet of Figure 1 comprises a plastic ring 4 that can be fastened to the ceiling for example with screws inserted through holes 5. The body also comprises a support bar 6 which is placed against the plastic ring 4 so that holes 7 in the support bar 6 coincide with the holes 5 in the ring 4, the support bar being thus firmly fastened to the ring with the same screws that fasten the body to the ceiling. The body of the lighting socket-outlet of Figure 1 further comprises a separate cover plate 11.
The support bar 6 may be for example a steel bar inserted into a plastic casing. In Figure 1 there is a suspension hook 8 protruding from an opening in the plastic casing, one end of the hook being fastened to the steel bar. A lighting fixture, for example, may be suspended from the suspension hook 8. The suspension hook of Figure 1 is made for example of a metal wire having an annular cross-section, one end of the wire being inserted into the space between the support bar 6 and the plastic encasing surrounding it so that the suspension hook is secured in place. If necessary, the suspension hook may be removed later.
The female connector 1 is provided with fastening members 9, which in Figure 1 consist of T-shaped slots. Correspondingly, the plastic casing of the support bar 6 is provided with fastening members 10 formed as T-shaped protrusions, i.e. they are counterparts of the fastening members 9. The lighting connector 1 can thus be fastened to the socket-outlet by means of the support bar by inserting the T-shaped fastening members 10 into the T-shaped slots 9. In addition, the connector 1 is provided with a flexible plastic tongue 17 which sets into a recess 18 provided in the support bar (in Figure 1 there are similar recesses 18 on both sides of the support bar), when the fastening members 10 are inserted into the recesses 9. The plastic tongue thus locks the connector 1 in place by a so-called snap connection. The cover plate of the lighting socket-outlet can then be fastened in place using a fixing screw, the connector 1 thus being completely locked in place by the impact of the cover plate 11.
Since the connector 1 does not have to be attached to the body by means of screws or the like, it is very easy to remove it for example for the duration of mounting work. In practice, it is sufficient that the cover plate 11 is removed, because then the electrician can detach the connector 1 from the support bar 6 by pulling. This allows the electrician to keep the connector in his hand while fastening the electric wires to the conductor joints. This facilitates significantly the mounting work compared with known lighting socket-outlets, because lighting socket-outlets are usually located in places which are difficult to reach and therefore the fastening of wires to the socket-outlets is also difficult.
Figure 2 shows a second preferred embodiment of the lighting socket-outlet of the invention. The socket-outlet of Figure 2 resembles very much to that in Figure 1. The socket-outlet of Figure 2 is meant to be mounted on the ceiling as a flush-mounting and this is why the body of the socket-outlet in Figure 2 is different from that in Figure 1. In Figure 2 the body is made of three parts and it comprises a support bar 6, a housing 4' and a cover plate 11'.
The support bar provided in the body comprises fixing screws 12' which do not fasten the body to the ceiling; instead, the fixing screws 12' only fasten the support bar 6 to fixing holes 5' in the housing 4'. The housing 4' is fastened in place separately by using screws to be applied through holes 13, for example.
According to the invention, the lighting socket-outlets of both Figure 1 and 2 can employ several identical components. Such identical components include primarily the female connectors 1, the socket-outlet of Figure 2 comprising two such connectors. Other identical parts are the support bars 6 and the suspension hooks 8. Consequently, the modular lighting socket-outlet of the invention allows common components to be used in socket-outlets meant for different mounting environments.
Figure 3 illustrates a third preferred embodiment of the lighting socket-outlet of the invention. The socket-outlet of Figure 3 is meant to be mounted on the wall.
The body of the socket-outlet of Figure 3 comprises a plastic plate 4" into which are formed recesses needed for receiving the connector 1. The plate 4" also comprises fastening means 10 for fastening the female connector 1 thereto. The female connector 1 in question is similar to that shown in connection with the lighting socket-outlets of Figures 1 and 2.
The lighting socket-outlet shown in Figure 3 comprises a cover plate 14, 15 which is made of two parts. The smaller cover plate 14 locks itself and the larger cover plate 15 that sets closer to the plate 4" in place to the plate 4". The locking takes place when the cover plate is being fastened: plastic fastening pins 16 of the plate 4" penetrate into fastening holes (not shown in the Figures) provided in the smaller cover plate 14 and attach to the holes through friction. Other fastening means, such as screws, are not necessarily needed, because sufficient fastening can be achieved through friction.
Figure 4 illustrates a fourth preferred embodiment of the lighting socket-outlet of the invention. Also the socket-outlet of Figure 4 is to be mounted on the wall. The parts used in the socket-outlet of Figure 4 are identical to those in the socket-outlet of Figure 3 except that in Figure 4 the body of the socket-outlet is made of four parts. In other words, in addition to the plate 4" in Figure 3, the body in Figure 4 also comprises the housing 4' shown in Figure 2 and the cover plates 14 and 15. The plate 4" is fastened to the housing 4' in a similar manner as the support bar in Figure 2, i.e. using fixing screws.
It is to be understood that the above description and the related Figures are only intended to illustrate the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many variations and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed in the attached claims.

Claims

A method for manufacturing a lighting socket-outlet, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of:

manufacturing a separate female connector (1) which comprises conductor joints (2) for receiving electric wires, female coupling elements (3) for providing a contact between the conductor joints (2) and the coupling elements of a male connector, and fastening means (9);

manufacturing at least two bodies (4, 6, 4', 4", 11, 11', 14, 15) designed for different mounting environments and providing said at least two bodies with means (10) that allow said female connector (1) to be fastened to the respective body by means of said fastening means (9); and

selecting one of the above mentioned bodies (4, 6, 4', 4", 11, 11', 14, 15) for use, according to the requirements set by the mounting environment, when the lighting socket-outlet is to assembled and fastening said female connector (1) to the selected body.
A method according to claim 1, characterized by manufacturing at least one body (4, 6, 4', 11, 11') which is provided with a suspension hook (8) for suspending a lighting fixture after the body is fastened to a ceiling.
A lighting socket-outlet comprising:

a body (4, 6, 4', 4", 11, 11', 14, 15); and

a female connector (1) arranged to the body, the connector comprising conductor joints (2) for receiving electric wires and female coupling elements (3) for providing a contact between the conductor joints and the coupling elements of a male connector, characterized in that

said female connector (1) is a part separate from the body and provided with fastening members (9) to allow the female connector (1) to be fastened to fastening members (10) arranged to the body.
A lighting socket-outlet according to claim 3, characterized in that said body (4', 6, 11') is provided with two female connectors (1) which both comprise fastening members (9) for fastening the female connectors to the fastening members (10) arranged to the body.
A lighting socket-outlet according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that

the body comprises a support bar (6) provided with the suspension hook (8) detachably fastened thereto for suspending a lighting fixture when the body is fastened to a ceiling; and that

said fastening members (10) in the body are arranged to the support bar (6) in a manner that allows said female connector (1) to be fastened to the body through the fastening members of the support bar arranged to the body.