GB2274557A - Ceiling rose - Google Patents

Abstract

A ceiling rose has a base plate 2 provided with a depending central hollow pillar 4, which snap-engages with a corresponding aperture formed in the cover 3. The pillar serves as a conduit for the electrical flex which supports the bulb holder; the individual conductor wires are led to the terminal block 7 through notches 6 formed in the pillar wall and which are in communication with open-ended slots which allow the end portions of the pillar to be inwardly resiliently deformable, to provide for the snap-engagement action. <IMAGE>

Description

CEILING ROSE The present invention relates to ceiling roses. More particularly the present invention relates to a ceiling rose in which the cover and the base plate are easily attached to and detached from one another.

Ceiling roses having covers which screw-threadedly engage the base plates are known but these are prone to cross-threading or to becoming clogged with dried paint when the ceiling, on which the rose is fitted, is painted. This can lead to dangerous situations when trying to remove the cover, particularly when excessive force is used which tends to break the base mounting, often resulting in damage to the cable insulation when the base and cover are turned together.

More recently ceiling roses have been produced in which the covers are spring-locked or slidable. Luminaires in which the electrical connections are snap-engagable, to allow for easier wiring are also known. These are generally made of metal and are designed to suspend heavier light fittings or chandeliers.

An object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a ceiling rose in which the cover is easily fitted to and released from a base plate mounted on the ceiling, avoiding undue forces being transmitted to the base mounting.

Thus, according to the invention a ceiling rose comprises a base plate and a cover member, in which at least one of the base plate and cover member carries a projecting member which extends towards the other of said base plate and cover member for snap engagement therewith in use, the projecting member or members in the snap-engaged condition extending the full depth of the rose.

By extending the full depth of the rose" is meant that the projecting member in the snap-engaged condition extends between the base plate (or at least the inner surface thereof) and the cover member in a generally perpendicular orientation, relative to the plane of the base plate, to meet or join with the cover member at an opposed location.

More particularly, one part of the rose, that is either the base plate or the cover member, may bear at least one projecting member in the form of a pillar which snap-engages with an aperture formed in the other part.

Advantageously, the projecting member is hollow and serves in use as a duct or conduit for receiving the electrical flex which supports the bulb holder, suitable wall apertures being provided through which the conductor wires are fed to the interior of the rose and which also provide for resilient deformation of the projecting member to achieve the snap engagement.

Preferably, the projecting member is carried by the base plate of the ceiling rose, the member snap-engaging in a hole in the cover member of the ceiling rose.

In one embodiment, the base plate is provided with a central hollow projection which has at least one longitudinal slot, thus allowing the wall of the projection to be resiliently deformed inwardly. The end of the projection remote from the base has an outwardly-facing lip. The cover member is provided with a central aperture, which corresponds in shape to the cross-sectional shape of the projection. In the case of a cylindrical projecting member, the aperture is a circular hole, the diameter of which matches or is slightly oversize in relation to the outer diameter of the cylindrical projection but is smaller than the diameter of the lip.Preferably the lip has a frusto-conical profile whereby, on offering the cover member to the base plate with a pushing action, the edge of the hole in the cover rides over the lip while resiliently deforming the wall of the projection, until the lip extends beyond and engages the cover member by snap action.

The base plate also has, in known manner, electrical connecting blocks and means for attachment to a ceiling. The base plate also preferably includes support means for individual conductor wires, the outer sheathing having been removed. The support means may be incorporated in support lugs for the projection, in the manner of buttresses therefore.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a ceiling rose according to the invention, and Figure 2 is an exploded vertical cross section of the rose of Figure 1.

In Figure 1, a ceiling rose, generally indicated 1, includes a base plate 2 and a cover 3. The base plate 2 has a central, hollow cylindrical pillar 4 formed integrally therewith and extending perpendicularly therefrom and having a pair of parallel, longitudinal slots 5 extending for approximately three quarters of the length of the pillar 4 from the end remote from the base plate. Each slot 5 is provided with a notch 6.

The base plate is also provided with an electrical terminal block 7 and with knock-out portions 8 for mains cable, and fixing holes 9 to receive screws, all as known. The base of the projection 4 is provided with a pair of buttress-like supports 10 which define apertures 11 for use as conductor supports, as described hereinafter.

The slots 5 define a pair of part-cylindrical outer portions 12 of the pillar 4, each portion being formed with an outwardly-facing lip 13 which, as more clearly seen in Figure 2, has a bevelled outer profile. The outer edge of the base plate 2 is formed as a depending flange 14, whereby the cover 3 is nested inside the edge of the base plate 2 in the assembled condition.

The cover 3 is dish-shaped with a flat (or, as shown in Figure 2, a profiled) base 15 and an upstanding circumferential side wall 16. The cover 3 has a central circular hole 17 formed opposite the projection; the diameter of the hole is the same as the outer diameter of the pillar 4, at least immediately adjacent the lips 13.

In use, the base plate 2 is fastened to a ceiling and cable from the mains is passed through a suitable knock-out aperture 8 in the base plate and wired to the terminals 7 in known manner. The pendant cable from the bulb holder is passed through the hole 17 in the cover and through the pillar 4, and the individual insulated conductor wires, with the outer cable sheathing removed, are passed through the respective notches 6 and each is fed through a respective aperture 11 before being connected to the terminal block 7. The weight of the bulb holder, cable and light shade is therefore taken by the conductor wires describing a three-quarters turn between the notches 6 and terminal block 7, via the apertures 11. The cover 3 is then moved upwardly towards the base plate 2 and pressed against the lips 13. The inner edge of the hole 17 acts on the bevelled surfaces of the lips 13 to cause the two part-cylindrical portions 12 to deform resiliently towards each other until, on further upwards movement of the cover 3, the lips extend beyond the cover and the two part-cylindrical portions 12 assume their original spacing, thereby engaging the cover in place on the projection with the side wall 16 of the cover nesting inside the flange 14 of the base plate 2.

The cover may be removed from the base plate merely by squeezing the lips 13 towards each other, thereby releasing the cover from engagement with the pillar 4.

The outer edge of the hole 17 may be bevelled to facilitate removal of the cover merely by pulling downwardly.

Claims (13)

1. A ceiling rose comprising a base plate and a cover member, in which at least one of the base plate and cover member carries a projecting member which extends towards the other of said base plate and cover member for snap engagement therewith in use, the projecting member in the snap-engaged condition extending the full depth of the rose.

2. A ceiling rose according to Claim 1, in which the projecting member is resiliently deformable.

3. A ceiling rose according to Claim l or Claim 2, in which the projecting member is hollow and, in use, serves as a duct for electrical flex which supports a bulb holder.

4. A ceiling rose according to Claim 3, in which the projecting member is provided with wall apertures through which conductor wires are fed from the electrical flex to the interior of the ceiling rose in use.

5. A ceiling rose according to any of Claims 2 to 4, in which the projecting member is resiliently deformable by virtue of at least one slot being provided in the wall thereof.

6. A ceiling rose according to any preceding claim, in which the projecting member is borne on the base plate for snap engagement with a corresponding aperture formed in the cover member.

7. A ceiling rose according to any preceding claim, including a single projecting member formed in a central position.

8. A ceiling rose according to any preceding claim, in which the end of the projecting member remote from the base thereof has an outwardly facing lip having a frusto-conical profile.

9. A ceiling rose according to any of Claims 1 to 5, 7 or 8, in which the projecting member is borne by the cover member.

10. A ceiling rose according to any preceding claim, in which the projecting member is cylindrical.

11. A ceiling rose according to Claim 10, in which the projecting member is formed with two longitudinal slots therein.

12. A ceiling rose according to Claim 11, in which the slots include notches for passage of conductor wires.

13. A ceiling rose substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.