GB2505343A

GB2505343A - Pendant lamp

Info

Publication number: GB2505343A
Application number: GB201318773A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence Woodgate
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-10-23
Filing date: 2013-10-23
Publication date: 2014-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 2033-10-23
Also published as: GB201318773D0; GB2505343B

Abstract

A pendant lamp 1 comprises a lamp body 2 and a lamp holder 3. The lamp body 2 has an opening 7 through which the lamp holder 3 is inserted when in a first orientation. In a second orientation, the lamp holder 3 is wider than the opening 7, so that the lamp body 2 is supported by the lamp holder 3 by an inner surface of the lamp body 2 adjacent to the opening 7 resting on the lamp holder 3. A locking member 13 cooperates with an outer surface of the lamp body 2 adjacent to the opening 7 to retain the lamp holder 3 against the inner surface of the lamp body 2.

Description

PENDANT LAMP

Technical Field

This disclosure relates to a pendant lamp.

Background

Pendant lamps are commonly found hanging from ceilings of rooms in domestic and commercial settings. They may comprise a lamp body and a lamp holder. The lamp holder is typically suspended from the ceiling via an electrical cable used to supply electricity to the lamp holder, or via some other cord or support, and is arranged to receive a lamp or bulb. The lamp body may cover or surround the lamp holder and any lamp or bulb mounted in the lamp holder, and might sometimes be referred to as a lampshade.

Often the lamp body is supported by the lamp holder. A common type of lamp holder comprises a fitting for a screw-in or bayonet style incandescent bulb provided at one end of a cylindrical housing. A lamp body has a support ring that slides over the cylindrical housing and is held in place by screwing a cylindrical cover onto the cylindrical housing. In order that the lamp body can surround the bulb, the ring is generally found towards the centre of the lamp body, attached to it by wires or such like. One problem with this arrangement is that in order to change the bulb, a person must have access the lamp fitting inside the lamp body, and this usually means that the lamp body must incorporate a wide enough opening for a person to reach inside the lamp body, either to change the light bulb in situ or to remove the cylindrical cover from the lamp holder to enable the lamp body to be removed from the lamp holder. This severely limits the aesthetic design of the lamp body.

The present disclosure seeks to overcome this difficulty.

Summary

According to a first aspect, there is provided a pendent lamp comprising: a lamp body having an opening; a lamp holder, which in a first orientation is insertable into the lamp body through the opening, and which in a second orientation is wider than the opening in at least one direction so that the lamp body is supportable by the lamp holder by an inside surface of the lamp body adjacent to the opening resting on the lamp holder; and a locking member arranged to cooperate with an outside surface of the lamp body adjacent to the opening to retain the lamp holder against the inside surface of the lamp body adjacent to the opening.

Because the lamp body may be inserted through the opening in the lamp body, and the locking member may cooperate with the outside surface of the lamp body, the lamp body can fitted around the lamp holder without a user needing to access the inside of the lamp body. This means that the lamp body can have dimensions that make it's inside inaccessible, or at least less easily accessible, for a human hand, significantly increasing aesthetic design options.

The lamp holder may have a platform wider than the opening in the at least one direction and when the lamp body is supported by the lamp holder the inside surface of the lamp body adjacent to the opening may rest on the platform.

The first orientation may comprise tilting the lamp holder so that one part of the periphery of the platform is insertable through the opening before another part of the periphery of the platform.

The platform may have three or more lobes and when the lamp body is supported by the lamp holder the inside surface of the lamp body adjacent to the opening may rest on at least two of the three or more lobes. Typically, for increased stability, the lamp body rests on all of the lobes, e.g. all three lobes. However, lateral movement of the lamp body on the lamp holder may mean that the lamp body does not always rest on all the lobes, and resting on all of the lobes may not be necessary for the lamp body to be supported by the lamp holder.

The platform may be triangular. The platform may be flat. In a particularly preferred example, the platform has three lobes spaced equidistantly around the edge of the platform. For example, the triangle may be an equilateral triangle, with each corner being a lobe.

The pendant lamp may have a gap between the lamp holder and the opening when the lamp body is supported by the lamp holder such that air may tlow through the opening. This improves heat management when the pendant lamp is in use.

The lamp holder may have a neck narrower than the opening and when the lamp body is supported by the lamp holder the neck may be positioned in the opening. The space between the neck and the opening may be, or may form part of, the gap between the lamp holder and the opening.

The locking member may be mountable on the neck. Specifically, the neck may be threaded and the locking member may screw onto the neck.

The locking member may have a washer arranged to engage with the outside surface of the lamp body adjacent to the opening. The washer may have openings arranged to allow air still to flow out of the opening of the lamp body when the washer is engaged with the outside surface of the lamp body adjacent to the opening of the lamp body.

Embodiments of the disclosure are described below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, by way of example only.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pendant lamp according to a first embodiment during assembly.

Figure 2 is a side view of the pendant lamp during assembly.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the pendent lamp with a lamp holder at a first orientation.

Figure 4 is a side view of the pendent lamp with the lamp holder at the first orientation.

Figure 5 is a side view of the pendant lamp when assembled.

Figure 6 is a cut away perspective view of the pendant lamp when assembled.

Detailed Description

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a pendant lamp 1 comprises a lamp body 2 and a lamp holder 3. The lamp holder 3 is arranged to be suspended from a ceiling (not shown) via an electrical cable 4, and has a lamp fitting 5 for receiving a lamp 6, which in this embodiment is a Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulb.

The lamp body 2 has a first opening 7 towards one end, through which the lamp holder 3 can be inserted into the lamp body 2, as described in more detail below. It will be appreciated that, in this embodiment, the first opening 7 is not exactly at the end of the lamp body 2, but some way inside it. This arrangement is chosen for aesthetic reasons, as it allows the lamp holder 3 to be hidden in a recess at the end of the lamp body 2. It makes little or no difference to the interaction between the lamp holder 3 and the first opening 7. In this description, we therefore treat the first opening 7 as effectively being at the end of the lamp body 2, or at least defining a boundary between the outside and the inside of the lamp body 2. It should be noted that in other embodiments the first opening 7 may equally be at the very end of the lamp body 2.

In this embodiment, the lamp body 2 is substantially tubular. More specifically, it is substantially a hollow cylinder. However, neither being tubular nor being a hollow cylinder is essential.

The first opening 7 is defined by an internal flange 8 towards the one end of the lamp body 2. In this embodiment, the first opening 7 is cylindrical, as the flange 8 has a thickness A along the length of the lamp body 2. Here, a thickness A of approximately 1 cm is chosen. However, this thickness A is not essential. For example, the first opening 7 can be made to be effectively circular by reducing the thickness A of the flange 8. It will also be apparent to the skilled person that a first opening 7 of another shape may be

suitable.

The lamp holder 3 has a neck 9 comprising a cylinder with a screw thread on its external surface. A hole 10 is provided in one end of the neck 9, arranged to receive an end of the electrical cable 4. The hole 10 is on the central axis B of the cylinder of the neck 9, which is also the central axis, or the main axis of symmetry, of the whole lamp holder 3. Electrical connections (not shown) arranged to connect the electrical cable 4 to the lamp fitting 5 are provided inside the neck 9.

Between the neck 9 and the lamp fitting 5, the lamp holder 3 has a platform 11. In this embodiment, the platform 11 is a flat triangle. Specifically, the triangle is an equilateral triangle. The corners of the triangle of the platform 11 are rounded, and may be referred to more generally as lobes 12. Alternatively, they could be termed projections.

As the platform 11 is triangular, there are three lobes 12. Moreover, as the triangle is equilateral, the lobes 12 are spaced equidistantly around the periphery of the platform 11.

The platform 11 is wider than the neck 9. In this embodiment, the platform 11 is wider than the neck 9 in every direction perpendicular to the central axis B of the lamp holderS. However, this is not essential. Rather, it is the lobes 12 that are usually required to project beyond the width of the neck 9, and other parts of the platform 11 can potentially be within the width of the neck 9. In this particular embodiment, the cylinder of the neck 9 has diameter C that is less than the narrowest width of the platform 11, which is achieved by choosing a shortest distance from one corner of the equilateral triangle of the platform 11 to the edge opposite that corner, less than the diameter C. Here, an equilateral triangle with a side length D approximately equal to 5.1 cm is chosen, and a diameter C of the neck 9 equal to 2.7 cm.

The lamp 1 also has a locking member 13. The locking member 13 comprises a locking ring 14 and a plate 15. The locking ring 14 is arranged to be retainable on the neck 9 of the lamp holder 3. In this embodiment, the locking ring 14 has a screw thread on an internal surface. The screw thread on the internal surface of the locking ring 14 is arranged to cooperate with the screw thread on the external surface of the cylinder of the neck 9, so that the locking ring 14 can be screwed onto the neck 9. In other embodiments, the screw thread may be replaced with other features for retaining the locking member 13 on the neck 9 of the lamp holder 3, such as releasable friction, ratchet or snap-fit mechanisms.

The plate 15 is disc-shaped, with a fitting hole 16 at its centre. The fitting hole 16 is arranged allow the neck 9 to pass through. This means that the locking ring 14 can be screwed onto the neck 9 of the lamp holder 3 with the plate 15 positioned on the neck 9.

Ideally, the fitting hole 16 is arranged such that the plate 15 slides along the neck 9, but cannot move laterally on the neck 9, that is from side to side. In this embodiment, this is achieved by the diameter of the filling hole 16 being very slightly larger than the diameter C of the cylinder of the neck 9.

The width of the plate 15 is greater than the width of the first opening 7. More specifically, as the plate 15 is disc-shaped and the first opening 7 is cylindrical in this embodiment, the diameter E of the plate 15 is greater than the diameter F of the first opening 7. This allows the periphery of the plate 15 to contact an outside surface of the flange 8 around the first opening 7.

The plate 15 has one or more vents 17. In this embodiment, the vents 17 are ventilation holes in the plate 15. However, the vents 17 could equally be slots or gaps in the plate 15, and the slots or gaps may, for example, extend all the way to an edge of the plate 15. The vents 17 are positioned to allow airto pass through the plate 15 when the plate 15 is located over the first opening 7 in the lamp body 2.

In order to assemble the lamp 1, the lamp holder 3 is first inserted into the lamp body 2 through the first opening 7. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, this involves tilting the lamp holder 3 relative to the lamp body 2. When the lamp holder 3 is suspended from the ceiling via the electrical cable 4, it may be more practical to manipulate the lamp body 2 to orient the lamp holder 3 at the desired tilt relative to the lamp body 2, and this is what is shown in the drawings. However, it will be appreciated that any of the lamp holder 3, the lamp body 2 or both the lamp holder 3 and the lamp body 2 can be manipulated as needed.

As the platform 11 of the lamp holder 3 is wider than the first opening 7 in the lamp body 2, the lamp holder 3 cannot pass through the first opening 7 in the lamp body 2 when the plane of the platform 11 is parallel with the plane of the first opening 7.

However, with the plane of the platform 11 tilted relative to the plane of the first opening 7, it is possible to insert one lobe 12 of the platform 11 through the first opening 7 before the other lobes 12. This is referred to as the "first orientation" of the lamp holder 3 relative to the lamp body 2. In this orientation, and with one of the lobes 12 already inside the lamp body 2, the lamp holder 3 can be moved laterally relative to the first opening 7, that is translated in plane of the first opening 7, such that another of the lobes 12 can be inserted though the first opening 7, and so on until the entire platform 11 is inserted through the first opening 7.

The light fitting 5 and neck 9 of the lamp holder 3 do not obstruct the tilting, because they are narrower than the platform 11. Moreover, the light fitting 5 and neck 9 of the lamp holder 3 are narrower than the first opening 7, thereby allowing the lamp holder 3 to be moved from side to side, that is laterally, within the fist opening 7.

With the lamp holder 3 inserted through the first opening 7 into the lamp body 2, the lamp holder 3 is then reoriented so that the platform 11 cannot pass back out through the first opening 7. This involves orienting the lamp holder 3 so that the plane of the platform 11 is paiallel with the plane of the fiist opening 7, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6. This is referred to as the "second orientation" of the lamp holder 3 relative to the lamp body2.

In order to fit the lamp 6 into the lamp fitting 5, the lamp body 2 can be slid along the length of the electrical cable 4 so that the lamp holder 3 is accessible at the bottom of the lamp body 2, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In this position, the lamp 6 can be inserted into the lamp fitting 5. To facilitate access to the lamp fitting 5, another opening 18 is provided in the lamp body 2, at the othei end from that towards which the first opening 7 is provided. More simply, the first opening 7 is towards the top of the lamp body 2 and the second opening 18 is at the bottom. The second opening 18 only needs to be large enough either foi the lamp 6 to pass into the lamp body 2 or for the lamp holdei 3 to pass out of the lamp body 2. The user's hand does not need to be placed inside the lamp body 2. In other embodiments, the lamp 6 can be small enough to fit through the first opening 7 with the lamp holder 3, and the second opening 18 can be omitted.

With the lamp 6 in place in the lamp fitting 5, the lamp body 2 can be moved back along the electrical cable 4 until it comes to rest on the lamp holder 3. More specifically, as the lamp body 2 is moved down the electrical cable 4, eventually the flange 8 comes to rest on the lobes 12 of the platform 11. Because the platform 11 is wider than the opening 7, the lamp body 2 is supported on the platform 11. In this position, an inside surface of the lamp body 2, that is an inside suiface around the peiipheiy of the flange 8 is in contact with the lobes 12.

The lamp body 2 is free to move trom side to side relative to the lamp holder 3 whilst supported by the lamp holdei 3 to an extent limited by the lobes 12 of the platform coming against the inside surface of the tubular portion of the lamp body 2, e.g. where the flange 8 meets the tubular part of the lamp body 2. Moreover, due to the dimensions of the plafform 11 and the first opening 7, it is possible for the inside surface around the periphery of the flange 8 to be in contact with just two of the three lobes 12, whilst still not allowing the lamp holder 3 to pass back out through the first opening 7. Typically, the user manipulates the lamp body 2 from side to side relative to the lamp holder 3 until the lamp body 2 is balanced evenly, which is generally when it is resting on all three lobes 12.

With the lamp body 2 resting on the lamp holder 3, the locking member 13 can be used to secure the lamp body 2 in position. The plate 15 of the locking member 13 is slid over the neck 9 of the lamp holder 3 until it rests on the outside surface of the flange 8.

The locking ring 14 is then screwed onto the neck 9 until it causes the flange 8 to be squeezed between the plate 15 and the lobes 12. Friction both between the plate 15 and the outside surface of the flange 8 and between the lobes 12 and the inside surface of the flange 8 then prevents relative movement between the lamp body 2 and the lamp holder 3, rendering the pendant lamp 1 securely assembled. Nonetheless, it will be appreciated that the locking member 13 can be easily accessed from outside of the lamp body 2 to enable the pendent lamp ito be partially disassembled for lamp replacement. It will also be appreciated that the narrowness of the neck 9 relative to the first opening 7 and the vents 17 in the plate 15 allow air to pass out on the lamp body 2 when the pendant lamp 1 is in use, allowing effective heat management.

Other variations and modifications will be apparent to the skilled person. Such variations and modifications may involve equivalent and other features that are already known and which may be used instead of, or in addition to, features described herein.

Features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

It should be noted that the term "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, the term "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality, a single feature may fulfil the functions of several features recited in the claims and reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims. It should also be noted that the Figures are not necessarily to scale; emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the present invention.

Finally, some features can most easily be understood by referring to their orientation, direction or position using terms like up, down, above, below, to one side or sideways. Where use of such terms has been made in this description, it is to be understood that this is being done with reference to how the pendant lamp 1 is generally oriented in normal use, i.e. when suspended from a ceiling. Similarly, expressions such as width, length and height are generally used in their most common sense, e.g. with width normally being from side to side, or horizontal in use.

Claims

Claims 1. A pendent lamp comprising: a lamp body having an opening; a lamp holder, which in a first orientation is insertable into the lamp body through the opening, and which in a second orientation is wider than the opening in at least one direction so that the lamp body is supportable by the lamp holder by an inside surface of the lamp body adjacent to the opening resting on the lamp holder; and a locking member arranged to cooperate with an outside surface of the lamp body adjacent to the opening to retain the lamp holder against the inside surface of the lamp body adjacent to the opening.
2. The pendant lamp of claim 1, wherein the lamp holder has a platform wider than the opening in the at least one direction and when the lamp body is supported by the lamp holder the inside surface of the lamp body adjacent to the opening rests on the platform.
3. The pendant lamp of claim 2, wherein the first orientation comprises tilting the lamp holder so that one part of the periphery of the platform is insertable through the opening before another part of the periphery of the platform.
4. The pendant lamp of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the platform has three or more lobes and when the lamp body is supported by the lamp holder the inside surface of the lamp body adjacent to the opening rests on at least two of the three or more lobes.
5. The pendant lamp of any one of claims 4, wherein the platform is a triangle, with corners of the triangle providing the three lobes.
6. The pendant lamp of any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the platform is flat.
7. The pendant lamp of any one of the preceding claims, having a gap between the lamp holder and the opening when the lamp body is supported by the lamp holder, such that air may flow through the opening.
8. The pendant lamp of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lamp holder has a neck narrower than the opening and when the lamp body is supported by the lamp holder the neck is positioned in the opening.
9. The pendant lamp of claim 8, wherein the locking member is mountable on the neck.
10. The pendent lamp of claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the neck is threaded and the locking member screws onto the neck.
11. The pendant lamp of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking member has a washer arranged to engage with the outside surface of the lamp body adjacent to the opening.
12. The pendant lamp of claim 11, wherein the washer has openings arranged to allow air still to flow out of the opening of the lamp body when the washer is engaged with the outside surface of the lamp body adjacent to the opening of the lamp body.
13. A pendant lamp substantially as described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.