GB2551058A

GB2551058A - Downlight

Info

Publication number: GB2551058A
Application number: GB1710464.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kilborn Andrew; Lunn Graham
Original assignee: Orluna Led Tech Ltd
Current assignee: Orluna Led Tech Ltd
Priority date: 2017-06-29
Filing date: 2017-06-29
Publication date: 2017-12-06
Anticipated expiration: 2037-06-29
Also published as: GB2551058B; GB201710464D0

Abstract

A downlight comprises a heatsink 1, a light engine 2 and a baffle 3. The light engine 2 comprises a body 4, an LED light source 5, a reflector 6, and a glass 7. The baffle 3 is substantially tubular, threadably engages with the body 4 of the light engine 2 and comprises first and second ledges 8, 9 projecting radially inwardly with respect to an inner circumferential face of the baffle 3. The glass 7 is sandwiched between the first ledge 8 and the reflector 6. The second ledge 9, which is spaced from the first ledge 8 along an axis of the baffle 3, is provided on the other side of the glass 7 to the reflector 6, and projects radially inwardly by a greater distance than the first ledge 8.

Description

Downlight

The present disclosure relates to a downlight, in particular to a downlight that allows for the introduction/removal of lighting accessories.

Downlights have become increasingly popular in recent years as a means for lighting both domestic and commercial properties. Such downlights are frequently found mounted in recesses in ceilings. They may alternatively be mounted in recesses in floors with the light source pointing up or mounted in recesses in other surfaces with the light source pointing down or, otherwise, other than down. Downlights were traditionally provided with an incandescent or halogen light bulb as the light source. Recently, LED downlights, which use one or more LEDs (light emitting diodes) as the light source have started to replace the halogen downlights, since the LED(s) have an extended lifetime over halogen bulbs and use less power.

It is known to provide lighting accessories with such LED downlights, these lighting accessories may comprise filters, lenses, louvres, or similar, for modifying the light output from the downlights. A range of attachment means have been provided for attaching such lighting accessories to downlights, however, all have suffered drawbacks. In particular, it has been noted that with each of the existing designs, the introduction of a lighting accessory has the effect of altering the distance between the LED and the outer peripheral edge of a baffle, which impacts the beam angle provided.

The present invention arose in a bid to provide an improved accessory mounting means.

According to the present invention in a first aspect, there is provided a downlight comprising a heatsink, a light engine and a baffle, wherein the light engine comprises a body, an LED light source, a reflector, and a glass, the baffle is substantially tubular, threadably engages with the body of the light engine and comprises first and second ledges projecting radially inwardly with respect to an inner circumferential face of the baffle, the glass is sandwiched between the first ledge and the reflector, and the second ledge, which is spaced from first ledge along an axis of the baffle, is provided on the other side of the glass to the reflector, and projects radially inwardly by a greater distance than the first ledge.

By such an arrangement there is a space provided, between the glass/first ledge and the second ledge, for selectively receiving a lighting accessory, wherein an appropriately sized/shaped lighting accessory will be suitably fixed in place by its receipt in the space. The lighting accessory will be sandwiched between the glass and the second ledge. A lighting accessory may easily be added or removed, as desired.

By the use of the second ledge as a fixing means, the distance between the LED light source and an inner peripheral edge of the baffle, which is outermost in the direction of the axis of the baffle, may be fixed. The addition of a lighting accessory, which has a thickness equal to (or smaller than) the distance between the first and second ledges will have no impact on the distance between the LED light source and the outermost peripheral edge of the baffle. The removal of any lighting accessory will simply leave the space, which has a fixed depth. This is particularly beneficial, since the addition or removal of the accessory will not alter the beam angle of the downlight.

Various additional preferred features are presented in the dependent claims.

Non-limiting embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a downlight according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded side view of the downlight of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an exploded sectional side view of the downlight of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is an assembled sectional side view of the downlight of Figure 1.

With reference to the Figures 1 to 4, there is shown a downlight according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The downlight comprises a heatsink 1, a light engine 2 and a baffle 3. The light engine 2 comprises a body 4, an LED light source 5, a reflector 6, and a glass 7. The baffle 3 is substantially tubular and threadably engages with the body 4 of the light engine, as most clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4. The baffle comprises a first ledge 8 and second ledge 9. The ledges project radially inwardly with respect to an inner circumferential face 15 of the baffle, as again best seen in Figures 3 and 4.

The glass 7 is sandwiched between the first ledge 8 and the reflector, as shown in Figure 4. The second ledge 9 is spaced from first ledge 8 along an axis of the baffle/axis of the downlight (as indicated by line A-A in Figure 2). The second ledge 9 is provided on the other side of the glass 7 to the reflector 6, and projects radially inwardly by a greater distance than the first ledge, as again best seen in Figures 3 and 4. The first and second ledges 8, 9 preferably both extend continuously around the inner circumferential face 15 of the baffle.

Figure 4 shows the downlight in its assembled state with a lighting accessory 10 in place. The lighting accessory 10 is sandwiched between the second ledge 9 and the glass 7. The glass 7 comprises a disc of glass. It may be a simple clear disc of glass or could be textured, coated, or otherwise modified or treated for altering the light output from the downlight. It could comprise a lens. It need not be formed from glass and could be plastic. The lighting accessory may comprise a filter, a lens, a louvre or otherwise. Any disc-shaped lighting accessory of suitable dimensions may be introduced. The lighting accessory preferably has a thickness that is equal to the distance between the first and second ledges 8, 9 in the axial direction. Whilst the distance between the ledges is not particularly limited, in the present embodiment it is 3mm. In alternative embodiments it may be up to 5 mm or could be less than 3mm. The glass in the present embodiment has a diameter of 50mm whilst the lighting accessory has a diameter of 46mm. Again, these dimensions are not fixed and may vary. The diameter of the lighting accessory will, however, always be smaller than the diameter of the glass. It will preferably be substantially equal to the diameter of the inner circumferential edge of the first ledge 8.

In the present embodiment by unscrewing the baffle 3 from the body 4, the glass 7 and the lighting accessory 10 may accessed and removed/inserted as desired. The downlight may thus be readily reconfigured.

In the present embodiment, irrespective of the presence or not of the lighting accessory in the space provided between the second ledge 9 and the glass, the spacing between the LED light source and the inner peripheral edge of the baffle, which is outermost in the axial direction, is fixed. As discussed, the result of this is that there is no change in the beam angle of the downlight by the removal or insertion of a lighting accessory.

The LED light source comprises a substrate 11 and an LED 12 affixed thereto. The LED light source is sandwiched between the body 4 of the light engine and the heatsink 1. The body 4 of the light engine is substantially tubular, as shown. It is preferably unitarily formed. It is preferably formed from metal, most preferably aluminium. It comprises a third ledge 13, which projects radially inwardly with respect to an inner circumferential face 14 thereof. The third ledge 13 preferably extends continuously around the inner circumferential face 14. The LED light source is sandwiched between a substantially planar face of the third ledge and a planar end face of the heatsink, as best seen in Figures 3 and 4.

Preferably the third ledge 13 is provided with a recess 18 and the heatsink comprises an open channel 16. The channel 16 is preferably open both radially (i.e. along its length) and axially (i.e. at its ends) as shown in Figure 1. The channel 16 is in alignment with the recess 18 and extends axially. Wires (not shown) providing power to the LED may be led out from the LED light source through the recess and channel, which provides an elegant wiring solution. The heatsink is preferably unitarily formed from metal, most preferably aluminium. It may comprise an extrusion, wherein the channel may be defined by radially extending protrusions that extend from a solid core of the heatsink.

The third ledge is preferably provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced through holes (not shown), which are arranged to receive screws 21 therethrough for fixing the body of the light engine to the heatsink. Of course, these may be omitted when alternative fixing means are utilised.

The reflector, which is preferably of substantially frusto conical form with a curved circumferential sidewall is sandwiched between the LED light source 5 and the glass 7. It has a substantially planar open circular base, which abuts a front face of the LED light source 5 and substantially planar open mouth which abuts the glass 7.

The downlight comprises a bezel 17 that is attached to the baffle 3. In the present embodiment, the baffle is pivotally connected to the bezel 17. In alternative arrangements it may be fixedly connected such that it cannot pivot. It should be noted that the bezel may be arranged for surface fitting or for flush fitting, as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art.

In the present embodiment, the baffle is of unitary construction. However, this need not be the case. The baffle may in some arrangements comprises a tubular main/outer body and a tubular inner body, with the tubular inner body received by the tubular main body. In such arrangement, an axial end face of the tubular inner body may define the first ledge whilst the second ledge projects from an inner circumferential face of the tubular inner body. The tubular inner body may be fixed to the tubular main body or may be detachable. With a detachable tubular inner body, removal of the tubular inner body would allow for the removal or introduction of a lighting accessory without detaching the baffle 3 from the light engine 2. The tubular inner body may threadably engage the tubular main body.

The above described embodiments are not intended to be limiting. Numerous modifications will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the claims that follow.

Claims

1. A downlight comprising a heatsink, a light engine and a baffle, wherein the light engine comprises a body, an LED light source, a reflector, and a glass, the baffle is substantially tubular, threadably engages with the body of the light engine and comprises first and second ledges projecting radially inwardly with respect to an inner circumferential face of the baffle, the glass is sandwiched between the first ledge and the reflector, and the second ledge, which is spaced from first ledge along an axis of the baffle, is provided on the other side of the glass to the reflector, and projects radially inwardly by a greater distance than the first ledge.

2. A downlight as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the distance between the LED light source and an inner peripheral edge of the baffle, which is outermost in the direction of the axis of the baffle, is fixed.

3. A downlight as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and second ledges both extend continuously around the inner circumferential face of the baffle.

4. A downlight as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first and second ledges are spaced from one another by a distance of 5mm or less.

5. A downlight as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first and second ledges are spaced from one another by a distance of 3mm or less.

6. A downlight as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the LED light source is sandwiched between the body of the light engine and the heatsink.

7. A downlight as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the body of the light engine is substantially tubular and comprises a third ledge, which projects radially inwardly with respect to an inner circumferential face of the body of the light engine and the LED light source is sandwiched between the third ledge and the heatsink.

8. A downlight as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the third ledge extends continuously around the inner circumferential face of the body of the light engine.

9. A downlight as claimed in Claim 7 or 8, wherein the third ledge is provided with a recess and the heatsink comprises an open channel that is in alignment with the recess and extends in the direction of the axis of the baffle, the recess and channel receiving one or more wires from the LED.

10. A downlight as claimed in any of Claims 7 to 9, wherein the third ledge is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced through holes, the holes receiving screws therethrough for fixing the body of the light engine to the heatsink.

11. A downlight as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the LED light source comprises a substrate and an LED affixed thereto.

12. A downlight as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the reflector is sandwiched between the LED light source and the glass.

13. A downlight as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the baffle comprises a tubular main body and a tubular inner body, wherein the tubular inner body is received by the tubular main body, an axial end face of the tubular inner body defines the first ledge and the second ledge projects from an inner circumferential face of the tubular inner body.

14. A downlight as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the inner tubular body threadably engages with the tubular main body.

15. A downlight as claimed in any preceding claim, which further comprises a bezel that is attached to the baffle.