COMBINED FIXTURE AND SHADE FOR TUBULAR FLUORESCENT LAMPS

Abstract: The fixture and shade, built together, for a tubular fluorescent lamp (20) comprises a shade provided with longitudinally extending limitation walls (10, 26) which on their inner sides in cross sections follow a smooth concave curve. Within the shade transverse shade ross plates (12) are arranged evenly distributed along the length of the shade and fastened to the limitation walls (10, 26). A first and a second transverse shade and plate (18 and 16 respectively) are mounted one at each end of the shade. Said end plates (16 and 18) carries the sockets (48 and 50) necessary to receive the tubular lamp and defining between them the lamp axis (55) of the shade. The second end plate (16) is mounted at the one end of the shade limitation walls (10, 26), whereas the first and plate (18) is secured hereto in some distance from the opposite ends of these walls, at which ends the limitation walls are interconnected by a transverse outer wall (22). Within the transformer chamber (34), that is provided between said outer wall (22) and said first end wall (18), as the transformer (36, 38) of the fixture is arranged and it is connected to the socket (48) supported by the adjoining first end plate (18) through a hole in said end plate and to the socket (50) supported by the opposite first end plate (16) by means of conductors, preferably in the form of a two-conductor cable (32) arranged and guided within the shade. The first end plate (18) is provided with a lamp lead-in opening (56) placed excentrically relative to the shade lamp axis (55) and outside the circumference of the socket (50) mounted on this first end plate (16). Through said lead-in opening (56) a tubular lamp can be inserted in the shade by a longitudinal displacement, made possibly by each shade cross plate (12) being provided with such an elongated opening (60) that the tubular lamp (20) with its whole length can be inserted in the shirm by a longitudinal displacement parallel to the shade lamp axis (55) and then rest on the shade cross plates (12) for thereafter through the spaces between the shade cross plates to be gripped by hand, rotated and by a transverse displacement brought into engagement with the sockets (48 and 50). Such a fixture has a maximum height limited to the height of the shade and constitutes herewith a unit that can be arranged in a simple manner adapted to the available space and that ensures a possibility of a simple and safe renewal of the tubular fluorescent lamp (20).

Description: COMBINED FIXTURE AND SHADE FOR TU3ULAR FLUORESCENT LAMPS FIΞLD OF THE INVENTION. This invention relates tc a combined fixture and shade for tubular fluorescent lamps and of the type appea¬ ring from the generic part of claim 1, BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION. As appears for example from British patent speci¬ fication No. 556,531) in the known devices for the type stated the transformer unit, comprising a.o. a reactor and a glow switching tube, is mounted within an elongated box arranged above the shade or shades, and the tubular fluorescent lamp, in the following called tube lamp, can from above be inserted in the shade or shades and at the ends of this or these be brought to engage the transfor- mer unit sockets, at said ends extending downwards from the transformer box and being electrically connected to the transformer unit. By such fixtures for tube lamps, however, the renewal of the tube lamp is ackvard and owing thereto, that the shade often is not easy of access, difficult to carry through. 3y other such combined devices, especially such provided at the underside with a grate to prevent dazzling, it is necessary to take the shade -rcre or less apart be¬ fore renewal of the tube laπp can take place, wherefore, BAD ORIGINAL in such cases the re ewal of the tube lamp is complica¬ ted and often connected to great danger, especially whi¬ le often it is necessary for the renewal to use a more or less wobbly ladder standing on which the person taking 5 care of the renewal has to manipulate with various shade parts as well as with a new and an old tube lamp. Fixtures for tube lamps are also known, however, which are independent of the shades , which are adapted to be directly hanged up on the tube lamp when this is 0 mounted between sockets arranged on the -underside of a ' transformer box, conf. for example British patent speci¬ fication 819, 5^+9 and USA patent specifica ion h , 122, 511. From the last said specifica ion it is further known that in certain cases tube lamp before being mounted 15 in the sockets of the fixture is led through openings in the end parts of the shade so that the ends of the tube lamp protrude from one each of the shade end parts. Hereby is obtained the advantage, that the shade may be provided with side and top plates having reflecting 0 inner faces surrounding the discharge tube whereby the greatest possible luminous yield from the discharge tube can be obtained. Shades of the type stated in the generic part of the main claim and per se known from the said US patent 5 specification k , 122, 11 makes it possible, provided the discharge tube is located in a prescribed distance from the surface illuminated, to obtain an approximate¬ ly uniform illumination of this surface over its whole illuminated area, and that is of great importance for 0 example in stores and many offices. Such shades out be given, however, if they have to be effective, a large height compared with the diameter of the tube lamp, i.e. a height of 3 to '• * times this diameter, and since the transformer box has a height -; J at least not minor than the diameter of the discharge tube, the whole combined fixture and shade has a very large total height. By many arrangements of the fix- ~^ ~ *E ture, especially if it is desired that the plane of sym- etri of the shade has to form an angle with vertical, for example to ensure illumination of articles placed in case racks this great height constitutes an essen¬ tial disadvan age. Further, the transformer box has to be manufactured separately resulting in the pro¬ duction grewing relatively expensive, especially when the combined fixture and shade has to occur in diffe¬ rent shapes adapted to different diameters and lengths of the tube lamp. This disadvantage appears still more distinct in connection with fixtures not combined with a shade but demanding a shade to be mounted on the tube lamp itself since in such cases shade plus fixture takes up still more space. Further in connection with shades suspen¬ ded in the tube lamp itself quite a number of manipu¬ lations with the different parts are necessary when the tube lamp has to.be renewed. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION. An object of the invention is to provide a fixture of the type stated in the generic part of claim 1 by which the height of the combination can be essential limited, which does not demand especially formed parts such as a longitudinal transformer box, and by which re- newal of the tube lamp can be carried out in a slackened easy manner and that without the possibility of obtain¬ ing the greatest possible luminous yield is being lost, on the contrary said yield being increased compared with the known combinations of the type stated. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION. These objects and others, according to the inven¬ tion are attained by the means stated in the characte¬ rizing clause of claim 1. When the transformer unit as a whole is mounted in a special transformer chamber cons itu ing a prolongation OMPI of the shade wherein .the tube lamp is mounted, there is obtained the essential advantage that the total height of the combined fixture and shade only corresponds to the height of the shade itself, and since the conductors con¬ necting the transformer unit vith the two sockets of the fixture are conducted within the shade they will not ha¬ ve hampering effects, and will be well protected. This construction is made possible owing to the sockets being fastened to parts of the shade itself, namely to its transverse end plates. This arrangement could, however, make the insertion and renewal Of the tube lamp diffi¬ cult, but such difficulties are prevented by the pro¬ vision of the inlet opening for the tube lamp in the second end plate excentrically relative to the socket on this end plate and by the special recesses in the shade cross plates. Owing hereto may a tube lamp be for example inserted in the fixture by an axial displace¬ ment thereof . into the shade until it is fully inserted in the shade, followed by such a transverse displacement, that the contact pins of the tube lamp can be brought to engage the sockets. This insertion is even further fa¬ cilitated owing thereto that during and after the axial displacement into the shade the tube lamp may rest on the shade cross plates, and that, therefore, then the tube lamp without difficulties can be grasped by the hands, be turned to correct position relative to the sockets, and, after having engaged the latter, again be turned into contact position. Especial advantageous it is if further the fea¬ tures stated in claim 2 are used, whereby the shade cross plates not only reinforce the casing consisting of the side and top shade plates just as effective as would have been the case by use of a transformer box arranged above the casing, but even ensures the greatest possible luminous yield owing to reflection simul ane¬ ously therewith that it grew possible to make the neces¬ sary recesses in the shade cross plates as small as i BAD ORIGINAL OM possible, especially .if also the features of claim 3 are used. Hereby the influences of the recess on the re¬ flection is reduced to a minimum. Still further the features of claim k may be used so that the conductors are retained in a safe manner with¬ out use of further aids. Besides the features of claim 5 may be used so that the limitations of the transformer chamber constitutes a natural elongation of the shade plates. This is not alone an esthetic advantage but also helps in keeping the production cost as small as possible. Provided further the features of claim 6 are used the transformer chamber -will appear as a natural elonga¬ tion of the shade itself so. that in spite of being much more visible than a normal transformer box esthetically it does not appear unpleasant. Advantageously also the features of claim 7 are used, so that it -is prevented that unwanted light radi¬ ates from the inlet opening. Further, if even the features of claim 8 are used without difficulty the fixture may be secured in a cer¬ tain angular position, for example one of three possi¬ bilities, much more effective than by the use of an elongated transformer box by which a securing of a certain angular position of the fixture will demand much more complicated suspension means than is the case, when the same can be connected to the end limitations. Advantageously still further the features of claim 9 may be used, whereby with consideration to the normal- ly used cross-sectional curvature of the shade side plates it grew possible to obtain a placing of the inlet opening not alone as near as possible to the sockets, but also in the greatest possible distance from the plane of the light radiation opening of the shade and, thereby, the shortest possible length of the recesses in the shade cross plates and the shortest possible BAD ORIGINAL 1 transverse displacement of a tube lamp during its inser¬ tion in the sockets and, what is of special importance, that the shade cross plates ar unbroken over the grea¬ test possible distance from the light radiation opening of the shade whereby the effect of the reflection from the cross plates may be utilized best possible. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING. In the following the invention will be described more detailed vith reference to the drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of a fixture according to the invention vith the one side plate broken away, Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view in a larger sca¬ le through the fixture shown in Fig. 1, taken along the line II-II in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view in a larger sca¬ le taken along the line III-III in Fig. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PRΞFFΞRED EMBODIMENT. ■ The fixture shown comprises a shade having opposi- te shade side plates 10, the inner smooth surfaces of which are made light reflecting. The shade side plates 10 may for example be made from a relatively hard pla¬ stic, such as polystyrene, and their inner faces may be provided vith a reflecting metallic surface, for example by plating by evaporation. The shade side plates 10 are mutually interconnected by means of a number, for examp¬ le seven, although three only are shown, of shade cross plates 12, evenly distributed along the length of the shade and vith a mutual distance corresponding to the vidth of the shade at the dovnvards facing light radia¬ tion opening l of the shade, as well as with two shade end plates 1c and 15 of vhich the end plate lβ is pla¬ ced at the one end of the fixture shewn, whereas the other end plate 18 is placed in a distance from the first said end plate 16 ^ somewhat greater than the length of the tube lamps the fixture -is adapted to receive and in a distance approximately equal to the mutual distance between the shade cross plates 12 from the end of the shade side plates opposite to the end plate 16. The shade side plates 12 are at their last said ends inter¬ connected by a transverse outer plate 22. Both surfaces cf the shade cross plates 12 as well as the inner faces of the end plates 1o and 18 are in cross-sections serrated showing downwards facing inclined faces kk interconnected by nearly horizontal extending cross faces 5k . This serration results in the greatest possible downwards directed light reflecting. The connections between the shade side plates 10 and the transversely extending plates 12, 16, 18 and 22' are obtained by means of screws, even if also welding is possible. The upper space between the shade side plates 10 is closed by means of a shade top plate 2k that is pro¬ vided vith a downwards extending thick middle portion 26 engaging the space between the side plates 10 and having such a thickness that the inner side of this portion flushes with the inner faces of the side plate 10. The top plate 2k is at each side of its middle portion 2β provided vith a side veb 28 whereby it can be fastened to the side plates 10 preferably by means of screws screwed into the edges of the transverse plates 12, 16, 18 and 22. It has to be observed that it will also be possib¬ le to make the longitudinal parts of he shade as a unit or as two alike halves, but owing to the method used for metallizing the inner faces of the shade pla¬ tes such forms will normally be less suitable. Such forms may, however, be advantageous if the shades are made from sheet metal that is on beforehand provided with a reflecting surface on the one side. BAD ORIGINAL As appears froπ; Figs. 2 and 3 follows the inner faces of the shade in cross sections a smoothly arched curve in a small distance above plane of the light ra-' diation opening I k is tangent to planes parallel to the plane of symmetry of the shade, and converge below the touching place in some degree against the plane of sym¬ metry. Hereby is obtained the most appropriate form vith a viev to the obtainancy of an even grade of illu¬ mination. All the transverse plates 1 k , .6 , 18 and- 22 has such an outer contour, that each of these plates close¬ ly abuts the inner side of the shade, apart therefrom that in each shade cross plates 12 and in the shade end plate 18 the edge of the plate at the top thereof is provided vith a notch 30 for receiving and guiding an electric two vire cable 32 more detailed mentioned in the following. Each said transverse plate may also in stead of with . the notc be provided vith a hole through vich the cable 32 is freely let. Oving to the firm connection between the side li¬ mitation plates 1 and 2k of the shade and the trans¬ verse plates 12, 16, 18 and 22, constitutes the shade a stable unit in spite of small thicknesses of the plates being used. The space 3**- between the shade end plate 18 and the outer plate 22 and between the shade limitation pla¬ tes 10 and 2k serves as a transformer chamber receiv¬ ing the transformer unit of the fixture shovn, vhich unit comprises among others a reactor 36 and an ex- changeable glov svitching tube 3δ. The single parts of the transformer are mounted on a metal frame ko sup¬ ported by the outer plate 22 and the end plate 18. The chamber 3^ is closed at its lover end by a closing plate k2 provided with an opening through which the lower portion of the glow svitching tube 38 extends so that this tube can be exchanged from the outside. The outer plate 22 is smooth and non-ref ec ing on both sides. From the transformer come two two-wire cables, na¬ mely a cable 32 and a further -cable kβ , seing that a con¬ ductor of each cable is connected to one each of the two poles of the glow switching tube 33. The cable 32 is through the space above the .frame k o and a hole in the end plate 18 connected tb'a socket ItS for a dis¬ charge tube, vhich socket is fastened to the end plate 18, whereas the other cable k β -through the notches 30 in the end plate 18 and the shade- cross plates 1 is let along the upper part of the shade to a tube lampe socket 50 fastened to the inner side ' of the end plate 16. The two sockets k Q and 50 are placed on the plates 1o and 18 in such a manner, that their inlet slits 52 for the contact pins of the tube lamp 20 forms an angle of about 35 with the plane of the light radiation opening 1 of the shade. The two sockets k Q and 50 define the axis 55 of the tube lamp. In the end plate 16 and close to the outer circum- ference of the socket 50 there is provided a . tube lamp • inlet opening 5β having its centre situated in exten¬ sion of the insertion slit 52 of the socket 50 and closeable by means of a detachable cover or closing cap 58. A tube lamp 20 can through this opening, the dia- meter of which corresponds vith a slight interference to the diameter of the discharge tube, by an axial displa¬ cement be inserted in the shade. To ensure that the dis¬ charge tube can be totally inserted in the shade is each shade cross plate 12 provided vith an elongated tube lamp lead-in opening or recess 60 limited by tvo semi¬ circular edges 62 and β k , each having the same diameter as the inlet opening 56, and of vhich the centre of the semi-circular edg.e Λ 62 is situated in the discharge tube axis 55 whereas the semi-ci cular edge 56 is co-axial to the opening 55. These tvo semi-circular edges 62 and β k are interconnected by taπgentially 10t h s e m i -c ir - BAD ORIGINAL cles extending side edges ββ . A tube lamp that through the opening 68 has been axially inserted in the shade will after the insertion be supported by the semi-circular edges of the edge por- tion βk og the tube lead-in openings in the shade cross plates 16 where it rest easily accessible from below by hands through the spaces between th ~ cross plates 16 so that easily it can be turned to a position in which its contact pins can be brought to engage the slits 52 and, when totally pushed therinto and rotation of the tube in a normal manner it can be fixed to the sockets k8 and 50. - If a tube lamp 20 has to be removed, the cover 58 is taken off whereafter the tube 20 is rotated relative to the sockets US and 50 until its contact pins are situ¬ ated in the slots 5δ whereafter the tube can be withdrawn from the sockets and axially be pushed or drawn out of the shade of the fixture.. Tvo svivel links 68 are coaxially mounted in one each of the end plate 15 and the outer plate 22, each link being provided outside the corresponding plate vith a suspension lever 0 provided close to its free end vith a fixing hole so that the fixture can be suspended from or fixed to appropriate suspension or supporting members. Preferably the svivel links βδ are of the type known per se vhich permit a sving of the suspension le¬ ver relative to the fixture either continuously through a certain angle, vhich demands, however, special fasten¬ ing means, vhich may be inexpedient, or between, by spring means fixed angle positions, for example three, namely one , at vhich the plane of symmetry of the fix¬ ture is held vertically, and positions 30 at each side of the middle position, since in practice it has shown up, that said three positions are the most suitable. Each svivel link 68 -is provided with a center open¬ ing 72 and through the center opening 72 of the link on » -~ ~.E the outer plate 22 a feed cable for the transformer and, consequently, for the tube lamp, is led into the trans¬ former chamber 3^ .

Claims: C L A I M S 1. A combined fixture and shade for fluorescent tubes and comprising a ' ransformer unit (36,38) electrically connected to tvo 'Vi ' thin the shade arranged sockets ( kS ~ and 50) for a tube lamp (20), the axis (55) of vhich they define, vhich shade comprises tvo along the tube axis (55) on each -side thereof extending, invardly re¬ flecting and in cross sections smoothly curved shade side plates (.10), a. first and a second transversely extending end plate ( 18 and 16 respectively) as veil as an invardly reflecting shade top plate (26) made in one piece vith or fastened to the shade side plates, so that a discharge tube inserted in the shade is fenced also in direction -opposite to the light emission open- 5 ing ( . k ) of the shade, and vhich shade further compri¬ ses a number of in the longitudinal direction of the shade evenly distributed shade cross plates (12) fasten¬ ed to the side plates (10) and provided vith openings for receiving a fluorescent tube lamp inserted in the fixture, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the tvo sockets ( k8 and 50) are fastened to one each of the two end plates (16 and 18), that the transformer unit (36,38) as a vhole is mounted vithin a transformer cham¬ ber ( 3k ) fastened to the shade and in the longitudinal 5 direction of the shade arranged outside the first end plate (18), and electrically connected to the socket (1*8) mounted hereon through a hole in this first exxά plate (18) and further connected to the socket (50) mounted on the second end plate (l6) by means of vithin the shade leaded connectors ' (32), that the second end plate (16) is provided vith s*~x. inlet opening for a tube lamp (2-0) and nlaced excentricallv to the tube axis (55) and outside the socket (50) mounted on the second end plate (lό), and dimensioned in such a manner that 5 a tube lamp can be inserted ir. the shade by an axial translatoric displacement, and that the shade cross plates (12) in their portions next to the shade top plate (20) are provided with such recesses (6θ) that a tube lamp can be mounted within the shade thereby that after by the axial translatoric displacement to be totally inserted in the shade by a transverse displacement its contact pins are brought into engagement with the two sockets (k ~ ) and (50). 2. Combined fixture and shade according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in, that each shade cross plate (12) is conforming with the inner cross section of the shade and, consequently, with its edges abut the shade side plates (10) as well as the shade top plate (26), and that each shade cross plate (12) is provided with an elongated tube lamp lead-in opening ( βO ) , which is provided with a portion clearing a space surrounding the tube lamp axis (55) having a somewhat greater dia- meter than the greatest diameter of tube lamps of the greatest size for which the fixture is adapted, and a portion opposite to the lead-in opening (56) in the se¬ cond end plate (16) and having such dimensions that it clears an area which with an overmeasure it able to sur- round the greatest one of the tube lamps for which the fixture is adapted vhen the latter is led into the fix¬ ture through the lead-in opening (56) in the second end plate (16) nearly parallel to the tube lamp axis (55) of the fixture, and that the tvo opening portions (62 and βk ) are mutually interconnected by a connecting passage having a minimum width a little greater than the diame¬ ter of the greatest one of the tube lamps, to which the fixture is adapted. 3. Combined fixture and shade according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in, that the tube lamp lead- in opening (6θ) is limited by two halfcircles (62 and β k ) each having a diameter at least very little greater than the diameter of a tube lamp (20) to which the fixture and shade is adapted and by straight lines (66) tangen- tially connecting the two half circles. OMPI WIPO 1 k . Combined fixture and shade according to claim 2 or claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in, that each shade cross plate (12) in its edge facing avay from the light radiating opening ( 1 k) of the shade is provided vith a notch (30) or hole for receiving and guiding of the preferably in a tvo vire cable (32) collected conductors vhich from the transformer unit (36,38) are led to the socket (50) on the second shade end plate (16). 5. Combined fixture and shade according to any of the claims 1 to It, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in, the trans¬ former chamber (3 is limited by past the first shade end plate (18) extending extensions of the shade side plates (10) and the top plate (2o), and is at the end opposite to the first shade end plate (18) limited by a transverse outer plate (22) even connected to the shade plates (10 and 26), vhereas the opening cf the transformer chamber ( 3k- ) corresponding to the light radiation opening i'k) of the shade is closed by means of a detachable closing plate C+2). 6, Combined fixture and shade according to claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in, that the distance betveen the first shade end plate (18) and the outer plate (22) is of the same magnitude as the mutual distance betveen the shade cross plates (12). 7- Combined fixture and shade according to any of the claims 1 to 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in, that the lead-in opening (56) in the second shade end plate (16) is closeable by means of a cover (58) detachable from the outside. 8. Combined fixture and shade according to any of the claims 1 to T, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in, that suspension means (68,70) for the fixture vith shade BAD ORIGINAL OMPI angularly adjustable -is mounted on each one of the end limitations (16 and 22) of the fixture, preferably on the second shade end plate (16) and on the outer plate (22), said means having their common axis of rotation situated in the plane of symmetry of the shade nearly halfvay betveen the light radiation opening (l ) of the shade and the uppermost part of the shade top pla¬ te (26). 9. Combined fixture and shade according to any of the claims 1 to δ, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in, that a line betveen the tube lamp axis (55) and the cen¬ ter or middle point of the lead-in opening (56) forms an angle of belov 1+5°, preferably about 35 , vith the plane of the light radiation opening ( 14) .

Inventors: PETERSEN JANN
Applicants: PETERSEN JANN
Application year: 1981
Main classification: F21S3
IPC codes: F21S4, F21S8, F21V11, F21V19, F21V23