LOW VOLTAGE LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR OUTDOORS INSTALLED BY HAND WITHOUT TOOLS

Abstract: Lighting system for outdoors and for one or more illuminating bodies, fixed into the ground by means of tubular rods, to which bodies main electricity is carried after transformation to low voltage, by means of a flat supply cable (10) of indefinite length, said cable having two wires (22) (23) alongside each other and being laid on the ground, connection to a secondary cable (40) being made for each illuminating body by mounting the supply cable (10) inside a longitudinal channel (31) in a terminal box (13) of insulating material from which emerge the sharp points (45) (46) of the ends of the wires inside said cable (40), said channel (31) being closed by a cover (50) sliding over it in a longitudinal direction by purely manual action without tools.

Description: - I - LOW VOLTAGE LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR OUTDOORS INSTALLED BY HAND WITHOUT TOOLS The invention concerns a lighting system for outdoor use- Considerable difficulties attend the installation of lighting systems outside buildings, in parks and gardens, round villas, especially close to swimming pools, near the sea and in similar places, both because of specific differences in the environmen s of installation and be¬ cause of the need to ensure that electric cables and lamps are perfectly sealed off. Connections from each lamp to the main electric cable involve complex and delicate operations to avoid damaging said cable and, on completion of the work, to make sure it is once more perfectly sealed against current leakage especially near water or in damp places of any kind. Climatic and ground conditions in the open to which such lighting systems are exposed, apart from the care taken over installation as stated above, make necessary thorough checking and maintenance which can be costly. The above invention eliminates these drawbacks offering important advantages as well to be explained below. According to the invention, main current is brought to the lighting means by a subs antially flat supply cable, of indefinite, length, consisting of two wires placed side by side and coated with highly resistent waterproof plas¬ tic material, therefore suitable for installation purpo¬ ses by simply laying it on the ground, said cable being connected to the main. Connection at any point between said supply cable and the one leading off to each lamp is made by an insulating plastic terminal box placed at the end of the latter cable . The ends of the lamp wires are inserted i to the body of the terminal box and fixed to metal collectors fitted with sharp points emerging from said terminal box. Contact between said points and the wires of the supply cable can therefore be made by simply mounting said cable inside the terminal box which is then closed by hand with no need for tools. The supply cable is connected to the mains through a trans¬ former preferably placed outside the building whose surround- ings are to be illuminated. Current downstream of the transformer is therefore low vol¬ tage. Voltage for the system is preferable 12V. The substantially parallelepiped-shaped terminal box has a longitudinal channel of a constant U-shaped cross section, width and depth of which are. are respectively about equal to the width and thickness of the supply cable. The two sharp points of the internal collector emerge from said channel, symmetrically, one at each end of its longi- tudinal axis, centre distance between the two being practi¬ cally the same as that between the two wires of the supply cable . Therefore, by simply pressing the supply cable by hand in¬ side said channel, the two sharp points of the collector can be made to penetrate said cable's plastic coating and make contact with its two wires. The supply cable is held firmly in place inside the chan¬ nel in the terminal box by a sliding cover put on by hand. The sliding cover has a constant C-shaped cross section in which there are two longitudinal lateral grooves which, on closing the terminal box, fit onto the longitudinal outward-projec ing edges of said terminal box, one on each side of the channel. The width of said grooves diminishes slightly from one end to the other so that, when pushing the cover onto the box, extra elastic pressure is created between the longitudinal outward-projecting edges of said box and said grooves. In this way, when the box is fully closed, connection be¬ tween box and cover is stablized and a waterproof seal is formed . On each side of the longitudinal symmetrical axis inside the cover there are longitudinal ridges whose height in¬ creases from the end of the terminal box, here the above grooves are of maximum width, to the other end. Centre distance between these ridges is substantially the the same as that of the wires in the supply cable, conse¬ quently as the cover is being pushed onto the terminal box pressure from the ridges on said cable increases thereby making stable the connection between the collectors in the terminal box and the wires in the cable. The longitudinal position of the two points of the terminal box collectors is uneven in relation to the transversal axis of symmetry of said terminal box, the purpose of this being to increase the space between said collectors and therefore improve electrical insulation. Coating of the supply cable over one of its wires differs in shape or colour from the coating over the other wire in order to make possible correct connection of the var-. ious illuminating bodies to the wires. Said illuminating bodies are mounted on a tubular rod that can be easily pressed into the ground as its bottom end is cut at an angle of 45°. The length to be pressed into the ground is marked by a ring nut mounted on the tubular rod above, the remaining length to be left above ground, both lengths complying with present regulations. The light bulb used for one of the types of illuminating body is that used for motor vehicles mounted by a bayonet connection. The advantages of the invention are clearly evident. The low voltage in the system deprives it of any risk to persons or animals and facilitates ins allation. Connections between an illuminating body and the main sup¬ ply cable are made simply and quickly using the hands only without the need for any tools. On completion of the work watertightness of each connection is assured and nothing further needs to be done. An illuminating body can be fitted at any point along the main supply cable which can be left lying on the ground without any further protection in whatever state the sur¬ face of the ground may be. The kind of coating given to the supply cable, differen- tiating one wire from another, ensures that the illumina¬ ting bodies will be properly connected to said wires and that uniform electric power will be supplied to each body. Characteristics and purposes of the invention will be made- even clearer by the following example of its execution il- lustrated by diagrammatic drawings. Fig. l: Lighting round a detached house with swimming pool using the invented system. Fig.2: Perspective view of the terminal box for connecting one illuminating body to the system. Fig.3: Perspective view of the terminal box's push-on cover, Fig.4: Perspective view of the two-wire cable supplying electricity to the illuminating bodies. Fig.5: Perspective view of the terminal box when installa¬ tion is being done. Fig.6: The terminal box mounted on the supply cable ready to have the cover fitted on. Fig.7: Perspective view of the illuminating body complete with terminal box. The invented system comprises a two-pole cable 10 that leaves the waterproof current transformer 11 placed outside the building 12 and a quantity of terminal boxes by means of which current take-off points for the illuminating bodies 14 can be made at any position along said cable. The trans¬ former 11 reduces mains voltage down to 12V. Structure of the cable 10 (Fig.4) is asymmetric obtained by two waterproof sheaths 20 and 21 for the electric wires 22 and 23 placed side by side. Said sheaths are joined longitudinally and are of different shapes . The cross section of sheath 20 is practically quadrangular while that of sheath 21 is substantially circular. This helps to distinguish one wire from the other when the terminal boxes, through which electrical connection to the illuminating bodies is made, are being mounted. Each terminal box 13 comprises a substantially parallelepiped body 30 with a longitudinal square U-shaped channel 31. The longitudinal edges of said channel project outwards 32 and 33. On the outside of said edges there are points of contact 34 and 35. The electric wires 41 and 42 in the smaller cable 40 are fixed to contacts 43 and 44 respectively, these being fit¬ ted into the body 30 of the terminal box so as to remain substantially flush with the channel 31 allowing the tri¬ angular points 45 and 46 to project. Said contacts are situated in the middle of the channel at a centre distance equivalent to half of said channel and lie, longitudinally, at different levels to increase the distance between them and therefore improve electrical in- sulation. Width of the channel 31 is subs antially equal to that of the cable 10. Depth of said channel is practically the same as thickness of said cable 10 which, when mounted inside the channel 31 of the terminal box 13 is held firm when application is made of the cover 50 (Fig.3) whose cross section is C-shaped. Internal width of the "C" is practically the same as total width of the terminal box 13 where the projections 32 and 33 jut out. Width of the grooves 51 and 52, created by the longitudinal ends 53 and 54 of the "C", decreases from the extremity 55 of the terminal box to the one opposite 56. Initial width 51' and 52' of said grooves 51 and 52 is a little greater than the thickness of the projections 32 and 33 while final width is slightly less than said thick¬ ness . On the inner side of said cover 50 there are parallel ridges 57 58, symmetrical in relation to the axis of said cover 50, whose centre distance is practically equal to the width of the channel 31 in the terminal box 13. Height of these ridges gradually increases from the one end 57' 58' to the opposite end 57" 58". The terminal box 13 is mounted on the cable 10 as illustra¬ ted in Figures 5 and 6. Fig. 5 shows the terminal box 13 placed in proximity to the cable 10, and the cover 50 placed opposite it. Cable 10 is inserted inside the channel 31 into which it fits exactly, width of said channel and width of the ca- ble 10 being practically the same, and, similarly, given the width of said channel and thickness of said cable. Said cable 10 being lodged inside the channel 31, point 45 of contact 43 and point 46 of contact 44 simultaneously become inserted in wires 22 and 23 respec ively. At this stage the cover 50 can be put onto the projections 32 and 33 of the terminal box, making them penetrate into the grooves 51 and 52. By pushing along the cover 50 as indicated by the arrow 60, the projections 32 33 gradually meet a decreasing cross section of the groove so that, by completing mounting of the cover till its end 55 fits into contact points 34 35 in said projections 32 33, said cover 50 will be securely fixed in the same way as connections of contacts 43 and 44 will be respectively made stable with wires 22 and 23 of the cable 10. Fig. 6 clearly shows that the whole application of the ter¬ minal box to the cable 10, and of the cover to said termi¬ nal box, is done by the hands only without tools or anything else . Fig. 7 illustrates an illuminating body 65 with its sphe¬ rical lamp shade 66 mounted on a tubular rod 67 pressed down into the ground 88. Driving the rod down is facilita¬ ted by its end being cut 66 at an angle of 45°. The ring nut mounted on the tubular body 67 held by its screw 71, marks the regulation height to be maintained be¬ tween the ground and the source of light 27 consisting of a light bulb of the kind used for automobile lamps , fitting by means of a bayonet connection into the lampholder 71 fixed to the lamp shade 66 by a bracket 74. The smaller cable 40 passes inside the tube 67 and emerges below where it is connected to the terminal box 13. Said terminal box is drawn when mounted on the cable 10. The box cover 50 has already been fitted onto the box which is thereby securely closed.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Lighting system for outdoors and for one or more illu¬ minating bodies ( 14) (65) characterized in that mains cur¬ rent is carried to the illuminating bodies (14) (65) by means of a substantially flat supply cable ( 10), of indefinite length, with two wires (22) (23) side by side and a plastic coat¬ ing (20) (21), waterproof and of strong construction , suit- able therefore to an installation where it will be simply laid over the ground, connected to the mains, and by means of a cable (40) also having two wires (41) (42) for each of the illuminating bodies ( 14), connection between cable ( 10) at any point along it and cable (40) for each illu¬ minating body ( 1 4) (65) being made by means of a terminal box ( 13) of insulating plastic material placed at the end of said cable (40), the terminals of wires (41) (42) pas¬ sing inside the body (30) of the terminal box ( 13) where they are fixed to metal collectors (43) (44) provided with sharp points (45) (46) emerging from said terminal box ( 13), contact between said points (45) (46) and the wires (22) (23) of the supply cable ( 10) being made when said cable is fitted into the terminal box ( 13) which is then closed by hand without the aid of any tools. 2. Lighting system for outdoors and for one or more illu¬ minating bodies as in claim 1, characterized in that the supply cable ( 10) is connected to the electricity mains by means of a transformer ( 11) preferably placed outside the building ( 12),whose surroundings it is proposed to illumi¬ nate, so that the system downstream of the transformer ( 11) will operate at a low voltage. 3. Lighting system for outdoors and for one or more illu- minating bodies (14) (65), as in claim 2, characterized in that voltage in the system is 12V. 4. Lighting system for outdoors and for one or more il¬ luminating bodies as in claim 1, characterized in that the terminal box (13), substantially parallelepiped in shape, has a longitudinal channel (31) of a constant U-shaped cross section whose width and depth are respectively about equal to the width and thickness of the supply cable (10), the two sharp points (45) (46) of the internal collectors (43) (44) emerging from said channel (31), symmetrically one at each end of its longitudinal axis, their centre dis¬ tance being practically equal to that of the wires (22) (23) of the supply cable ( 10), it being thus possible, by hand pressing the supply cable (10) inside said channel (31), to make the sharp points (45) (46) on the collectors (43) (44) penetrate into the coating (20) (21) of said ca¬ ble (10) bringing them in contact with each of the two wires (22) (23). 5. Lighting system for outdoors and for one or more il- luminating bodies as in claim 4, characterized in that the supply cable (10) is held securely inside the channel (31) of the terminal box (13) by means of a slide-on cover (50) 6. Lighting system for outdoors and for one or more il¬ luminating bodies as in claim 5, characterized in that the sliding cover (50) has a constant C-shaped cross section in which there are two lateral longitudinal grooves (51) (52) that, when the terminal box (13) is being closed, fit over the longitudinal outward-projecting edges (32) (33) of said terminal box (13) on either side of the channel (31), width of said grooves (51) (52) slightly decreasing from one end (51') (52') to the other so that when said cover (50) slides onto the terminal box ( 13), progressive elastic pressure is created between the longitudinal pro ¬ jecting edges (32) (33) of said terminal box ( 13) and said grooves (51) (52) ensuring, when closure is complete, a stable connection and a secure seal. 7. Lighting system for outdoors and for one or more il ¬ luminating bodies as in claims 1, 5 and 6, characterized in that, inside the cover (50) on either side of the axis of longitudinal symmetry, there are longitudinal ridges (57) (58) whose height increases from the end (57') (58') ; corresponding to maximum width (51') (52') of the channels (51) (52), to the other end (57") (58") their centre distance being substantially equal to that of the wires (22) (23) of the supply cable ( 10) so that, as the cover (50) is made to slide over the terminal box ( 13), pressure by the ridges (57) (58) on said cable (10) increases thereby sta¬ bilizing connection between the collectors (43) (44) in the terminal box ( 13) and the wires (22) (23) in the cable ( 10). 8. Lighting system for outdoors, and for one or more illu- minating bodies as in claim 1, characterized in that, longi¬ tudinally, the positions of the two points (45) (46) of the collectors (43) (44) in the terminal box ( 13) are at dif¬ ferent levels in relation to the transversal axis of symme¬ try of said terminal box ( 13), the purpose of this being to increase the distance between said collectors (43) (44) .and therefore electrical insulation. 9. Lighting system for outdoors, and for one or more il¬ luminating bodies as in claim 1, characterized in that the coating of the supply cable ( 10) is different in shape and colour for one wire (22) compared with that over the other wire (23)to allow proper connections to be made between the various illuminating bodies (14) (65) and said wires (22) (23). 10 Lighting system for outdoors, and for one or more il- lumiπating bodies as in claim 1, characterized in that the illuminating bodies (14) (65) are mounted on a tubular rod (67) easy to drive vertically into the ground (68) since its lower end (69) is cut at an angle of 45°, there being a ring nut (70) fixed to the tubular rod (67) in order to mark off the length that must be driven into the ground (68) and that which must be above ground to comply with present regulations.

Inventors: MARINACCI ANGELO, MARINACCI, ANGELO
Applicants: FONDERAL SRL, FONDERAL S.R.L.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: H01R11
IPC codes: H01R4