LAMP FOR MOUNTING TWO OR MORE FLUORESCENT TUBES

Abstract: The invention relates to a lamp for mounting two or more fluorescent tubes (2). The lamp comprises mounting means for mounting two or more fluorescent tubes. The mounting means is in the form of pair-wise holders (1) for each fluorescent tube. The two or more pair-wise holders (1) are fixed on a reflector (3) so that the holder protudes from an upper surface of the reflector (3), whereby each of the two or more substantially cylindrical fluorescent tubes (2) can be mounted in a pair of holders (1). The holders (1) comprise electrical contacts for supplying the fluorescent tubes (2) with electricity as it is generally known in the art.

Description: Lamp for mounting two or more fluorescent tubes The present invention relates to a lamp for mounting two or more fluorescent tubes. Fluorescent tubes for lighting are more and more used in replacement of traditional bulbs. Compared with traditional bulbs, fluorescent tubes are being used more, because fluorescent tubes have greater longevity and consume less energy. Fluorescent tubes are particularly used in environment, where light is needed for many hours each day, such as offices and for outdoors lighting, but is also used frequently in private homes. With fluorescent tubes it is, moreover, also possible to easily achieve desired texture of light, especially light comparable to daylight. For this reason, therefore, it is common, especially in working areas, and principally in large surface working areas, such as industrial office spaces, large-scale culinary facilities and the like, to install fluorescent tubes. Due to the increased use of fluorescent tube lights, a large number of different lamps for such fluorescent tubes have been developed. In general, a lamp for fluorescent tubes comprises a reflector onto which the fluorescent tubes can be mounted. The lamp normally comprises a housing which may be more or less open. EP patent publication 726 420 discloses such lamp for fluorescent tubes. The lamp has a two-part totally enclosed housing with one or more lamp holders, in particular for fluorescent tubes. One of the specific features of this lamp in EP patent publication 726 420 is that it is constructed so that the light from the fluorescent tubes passes out both from the front of the lamp and from the backside of the lamp. Thereby the lamp is able to light up substantially all of the room. In order to emit a part of the light through the backside of the lamp, the reflector carrying the fluorescent tubes, at least in some areas, is somewhat transparent e.g. in that the reflector is prepared from transparent glass or synthetic materials such as transparent polycarbonate, or in that the reflector is prepared from a non-transparent material and has a number of openings through which the light can pass. The main function of the reflector in a lamp is to spread the light to obtain a pleasant, evenly distributed lightning with a desired intensity and spreading.. However, using a reflector equipped with a number of holes results in that the light will be scattered and uneven, which in most cases is not desired. Also, it is not always desired to have holes in the reflector due to the general visual appearance of the lamp. Using a transparent reflector may also in certain circumstances be undesired, particularly because dirt and spots in most cases are highly visible on such transparent material, and that a transparent reflector cannot be used for covering the electrical installation which in many situations is desired. Also, it should be mentioned that in most cases a reflector of glass is not acceptable since glass is expensive, heavy and fragile compared to metals and synthetic materials. Reflectors for mounting directly on to fluorescent tubes are known, for example executed in plastic materials and provided with various means of reflection. Accordingly, there remains a need for a lamp of the above-mentioned kind which does not exhibit the above- identified drawbacks. The object of the present invention is to provide a lamp which emits light in a front side direction and in a back side direction of the lamp, without having the drawbacks as the above described prior art. Another object is to provide a lamp, which is capable of emitting the light towards several directions, whereby the light is substantially non-scattered and even. A further object is to provide a lamp, which is made of more environmentally desirable materials, and which has a lower cost. These and other objects are achieved with the lamp for mounting two or more fluorescent tubes according to the invention as defined in the claims. An advantage of the fluorescent lamp according to the invention is that it emits light directly downwards from the front of the lamp, and light directly upwards from the back-side of the lamp. The amount of light emitted upwards from the back-side of the lamp may be adjusted as described later on. The lamp according to the invention comprises mounting means for mounting two or more fluorescent tubes. The mounting means is in the form of pair-wise holders for each fluorescent tube. Such holders are generally known and will not be described in further detail. The two or more pair-wise holders are fixed on a reflector so that the holder protrudes from an upper surface of the reflector, whereby each of the two or more substantially cylindrical fluorescent tubes can be mounted in a pair of holders. The holders may be fixed by any traditional method e.g. by screwing, welding, gluing or by using a snap lock. The holders comprise electrical contacts for supplying the fluorescent tubes with electricity as it is generally known in the art. Most of the wire, used for supplying the fluorescent tubes with electricity, is preferably placed outside the lamp. The length of the wires inside the lamp is preferably smaller than half of the length of the lamp. The reflector comprises at least two edge surface sections. The two edge surface sections having an angle to each other of between 230° to 320°, preferably between 260° to 300°. Each of said two edge surface sections comprises a pair of holders for mounting of a fluorescent tube. By varying the angle of the sub-surface sections the amount of light which is spread from the back side of the lamp may be adjusted, and further the width of the light spreading may be adjusted. In a preferred embodiment, the lamp comprises three pairs of holders for mounting of fluorescent tubes, wherein the reflector is sub-divided in its longitudinal direction into two ore more sub surface sections. The reflector may e.g. comprise a middle surface section, onto which the third pair of holders for mounting of a fluorescent tube is fixed. The reflector may thus have two, three or more subsurface sections carrying holders for mounting of fluorescent tubes. The one or more of the pair of holders are adapted for holding a fluorescent tube. The size and shape of the holders may preferably be able to hold one or more fluorescent tube of type TL5 or similar this-shaped tubes. The fluorescent tubes are preferably in substantially parallel relation to each other, but they may naturally have an angle to each other e.g. an angle of up to 90°, and the holders are accordingly placed to hold the fluorescent tubes in such angles. The lamp may be adapted to hold any type of fluorescent lamp, preferably straight type fluorescent tubes having an outer appearance of round tubular shape, and which radiate light axially. The upper surface of the reflector, which is sub-divided in its longitudinal direction into sub surface sections, may preferably be substantially rectangular, but alternatively the surface may be slightly founded in the edges or have any other deviations in the edge areas. The sub-surface sections may preferably have a width and a length which are adapted to the fluorescent lamps which it is adapted to hold, this means that the width and length of the sub surface sections should preferably exceed the width and the length of the fluorescent light e.g. with at least 1-2 cm. The width of the sub surface sections may in general be between 2 and 4 cm. The width may preferably be substantially equal to each other. The length may e.g. preferably be between 10 and 250 cm and more preferably between 10 and 60 cm for a small lamp and preferably between 110 and 170 cm for a large lamp. The reflector plate is angled in the sub-division line or lines, which line or lines are preferably substantially straight, but may also be any other working out. The reflector plate is preferably made from a form stable material selected from the group consisting of steel, aluminium, thermoplastic polyester (PETP polyethylenterephthalate) , polycarbonate (PC) , alkylbenzensulfonate (ABS) , polymethaacrylate (PMA) , polypropylene (PP) , SAN, thermoplastic material, metallized plastic, polyethylenterephthalate (PET) or polybutylenterephthalate (PBT) . The reflector should preferably display optimum characteristics with regard to energy loss, outer dimensions and glare, and also improvement in application possibilities, which lies in the fact that it will provide good regularity in the illumination. The lamp may further comprise a housing, wherein the reflector is placed. The housing may completely encapsulates the reflector. The housing may preferably be substantially watertight. The housing may be provided in the form of a cover and a base which cover and base preferably are being separable from each other. The cover and base are held together by use of one or more snap locks. The reflector may be fixed to the base, e.g. by any traditional method e.g. by screwing, welding, gluing or by using a snap lock. The housing includes a cover and a base, which consist at least partly of light permeable material. The cover may optionally be secured to the base by any traditional method, such as click method and quick release. The housing may be prepared from any suitable material, preferably a material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene (PP) , polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) , polychlorid (PC) , alkylbenzensulfonat (ABS) , thermoplastic polyester, polybutylenterephthalat (PBT) , polystyrenacrylnitril (SAN) , acrylonitrilstyrenacrylat (ASA), polystyren (PS), polyethylenterephthalat (PET) and PETG and more preferably selected from the group of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polychlorid (PC), alkyl- benzensulfonat (ABS) , polystyrenacrylnitril (SAN) and combinations thereof. The housing preferably assumes the shape of the fluorescent tube and is oblong and the mains plug may be located on the longitudinal side of the housing, projecting vertically from this longitudinal side so that minimum mechanical forces act on the contact plugs and mains plug which give the fluorescent lamp its firm support, when it is plugged into the outlet. In a preferred and particularly convenient embodiment, the housing is approximately 10-60 cm in length for a small lamp, 110-170 cm in length for a large lamp, about 16 cm wide for both a large and a small lamp, and 6 cm high for both a large and a small lamp. The cover and at least a part of the base of the housing may be transparent. At least the part of the base of the housing which is not covered by the reflector may preferably be transparent. The fluorescent tube is placed in its position by any traditional method. A feature of the invention is that the housing may be formed as an air-tight space to prevent the cumulation of dust . In order to make it possible or easier to exchange the fluorescent tube, it is practical for the housing to have a form, so that the cover and the base can be easily separated. The snap lock may be provided by the edges of the cover and the base of the housing. One of the parts may be provided with a channel along its edge and the other part may be formed so that the edge fits into the channel. At least one of the parts may further be provided with recesses which fit into grooves in the other parts and thereby hold the two parts together. In general any type of snap lock may be used, but preferably the snap lock should be made totally of polymer material. In a further preferred embodiment the edge on the one fitting into the channel on the other part comprises two flanges along the edge, both flanges fitting into the channel . The inner flange may extend at least 1 mm, preferably at least 3 mm longer into the channel than the outer flange. By use of such snap-lock system and such tightening system, it is possible to obtain a watertight housing even without the use of a secondary packing. In a second aspect of the invention, the invention relates to a lamp in general comprising a housing in two parts, which is closed by using a snap-lock system and a tightening system as described above. A lamp according to the invention will be described in the following with reference to a drawing where Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the lamp cutted straight through and comprising a reflector with fluorescent tubes in the housing. Fig. 2 shows the lamp comprising a reflector with fluorescent tubes without the housing. Figure 1 shows a lamp comprising not shown mounting means mounted with fluorescent tubes 2. The mounting means is in the form of pair-wise holders as it is generally known in the art for each fluorescent tube 2. The two pair-wise holders are fixed on the reflector 3 so that the holder protrudes from an upper surface of the reflector 3, whereby each of the two fluorescent tubes 2 is mounted in a pair of holders. The pair-wise holders comprise electrical contacts for supplying the fluorescent tubes 2 with electricity. Most of the wire, used for supplying the fluorescent tubes 2 with electricity, is preferably placed outside the lamp. The upper surface of the reflector 3 is rectangular and is sub-divided in its longitudinal direction into subsurface sections comprising five edge surface sections, including a middle edge surface section 4, two primer side edge surface section 5 and two secondary side edge surface sections 6. The two primer side edge surface sections 5 comprise the pair of holders for mounting of the fluorescent tubes 2 and have an angle to each other of between 230° to 320°. The reflector 3 is placed in the housing which is provided in the form of a cover 7 and a base 8, which cover 7 and base 8 are separable from each other. The cover 7 and base 8 are held together by use of one or more snap locks 11. The cover 7 and base 8 completely encapsulate the reflector 3. The snap locks 11 are provided by the edges of the cover 7 and the base 8. The cover 7 is provided with a channel 9 along its edge and the base 8 is formed so that the edge fits into the channel 9. The edge fitting into the channel 9 comprises two flanges 10 along the edge both flanges 10 fitting into the channel 9. The inner flange 10b is protruding longer into the channel 9 than the outer flange 10a. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the lamp cutted straight through and comprising a reflector with fluorescent tubes without the housing. The upper surface of the reflector 3 is rectangular and is sub-divided in its longitudinal direction into subsurface sections comprising five edge surface sections, including a middle edge surface section 4, two primer side edge surface section 5 and two secondary side edge surface sections 6. The two primer side edge surface sections 5 comprise the pair of holders for mounting of the fluorescent tubes 2 and have an angle to each other of between 230° to 320°. The surface sections each have a width of between 2 and 4 cm, and the width is substantially equal to each other.

Claims: Claims 1. A lamp comprising mounting means for mounting two or more fluorescent tubes, said mounting means being in the form of pair-wise holders for each fluorescent tube, and said holders comprising electrical contacts for supplying the fluorescent tubes with electricity, said two or more pair-wise holders being fixed on a reflector so that the holder protrudes from an upper surface of the reflector, whereby each of the two or more substantially cylindrical fluorescent tubes can be mounted in a pair of holders, said upper surface of the reflector being substantially rectangular and being sub-divided in its longitudinal direction into sub-surface sections comprising at least two edge surface sections, said two edge surface sections having an angle to each other of between 230° to 320°, preferably between 260° to 300°, each of said two edge surface sections comprising a pair of holders for mounting of a fluorescent tube. 2. A lamp according to claim 1, comprising three pairs of holders for mounting of fluorescent tubes, wherein the reflector being sub-divided in its longitudinal direction into sub surface sections further comprising a middle surface section onto which the third pair of holders for mounting of a fluorescent tube is fixed. 3. A lamp according to any one of the claims 1 and 2, wherein said sub-surface sections are provided by a reflector plate, preferably made from a form stable material selected from the group consisting of steel, aluminium, thermoplastic polyester (PETP polyethylenterephthalate) , polycarbonate (PC) , alkylbenzensulfonate (ABS) , polymethaacrylate (PMA) , polypropylene (PP) , SAN, thermoplastic material, metallized plastic, polyethylenterephthalate (PET) , polybutylenterephthalate (PBT) , said reflector plate being angled in the sub-division line or lines. 4. A lamp according to any one of the claims 1, 2 and 3, wherein the reflector has three sub-surface sections carrying holders for mounting of fluorescent tubes, said sub surface sections preferably having a width of between 2 and 4 cm, said width preferably being substantially equal to each other. 5. A lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more of the pairs of holders are adapted for holding a fluorescent tube of type TL5. 6. A lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a housing, said reflector being placed in said housing. 7. A lamp according to claim 6, wherein said housing completely encapsulates said reflector, said housing preferably being watertight. 8. A lamp according to any one of the claims 6 and 7, wherein said housing is provided in the form, of a cover and a base, which cover and base preferably being separable from each other. 9. A lamp according to claim 8, wherein said cover and base are held together by use of one or more snap locks. 10. A lamp according to claim 9, wherein said snap lock is provided by the edges of the cover and the base of the housing, one of said parts being provided with a channel along its edge and the other part being formed so that the edge fits into said channel, at least one of the parts further being provided with recesses which fit into grooves in the other parts and thereby hold the two parts together . 11. A lamp according to claim 10, wherein said edge fitting into said channel on said other part comprises two flanges along the edge, both flanges fitting into the channel, the inner flange extending at least 1 mm, preferably at least 3 mm longer into the channel than the outer flange. 12. A lamp according to any one of the preceding claims 8-11, wherein said reflector is fixed to said base. 13. A lamp according to any one of the preceding claims 8-12, wherein said cover and at least a part of said base of said housing is transparent. 14. A lamp according to claim 13, wherein at least the part of the base of the housing which is not covered by the reflector is transparent. 15. A lamp according to any one of the preceding claims 6-14, wherein said housing is prepared from a material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene (PP) , polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) , polychlorid (PC) , alkyl- benzensulfonat (ABS) , thermoplastic polyester, polybutylenterephthalat (PBT) , polystyrenacrylnitril (SAN) , acrylonitrilstyrenacrylat (ASA) , polystyren (PS) , polyethylenterephthalat (PET) and PETG.

Inventors: NIELSEN CARL ERIK, NIELSEN, CARL, ERIK
Applicants: DKI PLAST A S, NIELSEN CARL ERIK, DKI PLAST A.S., NIELSEN, CARL, ERIK
Application year: 2001
Main classification: F21V15
IPC codes: F21S8, F21V7, F21V15, F21V17