Abstract:
The invention relates to a recessed light provided with a light bulb socket and a reflector, which has an opening which is located in the main illumination direction and is covered by a transparent plate. An edge area of the reflector is arranged between the transparent plate and a fixing plate extending parallel thereto and comprising an opening for the reflector, wherein the relative position between the fixing plate and the transparent plate is fixed by a frame. The frame is flexible such that the fixing plate and/or transparent plate are exclusively detachable by deformation of the frame.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2005/009385, filed Aug. 31, 2005, and which claims the benefit of German Patent Application No. 10 2004 042 802.6, filed Sep. 3, 2004. The disclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to a recessed light comprising a light bulb socket and a reflector which has an opening disposed in the main direction of illumination which is covered by a transparent plate, wherein a marginal region of the reflector is arranged between the transparent plate and a fixing plate extending parallel thereto and having an opening for the reflector and wherein the relative position between the fixing plate and the transparent plate is fixed by a frame. 
   BACKGROUND 
   The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
   In recessed lights of the named kind known from the prior art, the transparent plate, the reflector and the fixing plate are, as a rule, connected to one another by comparatively complex and/or expensive measures, which has a negative effect on the economy of the manufacture of recessed lights of this kind. In addition, the connection elements which hold together the frame, the transparent plate, the reflector and the fixing plate can frequently only be operated in a complicated manner, sometimes using suitable tools, so that changing the named elements is difficult and complex and/or expensive, which ultimately increases the servicing effort to be made in connection with the known recessed lights in a disadvantageous manner. 
   SUMMARY 
   An object of the invention consists of further developing a recessed light of the initially named kind such that the reflector, the transparent plate and/or the fixing plate can be released from the recessed light or from the named frame in as simple a manner as possible and can optionally be replaced, with the manufacturing costs of the recessed light additionally being lowered. 
   This object is satisfied in accordance with the invention and, in particular, in that the frame is made so flexible that the fixing plate and/or the transparent plate are releasable from the frame only by a deformation thereof. 
   It is achieved in an advantageous manner by the flexible design of the frame in accordance with the invention which fixes the fixing plate relative to the transparent plate together with the reflector clamped between the plates that no additional components are required besides the elements of the frame, of the transparent plate, of the fixing plate and of the reflector anyway present to connect the named elements to one another. The frame rather holds together the fixing plate and the transparent plate so that they cannot move relative to one another or can only move insignificantly. It does, however, become possible in accordance with the invention to release the fixing plate, the transparent plate or both plates from the frame by a deformation of the frame so that the reflector clamped between the fixing plate and the transparent plate is released by this process. The said deformation of the frame accordingly has the effect that holding elements shaped on the frame and in particular made in one piece with it are moved relative to the plate to be released such that the respective plate becomes free. 
   With a recessed light in accordance with the invention, there is the need in certain applications to replace the reflector with another reflector, for example with a changed angle of radiation. It can equally be necessary to replace the fixing plate which e.g. effects a light scattering effect in order, for example, to generate a different lighting effect by a corresponding tint of the fixing plate. Finally, it can also be necessary to replace the transparent plate, for example, with a color filter in order thus also to be able to realize a respectively desired color with respect to the main illumination effected through the reflector opening. All these replacement procedures can be effected fast and simply in accordance with the invention. 
   It is specifically achieved inter alia in accordance with the invention that no separate holding elements have to be actuated for a release of the reflector from the recessed light, with in particular the use of a tool also being dispensable. Furthermore, a release and a fastening of the reflector from/to the recessed light can be effected in a very simple manner in a very short time. Finally, the principle in accordance with the invention can be realized particularly cost-effectively since only the material used for the flexible frame has to be selected accordingly and the frame simultaneously only has to be provided with holding elements for the fixing plate and for the transparent plate which can be shaped on the frame in a cost-effective manner. 
   It is particularly preferred for the frame, the transparent plate, the reflector and the fixing plate to be selectively replaceable in accordance with the invention, which is achieved when the four aforesaid elements are each made releasable from one another. 
   The frame can be made in the main direction of illumination with an inwardly projecting collar, in particular a peripheral collar, which forms an abutment surface for the marginal region of the transparent plate. The transparent plate is as a rule disposed behind the fixing plate and behind the reflector in the main direction of illumination so that it so-to-say forms the frontmost element of the recessed light. If the frame is now provided with the said collar in the main direction of illumination, the transparent plate is in contact therewith and is thus prevented from making a movement in the main direction of illumination. 
   It is particularly preferred when the frame is provided with at least two projections at its inner side which serve as holding elements for the fixing plate. These projections, which can be made without problem in one piece with the frame on its manufacture, come to lie directly behind the fixing plate against the main direction of illumination with the recessed light installed such that they are suitable to hold the unit of fixing plate, reflector and transparent plate in a defined position between the previously mentioned collar and the projections. The fixing plate is in particular prevented from making a movement against the main direction of illumination by the projections. 
   To facilitate the introduction of the fixing plate into the frame and thus the installation of the frame, of the transparent plate, of the reflector and of the fixing plate, the projections can be provided with a slope on their side remote from the collar of the frame. On the introduction of both the transport plate and the fixing plate, the flexible frame is then pressed outwardly over the slopes in the region of the projections so that both plates can be introduced into the frame without problem. After this introduction or after the fixing plate has passed the projections, the frame springs back into its original position due to its elasticity so that the projections snap in over the fixing plate and fix it together with the transparent plate between the collar and the projections. 
   It is preferred for the frame to be rectangular or square, with then a projection being provided at each side of the frame, in particular centrally. It is achieved by the provision of a projection on each side of the frame that the latter is practically torsionally stiff and thus particularly stable with an introduced plate and fixing plate. This stabilization effect in particular comes into effect when the transparent plate and/or the fixing plate is produced from a non-flexible, rigid material, for example of glass. 
   An interesting optical effect can be achieved when the fixing plate is made as a diffuser having light scattering properties. In this case, some of the amount of light delivered by a light bulb located in the reflector can exit from a reflector open to the rear against the main direction of illumination and can be directed by reflection from above onto the fixing plate. The fixing plate then appears diffusely radiant from below, whereby ultimately a diffuse light discharge region is defined which surrounds the reflector opening disposed in the main direction of illumination. Specific aspects and advantages of such an arrangement are described in the German patent application DE 103 60 947.4. 
   In accordance with the invention, the frame is preferably produced from thermally resistant plastic which is in particular heat resistant up to temperatures of 120° C. and more. It is thus reliably prevented that the frame is deformed as a consequence of the effect of heat. 
   Alternatively, the frame can, however, also be produced from metal, in particular from spring steel or stainless steel. In this case, the projections already explained above can consist, for example, of lugs for the holding of the fixing plate which are stamped out of metal and are bent in the direction of the inner side of the frame. The already explained slopes can also be generated automatically by such a bending and facilitate an introduction of the transparent plate and of the fixing plate into the frame. 
   The recessed light in accordance with the invention can be made as a built-in recessed light installed in a housing or as a downlight in which the frame holding the transparent plate, the reflector and the fixing plate can in turn be fastened in a frame holder on the housing side. It is preferred in this connection for the frame to be made releasable from the frame holder in order in this way to permit a simple change of the light bulb, for example. It is particularly advantageous in this case for the frame to be coupled with at least one flexible holding element which continues to connect the frame to the housing in its position released from the frame holder. It is thus prevented that a fitter has to handle a separate component, namely the frame with the elements located therein, when changing the light bulb. The frame can rather be let go by the fitter after a releasing from the housing since it continues to hang at the housing via the flexible holding element. At the end of the installation process, the frame hanging at the housing can simply be gripped again and connected to the housing. 
   Two flexible holding elements are preferably attached at one side of the frame so that it cannot rotate around a vertical axis with respect to the housing. The installation process following a change of light bulb, for example, is thereby facilitated since the frame already hangs in a largely correct position at the housing and can accordingly not be orientated incorrectly relative to the housing on the installation by the fitter. 
   It is particularly economic if the holding elements are shaped in one piece with the frame, with the frame in particular being able to be made as a plastic injection molded part. In this case, the frame, the holding elements and the projections present on the inner side of the frame can then be manufactured in a simple manner by means of a single injection process. 
   So that the holding elements are no longer visible with an installed frame, they can be pushed into the housing at their region remote from the frame on the installation. On being removed, in contrast, the holding elements are pulled out of the housing, with them, however, being fixed in their end position in the housing so that they cannot move fully out of the housing. 
   Further preferred embodiments are described in the dependent claims. 

   
     DRAWINGS 
     The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a sectional view of a recessed light in accordance with the invention which is designed as a built-in recessed light or as a downlight; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a three-dimensional view of a downlight in accordance with  FIG. 1  with a frame released from the housing; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the arrangement in accordance with  FIG. 2  under a changed angle of view with a frontal plan view of the rear side of the frame; and 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a three-dimensional exploded representation of a frame with holding elements, a transparent plate, a reflector and a fixing plate such as can be used in a downlight in accordance with  FIGS. 1 to 3 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. 
     FIGS. 1 to 3  show a housing  10  of a recessed light in accordance with the invention which is fixed in a ceiling element  14  ( FIG. 1 ) with holding means  12  visible from  FIG. 3  and not shown in  FIG. 1  for reasons of clarity. A light bulb socket  16  is attached centrally to the housing base at the interior of the housing and a light bulb  18  is inserted into it. 
   The marginal region  20  of the housing opening is releasably coupled to a frame  22  which has a substantially square shape and which is provided with an inwardly projecting peripheral collar  24  at its marginal region remote from the housing  10 . 
   A transparent plate  26  lies on the surface of the collar  24  facing the housing  10 ; it has the form of a square and has no apertures so that it can serve the dust-tight termination of the housing  10 . 
   A dome-shaped reflector  28  is placed centrally on the surface of the transparent plate  26  facing the inner side of the housing  10  and has a large reflector opening disposed in the main direction of illumination and a rear smaller opening disposed against the main direction of illumination. Starting from the light bulb socket  16 , the light bulb  18  projects through the smaller opening into the inner space of the reflector  28  so that the actual light generating element  30  of the light bulb  18  is located inside the reflector  28 . 
   The dome-shaped reflector  28  is fitted in the region of its large opening disposed in the main direction of illumination with an outwardly facing, peripheral collar  32  which lies flat on a ring-shaped region of the transparent plate  26 . 
   A fixing plate  34  lies on the surface of the collar  32  facing the inner space of the housing  10  and its outer contour corresponds to the outer contour of the transparent plate  26  which is, however, provided with a central circular cut-out for the reflector  28  so that—with the exception of the collar  32 —the reflector  28  can be pushed through this cut-out. The collar  32  of the reflector  28  thus comes to lie between the transparent plate  26  and the inner marginal region of the fixing plate  34 . 
   The fixing plate  34  is in turn now again fixed in its position by four projections  36  which are each located on the inner side of the frame  22 . A respective projection  36  is provided centrally at each inner frame side in this connection. The projections  36  are provided at their side remote from the collar  24  of the frame  22  with a slope facilitating the introduction of the fixing plate  34  into the frame  22 . 
   It can be seen from  FIG. 1  that the transparent plate  26  and the fixing plate  34  is so-to-say clamped and thus fixed with the collar  32  of the reflector  28  located between these elements between the collar  24  of the frame  22  and the projections  36 . 
   Two lug-shaped bendable holding elements  40  which extend perpendicularly away from the frame side  38  are attached mutually spaced apart to a frame side  38 . The holding elements  40  each have an elongate slit  42  ( FIG. 4 ) at their end remote from the frame side  38  as well as two outwardly facing hook-like elements  44  which serve for the anchoring of the holding elements  40  in the housing  10 . 
   The frame  22  can in turn be releasably latched in the housing  10  by means of a snap connection  46  ( FIG. 2 ). 
   In the operation of the downlight in the installed state in accordance with  FIG. 1 , light moves from the rear opening of the reflector  28  into the inner space of the housing  10  which has reflecting properties at the inner side. Due to these reflecting properties, the light is inter alia reflected to the fixing plate  34  which can in particular have light scattering properties. In this case, the transparent plate  26  then appears radiant in that region in which it is arranged adjacent to the fixing plate  34 . The large opening of the reflector  28  disposed in the main direction of illumination is thus surrounded by a diffuse light discharge region which is fixed by the fixing plate  34 . The advantages achievable by such an arrangement are described in the already mentioned German patent application 103 60 947.4. 
   If the light bulb  18 , for example, has to be changed in a downlight in accordance with  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the snap connection  46  must be released so that the frame  22  can be moved away from the housing  10 . In this connection, the frame is, however, still fixed by the holding elements  40 , which in this case can be pulled out of the housing  10  until the hook-shaped elements  44  block a further movement so that the fitter does not have to put the frame  22  to one side as a separate component or hold it in his hand. It is rather the case with a frame  22  hanging perpendicularly downwardly ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) that the frame  22  can be let go by the fitter so that he has both hands available to change the light bulb  18 . If the frame  22  should be fixed to the housing  10  again after the change of the light bulb, the holding elements  40  are pushed into the housing again, the frame is pivoted upwardly by approximately 90° with respect to its position in accordance with  FIGS. 2 and 3  and is subsequently latched in the housing  10  via the snap connection  46 . 
   As already explained above, there is the need in specific applications with a downlight in accordance with the invention to replace the reflector  28 , the light scattering fixing plate  34  or also the transparent plate  26 . 
   In all these cases, in accordance with the invention, the frame  22  is released from the housing  10  in the already explained manner. Subsequently to this, all four frame sides can then be lightly pressed outwardly in the direction of the arrows drawn in  FIG. 3  so that the projections  36  no longer come to lie over the fixing plate  34  and the fixing plate  34  is ultimately released. A movement of the frame sides in the arrow direction is possible because, in accordance with the invention, the frame  22  is flexible, optionally also stretchable. If the frame  22  can only be bent, but not stretched, it is necessary to dimension the transparent plate  26  and the fixing plate  34  so that a specific gap remains between these plates  26 ,  34  and the inner side of the frame, said gap then permitting a movement of the frame sides in the arrow direction. 
   After the fixing plate  34  has been released in the described manner, it can be removed from the frame  22  so that the reflector  28  whose collar  32  is now no longer fixed can also be removed. The transparent plate  26  can also be removed from the frame  22  when the frame sides are moved in the arrow direction in accordance with  FIG. 3 . 
   If the named elements  26 ,  28 ,  34  should subsequently be introduced into the frame  22  again, the frame sides are automatically pressed outwardly over the slopes of the projections  36  in the direction of the arrows in accordance with  FIG. 3  so that the transparent plate  26  and the fixing plate  34  ultimately latch beneath the projections  36  and are then again fixed between the projections  36  and the collar  24  of the frame  22 . 
   The description is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the present disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. 
   REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST 
   
       
         10  housing 
         12  holding means 
         14  ceiling element 
         16  light bulb socket 
         18  light bulb 
         20  marginal region 
         22  frame 
         24  collar 
         26  transparent plate 
         28  reflector 
         30  light generating element 
         32  collar 
         34  fixing plate 
         36  projections 
         38  frame side 
         40  holding elements 
         42  elongate slits 
         44  hook-shaped elements 
         46  snap connection