Patent GB-1433931-A (GB)
Title: Lighting fixtures
IPC: F21V21/04
Filed: 1973-05-23
Abstract: 1433931 Latches ERCO - LEUCHTEN GmbH 23 May 1973 24626/73 Heading E2A [Also in Divisions F4 and H2] A recessed lighting structure, Figure 8, comprises a plurality of spaced apart, parallel, longitudinally extending overhead beams 11 constituting a support structure on which a plurality of spaced apart cross-pieces 14 are fixed with the aid of spring catches, a lamp housing 50 mounted on the support structure by means of releasable catches 68 which engage the beams 11 or an intermediate frame 30 when such is provided, and a component housing box 113 releasably secured adjacent a side of the lamp housing and having sockets 125 for one or more U-shaped fluorescent lamps 51 disposed in the lamp housing, the housing being insertable and removable from beneath the support structure and containing one or more reflectors 57. Each cross-piece 14 is of inverted channel shape and has respective notches 18, Figure 3, and 19, Figure 4, formed in the sides 17 of the channel at opposite ends thereof to engage the vertical webs 13 of adjacent beams 11, the beams being of inverted T-shaped cross-section. The cross pieces are locked in position on the beams by leaf-springs 21, Figure 3, and 22, Figure 4, the latter having an upper portion 26, 27 which serves to retain a longitudinally extending conduit 100 in a seat 20 in the upper surface of the cross piece. The conduit contains a pair of longitudinally extending conductor busses 110 adapted for engagement by a plug (127) on the bottom of the component housing box 113. The box, which contains control gear for the fluorescent lamps and is releasably attached to the conduit by latch arms 134, is substantially the same as that described in Specification 1399573. The lamp housing 50, which is similar to that described in Specification 1424207, comprises two open-bottomed trough shaped reflectors 57 disposed between opposite end walls 52, 53 each of which includes a curved main section 54 carrying a latching assembly 68, Figures 3 and 4. Each latching assembly includes a flat latch arm 71 which is secured to the section 54 by resilient arms 69, 70 and is biased outwardly so that fingers- 76, 77 thereon project through a slot 66 in the section 54 and rest on the adjacent beam 11 (Figure 4) or the adjacent leg 32a of the frame 30 (Figure 3). The latch can be released by means of a depending finger piece 73. The frame comprises a pair of longitudinally extending stepped legs 32a, 32b and a pair of transversely extending channel shaped legs 33 provided with slots 36 for ventilation, the leg 32a having a pair of spring catches 42 and the leg 32b carrying a pair of pivoted latching levers 44 for mounting the frame on a pair of adjacent beams 11. Each reflector 57, Figures 6 and 7, comprises an inner halfsection 58 and an outer half-section 59 separated by a ventilation opening 61, and is divided medially by a transverse baffle 80 comprising a pair of integrally formed panels 81 which diverge upwardly from a bottom fold 82 and terminate in inwardly directed flanges 83 bridged by a guide plate 84. A pair of latching plates 88 is disposed inside the baffle, the plates being urged outwardly by a spring 94 and guided by ears 86 on the guide plate 84 and a connector rod 96 having hooked ends disposed in slots 97 in the plates. The outer edge of each plate is formed with a finger 90 and a shoulder 92 for engagement with a vertical slot 67 in the appropriate reflector half-section 58 or 59. In one modification (Figures 2a and 8a, not shown) the conduit is omitted, the component housing box being secured to the lamp housing or, by means of a mounting bracket (158), to one of the beams. In another modification (Figures 11 and 12, not shown) the cross-pieces may be adapted to support a conduit at each end. In a further modification (Figures 13 and 14, not shown) the lamp housing has the form of a generally rectangular box closed at the bottom by a lighttransmitting panel.