Patent Description:
There are various types of fixtures available, and fixtures can be used to attach many types of items, including lamps, spotlights, and downlights. Downlights are very popular for multiple reasons including aesthetics, options available for lighting arrangements, as well as amount of light output.

<CIT> describes a method for mounting a loudspeaker on the surface board of a ceiling with front and back sides by: forming in the surface board an opening for mounting the speaker; preparing an annular back plate of deformable construction and of a size, in undeformed state, greater than the opening size; deforming the back plate into a shape in which it can be passed through the opening; passing the deformed back plate through the opening from the front side to the back side; restoring the back plate to its undeformed state; placing the speaker in mounting position over and in the opening and against the board on its front side; and connecting the speaker and back plate to clamp the board therebetween and thereby to mount the speaker.

<CIT> describes a lighting apparatus including a housing, a cover plate, and a cover is integrally assembled to improve airtight, waterproof, and moisture-proof properties and quickly and simply perform installation work, couples a support frame having an area larger than an installation hole of a ceiling panel to an outer surface of the housing during installation to support a basin plate of the support frame on an upper surface of the ceiling panel to firmly support the lighting apparatus body buried in the installation hole of the ceiling panel, forms a stopping protrusion whose outer diameter is expanded in a step structure on the outer surface of the housing, allows a horizontal plate of the support frame to be seated on the stopping protrusion, and allows a vertical plate to be supported on the outer surface of the housing to increase the contact area of the support frame and housing to firmly couple the housing and support frame.

<CIT> describes a kit of modular parts for a recessed spot from which a great variety of recessed spots with very different properties can be built from standard modules.

<CIT> describes a method and an apparatus for installing an object, for example a loudspeaker or light fitting in a recess. The method makes use of fixings. The fixings comprise a retaining member and a flexible tail. The method comprises inserting the retaining member and the loudspeaker into the recess.

<CIT> describes a mounting system for mounting a ceiling or wall device, such as e.g. a sensor, a controller, an actuator, lighting means, a speaker or the like, in or on a ceiling or wall. The mounting system according to embodiments can be easily dismounted and removed from the ceiling or wall whenever necessary.

The downlights fixtures heretofore known suffer from several disadvantages, which include being difficult to use, being difficult to install, being unduly complex, being limited in application and being difficult to remove.

Downlights fixtures are usually designed with a circular support member (but it may well be, for example, square) which is inserted into a hole in a ceiling designed for that purpose. The support member is designed for this with a flange facing the ceiling when the support member is inserted into the hole. The support member is attached to the ceiling structure by means of the flange, which engages firmly with the one side of the ceiling/ceiling structure, and an "unfoldable tab" that engages with the other side. Usually, there are two tabs on a support member.

When lamps, such as spotlights, are to be installed in the ceilings of buildings, this is done by drilling a hole/opening in the ceiling and then attaching the lamp in the hole. In modern buildings, the upper side of the ceilings are covered and protected by an airtight membrane and this membrane is pierced when drilling holes.

In the known systems, these membranes are not fixed/patched at the holes and thus leaks are often created when lamps/spots are installed. This has a negative influence on the indoor climate, as the leaks often lead to moisture problems and unintentional heat transport.

It is the object of the invention to remedy one or more of these problems and / or to create an alternative solution.

This is achieved in that, the support member comprises two essentially identical semi-circular pieces , which are hinged together such that the hinge enables the ends opposite the hinge to be moveable towards and away from each other and where the second configuration is obtained when the ends of the two essentially identical semi-circular pieces are moved together.

This will provide an evenly distribution of forces towards an underlaying membrane and thereby also an airtight connection.

The barriers on the top of ceilings are usually made as a plastic/rubber membrane. By making the support member with a flat bottom extending all the way around the hole, this bottom can thus be laid on top of the membrane whereby the membrane is pressed down against the upper side of the ceiling when the annular flange and the support member are clamped against each other using their fastening means.

In an embodiment of the invention, the complementary fastening means in the support member comprise at least one projection on the inner side and the complementary fastening means in the annular flange comprise at least one projection on the inner side.

By making the fastening means such that they comprise projections on the inner side of the annular bodies, it is achieved that the annular flange and the support member can be clamped against each other by clamping the projections against each other and thereby i achieve that these means may also be located on the inner side of these annular bodies.

Accordingly, these means will not penetrate and destroy a seal between the fixture, membrane, and ceiling.

In an embodiment of the invention, the complementary fastening means in the support member and the annular flange each comprise two projections situated offset <NUM> degree from each other on the inner sides of their annular bodies,.

By this, an evenly distribution of forces is achieved.

In an embodiment of the invention, the fastening means comprise at least one releasable screw connection between a projection in the support member and a projection in the annular flange.

A screw connection provides both a strong clamping and a connection that can be assembled and disassembled using conventional hand tools.

In an embodiment of the invention, the projection(s) in the annular flange and the projection(s) in the support member are adapted such that they can be clamped together by means of conventional cable ties having a tape section with teeth that engage with a pawl located in the cable ties head.

In an embodiment of the invention, the projection(s) in the support member comprises a hole being adapted such that a head of a conventional cable tie can be mounted in said hole by running the tape section through the hole until the head is caught in the hole. The projection (s) in the annular flange preferably comprises a pawl mechanism being adapted for engagement with the teeth of a conventional cable tie having a head capable of being caught in the hole in the projection(s) in the support member.

By performing the projection in the annular flange in this way, cable ties can be mounted in the support member before the support member is inserted through a hole in the ceiling. The cable ties are set so that the head of these is caught in the hole while the tape section has a downward direction through the hole when the support member is mounted on the top of the hole. Subsequently, the annular flange can thus be easily mounted and clamped against the support member by pressing the annular flange against the support member while the tape section of the cable ties is similarly pulled past the pawl mechanism in the annular flange.

In an embodiment of the invention, a cable tie is made detachable by means of a removable support in the annular flange being adapted such that it is capable of abutting against the smooth side of a cable tie.

By making such a support removable, the teeth of the cable tie can be easily taken out of engagement with the pawl by simply removing this support, after which the fixture can be separated and removed from a ceiling where it is mounted.

In an embodiment of the invention, the ends - opposite the hinge - of the two parts are connected via a circular guide in one part, which extends inside a guide-groove in the other part. The circular guide and the guide-groove may be provided with surfaces made plane to entail an airtight connection between fixture and membrane.

In an embodiment of the invention, the two circular pieces are connected to spring means such that the support member will be in its second configuration when the two circular pieces are not affected by external forces. This entails an easy installation since the installer does not have to expand the support member after insertion through the hole.

In an embodiment of the invention, the spring means comprise a spring being functionally located between the ends of the two circular pieces and the spring being a compression spring which presses the ends away from each other. By placing the spring as far as possible from the hinge, the largest torque arm is obtained which in turn means that this location entails that the spring can be minimized.

In an embodiment of the invention, the spring lays inside the guide-groove. This location protects the spring.

In an embodiment of the invention, the fixture comprises spring means being functionally located in the hinge and the spring means working against that the ends are moved towards each other. This is a well proven and simple construction.

In an embodiment of the invention, the fixture comprises a support member formed of resilient material.

By making the support member resilient, a very tight connection is obtained as the elastically deformable support member can also absorb small irregularities that may occur on the upper side of a ceiling. Thereby an increased chance of air tightness of the membrane seal at the hole is obtained, even when the ceiling is irregular.

In an embodiment of the invention, the support member is formed of resilient material such that the support member can be changed between the first and the second configuration by elastic deformation of the support member.

By making the support member elastically deformable, is achieved that the support member can be passed through a hole more easily. At the same time, a very tight connection is obtained as the elastically deformable support member can also absorb small irregularities that may occur on the upper side of a ceiling. Thereby an increased chance of air tightness of the membrane seal at the hole is obtained even when the ceiling is irregular.

Other embodiments are recited in the dependent claims.

It should be noted that embodiments and features described in the context of one of the aspects of the present invention also apply to the other aspects of the invention.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in more detail in the following with references to the figures.

In <FIG> is shown a fixture1 for fixation of a downlight in a hole in a ceiling or a wall. The embodiment shown in <FIG> is shown with a casing <NUM> for a downlight (not shown) inserted. The casing <NUM> is shown in cross section without one half, thereby the fastening means <NUM>, <NUM> can be seen. in the right side of the figure.

The fixture comprises: an annular flange <NUM>, having a centre axis (y), an inner side <NUM>' and an outer side <NUM>", said annular flange being for abutment around a hole so that the annular flange lies substantially coaxially with the hole while the annular flange encloses the hole. The annular flange is for placement on the underside of a ceiling and the annular flange may be provided with means <NUM> for attaching e.g., a ceiling lamp in the form of a spot. In the shown embodiment these means comprise threads <NUM>. The fixture further comprises, a support member <NUM> having a centre axis y, an inner side <NUM>' and an outer side <NUM>".

When lamps, such as spotlights, are to be installed in the ceilings of buildings, this is done by drilling a hole in the ceiling and then attaching the lamp to/in the hole.

The fixture according to the invention includes a support member and an annular flange that are independent. These elements each comprise mutually adapted fastening means, by which it is achieved that the annular element can be assembled with the support member and also, disassembled again. These elements are to be placed on either side of a surface and the actual attachment of the fixture to the surface takes place when the support member and the annular flange are moved towards each other by means of the fastening means, whereby they are both pressed against the surface. The fixture, according to the invention, is therefore not fixed in a hole, but instead around a hole, which gives a stronger fastening/construction. Since both, the annular member and the support element are annular elements, the fixture when mounted thus forms a very strong "opening" in which much more than lamps can be mounted and dismounted. If the fixture is used on / in a surface as e.g. a ceiling where the upper side is covered by a membrane, as explained below, the fixture will entail an airtight mounting of items in the fixture.

In modern buildings, the upper part of the ceiling is normally protected by a membrane that is airtight and this membrane is pierced when drilling holes. In the known systems, these membranes are not subsequently fixed/patched at the holes and thus leaks are created at the lamps/spots. This has a negative influence on the indoor climate, as the leaks often lead to moisture problems and unintentional heat transport.

The support member <NUM> is configured to form at least two configurations. The first configuration is as an annular member having a flat bottom <NUM>‴ that defines a circular essentially unbroken surface with a first outer circumference. The first configuration being for abutment around the hole such that the annular member is substantially coaxial with the hole.

As can be seen in <FIG>, the underside <NUM>‴ of the support member <NUM> is formed with a planar surface which makes it suitable for - in a sealing manner - pressing a membrane down against a surface on the upper side of a ceiling. But of course, it - and the fixture - can be used in holes/openings with or without a membrane. The fixture can also be used in holes/openings in other surfaces, such as a wall.

The second configuration being as an element defining a second outer circumference smaller than the first outer circumference. The first and the second configurations being adapted such that the support member can be passed through a hole when it forms the second configuration and at least partially encircles the same hole when it forms the - "bigger" - first configuration as an annular member. The support member comprises fastening means <NUM> being mutually adapted to complementary fastening means <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) on the annular flange <NUM>. Thereby, the annular flange can be mounted on the support member and when these elements are fastened together, they will be able to form an airtight joint around a membrane and further form a durable and strong fixture on which, for example, lamps can be installed.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> is shown a hinge <NUM>'. The support members shown in these figures all comprise two circular pieces <NUM>, <NUM>, which are joined by a hinge <NUM>'. The hinge <NUM>' enables the ends <NUM>, <NUM> opposite the hinge <NUM>' to be moveable towards and away from each other. The second configuration of the support member is obtained when the ends <NUM>, <NUM> of the two circular pieces <NUM>, <NUM> are moved together. Preferably, but not necessarily, the two circular pieces are essentially identical semi-circular pieces.

In <FIG> and <FIG> is shown an embodiment, wherein, the ends <NUM>, <NUM>- opposite the hinge <NUM>' - of the two parts are connected via a circular guide <NUM> provided on one part <NUM>, which extends inside a guide-groove <NUM> in the other part <NUM>. The circular guide <NUM> and the guide-groove <NUM> are mutually adopted such that the circular guide slides inside the guide-groove <NUM> when the support member is manipulated between the first and the second configurations. The guide-groove <NUM>, the circular guide <NUM>' and the circular pieces <NUM>,<NUM> are preferably provided with bottom surfaces made plane, which entails an airtight connection between the support member, the upper side of a hole and a membrane. In this context, the words "bottom surfaces" are to be understood as the surfaces that are to be clamped against / meet the upper side of a ceiling. the words can of course also be understood as the surfaces to be clamped against a membrane placed on the upper side of a ceiling.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG> are the two circular pieces connected to each other by spring means such that the support member will be in its second configuration when the two circular pieces are not affected by external forces. The spring may be situated between the two ends opposite the hinge <NUM>. However, in the shown embodiment in <FIG> the spring <NUM> is connected to the two pieces at the hinge <NUM>', such that a movement in the hinge will elastically bend/deform the spring. In the embodiment shown in <FIG> the spring <NUM> is laying in groves provided in the undersides of the two circular pieces <NUM>, <NUM> at the hinge. The spring <NUM> in the shown embodiment is an elastic rubber or plastic piece fastened to the two circular pieces by e.g. moulding or glue. The spring <NUM> may thus be the part holding the two pieces together at the hinge and further also enabling the functionality of the hinge.

In another embodiment (not shown in the figures), a spring is functionally located between the ends of the two circular pieces. In <FIG> and <FIG>, these ends are shown with a guide-groove <NUM> and a circular guide, respectively. The guide-groove <NUM> is provided with an end wall <NUM>'. The spring may be situated in the circular guide <NUM> such that the spring is compressed when it is pressed against the end wall <NUM>' by the end of the circular guide <NUM>, when the circular guide enters the guide-groove <NUM>. This entails that the support member will be in its first configuration when not affected by external forces.

When a fixture as shown in <FIG> is to be installed in a ceiling, this is done by performing the following steps, but not necessarily in sequence:.

If the fixture is fastened to a roof provided with a membrane, the fastening of the fixture preferably involves the step of:.

In <FIG> is shown an embodiment of the invention wherein, the complementary fastening means <NUM> in the support member and the complementary fastening means in the annular flange <NUM>, each comprises at least one projection on the inner side of their annular bodies. As can be seen, the flanges in this embodiment are used as a guide for thereto adopted indentations <NUM> in a casing <NUM>. Such casing <NUM> is used especially when light sources such as spotlights are to be installed in environments where the spots can come in contact with insulation materials. The casing <NUM> thus prevents direct contact between spots and insulation, thereby reducing the risk of fire.

In the shown embodiment, the casing <NUM> and the fixture <NUM> are further mutually adopted with locking means, which prevent the casing from being released by pushing it through the fixture. These locking means, which are not seen in <FIG> can be a flange <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

As also indicated in <FIG>, the fastening means <NUM> provided on the support member <NUM> may comprise two projection <NUM> situated offset <NUM> degree from each other on the inner side, and the annular member <NUM> may comprise two complementary projections <NUM>. This provides a very good an even distribution of forces between the parts.

As best seen in <FIG> and <FIG>, the fastening means may comprise releasable screw <NUM> connections between the projections <NUM> in the support member <NUM> and the projections <NUM> in the annular flange <NUM>.

However, as seen in <FIG>, the projection(s) in the annular flange and the projection(s) in the support member may be adapted such that they can be clamped together by means of conventional cable ties having a tape section with teeth that engage with a pawl located in the conventional cable ties head. The functionality of cable ties having a tape section with teeth and a head provided with a pawl is well known to persons skilled in the art and will therefore not be explained further in this application.

In <FIG> is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention having fastening means utilizing cable ties. In this embodiment, the projection (s) <NUM> in the support member comprises a hole being adapted such that a head <NUM> of a conventional cable tie <NUM> can be mounted in said hole by running the tape section through the hole until the head is caught in the hole. The projection(s) <NUM> in the annular flange comprises a pawl (not shown) being adapted for engagement with the teeth of a conventional cable tie having a head capable being caught in the hole in the projection(s) <NUM> in the support member <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a bridge-like object <NUM> connecting the lower parts of the two cable ties <NUM>, <NUM> used in this embodiment. The purpose of this bridge-like construction <NUM> is to act as a guide, and it is used to push the support member against the annular flange while the tape section of the cable ties runs through it. The bridge-like construction <NUM> thus has no means, which engage with the teeth of the cable tie and accordingly it can after use be removed from the cable ties by simply pulling it in the opposite direction, i.e. in the direction corresponding downwards in the figure. By performing the projection in the annular flange <NUM> in this way, cable ties can be mounted in the support member <NUM> before the support member is inserted through a hole in the ceiling. The cable ties are set so that the head of these is caught in the hole while the tape section has a downward direction through the hole when the support member is mounted on the top of the hole. Subsequently, the annular flange <NUM> can thus be easily mounted and clamped against the support member by pressing the annular flange against the support member while the tape section of the cable ties is similarly pulled past the pawl mechanism in the annular flange.

To the left in <FIG> is shown a support <NUM> situated at the lower end of the projection <NUM>.

This support is seen in greater details in <FIG>. In <FIG> the support <NUM> is placed in a hole <NUM> in the projection <NUM> in the annular member <NUM>. The hole <NUM> is provided with guide means <NUM>,<NUM> and has an upper edge <NUM> and a lower edge (not shown).

The hole <NUM>, the guide means <NUM>, <NUM> and the support <NUM> are made such, that a cable tie which runs through the hole <NUM> with its backside against the support <NUM> and its tip - which is facing in the same direction as the tip <NUM> of the support - will be locked against movement in the direction opposite the direction of the tip <NUM>. This is achieved by the lower edge of the hole being adapted such that it will act as a conventional pawl and accordingly engage with the cable tie's teeth as long as the smooth backside of the cable tie is supported - and thereby presses its frontside-teeth against the edge.

The support <NUM> is in an embodiment of the invention adapted such that it can be removed by pulling it in the direction "w" as shown in <FIG>. In the same figure is also shown that the support may preferably be provided with bottom flanges <NUM>, <NUM> that will engage with the underside of the opening <NUM>.

This mechanism that enables removal of support <NUM> will be explained with reference to <FIG>, The support <NUM> is fastened/locked in the hole <NUM> by the tip <NUM> being locked by a lock <NUM>. The lock <NUM> engages with the underside of the tip <NUM>. The tip <NUM> is made such that the tip <NUM> is removeable from the support <NUM>, provided it is subject to a sufficient pulling force in the direction "w". Once the tip is removed from the support <NUM>, the support <NUM> is easily removed from the hole <NUM> by continuously pulling it in the direction "w". When the support <NUM> is removed the locking connection between the cable tie's teeth and the lower edge is also removed and accordingly, the annular flange <NUM> and the support member <NUM> will no longer be fastened together. A fixture according to this embodiment is therefore easily removed from the hole once the support is pulled out.

<FIG>, <FIG> show embodiments of the invention, where the support member <NUM> is made of resilient material.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the support member <NUM> and the annular flange <NUM> are assembled by means of cable strips / cable ties. In this embodiment, the annular flange is an integral part of a housing <NUM> for a spotlight. However, the underlaying idea/invention is the same, namely a two-part fixture gripping on each side of a surface. The support member <NUM> is - as also in the embodiment shown in <FIG> - made of an elastic/resilient material. It is best seen in <FIG> that the support member <NUM> comprises a cylindrical part <NUM> provided with a protruding flange <NUM>. Normally the protruding flange is made elastic, such that it - during deformation - can be passed through an opening with a diameter corresponding to approximately the diameter of the cylindrical part <NUM> and once the protruding flange <NUM> has passed through, the protruding flange <NUM> will act as a "barb" when the support member <NUM> is pulled towards the annular flange <NUM> by means of the cable ties <NUM>. The housing is provided with a guide <NUM>, <NUM> for a cable tie and as best seen in <FIG> the housing is also provided with a lock <NUM> for a cable tie <NUM>. The lock <NUM> is as also best seen in <FIG> situated a (short) distance from the guide <NUM>. This entails release since the distance is adapted such that a tool - as a plier- can cut the cable tie <NUM> between the guide and the lock.

The embodiment shown in <FIG> is particularly advantageous when the fixture is to be used in a hole in a ceiling plate since all the parts can be mounted from one side, usually below and mounting of a fixture as shown in <FIG> normally comprise the following steps, however not necessarily in this order:.

By making the support member resilient, a very tight connection is obtained as the elastically deformable support member can also absorb small irregularities that may occur on the upper side of a ceiling. Thereby an increased chance of air tightness of the membrane seal at the hole is obtained even when the ceiling is irregular.

In an embodiment of the invention (not shown in the figures), the fixture comprises a support member formed of resilient material such that the support member can be changed between the first and the second configuration by elastic deformation of the support member.

Claim 1:
A fixture (<NUM>) for fixation of e.g., a downlight in a hole in a ceiling or a wall, which fixture comprises:
• an annular flange (<NUM>) , having a center axis (y) , an inner side (<NUM>') , and an outer side (<NUM>" ), said annular flange being for abutment on one side of the ceiling or wall around the hole so that the annular flange lies substantially coaxially with the hole while the annular flange encircles the hole;
• a support member (<NUM>) having a centre axis, an inner side (<NUM>'), and an outer side (<NUM>"), said support member being for abutment on the other side of the ceiling or wall around the hole, the support member is manipulatable between a first and a second configuration, the first configuration being as an annular member having a flat bottom that defines an - essentially - circular unbroken surface, the first configuration being for abutment on one side of the ceiling or wall around the hole so that the support member lies substantially coaxially with the hole while the support member encircles the hole, the first and second configurations being adapted such that the support member can be passed through an hole when it forms the second configuration and encircles the same hole when it forms the first configuration as an annular member;
• fastening means (<NUM>) provided on said support member;
• fastening means (<NUM>) provided on said annular flange being mutually adapted to said fastening means on the support member such that the support member and the annular flange can be assembled in a releasably manner;
wherein the support member comprises two essentially identical semi-circular pieces (<NUM>,<NUM>), characterized in that the two essentially identical semi-circular pieces are hinged together such that the hinge (<NUM>') enables the ends (<NUM>, <NUM>) opposite the hinge to be moveable towards and away from each other and where the second configuration is obtained when the ends of the two essentially identical semi-circular pieces are moved together.