GB2309512A

GB2309512A - Fluorescent lamp

Info

Publication number: GB2309512A
Application number: GB9601712A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chi Fai Tsui
Original assignee: ALLIANCE IND CO Ltd
Current assignee: ALLIANCE IND CO Ltd
Priority date: 1996-01-29
Filing date: 1996-01-29
Publication date: 1997-07-30
Anticipated expiration: 2016-01-29
Also published as: GB2309512B; GB9601712D0

Abstract

A fluorescent lamp (2) comprises an elongate cylindrical tubular body portion (4) which in use supports a fluorescent tube (24), and a pair of elongate shutter members (60, 62) movably mounted thereon so as to be pivotably movable around the body portion (4) about an axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of the body portion (4) between a closed position in which the fluorescent tube (24) is obscured, and an open position in which the fluorescent tube is exposed.

Description

FLUORE6CINT LAMP The present invention relates to a fluorescent lamp and in particular, but not exclusively, to such a lamp which is combined with a spotlight and which is of a hand-held or portable type.

There has recently been an increase in popularity of such portable fluorescent lamps. Many of these also include a convencional spotlight having a conventional filament bulb.

Fluorescent lamps are useful in that they provide even and relatively wide illumination of close objects, whilst the spotlight is useful for illuminating a small area of more distant objects. A number of such lamps are presently available, these being generally of elongate form in order to support the elongate fluorescent tube, and are provided with the spotlight at one end thereof. Generally, the fluorescent tubes are fitted inside an elongate cavity closed by a clear cover. Despite this, the fluorescent tubes in such lamps, which are fragile, are still relatively susceptible to breakage.

The present invention seeks to provide a fluorescent lamp of improved design.

According to the present invention there ie provided a fluorescent lamp comprising an elongate cylindrical tubular body portion which in use supports a fluorescent tube, and at least one elongate shutter mcmber movably mounted thereon so as to be pivotably movable around the body portion about an axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of the body portion between a closed position in which the fluorescent tube is obscured, and an open position in which the fluorescent tube is exposed.

The provision of the movable shutters serves to protect the fluorescent tube when the lamp is not in use. They also give the lamp a novel and interesting appearance.

In the preferred embodiment the shutter members are provided at longitudinal faces which in the closed position abut each other with magnets which serve as a magnetic catch. The longitudinal faces are provided with reflective material thereon. This reflective material serves to increase the spread of light from the lamp. The shutter members comprise elongate members of generally arcuate section having a radial width which increases towards the said longitudinal faces. In this way, the faces which carry the reflective material can be maximized, whilst the rear faces are minimised, keeping the lamp of overall slim construction.

Preferably. the tubular body portion has end portions of reduced diameter, whilst the shutter membcrs are each connected at opposite ends thereof to ring-like members which are received on the end portions of the body portion so as to be freely movable relative thereto. One ring of each shutter member is fixed to the shutter member, and the other is noe fixed but includes a radially protruding hook which engages in slot in the respective shutter member.

This allows the shutter members to be easily mounted on the lamp.

End members are provided for the respective end portions, said end members constituting the sole means for holding the shutter members on the body portion. The end members and cnd portions of the body portion are adapted to retain the end members thereon by a push and twist type action.

This makes the assembly very eimple and cheap. No screws or other fixings are required.

One end member comprises a tubular member which surrounds a bulb fitted on the end portion, and supports a reflector and transparent cover part therefor. Thue, this end member serves a dual purpose, as a locking member, and as part of a spotlight.

In a further aspcct the invention resides in a method of asscmbling a fluorescent latin which comprises an elongate cylindrical tubular body portion which in use supports a fluoreecent tube, a pair of shutter members movably mounted on the body portion so as to be pivotably movable around the body portion, each having at one end thereof a first ring-like member fixed at one end thereof, and at the opposite ends thereof second ring-like members which are not fixed thereto but are engageable therewith, and locking end members, the method including the steps of: (a) fitting the shutter members onto the tubular body portion by fitting the fixed ring-like memhers thereof one by one onto one end portion of the body portion; (b) fitting the second ring-like members one by one onto the opposite end portions of the body portion and engaging them with the opposite ends of the shutter membcrs; and (c) fitting the locking end members onto the end portions of the main body by a push and twist action to lock them thereon.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of the lamp in accordance with an embodiment of the invention with shutter members in an open position; Figure 2 is a sectional view along the line A-A of Figure 1 with howcver the shutter members in a closed position; Figure 3 is an end view of the lamp with the shutter members in an open position viewed in the direction of the arrow B in Figure 1; Figure 4 is an end view of the lamp with the shutter members in a closed position; Figure S is an exploded view of the lamp, including arrows to indicate the assembly procedure; Figure 6 is an exploded view of the main body portion of the lamp, including arrows to indicate the assembly procedure; Figure 7 is a rear view of the lamp with the shutter members in a closed position; Figure 8 is a side view of the lamp with the shutter members in a closed position; and Figure 9 is a front vies of the lamp with the shutter members in a closed position.

Turning to the drawings, the portable or hand-held combined fluorescent lamp and spotlight is indicated generally by reference numeral 2. It includes, as best seen in Figure 6, a main body portion 4 of generally cylindrical tubular construction. This comprises a two tubular body shell halves 6, 8 defining therein an internal enclosure 10 which houses the electrical components, as will be described in further dctail below. Clips 11 are provided at various portions on the shell halves 6, 8, which engage in slots or recesses in the other shell half to hold these together.

More particularly, the enclosure 10 is defined by the outer part-cylindrical walls of the main body portion and a planar wall defined by planar portions 12, 14, 16 and 18.

The planar portions 12, 14 define, with the curved extensions of the tubular side wall, and with a partition 20 and an end wall 22 a shallow recess within which a fluorescent tube 24 is received. The planar regions 16, 18, together with the curved extensions of the tubular side wall, the partition 20 and a planar end region 26 define a small recess within which a filament bulb 28 is received.

Reflectors 30, 32 comprising thin, bent strips of shiny metal are fitted in the respective recesses. A transparent cover 34 of arcuate section closes the recess for the fluoresccnt tube. Longitudinal edges 36, 38 of the cover 34 are provided with small, outwardly extending hook-like edge regions which engage in corresponding grooves at edge regions on the main body portion 6. A cut out region 46 allows a suitable tool such as a screw driver to be inserted in order to assist in removal of the cover 34, in order to allow access to the fluorescent tube for replacement purposes. Similarly, a cover 48 is provided for the bulb 28, having similar edge formation 50, and cut out 52.

Mounted on the main body portion 6 are a pair of cover members or shutter members 60, 62, as best seen in Figure S. These comprise elongate members of generally arcuate section each having an inner curved eurface with a radius of curvature which corresponds to that of the main body portion 6, and which are of increasing radial dimcnsion from rear edges 64, 66 to front faces 68, 70 as best seen in Figures 3 and 4.

The front faces 68, 70 are provided with strips 71, 73 of highly reflective material to further increase the spread of light from the fluorescent tube. Opposite ends of the faces 68 and 70 are also provided with magnets 75, the opposed magnets being of opposite polarity, in order to hold the shutter members closed when in the position of Figure 4 serving as a catch. Shaped recesses 77 help the user to open the shutter members.

As best seen in Figures S and 6, end portions of the main body 4 are formed with regions of reduced diameter 70, 72.

The shutter members 60, 62 include respective rings 74, 76 at lower ends thereof fixed thereto and dimensioned to fit closely over end portion 70, in order to movably support the lower ende of the shutter members 60, 62. The upper ends of the shutter members 60, 62 are supported on respective rings 78, 80 which are also dimensioned to fit closely over the portion 72. These include respective downwardly depending projections B2, e4 which engage in rcspective slots 86, E9. Both shutter members 60, 62 include a pair of L-shapcd recesses or slots 90 into which respective lugs 92 protrude, which serve to limit the degrce of movement of the shutter members 60, 62. As can be seen in Figures 3 and 4 the shutter members 60, 62 are moveable between an open position in which the front faces 68, 70 are an angle X apart where X is in the region of 120' in which the fluorescent tube is exposed, and a closed position in which the faces 68, 70 abut each other and the fluorescent tube is obscured.

In order to hold the shutter members 60, 62 and their supporting rings 74, 76, 78 and 80 on the main body 4, a pair of end members 94, 96 are provided. The lower end membcr 94 is the form of a shallow end cap which is closed at its end and includes a pair of inwardly projecting lugs 98. These engage in grooves 100 in the lower periphery of the end portion 70 and behind lugs 102 through a push and twist action. A shallow projection 104 beneath the lugs 98 is also provided on the end member 94. This serves to provide a small degrce of snap-fit into a cut out region 106 behind the lugs 102 on the body portion in order to assist in locking the end cap 94 tightly on the end portion 70. The end member 96 is of tubular construction, and in addition to serving as a locking member for the upper end of the lamp, it also houses a second filament bulb 108.

reflector 110 and clear cover 112. The end member 96 is identically provided with inwardly extending lugs which are received in grooves 100 with corresponding lugs on the end portion 72, so that the end member 96 is likewise fitted on the end portion 72 by a push and twist action. In this way, the shutter members 60, 62 are movably held on the body portion 4 without assistance of any screws or similar fixings.

Supported within the main body portion 4 are the electronic and electrical components. A printed circuit board 114 supports a switch 116 which ie operated by thumb plate 118 provided on an outer surface of the main body portion 4, a D.C. jack 120 allowing connection to an external D.C.

source (such as the output of an A.C./D.C. adaptor), as well as the electrical contacte and wires for contacting the filament bulbs 28 and 108 and pins of the fluorescent tube 24, as well as batteries 122. A removable battery cover 124 allows access to the batteries.

As can be seen in Figure 7, the switch has four positions: a forwardroost position in which only the end bulb 108 is illuminated, and second off position, a third position in which the fluorescent tube 24 15 illuminated, and a rear position (which is the one shown) where the bulb 28 is illuminated.

A carrying strap 126 is provided, mounted at the rear of the body portion.

In order to assemble the lamp the following is procedure adopted. The printed circuit board 114 and other electronic and electrical colnponents including the electrical connections for the fluorescent tube 24, battery connections etc are inserted into or fitted on one or other of the two halves 6 or 8 of the main body portion 4, and the two halves filled together so that the clips 11 on the one part snap into the corresponding slots or recesses in the other part. As indicated in Figure 6, thereafter, the reflectors 30, 32 are push-fitted into the respcctive recesses, followed by the fluorescent tube 24 and filament bulb 28 and the respective covers 34 and 48 then fitted thereover.

Turning now to Figure 5, the shutter members 60, 62 are fitted onto the main body portion 4; the shutter part 62 is fitted first, with the ring 76 inserted over the portion 70 so that the lugs 92 engage in the axially extending portions of the L-shapcd slots 90. The shutter member 60 is fitted in the same manner. The end member 94 is then locked onto the end portion 70 by a push and clockwise (viewed from below) twist action. The rings 80 followed by 78 are then fitted, with the respective projections 84 and 82 engaging in the slots 88. Thereafter, the bulb 108 is inserted into the bulb holder 109. The reflector 117 and cover 112 are inserted into the end member 96 which is locked onto the end portion 72 by a push and clockwise (viewed from above) twist action.

The entire lamp can thus be assembled without the need for any screws or similar fixing mcans, which results in a construction which is easy and cheap to assemble.

Claims

1. A fluorescent lamp comprising an elongate cylindrical tubular body portion which in use supports a fluorescent tube, and at least one elongate shutter member movably mounted thereon so as to be pivotably movable around the body portion about an axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of the body portion between a closed position in which the fluorescent tube is obscured a and an open position in which the fluorescent tube is exposed.

2. A fluorescent lamp according to claim 1 comprising a pair of shutter members and wherein the shutter members are provided at longitudinal faces which in the closed position abut each other with magnets which serve as a magnetic catch.

3. A fluorescent lamp according to claim 2 wherein said longitudinal faces are provided with reflective material thereon.

4. A fluorescent lamp according to any preceding claim wherein the shutter members comprise elongate mcmbers of generally arcuate section having a radial width which increases towards the said longitudinal faces.

5. A fluorescent lansp according to any preceding claim wherein the tubular body portion has end portions of reduced diameter, and wherein the shutter members are each connected at opposite ends thereof to ring-like members which are received on the end portions of the body portion so as to be freely rotatably movable relative thereto.

6. A fluorescent lamp according to claim 5, wherein one ring of each shutter member is fixed to the shutter member, and the other is not fixed but includes a radially protruding hook which engages in slot in the respective shutter member.

7. A fluorescent lamp according to claim 5 or 6 wherein end members are provided for the respective end portions, said end members constituting the sole mcans for holding the shutter members on the body portion.

8. A fluorescent lamp according to claim 7 wherein the end members and end portions of the body portion are adapted so that the end members are retained thereon by a push and twist type action.

9. A fluorescent lamp according to claim 7 or 8, wherein one end mcmber comprises a tubular member which surrounds a bulb fitted on the end portion, and supports a reflector and transparent cover part therefor.

10. A method of assembling a fluorescent lamp which comprises an elongate cylindrical tubular body portion which in use supports a fluorescent tube, a pair of shutter members movably mounted on the body portion so as to be pivotably movable around the body portion, each having at one end thereof a first ring-like member fixed at one end thereof a and at the opposite ends thereof second ring-like members which are not fixed thereto but are engageable therewith, and locking end members, the method including the steps of: (a) fitting the shutter members onto the tubular body portion by fitting the fixed ring-like members thereof one by one onto one end portion of the body portion; (b) fitting the second ring-like members one by one onto the opposite end portions of the body portion and engaging them with the opposite ends of the shutter members; and (c) fitting the locking end members onto the end portions of the main body by a push and twist action to lock them thereon.

11. A fluorescent lamp substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of assembling a fluorescent lamp substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated with reference to Figure 5, optionally in combination with Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of assembling a fluorescent lamp substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated with reference to Figure S, optionally in combination with Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A fluorescent lamp comprising an elongate cylindrical tubular body portion which in use supports a fluorescent tube, and a pair of elongate shutter members movably mounted thereon so as to be pivotably movable around the body portion about an axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of the body portion between a closed position in which the shutters abut each other and in which the fluorescent tube is obscured, and an open position in which the fluorescent tube is exposed.

2. A fluorescent lamp according to claim 1 wherein the shutter members are provided at longitudinal faces which in the closed position abut each other with magnets which serve as a magnetic catch.

4. A fluorescent lamp according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the shutter members comprise elongate members of generally arcuate section having a radial width which increases towards the said longitudinal faces.

S. A fluorescent lamp according to any preceding claim wherein the tubular body portion has end portions of reduced diamcter, and wherein the shutter members are each connected at opposite ends thereof to ring-like members which are received on the end portions of the body portion so as to be freely rotatably movable relative thereto.

7. A fluorescent lamp according to claim 5 or 6 wherein end members are provided for the respective end portions, said end members constituting the sole means for holding the shutter members on the body portion.

9. A fluorescent lamp according to claim 7 or 8, wherein one end mcmber comprises a tubular member which surrounds a bulb fitted on the end portion, and supports a reflector and transparent cover part there for.

10. A method of assembling a fluorescent lamp which comprises an elongate cylindrical tubular body portion which in use supports a fluorescent tube, a pair of shutter members movably mounted on the body portion so as to be pivotably movable around the body portion, each having at one end thereof a first ring-like member fixed at one end thereof a and at the opposite ends thereof second ring-like members which are not fixed thereto but are engageable therewith, and locking end members, the method including the steps of: (a) fitting the shutter members onto the tubular body portion by fitting the fixed ring-like members thereof one by one onto onc end portion of the body portion; (b) fitting the second ring-like members one by one onto the opposite end portions of the body portion and engaging thcm with the opposite ends of the shutter members; and (c) fitting the locking end members onto the end portions of the main body by a push and twist action to lock them thereon.

11. A fluorescent lamp substantially as hereinbefore describcd with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.