GB2450569A - Shade attachment for a recessed light fitting - Google Patents

Abstract

A shade attachment device 2 for a recessed light fitting has opposed surfaces, wherein one of said surfaces 12 is around a recess in a mounting surface for a light, and the other surface 2 is fixed to a shade. There is a releasable contact fixing on one of said surfaces allowing a shade to be mounted by presenting it to the light fitting. The releasable contact fixing may be magnetic, by hook and loop pads, by adhesive or by friction fittings (fig 7, 17). If a rim around the light fitting is not magnetically susceptible and adaptor 11 can be added, fixed by adhesive or flexible fingers. Arms 15 may attach the device 2 to the shade 1 allowing a space between them. The shade may further comprise heat insulating or reflecting material (fig 10,19) and arms (fig 12,22) allowing attachment to a pendant or table lamp fitting or arms (fig 14, 22) allowing use of a shade with an existing attachment (fig 14,24). A heat resistant collar may be inserted into the recess of the light fitting, fastened by releasable means such as clamps, spring clips or hose clips.

Description

1 2450569 1 Lainpshade 3 The present invention relates to shading for

lighting and 4 in particular to a removable lampshade suitable for use with ceiling mounted, recessed light fixtures.

7 Artificial lighting can be delivered in a variety of 8 forms adapted to the particular needs of the user. Thus 9 lighting used in a factory or supermarket where people and goods are moved around, maybe different from that in 11 an office, where reflective PC screens are used and *S.. * *

12 people spend extended periods of time in close study at a 13 desk. Similarly domestic needs differ from commercial 14 needs. * * * S..

.. : 16 Good quality lighting suited for the purpose does not *:*. 17 necessarily require the brightest lighting available, and 18 considerable thought has to be given to how the 19 artificial light is to be provided to benefit a user.

Frequently, thought must be given to mounting of the 21 light source and then to diffusion and shading of the 22 light emitted.

24 Typically, lighting is provided in one of the following forms, (i) dependent or pendant lighting; (ii) surface 26 mounted lighting; and (iii) recessed lighting. Lighting 1 of the third type is the most difficult to access and 2 modify after installation.

4 In particular it is notable that known recessed light fixtures are mounted in a znounting'hole, generally in the 6 ceiling or another elevated surface. The fixtures have 7 means for securing to the perimeter of the hole in a 8 manner intended to provide that the fixture is hidden 9 from view, i.e. substantially confined within the recess of the mounting hole. Such recessed fixtures have a 11 flange to bridge the gap between the fixture and mounting 12 surface. Recessed downlight fixtures are a common 13 replacement to traditional pendant light fixtures.

Whereas traditional pendant light fixtures are generally 16 used in a domestic situation, recessed down light 17 fixtures are becoming of interest in modern homes.

r* 18 Whilst there are many reasons f or change, one practical * . 19 reason lies in the lower ceilings of modern homes as *** compared with more traditional style homes. A pendant ****..

* 21 light fixture has an incandescent bulb located in a bulb ***...

* * 22 holder socket, suspended from the ceiling by a cable 23 including the electrical power supply wiring, which is * 24 secured to a surface mounted electrical terminal (so-* . * * ** called rose").

27 Pendant light fixtures offer the advantage of ease of 28 access and are normally adapted to receive a shade which 29 both directs and diffuses the light emitted from the otherwise bare bulb, thereby providing a generally softer 31 light. The pendant fitting normally provides for 32 attachment of a ring mounting between movable retaining 33 rings attached to a threaded socket, and the ring 34 mounting has limbs to which a shade is attached. The 1 ease with which such shades can be attached, removed and 2 changed has maintained their popularity for almost a 3 century. Thus a variety of lampshades are used in 4 conjunction with pendant ceiling light fixtures, table lamps, desk lamps and free-standing (standard) lamps 6 amongst other downlighter forms.

8 Whereas spotlights provide more efficient lighting in 9 that light therefrom is better directed in illuminating zones for reading at a desk for example, they have 11 limited value in providing ambient lighting. Therefore, 12 they tend to be used for providing lighting effects or 13 pools of light in certain zones. However, such lights 14 are often viewed as efficient and functional but normally unattractive lighting as typically a glaring bare lamp 16 surface is visible.

. 18 This has been addressed in part by provision of modified . 19 spot lamp fittings. Individual and track mounted spot **..

lights that can accommodate decorative shades are known 21 in the art. The inherent disadvantage of such a system 22 is that it requires a custom designed fixture. This may 23 involve use of a cylindrical lighting fixture housing * * * *.. 24 which has external grooves into which movable securing rings are located. The rim of a suitably sized shade is 26 then secured between the plastic securing means.

28 Even though there is some improvement achieved thereby, 29 the presence of the track mounting and visible fixtures can detract from the appearance of the shaded spotlights.

32 Recessed light fixtures provide the same efficient and 33 directional lighting that spotlights provide, with the 34 associated benefits of a recessed hidden fixture but like 1. spotlights, the recessed lights can result in functional 2 but often unattractive lighting, primarily due to the 3 exposed light emitting surface which in most cases, but 4 not exclusively so, is flush with the mounting surface.

The problem of glare associated with the exposed surface 6 cannot be readily addressed due to the hidden nature of 7 the fixing. Whilst it is possible to design diffusers 8 for use with such lights, the resulting fixing is 9 inevitably of a complicated construction and frequently cannot be provided in an inexpensive form.

12 Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to 13 obviate or mitigate the problems associated with glare 14 from such recessed lights.

16 According to a first aspect of the present invention 17 there is provided a shade attachment device adapted for . 18 use with a recessed light fitting, said device having *. 19 opposed surfaces, wherein one of said surfaces is configured for peripheral surface contact around a recess * 21 in a mounting surface for a light, and the other of said 22 surfaces is configured for mounting of a shade, wherein *::: 23 the device has releasable contact fixing means on one of 24 said surfaces whereby a shade may be mounted using the * * * * ** device by presentation of said shade to said light 26 fitting.

28 In the circumstance where the recessed light fitting 29 already includes a metal rim around the recess which metal is magnetically susceptible or attracted to 31 magnets, then the device comprises a magnetic surface 32 adapted to be presented to the metal rim, and on its 33 opposite surface, there is fixing means for attaching the 34 device to a shade.

1 In the circumstance where the recessed light fitting 2 includes a rim around the recess which is not 3 magnetically susceptible or attracted to magnets, then an 4 additional securing means with opposed sides may be used, consisting of a magnetic, or magnetically susceptible 6 surface and an opposing adhesive surface for attaching to 7 the rim of the recess, then the aforesaid device may be 8 used to contact that additional securing means, i.e. such 9 that the magnetic or magnetically susceptible surface may be presented to the additional securing means, and 11 thereby attached to the rim, with a shade attached by 12 fixing means on the opposite surface of the device.

14 Thus there is provided an assembly for attachment to a non-metallic or non-magnetically susceptible rim of a 16 recessed light fitting, comprising an additional securing 17 means to serve as a magnetic or magnetically susceptible :. 18 adaptor piece, and a device for mounting a shade as * S..

19 hereinbefore described. A spacer element may be optionally included, provided always that when a magnetic :: 21 fixing is required, at least one of the adaptor piece, : 22 spacer (if used) and the device has a magnetic component *,,, 23 or composition, and the others are at least attracted to b * : 24 magnets sufficiently to form a releasable fixing therebetween capable of supporting a shade.

27 In other variants a magnetic component is unnecessary, 28 and an interference fit device is used instead, same 29 being for example, a compressible expansion fitting including flexible fingers adapted to engage the inner 31 peripheral surface of a recess for a light fitting.

32 Alternatively, a heat-resistant collar insertable into 33 recess for the light may be used to receive a shade, 34 which may be then secured using suitable releasable 1 fastening means such as a clamp, push-fit clips, worm- 2 drive clips of the type used for hoses, such as Jubilee 3 clips, lever-actuated clamp, spring clip or other 4 suitable expanding clip etc. 6 Preferably, the releasable fixing means is an inexpensive 7 and light weight mechanical fixing such as fastening pads 8 of the hook and loop type available under the trade mark 9 VELCRO , a magnetic fixing, or a combination thereof.

11 The opposite side of the device may have a chemical 12 bonding agent such as an adhesive which may be permanent, 13 pressure-sensitive or peelable to allow for subsequent 14 removal.

16 It will be apparent to those in the field that in 17 choosing materials for the device, these will be selected :. 18 to be fit for purpose having regard to possible heat :*::: 19 effects from the light, for example the use of heat * S.

resistant glue. There may also be provided a portion of : 21 heat insulating or heat reflecting material or a 22 combination thereof, attached to the shade and capable of 23 receiving the releasable contact fixing means.

* 25 The assembly including a device for securing the shade 26 can be adapted to accommodate different shapes and sizes 27 of shade. In this regard the magnet may be configured 28 with a draft angle so as to improve the effectiveness of 29 the fixing.

31 Optionally, the shade attachment device may be secured to 32 the shade at discrete positions, allowing for remote 33 mounting of the shade with respect to the light fitting 34 and providing a space between the fixing means and shade.

1 Optionally, the shade attachment device may be secured to 2 the fixing means using friction fittings.

4 Optionally, the shade can be secured to the recessed surface of the light fitting by an expansion fitting or 6 other suitable means.

8 The size, shape and configuration of the fixing means may 9 be dependant on the size and shape of the shade and composition of the recessed light fixture.

12 According to another aspect of the present invention 13 there is provided a shade with a releasable contact 14 fixing means on a surface intended in use for peripheral surface contact around a recess in a mounting surface for 16 a light, whereby the shade may be presented to the light 17 and retained in place by the releasable contact fixing 18 means in one step. S. * ...

** 20 The releasable contact fixing means may comprise a device 21 or assembly according to the first aspect hereinbefore, 5**S.

* : 22 and variants thereof as described above.

0**S*. * 23

24 According to another aspect of the present invention, *:*. 25 there is provided apparatus for adapting the shade as 26 described hereinbefore for use with a traditional pendant 27 light fixture, the apparatus consisting of arms 28 configured to interconnect the shade attachment device 29 with an existing shade attachment means for securing the lainpshade to a traditional pendant light fixture.

32 Optionally, the light fixture may be a table or floor 33 supported lamp.

1 Optionally, the existing shade attachment means may 2 comprise a mechanism for rotating the bulb holder ring, 3 or other means for securing the shade, to accommodate use 4 with pendant light fixtures and table or floor lamps.

6 Alternatively the bulb holder ring, or other means for 7 securing the shade, may be slidably mounted on the 8 existing shade attachment device.

The present invention will now be described by way of 11 example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings 12 in which: 14 Figure 1 is a representation of a shade and a shade attachment device in accordance with the present 16 invention; 18 Figure 2 is a representation of a shade and an existing . 19 shade attachment device; * S S...

21 Figure 3 is a representation of a shade, a shade *I*S..

* * 22 attachment device and the method of attaching said shade :: 23 using said attachment device to a ceiling mounted, 24 recessed light fixture in accordance with the present * S. invention; * . . * S. 27 Figure 4 is a representation of the shade attachment 28 device and a magnetically susceptible light fixture, in 29 accordance with the present invention; 31 Figure 5 is a representation of the shade attachment 32 device, a non-magnetically susceptible light fixture and 33 means to adapt the surface of the fixture to facilitate 1 attachment of the shade in accordance with the present 2 invention; 4 Figure 6 is a representation of a shade attachment device with limbs; 7 Figure 7 is a representation of a shade attachment device 8 with friction fittings; Figure 8 is a representation of a shade, a shade 11 attachment device with limbs, a non-magnetically 12 susceptible light fixture and means to adapt the surface 13 of the fixture to facilitate attachment of the shade in 14 accordance with the present invention; 16 Figure 9 is a representation of a shade and shade 17 attachment device with limbs, providing a space between 18 the shade attachment device and shade; * * * S..

. 20 Figure 10 is a representation of a shade with heat *S..

21 insulating or heat reflecting material; *S..*.

* * 22 :: 23 Figure 11 is a representation of a shade and shade 24 attachment device with draft angle; * . .

I * S* * I.

26 Figure 12 is a representation of apparatus for adapting 27 the shade for use with a traditional pendant light 28 fixture; Figure 13 is a representation an existing shade 31 attachment device adapted for use in accordance with the 32 present invention; 1 Figure 14 is a representation of a shade designed for use 2 with a traditional pendant light fixture, adapted for use 3 in accordance with the present invention; Figure 15 is a representation of a shade with a slidably 6 mounted bulb holder, adapted for use in accordance with 7 the present invention; 9 Referring to Figure 1 there is illustrated a shade 1 and shade attachment device 2, with one surface 3 configured 11 for securing the device to the shade and a mounting 12 surface 4 configured for contact with the rim of a 13 recessed light fixture.

A shade 1 and an existing shade attachment device 5 are 16 depicted in Figure 2. Modification of the attachment 17 device at connections 6 would permit the use of the 18 attachment means in accordance with the present invention . 19 and subsequent mounting of the shade to a ceiling ". 20 mounted, recessed light fixture.

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* * 22 Referring to Figure 3 there is illustrated a shade 1 and :: 23 shade attachment device 2, recessed light fixture 7 in a 24 ceiling 8 and indication 9 of the presentation of said * SS S.. 25 shade to said light fixture.

27 Figure 4 depicts the circumstance where the recessed 28 light fixture already includes a metal rim 10 around the 29 recess which metal is magnetic or magnetically susceptible. The shade attachment device 2, with one 31 surface 3 configured for securing the device to the shade 32 and a magnetic or magnetically susceptible mounting 33 surface 4 configured for contact with the rim of a 34 recessed light fixture are also shown.

1 Referring to Figure 5 there is illustrated the 2 circumstance where the recessed light fixture includes a 3 rim 11 which is not magnetically susceptible. The 4 additional securing means (adaptor piece) 12 consists of a magnetic or magnetically susceptible surface 13 and 6 surface 14 prepared for adhesion to the rim 11 around the 7 recess of the light fixture.

9 Figure 6 depicts limbs 15, used to secure a shade attachment device 2, to a shade. The shade attachment 11 device 2 is therefore secured to the shade at discrete 12 positions.

14 Figure 7 represents the process of securing a shade attachment device 2 to a fixing means 16 using limbs 15 16 with friction fittings 17.

18 Figure 8 depicts the circumstance where a recess light . 19 fixture includes a rim 11 which is not magnetically susceptible. An additional securing means 12 is adhered *...

21 to a shade attachment device 2, which includes limbs 15 *.SS..

* * 22 secured to shade 1. *

****** * .23 24 Referring to Figure 9 there is illustrated a shade * * S S. S * 25 attachment device 2 secured to a shade 1 using the limbs * S* * ** 26 15, and providing a space 18 between the shade attachment 27 device 2 and shade 1.

29 A shade 1 is depicted in Figure 10, provided with a portion of heat insulating or heat reflecting material 19 31 attached to which is a shade attachment device 2.

1 Figure 11 depicts a shade 1 with a shade attachment 2 device 2, incorporating a draft angle 20 so as to improve 3 the effectiveness of the fixing.

Referring to Figure 12 there is illustrated a shade 1 6 with shade attachment device 2 and apparatus 21 for 7 adapting the shade for use with a traditional pendant 8 light fixture. The apparatus 21 consists of arms 22 9 attached to which is a surface 23 which can be adhered to surfaces of the shade attachment device 2. The arms 22 11 interconnect the surface 23 with an existing shade 12 attachment means 24.

14 Figure 13 depicts the circumstance where an existing shade attachment means 24 comprise a mechanism 25 for 16 rotating a bulb holder ring 26 in order to accommodate 17 use with pendant light fixtures and table or floor lamps.

18 The arms 22 interconnect surface 23 with the existing :. 19 shade attachment means 24. * *e* ** 20 ***

21 Referring to Figure 14 there is illustrated the :: 22 circumstance where a shade 1 is adapted for use with a :: 23 recessed light fitting using surface 23, when arms 22 are *.*. 24 located inside a bulb holder ring 26 of an existing shade * * * 25 attachment means 24. The arms 22 are held in position by I.: 26 friction.

28 Figure 15 depicts the circumstance where the bulb holder 29 ring 26 is slidably mounted on the existing shade attachment device 24. The existing shade attachment 31 device 24 is secured to the shade attachment device 2 via 32 arms 22.

1 In use of the aforesaid embodiments of Figs. 4 or 5, the 2 shade with securing means or securing means with adaptor 3 part is offered up to the recessed light fitting, 4 presented to the desired peripheral surface and attached by contact therewith.

7 The above example illustrates the ease with which a shade 8 attachment device with releasable fixing means and 9 adapted for use with a recessed light fitting provides a means for simply presenting the shade to a light fixture 11 to ensure an instant connection between the two articles.

13 Thus a shade modified with a releasable fixing means of 14 the invention, may be simply installed by a simple one step fixing of the shade. The shade is readily changed 16 by reversing the procedure. Other advantages of the 17 present invention include affordability and the ease with 18 which the shade can be installed and removed from the :. 19 light fixture. * I..

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S *S... * . * SS * 26

Claims (1)

1 Claims 3 1. Shade attachment apparatus comprising a device having 4

opposed surfaces, wherein one of said surfaces is configured to be attached to a light fitting and the 6 other of said surfaces is configured for mounting to 7 a shade, the device comprising releasable contact 8 fixing means on one of said surfaces whereby the 9 shade may be mounted using the device by presentation of said shade to said light fitting.

12 2. Shade attachment apparatus according to claim 1 for 13 use with a recessed light fitting.

3. Shade attachment apparatus according to any preceding 16 claim where the releasable contact fixing means is an 17 inexpensive and light weight mechanical fixing.

:. 19 4. Shade attachment apparatus according to Claim 3 :*::: 20 wherein the releasable contact fixing means comprises 21 a magnetic fixing.

S

* *. S** * S :: 23 5. Shade attachment apparatus according to Claim 3 *,,* 24 wherein the releasable contact fixing means comprises fastening pads of the hook and loop type available * 26 under the trade mark VELCRO .

28 6. Shade attachment apparatus according to preceding 29 claims 1 or 2 where the releasable contact fixing means consists of a chemical bonding agent comprising 31 an adhesive.

1 7. Shade attachment apparatus according to claim 6 where 2 the releasable contact fixing means is permanent, 3 pressure-sensitive, peelable and/or heat resistant.

8. Shade attachment apparatus according to any of the 6 previous claims for use with a recessed light fitting 7 that includes a metal rim around the recess, which 8 metal is magnetically susceptible or attracted to 9 magnets, comprising a magnetic surface capable of being presented to the metal rim, and on its opposite 11 surface, fixing means for attaching the device to a 12 shade.

14 9. Shade attachment apparatus for use with a non-metallic or non-magnetically susceptible rim of a 16 recessed light fitting, comprising an additional 17 securing means to serve as a magnetic or magnetically 18 susceptible adaptor piece, with opposed sides, :. 19 consisting of a magnetic, or magnetically susceptible surface and an opposing adhesive surface for 21 attaching to the rim of the recess, and a device for ": 22 mounting a shade as described in any of claims 1 to S... * *

*S.. 24 10. Shade attachment apparatus according to Claims 9 * 26 comprising an interference fit device being a 27 compressible expansion fitting including flexible 28 fingers adapted to engage the inner peripheral 29 surface of a recess for a light fitting.

31 11. Shade attachment apparatus according to any of the 32 previous claims further comprising a heat-resistant 33 collar, insertable into the recess of the light 1 fitting to receive a shade, secured using suitable 2 releasable fastening means.

4 12. Shade attachment apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the releasable fastening means is selected 6 from one or more of a clamp, a push-fit clip, a worm- 7 drive clip of the type used for hoses such as a 8 Jubilee clip, a lever-actuated clamp, a spring clip 9 or other suitable expanding clip.

11 13. Shade attachment apparatus according to any of the 12 preceding claims including a portion of heat 13 insulating or heat reflecting material or a 14 combination thereof, attached to the shade and capable of receiving the releasable contact fixing 16 means.

18 14. Shade attachment apparatus according to any of the :. 19 preceding claims where the device is adapted to accommodate different shapes and sizes of shade, 21 making use of one or more draft angles so as to :: 22 improve the effectiveness of the fixing.

**,* 24 15. Shade attachment apparatus comprising a device having :::: 25 opposed surfaces, wherein one of said surfaces is * 26 configured to be attached to a light fitting and the 27 other of said surfaces is configured for mounting to 28 a shade at discrete positions, the device comprising 29 releasable contact fixing means on one of said surfaces whereby a shade may be mounted using the 31 device by presentation of said shade to said light 32 fitting, the shade being remotely mounted with 33 respect to the light fitting and providing a space 34 between the fixing means and shade.

1 16. Shade attachment apparatus according to claim 15 2 wherein the device is secured to the fixing means 3 using friction fittings.

17. Shade attachment apparatus comprising a device having 6 opposed surfaces, wherein one of said surfaces is 7 configured to be attached to a light fitting and the 8 other of said surfaces is configured for mounting to 9 a shade, the device comprising releasable contact fixing means on one of said surfaces whereby the 11 shade may be mounted using the device by presentation 12 of said shade to said light fitting, the device also 13 comprising arms configured to interconnect the shade 14 attachment device with an existing shade attachment means for securing the lainpshade to a traditional 16 pendant light fixtures, table or floor supported 17 lamps.

: 19 18. A method of presenting a shade with a releasable .. 20 contact fixing means on a surface intended in use for * *e.e 21 peripheral surface contact around a recess in a 22 mounting surface for a light, whereby the shade is 23 presented to the fixture and retained in place by the 24 releasable contact fixing means in one step. ** I * SI * 26