GB2512058A

GB2512058A - Decorative lighting application for pendant lights

Info

Publication number: GB2512058A
Application number: GB1304904.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-03-16
Filing date: 2013-03-16
Publication date: 2014-09-24
Also published as: GB2512144B; GB2512144A; GB201304904D0; GB201306297D0

Abstract

A decorative lighting apparatus for pendant lights is attachable to ceiling light fittings and may be provided with various functions such as music, light effects and rotation. Examples of decorative themes are snowmen, Christmas trees, snowflakes, Halloween, character designs, birthday, anniversary, baby or infant themes and wedding or celebratory designs.

Description

DECORATIVE LIGHTING APPLICATION FOR PENDANT LIGHTS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a decorative application that can be attached to an existing or new pendant lighting fixture; to add a novel and themed replacement fitting.

Background

Pendant lighting is a common fixture to private and commercial dwellings and consists of a junction point or ceiling rose that is attached to the ceiling and receives the wiring from the lighting mains for the building. From this a lighting fixture usually consisting of a negative and positive wiring formation can be extended downwards in the form of a cable; providing power to a bulb or similar illumination method.

These pendant fittings often have a light that is within the eye line of the user or is positioned above the head height of persons dwelling within. The need for a shade or a method of diffusing the light to a more comfortable level is common; these come in a large variation of materials, shapes and forms.

Shades of this type are attached to the cable which extends from the ceiling by* attaching onto the light fitting which houses the bulb. These fittings tend to have at least two sections that attach or screw together and the light shade or any other required cover or fitting is attached between these two sections and they are screwed or pressed together to encase the holding frame of the fitting between them.

The use of decorative lighting on other areas of the home or commercial environment are also common and fall within many traditions in relation to their form and novel designs. Lighting used during the Christmas period, for example, uses lengths of small LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulbs usually evenly spaced over a through current cable to decorate dwellings, Christmas trees, ceilings etc. These are also known and in historic use throughout the world.

Other decorative lighting includes Shaped or moulded character models, for example, a Father Christmas figure image that is illuminated as a bust feature of the face and shoulders or a complete figure that may play music and have changing lights.

These products are commonly available but are limited to their application to the ceiling areas of a dwelling. Lights used for Christmas that form a single length or looped method are difficult to apply as they tend to have a downward weight tendency due to their design and require a separate power source. usually located in the incorrect position for where they are desired to be placed. Other lighting can be expensive and offer limited novel appeal; all of these require either battery or electrical power from a third party location.

The use of existing ceiling pendant lights appears to be an area that mainly has been overlooked as a suitable and simple application for illuminated, musical and animated decorative lighting; to date.

* The present invention aims to provide a solution to the decorative themed lighting of the dwelling and primarily to the ceiling area that is often neglected due to difficulty of attachment and height access prevention; using power that is already in place at the point of application.

Prior Art

Accordingly patent applications have been filed to provide general solutions, including the following: United States patent ref: US5213519 (DORFMAN) Discloses a decorative lighting arrangement that can be arranged around a Christmas tree or applied to the ceiling areas using various attachment rnethods United States patent document ref: US6336733 (HUANG) Discloses a decorative light filling common to use around Christmas or similar periods that is linked in an evenly repeated pattern onto a through cable connection and may illuminate in differing colours Netherlands patent document ref: NL1010152 (CHU) Discloses a decorative lighting unit in various shapes, to include a star' that has a myriad of seated small light bulbs attached to cast light through perforated opening which also form part of the patterning of the design.

United Kingdom patent ref: GB2386181 (FEAST) Discloses a decorative light that may be placed on the top of a Christmas tree and has numerous illuminations that extend from the centre area with several lengths to form a star like form.

German patent application ref: DEl 02004057156 (ANMELDER) Discloses a lighting article that is suspended from the ceiling using a cable that is affixed thereon, lighting is provided by a suspended cradle or platform that holds candles or similar lighting apparel German patent application ref: DE4234058 (EICHLER) Discloses a lighting fixture that reveals a collection of spheres into which bulbs or lighting methods are used to illuminate them The spheres may be attached in various locations.

Chinese patent application ref: CN20234981 1 Discloses a dedicated ceiling light arrangement that provides a novel design and central illumination using a bulb with an element of improved method Extension arms' branch from the centre to form decorative additions.

Chinese patent ref: CN2814107 Discloses a decorative form of lighting for use in a vertical installation around a dwelling or commercial environment for internal or external usage. This is applied to electrical mains supply for its power and illumination.

Chinese patent ref: CN2750526 Discloses a multiple node lighting arrangement that is controlled using a power controller or transformer' and can create a decorative lighting effect that is controlled and may be applied to various locations.

Summary of the invention

According to the present invention there is provided a decorative fitting of an unlimited nature of design and theme, which replaces the existing fitting of a ceiling suspended light or pendant light. This replacement may include removing the bulb that may be present and inserting the decorative fitting using the same method of attachment that the bulb uses. For example, if the existing bulb has a screw' or threaded fitting, the replacement decorative filling wilt have the same.

The fitting is inserted or screwed' into the opening provided of the pendant light fitting thus providing it with an electrical attachment. A hanging collar frame that is attached to the decorative fitting extends from the top and has a horizontally formed loop that will allow the fixed portion of the light filling to insert within its diameter and become secured when the lower portion of the filling is replaced in the known way.

The frame holds the decorative filling in place and the installation is complete. In many variations a collar frame may not be required as the fitting is much lighter, mostly being made of light weight plastics or similar variants. The application of the electrical connector may be sufficient in some designs to hold the fitting in place. The electrical connector would be the same as that of the bulb that would normally have been secured into the light fitting. Thus, on appearance the screw filling of a bulb is protruding from the top of the fitting or is available to be inserted into the light fitting.

Once in place the electrical supply is passed from the ceiling pendant filling through the attached threaded or similar fitting and into the decorative light. The male fitting may be of any known of emerging variant to include threaded, bayonet and pinned types. This power supply travels vertically within housing inside the decorative light and into a transformer module housed within the body area. This regulates the required power to supply a motor that may rotate the light and play music. The use of a myriad of different LED or lighting options are also powered. These will include various colours, flashing or strobe lighting, or lighting effects. For example a Halloween themed light could have a blue white strobe light to create the intermittent effect of lightning', for example.

Popular ideas for designs are unlimited but include; Snowmen, Rain Deer, Snowflakes, Pumpkins, Christmas trees, Ghosts, Baby or Infant amusement and Witches, as these can be inserted into pendant lights as home lighting decorations for daily use or at celebrative periods of the year.

The main bodies would benefit from being formed of a plastic or similar composite. As electrical apparel are required to be housed within the fitting body, none conductive surroundings are recommended, this would indicate a hollow body with housing supports to secure or hold the components therein. Any paper or lantern approaches with an internal frame' structure would be avoided if possible.

The decorative light, for example, a Snowman design would begin to operate when the light switch is in the on' position. This powers the decorative fitting and any number of variant applications can come into transition.

These would include rotation. In the disclosure herein a Snowman figure is suspended from the light lifting from the ceiling and has a fixed hat' shaped module to the top that houses the screw filling for the power. Underneath this is a rotating section that allows the unit to rotate at a desired speed, which would normally be quite a slow RPM method for best effect with this particular design.

The rotation is made possible by sending any none movable parts such as the power cable inside a rotating cylinder or tube arrangement and having rotating plates that seat the assembly together. The body therefore rotates as the motor arm tums slowly, as the motor is attached to the interior of the body using mounting points moulded into the plastic or similar composite used to construct the item. The hat' or static portion remains in place and the area below rotates freely. The lighting will also provide illumination that may react and function with the rhythm of the music being played, if this option has been included.

The lights would be of any known or desired variants of current or emerging technology and at this time we would recommend LED (light Emitting Diode) options, as they have a very extensive life span and would survive in functioning condition for the life of the unit and could possibly avoid being replaced.

Novel variations of almost any theme may be introduced, it may also be desired to have a lighting unit for celebrations such as birthdays or anniversaries and also any other known theme to include characters from children or adult entertainment areas *and themes. For example; a Disney (TRADEMARK) character.

The lighting may reflect the theme being presented, as previously mentioned; a strobe LED or light may suggest lightening' in a Halloween themed option and a red light may provide the illusion or indication of blood or menace in a Vampire theme; for example only.

Brief description of figures

Figures 1 show examples of the decorative light fitting using a direct screw option into the pendant light housing.

Figures 2 show two examples of a direct screw filling and a support frame attachment onto the pendant light housing.

Figures 3 show a dimensional view of the rotation system for the decorative light filling Figures 4 show a sectional view of the working methods of the electrical and rotational options.

Figures 5 show two other designs for the decorative pendant light fitting /

Detailed description of figures

A decorative light fitting is novel and has a body 1 that is formed of at least one single moulded form of a hollow interior and lightweight outer surface. The body 1, as shown in Figure 1 creates a themed shape of any desired option and has decorative protrusions 2 to enhance the form. A male light fitting 3, as shown, is provided to the upper area or top of the body 1 this may have any required lifting to include threaded.

The male light fitting 3 is exacting to that of the female light fitting 4 provided by the power supply from the ceiling 5, as shown in Figure 1.

The male light fitting 3 to the top of the body 1 is applied by rotating the filling 3 into the female light fitting 4 usually in a clockwise direction until it is fully seated in the known way as common with applying a screw filling bulb. Once in position 10 the power supply from the ceiling 5 is able to pass existing and available electrical current to the unit 1 via the power supply to the unit 9, as shown in Figure 1. A support attachment frame 6 is formed from the top of the static area attachment 7, in Figure 1 this forms a hat' of a character but may be of any known or chosen theme. The support attachment frame 6 may be used in various ways in this figure it encases and holds the male light fitting 3. The support attachment frame is of a composite variant to include metals; alloys, plastics of other suitable material. It has a loop that allows the usually circular body of the male light fitting 3 to seat within. The loop seats horizontally to at least to vertical lengths extending from the static area attachment 7 as shown in 6.

Once the male lightfitting 3 is seated to its full extent into the corresponding opening of the female light filling 4 the electrical current is able to pass in a downward return direction along the power supply from the ceiling 5A, as shown in Figure 2 from the ceiling rose junction area 12 which is attached to the dwelling ceiling 11, as is known The rotating area 13 which in this design is the snowman body and head are able to.

rotate freely as they are attached to the rotating area 8, in Figure 1 and internal attachments via a motor. A sound outlet 14 is provided which allows music to be played simultaneously along with any lighting effects that may be chosen. Figure 2 shows the use of the support attachment frame 6 applied in the known way into the area provided between the female light filling 4 and its removable lower cover, as already known. The body 1A may also be attached without the support attachment frame 6, as shown as 15 in Figure 2. In this application the body 1 is screwed directly into the female light filling 4 using the male light fitting 3 mounted at its top.

As the male fitting 3 has a corresponding thread, or any fitting known or emerging, to that of the female filling 4 it holds the body IA in place and as the body 1A is of a lightweight composite the weight is not obstructive or preventative to the success of its usage.

Rotation is possible due to at least one option of centralising the power supply to the unit body 96. A rotation method has a male light fitting 36 which engages with a new or existing ceiling light fitting which is female and thus receives the male threaded area.

This male fitting 3B is housed in a static area attachment 7B, both of which are static and do not rotate. The static area attachment in this Figure 3 is circular as it forms the hat of a character. It may be of any shape or form to suit the design being used sat any given time. A rotating area to attachment 8B is also circular in a disc form with a holed centre. This may also be of any shape or form to suit the design being used at any given time. It is circular in this design as it forms the rim of a hat.

Centrally proportioned to this is a rotating motor arm 16 which is formed of a hollow light weight tube of suitable length to provide the required function to each design and its length will vary depending on the aesthetic requirements of the themed body. To the end of the rotating motor arm 16 is a mounting plate 18 which is circular and of a smaller circumference to that of the rotating area attachment SB.

The rotating motor arm 16 and the mounting plate 18 are attached and rotate together thus the rotating area attachment 8B may also rotate. To the hollow interior of the rotating motor arm 16 is the power supply to the unit 9B which extends from the power supply in a vertical direction within the hollow of 16. This power supply to the unit 9B does not rotate.

As the power supply to the unit 9B is of a considerably smaller diameter to that of the interior of the hollow rotating motor arm 16, it remains vertical and static as the rotating e motor arm 16 rotates around it in any given direction, as desired. As shown in various figures by the black directional arrows.

This rotation is provided via a small motor 17 which is correctly powered by a transformer pack 20 with the power supply from the power supply to the unit 9B passing in a downward return direction 19, as shown in Figure 3.

As the transformer power pack 20 is attached to the body 1C interior using unit attachment points 21, as shown in Figure 4. The body 1C is forced to rotate with it.

Should a support attachment frame be used to secure the unit body 1G to the light fitting, as shown in Figure 4, then the usually rotating area remains static 7C and is attached to the support frame as shown. The rotation in this version remains with that of the body 1C and upper area 13C which happens underneath 7C along with the rotating motor arm 16 due to its location to the transformer power pack 20 due to attachment points 21.

The power supply from the ceiling 5C is provided vertically in a static temperament as in the previous version and passes within the hollow of 16C. The motor 17C provides power for rotation and is powered via 20C. LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights 24, 25, 26 are provided inside the body 1C or externally as desired. These may be located in any area of the body 1C and may provide changing colour and intermittent effects supported by a known LED control cilcuit board 22, as well as any known or emerging chosen method of lighting or light effect.

These may be controlled via a dimmer unit 23 that may be manually or remotely controlled 27 using known methods. This will reduce the intensity or brightness of the LED or similar lighting as required. A music outlet 14C is also provided at any location of the body 1G. These are powered via known means to the transformer 20c.

The hollow nature of the body 1C provides a suitable lightweight housing for the components described. The body 1C would also be of a semi-transparent nature to allow colour and design factors to be provided to its surface but also allow light to pass through to suitable effect of the design and theme. Venting to allow.the low and moderate heat from the centre of the unit 1C to escape would be provided at any suitable location of the body 1G. Not shown.

Any known variant of design may be used to produce the body 1 C and provide a themed decorative light filling examples of which are D and E in Figure 4. These are just two examples of the unlimited designs that may be used.

It may be stated that although unlimited known or emerging designs for novel or more classic decorative designs such as art deco or modern formation designs may be used, their form and shape may be dictated by the operations required, such as the rotation function and their structural reliance; including hanging weight and proportional extremities.

Claims

Claims 1. A decorative lighting application for pendant lights is attached to new or existing ceiling mounted pendant lights.
2. A decorative lighting application for pendant lights as claimed in claim 1 is attached to new or existing ceiling mounted pendant lights and has corresponding fittings to support this.
3. A decorative lighting application for pendant lights as claimed in claim 2 has corresponding fillings for attachment to ceiling light apparel which powers novel features therein.
4. A decorative lighting application for pendant lights as claimed in claim 3 wherein power is provided from a ceiling light fitting to an attached decorative light which may rotate.
5. A decorative lighting application for pendant lights as claimed in claim 4 wherein power is provided from a ceiling light filling to an attached decorative light which may have LED or similar themed lighting effects installed.
6. A decorative lighting application for pendant lights as claimed in claim 5 wherein power is provided from a ceiling light fitting to an attached decorative light which may have means to deliver recorded music.
7. A decorative lighting application for pendant lights as claimed in claim 6 wherein internal electronic apparel are provided inside the application to deliver various amusing functions.
8. A decorative lighting application for pendant lights as claimed in claim 7 wherein the decorative lighting may be of any novel shape or theme, for example, a snowman.
9. A decorative lighting application for pendant lights as claimed in all previous claims is a novel themed or shaped hollow lighting application that is attached to existing or new ceiling or pendant lighting fillings and can have various amusing functions such as music, light effects and rotation; attachment may be temporary or permanent.