GB2593755A

GB2593755A - Shade adapter for LED downlights and tool thereof

Info

Publication number: GB2593755A
Application number: GB2004833.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Moorhouse Simon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-04-01
Filing date: 2020-04-01
Publication date: 2021-10-06
Anticipated expiration: 2040-04-01
Also published as: GB2593755B; GB202004833D0

Abstract

A shade adapter for a fitting for a downlight 1 comprises a first adapter section 10 and a second adapter section 4. The first adapter section 10 comprises a cylindrical shell (14, Fig. 5) having an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal end, a distal end, and an engagement means (16, Fig. 5) for engaging with a shade (15, Fig. 5) for a downlight 1 disposed on its outer surface, and a first planar arcuate base section having an inner edge and an outer edge, fixed proximate its outer edge to a section of the edge of the proximal end of the cylindrical shell 14. The second adapter section 4 comprises a second planar arcuate base section with an inner edge and an outer edge which, when assembled in use with the first planar arcuate base section, forms a planar annular base at the proximal end of the cylindrical shell 14 having an internal radius of a first size. A tool 7 is used to assemble the first and second adapter sections 4, 10.

Description

Shade adapter for LED Downlights and Tool Therefor [1] The present invention relates to an adapter for a cowl/shade for LED downlights. Particularly the present invention relates to a two part cowl/shade adapter for I downlighters and a tool for the installation thereof.

Background of the Invention

[2] LED downlights arc becoming more and more popular as a lighting option throughout society. This is because LEDs are a more energy efficient light source, and therefore better for the environment and a user's wallet. LEDs are also more versatile than traditional light sources which is another advantage.

[003] LED downlights are however, somewhat unsightly and do not have the aesthetically pleasing shade options available in comparison to other traditional lighting solutions. Furthermore, LEA) downlights often produce a large amount of glare if not baffled. Baffled lighting systems are relatively expensive.

[004] It is an object of the present invention to provide an easy to install cost 15 effective cowl/shade for LED downlights for commercial and domestic application which can also be retrofitted to existing I,I downlight systems.

Statement of Invention

[001] A first aspect of the invention provides an adapter for a fitting for a downlight comprising a first adapter section and a second adapter section, wherein: the first adapter section comprises a cylindrical shell having an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal end, a distal end, and an engagement means for engaging with a fitting for a downlight disposed on its outer surface; and a first planar arcuate base section having an inner edge and an outer edge, fixed proximate its outer edge to a section of the edge of the proximal end of the cylindrical shell; and the second adapter section comprises a second planar arcuate base section with an inner edge and an outer edge which, when assembled in use with the first planar arcuate base section, forms a planar annular base at the proximal end of the cylindrical shell having an internal radius of a first size.

[2] An arcuate portion of the first planar arcuate base section proximate its inner edge may be detachable, and an arcuate portion of the second planar arcuate base section proximate its inner edge may be detachable, such that when the first and second planar arcuate base sections are assembled in use, they form a planar annular base having an internal radius of a second size larger than the first size.

[3] The inner edge and the outer edge of the first planar arcuate base section may be connected by a first end edge and a second end edge, the first end edge and the second end edge having respective curved profiles, and the inner edge and the outer edge of the second planar arcuate base section may be connected by a third end edge and a fourth end edge, the third end edge and the fourth end edge having respective curved profiles shaped to abut the first and second end edges when the first and second planar arcuate base sections are assembled in use.

[004] The engagement means may comprise a series of linear protrusion disposed tangentially around the outer surface of the cylindrical shell, in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the cylindrical shell.

[5] A second aspect of the invention provides a fitting for a downlight comprising a body defining an internal cylindrical cavity having an internal surface, 20 with engagement means disposed on the internal surface for engaging with an adapter according to the first aspect.

[6] A third aspect of the invention provides an apparatus for installing a fitting for a downlight comprising an adapter according to the first aspect, and a planar fitting tool having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end has a concave profile so as to be slidable in use under the rim of a downlight, and the second end is narrower than the first end so as to be suitable for being gripped by a user's hand, the first end and the second end being separated by a folding or hinged joint.

10071 A fourth aspect of the invention provides a method of installing a fitting for a downlight comprising the steps of: a. Sliding a fitting tool according to the third aspect between the rim of a 5 downlight and the surface in which the downlight is installed; b. Sliding a second adapter section according to the first aspect between the fitting tool and the surface so that it is in part disposed between the rim of the downlight and the surface; c. Removing the fitting tool from between the rim of the downlight and the 10 second adapter section; d. Placing the fitting tool between the rim of the downlight and the surface in a position opposite the position of the second adapter section; e. Sliding a first adapter section according to the first aspect between the fitting tool and the surface so that it is in part disposed between the rim of the 15 downlight and the surface, and so that it engages with the second adapter section; Removing the fitting tool from between the rim of the downlight and the first adapter section; g. Sliding a fitting for a downlight according to the second aspect over the cylindrical shell of the first adapter section such that the engagement means of the 20 cylindrical shell and the engagement means of the light fitting are engaged.

Brief Description of the Drawings

10051 The invention will be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings: 10061 Figure 1 depicts a standard LED downlight; [7] Figure 2 depicts an TED downlight, first and second components of the invention, and the installation tool of the invention; [8] Figure 3 depicts the first stage of installation; [9] Figure 4 depicts the second stage of installation; [010 Figure 5 depicts attaching a cowl/shade to the installed invention.

Detailed Description

[0111 The present invention is a two component system and associated installation tool designed to be fitted behind fixed LED downlightcrs. The system can then have a variety of different shades/cowls attached thereto.

[012] Figure 1 depicts a standard downlighter I. It comprises an Ii',I) light source 2 and an associated rim/flange 3. The body of the downlighter is substantially embedded in the ceiling and rim/flange 3 is abutted against the downward facing surface of the ceiling.

[013] Figures 2 to 5 depict the LED downlighter 1, the two component system 4, 10 and installation tool 7. When components 4 and 10 are combined they form an annulus with a cylindrical wall 14 extending therefrom. The wall is not flush against the edge of the annulus; instead, wall 14 has a slightly smaller outer diameter than that of the annular ring of combined components 4 and 10. Such that there is a projecting annular rim extending around the base of the cylindrical wall 14.

[014] As is best seen in Figure 4 the large component 10 comprises a semi annular base with profiled ends 12 and the complete cylindrical wall 14. As is best seen in Figure 3, component 4 has a semi annular shape with profiled ends 5 which are complimentary to the profiled ends 12 of the semi annular ring of component 10.

[015] The fitting tool 7 is relatively thin, for example made from card, and 25 comprises a first insertion half 8 having a concave semi annular profile and a folding "handle" half 9.

[0161 The process of installing the two component system is as follows: 10171 The first step is shown in Figure 3. The insertion half 8 of the fitting tool 7 is inserted between the ceiling and LED downlighter rim 3 such that the semi annular profile of insertion half 8 partially wraps round the body of the 1,11) downlight. Semi annular component 4 is then placed between the folding handle portion 9 of fitting tool 7 and the ceiling with the internal annular curve facing the LED downlighter. The annular component 4 is then pushed in between the back of rim 3 and the ceiling, using the fitting tool in a manner similar to how one uses a shoe horn until the inner edge of the semi annular component 4 substantially abuts against the body of the LED downlighter, the fitting tool 7 is then removed leaving semi annular component 4 held in place by the ceiling and LED downlighter rim 3, this is best seen in Figure 4.

[0181 Figure 4 depicts the next step of installation. In this step the semi annular insertion portion 8 is inserted between the ceiling and downlighter rim 3 in the same manner as the previous step, but on the opposite side of the LED downlighter 1. The handle portion 9 of the fitting tool is threaded through cylindrical wall 14 and the semi annular portion of component 10 is between the handle portion 9 of fitting tool 7 and the ceiling. Component 10 is then pushed so that the inner edge of the semi annular section of component 10 is substantially abutted against the body of LED downlighter 1 and that profiled ends 12 interlock with complimentary profiled ends 5, once again fitting tool 7 is used in a manner similar to that one uses a shoe horn, once removed component 10 is held in place by the downlighter rim 3 and ceiling having a friction fit with an inner portion of the semi annular portion of component 10. The part of cylindrical wall 14 not directly attached to the semi annular portion of component 10 passes over the downlighter 1 and comes to rest against semi annular component 4. Once both components 4 and 10 are in place around the downlighter 1 as best shown in figure.5 a cowl/shade 15 is ready to be attached.

[19] Figure 5 depicts the final step of installation, attaching a cowEshade 15. Shade 15 can be of a variety of styles and sizes, materials and translucency depending on the desired lighting effect. Some example materials the shade could be made from are: ABS plastic, aluminium, opal acrylic, glass, marble or any other suitable material known to the person skilled in the art.

[20] The feature that all of the potential shades have in common is a cylindrical hole having a first diameter running through the middle of the shade 15. At the attachment end of the hole there is a internally protruding ridge 17 the internal facing surface of ridge 17 having a second diameter less than the first. The second diameter is substantially the same as the outer diameter of cylindrical wall 14.

[21] Evenly spaced around the outer wall 14 are a plurality of lugs 16, preferably 4 lugs. When shade 15 is pushed in the direction indicated by dashed arrows in figure 5 into place, lugs 16 form a snap fit attachment with ridge 17, and therefore hold the shade 15 in position.

[022] Not all 1 downlights are the same size. As can bee seen in figures 3 and 4, component 4 has an inner section 6 and component 10 has an inner section 13. These can be snapped off by a user to increase the internal diameter of the annular ring formed by combining components 4 and 10, and therefore the system can be used with 1211) downlights haying a larger diameter.

[023] Components 4 and 10 ca be moulded from ABS plastic or any other suitable material known to the skilled person.

[024] The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. The description is intended to enable a skilled person to make the invention, not to limit the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is 25 determined by the claims.

Claims

Claims 1. An adapter for a fitting for a downlight comprising a first adapter section and a second adapter section, wherein: the first adapter section comprises a cylindrical shell haying an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal end, a distal 5 end, and an engagement means for engaging with a fitting for a downlight disposed on its outer surface; and a first planar arcuate base section haying an inner edge and an outer edge, fixed proximate its outer edge to a section of the edge of the proximal end of the cylindrical shell; and the second adapter section comprises a second planar arcuate base section with an inner edge and an outer edge which, 10 when assembled in use with the first planar arcuate base section, forms a planar annular base at the proximal end of the cylindrical shell having an internal radius of a first size.
2. An adapter for a fitting for a downlight according to claim 1, wherein an arcuate portion of the first planar arcuate base section proximate its inner edge is detachable, and an arcuate portion of the second planar arcuate base section proximate its inner edge is detachable, such that when the first and second planar arcuate base sections are assembled in use, they form a planar annular base haying an internal radius of a second size larger than the first size.
3. An adapter for a fitting for a downlight according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the inner edge and the outer edge of the first planar arcuate base section are connected by a first end edge and a second end edge, the first end edge and the second end edge having respective curved profiles, and wherein the inner edge and the outer edge of the second planar arcuate base section are connected by a third end edge and a fourth end edge, the third end edge and the fourth end edge haying respective curved profiles shaped to abut the first and second end edges when the first and second planar arcuate base sections are assembled in use.
4. An adapter for a light fitting according to any preceding claim wherein the engagement means comprises a series of linear protrusion disposed tangentially around the outer surface of the cylindrical shell, in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the cylindrical shell.
5. A fitting for a downlight comprising a body defining an internal cylindrical cavity having an internal surface, with engagement means disposed on the internal surface for engaging with an adapter according to any preceding claim.
6. An apparatus for installing a fitting for a downlight comprising an adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and a planar fitting tool having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end has a concave profile Sc) as to be slidable in use under the rim of a downlight, and the second end is narrower than the first end so as to be suitable for being gripped by a user's hand, the first end and the second end being separated by a folding or hinged joint.
7. A method of installing a fitting for a downlight comprising the steps of a. Sliding a fitting tool according to claim 6 between the rim of a downlight 20 and the surface in which the downlight is installed; b. Sliding a second adapter section according to any one of claims 1 to 4 between the fitting tool and the surface so that it is in part disposed between the rim of the downlight and the surface; c. Removing the fitting tool from between the rim of the downlight and the 25 second adapter section; d. Placing thc fitting li tool between the rim of the downght and the surface in a position opposite the position of the second adapter section; e. Sliding a first adapter section according to any one of claims 1 to 4 between the fitting tool and the surface so that it is in part disposed between the rim of the 5 downlight and the surface, and so that it engages with the second adapter section; f Removing the fitting tool from between the rim of the downlight and the first adapter section; g. Sliding a fitting for a downlight according to claim 5 over the cylindrical shell of the first adapter section such that the engagement means of the cylindrical 10 shell and the engagement means of the light fitting are engaged.