The present invention relates generally to lighting fixtures and, more particularly, to assemblies for producing enhanced lighting effects.
Conventional anti-dazzle rasters for tubular light sources, e.g., fluorescent bulbs, are typically formed by two side pieces, e.g., constructed of aluminum sheeting, generally of an arcuate profile, and by a plurality of transverse partitions mounted thereto via snap fit engagement with notches in the side pieces. The side pieces are also generally parallel to and diverge from opposite locations relative to the median plane in which the light source is situated. Such partitions often have a V-shaped section with transverse flaps bent back towards the interior thereof for added stiffness. Because these partitions must be mounted on the side pieces, one at a time, the anti-dazzle raster which results has been found relatively expensive.
A generally less expensive solution would be to manufacture anti-dazzle rasters from a plastic material using injection molding. While, in this manner, the side pieces and partitions may be formed as a single piece, the length of a raster produced in this fashion is necessarily less than that of a normal raster in aluminum, for reasons associated with the molding operation. In addition, rasters of this type are considered less appealing from an aesthetic point of view, since several modules must be combined to cover the length of such lighting fixtures. In particular, the lengths of these fixtures typically vary from a minimum of about 600 mm to a maximum of about 1800 mm, whereas rasters constructed of plastic do not generally exceed approximately 600 mm in length. Furthermore, the individual modules must be separately attached to the body of the lamp. As a result, the structure is more complex and lamp replacement is more difficult and laborious.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a polymeric anti-dazzle raster for tubular light sources that not only avoids the assembly problems of conventional metal rasters, but also has the requisite mechanical strength but without the aesthetic drawbacks of prior plastic raster arrangements.
This and other objects are attained by the present invention, in which side pieces are made of a relatively rigid and resistant material and the partitions are grouped into modular units, each unit being formed by a selected number of partitions connected to each other by a plurality of generally parallel connection pieces and being attached, by snap fit engagement, to the side pieces, the modular unit preferably being constructed of a polymeric material or the like by injection molding.
The present invention will now be described with reference to the description set forth below of specific, illustrative embodiments thereof, made with reference to the following drawings, in which:
The same numerals are used throughout the drawing figures to designate similar elements. Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments.
Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to
Desirably, each transverse partition has a generally box-shaped configuration and a substantially V-shaped section with two symmetrical shoulders 3a that extend from its upper edge 3b. Opposite internal faces 3c of each pair of shoulders 3a, together with upper edge 3b of the respective partition, delimit a channel-like portion for accommodating fluorescent lamp 5, shown in
Side pieces 1 preferably have a conventional arcuate profile that matches generally the lateral profile of partitions 3. Desirably, a projecting tooth is provided on both lateral edges of each partition, in proximity to its lower end, that, during assembly, engages by a snap fit with a corresponding seating 7 arranged along a longitudinal edge 1a of each of the two side pieces 1. Once modular elements 2 and side pieces 1 have been assembled and attached to one another, an opposing longitudinal edge 1b of each of the side pieces engages a longitudinal groove 4a beneath bar 4 on the face not in view of the bar. Notches 8 are provided along edge 1b of the side pieces in positions corresponding to each partition 3, the respective widths of the notches being equal to those of shoulders 3a so as to permit the side pieces to engaged beneath the bars 4.
To enable several modular elements 2 to be coupled to one another as modules 2a of a raster and, thereby, achieve an anti-dazzle raster of a desired length, while maintaining the same distance between partitions, also at the joint between two adjacent modules, bars 4 project beyond terminal partitions 3e of each module by a length equal to half the distance between two partitions. Advantageously, at the beginning of the projecting part of each bar 4, a tear-off line, indicated by reference number 9 in
Because of the solution provided by the present invention, assembly operations are significantly simplified without degradation of the aesthetics of the finished raster product. In fact, during assembly, the partitions need not be mounted one at a time, but rather can be mounted in groups, while the external appearance of the raster will be that of a continuous surface, because each of its side pieces is formed as a single piece. Moreover, once it is mounted, the raster constitutes a single body and is, therefore, easy to remove when, for example, the lamp has to be replaced.
Various modifications and alterations to the invention may be appreciated based on a review of this disclosure. These changes and additions are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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FI20020077 U | Jul 2002 | IT | national |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20050248947 A1 | Nov 2005 | US |