Patent Grant
9206953
This application claims priority, under Section 371 and/or as a continuation under Section 120, to PCT Application No. PCT/AU2011/000263, filed on Mar. 9, 2011, which claims priority to Australian Application No. 2010902861, filed on Jun. 29, 2010.
The present invention relates to lighting sources and in particular to lighting assemblies.
The invention has been developed primarily for use as an light emitting diode (LED) lighting assembly for installing into a handrail and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use.
Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in the field.
Known lighting assemblies for installing into a handrail typically require a fastening element to be fixed to the handrail for retaining the assembly. This fixing of a fastening element is time consuming.
Lighting assemblies installed in handrails typically are configured to illuminate directly below the handrail, which throws a substantial portion of the light to the wall adjoining the handrail. To overcome this, a handrail is typically rotated such that the light is directed toward the centre of a respective thoroughfare. However this rotation can cause the light source to come into a direct line-of-sight of passers-by, thereby resulting in undesirable light glare.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.
It is an object of the invention in a preferred form to provide a lighting assembly that can be installed into a handrail.
It is an object of the invention in a preferred form to provide a lighting assembly that, when installed in a handrail, provides directed illumination. Preferably, this lighting assembly directs light toward a thoroughfare and away from a wall adjoining the handrail.
According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a lighting assembly for installing through a fitting aperture defined by a handrail, the lighting assembly including:
Preferably, with the body device inserted through fitting aperture and retained by the retaining element, the light source provides an asymmetric illumination pattern.
According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a lighting assembly for installing through a fitting aperture defined by a handrail, the lighting assembly including:
According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a lighting assembly for installing through a fitting aperture defined by a handrail, the lighting assembly including:
According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a lighting assembly for installing through a fitting aperture defined by a handrail, the lighting assembly including:
According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a lighting assembly for installing through a fitting aperture defined by a handrail, the lighting assembly including:
Preferably, the retaining element is elongate and sized to circumferentially abut a portion of an interior of the handrail. More preferably, opposite end portions of the retaining element abuttingly engages an abutment surface defined by the coupling element for retaining the body device. Most preferably, the opposite end portion of the retaining element abuttingly engages a stop for restricting further entry of the body device through the fitting aperture.
Preferably, the retaining element is biased into a retaining configuration. More preferably, the retaining element comprises spring steel. Alternatively, the retaining element comprises injection moulded plastics.
Preferably, the coupling element defines an abutment surface for engaging the retaining element and thereby retaining the body device. More preferably, the coupling element is defined by a pair of groves on opposite sides of the body device. Alternatively coupling element is defined by a pair of flange protrusions on opposite sides of the body device. Most preferably, the body device has an expanding taper for directing the retaining element into an expanded configuration for receiving the body device, and enabling a retaining configuration upon engagement with the coupling element.
Preferably, the body device includes a stop for restricting further entry of the body device through the fitting aperture. More preferably, the stop is adapted to abuttingly engage opposite end portion of the retaining element. Most preferably, the stop is adapted to restrict movement of the body device, when the body device is substantially flush with the exterior of the handrail.
Preferably, the body device is removable from the handrail. More preferably, the body device can be disengaged from the retaining element by relative rotation of the body device with respect to the retaining element and/or handrail, thereby enabling removal of the body device from the handrail. Most preferably, with the body device disengaged from the retaining element, a stop restricts further entry of the body device through the fitting aperture.
Preferably, relative rotation of the body device with respect to the retaining element, moves the retaining element out of coupling configuration, thereby enabling removal of the body device from the handrail. More preferably, a stop restricts further entry of the body device through the fitting aperture. Most preferably, the retaining element can be withdrawn through the aperture.
Preferably, the body device comprises:
Preferably, the lens element is adapted to be held within the base. More preferably, the light source is adapted to be held within the heat sink element. Most preferably, the body device is formed by fixing the heat sink element to the base element.
Preferably, the lens element is asymmetric with respect to an axis of insertion. More preferably, the lens directs light asymmetrically about the axis. Most preferably, when the body device is installed in a handrail in a substantially downward orientation, the lens directs light asymmetrically toward a thoroughfare and away from a wall adjoining the handrail.
Preferably, the light source is mounted at an angle offset to an axis of insertion. More preferably, the light source is mounted to the heat sink at an angle offset to the axis of insertion. Most preferably, when the body device is installed in a handrail in a substantially downward orientation, the lens directs light toward a thoroughfare and away from a wall adjoining the handrail.
Preferably, the axis of insertion is defined through a centre of base and heat sink when viewed as a side profile. When the body device is in installed in a handrail, the axis of insertion is preferably substantially vertical. Preferably, the base is a cylindrical section having an axis that defines the axis of insertion.
Preferably, the heat sink has a coupling element that defines an abutment surface for engaging the retaining element. More preferably, the heat sink defines a stop for restricting further entry of the body device through the fitting aperture. Alternatively, the base defines a stop for restricting further entry of the body device through the fitting aperture.
Preferably, the base has a coupling element that defines an abutment surface for engaging the retaining element. More preferably, the base defines a stop for restricting further entry of the body device through the fitting aperture. Alternatively, the heat sink defines a stop for restricting further entry of the body device through the fitting aperture.
A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring to the drawings, there are disclosed embodiment lighting assemblies that can be installed into a handrail. Wherein, in an example embodiment, this lighting assembly can provide asymmetrical illumination.
The lighting assembly 100 includes a retaining element 110 in the form of an elongate arcuate band 110 and a body device 120 for providing a light source. The retaining element comprises opposite end portions 112 for abuttingly engaging the body device. The body device comprises a pair of corresponding coupling elements 122, which are releasably engagable to the retaining element.
The body device further includes one or more stops 124 for restricting further entry of the body device through the fixture aperture. This stop 124 can abuttingly engage the opposite end portions of the retaining element.
In this example embodiment the body device comprises a base element 132, a heat sink element 134, a lens element 136, and an light emitting diode (LED) light source 138. The light source 138 is electrically coupled to a power source 139.
This embodiment lighting assembly 100 can be installed through an fitting aperture 102 defined by a handrail 101.
By way of example, the lighting assembly includes: a retaining element 110 that is removably insertable through the fitting aperture; a body device 120 for providing a light source, the body device comprising a coupling element releasably engageable to the retaining element; and wherein, with the retaining element inserted through the fitting aperture and located within the handrail, insertion the body device through the fitting aperture enables the coupling element to engage the retaining element thereby releasably retaining the body device.
By way of example, the lighting assembly includes: a retaining element 110; a body device 120 for providing a light source; wherein, with the body device inserted through fitting aperture and retained by the retaining element, the light source provides an asymmetric illumination pattern.
Referring to
This embodiment lighting assembly 200 includes:
The body device 220 comprises a base element 232, a heat sink element 234, lens element 236, and a light emitting diode (LED) light source 238. The light emitting diode (LED) light source 238 is electrically coupled to a power source (not shown).
In this embodiment body device 220, the lens element 236 is adapted to be held within the base element 232, and the light source 238 is adapted to be held within the heat sink 234. The body device is then formed by fixing the heat sink to the base.
Assembly of the body device 220 involves a plurality of components. The light source 238 is fastened to the a heat sink element 234 by screws 244. An lens element 236 and O ring 246 are placed within the base element 232, the O ring supporting the lens element. The base element 232 and heat sink element 234 are brought together, with an ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) gasket between, and fastened by a grub screw located by apertures 241 and 243.
In this embodiment a side cross section of the lens element 236 is asymmetric with respect to a central axis, such that when the body device is installed in a handrail in a substantially downward orientation, the lens can directs light asymmetrically toward a thoroughfare and away from a wall adjoining the handrail.
In this embodiment, light source 238 is mounted at an angle to the horizontal, as viewed in a direction along the handrail. By way of example only, the light source 238 throws light in a direction substantially perpendicular to the angle defined by the mount. It would be appreciated that, in an alternative example embodiment, a lens element can contribute to an asymmetric throw of light, while an LED light source is mounted substantially horizontally and throwing light in a substantially downward orientation.
Referring to
It will be appreciated that the axis of insertion is preferably defined through the centre of base and heat sink, when viewed from the side. When the body device is in installed in a handrail, the axis of insertion substantially vertical. The handrail is typically a cylindrical conduit and the axis of insertion of the body device preferably defines a substantially vertical diametric cord with respect to the circular cross section of the handrail.
In this embodiment (as best shown in
The led light source 238 is mounted to the heat sink at an angle offset to the axis of insertion. It will be appreciated that, when the body device is installed in a handrail in a substantially downward orientation—as shown in
It will be apperceived that, both asymmetry of the lens element 236 and the angle of the 238 are for the purpose of forming an asymmetric illumination distribution with respect to at least one plane, such that the body device can be installed in a substantially downward orientation—as shown in
The retaining element 210 is an arcuate elongate band sized to be inserted through the fitting aperture and adapted to circumferentially abut a portion of an interior of the handrail. The retaining element comprises spring steel (or e.g. a resilient polymer) and is biased into a retaining configuration.
To install the body element, the retaining element 210 is first inserted through the fitting aperture, with the opposite end portions 212 aligned with opposite sides of the fitting aperture. The body device can then be orientates such that the coupling elements align with the opposite end portions 212, and the body device inserted through the fitting aperture until the retaining element engages the coupling element 310.
Referring to
It will be appreciated that alternative coupling element can be used, including abutment surface defined by a pair of grooves on opposite sides of the body device; or a pair of flange protrusions on opposite sides of the body device. By way of example only, the heat sink or base can define either the coupling element or the stop surface.
A stop abutment surface 312 is also provided to restrict further entry of the body device through the fitting aperture. In this embodiment the opposite end portions 212 of the retaining element abuttingly engages the stop surface 312 defined by the perimeter of the base element 232. The stop is adapted to restrict movement the body device, when the body device is substantially flush with the exterior of the handrail.
In this embodiment, the top surface of opposite end portions 212 define a flanged surface for abutting the coupling element 310 for retaining the body device within a handrail, and the under surface of opposite end portions 212 abut a stop abutment surface 312 for restricting further entry of the body device through the fitting aperture.
To remove the body device 220 from the handrail, the body device undergoes a 90 degree “quarter turn”. As the body device is rotated, the retaining element 210 disengages the abutment surface 310, allowing the body device to be withdrawn from the handrail. It will be appreciated that the stop surface 312, defined by the circular perimeter of the base element 232 continues, continues to abut the opposite end portions 212 of the retaining element to restrict further entry of the body device through the fitting aperture.
It will be appreciated that as the base element is substantially cylindrical and defines the stop means 312, applying a quarter turn rotation does not disengage the stop means from the retaining element and continues to restrict further entry of the body device through the fitting aperture.
It will be appreciated that tapered portions 520 are provided on opposite sides for the heat sink element 234 for engaging the retaining element (not shown). The tapered portions 520 further define a flange 312 for abuttingly engaging an end portion of the retaining element. The width 521 defined by the tapered portions is greater than the width 522 shown in the front elevation, such that when the body device is rotated 90 degrees the retaining element disengages the coupling element 312.
The body device 920 comprises: a base element 932, a heat sink element 934, a lens element 936 and a light emitting diode (LED) light source 938. Detailed disclosure of these elements are provided in
In this embodiment body device 920, the lens element 936 is adapted to be held within the base element 932, and the light source 938 is adapted to be held within the heat sink 934. The body device is then formed by fixing the heat sync to the base element with screws 942. It will be appreciated that the body devices 220 and 920 are each adapted to perform similar functions.
In this embodiment, a stop abutment surface 1012 is also defined by the heat sink element 934 for restricting further entry of the body device through the fitting aperture. A portion of the retaining element 914 is adapted to engage the stop abutment surface 1012 to restrict further entry of the body device through the fitting aperture.
It would be appreciated that a stop means in an alternative embodiment can be provided for abutting a portion of either the retaining element or hand rail.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
It will be appreciated that the illustrated lighting assembly can be installed into a handrail. It will be further appreciated that the illustrated lighting assembly, when installed in a handrail, provides directed illumination. Wherein, this lighting assembly can directs light toward a thoroughfare and away from a wall adjoining the handrail.
It will be appreciated that the illustrated lighting assembly can be retrofitted into an exiting handrail.
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.
In the claims below and the description herein, any one of the terms comprising, comprised of or which comprises is an open term that means including at least the elements/features that follow, but not excluding others. Thus, the term comprising, when used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being limitative to the means or elements or steps listed thereafter. For example, the scope of the expression a device comprising A and B should not be limited to devices consisting only of elements A and B. Any one of the terms including or which includes or that includes as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus, including is synonymous with and means comprising.
Similarly, it is to be noticed that the term coupled, when used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being limitative to direct connections only. The terms “coupled” and “connected”, along with their derivatives, may be used. It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. Thus, the scope of the expression a device A coupled to a device B should not be limited to devices or systems wherein an output of device A is directly connected to an input of device B. It means that there exists a path between an output of A and an input of B which may be a path including other devices or means. “Coupled” may mean that two or more elements are either in direct physical, or that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other but yet still co-operate or interact with each other.
As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives “first”, “second”, “third”, etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.
As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “left”, “right”, “up” and “down”, as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “rightwardly”, “upwardly”, etc.), simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated structure as the particular drawing figure faces the reader, or with reference to the orientation of the structure during nominal use, as appropriate. Similarly, the terms “inwardly” and “outwardly” generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis of elongation, or axis of rotation, as appropriate.
Similarly it should be appreciated that in the above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.
Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.
In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details.
In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.
Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention. For example, any formulas given above are merely representative of procedures that may be used. Functionality may be added or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may be interchanged among functional blocks. Steps may be added or deleted to methods described within the scope of the present invention.
It will be appreciated that an embodiment of the invention can consist essentially of features disclosed herein. Alternatively, an embodiment of the invention can consist of features disclosed herein. The invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010902861 | Jun 2010 | AU | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/AU2011/000263 | 3/9/2011 | WO | 00 | 3/11/2013 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2012/000012 | 1/5/2012 | WO | A |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20130201665 A1 | Aug 2013 | US |
