EP1933082B1

EP1933082B1 - Waterproof universal lamp

Info

Publication number: EP1933082B1
Application number: EP06790959A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Liangju Wu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-09-12
Filing date: 2006-09-08
Publication date: 2010-05-12
Anticipated expiration: 2026-09-08
Also published as: DE602006014289D1; WO2007031010A1; EP1933082A1; EP1933082A4; ATE467797T1; CN2851838Y

Abstract

A waterproof universal light fitting comprises a supporter, a rotator, a light source and a lamp holder. The light source and the lamp holder are mounted inside the rotator, which is partly inserted into the supporter. The contact surface between the supporter and the rotator is spherical. A seal ring in a state of compaction is fixed between the supporter and the rotator, and the inner diameter of the seal ring is equal to or less than the maximum diameter of the spherical surface.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a light fitting, and in particular to a waterproof light fitting with adjustable illumination angle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A known light fitting comprises a supporter, a rotator, a light source and a lamp holder. The light source and the lamp holder are mounted on the rotator, which is rotatably connected to the supporter by rivet or bolt. In this way, the rotator can only rotate with respect to the rivet or bolt, and therefore the illumination angle is limited. Moreover, when the light fitting is mounted in a washroom or bathroom, water or moisture may easily enter into the light fitting through the gap between the rotator and the supporter, corroding the electrical connections between the light source and the lamp holder and between the lamp holder and the wires, which may shorten the lifetime of the light fitting or even cause short circuit.
DE 4338841 A1 and DE 9321519 U1 disclose a lamp comprising a housing and a support casing having a spherical surface rotatably housed within the housing. The housing comprises resilient circumferential ribs, which hold the support casing by its spherical surface during rotation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof universal light fitting with freely adjustable illumination scope and long lifetime.
To fulfill the above-mentioned object, a waterproof universal light fitting is provided according to the present invention, having the features of claim 1 below.
Preferably the seal ring is inserted in a groove on the inner side of the supporter. The rotator is provided with an opening at the bottom to facilitate replacing of the light source. The opening is sealed by a transparent cover, with a sealing ring pressed between the cover and the edge of the opening.
The advantages of the present invention are as follow: for the rotator is partly inserted on the supporter, with a spherical surface matching with the supporter, the rotator can rotate freely at any angle inside the supporter, which enables a larger the illumination scope. Furthermore, a seal ring contacting the spherical surface of the rotator and in compaction state is fixed between the supporter and the rotator; and the inner diameter of the seal ring is equal to or less than the maximum diameter of the spherical surface, which therefore prevents the ingress of water or moisture into the light fitting through the gap between the rotator and the supporter, and the lifetime of the lamp is prolonged accordingly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood from the following description, relating to the attached drawings which show illustratively but not restrictively examples of the light fitting, wherein:

FIG. 1: is a schematic structural view of a preferred embodiment of the light fitting according to the present invention;
FIG. 2: is a sectional view of the light fitting shown in FIG. 1 taking along A-A;
FIG. 3: is an exploded view of the light fitting shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4: is the B-direction view of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5: is a schematic partial structural view of the second embodiment of the light fitting according to the present invention;
FIG. 6: is also a schematic partial structural view of the second embodiment of the light fitting according to the present invention;
FIG. 7: is a schematic structural view of the third embodiment of the light fitting according to the present invention.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, the waterproof universal light fitting comprises a supporter 1, a rotator 2, a light source 3 and a lamp holder 4, wherein the light source 3 and the lamp holder 4 are mounted inside the rotator 2, which is partly inserted on the supporter 1, with a spherical surface matching with the supporter 1. The rotator 2 can rotate freely at any angle inside the supporter 1, so that the illumination scope of the light source 3 is enlarged. Furthermore, a seal ring 5 contacting the spherical surface of the rotator 2 and in compaction state is fixed between the supporter 1 and the rotator 2; and the inner diameter of the seal ring 5 is equal to or less than the maximum diameter of the spherical surface, which therefore prevents the ingress of water or moisture into the light fitting through the gap between the rotator and the supporter, and the lifetime of the lamp is prolonged accordingly. The supporter 1 is provided with a groove 7 on the inner side, in which the seal ring 5 is contained. Alternatively, the groove 7 may be substituted by an annular protrusion, on which the seal ring 5 is fixed. An elastic gasket 31 is mounted on the flange of the supporter 1, and can form a seal between the flange of the supporter 1 and the ceiling panel in which the light fitting is installed, and serves a number of functions such as waterproof and sound isolating.
For a better waterproof performance, and to avoid detaching of the rotator 2 from the seal ring 5 due to excess rotation, the rotator 2 is provided with at least three limit protrusions 30 which are arranged symmetrically at the upper edge, either laterally or vertically. Alternatively, the limit protrusion 30 may be substituted by an annular protrusion.
Or alternatively, the rotator 2 is provided with an opening 8 at the bottom, which facilitates replacing of the light source. An annular protrusion 20 having a gap 21 is provided at the edge of the opening 8. The transparent cover 9 has a protrusion 22 for matching with the gap 21. Turn the cover 9 when the protrusion 22 passes through the gap 21, the cover 9 will be locked on the rotator 2. A seal ring 10 is pressed between the cover 9 and the edge of the opening 8. Alternatively, the cover 9 may be fixed on the rotator 2 by means of thread connection or by other known means in the art. As shown in FIG. 5, the transparent cover 9 is replaced with a glass plate 50, which is locked between the annular protrusion 20 and a snap spring 51 by the snap spring 51; while a waterproof seal ring 52 is pressed between the glass plate 50 and the annular protrusion 20.
As shown in FIG. 6 and 7, the rotator 2 may be provided with a single opening 23, the lamp holder 4 and the light source 3 is mounted inside the rotator 2. Alternatively, the lamp holder 4 and the light source 3 may be mounted on the rotator 2 by a supporting bracket 24.

Claims

A waterproof universal light fitting, comprising:
a supporter (1);

a rotator (2);

a light source (3) mounted in the rotator (2);

a lamp holder (4) mounted in the rotator (2);
wherein the rotator (2) is rotatably and partly inserted on the supporter (1), with a spherical surface matching with the supporter (1); a seal ring (5) contacting the spherical surface of the rotator (2) and in compaction state is fixed between the supporter (1) and the rotator (2); the inner diameter of the seal ring (5) is equal to or less than the maximum diameter of the spherical surface (6);
characterized in that the rotator (2) is provided with at least three limit protrusions (30) or an annular protrusion at an upper edge.
The waterproof universal light fitting of claim 1, wherein the seal ring (5) is located at a groove (7) on the inner side of the supporter (1).
The waterproof universal light fitting of claim 1, wherein the limit protrusions (30) are arranged symmetrically.
The waterproof universal light fitting of claim 1, wherein the rotator (2) is provided with an opening (8) at the bottom for facilitating replacing of light source, the opening (8) is sealed by a transparent cover (9), with a sealing ring (10) pressed between the cover (9) and the edge of the opening (8).