GB2471388A

GB2471388A - Lighting adapter.

Info

Publication number: GB2471388A
Application number: GB1010541A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Cheung
Original assignee: MR LITEWORK
Current assignee: MR LITEWORK
Priority date: 2009-06-23
Filing date: 2010-06-23
Publication date: 2010-12-29
Also published as: GB0910762D0; GB201010541D0

Abstract

A light unit 1 for a decorative light string has a lamp 5 mounted in a holder 3 and connected to wiring 7. A lighting adaptor 9 has a base 11 with inner 15 and outer 17 parts forming a socket 19 to receive the holder 3. A detachable cover 13 can be connected to the base 11 and can be changed to alter the appearance of the light unit 1.

Description

Lighting The present invention relates to lighting and in particular, but not exclusively, decorative light strings.

Decorative light strings comprising a plurality of light units are well known and are widely used for seasonal decoration at Christmas.

The light units commonly comprise a light detachably mounted in a holder. In this way a broken light can be removed and replaced. Also, different coloured lights can be fitted to alter the appearance of the light string. The different effects that can be achieved by changing the lights is limited. Also changing the lights can incur considerable expense.

The present invention has been made from a consideration of the foregoing.

In its broadest aspect the present invention provides a lighting adaptor configured such that the appearance of a light unit having a light can be changed without replacing the light.

By this invention, the appearance of the light unit can be altered in a simple manner by fitting the lighting adaptor without changing the light of the light unit, potentially creating a new aesthetic for designers.

In a preferred embodiment, the lighting adaptor has a base adapted for attaching to the light unit and a cover adapted for attaching to the base to enclose the light of the light unit.

The lighting adaptor may be retrofitted to an existing light unit. Alternatively or additionally, the lighting adaptor may be supplied with and/or fitted to a new light unit.

The cover may be detachable. A set of interchangeable covers may be provided.

The set may comprise different covers such that the appearance of the light unit can be further altered in a simple manner by selection and fitment of the appropriate cover. The cover can be produced in a variety of shapes, colours or patterns. The cover is preferably transparent or translucent and may be made of glass although other materials including some plastics may be suitable.

The base may comprise two parts, an inner part and an outer part, that are secured together. The inner part may be adapted to receive a light holder of the light unit and the outer part may be adapted to connect the cover. For example, the light holder may be received in a socket in the inner part and the cover may be received in the outer part. The cover may be a snap-fit in the outer part. Any suitable formations providing a snap-fit of the cover may be employed.

Alternatively, the cover may be an interference fit in the outer part, for example a push fit.

The outer part may be secured to the inner part to retain the light holder in place.

For example, the inner and outer parts may be secured together by co-operating formations. The co-operating formations may prevent separation of the inner and outer parts when engaged. Alternatively, the co-operating formations may resist separation of the inner and outer parts when engaged but permit the parts to be separated if it is desired to remove the lighting adaptor from the light unit.

The inner part and outer part may define a path for guiding wiring connected to the light unit. The path may be configured to resist or prevent removal of the light holder from the inner part when the inner part and outer part are secured together.

The lighting adaptor may be provided with a clip for attaching to an object. The clip may comprise a spring arm integral with the base.

A further embodiment of the present invention provides a kit of parts comprising a light unit and a lighting adaptor in accordance with the preceding aspect of the invention.

A plurality of light units may be connected by wires to form a decorative light string with one or more light units having a lighting adaptor.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method of altering the appearance of a light unit having a light comprising the steps of providing a lighting adaptor having a base and a cover, attaching the light unit to the base and attaching the cover to the base to enclose the light.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts throughout and wherein: Figures 1 to 4 show a first embodiment of a lighting adaptor in association with a light unit, at various stages of assembly; and Figure 5 shows an alternative cover for the lighting adaptor of Figures 1 to 4.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 4 a light unit 1 is shown comprising a light holder 3 and a light 5 attached to wires 7 for connection to a power supply (not shown). The light 5 may be an LED or any other suitable type. The light may be removable for replacement. A plurality of light units 1 may be arranged to form a decorative light string such as a string of fairy lights.

The light unit 1 is provided with a lighting adaptor 9 to alter the appearance of the light unit 1. The lighting adaptor 9 comprises a base 11 and a cover 13.

The base 11 comprises an inner part 15 and an outer part 17. The inner part 15 has a socket 19 to receive the light holder 3 by push fit or any other suitable means. The wires 7 pass through a pair of slots 21 (one only shown) in the side wall of the socket 19 and the light holder 3 may engage the socket to prevent the holder 3 turning in the socket 19. The slots 21 are preferably aligned on opposite sides of the socket 19 but this is not essential and other spacings may be employed.

The outer part 17 is a push fit on the inner part 15 to seat against a flange 23 at the end of the inner part 15. In this position, an internal shoulder (not shown) within the outer part 17 locates under a pair of outwardly directed ribs 25 on the inner part 15 to secure the parts 15,17 together. Any suitable co-operating formations may be employed to secure the parts 15,17 together. The co-operating formations may lock the parts 15,17 together to prevent separation or may simply resist separation but permit the outer part 17 to be removed if desired and refitted.

The socket 19 is provided in the upper end of an upstand or boss extending from the flange 23 and the lower or inner end of the socket 19 is spaced above the flange 23 between the ends of the boss. The slots 21 extend from the upper end of the boss to the inner end of the socket 19. The slots 21 lead to aligned recessed portions 27 or grooves (one only shown) in the outer wall of the boss on opposite sides of the inner part 15 that extend to the flange 23. The outer part 17 fits over the boss and the recessed portions 27 define with the outer part 17 two paths (one only shown) within the base for guiding the wires 7 from the lower end of the socket 19 towards the flange 23. The wires 7 exit the lighting adaptor 1 through openings (not shown) at the lower end of the base 11. The openings may be formed between flange 23 and a pair of notches provided at the lower end of the outer part 17 on opposite sides of the base 11. In this way, the light holder 3 is retained in the socket 19 when the base is assembled. In a modification (not shown) both wires may be guided through a single path within the base 11 and exit at the lower end through the same opening.

The light 5 is received within the cover 13 which is transparent or translucent for transmitting light emitted by the light 5. The light 5 may be replaced by any other suitable light source such as a light emitting diode. The light source may be received within the cover 13 or may simply direct light into the cover 13. The cover 13 encloses the light source.

The outer part 17 of the base 11 provides a sleeve or socket at the upper end (not shown) and the cover 13 has a neck 31 that is a snap-fit in the sleeve to secure the cover 13 to the base 11. The snap-fit may be provided by any suitable formations, for example an annular rib on one part that engages an annular groove in the other part. The formations preferably enable the cover 13 to be removed, for example to replace a light 5 or cover 13. Any other suitable means for releasably securing the cover 13 to the base 11 may be employed.

The neck 31 may be provided with an integral formation to snap-fit in the sleeve.

Alternatively, the formation may be provided on a separate part that is mounted on the neck, for example a separate collar. In this way, the formation does not have to be formed in the neck of the cover 13 which may be advantageous when the cover 13 is made of glass. Where provided the collar may be made of plastics such as polyvinyl chloride and may be retained by any suitable means.

The inner part 15 and outer part 17 of the base 11 may be formed from plastics material by any suitable means such as moulding. The cover 13 may be formed from glass or any other suitable materials including but not limited to plastics such as acrylics.

As will be understood, light emitted by the light source will be seen through the cover 13. The cover 13 may be of any chosen design, and is interchangeable with other covers 13 so that the appearance of the light unit may be altered in an easy and aesthetically pleasing way.

In this embodiment, the base 11 is additionally provided with a clip 39 integral with the flange 23 of the inner part 15. The clip 39 may be used to attach the lighting adaptor 9 to an object such as the branch of a tree and/or to attach an object such as a card to the lighting adaptor 9 adjacent to the light unit 1.

The clip 39 is profiled to act like a spring arm but it will be understood the clip may be of any size or shape. More than one clip may be provided.

The lighting adaptor 9 enables the appearance of the light unit 1 to be altered and the cover 13 can be readily detached and replaced by another cover having a different shape and/or colour and/or pattern providing further options for altering the appearance of the light unit 1. An example of a cover 13 having a different shape is shown in Figure 5 and it will be understood that other shapes can be used.

The invention has particular application to light strings having a plurality of light units where one or more and preferably all the light units are provided with a lighting adaptor to alter the appearance of the light unit. The light units may be provided with lighting adaptors having the same design of cover so as to have the same appearance or the light units may be provided with lighting adaptors having different designs of cover so as to have different appearances. It will be appreciated however that the lighting adaptor has wider application and can be used wherever it is desired to change the appearance of a light unit.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments above-described and various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the various concepts described herein. Any of the features may be employed separately or in combination with any other features and the invention extends to and includes all combinations and sub-combinations of one or more features described herein in any form of lighting adaptor for a light unit.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A lighting adaptor having a base adapted for attaching to a light unit and a cover adapted for attaching to the base to enclose a light of the light unit, wherein the base comprises an inner part having a socket to receive a light holder of the light unit and an outer part that fits over the socket and receives the cover, the inner part and the outer part being secured together so that wiring connected to the light holder is guided from the socket to a lower end of the base between the parts.
2. A lighting adaptor according to claim 1 wherein the socket is provided in the upper end of an upstand having at least one slot opening to the socket in a wall of the upstand for passage of wiring connected to the light holder, the wiring leading to a recessed portion on the outside of the upstand that defines with the outer part a path within the base for passage of wiring connected to the light holder from the socket to an opening at the lower end of the base.
3. A lighting adaptor according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the cover is detachable.
4. A lighting adaptor according to claim 3 wherein the cover is selected from a set of interchangeable covers.
5. A lighting adaptor according to any preceding claim wherein the cover is transparent or translucent.
6. A lighting adaptor according to any preceding claim wherein, the cover is a snap-fit in the outer part.
7. A lighting adaptor according to claim 6 wherein the cover and outer part have co-operating formations configured to engage with a snap-action
8. A lighting adaptor according any preceding claim wherein the light holder is retained in place when the outer part is secured to the inner part to guide the wiring therebetween.
9. A lighting adaptor according to any preceding claim wherein, the inner and outer parts are secured together by co-operating formations.
10. A lighting adaptor according to claim 9 wherein the co-operating formations prevent separation of the inner and outer parts when engaged.
11. A lighting adaptor according to claim 9 wherein, the co-operating formations releasably connect the inner and outer parts when engaged.
12. A lighting adaptor according to any preceding claim wherein a clip is provided for attaching to an object.
13. A lighting adaptor according to claim 12 wherein the clip comprises a spring arm integral with the base.
14. A lighting adaptor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.
15. A lighting adaptor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings as modified by Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.
16. A kit of parts comprising a light unit and a lighting adaptor in accordance with any of the preceding claims.
17. A light string comprising a plurality of light units connected by wires wherein one or more light units is provided with a lighting adaptor according to any of claims 1 to 15.
18. A method of altering the appearance of a light unit having a light comprising the steps of providing a lighting adaptor having a base and a cover, attaching the light unit to the base so that wiring for the light unit is guided between inner and outer parts of the base to a lower end of the base and retains the light unit in position, and attaching the cover to the base to enclose the light.
19. A method according to claim 18 wherein a socket for the light unit is provided in an upper end of the inner part and the outer part fits over the inner part to confine wiring for the light unit in a recessed portion on the outside of the inner part.
20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the recessed portion extends to the lower end of the base and the wiring exits the base through an opening in the outer part.