Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R33/00—Coupling devices specially adapted for supporting apparatus and having one part acting as a holder providing support and electrical connection via a counterpart which is structurally associated with the apparatus, e.g. lamp holders; Separate parts thereof
  • H01R33/97—Holders with separate means to prevent loosening of the coupling or unauthorised removal of apparatus held
  • H01R33/971—Holders with separate means to prevent loosening of the coupling or unauthorised removal of apparatus held for screw type coupling devices
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F21V15/00—Protecting lighting devices from damage
  • F21V15/005—Measures against vandalism, stealing or tampering

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for preventing misappropriation of an energy saving bulb from a light fitting, which bulb has a fluorescent tube part, a part comprising the lamp's ignition coupling and ballast, and a connection part which for connecting the bulb to the fitting is designed to be introduced into a socket with the application of a turning movement.
• the object of the present invention is to provide a device which eliminates the above- mentioned problem and prevents misappropriation of an energy saving bulb from the existing standard socket of a light fitting.
• This object is achieved according to the invention in that a cover is arranged surrounding the bulb and fixed thereto, which cover is provided with an opening through which the connection part of the bulb projects, which cover, when the bulb is connected to the fitting prevents touching of any of the bulb's parts and which cover is rotatably arranged concentrically around the bulb in such a way that rotating of the cover does not result in rotation of the bulb, and which cover has elements adapted to allow due fixing or release of the cover's fixing to the bulb.
• the cover In order to facilitate manufacture by injection moulding the cover, according to a particular characteristic feature of the invention, is constructed from a plurality of moulded elements which can be connected to one another.
• the moulded elements comprise two moulded halves joined together which essentially enclose the bulb and are fixed to the bulb by means of a locking element, thereby producing very good interlocking of the moulded elements.
• the locking element for connection to the joined moulded halves, is openable and resealable and designed with a geometry corresponding to the moulded halves, so that fixing to the latter and the bulb is obtained when the locking element is sealed, a device is obtained which can more easily be fitted when the bulb is already connected to the fitting.
• the joined moulded halves are provided for connection to the locking element with a threaded section which corresponds to a thread made on the locking element and the moulded elements are designed so that unauthorised unscrewing of the joined moulded halves from the locking element is prevented.
• the joined moulded halves are provided with a section which can be connected to the locking element by snap locking, so as to produce a simple and reliable connection between the moulded elements.
• the cover is adapted for removal from the energy saving bulb by means of a tool specially shaped for this purpose and adapted to release the locking between the joined moulded halves and the locking element, so that a spent bulb can be removed by an authorised repairer and replaced by a new one
• Fig. la shows how the moulded halves, according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, are to be joined together in order to be then fitted to an energy saving bulb by means of a locking element
• Fig. lb shows a device according to fig. la fitted to an energy saving bulb
• Fig 2a shows a device according to a second embodiment of the invention
• Fig. 2b shows how the locking element according to fig 2a is designed with a geometry corresponding to the moulded halves so that locking to these is accomplished when the locking element is sealed
• Fig 2c shows, through a section according to the section marking A-A in fig 2a, the principle of how the locking element according to fig. 2a-b is designed to be openable and resealable.
• Fig. 3a shows how the device according to a third embodiment has moulded halves provided with a threaded section which corresponds to a thread made on the locking element.
• Fig 3b shows how the moulded halves according to fig. 3a at a section B-B are provided with projections adapted to interact with teeth according to fig 3c made on the locking element, so as to prevent unscrewing of the moulded halves from the locking element
• Fig. 3c shows how the locking element according to fig. 3a at a section B-B is provided with teeth designed to interact with projections according to fig. 3b made on the moulded halves so as to prevent unscrewing of the moulded halves from the locking element.
• Fig. 4a shows how the moulded halves according to a fourth embodiment of the invention are provided with a section which, because it is shaped to correspond to a slot made in the locking element, means that the moulded halves can be connected to the locking element by snap locking.
• Fig. 4b shows how the slot according to fig. 4a is preferably bounded towards the top at the section marking C-C by flanges according to fig. 4b, which make it easier to connect the joined moulded halves.
• Fig. 5 shows, through an enlargement of the part, how the cover according to the first preferred embodiment is adapted for removal from the energy saving bulb by means of a tool specially shaped for this purpose and adapted to release the locking between the moulded halves and the locking element.
• lb 1 generally denotes a cover constituting a first preferred embodiment of a device according to the invention for preventing misappropriation of an energy saving bulb 2 from a light fitting.
• the energy saving bulb 2 in fig. la has a florescent tube pan 2a, which is connected to a part 2b comprising the lamp's ignition connection and ballast.
• the lamp also has a threaded cylindrical connection part 2c which may, for example, be of the standardised type E-27 or E-14.
• the said connection part 2c is adapted to be inserted into a socket, located in the fitting and provided with corresponding thread, a turning movement then being applied so that it is screwed firmly to the socket, making an electrical connection to the fitting.
• Fig. lb shows how a cover 1, preferably made of a suitable type of transparent plastic material, is arranged surrounding the energy saving bulb and fixed to the latter.
• the cover 1 is provided with an opening, through which the threaded connection part 2c of the bulb 2 projects to such an extent that it can be connected to the fitting.
• the device is preferably manufactured by injection moulding, for which reason the cover 1, as shown in fig. la, is appropriately constructed from a plurality of moulded elements which can be connected to one another.
• the said elements preferably comprise two moulded halves 3a and 3b, which are joined together in order to form a moulded element. Joining is preferably done by means of ultrasonic welding, bonding or some equivalent method of connection.
• the joined moulded halves 3a, 3b are fixed to the bulb 2 by means of a locking element 4 specially adapted for this purpose. When fitting, the locking element 4 is placed around the connection part 2c of the bulb 2, the said connecting part then being connected to the fitting.
• the joined moulded halves 3a, 3b are then placed over the fluorescent tube part 2a of the bulb and connected to the locking element 4.
• This simple assembly is achieved in that the preferred number of moulded elements here is therefore two, the moulded element formed from the joined moulded halves 3a, 3b, and the locking element 4.
• the joined moulded halves 3a, 3b are provided with members adapted to allow proper fixing and release of the cover's 1 fixing to the bulb 2.
• the said members are achieved in that the moulded halves 3a, 3b are provided with locking heels 6, each made on an elastic tongue 5. Each locking heel 6 corresponds to an indentation 7 made in the locking element 4.
• Interlocking of the moulded elements and fixing of the cover 1 to the bulb 2 are accomplished by introducing the joined moulded halves 3a, 3b into the locking element 4 so that the locking heels 6 snap into their respective indentations 7.
• the cover 1 prevents a manual turning movement being applied to the bulb to remove it from the fitting. This is achieved in that the cover 1 prevents touching of any of the bulb's parts and that it is rotatably arranged concentrically around the bulb 2 in such a way that turning of the cover 1 does not turn the bulb 2.
• Fig. 2a-c shows how the locking element 4 according to a second embodiment of the invention is openable and resealable in that, at a section according to the section marking A-A in fig. 2b, it is made with locking heels 6, each made on an elastic tongue 5 and corresponding to indentations 7 made in the locking element, together with a section 8 acting like a hinge, see fig. 2b-c.
• the locking element 4 is moreover designed with a geometry corresponding to the moulded halves 3a, 3b so that, when it is closed, it surrounds a protuberance made on the moulded halves 3a, 3b, so that locking to the latter is accomplished when the locking element 4 is closed, see fig. 2a.
• the moulded halves 3a, 3b according to the third embodiment of the invention shown in fig 3a-c, are provided with a threaded section 9a, which corresponds to a thread 9b made on the locking element 4
• the moulded elements are moreover designed so that unscrewing of the moulded halves 3a, 3b from the locking element 4 is prevented by projections 10 according to fig 3c made on the moulded halves 3a, 3b at the section marking B-B in fig. 3a, which projections, when turned for the purpose of unscrewing, catch in teeth
• each moulded half 3a. 3b is provided with a section having a bead 12 which, because it is shaped to correspond to a slot 13 made m the locking element, the slot preferably being bounded at the top at the section marking C-C by flanges 14 according to fig. 4b, means that the moulded halves 3a, 3b can be connected to the locking element 4 by snap locking
• the cover 1 is adapted to be removed from the energy saving bulb 2 by means of a tool 15 specially shaped for this purpose
• the said tool 15 is adapted to release the locking between the moulded halves 3a, 3b and the locking element 4 by making it possible to press the locking heels 6 made on an elastic tongue 5 in simultaneously, so that they are released from the indentations 7 made in the locking element, according to the part enlargement in fig. 5
• the two joined moulded halves 3a, 3b can be removed from the bulb 2, so that the latter is released and a turning movement can be applied, so that when it is spent it can be removed and exchanged for a new one.
• connection part 2c of the bulb 2 need not be threaded but may, for example, be provided with a bayonet fitting, for connection of which to a corresponding socket a turning movement is required
• the threaded moulded halves 3a, 3b according to the third embodiment of the invention may prevent unscrewing of the locking element 4 in some other way than that desc ⁇ bed above, for example by arranging the threads so as to produce idle turning of the cover's threads in the locking element 4
• a tool can be specially adapted and shaped to release the locking between the moulded halves 3a, 3b and the locking element 4 for all the embodiments described.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)
• Snaps, Bayonet Connections, Set Pins, And Snap Rings (AREA)
• Fastening Of Light Sources Or Lamp Holders (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=20401191

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (2)

Citations (4)

• 1996
  • 1996-01-30 SE SE9600323A patent/SE511854C2/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1997
  • 1997-01-28 WO PCT/SE1997/000128 patent/WO1997028582A1/en active Application Filing
  • 1997-01-28 AU AU16792/97A patent/AU1679297A/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (4)

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