Electrical joint allowing rotation between two members

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical joint (1). Joint (1) comprises a first component (10) which rotates about a first rotational axis (X-X), said first component supporting a first annular conductive ring (11) centred about the first axis and surrounds a first conductive contact (12), and a second component (20) which has second axis (Y-Y), the first and second components being coupled to rotate relative to each other about the second axis, with the second axis being at 45 degrees to the first axis, said second component having at one end a second annular conductive ring (21) centred about said second axis to engage the first annular conductive ring (11), and said second component (20) having at the one end a second conductive contact (22) to engage the first conductive contact (21). In use the first and second annular rings are in continuous electrical contact with each other with the first ring at 45 degrees to the second ring as the first component rotates about the first axis and as the first and second components rotate relative to each other about the second axis, and the second conductive contact engages the first conductive contact and is in continuous electrical contact with each other as the first component rotates about the first axis and as the first and second components rotate relative to each other about the second axis.

Description

[0001] Electrical Joint Allowing Rotation Between Two Members

[0002] The present invention relates to an electrical joint allowing rotation between two members, especially a spotlight where a light source housing member rotates relative to a fixed member connected to a source of power.

[0003] It is well known to provide spotlights with a light housing connected to a bracket through a universal joint allowing the light housing to rotate in two axis. The bracket may be connectable to a lighting track or may be connectable to a surface such as a ceiling. The bracket is connected to a source of electrical power and has wires passing from the bracket, through the universal joint, and into a light source such as a bulb or LED in the light housing. The light housing is designed to rotate in several planes relative to the bracket so that the light emerging from the housing can be directed to illuminate a fixed area, such as onto an object.

[0004] One or more stops are usually provided to prevent the light housing from being continuously rotated so that wires from the bracket passing through the universal joint into the light housing do not become twisted and break. Users however often break the stops when trying to adjust the position of the light housing, often resulting in breaking wires.

[0005] The invention seeks to provide an electrical joint which can be used, inter alia, in spotlights to allow unlimited rotational movement of a light housing relative to a bracket without the need for such wires. According to the present invention there is provided an electrical joint comprising: a) a first component which rotates about a first rotational axis, said first component supporting a first annular conductive ring centred about the first axis and surrounds a first conductive contact, and b) a second component which has second axis, the first and second components being coupled to rotate relative to each other about the second axis, with the second axis being at substantially 45 degrees to the first axis, said second component having at one end a second annular conductive ring centred about said second axis to engage the first annular conductive ring, and said second component having at the one end a second conductive contact to engage the first conductive contact, in use the first and second annular rings being in continuous electrical contact with each other with the first ring at substantially 45 degrees to the second ring as the first component rotates about the first axis and as the first and second components rotate relative to each other about the second axis, and the second conductive contact engaging the first conductive contact and being in continuous electrical contact with each other as the first component rotates about the first axis and as the first and second components rotate relative to each other about the second axis.

[0006] The term “substantially 45 degrees” is used herein to mean an angle which, rounded to zero decimal places, is 45 degrees. The angle may be exactly 45 degrees.

[0007] Preferably the first or second ring has a bevel edge to increase the contact area between the first annular ring and the second annular ring. Preferably the first ring has a bevel edge. Preferably the second conductive ring is spring biased against the first conductive ring or vice versa.

[0008] Preferably the second conductive contact is spring biased against the first conductive contact or vice versa.

[0009] The first component may form part of a light housing and the second component form part of a fixed member connected to a source of power, whereby the light housing is powered as it rotates relative to the fixed member.

[0010] Preferably the light housing has a circular member which rotates about the first axis and is connected to the light housing body, and the first component is connected to the light housing body, rotation of the light housing relative to the circular member causing the first annular ring to rotate about the first axis, and the second component is connected to the circular member at a point spaced from the first axis with the axis of the second component 45 degrees to the first axis.

[0011] Preferably the circular member allows the second member planetary movement around the first axis.

[0012] Preferably the circular member is dome shaped. An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0013] Figures 1A to ID show side, cross section and perspective views of an electrical joint, Figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view of a spotlight showing the electrical joint of Figure lA to ID therein, and

[0014] Figures 3A and 3B show the spotlight in different orientations.

[0015] Referring to Figures 1A to ID there is shown an electrical joint 1. Electrical joint 1 has a first component 10 which rotates about a first rotational axis X-X. First component supports a first annular conductive ring 11 with a 45 degree bevel edge 11 A. Ring 11 is centred about the first axis X-X and surrounds a first conductive contact 12 which projects above the ring 11 away from a base plate 14 on which the ring 11 and contact 12 are mounted. Electrical insulation material 13 is formed between ring 11 and contact 12.

[0016] A second shaft-like component 20 is provided which has second axis Y-Y. The first and second components 10,20 being coupled to rotate relative to each other about the second axis Y-Y. The second axis Y-Y is at 45 degrees to the first axis X-X (see Figure ID). Second component 20 has at one end a second annular conductive ring 21 centred about said second axis Y-Y to engage the first annular conductive ring bevel edge 11 A. Second component 20 has at the one end a second conductive contact 22 to engage the first conductive contact 12. Electrical insulation material 23 is formed between ring 21 and contact 22. In use the first and second annular rings are in continuous electrical contact with each other with the first ring 11 at 45 degrees to the second ring 21 as the first member rotates about the first axis X-X, and as the first and second axis rotate relative to each other about the second axis Y-Y. The second conductive contact 22 engages the first conductive contact 12 and is in continuous electrical contact with each other as the first component rotates about the first axis X-X and as the first and second components rotate relative to each other about the second axis Y-Y.

[0017] The first annular ring 11 has the bevel edge 11 A to increase the contact area between the first annular ring 11 and the second annular ring 21. However the second ring could have the bevel edge.

[0018] The second conductive ring 21 is also spring biased against the first conductive ring 11 (or vice versa) to keep the electrical contact between the two rings.

[0019] Similarly the second conductive contact 22 is spring biased against the first conductive contact 12 (or vice versa) to keep the electrical contact between the two contacts.

[0020] As shown now in Figure 2, the first member 10 may form part of a light housing 30 and the second component 20 may form part of a fixed member in the form of a track bracket 40 connected to a source of power in the form of a lighting track (not shown but well known in the art), whereby the light housing 30 is powered as it rotates relative to the fixed member bracket Light housing 30 has a circular member in the form of a dome 31 which rotates about the first axis X-X and is connected to the light housing body 30. The first component base plate 14 is connected to the light housing body 30. Thus rotation of the light housing 30 relative to the dome 31 causes the first annular ring 11 to rotate about the first axis X-X, and the second component 20 is connected to the circular member at a point spaced from the first axis with the axis of the second component 45 degrees) to the first axis. The circular dome 31 allows the second component planetary movement around the first axis.

[0021] Figure 2 shows the light housing exploded so that a wire 32 can be seen connected to the first annular ring 11 and first contact 12 to deliver power to a light source 33 in the housing 30. Similarly track bracket 40 has Positive Neutral and Earth contacts to engage with power from a lighting track and deliver power to second annular ring 21 and second contact 22.

[0022] If desired the spotlight 30 could be a single unit (not track mounted) with a ceiling type rose instead of track bracket 40.

[0023] As shown in Figure 3 A and 3B the light housing can be rotated relative to the bracket 40 on axis X-X and / or Y-Y so that the direction of light emerging from the light housing can be adjusted to infinite positions between horizontal through to vertical orientations. The invention may take a form different to that specifically described above. For example, in addition to spotlights (such as track and surface mounted spotlights), the electrical joint of the invention may be used in a recessed fitting such as a downlight.

[0024] Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An electrical joint comprising: a first component which rotates about a first rotational axis, said first component supporting a first annular conductive ring centred about the first axis and surrounds a first conductive contact, and a second component which has a second axis, the first and second components being coupled to rotate relative to each other about the second axis, with the second axis being at substantially 45 degrees to the first axis, said second component having at one end a second annular conductive ring centred about said second axis to engage the first annular conductive ring, and said second component having at the one end a second conductive contact to engage the first conductive contact, in use the first and second annular rings being in continuous electrical contact with each other with the first ring at 45 degrees to the second ring as the first component rotates about the first axis and as the first and second components rotate relative to each other about the second axis, and the second conductive contact engaging the first conductive contact and being in continuous electrical contact with each other as the first component rotates about the first axis and as the first and second components rotate relative to each other about the second axis.

2. An electrical joint according to claim 1, wherein the first or second ring has a bevel edge to increase the contact area between the first annular ring and the second annular ring.

3. An electrical joint according to claim 2, wherein the first ring has a bevel edge.

4. An electrical joint according to any preceding claim, wherein the second conductive ring is spring biased against the first conductive ring or vice versa.

5. An electrical joint according to any preceding claim, wherein the second conductive contact is spring biased against the first conductive contact or vice versa.

6. An electrical joint according to any preceding claim, wherein the first component may form part of a light housing and the second component form part of a fixed member connected to a source of power, whereby the light housing is powered as it rotates relative to the fixed member.

7. An electrical joint according to claim 6, wherein the light housing has a circular member which rotates about the first axis and is connected to the light housing body, and the first component is connected to the light housing body, rotation of the light housing relative to the circular member causing the first annular ring to rotate about the first axis, and the second component is connected to the circular member at a point spaced from the first axis with the axis of the second component 45 degrees to the first axis.

8. An electrical joint according to claim 7, wherein the circular member allows the second member planetary movement around the first axis.

9. An electrical joint according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the circular member is dome shaped.

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