Lighting adaptor

Abstract

The lighting adaptor 100, particularly for recessing a lamp 202 in a housing, comprises a skirt 102 with a hollow frustum internal surface, the skirt having a first 104 and a second 106 aperture at a

Description

The present invention relates generally to a lighting adaptor and finds particular, although not exclusive, utility in adapting existing recessed downlights. Typical recessed downlights project light downwardly with a cone of light having an axis approximately perpendicular to the ceiling in which the downlight is installed. These are typically known as “fixed” type downlights. Some downlights include the ability to move the lamp within the housing to direct the emitted light predominantly in one direction. These may be known as “eyeball” type downlights. However, such eyeball downlights are typically more expensive. If it is desired to direct the light emitted from a fixed type downlight which does not have the ability to move the lamp within the housing then a new lighting unit is required. Accordingly, it is desirable to be able to retro-fit a means for selecting the direction of light emitted from a fixed type downlight. Also, downlights, whether they be fixed type or eyeball type, typically have the lamp located at the front of the housing such that it is approximately flush with the ceiling. These provide a particular type of lighting effect and it is desirable to be able to easily change the lighting effect. In a first aspect, the invention provides a retro-fittable lighting adaptor, for recessing a lamp in a lamp housing, the lighting adaptor comprising a skirt, wherein the skirt has an internal surface that forms a hollow frustum with a smallest end opposite a largest end, wherein the skirt comprises a first aperture at the smallest end of the frustum and a second aperture at the largest end of the frustum; and a lamp location means configured to locate a lamp, in use, at the first aperture such that, in use, light from the lamp is transmitted through the first aperture to the second aperture; the lighting adaptor further comprising a reflective surface arranged on the inside of the skirt and configured to direct light, emitted by a lamp located at the first aperture, in use, in a predetermined direction out through the second aperture, the direction being non-perpendicular to a plane in which a rim of the second aperture lies, and being predominantly in one direction; wherein the reflective surface is integral with the skirt, and the reflective surface has the shape of the surface of a truncated cone, and wherein a plane of a base of the truncated cone is non-parallel to a plane of a top of the truncated cone, and wherein a plane in which the rim of the first aperture lies is parallel to the plane in which the rim of the second aperture lies. In this way, the lamp may be located “behind” the ceiling such that it is recessed. This will provide a different lighting effect than with the lamp at the front of the housing. The invention provides a simple, easily retro-fittable adaptor to change an existing lamp housing without the need to replace it. It may be that the lamp will need to be replaced with a smaller lamp so as to cooperate with the first aperture. In this regard, the lighting adaptor may be configured to recess, or further recess, a lamp of a first type in a lamp housing designed for a lamp of a second type. For instance, the first lamp type may be a lamp type having a parabolic reflector with a smaller diameter aperture, or front lens, relative to the aperture of a parabolic reflector, or front lens, of the second lamp type. Byway of example, the first lamp type may be a type of lamp known as an “MRU” and the second lamp type may be a type of lamp known as a “GU10”. The front lens diameter of an “MR11” lamp type typically has diameter of 35mm. The front lens diameter of a “GU10” lamp type typically has diameter of 50mm. Accordingly, it may be understood that the first aperture of the lamp adaptor may be 35mm or less, such as between 20mm and 35mm. Alternatively, or additionally, the second aperture of the lamp adaptor may be 50mm or less, such as between 35mm and 50mm. In this way, the rim of the second aperture of the skirt may be matched in size and shape to an aperture in the lamp housing, but a smaller lamp may be located at the first aperture. Also, the smaller lamp may have a height which when combined with the adaptor approximately equals the height of the original lamp which is being replaced. For instance, an MR11 type lamp typically has a length (or height) of 29mm, whereas a GU11-type lamp typically has a length (or height) of 50 to 60mm. In this way, in use, the lighting adaptor may be held in a fixed position by the existing housing in place of the first lamp without any modification to the existing housing. A retention member, used to retain the first lamp in the housing, may be used to retain the adaptor in the housing. The location means may be any means to maintain the lamp in place relative to the housing and may include projections within which the lamp may sit. The lamp location means may be configured to releasably affix a lamp, in use, to the first aperture. In this case, the lamp may be more positively attached to the adaptor rather than merely resting on the top of it. The lamp location means may comprise at least one of a protrusion, a magnetic portion, a screw thread, an interference fitting portion, a spring clip, and a clamping portion. The skirt may be configured to border an edge or face of a lamp, such as a flat circular face of the lamp. For example, the first aperture at the smallest end of the firustrum may be flat, rounded, and / or circular. The skirt may be configured to border an edge of an existing lamp housing. For example, the second aperture at the largest end of the firustrum may be flat, rounded and / or circular. The height of the skirt may be at least 3 cm, at least 5 cm or at least 7 cm. The internal surface of the skirt may be in the shape of a frustoconical form or a frustopyramidal form, such as a three-or-more sided frustopyramidal form. The reflective surface may have a reflectivity of greater than 75%. The lamp may include a lamp reflector, such as a parabolic lamp reflector, to direct light emitted from the lamp such that it predominantly passes perpendicularly through a transparent lens at the front of the lamp. In use, although some light will still be emitted from the lamp and travel straight through the adaptor without touching the skirt, some of the light will be incident on the skirt. The skirt may be configured to direct that light, by reflection, in a desired direction. For example, if the housing is installed in a ceiling, the light reaching a floor beneath (the floor being parallel to the ceiling) may have an oval shape, rather than the typical circular shape. The ability to direct the light in this way may be used to illuminate features or objects located beneath the ceiling. Likewise, if the housing is installed in walls, other lighting effects may be achieved. The skirt may comprise reflective material such as stainless steel. The reflective surface The skirt and / or reflective material may comprise plastics or metal. The reflective surface may have a height extending from the rim of the second aperture towards the first aperture, and wherein the height varies gradually and circumferentially around the inside of the skirt. For instance, a plane of a base of the truncated cone may lie at an angle with respect to a plane of a top of the truncated cone, such as an angle of at least 5 degrees, at least 10 degrees, or at least 20 degrees. This may be used to direct more light in a particular direction than in other directions. The plane of the base of the truncated cone may be parallel to the plane in which the rim of the second aperture lies. The plane of the top of the truncated cone may be parallel to the plane in which the rim of the second aperture lies. In some examples, only one of the plane of the base of the truncated cone, and the plane of the top of the truncated cone, may be parallel to the plane in which the rim of the second aperture lies. The shape of the reflective surface may be configured by applying non-reflective materials inside the skirt. For instance, a reflective material may extend over all of the inside surface of the skirt, but have portions of non-reflective material attached to the inside of the skirt obscuring some of the reflective material to thereby create the desired shape of the reflective surface. Non-reflective materials may have a reflectivity of less than 50%. The reflective surface may comprise a colour filter. The colour filter may be integral with the reflective surface, skirt and / or integral with the adaptor. For instance, the skirt may comprise a reflective surface which has a particular colour such as any of white, yellow, blue, red, green, etc. Alternatively, or additionally, a colour filter may be releasably attached to the skirt, such as the inside of the skirt. In some examples, the colour filter may be removable and replaceable. For example, the colour filter may clip onto the adaptor using resilient members. In this way, the colour filter may be changed at will to thereby alter the lighting effects created by the downlight. In some examples, a lens may be provided, in use, between the lamp and the second aperture, such as between the first aperture and the second aperture. Alternatively, or additionally, the lens may be removably connected to the rim of the second aperture or to a bezel or the lamp housing configured to receive the adaptor. In some examples, the lens may be a colour filter that is arranged to attenuate at least one visible wavelength of light emitted through the first and second apertures in use. Alternatively, or additionally, the lens may be configured to focus the light. The first aperture may be centred over the second aperture. This may mean that the axes through the centre of the apertures which lie perpendicular to the planes in which the first and second rims lie, are co-axial. This may allow for the retro-fitted adaptor and lamp to occupy space directly above a hole cut in the ceiling in which the housing has been fitted. This may be advantageous so as to avoid obstructions “behind” (i.e., above) the ceiling such as wiring, ceiling joists and the like. The skirt frustum may be a conical frustum or a pyramidal frustum. In some examples, the reflective surface may have a rotational symmetry about an axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the rim of the first and / or second aperture. The order of the rotational symmetry may be of less than 500, less than 50, less than 5, less than 2 or of only 1. The lamp location means may be configured to locate an MR11 type lamp. The adaptor may be configured to fit inside a lamp housing designed for a GU10 lamp. In a second aspect, the invention provides a lighting system comprising the lighting adaptor of the first aspect and a lamp. For example, the lamp may be affixed to the lighting adaptor in a position directly adjacent to said adaptor. In a third aspect, the invention provides a method for changing the lighting profile provided by a lamp housing, comprising providing a lamp housing having a first lamp of a first lamp type; removing the first lamp from the lamp housing; providing the lighting adaptor of the first aspect; locating a second lamp of a second lamp type at the first aperture of said lighting adaptor; and installing said lighting adaptor and said second lamp into the lamp housing. The lighting adaptor and the second lamp may be installed in a selected orientation so as to direct light, emitted by the second lamp in use, in a predetermined direction being non-perpendicular to a plane in which a rim of the second aperture lies and being predominantly in one direction. The step of removing the first lamp of the first lamp type from the lamp housing may include detaching an attachment means disposed between the first lamp and the lamp housing, and the step of installing the lighting adaptor and the second lamp into the lamp housing may include attaching the attachment means, such that it may be disposed between the second lamp and the lamp housing. The above and other characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. This description is given for the sake of example only, without limiting the scope of the invention. The reference figures quoted below refer to the attached drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic view of a lighting adaptor, which is suitable for recessing a lamp in a lamp housing designed for a lamp; and Figure 2 is a schematic view of the lighting adaptor of Figure 1 in association with a lamp disposed in a surface of a room, such as a ceiling. The present invention will be described with respect to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. Each drawing may not include all of the features of the invention and therefore should not necessarily be considered to be an embodiment of the invention. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention. Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking or in any other manner. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other sequences than described or illustrated herein. Likewise, method steps described or claimed in a particular sequence may be understood to operate in a different sequence. Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other orientations than described or illustrated herein. It is to be noticed that the term “comprising”, used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It is thus to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components as referred to, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression “a device comprising means A and B” should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means that with respect to the present invention, the only relevant components of the device are A and B. Similarly, it is to be noticed that the term “connected”, used in the description, should not be interpreted as being restricted to direct connections only. Thus, the scope of the expression “a device A connected 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. “Connected” may mean that two or more elements are either in direct physical or electrical contact, or that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other but yet still co-operate or interact with each other. For instance, wireless connectivity is contemplated. Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment” or “an aspect” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or aspect is included in at least one embodiment or aspect of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment”, or “in an aspect” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or aspect, but may refer to different embodiments or aspects. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics of any one embodiment or aspect of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner with any other particular feature, structure or characteristic of another embodiment or aspect of the invention, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments or aspects. Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the description 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. Moreover, the description of any individual drawing or aspect should not necessarily be considered to be an embodiment of the invention. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in fewer 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 features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form yet further embodiments, as will be understood by those skilled 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 practised 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. In the discussion of the invention, unless stated to the contrary, the disclosure of alternative values for the upper or lower limit of the permitted range of a parameter, coupled with an indication that one of said values is more highly preferred than the other, is to be construed as an implied statement that each intermediate value of said parameter, lying between the more preferred and the less preferred of said alternatives, is itself preferred to said less preferred value and also to each value lying between said less preferred value and said intermediate value. The use of the term “at least one” may mean only one in certain circumstances. The use of the term “any” may mean “all” and / or “each” in certain circumstances. It may be understood that visible wavelengths as used herein refers to the wavelengths of light visible to a human. The lower limit of human vision enables humans to see wavelengths of at least 310nm or, in some examples, of at least 380nm. The upper limit of human vision enables humans to see wavelengths of no more than HOOnm or, in some examples, of no more than 700nm. The principles of the invention will now be described by a detailed description of at least one drawing relating to exemplary features. It is clear that other arrangements can be configured according to the knowledge of persons skilled in the art without departing from the underlying concept or technical teaching, the invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a lighting adaptor 100, which is suitable for recessing a lamp 202 in a lamp housing designed for a lamp 202. The lighting adaptor 100 includes a skirt 102, wherein the skirt 102 is a hollow frustum. The depicted skirt comprises a round first aperture 104 at a smallest end of the frustum and a round second aperture 106 at a largest end of the frustrum. The second aperture 106 is larger than the first aperture 104. The plane in which the rim 126 of the first aperture 104 is disposed is parallel with the plane in which the rim 128 of the second aperture 106 is disposed. The side wall extending between the first and second apertures may be slightly curved as shown in Figure 1. Alternatively, (not shown) it may not be curved but, instead, be rectilinear. A lamp location means 108 is provided to locate and / or affix the lighting adaptor to a lamp at the first aperture 104. In this example, the lamp location means 108 is a screw thread, arranged on the inside of the skirt at the upper (first aperture 104) end, but this could be one or more of a protrusion, a relatively high-tack adhesive, a mechanical clip, a magnet, or a plurality of magnets. In use, the external rim 244 which extends about the base of the lamp 202, through which light is emitted in use, may be attached to the adaptor 100 by being screwed into the thread 108. The lamp location means 108 is arranged to orient the lamp in the lamp housing such that, in use, a ray of light 110 from the lamp is transmitted through the first aperture 104 to the second aperture 106 and the ray of light passes out through the second aperture 106 as a first ray of light from the adaptor 112 that passed straight through the adaptor 100. The inside of the skirt 102 includes a reflective surface 114. For the sake of clarity, the adaptor 100 is shown as transparent in Figure 1, however, in reality it is likely that the adaptor 100 will be opaque. As depicted in Figure 1, the reflective surface 114 extends from the rim 128 of the second aperture 106 towards the first aperture 104. However, it is not arranged on all of the inside of the skirt 102 and does not reach the first rim 126. Rather, it is approximately frustoconical in shape such that it has a boundary closest to the first aperture which is inclined relative to the planes in which the first 126 and second 128 rims are disposed. The upper boundary has a slope with a high point 115 and a low point 113. In use, a ray of light from the lamp 202 may be incident on the reflective surface and be reflected such that it exits the adaptor 100, via the second aperture 106, in a direction which is non-perpendicular to the plane in which the rim 128 of the second aperture is disposed. This is indicated by the arrow referenced 116 in Figure 1. Figure 2 shows the lighting adaptor 100 in association with the lamp 202, together being located above a ceiling 200. The combination of the lamp 202 and adaptor 100 will typically be arranged within a lamp housing. In Figure 2 not all of such a lamp housing is shown, however, the bezel 233 which frames the hole in the ceiling through which the lamp housing is installed, and through which the light is emitted is shown in cross-section. This bezel 233 is shown as an “L” shape having one arm extending across the lower surface of the ceiling as a circular plate, and another arm extending perpendicularly upwards through the hole adjacent to the hole’s perimeter as a relatively short cylinder. The bezel 233 may be considered to be the lamp housing in some circumstances. The bezel 233 may be interchangeable. That is, the bezel 233 may be removable and replaceable with a bezel of any colour, such as white, black, gold, or chrome. The bezel 233 may snap into place using resilient members. In this way, the styling of the bezel 233, skirt 102 and / or lamp housing may be varied quickly and easily by a user. The lighting adaptor 100 is held in place in the lamp housing (not shown) by a circlip 210 (otherwise known as a retaining ring). A cross-section of a wire circlip 210 is shown in Figure 2 located beneath the adaptor 100, and arranged just inside the inside of the perimeter hole formed by the bezel 233. This circlip 210 is biased to push against the inside of the upwardly extending arm of the bezel. The bezel may include lugs (not shown) to retain the circlip. Other common means of retaining the adaptor in relation to the bezel / housing are contemplated. Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of the lighting adaptor 100 affixed to the lamp 202 by means of the screw thread described in relation to Figure 1. The lamp 202 may be powered via electrical contacts 212. In this example, the lamp 202 includes a parabolic reflector 204 for directing light predominantly out of the aperture of the lamp 202. Said aperture is arranged immediately adjacent to the lamp location means 108 which is configured to affix the lighting adaptor 100 to the lamp 202 at the first aperture 104 such that, in use, light emitted from the lamp 202 is transmitted through the first aperture 104 to the second aperture and out through the second aperture 106. The adapter 100 is configured such that a first beam, as depicted by two dashed lines 206, is transmitted directly from the first aperture 104 via the lighting adaptor 100 and out through the second aperture 106, e.g., in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the ceiling 200. This is the general direction that light is emitted from the lamp 202 if no adaptor is present. If the adaptor is present, but comprises no reflective surface, then the general direction that light is emitted from the lamp 202 will be the same, however, the lamp is now recessed to provide a different visual effect. 5 If the adaptor does include a reflective surface 114, as shown in Figure 2, the reflective surface 114 will, due to its shape and arrangement within the adaptor, provide a second beam of light as depicted by two dashed lines 208. The second beam propagates in a direction that at least partially diverges away from the first beam 206 and which is predominantly in a direction parallel to an axis passing through the high 115 and low 113 10 points of the reflective surface. Although some light will also be reflected in an opposite direction to the second beam 208, due to the presence of the reflective surface 114 at the low point 113, the amount of reflected light will be predominantly in the direction as shown in Figure 2. It is possible that more than one reflector may be provided inside the skirt 102 to 15 provide different arrangements of lighting effects.

Claims

1. A retro-fittable lighting adaptor, for recessing a lamp in a lamp housing, the lightingadaptor comprising a skirt, wherein the skirt has an internal surface that forms a hollow frustum with a smallest end opposite a largest end, wherein the skirt comprises a first aperture at the smallest end of the frustum and a second aperture at the largest end of the frustum; and a lamp location means configured to locate a lamp, in use, at the first aperture such that, in use, light from the lamp is transmitted through the first aperture to the second aperture; the lighting adaptor further comprising a reflective surface arranged on the inside of the skirt and configured to direct light, emitted by a lamp located at the first aperture, in use, in a predetermined direction out through the second aperture, the direction being non-perpendicular to a plane in which a rim of the second aperture lies, and being predominantly in one direction; wherein the reflective surface is integral with the skirt, and the reflective surface has the shape of the surface of a truncated cone, and wherein a plane of a base of the truncated cone is non-parallel to a plane of a top of the truncated cone, and wherein a plane in which the rim of the first aperture lies is parallel to the plane in which the rim of the second aperture lies.

2. The retro-fittable lighting adaptor of claim 1, wherein the lamp location means is configured to releasably affix a lamp, in use, to the first aperture.

3. The retro-fittable lighting adaptor of either one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the lamp location means comprises at least one of a protrusion, a magnetic portion, a threaded portion, an interference fitting portion, a spring clip, and a clamping portion.

4. The retro-fittable lighting adaptor of any preceding claim, wherein the plane of the base of the truncated cone is parallel to the plane in which the rim of the second aperture lies.

5. The retro-fittable lighting adaptor of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plane of the top of the truncated cone is parallel to the plane in which the rim of the second aperture lies.

6. The retro-fittable lighting adaptor of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the reflective surface has a height extending from the rim of the second aperture towards the first aperture, and wherein the height varies gradually and circumferentially around the inside of the skirt.

7. The retro-fittable lighting adaptor of any preceding claim, wherein the reflectivesurface comprises a colour filter.

8. The retro-fittable lighting adaptor of claim 7, wherein the colour filter is integral with the reflective surface.

9. The retro-fittable lighting adaptor of any preceding claim, wherein the first aperture is centred over the second aperture.

10. The retro-fittable lighting adaptor of any preceding claim, wherein the frustum is a conical frustum or a pyramidal frustum.

11. The retro-fittable lighting adaptor of any preceding claim, wherein the lamp location means is configured to locate an MR11 type lamp.

12. A retro-fittable lighting system comprising the lighting adaptor of any preceding claim and a lamp.

13. A method for changing the lighting profile provided by a lamp housing, comprising providing a lamp housing having a first lamp of a first lamp type; removing the first lamp from the lamp housing; providing the retro-fittable lighting adaptor of any one of claims 1 to 11; locating a second lamp of a second lamp type at the first aperture of said lighting adaptor; and installing said lighting adaptor and said second lamp into the lamp housing.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the lighting adaptor and the second lamp are installed in a selected orientation so as to direct light, emitted by the second lamp in use, in a predetermined direction being non-perpendicular to a plane in which a rim of the second aperture lies and being predominantly in one direction.

15. The method of either one of claims 13 and 14, wherein the step of removing the first lamp of the first lamp type from the lamp housing includes detaching an attachment means disposed between the first lamp and the lamp housing, and wherein the step of installing the lighting adaptor and the second lamp into the 5 lamp housing includes reattaching the attachment means, such that it is disposedbetween the second lamp and the lamp housing.

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