Lighting unit

Abstract

The lighting unit 10 comprises a light sheet arrangement 14 including one or more LED lights 37 configured to pass light sideways through a plastics (e.g., acrylic) material sheet 38. A pattern 39 on

Description

This invention concerns lighting units. Lighting units are provided in a range of applications. It is desirable for such units to be aesthetically pleasing. In some applications such as for instance bathrooms and kitchens, it can be more difficult to provide aesthetically pleasing lighting units, which are also sufficiently water resistant to be safely usable. According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a lighting unit, the unit including a light sheet arrangement, the light sheet arrangement comprising one or more LED lights and a plastics material sheet, with the LED lights being configured to pass light sideways through the light sheet, with a pattern provided on the light sheet which causes light passing sideways therethrough to be transmitted from the front of the sheet, a translucent decorative plastics material sheet being mounted in front of the light sheet, and a frame which mounts together the light sheet arrangement and decorative sheet. The frame may be configured such that the unit can be mounted in a wall, and may be mounted to be substantially flush with the surface of the wall. The frame may comprise lengths of extruded material, which may be of aluminium or plastics material. The lengths of extruded material may include formations to permit mounting to a wall. The lengths of extruded material may include formations to permit interconnection of lengths of extruded material. The length of extruded material may include formations to permit a control unit for the LED lights to be mounted thereto. The lengths of extruded material may be adhered to each other, and a waterproof adhesive / sealer may be used. The light sheet arrangement may be adhered to the frame, and a waterproof adhesive sealer may be used. A seal may be provided around the edge of the decorative sheet, and the seal may be in the form of a plastics material strip, which may be of neoprene. The lengths of extruded material may include formations to locate the seal. The light sheet may be made of acrylic material. The LED light or lights may be provided on an edge of the light sheet or embedded in the light sheet. The decorative sheet may be made of acrylic material. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing assembly of a lighting unit according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1 showing further assembly of the lighting unit; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing still further assembly of the lighting unit; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the assembled lighting unit; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic cross sectional side view through the assembly of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic exploded cross sectional side view of the assembly of Fig. 4. The drawings show a lighting unit 10 comprising a square frame 12 which mounts a light sheet arrangement 14 with a translucent decorative sheet 16 in front. The frame 12 is made from lengths 18 of an aluminium extrusion, which are provided with mitred comers and L shape connectors 20 mounting together the respective lengths 18 in the comers at right angles to each other. The extrusion includes an outer flange 22 permitting mounting to a wall 24 with screws 26 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The extrusion also includes an inner flange 28 and an upstanding profile 30. The upstanding profile 30 includes a channel 32 to receive the L shaped connectors 20. The upstanding profile 30 also includes an inwardly facing recess 34, which locates an elongate circular cross section neoprene seal 36 extending around the frame 12. The light sheet arrangement 14 includes an acrylic sheet 38 with a plurality of LED’s 37 embedded towards one side to shine light across the sheet 38. A laser etched grid pattern 39 is provided on the sheet 38, which pattern 39 causes the light to be shone outwardly from the front of the sheet 38. The decorative sheet 16 is a translucent acrylic material, which may have a wide range of patterns applied as required, such as for instance a marble effect. The lighting unit 10 is assembled as follows. The frame lengths 18 are interconnected with the L shape connectors 20 as shown for instance in Fig. 1. A cut out 42 is provided in an upper length 18 to locate a light power unit 44 with connecting wires 46, as shown for instance in Fig. 2. The assembled frame 12 with the light power unit 44 is shown in Fig. 3. The light sheet arrangement 14 is located in place, and may be held for instance against the inner flange 28 by double sided tape or otherwise. The light power unit 44 is connected to the light sheet arrangement 14. The decorative sheet 16 is located in place, and the neoprene seal 36 may be configured to hold the decorative sheet 16 in place, and also to provide a substantially waterproof seal between the decorative sheet 16 and the frame 12. There is thus described a lighting unit 10, and as can been seen in Figs. 5 and 6 this is configured to locate in an opening in a plaster wall 24 which has for instance a 12mm thick plasterboard 48, covered by a 3mm layer of plaster 50. The unit 10 therefore provides a wholly flush lighting unit which can be provided with a range of attractive visual appearances. The power unit can efficiently light the unit with a low voltage, meaning that it is safe for use in a range of locations including in a bathroom. It is to be realised that a wide range of modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance the unit may take a different shape as required, and could for instance be in the form of an elongate strip. Different materials or thicknesses of materials could be used. The frame may take a different form. The lighting power unit could be differently arranged or mounted. A different pattern may be provided on the light sheet, and for instance a dot matrix pattern could be used, to cause the light to be shone outwardly. The frame lengths may be adhered to each other, and a waterproof adhesive such as a two party epoxy resin adhesive / sealer may be used. The acrylic sheet may also be adhered to the frame with such an adhesive / sealer, to provide water resistance to the unit. Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and / or shown in the 5 drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A lighting unit, the lighting unit including:a light sheet arrangement, the light sheet arrangement comprising:one or more LED lights, anda plastics material sheet, with the LED lights being configured to pass light sideways through the sheet, with a pattern provided on the sheet which causes light passing sideways therethrough to be transmitted from the front of the sheet;a translucent decorative plastics material sheet being mounted in front of the light sheet arrangement; anda frame which mounts together the light sheet arrangement and decorative sheet.

2. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the frame is configured such that the lighting unit can be mounted in a wall.

3. The lighting unit of claim 2, wherein the frame is configured such that the lighting unit can be mounted to be substantially flush with the surface of the wall.

4. The lighting unit of any of the preceding claims, wherein the frame comprises lengths of extruded material.

5. The lighting unit of claim 4, wherein the lengths of extruded material are of an aluminium material.

6. The lighting unit of claim 4, wherein the lengths of extruded material are of a plastics material.

7. The lighting unit of any of claims 4 to 6, wherein the lengths ofextruded material include formations to permit mounting to a wall.

8. The lighting unit of any of claims 4 to 7, wherein the lengths of extruded material include formations to permit interconnection of lengths of extruded material.

9. The lighting unit of any of claims 4 to 8, wherein the lengths of extruded material include formations to permit a control unit for the one or more LED lights to be mounted thereto.

10. The lighting unit of any of claims 4 to 9, wherein the lengths of extruded material are adhered to each other.

11. The lighting unit of claim 10, wherein the lengths of extruded material are adhered to each other using a waterproof adhesive / sealer.

12. The lighting unit of any of the preceding claims, wherein the light sheet arrangement is adhered to the frame.

13. The lighting unit of claim 12, wherein the light sheet arrangement is adhered to the frame using a waterproof adhesive sealer.

14. The lighting unit of any of the preceding claims, wherein a seal is provided around the edge of the decorative sheet.

15. The lighting unit of claim 14, wherein the seal around the edge of the decorative sheet is in the form of a plastics material strip.

16. The lighting unit of claim 15, wherein the plastics material strip is of neoprene.

17. The lighting unit of any of claims 14 to 16 when dependent on claim 4, wherein the lengths of extruded material include formations to locate the seal.5 18. The lighting unit of any of the preceding claims, wherein theplastics material sheet is made of acrylic material.

19. The lighting unit of any of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more LED lights are provided on an edge of the plastics material 10 sheet.

20. The lighting unit of any of claims 1 to 18, wherein the one or more LED lights are embedded in the plastics material sheet.15 21. The lighting unit of any of the preceding claims, wherein thedecorative sheet is made of acrylic material.A

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