FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a collar. The present invention has particular but not exclusive application for inhibiting damage from a light fitting when inserting and removing the light fitting in/from a panel. The patent specification describes this use but it is by way of example only and the invention is not limited to this use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Some light fixtures such as down lights are at least partially retained within panels such as ceilings. When ceiling panels are made of fragile material such as plasterboard, installing and removing light fixtures can damage the ceiling.

Typically a light fixture can only be accessed from one side of the ceiling panel and will have a retaining system such as spring loaded arms which can be carefully fed into an opening in the ceiling panel and can retain the light fixture in the ceiling panel.

A problem with the spring loaded arms is that the spring force can be substantial which can lead to damage of the ceiling panel when a light fixture is removed. In extreme cases, the spring loaded arms can also cause damage to the ceiling panel when the light fixture is installed.

One way of reducing the problem is to reduce the spring force on the arms. However, a problem with this can be that the spring force can be less than the weight of the light fixture, leading to a light fixture which sags from the ceiling creating an unsightly installation.

Another way of reducing the problem is to provide more spring loaded arms on the light fixture. However, this can make installation of the light fixture and removal of the light fixture more difficult.

Even with lower spring forces, the spring loaded arms can still damage ceiling panels.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or at least alleviate one or more of the above mentioned problems with installing and removing light fixtures from panels and/or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention broadly resides in a collar for retaining a light fixture in a panel, the collar having a rim defining an opening, the rim having a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end of the rim defining a gap in the rim; and a plurality of flange portions extending outwardly from the rim, each flange portion spaced from an adjacent flange portion, wherein the rim is flexible such that the diameter of the rim is adjustable.

Preferably each flange portion is spaced from an adjacent flange portion by a predetermined distance. Preferably the space between adjacent flange portions is between 0.5mm to 10mm, more preferably the space between adjacent flange portions is between 1 mm and 5mm. Preferably the space between adjacent flange portions enables the rim to be bent to a different diameter.

Preferably the rim can be bent to a diameter between 200mm and 60mm. More preferably the rim can be bent to a diameter between 150mm and 80mm.

Preferably a portion of the collar can be removed to reduce the diameter of the rim. Preferably a portion of the rim and any attached flange portions can be removed to reduce the diameter of the rim. In one embodiment, the space between adjacent flange portions coincide with predetermined diameters of the rim. Preferably the predetermined diameters are between 200mm and 60mm. More preferably the predetermined diameters are between 150mm and 80mm. Preferably the rim can be cut adjacent the space between adjacent flange portions. In one embodiment, the rim has a weakened portion to enable a portion of the rim to be broken away. Preferably each weakened portion is located adjacent a space between adjacent flange portions to enable a portion of the rim to be broken away.

Preferably, the collar is flexible. Preferably the flexible nature of the collar enables the first end of the rim to be moved away from the second end of the rim in an insertion condition. Preferably the collar is adapted to be twisted in a substantially helical manner in an insertion condition, such that the collar can be inserted into an opening that is smaller than an external diameter of the collar in an at-rest condition. Preferably in an at-rest condition, the first end and a second end of the rim are substantially adjacent to each other.

Preferably the rim is substantially tubular in shape. Preferably the rim has a depth which extends in a direction which is substantially parallel to a centrally located axis. Preferably the depth of the rim is substantially the same or less than a thickness of a panel with which the collar is to be used. In one embodiment, the rim has a depth of between 10mm and 5mm. Preferably the rim has a thickness of between 0.5mm and 4mm. More preferably the rim has a thickness between 1 mm and 3mm. Preferably the opening defined by the rim has a diameter more than four times the depth of the rim.

Preferably the plurality of flanges are substantially planar in an at-rest condition. Preferably the plurality of flanges extend outwardly at substantially 90° to the direction of the depth of the rim. Preferably each flange has a thickness of between 0.5mm and 4mm. More preferably each flange has a thickness between 1 mm and 3mm. Preferably each flange has a width which is more than the depth of the rim. Preferably the flange has a width between 5mm and 80mm. More preferably the flange has a width between 10mm and 40mm. It will be understood that width in this instance is the distance that each flange extends outwardly from the rim.

Preferably in the at-rest condition, the gap between the first end and the second end of the rim is 0mm or more. In one embodiment, where the first end and the second end of the rim are touching or overlapping, the gap is 0mm in the at-rest condition. Preferably in the at-rest condition, the gap between the first end and the second end of the rim is between 0mm and 10mm.

Preferably the rim includes one or more marks to indicate predetermined diameters of a resulting collar. Preferably the rim can be cut or broken at the one or more marks. Preferably each of the one or more marks coincide with a space between two adjacent flange portions.

In one embodiment, the rim includes indentations to assist in bending the rim to a smaller diameter. Preferably each indentation is located adjacent a space between adjacent flange portions.

Preferably the collar is made of a plastic material. In another embodiment, the collar is made of a metallic material. Preferably the collar is made of a resilient material that returns to or close to an at-rest condition after being bent or twisted to an insertion condition. In one embodiment, the collar is made of a silicone material.

Preferably the panel is a ceiling panel. In one embodiment, the panel is a plasterboard panel.

Preferably the light fixture is a down light. In another aspect, the present invention broadly resides in a collar for retaining a light fixture in a panel, the collar having a rim defining an opening, the rim having a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end of the rim defining a gap in the rim; and a plurality of flange portions extending outwardly from the rim, each flange portion spaced from an adjacent flange portion, wherein the collar is moveable between an at-rest condition where the first end and a second end of the rim are substantially adjacent each other, and an insertion condition where the first end and the second end of the rim are further apart than in the at-rest condition and wherein the gap in the insertion condition enables the collar to be inserted into an opening smaller that an outer diameter of the collar in the at-rest condition.

In a further aspect, the present invention broadly resides in a method of retaining a collar as described in the specification in an opening of a panel, including the steps of: twisting the collar to move the collar from an at-rest condition to an insertion condition; threading the collar through the opening of the panel; returning the collar to the at-rest condition; and at least partially inserting the rim into the opening of the panel such that the flange abuts a side of the panel opposite the side from which the collar was inserted from.

In one embodiment the method further includes the step of removing a portion of the rim from the collar to shorten the circumference of the rim to suit the diameter of the opening of the panel. Preferably the step of removing a portion of the rim from the collar includes cutting the portion of the rim from the collar. In another embodiment, the step of removing a portion of the rim from the collar includes breaking the portion of the rim from the collar.

Preferably the method further includes the step of inserting a light fixture into the opening of the collar after the rim of the collar has been at least partially inserted into the opening of the panel.

Preferably the method further includes the step of removing the light fixture from the opening of the collar. In another aspect, the present invention broadly resides in a light fixture assembly including a light fixture having retaining means to retain the light fixture in an opening; and a collar for retaining a light fixture in a panel, the collar having a rim defining an opening, the rim having a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end of the rim defining a gap in the rim; and a plurality of flange portions extending outwardly from the rim, each flange portion spaced from an adjacent flange portion, wherein the collar is adapted to be retained within an opening of the panel, and the light fixture is adapted to be retained within the opening defined by the rim.

Preferably the collar is a collar as defined in this specification.

The features described with respect to one aspect also apply where applicable to all other aspects of the invention. Furthermore, different combinations of described features are herein described and claimed even when not expressly stated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the present invention can be more readily understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a collar according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top view of the collar of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a side view of the collar of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 shows the collar of Figure 1 without a portion of the rim removed

Figure 5 shows the collar of Figure 1 with a portion of the rim and one of the flange portions removed; and

Figure 6 shows the collar of Figure 1 with a portion of the rim and two flange portions removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a collar 10 for retaining a light fixture in a panel (not shown) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The collar 10 has a rim 1 . The rim 12 defines an opening 30. The rim 12 has a first end 14 and a second end 16. The first end 14 and the second end 16 of the rim 12 define a gap 18 in the rim 12.

The collar 10 has a plurality of flange portions 20 extending outwardly from the rim 12. A space 22 is located between adjacent flanges 20.

The rim 12 can be cut to decrease the diameter of the rim 12. Typically the rim 12 would be cut adjacent a space 22 between adjacent flange portions 20.

The collar 10 includes markings 26, such that the rim 12 and flange portions 20 can be trimmed, resulting in a predetermined diameter of the rim 12.

The rim 12 includes indentations 24. The indentations 24 enable the rim 12 to be bent to a smaller diameter. The indentations 24 enable the rim 12 to be broken or cut at those locations to reduce the diameter of the collar.

The collar 10 is made of a flexible but resilient plastic material. The collar 10 is moveable between an at-rest condition (shown) where the first end 14 and the second end 16 of the rim 12 are substantially adjacent each other, and an insertion condition (not shown) where the first end 14 and the second end 16 of the rim 12 are further apart than in the at-rest condition and wherein the gap 18 in the insertion condition enables the collar 10, which is in a substantially helical shape, to be threaded into an opening (not shown) of a panel (not shown), the opening being smaller that an outer diameter of the collar 10 in the at-rest condition.

After the collar 10 has been threaded through an opening in a panel, the collar 10 is returned to an at-rest condition, in this condition, the rim 12 is at least partially inserted into the opening of the panel (not shown) such that the plurality of flange portions 20 abut a side of the panel (not shown) opposite to the side from which the collar 10 was inserted.

With reference to Figures 4-6, there is shown the collar 10 of Figures 1 -3 in three different states. In Figure 4, the collar 10 is in its original state with a first “large” diameter. In Figure 5, the collar 10 has had a portion of the rim 12 and one of the flange portions 20 removed, and is in a second state with a second “medium” diameter. In Figure 6, the collar 10 has had a portion of the rim 12 and two flange portions 20 removed and is in a third state with a third “small” diameter.

Depending on the resilience of the material that the collar 10 is made of, the rim 12 may need to be squeezed together to retain the desired diameter. Typically, when the collar 10 is inserted into an opening (not shown) of a panel (not shown), the opening would retain the rim 12 in a desired diameter. In use, when inserted into an opening (not shown) of a panel (not shown), the collar 10 would typically be located between an inner surface of the opening and a light fixture (not shown), as well as part of an upper surface of the panel, protecting those surfaces from damage from the light fixture.

ADVANTAGES

An advantage of the preferred embodiment of the collar includes the ability to insert the collar into an opening smaller than an outer diameter of the collar. Another advantage of the preferred embodiment of the collar includes protecting an opening of a panel from a light fixture. A further advantage of the preferred embodiment of the collar includes the collar not being visible when the light fixture is in place. Another advantage of the preferred embodiment of the collar includes the retaining means of a light fixture engaging with the collar, not the panel. A further advantage of the preferred embodiment of the collar includes the collar being sizable to fit into different diameter openings.

VARIATIONS

While the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification the word “comprise” and variations of that word such as “comprises” and “comprising”, are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.