This invention relates to a light fitting assembly and in particular, though not exclusively, to a light fitting assembly comprising a light fitting of the so-called adjustable type which allows the direction of emitted light to be adjusted.

The light fitting may be of the type in which a solid-state device is employed to provide a source of light.

The invention relates also, though not exclusively, to a light fitting assembly of the so-called fire resistant type, being resistant to heat and/or fire, and/or which is suitable for installing in an aperture in a partition panel such as that of a ceiling or wall.

In the case of an adjustable type light fitting assembly the lighting device and heat sink typically are mounted on and supported by an inner support housing which is pivotally mounted relative to an outer housing, such as a fire resistant outer housing. The inner housing is provided with one or more apertures aligned with one or more light emitting devices such that light from the or each solid-state lighting device at a rear side of the support housing travels outwards through a respective aperture. The outer housing has an end flange for securing to a supporting structure such as a partition panel, and a decorative bezel is provided over the end flange. An example of a fire resistant adjustable lighting unit of the kind incorporating a solid-state lighting device and heat sink is described in more detail in the specification of our copending UK patent application No. GB 1302348.6.

A substantially similar type of construction is employed for a non adjustable type of light fitting assembly except that the inner housing is rigidly secured directly to the outer housing. That is, the pivotal support is omitted and the light emitting device is held in a fixed position relative to the outer housing. Thus, in use, the light fitting assembly is fixed relative to the structure to which the light fitting is attached. Although light fittings of the type described in the preceding paragraphs are found to perform well, there is a continuing desire to reduce manufacturing costs.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved light fitting assembly and method which facilitates a reduction of overall manufacturing costs.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a light fitting assembly comprising the combination of a light fitting and a bezel, the light fitting comprising a housing and a light emitting device which is supported within the housing for movement relative to the housing, wherein the housing provides a bezel mounting to which a bezel may be secured and wherein the bezel provides an abutment whereby when the bezel is secured to the bezel mounting movement of the light emitting device relative to the housing is inhibited.

The invention provides also a method of inhibiting movement of the light emitting device of a light fitting of the adjustable type in which the direction of light may be adjusted by movement of the light emitting device relative to a light fitting housing which supports the light emitting device, said method comprising securing to the housing a bezel which, when secured to the housing, inhibits movement of the light emitting device.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention a light fitting assembly kit comprises a light fitting of he adjustable type and at least two bezels, the light fitting comprising a housing and a light emitting device which is supported within the housing for movement relative to the housing, wherein the housing provides a bezel mounting to which a bezel may be secured, each of said bezels being securable to the bezel mounting, a first of said bezels serving, in use, to inhibit all of the freedom of movement of the light emitting device relative to the housing when secured to the housing and a second of said bezels being securable to the mounting without resulting in inhibiting all freedom of movement of the light emitting device relative to the housing. Each bezel may be selectively releasably securable to the light fitting housing. It may be securable by means of, for example, a screw threaded connection or a bayonet type connection, or by a snap fit arrangement such as may be achieved by providing the bezel with sprung lugs positioned to engage and interlock with the housing. In these examples no separate securing means is required. However, alternatively or additionally separate securing means may be provided, such as, for example, one or more retention screws or Velcro elements, or by magnetic means.

In a further alternative a bezel may be non releasably securable to the housing, for example by means of non releasable lugs or by adhesive.

A bezel may be dimensioned such that it inhibits any movement of the light emitting device relative to the housing or such that it reduces but does not inhibit all such movement.

A bezel which inhibits any movement may be employed also to permit a restricted movement by first mounting on the housing a bezel which does not inhibit movement and then superimposing on that bezel a bezel which, if directly secured to the housing, would inhibit any movement of the light emitting device. Thus the interposed bezel functions as a spacer to result in the other, outer bezel being spaced from firm contact with the light emitting device.

The or each bezel may be of an annular shape. A bezel for inhibiting movement of a light emitting device may have an inner periphery of a circular shape but other shapes of inner periphery may be employed. Thus the inner periphery may comprise two or more regions for inhibiting movement and which are spaced by regions which, for example, would permit a flow of ventilation air between the bezel and light emitting device for cooling of the light emitting device. A bezel for inhibiting movement of a light emitting device may be of an annular shape and have an inner region which is substantially planar whereby it presents a surface that confronts the light emitting device and which is either in direct contact with or close to the light emitting device when secured to the housing thereby to totally inhibit or to restrict movement of the light emitting device. Alternatively said inner region may be of a non planar shape, such as of a tubular or frusto-conical shape whereby, when the bezel is secured to a housing, said inner region of the bezel extends to within the housing, in a direction towards the light emitting device, to be in direct contact with or close to the light emitting device.

The housing may be of a substantially tubular shape which is open at one end to facilitate insertion of an inner support and an associated light emitting device. The bezel mounting may be in the form of a flange which extends radially outwardly from that open end.

The housing may be of a tubular shape which has a major, longitudinal axis parallel with the (ength of the housing. The light emitting device may be pivotally mounted about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis. Additionally or alternatively the light emitting device may be mounted for rotational movement about said longitudinal axis of the outer housing.

Although some features of the present invention are described in combination with other features of the present invention, it is to be understood that said features may be provided independently of one another or in combinations which differ from those specifically described.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a light fitting assembly in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the light fitting of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the light fitting of Figures 1 and 2 in the plane 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the light fitting of Figures 1 and 2 in the plane 3-3 of Figure 2 when fitted with a different bezel;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the light fitting assembly of Figures 1 to 3 when fitted with a different bezel, and

Figures 6 and 7 are perspective views of examples of alternative bezels for an assembly in accordance with the present invention.

A swivel type LED light fitting assembly 10 for inserting into a plasterboard ceiling or wall comprises a bezel 22 and a light fitting 9. The light fitting 9 comprises an outer housing 1 of fire resistant material which provides support for an inner support 12 to which a solid-state lighting device 13 is secured.

The outer housing 1 1 comprises a generally cylindrically shaped central body region 14 which is open at one end region 15 and relatively closed at the other end region 16. The open end, in known manner, is formed integrally with an outwardly extending flange 17. A pair of spring-loaded retention arms 38 extend from the body 14 whereby, in use, the arms bear against the normally hidden side of the plasterboard (not shown) and hold the flange firmly against the other, visible side of the board with a moisture seal 19 held captive between the flange and plasterboard. The arms 38 are attached to spring mounts 20 which in turn are attached to the outer surface of the central body region 14 of the outer housing.

A band of intumescent material 18 extends around that region of the central body 4 adjacent the flange 17 so as to align with the aperture formed in the plasterboard for accommodating the lig t unit and thereby effect a fire barrier between the light unit and ceiling void. The flange 17 also serves as a bezel mounting for a decorative bezel 22 and a bezel seal 23 which is interposed between the bezel and flange 17. The bezel is secured to the bezel mounting by means of circumferentially spaced sprung lugs 50 which each hook over the outer edge of the flange 17. In this embodiment three lugs 50 are provided (see also figures 6 and 7) but other numbers, for example only two, may be employed.

The outer surface of the closed end region 16 of the outer housing 1 1 provides support for a driver casing 24 which contains, in known manner a driver PCB 39.

The inner support 12 has a rear face 30 which faces towards the closed end region 16 of the outer housing, and a front face 31 which faces outwards in a direction towards the open end region 15 of the outer housing.

The inner support 12 is an aluminium casting of generally circular shape but is provided, at two diametrically opposite positions, with pivot supports 25 that provide bearing surfaces 26 for confronting the inward facing surfaces of central regions 27 of the inner housing.

The supports 25 extend from the rear face 30 in a direction towards the closed end 16 of the outer housing. A cylindrically shaped skirting wall 37 extends from the periphery of the front face 31 in a direction towards the open end region 15 of the outer housing.

Each pivot support 25 is provided with a necked recess 36 to locate a pivot pin 28 which extends in an inwards direction from the outer housing central region 27 whereby the support member is pivotally mounted relative to the outer housing for pivotal movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to the major axis of the cylindrically shaped central body 14 of the outer housing 1. The shape of the necked recesses 36, being narrower at the mouth of each recess than inwards of the recess, allows the inner housing readily to be snap fitted to the pivot pins 28.

In the event of pivotal movement there is relative sliding movement of the contacting surfaces, namely between each annular face 26 and the outer housing central region 27, and between each pin 28 and associated aperture in the outer housing central region 27.

In the assembly as shown in Figure 3 the outer diameter of the skirting wall 37 is less than the inner diameter of the bezel 22 whereby the bezel does not inhibit the freedom of the inner support to pivot about the axes of the pivot pins 28.

The outer housing is formed from pressed sheet steel, or from aluminium, and in this embodiment of the invention the aluminium casting of the inner support has a thickness of three times the wall thickness of the outer housing.

The aforementioned lighting unit 13 is secured directly to the front face 31 of the inner support 12 in good thermal contact therewith.

The lighting unit 13 comprises an LED array which is sandwiched between the inner support 12 and a PCB shield 32 which is formed with apertures aligned with the LEDs of the lighting unit 13. A Perspex (RTM) lens 34 extends over the PCB shield 32 and is secured in position relative to the inner support for pivotal movement therewith.

Heat generated by the lighting unit 13 is conducted directly to the inner support 12 which acts as a heat sink. Fu-thermore, the confronting, contacting surfaces of the inner support flanges 25 and the regions 27 of the outer housing, in addition to the confronting surfaces of the cylindrical pivot pins 28 and receiving apertures in the housing region 27, facilitate effective conduction of thermal energy into the outer housing which thereby also provides a heat sink function and dissipation of heat. 6

Accordingly the rear face 30 of the inner support 12 is devoid of the conventionally attached heat sink. In consequence the overall height of the light fitting, as considered in the longitudinal direction of the casing 1 1 , is less than that of conventional swivel type light fittings in addition to eliminating the cost and weight of the conventionally provided separate heat sink.

In an adaptation of the assembly as shown in Figures 1 to 3 (see Figures 4 and 5) the bezel 22 is replaced by a bezel 41 having an inner boundary 42 of a diameter less than the outer diameter of the inner support skirting wall 37, In consequence the inner region of the bezel provides a planar annular abutment 43 which bears directly against the inner skirting wall thereby to inhibit any pivotal movement of the inner support and light unit relative to the outer housing.

In consequence use of the alternative bezel 41 inhibits pivotal movement of the inner support thereby providing a light fitting assembly of a fixed type.

In accordance with further embodiments of the invention a bezel may comprise an inner region of a frusto conical shape 60 as shown in Figure 6 or a tubular, cylindrical shape 61 as shown in Figure 7.

Accordingly it will be appreciated that the present invention facilitates the economic provision of both swivel and fixed type light fittings, or conversion therebetween, by the simple expedient of appropriately selecting the size of the bezel.

In particular only a single type of light fitting, namely a swivel type, needs to be manufactured for meeting customer demand for adjustable and non adjustable light fitting assemblies. Thus there result the economies of volume production and reduced transportation and storage costs.

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