Background Art It is known that fluorescent lamps normally used for indoor lighting are usually directly connected to the ceiling and are arranged side by side or in a line in order to ensure the intended type of lighting of the space in which said lamps are installed.

In order to provide the wiring of these lamps, it is necessary to carry the power supply wires to each individual lamp, with consequent time requirement and difficulties in installation.

Another solution for providing fluorescent-lamp lighting fixtures consists in providing a frame which is meant to be connected to the ceiling and which accommodates the individual fluorescent lamps. In this case, the power supply wires must reach each individual fluorescent lamp accommodated in the frame, with the drawback of requiring specific internal wiring for each type of fluorescent lamp and for each type of power supply used for the lamp.

Accordingly, when it is necessary to use different versions of fluorescent lamps, i. e., different types of lighting, it is necessary to resort to new wiring and the above structure is not versatile.

Disclosure of the Invention The aim of the present invention is to provide a modular lighting fixture with simplified wiring which can be extremely versatile.

Within the scope of this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a modular lighting fixture with simplified wiring, in which different types of lamp and power supply can be installed easily without changing any preset wiring.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular lighting fixture with simplified wiring in which the interconnection of a plurality of lighting

fixtures is extremely simplified.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular lighting fixture with simplified wiring which allows practically zero maintenance and preparation times.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular lighting fixture with simplified wiring having a device for selecting the fluorescent lamps to be switched on.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular lighting fixture with simplified wiring which is highly reliable, relatively easy to manufacture and at competitive costs.

This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by a modular lighting fixture with simplified wiring, characterized in that it comprises at least one frame which is suitable to contain a plurality of fluorescent lamps, at least one printed circuit board being provided in said frame for supplying power to said fluorescent lamps.

Brief Description of the Drawings Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the lighting fixture according to the invention, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of the lighting fixture according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a front view of the lighting fixture according to the present invention, shown in the open configuration; and Figure 3 is a side view of the lighting fixture according to the invention, shown both in the open configuration and in the closed configuration.

Wavs of carrving out the Invention With reference to the above figures, the lighting fixture according to the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a frame 2 which is for example substantially rectangular and inside which respective

fluorescent lamps 3 are meant to be accommodated. Figure 1 shows four fluorescent lamps 3, but their number can of course vary at will according to the requirements of the user and to the type of lamp used.

The frame 2 is substantially formed by two parallel profiled elements which are connected by two transverse members so as to form a quadrilateral inside which fluorescent lamps 3 are accommodated.

The frame 2 can be connected, by means of mechanical/electrical connections, to other similar frames so as to form a row of lighting fixtures.

Two flaps 4 and 5 are respectively provided for accommodating the wiring and the power supply devices of the fluorescent lamps 3.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, each flap 4 and 5 is pivoted to the frame 2 and opens by turning through 90° with respect to it.

Each flap 4 and 5 is provided with power supply devices 6 and 7 for supplying the fluorescent lamps 3 accommodated in the frame 2.

A terminal strip 8 is provided at one of the sides of the flap 4,5 that lies opposite to the side that is meant to be adjacent to one of the ends of fluorescent lamps 3 when the flap is closed against the frame 2.

The terminal strip 8 allows to connect the wires that arrive from the mains.

The surface of the flap 4 (one of the two flaps 4,5) has a printed circuit 15 which is arranged thereon and allows to convey, by means of suitable electrical paths, the power supply from the terminal strip 8 to respective connectors 9 which are arranged on the opposite side of the flap.

When the flap 4 is closed against the frame 2, said connectors 9 engage in respective male connectors 10 provided at each one of the fluorescent lamps 3 in order to carry the power supply directly to said lamps.

The operation for closing the flap 4 (or 5) is shown in Figure 3, which illustrates the connectors 9 which engage the male connectors 10 provided at one of the ends of the fluorescent lamps 3.

The printed circuit provided on the internal surface of the flap 4 (or 5) therefore allows to considerably simplify the internal wiring for the fluorescent lamps 3,

allowing to adopt lamps of a different type without having to alter the wiring as actually occurs.

In this manner it is possible to perform considerably simplified and faster installation operations and to perform rapid maintenance of the lighting fixture according to the invention.

Switching means 11 and 12 are provided respectively to select which fluorescent lamps 3 are to be switched on simultaneously.

The frame 2 has lateral channels 15 and 16 for carrying the power supply wires from one frame to the one that is series-connected thereto, in order to supply power to all the fluorescent lamps accommodated in the frames 2.

In practice it has been observed that the modular lighting fixture according to the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects, since it allows to provide a simplified internal wiring which allows to change the type of configuration of the lighting fixture or the number of fluorescent lamps provided without modifying the internal wiring.

The internal wiring provided by means of a printed circuit further allows a tidier interior of the frame in which the fluorescent lamps are accommodated.

Moreover, maintenance times are reduced greatly by virtue of the presence of the flaps, which allow direct access to the wiring.

The lighting fixture thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept; all the details may also be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. MI98A000793 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.