DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a motorized lamp for mounting on fixed spotlights.

It is known in the technical sector of lighting to use light sources - referred to below also by the term "lamp" - which are inserted inside fixed recessed spotlights or the like, attached to a lamp holder.

Examples of such commercially available light sources are for example identified by the acronyms AR111 and MR16, which define the different diameters thereof.

Although performing their intended function, these light sources, however, have a drawback resulting from the fact they have a fixed axis resulting in the need - if it is required to vary the direction of the light beam emitted - to use special spotlights provided with a drive. This involves structural modifications and the need to replace the entire fixed spotlight, with increased costs, in particular in the case of recessed spotlights, should the dimensions of the motorized spotlight not coincide with those of the pre existing fixed spotlight.

CN 106989326 A describes a recessed spotlight which has a first longitudinal axis of rotation and second vertical axis of rotation and comprises a light unit with a light source; an annular base; a cylinder to which the light unit is attached, being coaxially inserted inside the annular base; a frame, which is fixed in the longitudinal direction relative to the base and which comprises a first vertical upright and a second vertical upright to which the cylinder is pivotably coupled along the longitudinal axis of rotation. The spotlight also comprises a motorized mechanism for the movement about the longitudinal axis and a motorized mechanism for the rotation about the vertical axis.

The movement mechanisms, in particular the mechanism for movement about the vertical axis, are very complex and bulky.

A further example of a recessed spotlight according to the prior art is described in US 2015-184839 A.

The technical problem which is posed, therefore, is that of providing a lamp designed to be mounted on fixed spotlights and having drive means for rotating the light source about at least one axis, preferably two axes perpendicular to each other, so as to direct the light beam at different angles.

In connection with this problem it is also required that this light source should have small dimensions, be easy and inexpensive to produce and assemble and be able to be easily installed at any user location using normal standardized connection means.

These results are obtained according to the present invention by a motorized lamp comprising a light unit with light source, an annular base, suitable for mounting in and fixing to a spotlight, a cylinder to which the light unit is fastened, being coaxially inserted inside the annular base and having a suitable height in the vertical direction, a frame fixed in the vertical direction relative to the base, the cylinder being pivotably coupled to the frame along a longitudinal axis of rotation; a first motor (30) fastened to the frame (20) with its shaft (31) parallel to the longitudinal axis of rotation; and movement transmission means arranged between the first motor and the cylinder (20) and pivotably coupled to them. The motor and the transmission means are therefore arranged so as to cause a rotation of the cylinder and therefore the light unit about the longitudinal axis of rotation from a position coaxial with the vertical axis to a position angularly varied in one sense or the other relative to the vertical axis.

Further details may be obtained from the following description of non-limiting examples of embodiment of the subject of the present invention, provided with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 : shows an exploded, partial, perspective view of a motorized lamp according to the present invention;

Figure 2: shows a schematic cross-section along a vertical plane of the lamp according to Fig. 2;

Figure 3: shows a perspective schematic cross-section through the lamp according to Fig. 2;

Figure 4: shows a partial perspective view of the detail of the means for performing rotational operation about a longitudinal axis;

Figure 5: shows an exploded, partially perspective view of the lamp according to the invention;

Figs. 6-8: show perspective views of the different rotational positions of the lamp about a longitudinal axis;

Figure 9: shows a partial perspective view of the detail of the means for performing rotational operation about a vertical axis;

Figs. 10-11 : are perspective views of the lamp positioned following rotations about a vertical axis; and

Figs. 12-13: are perspective views of the lamp position following rotation about a vertical axis and a longitudinal axis.

For greater clarity, the details which are conventional per se, such as electrical wiring and fixing elements, have been excluded from the figures.

As illustrated, solely for easier description and without a limiting meaning, three axes have been assumed, i.e. in a longitudinal direction X-X, corresponding to the widthwise dimension of the lamp; in a transverse direction Y-Y corresponding to the depthwise dimension of the lamp; and in a vertical direction Z-Z, orthogonal to the other two directions and corresponding to the heightwise dimension of the lamp.

For easier description and with reference to the orientations shown in the figures, the longitudinal axis X-X is arranged coinciding with a first longitudinal axis of rotation and the axis Z-Z is arranged coinciding with a second axis of rotation.

As shown, a motorized lamp for fixed spotlights according to the invention comprises essentially:

- a preferably annular base 10 which is designed to be mounted in a spotlight to which it is fixed using known means such as an annular spring (not shown). For example, the annular base may have an external diameter which is defined so as to correspond to the diameter of an AR111 or MR16 lamp so that it may be stably housed in any spotlight designed for use with such lamps;

- a light unit 1 comprising:

- a body 1a containing the electrical devices for powering the light source 3;

- a cylinder 2, which has a suitable height in the vertical direction Z-Z and to which the light unit 1 is fastened. The cylinder has for example a first hole 2a and a second hole 2b which both form through-holes in the longitudinal direction X-X and are arranged diametrically opposite each other. The side surface of the cylinder may have a further hole 2c axially offset with respect to the longitudinal axis X-X and aligned parallel to the first hole 2a along the transverse axis Y-Y;

- a frame 20, preferably in the form of a gate comprising a first vertical upright 21a and a second vertical upright 21b, which are connected at the opposite top ends by a longitudinal cross-piece 21c; the cylinder 2 is pivotably coupled thereto along the longitudinal axis of rotation X-X. In the preferred example, this is obtained by the free end of the first upright 21a being pivotably mounted on a longitudinal pin 3a inserted through the first through-hole 2a in the cylinder 2; the free end of the second upright 21 b is pivotably mounted on a corresponding longitudinal pin 3b inserted through the second through-hole 2b of the cylinder 2;

- a first motor 30 fastened to the cross-piece 21c of the gate 20 and with a shaft 31 parallel to the first axis of rotation X-X;

- movement transmission means 40 arranged between the shaft 31 of the first motor 30 and the cylinder 20 and connected to the two said elements.

In a preferred embodiment said transmission means 40 comprise a rigid rod 41 , a first end 41b of which is rotationally connected, by means of an associated longitudinal pin 42c, to a first crank 42b connected to the motor shaft 31 with which it may rotate; a second end 41a of the rod is connected to a second crank 42a connected to the pin 3a inserted inside the first hole 2a of the cylinder 2; the second crank 42a is connected to the cylinder 2 also by means of a pin 42c inserted inside the said hole 2c axially offset relative to the longitudinal axis X-X.

The assembly comprising the second crank 42a, and the cylinder 2, is therefore designed to rotate integrally about the pin 3a, namely the longitudinal axis X-X relative, to the frame 20.

With this configuration a first mode of operation of the motorized lamp is as follows:

- once the various parts have been assembled, the first motor 30 is operated so that its shaft 31 , rotating in one sense or the other, causes a corresponding rotation of the first crank 42b which, in turn rotating, causes the rod 41 to be displaced, in one sense or the other, parallel to the vertical axis Z-Z; the displacement of the rod 41 causes the rotation about the pin 3a of the second crank 42a which, in turn, causes rotation of the cylinder 2 and therefore the light unit 1 about the first longitudinal axis of rotation X-X from a position (Fig. 6), coaxial with the vertical axis Z-Z, into a position which is angularly varied in one sense (Fig. 7) or the other (Fig. 8) relative to the vertical axis Z-Z.

As shown, a preferred embodiment of the lamp according to the invention also comprises:

- an annular rack 13, with teeth 13a, coaxially coupled to the base 19 and rotationally fixed relative thereto;

- a second motor 50, with shaft 51 directed parallel to the vertical axis Z-Z and extending towards the base 10 and the annular rack 13, is fastened to the second upright 21 b of the frame 20. In particular, the second motor is preferably arranged in a position on the inside of the upright in the longitudinal direction X-X, for example fixed thereto by means of a horizonal flange with vertical-axis hole, extending towards the inside in the longitudinal direction X-X from the second upright 21b, the shaft of the motor being designed to be inserted inside the vertical-axis hole;

- a cylindrical pinion 52 coaxially keyed onto the motor shaft 51 and arranged (Fig. 9) so as to engage with the teeth 13a of the rack 13.

In a complete configuration of the lamp with rack 13 and second motor 50 assembled together a further mode of operation of the lamp may be obtained; in detail:

- operation of the second motor 50 so as to rotate the shaft 51 in one sense or the other causes the rotation of the pinion 52 which, meshing with the rack 13 fixed to the base 10, causes the rotation of the frame 20 and therefore the light unit 1 about the vertical axis Z-Z in one sense (Fig. 10) or the other (Fig. 11).

Operation of the two motors simultaneously or in succession results in combined rotations about the longitudinal and vertical axis as shown (Figs.

12,13).

According to preferred embodiments it is envisaged that the spotlight comprises a second ring 12 coaxially inserted inside the annular base 10 and fixed thereto in the vertical direction Z-Z, but free to rotate about the vertical axis relative to the base 10; the uprights 21a, 21b of the frame 20 are fastened to the second ring, thus allowing them to rotate relative to the base with a particularly compact configuration of the lamp.

Preferably, the lamp comprises electronic means (not shown) for receiving radio signals emitted remotely by means of a remote control and designed to control the operation of the motors 30,50 so as to allow the user to vary easily the direction of the light beam without having to physically access the spotlight, and/or electronic means, which are fastened for example to the first upright of the frame, for controlling the light source.

According to the preferred embodiment shown, the frame 20 has a longitudinal cross-piece 21c which forms a raised step in the vertical direction, so as to define a first seat, on the inside of the cross-piece 21c in the vertical direction, inside which the first motor 30 is housed. The bottom surface of the lower step of the frame 21c defines a second seat which may for example house (Figs. 10-11) electric/electronic connection means for connection to complementary means provided in the recessed spotlight.

For all embodiments, a friction sliding means 60 may be arranged between the shaft 31 ,51 of one or both of the first motor 30 and/or the second motor 50 and the transmission means 40 and/or the pinion 52, so as to prevent damage to the motors in the event forced manual manoeuvres performed by the user.

It is therefore clear how the light source according to the invention, which is provided with associated drives, may be inserted also in recessed spotlights which are per se fixed, thus making them suitable for variation of the direction of the light beam without having to replace the entire spotlight, thus avoiding structural and/or electrical alterations and thus reducing the overall costs of the operation.

In addition, owing to the particular and preferred arrangement of the first motor and the linkage and crank transmission means inside the frame 20, together with the arrangement of the second motor and the associated pinion meshing with the annular rack, the dimensions of the lamp are particularly compact and therefore suitable for mounting also in spotlights with a small diameter.

Although described in connection with a number of embodiments and a number of preferred examples of implementation of the invention, it is understood that the scope of protection of the present patent is determined solely by the claims below.