FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001 ] The present invention relates to the field of lighting. More specifically, the present invention relates to a ceiling mounting device for hanging a pendant light from a ceiling panel.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] A pendant light is a light which hangs from a ceiling or other elevated support by a chain, a cable, an electrical power cord or the like. Pendant lights have long been popular illumination devices in homes and elsewhere. Pendant light are typically installed by mounting some form of bracket or ceiling rose directly onto the surface of a ceiling panel with screws or some other form of fasteners.

[0003] A problem with known devices for mounting pendant lights is that they tend to be time consuming and fiddly to install. In addition, the mounting of the ceiling rose directly onto the surface of the ceiling panel can make it difficult to readily adjust the hanging distance of the pendant light from the ceiling.

[0004] It would be desirable to provide a ceiling mounting device for hanging a pendant light of the above described general type which has one or more improved features.

[0005] Any discussion of documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this specification is included to explain the context of the invention. It should not be taken as an admission that any of the material formed part of the common general knowledge in the relevant art on or before the priority date of the claims herein. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a ceiling mounting device for hanging a pendant light from a ceiling panel, the device including:

a stem member having a passageway for receiving a cable of the pendant light, at least a rear end of the stem member being insertable through a mounting hole in the ceiling panel;

a body member for covering the mounting hole in the ceiling panel, the body member having a bore therein for receiving the stem member, the stem member being moveable within the bore relative to the body member, and

a retaining mechanism connected between the stem member and the body member, the retaining mechanism being radially expandable to secure the mounting device within the mounting hole, wherein radial expansion of the retaining mechanism is controlled by movement of the stem member relative to the body member.

[0007] The retaining mechanism in use preferably abuts with a rear side of the ceiling panel and the retaining mechanism is radially expanded to secure the mounting device within the mounting hole.

[0008] The retaining mechanism is also preferably radially contractable to release the mounting device from the mounting hole. The radial contraction of the retaining mechanism being controlled by movement of the stem member relative to the body member. More specifically, the stem member preferably includes a longitudinal axis with the stem member being movable longitudinally to control said radial contraction and expansion of the retaining mechanism.

[0009] A free end of the stem member may project from a front side of the body member which advantageously enables a user to grasp the free end to actuate the retaining mechanism. The free end in use being longitudinally pushed towards the front side to radially retract the retaining mechanism and pulled away from the front side to radially expand the retaining mechanism.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the retaining mechanism includes a plurality of flexible arms. Each arm preferably having a foot portion connected to a rear side of the body member and an upper end connected to a mounting bracket forming the rear end of the stem member.

[0011 ] Each arm is preferably generally bowed outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis of the stem member in order to promote radial expansion of the retaining mechanism upon longitudinal compression between the mounting bracket and body member.

[0012] A lower mid-section of each arm may have a longitudinal length which lies generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stem member. In addition, each arm may further include a reinforcing strut element connected between an upper end of the lower mid-section and the foot portion. In this regard, the strut element advantageously forms a closed loop with the lower mid-section.

[0013] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the retaining mechanism includes three said flexible arms which are evenly spaced apart around the stem member.

[0014] The passageway of the stem member is preferably a hollow tube through which the pendant light cable runs.

[0015] The ceiling mounting device may further include an adjustable cable clamp for maintaining the position of the pendant light cable relative to the stem member. The cable clamp is advantageously secured in position on the cable behind the stem member. The cable clamp in use being pulled into abutment with the rear end of the stem member due to the weight of the pendant light hanging on the cable.

[0016] The cable clamp preferably includes male and female portions which connect together to secure the clamp to the cable. The position of the clamp on the cable is advantageously adjustable to alter the length of cable between the pendant light and the body member.

[0017] In a particularly preferred form, the body member functions as a ceiling rose of a pendant light.

[0018] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of hanging a pendant light from a ceiling panel using a ceiling mounting device as described above in the first aspect of the invention. The method includes inserting the cable of the pendant light into the passageway of the stem member; pushing the stem member into the body member such that the arms of the retaining mechanism contract radially; inserting the mounting device into the mounting hole in the ceiling panel until the rear side of the body member abuts with the ceiling panel, and releasing the stem member such that the arms of the retaining mechanism expand radially into abutment with the rear side of the ceiling panel.

[0019] The method may further include the step of adjusting the position of the cable clamp on the able to alter the length of cable between the pendant light and the body member.

[0020] To assist in further understanding the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments. It is to be appreciate that these embodiments are given by way of illustration only and that the invention is not to be limited by these illustrations. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021 ] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ceiling mounting device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, for hanging a pendant light from a ceiling panel;

[0022] Figure 2A is a side view of the ceiling mounting device shown in Figure 1 illustrating the device recessed into a ceiling panel with the retaining

mechanism of the device in a radially contracted position;

[0023] Figure 2B is a sectional view taken along line B-B in Figure 2A;

[0024] Figure 3A is a side view of the ceiling mounting device shown in Figure

1 illustrating the device mounted into the ceiling panel with the retaining mechanism in a radially expanded position; and

[0025] Figure 3B is a sectional view taken along lines A-A in Figure 3A.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] With reference to the accompanying drawings there is shown a ceiling mounting device 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The mounting device 1 is intended to be securely positioned and recessed into a mounting hole 13 formed in the ceiling panel 3 to provide a means for hanging a pendant light (not illustrated) from a ceiling panel 3. The mounting hole 13 may be formed in the ceiling panel 3 by drilling a hole of approximately

70mm. Alternatively, the mounting device 1 and pendant light could be used as a replacement for a conventional recessed downlight with the mounting device 1 being retrofitted into the mounting hole used for the downlight. The mounting device 1 includes a stem member 5 having a passageway therethrough for a cable or the like from which the pendant light can hang, for example an electrical cable 7 for powering the pendant light. The passageway of the stem member 5 is preferably in the form of a hollow tube 9 through which the electrical cable 7 can be fed (see Figures 2B and 3B).

[0027] The mounting device 1 further includes a body member which is preferably in the form of a ceiling plate 1 1. The ceiling plate 1 1 may lie generally flush with the ceiling panel 3 and functions to cover over the mounting hole 13 in the ceiling panel 3 following the insertion of the mounting device 1. In this regard, the ceiling plate 1 1 is preferably circular and has a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the mounting hole 13. When the mounting device 1 is recessed in the mounting hole 13, the ceiling plate 1 1 abuts the underlying face surface of the ceiling panel 3 and conceals the edges of the mounting hole 13. The ceiling plate 1 1 includes a bore 15 therein through which the stem member 5 extends.

[0028] The mounting device 1 further includes a retaining mechanism 17 connected between the stem member 5 and a rear side of the ceiling plate 1 1.

The retaining mechanism 17 includes at least two flexible arms 17. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the retaining mechanism 17 includes three or more flexible arms 19 which are evenly spaced apart circumferentially and surround the centrally located stem member 5. A mounting bracket which is preferably in the form of a support ring or plate 21 forms a rear end of the stem member 5. An upper end 23 of each flexible arm 19 is connected to the support plate 21. An opposite end of each flexible arm 19 terminates in a foot portion 25 which is connected to the rear side of the ceiling plate 1 1.

[0029] The support plate 21 forming the rear end of the stem member 5 has an annular outer rim with a series of planar tabs which project radially inwards. A top surface of the support plate 21 provides a surface upon which an adjustable cable clamp 31 secured around the electrical cable 7 may rest for maintaining the position of the cable 7 relative to the stem member 5. The cable clamp 31 is secured in position on the cable 7 behind the stem member 5 and is pulled into abutment with the support plate 21 by the weight of the pendant light hanging on the cable 7. The support plate 21 has a diameter which is slightly smaller than the diameter of the mounting hole 13 in the ceiling panel 3. This ensures that the rear of the stem member 5 is readily able to be inserted through the mounting hole 13 during installation of the mounting device 1.

[0030] The stem member 5 is able to be slid up and down within the bore 15 in the ceiling plate 1 1. As best shown in Figure 3A, a free end of the stem member 5 projects from a front face 27 of the ceiling plate 1 1. The free end in use being pushed and pulled by a user to actuate the retaining mechanism 17.

[0031 ] Each flexible arm 19 of the resilient member 17 is generally bowed radially outwards relative to a longitudinal axis of the stem member 5. This advantageously promotes radial expansion of the retaining mechanism 17 upon longitudinal compression of each flexible arm 19 between the ceiling plate 1 1 and support plate 21 , as illustrated in Figure 3A.

[0032] Each arm 19 is preferably made of a rubber material, for example polyurethane to provide each arm with a sufficient degree of flexibility to enable the retaining mechanism 17 to be movable between a radially expandable position, in which the arms 19 are compressed between the support plate 21 and ceiling plate 1 1 as shown in Figure 3A, and a radially contracted position, in which the arms 19 are stretched between the support plate 21 and ceiling plate 1 1 as illustrated in Figure 2A, upon actuation by the stem member 5. All other components of the mounting device 1 are preferably of rigid construction and formed of plastic, for example a thermoplastic polymer such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Each flexible arm 19 includes a lower mid-section 18 having a length which is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stem member 5, as shown in Figure 1. Each flexible arm 19 may also further include a reinforcing strut element 29 connected between an upper end of the lower mid section 18 and the foot portion 25. The strut element 29 forms a closed loop with the lower mid-section 18 to provide each flexible arm 19 with a degree of additional rigidity and support. [0033] In order to install the mounting device 1 the electrical cable 7 for the pendant light is firstly fed through the hollow tube 9 of the stem member 5. The cable clamp 31 can then be secured to the cable 7 at a position which will provide the pendant light with the desired hanging distance from the ceiling. The retaining mechanism 17 is then moved to a radially contracted position, as illustrated in Figure 2A and 2B, in which the flexible arms 19 are radially contracted and stretched longitudinally by the support plate 21 being moved away from the ceiling plate 1 1. In this regard, a user holds the ceiling plate 1 1 in one hand and grips the free end of the stem member 5 with the other hand and pushes the free end such that the stem member 5 retracts into the bore 15 of the ceiling plate 1 1. With the flexible arms 19 extended longitudinally the rear end of the mounting device 1 is then inserted through the mounting hole 13 until the rear side of the ceiling plate 1 1 abuts with the ceiling panel 3 as illustrated in Figures 2A and 2B. The flexible arms 19 are then allowed to relax by the user pulling the free end of the stem member 5 back out of the bole 15 in the ceiling plate 1 1 such that the flexible arms 19 are compressed by virtue of the support plate 21 being moved downwardly towards the ceiling plate 1 1. This results in the retaining mechanism 17 moving to a radially expanded position as illustrated in Figure 3A and 3B in which the flexible arms 19 expand radially outwardly such that a lower section of each arm 19 abuts with the rear side of the ceiling panel 3 thereby locking the mounting device 1 in place.

[0034] In order to adjust the length of cable 7 between the pendant light and the ceiling plate 1 1 , the adjustable cable clamp 31 of the mounting device 1 may be repositioned relative to the stem member 5. The cable clamp 31 preferably includes male and female portions which connect together to secure the clamp 31 to the cable 7. The position of the clamp 31 is able to be readily adjusted to alter the length of cable extending between the pendant light and the ceiling plate 1 1. The cable clamp 31 functions by inserting the male portion into the female portion and twisting to lock the clamp 31 to the cable 7 in the required position. The cable clamp 31 advantageously prevents the cable 7 from being pulled from the ceiling panel 3 by virtue of the cable clamp 31 abutting with the support plate 21 which pushes the stem member 5 downwards. [0035] The mounting device 1 advantageously enables a pendant light to be hung from a ceiling without additional fixings or adhesives. All that is required is the creation of a mounting hole 13 of preferably 70mm in diameter, in the ceiling panel 3. The mounting device 1 can then be recessed into the ceiling panel 3 like a conventional downlight.

[0036] The mounting device 1 is also able to be readily removed if required from the ceiling panel 3 in order to adjust the length of the cable 7. While holding the ceiling plate 1 1 the user grasps the free end of the stem member 5 and pushes the stem member 5 upwards towards the ceiling plate 1 1 such that the flexible arms 19 of the retaining mechanism 17 are stretched to a position as illustrated in Figures 2A and 2B. While holding the stem member 5 in this position, the rim of the ceiling plate 1 1 can then be gripped by the user and pulled downwardly to remove the mounting device 1 from the mounting hole 13. The cable clamp 31 can then be repositioned to the desired position on the cable 7 before reinserting the mounting device 1 into the ceiling panel 3.