AU621981B2 - Improvements relating to support systems for low voltage lighting - Google Patents

Description

62198) 38005 HKS:PFB COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Form Patents Act 1952-1969 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: 0 o o o 0 00 0 o o o a oo o 0 00 0000 o 0 oC)oG Complete Application No: Specification Lodged: Published: Priority: Related Art: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT 0000 o o 0o 0 D*0 0 00 0 0o 0 0 0 a 4 Q Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: FRANK HEINRICH BAUER 28 DEVAN STREET, NORTH GOODWOOD, STATE OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA, COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA FRANK HEINRICH BAUER Actual Inventor: Address for Service:--/-CelisR-&-Ge-1---King-Wi4iam-Street, -Ad~tde- t-SUT-H-AT-R-AL-k Complete Specification for the invention entitled: Complete Specification for the invention entitled: IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR LOW VOLTAGE LIGHTING The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: AQOs2556 7 i ;Ft I ii 1

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.lii 00 0 o 0 00 00 00 go o .o Co D 0 00 o 00 0000 0 0 00 0 0000 0000 tot' toot C t LL t 00 0 O 0 i to 0 0 IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR LOW VOLTAGE LIGHTING This invention relates to low voltage lighting support systems.

It has become a conventional technique for interior lighting to use uninsulated conductors which are relatively safe however in that they provide the power source at a relatively low voltage.

Accordingly, the support systems comprising the uninsulated conductors provide both a useful functional purpose allowing for high manipulation while at the same time they become an arrangement of interest and can have some artistic merit in their own right.

In accord with this general philosophy, it is now know to provide two tensioned conductor wires from which a respective leg from each wire can be supported.

20 Accordingly, structural integrity is maintained generally by reason of the tension of the wires and the wires themselves are flexible so that they can be kept at tension from time to time and can be tightened between respective anchor points to maintain this integrity.

25 The requirement of course is to provide two accessible conductors providing a power source at opposite polarities.

The problem to which this invention is directed relates to the difficulties of always providing tensioned wires which therefore require anchor points and straight wires and this in fact causes a number of significant limitations.

An object of this invention therefore is to propose a support system which can, to at least some extent, avoid the constrictions of the previously described support system and which can provide additional advantages by way of flexibility in relation to support locations for low voltage light sources and the ability to create works of art from the conductors themselves.

According to this invention then, there is proposed a low voltage lighting system c.mr i"i a low vl.t. ligti Ytm comprising a C plurality of conductors which comprise elongate elements each of which is of sufficient rigidity to be self-supporting, a plurality of first conductors being each located so as to be in an overlapping relationship with a plurality of second conductors, and at intersections of respective conductors joining means affixing a one first conductor to I a one second conductor, characterised in that at least one of the joining means provides for conduction between the joined conductors at a respsctive overlapping location, and at least one of the joining means provides for no conduction between other of the joined conductors at ;I the overlapping location such that there is a grid of conductors, some of which are thereby electrically connected together to provide an electrical power source for one leg of one or more electrical illuminating bulbs, and others of the conductors electrically insulated from the first, pc,,wer" o oare electrically connected together to form a source of electrical for the S" other leg of the electrical illuminating bulb.

ii Such an arrangement then can be achieved by providing a plurality of rods which are connected in an overlapping relationship where for i instance a plurality of the rods provide a network of parallel conductors Salong a first axis and there are then a plurality of parallel conductors aligned along an opposite axis, that is an axis at 900 to the first said axis and at each crossing !location there is a clamp, some of which are comprised of insulating material so as to provide a structural joint i which, however, allows for electrically insulating support, while on the i other hand, a plurality of the crossing joints are connected by joining means which provide for electrical interconnection.

The respective location of conducting and insulating joining means will be chosen so as to leave at least one of the conductors electrically insulated from at least one of the others and in preference of course there will be a plurality of such conductors chosen to provide for a positive side of an electrical voltage supply while a remainder of the conductors will be chosen to provide the opposite polarity for a voltage supply.

1 1 I~--CCCIC~ 4 Inherently, the concept of providing a grid of conductors implies that the grid is sufficiently strong then to provide for self support and of course an ability to support various low voltage light sources and reflectors and the like from the conductors without the need for additional reinforcement although this is not to say that ends of any of the rods should not be anchored.

My discovery is that there can be provided this plurality of overlapping rods or bars which are respectively interconnected to provide for structural integrity and strength while at the same time these are variously connected to provide either insulation or electrical connection to oiber rods cnd %ct os -e SThe invention can also reside in the combination of such a grid coupled i o 15 with suspended lights that is where there are at least two legs, a light a :0 being supported by a one of the conductors from one leg and another of oo the conductors providing the voltage source for the other leg.

0 4 The concept is to provide for a structural strength which is emphasized 0000 o 20 by the interconnections and while reference has been made to the word "rods", it is well understood that within the structural integrity of a I plurality of such conductors, a number of alternatives can be included, i for instance a rod can be shaped into the form of a spiral, it can be r. shaped to follow an arcuate direction and indeed, as one typical I 25 instance, rather than having a plurality of crossing conductors all made i from straight rods, a first series of rods can be a series of concentric circles, and the second series of rods can be extending at least in a S0 plurality of radial directions with respect to the concentric circles defined by the first set of conductors.

In such a case, each of the radial conductors is alternately a positive, then negative, then positive voltage source and likewise the concentric rings are variously positive, negative, positive and so on.

Further, the shape of the rods themselves can be such as to provide for a three dimensional assembly and in the first illustration of this there can be a first crossing grid defining a planar shape and a second elevated above this which is supported by a separate series of rods

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r. t once again connected,at the very leastAmost overlapping positions but :i variously connected by either conducting or insulating means.

While reference has been made to a negative leg or a positive leg in terms of an electrical current supply it is well understood that the supply Si could be either a DC or AC type supply and the voltage polarity j changes in accord with the supply frequency.

The connection thus would be of course simply from one side of the 1 10 electrical supply as compared to the other side of the supply.

j For a better understanding of this invention it will now be described with i the assistance of drawings in which: ti t FIGURE 1 is a plane view shown schematically of a first So, embodiment, 9 9 FIGURE 2 is shown as a plane view schematically of a second embodiment, 2 FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a joining connector which can be used in any of the embodiments, FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a third embodiment, V FIGURE 5 is a side elevation with part cutaway and cross sectioned to shape a typical low voltage light for the several i embodiments, and FIGURE 6 is the same plane view of the second embodiment as in Figure 2 with several of the lamps however shown in a reverse U position.

Referring to the drawings and in particular to Figure 1, there is shown here a plurality of conductors shown typically at 1 each conductor being of elongate proportions and in fact comprising a rod being of circular cross sectional shape and being many times longer than its diameter and being of a metal of such character and with such thickness that ri i 6 each of the conductors is of sufficient rigidity to be substantially selfsupporting and of sufficient additional rigidity to provide support for electrically illuminating lamps.

The rods 1 are connected by connectors which are variously iconducting connectors as at 2 or insulating connectors as at 3.

1 In the case of the conducting connectors, this comprises a cylindrical member having at least two apertures passing therethrough by which the overlapping relationship of the respective conductors can be accommodated by in the case of the conducting connector which acts as a joining means, by providing sufficient electrical conductivity connection between the two conductors.

In order to ensure both a substantially structurally sound joint as well as a long lasting and safe electrically connection, each of the apertures i through a joining connector has tightening means comprising a screw threaded screw adapted to tighten relatively the position of the ,conductor with respect to its appropriate aperture in the connector.

I SBy appropriately locating the respective insulating and conducting Sconnectors, some of the conductors such as those shown for instance at j4 will be electrically connected to the positive side of the input voltage at 5 and a plurality of the conductors shown at 6 typically are connected electrically to the negative side of the input voltage P The appropriate voltage which is conventionally known in the industry as low voltage is that which is approximately 12 volts rms and there have been developed a number of electrically illuminating i 30 thermolumescent lamps appropriate for this voltage.

i, Each of the conductors 1 comprise bare rods so that their external surface is not insulated so that simply by clamping engagement at any place, lamps can be connected across respactive positive and negative conductors.

In this way a large number of variously positioned and artistically arranged lamps such as is shown at 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 can be 7 coupled so that there are in each case respective legs such as at 14 and which with a sliding clamp can allow for easy adjustment of position and orientation of the respective lamps such as at 7 allowing for a variety of variable positions.

Such a grid as has now been constructed can be assembled and supported: from the ceiling; in an upright position; or from a ground base by which the grid can be located across a wall.

Clearly there are a number of alternate configurations that can be used and to :o illustrate this further, we now refer to the second embodiment which is more 1 clearly shown in Figures 2 and 6.

In this case, there is shown a supply conduit at 16 providing both a positive Sconnector at 17 and a negative connector at 18 so that there can be provided a plurality of conductors each of which comprise elongate elements these S• being shown typically at 19 and the connections between the respective bare 20 conductors which each comprise again a metallic rod for circular cross e: °,sectional shape and selected from stainless steel and being of such a ,dimension as to be self supporting by way of its rigidity.

I A plurality of circular conductors 20, 21 and 22 are provided and these are held together by various radial conductors shown typically at 23 and 24.

Once again however there are a plurality of joining means which are variously conducting such as at 24 and 25 or insulating as at 26 and 27.

In this way, the conductors 20 and 22 are held to be at the same voltage as the positive lead as well as the radial connectors such as that shown at 28, 29 and The other conductors are all connected electrically to the other side of the electrical input.

8 I Once again then we have lamps at 31, 32, 33 and 34 which connect across the conductors and are held by clamping means such that they can be variously adjusted in position.

Also, the connectors are of the same design as that described for the first embodiment.

STo assist in an understanding of a typical connector, this is shown i specifically in Figure 3 in which there is shown a cylindrical body and two apertures passing through the body at 36 and 37 and screw Si engaging means at 38 and 39 adapted to engage and hold with friction i whip, any circular cross sectional rods passing through the respective apertures at 36 and 37 and held thereby.

0 4t 15 For a conducting connector, the body is made from an appropriate o0 .o conducting material such as brass.

o For an insulating connector, the body is made from a nonconducting 0 to material such as plastics material albeit that the tightening screws did i o 20 not need to be of plastic in that they will not engage against another.

SWhile what has been shown in the first two embodiments are unidimensional, it will be understood that the grid can be coupled together to provide three dimensional grids and this is shown in Figure 4 as the third embodiment.

Ii For ease of description the power supply coming from a 12 volt rms Spower supply at 40 is respectively coupled to positive connector at 41 i, and negative connector at 42 and then there are various insulating 30 connectors at typically 43 and conducting at 44 and there is shown simply as an illustration, a number of appropriate locations such as at 45, 46, 47 and so on where lamps can be connected across the now three dimensionally constructed grid.

An interesting feature is the arrangement of a low voltage lamp appropriate for being supported by a connection to legs. This is shown more specifically in Figure 5 in which the lamp 48 has a reflector 49 and

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9 an appropriate filament 50 and rearwardly extending from this, to i clamping connectors 51 and 52.

Finally in Figure 6 there is shown a similar arrangement as in Figure 2 with however some of the lamps being shown in an alternate facing direcion.

This then describes the preferred embodiments from which it will be seen that there is now possible a variety of construction assemblages which can provide for substantially improved support for low voltage (which can be a voltage below approximately 45 volts rms or DC and can be 12 or 24 volts conventionally) lamps and the construction themselves can provide for elegant artistic handwork while providing the additional feature of providing for connectors for the illuminating 15 bulbs.

I i The use of the reference to "low voltage" is intended to refer to voltages i~ which have become commonly acceptable as being low voltage within ji the lighting industry. There are a number of bulbs that are 12 volts and some at 24 volts all of which are below 45 volts.

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Claims (14)

1. A low voltage lighting system comprising a plurality of conductors which comprise elongate elements each of which is of sufficient rigidity to be self- supporting, a plurality of first conductors being each located so as to be in an j overlapping relationship with a plurality of second conductors, and at intersections of respective conductors joining means affixing a one first i 10 conductor to a one second conductor, characterised in that at least one of the 1 joining means provides for conduction between the joined conductors at the respective overlapping location, and at least one of the joining means provides for no conduction between other of the joined conductors at the respective overlapping location such that there is a grid of conductors, some 15 of which are thereby electrically connected together to provide an electrical power source for one leg of one or more electrical illuminating bulbs, and others of the conductors electrically inbulated from the first, are electrically iconnected together to form a source of electrical power for the other leg of the i 4 t¢ i electrical illuminating bulb. S

2. A low voltage lighting system as in Claim 1 further characterised in that ~the conductors in the main comprise metal rods.

3. A low voltage lighting system as in either of Cl!aims 1 or 2 further 25 characterised in that the conductors are uninsulated.

S4. A low voltage lighting system as in either of Claims 1, 2 or 3 further characterised in that the joining means providing for conduction between the i joined conductors at a respective overlapping location are metal connectors. ii

5. A low voltage lighting system as in either of Claims 1, 2 or 3 further characterised in that the joining means providing for no conduction between the joined conductors at a respective overlapping location are non metal connectors.

6. A low voltage lighting system as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that the lighting system is adapted to work with low voltage values of up to a maximum 45 volts rms. 11

7. A low voltage lighting system as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that the lighting system is adapted to work with a low voltage in which typical values are 12 and 24 volts rms.

8. A low voltage lighting system as in any one of the preceding claims comprising in combination a plurality of conductors joined as described, and at least one electrically illuminating bulb connected to two legs one of the legs being electrically connected to one of the first conductors, and one of the legs electrically connected to one of the second conductors.

9. A low voltage lighting system as in the immediately last preceding claim further characterised in that each of the legs is adjustably positionable with respect to its attached conductor.

I, r A low voltage lighting system as described in the accompanying specification with reference to and as illustrated by Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A low voltage lighting system as described in the accompanying j specification with reference to and as illustrated by Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A low voltage lighting system as described in the accompanying specification with reference to and as illustrated by Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings. e

13. A low voltage lighting system as in either claims 1, 2 or 3 further characterised in that the system can be assembled and supported: from the ceiling; in an upright position; or from a ground base by which the grid can be located across a wall. RAZ/ 0~ il 12

14. A low voltage lighting system as in either claims 1, 2, 3 or 13 further characterised in that it is capable of supporting various low voltage light sources and reflectors. DATEDthis [0 day of 1991 ii FRANK HEINRICH BAUER Applicant 1 4 r--