Collar for a recessed light fitting

Abstract

The present disclosures provides a collar for positioning at least partially around a recessed light fitting and between the recessed light fitting and a structural body. The collar comprises a plurality of collar portions each of which are configured to surround a portion of the recessed light fitting.

Claims

1. A collar for positioning at least partially around a recessed light fitting and between the recessed light fitting and an outer surface of a structural body to cover an area of the outer surface of the structural body immediately surrounding the recessed light fitting, the outer surface facing an area to be lit by the recessed light fitting, the collar comprising a plurality of collar portions each configured to surround a portion of the recessed light fitting, wherein each collar portion is identical and for positioning between the recessed light fitting and the outer surface of the structural body.

2. The collar of claim 1, wherein each collar portion comprises attachment means for attaching to a further collar portion of the plurality of collar portions.

3. The collar of claim 2, wherein the attachment means of each collar portion comprises a projection and a first slot for engaging the first slot and projection respectively of the further collar portion.

4. The collar of claim 3, wherein the attachment means of each collar portion further comprises a second slot, and the projection is retained within the second slot.

5. The collar of claim 1, wherein the collar consists of two collar portions.

6. The collar of claim 5, wherein each collar portion is a substantially semi-circular strip.

7. The collar of claim 1, wherein, in use, the plurality of collar portions together surround the entirety of the recessed light fitting.

8. The collar of claim 1, wherein each collar portion increases in thickness from an outer edge towards an inner edge.

9. The collar of claim 8, wherein each collar portion comprises an inner region of substantially constant thickness along the inner edge.

10. The collar of claim 1, wherein an inner surface of each collar portion comprises a compressible layer.

11. The collar of claim 1, wherein one or more of the collar portions comprises one or more of: a fragrance; a pesticide; and/or a pest repellent.

12. The collar of claim 11, wherein one or more of the collar portion comprises the pesticide and further comprises an insect attractant.

13. A kit comprising: a recessed light fitting comprising: an outer portion; and an inner portion extending from the outer portion for positioning in a cavity of a structural body; a collar according to claim 1.

14. The kit of claim 13, wherein the recessed light fitting further comprises biasing means attached to the inner portion for retaining the recessed light fitting in the cavity.

15. A method of installing the collar of claim 1, comprising the steps of: providing a recessed light fitting extending through a cavity in a structural body, the recessed light fitting comprising: an outer portion; and an inner portion extending from the outer portion into the cavity; and positioning the plurality of collar portions between the outer portion and an outer surface of the structural body to cover an area of the outer surface of the structural body immediately surrounding the recessed light fitting, the outer surface facing an area to be lit by the recessed light fitting.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the recessed light fitting is connected to a source of electricity and the plurality of collar portions are positioned between the outer portion and the structural body without disconnecting the source of electricity from the recessed light fitting.

17. A recessed light assembly comprising: a recessed light fitting comprising: an outer portion; and an inner portion extending from the outer portion for positioning in a cavity of a structural body, a collar for positioning at least partially around the recessed light fitting and between the recessed light fitting and an outer surface of the structural body, the outer surface facing an area to be lit by the recessed light fitting, the collar comprising a plurality of collar portions each configured to surround a portion of the recessed light fitting, wherein each collar portion is identical and is for positioning between the recessed light fitting and the outer surface of the structural body to cover an area of the outer surface of the structural body immediately surrounding the recessed light fitting.

18. The recessed light assembly of claim 17, wherein the recessed light fitting further comprises biasing means attached to the inner portion for retaining the recessed light fitting in the cavity.

19. The recessed light assembly of claim 17, further comprising the structural body having the cavity, wherein the inner portion is positioned in the cavity and the collar is positioned between the recessed light fitting and the structural body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a cross-section of a prior art recessed light assembly;

(3) FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of a prior art recessed light assembly;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a collar portion of a collar according to the present invention;

(5) FIG. 4A is a top view of the collar portion of FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 4B is a side view of the collar portion of FIG. 3;

(7) FIG. 4C is a further side view of the collar portion of FIG. 3;

(8) FIG. 5 is a collar according to the present invention including two of the collar portions of FIGS. 3 to 4C;

(9) FIG. 6 is the collar of FIG. 5 and a recessed light fitting in an exploded configuration during installation; and

(10) FIG. 7 is a collar according to the present invention installed with a recessed light fitting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(11) A prior art recessed light assembly 101 is shown in FIG. 1. The recessed light assembly 101 comprises a recessed light fitting 100. The recessed light fitting 100 is installed within a cavity 102 in a structural body 200. The recessed light fitting 100 comprises an outer portion 14 which is in contact with an outer surface 103 of the structural body 200. The outer portion 14 is generally on the side of the recessed light fitting 100 from which light emanates into the area to be lit. The recessed light fitting 100 further comprises an inner portion 12 extending from the outer portion 14. The inner portion 12 is positioned within and passes through the cavity 102 of the structural body 200. A source of light 16 is provided within the inner portion 12. The source of light may be any suitable bulb. The recessed light fitting 100 may be retained within the cavity of the structural body 200 by biasing means 18. In particular, the biasing means 18 may be a spring clip which is biased to retain the recessed light fitting 100 within the cavity against the force of gravity as shown in FIG. 1 (for a ceiling light). A source of electrical energy 32 is connected to the recessed light fitting 100 to power the light source 16. The source of electrical energy 32 may include a wiring box attached to the recessed light fitting 100. The source of electrical energy 32 may be a mains power connection in a home.

(12) The structural body 200 may be any structure adjacent or bounding an area to be lit. Typically, the structural body 200 is a ceiling. However, this structural body 200 may alternatively be a wall, floor, pillar, column, furniture structure or the like. The structural body 200 generally comprises an outer surface 103 which faces the area to be lit and an inner surface 104 which faces away from the area to be lit and is generally hidden in normal use. The structural body 200 may comprise a primarily structural layer 22 forming the inner surface 104 and a finish layer 24 forming the outer surface 103. The finish layer 24 may comprise a layer of plaster and/or paint. The structural layer 22 may be a layer of plasterboard.

(13) During insertion and/or removal of the recessed light fitting 100, or normal use over time, the structural body 200 may be damaged. In particular, the finish layer 24 may crack and/or flake as shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows a prior art recessed light fitting 100 which has been removed and installed within a structural body a number of times. As can be seen, a large amount of paint flaking 26 is present which is generally unsightly.

(14) FIG. 5 shows a collar 300 comprising first and second collar portions 42 in accordance with the invention for covering the flaking 26. The first and second collar portions 42 may be substantially identical to one another as shown. The collar portions 42 may be pressed together around a recessed light fitting 100 in order to form a complete collar 300. FIGS. 3 and 4A to 4C show a first or second collar portion 42 of the collar 300 in more detail. The collar portion 42 is configured to surround at least a portion of the recessed light fitting 100.

(15) The collar portion 42 is a substantially semi-circular strip. A first collar portion 42 may be combined with a second substantially identical collar portion 42, in order to surround the entirety of the recessed light fitting 100 in use. That is, when placed adjacent to one another the two collar portions 42 together form the collar 300 which passes around the entire perimeter of the recessed light fitting 100. The collar 300 may comprise more than two collar portions 42, for example the collar 300 may be formed of three collar portions 42. The formed collar 300 may contact a band on the inner portion 12 of the recessed light fitting 100. This band surrounds an outer perimeter or circumference of the recessed light fitting 100.

(16) The collar portion 42 may comprise an outer surface 301 for facing outwardly from the structural body 200 and an inner surface 302 for facing inwardly to and contacting the structural body 200. The collar portion 42 may comprise an external edge 303. The internal and external edges 305, 303 may extend between the inner and outer surfaces 302, 301. The collar portion 42 may extend between two ends 306. An internal annular edge 305 of the collar portion 42 may be configured to contact the recessed light fitting 100.

(17) The collar portion 42 may include a tapered section 48 in which the thickness of the collar portion 42 increases from the external edge 303 towards the internal edge 305. Alternatively, the collar portion 42 could be substantially flat in this section. The thickness is the dimension of the collar portion 42 extending between the inner and outer surfaces 302, 301. The collar portion 42 may further comprise a region 49 of substantially constant thickness between the tapered section 48 and the internal edge 305. This region 49 is arranged to contact the outer portion of the recessed fitting 100 in use. The region 49 of substantially constant thickness may be thinner than the tapered section 48 immediately adjacent to it.

(18) The inner surface 302 of the collar portion 42 may comprise a compressible layer. This layer could be integral with the inner surface 302 or attached thereto. The compressible layer may be a foam or sponged layer, or any other resiliently deformable layer.

(19) The collar portion 42 may comprise attachment means or a fastener for attaching to an adjacent collar portion 42. As in the depicted embodiment, the attachment means may comprise a projection 46 and at least one slot 44 in an end 306 for engaging with the slot 44 in each end 306 and projection 46 respectively of the further collar portion 42. As shown in FIG. 3, the collar portion 42 may comprise two slots 44, one in each end 306, and the projection 46 may be provided via a moulded connection to the collar portion 42 for snap removal. The projection 46 may be snapped or broken from the remainder of a first collar portion 42 and inserted into one of the slots 44. The same is performed to a second collar portion 42, the projection 46 of which is inserted into the other slot 44 of the first collar portion 42. This allows for easier moulding of the collar portion 42. Alternatively, the projection 46 may be formed integrally with the rest of the collar portion 42 such that each collar portion 42 only comprises one slot 44.

(20) FIG. 6 shows the installation of the collar 300 around a recessed light fitting 100. The structural body 200 is shown in FIG. 6 in partial cutaway for ease of reference. However, in practice the structural body 200 would extend across the entirety of the recessed light element 100. The recessed light element 100 includes biasing means 18 in the form of spring clips which retain the recessed light fitting 100 within the cavity 102 of the structural body 200. The collar portions 42 are slid or pushed between the outer portion 14 of the recessed light fitting 100 and the structural body 200. In order to achieve this installation, the biasing means 18 need to only be slightly displaced on the internal side to provide space for the collar 300 and hence no external damage is caused. The projection 46 of the first collar portion 42 is received within the slot 44 of the second collar portion 42 in order to form the complete collar 300 around the recessed light fitting 100. As this is achievable with the recessed light fitting 100 in situ, there is no need to disconnect the electrical connection 32 from the recessed light fitting 100 or to remove the recessed light fitting 100 from the cavity 102.

(21) This results in the recessed light assembly 400 shown in FIG. 7 in which the collar portions 42 are connected to form the collar 300 around the recessed light fitting 100, which is partially located within the structural body 200. The collar portions 42 substantially surround the outer portion 14 of the recessed light assembly 100 and cover any damage caused to the structural body 200 during installation of the recessed light fitting 100.

(22) One or more of the collar portions 42 may comprise a composition which is one or more of a fragrance, a pesticide, and/or a pest repellent. In particular, the pesticide may be an insecticide. In embodiments with a pesticide, the collar portion 42 may further comprise a pest attractant to attract the pests to the pesticide. Suitable compositions for these embodiments may include, as a non-limiting example, one or more of Azamethiphos, Salmosan, Alfacron 10, Alfacron Plus, and/or Snip Fly Bait.

(23) The composition may be impregnated within the collar portion 42. Alternatively and/or additionally, the composition may be sprayed onto the collar portion 42 as a coating, applied to a film layer on the collar portion 42, or may be deposited via any suitably known method. Alternatively, the composition may be provided on a sticky-backed layer applied to the collar portion 42.