Reading lamp for installation in a cabin trim element of a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a reading lamp for installation in a cabin trim element (4) of a vehicle, in particular of an aircraft, comprising an installation frame (1) having a ring element (2), a lamp housing (7) having a mating support surface (8), and a clamping ring (9) wherein the clamping ring (9) is connected to the installation frame (1) by means of tension spring elements (10), such that the lamp housing (7) is forced against the support surface (6) of the inner surface of the ring element (2) by means of the clamping ring (9) and may be moved with respect to the installation frame (1) in the manner of a ball and socket joint.

Claims

1. A reading lamp for installation in a cabin trim element of a vehicle, comprising: an installation frame having a ring element, wherein a flange extends on a visible side of the installation frame to bear against an edge section surrounding a hole in the cabin trim element, wherein securing elements are provided on the ring element to secure the installation frame on the cabin trim element, and wherein an inner surface of the ring element has a support surface against which a lamp housing bears in a form-fitting manner, the lamp housing being configured at least partially in the shape of a ball; the lamp housing comprising a mating support surface and a first sliding surface, wherein the mating support surface is configured to bear against the support surface and be moveable with respect to the support surface; and a clamping ring comprising a second sliding surface, wherein the second, sliding surface is configured to bear against the first sliding surface and be moveable with respect to the first sliding surface, wherein the clamping ring is connected to the installation frame through tension spring elements, such that the lamp housing is forced against the support surface through the clamping ring and is movable with respect to the installation frame in the manner of a ball and socket joint.

2. The reading lamp according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft.

3. The reading lamp according to claim 1, wherein the clamping ring is made of PTFE.

4. The reading lamp according to claim 1, wherein the tension spring elements comprise retaining clips made from a spring steel.

5. The reading lamp according to claim 1, wherein the securing elements comprise first latching springs, wherein a first end of the first latching springs has a first separation with respect to the flange.

6. The reading lamp according to claim 5, wherein the securing elements comprise second latching springs, wherein a second end of the second latching springs has a second separation with respect to the flange, and wherein the second separation is smaller than the first separation.

7. The reading lamp according to claim 6, wherein the first and the second latching springs are respectively attached adjacent to one another on the installation frame.

8. The reading lamp according to claim 1, wherein the lamp housing is formed of a first housing shell, which comprises the first sliding surface, and a second housing shell, which comprises the mating support surface.

9. The reading lamp according to claim 8, wherein the first and the second housing shell are latched to one another.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) An exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawing, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a side view of a reading lamp,

(3) FIG. 2 is an exploded view according to FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 is an enlarged view according to FIG. 1,

(5) FIG. 4 is a view in section through the reading lamp according to FIG. 3 and

(6) FIG. 5 is a detail view according to FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) In the figures, a reading lamp for installation in a cabin trim element has an installation frame 1 having a ring element 2, whence a flange 3 extends on a visible side S so as to bear against an edge section of a cabin trim element 4. The edge section of the cabin trim element 4 surrounds a hole, via which the reading lamp can be inserted into the cabin trim element 4 until the flange 3 bears against the edge section surrounding the hole. The reference sign 5a denotes first latching springs and the reference sign 5b denotes second latching springs which extend from the ring element 2 away from the flange 3. As shown in particular in FIG. 3, a first end E1 of the first latching springs 5a has a first separation A1 with respect to the flange 3. A second end E2 of the second latching springs 5b has a second separation A2 with respect to the flange 3. In the present exemplary embodiment, the cabin trim element 4 has a thickness which approximately corresponds to the second separation A2. Consequently, in the exemplary embodiment shown, the installation frame 1 is held in the cabin trim element 4 by means of the second latching springs 5b. The second latching springs 5b force the flange 3 against an edge section, on the visible side, of the cabin trim element 4.

(8) The ring element 2 has, on its inner surface, an annular support surface 6 which is configured so as to correspond to a mating support surface 8 provided on a partially ball-shaped lamp housing 7. The lamp housing 7 has a maximum diameter D in the ball-shaped section. The reference sign 9 denotes a clamping ring whose diameter is smaller than the maximum diameter D. The clamping ring 9 is connected to the installation frame 1 by means of retaining clips 10. The retaining clips 10 are made of spring steel and force the clamping ring 9 towards the installation frame 1 in the manner of a tension spring. The lamp housing 7 has, in the ball-shaped section, a first sliding surface 11 against which a second sliding surface 12 of the clamping ring 9 bears. As shown in particular in FIG. 4, the largest diameter D is between the clamping ring 9 and the support surface 6, the inner diameters of which are in each case smaller than the maximum diameter D.

(9) The lamp housing 7 has a first housing shell 13, in which a light-emitting means 14 and a reflector 15 are mounted. The reference sign 16 denotes a second housing shell which has the mating support surface 8. The second housing shell 16 is latched together with the first housing shell 13 having the first sliding surface 11.

(10) The function of the reading lamp is as follows:

(11) By virtue of the effect of the retaining clips 10, the clamping ring 9 is forced against the first sliding surface 11 of the lamp housing 7. Thus, the mating support surface 8 of the lamp housing is simultaneously forced against the correspondingly configured support surface 6 on the installation frame 1. A tension spring force of the retaining clips 10 is set such that the lamp housing 7 is held in its position on the installation frame 1 in a friction-locking manner.

(12) In order to adjust the position of the lamp housing 7 relative to the installation frame 1, it is possible to manually exert a pressure on the lamp housing 7, which pressure is counter to the tensile force provided by the retaining clips 10. As a consequence thereof, the mating support surface 8 lifts off from the support surface 6 of the support frame 1. The lamp housing 7 may be adjusted in its position relative to the installation frame 1 in the manner of a ball and socket joint. Once the force applied for the purpose of adjusting the lamp housing 1 is no longer in effect, the mating support surface 8 of the housing is once again forced against the support surface 6 by the tensile force of the retaining clips 10, and the housing is held in the set position in a friction-locking manner.

(13) By virtue of providing differently configured first 5a and second latching springs 5b, it is possible to mount the reading lamp in cabin trim elements 4 having a different thickness. In the present exemplary embodiment, the reading lamp is latched in a cabin trim element 4 whose thickness corresponds to the second separation A2 of the second end E2 of the second latching springs 5b from the flange 3. The proposed reading lamp may equally be mounted in cabin trim elements (not shown here) whose thickness corresponds to the first separation A1, which is formed between the first end E1 of the first latching springs 5a and the flange 3.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(14) 1 Installation frame

(15) 2 Ring element

(16) 3 Flange

(17) 4 Cabin trim element

(18) 5a First latching spring

(19) 5b Second latching spring

(20) 6 Support surface

(21) 7 Lamp housing

(22) 8 Mating support surface

(23) 9 Clamping ring

(24) 10 Retaining clip

(25) 11 First sliding surface

(26) 12 Second sliding surface

(27) 13 First housing shell

(28) 14 Light-emitting element

(29) 15 Reflector

(30) 16 Second housing shell

(31) A1 First separation

(32) A2 Second separation

(33) E1 First end

(34) E2 Second end

(35) S Visible side