EP0200924A2

EP0200924A2 - Crystal elements light fixture

Info

Publication number: EP0200924A2
Application number: EP86104566A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pietro Bortoluzzi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-04-12
Filing date: 1986-04-03
Publication date: 1986-11-12
Also published as: EP0200924A3

Abstract

At least a part of the light fixture consists of at least one row of crystal elements (6) mounted between two supporting lateral rods (5) that can be fastened, preferably in a removable manner, between two spaced apart co-axial rings (1, 2) of the supporting structure of the light fixture.

Description

This invention relates to crystal elements light fixtures. By the term "crystal elements" are called, according to the invention, generally faceted pieces of any desired shape, such as, for example, a round, a polygonal, a quadrangular, a triangular, an oval, a flat, a lenticular, a spherical shape, or the like, which are made of crystal, glass, strass, plastics, or the like, and preferably are translucid or transparent, colourless or colored.
The invention aims to realize crystal elements Light fixtures of the above-said kind, that can be made in a particularly easy and simple' manner, and that permit to obtain special structures and ornamental effects.
To this end, the invention provides a Light fixture in which at Least a part thereof consists of at Least one row of crystal elements mounted between two supporting LateraL rods. The two supporting rods may be either parattel to, or convergent toward, or divergent from each other, while the crystal elements may be fitted directly on the two rods, or else they may be fastened to the said rods by means of hooks, brackets, or the Like. However, it is also possibLe to fasten the crystal elements by means of hooks, brackets, or the like, to crystal-supporting crosspieces extending between the two supporting LateraL rods, and which may be made of one piece with the said rods, or may be fastened and coupled thereto, more particularly, fitted thereon by means of end eyelets.
The two supporting lateral rods that are associated with each row of crystal elements, may be made of one piece with the supporting structure of the Light fixture, or they may be added and attached in any suitable manner to a supporting structure of the light fixture.
More particularly, in one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the two supporting LateraL rods that are associated with one row of crystal elements, may be interconnected so as to form with the row of crystal elements interposed therebetween, a crystal-supporting independent structural element. These crystal-supporting structural elements may be of any shape and size, and together with a supporting structure, they permit to compose Light fixtures of any desired shape and size, thus allowing large possibiLities to the creative impulse.
The above-said structural elements formed by a row of crystal elements between two supporting rods, may be firmly secured to the supporting structure of the Light fixture. PreferabLy, however, according to one embodiment of the invention, the said crystal-supporting structural elements are attached to the supporting structure of the Light fixture in any suitable, easily disassemblable and re-assembLabLe manner, for example, by simply fitting them in. Thus, the cleaning of the Light fixture is facilitated, since the individual structural elements comprising the crystal elements can be disassembled from the supporting structure of the Light fixture, to be more easily dusted or washed.
According to a further feature of the invention, the individual crystal elements are fixed to the brackets for fastening them on the respective supporting lateral rods or to their crosspieces by means of rivets, preferably by means of tubular rivets. The heads of the rivets may be small and flat, and do not protrude to an' excessive degree, so that they do not form any projection on which there may be caught a cloth with which the crystal elements are normally cleaned or dusted.
Further features of the tight fixture according to the invention will appear in the other dependant claims, and in the following specification of some embodiments shown in the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a first embodiment of a crystal elements light fixture according to the invention, in which some parts have been omitted in order to more clearly show the supporting structure of the light fixture.
Figure 2 is an elevational view with parts in section, illustrating a disassemblable structural element of the light fixture according to Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an elevational view illustrating a modified embodiment of the structural element according to Figure 2.
Figures 4 and 5 are cross sectional views, in an enlarged scale, illustrating two different ways of carrying out the fixing of a crystal element according to Figures 2 and 3 to the supporting respective LateraL rods.
Figure 6 is an eLevationaL view illustrating another embodiment of the structural element according to Figure 2.
Figure 7 is a perspective view, in an enlarged scale, illustrating a portion of the structural element according to Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a perspective view illustrating the blanked element from which there are obtained the crystal--supporting crosspieces for the structural element according to Figures 6 and 7.
Figure 9 is an elevational view illustrating a modified embodiment of the structural element according to Figure 6.
Figure 10 is an elevational view illustrating another embodiment of a structural element for Light fixtures according to the invention.
Figure 11 is an elevational view illustrating another way of fixing a crystal element to the two supporting LateraL rods.
Figure 12 is a sectional view, in an enlarged scale, taken on Line XII-XII in Figure 11.
Figure 13 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of a Light fixture according to the invention, in which some parts have been omitted.
Figure 14 is a vertical partial sectional view, in an enlarged scale, through the Light fixture according to Figure 13.
Figure 15 is a perspective view illustrating a further embodiment of a crystal elements Light fixture according to the invention, in which some parts have been omitted in order to more clearly show the supporting structure of the Light fixture.
Figure 16 is an elevational view, in an enlarged scale, illustrating a piece of the Light fixture according to Figure 15.
Figure 17 is a cross sectional view, in an enlarged scale, taken on Line XVII-XVII in Figure 16.
Figure 18 is an elevational view illustrating a portion of a modified embodiment of the light fixture according to Figures 15 and 16.
Figure 19 is a perspective view, in an enlarged scale, illustrating a crystal-supporting crosspiece for the embodiment according to Figure 18.
Figure 20 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of a light fixture according to the invention, in which some parts have been omitted.
Figure 21 is an elevational view, in an enlarged scale, illustrating a structural element for the light fixture according to Figure 20.
Figure 22 is a cross sectional view, in an enlarged scale, taken on Line XXII-XXII in Figure 21.
Figure 23 is an elevational partial view illustrating a further embodiment of a light fixture according to the invention.

The light fixture shown in Figure 1 has a supporting structure that, for example, consists of an upper plate or ring 1, and of a lower ring 2 having a greater diameter than the upper ring 1, and which is connected thereto, for example, by means of one or more arcuate bars 3. Between the upper ring 1 and the Lower ring 2, crystal-supporting structural elements 4 are mounted the one beside the other, and consist each of two spaced apart, supporting LateraL rods 5 extending between the two rings 1 and 2, as well as of a plurality of crystal elements 6 arranged the one over the other in a row, between the two supporting lateral rods 5, and carried by the said rods. In the embodiment according to Figures 1 to 10, the two supporting lateral rods 5 converge upwardly toward each other, since the Light fixture is cap-shaped, but they may also converge downwardly, or may be parallel to each other, just as in the embodiment according to Figure 11. Moreover, in the embodiments according to Figures 1 to 12, the supporting LateraL rods 5 are so made as to be elastically flexible, and in proximity of their ends they are interconnected by crosspieces 8. The crosspieces 8 may be connected to the supporting LateraL rods 5 in any suitable manner. Thus, for example, the two rods 5 may be fitted through bores in at Least one of the crosspieces 8, and may be fixed to the said crosspiece by welding (as shown for the upper crosspiece 8 in Figures 2, 3, 6 and 10), or else by means of Locking screws 7 (as shown for the Lower crosspiece 8 in Figures 2, 3, 6 and 10). Furthermore, at Least one of the crosspieces 8 may be made of one piece with the two supporting LateraL rods 5, just as in the embodiment shown in Figure 9.
The two crosspieces 8 for connection of the LateraL rods 5 are arranged at a distance from the respective ends of rods 5, so that these rods present freely protruding ends 105. Each crystal-supporting structural element 4 is assembled to the supporting structure of the Light fixture by elastically bending it either inwardly or outwardly and by inserting the protruding ends 105 of the two supporting LateraL rods 5 into respective bores provided in the upper ring 1 and in the lower ring 2 of the Light fixture, as shown particularly in Figure 2. Such an operation for assembling the Light fixture is extremely simple and quick. The crystal-supporting structural element 4 is held in assembled position only owing to its elastic deformation, and so it can be easily and quickly disassembled, for example, for cleaning it, and can be then re-assembled even by inexpert persons.
The crystal elements 6 may have any desired shape, such as, for example, a hexagonal shape as in Figures 2, 6, 7, 9 and 11, or a square shape as in Figure 3, and are generally faceted, so as to refract and/or reflect Light in a plurality of directions. The crystal elements 6 may be of glass, crystal, strass, plastics, or the like, and they may be transparent, translucid, or dull, colourless or coloured. Moreover, the crystal elements 6 forming a row between the two supporting LateraL rods 5, may be oriented in any desired way relatively to the said rods 5. Thus, for example, in the embodiments according to Figures 4 to 9, the crystal elements 6 have a two-pyramid configuration, with the bases of the two pyramids being substantially co-planar to each other and to the longitudinal axes of the two supporting LateraL rods 5. In the embodiment according to Figure 10, the crystal elements 6 still having a two-pyramid configuration, are instead arranged with the bases of the two pyramids being parallel to each other, but being substantially perpendicular to the LongitudinaL axes of the two supporting LateraL rods 5.
The crystal elements 6 may be fixed in any suitable manner to the two supporting respective LateraL rods 5. In the embodiment according to Figure 2, each crystal element 6 is fixed to the two rods 5 by means of two fixing opposite brackets 9 that may be made of metal, and that on one side are fastened on the relative rods 5, while on the other side they are fixed to the associated crystal element 6, each bracket by means of a metallic tubular rivet 10. More particularly, in the embodiment according to Figure 4, each fixing bracket 9 is so bent as to present a small sleeve or eye hook 109 that encompasses the rod 5, and from which there extends a wing 209, through which the rivet 10 is passed and is fitted through a respective bore in the crystal element 6. In the modified embodiment according to Figure 5, two wings 209 extend from the small sleeve 109 by means of which the bracket 9 encompasses the rod 5, and these wings grip therebetween the crystal element 6, and are fixed by means of only one rivet 10 on opposite sides of said element. Between the fixing brackets 9 fastened on the same supporting LateraL rod 5, spacers 11 may be provided, which consist, for example, of small tubes or helicoids of wire. These spacers 11 are provided also between the end crosspieces 8 for connection of rods 5, and the brackets 9 for fixing the upper and Lower crystal elements 6.
In the embodiment according to Figure 3, each crystal element 6 is fixed to the two supporting LateraL rods 5 by means of two opposite pairs of brackets 9. Each fixing bracket 9 may be, for example, made as described by referring to Figures 4 and 5. The spacers 11 are of course provided only between the brackets 9 for fixing the individual crystal elements 6, and between these brackets and the end crosspieces 8.
In the embodiment according to Figures 6 to 8, the crystal elements 6 are fixed to crystal-supporting crosspieces 12, that in turn are secured to the two supporting lateral rods. More particularly, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, each crystal-supporting crosspiece 12 has a median portion 112 which at either end is provided with two diverging arms 212 terminating each with an eyelet 312. Each one of the supporting crosspieces 12 is fitted by means of these eyelets 312 on the two supporting lateral rods 5. The crystal elements 6 are placed between the crystal-supporting crosspieces 12, and are fixed to pierced tongues 412 in the median portion thereof, by means of tubular rivets 10. The above disclosed crystal-supporting crosspiece 12 may be made in form of a flat piece, shown in Figure 8, which is preferably blanked from sheet-metal, and the end eyelets 312 that are initially co-planar to the median portion 112 and to the tongues 412 in the crosspiece 12, are then oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axes of the supporting lateral rods 5 by suitably twisting the respective arms 212, as it clearly appears in Figure 7. In the embodiment according to Figures 6 to 8, it is not necessary to provide any spacers between the crystal-supporting crosspieces 12, since the crystal elements 6 themselves, fixed to the said crosspieces 12, act as spacers. Spacers may be possibly provided only between the crystal-supporting end crosspieces 12' at the extremities of the row of crystal elements 6, and the respective crosspieces 8 for connection of the two supporting LateraL rods 5. However, the said crystal--supporting end crosspieces 121 may be made in such a manner as to present abutment portions cooperating with the respective connection crosspieces 8, as shown in Figure 6.
In the embodiments according to Figures 2 to 8 and 10 to 12, the two LateraL rods 5 for the support of each crystal-supporting structural element 4 have a round profile, and may consist of metallic elastic wire. In the embodiment according to Figure 9, the two supporting rods 5 are instead flat, and are made of one piece not only with the flat end crosspieces 8 for connection between the said rods 5, but also with the crystal-supporting intermediate flat crosspieces 12. Practically, therefore, each crystal-supporting structural element 4 consists of a supporting piece provided with at Least one row of slots, in each one of them there is received a crystal element 6 that by means of rivets 10 is fixed to at Least two tongues 412 extending into each one of the said slots. In the shown embodiment, the said slots are delimited by the two lateral rods 5 and by the several crosspieces 8, 12, while the tongues 412 for fixing the glass elements are integral with the said crosspieces 8 and 12, similarly to the embodiment according to Figures 6 to 8. However, in the modified embodiment according to Figure_9, the tongues 412 may be provided also or only in correspondence of the LateraL rods 5.
In the embodiment according to Figure 10, the crystal elements 6 are fixed directly to the two supporting LateraL rods 5, more particularly, they are provided with two respective bores by means of which they are fitted on the said rods 5. Spacers are provided between the individual crystal elements 6, and in the shown embodiment, they consist of beads 13 fitted on the said lateral rods 5.
In the embodiment according to Figures 11 and 12, a wire 14 is helically wound around each supporting LateraL rod 5, and each crystal element 6 is fastened by means of its two opposite rivets 10 on a Loop 114 formed by the wire 14 wound around the respective rod 5.
ALso the structure of the Light fixture shown in Figures 13 and 14 comprises an upper plate or ring 1 and a Lower ring 2, but differently from the embodiment according to Figures 1 and 2, the two rings, the upper ring 1 and the Lower ring 2, are not rigidly and firmly interconnected by means of one or more bars 3, but are interconnected by means of the crystal-supporting structural elements 4 extending between the said rings 1 and 2, so that in this case they perform also a supporting action. The crystal-supporting structural elements 4 may be firmly fixed, for example welded, to the two rings 1, 2 of the light fixture, or else they may be attached to the said rings 1, 2 in an easily disassemblable and re-assemblable manner, just as in the shown embodiment. To this end, the upper and lower free ends 105 of the LateraL rods 5 for the support of each crystal--supporting structural element 4 are fitted in respective bores in rings 1 and 2, and are locked in these bores, for example, by means of Locking screws 15, as it appears particularly in Figure 14. For the kind of Light fixture according to Figures 13 and 14 it is possible to use all the crystal-supporting structural elements 4, as previously described by referring to Figures 2 to 10.
In all of the above-described embodiments, it is not necessary to have aLL the individual crystal-supporting structural elements 4 inserted by means of the free ends 105 of the supporting LateraL rods 5, into the respective bores in rings 1 and 2 of the structure of the Light fixture. For this purpose, instead of the said ends 105 of rods 5, it is possible to provide any other suitable pins or projections on the crosspieces 8 for the crystal-supporting structural element 4.
In the embodiment according to Figures 15 to 19, the supporting structure of the Light fixture consists of an upper plate or ring 1 and of a Lower ring 2, which is firmly connected to the upper ring 1 by means of a pLuraLity of bars 3, to which the crystal elements 6 arranged the one over the other in a row between the said bars 3, are directly fixed. Therefore, the bars 3 form a fixed integrant part of the supporting structure of the Light fixture, and at the same time perform the function of the LateraL rods 5 for the support of the crystal elements 6. ALso in this case, the crystal elements 6 may be fixed to the bars 3 in any suitable manner. In the embodiment according to Figures 16 and 17, saddle-shaped brackets 16 are provided for fixing the crystal elements 6, and are mounted on the bars 3 astride thereof, and on either side of each bar 3 these brackets present projecting wings 116, to which the crystal elements 6 are fixed by means of rivets 10. Each crystal element 6 in one row of crystal elements 6 between two bars 3, is then fixed at two opposite points to the wing 116 of two saddLe-shaped brackets 16, which are mounted astride of the two LateraL bars 3. The saddle-shaped brackets 16 may be fixed to the respective bars 3, for example, by means of metallic wire, or else by squeezing on bars 3 their saddle--shaped portions.
In the modified embodiment according to Figures 18 and 19, each crystal element 6 is fixed by means of rivets to the wings 117 of two crosspieces 17 that extend on opposite sides of the crystal element 6 between the two bars 3, and are suitably fixed to said bars. More particularly, the crosspieces 17 have at their ends saddle-shaped portions 217 by means of which they are mounted astride of bars 3, and are fixed thereto similarly to brackets 16.
In the embodiment according to Figures 20 to 22, the supporting structure of the Light fixture comprises a Lower plate or ring 2 from which crystal-supporting structural elements 4 freely extend in the upward direction. Each one of these crystal-supporting structural elements 4 is made as a self-standing element, and consists of a preferably rigid small bar, generally made of metal, which is " U " bent over itself so as to form two supporting LateraL rods 5, between which the crystal elements 6 are arranged and fixed. The said small bar that, for example, consists of a metaLLic profiled element, may be bent in such a manner that the two LateraL rods 5 will be either parallel to each other, or will diverge from, or converge toward their free ends. In proximity of their free ends, the said lateral rods 5 may be interconnected by means of a crosspiece 8. By the free ends 105 of the two rods 5, each crystal-supporting structural element 4, thus made, is fitted, for example with a slight drive, in respective bores 18 provided in the Lower ring 2 of the Light fixture, as shown in Figure 21. In this embodiments the self-standing crystal-supporting structural elements 4 are held in place on the supporting structure 2 of the Light fixture simply by friction, so that they can be very easity disassembled for cleaning them, and then re--assembled again.
ALso in the embodiment according to Figures 20 and 21, the crystal elements 6 may be fixed to the two supporting LateraL rods 5 in any suitable manner. In the shown example, each crystal element 6 partly overlaps the two lateral rods 5, and is fixed thereto by means of rivets 10. At their opposite end to the crystal element 6, the heads of rivets 10 are preferably embedded in corresponding recesses 205 in rods 5, so that they are not a nuisance when cleaning the crystal elements.
The supporting structure of the Light fixture according to the embodiment shown in Figure 23, still comprises an upper ring 1 and a Lower ring 2, between which parallel rows of crystal elements 6 are mounted. The crystal elements 6 of each row are directly fitted on two parallel rods 5 that extend between the two rings 1 and 2, and are fixed to said rings. In the shown embodiment, the two supporting LateraL rods 5 associated with one row of crystal eLements 6 consist of two branches of a generally metallic wire forming a " U " shaped Loop between the two rings 1 and 2, and which starts from one of these rings, for exampLe, the Lower ring 2, passes through two circumferentially spaced apart bores in the other ring, for example, the upper ring 1, and comes back to the first ring, to which it is suitably anchored by both of its extremities. Moreover, according to a further feature of the embodiment according to Figure 23, on each supporting rod 5 that, particularly, is formed by one branch of a " U " shaped wire, there are alternately fitted the crystal elements 6 of both of the rows of crystal elements Located at both sides of rod 5, so that each rod 5 provides the support for two side-by-side arranged rows of crystal elements 6. Spacers consisting, for example, of beads 13 fitted on rods 5, are interposed between the individual crystal elements 6, and between these elements and the two rings 1, 2.
In the embodiment according to Figure 23, the rods 5 for supporting the crystal elements 6 form an integrant part of the supporting structure of the Light fixture. The said crystal elements 6 and the spacing beads 13 provided therebetween, keep the two rings 1 and 2 at the required distance from each other, even when the supporting rods 5 consist of flexible wires, just as it however occurs also in the embodiment according to Figures 13 and 14.
Of course, the invention is not Limited to the described and shown embodiments. Thus, for example, in the embodiments according to Figures 1, 13, 15 and 20, the section of the Light fixture provided with crystal elements 6, and which particuLarLy is composed of individual crystal--supporting structural elements 4, may be made with an outwardly concave instead of convex, shape. Moreover, in all of these embodiments, the structure of the Light fixture may be overturned, i.e., the ring 2 of a greater diameter may be placed above, and the ring 1 of a smaller diameter may be Located below. ALso in the embodiment according to Figure 20, the self-standing crystal-supporting structural elements 4 may extend downwardly, instead of upwardly, from any suitable supporting structure of a Light fixture.

Claims

1. A crystal elements Light fixture characterized in that it at Least partly consists of at Least one row of crystal elements (6) mounted between two supporting LateraL rods (3, 5).

2. The light fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that the crystal elements (6) are fixed to the supporting LateraL rods (5) by means of brackets (9), each one of the said brackets being fastened on a rod (5) by means of at least one sleeve portion (109) thereof, and presenting at Least one wing (209) to which the crystal element (6) is fixed.

3. The light fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that the crystal elements (6) are fixed to the supporting LateraL rods (3) by means of brackets (16), each one of the said brackets overriding a supporting rod (3) with a saddle-shaped portion thereof, and presenting wings (116) for fixing two opposite crystal elements (6) at both sides of the said rod (3).

4. The Light fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that the crystal elements (6) are fixed to crystal-

-supporting crosspieces (12) extending between the supporting LateraL rods (5).

5. The Light fixture according to claim 4, characterized in that the crystal-supporting crosspieces (12) are made of one piece with the two supporting LateraL rods (5).

6. The light fixture according to claim 4, characterized in that the crystal-supporting crosspieces (12) have their ends provided with eyelets (312) by means of which they are fitted on the two supporting LateraL rods (5).

7. The light fixture according to claim 4, characterized in that the crystal-supporting crosspieces (17) have their ends provided with saddle-shaped portions (217) by means of which they are fastened on the two supporting LateraL rods (3).

8. The Light fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that the crystal elements partly overlap the two supporting LateraL rods (5), and are directly fixed thereto.

9. The Light fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that the crystal elements (6) are fitted on the two supporting LateraL rods (5).

10. The light fixture according to claim 9, characterized in that on one supporting rod (5) there are alternately fitted the crystal elements (6) forming two rows of crystal elements, arranged on opposite sides of said rod (5).

11. The Light fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that wires (14) are helically wound around the supporting LateraL rods (5), and the crystal elements (6) are fastened on Loops (114) formed by enlarged turns of these wires (14).

12. The Light fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that the crystal elements (6) are fixed by means of preferably tubular rivets (10) fitted through bores in the crystal elements (6).

13. The Light fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that at Least one head of the rivets (10) is embedded in the crystal element (6) or in its support (5).

14. The Light fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that spacers (11, 13) fitted on the supporting LateraL rods (5), are provided between the individual crystal elements (6).

15. The Light fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting LateraL rods (3) are made of one piece with the supporting structure (1, 2) of the light fixture.

16. The Light fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting LateraL rods (5) are added and fixed to the supporting structure (1, 2) of the Light fixture.

17. The Light fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that the two supporting LateraL rods (5) that are associated with one row of crystal elements (6), are interconnected so as to form with the crystal elements (6) interposed therebetween, an independent crystal-supporting structural element (4) for the composition of light fixtures, in combination with a supporting structure (1, 2).

18. The light fixture according to claim 17, characterized in that the crystal-supporting structural elements (4) are attached in an easily removable manner to the supporting structure (1, 2) of the light fixture.

19. The light fixture according to claim 17, characterized in that the crystal-supporting structural elements (4) are mounted between two spaced apart co-axial rings (1, 2) of the supporting structure of the Light fixture.

20. The Light fixture according to claim 19, characterized in tha the crystal-supporting structural elements (4) are elastically arcuate elements, and by end projections (105) they are fitted in respective bores in the two rings (1, 2).

21. The light fixture according to claim 19, characterized in that in correspondence of at Least one point, the two rings (1, 2) are rigidly connected to each other.

22. The light fixture according to claim 19, characterized in that the two rings (1, 2) are connected to each other only by means of the crystal-supporting structural elements (4).

23. The light fixture according to claim 17, characterized in that the crystal-supporting structural elements (4) are made as self-standing elements, and have only one of their ends fixed in a freely projecting manner to the supporting structure (2) of the light fixture.

24. The Light fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting LateraL rods consist of " U " shaped wires extending between two spaced apart co-axial rings (1, 2) of the supporting structure of the light fixture, the crystal elements (6) being fitted on the said wires, possibly with the interposition of spacers (11, 13).