EP2426403A2

EP2426403A2 - Anti-ligature light fitting apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP2426403A2
Application number: EP11179748A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ian Varney
Original assignee: COUGHTRIE INTERNATIONAL Ltd; COUGHTRIE INTERNAT Ltd
Current assignee: M2H Industries Ltd
Priority date: 2010-09-01
Filing date: 2011-09-01
Publication date: 2012-03-07
Also published as: GB201014453D0; EP2426403A3

Abstract

There is herein described an anti-ligature light-fitting apparatus. More particularly, there is described an anti-ligature light-fitting apparatus which prevents the attachment of means in which to hang oneself or others.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to anti-ligature light-fitting apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to anti-ligature light-fitting apparatus which prevents the attachment of means in which to hang oneself or others.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In prisons it is known for prisoners to attempt to hang themselves in their prison cells. A common place for prisoners to attach a rope, belt, cable, shoe lace etc from which to hang themselves is a light fitting located in the roof of the prison cell. There is therefore a need to make it more difficult and to prevent prisoners from hanging themselves from light fittings in prison cells.
It is an object of at least one aspect of the present invention to obviate or mitigate at least one or more of the aforementioned problems.
It is a further object of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide anti-ligature light-fitting apparatus capable of preventing prisoners from hanging themselves in prison cells.
It is a further object of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide a method of preventing prisoners from hanging themselves from light fittings in their prison cells.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an anti-ligature light fitting apparatus comprising:

at least one light diffuser capable of diffusing light from a light source;
a frame on which the at least one light diffuser is capable of being attached;
an assembly capable of attaching the frame to a ceiling or wall;
wherein located between the frame and the assembly there is a gap which is capable of preventing the attachment of means in which to hang oneself or others.

The present invention therefore relates to an anti-ligature light-fitting apparatus capable of preventing the attachment of means in which to hang oneself or others.
Typically, the anti-ligature light fitting apparatus may be used in a prison cell, a police holding cell or in a hospital environment, for example, dealing with patients with a mental illness.
The gap located between the frame and the assembly may be any suitable shape and/or size which is capable of preventing the attachment of a rope, belt, cable, shoe lace etc in which a person could hang themselves or others. The gap is therefore designed to prevent the wedging, attaching, damping etc of any form of means in which hanging could occur.
In particular embodiments, the gap located between the frame and the assembly may be divergent towards the outer surface of the anti-ligature light fitting apparatus and is therefore too wide to attach a ligature. The divergence may occur at any suitable angle such as about 20 to 90 degrees or typically about 30 to 70 degrees. The widest point of the gap may therefore be proximate to, for example, a prison cell making it impossible for a prisoner to wedge, attach, clamp any form of means in which the prisoner could hang himself or others.
For example, the gap may be substantially tapered such as substantially 'V'- shaped or alternatively may be substantially 'U'-shaped.
The gap may have a width at its widest point of about 0.5 - 2 cm.
The gap may also prevent dirt and dust from becoming embedded. The gap may also be easily cleaned in the event that cleaning is required.
The anti-ligature light fitting apparatus may comprise a series of gaps which are anti-ligature. For example, there may be a continuous or non-continuous anti-ligature gap around an outer perimeter formed between the frame on which the at least one light diffuser is capable of being attached and the assembly capable of attaching the frame to a ceiling or wall. There may also be an anti-ligature gap extending across other panels (e.g. infill panels) used in the apparatus.
The anti-ligature light fitting apparatus may also comprise at least one or two light diffusing panels secured to the light diffuser frame using any suitable mechanical or adhesive means. For example, the light diffuser frame may secure the light diffusing panels in place in combination with, for example, gaskets which may be punctured with screws.
The assembly capable of attaching the frame to a ceiling or wall may be any suitable form of attachment or connection means such as a rail.
The light source used in the anti-ligature light fitting apparatus may be any suitable light emitting source such as a fluorescent tube, light bulb or lamp.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of preventing the attachment of means in which to hang oneself or others in an anti-ligature light fitting apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

The light fitting apparatus may be as defined in the first aspect.
The anti-ligature light fitting apparatus may be used in a prison cell, a police holding cell or in a hospital environment, for example, dealing with patients with a mental illness.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional end view of a light fitting apparatus according to the prior art;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional end view of a light fitting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a perspective upper view of the light fitting apparatus shown in Figure 2;
Figure 4 is an end view of the light fitting apparatus shown in Figures 2 and 3;
Figure 5 is an expanded view an anti-ligature point shown in Figures 2 to 4;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the light fitting apparatus shown in Figures 2 and 5 attached to infill panels;
Figure 7 is a side view the light fitting apparatus shown in Figure 6 attached to infill panels; and
Figure 8 is an expanded view of the anti-ligature point of the light fitting apparatus attached to the infill panel shown in Figures 6 and 7.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Generally speaking, the present invention resides in the provision of an anti-ligature light-fitting apparatus capable of preventing the attachment of means in which to hang oneself or others.

Figure 1 is a view of a light fitting apparatus 100 according to the prior art and commonly used in prisons. The light fitting apparatus 100 comprises light diffusing panels 110, 112 which can diffuse light from a light source located behind the light diffusing panels 110, 112. There is also shown a light diffuser frame 114, 116 located on either side which is capable of securing the light diffusing panels 110, 112 in place. Located below the diffusing panels 110, 112 there are gaskets 118, 120 which are punctured by screws 130, 132. Extending around the sides of the light fitting apparatus 100 there are rails 122, 124. Between the light diffuser frame 114, 116 and the rails 122, 124 there is a meeting of surfaces which can be used as ligature points 126, 128 from which means can be attached in which to hang oneself or others. Moreover, the ligature points 126, 128 cause a hygiene problem as dirt and dust can easily become embedded in the small gaps which form the ligature points 126, 128. The ligature points 126, 128 are also difficult to clean as the embedded dirt and dust can be difficult to remove.
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a light fitting apparatus 200 according to the present invention. The light fitting apparatus comprises light diffusing panels 210, 212 secured between light diffuser frames 214, 216. The light diffuser frames 214, 216 secure the light diffusing panels 210, 212 in place in combination with gaskets 218, 220 which are punctured with screws 230, 232. There is also shown rails 222, 224. In contrast to the prior art light apparatus 100 shown in Figure 1, the light apparatus 200 shown in Figure 2 has no ligature points. Between the light diffuser frame 214, 216 and the rails 222, 224 the surfaces are angled away from one another and thus form a gap that is too wide to be used as a ligature point. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, there are substantially 'V'-shaped gaps 226, 228 shown between the light diffuser frame 214, 216 and the rails 222, 224. The widest point of the 'V'-shaped gap 226, 228 will be proximate to, for example, a prison cell making it impossible for a prisoner to wedge, attach, clamp any form of means in which the prisoner could hang himself or others. The V'-shaped gaps 226, 228 are too wide to be used as a ligature point.
A further advantage of the present invention is that the 'V'-shaped gaps 226, 228 do not allow dirt and dust to become easily embedded in the gaps. Moreover, the 'V'-shaped gaps 226, 228 can be easily cleaned.
Figure 3 is an upper view of the light fitting apparatus 200. Figure 3 shows that there are 'V'-shaped gaps along the length of the light fitting apparatus 200 shown by reference numerals 226, 228 and across the width shown by reference numerals 234, 236, 238, 240.
Figure 4 is an end view of the light fitting apparatus 200 and shows 'V'-shaped gaps 226, 228. In Figure 4, 'V'-shaped gap 226 is ringed by circle 'A' and shown in an expanded form in Figure 5. 'V'-shaped gap 226 is shown to have an angle of about 40 degrees, however any other suitable angle may also be used.

Figure 6 is an upper perspective view of the light fitting apparatus 200 with infill panels 250, 252 attached. The infill panels 250, 252 form a substantially planar surface with the light diffusing member 210. Figure 7 is a side view of the light fitting apparatus 200. The 'V'-shaped gap 236 is ringed by circle 'B' in Figure 7 and shown in expanded form in Figure 8.
Whilst specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it will be appreciated that departures from the described embodiments may still fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, any suitable type and shape of gap which can be used to prevent the fixing of a ligature may be used in the present invention.

Claims

An anti-ligature light fitting apparatus comprising:
at least one light diffuser capable of diffusing light from a light source;

a frame on which the at least one light diffuser is capable of being attached;

an assembly capable of attaching the frame to a ceiling or wall;

wherein located between the frame and the assembly there is a gap which is capable of preventing the attachment of means in which to hang oneself or others.
An anti-ligature light fitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the anti-ligature light fitting apparatus is capable of being used in a prison cell, a police holding cell or in a hospital environment, for example, dealing with patients with a mental illness.
An anti-ligature light fitting apparatus according to any of claims 1 or 2, wherein the gap located between the frame and the assembly is of any suitable shape and/or size capable of preventing the attachment of a rope, belt, cable, shoe lace etc in which a person could hang themselves or others.
An anti-ligature light fitting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the gap is designed to prevent the wedging, attaching, clamping etc of any form of means in which hanging could occur.
An anti-ligature light fitting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the gap located between the frame and the assembly is divergent towards the outer surface of the anti-ligature light fitting apparatus and is therefore too wide to attach a ligature.
An anti-ligature light fitting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the divergence occurs at an angle of about 20 to 90 degrees or about 30 to 70 degrees.
An anti-ligature light fitting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the widest point of the gap is therefore proximate to, for example, a prison cell making it impossible for a prisoner to wedge, attach, clamp any form of means in which the prisoner could hang himself or others.
An anti-ligature light fitting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the gap is substantially tapered such as substantially 'V'- shaped or is alternatively substantially 'U'-shaped.
An anti-ligature light fitting apparatus according to any of claims 7 or 8, wherein the gap has a width at its widest point of about 0.5 - 2 cm.
An anti-ligature light fitting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the gap also prevents dirt and dust from becoming embedded and is also easily cleaned in the event that cleaning is required.
An anti-ligature light fitting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the anti-ligature light fitting apparatus comprises a series of gaps which are anti-ligature, and wherein there is a continuous or non-continuous anti-ligature gap around an outer perimeter formed between the frame on which the at least one light diffuser is capable of being attached and the assembly capable of attaching the frame to a ceiling or wall.
An anti-ligature light fitting apparatus according to any of claims 11 or 12, wherein there is an anti-ligature gap extending across other panels (e.g. infill panels) used in the apparatus, and wherein the anti-ligature light fitting apparatus comprises at least one or two light diffusing panels secured to the light diffuser frame using any suitable mechanical or adhesive means.
An anti-ligature light fitting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the light diffuser frame secures the light diffusing panels using gaskets which are punctured with screws; and wherein the assembly capable of attaching the frame to a ceiling or wall is any suitable form of attachment or connection means such as a rail; and wherein the light source used in the anti-ligature light fitting apparatus is any suitable light emitting source such as a fluorescent tube, light bulb or lamp.
A method of preventing the attachment of means in which to hang oneself or others in an anti-ligature light fitting apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
at least one light diffuser capable of diffusing light from a light source;

a frame on which the at least one light diffuser is capable of being attached;

an assembly capable of attaching the frame to a ceiling or wall;

wherein located between the frame and the assembly there is a gap which is capable of preventing the attachment of means in which to hang oneself or others.
A method of preventing the attachment of means in which to hang oneself or others in an anti-ligature light fitting apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the anti-ligature light fitting apparatus is as defined in any of claims 1 to 17.