Patent Application
20150338068
The invention relates to a luminaire comprising a connection device for connecting the luminaire with another luminaire and to a connection device for connecting luminaires with each other.
Luminaires according to the invention are intended for use in any space, indoors or outdoors, where a linear array of luminaires is required for lighting purposes. Particularly, such luminaires are intended for use in lighting systems known as trunking systems or battens.
For several indoor lighting applications, such as shops, warehouses and offices, a linear array of luminaires is applied to give a proper lighting effect for the space. By using different light distributions an optimized lighting solution for these particular indoor applications can be realized. This particular lighting solution is also known as a trunking system. One important element of such linear lighting systems is the easiness of maintenance.
With conventional linear luminaires (using fluorescent technology) 3 general solutions are known. At first, a typical solution is to use a separate trunking, containing a powerline in which luminaires can be connected at specific points. The luminaire for this solution consists of a ballast and lamp. When a luminaire failure occurs, either the luminaire can be disconnected from the powerline and replaced or its failed component, such as a lamp or ballast, can be replaced.
A second known solution is a luminaire comprising connectors at both ends (possibly integrated with the luminaire caps as well). In this case, if a luminaire fails, the luminaire needs to be disconnected from the other luminaires to be replaced.
A last solution of realizing a linear array of luminaires is similar to the second known solution with the difference that the luminaires are connected by means of separate cables. In this case, when a failure occurs the luminaire can be fairly easily replaced by the user.
US 2009/0296381 A1 describes a solution of the second type mentioned above in which a modular lighting system with an elongate light module comprises two end caps. One end cap comprises a male connector and the other end cap a female connector. The connectors each comprise a set of plug-in connector pins for electrically coupling the light module to another light module or to an external power source.
These known solutions pose two main disadvantages. Firstly, by using conventional luminaires, at the end of each luminaire a dark spot is perceived by users due to the required end caps at each end of the luminaire.
Secondly, when the electrical connection of these luminaires are provided in a horizontal way, i.e. in a direction parallel with the longitudinal direction of the luminaire, it is very difficult to replace luminaire(s) placed in the middle of an array of luminaires and having a failure. Particularly, the disconnection of these luminaires implies a distinct risk of damaging the connection device, and on one end of the failed luminaire the entire array of luminaires needs to be moved.
Another way to classify different types of luminaires can be based on electrical properties of the single luminaire, such as maximum voltage or the total number of luminaires connected to a single power supply. Also integrated or using an external power supply can be another way to classify luminaires. For this invention these type of classifications are irrelevant, since the invention can be applied with all types of classifications as described above and the embodiments of the invention is suitable for whatever the building can support electrically.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the problems related to dark spots and ease of replacement, and to provide a luminaire with which the dark spot perceived due to the end caps is reduced or even eliminated and with which replacement of luminaires in an array is simplified.
According to a first aspect of the invention, this and other objects are achieved with a luminaire comprising a housing with a first end surface, a second end surface, an at least partially circumferential surface extending between the first end surface and the second end surface, a longitudinal direction extending between the first end surface and the second end surface, and at least one connection device for connecting the luminaire to a complementary connection device of another corresponding luminaire, the at least one connection device being arranged on either of the first end surface and the second end surface of the luminaire, the connection device comprising an electrical connection element extending in an angle γ with respect to said longitudinal direction of said luminaire, said angle being comprised in the interval (0°; 90°].
By providing the luminaire with connection devices arranged on respective end surfaces of the luminaire, the luminaire may be provided with simple end surfaces in lieu of the end caps such that end caps as used in the prior art are no longer necessary. Consequently the dark spot associated with such end caps is greatly reduced.
Furthermore, the provision of a connection device with an electrical connection element extending in an angle γ with respect to the longitudinal direction of the luminaire, the angle γ being comprised in the interval (0°; 90°] provides for a luminaire with which the process of both mounting a new luminaire and replacing a defective luminaire, particularly that or those placed in the middle of an array of luminaires, becomes greatly simplified. Particularly, both mounting a new luminaire and replacing a defective luminaire may with a luminaire according to the invention be carried out in a few simple steps as will be described in further detail below.
In an embodiment the connection device further comprises a first surface, wherein the first surface extends in an angle β with respect to the longitudinal direction of the luminaire, the angle β being comprised in the interval 0°β<90°. Thereby a luminaire is provided which comprises a connection device providing for both mechanical and electrical connection of the luminaire to another luminaire or to an external source of electrical energy.
In an embodiment the electrical connection element is integrated in the first surface, and/or the first surface is chamfered or curved, thereby providing for a luminaire with a connection element of a particularly simple structure.
In an embodiment the connection device further comprises an at least partially circumferential wall extending between the first surface and the second surface. Thereby a luminaire comprising a connection device with a particularly high structural strength and thereby durability is provided.
In an embodiment the connection device further comprises a second surface, the second surface being chamfered or rounded, and wherein the first surface and the second surface meet in a tip point, the location of the tip point on the connection device satisfying the relation
y
2
≧y
1*(1−sin β),
where y1 is the height of the luminaire and y2 is the shortest distance measured in a mounted condition of the luminaire between the tip point and a surface on which the luminaire is mounted.
Thereby a luminaire is provided with which the connection device may be arranged on the luminaire in a position close or adjacent to a rear surface of the luminaire, i.e. in the mounted position close or adjacent to the surface on which the luminaire is mounted. This in turn provides for at least a further reduction or even an elimination of the dark spots which in the prior art were associated with the use of end caps as described above. Furthermore, the provision of a second surface adds further structural strength and thereby durability to the connection device of the luminaire.
In an embodiment the connection device further comprises an engagement element adapted for engagement with a complementary engagement element of another connection device, thereby providing for a particularly robust connection between luminaires or between luminaire and electrical energy source.
Furthermore, the luminaire may comprise two connection devices at opposite end surfaces, one connection device being of a male type and one connection device being of a female type.
According to a second aspect of the invention, the above-mentioned objects and other objects are achieved with a connection device for connecting a luminaire comprising a housing with a first end surface, a second end surface, an at least partially circumferential surface extending between said first end surface and said second end surface, a longitudinal direction extending between said first end surface and said second end surface to a complementary connection device of another corresponding luminaire, the connection device further comprising an electrical connection element, wherein when said connection device is arranged on an end surface of said luminaire, said electrical connection element extends in an angle γ with respect to said longitudinal direction of said luminaire, said angle being comprised in the interval (0°; 90°].
Furthermore, according to a third aspect of the invention a method for connecting luminaires according to the invention with each other is provided.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention a method for disconnecting luminaires according to the invention from each other is provided.
It is noted that the invention relates to all possible combinations of features recited in the claims.
This and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the appended drawings showing embodiment(s) of the invention.
In the drawings:
It is noted, however, that the surface 4 may in principle be any feasible type of surface on which it is desired to mount an light line 1, Examples of such surfaces are for instance a ceiling, a wall, a trunking line, a floor or the like.
It is furthermore noted that the luminaire 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d may comprise at least one bracket 6 (cf.
As is shown on
As is shown on
The luminaire and/or the connection device according to the invention may be moulded, preferably in a plastic material. Furthermore, the luminaire and/or the connection device may be one integral device.
The luminaire according to the invention is an elongated luminaire that may have any feasible configuration such as linear, curved, U-shaped, S-shaped, ring-shaped etc. Also, the luminaire according to the invention may have any feasible cross sectional shape. Likewise the light line 1 may have any feasible overall configuration such as linear, curved, U-shaped, S-shaped, ring-shaped etc.
Turning now to
Along with the possible configurations mentioned above, another configuration of the luminaire is that the longitudinal direction 25 need not necessarily be linear in its extension, but may be flexible in its extension to create any desired shape of the luminaire such as e.g. curved or angled.
The front side 23 and/or rear side 24 of the luminaire may be transparent or diffuse to allow light from a light source (not shown) arranged within said luminaire pass through.
In the embodiment shown in
In embodiments such as the one shown in
The luminaire 2b further comprises two connection devices 3a, 3b, one on each end surface 21, 22, for connecting the luminaire 2b to another corresponding luminaire or for connecting it to a source of electrical energy (not shown). One of the connection devices 3a is of a female type while the other connection device 3b is of a male type.
It is noted that the luminaire according to the invention may comprise any other number of connection devices that two, e.g. one or three, thereby allowing for other configurations of a light line. Also, a connection device may in principle be arranged on the at least partially circumferential surface 23 of the luminaire.
An embodiment of a connection device according to the invention will now be described in detail with reference to
In the embodiment shown in
It is noted that a connection device 3a, 3a′, 3a″ of the female type according to the invention comprises an opening in the first surface 32 adapted for receiving the first surface 32 of a connection device 3b, 3b′, 3b″ of the male type according to the invention.
It is noted that with the exception of the first surface 32 all of the elements 31 to 36 of the connection device 3a, 3b are in principle optional and may in different embodiments be present or not independently of one another. Furthermore, as shown in
Furthermore, the connection device 3a, 3b comprises a height h. The height h of the connection device 3a, 3b is defined as the largest distance between the first surface 32 and the second surface 31 of the connection device 3a, 3b.
The first surface 32 of the connection device 3a, 3b extends in an angle β with respect to the longitudinal direction 25 of the luminaire 2b.
The angle β may be expressed as being the angle between the direction in which the first surface 32 extends and a longitudinal direction 25 of the luminaire.
Alternatively the same angle β may be expressed as being the angle between the direction in which the first surface 32 extends and a direction extending perpendicular to the direction of the height h of the connection device.
The angle β is comprised in the interval 0°β<90°. In principle the angle β may alternatively be comprised in any other interval being a sub-interval of the interval 0°<β<90°. For example, the angle β may alternatively be comprised in the interval 10°<β<80°, in the interval 20°<β<70° or in the interval 30°<β<60°.
The first surface 32 of the connection device 3a, 3b may be circumferential as shown in
In the embodiment shown on
The at least partially circumferential wall 33 of the connection device 3a, 3b extends between the first surface 32 and the second surface 31 connecting the first surface 32 and the second surface 31 along at least a part of their periphery. The at least partially circumferential wall 33 may be comprised of two opposite side walls as shown in
The electrical connection element 34 of the connection device 3a, 3b generally extends in an angle γ with respect to the longitudinal direction 25 of the luminaire 2b, which angle γ is comprised in the interval (0°; 90°]. As shown in
In terms of the height h of the connection device 3a, 3b, the electrical connection element 34 may also be described as extending in an angle with respect to the height h, said angle being comprised in the interval [0°; 90°). In these terms and as shown in
The electrical connection element 34 of the male type connection device 3b (
In the embodiment shown on
The electrical connection element 34 as shown on the figures, particularly
Preferably, however, electrical connection elements of a type following the norm IEC 60320 specifying non-locking electrical power couplers for the connection of power supply cords to electrical appliances up to 250 V are employed as the electrical connection element 34.
In an alternative embodiment the electrical connection element 34 may be integrated in the first surface 32 of the connection device e.g. as shown on
Furthermore, the connection device according to the invention may be adapted to transfer communication signals, which signals could be part of different communication protocols (e.g. DALI, DMX).
The engagement element 35 of the connection device 3a, 3b shown on
In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the engagement element 35 may be integrated in the first surface 32 of the connection device.
The abutment surface 36 of the connection device 3a, 3b is adapted for mutual abutment when the connection devices 3a, 3b are in full engagement with each other. The abutment surface 36 serves as a stop indicating to a user when full engagement is achieved. Such an indication is especially advantageous in embodiments in which the engagement element 35 is omitted.
Turning now to
In the embodiment according to
y
2
≧y
1*(1−sin β),
where y1 is the height of the luminaire and y2 is the shortest distance measured in a mounted condition of said luminaire between the tip point 37 and a surface 4 on which the luminaire is mounted.
Such a rounded or chamfered second surface 31 makes it possible to mount the connecting device 3a on the luminaire 2b in such a way that at least an edge of the connecting device 3a is flush with the rear surface 26, while still maintaining the advantages described above.
The distance y2 may as mentioned be described as the shortest distance measured in a mounted condition of said luminaire between the end point 37 and a surface 4 on which the luminaire is mounted. This applies whether the luminaire comprises a mounting bracket 6 or not. Alternatively, in embodiments where the luminaire does not comprise a mounting bracket 6, the distance y2 may be seen as the shortest distance between a plane in which a rear surface 26 of said luminaire extends and the end point 37. Alternatively, in embodiments where the luminaire comprises a mounting bracket 6, the distance y2 may be described as the sum of shortest distance between a plane in which a rear surface 26 of said luminaire extends and the end point 37 and the largest thickness of the mounting bracket 6.
the length of the housing of the luminaire 2b, x1,
the length of the connection device 3a, x2,
the length of the connection device 3b, x2+x3, and
the total length of the luminaire 2b, x4,
Expressed by means of the angle β and the two dimensions y1 and y2 as described above, the following relations apply:
x
2
=y
1*cos β,
x
2
+x
3
=y
1*cos β+y2*tan β
x
4
=x
1+2*x2+x3=x1+2*(y1*cos β)+y2*tan β
Furthermore, expressed by means of the angle β and the height of the luminaire y1 as described above, the following relation applies to the minimum length, lm, of the luminaire:
l
m
=y
1*(tan β+1/(2*cos β)−(1/(2*sin β*cos β))+cos β+1/tan β)
for 0<β<90 degrees and 0<y1.
With reference now to
When connecting at least two luminaires 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d according to the invention with each other, a user will perform the following steps both for luminaires with and without mounting brackets:
For a luminaire comprising a mounting bracket 6 the user will furthermore as illustrated at 103 on
Finally, with reference now to
When disconnecting at least two luminaires 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d according to the invention from each other, a user will perform the following steps both for luminaires with and without mounting brackets:
In case the first luminaire 2a and/or the subsequent luminaire 2b is mounted in the fixed position on the surface 4 by means of mechanical connection with at least one mounting bracket 6 the user will furthermore as a part of the step 203 of demounting the first luminaire 2a from the fixed position on the surface, mechanically disconnect the first luminaire 2a from the at least one mounting bracket 6.
The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention by no element is limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CN2013/070218 | Jan 2013 | CN | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2013/060970 | 12/16/2013 | WO | 00 |
