Illumination Device

Abstract

The invention relates to an illumination device which comprises a plurality of downlight reflectors (1) that are impinged upon by illumination means and that have respective front reflector openings (2) pointing in the direction of illumination. The invention is characterized in that at least two downlight reflectors can be impinged upon by a common illumination means (5) via respective rear reflector openings.

Description

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a lighting device in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section through a lighting device of FIG. 1 along the section line A-A;

FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 with a pivoted downlight reflector;

FIG. 4 is two different perspective views of the region of the lighting device in accordance with the invention pivotal in accordance with FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a single downlight usable in conjunction with a lighting device in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a square lighting device which is composed of a total of three lighting devices in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 7 is a section through a lighting device of FIG. 6 along the section line B-B;

FIG. 8 is a view in accordance with FIG. 7 with two outwardly pivoted regions;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a lighting device corresponding to FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a further embodiment of a lighting device in accordance with the invention with a plurality of illuminants, which jointly illuminate a total of six downlight reflectors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show the aforesaid views of a possible embodiment of a lighting device in accordance with the invention. FIG. 4 shows, in two perspective views, that part of the said lighting device which is pivotal in accordance with FIG. 3. The following explanations relate to FIGS. 1 to 4.

The lighting device comprises a total of three downlight reflectors 1, with each of these downlight reflectors 1 having a dome or cupola shape open at both sides. The downlight reflectors 1 each have a front reflector opening 2 disposed in the direction of illumination and a rear reflector opening 3 disposed opposite to the direction of illumination. The downlight reflectors 1 each have two mutually disposed cut-outs 4 in the region of the rear reflector openings 3. Due to the cut-outs 4, an illuminant 5 made as an elongate fluorescent lamp can be positioned such that it extends from the rear reflector opening 3 into the downlight reflectors 1. Alternatively, the cut-outs 4 can also be omitted. In this case, the illuminants are then positioned behind or above the rear reflector openings 3 so that they do not extend into the reflectors 1.

While the rear reflector openings 3 are open, the front reflector openings 2 of all three downlight reflectors 1 are closed in a dustproof manner by a respective circular transparent plate 6.

The rim of the front reflector openings 2 of each downlight reflector 1 is adjacent in each case to a diffuse light discharge region 7 which surrounds the direct light discharge region 8 bounded by the front reflector opening 2. The direct light discharge region 8 and the diffuse light discharge region 7 extend in a common plane perpendicular to the direction of illumination. The diffuse light discharge region 7 of each downlight reflector 1 is bounded at the inside by the circular front reflector opening 2. At the outside, the diffuse light discharge regions 7 are each bounded by a square line, with the points of intersection of the diagonals of the corresponding square coinciding with the center of the circular front reflector opening 2. The direct light discharge regions 8 are thus each arranged centered in the associated diffuse light discharge regions 7.

The diffuse light discharge regions 7 each consist of a square scattering plate or of a common rectangular scattering plate which is suitable to convert direct light into diffuse light. This scattering plate can be made integrally with the transparent plate or plates 6 which terminate the front reflector openings 2 in a dustproof manner. Furthermore, the diffuse light discharge regions 7 can in particular be made integrally with the downlight reflectors 1 associated with them in each case, in particular in the course of an injection molding process.

The diffuse light discharge regions 7 of adjacent downlight reflectors 1 are adjacent to one another directly at the sides facing one another so that the three diffuse light discharge regions 7 together form a rectangle in accordance with FIG. 1 whose longitudinal sides are three times as long as its narrow sides.

The two mutually remote outer sides of the outer diffuse light discharge regions 7 are connected to wall elements 9, 10 which extend perpendicular to the diffuse light discharge regions 7 in the same direction as the downlight reflectors 1. The wall element 9 is provided in its region remote from the diffuse light discharge region 7 with an illuminant fitting 11 into which the illuminant 5 is fitted. The length of the illuminant 5 is dimensioned such that it extends through all of the total six cut-outs 4 of the downlight reflectors 1 so that all three downlight reflectors 1 can be illuminated by light via the illuminant 5. If no cut-outs 4 are provided, the illuminant 5 extends over all downlight reflectors 1 behind or above their rear reflector openings 3.

The wall elements 10, 11 have a substantially rectangular shape, with a side of the wall elements 9, 10 adjacent to the diffuse light discharge regions 7, however, being arc-shaped. The two arcuate sides of the wall elements 9, 10 are connected to one another via an arched wall element 12 (see FIG. 4) which extends areally from the diffuse light discharge regions 7 up to and beyond the region of the rear reflector openings 3 (see FIG. 2).

Downlight reflectors 1, diffuse light discharge regions 7, wall elements 9, 10, 12, illuminant fitting 11 and illuminant 5 form a unit 13 which is rigid per se and mutually mechanically coupled and which is shown perspectively in FIG. 4.

The unit 13 is arranged in a lightproof and dustproof housing 14 which substantially has the shape of a parallelepiped and is dimensioned such that it can fully receive the unit 13. The inner sides of the housing 14 are made reflecting, as are the outer sides of the downlight reflectors 1, so that they can act as additional reflectors or background reflectors 15. The arched wall element 12 can be made either reflecting on its side facing the downlight reflectors 1 to thus likewise form a region of an additional reflector or background reflector 15 or it can be made as a scattering plate so that only a portion of the light incident onto the arched wall element 12 is reflected and the other portion passes through the arched wall element 12 as scattered light.

As can be seen from FIG. 3, the unit 13 can be pivoted relative to the housing 14 around an axis 16, which has the consequence that an inclination of the diffuse light discharge regions 17 is adopted together with the direct light discharge regions 8. The direction of illumination can thereby be changed in the respectively desired manner. In the outwardly pivoted position of the unit 13, the outer side of the arched wall element 12 becomes visible, which ultimately provides an appealing appearance of the total lighting device, since the arched wall element 12 covers the interior workings of the lighting device in a visually appealing manner in the outwardly pivoted state. The arched wall element and also the outwardly pivoted wall elements 9, 10 can be made as scattering plates so that scattered light also passes through them, which brings about a visually appealing effect and additionally a brightening of the room ceiling.

It can be seen from FIGS. 1 to 4 that the sections of the illuminant 5 located inside the rear reflector openings 3 directly charge the respective interior space of the downlight reflectors 1 and the transparent plates 6 with light which ultimately exits the direct light discharge regions 8. Furthermore, the sections of the illuminant 5 disposed outside the rear reflector openings 3 illuminate the diffuse light discharge regions 7 directly, on the one hand, and indirectly, on the other hand, via the reflecting outer sides of the downlight reflectors and the reflecting inner sides 15 of the housing 14. This light portion then exits the diffuse light discharge regions 7 as scattered light.

FIG. 5 shows a plan view of an individual downlight which can be used in connection with a lighting device in accordance with the invention in accordance with FIGS. 1 to 4. To achieve a uniform design of the illumination device in accordance with the invention and of the individual downlight in accordance with FIG. 5 here, the individual downlight in accordance with FIG. 5 can be set up in accordance with the lighting device of FIGS. 1 to 4. The main difference to the lighting device in accordance with the invention of FIGS. 1 to 4 can accordingly be seen in that only one individual downlight reflector 1′ is arranged in a housing 14′ and is illuminated by an illuminant 5′ whose length is dimensioned such that it finds room substantially in the interior space of the individual downlight reflector 1′.

The individual downlight in accordance with FIG. 5 also has a circular direct light discharge region 8′ which is surrounded by a diffuse light discharge region 7′ which is bounded at the outer side by a square line. Accordingly, the illuminant 5′ is also suitable to illuminate both the direct light discharge region 8′ and the diffuse light discharge region 7′ directly or via background reflectors and additional reflectors.

A comparison of FIGS. 1 and 5 shows that the lighting devices shown in these two Figures have a uniform design line and can thus be used in combination with one another in a visually very advantageous manner.

FIGS. 6 to 9 show the views already named above of a further embodiment of a lighting device in accordance with the invention which has a total of nine downlight reflectors 1. The following description accordingly relates to FIGS. 6 to 9 together.

The lighting device shown specifically consists of three lighting devices in accordance with the invention which are arranged parallel to one another and which each comprise three downlight reflectors, with the three lighting devices being arranged adjacent to one another such that in total a square matrix arrangement of 3×3 downlight reflectors 1 results.

The two outer lighting devices each comprising three downlight reflectors 1 are thus made as already explained in connection with FIGS. 1 to 4. This means that these two lighting devices have pivotal units 13, with them being oriented with respect to one another in accordance with FIGS. 8 and 9 such that the units 13 can be pivoted to one another. Alternatively, an arrangement would also be feasible in which both units 13 can be pivoted in the same direction or away from one another.

The lighting device arranged between the two outer lighting devices and again comprising three downlight reflectors 1 differs from the outer lighting devices in that, instead of the pivotal unit 13, it has one unit attached rigidly in the housing and comprising three downlight reflectors and one elongate illuminant. Alternatively, however, the middle lighting device could also be formed pivotally.

FIGS. 1 and 6 show that lighting devices in accordance with the invention can be used in any desired combinations. In this connection, every single lighting device can also have fewer or more than three downlight reflectors which are arranged in a row. Three lighting devices in accordance with FIG. 1 can naturally also be arranged, for example, adjacent to one another such that a total of nine downlight reflectors are located in a single row, whereby a strip lamp with a large longitudinal extent results.

FIG. 10 shows a further embodiment of a lighting device in accordance with the invention in which a total of six downlight reflectors 1 come to lie next to one another in a row. All the downlight reflectors are each illuminated by a total of three illuminants 5″ which have different color shades from one another and whose longitudinal extent is dimensioned such that all three illuminants 5″ extend through the cut-outs 4 of all six downlight reflectors 1.

FIG. 10 illustrates that the different color shades of the three illuminants 5″ can already mix in the interior space of the downlight reflectors 1, which is of advantage from a technical lighting aspect with respect to those apparatus in which the light sources having different shades are spaced relatively far apart from one another in space.

A good mix of the different color shades also results in the region of the diffuse light discharge regions 7 which are present in accordance with FIG. 10 analog to FIG. 1, said mix being in particular promoted in that a portion of the light illuminating the diffuse light discharge regions 7 is mixed particularly well by multiple reflection at the background reflectors or additional reflectors in accordance with FIG. 2.

If the three illuminants 5″, which can, for example, have the color shades red, green and blue, can optionally be controlled with different energy, visible light can be generated in any desired frequency for the respective light atmosphere just desired using a lighting arrangement in accordance with FIG. 10.

The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

1, 1′ downlight reflector

2 front reflector opening

3 rear reflector opening

4 cut-out

5, 5′, 5″ illuminant

6 transparent plate

7 diffuse light discharge region

8 direct light discharge region

9, 10 wall element

11 fitting

12 arched wall element

13 unit

14, 14′ housing

15 additional reflector or background reflector

16 axis

Claims

1-20. (canceled)

21. A lighting device comprising a plurality of downlight reflectors (1) which are illuminated by an illuminant and which each have a front reflector opening disposed in the direction of illumination, wherein at least two downlight reflectors (1) can be illuminated by a common illuminant (5, 5″) via a respective rear reflector opening, wherein the front reflector openings (2) define direct light discharge regions (8), which are surrounded at least regionally by at least one diffuse light discharge region (7), and wherein the diffuse light discharge regions (7) can be illuminated directly by sections of the common illuminant (5, 5″) disposed outside the rear reflector openings (3).

22. A lighting device in accordance with claim 21, wherein the downlight reflectors (1) illuminated by the common illuminant (5, 5″) in each case represent separate units not directly connected to one another.

23. A lighting device in accordance with claim 21, wherein the reflector openings (2) of the front downlight reflectors (1) disposed in the direction of illumination have an at least substantially point-symmetrical shape, in particular a circular shape, to the center of the opening (2).

24. A lighting device in accordance with claim 21, wherein the downlight reflectors (1) each have a dome or cupola shape open at both sides.

25. A lighting device in accordance with claim 21, wherein the downlight reflectors (1) illuminated by the common illuminant (5, 5″) are arranged, including the illuminant (5, 5″), in a common housing (14).

26. A lighting device in accordance with claim 21, wherein at least two downlight reflectors (1) can be illuminated by a plurality of common illuminants (5″).

27. A lighting device in accordance with claim 26, wherein the plurality of common illuminants (5″) have color shades different from one another.

28. A lighting device in accordance with claim 27, wherein three common illuminants (5″) are provided which have the color shades red, green and blue.

29. A lighting device in accordance with claim 26, wherein the illuminants (5, 5″) are made as fluorescent tubes.

30. A lighting device in accordance with claim 21, wherein the downlight reflectors (1) are held pivotally, in particular jointly pivotally, in a housing (14).

31. A lighting device in accordance with claim 30, wherein the downlight reflectors (1) are held pivotally in the housing (14) together with the illuminant (5, 5″) illuminating them, with additional wall elements (9, 10, 12) through which scattered light passes in particular becoming visible with outwardly pivoted downlight reflectors (1).

32. A lighting device in accordance with claim 21, wherein the reflector openings (2) defining the direct light discharge regions (8) are each associated with direct light reflectors (1) on whose side remote from the respective direct light discharge region (8) an additional reflector or background reflector is provided.

33. A lighting device in accordance with claim 32, wherein a light passage region is formed between the additional reflector (15) and the direct light reflector (1).

34. A lighting device in accordance with claim 32, wherein the additional reflector (15) is formed at least partly by at least one planar reflector surface or one presettably—in particular rotationally symmetrically—curved reflector surface or one kinked reflector surface which ensures a presettable division of the portion of the reflected light guided to the direct light discharge region (8) and to the diffuse light discharge region (7).

35. A lighting device in accordance with claim 21, wherein the illuminant (5, 5″) and the direct light reflectors (1) are arranged in a housing (14) which is in particular lightproof and/or dust-proof and whose inner surface is made at least regionally as an additional reflector (15).

36. A lighting device in accordance with claim 21, wherein the direct light reflectors (1) are made specularly reflecting or diffusely reflecting at their outer sides.

37. A lighting device in accordance with claim 21, wherein a housing is terminated in an at least largely dustproof manner by a scattering plate in the region of the diffuse light discharge region (7) and by an in particular transparent plate (6) in the region of the direct light discharge regions (8).

38. A lighting device in accordance with claim 21, further comprising a common housing (14) that is made to be covered by one of a scattering plate and an element having openings, in particular a perforated plate, in the region of the diffuse light discharge region (7) and is made to be open in the region of the direct light discharge region (8).

39. A lighting device in accordance with claim 21, wherein the diffuse light discharge regions (7) of a plurality of downlight reflectors (1) are formed by a common rectangular scattering plate.

40. A lighting device in accordance with claim 39, wherein the common rectangular scattering plate is made integrally with a transparent plate (6) terminating the front reflector openings.