This is the U.S. national stage of application No. PCT/JP2012/072424, filed on 4 Sep. 2012. Priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) and 35 U.S.C. §365(b) is claimed from Japanese Application No. 2011-201520, filed 15 Sep. 2011, the disclosure of which is also incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a lighting apparatus and particularly to a lighting apparatus including a removable lighting panel.
As disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2007-172919 (PTD 1), a lighting apparatus including a removable lighting panel has been known. In such a lighting apparatus, a lighting panel is removably attached to a holding member fixed to a ceiling, a wall surface, or the like. The lighting panel is arranged at a prescribed position and emits light by being driven in that state.
As described above, the lighting panel emits light by being driven while it is arranged at a prescribed position. The lighting panel may be arranged such that its outer periphery is surrounded by other lighting panels, a wall surface, a ceiling surface, or the like. For example, it is assumed that a plurality of lighting panels are arranged in matrix and light-emitting surfaces are arranged to be adjacent on the same plane. In a case that a lighting panel and other lighting panels adjacent to this lighting panel are in intimate contact or a case that a gap between lighting panels is small although contact is not intimate (hereinafter these states will collectively be referred to as “adjacent”), it is difficult to insert a finger, a tool, or the like into a gap, and attachment and removal of the lighting panel is difficult.
It is an object of the present invention is to provide a lighting apparatus allowing easy attachment and removal of a lighting panel even though an outer periphery of the lighting panel is arranged to be surrounded by other lighting panels, a wall surface, a ceiling surface, or the like substantially without a space.
A lighting apparatus based on one aspect of the present invention includes a holding member having a shape extending in a prescribed direction, a lighting panel attached to the holding member and provided with a light-emitting surface on a side of a front surface, and an attachment bracket provided on a back surface of the lighting panel, for removably attaching the lighting panel to the holding member, the light-emitting surface of the lighting panel is arranged to be adjacent to a light-emitting surface of another lighting panel, the lighting panel forms a first position in which the light-emitting surface of the lighting panel and the light-emitting surface of another lighting panel are located substantially on the same plane with each other and a second position in which the lighting panel is pressed from a side of the light-emitting surface of the lighting panel so that the attachment bracket pivots around a portion where the attachment bracket is attached to the holding member and the lighting panel is inclined with respect to another lighting panel, and the attachment bracket is released from the holding member and the lighting panel forming the second position is removed from the holding member as the lighting panel forming the second position is moved in a direction away from the holding member.
A lighting apparatus based on another aspect of the present invention includes a lighting panel provided with a light-emitting surface on a side of a front surface and an attachment bracket provided on a back surface of the lighting panel, for removably attaching the lighting panel to a holding member fixed to an installation location of the lighting panel and having a shape extending in a prescribed direction, the light-emitting surface of the lighting panel is arranged to be adjacent to a light-emitting surface of another lighting panel, the lighting panel forms a first position in which the light-emitting surface of the lighting panel and the light-emitting surface of another lighting panel are located substantially on the same plane with each other and a second position in which the lighting panel is pressed from a side of the light-emitting surface of the lighting panel so that the attachment bracket pivots around a portion where the attachment bracket is attached to the holding member and the lighting panel is inclined with respect to another lighting panel, and the attachment bracket is released from the holding member and the lighting panel forming the second position is removed from the holding member as the lighting panel forming the second position is moved in a direction away from the holding member.
According to the present invention, a lighting apparatus allowing easy attachment and removal of a lighting panel even though an outer periphery of the lighting panel is arranged to be surrounded by other lighting panels, a wall surface, a ceiling surface, or the like substantially without a space can be obtained.
Each embodiment based on the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings. When the number, an amount or the like is mentioned in the description of each embodiment, the scope of the present invention is not necessarily limited to the number, the amount or the like, unless otherwise specified. In the description of each embodiment, the same or corresponding elements have the same reference characters allotted and redundant description may not be repeated.
[First Embodiment]
(Lighting Apparatus 100)
A lighting apparatus 100 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to
Lighting panels 10A to 10D each have a light-emitting surface on a front surface side (see a light-emitting surface 16 in
Holding member 21, 22 is fixed to a ceiling, a wall surface (both of which are not shown), or the like, by a shaft-receiving member (not shown). Holding members 21, 22 in the present embodiment are arranged to satisfy positional relation in parallel to each other. Holding member 21, 22 is not limited to a columnar member, and it may be formed from a member having a polygonal cross-sectional shape.
Lighting panel 10A and lighting panel 10D next to each other are aligned along a direction of extension of holding member 21. Lighting panel 10A and lighting panel 10D are removably attached to holding member 21 by using attachment brackets 31, 32 (details will be described later).
Lighting panel 10B and lighting panel 10C next to each other are aligned along a direction of extension of holding member 22. Lighting panel 10B and lighting panel 10C are removably attached to holding member 22 by using attachment brackets 31, 32 (details will be described later).
In a state that lighting panels 10A to 10D are attached to holding members 21, 22, light-emitting surfaces (see light-emitting surface 16 in
(Lighting Panel 10A)
Lighting panel 10A will be described hereinafter with reference to
As described above, lighting panels 10B, 10D are constructed similarly to lighting panel 10A. Lighting panel 10A may be arranged such that the entire outer periphery is surrounded by other lighting panels (such as lighting panels 10B, 10D) constructed similarly to lighting panel 10A.
Transparent substrate 11 is formed, for example, from various glass substrates. For a member constructing transparent substrate 11, a film substrate, for example, of PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) or polycarbonate may be employed. Light-emitting surface 16 is formed on a lower surface of transparent substrate 11 (on a side of a front surface 10S of lighting panel 10A).
Anode 12 is a conductive film having transparency. In order to form anode 12, a film of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) or the like is formed on transparent substrate 11 through sputtering or the like. An ITO film is patterned to a prescribed shape through photolithography or the like, so that anode 12 is formed.
Organic layer 13 can generate light (visible light) as it is supplied with electric power. Organic layer 13 may be formed from a single light-emitting layer, or may be formed by successively stacking a hole transport layer, a light-emitting layer, a hole block layer, an electron transport layer, and the like.
Cathode 14 is made, for example, of aluminum (AL). Cathode 14 is formed to cover organic layer 13 through vacuum vapor deposition or the like. In order to pattern cathode 14 to a prescribed shape, a mask is desirably used during vacuum vapor deposition.
Sealing layer 15 has an isolation property. Sealing layer 15 is formed to protect organic layer 13 against moisture or the like. Sealing layer 15 is formed, for example, by using a glass substrate and adhering a periphery with an epoxy-based photo-curable adhesive.
Sealing layer 15 seals anode 12, organic layer 13, and cathode 14 substantially in the entirety on transparent substrate 11. A part of anode 12 and a part of cathode 14 are exposed through sealing layer 15 for electrical connection. The part of anode 12 exposed through sealing layer 15 implements an anode connection portion 18. The part of cathode 14 exposed through sealing layer 15 implements a cathode connection portion 19.
Anode connection portion 18 is electrically connected to attachment bracket 31 (see
Cathode connection portion 19 is electrically connected to attachment bracket 32 through a contact spring 19S and an internal wiring material 32D. Attachment bracket 32 is also formed from a member made of metal and connected to drive circuit 40 (see
In lighting panel 10A, an AC voltage is applied across anode 12 and cathode 14 by drive circuit 40. As an AC voltage is applied, organic layer 13 emits light. Light generated in organic layer 13 is extracted to the outside from a transparent substrate 11 (light-emitting surface 16) side.
As shown in
Vertical and lateral lengths of light-emitting surface 16 are, for example, from 10 cm to 30 cm, whereas a width of extension portion 17G is desirably formed to be smaller, for example, approximately from 5 mm to 10 mm. In order to arrange anode 12, organic layer 13, cathode 14, and sealing layer 15 within housing 17, a portion of housing 17 on the back surface 10T side may be formed as a separate member like a lid.
(Attachment Bracket 31, 32)
As described above, attachment brackets 31, 32 are provided as being aligned at a distance from each other, on an upper surface of housing 17 (back surface 10T of lighting panel 10A). Attachment brackets 31, 32 in the present embodiment are constructed similarly to each other. Attachment bracket 32 alone will be described hereinafter.
As shown in
Attachment bracket 32 has prescribed elasticity, and it is formed, for example, from a member made of metal such as SUS (stainless steel). Attachment bracket 32 has one side screwed onto housing 17 of lighting panel 10A, with reception portion 32S lying between one side and the other side (see
Holding member 21 is removably fitted into and attached to attachment bracket 32 through reception portion 32S. In addition, holding member 21 attached to attachment bracket 32 is pulled out of attachment bracket 32 similarly through reception portion 32S and released from attachment bracket 32. When holding member 21 is fitted to attachment bracket 32 and when holding member 21 is pulled out of attachment bracket 32, reception portion 32S and the portion forming the leaf spring curved in the arc shape above are made use of A similar feature is present also in attachment bracket 31, although it is not shown.
When lighting panel 10A is attached to holding member 21, reception portion 32S is pressed against holding member 21, so that opposing end portions of reception portion 32S spread as a result of an action of the leaf spring of attachment bracket 32 to thereby allow passage of holding member 21. After holding member 21 passed reception portion 32S, attachment bracket 32 elastically deforms so as to surround the outer circumference of holding member 21 (that is, to return to an original state) and attachment bracket 32 and holding member 21 are engaged with each other to thereby attach holding member 21 to attachment bracket 32. When lighting panel 10A is removed from holding member 21, attachment bracket 32 elastically deforms so as to spread with the reception portion (reception portion 32S) being defined as the center, attachment bracket 32 and holding member 21 are disengaged from each other, and holding member 21 is released from attachment bracket 32. Attachment bracket 31 and holding member 21 are also similarly attached to and released from each other.
(Operation of Lighting Apparatus 100)
In lighting apparatus 100, in order to obtain what is called a narrow frame structure, light-emitting surfaces are arranged next to one another on the same plane and lighting panels 10A to 10D are arranged to be adjacent to one another. While lighting panel 10A forms first position S1, a gap between lighting panel 10A and lighting panel 10B, 10D, or the like is extremely small.
Here, it is assumed that lighting panel 10A in lighting apparatus 100 should be replaced. In this case, a portion around an outer peripheral portion of lighting panel 10A forming first position S1 on the light-emitting surface 16 side is pressed (see an arrow DR in
Referring to
As shown in
As lighting panel 10A and attachment brackets 31, 32 move, attachment brackets 31, 32 and holding member 21 are disengaged from each other, and lighting panel 10A and attachment brackets 31, 32 are removed from holding member 21. Lighting panel 10A is replaced with a new one. When a new lighting panel is attached to holding member 21, operations in a flow reverse to the above are performed.
A new lighting panel is attached to holding member 21 while it forms second position S2, and thereafter a portion around the outer peripheral portion of lighting panel 10A is pressed. The new lighting panel is pivoted such that the light-emitting surface thereof is located to be on the same plane with light-emitting surfaces 16 of other lighting panels 10B to 10D The new lighting panel forms first position S1 during light emission, and the light-emitting surface thereof is substantially on the same plane with those of other lighting panels 10B to 10D.
(Function and Effect)
Lighting panel 10A readily makes transition from first position S1 to second position S2 as a portion around the outer peripheral portion is pressed. Lighting panel 10A is surrounded by other lighting panels 10B, 10D or the like while it forms first position S1, and it can emit light similarly to lighting panels 10B to 10D. Therefore, lighting apparatus 100 can efficiently and evenly illuminate by means of a plurality of lighting panels 10A to 10D arranged to be intimate contact with one another without any space.
On the other hand, while lighting panel 10A forms second position S2, by making use of the reception portion (reception portion 32S) of attachment bracket 31, 32, lighting panel 10A can readily be removed from holding member 21. According to lighting apparatus 100 including lighting panel 10A, even though lighting panel 10A is arranged such that the outer periphery of lighting panel 10A is surrounded by other lighting panels, a wall surface, a ceiling surface, or the like substantially without a space, that lighting panel 10A can readily be replaced.
In lighting apparatus 100, in order to replace lighting panel 10A, it is not necessary to provide a hook portion on lighting panel 10 or to provide a cut portion in lighting panel 10A. Since no hook portion or cut portion is provided, a non-light-emitting portion on lighting panel 10A does not become large or no illumination unevenness attributed to the non-light-emitting portion takes place. Therefore, according to lighting apparatus 100 including lighting panel 10A in the present embodiment, not only convenience in replacement of lighting panel 10A can be improved but also light emission efficiency can be improved, and furthermore, occurrence of illumination unevenness can also be suppressed. Moreover, since no protrusion is present in an outer periphery of lighting panel 10A, a plurality of lighting panels can be arranged in intimate contact with one another, and a large light emission surface can be realized by paving a plurality of lighting panels.
Though description has been given in the present embodiment based on a form that lighting apparatus 100 is attached to a ceiling, the same function and effect can be obtained also in a case that lighting apparatus 100 is attached to a wall surface. Lighting apparatus 100 can be installed in any space in which holding member 21 can be fixed. In lighting apparatus 100, lighting panel 10A and lighting panels 10B to 10D are similarly constructed. Therefore, in lighting apparatus 100, not only in lighting panel 10A, a function and effect the same as that in lighting panel 10A can be obtained also in lighting panels 10B to 10D.
In addition to lighting panels 10A to 10D, lighting apparatus 100 may further include a plurality of lighting panels constructed similarly to these. As each lighting panel makes transition from first position S1 to second position S2 similarly to lighting panel 10A, each lighting panel can readily be replaced.
In the present embodiment, two attachment brackets 31, 32 in total are provided for one lighting panel 10A. In lighting panel 10A, any one of attachment bracket 31 and attachment bracket 32 may be provided, or a plurality of other attachment brackets in addition to attachment bracket 31 and attachment bracket 32 may be provided. In lighting panels 10A to 10D in the present embodiment, one organic EL panel is internally provided for one housing 17. A plurality of organic EL panels may internally be provided in one housing 17.
[Second Embodiment]
As shown in
Referring to
[Third Embodiment]
As shown in
Lighting panel 10A is attached to holding member 21 (see an arrow AR4) while light-emitting surface 16 forms second position S2 inclined with respect to light-emitting surface 16 of another lighting panel 10B or the like. After lighting panel 10A is attached to holding member 21, it is pivoted such that light-emitting surface 16 is arranged to be on the same plane with light-emitting surface 16 of another lighting panel 10B or the like (see an arrow AR5).
Referring to
[Fourth Embodiment]
As shown in
In attachment of lighting panel 10A to holding member 21, if a portion where attachment bracket 31 should essentially be attached to holding member 21 and a portion where attachment bracket 32 should essentially be attached are arranged in a wrong way around (in a reverse orientation), lighting panel 10A interferes with another lighting panel or the like. Lighting panel 10A is attached to holding member 21 only in a proper orientation.
If positive and negative polarities of electricity fed to lighting panel 10A are reversed, a portion of lighting panel 10A forming organic EL may electrically fail. According to lighting panel 10A in the present embodiment, it is attached to holding member 21 only in a proper orientation, and therefore failure of organic EL due to what is called reverse attachment is prevented.
[Fifth Embodiment]
As shown in
As shown in
Referring to
[Sixth Embodiment]
As shown in
Holding member 21 in the present embodiment is formed in a cylindrical shape. Holding member 21 is provided with a cut 25 and an elongated hole 26. Cut 25 is formed to be slightly greater than a diameter of support portion 35 of attachment bracket 32 and provided to extend in a direction of an outer circumference (a direction of a circumference) of holding member 21. Elongated hole 26 is formed to be slightly greater than a length of insertion portion 36 of attachment bracket 32 and provided to extend in a longitudinal direction of holding member 21.
When a lighting panel (not shown) is attached to holding member 21, insertion portion 36 is inserted in elongated hole 26 while the lighting panel forms the second position (see an arrow AR8). After insertion portion 36 is arranged on an inner circumferential surface side of holding member 21, the lighting panel is pivoted such that support portion 35 enters cut 25 (see an arrow AR9). Insertion portion 36 of attachment bracket 32 and the inner circumferential surface of holding member 21 are engaged with each other, and the lighting panel forms the first position. When the lighting panel is removed from holding member 21, operations in a flow reverse to the above are performed. According to the construction in the present embodiment as well, a function and effect the same as in the first embodiment described above can be obtained.
As can be seen from the plurality of embodiments above, so long as a holding member and an attachment bracket are engaged with each other, any shape and construction of a portion of engagement between the holding member and the attachment bracket is acceptable, and limitation to the shape and the construction described in the plurality of embodiments above is not intended.
Though each embodiment based on the present invention has been described above, each embodiment disclosed herein is illustrative and non-restrictive in every respect. The technical scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.
10, 10A, 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D lighting panel; 10S front surface; 10T back surface; 11 transparent substrate; 12 anode; 13 organic layer; 14 cathode; 15 sealing layer; 16 light-emitting surface; 17 housing; 17G extension portion; 17M one side; 17N the other side; 17T stopper portion; 18 anode connection portion; 18S, 19S contact spring; 19 cathode connection portion; 21, 22 holding member; 23 cut surface; 23S outer circumferential surface; 24 wiring pattern; 25 cut; 26 elongated hole; 31, 32 attachment bracket; 32D internal wiring material; 32S reception portion; 33 grip portion; 34 base portion; 35 support portion; 36 insertion portion; 40 drive circuit; 100 lighting apparatus; AR1, AR2, AR3, AR4, AR5, AR6, AR7, AR8, AR9, DR arrow; S1 first position; and S2 second position.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2011-201520 | Sep 2011 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/JP2012/072424 | 9/4/2012 | WO | 00 | 3/12/2014 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2013/038947 | 3/21/2013 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
7121688 | Rempel | Oct 2006 | B2 |
7175296 | Cok | Feb 2007 | B2 |
7246918 | Ginsburg | Jul 2007 | B2 |
20010053076 | Chien | Dec 2001 | A1 |
20090096362 | Diekmann et al. | Apr 2009 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2006-236877 | Sep 2006 | JP |
2006236877 | Sep 2006 | JP |
2007-172919 | Jul 2007 | JP |
2007-250302 | Sep 2007 | JP |
2010-9886 | Jan 2010 | JP |
2010009886 | Jan 2010 | JP |
Entry |
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International Search Report for International Application No. PCT/JP2012/072424, dated Nov. 20, 2012, with English translation. |
Extended European Search Report corresponding to Application No. 12830978.8-1757/2757311, PCT/JP2012/072424; Date of Mailing: Mar. 30, 2015. |
European Office Action corresponding to Application No. 12830978.8-1757; Date of Mailing: Feb. 18, 2016. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20140347857 A1 | Nov 2014 | US |