EP1336066A1

EP1336066A1 - Floating light

Info

Publication number: EP1336066A1
Application number: EP01978344A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Willi Wolfgang Oswald
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-11-23
Filing date: 2001-09-06
Publication date: 2003-08-20
Anticipated expiration: 2021-09-06
Also published as: WO2002042684A1; AU2002210489A1; DE10058268A1; ES2299518T3; DE50113386D1; US20040052082A1; ATE380974T1; EP1336066B1; RU2282785C2; US7059737B2

Abstract

A floating light ( 1 ), having a base ( 2 ) which accommodates a light source or luminescing means; and a screen ( 3 ) which is connected thereto and which surrounds the light source. The screen has an inlet opening ( 4 ) for connection with the base ( 2 ) and an otherwise closed, preferably substantially spherical surface. The light has a seal in the contact area ( 6 ) between the screen and the base ( 2 ), preferably a sealing element or sealing ring ( 5 ), so that in the operational position, the sealed contact area ( 6 ) can be located beneath the surface ( 7 ) of a liquid in which the floating light is to float. In the operational position, at least one fixing element which extends below the surface ( 7 ) of the liquid and which can be or is anchored is located on the screen ( 3 ), enabling the floating light to be fixed in the liquid in a stationary position or with a small degree of mobility and ensuring that the contact area ( 6 ) is not strained when forces are exerted on the fixing element ( 8 ), as would be the case if the fixing element was attached to the base ( 2 ).

Description

floating light

The invention relates to a floating lamp with at least one light source or a lamp receiving lamp base and with a connectable, "enclosing the light source screen, which has an opening for connecting to the lamp base and, moreover, a closed, in particular essentially spherical, surface , wherein a seal or a sealing element is provided in the contact area between the lampshade and lamp base and the sealed contact area between the lamp base and lampshade is in the position of use below the surface of the liquid absorbing the floating lamp.

Such a floating lamp is known from EP 0 907 865 B1, in particular FIG. 3. With such a floating light, waters can be illuminated, the floating light being able to be provided floating on the water at practically any point.

The lamp base has the electrical cable and can therefore be anchored.

Attempts have also been made to anchor the lamp base with a holding device.

In these cases, however, it has been shown that in the event of wind or waves or other loads between the lamp base and the lampshade, a force acting in the separating direction of these two parts can occur. The anchoring tries to hold the base while buoyancy or wind forces act on the lampshade against this anchoring force. This creates the danger that leaks may occur in the sealed contact area over time and Liquid or water enters the floating light. This can occur above all when a seal used as a seal or sealing element and constantly kept under pressure gradually tires and its material loses its elasticity 5 or even dodges or creeps away under the contact pressure.

There is therefore the task of creating a floating lamp of the type mentioned in which, despite anchoring I 0, little or no forces are exerted on the contact area between the lamp base and lampshade.

To solve this problem it is provided that at least one under the surface on the lampshade in the use position

I 5 of the liquid extending and anchored or anchored fastener is arranged. As a result, the holding forces are exerted on the lampshade and not on the lamp base, so that the forces applied to the lampshade are at least predominantly from the fastening element

20 can be recorded, so do not burden the connection point between the lampshade and lamp base and thus do not burden the sealed contact area. With this solution, it is even possible to pull the floating lamp slightly under water against its buoyancy and anchor it accordingly, because the buoyancy forces then acting on the lampshade do not connect the connection point with the lamp base, but directly that or the fastening elements loaded. But even with an initially loosely arranged fastening element, which allows the floating lamp a certain freedom of movement, forces generated by wind or waves are absorbed by this fastening element, for example.

The lampshade can have at least one fastening point for fixing one or more acting as a tension element Have fastening elements and an anchor, a weight, a hook, an eyelet or the like can be arranged on the underwater end of the or the tension elements. Thus, the fastener or fasteners are invisible in the position of use, since they are largely or even completely arranged under water.

It is particularly expedient if several, for example three or four, fastening points for fastening or pulling elements, in particular at the same height and / or evenly distributed over the circumference, are arranged on the circumference of the lampshade and if, in the use position, at least one of these fastening points or at several Fastening points attacks a fastener. The user thus has various options for how the floating light can be positioned and fixed on a water surface, for example on a dike or the like, but can also give it a certain freedom of movement.

It is possible that a weight acting on the fastening element or elements under water is provided, the weight of which is in particular greater than the buoyancy of the floating light in the liquid receiving it. Thus, the floating lamp is fixed with the help of such a weight on the fastener or fasteners, but can also in their

Position can be changed by changing the weight. The fastening point (s) for the fastening element (s) holding the lampshade can be arranged in the region of the spherical lampshade, which in the position of use is below the largest horizontal diameter and in particular under water. The attachment point or attachment points are then located in an area of the spherical lampshade which has a diminishing dimension compared to the large horizontal extension, so that the fastening elements, usually designed as tension elements, can be tensioned or moved directly from the fastening point to the anchoring point without having to run over part of the surface of the lampshade. When arranged in the area under water in the use position, not only these fastening elements but also the fastening points are practically invisible.

The attachment point or locations on the surface of the lampshade can be formed as a recess, recess, eyelet, projection or hook separated from the interior of the lampshade by a wall. Thus, especially in the case of one-piece production, no access to water into the interior of the lampshade is possible in this area, so that no special sealant is required in the area of the fastening points.

The attachment point or attachment points can be arranged on the surface of the lampshade in a recess in this surface and preferably completely recessed within this recess. As a result, the fastening of the fastening element at this fastening point is also well protected and practically invisible even with relatively clear liquid.

The spherical surface of the lampshade can merge below its largest horizontal diameter range into a frustoconical surface that tapers downwards in the position of use, on the lower edge of which the inlet opening for the sealed lamp base is arranged. This results in a conical or conical shape in the area of the floating lamp which is largely under water in the position of use, which serves to stabilize the floating lamp in its Swimming position can contribute.

The attachment points for anchoring the floating lamp can be arranged in the area of the lampshade that ha the frustoconical surface. The attachment points can therefore be arranged relatively close to the contact point between the lamp base and the lampshade, so that when tensile forces are exerted on the attachment points, they occur on the smallest or shortest possible lever arms.

The part of the lamp base projecting outwards from the opening in the lampshade and downwards in the position of use can have a truncated cone or conical surface and this can essentially continue the truncated cone-shaped area of the lampshade or add to a longer truncated cone or cone. Thus, at the normally lowest point of the floating lamp there is a relatively regularly tapered or conical shape, which enables a correspondingly stable floating position, especially since the base with the light source or the illuminant places the center of gravity of the entire arrangement relatively low and automatically ensures that the lamp base should be as vertical as possible under the center of the lampshade.

The fastening element designed as a tension element can be a line, a cord, a cable or a chain, but possibly also a rod or a rod.

Especially when combining one or more of the features and measures described above, there is a floating lamp that can be anchored underwater without unwanted forces being exerted on the sealing area between the lamp base and lampshade by this anchorage. Consequently Anchoring forces of any strength can also be used, depending on whether the floating light is to be held as firmly as possible in one place or whether a certain freedom of movement is desired in which the floating light can float in a limited area on the surface. It is avoided that the holding forces exerted by the fastening element or elements on the floating light exert a separating force on the sealed contact area between the light base and the light shade.

An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the drawing. It shows in a partially schematic representation:

Fig. 1 a floating lamp in the use position, which is anchored with a fastening element anchored under the water surface and an anchor located thereon at the bottom of the water on which it is floating,

Fig. 2 one of the Fig. 1 corresponding representation, in which

a weight located at the bottom of the body of water is provided instead of an anchor on the fastening element under water,

Fig. 3 a the Fig. 1 and 2 corresponding representation, in which the fastening element holding the floating lamp is suspended under the water surface with its end facing away from the floating lamp on an eyelet,

4 shows a vertical section through the floating lamp composed of lamp base and lampshade, the light source being omitted for the sake of clarity,

Fig. 5 is a section corresponding to Fig. 4 through the lampshade without lamp base and

Fig. 6 is a view of the underside of the lampshade with a view of the attachment points for one or more fastening elements for anchoring the floating lamp in a body of water.

A floating lamp, designated as a whole by 1, has a light source or a lamp, which is not shown in the drawing for the sake of clarity. This light source or this illuminant can be attached to a lamp base 2 in the manner described and described in EP 0 907 865 B1.

This lamp base 2 can be connected to a lampshade 3 which encloses the light source in the position of use, which is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and likewise corresponds approximately to the construction according to EP 0 907 865 B1.

Accordingly, the lampshade 3 has an opening 4 with an internal thread 4a (cf. FIG. 5) for connection to the lamp base 2 which has a matching external thread, which is particularly clear when viewing FIGS. 4 and 5 together. Otherwise, the lampshade 3 is closed and has a substantially spherical surface. In the contact area 6 between the lampshade 3 and the lamp base 2, a seal is provided with the aid of a sealing ring 5, which is designed as an O-ring, but could also be designed as is the case in EP 0 907 865 B1. In any case, the threaded connection between the lamp base 2 and Lampshade 3 a sealing element or sealing ring 5 pressed onto the respective sealing surfaces, so that this sealed contact area 6 between lamp base 2 and lampshade 3 can be arranged in the use position below the surface 7 of the liquid receiving the floating lamp 1 and is therefore practically invisible when in use.

1 to 3 show that at least one fastening element 8, which extends under the surface 7 of the liquid and is anchored or anchored there, is arranged on the lampshade 3 in the use position. The holding forces of this fastening element 8 on the floating lamp 1 are thus transmitted to the lampshade 3 and not to the lamp base 2, so that even with a greater force in this regard, the sealed point cannot be loaded in the sense of loosening the seal, but rather with increasing load on the Pressure on the sealing ring or the sealing element 5 can even be increased in the sense of an improvement in the sealing effect if, for example, the floating lamp 1 is pulled a little deeper into the liquid with increased force in order to position it particularly securely and firmly at a certain point.

According to FIGS. 1 to 5, the lampshade 3 has at least one fastening point 9, according to FIG. 6 even three fastening points 9 for one or more fastening elements 8, which in the exemplary embodiment are designed as tension elements. These attachment points 9 are evenly distributed over the circumference at the same height. Thus, a fastening element 8, in particular in the form of a tension element, could engage at each fastening point 9 or according to FIGS. 1 to 3 at a selected fastening point 9.

At the underwater end facing away from the floating lamp 1 of the fastening element or elements or According to FIG. 1, tension elements 8 can be an anchor 10, according to FIG. 2 a weight 11 and according to FIG. 3 an eyelet 12 arranged at a boundary, with which the fastening or tension element 8 can thus be fixed under water. It can be tensioned relatively loosely or hung loosely to give the floating lamp 1 a certain freedom of movement on the water surface 7, if necessary, so that its position can be changed in a predetermined limited area by wind or current.

The weight 11 engaging on the fastening element (s) 8 under water expediently has a weight or such a size that exceeds the buoyancy of the floating lamp 1 in the liquid. Thus, although the location of the weight 11 and thus also the position of the floating light 1 can be changed, but the floating light with their buoyancy can not bear the weight and move within a body of water, for example under influence of wind in ^"undesirable manner. The user has -but against the Anchoring according to FIG. 3, nevertheless, the possibility of installing the floating light at a largely arbitrary point within a body of water.

There is the possibility that the length of the fastening element 8 can be preselected and / or adjusted in order to be able to adapt to waters of different depths and / or to give the floating lamp 1 more or less scope for driving back and forth on the water surface 7 to give.

The fastening points 9 for the fastening element 8 holding the lampshade 3 and thus the floating lamp 1 are arranged in the region of the approximately spherical lampshade 3, which is in the position of use according to FIGS. 1 to 3 below the largest horizontal diameter and especially under water. In practice, the fastening points 9 are directly adjacent to the contact area 6 for the lamp base 2.

4 to 6, the fastening points 9 on the surface of the lampshade 3 are formed as a recess or recess 13 separated from the interior of the lampshade 3 by a wall 3a with an eyelet 14 arranged thereon on a projection 15. The attachment point 9 is thus integrally formed on the lampshade 3. The actual attachment point, namely in the exemplary embodiment the eyelet 14 is arranged on the surface of the lampshade 3 in the recess 13 of this surface and is completely sunk within this recess or recess 13. Thus, by attaching the fastening element 8 to the lampshade 3 on its surface, there is practically no projection, although a projecting fastening point 9 would also be possible, in particular below the water surface 7.

4 and 5 show that the spherical surface of the lampshade 3 below its largest horizontal diameter range merges into a frustoconical surface which tapers downwards in the position of use, at the lower edge of which the inlet opening 4 for the sealed lamp base 2 , ie the contact area 6 is arranged. The attachment points 9 for anchoring the floating lamp 1 are arranged in this area of the lampshade 3, which has the frustoconical surface. This improves the transmission of forces to be introduced and also gives the floating lamp 1 a better stability of its position within the liquid during the swimming process, even if the fastening element 8 is loose and the floating lamp can swim relatively freely. The part of the lamp base 2 protruding outwards and downward in the use position relative to the opening 4 in the lampshade 3 has, in the exemplary embodiment, a frustoconical or conical surface and this essentially continues the frustoconical area of the lampshade 3, thus complements the lampshade its bottom to a longer truncated cone or cone. Thus, the floating lamp 1 has a lower, tapered area which stabilizes its floating position in a largely upright position, to which the weight of the lamp base 2 with the light source or the illuminant also contributes.

The fastening element 8 designed as a tension element can be a line, a cord, a cable or a chain, but possibly also a rod or a rod. In addition, the electrical cable 16 can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 3, which supplies the lighting means with current and is itself not used for anchoring. Rather, due to the fastening element 8, this electrical cable 16 can be avoided by any movements or loads on the floating lamp

1 would in turn be subjected to traction.

The floating lamp 1 with a light source or a

Illuminant base 2 and with a connectable, the light source enclosing lampshade 3, which has an inlet opening 4 for connecting to the lamp base

2 and, moreover, has a closed, in particular essentially spherical surface, has a seal in the contact area 6 between the lamp shade 3 and the lamp base 2, in particular a sealing element or a sealing ring 5, so that this sealed contact area 6 is in the position of use under the surface 7 a liquid in which the floating lamp 1 is supposed to swim. To the floating light 1 in such a liquid stationary or with little movement To be able to set freedom, at least one fastening element extending under the surface 7 of the liquid and anchored or anchored there is arranged on the lampshade 3 in the use position, so that the forces acting on this fastening element 8 do not stress the contact area 6, as is the case with a fastening would be the case on the lamp base 2.

Claims

Expectations

Floating lamp (1) with a lamp base (2) that accommodates at least one light source or a lamp and with a lamp shade (3) that can be connected to the light source and encloses the light source, which has an opening (4) for connecting to the lamp base (2) and otherwise a closed, in particular has a substantially spherical surface, with a seal or a sealing element in the contact area (6) between the lamp shade (3) and the lamp base (2).

(5) is provided and the sealed contact area

(6) between lamp base

(2) and lampshade (3) in the position of use below the surface (7) of the liquid containing the floating lamp (1), characterized in that on the lampshade (3) in the position of use there is at least one and anchored or anchorable fastening element (8) is arranged there.

Floating lamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the lampshade

(3) has at least one fastening point (9) for fixing one or more fastening elements (8) acting as a tension element and that at the submerged end of the tension element or elements (8) there is an anchor (10), a weight (11), a hook, an eyelet (12) or the like is arranged. i Floating lamp according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that on the circumference of the lamp shade several, for example three or four, fastening points (9) for fastening or ^tension elements, in particular at the same height and / or evenly distributed around the circumference, are arranged and that in the position of use on at least one of these Fastening points (9) or a fastening element (8) engages at several fastening points.

4. Floating lamp according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a weight (11) which acts on the fastening elements (8) under water is provided, the weight of which is in particular greater than the buoyancy of the floating lamp (1) in the liquid that contains it.

5. Floating light according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the fastening point (s) (9) for the

The fastening element (e) (8) holding the lampshade (3) is (are) arranged in the area of the approximately spherical lampshade (3), which in the position of use is located below the largest horizontal diameter and in particular under water.

6. Floating light according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the fastening point (s) (9) on the

Surface of the lampshade (3) is (are) designed as a recess, recess, eyelet (14), projection (15) or hook separated from the interior of the lampshade (3) by a wall (3a).

7. Floating lamp according to claim 6, characterized in that the fastening point (s) on the surface of the lamp shade (3) is arranged in a recess (13) of this surface and is preferably completely sunk within this recess (13).

8. Floating lamp according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the spherical surface of the lampshade (3) is below its largest horizontal Diameter area merges into a truncated cone-shaped surface that tapers downwards in the position of use, at the lower edge of which the inlet opening (4) for the sealed lamp base (2) is arranged.

9. Floating lamp according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the fastening point (s) (9) for anchoring the floating lamp (1) is (are) arranged in the area of the lamp shade (3) which has the truncated cone-shaped surface.

10. Floating lamp according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the part of the lamp base (2) which projects outwards from the opening (4) in the lamp shade (3) and downwards in the position of use has a truncated or conical surface and that this essentially continues the truncated cone-shaped area of the lampshade (3) or supplements it to form a longer truncated cone or cone.

11. Floating light according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it is designed as a tension element

Fastening element (8) is a line, a cord, a cable or a chain, possibly a rod or a rod.

12. Floating light according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the length of the fastening element (8) can be preselected and / or adjusted.