FI79607C - Lighting systems - Google Patents

Description

79607 LIGHTING SYSTEM The present invention relates to a lighting system comprising one or more low voltage lamps, such as halogen lamps, connected to load-bearing arms which act as electrically conductive elements and are branched so that the branching arms can move relative to each other.

The object of the invention is to provide a uniform lighting system suitable for lighting rooms or larger spaces or, alternatively, separate lighting objects, which is based at least mainly on the use of certain standard elements. Until now, lighting has generally been arranged by means of individual ceiling, wall, foot or table lamps, which operate with separate switches or are connected to a socket separately.

Recently, low-voltage luminaires, such as halogen luminaires, have entered the market alongside conventional mains-operated luminaires. The voltage required for halogen lamps, which is typically in the range of about 6 to 24 V, is only a fraction of the normal mains voltage. With such low voltages, there is no need to protect the current conductors in the same way as conventional electrical wires, but the load-bearing arms of the luminaires can be arranged as such to act as electrical conductors without a protective cover.

DE-A-2148093 and 3446045 disclose low-voltage luminaires whose arms consist of articulated parts which act as such ·: *. circuits to. The joints are then constructed in such a way that the electrical contact is maintained in all the different positions of the arms.

In contrast to the above-mentioned prior art, the lighting system according to the present invention is characterized in that the arms of the system are formed partly of 2 79607 electrically conductive and partly of electrically insulating material and that the arms are arranged so that switching between the electrically conductive parts of the arms the parts are separated from each other by the movement of the arms.

An essential advantage of the invention is that when the power is switched on and off by a simple rotation or similar movement of the arms, no conventional switches are required in the system. The load-bearing, electrically conductive arms according to the invention can be manufactured in light, standard-sized parts so that the system consisting of parts can be easily modified and supplemented. The invention thus provides a cheap, easy-to-use and, due to its uniformity, aesthetically satisfactory lighting system, which can cover the entire lighting need of an object to be illuminated, such as, for example, a living room.

In addition to residential apartments, the lighting system according to the invention is suitable for use e.g. in office spaces, institutions such as schools and care facilities, shops, such as shop window lighting, and in exhibition spaces where the system has the particular advantage of simplicity and speed in its assembly and disassembly.

The load-bearing arms included in the system according to the invention are preferably round in cross-section, which enables a simple switching on and off of the current by the rotational movement of the arms. The branch point of the arms of circular cross-section can be realized by providing the second, branching arm with a sleeve-like or trough-like part rotatably arranged around the second arm or by using a separate connector piece operating in a similar manner. The trough-like part of the arm can advantageously be attached to the other arm by snap-fitting, which allows the system to be assembled and modified quickly and effortlessly without any tools.

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The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a room in which a lighting system according to the invention is installed, Figure 2 shows a lamp connected to load-bearing electrically conductive arms according to the invention, Figure 3 shows a cross section of Figure III-III , Fig. 4 shows the junction of the arms in section IV-IV of Fig. 2 with the power on, Fig. 5 shows the junction of the arms with the power switched off, Fig. 6 shows a side view of the junction of the arms according to another embodiment of the invention, Fig. 7 shows the junction with the power switched on in section VII -VII in Fig. 6, Fig. 8 shows the connection point according to Fig. 7 with the power switched off, Fig. 9 is a section IX-IX in Fig. 6 and Fig. 10 is a section XX in Fig. 6.

Figure 1 shows a living room in which a lighting system consisting of load-bearing arms 1 and low-voltage halogen lamps 2 according to the invention is installed. The system includes a transformer 3, which converts the mains voltage to a low voltage suitable for halogen lamps. By means of suitably connected arms 1 and lamps 2 connected to them, a wall lamp 4, two ceiling lamps 5, a floor lamp 6 with two lamps and a table lamp 7 are provided in the room.

Figure 2 shows, by way of example, a halogen lamp 2 connected to load-bearing, branching arms 1,1 ', which can function e.g. as a table lamp. The arms 1,1 'are circular in cross-section according to Fig. 3, the cross-section comprising two separate segments 8 of electrically conductive material, such as copper or the like, and the part 9 between the segments, which is electrically insulating material, such as e.g. plastic or fiberglass. The surface of the arm 1,1 'is thus divided into four longitudinal zones, so that in the region of two opposite zones the surface is electrically conductive and in the region of the zones between them is electrically insulating.

According to Figures 2, 4 and 5, the branch point between the arms 1,1 'is realized by providing the second arm 1 with a sleeve-like connecting part 10 rotatably arranged around the second arm 1'. The connecting part 10 consists of four longitudinal compartments 11, 12 so that the opposite parts 11 are of electrically conductive material, such as copper, and the parts 12 between them are of electrically insulating material, such as plastic or fiberglass.

Fig. 4 shows a situation in which there is contact between the electrically conductive segments 8 'of the arm 1' and the electrically conductive parts 11 of the connecting part 10 so that the current is connected to the lamp 2. In Fig. 5 the arm 1 'and the connecting part 10 are rotated relative to each other so that said electrically conductive. the parts 8 ', 11 do not touch each other, whereby the current to the lamp 2 is switched off.

Figures 6 to 10 show an embodiment of the invention in which the load-bearing, electrically conductive arms are tubular. As can be seen, for example, from Fig. 10, the sheath of the tubular arm 1 consists of four longitudinal parts 13, 14, so that the two opposite parts 13 are of electrically conductive material, such as copper, and the intervening parts 14 of electrically insulating material, such as plastic or fiberglass. Stems 1.1 'J *. the branch point is realized by providing the second arm 1 with a trough-like connecting part 15 fixed by a snap-fitting around the second arm 1 '. The connecting part 15 consists of longitudinal, opposite parts 16 of electrically conductive material, such as copper, and parts of electrically insulating material, such as plastic or fiberglass 17. The electrically conductive parts 16 are electrically connected to the arm 1 of the arm 1 as shown in FIG. leading parts 13.

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In the cross-sectional view of Fig. 7, the electrically conductive portions 13 'of the arm 1' are connected to the electrically conductive portions 13 of the arm 1 through the electrically conductive portions 16 and conductors 18 of the connecting portion 15, allowing current to flow from one arm to another. Fig. 8 shows a situation in which the arms 1,1 'are twisted relative to each other to a position where there is no contact between their electrically conductive parts 13,13', whereby the current between the arms is switched off.

The solution according to Figures 6-10 can be further modified by using a separate connector piece at the arm branch. Such a connector piece can be, for example, in the shape of a T-letter and comprises a snap-shaped trough-like connecting part 15, the construction principle and operation of which correspond to the above. The attachment of the branch arm 1 to the connector can in turn take place by pushing these at their ends so that they engage each other by compression and / or friction.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the various embodiments of the invention are not limited to the examples set forth above, but may vary within the scope of the appended claims. Thus, other types of fittings or separate fittings integral with the shanks than those described in the examples may be used at the arms. It is also possible that the lighting system does not include a transformer, but is connected directly to a low-voltage battery or similar voltage source. Such a solution may come into question, for example, in summer cottages or boats.

Claims (9)

6 79607 A lighting system comprising one or more low voltage lamps (2), such as halogen lamps, connected to supporting arms (1) which act as electrically conductive elements and are branched so that the branching arms (1,1 ') can move with each other characterized in that the arms (1) are formed in part of an electrically conductive and in part of an electrically insulating material and in that the arm branches are connected so as to make contact between the electrically conductive parts of the arms and cut off by releasing said parts from each other. Silencer system according to Claim 1, characterized in that the branching arms (1,1 ') are rotatably connected to one another in such a way that the switching on and off of the current takes place by mutual rotation of the arms. Lighting system according to Claim 2, characterized in that the arms (1,1 ') are round in cross section. Lighting system according to Claim 3, characterized in that a branch point is formed in the circular cross-section (1 ') by providing a branching arm (1) with a sleeve-like or trough-like part (10, 15) rotatably arranged on said arm (1). 1 ') around. ·. Luminaire system according to Claim 4, characterized in that the surface of the arm (1) of circular cross-section is divided into longitudinal zones which ·; are alternately conductive and electrically insulating material. «'79607 Lighting system according to claim 5, characterized in that the arm (1) is formed of an electrically conductive and electrically insulating material so as to comprise two separate segments (8) of another material and a part (9) between said segments. , which is another material. Lighting system according to Claim 5, characterized in that the arm (1) is formed by a tube whose sheath consists of longitudinal parts (13, 14) which are alternately conductive and electrically insulating material. Luminaire system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrically conductive material of the arms (1) is a metal, such as copper, and the electrically insulating material is plastic or fiberglass. Luminaire system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system comprises table (7), floor (6), wall (4) and / or ceiling lamps (5) in a room or similar space. Luminaire system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system comprises a transformer (3) which converts the mains voltage to a low voltage suitable for halogen lamps (2) or the like, suitably in the range 6 to 24 V. 8 79607