WO1990011471A1

WO1990011471A1 - Light fitting system

Info

Publication number: WO1990011471A1
Application number: PCT/FI1989/000050
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matti KÄHÖNEN
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-09-21
Filing date: 1989-03-21
Publication date: 1990-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 1991-09-21
Also published as: FI874117A7; FI874117A0; FI79607C; FI79607B

Abstract

The invention concerns a light fitting system with one or more light units (2) joined to bearing, branched bars (1). The essential point in the innovation is that the lights (2) of the system are low-voltage lights -like halogen lights- that are operated by a low-voltage current produced by a transformer (3). Furthermore, it is essential that the bars (1) consist of material partly conducting and partly dielectric so that they function as an element conducting electricity in the system. The points where the bars (1) are branching have been made so that the branching bars can move in relation to each other in the mentioned point. This means that switching the power on by forming a contact between the conducting parts of the bars and switching the power off by disconnecting these parts from each other happens by mutual movement of the bars. An integrated system can include the table (7), floor (6), wall (4) and ceiling lights (5) of a room and it can be used in apartments, offices, schools, institutes, shop rooms etc.

Description

LIGHT FITTING SYSTEM

This innovation concerns a light fitting system with one or more light units joined to bearing, branched bars.

The purpose of the innovation is to produce an integrated light fitting system based at least mainly on use of certain standard elements; suitable for lighting of rooms or larger spaces -or, alternatively, separate lighting objects.

Up till now, lighting has generally been organized with help of single ceiling, wall, standard or table lights operated by separate switches or separately connected to a wall socket.

According to the invention, the above-mentioned goal is reached by a light fitting system with the following_, characteristics: The lights of the system are low-voltage lights like halogen lights. The bars consist of material partly conducting and partly dielectric so that they function as an element conducting electricity in the system. The points where the bars are branching have been made so that the branching bars can move in relation to each other in the mentioned point. This means that switching the power on by forming a contact between the conducting parts of the bars and switching the power off by disconnecting these parts from each other happens by mutual movement of the bars.

The innovation now presented became possible when low- voltage lights, like halogen lights, were introduced into the market in addition to normal lights operated by mains voltage. The voltage required by halogen lights, typically being in the area from 6 to 24 V, is only a fraction of the normal mains voltage. The voltages being this low, there is no need to cover the current conductors in the way of usual electric wires. Instead, the bearing light bars can be arranged to conduct electricity as such, with no protective casing.

The bearing, conducting bars corresponding with the invention can be produced in light parts of standard measures. This means that the system consisting of parts can easily be modified and complemented. Thus, a cheap and -due to it's unity- aesthetically satisfying light fitting system has been created by the invention, capable of covering the total need of lighting of the object, e.g. a dwelling room. Normal switches or electric wires to be connected to wall sockets are not needed in the system because swithing the power on and off happens simply by a mutual turn (or other movement) of the bars.

In addition to apartments, the light fitting system corresponding with the invention can be used in offices, institutes such as schools and hones, shops (e.g. lighting of display windows) and exhibition rooms where the system has a special advantage being quick and simple to put together and resolve, to mention some.

The bearing bars of the system corresponding with the invention are most suitable when they have a round cross profile making it possible to switch and disconnect the power in a simple way -by a mutual turning movement of the bars. The branching point of bars round in cross profile can be made by equipping the other, branching bar with a sleeve¬ like or groove-like part that has been fit around the other bar by wrapping -or by using a separate connector acting in a corresponding way. One might be able to connect the groove-like part of the bar advantageously with snap fastening. This way the system can be put together and modified quickly and easily -with no tools at all.

In the following, the invention is explained further in detail with help of examples, referring to the attached drawings where figure 1 represents a room where a light fitting system corresponding with the invention has been installed, figure 2 a light which has been joined to bearing bars acting as electric conductors in accordance with the invention, figure 3 the cross profile of a bar as section III-III of figure 2, figure 4 a joining point of the bars as section IV-IV of figure 2 when the power is switched on, figure 5 -corresponding to figure 4- a joining point of the bars when the power is switched off, figure 6 a joining point of the bars according to another application of the invention sideways, figure 7.a joining point when the power is switched on as section VII-VII of figure 6 and figure 8 - corresponding to figure 7- a joining point when the power is switched off. Figure 9 is section IX-IX of figure 6 and figure 10 is section X-X of figure β. Figure 1 represents a room where a light fitting system corresponding with the invention has been installed, consisting of bearing bars 1 and low-voltage halogen lights 2. A transformer 3 is included in the system. It transforms the mains voltage into low voltage suitable for halogen lights. With help of bars 1 that have been properly connected and lights 2 joined to them, the room has been equipped with a wall light 4, two ceiling lights 5, standard light with two light units β and a table light 7.

Figure 2 represents halogen light 2 connected to bearing, branching bars 1, 1' that can function e.g. as a table light. Bars 1, 1' have a round cross profile as seen in figure 3. The cross profile consists of two separate segments 8 of conducting material like copper or other metal and the part 9 left between the segments of dielectric material like e.g. plastic or glass fibre. Thus the surface of bar 1, 1' is divided into four longitudinal zones so that the surface conducts electricity in the area of two opposite zones and is dielectric in the area of the zones left between them.

The branching point between bars 1, 1' has according to figures 2,4 and 5 been made by equipping the other bar 1 with a sleeve-like connection piece 10 fitted around the other bar 1' by wrapping it. The connection piece 10 consists of four longitudinal parts 11 and 12 so that the opposite parts 11 are of material conducting electricity like copper and the parts 12 left between them are of dielectric material like plastic or glass fibre.

Figure 4 represents a situation where there is a contact between the segments 8' of bar 1' that conduct electricity and the parts 11 of the connecting piece 10 that conduct electricity so that the power is-switched on in light 2. In figure 5, instead, bar 1* and connecting piece 10 have been turned in relation to each other so that the mentioned conducting parts 8' and 11 do not touch each other. Thus, the power has been switched off in light 2.

Figures 6-10 represent an application of the invention where the bearing, conducting bars are pipelike. As it can be seen in figure 10 for example, the jacket of the pipelike bar 1 consists of four longitudinal parts 13 and 14 so that two opposite parts 13 are of material conducting electricity like copper and the parts 14 left between then are of dielectric material like plastic or glass fibre. The branching point of bars 1, 1' has been made by equipping the other bar with a groove-like connecting piece 15 that has been fastened around the other bar 1' with snap fastening. Connecting piece 15 consists of longitudinal, opposite parts 16 that are of material conducting electricity like copper and parts 17 that are of dielectric material like plastic or glass fibre. The conducting parts 16 have according to figure 7 been connected to the parts 13 of bar 1 conducting electricity with conductors.

In figure 7 representing the cross profile of a branching point, the parts 13' of bar 1' conducting electricity are connected to parts 13 of bar 1 conducting electricity through parts 16 of connecting piece 15 conducting electricity and conductors 18. Thus the current can flow from one bar to another.

Figure 8 represents a situation where bars 1,1' have .been turned in relation to each other into a position where there is no contact between conducting parts 13,13' . Thus the power between the bars has been disconnected.

The solution in figures 6-10 can be further modified so that a separate connector is used in the branching point of the bars. A connector of this kind can be shaped like letter T, for example, and include a groove-like connecting piece 15 to be fastened by snap fastening. The construction principle and function of the connecting piece correspond to what has been mentioned above. The branching bar 1 can be connected to the connector by pushing them within each other at the ends so that they fasten to each other by pressure and/or friction.

It is clear to professionals of the line that the various applications of the invention are not restricted to the above-mentioned examples but can vary within the attached patent claims. Consequently, connecting pieces to be firmly connected to the bars or separate connectors varying from the ones described in the examples can be used in the branching points of the bars.. It^'is also possible that instead of using a transformer in the system, it is directly connected to a low-voltage accumulator or other voltage source. A solution of this kind might be relevant e.g. in summer cottages or boats.

Claims

1. A light fitting system where with one or more light units (2) joined to bearing, branched bars (1), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the lights (2) of the system are low-voltage lights like halogen lights, that the bars (l) consist of material partly conducting and partly dielectric so that the bars function as an element conducting electricity in the system, that the points where the bars (1, 1') are branching have been made so that the branching bars can move in relation to each other in the mentioned point, which means that switching the power on by forming a contact between the conducting parts of the bars and switching the power off by disconnecting these parts from each other happens by mutual movement of the bars.

2. A light fitting system according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the branching bars (1, 1') have been connected to each other by wrapping so that switching the power on and off happens by mutual turning movement of the bars.

3. A light fitting system according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the bars (1, 1') are round in cross profile.

4. A light fitting system according to claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a branching point has been formed in a bar round in cross profile (l¹) by equipping the branching bar (1) with a sleeve-like or groove-like part (10, 15) that has been fitted around the first mentioned bar (1') by wrapping it.

5. A light fitting system according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the surface of the bar round in cross profile (1) is divided into longitudinal zones that are of conducting and dielectric material in turn.

6. A light fitting system according to claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the bar (1) has been formed of material conducting electricity and dielectric material so that it consists of two separate segments (8) of one material and the part (9) left between the mentioned segments of another material.

7. A light fitting system according to claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the bar (1) is formed by a pipe with a jacket consisting of longitudinal parts (13, 14) that are of conducting and dielectric material in turn.

8. A light fitting system according to any of the above- mentioned claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the material of the bars (1) conducting electricity is metal, like copper, and the dielectric material is plastic or glass fibre.

9. A light fitting system according to any of the above- mentioned claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the system includes table (7), floor (6), wall (4) and/or ceiling lights (5) of a room or another space.

10. A light fitting system according to any of the above- mentioned claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the system includes a transformer (3), which transforms the mains voltage into a low voltage suitable for halogen lights (2) or corresponding lights, suitably into the area of 6-24V.