DE9414191U1 - Grave light - Google Patents

Description

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The innovation concerns an electric grave lamp consisting of a lamp body, an electrical energy storage device and an electrical light source with club-shaped beam characteristics.

Grave lights usually consist of lamp housings of various designs, into which candles are inserted as a light source.

The disadvantages of such grave lights with candles or any lantern with an open light are the susceptibility to weather, e.g. the flame being extinguished by wind or rain, the short burning time, the often excessive heat development and the associated fire hazard.

To avoid these disadvantages, people have started using light-emitting diodes as the light source for grave lights instead of candles. DE-OS 33 43 905 A1, for example, describes a grave light in which a light-emitting diode is used as the light source, which is powered by dry batteries or accumulators and whose light is distributed by a roughly truncated cone-shaped diffuser placed over the light-emitting diode.

The disadvantage of this arrangement is that the relatively sharply focused light of the LED is considerably weakened by the diffuser placed over it. In addition to the low light output, the lighting design is also disadvantageous. In particular, it is not possible to convey the impression of a burning candle with this arrangement, since the even diffusion of the light of the LED through the diffuser means that a candle flame cannot be simulated.

Other known grave lights with batteries cast into the candle mass and with a connected light-emitting diode that partially protrudes from the candle mass instead of the wick cannot satisfactorily achieve the effect of a burning candle.

The innovation makes it possible to not only increase the light output of luminaires of the type mentioned above, but also to give the impression of a burning candle flame; in addition, various other

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to achieve design and/or signal effects. According to the innovation, a projection surface is provided on at least one side of the light source, which runs obliquely to the light source axis at an acute angle that opens downwards and intersects this axis, in particular at an angle of 10° to 25°, preferably around 20°.

To protect the light source, a preferably cylindrical or cup-shaped attachment made of translucent, in particular translucent or transparent, material can be provided that surrounds the light source and/or the lamp body. This attachment is designed as a casing that is open at the top or as a housing that is closed at the top, in particular with a circular, elliptical or polygonal cross-section. The desired effect can be enhanced by selecting the appropriate color of the attachment material for optical filtering.

A particularly useful design of the novel lamp is characterized in that a light-emitting diode is provided as the light source and that the lamp body contains at least one galvanic element, e.g. a dry battery or an accumulator, preferably two galvanic elements, for supplying energy to the light-emitting diode, which is or are electrically connected to the light-emitting diode radiating onto the projection surface, with a series resistor and a switch being expediently arranged in the electrical connection. The series resistor applies the desired operating current.

Variants of the outline of the candle flame can be created by designing the projection surface that intersects the light source or LED axis at an angle as an axially and/or - viewed with respect to a cylindrical protective cover - radially convex or concavely curved surface.

By changing the angle between the light source or LED axis and the projection surface, e.g. between 10° and 25°, the "height of the flame" can be changed. In particular, if the reflector is attached at one end and free-standing at the other end and the reflector material is so elastic that the wind pressure

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the change in angle causes the effect of a flickering flame to be achieved.

Advantageous embodiments of the innovation in terms of manufacturing technology result from the fact that the projection surface is firmly connected to the lamp body, in particular that it consists of one piece, or that the projection surface is firmly connected to the attachment, in particular that it consists of one piece.

Another way to create the impression of a flickering candle flame is to insert an electronic control into the electrical circuit, which allows the impressed current to be automatically changed over time.

More complex geometric shapes can be created if light-absorbing surfaces are attached to the reflector surface.

A further embodiment of the present lamp is characterized in that the attachment is designed as a protective cover, in particular a protective cup, in which the lamp body is movable, in particular displaceable, that the lamp body has a cavity with an opening on its underside through which at least one, preferably two, rod-shaped galvanic element(s) such as a dry battery(s) or a rechargeable battery(s) of the mono-cell type, preferably with opposite polarity, can be inserted, that the light-emitting diode is attached to the top of the lamp body, the connecting wires of which reach into the lamp body and electrically contact the upper pole(s) of the inserted galvanic element(s), whereby the lower pole(s) of the galvanic element(s) is (are) arranged at the opening of the cavity on the underside of the lamp body, in particular from this protrudes and is directed towards a counter-contact(s) of a switching element which has a base, in particular a strip of elastically deformable material, which is attached to an inner surface of the protective cover which is opposite the opening in the hollow lamp body and has an electrically conductive counter-contact(s) which is movable under the effect of the elasticity of the base or the strip,

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which is (are) connected to the light-emitting diode or to each other via at least one electrical resistor, so that the contact(s) of the lamp body and the counter-contact(s) of the switching element are aligned, so that by moving, in particular sliding, the lamp body in the protective cover in the direction of the counter-contact(s) under elastic pressure of the base or the strip, these are (are) brought into contact with the contacts.

An advantageous embodiment of the innovation is characterized in that the protective cover tapers conically or is designed as a cup in the direction of its base, to which the switching element is attached, and that the lamp body inserted into the protective cover is in frictional contact with the protective cover when the switching element is closed.

It is expedient that the lamp body has at least one guide groove or slot running in the direction of displacement, in particular along a generatrix, and the protective cover has at least one guide rail or guide projection corresponding thereto, which guide the lamp body in the protective cover into a position in which the contacts of the lamp body or the galvanic elements and the counter contacts of the switching element are aligned and secure it against twisting, or that the lamp body has at least one guide rail or projection running in the direction of displacement, in particular along a generatrix, and the protective cover has at least one guide groove or guide slot corresponding thereto, which guide the lamp body in the protective cover into a position in which the contacts of the lamp body or the galvanic elements and the counter contacts of the switching element are aligned and secure it against twisting.

A further embodiment of the novel lamp is characterized in that the lamp body has an annular groove or groove running transversely to the direction of displacement and the protective cover has an annular projection running transversely to the direction of displacement and corresponding to the groove, which in a position when the lamp body is moved in the direction of the switching element in the cover in which the contacts of the lamp body and the

Counter contacts of the switching element touch and the elastic strip of the switching element is compressed, they snap into one another. The groove and projection are dimensioned in such a way that their connection can be released by a particularly light impact, preferably against the top of the protective cover due to the moment of inertia of the lamp body, which is significantly heavier than the protective cover, and the force of the compressed elastic base or the compressed elastic strip. The lamp body can also have the projection and the groove can be formed in the protective cover.

Yet another embodiment of the innovation is characterized in that an on position in which the contacts of the lamp body and the counter contacts of the switching element touch each other and an off position in which no contact occurs can be created by means of an annular groove or groove running transversely to the direction of displacement in the lamp body and two annular projections in the protective cover running parallel to one another and corresponding to the groove, whereby it is possible to switch between these two positions by means of, in particular, light impacts, preferably against the top or bottom of the cover. Furthermore, it is possible to hermetically seal the protective cover after the lamp body has been inserted by attaching, e.g. screwing on, a cover or the like.

Two particularly advantageous embodiments according to the innovation are characterized in that the base of the protective cover is drawn in or curved inwards in a, in particular circular, central section and/or the protective cover casing is extended axially beyond the base surface to form a, in particular annular, edge and the resistor is arranged in the outside recess of the protective cover and its connecting wires are connected through holes to the counter contacts of the switching element on the inside of the protective cover. A particularly protected arrangement of the resistor and its connections is achieved according to the innovation if the base of the protective cover is curved inwards in a, in particular circular, central section and the resistor is arranged in the inside, in particular annular, recess of the base of the protective cover next to the central section.

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Examples of the innovation are described using the drawing. Figs. 1 to 3 show a first variant, namely Fig. 1 in a bottom view, Fig. 2 in a longitudinal section along the plane A-B of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 a detail along the section C-D of Fig. 2. Figs. 4 to 7 show a similar design, but the position of the resistor has been modified, which is shown in Fig. 6 as a bottom view. Fig. 4 is the bottom view (here without resistor), Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section along the plane A-B of Fig. 4 and Fig. 7 is again a detailed section along the plane C-D of Fig. 5. Another possible design can be seen in Figs. 8 to 10, which show a bottom view {Fig. 8), a section along the plane E-F of Fig. 8 as Fig. 9 and as Fig. 10 a detail along the section G-H of Fig. 9.

According to Fig. 1 to 3, a grave lamp consists of a lamp body 1 with, for example, a white outer casing and a light-emitting diode 2. This diode and the lamp body are surrounded by a cylindrical or cup-shaped protective cover or attachment 3, which can continue above the lamp body at 4, as shown, for example, in Fig. 9 and 10. In particular, this part 4, which envelops and protrudes over the light-emitting diode 2, is made of red transparent plastic. It can also be made of glass. In this case, the part 4 is a casing with an open top and a circular cross-section. The lamp body 1 serves to accommodate two dry batteries 5, 6, which are connected to the light-emitting diode 2 via the lines 7, 8 with which the battery poles make contact. For this purpose, these lines or the diode can be led through or extend through a cover surface 9 of the lamp body 1 (opening 10). This cover surface preferably has a white surface. To accommodate the dry batteries, the lamp body 1 has a cavity 11 (dashed in Fig.

1!). The lower poles 12, 13 of the dry batteries contact mating contacts 14, 15 of a switching element 16, which is arranged on the base 17 of the protective cover 3. This switching element 16 has a strip 18 made of elastic material, e.g. neoprene rubber, which is attached to the inner surface of the base 17. The above-mentioned mating contacts 14, 15 are movably arranged on or at the surface of the strip 18 facing the lamp body 1 or the dry batteries 5, 6. With these

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Wires 19, 20 are connected to mating contacts, which are preferably made of brass, and are led through the strip 18 and the base 17 to an electrical resistor 21, which serves to limit the electrical current. The protective cover 3 has an annular projection

22. This projection corresponds to an annular groove

23 in the lamp body 1. When switched off, the projection 22 snaps into the groove 23 and thus secures the lamp body 1 in the switched off position. In order to switch on, the lamp body 1 is pressed downwards or down in the protective cover 3, i.e. to below the ring-shaped projection 22, which then overlaps the cover surface 9 of the lamp body. This secures the lamp body 1 in the switched on position. It then presses the poles 12, 13 of the dry batteries 5, 6, which function as contacts, against the counter contacts 14, 15, which are moved towards the elastic strip 18 due to their mobility. Due to the elasticity of this strip, a reaction force is created which presses the contacts 12, 13 and the counter contacts 14, 15 together in such a way that good contact is achieved. This creates a perfect electrical connection via the electrical resistor 21, so that the LED 2 is switched on.

The positional security in the switched-on position can be further strengthened if the protective cover 3 tapers conically towards the base 17 (on the inner surface facing the lamp body 3) or is designed as a cup. In this way, it can be ensured that the lamp body 1 inserted into the protective cover 3 is in frictional contact with the protective cover 3 when the switching element is closed or when the counter contacts 14, 15 are pressed down against the elasticity of the strip 18.

In order to ensure that the contacts or poles 12, 13 are guided securely to the mating contacts 14, 15, the lamp body 1 has a slot 24 running along a generatrix, which corresponds to a guide rail or projection 25 in the protective cover 3; this ensures that the contacts and mating contacts are aligned. This also provides protection against twisting.

On one side of the LED 2 there is a reflector whose

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Projection surface 27, here a plane, runs obliquely to the light source axis 28 at an angle oC of 10° to 25°, in particular less than about 20°, which is open downwards. This projection surface 27 and the cover surface 9, like the casing of the lamp body 1, are preferably white. The reflector enables the light output to be increased, the impression of a burning candle flame to be created and various other design or signal effects to be achieved. These can be supported by a colored, in particular translucent, protective cover 3 which continues upwards at 4 (Fig. 9,10!). The protective cover 3 has a circular cross-section here; however, it can also be designed with an elliptical or polygonal cross-section. Here it is open at the top to avoid heat build-up. However, it can also be completely or partially closed at the top - e.g. to protect against rain.

Under certain circumstances, the projection surface can be curved axially and/or - with respect to a roughly cylindrical protective cover - radially convex or concave. The angle OC between the LED axis and the projection surface can also be variable. In this case, the reflector is made from one piece with the lamp body or is firmly connected to it.

In order to create geometric figures, the light intensity of the light-emitting diode 2 can be regulated and the shape of the reflector 27 and, if necessary, the color or light permeability of the protective cover 3 can be changed or the reflector or the protective cover can be exchanged. The projection surface can have light-absorbing partial surfaces.

The base 17 of the protective cover 3 is drawn inwards or upwards in a circular central section 28. The protective cover is extended beyond the base surface to form an annular edge 29. The above-mentioned resistor 21 is arranged in the recess formed in the central section 28 and is thus protected.

Fig. 4 to 7 show a similar embodiment of the innovation, although slightly modified compared to the design according to Fig. 1 to 3. Fig. 6 also shows a section along the plane J-K, where the same reference numerals designate corresponding parts as in Fig. 1 to 3. The

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Reflector 26 is somewhat longer than in the example according to Fig. 1 to 3. For reasons of safety and simplification (fewer feedthroughs), the resistor 30 is housed on the inside of the base 17 of the protective cover 3 in the annular recess 31, which is provided between the retracted middle section 28 of the base 17 and the casing of the protective cover 3. This also allows the connections 32, 33 to the counter contacts 14, 15 to be routed inside in a protected manner.

It should be emphasized that the combination given here of at least one reflector for a light-emitting diode and a special switch that can be easily operated as well as at least one current-limiting resistor results in a luminaire design that can be kept economically operational for a relatively long time with a single set of dry batteries.

The further innovation variant shown in Fig. 8 to 10 differs from the previously described lamp designs primarily in the switching mechanism. Parts corresponding to the designs discussed above have been given the same reference numerals. As in the previously described examples, a flame effect is again generated by means of the plastic reflector 26, 27. The light emitted by the LED 2 is emitted forwards in a modified form, i.e. in a flame-like manner, by this reflector, which is inclined at an angle cC of 20° to the vertical. This effect is considerably increased by the advantageously cup-shaped protective cover 3 made of transparent red material, in particular plastic or glass, which is extended upwards at 4.

The reflector 26,27 can consist of one piece with the cover surface 9 of the lamp body 1, be glued or screwed to it or be inserted into it.

In this embodiment, the circuit is closed via the connecting wires 34, 35 that make contact with the dry batteries 5, 6 at the bottom and are led out through openings 36, 37 in the base 38 of the protective cover 3. A current limiting resistor 39, 40 is connected to at least one of the connecting wires. The circuit is closed or switched on by contact between the wire ends.

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41,42, which can be twisted together for this purpose. Wire ends and resistors are preferably placed in the bottom recess 43 to protect them.

To replace the batteries 5, 6, which are again to be accommodated in a cavity in the lamp body 1 as in the design according to Figs. 1 to 3 or Figs. 4 to 7, this body 1 is again removed from the protective cover 3, 4 via an annular projection 22, e.g. by impact. After replacing the batteries, the body 1 is pressed into the protective cover via the projection 22.

The reflectors according to the innovation can also be used to advantage if other light sources, e.g. gas lamps, oil lamps, candles or other light sources, especially those with low light output or those with a stationary light emitter, are used instead of a light-emitting diode.

Claims (23)

Protection claims: 1. Electric grave lamp, consisting of a lamp body, an electrical energy storage device and an electrical light source with club-shaped radiation characteristics, characterized in that a projection surface (27) is provided on at least one side of the light source (2), which extends obliquely to the light source axis at an acute angle (α) open downwards and intersects this axis, in particular at an angle of 10° to 25°, preferably about 20°. 2. Grave lamp according to claim 1, characterized in that a preferably approximately cylindrical or cup-shaped attachment (3) made of light-permeable, in particular translucent or transparent, material is provided which surrounds the light source (2) and/or the lamp body (1). 3. Grave lamp according to claim 2, characterized in that the attachment (3) is designed as a casing open at the top, in particular with a circular, elliptical or polygonal cross-section. 4. Grave lamp according to claim 2, characterized in that the attachment (3) is designed as a housing closed at the top, in particular with a circular, elliptical or polygonal cross-section. 5. Grave lamp according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a light-emitting diode is provided as the light source (2) and that the lamp body (1) contains at least one galvanic element, e.g. a dry battery (5, 6) or an accumulator, preferably two galvanic elements, for supplying energy to the light-emitting diode, which is or are electrically connected to the light-emitting diode radiating onto the projection surface (27), wherein a series resistor (30) and a switch are expediently arranged in the electrical connection. 6. Grave lamp according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that that the projection surface (27) which obliquely intersects the light source or LED axis is designed as an axially and/or - viewed with respect to a cylindrical protective cover - radially convex or concavely curved surface. 7. Grave lamp according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the angle (θ) between the light source or light-emitting diode axis and the projection surface (27), in particular between 10° and 25°, is variable. 8. Grave lamp according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the projection surface (27) is firmly connected to the lamp body (1), in particular consists of one piece therewith. 9. Grave lamp according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the projection surface (27) is firmly connected to the attachment (3), in particular consists of one piece therewith. 10. Grave lamp according to one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that an electronic control is connected to the electrical circuit of the light-emitting diode, by means of which the impressed current can be changed automatically over time in order to convey the impression of a flickering flame. 11. Grave lamp according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the projection surface (27) and/or the protective cover or the attachment (3) are exchangeable. 12. Grave lamp according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the projection surface (27) has light-absorbing partial surfaces. 13. Grave lamp according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the projection surface (27) is free-standing and elastic. 14. Grave lamp according to one of claims 2 to 13, characterized —3— characterized in that the attachment (3) is designed as a protective cover, in particular a protective cup, in which the lamp body (1) is movable, in particular displaceable, that the lamp body (1) has a cavity with an opening on its underside through which at least one, preferably two, rod-shaped galvanic element(s) (5,6) such as a dry battery(s) or a rechargeable battery(s) of the mono-cell type, preferably with opposite polarity, can be inserted, that the light-emitting diode (2) is attached to the top of the lamp body, the connecting wires (7,8) of which extend into the lamp body and electrically contact the upper pole(s) of the introduced galvanic element(s), wherein the lower pole(s) (12,13) of the galvanic element(s) is at the opening of the cavity on the underside of the Lamp body is (are) arranged, in particular protrudes from it, and is (are) directed towards a counter contact(s) (14, 15) of a switching element which has a base (18), in particular a strip made of elastically deformable material, which is attached to an inner surface of the protective cover which lies opposite the opening in the hollow lamp body and has (an) electrically conductive counter contact(s) (14, 15) which is movable under the effect of the elasticity of the base or the strip, which is (are) connected to the light-emitting diode (2) (or with each other) via at least one electrical resistor (30), that the contact(s) of the lamp body (12, 13) and the countercontact(s) (14, 15) of the switching element are aligned, so that by moving, in particular sliding, the lamp body (1) in the protective cover (3) in the direction of the countercontact(s) under elastic pressure of the base or the strip, these are brought into contact with the contact(s). 15. Grave lamp according to claim 14, characterized in that the protective cover (3) tapers conically or is designed as a cup in the direction of its base, to which the switching element is attached, and that the lamp body (1) inserted into the protective cover is in frictional contact with the protective cover when the switching element is closed. 16. Grave lamp according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the lamp body (1) has at least one in the direction of displacement, in particular, has a guide groove or slot running along a generator, and the protective cover has at least one guide rail or guide projection corresponding thereto, which guide the lamp body (1) in the protective cover (3) into a position in which the contacts (12, 13) of the lamp body or the galvanic elements and the counter-contacts (14, 15) of the switching element are aligned, and secure against rotation. 17. Grave lamp according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the lamp body (1) has at least one guide rail or projection running in the direction of displacement, in particular along a generatrix, and the protective cover (3) has at least one guide groove or guide slot corresponding thereto, which guide the lamp body in the protective cover into a position in which the contacts (12, 13) of the lamp body or the galvanic elements and the counter contacts (14, 15) of the switching element are aligned and secured against rotation. 18. Grave lamp according to one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that the lamp body (1) has an annular groove (23) or channel running transversely to the direction of displacement and the protective cover (3) has an annular projection (22) running transversely to the direction of displacement and corresponding to the groove, which engage with one another in a position when the lamp body is displaced in the direction of the switching element in the cover in which the contacts (12, 13) of the lamp body and the counter-contacts (14, 15) of the switching element touch one another and the elastic strip of the switching element is compressed. 19. Grave lamp according to one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that the lamp body (1) has an annular projection running transversely to the direction of displacement and the protective cover (3) has an annular groove or channel running transversely to the direction of displacement and corresponding to the projection, which in a position when the lamp body is moved in the direction of the switching element in the cover in which the contacts (12, 13) of the lamp body and the counter contacts (14, 15) of the switching element touch and the elastic strip (18) of the switching element is compressed and engage with each other. 20. Grave lamp according to one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that an on position in which the contacts of the lamp body and the counter contacts of the switching element touch each other and an off position in which no contact occurs can be produced by means of an annular groove or groove (23) in the lamp body (1) running transversely to the direction of displacement and two annular projections (22) in the protective cover (3) running parallel to one another and corresponding to the groove. 21. Grave lamp according to one of claims 14 to 20, characterized in that the protective cover (3) can be hermetically sealed after the lamp body (1) has been inserted by attaching, e.g. screwing on, a cover or the like. 22. Grave lamp according to one of claims 14 to 21, characterized in that the base (17) of the protective cover is drawn inwards or curved in a central section (28), in particular a circular one, and/or the protective cover is extended axially beyond the base surface to an edge (29), in particular annular, and the resistor (21) is arranged in the outer recess of the protective cover and its connecting wires (19, 20) are connected by bores to the counter contacts (14, 15) of the switching element on the inside of the protective cover. 23. Grave lamp according to one of claims 14 to 21, characterized in that the base of the protective cover is drawn in or curved inwards in a, in particular circular, central section (28) and the resistor (21) is arranged in the inner, in particular annular, recess of the protective cover base next to the central section.