EP0787944A1 - Compact lamp holder - Google Patents

Abstract

The lamp mounting (1), for small spaces and preassembly in wiring systems for automatic fitting, has a holder system (27,28) to hold the mounting (1) in the working position and also in a second setting for transport and fitting into place. The electrical contacts (7,8) are protected from contact with the mounting housing (2), and are accessed through at least one connection opening (4) in the housing (2) from one side. The cables, connected to the contacts (7,8), are accessible through openings at the other side of the housing (20 for connection to the wiring.

Description

The invention relates to a socket for connecting electrical equipment with the features of the preamble of claim 1.

The use of automatic wiring systems for the automatic pre-wiring of ready-to-connect lighting units requires that the contacts to be connected are accessible to a laying finger or head provided on the wiring device. On the part of furniture manufacturers, designers or other people involved in the design of luminaires, there is also a demand for the downsizing of lamps, luminaires and their components. In particular, sockets for fluorescent lamps are relatively voluminous insofar as they are divided into a connection area that is accessible for automatic wiring technology and a connection area for the fluorescent lamp. They therefore restrict freedom of design.

Luminaires for fluorescent lamps are usually delivered to the respective customer as pre-wired and prefabricated units without fluorescent lamps. However, the sockets provided to accommodate the fluorescent lamp nevertheless take up the space otherwise occupied by the fluorescent lamp during packaging and transport.

Out of the problem associated with the automatic wiring technology, the lamp holder which is disclosed in DE 295 05 451 U1 has been proposed for luminaires with a built-in housing. Said attachment housings are housings which are provided at the ends of a fluorescent lamp and are open on one side and are held firmly on the lamp and accommodate the respective end of the fluorescent lamp. A socket for the holder and for the electrical connection of the fluorescent lamp is arranged in the attachment housing. The add-on housings serve to limit the visible length of the fluorescent lamp to a grid that is customary in the case of ceiling paneling and to make the excess lengths that arise in particular from the sockets disappear behind the ceiling cladding mentioned. In order to be able to wire the sockets automatically, the rear wall carrying the socket is held in the housing in a longitudinally displaceable manner. The rear wall can be moved so far towards the lamp-side opening of the attachment housing that the socket is accessible from the side. There are conductor insertion openings for connecting cables.

The space requirement of such a socket is determined by the volume of the attachment housing.

In contrast, it is an object of the invention to provide a socket that can be automatically wired even in confined spaces, so that pre-wiring and yet a space-saving transport is possible.

This object is achieved by a version with the features of claim 1.

The socket housing, which is particularly suitable for insulation displacement technology, can be attached to a lamp element in different positions. The first position, referred to as the use position, is used for operational mounting and power supply, for example of a fluorescent lamp. The additionally provided holding means makes it possible to connect the socket to the lamp element or another support in a different position. This position is used for the automatic insertion and connection of cables, for example when prewiring a luminaire. This position can also be used as a transport position in which the holder lies flat on a carrier, for example. In this lying position, the socket is easily accessible even in otherwise confined spaces. In addition, it is housed in a space-saving manner with regard to the packaging and transport of the preassembled luminaire. The socket is protected from damage in this position, in which it does not protrude from a lamp body but preferably lies flat on it.

Good accessibility in the wiring and mechanical and electrical protection of the connections is moreover obtained if, for example, line connection means designed as insulation displacement contacts are accessible from a housing side (rear side) that faces away from the housing side (front side), from which the in the socket housing accessible electrical contact means are accessible. The line connection means are then pointing away from the connection side Openings. In the case of sockets for fluorescent lamps, these openings are covered anyway by further elements of the lamp or by cover elements, caps or the like.

A particularly space-saving position for wiring and transport results if the use position differs from the second position by a rotation of preferably 90 °. It is advantageous if the rotation or swivel axis for this movement is aligned transversely to the longitudinal axis of a fluorescent lamp to be connected, for example, and is at a distance from it.

In a preferred solution, the position of use and the second position, also referred to as the wiring and / or transport position, are defined in such a way that the lines connected to the socket are neither pulled nor compressed when the socket is transferred into its position of use. This can be achieved, for example, by the lines leading to the mount in the region of the pivot axis provided for pivoting the mount. This is irrespective of whether the frame is guided by means of a hinge or is designed without a hinge. A stop means provided on the socket, which is preferably arranged in the area of the insulation displacement contacts serving as line connection means, serves as an abutment for deriving the forces that occur during wiring in insulation displacement technology. The abutment is preferably an abutment rib in contact with a suitable base with an arcuate flat abutment surface. Such a rib stiffens the housing and transmits the forces to the required extent. The rib may have a branch or bifurcation for support.

In a particularly easy-to-use variant of the socket, the socket housing is pivotally mounted on a base. For this purpose, a hinge is used which, in conjunction with a stop means effective between the base and the socket housing, forms the holding means for holding the socket in the second position (wiring position). For locking in the use position, locking means are preferably provided on the base, which cooperate with the socket housing and lock it in the position of use as soon as the socket housing is pivoted into it. The latching means, which are designed, for example, as latching lugs and are provided on the base, can additionally serve to secure the connected lines in their contacted position.

If necessary, the base can also be designed as a component or section of a lighting element. This reduces the number of components required for a luminaire.

While the socket housing must have a relatively high heat resistance due to the self-heating of fluorescent lamps, a lower-cost material with lower heat resistance can be used as the base. This can reduce the overall cost of heat-resistant plastic per socket.

The socket is preferably designed in such a way that current or voltage-carrying parts present on it are held securely against contact. This may make further masking measures unnecessary.

Fig. 1

eine in Gebrauchsposition sowie in einer zweiten Position mit einem Leuchtenelement verbindbare Fassung für Leuchtstofflampen, in einer Vorderansicht mit Blickrichtung auf ihre Seite zum Anschluß der Lampen, in schematisierter Darstellung,

Fig. 2

die Fassung nach Fig. 1, die auf einem Träger in Gebrauchsposition befestigt ist, in einer schematisierten Seitenansicht,

Fig. 3

die Fassung nach den Fig. 1 und 2, die auf einem Träger in Verdrahtungsposition befestigt ist, in schematisierter Seitenansicht,

Fig. 4

den die Fassung nach Fig. 3 in Verdrahtungsposition haltenden Träger in Draufsicht,

Fig. 5

die Fassung nach Fig. 1 in Draufsicht,

Fig. 6

den die Fassung nach Fig. 2 in Gebrauchsposition haltenden Träger in Draufsicht,

Fig. 7 u. Fig. 8

eine abgewandelte Ausführungsform der Fassung, in Gebrauchsposition, in Vorder- und Seitenansicht,

Fig. 9

die Fassung nach den Fig. 7 und 8 in Verdrahtungsposition, montiert auf einen Träger, in Seitenansicht,

Fig. 10

den Träger nach Fig. 9 in Draufsicht,

Fig. 11

die Fassung nach Fig. 7 in Draufsicht,

Fig. 12

einen Träger zur Halterung der Fassung nach Fig. 8 in Gebrauchsposition, in einer ausschnittsweisen Draufsicht,

Fig. 13

eine abgewandelte Ausführungsform der Fassung mit einem mittels eines Scharnieres von einem Sockel getragenen Fassungsgehäuse, montiert auf einen Träger, in Seitenansicht und in schematisierter Darstellung,

Fig. 14

die Fassung nach Fig. 13 in Gebrauchsposition und in einer schematisierten Vorderansicht und

Fig. 15

den Träger nach Fig. 13 in einer ausschnittsweisen Draufsicht.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1

a socket for fluorescent lamps which can be connected in the use position and in a second position with a lamp element, in a front view looking towards its side for connecting the lamps, in a schematic representation,

Fig. 2

1, which is attached to a carrier in the use position, in a schematic side view,

Fig. 3

1 and 2, which is attached to a carrier in the wiring position, in a schematic side view,

Fig. 4

3 in top view holding the holder in the wiring position,

Fig. 5

1 in top view,

Fig. 6

the support holding the socket of FIG. 2 in the use position in plan view,

Fig. 7 u. Fig. 8

a modified embodiment of the socket, in the use position, in front and side view,

Fig. 9

7 and 8 in the wiring position, mounted on a carrier, in side view,

Fig. 10

9 in top view,

Fig. 11

7 in top view,

Fig. 12

8 in the use position, in a partial plan view,

Fig. 13

1 shows a modified embodiment of the holder with a holder housing carried by a hinge from a base, mounted on a carrier, in a side view and in a schematic representation,

Fig. 14

13 in the use position and in a schematic front view and

Fig. 15

the carrier of FIG. 13 in a partial plan view.

1 and 2, a socket 1 is shown, which is used to connect tubular or rod-shaped fluorescent lamps. The socket 1 has a socket housing 2, on the front of which a rotatably mounted insert 3 is arranged. This insert, which is approximately circular in its outer contour, has a slot 4 through which connecting pins of a fluorescent lamp (not shown further) can be inserted into the socket housing 2. The insert 3 is held by a pin 6 extending axially into the housing interior from a rear wall 5 of the socket housing 2, the slot 4 extending diametrically through the pin 6.

In an interior space enclosed by the socket housing 2, resilient contacts 7, 8 are arranged, which serve as connection means for the fluorescent lamp and are visible in FIG. 1 through openings provided in the insert 3. The contacts extend into a line connection section 9 which is formed in one piece on the socket housing 2 and has two parallel grooves 11, 12 which are open towards the rear of the socket housing 2, as can be seen from FIG. 2.

Staggered laterally, i.e. In Fig. 2 bottom right, two parallel slotted transverse walls are provided within the grooves 11, 12, each forming a pair of walls 13, 14 parallel to each other. Between the walls of the pair of walls 13 seated in the groove 11, an insulation displacement contact 15 formed at the end on the contact 8 is held in a touch-proof manner. Correspondingly, an insulation displacement contact 16 formed on the end of the contact 7 is held between the walls of the pair of walls 14 seated in the groove 12.

To hold the socket 1 in the wiring position shown are on the socket housing 2, how 5, in particular, two latching fingers 17, 18 extending parallel to one another at a distance from the rear of the socket housing 2 are formed, which can be brought into engagement with latching openings 21, 22 provided in a carrier 19. The locking fingers 17, 18 each extend for stiffening and better mounting over a side surface of the socket housing 2 and are otherwise designed so that they can spring to one another without damage. The latching fingers 17, 18 have contact surfaces 23, 24 aligned essentially parallel to the rear of the socket housing 2, which, when they are latched to the carrier 19 shown in FIG. 6, lie flat against the rear thereof. For the play-free locking of the socket housing 2 on the carrier 19, counterholders 25, 26 are also provided, which extend from the rear of the socket housing 2 onto the carrier 19. The counterholders 25, 26 exceed the width of the locking fingers 23, 24 considerably in order to avoid wobbling or tipping of the holder 1 when it is attached to the carrier 19.

In the connection area 9 of the socket housing 2, additional locking fingers 27, 28 are formed, which serve as holding means for fastening and mounting the socket 1 in a second position, also referred to as the wiring position, on a support 29. The carrier 29 is arranged at right angles to the carrier 19, which is only schematically indicated in FIG. 3.

The latching fingers 27, 28 extend substantially at right angles to the connection side of the socket housing 2 and, in contrast to the latching fingers 27, 28, have inclined contact surfaces 31, 32. The inclined position of the contact surfaces 31, 32 with respect to the longitudinal extent of the respective latching fingers 27, 28 enables the socket housing 2 to be releasably latched to the carrier 29.

To accommodate the resilient latching fingers 27, 28, latch openings 33, 34 are formed in the carrier 29, the diameter and spacing of which, to avoid confusion, deviate from the diameter and the spacing of the latch openings 21, 22 in the carrier 19 (FIG. 6).

In the connection area 9 of the socket housing 2, an abutment rib 35 is also formed, which extends in an arc directly over the connection area 9 immediately following the insert 3. The abutment rib 35 is bifurcated and has an extension 36 running directly at the insulation displacement contact 16. The contact rib 35 and the extension 36 are provided with a flat contact surface 37 for supporting the socket housing 2 on the support 29.

Version 1 described so far is used as follows:

When prefabricating a lamp, sockets 1, as shown in FIG. 3, are attached to a lamp element serving as a support 29. In this position, the insulation displacement contacts 15, 16 are easily accessible. A wiring head or finger of an automatic wiring system can now press lines, not shown, from above into the slots of the insulation displacement contacts 15, 16 and lay the lines accordingly. When the lines are pressed in, the abutment rib 35 and the extension 36 are supported with the contact surface 37 on the support 29 and form a fixed abutment which keeps the socket housing 2 free of wobbles.

The lamp is now made ready for shipment, the sockets remaining in the position shown in FIG. 3. Only at the installation site is the holder 1 released, for example by hand, from the carrier 29, the latching fingers 27, 28 due to the inclined position of the contact surfaces 31, 32 slide out relatively easily from the locking openings 33, 34. The socket 1 is now pivoted by approximately 90 ° into the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pivot axis described being transverse to the longitudinal extension of the fluorescent tube to be assembled later. The pivot axis lies in the vicinity of the insulation displacement contacts 15, 16, so that no special loads occur on the lines already connected.

The rotated socket 1 is latched to the carrier 19 by the latching fingers 23, 24 being pushed into the latching openings 21, 22 shown in FIG. 6. In this position, the insulation displacement contacts 15, 16, which are held in the socket housing 2 in a manner that is safe to touch, face the carrier 19 and are thus covered again. The carrier 19 can be both an element of the preassembled lamp and an element or a cover cap at the installation location, for example a piece of furniture. In the latter cases, the version 1 offers not only easy wiring, but also considerable volume savings and improved handling during transport.

A modified embodiment of the socket 1 is shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 11. Parts that are identical in construction and / or function to those in version 1 are provided with the same reference symbols, supplemented by the letter "a". In the version 1a, as shown in FIG. 8 in particular, there are no separate counterholders. Otherwise, versions 1 and 1a match. The wiring position shown in FIG. 9 coincides with the wiring position of the socket 1, and wiring and transport take place in the same way.

In the position of use, however, the rear wall 5a lies flat against the carrier 19a. The carrier 19a thus covers the grooves 11a, 12a. Due to the large area of the Rear wall 5a on the carrier 19a is also obtained a rigid attachment of the socket 1a.

The illustrated embodiment of the holder 1a can be modified by providing eyelets formed on the housing 2a instead of the latching fingers 17a, 18a, which are connected to the carrier 19a by means of screws, rivets or similar fastening means, the holder being otherwise unchanged.

A further modified embodiment is shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 as a version 1b. Insofar as the version 1b corresponds to the versions 1, 1a already described, the same reference numerals provided with a "b" for identification purposes are used. In this respect, the above description also applies to version 1b.

The socket housing 2b is pivotally mounted on a base 42 via a hinge means 41. The one-piece base 42 has a section 43 lying flat on the support 29b, which is held on the support 29b with locking pins 44, 45. In their function, the locking pins 44, 45 correspond to the locking fingers 17, 18 in the exemplary embodiments described above. From the section 43, two extensions 46, 47 held parallel to one another at a distance extend in the direction away from the locking pins 44, 45. The extensions 46, 47 are designed as vertical wall sections, each of which has an opening 48 (only visible in FIG. 13 for the extension 46). These openings 48 serve to receive pins 49, 51, which are provided on the housing 2b and are aligned with one another and which together with the openings 48 define the hinge means 41.

At the end, the extensions 46, 47 have sections that extend vertically upward as latching tongues 53, 54, which engage behind corresponding projections provided on the socket housing 2b when the socket housing 2b is in the position of use shown in solid lines in FIG. 13. In this position, the latching tongues 53, 54 also overlap the grooves 11b, 12b, which serve to receive connecting lines, and thus secure lines located in the grooves 11b, 12b.

In order to create a firm contact for the socket housing 2b on the base 42 during the wiring, the base 42 has an abutment surface 56 formed by two mutually parallel ribs, on which the abutment rib 35b in the wiring position of the socket housing 2b shown in phantom in FIG. 13 lies on.

In this embodiment, the fastening means for holding the socket 1b in the position of use is formed by a cooperation of the locking pins 44, 45, the hinge means 41 and the locking tongues 53, 54. The holding means for holding the socket in the wiring position is formed by the cooperation of the locking pins 44, 45 of the base, the hinge means 41 and the contact surface 56 on the section 43 of the base 42. The wiring position is maintained during packaging and shipping. Only when the luminaire is installed is the lampholder housing 2b erected and thus transferred to the use position.

A socket provided for use in an automatic wiring system, in particular for fluorescent lamps, can be installed in two different positions, for which purpose it has corresponding fastening means and additional holding means. A first position defined by the holding means serves to fix the socket in a wiring position, while the other fastening means are used for Keep the socket in the use position. The position of use and wiring preferably differ by a rotation of 90 ° around a transverse axis. In addition to the automatic wiring, such a socket enables space-saving transport, in which the socket is protected and accommodated on a carrier in a space-saving manner.

Claims (16)

Socket for connecting electrical equipment, especially fluorescent lamps,
with a socket housing that is set up for mechanical mounting and electrical contacting of the equipment, and
with a fastening means for holding the socket in a position of use in which the equipment is held and contacted,
characterized,
that the socket (1) also has a holding means (27, 28) for holding the socket (1) in a different position from the position of use for wiring and space-saving transport. Socket according to claim 1, characterized in that electrical contact means (7, 8), which are held in a contact-safe manner by the socket housing (2), are accessible from at least one connection opening (4) of the socket housing (2) from a first side of the housing and that line connection means (15, 16), which are connected to the contact means (7, 8), are accessible through wiring openings (11, 12) from a second housing side of the socket housing (2) for connecting electrical lines. Socket according to claim 2, characterized in that the first and second housing sides are sides of the socket housing (2) which face away from one another. Socket according to claim 1, characterized in that the position of use differs from the second position for wiring and transportation by one rotation. Socket according to claim 4, characterized in that the rotation is substantially 90 degrees. Socket according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding means (27, 28) is designed in such a way that the socket (1) can be mounted in the position provided for this purpose in a lamp or a comparable element (29) in a position in which all of the required Cables can be connected in the required length, and that the holding means (27, 28) is combined with a stop means (35, 36) which is a sufficient abutment for the forces occurring during wiring in insulation displacement technology. Socket according to claim 1, characterized in that the holder means (27, 28) provides a detachable holder and the fastening means (17, 18) provides a fastening which is not intended to be released. Socket according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding means (27, 28) is designed such that the wired socket (1) held by the holding means (17, 18) in the wiring and transport position is released by hand, pivoted into the use position and by means of of the fastener (17, 18) can be secured in this. Socket according to claim 1, characterized in that the socket housing (2) is carried by a base (42) which holds the socket housing (2) with a hinge means (41). Socket according to claim 2, 6 and 9, characterized in that the stop means (35, 36) is assigned at least one contact surface (56) which is formed on the base (41) and is designed such that it mounts the socket housing (2) in the region the line connection means (15, 16) supports. Socket according to Claim 8, characterized in that the fastening means on the base (41), which cooperates with the socket housing (2), has means (53, 54) for securing the socket housing (2) in the position of use. Socket according to claim 11, characterized in that the means (53, 54) is a locking means. Socket according to claim 9, characterized in that the base (42) is part of a lamp element. Socket according to claim 9, characterized in that the base (42) is made of a material which is less thermally stable than the material of the rest of the socket (1). Socket according to claim 1, characterized in that the line connection means (15, 16) are insulation displacement contacts. Socket according to Claim 1, characterized in that the at least one connection opening (4) and the wiring openings (12, 13) are designed in such a way that the electrical contact means (7, 8) and the wiring means (15, 16) which are optionally formed integrally therewith are touch-proof in the socket housing (2).

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