EP1593908B1 - Fluorescent lamp holder - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a fluorescent lamp retaining spring, in particular for single-ended fluorescent lamps.

Single-ended fluorescent lamps, so-called compact fluorescent lamps, often have a considerable length. If they are only socketed on one side, they can not be easily installed in a horizontal installation position. There is an additional holding device is required, which supports the base of the opposite end of the example bent U-shaped discharge tube, so that bending stresses are kept away from both the lamp base and the lamp socket. Such bending stresses could otherwise lead to considerable damage and related complaints.

From practice, it is known to support the ends of single-capped fluorescent lamps by a plastic retaining part.

This is on the DE 33 42 080 A1 directed. This discloses a fluorescent lamp retaining spring made of plastic for single-ended, horizontally installed fluorescent lamps. The retaining spring comprises a spring body, on which a fastening portion is formed with a plate-like portion for direct attachment to a lamp housing. The plate-like section is provided with a Rastfuß. On the spring body, a lamp holding portion is formed, extending from the two detent spring tongue to different sides.

The lamp holding portion is connected to the fixing portion via a stiffening winged portion. At its upper side facing the lamp, the stiffening wings are adapted in their contour to the lamp so as to form abutments for the lamp.

For example, from the DE 43 07 604 A1 It is known to provide a plastic base with a metal spring. This metal spring has detent spring tongues and repository for the fluorescent lamp. For this, however, a UV-resistant plastic must be used for the plastic base, because the fluorescent lamps always send out a significant UV component, which leads to a corresponding stress on the plastics, at least in the immediate lamp environment.

For multi-part retaining elements, for example, comprise a plastic base and a metal spring supported by this, applies accordingly. In addition, care must be taken in the preparation of a connection between the plastic and the retaining spring.

On this basis, it is an object of the invention to provide a fluorescent lamp retaining spring, which can be produced easily and inexpensively, which is stable and durable and which is easy to handle.

This object is achieved by the fluorescent lamp retaining spring according to claim 1:

The fluorescent lamp retaining spring according to the invention is integrally formed from resilient metal. The one-piece production can be done in a stamping bending process, so that the retaining springs can be machined finished without any subsequent installation or other rework. The retaining spring has a fastening portion and a lamp holding portion. It is so far specially shaped and in one piece. He has no UV-sensitive parts. As a result, even after prolonged use, no brittle plastic parts can break off. On the contrary, in the long term, the safe seating of the fluorescent lamps and the relief of the lamp base and the lamp socket are ensured.

In addition, the one-piece construction of the fluorescent lamp retaining spring, including all functional elements not only allows the particularly efficient production but also a simple and efficient installation on a lamp. Depending on the embodiment, the fluorescent lamp retaining spring can either be inserted into pre-punched holes in the luminaire housing and latched thereto. Another possibility is to fix the retaining spring by means of tapping screw, metric screw or blind rivet.

Preferably, the fluorescent lamp retaining spring is made of a chromium-nickel steel, which is insensitive to heat, UV rays, aging or corrosion and requires no galvanic aftertreatment. He also has the necessary spring properties.

It is considered advantageous if the lamp holding portion has a flat web whose surface is oriented substantially perpendicular to the mounting portion and extend from the two locking spring tongues at an acute angle to each other on the mounting portion. The lamp holding portion can then be slid between two legs of a U-shaped bent discharge tube. The detent spring tongues slide due to the acute-angled employment easily through the gap between the pipe legs is present. The detent spring tongues are preferably bent to different sides of the attachment portion. Thus, the lamp and the retaining spring are automatically centered to each other.

The detent spring tongues extend away from the common web to different sides and are preferably held between two legs supporting the web. The legs and the bridge form a frame within which the detent spring tongues are free. This gives a stable and to the lamp opening, i. towards the user, smooth construction, so that risks of injury during handling are minimized.

To connect the lamp holder section and the fastening section, connecting legs that are spread apart from one another are preferably provided, which attach to opposite sides of the fastening section. The connecting legs are preferably provided with a kink. On the one hand, this enables the formation of inclined surfaces which serve as abutments or contact surfaces for the tube legs of the fluorescent lamp and, on the other hand, the formation of mutually parallel sections of the connecting legs, which act as a parallelogram and thus can develop a certain lateral compliance. This can be used to compensate for tolerances, to prevent the fluorescent lamp retaining spring exerts undesirable forces on the fluorescent lamp.

The attachment can by latching means, suspension means or simply by a mounting opening for a fastening screw or a rivet or the like. The plate-like section ensures in all cases a secure fit of the retaining spring on a corresponding planar contact surface, such as a lighting panel.

Figur 1

eine Leuchtstofflampen-Haltefeder in einer ersten Ausführungsform im Einsatz beim Befestigen einer lediglich schematisch angedeuteten, einseitig gesockelten Leuchtstofflampe,

Figur 2

die Haltefeder nach Figur 1 in perspektivischer Darstellung,

Figur 3

eine abgewandelte Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Haltefeder in perspektivischer Darstellung,

Figur 4

eine weiter abgewandelte Ausführungsform der Haltefeder in perspektivischer Darstellung und

Figur 5

die Anwendung der Haltefeder bei einer vielrohrigen Leuchtstofflampe und im Zusammenwirken mit einer schwenkbaren Fassung in perspektivischer Darstellung.

Further advantageous details of embodiments of the fluorescent lamp retaining spring are the subject of the drawing or the description and individual subclaims. In the drawings, embodiments of the fluorescent lamp retaining spring are illustrated. Show it:

FIG. 1

a fluorescent lamp retaining spring in a first embodiment in use in attaching a merely schematically indicated, single-capped fluorescent lamp,

FIG. 2

the retaining spring after FIG. 1 in perspective,

FIG. 3

a modified embodiment of the retaining spring according to the invention in a perspective view,

FIG. 4

a further modified embodiment of the retaining spring in a perspective view and

FIG. 5

the application of the retaining spring in a multi-tubular fluorescent lamp and in cooperation with a swivel mount in a perspective view.

In FIG. 1 is a section of a lamp 1 illustrated, including among other things, a lamp housing 2 and a fluorescent lamp 3 belong. The fluorescent lamp has a U-shaped bent discharge tube, whose legs 4, 5 are arranged at a small distance parallel to each other. The discharge tube is socketed at the end. The base and the associated socket are in FIG. 1 not further illustrated. At a greater distance from the base, preferably approximately in the vicinity of the end of the discharge tube, in which the legs 4, 5 are interconnected, a retaining spring 6 is provided, which supports the otherwise free-floating end of the fluorescent lamp 3 on the lamp housing 2. This applies both to horizontal installation of the fluorescent lamp 3, as in FIG. 1 illustrated as well as for hanging installation, as would be conceivable in inverted figure 1, or even with horizontal installation with side lamp housing, as he turned at 90 ° FIG. 1 is to think. The retaining spring 6 can also be used with vertically arranged fluorescent lamp 3 application to secure the fluorescent lamp 3 in vertical position. This may be particularly advantageous when using swiveling lamp holders. The retaining spring 6 is designed so that it carries out a support of the fluorescent lamp 3 to the lamp housing 2 in all mounting positions mentioned.

The retaining spring 6 is separately in FIG. 2 illustrated. It is an integrally formed part of resilient metal, such as chrome-nickel steel. It can be manufactured in a punch bending process and ready to fall out of a suitable forming tool.

The retaining spring 6 has a spring body 7, to which a fastening portion 8 and a lamp holding portion 9 belong. The lamp holding portion 9 extends substantially perpendicular to the attachment portion 8, which, like FIG. 1 illustrated, preferably located in the plane of the fixing lamp housing 2. To the lamp holding portion 9 includes a remote from the mounting portion 8 web 11, which is connected via two outer legs 12, 13 with a further web 14. The webs 11, 14 and legs 12, 13 form a frame which surrounds two detent spring tongues 15, 16. The detent spring tongues 15, 16 are arranged between the legs 12, 13 and held at the end of the web 11. They extend, like FIG. 1 can recognize, at an acute angle to each other and at acute angles to the legs 12, 13. This applies both for the relaxed state according to FIG. 2 as well as for the working condition according to FIG. 1 , The locking spring tongues 15, 16 have been released in a punching operation of the surrounding frame and then bent in different directions from the predetermined plane of the frame. The ends of the locking tongues 15, 16 are angled towards each other. Here formed, angled portions 17, 18 serve the investment in the legs 4, 5 of the fluorescent tube, as from FIG. 1 evident.

From the web 14, connecting legs 19, 20, 21 extend to the mounting portion 8. In this case, the centrally disposed connecting leg 20 is preferably wider than the respectively externally arranged connecting legs 19, 21. While the outer connecting leg are bent parallel to one another to one side leads the middle Connecting leg 20 approximately at a right or at an acute angle to this in the opposite direction. The weg leading parts of the legs 19, 20, 21 form, in particular from FIG. 1 can be seen, abutment 22, 23, 24 for the legs 4, 5 of the discharge tube. Furthermore, the legs 19, 20, 21 in some Distance to the abutment areas each have a bend so that they form in parallel sections 25, 26, 27. These can be considered as a spring parallelogram. The sections 25, 26, 27 of the connecting legs 19, 20, 21 lead to mutually opposite edges of a plate-shaped portion 28, which serves to support the retaining spring 6 on the lamp housing 2.

While the legs 19, 21 merge integrally into the section 28 at a bending line, the leg 20 is connected to the section 28 via a bead connection. For this purpose, the section 28 has an angled lug 29, which rises from the connecting leg 19, 21 opposite side of the section 28. The connecting leg 20, however, has at its, the section 28 adjacent end an opening 31 which is penetrated by an angled end of the tab 29. This end is bent on the inside of the leg 20, so that the end of the tab 29 forms a U-shaped eyelet. From this, the leg 20 can not escape. This is true regardless of whether he can move with play against the tab 29 or whether the tab is firmly pressed together. The inner part 32 of the tab 29 is, with respect to the longitudinal direction of the connecting leg, longer than the opening 31st

For fixing the portion 28 to the lamp housing 2 are for example two cranked hooks 33, 34 which extend away from an edge of the portion 28, and a locking projection 35 in the form of a tab with an angled locking tongue 36. The tab is for example from the section 28th punched out and projects at right angles to this down. The free end 37 is preferably after the release of the latching tongue 36 to the section 28th angled away so that the latching tongue 36 is exposed to the outside and from the hooks 33, 34 away.

The use of the retaining spring 6 is as follows:

As FIG. 1 illustrated, this can be easily attached to a mounting opening 38 of the lamp housing 2 by first hanging the hooks 33, 34 in the mounting hole 38 and then the locking projection 35 is pivoted in a pivoting movement of the retaining spring 6 in the mounting hole 38 until the latching tongue 36th engages behind the edge of the mounting hole 38. Then the retaining spring 6 is fully assembled.

The fluorescent lamp 3 can then be locked with the legs 4, 5 on the retaining spring 6. For this purpose, the legs 4, 5 are striped over the lamp holding section 9 until they engage between the leg 16 and the abutment 22 or the leg 15 and the abutments 23, 24. In this state, the fluorescent lamp 3 is still axially displaceable. It can now be moved axially, for example, to introduce their socket in a corresponding version. Likewise, the fluorescent lamp 3 can be led out for removal from the socket by being axially displaced. Thereafter, they can be deducted from the retaining spring 6, by simply from the lamp housing 2 in FIG. 1 is moved vertically upwards away. It overcomes the locking effect of the detent spring tongues 15, 16.

FIG. 3 illustrates a modified embodiment of the retaining spring 6. As far as compliance with the retaining spring 6 after FIGS. 1 and 2 is made, reference is made to the previous description with reference to the same reference numerals.

The difference between the retaining spring 6 after FIG. 3 and the above-described retaining spring is in the manner of attachment of the same to the lamp housing 2. For fastening serve two locking projections 41, 42 which are approximately centrally disposed on the section 28 and project at right angles away from this. Their ends 43, 44 are bent toward each other after release of locking tongues 45, 46, in order to facilitate the insertion and locking of the locking projections in pre-punched openings of the lamp housing 2. The ends of the latching tongues 45, 46 can in turn be bent toward one another, in order to also, if necessary, a withdrawal of the retaining spring 6 from its mounting opening, ie to allow a release of the retaining spring 6.

While latching projections 35, 41, 42 have optionally served in connection with suspension hooks 33, 34 as fastening means for the retaining spring 6 in the exemplary embodiments discussed so far, it is how FIG. 4 illustrated, also possible to arrange a fastening opening 47, for example in the middle of the section 28 as a fastening means. In this case, screws, rivets or the like can be used for fastening. Otherwise, the above description of the retaining spring applies FIGS. 1 and 2 corresponding.

In FIG. 5 a modified embodiment of the fluorescent lamp 3 is illustrated. While FIG. 1 emanating from a two- or vierrohrigen fluorescent lamp is in FIG. 5 illustrates a six- or eight-tube fluorescent lamp, which is provided at one end with a lamp cap 51. This is held in a lamp socket 52, which has a fixed to the lamp housing 2 resting portion 53 and a pivotally mounted on this portion 54. The lamp holder 52 thus has Hinge whose pivot axis is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the fluorescent lamp 3. The arranged at a distance from the lamp holder 52 retaining spring 6 is the same retaining spring as described above. The above description therefore applies accordingly. The retaining spring 6 is adapted to support the weight of the fluorescent lamp 3 to prevent it from folding down. The locking action of the retaining spring 6 between the tubes of the fluorescent lamp 3 ensures a sufficiently tight fit. The retaining spring 6 is dimensioned so that it sits securely both between the tubes of two-tube, vierrohriger, six-tube or achtrohriger fluorescent. In the FIG. 5 illustrated embodiment of lamp holder 52 and retaining spring 6 is suitable for tight installation conditions of the lamp. However, the lamp can also be arranged horizontally or vertically (upright or hanging).

A fluorescent lamp retaining spring 6 is provided in particular for supporting and supporting the free end of a single-capped fluorescent lamp. The retaining spring is integrally formed as a sheet metal stamped and bent part and consists completely and seamlessly of the same material. Their special shape allows diverse use and clean support of the fluorescent lamp with axial displacement of the same. In addition, the retaining spring 6 can be particularly easily made of a piece of sheet metal with a substantially uniform thickness and rectangular outline. All functional parts and areas are created by releasing spring tongues and bending out the same. Connecting legs between the fluorescent lamp 3 associated lamp holding portion 9 and a mounting portion 8 form an annular region which is positively closed by a crimp 29, 31, 32. The crimp or bead connection is produced automatically in a stamping bending process.

Claims (11)

1. Fluorescent lamp retaining spring (6), in particular for horizontally configured fluorescent lamps (3) with a socket on one side,
   with a spring body (7) made in one piece from resilient metal,

   a. on which a fastening section (8) is configured with a plate-like section (28) for directly connecting to the lamp housing (2), which has associated fastening elements (33, 34, 35; 41, 42; 47) likewise configured in one piece on the spring body (7), and

   b. on which a lamp holding section (9) is configured, on which at least one catch spring tongue (16) is configured,

   c. wherein to connect the lamp holding section (9) to the fastening section (8) connecting legs (19, 20, 21), which are spread apart from one another and form the abutment (22, 23, 24) for the fluorescent lamp (3), are configured on the lamp holding section (9),

   d. wherein the legs (19, 20, 21) respectively have a bend at some distance from the abutment regions, so that they merge into parallel sections (25, 26, 27) and guide opposing edges of the plate-shaped section (28),

   e. so that the lamp holding section (9) is connected to the fastening section (8) on two opposing sides thereof.
2. Fluorescent lamp retaining spring according to claim 1, characterised in that the lamp holding section (9) has a flat web (11), the surface of which is oriented substantially at right angles to the fastening section (8) and from which two catch spring tongues (15,16) extend at an acute angle to one another towards the fastening section (8).
3. Fluorescent lamp retaining spring according to claim 2, characterised in that the catch spring tongues (15, 16) are bent out to different sides of the lamp holding section (9).
4. Fluorescent lamp retaining spring according to claim 2, characterised in that the catch spring tongues (15, 16) are arranged between two legs (12, 13), which support the web (11).
5. Fluorescent lamp retaining spring according to claim 1, characterised in that at its end the catch spring tongue (15, 16) has an angled-off section (17, 18), which serves to support the fluorescent lamp (3).
6. Fluorescent lamp retaining spring according to claim 2, characterised in that each catch tongue (15, 16) respectively has at least one associated abutment (22, 23, 24).
7. Fluorescent lamp retaining spring according to claim 1, characterised in that the abutments (22, 23, 24) are formed by a section of the respective connecting leg (19, 20, 21) oriented on an angle to the lamp holding section.
8. Fluorescent lamp retaining spring according to claim 1, characterised in that the connection is formed in one piece on one side and by a crimp connection (29, 31, 32) on the opposite side.
9. Fluorescent lamp retaining spring according to claim 1, characterised in that brackets forming the fastening element extend away from the plate-like section (28) to configure catch projections (41, 42).
10. Fluorescent lamp retaining spring according to claim 1, characterised in that engagement hooks (33, 34) are configured on one side of the section (8) and a catch projection (35) is configured on the opposite side to form the fastening element.
11. Fluorescent lamp retaining spring according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one fastening opening (47), which forms the fastening element, is configured on the section (28).

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