EP1679471A1

EP1679471A1 - Double bulb built-in lighting apparatus with adjustable uniform lighting

Info

Publication number: EP1679471A1
Application number: EP05103357A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giannunzio Guzzini
Original assignee: Iguzzini Illuminazione SpA
Current assignee: Iguzzini Illuminazione SpA
Priority date: 2004-04-30
Filing date: 2005-04-26
Publication date: 2006-07-12
Also published as: NO20052129L; CN1702370A; ITMI20040202U1; NO20052129D0

Abstract

A double bulb built-in lighting apparatus (10) with adjustable uniform lighting comprising a containment body or outer casing (13), which is housed in an opening (12) of a false ceiling (11), a bulb socket unit (14, 15, 15', 21, 21') and a closing ring (16), in which apparatus the bulb socket unit (14) foresees at least two bulbs (21, 21') in respective bulb sockets (15, 15') arranged in a reflector (22, 22') shaped in two reflective parts separated in the middle and each part being equipped with a respective light, at an open portion of the closing ring (16) being arranged at least one element that is not transparent towards the inside (25) that masks the inside of the apparatus (10) and does not allow the reflector (22, 22') to be seen directly.

Description

The present invention refers to a double bulb built-in lighting apparatus with adjustable uniform lighting.
In the field of built-in lighting apparatuses on the market there are currently the most varied embodiments that have various possibilities of use in reference to the surface where they are applied and to the light that must be emitted.
Usually, when it is necessary to have many levels of amounts of light being emitted, there are at least two bulbs that, working individually or simultaneously, allow this alternative operation required.
In general, the presence of many bulbs in these lighting apparatuses, which are for example mounted in openings of a false ceiling or in any case close to walls or ceilings, normally creates unpleasant effects. For example, effects that can be defined as "dappling" or "blots" occur on the lit area due also to the asymmetric distribution that is created in the two possibilities of illumination and this asymmetry disturbs the user.
Often, for example, these "blots" are very evident near to the lighting body and create a series of definite transitions between light and dark, i.e. between an area that is more lit and an area that is less lit.
Moreover, it is clear that these areas are determined geometrically by the constructive characteristics of the apparatus used. The arrangement both of the bulbs and of all of the other constituent elements of each apparatus creates a whole series of undesired effects and disturbances for the user who can clearly see non-uniformity of lighting, one or two bulbs being switched on, etc.
Even the arrangement of a generic screen in front of the bulb or bulbs to limit the effect that the blots and non-uniformity in general create has the result of also limiting the overall light that is emitted by the product.
Therefore, although such known lighting apparatuses carry out their lighting function satisfactorily, they are not always capable of fully enhancing their functional qualities as well as the lit room in which they are arranged.
From this examination of the prior art it should, however, be noted that it is now desirable to obtain a built-in lighting apparatus that overcomes the described technical limitations.
The purpose of the present invention is therefore that of making a double bulb built-in lighting apparatus with adjustable uniform lighting that is able to eliminate the whole series of drawbacks quoted previously.
Another purpose is that of making a double bulb built-in lighting apparatus with adjustable uniform lighting that allows ample adjustment both in the presence of a single and of a double light source.
Yet another purpose of the present invention is therefore that of making a double bulb built-in lighting apparatus with adjustable uniform lighting that does not allow the user to distinguish, observing from the outside, whether just one bulb or two bulbs are switched on.
These purposes according to the present invention are accomplished by making a double bulb built-in lighting apparatus with adjustable uniform lighting as outlined in claim 1.
The further claims define the additional characteristics of the present invention.
The characteristics and advantages of a double bulb built-in lighting apparatus with adjustable uniform lighting according to the present invention shall become clearer from the following description, given as an example and not for limiting purposes, referring to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic front elevation section view of a double bulb built-in lighting apparatus with adjustable uniform lighting according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a schematic front elevation section view of a second example of a built-in lighting apparatus according to the present invention.
Figure 3 is a schematic side elevation section view of the second example in which the same position of figure 2 is shown in a representation with a solid line and alternative positions are shown in representations with varied lines.

With reference to the figures, a double bulb built-in lighting apparatus with adjustable uniform lighting according to the present invention is shown, wholly indicated with 10 in both of its examples.
The lighting apparatus 10 is, for example, associated with a plasterboard false ceiling 11 in which an opening 12 is made. The lighting apparatus 10 comprises a containment body or outer casing 13, which is housed in the opening 12, a bulb socket unit 14, comprising respective bulb sockets 15, 15', and a closing ring 16.
More specifically, the containment body or outer casing 13 is housed in the opening 12, for example circular, thanks to the provision of expansion brackets 17 for fastening to the false ceiling 11. Moreover, the containment body or outer casing 13, at its end facing outwards, has a raised peripheral part 18, for example along the circumference, which ensures a tight fit with the plasterboard false ceiling 11.
Supports with an elastic element 27 are foreseen, which engage in rustications or projections 27a, formed inside the containment body or outer casing 13, only one of which is shown, which fix the closing ring 16 in a permanent and secure manner. This arrangement at the same time makes a freely removable connection such that the maintenance interventions can also be carried out without the help of tools.
The bulb socket unit 14 makes a lighting unit comprising a support bracket 20, fixedly connected inside the containment body or outer casing 13, on which the bulb sockets 15, 15' are arranged, for respective bulbs 21, 21', connected to two control circuits (not shown) so that the bulbs can either work simultaneously or one independently from the other. The two bulb sockets 15, 15' are arranged in a respective reflector 22, 22' shaped in two reflective parts separated at the middle. The reflector 22, 22' is made from polished anodised superpure aluminium, in two parts, and is deformed for lighting-technical requirements, so that having two foci, it focuses the light at the height of the source and guides it perpendicularly towards the useful plane.
In the lower part near to the opening 12, where, as stated, the closing ring 16 is arranged, a shaped element 23 is arranged that extends both inside and outside the ring 16 and that makes a central hole 24 for the direct passage of light. It should also be noted that the closing ring 16 can be made from transparent thermoplastic material, glass, metacrylate or similar, for example sand-blasted or satinized, to avoid the formation of reflections.
The shaped element 23, at an end thereof inside the central hole 24, foresees an element that is not transparent towards the inside 25, with a disc-shaped closing plate, made from glass or similar, being for example "dotted", which masks the inside of the apparatus 10 and does not allow the reflector 22, 22' in two parts to be seen directly.
It should also be noted that above the element that is not transparent towards the inside 25, again in the direction towards the inside, a light-permeable plate element 26 is arranged, supported for example at one end thereof through one or more shaped supports 19.
The light-permeable plate element 26 has a light-diffusing perimetric outer part 26a that acts to redistribute the incident light and to uniformly light the area below. The light rays B that do not come out directly crossing the central hole are redirected towards the central zone of the closing ring 16 and the outer surface of the shaped element 23. These areas are configured in such a way as to reflect/refract these rays transversally towards the closing ring 16 and create a uniform lighting thereof by directing them outwards.
It should be noted that this element 26 can also not be present in which case there will not be optimal and uniform redistribution of the light emitted by the bulbs.
The light-permeable plate element 26, for example made from glass, carries out anti-UV protection that is resistant to high temperatures, removable even without the help of tools and it is fixed to prevent it from falling during the replacement of the bulbs.
The special configuration of the reflector 22, 22' in two parts, made in a single piece or in two parts associated with each other, allows both of the bulbs, together or individually, to ensure a symmetrical distribution with respect to the emission of light.
The double bulb built-in lighting apparatus with adjustable uniform lighting according to the invention thus allows the amount of light to be adjusted on two levels through the independent or simultaneous illumination of the discharge light sources. Moreover, there is a light distribution that is symmetrical both with one bulb switched on and with two, whilst preventing the reflector from being seen directly and increasing visual comfort.
The special configuration of the reflector/glass optical system creates a virtual source effect that does not allow the user to distinguish whether two bulbs are on or just one. In particular, this occurs since the lighting determines a uniform illumination of the parts facing outwards irrespective of the illumination combination of the light sources.
Figures 2 and 3 show a second example of an apparatus according to the present invention for which the same reference numerals are used for identical elements.
Therefore, it should be noted in this second example that the bulb socket unit 14 comprising an outer support bracket 20 and an inner support bracket 28 hinged inside it at two pins 29. Consequently, the inner bracket 28 can be freely orientated with respect to the outer one 20 and fixedly carries the bulb sockets 15, 15', for respective bulbs 21, 21'.
The view of figure 3 shows how this particular arrangement allows the inner support bracket 28 to be taken into a position rotated with respect to the outer bracket 20. In such a way a different orientation both of the bulb sockets 15, 15' and of the respective bulbs 21, 21' is determined.
It is thus made possible to orientate the bulbs as desired in the installation step to obtain a particular and required orientation thereof.
However, it should be noted that the dismountable parts for maintenance purposes must be fixed with a safety cable to stop them falling.
The filling and closing ring 16, which is made as stated, and which has an inner hole with a diameter slightly greater than the maximum diameter of the shaped element 23, has an outer edge that is bevelled at 45° along the circumference and polished. On the back such a ring 16 is entirely serigraphed, made perfectly opaque and printed with the same colour as the ceiling so as to blend in.
An apparatus according to the present invention is mounted in a simple and quick manner. Indeed, the apparatus 10 is applied on a plasterboard false ceiling 11 through the expansion brackets 17.
The two reactors (not shown and arranged in separate spaces) are hung from the solid ceiling (also not shown).
The closing and filling ring 16 is fixed in the opening 12 so that there is a regular slot, up to the false ceiling 11.
In the containment body or outer casing 13, or rather in the optical space, the bulb socket unit 14 must be arranged, wired in two control circuits, so that the bulbs 21, 21' can work independently from each other. The containment body or outer casing 13 is also fixed to the solid ceiling above.
The apparatus is thus mounted in such a way that a single installer is able to take care of maintenance even without the help of tools.
A double bulb built-in lighting apparatus with adjustable uniform lighting thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, which are all covered by the present invention; moreover, all of the details can be replaced with technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used, as well as the sizes, can be whatever according to the technical requirements.

Claims

Double bulb built-in lighting apparatus (10) with adjustable uniform lighting comprising a containment body or outer casing (13), which is housed in an opening (12) of a false ceiling (11), a bulb socket unit (14, 15, 15', 21, 21') and a closing ring (16), characterised in that said bulb socket unit (14) foresees at least two bulbs (21, 21') in respective bulb sockets (15, 15') arranged in a reflector (22, 22') shaped in two reflective parts separated in the middle and each part being equipped with a respective focus, at an open portion of said closing ring (16) being arranged at least one element that is not transparent towards the inside (25) that masks the inside of the apparatus (10) and does not allow the reflector (22, 22') to be seen directly.
Built-in lighting apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that a light-permeable plate element (26) is foreseen, associated with said element that is not transparent towards the inside (25).
Built-in lighting apparatus (10) according to claim 2, characterised in that said light-permeable plate element (26) is supported at an end thereof through at least one shaped support 19.
Built-in lighting apparatus (10) according to claim 2, characterised in that said light-permeable plate element (26) has a light-diffusing perimetric outer part (26a) that acts to redistribute the incident light and to uniformly light up said element that is not transparent towards the inside (25).
Built-in lighting apparatus (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said element that is not transparent towards the inside (25) is provided at one of its inner ends with a central hole (24) of a shaped element (23).
Built-in lighting apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that said bulb socket unit (14, 15, 15', 21, 21') is arranged on a support bracket (20) fixedly attached inside the containment body or outer casing (13).
Built-in lighting apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that said bulb socket unit (14, 15, 15', 21, 21') is arranged on a bracket comprising an outer support bracket (20), fixedly attached inside the containment body or outer casing (13), and an inner support bracket (28) hinged inside it at two pins (29), able to be freely orientated and carrying said at least two bulbs (21, 21') and the respective bulb sockets (15, 15').
Built-in lighting apparatus (10) according to claim 2, characterised in that said element that is not transparent towards the inside (25) is made from glass or similar.
Built-in lighting apparatus (10) according to claim 2, characterised in that said light-permeable plate element (26) is made from glass or similar.
Built-in lighting apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that said closing ring (16) is fixed to said apparatus through at least one support with an elastic element (27) that engages in a rustication or projection (27a), formed inside the containment body or outer casing (13), which fixes it in a permanent and secure manner, at the same time making a freely removable connection.