EP1917655B1 - Luminous-element system, and luminous element for a luminous-element system - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a neon sign system according to the preamble of claim 1 and a luminous element for a filament system.

State of the art

Illuminants, in particular for neon signs, are already in manifold design. in the form of letters, lettering, symbols or the like. In one embodiment, for example, letters that can be illuminated by light-emitting diodes are mounted on a wall via fastening screws. The power supply is via a power cable, which supply the LEDs with electrical energy.

A corresponding luminous element for a neon sign is eg in the German utility model DE 299 14 456 U1 disclosed. The luminous element has a solid, the nominal contour shape of the filament reproducing core plate of an opaque material, a plurality of individual inserted into respective mounting holes in the back of the core plate light emitting diodes, which are connected to a power supply and the back with the light-emitting diodes tightly covering the cover plate. To attach such a luminous body to a wall or bearing plate threaded pins are provided, which from behind over the Cover plate and a wiring space are screwed into corresponding threaded holes in the core plate.

The electrical connection is made via connecting cable.

From document FR 2 563 648 A1 a neon advertising system is known, which comprises a support structure and attachable to the support structure luminous letters. The illuminated letters include metal clips which are attachable to horizontally extending and attached to the support structure rails to supply the illuminated letters with operating current.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a neon sign system in which luminous letters can be fastened to a support structure in a simple manner, and wherein a predetermined distance between adjacent luminous letters can be reproducibly maintained during assembly of the neon sign system.

This object is achieved by a neon sign display system with the features reproduced in the appended claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the inventions are given in the dependent claims.

Preferably, a power supply to the bulbs in the luminous body is created exclusively via the connectors. In accordance with prepared connectors whole lettering can be plugged, making the assembly significantly easier, especially in terms of time compared to known systems.

Separate cable feeds to light sources in the luminaire can thus unfold completely.

As a luminous body in particular all alphanumeric characters and icons and logos into consideration.

Preferably, there is a plug connection for each pole from a separate plug-in socket with plug-in part. However, it is also conceivable that both poles are provided on a pin-shaped plug-in part, which can then be contacted accordingly in a matching plug-in socket.

For example, male or female parts of a plurality of plug-in connections are arranged spatially separated by the filament surface on a filament. That is, on the outer contour, which defines the luminous element, are separated from each other by outer contour sections which are not cut to the connectors, the female or male parts of the connectors provided. With more than two connectors, it is sufficient if only two connectors for providing a plus and a negative pole for the power supply are energized and all other connectors are only for fastening purposes, but this must not be recognizable on the connectors from the outside.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, at least two insertion parts are provided on the luminous element. These may e.g. include a lamellar connector.

Another possibility is that plug-in sockets are present on the lamp. Then, a corresponding counterpart of the connector must be provided on a support structure. It is also conceivable that both plug-in sockets and plug-in parts are present on a luminous element. For example, the energized connectors are designed so that the plug-in parts are mounted on the lamp, whereas plug-in sockets are present in the unpowered connectors on the lamp. This differentiation is possible.

The connector may also be formed as a hook connection in a manner that a plug is tilted introduced and after a tilt back the plug is locked in the plug-in socket. By the weight of a filament, the connector is preferably held in the locked position.

For this to be possible, such plug connections should be arranged on a "virtual tilt axis".

In mounted on the support structure state, the plug-in socket can be particularly through the support structure. As a result, the mounted plug-in socket can be accessible from the rear or from a rear side of the support structure, which is located, for example, rearward to a front or visible side of the support structure, for fastening purposes and / or for electrical contacting of the plug-in socket. In particular, at the reaching up to the back of the part or on the part projecting thereon Plug-in be taken precautions to attach to the plug-in fasteners or contacting elements.

For attaching or contacting the plug-in socket to different thicknesses or in the plug-in direction differently thick support structures, for example, optionally an extension element for extending the plug-in socket can be attached in the insertion direction at the rear end of the plug-in socket. It is conceivable, e.g. a threaded rod which can be screwed into a matching bore at the rear end of the plug-in socket. The threaded rod screwed in the assembled state can reach up to the rear side of the supporting structure or survive slightly on this, even with a comparatively thick wall of e.g. greater than 40 cm wall thickness.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plug-in socket comprises a plug-in sleeve for the plug-in part, wherein the plug-in sleeve is seated in a mounting bush, which is connectable via fastening members with the support structure. By this measure, the mounting bush made of electrically insulating material, whereas a power supply via the insertion takes place. For this purpose, for example, the insertion sleeve can be connected to the mounting bush via screw means. Hereby, the insertion sleeve can first be fixed in the mounting bushing. In addition, a wiring can be provided via the screw, so that a flow of current through the screw to the insertion is guaranteed. Thus, a plug-in part in the insertion sleeve is contacted electrically in the end. In the case of a luminous element, a plug-in part or a plug-in socket is preferably on the side of the luminous element which is opposite the visible side hidden from the visible side.

In this way, not only an attachment of a filament visually in the background, but also their electrical supply, which is provided by the corresponding fastening means in the same way. For example, elements for three connectors corresponding to the letter contour are distributed on the side opposite the visible side on a luminous letter. Accordingly, counterparts are then arranged on a support structure matching the elements of the connector on the letter. In plan view, the elements of the connector are preferably within a radius of 20 mm, preferably 15 mm. Even better are 10, 8 or even 5 mm.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the insertion part comprises screw means which are screwed into the luminous body. The screw means may then have a plug structure, e.g. a lamellae are applied, possibly also by screwing.

As with a luminous body, a plug-in part can also be formed on a support structure.

Plug connections can be placed distributed along the contour with respect to the luminous element for a uniform attachment of a filament.

drawings

Figur 1

eine Draufsicht auf eine Anordnung von Leuchtbuchstaben,

Figur 2

in einer teilweise geschnittenen, schematischen Seitenansicht einen Ausschnitt einer Befestigungswand und eines Leuchtkörpers mit einer Steckverbindung und

Figur 3

die in Figur 2 dargestellten Elemente in einer Art Explosionsdarstellung.

Figur 4

eine alternative Ausführungsform eines Teils einer Steckverbindung und

Figur 5

das in Figur 4 gezeigte Teil einer Steckverbindung im an einer Tragstruktur angebrachten Zustand mit einem nahezu passenden weiteren Teil der Steckverbindung.

Several embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be explained in more detail below, indicating further advantages and details. Show it

FIG. 1

a top view of an arrangement of illuminated letters,

FIG. 2

in a partially sectioned, schematic side view of a section of a mounting wall and a filament with a connector and

FIG. 3

in the FIG. 2 illustrated elements in a kind of exploded view.

FIG. 4

an alternative embodiment of a part of a connector and

FIG. 5

this in FIG. 4 shown part of a connector in attached to a support structure state with a nearly matching other part of the connector.

Description of the embodiments

In FIG. 1 is shown in plan view of an arrangement of letters 1 to 6 on a mounting wall 7. The letters 1 to 6 are illuminated letters of preferably translucent, milky material, in which LEDs are integrated to their illumination. The structure of such letters can be of many types. For example, the front of the letters is made opaque, whereas a light emission can take place on the side and on the back, whereby the letters appear in a kind of light corona in the illuminated state. Also conceivable is only an exit on the Back; with which a lighting lets the letters hover optically, so to speak.

Decisive is, regardless of the design of the letters whose power supply. All letters 1 to 6 are each about three connectors 8, 9, 10, which in FIG. 1 are indicated by a square symbol attached to the mounting wall 7. Two of the connectors, for example, 9 and 10 at the same time ensure the power supply of the letters to their attachment property. The connector 8 can still be configured exactly the same, but this is not absolutely necessary, if necessary, but simplifies the production.

The structure of a connector 9, 10 can the FIGS. 2 and 3 be removed.

The connector 9, 10 comprises a plug part 11 of a lamellar connector 11a and a threaded rod 11b, which is assigned to the letter. For this purpose, the threaded rod 11 b is screwed into a matching sleeve 11 c in the letters 1 to 6, in such a way that thereby an electrical connection to the lighting means is provided. For example, the positive pole of the lighting means is thereby contacted. On the projecting portion of the threaded rod 11b of the slotted connector 11a is screwed. This has resilient contact blades 11d, which are slightly compressed during insertion into a mating bore 12a of a contact sleeve 12 of the curved shape and thereby creates a clamping force.

The contact sleeve 12 is seated in a mounting sleeve 13 which is secured by a nut 14 shown in dashed lines in a bore 15 of the mounting wall 7. In addition to the nut 14, a shim 14a may be provided. At the Screwing the nut 14 on a threaded portion 13 a, a collar 13 b, which covers the bore 15, clamped against the mounting wall 7.

In the mounting sleeve 13, the contact sleeve 12 is inserted, wherein a screw 16 with spring-loaded tip 16a is so disordered that the spring-loaded tip when inserting the contact sleeve 12 into a notch 17 on the contact sleeve 12, whereby the contact sleeve 12 is mechanically fixed. In addition, an electrical contact to the contact sleeve 12 is provided by the contact screw 16 with a pole of the electrical power supply (not shown) is in communication.

For a negative terminal, a second connector is designed accordingly and connected to the letter. The connectors 9, 10 are spatially completely separated from each other at opposite edge regions of the respective letter 1 to 6 arranged.

In this way, a very simple arrangement of letters 1 bits 6 to prepared sockets 18 is realized.

So far, such advertising elements have been attached in a manner that they are not easily removable sitting on a mounting wall 7. By contrast, if advertising elements can simply be removed, they can be used e.g. defective advertising elements are exchanged in the simplest way, even by a non-specialist. After subtracting the "old, defective" advertising element, the new advertising element only has to be plugged in. This completes the assembly process.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of a contact sleeve 19 in longitudinal section, part of an alternative inventive connector is. The contact sleeve 19 is continuously provided with a diameter-changing hole 19 a. In addition, the contact sleeve 19 is carried out at the front with a collar 19b, which abuts in a mounted on a mounting wall 20 state on a front side 20a of the mounting wall 20 (see FIG. 5 ). The bore 19 a of the contact sleeve 19 is provided in its rear portion with an internal thread 21. About the internal thread 21 in the bore 19 a, for example, a threaded rod can be screwed to extend the contact sleeve 19 to the rear. The screwed-in threaded piece (not shown) can serve to extend the contact sleeve 19 for attachment or contacting on a mounting wall, which in its thickness exceeds the length of the contact sleeve 19.

The mounting wall 20 according to FIG. 5 In its thickness d in the insertion direction of the contact sleeve 19 is smaller than the length of the contact sleeve 19. On the over a rear side 20b of the mounting wall 20 projecting part of the contact sleeve 19 via a male threaded portion 22 on the contact sleeve 19, a mounting flange 23 is screwed so that the contact sleeve 19 is firmly fixed to the mounting wall 20. In this case, the collar 19b is pressed against the front side 20a of the mounting wall. Thus, the mounting flange 23 can not be detached from the contact sleeve 19, for example, by vibrations, 23 holes 24 are provided in the mounting flange, which can be fixed by means of fastening elements of the mounting flange 23 on the mounting wall 20. This is exemplary in FIG. 5 realized by means of a fastening screw 25 in one of the holes 24 shown.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 Letter 22 Externally threaded section 2 Letter 23 mounting flange 3 Letter 24 drilling 4 Letter 25 fixing screw 5 Letter 6 Letter 7 mounting wall 8th connector 9 connector 10 connector 11 plug part 11a laminated plugs 11b threaded rod 11c shell 11d Multilam 12th contact sleeve 12a drilling 13 mounting sleeve 13a threaded portion 13b collar 14 mother 14a shim 15 drilling 16 Contact screw 16a top 17 score 18 socket 19 contact sleeve 19a drilling 19b collar 20 mounting wall 20a front 20b back 21 inner thread

Claims (9)

1. Luminous advertising system consisting of a supporting structure (7) and a plurality of luminous letters (1 to 6) comprising low-voltage illuminants and fastening means for attachment of the luminous letters (1 to 6) to the supporting structure (7), wherein the luminous letters (1 to 6) are supplied with low voltage via fastening means (8, 9, 10), wherein the fastening means (8, 9, 10) comprise plug connections (8, 9, 10), characterised in that the plug connections comprise plug-in sockets (18) provided on the supporting structure and plug parts (11) provided on the luminous letters, wherein the plug parts can each be plugged into one respective plug-in socket.
2. The luminous advertising system according to claim 1, wherein on each luminous letter three plug parts are provided.
3. The luminous advertising system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plug part comprises a laminated plug (IIa).
4. The luminous advertising system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plug connection (8, 9, 10) is configured as a hook connection.
5. The luminous advertising system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plug-in socket (18) comprises a plug-in sleeve (12) for the plug-in part (11), and wherein the plug-in sleeve (12) sits in a mounting socket (13) which can be connected to the supporting structure (7) by means of fastening members (14).
6. The luminous advertising system according to claim 5, wherein the mounting socket (13) consists of an electrically insulating material.
7. The luminous advertising system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the plug-in socket (12) is connected to the mounting socket (13) by means of screw means (16).
8. The luminous advertising system according to claim 7, wherein a current flow takes place via the screw means (16).
9. The luminous advertising system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein only two plug connections (8, 9), out of more than two plug connections (8, 9, 10) per luminous letter, are energised.

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