EP2787274B1 - Sealed protective cage - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a thermal cage intended to be installed through an insulating panel to receive a lamp and allow the thermal energy generated by the lamp to dissipate.

One area of application is in particular that of downlights through insulated ceiling panels.

This type of lighting generally releases a large amount of thermal energy and the insulated ceiling panels have a wall on which is supported an insulating layer, for example glass wool. Also, the spots being embedded through an orifice made in the wall and under the glass wool, the thermal energy they produce is not easily dissipated and may cause inflammation of the wall and insulation .

It has therefore been devised heat dissipation cages intended to be installed on the inner face of the wall, under the glass wool to reserve a housing large enough to receive a portion of the spot and allow to gradually dissipate the thermal energy that accumulates there. The thermal cages then comprise a bottom and flexible tabs facing extending along an axial component. The cage is then adjusted on the wall to the right of a hole made in the wall to receive the lamp. The layered glass wool is then separated from the orifice and the lamp.

However, in some circumstances where it is difficult to install glass wool over a wall to form the insulation board, the space above the wall is lined with a powdery material or in the form of flake by projection. This material ensures thermal insulation.

However, unlike the layered glass wool, the insulating material in pulverulent form or flake is inserted into the cage through the brackets. As a result, the heat dissipation is lower and risks of ignition remain.

It was imagined without success, in the document EP 2 541 125 A1 , install a flexible lamella between each pair of legs.

Also, a problem that arises and that aims to solve the present invention is to provide a thermal cage that allows to dissipate sufficient thermal energy around the lamp in the presence of a powder or flake material as thermal insulation.

For this purpose, the present invention provides a thermal cage intended to be installed through an insulating panel to receive a lamp, said insulating panel having a wall and an orifice made in said wall, said cage comprising a bottom and at least two flexible tabs extending along an axial component from said bottom, the flexible tabs each having a free end support adapted to abut around said orifice of said wall, while said bottom is extended facing said orifice. Also, the thermal cage further comprises a plurality of flexible strips integral with said bottom, each of said flexible strips having two opposite side edges; and said flexible sipes freely extend edge to edge around said lugs along said axial component and in a radial component (A)

Thus, the flexible strips extend edge to edge forming a continuous screen around the fastening tabs of the cage so as to prevent the penetration of the powder material or flakes inside the cage during spraying. The lamellae and the tabs are elastically flexible so that they can be brought radially closer to one another to allow them to pass through the orifice made in the wall. After insertion through the wall the lamellae and flexible tabs are released and they resume naturally their initial position; the slats umbrella edge to edge around the legs, and the tabs apart from each other, their support free end bearing around the orifice. Edge to edge means here that the slats are sufficiently close to each other to prevent the passage of flakes or powder material between slats.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, each of said flexible strips has a proximal end located towards said bottom and an opposite distal end, and said opposite lateral edges progressively move away from each other, from said proximal end toward said distal end. In this way, the two opposite lateral edges of two adjacent lamellae are not only spaced from each other by a minute distance, but moreover they are substantially (A) "forming a continuous screen around said flexible tabs, the distal ends of said flexible strips defining a substantially circular perimeter within which extend said flexible tabs " parallel, from the proximal end to the distal end. The cover of the screen around the housing defined by the thermal cage is substantially uniform, and the insulation can not penetrate any place.

In addition, each of said flexible strips advantageously extends in an arc between said bottom and said free end. In this way, the thermal cage has a substantially bell-shaped shape around the lamp. This shape is then optimal to be able to dissipate the thermal energy around the lamp. In addition, each of said flexible lamellae extends in an arc between said opposite lateral edges. Thus, the thermal cage defines a substantially regular surface allowing a better flow of the projected insulating material.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, said at least two flexible tabs and said flexible strips are molded together in one piece with said bottom. In this way, the thermal cage is made at an advantageous cost, preferably made of plastic and for example polyamide.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, said bottom has two detachable parts from each other, and said at least two flexible tabs are connected to one of said parts, whereas said flexible strips are connected to the other of said parts. In this way, said at least two flexible tabs and one of said parts may be integrally molded on one side and said flexible strips connected to the other of said parts on the other side. Accordingly, the parts consisting of said at least two flexible tabs and said one of said parts, can be implemented alone as a thermal cage for insulating layer type glass wool. Also, this makes it possible to produce the thermal cage elements at an even more advantageous cost, since one of the parts has two complementary applications.

Advantageously, the thermal cage comprises two pairs of flexible tabs. The legs thus extend facing two by two around the bottom and they allow a better stability of the cage.

According to an advantageous characteristic of implementation said one of said parts has an orifice centered in said axial direction, said orifice having an internal hooking flange. In addition, the said other said portions have latching tabs extending in said axial direction for engaging said inner latching flange through said aperture. In this way, the two bottom parts, one secured to the flexible strips, the other legs are easily assembled to one another as will be explained in more detail below.

According to a preferred embodiment, said other of said parts comprises a substantially cylindrical portion having a bottom wall and an opposite edge, and said hooking tabs project from said bottom wall opposite said edge, while said flexible lamellae extend from said edge. In this way, thanks to the bottom wall of the cylindrical portion is obstructed the centered orifice and thus prohibit the passage of powder material or flakes.

• la Figure 1 est une vue schématique en élévation de face montrant une cage thermique selon une variante de réalisation de l'invention dans une position opérationnelle;
• la Figure 2 est une vue schématique de dessous en perspective de la cage thermique montrée sur la Figure 1 ;
• la Figure 3 est une vue schématique de dessus montrant un détail de la cage thermique ;
• la Figure 4 est une vue schématique en perspective d'un élément d'une cage thermique selon une autre variante de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la Figure 5 est une vue schématique en coupe partielle axiale d'un autre élément de la cage thermique selon ladite autre variante de réalisation.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given by way of indication but not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• the Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevational front view showing a thermal cage according to an alternative embodiment of the invention in an operational position;
• the Figure 2 is a schematic view from below in perspective of the thermal cage shown on the Figure 1 ;
• the Figure 3 is a schematic view from above showing a detail of the thermal cage;
• the Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of an element of a thermal cage according to another embodiment of the invention;
• the Figure 5 is a schematic view in partial axial section of another element of the thermal cage according to said other embodiment.

The Figure 1 illustrates, according to a first embodiment, a thermal cage 10 installed on a ceiling wall 12 to the right of an orifice 14 formed in the ceiling wall 12 and a diameter d . The ceiling wall 12 delimits a sub-space 16 of a living space 18 intended to be illuminated, and it has an upper surface 20 opposite the under-space 16 and a lower surface 22 opposite the space to live 18. The attic space 16 is intended to be filled with an insulating material, in a powder form or in the form of flakes. The thermal cage 10 that will be described in more detail below, has two opposite flexible tabs 24, 26 respectively terminated by a free hooking end 28, 30 engaged in the ceiling wall 12 and flexible strips 32 which extend around the two opposite flexible tabs 24, 26. The flexible strips 32 then define a housing 33 of circular symmetry about an axis A, ogival-shaped.

We will now refer to the Figure 3 to describe in more detail the thermal cage 10, seen here in perspective of three quarters with respect to the Figure 1 and substantially above. There is thus more distinctly perceived one of the two flexible tabs 26 and the flexible strips 32 connected together at the top of the thermal cage 10 by a bottom 34.

Among the flexible strips 32, two first proximity lamellae 36, 38, are respectively located on each side of the flexible tab 26. In contrast, two second proximity lamellae not shown are similarly located on each side of the flexible tab 26. Another flexible tab 24. The mode of cooperation of the proximity lamellae 36, 38 and of the flexible tab 26 will be explained below.

The other flexible strips 32 each have two opposite lateral edges 40, 42, and they extend in arc between a proximal end 44, integral with the bottom 34, and a distal end 46, free. The width of each of said flexible strips 32, the distance between the two opposite lateral edges 40, 42, increases progressively from the proximal end 44 to the distal end 46. The flexible strips 32 extend, at both in an axial component parallel to the axis of symmetry A, and in a radial component, from the bottom 34 to the distal end 46. The distal ends 46 of the flexible strips 32 define a substantially circular perimeter inside which the flexible tabs 26, 24 extend. It is in this that the flexible strips 32 extend freely edge-to-edge 40, 42, around the flexible tabs 26, 24. It will be observed that this circular perimeter presents a diameter greater than the diameter d of the orifice 14 made in the ceiling wall 12.

We will now refer to the Figure 2 to describe in more detail the flexible tabs 26, 24 and their proximity strips 36, 38 associated.

We find on this Figure 2 the thermal cage 10 and the two opposite flexible tabs 26, 24. These have a U-shaped profile having a bottom 48 and two opposite centrifugal wings 50, 52. It will be observed that the height of the centrifugal flanges 50, 52 decrease starting from the free hooking end 30, 28 and towards the bottom 34. As for the proximity lamellae 36, 38 they respectively have a centripetal wing 54, 56. The centripetal wings 54, 56 are respectively extend, close together from each other, facing opposite centrifugal wings 50, 52.

Thus, it will be observed that the housing 33 defined by the flexible strips 32, and also delimited by the flexible tabs 26, 24 and the proximity lamellae 36, 38 is relatively sealed vis-à-vis the powder materials or insulation flakes . Indeed, on the one hand the space which extends between the lateral edges 40, 42 of the flexible strips 32, and on the other hand the space which extends between the centrifugal wings 50, 52 of the flexible tabs 24, 26, and respectively the centripetal wings 54, 56, proximity strips 36, 38, are sufficiently thin to prohibit the passage of insulating materials. In addition, it will be observed that the flexible strips 32 extend from one edge 40 to the other 42 in an arc. In this way, a substantially uniform external mean surface is obtained allowing a uniform flow of the insulating materials when they are injected into the space under roof 16, around the thermal cage 10.

The thermal cage 10 thus described, and in particular on the Figure 1 , is in the rest position and operative so as to receive inside the housing 33 a lighting lamp producing thermal energy, and outside in the space attic 16 to be covered with a material insulation in powder form. This material being then prevented from penetrating inside the thermal cage 10.

The thermal cage 10 illustrated on the Figures 1 to 3 is molded in one piece of plastic material. According to a particular mode of implementation, it is molded in polyamide. Other materials are obviously usable.

Thanks to the plastic materials, the lamellae 32, 36, 38 and the tabs 26, 24 are elastically flexible and articulable, in particular with respect to the bottom 34. In this way, taking for example the thermal cage 10 illustrated on FIG. Figure 2 , it comes first, bring the strips 32, 36, 38 and the tabs 24, 26 from each other by driving them radially towards the axis of symmetry A, so as to reduce the volume of the thermal cage 10, such that its diameter is smaller than the diameter d of the orifice 14. The thermal cage 10 thus compressed is then engaged through the orifice 14 and is then released so that the free hooking ends 28, Flexible tabs 24, 26 engage inside the hole 14 in the thickness of the ceiling wall 12. The flexible tabs 24, 26, thanks to their elastic return, promote the anchoring of the free ends 28, 30 in the thickness of the ceiling wall 12. Concomitantly, the flexible strips 32 and including the proximity strips 36, 38, thanks to the springback, also find their position radially away from the axis of symmetry A, and around the legs flexible 24, 26, edge 40 on board 42.

We will now refer to Figures 4 and 5 , to describe a thermal cage according to another embodiment. The elements playing the same role as that which he plays according to the embodiment illustrated on the Figures 1 to 3 , will have the same reference assigned a prime sign: "'".

Thus, the thermal cage according to this second embodiment is divided into two parts, one 58 illustrated on the Figure 4 , the other 59 illustrated on the Figure 5 . Also, the bottom comprises a first portion 60 of base on which are installed two pairs 62, 64 of flexible tabs 24 ', 26'. The flexible tabs 24 ', 26' of the two pairs 62, 64 extend in an axial direction A ', from the first part 60 of the bottom, and also according to a radial component. They are offset angularly and successively by 90 °, so as to extend facing two by two. Each of them has a free hooking end 28 ', 30' intended to engage in the thickness of the ceiling wall 12, illustrated on FIG. Figure 1 , through the orifice 14. In addition, they are all connected together by a cord 66 to limit their radial spacing from each other.

The first bottom portion 60 has a centered bottom hole 68, which is extended by a tubular extension towards the space which extends between the flexible tabs 24 ', 26' and which defines a not shown hooking flange.

The first part 58 of the thermal cage is molded in one piece of plastic material.

We will now refer to the Figure 5 showing the other part of the thermal cage according to the invention. There are found flexible strips 32 'connected together at their proximal end 44' to a second portion 72 of bottom. The latter has a circular base 74, forming a bottom wall, bordered by a cylindrical wall 76 having an edge 77. Opposite the cylindrical wall 76, the base 74 has flexible tongues 78 terminated by a return lug. , and for example the number of three distributed around the axis of the base 74.

In contrast, the flexible strips 32 'extend radially back from the cylindrical wall 76 in the extension of the edge 77, and then in an arc along an axial component, from their proximal end 44' to their distal end. free 46 '. They have two opposite lateral edges 40 ', 42', which also separate for each of them, one of the other between the proximal end 44 'and the distal end 46'.

The second part 59 of the thermal cage is also molded in one piece of plastic material.

Thus, the two parts 58, 59 are able to be associated by inserting flexible tabs 78 through the bottom opening 68, so as to press the circular base 74 against the first part 60 of bottom in the periphery of the Bottom opening 68. The lugs back of the flexible tongues 78 then engage against the rim of the tubular extension so as to secure the two parts 60, 72 of the bottom.

In this way, a thermal cage similar to that illustrated in FIGS. Figures 1 to 3 , and able to play the same role vis-à-vis a thermal insulation in powder form or flakes in a space under roof over a ceiling wall.

An advantage of this embodiment lies in the possibility of implementing only the first portion 58 of the thermal cage for applications in which the thermal insulation is implemented in the form of layers of glass wool or rockwool for example. Also, this first part 58 can be realized at a more advantageous cost because, in greater numbers.

Claims (10)

1. A thermal cage (10) intended to be installed through an insulating board in order to receive a lamp, said insulating board comprising a wall (12) and an opening (14) practiced into said wall, said thermal cage (10) comprising a bottom (34; 60) and at least two flexible legs (24, 26; 24', 26') extending along an axial component from said bottom (34), said flexible legs (24, 26; 24', 26') having each a free bearing end (28, 30; 28', 30') intended to bear about said opening (14) of said wall (12), while said bottom (34; 60) extends facing to said opening (14), said thermal cage further comprising a plurality of flexible blades (32; 32') integrally formed with said bottom, each of said flexible blades (32, 32') having two opposite side edges (40, 42; 40', 42');
   characterized in that said flexible blades (32; 32') freely extends from edge (40; 40') to edge (42; 42') about said flexible legs (24, 26; 24', 26') along said axial component and along a radial component, by forming a continuous screen about of said flexible legs (24, 26; 24', 26'), the distal ends (46; 46') of said flexible blades (32) defining a substantially circular perimeter within which extend said flexible legs (26, 24; 24', 26').
2. The thermal cage according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said flexible blades (32; 32') is provided with a proximal end (44; 44') located towards said bottom (34; 72) and an opposite distal end (46; 46'), and in that said opposite side edges (40, 42; 40', 42') gradually move away the one to the other, from said proximal end (44; 44') towards said distal end (46; 46').
3. The thermal cage according to claim 2, characterized in that each of said flexible blades extends into an arc between said bottom and said free end.
4. The thermal cage according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each of said flexible blades (32; 32') extends into an arc between said opposite side edges (40, 42; 40', 42').
5. The thermal cage according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said at least two flexible legs (24, 26) and said flexible blades (32) are integrally molded with said bottom (34).
6. The thermal cage according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said bottom includes two parts (60, 72) detachable the one from the other, and in that said at least two flexible legs (24', 26') are connected to one of said parts (60), while said flexible blades (32') are connected to the other (72) of said parts.
7. The thermal cage according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises two pairs (62, 64) of flexible legs.
8. The thermal cage according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that said one of said parts (60) is provided with an opening (68) centered into said axial direction, said opening (68) having an internal fixing edge.
9. The thermal cage according to claim 8, characterized in that said other of said parts (72) includes fixing strips (78) extending into said axial direction, to fit against said internal fixing edge through said opening (68).
10. The thermal cage according to claim 9, characterized in that said another of said parts (72) comprises a substantially cylindrical part (76) having a bottom wall (74) and an opposite edge (77), and in that said fixing strips (78) extend from said bottom wall (74) at the opposite of said edge, while said flexible blades (32') extend from said edge.

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