EP2942770B1 - Arrangement for securing a device for displaying a signalling element - Google Patents

Description

The present invention generally relates to signal element display devices of the type comprising a display panel on which a signal element is mounted, most often under the form of a pictogram, and lighting means, which for highlighting the signaling element, comprises an elongate light source along a slice of the display panel. The document US20070236941 discloses a signal element display device mounting arrangement on a mounting surface according to the preamble of claim 1. Such display devices are commonly used in establishments receiving the public, both to ensure, for example the marking of the exits of such an establishment and / or that of the services which are proposed there, that to constitute a security lighting. They thus have the function of ensuring the visible positioning of the panel displaying the information relative to the wall or ceiling to which it is connected.

According to the constraints of visibility, it is desirable to provide a wall or ceiling implantation of this type of display device. However, conventionally, depending on whether the implantation of the device is wall-mounted or suspended from the ceiling, the fixing bracket of the support-box panel must be designed specifically for the type of installation envisaged, and it also results from a design and a specific mounting of the panel receiving the pictograms to be made visible. In other words, it is necessary to design different products depending on the type of desired implementation of the display device, wall or ceiling, which is not desirable, especially because it involves a complex logistics.

The object of the invention is to overcome these disadvantages by providing an arrangement for attaching a signaling element display device to a mounting surface, allowing a reliable, convenient, fast and above all configurable fixing of the display device, both for a wall installation that implantation on the ceiling of the latter.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a signal element display device mounting arrangement on a mounting surface according to claim 1, said display device comprising a panel having a housing adapted to receive an element. a lighting module of said signal element comprising an elongate light source arranged in accordance with a upper internal edge of said housing, a support housing adapted to be mounted on said mounting surface, defining internally a reception volume of an electronic control module of said lighting module, and means for fixing said panel on said support housing, wherein said support housing comprises clipping means adapted to cooperate, in a first mounting configuration on a wall mounting surface, with first complementary clipping means adapted to be fixed on a mounting wall covering the rear part said housing for releasably securing said panel to said support housing in said first mounting configuration and, in a second mounting configuration on a ceiling mounting surface, with second complementary clipping means projecting from said edge of said housing for securing removable from said panel to said support housing in said seco a mounting configuration, said support housing further comprising spring contacts for the removable electrical connection of said control module to connection terminals of said lighting module, adapted to cooperate, in said first mounting configuration, with a first connection associated with said first complementary clipping means and connected to said connection terminals of said lighting module and, in said second mounting configuration, with a second connection member associated with said second complementary clipping means and connected to said connection terminals of said lighting module.

Clipping is here called a fastening system allowing indexing and holding of one piece to another and preferably but not limitatively a fastening system in which one relief elastically engages in or behind another, thus ensuring the fastening by simply snapping back from one room to another. This type of attachment is particularly practical between two molded parts. The clipping means of the invention also relate to other suitable fastening systems such as magnetic clipping.

Thanks to this arrangement, the same display device is fully configurable between the two mounting configurations, respectively for wall mounting and for ceiling mounting and, in particular, use the same support box for the panel for both wall mounting and ceiling mounting.

Advantageously, said spring contacts are flush substantially at a corresponding aperture on an outer surface of said support housing, which is adapted to the passage of said first and second complementary clipping means, said aperture having a bearing surface to the right of said contacts spring arrangement for guiding and positioning said panel on said support housing, with, in said support housing, for engagement with said first and second complementary clipping means, a retaining catch for releasably securing said panel to said support housing according to one or the other of said first or second mounting configurations.

Preferably, said first complementary clipping means comprise elastic clipping tabs protruding from the outer surface of said mounting wall and adapted to cooperate slidingly with said support surface of said aperture until said contacts are brought into contact with each other. spring with said first connecting member.

Preferably, said first connecting member comprises a leaf spring whose first end is flush with the outer surface of said mounting wall in line with said elastic clipping tabs and extends along said mounting wall up to a second end of said leaf spring held in contact with a corresponding connection terminal of said elongate light source.

Advantageously, said second complementary clipping means comprise clipping hooks having an inverted U-shaped profile adapted to be mounted clipped onto said panel, said clipping hooks comprising at least one finger projecting from the base of the upturned U and able to cooperate with sliding with said support surface of said aperture until said spring contacts are brought into contact with said second connection member.

Advantageously, said clipping hooks comprise a passage made in the base of the inverted U, intended to be disposed in the axis of a tapping formed in said edge of said housing and opening opposite a corresponding connection terminal of said module. lighting, said second connecting member comprising a connection pin mounted in said aligned passage and tapping.

In a variant, said clipping means may comprise magnetic clipping means.

• la Figure 1 est une vue en perspective de l'agencement de fixation du dispositif d'affichage d'élément de signalisation conforme à l'invention dans une configuration de montage mural ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective de l'agencement de fixation du dispositif d'affichage d'élément de signalisation conforme à l'invention dans une configuration de montage au plafond ;
• la Figure 3 est une vue en coupe du dispositif d'affichage selon la configuration de montage mural illustrée à la figure 1, montrant le détail agrandi de la zone d'accrochage du panneau au boîtier support ;
• la Figure 4 est une vue en coupe du dispositif d'affichage selon la configuration de montage au plafond illustrée à la figure 2, montrant le détail agrandi de la zone d'accrochage du panneau au boîtier support.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge clearly from the description which is given hereinafter, by way of indication and in no way limitative, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• the Figure 1 is a perspective view of the mounting arrangement of the signaling element display device according to the invention in a wall mounting configuration;
• the figure 2 is a perspective view of the mounting arrangement of the signaling element display device according to the invention in a ceiling mounting configuration;
• the Figure 3 is a sectional view of the display device according to the wall mounting configuration illustrated in FIG. figure 1 showing the enlarged detail of the fastening area of the panel to the support case;
• the Figure 4 is a sectional view of the display device according to the ceiling mounting configuration illustrated in FIG. figure 2 , showing the enlarged detail of the fastening area of the panel to the support case.

In the different figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

In the description below, expressions of the type "horizontal", "vertical", "upper", "lower", refer to the position of the signaling element display device as shown on the Figures 1 or 2 .

On the figure 1 there is shown a signaling element display device 1 attached to a vertical mounting surface, typically a wall (not shown), to provide emergency signage. This device 1 generally comprises a panel 2, having a housing 3 adapted to receive a signaling element 4, in the form for example of a screen printed sheet displaying a security pictogram, which represents for example a character passing a door and / or a directional arrow, in predetermined security colors, typically green and white.

In the embodiment more particularly illustrated in the figure 1 , the panel 2 is in the form of a rectangular frame having a peripheral edge 5, with lower and upper longitudinal peripheral edge portions and transverse peripheral edge portions, which surround the housing 3. The latter has a complementary shape of the signal element 4. The upper longitudinal peripheral edge of the frame is delimited on the side of the housing 3 by a flat inner surface, which constitutes an upper inner edge 51 of the housing 3. The panel 2 is preferably made by molding a plastic material such as polymethyl methacrylate (abbreviated to PMMA, Polymethyl Methacrylate) or polycarbonate. These plastics are advantageously transparent or substantially transparent to light.

In this configuration of the panel 2, a lighting module of the signaling element more particularly comprises an elongated light source 6 consisting of an elongate printed circuit, arranged along the upper inner edge 51 of the housing 3, and on which is mounted aligned a plurality of light emitting diodes. The elongated light source 6 is for example fixed by gluing along the upper inner edge 51 of the housing 3. The lighting module 6 advantageously comprises a light guide plate 7, for example made of PMMA, intended to be mounted in the housing. 3 of the housing 2 and having an optical coupling surface with the light-emitting diodes of the lighting module, from which the light is emitted laterally in the light guide plate 7. The light guide plate 7 comprises more specifically a first surface, forming a light diffusing surface towards the overlying signaling element 4, preferentially via a thin diffusing film (not shown), for example of a thickness of the order of hundred microns and made of PC (polycarbonate) or PET (polyethylene terephthalate), and intended to be interposed between the light guide plate 7 and the signal element 4 when mounting the assembly in the housing 3 to homogenize the emitted light. The light guide plate 7 also includes a second surface opposite to the first surface, and on which is formed a microlens array for directing the light conducted in the light guide plate to the scattering film. These microlenses, for example spherical, thus form an extraction layer of the light guide plate 7 to improve the extraction of light to the diffusing film. A reflective film, not shown, is further disposed adjacent to this second surface of the light guide plate 7.

The light guide plate 7, the diffusing film and the signaling element 4 are mounted and held in plane contact with each other in the housing 3 of the panel 2. The signaling element 4 can be covered with a thin transparent cover (Not shown) mounted superimposed on the signal element 4 in the housing 3 so that the front face of this cover comes flush with the outer face of the support panel. The signaling element 4, which is clamped between the light guide plate and the rear face of the transparent cover, then extends in a plane substantially coinciding with the outer face of the panel 2.

The display device 1 further comprises a support housing 8 forming both a fastening hook of the display device on the mounting surface and casing incorporating elements such as: electronic control module of the lighting module, accumulators. In the wall mounting configuration of the support case shown in figures 1 and 3 , the panel 2 of the display device 1 is adapted to be removably attached to the rear on the support housing 8, masking it. It presents for this purpose, as illustrated more precisely on the sectional view of this wall assembly illustrated in the figure 3 , a mounting wall 9 covering the rear portion of the housing 3 and provided with means for the removable attachment of the panel 2 to the support housing 8 mounted on a wall surface (not shown).

According to one embodiment, these means comprise a pair of elastic clipping lugs 10, generally hook-shaped and protruding from the outside surface of the mounting wall 9. The resilient clipping tabs 10 may each be located close to each other. transverse peripheral edges of the panel 2 and away from the upper longitudinal peripheral edge of the panel 2, so as to completely hide the support case 8 when the panel 2 is fixed on it. Together, the outer surface of the support housing 8 disposed facing the mounting wall 9 and opposite the surface of the support housing 8 to be fixed to the wall surface, has a pair of openings which is specific to the 10. Specifically, each opening proper to the passage of an elastic clipping lug 10 has a bearing surface 81 for the elastic clipping lug 10 with which the latter is adapted to cooperate slidingly and serving for guiding and positioning the panel 2 on the support housing 8, with, in said support housing 8, for cooperation with each elastic clipping lug 10, a retaining notch to ensure the removable attachment of the panel 2 to the support housing 8 in its wall mounting configuration.

In addition, the support housing 8 is equipped with electrical contacts 82 in the form of a pair of spring contacts mounted substantially flush with the corresponding openings in the outer surface of the support housing 8, which make it possible to establish the electrical connection between the control module housed in the support housing 8 and the corresponding connection terminals 61 of the elongated light source 6 arranged at the upper internal edge 51 of the housing 3, when the latter is fixed to its support housing in wall mounting.

To do this, there is provided a pair of leaf springs 11, for example made of copper, arranged along the mounting wall 9, so that a first end 12 of a respective leaf spring comes flush with the surface. outside of the mounting wall 9 to the right of each elastic clipping lug 10 opposite a respective spring contact of the support housing 8, and a second end 13 comes into contact with a corresponding connection terminal 61 of the source 6. Thus, during the assembly during which we just insert the elastic clipping lugs 10 in the corresponding openings for the removable attachment of the panel 2 to the support housing 8 in wall mounting, together, the contacting of each contact to spring 82 is made with the first respective ends 12 of the pair of leaf spring 11 and thus with the corresponding connection terminals 61 of the elongate light source 6.

The mounting wall 9 is retained on the rear portion of the housing 3 by holding means 14, generally shaped in hooks having an inverted U-shaped profile adapted to be mounted clipped on complementary clipping notches 52 arranged at the peripheral edge longitudinal upper plate 2. These clipping hooks 14, when clipped, form shoulder portions slightly projecting from the upper longitudinal peripheral edge of the panel, on which the mounting wall 9 is supported, at an upper edge of the mounting wall, thus making it possible to keep in contact with the second end 13 of the respective leaf springs 11 against the corresponding connection terminals of the elongated light source 6. At the front of the panel 2, these clipping hooks 14, when clipped, also make it possible to retain the different elements mounted. in dwelling 3.

The figure 2 now illustrates the mounting arrangement of the signaling element display device 1 according to the invention in a ceiling mounting configuration with the same support housing 8. Thus, in accordance with the invention, the same support housing 8 that which has just been described with reference to wall mounting can be used in ceiling mounting configuration. In this configuration of ceiling mounting, the outer surface of the support housing 8, opposite its surface intended to be fixed to the ceiling, and on which are made openings in which are flush with the spring contacts 82 of the support housing 8, is this next to the upper longitudinal peripheral edge of the panel 2, by which the latter is intended to be suspended from the support housing 8. The panel 2 has to do clipping hooks 15, similar to the clipping hooks 14 previously described in connection with the maintenance of the mounting wall 9 at the rear of the panel 2. The clipping hooks 15 and have an inverted U profile adapted to be mounted clipped on the complementary clipping notches 52 arranged at the upper longitudinal peripheral edge 2. However, the clipping hooks 15 are arranged in the following manner to ensure the attachment to the movible and the electrical connection with the support housing 8. Thus, they comprise at least one finger 16, generally shaped hook, protruding from the base of the inverted U, opposite the clipping notches 52, and adapted to cooperate slidingly, in the same way as the elastic clipping lugs 10, with the bearing surface 81 of the corresponding aperture formed on the outer surface of the support case 8.

In the same manner as previously, the spring contacts 82 mounted substantially flush with the corresponding openings made in the outer surface of the support housing 8, make it possible to establish the electrical connection between the control module housed in the support housing 8 and the corresponding connection terminals 61 of the elongate light source 6 arranged at the upper internal edge 51 of the housing 3, when fixing the latter via the clipping hooks 15 on the support housing 8 in ceiling mounting. To do this, the clipping hooks 15 comprise a passage 17 formed in the base of the inverted U, coming, during clipping, in the axis of a tapping 18 made in the corresponding clipping notches 52 and which opens into the edge upper internal 51 facing a corresponding connection terminal of the elongated light source 6. A connecting pin 19 is mounted in the substantially aligned passage 17 and tapping 18, through which the contacting is effected. each spring contact 82 with the corresponding connection terminals 61 of the elongated light source 6.

The display device according to the invention is thus adaptable to a configurable use for a wall or ceiling implantation with advantageously the same support housing.

Claims (7)

1. An arrangement for securing a device (1) intended to display signaling element on a mounting surface, said displaying device comprising a panel (2) provided with a housing (3) adapted to receive a signaling element (4), a lighting module for said signaling element (4) comprising an elongated light source (6) provided along a higher internal edge (51) of said housing (3), said elongated light source consisting in a printed circuit board on which a plurality of electroluminescent diodes are mounted in alignment, a support housing (8) intended to be mounted on said mounting surface, internally defining an accommodating volume for an electronic control module of said lighting module as well as means for securing said panel (2) on said support housing (8), said support housing (8) comprising clipping means suitable to cooperate, in a first mounting configuration on a wall mounting surface, with first complementary clipping means (10) suitable to be fixed on a mounting wall (9) covering the rear part of said housing (3) to ensure the removable securing of said panel (2) to said support housing (8) in said first mounting configuration and, into a second mounting configuration on a ceiling mounting surface, with complementary second clipping means (15) projecting from said higher internal edge of said housing to ensure the removable securing of said panel (2) to said support housing (8) in said second mounting configuration, characterized in that said support housing (8) further comprises spring contacts (82) to provide removable electric connection of said control module to electric terminals (61) of said elongated light source, in order to cooperate, within said first mounting configuration, with a first connecting member (11) associated to said first complementary clipping means and connected to said electric terminals (61) of said elongated light source and, within said second mounting configuration, with a second connecting member (19) associated to said second complementary clipping means and connected to said electric terminals of said elongated light source, so that the cooperation of said clipping means of said support housing respectively with said first and second complementary clipping means to ensure removable securing of said panel (2) to said support housing (8) respectively within said first and said second mounting configuration, makes it possible to jointly make said spring contacts (82) to contact respectively said first and second connecting member.
2. The arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that said spring contacts (82) are substantially flush at a corresponding perforation provided on an external surface of said support housing (8), which is specific to the passage of said first and second complementary clipping means, said perforation having a bearing surface (81) straightly above said spring contacts (82) being used for guiding and positioning said panel (2) onto said support housing, with, in said support housing, in order to cooperate with said first and second complementary clipping means, a holding notch to provide removable securing of said panel to said support housing according to either one of said first or second mounting configuration.
3. The arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that said first complementary clipping means (10) comprise elastic clipping legs extending on the external surface of said mounting wall (9) and intended to slidingly cooperate with said bearing surface (81) of said perforation until said spring contacts (82) make a contact with said first connecting member (11).
4. The arrangement according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said first connecting member (11) comprises a leaf spring whose one first end (12) is flush with the external surface of said mounting wall (9) straightly above said elastic clipping legs (10) and extends along said mounting wall up to a second end (13) of said leaf spring (11) kept in contact with a corresponding connecting terminal (61) of said elongated light source.
5. The arrangement according to any of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that said complementary second clipping means (15) comprise clipping hooks having an inverted U-shape section adapted to be mounted clipped on complementary clipping notches (52) arranged at a higher longitudinal peripheral edge of said plate (2), said clipping hooks including at least a finger (16) extending from the inverted U-shape base and adapted to slidingly cooperate with said bearing surface (81) of said perforation until said spring contacts (82) make a contact with said second connecting member (19).
6. The arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that said clipping hooks (15) comprise a passage (17) formed in the base of the inverted U-shape, provided to be arranged along the axis of a tapping (18) formed in said clipping notches (52) and opening in said internal edge (51) facing to a corresponding connecting terminal of said elongated light source, said second connecting member (19) comprising a connecting pin mounted in alignment into said passage (17) and said tapping (18).
7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said clipping means comprise magnetic clipping means.

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