EP3039359B1 - Wine cellar with a lighting device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a wine cellar forming an enclosure with temperature regulation.

In the field of temperature controlled enclosures, it is known to have a lighting device in order to illuminate the interior of the temperature controlled enclosure. This makes it possible to visualize what is contained in the temperature-controlled enclosure, when a door closing the enclosure is opened or when the temperature-controlled enclosure comprises a front face provided with a window, through which it is possible to visualize the interior of the enclosure.

He is thus known to US-A1-2003 / 0072147 have a storage compartment, or more precisely a temperature-controlled enclosure, equipped with a diode positioned outside the enclosure and a light guide positioned inside the enclosure, the light guide being optically coupled with the diode in order to illuminate the interior of the enclosure.

However, the document cited above does not disclose a wine cellar. In addition, the enclosure described in this document is unattractive since the light source is bulky, which implies an increase in the volume occupied by the enclosure and the appearance of an unattractive element outside the pregnant. In addition, such an enclosure is difficult to produce, because in order to achieve the optical coupling between the diode and the light guide, it is necessary to make a hole in the enclosure. Finally, in the case where the enclosure is temperature controlled, the fact of having to carry out a drilling in the enclosure, in order to connect the diode to the light guide leads to a decrease in performance in terms of temperature regulation of the enclosure, since the insulation between the interior and the exterior of the enclosure is degraded.

It is also known to EP-A1-2602553 a door for a temperature controlled enclosure, such as an oven or refrigerator, which includes a lighting device.

However, this document does not describe a wine cellar and the integration of a lighting device in a door is complex to carry out and leads to an increase in the volume of the door and therefore of the enclosure.

He is also known to DE10338661 a lighting device intended to be integrated in a refrigerator. However, this document does not describe a wine cellar and the integration of such a device in a refrigerator remains complex to achieve. Indeed, the volume occupied by the lighting device and the positioning of the device in the refrigerator are not optimized.

Other examples are also described by the documents US 2006/049188 A1 , WO 2003/036176 A1 , US 2013/050992 A1 and WO2009 / 083039 A1 , which discloses a refrigerator having light guides arranged on the left and right side walls of its front face.

It is to these drawbacks that the invention intends to remedy by proposing a wine cellar regulated in temperature and equipped with a lighting device, for which the space requirement, as well as the temperature regulation are optimized and the integration of the lighting device in the wine cellar is facilitated.

To this end, the invention relates to a wine cellar according to claim 1.

Thanks to the invention, the size of the wine cellar is optimized, since the lighting device is included inside the enclosure. The aesthetics of the temperature-controlled enclosure is also improved, since no element comes out towards the outside of the enclosure. In addition, having the light guides and the lighting devices inside the enclosure makes it possible to optimize the temperature regulation, since the temperature controlled enclosure is completely closed, which leads optimal insulation between the interior and exterior of the enclosure. In addition, the relative position of the light source with respect to the chamfer makes it possible to optimize the volume occupied by the lighting devices and to facilitate the integration of the devices into the enclosure.

According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the wine cellar comprises one or more of the optional features of claims 2 to 7.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'une enceinte à régulation de température conforme à l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective de trois guides de lumière, de dispositifs d'éclairage droit et gauche, et d'une interface homme/machine, en configuration assemblée, qui appartiennent à l'enceinte de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective, partielle du coin supérieur gauche de la face avant de l'enceinte de la figure 1, montrant le dispositif d'éclairage gauche et le guide de lumière associé de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en élévation du dispositif d'éclairage gauche de la figure 3 couplé optiquement avec le guide de lumière associé ;
• la figure 5 une vue en perspective d'une coupe de la figure 3, suivant une ligne V-V ; et
• la figure 6 est une coupe de la figure 3, suivant un plan VI.

The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will appear on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is a perspective view of a temperature-controlled enclosure according to the invention;
• the figure 2 is a perspective view of three light guides, of right and left lighting devices, and of a man / machine interface, in assembled configuration, which belong to the enclosure of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 is a partial perspective view of the upper left corner of the front face of the enclosure figure 1 , showing the left lighting device and the associated light guide of the figure 2 ;
• the figure 4 is an elevation view of the left lighting device of the figure 3 optically coupled with the associated light guide;
• the figure 5 a perspective view of a section of the figure 3 , along a line VV; and
• the figure 6 is a section of the figure 3 , following a plan VI.

On the figure 1 , the temperature-controlled enclosure 10 has a generally parallelepiped shape and is a wine cellar. The enclosure 10 comprises a front face 12 on which is generally fixed a door, not shown, in order to close the enclosure 10, vis-à-vis the outside.

For convenience, in the following description, we qualify "interior" any element of the enclosure included inside the enclosure, that is to say in the space dedicated to undergo a regulation of temperature, and "outside" any element included outside the enclosure. Likewise, any element situated respectively on the left or the right of the enclosure vis-à-vis a user positioned in front of the front face 12 is qualified as “left” and “right”, and it is qualified as “bottom”. and “top” any element of the enclosure situated respectively in the lower half of the enclosure with respect to the ground, on which the enclosure is positioned, or in the upper half of the enclosure with respect to the ground.

The front face 12 comprises an internal part 13 and an external part 14. The front face 12 is also provided with a block 15 for configuring the temperature inside the enclosure 10. The internal part 13 of the front face 12 has two interior side walls left 16 and right 17, a high interior wall 18 and a low interior wall 20.

As presented to the figure 2 , the front face 12 is also provided with two left 24 and right 26 lighting devices and three light guides 27, 28, 29 corresponding respectively to a left light guide 27, right 28 and bottom 29.

In a variant not shown, the front face 12 is provided only with the left light guide 27 and the right light guide 28.

The temperature configuration block 15 is positioned inside the enclosure 10, and accessible for a user of the enclosure following the opening of the door, glazed or not, closing the enclosure. The block 15 comprises a member 30 for adjusting the temperature inside the enclosure 10, as well as a display module 31 adapted to display, for example, the temperature inside the enclosure 10 and / or the temperature set and desired inside the enclosure 10. The block 15 is positioned in contact and generally parallel to the upper wall 18, and comprises two ends 32, 33 of contact with the left side wall 16 and respectively the right side wall 17. The contact ends 32, 33 are of a size suitable for hiding, from the view of the user of the enclosure 10, the lighting devices 24, 26.

As a variant, the block 15 is positioned near the high wall 18 but is not in contact with the high wall 18. More generally, the block 15 is installed so as to respect the assembly constraints.

As presented to the figure 3 for the left 16 and high 18 walls, each wall 16, 17, 18, 20 respectively comprises a left groove 36, right, high 38 and low, hollowed out towards the external part 14. The set of left grooves 36, right, high 38 and lower forming a continuous grooved frame 40 on the inner part 13.

The lighting devices 24 and 26 are respectively positioned in an upper left corner 46 and in an upper right corner 48 of the inner part 13. The lighting devices 24 and 26 are positioned behind the contact ends 32, 33 relative to to the user of the enclosure 10, positioned opposite the front face 12.

Each lighting device 24, 26 comprises a light source 50, such as an LED, and a support 52 suitable for receiving the light source 50 as well as an optical element 54, adapted to concentrate the light flux emitted by the corresponding light source 50 in a given direction.

As shown in the figure 2 , the left lighting device 24 is optically coupled with the left light guide 27, while the right lighting device 26 is optically coupled with the right light guide 28.

Each lighting device 24, 26 is oriented respectively generally generally perpendicular to the corresponding light guide 27, 28, that is to say oriented perpendicular to the direction in which the corresponding light guide 27, 28 extends. More precisely, each lighting device 24, 26 is oriented so that the light flux emitted by its light source 50 is oriented generally perpendicular to the corresponding light guide 27, 28.

The light guides 27, 28, 29 are inserted respectively in the left, right and bottom grooves 36. The left 27 and right 28 light guides are connected by the low light guide 29, the light guides 27, 28, 29 thus forming a continuous light guide.

The left 27 and right 28 light guides each comprise an upper end portion 58, 60 which each form a chamfer 61, 62 oriented in the direction of the light flux emitted by the light source 50 of the corresponding lighting device 24, 26. More precisely, each chamfer 61, 62 is oriented with respect to the direction in which the corresponding light guide 27, 28 extends, by an angle α measured, clockwise, between said direction and the corresponding chamfer, two times smaller than an angle β measured, clockwise, between said direction and the flow light emitted by the light source 50 of the corresponding lighting device 24, 26. The angle between each chamfer 61, 62 and the direction in which the corresponding light guide 27, 28 extends is an acute angle. Thus, each chamfer 61, 62 is oriented towards the interior of the enclosure so as to receive a light flux coming respectively from the left or right lighting device 26 to which the light guide 27, 28, to which it belongs, is coupled. Each chamfer 61, 62 is therefore suitable for reflecting and orienting, in the direction of the corresponding light guide 27, 28, the light flux emitted by the left lighting devices 24 and right lighting 26 respectively, and the lighting devices left 24 and right 26 have their respective light source 50 opposite respectively the chamfer 61, 62. In addition, the left light guides 27 and right 28 each comprise a lower end portion 64, 65 oriented, preferably at 90 ° relative to the length along which the light guide 27, 28 extends.

The low light guide 29 comprises a left end portion 66 and a right end portion 68, which each form a chamfer 70, 71 oriented respectively in the direction of the left light guide 27 and right 28. A measured angle, clockwise, between the direction in which the light guide 29 extends and the corresponding chamfer 70, 71 is 2 times smaller than a measured angle, clockwise, between the direction in which the light guide 29 extends and the direction in which the left or right light guide 27 extends respectively 28. More precisely, the left 66 and right 68 end portions are respectively in contact with the bottom end portions 64, 65. The light guides 27, 28, 29, being assembled so as to form, as explained above, a continuous light guide.

On the example of the figure 2 , each chamfer 61, 62, 70, 71 is oriented at 45 ° relative to the direction in which the corresponding light guide extends and the light flux emitted by the left 24 and right 26 lighting devices is oriented at 90 ° relative to the direction of the left light guide 27 and the right light guide 28 respectively.

In addition, a reflective element, not shown, is fixed to an outer face of each chamfer 61, 62, 70, 71, so that the light flux which arrives at the end portions 58, 60, 70, 71 is reflected by the corresponding chamfer and flows through the three light guides 27, 28, 29. The left lighting devices 24 and right 26 are therefore positioned facing the upper end portions 58, 60 of the left light guides 27, right 28, so that the light flux emitted by each light source 50 is directed towards the chamfers 61, 62, formed by the terminal parts 58, 60. The reflecting element is preferably a reflecting adhesive.

Thus, the left lighting device 24 transmits a luminous flux in the direction of the chamfer 61 which reflects the luminous flux in the direction of the low chamfer 70, which itself reflects the luminous flux in the direction of the chamfer 71, which reflects the luminous flux in direction of the chamfer 62. The same applies to the circulation of the luminous flux transmitted by the right lighting device 26 with the order of the chamfers with which it comes into contact which is reversed. This allows a circulation of the light emitted by each light source 50 along each light guide 27, 28, 29. The light guide 29 is coupled only with the light guides 27, 28 and no lighting device n 'is coupled with the light guide 29.

Each light guide 27, 28, 29 comprises on an external surface reliefs, not shown. On the light guides 27, 28, the distribution of the reliefs is more and more dense when one moves away from the light sources 50 of the lighting devices 24, 26, transmitting a light flux through the light guides 27 , 28. The reliefs are preferably formed by screen printing or engraving or painting or printing.

In addition, as shown in figures 2 and 3 , the left, right, top 38 and bottom grooves 36 and each include a clip lip 74. Thus, the left, right and bottom grooves 36 are respectively adapted to receive respectively the light guides 27, 28, 29, which are inserted respectively. in the left, right and bottom grooves 36. In fact, each clip lip 74 is adapted to hold the corresponding light guide 27, 28, 29, the light guides 27, 28, 29 being respectively held in the left, right and bottom grooves 36 by complementarity of shapes.

Advantageously, each light source 50 is an LED whose power is 1 Watt. Each light source 50 is fixed on a corresponding integrated circuit 76, suitable for being supplied via an electrical connection, not shown, which connects an electrical supply, not shown, of the adjustment members 30 and of the display module 31 to the integrated circuit 76.

Each support 52 comprises an upper part 78 inserted in the upper groove 38 and a first end 80 adapted to be fixed in the left groove 36 or right, depending on whether the corresponding lighting device 24, 26 is fixed in the upper left corner 46 or the upper right corner 48. The first end 80 is fixed by complementary shapes and retained by the corresponding clip lip 74. In addition, each first end 80 comprises a face 82 of which a straight part 84 is in contact with the chamfer 61, 62 of the corresponding light guide 27, 28 and of complementary shape with respect to the chamfer 61, 62. The part 84 forms a vertical stop in order to fix the vertical position of the lighting device 24, 26 by report respectively to the corresponding light guide 27, 28.

Each support 52 also includes an orifice 86 suitable for receiving a fixing screw 87 to the high wall 18. The support 52 also includes a second end 88 bearing against the corresponding light guide 27, 28. In addition, each first end 80 comprises a face 89 in contact with a bottom of the left groove 36 respectively right. The rotation of the support 52 around an axis X86 passing through the orifice 86 is thus blocked by the second end 88 and the face 89 which acts as a stop for the support 52, in the two possible directions of rotation around the through X86 axis.

Each optical element 54 is positioned opposite the associated light guide 27, 28 and more precisely in contact with the light guide 27, 28, against a flat face 90 positioned opposite the chamfer, in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which extends the corresponding light guide 27, 28.

Advantageously, the optical element 54 is positioned at a distance of less than 3 mm from the flat face 90.

Having the left 24 and right 26 lighting devices positioned perpendicular to the left 27 and right 28 light guides makes it possible to have left 27 and right 28 light guides generally present over the entire length of the left walls. 16 and right 17. The aesthetic effect of the light guides 27 and 28 is thus optimized and the lighting of the interior of the enclosure 10 also, since it takes place over the entire height of the enclosure.

Furthermore, the size of the lighting devices 24 and 26 is limited since they are fixed in the upper corners 46, 48 of the enclosure 10 and occupy an initially unused space, behind the block 15, along the high wall 18.

In addition, the low light guide 29 makes it possible to optimize the lighting of the enclosure 10, since its position relative to the left light guides 27 and right 28 allows the light flux emitted by the lighting devices 24, 26 to cross it and illuminate the interior of the enclosure. Thanks to this arrangement of the light guide 29 and to the chamfers 70, 71, a third lighting device is not necessary to transmit a light flux through the light guide 29 and to illuminate the enclosure. The number of lighting devices 24, 26 is thus optimized.

In addition, the reliefs formed on the external surface of the light guides 27, 28 allow part of the light flux passing through the light guides 27, 28 to be kept, thereby illuminating the interior of the enclosure, and the development of the density of these reliefs makes it possible to have a homogenization of the light intensity at all points of the light guides 27, 28.

It is important to note that the light guide 29 makes it possible to improve the lighting of the enclosure 10 without adding a light source 50.

Furthermore, to illuminate the entire interior of the enclosure 10 only two light sources 50 are used, which implies that the heat input into the enclosure, due to the light sources 50, is optimized, as is the electrical consumption of the lighting devices 24, 26.

Finally the replacement of the lighting devices in the event of maintenance operation is facilitated, since it suffices to replace one or both lighting devices 24, 26, and the aesthetics of the enclosure is of high quality since the Lighting devices 24, 26 are hidden by the block 15 and that the light guides 27, 28, 29 make it possible to provide globally homogeneous lighting compared to the use of LED strings.

In addition, the light guides 27, 28, 29 are positioned so that they do not reduce the storage capacity of the enclosure 10. In fact, the light guides 27, 28, 29 are fixed in the left, right, and bottom grooves 36 which have no storage function.

The section of each light guide 27, 28, 29 is preferably less than 100 mm ² , thus making it possible to minimize the volume occupied by each light guide 27, 28, 29 and thus to keep a sufficient free volume suitable for being equipped with insulating foam, to guarantee thermal insulation of the enclosure 10.

In a variant not shown, the upper groove 38 is adapted to maintain a light guide inserted in the upper groove 38 and the lower groove does not include a light guide. In this variant, the lighting devices 24 and 26 are positioned at the level of the bottom groove and the left and right light guides 27 and 28 have their upper end portions 58, 60 and bottom 64, 65 reversed, the lighting devices 24 and 26 being respectively opposite the chamfers 61, 62.

Claims (7)

1. A wine cellar forming a temperature-regulated enclosure (10), equipped with a door and with two lighting devices (24, 26) and at least two light guides (27, 28, 29), each lighting device (24, 26) including a light source (50) adapted for emitting a light flux through the light guides (27, 28), the lighting devices (24, 26), as well as the light guides (27, 28), being laid out inside the enclosure (10), and each light guide (27, 28) being optically coupled with a different lighting device (24, 26) and comprising first (58, 60) and second (64, 65) terminal portions, at least the first terminal portion (58, 60) comprising a chamfer (61, 62), oriented towards the inside of the enclosure (10) so as to receive the light flux from the lighting devices (24, 26), each lighting device (24, 26) having its light source facing the chamfer (61, 62) of the light guide (27, 28) with which it is optically coupled,
   wherein the enclosure (10) comprises a front face (12) including interior walls (16, 17, 18, 20), comprising a left side wall (16) and a right side wall (17), the front face (12) comprising a block (15) for configuring the temperature inside the enclosure (10) and accessible for a user after opening the door, the ends (32, 33) of the block (15) being in contact with left and right side walls (16, 17) so as to hide the lighting devices (24, 26) from the view of a user of the enclosure (10),
   wherein the light guides (27, 28) are attached along the interior walls (16, 17, 18, 20) of the front face (12),
   wherein each of left and right side walls (16, 17) of the front face (12) comprises a groove (36, 38) adapted for receiving one light guide (27, 28), and wherein the groove (36, 38) is provided with a clipping lip (74) maintaining the light guide (27, 28), the light guides (27, 28) being maintained in the groove (36, 38) by matching shapes.
2. The wine cellar according to claim 1, characterized in that each chamfer (61, 62) optically coupled with a lighting device (24, 26) is oriented towards the light flux emitted by the light source (50) of the corresponding lighting device (24, 26), and in that a first angle (α), measured in the clockwise direction, between each chamfer (61, 62) and a direction along which extends the corresponding light guide (27, 28), is respectively twice smaller than a second angle (β) measured, in the clockwise direction, between the light flux emitted by the corresponding lighting device (24, 26) and the direction along which extends the corresponding light guide (27, 28).
3. The wine cellar according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light flux emitted by each lighting device (24, 26) optically coupled with a corresponding light guide (27, 28) is globally oriented perpendicularly to the corresponding light guide (27, 28), in that the chamfer (61, 62) of each first terminal portion is globally oriented at 45° relatively to the direction along which extends the light guide (27, 28), and in that a reflective element is attached on each chamfer (61, 62).
4. The wine cellar according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each light guide (27, 28) comprises raised or recessed portions on an external surface, and in that the distribution of the raised/recessed portions on each light guide (27, 28), optically coupled with one of the lighting devices (24, 26), is increasingly dense upon moving away from the light source (50) of the corresponding lighting device(s) (24, 26), and in that the raised/recessed portions are preferably formed by screen printing, engraving or painting or printing.
5. The wine cellar according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each lighting device (24, 26) comprises an optical element (54) able to concentrate the light flux emitted by the corresponding light source (50) in one direction, in that the optical element (54) is positioned facing the corresponding light guide (27, 28), at a minimum distance of less than 3 mm.
6. The wine cellar according to claim 5, characterized in that each lighting device (24, 26) comprises a support (52) able to receive the light source (50) and the optical element (54), in that the support (52) comprises a first end (80) adapted for being attached in the groove (36) of a wall (16) into which is inserted the light guide (27) optically coupled with the corresponding lighting device (24), and in that the first end (80) is attached by matching of the shapes and is retained by the corresponding clipping lip (74).
7. The wine cellar according to claim 3, characterized by one high wall (18) and one low wall (20), each connecting both sidewalls (16, 17), in that the wine cellar comprises a light guide (29) attached to on the low wall or on the high wall, in that said light guide (29) attached on the low wall or on the high wall (20) comprises two terminal portions (66, 68) each provided with a chamfer (70, 71) respectively oriented towards the light guides (27, 28) attached to the sidewalls (16, 17), and in that all the light guides (27, 28, 29) form a continuous light guide.

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