EP3240970B1

EP3240970B1 - Lighting apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP3240970B1
Application number: EP15823606.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gianmario Invernizzi
Original assignee: Nordgas SRL
Current assignee: Nordgas SRL
Priority date: 2014-12-30
Filing date: 2015-12-29
Publication date: 2018-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 2035-12-29
Also published as: EP3240970A1; WO2016107863A1

Description

The present invention relates to a lighting apparatus, in particular it relates to an industrial and domestic lighting apparatus capable of orienting the lighting bodies in various directions in order to obtain optimal lighting of the site in which these apparatus are installed.
Various types of lighting apparatus both of industrial and domestic type, adapted to light large spaces, such as industrial sheds and warehouses, but also gardens, terraces or public urban spaces, are currently available on the market.
These apparatus must satisfy both lighting requirements, intended as quantity of light emitted, and consumption and energy saving requirements.
Therefore, it is essential for these devices to provide sufficient lighting of the site in which they are installed, without it being necessary to use a plurality of apparatus, which would result in an increase in consumption and operating costs.
Normally, lighting apparatus for large spaces consist of a fixing bracket, for fixing the apparatus in the best point to obtain correct lighting, and of a support body that contains the light sources and the electronic components that allow these light sources to be switched on. However, these devices do not allow sufficient diffusion of the light emitted, as they do not allow adjustment of the light cone, emitted from the light sources, in various directions so as to be able to expand the area lit by the apparatus, thereby reducing the number of apparatus required to light a given surface.
The patent application US2011/0157903 describes a mechanism for supporting industrial lamps comprising a fixing bracket provided with a projection to which the actual support is coupled. The lamp can rotate around the projection due to the support coupled thereto.
The main drawback of this solution is that the lamp can only be moved in one direction, i.e. it can rotate around the projection coupled to the supporting bracket, only allowing the beam of light to shift along the directrix given by the movement, thereby limiting the size of the area lit by this lamp.
The patent application CN101968211A describes a lamp that allows the angle of the light cone to be varied with respect to the fixing point. The lamp comprises a fixing portion and a lighting body coupled to the fixing portion by means of a rotating shaft.
However, also in this case the lamp can only be moved in one direction, modifying only the area at which the light beam is pointed and consequently limiting the possibility of increasing the lit surface.
The utility model application CN201265803Y describes a lamp in which the focal point can be varied. The lamp consists of a light source, of an ellipsoidal reflecting surface and of a series of lenses in sliding connection with the reflecting surface. By varying the position of the lenses with respect to the reflecting surface it is possible to vary the focal point and consequently the direction of the light beam.
Also in this case, it is only possible to orient the light beam in one direction, consequently limiting the possibility of expanding the area lit by the lamp. Moreover, a further disadvantage of this embodiment is the fragility of the elements of which the lamp is composed, in particular the fragility of the movable lenses required to modify the focal point.
The patent application EP1954103A2 discloses an illumination device comprising a number of lighting panels which are pivotally mounted to a common support panel by connecting parts formed as ball joints. In this way, the lighting panels can move pivotally around a point as an axis, and hence the position of each panel may be directed as desired. However, in this illumination device because the position of the support panel is fixed, there is no provision for global adjustment of the device once it is installed.
The patent application CN102444840A discloses a lighting apparatus where LED lighting panels are adjustably mounted within a frame for longitudinal adjustment, and the frame is also rotatably mounted to a mounting bracket.
Therefore, it would be desirable to obtain a lighting apparatus, for both industrial and domestic use, that allows the light sources to be oriented in different positions, so that the light beam can be oriented in any direction, according to needs. It would also be desirable to obtain a lighting apparatus capable of lighting a large surface, so as to reduce the number of apparatus installed to light a given surface.
Finally, it would be desirable to obtain an apparatus that can be attained easily, with no mechanical parts that are difficult to produced and maintain, and which is sturdy and reliable. The aim of the present invention is therefore to provide a lighting apparatus capable of lighting a large area, so that a smaller number of apparatus can be used and consequently operating costs can be reduced.
Within the scope of this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a lighting apparatus in which it is possible to orient the light sources in different positions, so as to distribute the light beam emitted over a larger area.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a lighting apparatus of simple design, sturdy and with no complex mechanical parts, so as to provide an apparatus that is easily produced and long lasting.
The aforesaid objects are achieved by means of a lighting apparatus as defined in claim 1 of the appended claims.
In this way, a lighting apparatus that achieves all the objects listed above is obtained. Preferably, the lighting panels comprise a plurality of light sources.
In this way, a lighting apparatus capable of lightening large surfaces with a sufficient amount of light is provided.
Preferably, the light sources are selected in the group consisting of: LED, incandescent filament lamps, discharge lamps, halogen lamps. More preferably, the light source is formed by LED.
The support structure comprises a frame, within which the lighting panels are rotatably mounted.
In this way, the panels can rotate both along the axis Y-Y and along the axis Z-Z. The means of rotation around the longitudinal axis Y-Y of the lighting panels comprise a support coupled to the terminal portion of said lighting panels and a pin coupled to two opposed portions of said frame.
Preferably, the means of rotation around an axis Z-Z comprise a pin-based rotation system coupled to the terminal portion of said lighting panels and coupled to said frame.
Preferably, the panels are provided with a head comprising a plurality of vertical slots arranged in the portion opposite to the portion in which said frame is coupled to said pin-based rotation system, said lighting panels being coupled to said vertical slots, which are provided with locking means. The vertical slots are coupled to the frame with the same element that in the opposed portion allows rotation of the panel around the axis Y-Y. The frame is provided with holes that accommodate the pins for rotation of the panel and at the same time form the locking element thereof. In this way, it is possible to control the movement around the axis Z-Z of the lighting panels, which can move by an amount equal to the length of the slot. Preferably, the slots are provided with a locking means that allows the lighting panel to be locked in the preferred angular position around the axis Z-Z.
In an unclaimed embodiment of the lighting apparatus, the support structure comprises a central tubular body. The means of rotation comprise a plurality of tubular hollow hubs coaxial to said central tubular body and connected thereto; these hubs are also provided with a hollow tubular projection couplable to said lighting panels, whose longitudinal axis a-a passing through the centre of said hollow projection is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis b-b passing through the centre of said hub. Preferably, the lighting panels in the second embodiment of the present invention are provided with a pin placed in the proximity of a terminal portion of this lighting panel, adapted to rotatably couple the lighting panel to the support structure, for insertion of the pin in the hollow tubular projection coupled to the hub.
In this way, rotation of the panels both along the axis Y-Y and along the axis Z-Z is possible. Preferably, the hub and the hollow projection are provided with a locking means.
In this way, the lighting panel can be locked in the predetermined position.
Further features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the description of preferred embodiment, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying figures, wherein:

Fig.1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the lighting apparatus according to the present invention;
Fig.2 is a perspective view of part of the first embodiment of the lighting apparatus according to the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a side view of the part of Fig. 2 of the lighting apparatus according to the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a top view of the first embodiment of the lighting apparatus according to the present invention;
Fig.5 is a perspective view of a detail of the first embodiment of the lighting apparatus according to the present invention;
Fig.6 is a perspective view of a detail of the first embodiment of the lighting apparatus according to the present invention;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an unclaimed embodiment of the lighting apparatus;
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a detail of the unclaimed embodiment;
Fig. 9 is a side view of the unclaimed embodiment;
Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a detail of the unclaimed embodiment;
Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a detail of the unclaimed embodiment.

With reference to the figures described, the lighting apparatus 10 according to the present invention in a first embodiment shown in Figs 1-6, comprises a fixing bracket 20 adapted to fix the apparatus to an appropriate support, for example a wall or a post, placed in the proximity of the area to be lit. The bracket is rotatably coupled to a support frame 31 in which a plurality of lighting panels 40 are mounted. According to the present invention, the term lighting panel is meant as a lamp comprising a plurality of light sources, for example LED. The panel is preferably parallelepiped shaped and substantially flat, i.e. with limited thickness.
Coupling between the bracket 20 and the frame 31 is produced in two opposed points of the frame by means of a pair of screws 310 that allow rotation of the frame 31 around the coupling point. Rotation of the frame takes place around an axis X-X, which is the axis passing through the two coupling points of the frame with the supporting bracket. The frame 31 is also provided with two shaped portions 311 in the form of semi-circular plates, placed in the proximity of the coupling point of the frame with the bracket. These shaped portions 311 are provided with slots 312 in which suitable locking means 21 are placed coupled to the fixing bracket 20. These locking means 21 coupled to the fixing bracket 20 allow the frame 31 to be locked in a predetermined position around the axis X-X, due to interference of the locking means 21 with the shaped portion 311 in the proximity of the slots 312.
The lighting panels 40 are provided with means of rotation around their longitudinal axis Y-Y and around an axis Z-Z perpendicular to said longitudinal axis Y-Y and placed in the proximity of a terminal portion of the lighting panel.
In particular, as shown in Fig. 5, the lighting panel comprises in a terminal portion 41 thereof, a first support or head 500 provided with a projection 501 coupled by means of a screw to a second support 600 coupled to the frame 31 by means of a screw 601, which allows it to rotate around itself. In this way, the lighting panel can rotate both around the axis Y-Y due to the rotation around the screw 601 coupled to the frame 31, and around the axis Z-Z due to the rotation around the screw 700 that produces the coupling between the first support 500 and the second support 600.
In the opposed terminal portion 42 of the panel 40, a second head 500' is mounted, as shown in Fig. 6, also provided with a plurality of vertical slots 32, which are thus produced in the portion opposite to where the lighting panels 40 are rotatably mounted to this frame, according to the description above. The slots 32 are coupled to the frame 31 by means of a support 600' with screw 700' inserted in these slots. The support 600' is fixed to the frame 31 by means of a screw 321 that allows it to rotate around the axis Y-Y. The slots are also coupled to the lighting panels in the proximity of their terminal portion 42 with the head 500' which they are a part of, and which is opposite to the terminal portion 41 where the panels are fixed to a portion of the frame 31. Coupling of the panels 40 to the slots 32 allows these panels to shift, during the movement of rotation around the axis Z-Z, by an amount equal to the length of the slot 32, thereby allowing controlled shifting of the lighting panel. The slots 32 are provided with locking means 600' and 700', adapted to lock the lighting panel in a desired position around the axis Z-Z, according to the user's needs .
In an unclaimed embodiment of the lighting apparatus 50, shown in Figs. 7-11, the support structure 70 comprises a central tubular body 71 rotatably coupled to the fixing bracket 60. The tubular body 71 comprises an anchor unit 710, substantially placed halfway along the extension of the central body, adapted to couple the central body to the fixing bracket 60. Coupling between the bracket 60 and the central body 71 takes place by means of a screw that allows the central body to rotate around the axis X-X passing through the coupling point 61 between the bracket and the central body.
The lighting panels 80 are mounted on said central body and are provided with means of rotation that allow them to rotate with respect to the axis Z-Z, or the longitudinal axis passing through the centre of the tubular body 71, as shown in detail in Fig. 8. The lighting panels are also provided with means of rotation that allow them to rotate around their longitudinal axis Y-Y.
The means of rotation preferably comprise a plurality of tubular hollow hubs 72 that are coaxially coupled to the central tubular body 71, i.e. the longitudinal axis passing through the centre of the tubular hub 72 is coincident with the longitudinal axis passing through the centre of the tubular body 71. The hub 72 is therefore free to rotate around its longitudinal axis and consequently around the longitudinal axis Z-Z of the central body 71. In this way, it is possible to rotate the lighting panel 80, coupled to the hub 72, around the axis Z-Z that is placed in the proximity of the terminal portion 82 of the lighting panel 80.
The hub 72 is provided with a hollow projection 73 that extends perpendicularly to the length of the hub 72. In particular, as shown in Fig. 10, the longitudinal axis b-b passing through the centre of the hollow tubular projection 73 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis a-a passing through the centre of the hub 72.
The hollow (tubular) projection 73 allows rotating coupling of the hub 72, and therefore of the support structure, with the lighting panels 80. Coupling takes place by inserting a pin 81, with which the lighting panels 80 are provided, into the hollow projection 73.
The pin 81 is placed in the proximity of a terminal portion 82 of the lighting panel 80, as shown in Fig. 11, and is of a size suitable to be inserted into the hollow tubular projection 73 provided on the hub 72. Coupling of the projection 81 with the hollow tubular projection 73 allows the panel to rotate around its longitudinal axis Y-Y due to the rotation of the pin 81 inside the hollow projection 73.
In order to allow fixing of the lighting panel in the predetermined position, both around the axis Z-Z and around the axis Y-Y, the tubular hollow hub 72 and the hollow tubular projection 73, are provided with locking means that lock rotation both of the hub 72 around the central body 71, and rotation of the pin 81 inside the hollow tubular projection 73.
These locking means are preferably screws 750 inserted in corresponding holes made on the hub 72 and on the hollow projection 73 thereof.

Claims

Lighting apparatus (10, 50) comprising a fixing bracket (20, 60) rotatably coupled to a support structure (30, 70) for a plurality of adjacent lighting panels (40, 80) mounted in said support structure (30, 70), wherein said support structure comprises a frame (31) within which said lighting panels (40) are rotatably mounted and comprises means of rotation around an axis (x-x) passing through at least one coupling point of said support structure (30, 70) with said fixing bracket (20, 60), said lighting panels (40, 80) being provided with means of rotation around their longitudinal axis (y-y) and around an axis (z-z) perpendicular to said longitudinal axis (y-y) and placed in the proximity of a terminal portion thereof, whereby a lit surface can be varied by varying the inclination of the elements of the apparatus; said means of rotation around said longitudinal axis (y-y) of said lighting panels (40) comprise heads (500, 500') coupled to the terminal portions (41, 42) of said lighting panels (40) and pins coupled to two opposed portions of said frame (31).
Lighting apparatus (10, 50) according to claim 1, characterized in that said lighting panels comprise a plurality of light sources.
Lighting apparatus (10, 50) according to claim 1, characterized in that said light sources are LED.
Lighting apparatus (10, 50) according to claim 1, characterized in that said means of rotation around said axis (z-z) comprise a pin-based rotation system coupled to a terminal portion (41) of said lighting panels (40) and coupled to said frame (31).
Lighting apparatus (10, 50) according to claim 4, characterized in that said lighting panels (40) are provided with a head (500') comprising a plurality of vertical slots (32), said head (500') being arranged in the terminal portion (42) opposite to the terminal portion (41) in which said frame is coupled to said pin-based rotation system, said slots (32) being provided with locking means.