EP3244129B1

EP3244129B1 - Device to switch on/off light sources

Info

Publication number: EP3244129B1
Application number: EP17170188.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alex Antoniolli
Original assignee: Team Srl Unipersonale
Current assignee: Team Srl Unipersonale
Priority date: 2016-05-09
Filing date: 2017-05-09
Publication date: 2019-05-01
Anticipated expiration: 2037-05-09
Also published as: EP3244129A1

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a device to switch on/off light sources, usable in association with furnishing elements which are defined by a containing structure and a mobile structure, for example a door or panel that opens/closes a compartment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Devices are known for switching on/off light sources that are installed inside furnishing elements or reverberate inside cabinets, for example, or containers or wall units, having a containing structure that defines a compartment and at least a mobile structure, for example a panel or suchlike, pivoted to the containing structure, or sliding along the containing structure, to determine the closing/opening of the compartment.
In the most advanced solutions, the light sources are switched on/off by means of devices provided with sensors that send a command signal to the light source according to the position of the mobile structure, if it is closed or open.
In such known solutions, the connection between the switch on/off device and the light source occurs by means of a physical connection, for example a cabling system, which entails a more complex installation, as well as being visible and in some cases bulky and interfering with the correct and complete fruition of the furnishing element. Known connection systems are also subject to wear, breakage, and in any case require frequent control and maintenance interventions.
Normally, the switch on/off devices used in known solutions have activation components of the magnetic type, or with an electric switch, in which the sensor activates/deactivates the light when the mobile structure is detached from/in contact with a fixed part.
Other known switching off/on devices are the infrared type, that is, a sensor is used which activates the light when it detects the presence or absence of an obstacle that puts itself in front of the sensor itself, that is, if the mobile structure is open or not.
In both these types of devices, the opening/closing of the mobile structure is only detected when the detachment from/contact with the containing structure occurs, and these devices do not detect and are irrelevant in relation to the position, as well as the movement, of the mobile structure itself.
Therefore, known switch on/off devices are not able to detect the position of the mobile structure with respect to the fixed structure, and do not detect, for example, a mobile structure that has accidentally remained half-closed and keep the light source unnecessarily switched on.
In the case of the infrared sensor, this is activated only if it detects an obstacle and, therefore, allows activation only in the presence of the user, or another obstacle interposed between the mobile structure and the containing structure.
Furthermore, known switch on/off devices do not provide a gradual switching-on of the light source, that is, a modulation of the light intensity.
For example, document DE 20 2012 102 227 U1 describes a furnishing element provided with a fixed containing structure, inside which there are two light sources, and a mobile structure. The light sources are switched on by detecting the movement of the mobile structure. However, in the switching-on circuit of this light source no modulation of the light intensity is provided.
Documents US-A1-2015/0369471 and US-A1-2016/0047539 describe a switch on/off device installed exclusively on the fixed containing structure, provided with a sensor to detect the movement of the mobile structure. Depending on the detection, the switch on/off device exclusively commands the switching on/off of the light source.
US 2013/208455 , US 2007/241259 and WO 2013/056109 disclose other items of furniture of the prior art having a device to switch on and off a light source.
One purpose of the present invention is to obtain a switch on/off device which can be associated with a furnishing element that allows to adjust the light intensity based on the position of the mobile structure with respect to the fixed structure of the furnishing element.
Another purpose of the invention is to obtain a switch on/off device that does not require invasive interventions on parts of the furnishing element, that does not negatively affect the aesthetics of the associated furnishing element, and that does not require frequent maintenance and control of its functional parts.
Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a switch on/off device that allows energy savings.
Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a switch on/off device that is sensitive to the position of the mobile structure with respect to the containing structure.
The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.
In accordance with the above purposes, the present invention concerns a device to switch on/off a light source associable with a furnishing element with a containing structure including a compartment, inside which the light source is installed, or in which compartment it reverberates, and a mobile structure with respect to the containing structure and cooperating with it in order to at least partly close the compartment.
The switch on/off device comprises a management unit and at least one detection unit.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the detection unit comprises at least one detection element configured to detect information correlated at least to the position, and possibly the movement, of the mobile structure with respect to the containing structure, and at least one transmission element to transmit the information to the management unit in order to consequently command the switching on/off as well as the modulation of the light source.
In this way, advantageously, the management unit is able to switch on, switch off and/or modulate the intensity of the light emitted by the light source according to the position of the mobile structure with respect to the containing structure, or is able to program the switching on/off of the light source according to the aforesaid position, for example to switch on the light source beyond a limit opening point of the mobile structure, and to switch it off when the mobile structure returns along its travel in the opposite direction.
The present invention also concerns a furnishing element, having a compartment inside which a light source is installed or reverberates, and which provides the device to switch on/off the light source.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

fig. 1 is a perspective view of a furnishing element provided with a switch on/off device that is not part of the present invention;
fig. 2 is a perspective view of another furnishing element provided with the switch on/off device that is not part of the present invention;
fig. 3 is a perspective view of yet another furnishing element provided with the switch on/off device that is not part of the present invention;
fig. 4 is a perspective view of the furnishing element in fig. 1 provided with the switch on/off device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
fig. 5 is a perspective view of the furnishing element in fig. 2 according to the embodiment in fig. 4;
fig. 6 is a perspective view of the furnishing element in fig. 3 according to the embodiment in fig. 4.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments described here in figs. 1 to 6 concern a switch on/off device 10 that can be installed in a furnishing element 100 which has a containing structure 110 defining a compartment 112 and associated with a mobile structure 114.
The mobile structure 114 can be pivoted by hinges 116 (fig. 1), or slidable along sliding guides (fig. 2), or tilting (fig. 3) with respect to the containing structure 110, or can have another relative movement suitable to open or close the compartment 112 for access to the containing structure 110.
In the solution shown, an electrically powered light source 12 of a known type is installed inside the compartment 112.
It comes within the field of the invention that the light source 12 is not installed inside the compartment 112 but that the light emitted by it reverberates inside the compartment 112.
The switch on/off device 10 comprises a management unit 14 and at least one detection unit 16.
The detection unit 16 comprises at least one detection element 17 and at least one transmission element 22.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the detection element 17 is configured to detect information correlated to the position of the mobile structure 114 with respect to the containing structure 110.
For example, the detection element 17 can be a sensor configured to detect the position of the mobile structure 114.
By detecting the position, and not only the movement, of the mobile structure 114, the detection element 17 can advantageously allow to send to the management unit 14 an advance signal to switch off the light source 12, or even to detect if the mobile structure 114 has been accidentally left half-closed, and therefore switch off the light source 12, possibly after a desired time, thus preventing unjustified consumption of electric energy.
According to one embodiment, shown by way of example in figs. 4-6, the switch on/off device 10 can comprise a magnetic element 15 installed in this specific case on the containing structure 110.
The magnetic element 15 can be a permanent magnet, or an electromagnet, able to generate a constant magnetic field over time and to influence the behavior of the detection element 17.
According to the embodiment shown by way of example in figs. 1-3, that are not part of the invention, the detection element 17 can be a magnetometer, or a gyroscope.
According to the present invention, shown by way of example in figs. 4-6, the detection element 17, interacting with the magnetic element 15, detects information correlated to the position of the mobile structure 114 with respect to the containing structure 110.
For example, the detection element 17 is configured to interact directly with the magnetic element 15.
In particular, the detection element 17 is configured to detect a variation of a magnetic field generated by the magnetic element 15 according to the position of the mobile structure 114 with respect to the containing structure 110.
The detection element 17 can for example be selected from a group comprising a magnetic transducer or sensor of the Reed type, or Hall effect.
According to a preferred embodiment, the magnetic element 15 can be installed in correspondence with a peripheral edge 118 of the containing structure 110.
In particular, the peripheral edge 118 defines the opening for access to the compartment 112.
The magnetic element 15 is preferably positioned at the same level of height as the detection element 17, in order to allow an optimal detection of the position of the mobile structure 114 with respect to the containing structure 110.
The detection unit 16 can be installed on the mobile structure 114 at any point thereon.
Advantageously, a position can be sought that accentuates the movement of the mobile structure 112 with respect to the position of the detection unit 16, thus allowing greater detection accuracy and greater speed in the transmission of information.
According to one embodiment, the detection unit 16 can be installed in correspondence with a housing seating 18 made in correspondence with the thickness of the mobile structure 114. In this way, the detection unit 16 is protected against any possible impacts that could damage it and can also be hidden to have a continuous surface of the mobile structure 114.
The transmission element 22 is configured to transmit to the management unit 14 information correlated at least to the position and possibly to the movement of the mobile structure 114, obtained by the detection element 17, in order to command, as well as switching on/off, also a modulation of the light source 12.
The management unit 14 can be installed inside or outside the compartment 112.
According to a preferred embodiment, shown by way of example in figs. 1-6, the management unit 14 is installed inside the compartment 112.
According to one embodiment, the detection unit 16 can comprise a movement sensor element 20 configured to detect the movement of the mobile structure 114; the movement sensor element 20 can be an accelerometer for example.
The transmitter element 22 is also configured to transmit information correlated at least to the position and possibly to the movement of the mobile structure 114 generated by the detection element 17 and by the movement sensor element 20 and to transmit the information to the management unit 14.
The management unit 14 comprises at least one receiver element 24 configured to receive information correlated at least to the position and possibly to the movement of the mobile structure 114.
The management unit 14 also comprises at least one command element 26 configured to command the light source 12 to switch on/off and/or modulate the light intensity based on the information transmitted by the detection unit 16.
According to one embodiment, the transmitter element 22 and the receiver element 24 can be configured respectively to transmit and receive electrical signals, that is, they can be physically connected by electric cables.
According to a further embodiment, the transmitter element 22 and the receiver element 24 are configured to respectively transmit and receive signals of the radiofrequency type, or a signal with a Bluetooth® communication protocol or infrared signal, which allow wireless communication.
According to one embodiment, the command element 26 is configured to provide the adjustable programming of the switching on time and/or the switching off time of the light source 12, for example to obtain a fading effect of the switching on/off of the light source 12.
According to a further embodiment, the command element 26 is configured to provide the programming of the switching on of the light source 12 for a particular time interval determined by the information transmitted by the detection unit 16.
According to yet another embodiment, the command element 26 is configured to provide the programming of differentiated functioning modes of the light source 12.
For example, the functioning modes can consist of the timed switching on of the light source 12, or switching on/off commanded by two or more signals by the detection unit 16.
It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the switch on/off device 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.
For example, it comes within the field and scope of the invention to provide that the possible magnetic element 15 is installed on the mobile structure 114 and the detection unit 16, and/or the detection element 17 is installed on the containing structure 110.
It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of switch on/off device 10, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

Claims

Device to switch on/off a light source (12) associable with a furnishing element (100) with a containing structure (110) including a compartment (112), inside which said light source (12) is installed, or in which compartment (112) it reverberates, and a structure (114) mobile with respect to said containing structure (110) and interacting with said containing structure (110) in order to at least partly close said compartment (112), said switch on/off device comprising a management unit (14) and at least one detection unit (16), wherein said at least one detection unit (16) comprises at least one detection element (17) configured to detect information correlated at least to the position of said mobile structure (114) with respect to said containing structure (110), said at least one detection unit (16) also comprising at least one transmission element (22) configured to transmit said information to said management unit (14) in order to consequently command, not only the switching on/off, but also the modulation of said light source (12), characterized in that said device comprises a magnetic element (15) installed on said containing structure (110), and in that said detection element (17) interacts with said magnetic element (15) to detect a variation of a magnetic field generated by said magnetic element (15) as a function of the position of said mobile structure (114) with respect to said containing structure (110).
Switch on/off device as in claim 1, characterized in that said at least one detection unit (16) is associated with said mobile structure (114) and detects the position of said mobile structure (114).
Switch on/off device as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said at least one detection unit (16) is installed in correspondence to a housing seating (18) made in correspondence to the thickness of said mobile structure (114).
Switch on/off device as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said at least one detection unit (16) comprises a movement sensor element (20).
Device as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said detection element (17) is chosen from a group comprising a magnetic transducer or sensor of the Reed type or Hall effect.
Switch on/off device as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said magnetic element (15) is a permanent magnet or an electromagnet.
Switch on/off device as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said management unit (14) comprises at least one receiver element (24) and at least one command element (26).
Switch on/off device as in claim 7, characterized in that said at least one transmitter element (22) and said at least one receiver element (24) are physically connected by electric cables.
Switch on/off device as in claim 7, characterized in that said at least one transmitter element (22) and said at least one receiver element (24) are configured to communicate wirelessly and to transmit and receive signals of the radiofrequency type, or a signal with a Bluetooth® communication protocol or infrared.
Switch on/off device as in any of the claims from 7 to 9, characterized in that said at least one command element (26) is configured to provide the adjustable programming of the switch on time and/or switch off time of said light source (12).
Switch on/off device as in any of the claims from 7 to 9, characterized in that said at least one command element (26) is configured to provide the programming of the switching on of said light source (12) for a time interval determined starting from the information transmitted by said at least one detection unit (16).
Furnishing element (100) with a containing structure (110) including a compartment (112) inside which a light source (12) is installed, or in which compartment (112) it reverberates, and a structure (114) mobile with respect to said containing structure (110) and interacting with said containing structure (110) in order to at least partly close said compartment (112), said furnishing element (100) being provided with a device (10) to switch on/off said light source (12) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11.