EP3685095B1 - Device for lighting a court and corresponding lighting strip - Google Patents

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a fence with a device for lighting a field, and more particularly a lighting device specially adapted for sports fields.

Such a device particularly applies to the lighting of sports fields located outdoors.

Prior art

Practicing a sport on a dedicated field most often requires good visibility. For sports whose practice is organized by a federation, the latter most often regulates the characteristics of the terrain on which the sport is practiced. It can thus impose precise dimensions for the land, as well as other characteristics, such as for example the lighting characteristics of the land. This is the case, for example, of tennis federations which impose, through standards, the dimensions of tennis courts or courts and, for courts to be used at night or without natural light, the characteristics of the lighting, and in particular the intensity of the lighting on the different points of the ground and the homogeneity of this lighting on the ground.

For sports fields located inside buildings (usually referred to by the English term " indoor "), lighting devices include lamps or projectors which are generally attached to the ceiling or to the structure of the buildings, in order to 'properly light the grounds.

For sports fields located outdoors (usually referred to by the English term " outdoor "), the lighting of the fields is generally provided by lamps or projectors placed at the top of support masts, installed around the field, such as the shows for example the document US 4,141,056 . These support poles must be of great height to allow the floodlights to have sufficient distance to illuminate the terrain evenly.

For sports that require athletes or players to look upwards, such as tennis, floodlights illuminating the courts can be a source of glare or glare. A flash of light occurs when a light source, without necessarily dazzling a person, produces an afterglow in their home, which can in particular be annoying when practicing sport. The use of projectors located at a great height makes it possible to limit this disadvantage, by allowing the projectors to be aligned with the player's line of vision only in a reduced number of cases.

Once the floodlights are installed on the masts, their orientation must be adjusted, at night, by a first technician, assisted by a second technician present on the ground to measure the intensity of the lighting at different points on the ground. The precision required for this adjustment is all the more important as the height of the mast carrying the projectors is low. Indeed, when the lighting has a lower angle of incidence in relation to the illuminated terrain, it is more difficult to obtain homogeneous lighting that meets standards.

The lighting devices therefore most often install very high masts to obtain satisfactory homogeneity of lighting and to limit the dazzling of the players. The installation of these support masts, which must be strong enough to withstand the wind, represents significant and expensive work, generally requiring the obtaining of a building permit, which the owners of sports grounds are not always aware of. ability to achieve. A large number of outdoor sports grounds, including tennis courts, are therefore not lit and can only be used during the day.

Furthermore, on lit areas, the floodlights located on the support masts develop significant power, therefore resulting in high electricity consumption. In addition, these floodlights often generate significant light pollution, providing lighting around the pitch that may not be desired.

To avoid the significant expense linked to the installation of floodlights carried by masts, certain tennis courts are lit by strips of fluorescent tubes extending along the courts, which can be carried by the poles. fence of the land or by a dedicated structure, as in the document US 4,270,161 . Due to the nature of the light sources and the proximity between the booms and the ground, the light cannot be distributed over the ground with the desired level of intensity and homogeneity. Such a system therefore does not make it possible, for example, to fulfill the conditions imposed by tennis federations for courts hosting official competitions. Additionally, the lighting provided by these ramps is often a source of glare or flash of light for players.

The document US 2017/102117 A1 shows the characterizing part of claim 1.

Objectives of the invention

The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks of the prior art.

More particularly, the present invention aims to provide a device for lighting a field, and more particularly a sports field, which requires a reduced installation cost compared to the lighting solutions generally used.

Another objective of the invention is to provide such a lighting device which offers great homogeneity of lighting, thus meeting demanding normative constraints.

Another objective of the invention is to provide such a lighting device whose installation and adjustments are simplified compared to the solutions of the prior art.

Yet another objective of the invention is to provide such a lighting device which is well suited to the practice of the sport concerned, and in particular which limits as much as possible the risks of dazzling or flashing of light of athletes or athletes. players, and which limits the shadows cast on the field.

Presentation of the invention

These objectives, as well as others which will appear more clearly later, are achieved using a fence to surround the surface of a field having a playing area, according to claim 1, which carries a device for lighting of this land.

In the present application we can consider that the ramp extends horizontally if it has an angle less than 5° with the horizontal. Likewise, we can consider that the beam is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the ramp if it has an angle less than 5° with the perpendicular. Furthermore, in accordance with usage in the field of lighting, the diffusion angle of a light beam is considered to be the diffusion angle of the width at half height (width of the beam in which the light intensity is at least equal to the maximum intensity, more commonly designated by the English expression “ full width of half maximum ” or by the acronym FWHM) of the beam.

Such a device presenting a ramp of very directive light sources oriented parallel to each other makes it possible to effectively illuminate a site, even when the ramp is placed at a low height, without generating dazzling of people placed on this site, if they do not are not facing the ramp. This device is therefore very suitable for lighting sports fields, particularly fields dedicated to the practice of sports in which the players or athletes are mainly oriented in a preferential direction. In the latter case, the lighting strip(s) may preferably be parallel to this preferred direction.

Advantageously, the ramp, or at least one of the ramps, can be placed at a predefined height relative to said terrain. This height can for example be predefined when the grounds have standardized dimensions, and the ramp can be fixed to an element of the land, such as the fences of the land.

Advantageously, this height of the ramp is relatively low, compared to the dimensions of the land to be illuminated, such that the beams of the light sources are preferentially oriented in directions having angles of less than 25° with the horizontal. The ground-level lighting thus produced helps avoid dazzling players and limits energy consumption.

Preferably, the ramp extends over most of the length of said side of the land. This arrangement allows the ramp to effectively illuminate the entire useful portion of the land.

Preferably, the device comprises at least two lighting strips, facing each other along two opposite parallel sides of said terrain. These two lighting lamps make it possible to obtain better homogeneity of lighting and to limit cast shadows.

According to a preferred embodiment, the orientation of said light sources relative to said ramp(s) is invariable. This solution, which can be implemented for lighting grounds with predefined dimensions, simplifies the installation of the device, the orientation of the light sources being adjusted in advance and not being intended to be modified during or after the 'facility.

Preferably, the position of said ramp(s) relative to the terrain is predetermined as a function of the dimensions of said terrain and the characteristics of the desired lighting.

Advantageously, said or at least one of said ramps has means for fixing to posts located along said side of the land. The ramps can thus be easily assembled to pre-existing elements on the ground.

According to a preferred embodiment, said fixing means comprise rails, extending over the entire length of said ramp, capable of holding a fixing element at any point along the length of said ramp. These fixing means thus allow easy fixing of the ramps to posts, regardless of the position or the spacing of these posts.

Preferably, said or at least one of said ramps is composed of several independent ramp segments, assembled together.

In this case, advantageously, said ramp segments are assembled by fixing elements held by said rails of each of said ramp segments.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the light sources of said or at least one of said ramps are oriented in at least two directions distinct. These different orientations of the lamps ensure good distribution of light on the ground.

Advantageously, said or at least one of said ramps has at least two distinct supports each capable of receiving light sources oriented parallel in a predetermined direction.

Preferably, each of said supports extends over the entire length of said or at least one of said ramps. The light sources can thus be distributed in several orientations over the entire length of the ramp.

According to a preferred embodiment, said ramp or at least one of said ramps comprises a metal profile comprising said fixing means and at least one flat surface forming a support capable of receiving light sources oriented parallel in a predetermined direction. Such a metal profile has good mechanical characteristics. It can also participate effectively in the dispersion of the heat emitted by light sources.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the device comprises at least two lighting strips extending substantially parallel to each other along the same side of said ground, the light sources of at least two of said strips being oriented in distinct directions, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of said ramps. Secondary lighting strips can thus ensure, on certain parts of the field, the lighting of useful volumes for the practice of the sport concerned.

Advantageously, said light sources are lamps comprising light-emitting diodes.

Advantageously, a lighting strip, capable of being implemented in a lighting device as described above, comprises fixing means capable of allowing its fixing to posts, in a horizontal position, said fixing means comprising rails (417, 418), extending over the entire length of said ramp (4), capable of holding a fixing element at any point along the length of said ramp (4), the lighting ramp comprising a succession of light sources distributed along its length, each of said light sources projecting a light beam having a diffusion angle less than 20°,
oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of said ramp, a part of said light sources having a first non-modifiable orientation, relative to said ramp, and another part of said light sources having a second orientation, distinct from said first orientation and non-modifiable, for example relation to said ramp.

This lighting strip can advantageously have one or more of the characteristics mentioned above.

List of Figures

• la figure 1 est un plan d'un terrain de sport dédié à la pratique du tennis ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective du terrain de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue de détail, en perspective, montrant une clôture latérale du terrain de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective d'une portion de la rampe principale d'éclairage portée par la clôture de la figure 3 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue de coupe de la rampe principale d'éclairage de la figure 4 ;
• la figure 6 est une vue en perspective du terrain de la figure 1, montrant l'éclairage fourni par certaines des lampes des rampes d'éclairage ;
• la figure 7 est une vue en perspective des moyens de fixation de la rampe principale d'éclairage de la figure 4 à un poteau de clôture ;
• la figure 8 est une vue en perspectives des moyens de fixation de deux segments de la rampe principale d'éclairage de la figure 4.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of preferred embodiments, given as a simple figurative and non-limiting example, and accompanied by the figures among which:

• there figure 1 is a plan of a sports field dedicated to the practice of tennis;
• there figure 2 is a perspective view of the terrain of the figure 1 ;
• there Figure 3 is a detail view, in perspective, showing a side fence of the land of the figure 2 ;
• there Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the main lighting strip carried by the fence of the Figure 3 ;
• there Figure 5 is a sectional view of the main lighting strip of the Figure 4 ;
• there Figure 6 is a perspective view of the terrain of the figure 1 , showing the lighting provided by some of the lamps in the lighting strips;
• there Figure 7 is a perspective view of the means of fixing the main lighting strip of the Figure 4 to a fence post;
• there figure 8 is a perspective view of the means for fixing two segments of the main lighting strip of the figure 4 .

Detailed description of embodiments of the invention Tennis court

There figure 1 is a plan of a sports field dedicated to the practice of tennis. This terrain is also represented in perspective by the figure 2 . It was built and fitted out in accordance with the normative requirements imposed by the tennis federations to be able to host competitions.

This land has a surface 1, on which lines 11 are drawn in white paint. The rectangular surface surrounded by lines 11 constitutes the playing area 10, or court. The playing area 10 is separated in two by a net 2 stretched between two vertical posts 21 and 22, arranged on either side of the playing area 10. The lines 11 and the net 2 define the main axis 100 of the field, which extends perpendicular to the plane defined by the net 2, separating the playing area 10 into two equal parts.

The exterior lateral lines 111 and 113 of the playing area, which are parallel to the main axis 100 of the field while being furthest from this axis, form the lateral limits of the playing area 10. The end lines of court 112 and 114, which are parallel to the net 2 while being furthest from the net, form the bottom limits of the playing area 10. To comply with the standards set by the tennis federations, the playing area has a length of 23.77 meters and a width of 10.97 meters.

During tennis practice, the players are placed on both sides of the net 2, generally in the playing area 10 or behind the baseline lines 112 and 114, and are mainly oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the main axis 100 of the land.

The surface 1 of the court has a rectangular shape whose sides are parallel to the limits of the playing area 10. To comply with the standards set by the tennis federations, this surface preferably has a length of 36 meters and a width of 18 meters. This surface 1 is surrounded by a fence 3, constituted by a mesh 35 supported by fence posts 30 (only some of these posts 30 are numbered in the figures) surrounding the four sides of surface 1 of the land.

The posts 30 aligned parallel to the lateral limit 111 of the playing area, on the same side of the main axis 100, form the lateral fence 31. The posts 30 aligned parallel to the baseline line 112 of the area of play 10, on the same side of the net 2, form the bottom fence 32. The posts 30 aligned parallel to the lateral limit 113 of the playing area, on the same side of the main axis 100, form the side fence 33. The posts 30 aligned parallel to the baseline 114 of the playing area, on the same side of the net 2, form the baseline fence 34.

To comply with the standards set by the tennis federations, each of the side fences (31 and 33 respectively) is generally located at a distance of 3.5 meters from the nearest side boundary (111 and 113 respectively). Likewise, each of the baseline fences (32 and 34 respectively) is located at a distance of approximately 6 meters from the nearest baseline (112 and 114 respectively).

There Figure 3 represents the side fence 33 in more detail. As shown in this figure, the posts 30 holding the fence 35 to form the fence 3 are aligned at regular intervals. Conventionally, these posts are spaced from each other at a distance of between 3 meters and 3.6 meters. Of course, a door (not shown in the figures) is normally provided in this fence.

To comply with the standards set by tennis federations, fence 3 extends vertically to a height of at least 3 meters, generally between 3 meters and 3.50 meters. To support this fence, the posts 30 therefore extend vertically to a height of at least 3 meters.

Lighting device

The tennis court represented by the figures 1 and 2 is equipped with a lighting device according to one embodiment of the invention, comprising two main lighting strips 4 and four secondary lighting strips 5. The side fence 31 and the side fence 33 each carry a light strip the main lighting 4, intended mainly to illuminate the play area 10, and two secondary lighting ramps 5, intended mainly to illuminate the balls moving at height.

This lighting of the field by two ramps 4 placed on both sides of the field also makes it possible to greatly limit the shadows generated by the players on the field, which can disturb the players or spectators.

Main lighting strips

The main lighting strips 4 extend horizontally along most of the length of the side fences 31 and 33. More precisely, these main lighting strips 4 extend, in the embodiment presented, over a length of 30.4 meters from the side fences 31 and 33, the total length of which is 36 meters. This length allows the main lighting strips 4 to face the entire length of the play area 10, which measures 23.77 meters.

Each main lighting strip 4 has a longitudinal shape and is attached to the posts 30, on the side of these posts facing the ground, at a height of 3 meters. The posts 30 normally have a height of between 3 meters and 3.50 meters, the main lighting strips 4 are therefore fixed near their upper end.

THE figures 4 And 5 show, respectively in perspective and in section, a portion of the main lighting strip 4. This lighting strip comprises a profile 41, made of aluminum in the embodiment shown, designed to be fixed to the posts 30 and to support lighting means. This profile 41 comprises two rails, a lower rail 417 and an upper rail 418, extending over its entire length and having a shape capable of retaining the head of a screw whose threaded portion would extend outside the profile. These two rails 417 and 418 are intended to be in contact with a vertical post. Their alignment therefore defines the vertical direction, when the main lighting strip 4 is in use configuration.

The profile 41 also defines a lamp support housing, which is formed between two contiguous lamp support surfaces 411 and 412 and two protective wings, respectively a lower wing 413 and an upper wing 414. These two wings extend, respectively, from an edge of the lamp support surfaces, respectively 411 and 412, substantially perpendicular to these walls. The free ends of these wings 413 and 414 have grooves, respectively 4131 and 4141, making it possible to maintain a translucent wall 44, made of polycarbonate, closing the lamp support box (on the figure 4 , the wall 44 is only represented on part of the length of the ramp 4)

Lamps, preferably using LED technology (acronym for “ Light-Emitting Diode ” meaning “light-emitting diode”), are placed in the housing thus formed, at several points of the main lighting strip 4. Some of these lamps, called “far lighting lamps” 42, are fixed on the surface of support 411. The other lamps, called “near lighting lamps” 43, are fixed on the support surface 412.

Advantageously, these lamps 42 and 43 are glued to the support surfaces 411 and 412 by means allowing heat transfer between the lamps and the profile 41. The profile 41, which is preferably metallic, can thus participate effectively in the dispersion heat produced by the lamps.

In the embodiment shown, the far lighting lamps 42 and the near lighting lamps 43 are identical. They may, however, be different in other embodiments. These lamps 42 and 43 are constituted by an electronic card, respectively 421 and 431, of which a flat surface is intended to be glued to a support and the other surface of which has a light-emitting diode (not visible in the figures) covered by a block optical, respectively 422 and 432. These optical units 422 and 432 act as a lens concentrating the light emitted by the diodes into a light beam.

According to a particular embodiment, not shown in the figures, part of the lamp support housing can be covered with resin, in order to protect the lamps from dust and water. In this case, the resin covers the base of each of the lamps, and in particular the electronic card 421 or 431, and the base of the optical unit 422 or 432. On the other hand, the portion of the optical unit emitting the light beam is not covered of resin. In this particular embodiment, it is not necessary to close the lamp support box with the translucent wall 44, the lamps being sufficiently protected by the resin.

Direction of light beams

In the embodiment shown, the optical units, respectively 432 and 432, form a conical light beam shown in dotted lines on the Figure 5 , respectively 429 and 439, very directive, having a diffusion angle α = 11° The diffusion angle, in the present application, is the diffusion angle of the width at half height (width of the beam in which the light intensity is at least equal to the maximum intensity, more commonly referred to by the English expression " fluil width of half maximum " or by the acronym FWHM) of the beam. Other types of beams can be used, but it is necessary, to avoid the risk of glare or of light burst, that the beam diffusion angle is less than 20°. A diffusion angle of less than 15°, and preferably between 10° and 12°, makes it possible to both effectively avoid glare and glare and achieve optimal distribution of lighting on the ground.

The optical units 422 and 432 are designed to direct the beams, respectively 429 and 439, in a direction, respectively 420 and 430, perpendicular to the flat surface of the electronic cards 421 and 431, and therefore perpendicular to the support surfaces, respectively 411 and 430. 412, of the profile 41. These support surfaces 411 and 412 have orientations chosen, depending on the terrain to be illuminated, the lamps used and the position of the ramp relative to the terrain, to offer a homogeneous distribution of light on the ground.

In the embodiment shown, the orientation of the surfaces 411 and 412 is chosen for the case of a ramp comprising the lamps described above, placed at a height of 3 meters on the fence posts of the tennis court to be illuminated. The surface 411 has an orientation such that the beam emitted by the distant lighting lamps 42 is oriented in the direction 420, forming an angle β1 equal to 78° with vertical, when the ramp 4 is in its configuration of use. The surface 412 has an orientation such that the beam emitted by the near lighting lamps 43 is oriented in the direction 430, forming an angle β2 equal to 66° with the vertical, when the ramp 4 is in its configuration of use. In all cases, the beams are oriented in directions perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the ramp 4, therefore perpendicular to the main axis 100 of the terrain.

There Figure 6 represents the lighting produced by a far lighting lamp 42 and a near lighting lamp 43 of one of the ramps 4 on the tennis court. In this figure, we see the light beam 439 and the light spot 4390 produced on the ground by a single nearby lighting lamp 43. This lamp 43 only illuminates a restricted portion of the play area 10, located immediately in front of the lamp 43 and extending in a direction perpendicular to the main axis of the field 100. A player playing on the playing area 10 does not risk having his eyes in the light beam 439, and therefore of be dazzled or suffer a burst of light, only if it is at the extreme edge of the playing area 10, and is oriented towards this lamp, therefore perpendicular to the main axis 100. This situation is extremely rare when playing tennis.

We also see on the Figure 6 the light beam 429 and the light spot 4290 produced by a single distant lighting lamp 42. The lamp 42 being oriented in a direction closer to the horizontal than the lamp 43, the light spot 4290 is further away from the ramp 4 , and therefore more extensive and more diffuse. Due to the high directivity of the beam 429, this task 4290 however extends in a direction perpendicular to the main axis of the field 100 and remains limited to a small portion of the length of the playing area 10, located immediately in face of the lamp 42. A player playing on the playing area 10 only risks having his eyes in the light beam 429, and therefore being dazzled, if he is in the area of the edge of the playing area 10 and is oriented towards this lamp, therefore perpendicular to the main axis 10. This situation is very rare during tennis practice.

The beams produced by the lamps 42 and 43 carried by the ramps 4 can therefore only dazzle a player in very rare cases when playing tennis.

Lamp distribution

As shown in the Figure 4 , lamps 42 and 43 are placed, in the ramp 4, at substantially regular intervals.

In the embodiment presented, the ramp 4 presents, along its length, a lamp 42 or 43 approximately every 12 cm, alternating series of two near lighting lamps 43 and six far lighting lamps 42. The inventors have determined that this distribution of the lamps, with the characteristics, the orientations of the lamps and the positions of the ramps exposed above, made it possible to obtain an excellent distribution of lighting on an outdoor tennis court, satisfying the standards set by tennis federations for the organization of outdoor competitions. Furthermore, this regular distribution of the lamps makes it possible to generate an almost continuous lighting line all along the ramp 4.

It is however possible, without departing from the scope of the invention, to implement one or more ramps each having one or more surfaces oriented at different angles, and carrying lamps having different characteristics, to adapt to other configurations, for example to the lighting of a field other than an outdoor tennis court, or a lighting system in which the ramps would be placed in another position relative to on the ground.

Secondary lighting strips

The lighting device shown comprises, in addition to the two main lighting strips 4, four secondary lighting strips 5 extending parallel to the main lighting strips 4. It should be noted that, in other modes of embodiment of the invention, the lighting device could include only one ramp, or one or two lighting ramps on each side of the field, or on the contrary a larger number of ramps. In the embodiment represented by the figures, two secondary lighting strips 5 are placed below each of the main lighting strips 4. Each of these secondary lighting strips 5 measures 1.90 meters in length, and is hung centered on one of the posts 30 close to the posts 30 closest to the net 2. Thus, on each side of the field, two secondary lighting strips 5 are separated by several meters from each other, each being placed one side of the net 2.

These secondary lighting strips 5 have a structure very close to that of the main lighting strips 4. They also include profiles, having fixing rails and lamp support boxes in which a lamp support surface, or several surfaces having different orientations are provided to support the lamps.

In the embodiment shown, the secondary lighting strips 5 are made from the same profile 41 as the main lighting strips 4. This profile is however placed in a reverse position, the wing 413 being placed upwards. and the wing 414 being placed downwards. The lamp support surfaces of this profile therefore have different orientations.

In this embodiment, only the surface 411 of the profile 41 constituting each secondary lighting strip 5 carries lamps. These lamps therefore emit a beam 50 oriented in a direction perpendicular to the main direction of the terrain and forming an angle of 102° relative to the vertical. The lamps used in this embodiment has a diffusion angle of 30°, much greater than the diffusion angle of the lamps used in the main lighting strips 4. They can however, in other embodiments, present characteristics different.

The beam 50, which is shown on the Figure 6 for one of the lamps of one of the ramps 5, is therefore directed in a slightly upward direction. This beam allows good lighting of high balls when playing tennis. Obviously, each of the ramps 5 has, along its length, a succession of lamps, such that the entire area located above the middle of the field, in which high balls are likely to pass, is illuminated by homogeneous manner. The orientation of the beams produced by this secondary lighting ramp 5 means that the lighting remains, in the majority of cases, above the players' heads. In the rare cases where the player may find themselves in the light beams of these Ramps 5, these beams are very dispersed and therefore are not likely to dazzle them or cause a burst of light.

Installation of the lighting device.

The lighting device shown in the figures can be installed very easily on a tennis court.' Each of the ramps 4 is composed of a plurality of segments, which are each completely equipped with lamps and the translucent wall. For example, each ramp 4 is made up of eight segments of 3.80 meters each. This length of the segments, which is greater than the spacing generally observed between two successive fence posts 30, allows each of the segments to be secured to at least one of the posts 30.

The different segments forming the same ramp can be assembled easily, as shown in figure 8 . This figure shows the ends of two segments 491 and 492 of a ramp 4, which are secured using a connecting plate 6. This plate 6, placed against the lower 417 and upper 418 rails of each of the segments 491 and 492, has holes 61, 62, 63 and 64 placed opposite, respectively, each of the two rails of each segment. This plate 6 can be secured to the two segments 491 and 492 via bolts, the screw heads of which are inserted into the rails 417 and 418 and the rod of which passes through the holes 61, 62, 63 and 64 of plate 6. The hexagonal screw heads, inserted in the rails 418 and 417, are advantageously blocked in rotation by the rails, to allow the tightening of the nuts. It should be noted that the holes 63 and 64 have oblong shapes allowing the bolts to be moved along the rails 417 and 418, in order to avoid possible contact between the bolts and a fence post 30.

Due to their relatively light weight, the ramps can easily, once assembled, be lifted and attached to the fence posts 30, at a height of 3 meters. There Figure 7 represents the assembly of a portion of ramp 4 on a fence post 30. This assembly is done via a fixing plate 7, placed against the post 30, on the side opposite the ramp 4. This plate fixing 7 has a shape adapted to rest on the post 30, and has four holes 71, 72, 73 and 74. This plate 7 can be brought closer to the ramp 4, by tightening the post 30, thanks to bolts whose screw heads are introduced into the rails 417 and 418 and the rods of which pass through the holes 71, 72, 73 and 74.

The mechanical assembly of ramps 4 and 5 can thus be carried out very easily by a simple assembly of bolts, without the need for cutting or drilling. It does not require any mast erection, as pre-existing fence posts are used. It can therefore be carried out quickly, and at a very low cost, by people who do not have any particular qualifications.

Each of the sections of the ramp 4 comprises a set of electrical wires, not shown in the figures, allowing the power supply of each of the lamps. According to an advantageous characteristic, each segment of the ramp 4 has, at each of its ends, a single power connector, which can be connected to the corresponding connector of the adjacent section. The power supply wires of each section can therefore be assembled together very easily.

At one end of each of the ramps 4 and 5, the power connector can be connected to a power cable, making it possible to supply the electrical energy generated by a power supply box which can be placed at the foot of the fence 3 Such an electrical box, making it possible to power all the lamps of one or more ramps 4 or 5, can be connected to the standard electrical network. Indeed, lighting the terrain using very directive LED lamps located a short distance from the terrain to be illuminated consumes relatively little energy. The energy consumed is, in particular, much lower than the energy consumed by floodlights placed at the top of masts, due to the short distance between the light sources and the surface to be illuminated.

At each end of the ramps, a closing cover or a flange can be assembled to close the lamp support box. This cover or this flange can advantageously be fixed by screws inserting into the holes 415 and 416, provided for this purpose in the profile 41.

Particularly advantageously, the lighting device according to the invention does not require any adjustment after its installation. Thus, in the embodiment shown, if the ramps are placed in the position recommended by the manufacturer (3 meters in height on the side fences of the tennis court, for the main lighting ramps 4) and the tennis court to be illuminated has the dimensions recommended by the tennis federations, the orientation of the different lamps will be, without any adjustment, directly adapted to illuminate the court optimally. In the embodiment described above, the constitution of the ramps also prevents any adjustment of the orientation of the lamps. The installation of the lighting device is therefore particularly simple.

Device for lighting other areas

In the embodiment described above, the lighting device is suitable for lighting a tennis court. Obviously, other lighting devices according to the invention can be easily implemented to illuminate other types of rectangular grounds, for example fields dedicated to the practice of other sports. The implementation of the invention on other grounds will present a particular advantage when these grounds have standardized dimensions, allowing manufacturers to offer devices which adapt, without adjustment, to the lighting of the grounds.

The use of very directive lamps oriented perpendicular to the main axis of the field will also present a particular advantage for the lighting of fields on which the athletes or players are oriented mainly according to the main axis of the field, and do not wish to be dazzled by the lights.
Those skilled in the art will easily find, without departing from the scope of the invention, variants of the solutions presented in the above embodiments, for example for fixing the ramps to the posts or the ramp segments between them, for the installation of the lamps in the ramps in the chosen angular positions, etc.

Claims (13)

1. A fence (3) for surrounding the surface (1) of a rectangular court, having a rectangular playing area (10) for playing tennis, said fence consisting of a wire mesh (35) supported by fence posts (30) surrounding the four sides of the surface of the court, said fence posts extending vertically over a height of at least three meters,

   said fence posts comprising posts aligned in parallel with the lateral boundary (111, 113)

   of the playing area, on each side of the court, forming lateral fences (31, 33), each of said lateral fences bearing at least one lighting strip (4),

   extending horizontally along one side of said court,

   said strip (4) comprising a succession of light sources (42, 43) distributed along its length, characterized in that

   each of said light sources (42, 43)

   projects a light beam (429, 439) with a scattering angle of less than 20°, said light beam being oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the strip (4).
2. The fence according to claim 1, characterized in that said strip (4) extends along most of the length of said side of said court, at a predefined height relative to said court.
3. The fence according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the orientation of said light sources (42, 43) relative to said strip or strips is invariable.
4. The fence according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the position of said strip or strips (4) relative to the court is predetermined according to the dimensions of said court and the desired lighting characteristics.
5. The fence according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that said strip or at least one of said strips (4) has means for fastening to posts (30) of said lateral fence which are located along said side of the court.
6. The fence according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said fastening means comprise rails (417, 418), extending along the entire length of said strip (4), which are capable of supporting a fastening element at any point along the length of said strip (4).
7. The fence according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said strip or at least one of said strips (4) consists of a plurality of independent strip segments (491, 492) which are joined together by fastening elements (6) supported by the rails (417, 418) of each of said strip segments (491, 492).
8. The fence according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the light sources (42, 43) of said strip or at least one of said strips (4) are oriented in at least two different directions.
9. The fence according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said strip or at least one of said strips (4) has at least two separate supports (411, 412) each capable of receiving light sources (42, 43) oriented in parallel in a predetermined direction.
10. The fence according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each of said supports (411, 412) extends along the entire length of said strip or at least one of said strips (4).
11. The fence according to any one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that said strip (4) or at least one of said strips comprises a metal profile (41) comprising said fastening means and at least one planar surface (411, 412) forming a support capable of receiving light sources (42, 43) oriented in parallel in a predetermined direction.
12. The fence according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that it comprises at least two lighting strips (4, 5) extending substantially in parallel with one another along the same side of said court, the light sources of at least two of said ramps (4, 5) being oriented in different directions, perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of said strips.
13. The fence according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that said light sources (42, 43) have beams oriented in directions having angles of less than 25° to the horizontal.

Images