EP3882513A1

EP3882513A1 - Lighting system

Info

Publication number: EP3882513A1
Application number: EP21162517.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Roberto Botti
Original assignee: SIMES Societa Italiana Medicinali e Sintetici SpA
Current assignee: SIMES Societa Italiana Medicinali e Sintetici SpA
Priority date: 2020-03-17
Filing date: 2021-03-15
Publication date: 2021-09-22
Anticipated expiration: 2041-03-15
Also published as: EP3882513B1

Abstract

A lighting system (1) comprises a lighting bar (10) and at least one lighting device (100; 100') couplable to the lighting bar. The lighting bar accommodates a linear lighting source (18). Each lighting device (100; 100') is provided with at least one pair of arms (108) for anchoring to the bar and with electrical connection needles (104) suitable to create an electrical contact with the electrical power supply line (26) obtained in the electronic board of the linear lighting source.

Description

The present invention relates to a lighting system comprising a lighting bar and at least one lighting device couplable to the lighting bar, in any position which is axial with respect thereto.
Lighting bars suitable to produce a diffused light beam are known.
Lighting devices suitable to generate a light beam which is concentrated, or directed to illuminate a specific area or an item, are also known.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a lighting system capable of combining a diffused light effect, produced by a lighting bar, with a more concentrated lighting effect and directed towards a desired point.
It is another object of the present invention to allow one or more lighting devices to be installed along the bar in any desired position.
It is another object of the invention to propose a lighting system which allows to obtain the light effects mentioned above, even in outdoor environments, therefore having a high degree of protection.
Such objects are achieved by a lighting system in accordance with claim 1. The dependent claims describe preferred or advantageous embodiments of the lighting system.
In a general embodiment, the lighting system comprises:

a lighting bar; and
at least one lighting device couplable to the lighting bar, in any position along said lighting bar.

The lighting bar comprises:

a bar body which extends longitudinally along a bar axis, which is suitable to be fixed to a support, for example a ceiling or a wall, and which forms a central seat defining a longitudinal central opening in the bar body;
a linear lighting source housed in said central seat and comprising a linear electronic lighting board on which a lighting circuit is obtained, suitable to generate a substantially continuous light beam directed towards said longitudinal central opening when it is electrically powered by a first power supply line extending along the linear electronic board, the linear electronic board being embedded into an insulating body made of a translucent polymer material and inserted with shape and/or force coupling into the central seat, so as to give the lighting bar a degree of protection for an outdoor use, a second electrical power supply line, which is independent from the first one, being obtained along the linear electronic board.

Each lighting device is provided with mechanical connection means, suitable to interact with the bar body for mechanically supporting the lighting device by means of the lighting bar, and electrical connection needles, suitable to create an electrical contact with the second electrical power supply line by passing through the insulating body, so as to electrically power the lighting device.
The features and advantages of the lighting system according to the invention will however become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of indication and not by way of limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the lighting system according to the invention;
- - Figures 2 and 2a show two axial sections of the lighting bar and of a connecting portion of a lighting device, in an embodiment, respectively before and after the mutual coupling thereof;
- Figure 3 shows a cross-section of the bar alone; and
- Figure 4 shows a plan view of a portion of the linear electronic board and of the underlying power connector.

In said drawings, reference numeral 1 indicates a lighting system according to the invention as a whole.
The lighting system 1 comprises a lighting bar 10 and at least one lighting device 100; 100' couplable to the lighting bar, in any axial position along the lighting bar.
In the example of Figure 1, for example, a projector 100 with adjustable optics and a downlight 100' with fixed optics are coupled to the lighting bar 10. Of course, other types of devices can be simultaneously connected to the lighting bar 10, according to the coupling methods described below.
The lighting bar 10 comprises a bar body 12 which extends longitudinally along a bar axis (X). For example, the bar body 12 is made with an extruded section bar, for example, of aluminum.
This bar body 12 is suitable to be fixed to a support, for example a ceiling or a wall, even recessed or suspended.
The bar body 12 comprises an inner portion 12a and an outer portion 12b.
The inner portion 12a forms a central seat 14 defining a longitudinal central opening 16. In other words, the central seat 14 is open along one side of the inner portion 12a, for example, a side opposite to the one for fixing it to the support.
The outer portion 12b is coaxial to the inner portion 12a and forms, with the inner portion, two longitudinal side pockets 122 which are open at least in the same direction as the longitudinal central opening 16.
The lighting bar 10 comprises a linear lighting source 18 housed in the central seat 14. The linear lighting source 18 comprises a linear electronic lighting board 20, or an elongated electronic board, or a strip-shaped one, along the body axis (X). On the linear electronic board 20 a lighting circuit 22 is obtained, suitable to generate a light beam, preferably substantially continuous, facing towards the longitudinal central opening 16 when it is electrically powered by a first power supply line 25 which extends along the linear electronic board 20.
For example, the lighting circuit comprises a row of LEDs 22' mounted and uniformly distributed on the electronic board.
In one embodiment, the linear electronic board 20 is embedded in an insulating body 24 made of a translucent polymer material, for example a silicone material.
For example, the linear electronic board 20 is co-molded with the insulating body 24. In an alternative embodiment, the insulating body 24 is crossed by a longitudinal seat and the linear electronic board 20 is subsequently inserted in such longitudinal seat.
In any case, the insulating body 24 with the linear electronic board 20 gives the lighting bar 10 a degree of protection suitable for the use in outdoor environments, therefore resistant to atmospheric agents and dust.
A second electrical power supply line 26 is obtained along the linear electronic board 20, independent of the first one.
For example, the two power supply lines 25, 26 comprise of electrical conductors which extend substantially for the entire length of the linear electronic board 20. For example, such electrical conductors are in the form of tracks obtained on the linear electronic board 20.
In one embodiment, each power supply line 25, 26 comprises of a positive pole and a negative pole, for example +24V and -24V.
Each lighting device 100; 100' is provided with mechanical connection means 102 suitable to interact with the bar body 12 for mechanically supporting the lighting device 100; 100' by means of the lighting bar 10.
Furthermore, each lighting device 100; 100' is provided with electrical connection needles 104 suitable to create an electrical contact with the second electrical power supply line 26.
More in detail, each lighting device 100 is provided with at least one pair of anchoring arms 108, each suitable to be inserted into a respective longitudinal side pocket 122 and to snap-engage the inner portion 12a and/or the outer portion 12b of the bar body 12 for mechanically supporting the lighting device 100 by means of the lighting bar 10.
In one embodiment, the electrical connection needles 104 are suitable to create an electrical contact with the second electrical power supply line 26 by passing through the insulating body 24.
In other words, the electrical connection needles 104 are configured so as to pierce the insulating body 24 until they abut against the respective conductors of the second electrical power supply line 26.
In one embodiment, the anchoring arms 108 and the electrical connection needles 104 are configured to simultaneously obtain the mechanical and electrical connection of the lighting device 100; 100' with the lighting bar 10.
In one embodiment, the anchoring arms 108 and the electrical connection needles 104 extend from a base portion 106 of the lighting device 100; 100' resting against the lighting bar 10 when the anchoring arms 108 are coupled to the lighting bar 10.
In one embodiment, the electrical connection needles 104 extend from a connector 120 housed in the base portion 106. This connector 120 is configured to abut against a facing outer surface 24" of the insulating body 24. For example, this outer surface 24" is substantially flat.
In one embodiment, the connector 120 is configured to create a calibrated interference with the outer surface 24", so as to prevent the penetration of external agents into the area where the insulating body 24 is pierced by the electrical connection needles 104.
For example, the connector 120 forms, about each electrical connection needle 104 or about the whole area of the electrical connection needles 104, an annular tooth 122 which, when the lighting device 100; 100' is coupled to the bar body 12, interferes with the outer surface 24" of the insulating body 24, for example, exerting thereon a calibrated pressure which prevents the penetration of external agents inside the area of the insulating body 24 delimited by each annular tooth 122.
In one embodiment, the inner portion 12a and the outer portion 12b of the bar body 12 respectively comprise of an inner extruded section bar and an outer extruded section bar connected to each other.
For example, both section bars are substantially in the shape of a "U".
In one embodiment, the inner portion 12a has an inner bottom wall 34 and two inner side walls 30; the outer portion 12b has an outer bottom wall 33 and two outer side walls 35.
In one embodiment, the inner bottom wall 34 is anchored to the outer bottom wall 33, for example by means of screws 37.
In one embodiment, each outer side wall 35 is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the respective inner side wall 30. Each longitudinal side pocket 122 is therefore delimited by an inner side wall 30 and by an outer side wall 35.
In some embodiments, an undercut 32 facing the respective longitudinal side pocket 122 is obtained in each of the inner side walls 30. Each anchoring arm is provided with a locking tooth 110; 110' engageable by a relevant undercut 32 of the inner side wall 30.
In other words, the anchoring arms 108 are elastic arms snapping into the locking position when the locking tooth 110; 110' meets the undercut 32.
In some embodiments, the locking tooth 110 has a curvilinear profile, so as to allow the disengagement thereof from the undercut 32 if the lighting device 100; 100' is pulled in a direction orthogonal to the bar axis (X) .
In other embodiments, instead, the locking tooth 100' is designed so as to prevent a separation of the lighting device 110; 100' from the bar 10.
In one embodiment, the electrical connection needles 104 extend between and parallel to the anchoring arms 108.
In one embodiment, the longitudinal central seat 14 is delimited by a bottom wall 34 and by the pair of parallel side walls 30. The linear lighting source 18 rests on the bottom wall 34 and has a light beam emission surface substantially flush with the ends of the side walls 30. For example, the outer surface 24" of the insulating body 24 is substantially flat and coplanar with the ends of the side walls 30.
Thereby, when the base portion 106 of the lighting device 100; 100' abuts against the bar body 12, or the side walls 30 thereof, the electrical connection needles 104 and the anchoring arms 108 extend completely inside the lighting bar 10.
As mentioned above, the base portion 106 in contact with the insulating body 24 by means of the connector 120 ensures the degree of protection which allows the use of the lighting system also outdoors.
In one embodiment, the electrical connection needles 104 are four in number: a first needle pair 104a is aligned parallel to the bar axis X to intercept a first conductor 26a of the second electrical power supply line 26; a second needle pair 104b is aligned parallel to the bar axis X and spaced apart in the transverse direction with respect to the first needle pair 104a to intercept a second conductor 26b of the second electrical power supply line 26.
Thereby, if the linear lighting source 18 had such a length as to require, for production needs, interruptions of the copper tracks 26, 26b (as shown in Figure 4), and if a lighting device 100, 100' was positioned, in a random manner, precisely straddling one of such interruptions, there is the certainty that at least one needle of each pair of needles 104a and 104b creates an electrical contact with the respective conductor 26, 26b.
Figure 4 shows a positioning example of the pairs of needles 104a, 104b with respect to the linear lighting source 18, wherein a needle of each pair ends precisely at an interruption - for example of about 1mm - of the conductors 26a, 26b of the linear electronic board 20. It can be noticed that, in this case, the other needle of each pair of needles is instead in contact with the respective conductor 26a, 26b. The power supply of the lighting devices 100, 100' is therefore always ensured, regardless of their position along the bar 10.
In one embodiment, the two power supply lines 25, 26 are powered by means of a power supply cable 132 electrically connected thereto at one end of the insulating body 24. For example, in order to ensure a high IP protection degree (for example IP67), the power supply cable is connected to the power supply lines by means of a cap 130 made of insulating material (for example silicone), co-molded with the insulating body 24.
In one embodiment, shown in particular in Figure 4, the conductors 25a, 25b of the first power supply line 25 are obtained in a central portion of the linear electronic board 20, so as to intersect the LEDs of a row of LEDs mounted along the median axis of the board. The conductors 26a and 26b of the second power supply line 26 are instead obtained in outermost portions of the linear electronic board 20.
Those skilled in the art may make changes and adaptations to the embodiments of the lighting system according to the invention or may replace elements with others which are functionally equivalent in order to meet contingent needs, without departing from the scope of the following claims. Each of the features described as belonging to a possible embodiment can be achieved irrespective of the other embodiments described.

Claims

A lighting system (1), comprising:
- a lighting bar (10); and

- at least one lighting device (100) couplable to the lighting bar, in any position along said lighting bar,
wherein:
- the lighting bar comprises:

- a bar body (12) which extends longitudinally along a bar axis, is suitable to be fixed to a support (2), for example a ceiling or a wall, and forms a central seat (14) defining a longitudinal central opening (16) in the bar body;

- a linear lighting source (18) housed in said central seat and comprising a linear electronic lighting board (20) on which a lighting circuit (22) is obtained suitable to generate a substantially continuous light beam directed towards said longitudinal central opening (16) when it is electrically powered by a first power supply line (18) extending along the linear electronic board (20), the linear electronic board (20) being embedded into an insulating body (24) made of a translucent polymer material and inserted with shape and/or force coupling into the central seat (14), so as to give the lighting bar a degree of protection for an outdoor use, a second electrical power supply line (26), which is independent from the first one, being obtained along the linear electronic board (20);

- each lighting device (100) is provided with mechanical connection means (102), suitable to interact with the bar body (12) for mechanically supporting the lighting device (100) by means of the lighting bar (10), and electrical connection needles (104), suitable to create an electrical contact with the second electrical power supply line (26) by passing through the insulating body (24), so as to electrically power the lighting device.
A lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the bar body (12) comprises an inner portion (12a) and an outer portion (12b), wherein the inner portion forms the central seat (14) defining the longitudinal central opening (16) in the inner portion, and wherein the outer portion (12b) is coaxial to the inner portion and forms, with the inner portion, two longitudinal side pockets (122) which are open at least in the same direction as the central opening (16), the mechanical connection means comprising a pair of anchoring arms (108), each anchoring arm (108) being suitable to be inserted into a respective longitudinal side pocket (122) and to snap engage the inner portion and/or the outer portion of the bar body (12) .
A lighting system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mechanical connection means (102) and the electrical connection needles (104) are configured to simultaneously obtain the mechanical and electrical connection of the lighting device with the lighting bar.
A lighting system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the inner portion (12a) and the outer portion (12b) of the bar body comprise of an inner section bar and an outer section bar connected to each other, respectively, both section bars being substantially U-shaped.
A lighting system according to claim 4, wherein:
- the inner section bar has an inner bottom wall (34) and two inner side walls (30), and the outer section bar has an outer bottom wall (33) and two outer side walls (35);

- the inner bottom wall is anchored to the outer bottom wall;

- each outer side wall is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the respective inner side wall, so as to form a respective longitudinal side pocket (122).
A system according to claim 5, wherein an undercut (32) facing the respective longitudinal side pocket is obtained in each of the inner side walls, and wherein each anchoring arm is provided with a locking tooth (110; 110') engageable by a respective undercut (32) of the inner side wall (30).
A lighting system according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the electrical connection needles (104) extend between and parallel to the anchoring arms (108).
A lighting system according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the anchoring arms and the electrical connection needles extend from a base portion (106) of the lighting device (100) resting against the lighting bar (12) when said anchoring arms are coupled to the lighting bar.
A lighting system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical connection needles (104) extend from a connector (120) housed in a base portion (106) of the lighting device and configured to abut against an overlooking outer surface (24") of the insulating body (24) thus creating a calibrated interference with said outer surface (24") so as to prevent the penetration of external agents into the perforation area of the insulating body (24) by means of the electrical connection needles (104).
A lighting system according to the preceding claim, wherein the connector (120) forms, about each electrical connection needle (104) or about the whole area of the electrical connection needles (104), an annular tooth (122) which, when the lighting device (100; 100') is coupled to the bar body (12), interferes with the outer surface (24") of the insulating body (24).
A lighting system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical connection needles are four in number, a first needle pair (104a) being aligned parallel to the bar axis to intercept a first conductor (26a) of the second electrical power supply line, a second needle pair (104b) being aligned parallel to the bar axis (X) and spaced apart in the transverse direction with respect to the first needle pair to intercept a second conductor (26b) of the second electrical power supply line (26).
A lighting system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the insulating body is made of silicone.