FR3036167B1 - DIFFUSING LIGHT DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a luminous device (1), comprising: a light guide (2), comprising a first face (21), a second face (22), and a peripheral edge (23) connecting the two faces; light sources (3) disposed along the peripheral rim and arranged to emit light towards the interior of the light guide (2) through the peripheral rim (23); a reflector (4), located on the side of the first face (21) of the guide (2) of light, and arranged to return towards the inside of the guide (2) the light emitted by the sources and out of the guide (2) by the first side; a diffuser (5), located on the side of the second face (22) of the guide (2) of light, and arranged to diffuse towards the outside of the device the light emitted by the sources and leaving the guide (2) by the second face. The diffuser (5) is made of a natural mineral material.

Description

"Diffusing light device"

Technical area

The present invention relates to a light device.

Such a device may allow for example a user to create light for mood lighting.

State of the art

Light devices are known for diffusing ambient lighting in a room, in the form of a plate of light.

In general, such a device comprises a plate which diffuses light emitted by sources (for example neon tubes) placed behind this plate.

Such a device according to the state of the art can pose several problems among: - a problem of homogeneity of the light diffused by the plate, - a problem of evacuation of the heat of the light sources, - a problem of stability the position of the light sources.

The object of the present invention is to solve at least one of these problems.

Presentation of the invention

This object is achieved with a light device, comprising: a light guide, comprising a first face, a second face, and a peripheral edge connecting the two faces, light sources, arranged along the peripheral edge, and arranged to emit light towards the interior of the light guide through the peripheral edge, - a reflector, located on the side of the first face of the light guide, and arranged to return the light emitted by the sources and leaving the guide by the first face, - a diffuser, located on the side of the second face of the light guide, and arranged to diffuse outwardly of the device the light emitted by the sources and leaving the guide by the second face, characterized in that the diffuser is made of a natural mineral material. The natural mineral material is preferably selected from the following materials: - Silicate, preferably quartz, preferably chalcedony, preferably agate, preferably onyx, or - Gypsum, preferably gypsum alabaster.

The diffuser and the guide are preferably held together by at least one rod, each rod being inserted in the guide and in the diffuser. Each rod can be screwed into the diffuser directly or via an intermediate piece. Preferably: each rod may be opaque to any wavelength emitted by the sources which is between 400 nm and 700 nm, and / or each intermediate piece may be translucent at any wavelength emitted by the sources which is between 400 nm and 700 nm, and / or - each rod may be a screw whose head is located opposite the guide relative to the reflector. At least one of the screw heads can clampably hold a fastening means arranged to secure the device according to the invention to a support.

The device according to the invention may further comprise a metal sheet. The sources are preferably between the sheet and the peripheral border. Preferably: - the sheet may be arranged to press the sources against the peripheral border, and / or - the metal sheet may overflow between the second face of the guide and the diffuser, and / or - the sheet may protrude from the peripheral edge, on the side of the first face and parallel to the first face.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES AND EMBODIMENTS Other advantages and particularities of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description of implementations and non-limiting embodiments, and the following appended drawings: FIG. 1 is a view FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another portion of the first embodiment of a device according to the invention, which is the preferred embodiment of the invention; embodiment of the device according to the invention; FIG. 3 is a profile sectional view of part of a second device embodiment according to the invention, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view of FIG. profile of a portion of a third embodiment of the device according to the invention.

The dimensions shown in the figures are in millimeters.

These embodiments being in no way limiting, it will be possible to consider variants of the invention comprising only a selection of characteristics described or illustrated subsequently isolated from the other characteristics described or illustrated (even if this selection is isolated within a sentence including these other characteristics), if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the prior art. This selection comprises at least one preferably functional characteristic without structural details, and / or with only a part of the structural details if this part alone is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the art. earlier.

Firstly, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of device 1 according to the invention will be described.

The device 1 typically has the form of a square plate of about thirty millimeters thick and 30 by 30 centimeters side up to 100 over 100cm. The rectangular and round shapes are also possible. Free forms are not excluded.

The luminous device 1 comprises a light guide 2 in the form of a plate.

The guide 2 comprises a first planar face 21, a second planar face 22 parallel to the first face, and a peripheral rim 23 connecting the two faces 21, 22.

The device 1 further comprises light sources 3 disposed along the peripheral rim 23 (and in contact with the peripheral rim 23), and arranged to emit light towards the interior of the light guide 2 through the peripheral edge 23.

The sources 3 preferably emit light of the same spectrum.

The sources 3 emit at least one wavelength in the "visible" between 400 nm and 700 nm.

Each source 3 is preferably a light emitting diode (LED), for example reference "Led strip" warm white / cold white, 19.6W / m.

The sources 3 are carried by a circuit 11 of "flex" type.

Along this circuit 11, there is typically a source 3 every 13 millimeters approximately.

The light guide 2 is preferably made of plastic material, for example of the plexis type.

The light guide 2 is for example a guide arranged to diffuse the light emitted by the sources 3, for example a material comprising micro-beads such as "Plexiglas XT Led Crystal clear"

The device 1 comprises a reflector 4, located on the side of the first face 21 of the guide 2 of light, and arranged to return towards the inside of the guide 2 the light emitted by the sources 3 and out of the guide 2 by the first face 21 .

The reflector 4 is for example a plate (typically aluminum or a wood fiber board) covered on the side of the guide 2, a white reflective layer.

The device 1 comprises a diffuser 5, situated on the side of the second face 22 of the light guide 2, and arranged to diffuse towards the outside of the device 1 the light emitted by the sources 3 and leaving the guide 2 by the second face 22 .

The diffuser 5 is made of a natural mineral material extracted from the earth's crust. The natural mineral material of the diffuser 5 is preferably selected from the following materials: - a silicate, preferably quartz, preferably chalcedony, preferably agate, preferably onyx, or - a gypsum, preferably gypsum alabaster.

The natural mineral material of the diffuser 5 is alabaster in the variant shown in FIG.

Referring to Figure 2, the sources 3 are distributed around the guide 2, on the sides (at least two sides, preferably all sides) of the edge 23. To lighten Figure 2, there is shown the guide 2 and the reflector 4 and the sources 3, but not the other elements of the device 1. The section of FIG. 1 is at a plane 15 illustrated in FIG. 2, but FIG. many elements of the device 1 (including the diffuser 5, one of the rods 6 located in its hole 13, etc.) that Figure 2.

The diffuser 5 and the guide 2 are held together by at least one rod 6, each rod being inserted: - in the guide 2 into a hole 13 passing through the guide 2 of the first face 21 to the second face 22, and - in the diffuser 5.

Each rod 6 is screwed into the diffuser 5: - directly in a screw thread made in the diffuser 5 or - via an intermediate piece 7, preferably glued inside the diffuser 5, and provided with a screw thread.

In the example of Figures 1 and 2, each rod 6 is screwed into the diffuser 5 via an intermediate piece 7.

Each rod 6 is opaque to any wavelength emitted by the sources 3 which is between 400 nm and 700 nm.

By "opaque" is preferably meant that at the location (located inside the guide 2 or the diffuser 5) of the lowest thickness of a rod 6 considered, this rod 6 passes in normal incidence minus 5% of the light intensity of any wavelength emitted by the sources 3 which is between 400 nm and 700 nm.

The fact that the rods 6 are opaque allows a better homogeneity of the light diffused by the device 1 through the diffuser 5, and avoids "skylights" at each of the holes 13 occupied by a rod 6. The inventors have makes this invention against their technical a priori that dictated instead to provide translucent rods for better light flow in the guide 2.

Each rod 6 is thus preferably made of metal, for example steel (preferably stainless).

Each intermediate piece 7 is translucent at any wavelength emitted by the sources which is between 400 nm and 700 nm.

Each intermediate piece 7 is for example polycarbonate or nylon.

By "translucent" is preferably meant that at the location (located inside the diffuser 5) of the lowest thickness of an intermediate piece 7 considered, this intermediate piece 7 passes in normal incidence over 80 % (ideally more than 90%) of the light intensity of any wavelength emitted by the sources 3 which is between 400 nm and 700 nm.

The fact that the intermediate pieces 7 are translucent allows a better homogeneity of the light diffused by the device 1 through the diffuser 5, and avoids shadow areas at each of the holes 13 occupied by a rod 6. The inventors have makes this invention against their technical priori that dictated instead to provide the same light transmission capacity between the rods 6 and the intermediate parts 7.

Each intermediate piece 7 consists for example of a polycarbonate nut or a nylon insert, for example reference Drive-In Plug M6x8.6xll

Each rod 6 is a screw typically of diameter M6.

Each rod 6 is a screw whose head 8 is situated opposite the guide 2 relative to the reflector 4.

Typically, at a plane passing through the face 21 or 22, there is a rod every 1600 cm2 distributed substantially uniformly in the guide 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, at least one of the screw heads 6 maintains (by clamping against the reflector 4) fastening means 9 (such as a hook or the like) arranged to fix the device 1 (typically on a vertical wall ) to a support (typically a standard paneling arrangement).

The device 1 does not include glue between the diffuser 5 and the guide 2, for better lighting quality.

The device 1 further comprises a metal sheet 10, preferably covered with a layer of glue or adhesive.

The metal foil 10 is for example an aluminum foil.

The sheet 10 is typically an aluminum adhesive strip for example 10mx50mm from Tesa.

At a first portion 10a of this metal sheet 10, the sources 3 are between the sheet 10 and the peripheral edge 23.

At this portion 10a, the sheet 10 is arranged to press the sources 3 against the peripheral edge 23.

This part 10a of the sheet 10 allows a good stability of the position of the sources 3 which are thus kept tight between the sheet 10 and the edge 23.

At another portion 10b, the metal sheet 10 projects between the second face 22 of the guide 2 and the diffuser 5.

This part 10b of the sheet 10 makes it possible: - A better homogeneity of the light diffused by the diffuser 5, making screen between the sources 3 and the diffuser 5 at the close neighborhood (and very bright) of the sources 3 in order to avoid a peripheral zone of high luminous intensity, - Better evacuation, out of the device 1, the heat emitted by the sources 3: this is due to the fact that the part 10b is in physical contact with the diffuser 5 and the fact that the diffuser 5 (in natural mineral material, for example such as alabaster) with a higher thermal conductivity (preferably at least 2 or even more than 5 times higher) than the thermal conductivity of the guide 2 (and also that there is preferably, continuity of material between parts 10a and 10b).

At a still further portion 10c, the sheet 10 protrudes from the peripheral rim 23, on the side of the first face 21 and parallel to the first face 21.

This portion 10c of the sheet 10 allows better evacuation, out of the device 1, the heat emitted by the sources 3: this is due to the fact that the portion 10c is in physical contact with the reflector 4 and / or the bracket 12 and the fact that the reflector 4 and / or the angle 12 (typically aluminum) has a higher thermal conductivity (preferably at least 2 or at least 5 times greater) than the thermal conductivity of the guide 2 (and also that it there is preferably continuity of material between the parts 10a and 10c).

Part of the reflector 4 is located between the sheet 10 (more exactly the portion 10c of the sheet 10) and the first face 21. This allows better evacuation of the heat emitted by the sources outside the device 1. However, in a another less favorable and not illustrated variant, the sheet 10 (more exactly the portion 10c of the sheet 10) is located between the first face 21 and a portion of the reflector 4.

The entire area of the first surface 21 is in contact with the reflector 4 (or the sheet 10).

The entire area of the second surface 22 is in contact with the diffuser 5 or the sheet 10.

With reference to FIG. 1, the device 1 may furthermore comprise an angle iron 12 (typically on each of the lateral edges of the device 1), so that all the sources 3 (and at least one part 10a of the sheet 10) are located between this angle 12 and the edge 23.

This bracket 12 comprises two sections, one pan extending parallel to the reflector 4 and another pan extending parallel to the edge 23.

The angle 12 is typically PVC or aluminum

The angle 12 does not exceed the lateral edges (perpendicular to the faces 21 and 22) of the diffuser 5. This allows to embed or embed the device 1 inside a surface.

In a variant shown in Figure 3 and combinable with any other variant, the bracket 12 may protrude from the side edges of the diffuser 5. This allows to give the device 1 a frame appearance, for example to hang on to a wall like a painting.

In a variant illustrated in Figure 4 and combinable with any other variant, the fastening means 9 may be absent.

In a variant illustrated in FIG. 4 and combinable with any other variant, the device 1 comprises at least one ventilation hole 14, preferably several ventilation holes 14, connecting a space (located between, on the one hand, the sources 3 and / or the portion 10a of the sheet 10 and / or the circuit 11 and secondly the border 23) with the outside of the device 1 (preferably the ambient air). This makes it possible to improve the evacuation of the heat emitted by the sources 3.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples that have just been described and many adjustments can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention.

Of course, the various features, shapes, variants and embodiments of the invention can be associated with each other in various combinations to the extent that they are not incompatible or exclusive of each other. In particular all the variants and embodiments described above are combinable with each other.

Claims (8)

1. Apparatus (1) luminous, comprising: - a light guide (2), comprising a first face (21), a second face (22), and a peripheral edge (23) connecting the two faces, - sources ( 3) arranged along the peripheral edge, and arranged to emit light towards the interior of the light guide (2) through the peripheral edge, - a reflector (4), located on the side of the first face (21) of the guide (2) of light, and arranged to return towards the inside of the guide (2) the light emitted by the sources and leaving the guide (2) by the first face, - a diffuser (5), located on the side of the second face (22) of the guide (2) of light, and arranged to diffuse outwardly of the device the light emitted by the sources and leaving the guide (2) by the second face, the diffuser (5 ) being made of a natural mineral material, characterized in that: - the diffuser (5) and the guide (2) are held together by at least one rod (6), each rod being inserted in the guide (2) and in the diffuser (5), each rod being screwed into the diffuser directly or via an intermediate piece (7), each rod being opaque to any wavelength emitted by the sources which is between 400 nm and 700 nm - each intermediate piece (7) is translucent at any wavelength emitted by the sources which is between 400 nm and 700 nm. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the natural mineral material is selected from the following materials: - Silicate, preferably quartz, preferably chalcedony, preferably agate, preferably onyx, or - Gypsum, preferably alabaster gypsum . 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each rod (6) is a screw whose head (8) is located opposite the guide (2) relative to the reflector (4). 4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one of the screw heads clampingly holds a fixing means (9) arranged to fix the device to a support. 5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a metal sheet (10), the sources (3) being between the sheet (10) and the peripheral edge (23). 6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the sheet is arranged to press the sources against the peripheral edge. 7. Device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the metal sheet further protrudes between the second face (22) of the guide (2) and the diffuser (5). 8. Device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the sheet further protrudes from the peripheral edge (23) on the side of the first face (21) and parallel to the first face.