WO2006100697A1

WO2006100697A1 - Lighting device

Info

Publication number: WO2006100697A1
Application number: PCT/IT2005/000157
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giorgio Vittorio Pajetta; Massimo Pajetta
Original assignee: Fontanaarte S.P.A.
Priority date: 2005-03-23
Filing date: 2005-03-23
Publication date: 2006-09-28

Abstract

A lighting device comprises at least one light source (2), at least one first body (3) with which the light source (2) is directly or indirectly associable, at least one second body (4) that can be directly or indirectly secured to a support (5), and an articulated joint (6) placed between the first (3) and second (4) bodies to associate the first body (3) with the second body (4) in a plurality of operating positions. The articulated joint (6) comprises magnetic means (7) to enable maintenance of at least one position of the plurality of operating positions.

Description

LIGHTING DEVICE

D e s c r i p t i o n

The present invention relates to a lighting device. In particular, the present invention applies to a lighting device in which a light source can take a plurality of operating positions relative to a support to which the device itself is secured.

Different lighting devices are known that enable the light source of a lighting device to be adjusted, i.e. moved and subsequently fastened, relative to a fixed support to which the device itself is secured.

In particular, lighting devices are known in which the light source is integral with the end of a rod-like element. The rod-like element has a second end rotatably secured to a support integral with a wall. This rotating connection usually consists of a hinge with a vertical rotation axis. In this manner the hinge is free to rotate and can keep any operating position without the light source transmitting a rotational moment to the hinge, which moment is capable of causing accidental rotation of the hinge itself.

These types of devices of the known art allow rotation of the light source alone, in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of the hinge.

In other lighting devices of the known art adjustment of the light source takes place through combination of two relative rotational motions. In particular rotatably secured to one end of the rod-like element is the end of a second rod-like element having the other end rotatably secured to a fixed support.

In these devices too the two hinges constituting the rotating connections have vertical rotation axes that are offset relative to each other. By suitably combining the rotations of the two rod-like elements the light source can be positioned at any point in a plane. In this case too however, the operating positions that the light source can take are all included in a single plane.

For spatial movement of the light source, it is provided in accordance with the known art that, in combination with one of the above described devices, .a further hinge having a rotation axis perpendicular to the horizontal rotation axis be present. Clearly, this further hinge must be provided with means for locking rotation to a given operating position, so as to counteract the rotational moment transmitted by the weight force acting on the light source.

In spite of the fact that in these devices of the known art the light source can be operatively positioned at any spatial point (consistently with the device sizes), the structural complexity of these lighting devices is greatly increased as compared with the first devices described above.

In addition, as regards said means for locking rotation of the hinge, a greater structural complexity is required as well as intervention of the user who must operate on the hinge to unlock it, position the rod- like elements and light source again, and then lock the hinge to the new desired position. In this context, the main technical task of the present invention is to propose a lighting device that is free of the above mentioned drawbacks.

In particular it is an aim of the present invention to make available a lighting device enabling movement in space and subsequent reliable maintenance of the reached position of a light source relative to a fixed support .

Another aim of the present invention is to propose a lighting device offering easy and quick assembling and disassembling .

A further aim of the present invention is to provide a lighting device showing a high versatility of use.

The technical task mentioned and the aims specified are substantially achieved by a lighting device comprising the technical features set out in one or more of the appended claims.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description given for purposes of illustration and not of limitation, of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a lighting device as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a lighting device in accordance with the present invention;

- Fig. 2 is a side view of the lighting device in Fig. 1;

- Fig. 3 is a view taken along section III-III of the device in Fig. 2; - A -

- Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a detail of the device in Fig. 1; and

- Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a further detail of the device in Fig. 1.

With reference to the drawings, a lighting device in accordance with the present invention has been ge-nerally identified by reference numeral 1.

The device 1 comprises at least one light source 2, at least one first body 3 with which can be directly or indirectly associated the light source 2, at least one second body 4 that can be directly or indirectly secured to a support 5 and one articulated joint 6 placed between the first 3 and second 4 bodies to associate the first body 3 with the second body 4 in a plurality of operating positions.

The light source 2 diagrammatically shown in Fig. 1, can be any light source, typically an electric bulb or a quartz-iodine lamp, although it can hypothetically comprise any source of electromagnetic waves of a wavelength in the visible, infrared or ultraviolet spectrum.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, the light source is directly secured to the first body 3 at one end 3a of the latter. Likewise, the support 5 is secured to one end 4a of the second body. However, both the light source 2 and support 5 can be secured to the first 3 and second 4 bodies respectively also indirectly and at any point. In addition,, the support 5 can be either a pedestal, i.e. of the type adapted to rest on a surface such as a table or the floor or a support of the wall type. Advantageously, the articulated joint 6 comprises magnetic means 7 to enable maintenance of at least one of the plurality of operating positions.

In addition, the articulated joint β comprises means with positive magnetic susceptibility 8 associated or associable with the first 3 and second 4 bodies. It is pointed out herein that by positive magnetic susceptibility it is intended the capability of a body to become magnetised and be magnetically attracted by a magnet. In this way the first 3 and second 4 bodies are advantageously attracted, through the positive magnetic susceptibility, by the magnetic means 7 of the articulated joint 6 and are therefore retained on said articulated joint 6.

From a structural point of view, the articulated joint 6 comprises a first 9 and a second 10 halves that are movable relative to each other to define the plurality of operating positions that the light source 2 can take.

The two halves 9, 10 (shown in Figs. 4 and 5) are physically distinct and are coupled with each other when the articulated joint 6 is in an operating configuration. In addition, the two halves 9, 10 are identical with each other.

Advantageously, the magnetic means 7 is interposed between the two halves 9, 10 of the articulated joint 6 to directly or indirectly attract said halves 9, 10 towards each other. In this connection, it is necessary to point out that the two halves 9, 10 can be made of any material, because their union is ensured by the means with a positive magnetic susceptibility 8, as will become more apparent in the following of the present specification.

However, in the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the two halves 9, 10 are made of a ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material. In this way the magnetic means 7 interposed between the two halves 9, 10 directly attracts the two halves towards each other and keeps them together.

Each of the two halves 9, 10 of the articulated joint 6 comprises a respective contact surface 11, 12. These contact surfaces 11, 12, under the operating conditions of the articulated joint 6, are coupled with each other in such a manner that the first half 9 is rotatable relative to the second one 10 and vice versa. In other words, the first 9 and second 10 halves are rotatable relative to each other around an axis X perpendicular to the first 11 and second 12 contact surfaces to define the plurality of operating positions that the light source 2 can take relative to the support 5. The relative rotation between the two halves 9, 10 is in any case ensured both when the latter are directly attracted and when they are indirectly attracted by the magnetic means 7.

In more detail, the contact surfaces 11, 12 co-operate with each other to define a housing seat 13 for the magnetic means 7. The housing seat 13 consists of two seat halves 13a, 13b integral with the first 9 and second 10 halves, respectively. The shape of the housing seat 13 matches that of the magnetic means 7.

In addition, to avoid possible penetration of foreign bodies into the articulated joint β, such as dust, the contact surfaces 11, 12 co-operate with each other to define a groove 14 for housing a seal 15. This seal 15 acts therefore between the first 9 and second 10 halves of the articulated joint 6 and, in the preferred embodiment, consists of an 0-ring surrounding the magnetic means 7 (as shown in Fig. 3).

Advantageously, on the opposite side from the contact surfaces 11, 12, each half 9, 10 of the articulated joint 6 comprises a respective coupling surface 16, 17 to slidably guide the first 3 and second 4 bodies of the device 1 respectively, and define the remaining part of the plurality of operating positions that the light source 2 can take relative to the fixed support 5.

In the preferred embodiment, the first body 3 and second body 4 are defined by a first and a second elongated tubular elements. In this connection, the coupling surfaces 16, 17 comprise a respective sleeve 16a, 17a to slidably couple the first half 9 with the first body 3 and the second half 10 with the second body 4, along the major extension axis of the tubular elements constituting the first and second bodies 3, 4. In this way, advantageously, the sleeves 16a, 17a ensure that each tubular element, i.e. each of the two bodies 3, 4, in addition to carrying out a translating motion, will also carry out a rotating motion around its major extension axis. As shown in the accompanying drawings, each sleeve 16a, 17a has an extension in the form of an arc of a circle over at least 180°. Preferably this extension is greater than 180° to define two end holding portions 16b, 17b on each sleeve 16a, 17a which help in retaining the two bodies 3, 4 on the articulated joint 6. In this connection, as already said, the first 3 and second 4 bodies are retained on the articulated joint 6 through the means with positive magnetic susceptibility 8. Advantageously, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, this means 8 consists of at least one first ferromagnetic or paramagnetic element 18 inserted in the first body 3 and at least one second ferromagnetic or paramagnetic element 19 inserted in the second body 4. In this manner, the first 3 and second 4 bodies are magnetically attracted by the magnetic means 7 inserted between the two halves 9, 10 and are secured to the articulated joint 6.

In more detail, the first 18 and second 19 elements of ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material are two metal balls, preferably made of iron, inserted in the tubular elements defining the first 3 and second 4 bodies.

These balls can be slidably inserted in the respective tubular elements or they can be secured to a predetermined position inside the tubular elements themselves. In addition, each ball has a groove 18a,

19a present along the whole equatorial extension.

As previously mentioned, the first 18 and second 19 elements of ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material are sufficient to ensure that the two halves 9, 10 constituting the articulated joint 6 will be coupled with each other even when these halves are not made of a ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material. In fact, when the device 1 is assembled, the two balls 18, 19 are magnetically attracted by the magnetic means 7. In this way, the two halves 9, 10 of the articulated joint 6 and the first and second bodies 3, 4 are associated with each other by effect of the magnetic force exerted between the balls 18, 19 and the magnetic means 7. Clearly, when also the two halves 9, 10 of the articulated joint 6 are made of ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material, the two halves are directly submitted to a magnetic force keeping them joined to the magnetic means 7.

In an embodiment not shown, the elements 18, 19 of ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material constituting the means with positive magnetic susceptibility 8 can be replaced by portions of the first and second bodies 3, 4 consisting of ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material. In this case too, based on the same principle set out above, the two halves 9, 10 are associated with each other irrespective of the material of which they are made.

When use of ferromagnetic or paramagnetic materials is provided for making parts of the device 1, the choice between ferromagnetic and paramagnetic materials depends on the intensity of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic means 7.

At all events, in the preferred embodiment, the choice falls on ferromagnetic materials because they are able to become magnetised more intensely than paramagnetic materials .

In the preferred embodiment, the magnetic means 7 consists of a permanent magnet 20. Advantageously, this permanent magnet 20 is a disc of neodymium or a neodymium alloy. In fact, neodymium and neodymium alloys are able to generate magnetic fields of much higher intensity than those generated by other types of permanent magnets. Clearly, the intensity of the magnetic field that must be generated by the magnet is a function of the weight and sizes of the device 1. Thus, for instance, the heavier the weight of the light source 2 is or the smaller the sizes of the balls 18, 19 inserted in the first 3 and second 4 bodies, the greater the intensity of the magnetic field and therefore the magnet sizes.

In use, to make the light source 2 take the desired operating position it is sufficient to select one or more operating positions that the first 3 and/or second 4 bodies and the articulated joint 6 can take.

In fact, both the first 3 and second 4 bodies can slide and rotate around their major extension axis, i.e. they can translate and rotate relative to the articulated joint β and the latter is rotatable relative to axis X.

Advantageously, the components of the lighting device on which said magnetic forces act, i.e. the two halves 9, 10 of the articulated joint 6, the first and second bodies 3 and 4, and the metal balls 18, 19, stay at any operating position in a steady manner. In fact, the magnetic means 7 and the means with positive magnetic susceptibility 8 go on being mutually attracted irrespective of the relative position taken by the first 3 and second 4 bodies and by the articulated joint β.

The present invention achieves the intended purposes.

In fact, as said, the light source can be positioned at any spatial point (consistently with the device sizes), by virtue of the combination of two translational motions and a rotational motion and stays in the selected operating position through the action of the magnetic means 7.

In addition, the magnetic means associated with the articulated joint and associating the two bodies with the articulated joint itself enables a quick and easy assembling and disassembling of the device itself, because use of any mechanical constraint such as screws, bolts and the like is not required.

Furthermore, the lighting device has a high versatility of use due to the redundancy of degrees of freedom. In fact, as known, for reaching any spatial point the combination of a single translational motion with a single rotational motion is sufficient, whereas the lighting device being the object of the invention has two translational motions and three rotational motions.

Finally, the lighting device of the invention does not require high working tolerances by virtue of the fact that the constraints therein present are obtained by magnetic forces that, as known, are generated by lines of force having a wide efficiency region. In other words, if a small misalignment of the elements to be coupled exists, coupling does not lose its effect, which on the contrary happens, for ^' instance, in the hinges of known lighting devices.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. A lighting device comprising:

- at least one light source (2) ; - at least one first body (3) with which said light source (2) can be directly or indirectly associated;

- at least one second body (4) which can be directly or indirectly secured to a support- (5);

- an articulated joint (6) placed between said first (3) and second (4) bodies to associate said first body

(3) with said second body (4) in a plurality of operating positions, characterised in that said articulated joint (6) comprises magnetic means (7) to enable maintenance of at least one of said plurality of operating positions.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said articulated joint (6) further comprises means with positive magnetic susceptibility (8) associated or associable with said first (3) and second (4) bodies, to magnetically attract and retain said first (3) and second (4) bodies to said articulated joint (6).

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said articulated joint (6) comprises a first half (9) and a second half (10) that are movable relative to each other to at least partly define said plurality of operating positions.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said halves (9, 10) are physically distinct and can be coupled with each other under operating conditions of the articulated joint (6) .

- 5. A device as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein said magnetic means (7) is interposed between said first (9) and second (10) halves.

6. A device as claimed in anyone of claims 3 to 5, wherein said first (9) and second (10) halves comprise a first (11) and a second (12) contact surfaces respectively, set to be mutually coupled under operating conditions of the articulated joint; said first (9) and second (10) halves being freely rotatable about an axis (X) preferably perpendicular to said first (11) and second (12) contact surfaces, to at least partly define said plurality of operating positions .

7. A device as claimed in anyone of claims 2 to 6, wherein said means with positive magnetic susceptibility (7) consists of at least one respective portion of said first (3) and second (4) bodies which is made of paramagnetic or ferromagnetic material.

8. A device as claimed in anyone of claims 2 to 6, wherein said means with positive magnetic susceptibility (7) comprises at least one first element (18) of paramagnetic or ferromagnetic material that is inserted in said first body (3) and at least one second element (19) of paramagnetic or ferromagnetic material that is inserted in said second body (4) .

9. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first (9) and second (10) halves are made of a paramagnetic or ferromagnetic material to be magnetically attracted by said magnetic means (7) .

10. A device as claimed in anyone of claims 3 to 9, wherein said first body (3) is a first tubular element; said first half (9) comprising a coupling surface (16) to slidably guide said first tubular element relative to said first half (9) .

11. A device as claimed in anyone of claims 3 to 10, wherein said second body (4) is a second tubular element; said second half (10) comprising a coupling surface (17) to slidably guide said second tubular element relative to said second half (10) .

12. A device as claimed in claims 8, 10 and 11, wherein said paramagnetic or ferromagnetic elements (18, 19) are a first and a second metal balls slidably inserted in the first tubular element and in the second tubular element respectively.

13. A device as claimed in claims 10 and 11, wherein said coupling surfaces (16, 17) of the first and second halves are placed on opposite sides respectively, relative to the first (11) and second (12) contact surfaces .

14. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said coupling surfaces (16, 17) are defined by a respective sleeve (16a, 17a) to slidably couple, along a major extension axis of the corresponding tubular element, said first half (9) with said first tubular element and said second half (10) with said second tubular element.

15. A device as claimed in anyone of claims 6 to 14, wherein said first and second contact surfaces (11, 12) co-operate to define a housing seat (13) for housing said magnetic means (7).

16. A device as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, wherein said magnetic means (7) comprises a permanent magnet (20), preferably a disc made of neodymium material or a neodymium-based alloy material.

17. A device as claimed in anyone of claims 2 to 16, wherein said articulated joint (6) comprises a seal (14) placed between said first (11) and second (12) contact surfaces.

18. A device as claimed in anyone of claims 2 to 17, wherein the first (9) and second (10) halves are identical .

19. An articulated joint comprising mutually movable first (9) and second (10) halves, characterised in that it further comprises a magnet (20) interposed between the first (9) and second (10) halves to retain the first (9) and second (10) halves in a plurality of operating positions.

20. An articulated joint as claimed in claim 19, further comprising means with positive magnetic susceptibility (9) that can be associated with elements to be connected to the articulated joint (6) to retain said elements connectable to the articulated joint (6) in a plurality of operating configurations.

21. An articulated joint as claimed in claim 19 or 20, wherein the two halves (9, 10) are made of a ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material.

22. An articulated joint as claimed in anyone of claims 19 to 21, wherein the two halves (9, 10) are identical and co-operate to define a housing seat (13) for said magnet (20) .