WO2011004338A1

WO2011004338A1 - Lamp structure

Info

Publication number: WO2011004338A1
Application number: PCT/IB2010/053128
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bruno Spagnolo
Original assignee: Spagnolo Srl
Priority date: 2009-07-10
Filing date: 2010-07-08
Publication date: 2011-01-13
Also published as: ES2448969T3; EP2452117B1; IT1394801B1; ITTO20090519A1; EP2452117A1

Abstract

Lamp structure (11) comprising an elongated lamp body (13) housing illuminating devices (15), wherein the lamp body (13) comprises a transverse engagement portion (23) on at least one of the two opposite transverse ends for allowing fixing together a number of lamp bodies (13) and/or fixing corresponding auxiliary modules (25a, 25b) to the lamp body (13), comprising a lamp body in a monolithic single-piece made of aluminium profile.

Description

Lamp structure

DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

The present invention concerns a lamp structure.

More precisely the invention concerns a modular lamp structure for lighting, which can be used in various applications, both civilian and industrial, both in the public and private sector.

Background art

Various variants of lamp structures for lighting are known in the art, each generally suitable for a specific application.

For instance, lamp structures for lighting closed spaces such as houses, offices and the like, are known which are not suitable for lighting spaces of different kind and dimensions (for example industrial premises, roads, buildings).

This leads to the consequence that different applications require different lamp structures with an increase of the costs for design, manufacturing, distribution and storage.

Attempts to realize lamp structures which can be used in a higher number of applications, without the need for substantial modifications, have been made in the past.

However, these attempts have generally resulted in a decrease of the lighting performances of the lamp structures in most applications.

Examples of lamp structures having an elongated shape and provided with respective engagement means on the transverse portions thereof are disclosed in US 7,131,753 and DE 85 25 839 U.

These structures are obtained with a high number of components and assembling and implementing thereof are time consuming and expensive processes. A first object of the invention is therefore that of offering a solution to the problem of how to provide a simplified lamp structure, which can be configured rapidly and at reduced costs, which can be used in different environments, even very different ones, inside or outside buildings, while maintaining a high lighting efficiency.

Another object of the invention is that of providing a lamp structure of the above kind, which allows energy saving with respect to known structures.

A not least object of the invention is that of providing a lamp structure which can be obtained industrially on a large scale and with reduced costs.

Summary of the invention

Advantageously, according to a first aspect of the invention, tanks to the provision of at least one end portion of transverse engagement on the lamp body of each auxiliary module, it is possible for instance to join together a number of lamp bodies to form a battery of lamps in series, or to associate accessory modules such as for instance a control module, a surveillance video camera and the like.

The use of photo and video recording apparatus for various kind of spaces, both closed and open, both public and private is known in the art since several years. Photo cameras, panoramic video cameras and similar image recording apparatus are known for example for surveillance of both public and private spaces, roads, squares, junctions and in general any space where a remote control is required.

Moreover, the above control systems are diffusing also in spaces where photo and/or video recording is required during the night or low lighting conditions.

The capability of associating with the lamp body according to the invention an auxiliary module housing in particular a surveillance video camera results particularly advantageous thanks to the reduced costs of installation and maintenance owing to the fact that both the lamp and the video camera make use of the same support and of the same manpower for installation.

The need of compact and easy to manage surveillance video cameras is particularly evident in the public sector where is frequently demanded to provide both lighting and surveillance apparatus in the same watched space.

Moreover, advantageously, according to a further aspect of the invention, thanks to the provision of at least one lateral longitudinal engagement portion on the lamp body it is possible to join together a number of lamp bodies to form a battery of lamps in various shapes and dimensions.

Therefore, thanks to this arrangement it is possible to obtain structures complex and of larger dimensions, suitable to lighting any kind of environment starting from a modular lamp structure.

Still according to the invention, advantageously, thanks to the construction of the lamp body as a monolithic single piece starting from an aluminum profile bar obtained by means of a drawing operation and subsequently cut for obtaining the lamp body in the desired length, it is possible to obtain lamp structures at extremely competitive costs.

List of the figures

Figure 1 is a perspective exploded view from below of the lamp structure according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective exploded front view from above of the lamp structure according to a first variant;

Figure 3 is a perspective exploded rear view from below of the assembly of three lamp structures according to the invention, wherein a lamp structure according to Figure 1 is incorporated;

Figure 4 is a perspective front view from below of the assembly of three lamp structures according to the invention, wherein a lamp structure according to the variant of Figure 2 is incorporated;

Figure 5 is a perspective exploded front view from below of the lamp structure according to a second variant of the invention.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

With reference to Figure 1, the lamp structure according to the invention, which has been referred to as a whole with reference numeral 11, comprises an elongated lamp body 13, housing illuminating devices 15 preferably based on the LED

(Light Emitting Diode) technology.

According to the invention the elongated body 13 preferably comprises a trapezoidal cross section wherein a housing chamber 17 closed in the lower part by a transparent wall 19 is defined for housing the illuminating devices 15 and in case, electronic control devices 21.

According to the invention, the elongated lamp body 13 is preferably made as a monolithic single piece starting from an aluminum profile bar suitably shaped, for example obtained by means of a drawing operation and cut in the desired length.

Still according to the invention, the lamp body 13 comprises a transverse engagement portion 23 on at least one of the opposite transverse ends to allow a number or lamp bodies 13 to be joined together and/or to allow corresponding auxiliary modules 25a, 25b to be associated with the lamp body 13, as it will appear evident from the following disclosure.

Still according to the invention, the lamp body 13 further comprises lateral engagement means 27 on at least one of the sides 29 of body 13 and preferably upper engagement means 31.

Lateral engagement means 27 allow to obtain complex lamp structures by joining together a number of lamp bodies 13 along the corresponding lateral sides 29 as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

Upper engagement means 31 allow by contrast the lamp body 13 to be associated, for example by means of couplings, screws or other known securing devices, with a support unit 33 preferably equipped with an adjustable joint 35 which in its turn can be secured, for example by means of a sleeve 39 to a fixed support, for instance a street pole or a support structure .

Closure members 37, for example obtained of aluminum or plastics, comprising through holes 61 for the passage of securing screws 55 are provided for closing the opposite ends of the elongated body 13 provided with engagement means 23, said engagement means 23 being correspondingly provided with threaded seats 55 for the screws 55. Moreover, said screws 55 can comprise threaded bars of a length sufficient to cross the whole lamp body 13 or the lamp bodies 13 longitudinally associated together and secured with nuts to the respective ends at the closure elements 37.

Still with reference to Figure 1 a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated wherein the engagement portions 23 provided at the opposite ends of the lamp body 13 are used to associate an auxiliary module 25a housing an electronic control device 21, and an auxiliary module 25b housing a panoramic video camera of a known kind, respectively.

According to this embodiment of the invention the first auxiliary module 25a comprises a lamp body 13' substantially identical with the lamp body 13 and therefore provided with engagement portions 23 at the opposite ends thereof having however a shorter length and provided with lower wall 19' preferably opaque, whereas the second auxiliary module 25b comprises a casing 41a, 41b for example made of plastics, which defines a corresponding housing 43 which houses a videcamera or a video and/or picture recording apparatus.

Casing 41a, 41b comprises an upper substantially wedged portion 41a wherein a rear wall 45 is defined which can be associated with one of the transverse engagement portion 23 by means of known securing means such as for example securing screws 55 passing through the holes 61 of the closure elements 37.

Moreover, the lower portion 41b of casing 41a, 41b comprises a transparent dome 49 to allow video recording of the environment outside the video camera housed within the casing.

Still according to the invention, the video camera is advantageously associated with the electronic control device 21 by means of cables passing within lamp body 13. Said device 21 can be further associated with an antenna 51 fixed for example to the auxiliary module 25a.

Thanks to the above mentioned arrangement and thanks to a suitable software which controls the device 21 it is advantageously possible to remotely transmit the pictures recorded by the video camera.

With reference to Figure 2 it is showed a variant of the lamp structure according to the invention wherein the lamp body 13 directly houses inside a suitable space the electronic control device 21.

According to this variant a coupling plate 53 is provided between the rear wall 45 of the wedged casing

41a, 41b which houses the video camera and the transverse engagement portion 23 provided at both opposite ends of the lamp body 13 and equipped with closure member 37.

Coupling plate 53 is secured to the engagement portion 23 and to the wedged casing 41a, 41b by means of corresponding screws 47 and 55 and comprises a bracket 57 for mounting the antenna 51 outside body 13. Coupling plate 53 and correspondingly the element 37 associated therewith are further provided with slots 59a, 59b, respectively for the passage of the cables connecting the device 21.

With reference to figure 3 it is illustrated an assembly of three lamp structures according to the invention wherein a lamp structure according to Figure 1 is centrally incorporated.

Advantageously, thanks to the lateral engagement means 27 provided on the sides 29 of bodies 13 it is possible to join together along said lateral sides a number of identical or similar bodies 13 for obtaining a complex lamp structure comprising illuminating bodies 13 and auxiliary modules 25a, 25b wherein for example an electronic control device 21 and a video camera are respectively housed.

According to the arrangement illustrated in Figure 3, said auxiliary modules are associated with the central lamp body 13 by means of the corresponding engagement portions 23 provided on bodies 13 and 13' . Other arrangements are however possible comprising any number of lamp structures and of auxiliary modules and wherein said modules are associated with any of bodies 13 within the complex structure.

Referring to Figure 4 it is illustrated a combination of three lamp structures according to the invention laterally joined thanks to the lateral engagement means 27 and wherein the central structure is a structure obtained according to the variant of Figure 2.

Advantageously as it can be appreciated from Figure 4, analogously to the arrangement illustrated in Figure 3, thanks to the lateral engagement means 27 provided on the sides 29 of bodies 13 it is possible to join together along said lateral sides a number of bodies 13 to obtain a complex lamp structure comprising illuminating bodies 13 and an auxiliary module 25b wherein a video camera is housed. According to the arrangement illustrated in Figure 4 the auxiliary module is associated with the central lamp body 13 obtained according to the variant of Figure 2 comprising a space 22 for housing the electronic control device 21 inside body 13. Still according to the arrangement illustrated in Figure 4 the auxiliary module 25b is preferably associated with the central body 13 which houses device 21; however other arrangements are possible wherein any number of lamp structures and auxiliary modules is provided and wherein said modules are associated with any of bodies 13 within the complex structure.

With reference to Figure 5 it is illustrated a lamp structure according to a second variant of the invention wherein an auxiliary module 25a which houses for example the electronic control device 21 is positioned between the lamp body 13 and the auxiliary module 25b which houses one or more video cameras 44 or a similar device.

The lamp structure according to the invention is highly versatile being capable of originating a multiplicity of arrangements which can satisfy different needs of lighting and surveillance.

Therefore the lamp structure according to the invention being obtainable in any dimension and lighting power is suitable for a multiplicity of applications both in the civil and industrial fields.

The lamp structure according to the invention attains a considerable saving of costs of manufacture and a high lighting intensity with a reduced energy consumption and is thus suitable in particular for public and private lighting of outdoor spaces, for example roads, squares and buildings.

Claims

1. Lamp structure (11) comprising an elongated lamp body (13) housing illuminating devices (15), wherein the lamp body (13) comprises a transverse engagement portion (23) on at least one of the two opposite transverse ends for allowing fixing together a number of lamp bodies (13) and/or fixing corresponding auxiliary modules (25a, 25b) to the lamp body (13), characterized in that said lamp body (13).

2. Structure according to claim 1, wherein a first auxiliary module (25a, 25b) houses an electronic control device (21) .

3. Structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a second auxiliary module (25a, 25b) houses a panoramic video camera (44) or a video and/or photo recording device.

4. Structure according to claim 3, wherein a first auxiliary module (25a) housing an electronic control device

(21) and a second auxiliary module (25b) housing a panoramic video camera are associated with the engagement portions (23) provided at the opposite transverse ends of the lamp body (13), respectively.

5. Structure according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the first auxiliary module (25a) comprises a second elongated lamp body (13') substantially identical with the first elongated lamp body (13) but having shorter length and being provided with an opaque lower wall (19'), whereas the second auxiliary module (25b) comprises a casing (41a, 41b) defining a corresponding seat (43) housing a video camera or a video and/or photo recording device (44).

6. Structure according to claim 5, wherein the casing (41a, 41b) comprises a substantially wedge-shaped upper portion

(41a) wherein a rear wall (45) is defined associatable with one of the transverse engagement portions (23) of said elongated lamp body.

7. Structure according to claim 6, wherein the lower portion (41b) of the casing (41a, 41b) comprises a transparent dome (49) for allowing video-recording of the environment outside the video camera or video and/or photo recording device (44) contained in the casing.

8. Structure according to any of the preceding claims, wherein closing elements (37) having holes (61) for the passage of fastening screws (55) are provided for closing the opposite engagement ends (23) of the elongated body (13) .

9. Structure according to claim 5 or 6, wherein a coupling plate (53) comprising a bracket (57) for mounting an antenna (51) is provided between the wedge-shaped casing (41a, 41b), housing the video camera, and the transverse engagement portion (23) .

10. Structure according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lamp body (13) comprises lateral engagement means (27) on at least one of the sides (29) of the lamp body (13) and preferably upper engagement means (31), the lateral engagement means (27) allowing obtaining complex lamp structures by fixing together a number of lamp bodies (13) along their corresponding lateral sides (29) and the upper engagement means (31) allowing fixing the lamp body (13) to a support assembly (33) which in turn is associatable with a fixed support.

11. Method for obtaining a lamp structure (11) comprising an elongated lamp body (13) housing illuminating devices (15) and wherein the lamp body (13) comprises a transverse engagement portion (23) on at least one of the two opposite transverse ends for allowing fixing together a number of lamp bodies (13) and/or fixing corresponding auxiliary modules (25a, 25b) to the lamp body (13), characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

- obtaining a lamp body (13) in a monolithic single-piece made of aluminium profile.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

- obtaining an aluminum profile bar suitably shaped by means of a drawing operation;

- cutting said bar for obtaining portions of the desired length so as to obtain said lamp body (13) .