WO2016135639A1

WO2016135639A1 - New porcelain, related ceramic mixture and use of this ceramic mixture

Info

Publication number: WO2016135639A1
Application number: PCT/IB2016/050998
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michelangelo MONNI
Original assignee: Munus International S.R.L.
Priority date: 2015-02-25
Filing date: 2016-02-24
Publication date: 2016-09-01
Also published as: ITPG20150001U1

Abstract

The invention concerns a new material, a porcelain (called "magnesium porcelain" by the requester) characterised by the fact that it contains magnesium oxide in a percentage greater than 3%, calculated as the weight of magnesium oxide contained in the porcelain divided by the total weight of the porcelain times one hundred. The invention also concerns a new ceramic mixture for porcelain with which said new porcelain can be obtained and the relative use for the realisation of a new filtering element for a lighting device made from said porcelain.

Description

NEW PORCELAIN, RELATED CERAMIC MIXTURE AND USE OF THIS CERAMIC MIXTURE

FILED OF THE INVENTION

This invention is part of the technical sector related to porcelain materials, their use and the items that can be obtained through said use, specifically the filtering elements for lighting devices such as lamps, table lamps, etc., which include an illumination source, also called an illuminating source. These filtering elements are intended to attenuate the intensity of the light emitted by said illumination source, typically a light bulb, an LED, etc., partially transmitting this emitted light. Specifically, the invention is made up of a new type of porcelain the requester calls "magnesium porcelain" and of the use of said "magnesium porcelain" to create light bulbs and light fixtures in general, and in particular light filtering elements such as lampshades, bowls and accessories that shield from the direct light of the illuminating source or illumination source.

There are currently no products or filtering elements for lighting devices as described above made from this "magnesium porcelain" that is a newly conceived new material.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Currently these filtering elements for lighting devices are made from various materials such as paper, glass, fabric or plastic. The lighting device industry is always seeking new materials to use to make filtering elements in order to improve the aesthetics or the related characteristics of resistance and light transmission.

Today, with LED technology and its use as a light source for lighting devices, there has been a revolution on the related consumption, but the yield of the light they emit and the atmosphere that the light produces have declined compared to the incandescent and halogen technology. Specifically, the light emitted by LEDs is particularly cold and the need arises for new materials with which to produce filtering elements for lighting devices that are capable of transmitting the light emitted by the LEDs to obtain a warm transmitted light.

Porcelain, of a known type and in general the various derivations such as ceramic, stoneware etc., do not allow the light to filter sufficiently and this is why these materials are not used as lampshades or in general as filtering elements.

For this purpose, currently materials such as glass, plastic and paper or materials derived from them are widely used.

Types of porcelain are characterised by their whiteness, translucency, high resistance to scratches and impermeability. Unfortunately using known types of porcelain to make these filtering elements for lighting devices is not possible as they are not transparent enough and they basically do not transmit the light emitted from the lighting device's illumination source.

A current type of porcelain that has a certain transparency is "Bone China porcelain". "Bone China porcelain" is cream-coloured and elements of CaO are present in its composition in high percentage, 30-50% (weight by weight) as well as magnesium oxide and/or elements of MgO in percentages around 1 %.

Another known type of porcelain is "New Bone China porcelain", also called Durable Bone China. It has a similar aesthetic look to the new porcelain according to the invention, or "magnesium porcelain". In fact, "New Bone China porcelain" is white and translucent and could seem transparent enough for lighting device illuminating sources such as energy savings or LED bulbs.

"New Bone China porcelain" has the following composition:

Despite the fact that "New Bone China porcelain" has a similar aesthetic look to the porcelain according to the invention (in other words, "magnesium porcelain"), it is not suitable for the production of filtering elements for lighting devices because "New Bone China porcelain" absorbs almost all the light emitted by the illuminating source and even takes on a dark colour. Concerning this, see figures 1 and 2 that are an integral part of the priority document of this invention, in other words ITPG2015U0000001 ("NEW BONE CHINA PORCELAIN ITEM NOT IN CONTACT WITH ILLUMINATION SOURCE" and "NEW BONE CHINA PORCELAIN ITEM WITH 6W LED ILLUMINATION SOURCE") and diagram figures 1 ' and 2'. As you will notice from these figures, specifically from the photographs in figures 1 and 2, the filtering element 4 of figure 1 and 1 ' of the lighting device 100 (a table lamp), has a whitish and translucent colouring, whereas the illumination source (not illustrated) of the lighting device 100 is off (figure 1 and 1 '). When, on the other hand, the illumination source, in this specific case a 6W LED, is on, this filtering element 4 takes on a dark blueish colouring and does not transmit the light emitted from the illumination source (figures 2 and 2').

In fact, as you can see from figures 2 and 2', the light emitted by this illumination source propagates only in correspondence with the only opening 41 of the filtering element 4 made from "New Bone China porcelain". In figure 2' the light emitted is indicated schematically using the rays 3 and it propagates only in correspondence with the opening 41 of the filtering element 4, in other words, where it does not encounter the filtering element on its path.

The same type of behaviour and the same absorption would occur in any case using a filtering element in "Bone China porcelain" or any other known type of porcelain. Therefore, in general no known type of porcelain, neither "Bone China porcelain", nor "New Bone China porcelain" are suitable for the production of a filtering element for lighting devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of this invention is to make a new material available for production of the filtering elements for lighting devices that is easy to service (cleaning with cleaners and/or by dusting), that is scratch resistant and that above all is able to give the light emitted even by illumination sources that emit cold light, a warm shade of colour. Furthermore, another purpose of this invention is to make it possible to create a filtering element for lighting devices with an aesthetic look that changes depending on the emission of light by the illumination source with which it is coupled. These purposes are resolved with the independent claims items.

Specifically, the new claimed material is a porcelain characterised by the fact that it includes magnesium oxide in a percentage higher than 3%, with said percentage calculated as the weight of magnesium oxide contained in the porcelain divided by the total weight of the porcelain times one hundred. In this description, when "magnesium porcelain" is indicated, this indicates a porcelain in accordance with the invention.

In fact, the requester has surprisingly discovered that the magnesium oxide (MgO) percentage in the porcelain influences the ability to transmit the light of an illumination source, preferably the electrical type. Specifically, the requester verified that the content of magnesium oxide in the new porcelain is also responsible for the transformation effect from cold to warm light.

Obviously, the percentage of magnesium oxide contained in the new porcelain is understood to be evenly distributed throughout said porcelain.

In fact, the new claimed porcelain allows filtering elements for lighting devices to be created that are capable of transmitting, at least partially, the light emitted by the lighting device's illumination source. Furthermore, as can be seen in figures 3 and 4 (respectively corresponding to the photographs "MAGNESIUM PORCELAIN ITEM WITHOUT ILLUMINATION SOURCE" and "MAGNESIUM PORCELAIN ITEM WITH 6W LED ILLUMINATION SOURCE" that are an integral part of the priority document of this invention, in other words, ITPG2015U0000001), it is clear that the claimed filtering element transmits the light emitted from the illumination source and that its colouring goes from translucent white to yellowish-white when the source is respectively off or on. It should also be noted that the light transmitted, even in the event that the illumination source is a 6W cold light LED, is warm light.

The new claimed porcelain ("magnesium porcelain") is particularly fine and placed above or near an illumination source, it allows the light to pass through and, compared to glass or the usual materials used, it transforms the light with a unique fluorescent effect.

In fact, filtering LED light through the new claimed material, "magnesium porcelain", the aesthetic characteristics of the light change. Specifically, the cold and white light emitted by the LED, transmitted by a filtering element in accordance with the inventions, goes back to being pleasantly warm or in any case unique, because it is actually transformed by passing through this new material, claimed magnesium porcelain, or transmitted by the material itself. As already mentioned, a material that is similar to the claimed new porcelain is Bone China porcelain, which is similar in fineness and with Bone China there is also transparency. The difference lies in the fact that the claimed new "magnesium porcelain" with the illumination source lights up and from pure white it transforms into a warm colour just as the light that emanates is warm, transforming the cold light of a LED source, for example, into warm light.

Furthermore, if the "magnesium porcelain" is coloured, the colour itself changes and lights up, transforming after being placed in use and becoming something unique and very particular.

It should be noted that the aforementioned priority document ITPG2015U0000001 claimed the use of magnesium porcelain, intending with this definition, porcelain that contains Magnesium (MgO) in a percentage higher than 3%, for the fabrication of elements to be applied to lamps, light fixtures or other lighting elements and the use of elements in magnesium porcelain, intending with this definition, porcelain that contains Magnesium (MgO) in a percentage higher than 3%, for creating lamps, light fixtures or other lighting elements.

Moreover, ITPG2015U0000001 , for the purpose of specific identification of the material in question in this invention, compared the chemical composition of a form of creation of the new "magnesium porcelain", the subject of the invention, with a porcelain similar in appearance and colour, in other words, "New Bone China porcelain", the composition of which was previously reported. %.

The new porcelain ("magnesium porcelain") is pure white in colour and contains elements of CaO lower than 3% and preferably elements of MgO greater than 20%. The distinction between these two materials is clear and easy to identify. The use of magnesium porcelain in lamps and light fixtures in general and specifically in the application of lampshades and elements close to the light source made of the aforementioned material transforms the light itself, providing a unique atmosphere, connected to the reflectance or transparency of the material itself and, in any case, to its specific characteristics. There are currently no similar products on the market or, in any case, no products connected to the application of this new material in the lighting sector in general.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The characteristics of the invention will be highlighted below where some preferred, but not exclusive, forms of implemented realisation are described with reference to the attached drawing tables in which:

- figure 1 is a photograph of a table lamp where the filtering element is made of "New Bone China porcelain" of a known type with the related illumination source switched off. Figure 1 is not related to the invention;

- figure 1' is a perspective schematic view of a table lamp where the filtering element is made of "New Bone China porcelain" with the related illumination source switched off. In other words, it is a diagram of the photograph in figure 1. Figure 1' is not related to the invention;

- figure 2 is a photograph of the table lamp in figure 1' with the related illumination source switched on. Figure 2 is not related to the invention;

- figure 2' is a perspective schematic view of the table lamp in figure 1' with the related illumination source switched on. In other words, it is a diagram of the photograph in figure 2. Figure 2' is not related to the invention;

- figure 3 is a photograph of a new table lamp where the filtering element is made of the new porcelain in accordance with the invention ("magnesium porcelain") with the related illumination source switched off;

- figure 3' is a perspective schematic view of a new table lamp where the filtering element is made of the new porcelain in accordance with the invention

("magnesium porcelain") with the related illumination source switched off. In other words, it is a diagram of the photograph in figure 3:

- figure 4 is a photograph of the table lamp in figure 3, where the filtering element is made of the new porcelain in accordance with the invention ("magnesium porcelain") with the related illumination source switched on;

- figure 4' is a perspective schematic view of the table lamp in accordance with the invention in figure 3' with the related illumination source switched on. In other words, it is a diagram of the photograph in figure 4.

Obviously the illumination source in these figures is inserted within the filtering element.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to figures 3, 3', 4 and 4' an illumination source in accordance with the invention is indicated with 100' that includes a filtering element 1 in accordance with the invention that is made of the claimed porcelain ("magnesium porcelain") in accordance with the invention.

As you will note from these figures, specifically the photographs in figures 3 and 4, the filtering element 2 in figures 1 and 1' of the lighting device 100 (a table lamp), has a whitish and translucent colouring, whereas the illumination source (not illustrated) of the lighting device 100 is off (figure 3 and 3'). When, on the other hand, the illumination source, in this specific case a 6W LED, is on, this filtering element 4 takes on a yellowish white colouring and transmits the light emitted from said illumination source (figures 4 and 4'). As you can see from figures 4 and 4', the light emitted by this illumination source propagates only in correspondence with the only opening 33 of filtering element 1 , but only through the filtering element 1 in accordance with the invention. In fact, in figure 2' the light emitted by the LED indicated schematically by rays 3 and 31 propagates in correspondence to the opening 33 of the filtering element 4, in other words, where it does not encounter the filtering element along its path and does not change its characteristics, therefore it will be a cold white light typical of LEDs with a predetermined intensity (represented by the width of the ray 3). Whereas, in correspondence to the filtering element 1 in accordance with the invention, the light emitted by the LED is transmitted with a different shade of colour, giving the transmitted rays 31 an aesthetic appearance typical of warm light. The light emitted by the LED illumination source is transmitted by the filtering element 4 and indicated schematically by the rays transmitted 31 that are shorter than that of the rays 3 emitted by the source and propagated from the opening 33 in that the related intensity is less than that of the latter.

In addition, the filtering element 1 made of the new "claimed magnesium porcelain" has a fluorescent effect. The yield in applying the same to the filtering elements was a true discovery and worthy of protection in that the effect obtained by applying of this material to the illumination source radically changes the light yield.

As shown previously, this porcelain in accordance with the invention is characterised by the fact that it includes magnesium oxide in a percentage higher than 3%, with said percentage calculated as the weight of magnesium oxide contained in the porcelain divided by the total weight of the porcelain times one hundred.

Because by increasing said percentage the effect on the light transmitted by the filtering element is increasingly greater, it is preferable that said percentage is greater than or equal to 5 %, more preferably greater than or equal to 10%. It is even more preferable, in the following order, that said percentage is greater than or equal to 15%, 18%, 20% and 24%.

Preferably said percentage is in any case lower than 30% or 35%, preferably 30%. A porcelain is preferred with which said percentage of magnesium oxide is between 20% and 30%, and more beneficially it is between 22.5 and 24.0%.

A form of particularly preferred realisation is indicated as an example with the following chemical composition of the magnesium porcelain:

In the "magnesium porcelain" indicated above that is the subject of this invention, the presence of magnesium oxide can reach 24%.

The percentage of magnesium oxide contained in "New Bone China porcelain" which, as already mentioned, is similar in appearance to the porcelain in accordance with the invention, when not illuminated by an illumination source, does not exceed 0.24%. Furthermore, in the other types of porcelain, the percentage of magnesium oxide (MgO) (calculated as indicated above) normally does not exceed 1 %. A unique characteristic is found that is easily identifiable and distinguishes the type of material which is the subject of this invention ("magnesium porcelain") from known types of porcelain.

A filtering element 1 is particularly preferred for a lighting device 100 that includes an illumination source, with said filtering element 1 intended to attenuate the intensity of the light emitted by said illumination source, transmitting it partially, said filtering element 1 , being characterised by the fact that it is at least partially made from a porcelain in accordance with the invention. Obviously the thickness of said filtering element 1 in accordance with the invention must be such to allow the light emitted by the illumination source to be at least partially transmitted. In general the thickness of said filtering element 1 does not exceed 1 cm and it is preferably about 0.4 - 0.7 cm, beneficially about 0.5 cm.

Said illumination source is preferably an electrical type and even more preferably it is LED.

Preferably, according to a form of realisation not illustrated, the filtering element in accordance with the invention includes: a body in said porcelain in accordance with the invention and a layer of coloured coating arranged on a surface of said body. In this case, said coloured coating layer is at least partially transparent to the light emitted by said illumination source.

The coloured coating layer can be created through the use of a colouring substance for porcelain of a known type, applied to said body, followed by related firing.

Beneficially, this coloured coating layer covers an external surface of the body. This way the appearance of the relative filtering element 1 in accordance with the invention can be varied in a particularly preferred form of realisation the filtering element 1 in accordance with the invention is a lampshade.

A lighting device 100' is also preferred that includes a filtering element 1 in accordance with the invention, specifically if said lighting device 100' is an electric type. Beneficially the lighting device 100' in accordance with the invention includes an illumination source that includes or is LED.

The porcelain in accordance with the invention can be obtained by firing (at 1200-1300°C, preferably at 1250-1300°C) a corresponding new ceramic mixture for the production of porcelain characterised by the fact that it includes a percentage of magnesium, calculated as the equivalent quantity of magnesium oxide divided by the total weight of the dry components of this ceramic mixture times one hundred, greater than 3%. Therefore, this ceramic mixture is also the subject of this invention.

Similarly to the porcelain in accordance with the invention, it is preferable that this magnesium percentage (calculated as the equivalent quantity of magnesium oxide divided by the total of the dry components of the ceramic mixture times one hundred) contained in the corresponding ceramic mixture, is greater than or equal to 5 %, more preferably greater than or equal to 10%. It is even more preferable, in the following order, that this percentage is greater than or equal to 15%, 18%, 20% and 24%.

Preferably said percentage of magnesium in the ceramic mixture is in any case lower than 30% or 35%, preferably 30%.

A porcelain is preferable with which said percentage of magnesium in the ceramic mixture is between 20% and 30%, and more beneficially it is between 22.5 and 24.0%.

Specifically, mixtures are preferred in which said percentage of magnesium, calculated as the equivalent quantity of magnesium oxide divided by the total weight of the dry components of said ceramic mixture times one hundred, is between 15 and 30%.

The use of magnesium porcelain, intending by this definition the porcelain that contains Magnesium (MgO) in a percentage greater than 3%, for the fabrication of filtering elements 1 to be applied to lamps, light fixtures or other lighting devices 100' is the subject of this invention.

Therefore, we also claim the use of a ceramic mixture for the production of porcelain in accordance with the invention or a filtering element 1 in accordance with the invention.

It is understood that the above description is an example and not exhaustive, therefore any variations of a practical application nature are understood to fall within the protected area of the invention as described above and claimed below.

Claims

1. Porcelain characterised by the fact that it includes magnesium oxide in a percentage higher than or equal to 3%, with said percentage calculated as the weight of magnesium oxide contained in the porcelain divided by the total weight of the porcelain times one hundred.

2. Porcelain characterised by the fact that said percentage of magnesium oxide is greater than or equal to 15%.

3. Porcelain characterised by the fact that said percentage of magnesium oxide is between 20% and 30%.

4. Porcelain characterised by the fact that said percentage of magnesium oxide is between 22.5% and 24.0%.

5. Filtering element for a lighting device that includes an illumination source, with said filtering element intended to attenuate the intensity of the light emitted by said illumination source, partially transmitting it, said filtering element being characterised by the fact that it is made, at least partially, from a porcelain in accordance with the claims from 1 to 4.

6. Filtering element in accordance with the previous claim, characterised by the fact that it includes a body in said porcelain in accordance with one of the claims from 1 to 4 and a coloured coating layer, arranged on a surface of said body, said coloured coating layer being at least partially transparent to the light emitted by said lamp.

7. Filtering element in accordance with the previous claim, characterised by the fact that said coloured coating layer covers an external surface of said body.

8. Filtering element in accordance with any of the previous claims, characterised by the fact that it is a lampshade.

9. Lighting device characterised by the fact that it includes a filtering element in accordance with any of the previous claims.

10. Ceramic mixture for the production of porcelain characterised by the fact that it includes a percentage of magnesium, calculated as the equivalent quantity of magnesium oxide divided by the total weight of the dry components of said ceramic mixture times one hundred, greater than 3%.

1 1. Ceramic mixture in accordance with the previous claim in which said percentage of magnesium, calculated as the equivalent quantity of magnesium oxide divided by the total weight of the dry components of said ceramic mixture times one hundred, is between 15 and 30%.

12. Use of ceramic mixture in accordance with any of the previous claims for the production of porcelain in accordance with claims from 1 to 4 or a filtering element 1 in accordance with claims 5-8.