LUMINOUS TUBULAR WALL PLATE FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURE AND THREE-DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURE COMPRISING SUCH A WALL PLATE

Abstract

A ribband for a stretched fabric three-dimensional structure comprising at least one light source incorporated in the ribband, wherein the ribband comprises two adjacent recesses separated by a tongue designed to receive the fastening elements of the stretched fabrics, wherein each recess comprises a bottom, an inner side wall forming the tongue and an outer side wall, wherein each outer side wall defines a peripheral wing of the ribband.

Claims

1. A ribband for a stretched fabric three-dimensional structure comprising: at least one light source incorporated in the ribband, wherein the ribband comprises two adjacent recesses separated by a tongue designed to receive the fastening elements of the stretched fabrics, wherein each recess comprises a bottom, an inner side wall forming the tongue and an outer side wall, wherein each outer side wall defines a peripheral wing of the ribband.

2. The ribband for a stretched fabric three-dimensional structure according to claim 1, wherein the ribband has a peripheral surface provided with at least one receiving notch of a light source.

3. The ribband for a stretched fabric three-dimensional structure according to wherein the ribband comprises a receiving notch having an opening opposite that of the recesses.

4. The ribband for a stretched fabric three-dimensional structure according to claim 3, wherein the ribband comprises a second and third receiving notch arranged on either side of the notch having an opening opposite that of the recesses.

5. The ribband for a stretched fabric three-dimensional structure according to claim 4, wherein the second and third receiving notches are equidistantly spaced from the notch having an opening opposite that of the recesses.

6. The ribband for a stretched fabric three-dimensional structure according to claim 5, wherein the peripheral wings define a receiving notch of a light source.

7. The ribband for a stretched fabric three-dimensional structure according to claim 6, wherein the peripheral wing is connected to the end of the outer side wall of the adjacent recess by a rounded junction, wherein the external surface of a peripheral wing cross-sectionally defines a rounded portion against which the stretched fabric rests in order to create a volume, with the external surface of the opposite wing incorporating the light source.

8. The ribband for a stretched fabric three-dimensional structure according to claim 7, wherein the rounded portion of the peripheral wing supporting a stretched fabric extends over at least a quarter of a circle with a radius equal to the depth of the recesses.

9. The ribband for a stretched fabric three-dimensional structure according to claim 8, wherein the rounded portion of the peripheral wing supporting a stretched fabric extends over at least a quarter of a circle with a radius equal to the depth of the recesses.

10. The ribband for a stretched fabric three-dimensional structure according to claim 10, wherein the peripheral wing opposite the wing supporting a stretched fabric comprises a notch for receiving at least one light source.

11. The ribband for a stretched fabric three-dimensional structure according to claim 10, wherein the receiving notch is complementary in shape to at least a side portion of the light source such that the light source cross-sectionally follows the contour of the ribband.

12. The ribband for a stretched fabric three-dimensional structure according to claim 11, wherein the light source is formed of light-emitting diodes incorporated in the ribband.

13. The ribband for a stretched fabric three-dimensional structure according to claim 12, wherein the adjacent recesses and the notch are arranged in planes parallel to one another.

14. The ribband for a stretched fabric three-dimensional structure according to claim 13, wherein the recesses comprise shoulders for retaining the fastening elements of the stretched fabrics, wherein said shoulders are on the outside side walls of the recesses and/or on each side of the tongue.

15. Illuminated three-dimensional structure comprising at least one profile consisting of illuminated ribbands according to claim 1, butt-joined and covered with stretched fabrics.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Further objectives and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description made in reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

[0032] FIG. 1 illustrates a sectional view of a first exemplary embodiment of a tubular ribband according to the invention for a three-dimensional structure;

[0033] FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view of the tubular ribband in FIG. 1 on which two stretched fabrics are hung;

[0034] FIG. 3 illustrates a sectional view of a second exemplary embodiment of a tubular ribband according to the invention for a three-dimensional structure;

[0035] FIG. 4 illustrates a sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of a tubular ribband according to the invention for a three-dimensional structure.

[0036] For greater clarity, identical or similar features are identified by identical reference signs in all the figures referring to the same embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] The ribbands illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 are designed to form profiles for three-dimensional, particularly ornamental, structures, on which stretched fabrics are placed.

[0038] FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of an illuminated ribband with a substantially circular cross-section (1).

[0039] FIG. 2 illustrates an illuminated ribband of this first embodiment with a substantially circular cross-section (1) on which two stretched fabrics (2, 3) are hung.

[0040] The illuminated ribband (1) of this first embodiment has a substantially circular cross-section. The ribband (1) comprises two adjacent recesses (4, 5) identical in dimensions separated by a tongue (6). These recesses are of the same depth and width. They each comprise a bottom, an inner side wall forming a side of the tongue (6) and an outer side wall.

[0041] These recesses (4, 5) are laterally symmetrical in relation to the tongue (6). The outer side walls of the recesses (4, 5) comprise shoulders oriented towards the cavity of the recess (7, 8). These shoulders (7, 8) are arranged opposite shoulders (9, 10) positioned on each side of the tongue (6). These shoulders (7, 8, 9, 10) form stops for retaining fastening elements (11, 12) of the stretched fabrics (2, 3) on the three-dimensional structure as shown in FIG. 2.

[0042] Since the ribband is constructed with a substantially circular cross-section, the outer side walls of the recesses (4, 5) form peripheral wings (13, 14) for the ribband, the outer surface of which is curved and follows a circle with a radius substantially equal to the height of the tongue and thereby that of the recesses. The junction (15) between the upper end of the outer side wall of the recess and the external surface of the wing is rounded so as not to damage the stretched fabric attached in the recess. One of the peripheral wings (13) extends over ¾ of a circle with a radius equal to the depth of the recesses (4). This wing (13) serves as a support for a stretched fabric (3) and imparts a rounded shape to the stretched fabric.

[0043] The illuminated tubular ribband (1) according to the invention comprises a notch (16) in which light-emitting diodes are incorporated. This notch (16) is cut out I the peripheral wing (14) opposite the supporting wing (13) of the fabric.

[0044] The notch (16) forms a right angle towards the inside of the ribband. The right angle of the notch preferably consists of a small edge (16a) and a large edge (16b), wherein the large edge (16b) is parallel to the walls of the recesses (4, 5) and the sides of the tongues (6). The large edge (16b) is of a height substantially identical to the depth of the recesses (4, 5). The notch receives the power supply system of the diodes in addition to the light-emitting diodes.

[0045] The ribband furthermore comprises a cavity (17) underlying the recesses (4, 5), wherein said cavity (17), in the embodiment presented, is parallelepipedal. The ribbands according to the invention are butt-joined to form a profile by being threaded through the cavity (17) on a guide (not illustrated) in order to form a part of the framework of the three-dimensional structure.

[0046] FIG. 2 illustrates a tubular ribband according to the invention on which two stretched fabrics (2, 3) are hung. The first stretched fabric (2) is hung by means of a hook (12) in a first recess (5) and forms a surface of the three-dimensional structure. The second stretched fabric (3) is hung by means of a hook (11) in a second recess (4), adjacent to the first recess (5) and forms the other surface of the three-dimensional structure. This stretched fabric (3) is arranged around the ribband at approx. 180° such that the stretched fabrics (2, 3) completely conceal the ribband (1). The two stretched fabrics (2, 3) delimit a gap between the latter into which the light of the light-emitting diodes incorporated in the notch (13) of the ribband diffuses. The above example is non-restrictive and the gap between the fabrics may vary according to the final three-dimensional structure. The second fabric therefore more or less wraps around the ribband.

[0047] The FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the invention. The illuminated ribband (18) of this second embodiment has a substantially circular cross-section. The ribband (18) comprises two adjacent recesses (19, 20) identical in dimensions separated by a tongue (21), wherein these recesses are of the same depth and width. They each comprise a bottom (22), an inner side wall (23) forming a side of the tongue and an outer side wall (24). These recesses (19, 20) are laterally symmetrical in relation to the tongue (21). The outer side walls (24) of the recesses (20) comprise shoulders oriented towards the cavity of the recess (25). These shoulders (25) are arranged opposite shoulders (26) positioned on each side of the tongue (21). These shoulders (25, 26) form stops for retaining fastening elements of the stretched fabrics on the three-dimensional structure.

[0048] Since the ribband (18) is constructed with a substantially circular cross-section, the outer side walls of the recesses (24) form peripheral wings (27, 28) for the ribband, the outer surface of which is curved and follows a circle with a radius substantially equal to the height of the tongue and thereby that of the recesses. The junction (29) between the upper end of the outer side wall (24) of the recess and the external surface of the wing is rounded so as not to damage the stretched fabric attached in the recess. In this second embodiment, the peripheral wings (27, 28) are symmetrical in relation to the tongue and define a notch (30). The notch (30) comprises a bottom (31) parallel to the bottom (22) of the recesses (19, 20) and two side walls (32, 33). The bottom (31) of the notch (30) is furthermore of a length equal to the distance separating the outer side walls between the two recesses (19, 20). The side walls (33) of the notch (30) are in the same plane as the outer side walls (24) of the recesses (20). Each wing therefore extends in a circular arc from the junction (29) between the upper end of the outer side wall (24) of the recess to the bottom end of the side wall (32, 33) of the notch.

[0049] The notch (30) is designed to receive the light source characterised by light-emitting diodes with their power supply system. The notch (30) is also capable of cooperating with the framework of the three-dimensional structure. The ribband also comprises means of attaching the ribband to the framework of the three-dimensional structure.

[0050] FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of an illuminated ribband according to the invention.

[0051] Like the ribbands of the embodiments described above, the illuminated ribband (40) of this third embodiment has a substantially circular cross-section and comprises two adjacent recesses (41, 42), advantageously of the same dimensions, separated by a tongue (43). The recesses (41, 42), of same depth and width, each comprise a bottom (44), an inner side wall (45) forming a side of the tongue and an outer side wall (46). The recesses (41, 42) are laterally symmetrical in relation to the tongue (43). The outer side walls (46) of the recesses (41, 42) comprise shoulders (47) oriented towards the inside of the associated recess. These shoulders (47) are arranged opposite shoulders (48) positioned on each side of the tongue (43). These shoulders (47, 48) form stops for retaining fastening elements of the stretched fabrics on the three-dimensional structure.

[0052] Since the ribband (40) is constructed with a substantially circular cross-section, the outer side walls of the recesses (41, 42) form peripheral wings (49, 50) for the ribband, the peripheral surface (outer surface) of which is curved. The junction between the upper end of the outer side wall of the recess and the external surface of the wing is rounded so as not to damage the stretched fabric attached in the recess.

[0053] In this embodiment, the ribband (40) comprises, on its peripheral surface, three advantageously straight notches (51, 52, 53), capable of receiving light-emitting diodes and an associated power supply system.

[0054] More specifically, one of the notches (51) is situated diametrally opposite the recesses (41, 42). This notch (51), similar to the notch (30) of the ribband (18) of the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, comprises a bottom (510) parallel to the bottom (44) of the recesses (41, 42) and two side walls (511, 512). Advantageously, the bottom (510) of the notch (51) has a width substantially equal to the distance between the outer side walls (46) of the two recesses (41, 42), whereas the side walls (511, 512) of the notch (51) extend in the same plane as the outer side walls (46) of the recesses (41, 42).

[0055] The other two notches (52, 53) are situated on either side of the notch (51). Advantageously, the notches (52, 53) are situated equidistantly from the notch (51) and are arranged diametrically opposite each other. They thus have openings opposite each other, respectively extending in planes substantially perpendicular to that in which the opening of the notch (51) extends. The notches (52, 53) each comprise a bottom (520, 530) and two side walls (521, 522, 531 and 532) parallel to the bottom (51) of the notch (51). The bottoms of each of the notches (52, 53) extend parallel to each other and perpendicularly to the bottom (510) of the notch (51).

[0056] Advantageously, the ribband (40) comprises a longitudinal cavity (54), with a substantially rectangular cross-section, interposed between the recesses (41, 42) and the notch (51) positioned opposite the recesses. The cavity (54) extends over the entire length of the ribband (40). The cavity (54) has the same function as the cavity (17) of the ribband (1) of the first embodiment.

[0057] The invention also relates to an illuminated three-dimensional structure comprising at least one profile consisting of ribbands according to the invention, said ribbands being butt-joined. Stretched fabrics are hung on the ribbands butt-joined in profiles in order to form the illuminated stretched fabric three-dimensional structure. This three-dimensional structure may be a false ceiling, a false wall, a luminaire, a fancy shape, a decorative element or any other three-dimensional illuminated object.

[0058] The invention is of course not limited to the exemplary embodiments illustrated above.