ADAPTER FOR ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING A LIGHTING DEVICE TO AN ELECTRICAL TRACK, LIGHTING SYSTEM COMPRISING SUCH AN ADAPTER AND AN ELECTRICAL TRACK
20220268409 · 2022-08-25
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
F21V23/06
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
H01R29/00
ELECTRICITY
F21V21/005
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21S8/066
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21V21/35
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
F21S8/06
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21V21/005
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21V23/06
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Abstract
The present invention relates to an adapter (1) for connecting a light to a track having mains phases and comprising a housing (2), at least one spring-loaded connector (6.1) linked to the housing (2), and a cover (4) partially covering the housing (2) and having at least one opening (8.1). The cover (4) is displaceable so as to be placed selectively in one of: a position in which the at least one spring-loaded connector (6.1) extends at least partially through the at least one opening (8.1), a position in which the cover (4) covers the at least one spring-loaded connector (6.1).
Claims
1. An adapter (1), for electrically connecting a lighting device (12) to an electrical track (102) having mains phases (L1, L2, L3), the adapter (1) comprising at least: a housing (2), at least one spring-loaded connector (6.1) linked to the housing (2), and a cover (4) configured to partially cover the housing (2), the cover (4) having at least one opening (8.1), wherein the cover (4) is displaceable relative to the housing (2) so as to be placed selectively in at least one of: a position in which the at least one spring-loaded connector (6.1) extends at least partially through the at least one opening (8.1), a position in which the cover (4) covers the at least one spring-loaded connector (6.1).
2. The adapter (1) according to claim 1, comprising at least: a first spring-loaded connector (6.1) linked to the housing (2), and a second spring-loaded connector (6.2) linked to the housing (2), wherein the cover (4) has at least two openings (8.1-8.2), wherein the cover (4) is displaceable relative to the housing (2) so as to be placed selectively at least in one of: a first connection position, in which the first spring-loaded connector (6.1) extends at least partially through a respective opening (8.1) while the cover (4) covers the second spring-loaded connector (6.2), and a second connection position, in which the second spring-loaded connector (6.2) extends at least partially through a respective opening (8.2) while the cover (4) covers the first spring-loaded connector (6.1).
3. The adapter (1) according to claim 2, further comprising a third spring-loaded connector (6.3) linked to the housing (2), wherein the cover (4) is displaceable relative to the housing (2) so as to be placed selectively in at least one of: a first connection position, in which the first spring-loaded connector (6.1) extends at least partially through a respective opening (8.1) while the cover (4) covers the second and third spring-loaded connectors (6.2, 6.3), a second connection position, in which the second spring-loaded connector (6.2) extends at least partially through a respective opening (8.2) while the cover (4) covers the first and third spring-loaded connectors (6.1, 6.3), and a third connection position, in which the third spring-loaded connector (6.3) extends at least partially through a respective opening (8.3) while the cover (4) covers the first and second spring-loaded connectors (6.1, 6.2).
4. The adapter (1) according to claim 3, wherein the at least two openings include at least a first opening (8.1) and a second opening (8.2) and a third opening (8.3), the first and the second and the third openings (8.1, 8.2) being arranged on the cover (4) such that: in the first connection position, the first spring-loaded connector (6.1) extends at least partially through the first opening (8.1), in the second connection position, the second spring-loaded connector (6.2) extends at least partially through the second opening (8.2), and in the third connection position, the third spring-loaded connector (6.3) extends at least partially through the third opening (8.3) while the cover (4) covers the first and second spring-loaded connectors (6.1, 6.2).
5. The adapter (1) according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the first, the second and, when present, a third spring-loaded connectors (6.1) is linked to a first lateral region of the housing (2), the remaining spring-loaded connectors (6.2, 6.3) being linked to a second lateral region of the housing (2) located opposite the first lateral region of the housing (2), the cover (4) being configured to partially cover the first and second lateral regions of the housing (2).
6. The adapter (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cover (4) is displaceable relative to the housing (2) so as to be placed selectively in a disconnection position, in which the cover (4) covers the at least one spring-loaded connector, including, when respectively present, the first, the second and the third spring-loaded connectors (6.1, 6.2, 6.3).
7. The adapter (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cover (4) is displaceable relative to the housing (2) in translation at least between said two positions.
8. The adapter (1) according to claim 3, further comprising an additional spring-loaded connector (6.4) and an additional opening (8.4), the additional spring-loaded connector (6.4) being linked to the housing (2), wherein the additional spring-loaded connector (6.4) extends at least partially through the additional opening (8.4) at least when the at least one spring-loaded connector partially extends through the at least one opening; wherein the additional spring-loaded connector (6.4) extends at least partially through the additional opening (8.4) at least when any one of the first, the second and the third spring-loaded connectors (6.1, 6.2, 6.3) partially extends through a respective opening.
9. The adapter (1) according to claim 1, wherein the housing (2) is elongated along a longitudinal direction (X2), the housing (2) having a substantially tubular or prismatic shape extending along the longitudinal direction (X2).
10. The adapter (1) according to claim 1, wherein the adapter (1) further includes a support part (3) configured to support at least one lighting device (12), the support part (3) being integral with the housing (2.
11. The adapter (1) according to claim 1, wherein the housing (2) includes a control circuit for controlling power supply to the lighting device (12).
12. The adapter (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cover (4) is removably linked to the housing (2), the housing (2) preferably having a guide portion (2.4) configured to guide the displacement of the cover (4) when the cover (4) is linked to the housing (2).
13. The adapter (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cover (4) substantially has a symmetrical shape.
14. The adapter (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cover (4) substantially has an asymmetrical shape, the cover (4) preferably having a flange (10) projecting away from the housing (2) when the cover (4) partially covers the housing (2).
15. The lighting system comprising an electrical track (102) having mains phases (L1, L2, L3) and at least one adapter (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one adapter (1) has an engaging element configured to engage the electrical track (102) so as to attach the at least one adapter (1) to the electrical track (102); and wherein the electrical track (102) defines a chamber (104) for receiving the at least one adapter (1), the at least one adapter (1) being at least partially inserted into the chamber (104).
16. The lighting system according to claim 15, wherein the at least one adapter (1) is according to claim 14, and wherein the electrical track (102) has a shape complementary to the asymmetrical shape of the cover (4), the electrical track (102) having a recess region (102.10) that has a shape complementary to the flange (10) of the cover (4).
17. The adapter (1) according to claim 7, wherein said translation at least between said two positions is between the first, the second and the third connection positions.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0077] The above-described embodiments and implementations of the present invention will be further explained in the following description of specific implementations in relation to the appended drawings, in which:
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0091]
[0092] The adapter 1 comprises a housing 2 and a cover 4 configured to partially cover the housing 2 when the cover 4 is arranged on the housing 2.
[0093] As visible in
[0094] The adapter 1 may further include a support part 3, which is configured to support the not shown lighting device. The support part 3 may be integral, preferably one-piece, with the housing 2. The support part 3 may be arranged in an end region of the housing 2 that is located opposite the cover 4 with respect to the housing 2. The housing 2 may include a not shown control circuit, for example an AC/DC driver, for controlling power supply to the lighting device. The housing 2 may be hollow so as to house the control circuit.
[0095] The cover 4 may substantially have the shape of a U. The three wings of the U may be arranged in contact with complementary planar surfaces of the housing 2 as visible in
[0096] The adapter 1 further comprises a first spring-loaded connector 6.1, a second spring-loaded connector 6.2, and a third spring-loaded connector 6.3. Only the location of the third spring-loaded connector 6.3 is schematically illustrated in
[0097] The first, the second, the third and/or the additional spring-loaded connectors 6.1 to 6.4 may be soldered directly on a not shown printed circuit board (PCB) of the control circuit, for example of an AC/DC driver, that is housed in the housing 2.
[0098] The first and the additional spring-loaded connectors 6.1 and 6.4 may be linked to a first lateral region of the housing 2 (on the right side of
[0099] As illustrated in
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[0104] The first to third and the additional spring-loaded connectors 6.1 to 6.4 may be elastically movable between a retracted position (not shown) and an extended position (shown in FIGs.1 to 3 and 6). Each one of the first to third and the additional spring-loaded connectors 6.1 to 6.4 may be i) in its retracted position when it is covered by the cover 2, and ii) in its extended position when it extends through and, in the illustrated implementation, out of a respective one of the first to third and the additional openings 8.1 to 8.4. In the extended position, the respective spring-loaded connector 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 or 6.4 may contact one of the three mains phases L1, L2, L3 or the neutral wire N. For example, the first to third and the additional spring-loaded connectors 6.1 to 6.4 may include a spring or equivalent elastically deformable element and it may be made of or include stainless Steel, spring brass, phosphor bronze or beryllium copper.
[0105] The cover 4 is displaceable relative to the housing 2 so as to be placed selectively in one of the first, second, third connection positions (
[0106] In the example of
[0107] The housing 2 may have a guide portion 2.4, which is configured to guide the displacement of the cover 4 when the cover 4 is linked to the housing 2 as in the configurations of
[0108] The cover 4 may be removably linked to the housing 2. In other words, the housing 2 and the cover 4 may be detached from one another as visible in both
[0109] The cover 4 may substantially have a symmetrical shape as visible in
[0110] In service, an operator may manually displace the cover 4 in order to place it into the selected position, namely either the first, second or third connection position of
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[0112] The cover 4 of
[0113] The cover 4 of
[0114] In the examples of
[0115] As visible on
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[0117] The adapter 1 of
[0118] In particular, the cover 4 of
[0119] Besides, there are similarities between the implementations of
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[0121] Besides, the adapter 1 may have a not shown engaging element that is configured to engage the electrical track 102 so as to attach the adapter 1 to the electrical track 102. The engaging element may for example effect a snap-fit attachment of the adapter 1 to the electrical track 102.
[0122] The electrical track 102 may be made of an electrically insulating material. The electrical track 102 may separately hold three mains phases represented herein by electrically conducting wires or lines L1, L2 and L3, which are independently connected to the respective mains phases and which are symbolized in
[0123] Besides, the electrical track 102 may define a chamber 104 for receiving the adapter 1. The adapter 1 may be completely inserted into the chamber 104 as visible in
[0124] In the example of
[0125] The electrical track 102 and the cover 4 may be designed such that an outer face 102.1 of the electrical track 102 is flush with an outer face 4.1 of the cover 4 when the adapter 1 is inserted in the chamber 104.
[0126] In service, before inserting the housing 2 into the electrical track 102, the cover 4 has to be placed in the disconnection position (“OFF”), in which the cover 4 covers and blocks all spring-loaded connectors 6.1 to 6.4 from contacting any conductor in the electrified track 102. After insertion of the adapter 1 in the electrical track 102, the cover 4 may be displaced in one of the first to third connection positions.
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[0131] In this configuration, the oppositely-oriented flange 10 prevents the modified adapter from being inserted in the electrical track. In other words, the rotated cover 4 ensures that the right mains phase remains selected when the modified adapter 1 will be reinserted in the electrical track.
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[0133] Each adapter 1 of
[0134] In a lighting system including at least two adapters 1, the distance between two successive lighting devices 12, for example two luminaire heads, is defined by the length of an adapter 1. This distance may be minimal in the configuration of
[0135] In a non-illustrated implementation, an adapter for electrically connecting a lighting device to an electrical track having mains phases may comprise: [0136] housing, [0137] one spring-loaded connector, for example similar to the first spring-loaded connector 6.1, that may be linked to the housing, instead of the spring-loaded connectors 6.1 to 6.4, and [0138] a cover configured to partially cover the housing, the cover having one opening, for example similar to the first opening 8.1, instead of the openings 8.1 to 8.4.
[0139] The cover may be displaceable relative to the housing so as to be placed selectively in at least one of: [0140] a position in which the spring-loaded connector extends at least partially through the opening; this position being for example similar to the position of
[0142] In another non-illustrated implementation, an adapter for electrically connecting a lighting device to an electrical track having mains phases may comprise two spring-loaded connectors, i.e.: [0143] a first spring-loaded connector linked to the housing, for example similar to the first spring-loaded connector 6.1, and [0144] a second spring-loaded connector linked to the housing for example similar to the second spring-loaded connector 6.2.
[0145] The cover may have two openings, for example respectively similar to the first opening 8.1 and to the second opening 8.2. The cover may be displaceable relative to the housing so as to be placed selectively at least in one of: [0146] a first connection position, in which the first spring-loaded connector extends at least partially through a respective opening while the cover covers the second spring-loaded connector, for connecting the adapter to a mains phase or to the neutral and [0147] a second connection position, in which the second spring-loaded connector extends at least partially through a respective opening while the cover covers the first spring-loaded connector, for connecting the adapter to another mains phase or to the neutral.
[0148] The cover may further be displaceable relative to the housing so as to be placed in a disconnection position, similar to the position of
[0149] In a variant to the preceding non-illustrated implementation, the adapter may further comprise an additional spring-loaded connector, for example similar to the additional spring-loaded connector 6.4, and the cover may have an additional opening, for example similar to the additional opening 8.4.
[0150] In yet another non-illustrated implementation, an adapter for electrically connecting a lighting device to an electrical track having mains phases may be similar to the adapter 1 illustrated in
[0151] Preferably, the additional spring-loaded connector is arranged in a median, top position of the housing, and the electrical track is symmetrical, such that the additional spring-loaded connector may still contact a correspondingly arranged neutral wire after a rotation of 180 degrees of the housing with respect to the electrical track.
[0152] The present invention has been described in conjunction with various implementations, embodiments and aspects as non-limiting examples. However, other variations can be understood and effected by persons skilled in the art practicing the claimed invention, from the studies of this disclosure, the drawings and the claims. In the claims as well as in the description the word “comprising” or “including” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single element or other unit may fulfill the functions of several entities or items recited in the claims.