Luminous element holder, connection piece and system including a luminous element holder and a connection piece

Abstract

A luminous element holder for fastening to at least one body, includes a slot-like interior chamber, wherein, by means of at least one web protruding laterally into the interior chamber, the interior chamber is divided into a slot-like insertion chamber for receiving the at least one body and a receiving chamber, openly adjoining the insertion chamber, for at least one luminous element.

Claims

1. A connection piece for fastening to a luminous element holder for fastening to at least one body, the luminous element holder comprising: a slotted interior chamber, wherein, by means of at least one web protruding laterally into the interior chamber, the interior chamber is divided into a slotted insertion chamber for receiving the at least one body, and a receiving chamber, openly adjoining the insertion chamber, for at least one luminous element, the luminous element comprising: a semiconductor light strip accommodated in the receiving chamber, a first connection element at each end of the semiconductor light strip configured to be contacted through the ends of the luminous element holder, the luminous element holder having a through-hole protruding through the luminous element holder to the receiving chamber, where the through-hole comprises two holes laterally through the walls of the receiving chamber, and where said holes are the same distance from the end of the longitudinal end of the luminous element holder and are of the same height wherein on at least one terminal connection side, the connection piece can be mounted onto an end of the luminous element holder, the connection piece has on each connection side two spaced-apart insertion projections, the insertion projections respectively having at least one through-hole such that when mounted the at least one through-hole of the insertion projections align with the through-hole of the luminous element holder, and the connection piece has between the insertion projections a second electrical connection element, the second connection element comprising: a first side having a connector in the form of a plug or a socket configured to detachably mate with the first connection element; and a second side configured as a lead-through connection.

2. The connection piece as claimed in claim 1, the connection piece having just one connection side and having the lead through connection on an end face opposite from the connection side.

3. The connection piece as claimed in claim 1, the connection piece being a connector, which has at least two connection sides.

4. The connection piece as claimed in claim 3, the connector being a linear intermediate connector, the connection sides of which are arranged facing away from one another and linearly in relation to one another.

5. The connection piece as claimed in claim 3, the connector being a corner connector, the connection sides of which are arranged facing away from one another and at right angles in relation to one another.

6. The connection piece as claimed in claim 1, where said receiving chamber is mirror-coated.

7. The connection piece as claimed in claim 1, where said through-hole is threaded.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following figures, the invention is schematically described more precisely on the basis of an exemplary embodiment. For the sake of clarity, elements that are the same or act in the same way may be provided with the same designations.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a luminous element holder according to the disclosed embodiment in profile;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the luminous element holder according to the disclosed embodiment in profile, with a luminous element accommodated therein and a body fastened thereto;

(4) FIG. 3 shows the luminous element holder according to the disclosed embodiment in an oblique view as a wire drawing;

(5) FIG. 4 shows the luminous element holder according to the disclosed embodiment in an oblique view, with the luminous element and three connection pieces according to the disclosed embodiment as provided by a first, a second and a third embodiment;

(6) FIG. 5 shows the connection piece according to the disclosed embodiment as provided by the first embodiment in an oblique view;

(7) FIG. 6 shows the connection piece according to the disclosed embodiment as provided by the first embodiment in an oblique view mounted on the luminous element holder according to the invention shown in the form of a detail, for insertion in a longitudinal end of the same;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a detail taken from the luminous element holder according to the disclosed embodiment in an oblique view, in a region of a longitudinal end with the connection piece according to the invention as provided by the first embodiment inserted therein;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a detail taken from the luminous element holder according to the disclosed embodiment in an oblique view, in a region of one of its longitudinal ends with the connection piece according to the disclosed embodiment as provided by the second embodiment;

(10) FIG. 9 shows the connection piece according to the disclosed embodiment as provided by the second embodiment in an oblique view as a wire drawing;

(11) FIG. 10 shows a detail taken from the luminous element holder according to the disclosed embodiment in an oblique view, in a region of one of its longitudinal ends with the connection piece according to the disclosed embodiment as provided by the third embodiment;

(12) FIG. 11A shows the connection piece according to the disclosed embodiment as provided by the third embodiment in a side view;

(13) FIG. 11B shows the connection piece according to the disclosed embodiment as provided by the third embodiment in a view from outside toward an end face;

(14) FIG. 11C shows the connection piece according to the disclosed embodiment as provided by the third embodiment in a plan view; and

(15) FIG. 11D shows the connection piece according to the disclosed embodiment as provided by the third embodiment in an oblique view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(16) The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings that show, by way of illustration, specific details and embodiments in which the invention may be practiced.

(17) FIG. 1 shows a luminous element holder 1 in profile, for fastening to a body. FIG. 2 shows the luminous element holder 1 in profile, with a luminous element accommodated therein in the form of an LED light strip 2 and the body fastened thereto in the form of an acrylic glass sheet 3. FIG. 3 shows the luminous element holder 1 in an oblique view as a wire drawing. FIG. 4 shows the luminous element holder 1 in an oblique view, with the LED light strip 2 and three connection pieces according the invention as provided by a first, a second and a third embodiment, to be specific an intermediate connector A1, a terminating piece A2 and a corner connector A3.

(18) The luminous element holder 1 is in the form of a U-shaped profile. The luminous element holder 1 has a slot-like interior chamber 4. By means of at least one web 5 protruding laterally from an associated side wall 27 into the interior chamber 4, the interior chamber 4 is divided on both sides into an insertion chamber 6 that is open on one side, for receiving the acrylic glass sheet 3, and a receiving chamber 7 that openly adjoins the insertion chamber 6, for receiving the LED light strip 2. The side walls 27 correspond to the legs of the “U”.

(19) The luminous element holder 1 has a through-hole 8 in the form of a threaded hole on both sides or in each of the side walls in a region of its two longitudinal ends 11 (but at a distance from the respective end 11), in each case laterally level with the receiving chamber 7. The through-holes 8 lie at the same height.

(20) The luminous element holder 1 also has on one side, or in one of the side walls 27, threaded holes 9, here by way of example three, which are level with the insertion chamber 6 and through which a screw, for example a threaded pin, may be screwed, in order to fix the acrylic glass sheet 3.

(21) As shown in FIG. 2, the LED light strip 2 is accommodated in the receiving chamber 7, the semiconductor light strip 2 respectively having at its longitudinal ends an electrical connection element 10, which may be contacted through the ends 11 of the luminous element holder 1. The LED light strip 2 generally has a straight strip-like, possibly flexible, printed circuit board 12, the upper side 14 of which is provided with the connection elements 10 and multiple light-emitting diodes 13 arranged equidistantly therebetween in series.

(22) In this case, the LED light strip 2 is attached with its rear side 15 to a base of the receiving chamber 7 (the cross portion of the “U”), and consequently is accommodated in the receiving chamber 7 such that a predominant component of a light that can be radiated by the LED light strip 2 falls directly through a slot-like opening 16 between the receiving chamber 7 and the insertion region 6. The light-emitting diodes 13 are in this case directed with their optical axis or principal radiating direction straight at the opening 16.

(23) As can be seen in particular from FIG. 2, a stop for the acrylic glass sheet 3, which precisely sets a distance from the light-emitting diodes 13, may be created by the webs 5. The light-emitting diodes 13 mainly emit light directly into the acrylic glass sheet 3, so that a very good lighting effect is obtained. For further improvement of a coupling of light into the acrylic glass sheet 3, the receiving chamber 7 may be mirror-coated.

(24) Apart from the luminous element holder 1 and the LED light strip 2, FIG. 4 also shows three connection pieces that can be coupled with an end 11 of the luminous element holder 1, in particular can be inserted there, first, second and third connection pieces A1, A2 and A3.

(25) As shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the first connection piece is formed as an intermediate connector A1, in order to connect two luminous element holders 1 linearly to one another mechanically and electrically.

(26) The intermediate connector A1 has a slot-like insertion chamber 17, the base 18 of which lies approximately level in height with the webs 5 of the neighboring luminous element holder 1, and the upper edges 19 of which finish approximately level in height with the luminous element holder 1.

(27) The intermediate connector A1 has two terminal connection sides 20 facing away from one another, which can respectively be mounted on an end 11 of a respective luminous element holder 1. In a state in which it is mounted on one side, as shown, a practically combined insertion chamber for receiving the acrylic glass plate 3 or some other suitable body can be formed by the insertion chambers 6, 17.

(28) Each of the identically designed connection sides 20 has two spaced-apart insertion projections 21 extending in a longitudinal direction or projecting horizontally, the insertion projections 21 respectively having at least one through-hole in the form of a threaded hole 22. The intermediate connector A1 also has between the insertion projections 21 an electrical connection element 23, aligned in the same direction, for example a plug or a socket. The connection elements 23 of the two connection sides 20 are electrically led through, and thus connected to one another.

(29) The intermediate connector A1 has been inserted here with a connection side 20 into the end 11 of the luminous element holder 1 such that the insertion projections 21 have been pushed tightly into the receiving chamber 7, and the threaded holes 22 of the insertion projections 21 and the through-holes 8 of the luminous element holder 1 thereby coincide and may be fixed to one another by a common fastening element, for example a screw.

(30) This allows the intermediate connector A1 to be mechanically connected to the luminous element holder 1 securely and precisely.

(31) For the electrical contacting, the electrical connection element 23 has then been fitted onto the matching connection element 10 of the LED light strip 2.

(32) FIG. 8 shows the terminating piece A2 more precisely, in a state in which it has been inserted into a luminous element holder 1. FIG. 9 shows the terminating piece A2 in an oblique view as a wire drawing. The connection side 20 inserted in the luminous element holder 1 corresponds to one of the connection sides 20 of the intermediate connector A1. The end face opposite therefrom, in the form of a terminating side 28, has a lead-through 25 for the electrical connection element 23, for example for the connection to an electrical power supply (not illustrated).

(33) FIG. 10 shows the corner connector A3 more precisely, in a state in which it has been inserted into a luminous element holder 1. FIGS. 11A to 11D show the corner connector A3 in various views. The two connection sides 20, one of which is adjacent the luminous element holder 1 or inserted therein, are identically designed and arranged facing away from one another and at right angles in relation to one another. This allows two luminous element holders 1 arranged at right angles in relation to one another to be mechanically and electrically connected to one another. For the insertion of the acrylic glass sheet 3, there is a rectangularly slot-like insertion chamber 24.

(34) On an outer end face 26, which does not correspond to either of the two connection sides 20, the corner connector A3 has a lead-through 25 for the connection of an electrical power supply. The lead-through 25 allows an electrical connection to the electrical connection elements 23, for example for supplying them.

(35) It goes without saying that the present invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiment shown.

(36) For instance, the body is not restricted to acrylic glass, but may for example consist of any suitable plastic, glass, ceramic, etc. The body also need not be in the form of a plate or sheet, but need only have a region that can be fitted into the insertion chamber and can be blocked by the at least one web, for example such a peripheral region.

(37) While various embodiments have been particularly shown and described with reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of various embodiments as defined by the appended claims. The scope of various embodiments is thus indicated by the appended claims and all changes which came within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

(38) 1 luminous element holder 2 LED light strip 3 acrylic glass sheet 4 interior chamber 5 web 6 insertion chamber 7 receiving chamber 8 through-hole 9 threaded hole 10 electrical connection element 11 longitudinal end 12 printed circuit board 13 light-emitting diode 14 upper side 15 rear side 16 opening 17 insertion chamber 18 base 19 upper edge 20 connection side 21 insertion projection 22 threaded hole 23 electrical connection element 24 insertion chamber 25 lead-through 26 end face 27 side wall 28 terminating side A1 intermediate connector A2 terminating piece A3 corner connector