Luminaire closing construction based on LED assembly tightening

Abstract

The invention provides a luminaire (200) comprising a hollow light transmissive body (210), an LED assembly (100) comprised by the hollow light transmissive body (210), and a first end cap (220) closing the hollow light transmissive body (210) at a first end (211) of the hollow light transmissive body (210) and functionally coupled to the hollow light transmissive body (210); wherein (i) the LED assembly (100) is functionally coupled to a connector part (132); (ii) the first end cap (220) is functionally coupled to a complementary connector part (222), complementary to the connector part (132); and (iii) the LED assembly (100) and the first end cap (220) are associated with each other through the connector parts (132, 222), while allowing a translational movement of the LED assembly (100) along a longitudinal axis (115) relative to the hollow light transmissive body (210).

Claims

1. A luminaire comprising a hollow light transmissive body, an LED assembly comprised by the hollow light transmissive body, and a first end cap closing the hollow light transmissive body at a first end of the hollow light transmissive body and functionally coupled to the hollow light transmissive body; wherein the LED assembly is functionally coupled to a connector part; the first end cap is functionally coupled to a complementary connector part, complementary to the connector part; and the LED assembly and the first end cap are associated with each other through the connector parts, while allowing a translational movement of the LED assembly along a longitudinal axis relative to the hollow light transmissive body, wherein the luminaire comprises a resilient element arranged for forcing the LED assembly and the first end cap in a direction to each other, and wherein the resilient element is coupled to the LED assembly and to the connector part, and wherein the connector part is arranged translationally movable relative to the LED assembly; wherein the resilient element comprises a spring element, wherein the connector part comprises a screw thread, wherein the complementary connector part comprises a complementary screw thread, complementary to the screw thread of the connector part, wherein an axis of the screw thread is configured parallel to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the translational movement of the LED assembly along the longitudinal axis relative to the hollow light transmissive body is based on a difference in thermal expansion between the LED assembly and the hollow light transmissive body.

2. The luminaire according to claim 1, wherein the resilient element is coupled to the first end cap and to the complementary connector part, and wherein the complementary connector part is arranged translationally movable relative to the first end cap.

3. A luminaire comprising a hollow light transmissive body, an LED assembly comprised by the hollow light transmissive body, and a first end cap closing the hollow light transmissive body at a first end of the hollow light transmissive body and functionally coupled to the hollow light transmissive body; wherein the LED assembly is functionally coupled to a connector part; the first end cap is functionally coupled to a complementary connector part, complementary to the connector part; and the LED assembly and the first end cap are associated with each other through the connector parts, while allowing a translational movement of the LED assembly along a longitudinal axis relative to the hollow light transmissive body, wherein the luminaire comprises a resilient element arranged for forcing the LED assembly and the first end cap in a direction to each other, and wherein the resilient element is coupled to the LED assembly and to the connector part, and wherein the connector part is arranged translationally movable relative to the LED assembly; wherein the LED assembly comprises a support for a plurality of LEDs and a mounting clip, wherein the mounting clip is functionally coupled to the connector part, wherein the mounting clip further comprises a clip connector element, and wherein the support comprises a complementary clip connector element, complementary to the clip connector element, wherein the mounting clip and the support are connected to each other through the clip connector elements.

4. The luminaire according to claim 3, wherein the mounting clip is detachably connected to both the LED assembly and the first end cap.

5. The luminaire according to claim 3, wherein the clip connector elements provide an interference fit between the mounting clip and the support.

6. The luminaire according to claim 3, wherein the complementary clip connector element comprises an opening, and wherein the clip connector element comprises a protrusion configured for arranging in the opening.

7. The luminaire according to claim 3, wherein the mounting clip comprises a clip base part and a second clip part extending from the base part, wherein the base part comprises the clip connector element and the second clip part comprises a top protrusion, wherein the mounting clip is configured for holding the support between the clip base part and the top protrusion.

8. The luminaire according to claim 3, wherein the support comprises a printed circuit board comprising the LEDs.

9. The luminaire according to claim 1, wherein the luminaire is a luminaire according to the International Protection Marking IP65.

10. An LED assembly functionally coupled to a connector part, wherein the connector part is configured to connect to a complementary connector part; the LED assembly further comprises a resilient element, wherein the resilient element is coupled to the LED assembly and to the connector part and wherein the resilient element is configured to exert a permanent force in an axial direction along a longitudinal axis when the connector part is connected to the complementary connector part; and the connector part is arranged translationally movable relative to the LED assembly for allowing a translational movement of the LED assembly along the longitudinal axis and for functionally coupling the LED assembly and the connector part; wherein the LED assembly comprises a support for a plurality of LEDs and a mounting clip, wherein the mounting clip is functionally coupled to the connector part, wherein the mounting clip further comprises a clip connector element, and wherein the support comprises a complementary clip connector element, complementary to the clip connector element, wherein the mounting clip and the support are connected to each other through the clip connector elements.

11. A mounting clip for coupling to a support of an LED assembly, wherein the mounting clip comprises a clip connector element configured for connecting the mounting clip and the support to each other through the clip connector element; the mounting clip comprises a resilient element and a connector part, wherein the mounting clip is functionally coupled to the connector part and, wherein the resilient element is coupled to the mounting clip and to the connector part, and wherein the resilient element is configured to exert a permanent force in an axial direction along a longitudinal axis when the connector part is connected to a complementary connector part, and wherein the connector part is arranged translationally movable relative to the mounting clip; wherein the resilient element comprises a spring element, wherein the connector part comprises a screw thread, wherein the complementary connector part comprises a complementary screw thread, complementary to the screw thread of the connector part, wherein an axis of the screw thread is configured parallel to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the translational movement of the LED assembly along the longitudinal axis relative to the hollow light transmissive body is based on a difference in thermal expansion between the LED assembly and the hollow light transmissive body.

12. A method of assembling a luminaire as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising: providing (i) a hollow light transmissive body having an open first end, (ii) an LED assembly comprising a first end, wherein the first end is functional coupled to a connector part on a mounting clip, and (iii) a first end cap, wherein the first end cap comprises a complementary connector part, configured complementary to the connector part, wherein the LED assembly is comprised by the hollow light transmissive body; closing and functionally coupling the hollow light transmissive body at the first end with the first end cap, through the respective connector parts; and activating the functionally coupling by building up a permanent tensile force in an axial direction along a longitudinal axis of a resilient element coupled to the mounting clip and to the connector part.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts, and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 schematically depicts an embodiment of the devices according to the invention;

(3) FIGS. 2-3 schematically depicts some aspects of devices according to the invention,

(4) FIG. 4 schematically depicts aspects of the mounting clip according to the invention, and

(5) FIGS. 5 and 6 schematically depict some further aspects of the invention.

(6) The schematic drawings are not necessarily on scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(7) In FIG. 1, a part of the luminaire 200 according to the invention is depicted. The luminaire 200 comprises a hollow light transmissive body 210, an LED assembly 100 and a first end cap 220 closing the hollow light transmissive body 210 at the first end 211 of the hollow light transmissive body 210. The luminaire 200 may further comprise a second end cap 212 arranged at the second end 221 of the hollow body 210 as is schematically indicated by the arrows at the left hand side of the figure. The first end cap 220 and the hollow body 210 are coupled to each other via the LED assembly 100, especially via a mutually connector part coupling provided by the connector part 132 of the LED assembly 100 and the complementary connector part 222 of the first end cap 220 (i.e. complementary to the connector part 132 of the LED assembly 100). The first end cap 220 and the hollow body 210 are especially functionally coupled via the connector parts 132,222

(8) The LED assembly 100 comprises the connector part 132. The first end cap 220 comprises the complementary connector part 222. More specifically, in the embodiment the LED assembly 100 comprises a support 110 comprising plurality of LEDs 120. The LED assembly further comprises the mounting clip 130. The mounting clip 130 and the support 110 are connected to each other through the clip connector element 131 comprised by the mounting clip 130 and the (complementary) clip connector element 111 comprised by the support 110. The support 110 comprises a (complementary) clip connector element at the first end 118 and at the second end 199 of the support 110.

(9) The LED assembly 100 comprises a mounting part 112, that is especially configured for mounting the end cap 220 to the hollow body 210. The mounting part 112 comprises an end of the LED assembly 110. In the embodiment, the mounting part 112 comprises the mounting clip 130 comprising the connector part 132 (or being functionally coupled to the connector part 132). In further embodiments, see e.g. FIG. 2, the mounting part 112 does not comprise a mounting clip 130, and comprises the end of the LED assembly comprising the connector part 132 (or being functionally coupled to the connector part 132).

(10) FIG. 1 further depicts a coupling clip 140, coupling the support 110 with a further support 110. The coupling is provided by coupling of the clip connector 141 with the complementary clip connector element 111 of the supports 110. The clip connector 141 may thus be configured like the clip connector element 131. In specific embodiments, the coupling clip 140 comprises (and embodiment of) the mounting clip 130.

(11) FIGS. 2-3 schematically depict in more detail aspects of the translational movement and embodiments wherein the LED assembly 100 and the first end cap 220 are resiliently connected to each other. FIGS. 2A and 2B schematically depict the same embodiment. In FIG. 2B, the hollow body 210 is expanded to a larger extend than the LED assembly 100 relative to FIG. 2A. FIG. 2A may e.g. relate to a cold luminaire 200, whereas FIG. 2B may relate to the luminaire 200 in use (thus heated up). In the figure, the LED assembly 100 and the first end cap 220 are associated with each other through the connector parts 132, 222. The first end cap 220 comprises the complementary connector part 222, especially a bolt 224. The LED assembly 100 is functionally coupled to the connector part 132 via the connector part receiving element 136 comprised by (the mounting part 112 of) the LED assembly 110. The connector part receiving element 136 comprising a part of the connector part 132, especially a nut 134 comprising screw thread 133. The nut 134 may translate in the connector part receiving element 136 over the (predetermined) translation length lt. The connector part receiving element 136 is especially configured in the mounting part 112. As is shown in the figures, only part of the LED assembly 100 and the hollow body 200 may translate relatively to each other. Especially, the first end 118 of the support 110 (of the LED assembly 100) may have made a translational movement along the longitudinal axis 115 relative to (especially the first end 211 of) the hollow light transmissive body 210. Because the resilient element 150, in the embodiment a spring element 155, embodied by a leaf spring 156, is coupled to (the mounting part 112 of) the LED assembly 100 and to the connector part 132, and the connector element 132 being mobile in the receiving element 136, the difference in expansion results in a translation of the connector part 132 and bending of the leaf spring 156, especially thereby loading the spring with extra potential energy. The loaded spring 156, successively will provide a force upon the end cap 220 in a direction of the support 110 and upon the support 110 into a direction of the end cap 220. Hence, when the difference in expansion reduces again, the spring will force the LED assembly 100 and the first end cap 220 in a direction to each other. FIGS. 2A and 2B schematically depict an embodiment wherein the connector part 132 is arranged translationally movable relative to the LED assembly 100, especially in the mounting part 112 and relative to the remainder of the LED assembly 100, such as relative to the support 110. FIG. 2B further schematically depicts that the connector part 132 comprises screw thread 133 having an axis 135 of the screw thread 133 parallel to the longitudinal axis 115.

(12) FIGS. 2C and 2D schematically depicts a further embodiment, wherein the resilient element 150 is coupled to the first end cap 220 and to the complementary connector part 222. In that embodiment, the connector part 132 is arranged translationally movable relative to the first end cap 220. The LED assembly 100, especially the mounting part 112, comprises the connector part 132, especially (fixedly) encloses the connector part 132. The first end cap 220 comprises a complementary connector part receiving element 226 comprising a part of the complementary connector part 222. Therefore, it is also named herein that the end cap 220 is functionally coupled to the complementary connector part 222. In this embodiment, the complementary connector part receiving element 226 allows the translational movement. Now especially the complementary connector part 222 translates relative to the hollow body 210 and relatively to the end cap 220. In the embodiment, the resilient element comprises a leaf spring 156. The leaf spring 156 provides a tension between the end cap 220 and the LED assembly 110 in both figures. As a result of expansion of the hollow body 210 in FIG. 2D, the complementary connector part 220 is translated over the translation length It and a further tension is built up in the leaf spring 156. When the hollow body 210 contracts again, the increased tension will mutually pull the end cap 220 and the LED assembly (again) towards each other, and the complementary connector part 220 will translate again in the complementary connector part receiving element 226.

(13) The LED assembly 100 in the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 2A-2D comprise a gear tray 1120.

(14) FIG. 3 schematically depicts an embodiment wherein the LED assembly 100 comprises a support 110 and a mounting clip 130 connected to the support 110 via the connector elements 111, 131. In embodiments comprising a mounting clip 130, the mounting part 112 especially comprises the mounting clip 130. In the embodiment, the complementary clip connector element 111 comprises an opening 1111. The clip connector element 131 comprises a protrusion 1311 arranged in the opening 1111. The hollow body 210 further comprises a receiving element 250 in the wall 230 of body 210, especially a groove 255 configured for receiving the LED assembly 100 and especially allowing the translational movement of the LED assembly 100 in the hollow body 210. In the depicted embodiment, the LED assembly 100, especially the mounting clip 130 comprises wings 138, and the receiving element 250 is configured for receiving these wings 138. In other embodiments, e.g. comprising a gear tray 1120, the gear tray 1120 may be configured for sliding in the receiving element 250. The support 110 comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) 1110 that comprises the LEDs 120. The PCB 1110 comprises a complementary clip connector element 111 configured for connecting to the mounting clip 130, and configured complementary to the clip connector element 131 of the mounting clip 130.

(15) In FIG. 4, an embodiment of the mounting clip 130 is depicted in more detail, showing e.g. the clip connectors 131 embodied by protrusions 1311 and located at the base part 1310 of the clip connector 130. Especially, a combination of such protrusion 1311 and an opening 1111 having a cross-section that is a few percent smaller (such as at maximum 10% smaller) than the cross-section of the protrusion may provide an interference fit (or snap-fit) between the mounting clip 130 and the support 110. The clip base part 1310 has a plane 1316. The plane is especially configured parallel to a base plane 116 of the support 110, see also FIG. 3. The mounting clip 130 further comprises a second clip part 1320 extending from the base part 1310. The second clip part 1320 further comprises two top protrusions 1321 that protrude parallel to the clip base part 1310. In this way the mounting clip 130 may hold the support 110 between the clip base part 1310 and the top protrusion 1321, see FIG. 3. The mounting clip of FIG. 4 further is functionally coupled to the connector part 132 that may translate over a translation length lt. The mounting clip 130 also comprises the resilient element 150.

(16) In FIG. 5A, a further embodiment of the LED assembly 100 with a (first and/or second) end cap 220,221 is depicted. The LED assembly 100 in the embodiment comprises a PCB 1110. FIG. 5B, schematically depicts an LED assembly 100 and a second end cap 221, wherein the second end 119 of the LED assembly 100 does not comprise the mounting part 112, or especially a connector part 132, and also the second end cap 221 does not comprise the complementary connector part 222. The second end cap may still be connected with the LED assembly 100 by clicking the LED assembly 100 in the second end cap 221 (or vice versa). In the depicted embodiment, the second end cap 221 is configured for receiving the second end 119 of the LED assembly 100 by means of a snap-in coupling. Therefore, the second end cap 221 comprises a snap-in element for fixedly coupling to the second end 119 of the LED assembly 100. Especially, after connecting these two parts 221,119 a connection may be formed that is referred to herein as a “direct coupling”. In contrast, the connection provided by the first end cap 220 and the LED assembly 100 depicted in FIG. 5A may be named a “mutual connector part coupling” herein. The LED assembly 100 in FIG. 5B comprises a PCB 1110. In further embodiments, the second end cap 221 (and also a gear tray 1120) may be configured for coupling to the end of the gear tray 1120.

(17) The term “substantially” herein, such as in “substantially all light” or in “substantially consists”, will be understood by the person skilled in the art. The term “substantially” may also include embodiments with “entirely”, “completely”, “all”, etc. Hence, in embodiments the adjective substantially may also be removed. Where applicable, the term “substantially” may also relate to 90% or higher, such as 95% or higher, especially 99% or higher, even more especially 99.5% or higher, including 100%. The term “comprise” includes also embodiments wherein the term “comprises” means “consists of”. The term “and/or” especially relates to one or more of the items mentioned before and after “and/or”. For instance, a phrase “item 1 and/or item 2” and similar phrases may relate to one or more of item 1 and item 2. The term “comprising” may in embodiments refer to “consisting of” but may in another embodiment also refer to “containing at least the defined species and optionally one or more other species”.

(18) Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

(19) The devices herein are amongst others described during operation. The devices described may comprise further devices according to the invention that are (already) assembled or functionally coupled to each other. As will be clear to the person skilled in the art, the invention is not limited to methods of operation, devices in operation or devices (functionally) coupled to each other.

(20) It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb “to comprise” and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The invention may be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements, and by means of a suitably programmed computer. In the device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

(21) The invention further applies to a device comprising one or more of the characterizing features described in the description and/or shown in the attached drawings. The invention further pertains to a method or process comprising one or more of the characterizing features described in the description and/or shown in the attached drawings.

(22) The various aspects discussed in this patent can be combined in order to provide additional advantages. Further, the person skilled in the art will understand that embodiments can be combined, and that also more than two embodiments can be combined. Furthermore, some of the features can form the basis for one or more divisional applications.

(23) The lighting device may be part of or may be applied in e.g. office lighting systems, household application systems, shop lighting systems, home lighting systems, accent lighting systems, spot lighting systems, theater lighting systems, fiber-optics application systems, projection systems, self-lit display systems, pixelated display systems, segmented display systems, warning sign systems, medical lighting application systems, indicator sign systems, decorative lighting systems, portable systems, automotive applications, (outdoor) road lighting systems, urban lighting systems, green house lighting systems, horticulture lighting, or LCD backlighting.

(24) As indicated above, the lighting unit may be used as backlighting unit in an LCD display device. Hence, the invention provides also a LCD display device comprising the lighting unit as defined herein, configured as backlighting unit. The invention also provides in a further aspect a liquid crystal display device comprising a back lighting unit, wherein the back lighting unit comprises one or more lighting devices as defined herein.

(25) Herein the invention is explained for a support for a light source light comprising LEDs. Yet, also other types of light sources may be applied. Hence, the term “LED” and “LEDs” may also be substituted by the term “light source”

(26) The term “light source” may also relate to a plurality of light sources, such as 2-20 (solid state) LED light sources. Hence, the term LED may also refer to a plurality of LEDs.