End cap for a light strip lamp

Abstract

The present invention relates to an end cap (100) for a light strip lamp, having a flat main body (101) with two opposite flat sides (110, 140), the flat sides (110, 140) having a flat cover side (140) for covering a front face of a light strip lamp and a coupling side (110) for coupling to an identical end cap (100) of a laterally adjacent light strip lamp, the coupling side (110) having coupling structures (200), which are designed such that they can be releasably connected without the use of tools to the coupling structures (200) of a coupling side (110) of an identical end cap (100).

Claims

1. An end cap (100) for a light strip lamp, comprising: a flat main body (101) having two opposite flat sides (110, 140), wherein the flat sides (110, 140) comprise a flat cover side (140) for covering an end face of a light strip lamp and a coupling side (110) for coupling to an identical end cap (100) of a laterally adjacent light strip lamp, wherein the coupling side (110) comprises coupling structures (200) which are configured such that they can be releasably connected to the coupling structures (200) of a coupling side (110) of an identical end cap (100) without the use of tools.

2. The end cap (100) according to claim 1, wherein the coupling structures (200) are configured to align two end caps (100) coupled via the coupling structures (200) with one another.

3. The end cap (100) according to claim 1, wherein the coupling structures (200) are configured to release two end caps (100) coupled via the coupling structures (200) via a relative movement of the end caps (100) to one another at least in a direction orthogonal (MR1) and/or parallel (MR2) to an extension plane of the flat main body (101).

4. The end cap (100) according to claim 1, wherein the coupling structures (200) each comprise a first connecting structure (211, 221, 231) and a second connecting structure (212, 222, 232), which are configured to correspond structurally to the tool-free and releasable connection to the respective other connecting structure of an identical end cap (100).

5. The end cap (100) according to claim 1, wherein the main body (101), in particular the coupling side (110), comprises two regions (111, 112) which are configured to correspond structurally to one another, wherein a first of the two regions (111) comprises the first connecting structure (211, 221, 231) and a second (112) of the two regions (111, 112) comprises the second connecting structure (212, 222, 232).

6. The end cap (100) according to claim 5, wherein the two regions (111, 112) are separated from one another by an imaginary line or straight line (SA) which separates and bisects the main body (101), in particular the coupling side (110), wherein the coupling structures (200) of the two regions (111, 112) are configured such that they are structurally correspondingly mirror-inverted with respect to the imaginary line or straight line (SA).

7. The end cap (100) according to claim 1, wherein, at least when viewed in the direction orthogonal (MR1) and/or parallel (MR2) to an extension plane of the flat main body (101), the coupling structures (200) comprise projecting portions (320) and/or recessed portions (310) and/or undercut portions.

8. The end cap (100) according to claim 1, wherein the coupling structures (200) comprise corresponding latching projections and latching receptacles.

9. The end cap (100) according to claim 1, wherein the coupling structures (200) comprise release structures (313) which enable a tool-free release of the coupling structures (200) of two end caps (100) coupled via the coupling structures (200) in a defined direction, in a direction orthogonal (MR1) and/or parallel (MR2) to an extension plane of the flat main body (101).

10. The end cap (100) according to claim 1, wherein the end cap (100) comprises receiving structures (600) for receiving an end cap screen, wherein the receiving structures (600) comprise the coupling structures (200) or wherein the receiving structures (600) are mirror symmetrical with respect to an imaginary straight line (SA) which bisects the main body (101), in particular the coupling side (110).

11. The end cap (100) according to claim 1, wherein the cover side (140) comprises holding structures (410, 500) for releasable and/or non-releasable coupling to a light strip lamp, wherein the holding structures (410, 500) comprise coupling portions, such as latching or insertion structures (411-413), and/or through-openings (510, 520) for receiving a fastening means for mechanically coupling to corresponding structures of the light strip lamp bearing the end cap (100).

12. The end cap (100) according to claim 1, wherein the main body (101) further comprises a lamp receptacle (710) for receiving an end cap lighting means in order to make light emitted by the end cap lighting means available to the outside.

13. The end cap (100) according to claim 12, wherein the end cap (100) is made of a light-permeable and crystal-clear material such that it serves as a light guide for an end cap lighting means which is disposed in the lamp receptacle (710) and radiates into the main body (101), in order to emit the light radiated in this manner to the outside via a peripheral end face of the main body (101).

14. The end cap (100) according to claim 1, wherein the end cap (100) is made of a light-impermeable or light-permeable material, in particular an opaque or translucent or transparent or crystal-clear material.

15. A light strip lamp comprising an elongated lamp support with two opposite end faces and the end cap (100) according to claim 1 for covering one of the end faces by means of the flat cover side (140), wherein the coupling side (110) is provided on the outside.

16. The light strip lamp according to claim 15, further comprising lighting means accommodated in or on the lamp support and/or end cap lighting means accommodated in the lamp receptacle (710) for emitting light to the outside.

17. The light strip system comprising at least two light strip lamps according to claim 15, wherein the light strip lamps are connected to one another releasably and without the use of tools via the coupling sides (110) of their end caps (100) provided on the outside.

18. The light strip system according to claim 17, wherein the coupling side (110) is provided on the outside, and further comprises an end cap screen which is connected to the coupling side (110) of the end cap for receiving the end cap screen.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further configurations and advantages of the present invention are discussed on the basis of the following design examples in conjunction with the figures of the accompanying drawings. The figures show:

(2) FIG. 1 a perspective illustration of a front view of an end cap according to a first embodiment of the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 a further perspective illustration of the end cap of FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 a perspective rear view of the end cap of FIG. 1.

(5) FIG. 4 a perspective illustration of a front view of an end cap according to a second embodiment of the invention.

(6) FIG. 5 a perspective rear view of the end cap of FIG. 4.

(7) FIG. 6 a perspective plan view onto the end cap of FIG. 4.

(8) FIG. 7 an enlarged first partial illustration of the front view of FIG. 4.

(9) FIG. 8 an enlarged first partial illustration of the rear view of FIG. 5, which corresponds to the illustration of FIG. 7.

(10) FIG. 9 an enlarged second partial illustration of the front view of FIG. 4.

(11) FIG. 10 an enlarged second partial illustration of the rear view of FIG. 5, which corresponds to the illustration of FIG. 9.

(12) FIG. 11 an enlarged third partial illustration of the rear view of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(13) The figures show different views of different design examples of an end cap 100 according to the invention intended for a light strip lamp. FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first design example, FIGS. 4 to 11 show a further design example of the end cap 100 according to the invention.

(14) The end cap 100 comprises a flat main body 101 having two opposite flat sides 110, 140. FIGS. 1 to 11 an example of the main body 101.

(15) The end cap 100 or the main body 101 can be made of a light-impermeable or non-transparent (opaque) material. Plastics or metals, such as aluminum or alloys, for example, can be used as materials for this purpose. Alternatively or additionally, the end cap 100 can be made of a light-permeable, in particular translucent, transparent or crystal-clear material. Plastics or glass, for example, can be used as materials for this purpose. However, it is also conceivable that a combination of light-impermeable and light-permeable materials is used for the end cap 100 or the main body 101, so that, for instance, the end cap 100 or the main body 101 partially or sectionally comprises light-permeable and light-impermeable regions. The main body 101 can be produced by injection molding or extrusion, for example. However, this list should not be considered to be exhaustive.

(16) The main body 101 can have a cross-section of any shape. As an example, in FIGS. 1 to 11, the main body 101 has a rectangular cross-section. However, this should not be regarded as limiting for the invention. On the contrary, the main body can also have other cross-sectional shapes, for example a round, a circular or a cross-section consisting of a plurality of partial surfaces.

(17) The main body 101 can be understood to be a flat body. The flat sides 110, 140 of the main body 101 can each extend substantially in one plane, whereby the respective planes can preferably be parallel to one another. A preferably completely peripheral front face 102 of the main body 101 can extend between the flat sides 110, 140. As a distance between the two flat sides 110, 140, the flat main body 101 can have a thickness d that is relatively small in comparison to the surface dimensions of the flat sides 110, 140. This is shown as an example in FIG. 1.

(18) The flat sides 110, 140 comprise a flat cover side 140 for covering a front face of a light strip lamp. FIG. 3 shows an example of the cover side 140 according to the first design example of the end cap 100, and FIGS. 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 show an example according to the second design example.

(19) The cover side 140 can comprise holding structures 410, 500 for releasably and/or non-releasably coupling the end cap 100 to a light strip lamp. This can preferably be seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, but can also be seen in the other figures. The holding structures 410, 500 can in particular comprise coupling portions.

(20) The coupling portions can be configured as insertion structures 411, for example. For this purpose, the figures show an example of an at least partially peripheral rear wall 411 having the cross-section of the main body 101 (or having the circumference of the cover side 140). The rear wall 411 can be inserted into a corresponding groove or opening of a front face of a mounting rail, for example, and thus held there, for example by means of pressing or frictional forces. The rear wall 411 can also be configured to seal the mounting rail, for example as a sealing lip.

(21) The holding structures 410, 500 can also be configured to correspond to structures of the lamp to be covered such that they can absorb expansions of the structures of the lamp. In this way, in particular thermal expansions of a lamp connected to the end cap 100 can be compensated or concealed.

(22) Alternatively or additionally, the coupling portions can be configured as latching structures 412, 413, for example. For this purpose, appropriately correspondingly configured latching structures on the front face of the mounting rail, for example, can be brought into engagement with the latching structures 412, 413 disposed on the cover side 140.

(23) Alternatively or additionally, the holding structures 410, 500 can be configured as through-openings 510, 520 for receiving a fastening means, such as a screw or a latching pin, for example, in order to enable mechanical coupling of the holding structures 410, 500 with corresponding structures of the light strip lamp bearing the end cap 100. Providing the holding structures 410, 500 on the cover side 140 can be advantageous in particular because the cover side 140 is preferably oriented toward the interior of the lamp during operation and is therefore not visible from the outside, so that the appearance of a corresponding lamp is not negatively affected by the holding structures 410, 500.

(24) The end cap 100 can also comprise guide structures 421, 422 on the cover side 140 for cable routing. Examples of these are shown in FIGS. 3, 5, 8 and 10. The figures further illustrate how a cable can be guided along the clamping direction KR and clamped to the cover side 140 via the through-passage 422. The cabling can thus correspondingly be routed through the end cap 100 prior to installation of the end cap 100 or other components into the lamp. Thus, when the end cap 100 is put on, cables cannot be jammed between the end cap 100 and the lamp to be covered by said end cap, because the cable is already secured in the end cap 100. To reduce the risk of cable breakage due to excessively tight bending radii and/or to keep the cable in place during an assembly procedure, bending columns 421 can further be provided on the cover side 140. For this purpose, a separating web 420 can also be provided on the cover side 140, which preferably extends at least partially between the peripheral rear wall 411. The separating web 420 and the rear wall 411 can be configured to correspond with one another such that a labyrinth seal, for example, can be implemented on the cover side 410. This is illustrated in particular in FIG. 3.

(25) The main body 101 or preferably at least the cover side 140 can further comprise a lamp receptacle 710 for receiving an end cap lighting means, such as an LED. Examples of this are shown in FIGS. 4 bis 6, 8, 10 and 11. FIG. 11 in particular shows an enlarged example illustration of the lamp receptacle 710. The lamp receptacle 710 can optionally be formed by a latching structure 712 or an opening 711 in the cover side 140. It is also conceivable, however, that the lamp receptacle 710 is implemented via the through-openings 520, for example.

(26) The end cap lighting means can preferably be disposed in the lamp receptacle 710 such that its emitted light is emitted to the outside from the end cap 100, i.e. preferably in at least one direction oriented away from the cover side 140. For instance, the end cap 100 can thus be made of a light-permeable and preferably crystal-clear material such that it serves as a light guide for an end cap lighting means which is disposed in the lamp receptacle 710 and radiates into the main body 101. The light radiated in this way can thus be emitted to the outside via the (peripheral) front face 102 of the main body 101.

(27) The flat sides 110, 140 also comprise a coupling side 110 for coupling to an identical end cap 100 of a laterally adjacent light strip lamp. This is shown particularly advantageously in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4.

(28) The end cap 100, or in particular the coupling side 110, can comprise receiving structures 600 for receiving an end cap screen. Examples of these are shown in all of the figures. The receiving structures 600 can be formed by through-openings 620, for example, or by latching structures 610. The separating web 420 can comprise a wedge-shaped latching projection 611, for example, which can preferably be connected to a corresponding latching structure of the end cap screen via the coupling side 110. This is shown in FIGS. 5 to 11, for example. It is in particular also conceivable that the holding structures 500 are used as receiving structures 600 too.

(29) The receiving structures 600 can preferably be configured to be mirror symmetrical with respect to an imaginary straight line SA which bisects the main body 101, in particular the coupling side 110. The receiving structures 600 can thus be equally spaced with respect to the imaginary straight line SA. FIGS. 1 to 6 show examples of this. The straight line SA can be an axis of symmetry of the (cross-section of the) main body 101 or a plane of symmetry of the main body 101, as shown in FIG. 6.

(30) The coupling side 110 comprises coupling structures 200. The figures show examples of different design examples of the coupling structures 200. The coupling structures 200 are configured such that they can be releasably connected to the coupling structures 200 of a coupling side 110 of an identical end cap 100 without the use of tools.

(31) The coupling structures 200 can each comprise a first connecting structure 211, 221, 231 and a second connecting structure 212, 222, 232, which are configured to correspond structurally to the tool-free and releasable connection to the respective other connecting structure of an identical end cap 100. This is in particular evident from the figures.

(32) For instance, FIGS. 1 and 2 show two possible configurations of the coupling structures 200. The second connecting structure 222 of the coupling structure 200 in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, is configured as a projection which extends away from the coupling side 110 and encloses a section of the coupling side 110. The first connecting structure 221 of the coupling structure 200 of FIG. 1 is configured as a recess in/from the coupling side 110, which is preferably enclosed by the front face 102 of the main body 101. Thus it becomes clear that the connecting structures 221, 222 of the coupling structures 200 can be configured as two corresponding counterparts.

(33) Precise positioning and stronger connection between two end caps 100 connected via the coupling structures 200 can preferably be achieved by the respective counterparts having a common joining section 223. An example of this is shown in FIG. 2. The joining section 223 can be configured as a common wall section separating the respective coupling structures 200. The joining section 223 can preferably be configured as a stepped back section. The joining section 223 can be configured as a stepped back section which extends obliquely outward away from the coupling side 110 and can preferably be disposed (ec)centrically of the coupling side 110. The joining section 223 can have a substantially wedge-shaped cross-section in the joining direction of two identical end caps 100. This makes it possible, for example, to achieve a visual merging of two identical end caps 100. The wedge shape of the joining section 223 also produces larger holding forces between the connected components. This effect is further intensified by thermal expansion.

(34) The coupling structures 200 can also be configured as corresponding latching structures. As an example, FIGS. 1 and 2 show the second connecting structure 212 of the coupling structure 200 as a frontally positioned locking spring receptacle, which corresponds to a first connecting structure 211 of the coupling structure 200 configured as a locking spring.

(35) FIGS. 4 to 11 show a further example, in which the coupling structures 200 comprise latching projections and latching receptacles that are configured to corresponding with one another.

(36) The first connecting structure 231 of the coupling structure 200 can comprise recessed portions 310 and undercut portions. FIGS. 9 and 10 respectively show enlarged front and rear views of the first connecting structure 231. In the figures, the first connecting structure 231 is shown as a component, for instance, and can be configured as a (partially) circular receptacle. The first connecting structure 231 can comprise fastening sections 312 for fastening to the cover side 140. The fastening sections 312 can preferably be configured to correspond to the recessed portions 310 such that the first connecting structure 231 is held in a through-opening of the main body 101. As preferably shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the recessed portions 310 can extend at least in a direction MR1 orthogonal to an extension plane of the flat main body 101 and/or at least in a direction MR2 which is parallel viewed in an extension plane of the flat main body 101. The orthogonal direction MR1 and the parallel direction MR2 can preferably be assembly directions for joining or separating identical end caps 100.

(37) The second connecting structure 232 can comprise projecting portions 320, which are preferably configured to correspond to the first connecting structure 231 and further preferably extend at least along the orthogonal direction MR1 or the parallel direction MR2. The second connecting structure 232 is shown enlarged in a front and rear view in FIGS. 7 and 8. For example, the second connecting structure 232 can comprise two partial circular segment-like, preferably resilient arms or can be configured as a slotted cylindrical pin. The second connecting structure 232 can be provided integrally with the main body 101. The projecting portions 320 can preferably be connected to the cover side 140 via a common bracket portion 322. The coupling structures 200 can form the receiving structures 600.

(38) Each aforementioned example illustrates how the coupling structures 200 can be configured to correspond structurally such that a tool-free and releasable connection can be provided. It will furthermore be clear from the aforementioned design examples that the coupling structures 200 can also be provided in such a way that two end caps 100 coupled via the coupling structures 200 are aligned with one another.

(39) The coupling structures 200 can be configured such that two end caps 100 coupled via the coupling structures 200 can be released via a relative movement of the end caps 100 to one another. For this purpose, the relative movement can take place at least in the orthogonal direction MR1 and/or in the parallel direction MR2. However, it is also conceivable that the relative movement is a rotation or a tilting.

(40) The coupling structures 200 can also comprise release structures 313, which enable a tool-free release of the coupling structures 200 of two end caps 100 coupled via the coupling structures 200 in a defined direction, preferably in the orthogonal direction MR1 and/or in the parallel direction MR2. Examples of this are shown in the figures. The release structures 313 can be provided integrally with the coupling structure 200. Alternatively or additionally, the release structures 313 can also be provided in the main body 101, in particular the coupling side 110. For instance, the first connecting structure 231 configured as a slotted receptacle can comprise a circular release structure 313 that is slotted longitudinally, whereby the slot preferably transitions on both sides into an ejection slope. FIGS. 4 and 9, for example, show this in a particularly suitable manner.

(41) The main body 101, in particular the coupling side 110, can also comprise two regions 111, 112 which are configured to correspond structurally to one another. A first region 111 of the two regions 111, 112 can comprise the first connecting structure 211, 221, 231 and a second region 112 of the two regions 111, 112 can comprise the second connecting structure 212, 222, 232. This can be seen particularly well in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4.

(42) The two regions 111, 112 can preferably be separated from one another by a straight line SA which separates and preferably bisects the main body 101, in particular the coupling side 110. The coupling structures 200 of the two regions 111, 112 can preferably be configured such that they are structurally correspondingly mirror-inverted with respect to the straight line SA.

(43) The end cap 100, but in particular the coupling side 110 and/or the cover side 140, can preferably have an asymmetrical structure, for example due to the structurally corresponding (opposite) configuration of the coupling structures 200 or lamp receptacle 710, and at the same time have a preferably symmetrical structure with respect to the positioning of the individual elements. In this case, the connection between two identical end caps 100 can be achieved by the presence of symmetry components in the end cap design, for example, and a precise positioning and attachment of the two end caps 100 can be achieved by the presence of asymmetry components in the end cap design. The end cap 100 can thus be configured as an asymmetrical identical part.

(44) It is also possible to provide a plurality of differently configured coupling structures 200 on the coupling side 110. The respective corresponding connecting structures can be disposed in almost any way on the coupling side 110, depending on the cross-sectional shape of the main body 101 and the structural configuration of the coupling structures 200. The coupling structures 200 can preferably be positioned on/at/in the coupling side 100 such that respective corresponding connecting structures are disposed evenly spaced at least with respect to two opposite edges of the coupling side 110. This is merely an example configuration option of the end cap 100.

(45) The invention further relates to a light strip lamp and a light strip system. The light strip lamp according to the invention and the light strip system according to the invention are not shown in any of the illustrations, but are clarified among other things based on the following description.

(46) The light strip lamp comprises an elongated lamp support having two opposite end faces. The interior of the lamp can preferably be formed by the lamp support. The light strip lamp also comprises the aforementioned end cap 100 for covering one of the end faces of the lamp support by means of the flat cover side 140. The coupling side 110 is provided on the outside (i.e. not toward the interior of the lamp). The light strip lamp can comprise a lighting means accommodated in or on the lamp support. Alternatively, or additionally, the light strip lamp can comprise an end cap lighting means accommodated in the lamp receptacle 710 for emitting light to the outside.

(47) The light strip system according to the invention comprises at least two of the aforementioned light strip lamps. The two light strip lamps are connected to one another releasably and without the use of tools via the coupling sides 110 provided on the outside by their end caps 100.

(48) For this purpose, the end caps 100 of two adjacent light strip lamps can be brought into an arrangement in which they are rotated relative to one another. For this purpose, the end caps 100 are preferably respectively connected to the respective light strip lamp. This makes it possible to achieve that corresponding regions of the coupling structures 200 of both end caps 100, in particular of the first and second connecting structures, can engage in one another. A form-locking connection in at least the longitudinal direction of the light strip lamps, a restriction of at least one of their degrees of freedom and/or also a positioning of the light strip lamps relative to one another can thus be ensured.

(49) The front face of one of the light strip lamps forming a front face of the light strip system can comprise an end cap 100 as the end end cap for covering said front face by means of the flat cover side 140. The coupling side 110 thereof can preferably be provided on the outside. The light strip system can furthermore also comprise an end cap screen which can be connected to the coupling side 110 of the end end cap, preferably to the receiving structures 600 thereof, for receiving the end cap screen.

(50) The present invention is not limited by the aforementioned design examples, provided it is covered by the subject matter of the following claims. It is in particular possible to combine and interchange all features of the design example with and among one another in any manner.