Abstract
Luminaire (1) comprising suspension means (3) and a housing (5) with a top wall (7). Said suspension means (3) comprising a hook (9a, b) formed of an elastic wire (11) with a loop portion (15) connected to two remote, oppositely arranged end portions (13a, b) each forming a spindle (17a, b), and two elongated channel elements (19a, b) arranged along a rotation axis (21) and mounted on the top wall (7), with each spindle (17a, b) being snugly fitted in a respective channel element (19a, b). By a mutual misalignment between the spindles (17a, b) and the channel element (19a, b) with respect to the rotation axis (21), the hook (9a, b) is in a low tension state when in a first rotational position (27), and in a high tension state when in further rotational positions (29) and urging the hook (9a, b) to assume the first rotational position (27).
Claims
1. Suspension means suitable for use in a luminaire, said suspension means comprising: a hook formed of an elastic wire/rod/tube of a cross-sectional diameter Dw and having two remote, essentially oppositely arranged end portions mutually connected by a loop portion, each end portion forming a spindle with length Ls, a base comprising two elongated channel elements axially arranged along a rotation axis, wherein in an assembled configuration of hook and base, at least a portion of a respective spindle is accommodated with a snugly fit in a respective channel of a respective channel element, and the spindles and/or the channels are mutually misaligned with respect to the rotation axis for the hook to be in a relatively low tension state when in a first rotational position, and to be in a relatively high tension state when in further rotational positions and wherein the hook is urged to rotate to assume the first rotational position.
2. Suspension means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hook is shaped as an essentially two-dimensional body.
3. Suspension means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the loop portion comprises a bridge portion and two substantially parallel leg portions extending in the same direction, the bridge portion having two bridge ends, and each leg portion having at a respective second leg end a respective end portion as the spindle, the two leg portions are connected by a respective first leg end to a respective bridge end.
4. Suspension means as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one leg portion has a profiled structured portion selected from the group consisting of a kink, a protrusion, an indent, and a step.
5. Suspension means as claimed in claim 1, wherein each spindle has a respective spindle axis and wherein the spindle axes are mutually angled at a misalignment angle α in the range of 5°<=α<=30°, preferably 7°<=α<=25°, most preferably 10°<=α<=20°.
6. Suspension means as claimed in claim 1, wherein each spindle has a respective spindle axis, wherein the spindle axes extend mutually essentially parallel and are mutually offset by an offset O, said offset O being n times the cross sectional diameter Dw of the elastic wire, with 2<=n<=15, preferably 3<=n<=12, most preferably 5<=n<=10.
7. Suspension means as claimed in claim 1, wherein said length Ls of each spindle is m times the cross sectional diameter Dw of the elastic wire, with 2<=m<=15, preferably 3<=m<=12, most preferably 5<=m<=10.
8. Suspension means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the channel elements each comprise a respective channel having a length Lc, with Lc>=0.6*Ls.
9. Suspension means as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least 70% of each spindle is extending in a respective, associated channel element, preferably at least 85%.
10. Luminaire comprising the suspension means according to claim 1 and a housing comprising a top wall.
11. Luminaire as claimed in claim 10, wherein the top wall comprises a major, flat surface on which the channel elements are provided, and wherein in the first rotational position of the relatively low tension state the loop portion of the hook extends essentially parallel to said flat surface.
12. Luminaire as claimed in claim 10, wherein the channel elements are integral with a base element, said base element being attached to the top wall.
13. Luminaire as claimed in claim 10, wherein the channel elements are integrally formed with the top wall of the luminaire.
14. Method of suspending a luminaire as claimed in claim 10, the method comprising the steps of: bringing at least two hooks in a respective further rotational position; hooking each loop portion onto an associated, respective support (of a false ceiling); electrically connect the luminaire to electrical power means; pushing the luminaire towards the supports to bring the hooks essentially in a respective first rotational position is in a relatively low tension state (and to render it to be mounted flush with the ceiling).
15. Method of demounting a luminaire as claimed in claim 10, the method comprising the steps of: pushing a first end of the luminaire towards a respective support (to make another end of the luminaire to protrude from the ceiling); pulling a second end of the luminaire away from its respective support and while doing this pulling the first end away from its respective support; bringing both hooks in a respective further rotational position; perform servicing or further dismounting operations (like electrical disconnection).
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0036] The invention will now be further explained and elucidated by means of the schematic drawings, which are intended to illustrate rather than to limit the scope of the invention. Thereto in the drawings:
[0037] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a luminaire according to the invention;
[0038] FIG. 2A-B show a respective top view of two different embodiments of luminaires of the invention;
[0039] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the luminaire of FIG. 1;
[0040] FIG. 4A-B shows details on spindle and channel element of a suspension means according to the invention;
[0041] FIG. 5A-C shows several stages of suspending and demounting of a luminaire according to the invention;
[0042] FIG. 6 shows a schematic flow diagram of a first method according to the invention, and
[0043] FIG. 7 shows a schematic flow diagram of a second method according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0044] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a luminaire 1 according to the invention. The luminaire 1 comprises two suspension means 3 and a housing 5 comprising a top wall 7. Each suspension means 3 comprises two hooks 9a,b each formed of an elastic wire 11 of a cross-sectional diameter Dw (see FIG. 4A) and having two remote, essentially oppositely arranged end portions 13a,b mutually connected by a loop portion 15. Each end portion 13a,b forms a respective spindle 17a,b with length Ls (see FIG. 4B). Each suspension means 3 further comprises two elongated channel elements 19a,b substantially axially arranged along a respective rotation axis 21. The channel elements 19a,b are integrally formed with the top wall 7 of the housing 5 of the luminaire 1. As shown and better visible in FIG. 2A, in an assembled configuration of housing 5 and suspension means 3, the channel elements 19a,b of said suspension means 3 are mounted on the top wall 7, and at least a portion 23a,b of a respective spindle 17a,b is accommodated with a snugly fit in a respective channel 25a,b of a respective channel element 19a,b. Further to FIG. 2A, both the spindles 17a,b and the channels 25a,b are mutually misaligned at misalignment angle α, each with a half misalignment angle 0.5α with respect to the rotation axis 21. As shown, the misalignment of the spindles and the axes is the same. The misalignment renders the hook 9b to be in a relatively low tension state when in a first rotational position 27, and renders hook 9a to be in a relatively high tension state when in further rotational positions 29, of which one further rotational position is shown. In said further rotational position 29 the hook 9a is urged to rotate back to the first rotational position 27.
[0045] FIG. 2A-B show a respective top view of two different embodiments of suspension means 3 of luminaires 1 of the invention, only one suspension means 3 is shown for a luminaire. The suspension means 3 comprises a loop portion 15 comprising a hook 9 having two spindles 17a,b pointing away from each other and the suspension means 3 comprises two channel elements 19a,b each with a respective channel 25a,b. FIG. 2A shows a part of the luminaire 1 wherein the spindles 17a,b each have a respective spindle axis 26a,b. The spindles 17a,b (and the channels 25a,b) are mutually misaligned at a misalignment angle α, wherein a 35°, and the spindles are spaced apart by a spindle spacing Ss, wherein Ss=Lb+0.1*Ll, with Lb is the bridge length and Ll is the length of the legs portions 31,31b. FIG. 2B shows a part of another embodiment of luminaire 1 in which both the channels 25a,b and the spindles 17a,b have a mutual offset O of the spindle axes 26a,b, wherein O≈15 mm. Neither the spindles 17a,b nor the channels 25a,b are misaligned, i.e. the misalignment angle α is zero. The channel elements 19a,b are welded to a top wall 7 of the housing 5 of the luminaire 1. Each channel has a length Lc, wherein Lc=0.8*Ls, with Ls being the length of a spindle.
[0046] Both in FIGS. 2A and 2B is shown that each hook 9 further comprises two leg portions 31a,b (or legs), each with a length Ll, for example about 25 cm, and mutually connected by respective second end portions 33a,b via respective bridge ends 34a,b to a bridge portion 35 (or bridge). Please note that in FIG. 2B the leg portions 31a,b have a mutually different length of respectively Lla and Llb, i.e. Lla−O=Llb and the hook 9 is shaped such that when the hook 9 is in the first rotational position and rests on the housing wall 7, it is essentially tension free, while when the hook 9 is in one of the further rotational positions, it is in a relatively high tension state and urged back to the first rotational position. The spindles 17a,b of the hook 9 are formed by first end portions 37a,b of the legs 31a,b and are (at least partly) accommodated in the respective channels 25a,b of the channel elements 19a,b. The legs 31a,b of a single hook 9 are extending essentially mutually parallel, i.e. in the embodiments shown extend at a mutual angle Φ of about plus or minus 6°. Furthermore, each leg 31a,b is provided with a respective kink 39a,b which provides a semi-stable suspension position when the luminaire is suspended from a false ceiling. The bridge 35 has bridge length Lb that scales with the length Ll of the leg portion, in the figure Lb=0.85*Ll.
[0047] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the luminaire 1 as shown in FIG. 1, with one hook 9b of the suspension means 3 in a relatively low tension state in a first rotational position 27 at angle β of 0° with a flat surface of the top wall 7 of the housing 5 of the luminaire 1. The other hook 9a of the suspension means 3 is in a relatively high tension state in a further rotational position 29, i.e. at an angle β of almost 90° with the flat surface of the top wall 7 of the housing 5 of the luminaire 3. Both hooks 9a,b have a two-dimensional shape, i.e. are embodied as flat parts that each extend in a respective virtual plane P.
[0048] FIG. 4A-B shows details of a spindle 17 and a channel element 19 of a hook 9 of a suspension means according to the invention. In FIG. 4A it is shown that the hook 9 has diameter Dw and that the channel 25 in the channel element 19 has an inner diameter Dc, with Dc being slightly larger than Dw, in the figure Dc=1.03*Dw, for accommodating the spindle 17 with a snugly fit. In FIG. 4B it is shown that the spindle 17 is connected at a second end portion 33 of the leg portion 31 of the hook 9 and has a length Ls. The spindle 17 is accommodated in the channel 25 of the channel element 19 over a length of Lc, wherein Lc is at least 60% of Ls, in the figure Lc=0.75*Ls. Both Ls and Lc are a multiple of the wire diameter Dw, i.e. in the figure Lc=6*Dw.
[0049] FIG. 5A-C shows several stages of suspending and demounting of a luminaire 1 according to the invention. FIG. 5A shows bottom view of a false ceiling, i.e. from a position below the false ceiling 41. The false ceiling 41 comprises a grid shaped carrier structure of T-bars 53, resulting in a subdivision of the false ceiling 41 into rectangular or square shaped spaces 43 in which ceiling tiles 45 can be mounted. In the figure in one of said rectangular spaces 43 is left open for mounting four luminaires 1. FIG. 5A shows mounting of the luminaire 1 is a first stage, i.e. the luminaire 1 is suspended from the false ceiling 41 in a lowered position with the hooks 9a,b of the suspension means 3 in a semi-stable further rotational position 29 hooked on mounting elements 47 of the false ceiling 41. FIG. 5B shows a top view of four modular luminaires 1 in a mounted, second stage wherein the four luminaires 1 fill up in a flush manner a rectangular space 43 in the false ceiling 41. The hooks 9a,b of the suspension means 3 of the luminaires 1 are hooked around respective mounting elements 47 of the false ceiling 41 and are in further rotational positions 29 at a relatively small angle δ from the first rotational position. As a result the luminaires 1 are urged to rest with a permanent pressure against the T-bar carrier structure 53 of the false ceiling 41. FIG. 5C shows a demounting stage of the luminaire 1 of the situation shown in FIG. 5B, i.e. already three luminaires have been demounted and a fourth luminaire 1 is pressed by hand 59 at one luminaire end 49, indicated with respect to luminaire center 55, into the false ceiling 41, causing the other luminaire end 51 to protrude towards below from the false ceiling 41. Said other luminaire end 51 subsequently can be gripped by the servicing person to pull the luminaire 1 into its lowered mounted position from the false ceiling 41 for servicing the luminaire 1 or removal of the luminaire 1 from the false ceiling 41.
[0050] FIG. 6 shows a schematic flow diagram of a first method according to the invention. The method comprising the steps of: [0051] 1000: bringing at least two hooks in a respective further rotational position; [0052] 1010: hooking each loop portion onto an associated, respective support. Such a support can be comprised in a false ceiling as shown in FIGS. 5A-C; [0053] 1020: electrically connect the luminaire to electrical power means; [0054] 1030: pushing the luminaire towards the supports to bring the hooks essentially in a respective first rotational position is in a relatively low tension state. In said relatively low tension state the luminaire can be mounted flush with a false ceiling, see for example FIG. 5B
[0055] FIG. 7 shows a schematic flow diagram of a second method according to the invention, the method comprising the steps of: [0056] 2000: pushing a first end of the luminaire towards a respective support. An example of this step is shown in FIG. 5C, wherein said pushing at one end makes another end of the luminaire to protrude from the ceiling; [0057] 2010: pulling a second end of the luminaire away from its respective support and while doing this pulling the first end away from its respective support; [0058] 2020: bringing both hooks in a respective further rotational position; [0059] 2030: perform servicing or further dismounting operations, for example electrical disconnection.
