BOX FOR LUMINAIRE AND METHOD FOR INSTALLING LUMINAIRE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a box (1) for receiving a luminaire (10), comprising a box body (2) delimiting a space (3) for receiving and supporting a luminaire (10) within the box body (2), an opening (4) delimited by a circumferential edge (5) of the box body (2) for putting the luminaire (10) into and taking the luminaire (10) out of the box (1), and a tap (6) for hanging-up the box (1) carrying the luminaire (10) at a corresponding receiving section. The tap (6) comprises a connection portion (7) extending from the box body (2), and a hanger portion (8) being distant from the box body (2) and laterally extending from the connection portion (7). The present invention further relates to a method for installing a luminaire (10), in particular a built-in luminaire (10) which is providing within a box (1) according to the present invention supporting said luminaire (10) within the space (3) of its box body (2).

Claims

1. A box (1) for receiving a luminaire (10), comprising: a box body (2) delimiting a space (3) for receiving and supporting a luminaire (10) within the box body (2), an opening (4) delimited by a circumferential edge (5) of the box body (2) for putting the luminaire (10) into and taking the luminaire (10) out of the box (1), and a tap (6) for hanging-up the box (1) carrying the luminaire (10) at a corresponding receiving section, the tap (6) comprising a connection portion (7) extending from the box body (2), and a hanger portion (8) being distant from the box body (2) and laterally extending from the connection portion (7); wherein said tap extends upward from the box when the box is opened.

2. The box (1) according to claim 1, wherein the hanger portion (8) laterally extends from the connection portion (7) at two opposite sides so that the tap (6) has an L-shape, a hook-shape, a cross-shape, a T-shape, or an anchor-shape.

3. The box (1) according to claim 1, wherein the hanger portion (8) is provided at a distal end of the connection portion (7) with respect to the box body (2).

4. The box (1) according to claim 1, wherein the hanger portion (8) is collapsibly and hingedly connected to the connection portion (7) to allow the tap (6) to collapse into a folded state such that the lateral extension of the tap (6) is reduced.

5. The box (1) according to claim 4, wherein the hanger portion (8) is biased towards the unfolded state.

6. The box (1) according to claim 1, wherein the tap (6) is provided at and extends from the edge (5) of the box body (2) delimiting the opening (4).

7. The box (1) according to claim 1, wherein the box (1) further comprises at least one flap (9) for selectively closing and exposing at least part of the opening (4), and the flap (9) is provided at and extends from the edge (5) of the box body (2) delimiting the opening (4).

8. The box (1) according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the flaps (9) forms part of or is configured as the connection portion (7) of the tap (6).

9. The box (1) according to claim 7, wherein the box body (2), the tap (6) and the flap (9) are integrally formed with each other.

10. The box (1) according to claim 9, wherein the box (1) is made of cardboard.

11. A method for installing a luminaire (10), in particular a built-in luminaire (10), to a receiving section of a ceiling, the method comprising the steps of: providing a box (1) comprising a box body (2) delimiting a space (3) for receiving and supporting a luminaire (10) within the box body (2), an opening (4) delimited by a circumferential edge (5) of the box body (2) for putting the luminaire (10) into and taking the luminaire (10) out of the box (1), and a tap (6) for hanging-up the box (1) carrying the luminaire (10) at a corresponding receiving section; attaching the tap (6) of the box (1) to a receiving section (20), by inserting the tap (6) into an installation opening for receiving the luminaire (10) in order to support the luminaire (10) in the box body (2) near the receiving section of the ceiling, electrically installing the luminaire (10); removing the tap (6) from the receiving section (20); removing the box (1) from the luminaire (10); and installing the luminaire (10) in or at the receiving section (20) in the ceiling.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the tap (6) is collapsed into a folded state when being inserted into and removed from the receiving section (20) by folding the hanger portion (8) with respect to the connection portion (7) such that the lateral extension of the tap (6) is reduced.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the opening (4) of the box body (2) is exposed by removing the at least one flap (9) from the opening (4) before inserting the tap (6) into the receiving section (20).

14. The method recited in claim 11 wherein: the tap (6) comprises a connection portion (7) extending from the box body (2), and a hanger portion (8) being distant from the box body (2) and laterally extending from the connection portion (7); the box (1) further comprises at least one flap (9) for selectively closing and exposing at least part of the opening (4), said flap (9) being provided at and extending from the edge (5) of the box body (2) delimiting the opening (4) and forming part of or configured as the connection portion (7) of the tap (6); and the box body (2), the tap (6) and the flap (9) are integrally formed with each other and made of cardboard.

15. A packaged luminaire with unconnected wiring comprising: a luminaire with unconnected wiring; a box (1) containing the luminaire, the box comprising a box body (2) delimiting a space (3) for receiving and supporting a luminaire (10) within the box body (2), an opening (4) delimited by a circumferential edge (5) of the box body (2) for putting the luminaire (10) into and taking the luminaire (10) out of the box (1), and a tap (6) for hanging-up the box (1) containing the luminaire (10).

16. The packaged luminaire recited in claim 15 wherein: the tap (6) comprises a connection portion (7) extending from the box body (2), and a hanger portion (8) being distant from the box body (2) and laterally extending from the connection portion (7).

17. The packaged luminaire recited in claim 16 wherein: the box (1) further comprises at least one flap (9) for selectively closing and exposing at least part of the opening (4), said flap (9) being provided at and extending from the edge (5) of the box body (2) delimiting the opening (4) and forming part of or configured as the connection portion (7) of the tap (6); and the box body (2), the tap (6) and the flap (9) are integrally formed with each other and made of cardboard.

18. The packaged luminaire recited in claim 16 wherein: the hanger portion (8) laterally extends from the connection portion (7) at two opposite sides so that the tap (6) preferably has an L-shape, a hook-shape, a cross-shape, a T-shape, or an anchor-shape.

19. The packaged luminaire recited in claim 16 wherein: the hanger portion (8) is provided at a distal end of the connection portion (7) with respect to the box body (2)

20. The packaged luminaire recited in claim 16 wherein: the hanger portion (8) is connected to the connection portion (7) to allow the tap (6) to collapse into a folded state such that the lateral extension of the tap (6) is reduced.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a box according to the present invention in an open state and carrying a luminaire,

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the box according to FIG. 1 being hung-up in an installation opening of a ceiling via the tap before electrical installation,

[0024] FIG. 3 shows the box according to FIG. 2 after electrical installation of the luminaire supported in the box body,

[0025] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the box according to FIG. 3 after having applied a strain relief as part of the electrical installation,

[0026] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the luminaire according to FIG. 4 after having removed the tap from the installation opening and the box from the luminaire, and

[0027] FIG. 6 shows the luminaire according to FIG. 5 after being installed (i.e. fit) in the installation opening in the ceiling.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The figures show different steps of a method for installing a luminaire 10, in particular a built-in luminaire, which is supported in a box 1 according to the present invention. The box 1 is shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 and described in following.

[0029] The box 1 is configured to receive a luminaire 10. The box 1 is preferably made of cardboard but can, of course, be made of any other suitable material.

[0030] The box 1 has a box body 2 delimiting a space 3 for receiving and supporting (i.e. carrying) the luminaire 10 within the box body 2. The box 1 further comprises an opening 4 delimited by a circumferential edge 5 of the box body 2 for putting the luminaire 10 into the box 1 (i.e. packing the box 1) and taking the luminaire 10 out of the box 1 (i.e. unpacking the box 1). The box body 2 as well as the opening 4 and, in general, the box 1 can have any shape and dimensions. The shown box 1 has a cubical shape but can, of course, have any other shape.

[0031] The box 1 further comprises a tap 6 which is suitable for hanging-up the box 1 carrying the luminaire 10 at a corresponding receiving section 20, like a receiving opening for receiving and installing the luminaire 10.

[0032] The tap 6 comprises a connection portion 7 extending from the box body 2. The tap 6 further comprises a hanger portion 8 being distant from the box body 2 and laterally extending from the connection portion 7. In the shown embodiment, the hanger portion 8 laterally extends from the connection portion 7 at two opposite sides so that the tap 6 preferably has a T-shape or anchor-shape. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the hanger portion 8 may therefore be provided at a distal end of the connection portion 7 with respect to the box body 2. Dependent on the position of the hanger portion 8 with respect to the connection portion 7, the tap may alternatively have an L-shape, a hook-shape, a cross-shape or the like.

[0033] To allow for easy attachment to (e.g. insertion into) and removal from (e.g. out of) a receiving section 20 like an installation opening, the hanger portion 8 preferably is collapsibly and more preferably hingedly connected to the connection portion 7 to allow the tap 6 to collapse into a folded state such that the lateral extension of the tap 6 is reduced. In a most preferred embodiment, the hanger portion 8 is biased towards the unfolded/expanded state. This can be obtained either by the material characteristics of the box 1 or tap 6 and/or the layout of the tap 6 and/or by additional biasing means.

[0034] The box may further comprise at least one flap 9 for selectively closing and exposing at least part of the opening 4. Therefore, the flap 9 may be provided at and extend from the edge 5 of the box body 2 delimiting the opening 4.

[0035] The tap 6 can be provided at and extend from the edge 5 of the box body 2 delimiting the opening 4. In a preferred embodiment as shown in the figures, at least one of the flaps 9 can form part of the connection portion 7 of the tap 6. The flap 9 thus preferably forms a proximal end 70 of the connection portion 7, which is here provided at the circumferential edge 5 of the box body 2. A distal end 71 of the connection portion 7 extends from the proximal end 70 (i.e. from the flap 9); here from a side of the flap 9 being opposite to the box body 2. The hanger portion 8 is here provided at—i.e. laterally extends from—the distal end 71.

[0036] Alternatively, at least one of the flaps 9 can be configured as the connection portion 7 of the tap 6. In other words, the connection portion 7 is designed such that it can also be used as a flap 9 of the box 1 for selectively closing and exposing at least part of the opening 4.

[0037] In a preferred embodiment, the box body 2 and the tap 6 as well as the flap 9 are integrally formed with each other and preferably made of cardboard so that common materials and manufacturing processes can be used for providing the box 1.

[0038] In the following, a method for installing a luminaire 10, in particular a built-in luminaire, is described.

[0039] First of all, a box 1 according to the present invention is provided (Step 1). Said box 1 carries or supports a luminaire 10 within the space 3 of the box body 2 as can be seen in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, flaps 9 for selectively closing the opening 4 are already moved (e.g. swung open) in a position to expose the opening 4 to thus access the luminaire 10 stored within the box 1.

[0040] In a next step, the tap 6 of the box 1 is attached to a receiving section 20—here inserted into an installation opening 20 for receiving the luminaire 10—via the hanger portion 8 to carry the luminaire 10 in the box body 2 (Step 2). Here, the hanger portion 8 is inserted and “hooked” in the installation opening 20. For inserting the tap 6 into the receiving section 20, the tap 6 can be collapsed into a folded state by folding the hanger portion 8 with respect to the connection portion 7 such that the lateral extension of the tap 6 is reduced. After being inserted, the tap 6 may expand preferably automatically into its unfolded state to thus provide the hanger portion 8 such that it can be received by/in the receiving section 20 to thus carry the box 1 with the luminaire 10 at the installation spot.

[0041] In the next step shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, electrical installation of the luminaire 10 is carried out. Therefore, the wires 11 of the luminaire 10 are electrically connected (FIG. 3; Step 3a) and a strain relief 12 for the wiring 11 can optionally be applied (FIG. 4; Step 3b).

[0042] In a next step, the tap 6 is removed from the receiving section (installation opening 20). Therefore, the tap 6 can be simply pulled away from (e.g. out of) the receiving section 20 or the hanger portion 8 can manually be manipulated such that the tap 6 is collapsed into its folded state so that the lateral extension of the tap 6 is reduced for removal of the tap 6 from the receiving section 20. Then, the box 1 is removed from the electrically connected luminaire 10 as shown in FIG. 5 (Step 4).

[0043] In a final step, the luminaire is installed in or at the receiving section 20; here inserted in the installation opening 20 (Step 5).

[0044] As the box 1 supports/carries the luminaire 10 during the whole installation process, installation can be carried out by one person having both hands free for connection of the wiring. This allows for an easy and safe installation of a luminaire 10.

[0045] The present invention is not limited by the embodiments as described herein above as long as being covered by the appended claims. All the features of the embodiments described herein above can be combined and interchangeably provided in any possible way. For instance, the box 1 according to the present invention can comprise one or more taps 6 as described herein above. These taps 6 can then be identical or can differ from each other to provide a number of desired taps 6 increasing the hanging capabilities of the box 1 according to the present invention. Further, box 1 as well as its components (i.e. the box body 2, the space 3, the opening 4, the circumferential edge 5, the tap 6 and its connection portion 7 and hanger portion 8 and the flaps 9) are not limited by its dimension, shape, form and material.