Ceiling interface for luminaires

Abstract

The invention provides a fixture element (1) for mounting a luminaire (10) at least partly in an opening (510) of a ceiling (500), wherein the fixture element (1) comprises (i) a body (100), (ii) a first side portion (155) protruding relative to the body (100) at a first side (150) of the body (100) and configured to support the luminaire (10), (iii) a second side portion (165) protruding relative to the body (100) at a second side (160) of the body (100), and (iv) an engagement element (200) resiliently connected to the second side (160) of the body (100) and configured to clamp a part of the ceiling (500) between the engagement element (200) and the second side portion (165).

Claims

1. A fixture element for mounting a luminaire at least partly in an opening of a ceiling, wherein the fixture element comprises (i) a body, (ii) a first side portion protruding relative to the body at a first side of the body and configured to support the luminaire, (iii) a second side portion protruding relative to the body at a second side of the body, and (iv) an engagement element resiliently connected to the second side of the body and configured to clamp a part of the ceiling between the engagement element and the second side portion, wherein the first side portion comprises a first connector element for engaging a second connector element of a mounting plate comprised by the luminaire.

2. The fixture element according to claim 1, wherein the engagement element comprises a spring-loaded engagement element.

3. The fixture element according to claim 1, wherein the fixture element comprises a shape configured to mate a part of a shape of an opening wall of the opening in the ceiling.

4. The fixture element according to claim 1, comprising at least two engagement elements and wherein the body comprises a first planar segment and a second planar segment, wherein the first segment and the second segment are configured at a segment angle () selected in the range of 60-120, and wherein a first engagement element is connected to the first segment and a second engagement element is connected to the second segment, with the engagement elements configured to clamp parts of the ceiling between the engagement elements and the second side portions, respectively.

5. The fixture element according to claim 4, wherein the segment angle () is a right angle.

6. The fixture element according to claim 1, wherein the first side portion comprises a plastic material.

7. The fixture element according to claim 1, wherein the first side portion comprises a flat first side portion configured to support the luminaire.

8. A kit of parts comprising a plurality of fixture elements according to claim 1 and a plurality of mounting plates for a luminaire, wherein each mounting plate comprises a second connector element configured to engage a first connector element of the fixture element, wherein each mounting plate is configured connectable to the luminaire, wherein one or more of the fixture elements and the mounting plates comprise a flexible material.

9. The kit of parts according to claim 8, wherein (a) the first connector element comprises a groove and the second connector element comprises a mounting ridge or (b) wherein the first connector element comprises a mounting ridge and the second connector element comprises a groove, for a male-female connection, and wherein the fixture elements and/or the mounting plates comprise a plastic material.

10. The kit of parts according to claim 8, wherein the first connector element of each fixture element comprises a fixture element ridge, with a groove configured between the body and the fixture element ridge, wherein the second connector element of each mounting plate comprises a mounting ridge, wherein each fixture element ridge comprises a fixture ridge angle () and each mounting ridge comprises a mounting ridge angle (), wherein at least one of the fixture ridge angle () and the mounting ridge angle () comprises an acute angle.

11. A method for mounting a luminaire at a ceiling comprising: (i) providing an opening with an opening wall in the ceiling; (ii) providing at least two fixture elements according to claim 1 to the ceiling by arranging a part of the ceiling between the engagement element and the second side portion; and (ii) a mounting stage comprising configuring the luminaire at least partly in the opening of the ceiling wherein the luminaire is supported by the first side portions.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the fixture elements are provided to the ceiling at two opposite corners of the opening, wherein the luminaire comprises a plurality of mounting plates associated to a first side of the luminaire wherein the mounting plates are connected at two opposite edges of the first side of the luminaire, and wherein the mounting stage comprises configuring the first side portions and the mounting plates in a male-female configuration for support of the mounting plates by the first side portions.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the mounting stage comprises contacting the second connector element of each mounting plate with the first connector element of one of the first side portions and twisting the luminaire over a twisting angle () selected in the range of 0.5-2.5 to configure the first side portion and the mounting plates in a male-female configuration.

14. A space comprising a lighting system, wherein the space comprises a ceiling and a luminaire mounted in the ceiling, wherein for mounting the luminaire in the ceiling the lighting system comprises at least two fixture elements according to claim 1 and optionally at least two mounting plates.

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) FIGS. 1a-1c schematically depict some general aspects of the fixture element;

(3) FIGS. 2a-2b schematically depict some aspects of the connector elements;

(4) FIGS. 3a-3c schematically depict some aspects of the fixture elements and the connector elements; and

(5) FIG. 4 schematically depicts some further aspects of the invention;

(6) FIG. 5 schematically depicts a space comprising a lighting system of the invention.

(7) The schematic drawings are not necessarily to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(8) In FIGS. 1a-1c some aspects of embodiments of the fixture element 1 are schematically depicted. The fixture element 1 may be used for mounting a luminaire 10 at least partly in an opening 510 of a ceiling 500. The fixture element 1 comprises a body 100, two side portions 155, 165, and an engagement element 200. The first side portion 155 protrudes relative to the body 100 at a first side 150 of the body 100. The second side portion 165 protrudes relative to the body 100 at a second side 160 of the body 100. The engagement element 200 is resiliently connected to the second side 160 of the body 100.

(9) The first side portion is especially configured to support the luminaire 10. The second side portion is especially configured to contact the ceiling 500, especially to be arranged below the ceiling 500. The engagement element 200 is configured to clamp a part of the ceiling 500 between the engagement element 200 and the second side portion 165, see also FIGS. 3a-3b. For that, the engagement element 200 may comprise a spring-loaded engagement element 200. In embodiments, the fixture element 1 comprises at least two engagement elements 200. The embodiment depicted in FIG. 1c comprises two engagement elements 200. The embodiments depicted in FIGS. 1a-1c, further comprise two segments 180, 190, especially two planar segments 180, 190 configured at a segment angle . Such angle may be e.g. the range of 60-120. In FIG. 1c an opening 510 is depicted comprising a length l and a width w of the opening 510/of the opening wall 511. These length l and width w, may herein also be referred to as an edge length l1 (length l1 of the edge) of the opening 510/or of the opening wall 511. For an opening 510 depicted in FIG. 1c having a substantially square shaped edge of the opening 510, or of the opening wall 511, the angle may be substantially 90. Hence, in embodiments the angle is a right angle. The fixture element 1 may especially comprise a shape configured to mate a part of a shape of an opening wall 511 of the opening 510 in the ceiling 500.

(10) FIG. 1c also depicts that at first engagement element 200 is connected to the first segment 180 and a second engagement element 200 is connected to the second segment 190. The embodiment, further comprises a flat first side portion 155 configured to support the luminaire 10. The first side portion 155 not necessarily is flat, and may e.g., comprise a first connector element 110 for engaging a second connector element 310 of a mounting plate 300 comprised by the luminaire 10, as is depicted in the embodiment in FIG. 2a.

(11) The body 100, and especially the first side portion 155, may be flexible to allow a reversible deformation when mutually engaging the connector elements 110, 310. In embodiments the body 100, especially the first side portion, comprises a plastic material.

(12) FIG. 2a depicts an embodiment of the first connector element 110 comprising a groove 1110, and a fixture element ridge 1111, wherein the groove 1110 is configured between the body 100 and the fixture element ridge 1111. This first connector element may be engaged (to provide a male-female connection) with a second connector element 310, e.g. the one depicted in FIG. 2b, comprising a mounting ridge 1310. In other embodiments, the first connector element 110 comprises a mounting ridge 1310. Such latter embodiment may be engaged with a second connector element 310 comprising a groove 1110 for a male-female connection. The second connector element 310 is especially comprises by a mounting plate 300 that is comprised by a luminaire 10 or that may be connected to a luminaire 10.

(13) In embodiments, a luminaire is mounted in an opening 510 of a ceiling 500 by a plurality of mounting plates 300, such as two mounting plates 300, and two respective fixture elements 1. Therefore, the invention also provides a kit of parts comprising a plurality, such as a pair, of fixture elements 1 and a plurality, such as a pair, of mounting plates 300 for a luminaire 10, wherein each mounting plate 300 comprises a second connector element 310 configured to engage a first connector element 110 of the fixture element 1. Especially, each mounting 300 plate is configured connectable to the mounting plate 300 to the luminaire 10. Hence, the mounting plate 300 can be connected to the luminaire. Such luminaire 10 may be a standard luminaire 10. The mounting plate may e.g. be connected to the luminaire 10 by a fastening element 320, see FIG. 2b. Hence, in embodiments, the kit of parts also comprises fastening elements 320.

(14) In FIGS. 2a and 2b, further the angles , are depicted at the tips of the respective ridges 1111, 1310. In the given embodiments, both the fixture ridge angle and the mounting ridge angle comprise an acute angle. In other embodiments, one of the angles , or both angles , are obtuse angles. Yet in further embodiments at least one of the fixture ridge and the mounting ridge comprise a rounded tip, see FIG. 3c. These different configurations for the connection may facilitate the mutual engagement of the fixture element 1 and the mounting plate 300. To further facilitate engaging a mounting plate with a fixture element, embodiments of the fixture element 1 and/or of the mounting plate 300 comprise a flexible material 401, such as a plastic material.

(15) For mounting the luminaire 10 at, especially in, a ceiling 500, an opening 510 with an opening wall 511 in the ceiling 500 may be provided. Successively at least two fixture elements 1 may be provided to the ceiling 500 by arranging a part of the ceiling 500 between the engagement element 200 and the second side portion 165, see FIG. 3a. Next, the luminaire may be configured at least partly in the opening 510 in a mounting stage, wherein the luminaire 10 is supported by the first side portions 155. It is noted that in FIG. 3a, the first side portion 155 is not visible (anymore after mounting the luminaire 10 in the opening 510) because it is located behind the mounting plate 300, see however FIG. 3c, showing the connection in more detail. In that figure a detail is depicted of the fixture element 1 comprising the first connector element 110 that is connected to the second connector element 310 of the mounting plate 300. The fixture element 1 is mounted in the ceiling 500 by means of the engagement element 200. The mounting plate is connected to the first side 330 of the luminaire 10 by means of a fastening element 320.

(16) In embodiments, a plurality of mounting plates 300, here as two mounting plates 300, are associated to a first side 330 of the luminaire 10, see FIG. 4. That figure schematically depicts a luminaire 10 from the top side, showing the first side 330 of the luminaire 10. In that embodiment the mounting plates 300 are connected at two opposite edges of the first side 330 of the luminaire 10. In a mounting stage the first side portion 155 and the mounting plates 300, especially the second connector elements 310 may be configured in a male-female configuration for support of the mounting plates 300 by the first side portions 155. It is noted that again, the first side portion 155 is not visible in the schematic figure.

(17) In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4 the luminaire 10 may be mounted in the opening 510 by contacting (each of) the two second connector elements 310 (not visible) with a first connector element 110, especially comprising a fixture element ridge 1111 comprising a ridge length l2, of a respective fixture elements 1 attached to the ceiling 500, and twisting the luminaire 10 over a relatively small twisting angle to provide the male-female connection. The configuration of the fixture element 1, especially the first connector element 110, and the mounting plate 300 may require only a very small angle to engage the two connector elements 110, 310. A twisting angle may e.g. be selected in the range of 0.5-2.5. A length of the first connector element 110, especially a ridge length l2, may be selected based on the width w or the length l of the opening 510, especially an edge length l1, to provide mounting with such small twisting angle . In embodiments a ratio of said length of the first connector element 110, especially said ridge length l2, over the edge length may be selected in the range of 0.01-0.075, especially 0.01-0.05, even more especially 0.01-0.03. In embodiments l2/l1 is equal to or smaller than 0.05, especially equal to or smaller than 0.04. Said ratio is especially at least 0.01.

(18) In FIG. 5 schematically a space 600 is depicted comprising a lighting system 1000. The lighting system 1000, especially the luminaire 10 may be configured in essentially any space 600 with a (dropped) ceiling 500, such as an office, a department store, a warehouse, a cinema, a church, a theatre, a library. Such dropped ceiling 500 especially comprises a plenum space 550 on top of the ceiling 500. In the figure, three lighting systems 1000, comprising a luminaire 10in the given embodiment a square luminaire 10, a round luminaire 10 and a rectangular luminaire 10are mounted in the ceiling 500. For mounting the (square and the rectangular) lighting systems 1000 comprising respectively the square and the rectangular luminaire 10, two fixture elements 1 are used. In the square lighting system 1000, two triangular shape fixture elements 1 (shown exaggerated in size) are arranged at two opposite corners of the opening 510 (non visible) and hence of the luminaire 10. The rectangular lighting system 1000 comprises two fixture elements 1 comprising a T-bar profile arranged along two opposite edges of the opening 510 (not visible any more). In the round lighting system 1000, the fixture elements 1 are covered by the luminaire 10.

(19) Especially, any action described herein may be executed with a man-made device. For instance, a term sensing may refer to sensing with a sensor, or a term like determining may refer to determining with a processor.

(20) The term substantially herein, such as 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 an embodiment 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.

(21) 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.

(22) The devices herein are amongst others described during operation. As will be clear to the person skilled in the art, the invention is not limited to methods of operation or devices in operation.

(23) 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.

(24) 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.

(25) 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.

(26) Herein the invention is explained based on mounting a luminaire. It however, will be understood that the invention also provide comprises mounting of other type of applications in a ceiling, such as a heater or an air inlet or retour system that are known to be mounted in a modular ceiling. Hence the term luminaire may also be understood as a mountable application in a, especially, modular ceiling.