Lighting device
10775008 ยท 2020-09-15
Assignee
Inventors
- Paul Dalby (Middlesbrough, GB)
- Graeme Jones (Newton Aycliffe, GB)
- John Kears (Witton Gilbert, GB)
- Stephen Parkes (Darlington, GB)
- Ian Wilson (East Herrington, Sunderland, GB)
- John Richardson (Spennymoor, GB)
Cpc classification
F21V15/01
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21S9/022
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21V21/046
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21V23/023
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21S8/026
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21Y2115/10
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21V23/001
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
F21S9/02
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21V23/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21S8/02
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21V15/01
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21V17/16
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21V21/04
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Abstract
The invention proposes a lighting device, in particular an emergency lighting device. The lighting device includes a first housing (2), a lighting means (12), for example an LED arranged at the first housing (2) and an electronic circuitry accommodated in the first housing (2) for operating the lighting means (12). A second housing (3) of the lighting device accommodates an energy storage means (13) such as a rechargeable battery, wherein the first housing (2) and the second housing (3) are arranged spaced apart. An interconnecting means (4) mechanically connects the first housing (2) and the second housing (3) in an elastic manner and also connects electrically the electronic circuitry and the energy storage means (13). The interconnecting means (4) of the lighting device of a preferred embodiment comprises a cable which is overmoulded to provide compressive strength in an axial direction of the cable.
Claims
1. An emergency lighting device comprising: a first housing (2) adapted to be inserted into and mounted in an opening of a detached ceiling or wall panel; lighting means (12) arranged at the first housing (2); an electronic circuitry accommodated in the first housing (2) for operating the lighting means (12) and a mains supply cable (21) connected to terminals of the first housing (2); and a second housing (3) accommodating energy storage means (13), the first housing (2) and the second housing (3) being arranged spaced apart, by an elongated interconnecting means (4) adapted to connect the first housing (2) and the second housing (3) mechanically and to connect the electronic circuitry and the energy storage means (13) electrically, said elongated interconnecting means comprising a cable including two or more electrically connecting lines in an isolating mantle and further encapsulated by overmolding, said overmolding providing the elongated interconnecting means with compressive strength in an axial direction of the cable to maintain the second housing spaced from the first housing, wherein the overmolding does not bend because of the weight of the second housing and the energy storage means contained in the second housing, but does bend in a direction traverse to the cable when a bending force is applied during an installation of the emergency lighting device into the opening of the detached ceiling or wall panel.
2. The emergency lighting device according to claim 1 wherein the interconnecting means (4) has a cross section with a first width in a first direction being smaller than a second width in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction such that the over molding is predisposed to bend in a direction generally orthogonal to both the first direction and the second direction.
3. The emergency lighting device according to claim 1 wherein the interconnecting means (4) comprises a first straight portion (5), a second straight portion (6) and a pre-bended portion (7) between the first straight portion (5) and the second straight portion (6).
4. The emergency lighting device according to claim 1 wherein a guide protrudes from at least one of the first and second housing toward the other housing to prevent the interconnecting means (4) and the second housing (3) from bending in a given direction.
5. The emergency lighting device according to claim 1 wherein the interconnecting means (4) includes a first connector for electrically connecting the interconnecting means (4) to a printed circuit board (14) arranged in the first housing (2).
6. The emergency lighting device according to claim 1 wherein the electronic circuitry is arranged on a printed circuit board (14) and at least one further electric circuit board (39), and the printed circuit board (14) and the at least one further electric circuit board (39) are connected by a flexible cable.
7. The emergency lighting device according to claim 6 wherein the lighting means (12) is adapted to detachably connect via a connector (34) to at least one of the printed circuit board (14) and the at least one further printed circuit board (39).
8. The emergency lighting device according to claim 6 wherein the interconnecting means (4) comprises a second connector, for electrically connecting the interconnecting means (4) to the energy storage means (13).
9. The emergency lighting device according to claim 1 wherein the electronic circuitry comprises charging means for charging the energy storage device (13), and the charging means is adapted to detect a type of the energy storage means (13).
10. The emergency lighting device according to claim 1 wherein the second housing (3) includes a first end portion (9) opposite to a second end portion, the second end portion being located closer towards the first housing (2), and the first end portion being formed to achieve a bending direction of the interconnecting means (4).
11. The emergency lighting device according to claim 1 wherein a releasable snap-in connector connects the interconnecting means (4) to the second housing (3).
12. The emergency lighting device according to claim 1 wherein the electronic circuitry is arranged on a printed circuit board (14) and at least one further electric circuit board (39), and the printed circuit board (14) and the at least one further electric circuit board (39) are rigid parts of a joint flexible circuit board.
13. The emergency lighting device according to claim 1 wherein the lighting means (12) is designed to hold an interchangeable lens.
14. An emergency lighting device comprising: a first housing (2) adapted to be inserted into and mounted in an opening in a detached ceiling or wall panel; lighting means (12) arranged at the first housing (2); an electronic circuitry accommodated in the first housing (2) for operating the lighting means (12); and a second housing (3) accommodating energy storage means (13), the first housing (2) and the second housing (3) being arranged spaced apart, by an interconnecting means (4) adapted to connect the first housing (2) and the second housing (3) pivotally and to connect the electronic circuitry and the energy storage means (13) electrically; wherein the first housing (2) comprises at least two recess areas (50) and at least two fixing means (8), each comprising a spring coil (51) and a spring arm (54) whereby each said fixing means (8) is mounted in one of the respective recess areas (50).
15. The emergency lighting device according to claim 14 wherein the interconnecting means (4) comprises a hinge adapted to pivotally connect the first housing (2) and the second housing (3) provides one axis of rotation.
16. The emergency lighting device according to claim 14, wherein each said recess area (50) comprises a protuberance on one end and a spring mount with a hole (53) on the other end whereby the spring coil (51) is designed to be pushed into the recess area (50) and onto the protuberance and a tail of the spring arm (54) is designed for insertion through the hole (53).
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The invention will be described in more detail in preferred embodiments with reference to the attached figures, in which
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(11) Throughout the attached figures, same reference numerals denote the same elements. In the description of different figures, the description of elements denoted by the same reference signs is not necessarily repeated for sake of conciseness.
(12) In the following description of embodiments an emergency lighting device 1 as an example is discussed. The invention is, nevertheless not restricted to an emergency lighting device 1, but may be applied to any lighting device including an energy storage means.
(13)
(14) The emergency lighting device 1 comprises a first housing 2 and a second housing 3 which are detachably connected to each other by an interconnecting means 4. The interconnecting means 4 connects the first housing 2 and the second housing 3 in spaced apart manner, so that between the first housing 2 and the second housing 3 are predetermined distance is ensured.
(15) The interconnecting means 4 is essentially a cable including two or more electrically conducting connecting lines in an isolating mantle and being further encapsulated by overmolding. The interconnecting means 4 incorporates a strain relief which is encapsulated by the first housing 2 when being assembled. The interconnecting means 4 of the preferred embodiment also comprises a click-in strain relief for engaging the second housing 3 in order to prevent the interconnecting means 4 being pulled out when the emergency lighting means 1 is removed from a mounting opening in a detached ceiling 32.
(16) According to the embodiment shown in
(17) At least the second straight portion 6 of the interconnecting means 4 can include locking means in order to engage the interconnecting means 4 with a corresponding locking means arranged at the side face of the second housing 3. The interconnecting means 4 can also include a release mechanism for releasing the locking means in order to detach the interconnecting means 4 from the second housing 3. The connection on the first housing side can be realized in the same way or un-detachably.
(18) The second housing 3 also comprises guiding means 10 which guides the interconnecting means 4 into a preferred bending direction when during insertion of the emergency lighting device 1 into the limited space above a detached ceiling 32, a resistance is encountered. For example, the uppermost part of the second housing 3 with its upper first portion 9 reaches a ceiling 31 during inserting the emergency lighting device 1 through a mounting opening in the detached ceiling 32.
(19) The upper side 9 can have a specific shape in order to further support bending the interconnecting means 4, for example comprising rounded edges or an inclined surface along a circumferential portion of the upper side 9. The upper side 9 of the second housing thus can be suitably sloped in order to further support relative bending of the interconnecting means 4 into a predetermined direction.
(20) A guiding means 10 situated at the second housing 3 forces the interconnection means 4 to bend in a direction away from the mains supply cable 21, when mounting the emergency lighting device 1 in a confined space and is discussed with reference to
(21) The first housing 2 comprises lighting means 12 which is preferably formed as a LED head. The first housing 2 further comprises fixing means 8 comprising a spring coil 51 for mounting the emergency lighting device 1 as a recessed luminaire. The first housing 2 comprises at least two recess areas 50. The fixing means 8 is mounted in the recess area 50. The recess area may comprise at least one protuberance 56 on one end. The spring coil 51 of fixing means 8 may be mounted on the protuberance 56.
(22)
(23) An electrical connection between the printed circuit board 39 in the first housing 2 and the energy storage means 13 in the second housing 3 may be established either by means of a rotary joint forming part of the hinge 45 or by means of flexible electrical cable not visible in
(24)
(25) The interconnecting means 4 includes a first connector, for example a micro-USB connector, for connecting to the electronic circuitry in the first housing 2. A strain relief is moulded in the interconnection means 4 and is captured by the housing enclosure of the first housing 2. The interconnecting means 4 includes a further, second connector for connecting to the energy storage means 13, for example via micro-USB connector, at the end of the interconnecting means 4 facing the second housing 3 in an assembled state of the emergency lighting means 1.
(26) In
(27) Preferably are the first printed circuit board 39 and the second printed circuit board 14 formed as two parts of one joint flexible circuit board. In such case the first printed circuit board 39 and the second printed circuit board 14 form rigid parts of the joint flexible circuit board whereby the first printed circuit board 39 and the second printed circuit board 14 are interconnected by a flexible circuit board part. The flexible circuit board part may be formed by polyimide material layer covered by a copper layer and SMB-flex solder mask. The copper layer of the flexible circuit board part may take over function of electrical connection of the first printed circuit board 39 and the second printed circuit board 14 whereby the polyimide material layer may take over function of mechanical connection.
(28) An energy storage means 13 is depicted in
(29) Of course, it is also possible to arrange parts of the electronic circuitry in the second housing. This is particularly advantageous for electronic circuitry which does not form part of a basic configuration of the emergency lighting means 1. Whereas the basic configuration of the emergency lighting means 1 can comprise all essential elements to fulfill the role as an emergency light, additional capabilities such as a digital electronic lighting interface (DALI) interface may be later added by exchanging the second housing 3 and possibly the interconnecting means 4 for adding electronic circuitry implementing those additional functions.
(30) The energy storage means 13 in the second housing can easily be replaced by another energy storage means 13 when the original energy storage means 13 reaches the end of its life expectation or when for a specific application of the emergency lighting device 1 another electric storage capacity is required. By providing the capability of exchanging the entire second housing 3 with the elements contained therein, the basic configuration of the emergency lighting device 1 needs only to take account of the space requirements for implementing the basic functions, whereas the space requirements needed for presumed later additional functions can be satisfied by replacing the second housing 3. This provides for a versatile lighting device 1 at small dimensions but also having great potential for upgrades.
(31)
(32) In
(33) For mounting a recessed luminaire, a usually circular opening is established in the detached ceiling 32. In case of the emergency lighting device 1 according to an embodiment, the opening can be as small as having a diameter of about 40 mm. The invention is of course not limited to such diameter.
(34) In order to mount the emergency lighting device 1, the mains supply line 21 is drawn out of the opening and connected with an electrical clamp to terminals of the first housing 2 of the emergency lighting device 1. Usually the first housing 2 provides some sort of strain relief for fixing the outer cable sheath of the main supply line 21 at the first housing 21. The electrical connection of the emergency lighting device 1 is now accomplished.
(35) Contrary to prior art, only a single flexible mains supply cable 21 needs to be connected, while in prior art, regularly a number of further interconnecting cables between subunits of conventional emergency lighting device particularly suitable for confined spaces have to be connected.
(36) The emergency lighting device 1 is now inserted into the hole beginning with the second housing 3. Advantageously, the second housing 3 has a smaller width than the first housing 2 in order to enable the mains supply cable 21 to also being inserted back through the hole into the space between the detached ceiling 32 and the ceiling 31. In the case depicted in
(37) Embodiments of the emergency lighting device 1 according to the invention allow insertion through holes of 40 mm diameter to void depths as small as 80 mm (as shown as one example in
(38) As shown in
(39) In the example shown in
(40)
(41) In
(42) In the right half of
(43) The lens assembly may be part of interchangeable optics which allow to employ the lighting device 1 as a an antipanic light (basic illumination over a given area), an escape route indicator (pointer implemented via directional light) or a spot light (focused beam towards the floor) without needing to change the driving means or the other peripheral circuitry belonging to the charging means or energy storage means. The interchangeable optics may include a suitable lens to realize a required light scheme and can be supplied as an option to a user of the emergency lighting device 1. Examples for interchangeable optics are shown in
(44) In
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(47) The elongated end 55 of the spring coil 51 is preferably extending in the opposite direction of the spring arm 54. When mounted onto the first housing 2 the elongated end of the spring coil 51 puts a force onto the recess area 50 and the spring arm will move into the direction away from the lighting means 12. When inserted into a detached ceiling 32 as in example of