Luminous false-wall device

Abstract

A luminous false-wall device, comprising: a chassis constituted by at least one profile, the chassis comprising an upper part directed toward a panel to be covered, such as a wall or ceiling, and a lower part; a diffusing canvas fixed on the chassis and stretched on the lower part of the chassis; a light placed between the panel and the canvas configured to emit light in the direction of the canvas; wherein the chassis is provided with means of increasing the light intensity of the light.

Claims

1. A luminous false-wall device comprising: a chassis constituted by at least one profile, the chassis comprising an upper part directed toward a panel to be covered and a lower part; a diffusing canvas fixed on the chassis and stretched on the lower part of the chassis; and a light source placed between the panel and the canvas configured to emit light in the direction of the canvas, wherein the chassis is provided with means of increasing the light intensity of the light, the means of increasing the light intensity comprising a reflective surface suitable for reflecting the incident rays from the light source toward the canvas, and the chassis creates a shaded area on the canvas at a periphery facing the chassis, the reflective surface being configured to redirect part of the rays coming from the light source to the shaded area in order to even out a level of luminosity on an entirety of a surface of the canvas.

2. The luminous false-wall device according to claim 1, wherein each profile has an upper side facing the panel, an external side perpendicular to the upper side, and an internal side facing the external side, the reflective surface being located on the internal side of at least one profile.

3. The luminous false-wall device according to claim 1, wherein the reflective surface has a reflectance in the order of 100% and a transmittance in the order of 0%.

4. The luminous false-wall device according to claim 1, wherein the reflective surface comprises a layer of paint having reflective properties applied on the internal side.

5. The luminous false-wall device according to claim 1, wherein the reflective surface comprises a reflective plate fixed to the internal side.

6. The luminous false-wall device according to claim 5, wherein the reflective plate comprises a mirror.

7. The luminous false-wall device according to claim 2, wherein, for each profile, the internal side directly joins a longitudinal edge of the upper side to a longitudinal edge of the external side.

8. The luminous false-wall device according to claim 7, wherein the internal side comprises a flat surface.

9. The luminous false-wall device according to claim 7, wherein the internal side comprises a concave surface, with the rounded portion oriented toward the interior of the device.

10. The luminous false-wall device according to claim 1, wherein the light source comprises at least one light source of the LED type.

11. The luminous false-wall device according to claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light sources distributed homogeneously across the device.

12. The luminous false-wall device according to claim 1, wherein the canvas comprises a translucent diffusing canvas, comprising at least one of a textile fabric and a PVC, with a light transmission rate of at least 50%.

13. A method for manufacturing light boxes comprising utilizing the luminous false-wall device according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be better understood and other purposes, details, characteristics, and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description given solely by way of an illustrating and non-limiting example and with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

(2) In these drawings:

(3) FIGS. 1 to 5 show perspective views of various examples of false-panel devices on which the present invention may be applied;

(4) FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the light path through part of the false-wall device of this invention;

(5) FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a false-wall device of this invention;

(6) FIGS. 8 to 11 represent various shapes of the profiles' cross-section for the false-wall device of this invention;

(7) FIG. 12 shows the integration of a reflective plate on the internal side of a profile.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) It is to be noted that in the figures, structural and/or functional elements which are common to various embodiments may have identical reference numbers. Thus, unless otherwise indicated, such elements have identical structural and functional properties.

(9) FIG. 1 shows one possible example of luminous false-wall device.

(10) This device contains a chassis 1 constituted by a set of profiles having a complex structure. It is fixed to the vertical walls of a room by screws or any other attachment means.

(11) For example, in order to mount a false-wall on a ceiling, the chassis comprises four profiles extending on the four walls of the room.

(12) A canvas 2 is stretched between these four profiles, at the level of the lower part of the chassis, i.e. the part which is distal to the ceiling. This canvas 2 is provided along its peripheral edges with hook-shaped attachment means 5.

(13) Each profile comprises, in its lower part, a groove 16 with a U-shaped cross-section, defined by two lateral sides 17, 18 and a bottom side 19. The ends of the lateral U-shaped sides, opposed to the bottom side 19, define an aperture for the passage of the hook 5 of the canvas 2 in the groove 16. In order to ensure the hooking of the hook 5 in the groove 16, the internal side of one of the lateral sides has a lip 20 for the longitudinal hooking. In the shown example, the lip 20 is provided on the inner side of the lateral side 17.

(14) Several techniques exist for the hooking of the stretched canvas 2.

(15) Instead of a hook, a beading may be sown on the peripheral edges of the canvas 2. This beading comprises a boss allowing it to be fixed to the lip of the groove.

(16) It is also possible to insert a clip in the groove, the fixing of which still being ensured by the lip. The naked peripheral edges of the canvas 2 are then slid into the clip and retained by pinching.

(17) Other techniques are also encompassed in the scope of the present invention.

(18) In order that the room in which this luminous false-wall device is installed may be lighted, lighting means are provided on the ceiling, and the canvas 2 stretched under the lighting means diffuses the light.

(19) Preferably, this diffusing canvas 2 is translucent, with a light transmission rate of at least 50%. This canvas may be made of textile fabric or PVC, or of any other suitable material.

(20) Another canvas, which will be called sheet 3 to avoid any confusion, may optionally be interposed between the lighting means and the canvas 2. This sheet 3 is also diffusing and translucent, with a light transmission rate of at least 50%, in order to let through a maximum of light. This sheet 3 may serve various functions, namely: a function of protection by preventing insects from dropping on the canvas 2, where they would be visible; an acoustic function, with properties improving the acoustic performance of the room, for example a sound-proofing function; a lighting function, with a homogeneous distribution of the light diffusing through the sheet 3.

(21) This sheet 3 is stretched and fixed to chassis 1 in the same manner as canvas 2, but in another groove 21 located in an upper part of chassis 1, closer to the ceiling. In the example shown, the sheet 3 is provided at its peripheral edges with hooks 6 suitable to be inserted into the groove 21.

(22) This groove 21 has a U-shaped cross-section and is defined by two lateral sides 23, 24 and a bottom side 25.

(23) The hook 6 is retained in the groove 21 by a lip 22 located on the internal side of the lateral wall 23.

(24) In this example, the lateral wall 24 constitutes the upper wall of chassis 1. This wall 24 casts a shadow 7 on the canvas 2 at the vicinity of its peripheral edges. When the canvas 2 is observed from its internal side, a shaded area 7 is seen on the whole perimeter of the canvas 2.

(25) FIG. 2 shows a light box which may be suspended to a ceiling by hooks 15.

(26) This box comprises a chassis 1 of rectangular shape, also formed by an assembly of four profiles. The profiles have a different shape than those of FIG. 1, but their function is identical. Indeed, their purpose is to stretch canvas 2. These profiles have a rectangular cross-section.

(27) In this example, unlike in FIG. 1, the canvas 2 covers entirely the lower part of the chassis, then folds up along its external part so that its hook 5 may be fixed on the upper part.

(28) In this case, the lower part of chassis 1, directly in contact with the canvas, casts a shadow 7 on all the perimeter of the canvas 2, as it prevents the light rays from lighting means 8 to illuminate the perimeter of the canvas 2 located just beneath the chassis.

(29) In order to avoid this, profiles with triangular cross-sections, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, are preferred. This type of cross-section allows light to pass on the perimeter of the canvas.

(30) However, the upper part of the profiles still casts a shadow 7 on the perimeter of the canvas, albeit less obvious than in the case of FIG. 2, but still present.

(31) FIG. 3 shows an example of lighting means 8, consisting of a neon tube fixed to the ceiling 4. However, any kind of lighting means 8 is encompassed in the scope of the present invention, namely ceiling or tile LEDs, less energy-consuming and heat-generating, which is advantageous from a safety viewpoint, in order to avoid fire hazards and degrading canvas 2.

(32) On each of FIGS. 3 to 5, the canvas 2 is stretched on the lower part of chassis 1, and a sheet 3 is stretched on the upper part of chassis 1.

(33) In all cases, these sets of chassis/canvas are adapted to cover a wall of a room, thus being placed vertically, or a ceiling, thus being placed horizontally. The chassis 1 may be fixed directly to ceiling by railings, or indirectly by being suspended, or fixed to the wall by screws as in FIG. 3. The chassis/canvas assembly may also be no more than a light box covering only part of a ceiling or a wall, for decorative purposes. All possible configurations are encompassed in the scope of the present invention.

(34) With reference to FIG. 6, the device according to this invention is shown in detail, with a profile having a triangle shaped cross-section.

(35) More specifically, the profile has an upper side 9 directed toward the panel to cover, an external side 10 and an internal side 11 facing the external side 10, the internal side 11 and external side 10 being joined at the tip 14 of the triangle.

(36) The canvas 2 covers this tip 14 and is fixed in the profile at the level of a groove 26, equivalent to the groove 16 in FIG. 1, made on the external side 10.

(37) A groove 27, made on the internal side of the upper part of the profile, is provided to optionally accommodate a protection sheet 3.

(38) The upper side 9 of the profile casts a shadow 7 on the periphery of canvas 2, as explained previously.

(39) The internal side 11 is coated with a reflective layer. In particular, this reflective surface 28 reflects the light emitted by the lighting means 8. In this example, the lighting means is a LED tile, thus a multiple source device.

(40) The reflective layer may be obtained by applying a coat of specific paint on the internal side 11, or by fixing a reflective plate on the internal side 11, or by fixing a mirror on the internal side 11, or by any other means allowing a reflective surface 28 with total reflection to be obtained, i.e. with a reflectance in the order of 100% and a transmittance in the order of 0%.

(41) FIG. 6 shows different paths of the light emitted by a ceiling light source. In this example, the internal side 11 has a breakage separating a first section 11a from a second section 11b, both sections 11a and 11b having a different reflection angle. However, as will be explained in the description below, it is merely one example among others, and the internal side 11 may well be entirely flat.

(42) Some incident rays i1, i2, i3 directly impact the canvas 2, without touching the profile. Then, they are slightly refracted by the canvas 2, forming refracted rays t1, t2, t3. These rays are present in the shaded area 7, whether the profile has a reflective surface 28 or not.

(43) Other incident rays i7, i8, i9 impact the reflective surface 28, and are reflected toward the canvas 2, and more particularly in the direction of the shaded area 7. These reflected rays r7, r8, r9 are then slightly refracted by the canvas 2, and form the rays t7, t8, t9 illuminating the outside of the canvas. In the prior art, these incident rays i7, i8, i9 were stopped or absorbed by the profile and consequently not reflected. The existence of the reflective surface 28 thus allows the quantity of light rays striking the canvas 2 to be increased.

(44) The incident rays i10, i11, i12 also strike the reflective surface 28 at the level of a section 11b of the internal side 11 having a different angle from the section 11a of the internal side 11 where the rays i4 to i9 strike. This section 11b thus reflects the light under a different angle, so forming the reflected rays r10, r11, r12 hitting the canvas 2, then forming the refracted rays t10, t11, t12 leaving the canvas 2. These rays also strike the shaded area 7, whereas they were stopped by the profile in the prior art.

(45) In this example, rays t1, t2, t3, t7, t8, t9, t10, t11, t12 all strike the periphery of the canvas, whereas in the prior art only rays t1, t2, t3 succeeded to do so. This considerable increase of the number of rays reaching the periphery of canvas 2 allows the shaded area 7 to be strongly abated, or even suppressed.

(46) This reflective surface 28 thus allows the distribution of light on the canvas 2 to be homogenized, in order to improve the aesthetic qualities of the device.

(47) On the other hand, this reflective surface 28 also allows the general level of lighting on the canvas 2 to be increased.

(48) Indeed, for example, the incident rays i4, i5, i6 are reflected by the reflective surface 28, forming reflected rays r4, r5, r6 directed on the canvas 2 outside the shaded area, i.e. in the central area of the canvas 2. These rays are then slightly refracted and form the rays t4, t5, t6 on the outside of the canvas 2. These incident rays i4, i5, i6 were stopped by the profile of the prior art, and are now projected on the canvas 2, thus generating a global increase of the lighting power at the output of canvas 2, even outside the shaded area 7.

(49) This is better represented in FIG. 7, where the incident rays i14, i15 form the reflected rays r14, r15 striking a more central area of canvas 2, before being slightly refracted into rays t14, t15 at the output of canvas 2.

(50) However, it is to be noted that the paths of the light rays are purely indicative and that other angles of incidence, reflection and refraction may be obtained by exploiting numerous parameters, such as the orientation of the light sources, the slope of the internal side 11, the reflection properties of the reflective surface 28, the refractive properties of the canvas 2, etc. The addition of a sheet 3 also changes the path of the incident rays.

(51) In particular, the internal side 11 may have various shapes according to the desired result at the output of the canvas.

(52) In FIG. 8, the internal side 11 of the profile is entirely flat.

(53) In FIG. 9, the internal side 11 of the profile has a breakage 11c separating two flat sections 11a and 11b, illustrating the form shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

(54) In FIG. 10, the internal side 11 has a concave shape, with the rounded part oriented toward the interior of the device. The rounded part corresponds to a quarter of an oval.

(55) In FIG. 11, the internal side 11 has a concave shape, with the rounded part oriented toward the interior of the device. The rounded part corresponds to a quarter of a circle.

(56) Of course, other shapes may be envisioned, in order to better reflect the rays coming from the light sources 8.

(57) Referring to FIG. 12, in the case of a reflective plate 28 the width if which is inferior to that of the internal side 11 of the profile, a recess 29 may be provided on the internal side 11 in order to accommodate the plate 28. The width of the recess is substantially equal to that of the plate 28, so as the external appearance of the profile, on the internal side, is completely smooth, without any asperity. This allows the light to be reflected properly.

(58) The reflective surface 28 may be implemented on all the examples shown in FIGS. 1 to 5. In particular, the internal side 11 of chassis 1 (especially the profiles) may be provided with a reflective surface 28.

(59) The intensity of the light coming out of the canvas 2 will be generally increased.

(60) In addition, the light will be distributed homogeneously on the total surface area of canvas 2, even in the shaded area 7, except for the device of FIG. 2 where the shaded area 7 will remain across the width of the lower part of chassis 1 in contact with the canvas 2.

(61) In the examples described, the chassis 1 forms a rectangle with four profiles so as to adopt the conventional rectangular shape of a ceiling, a wall or a box. However, it is possible to envision a chassis having a circular or oval shape, with one or a plurality of appropriately shaped profiles. This invention encompasses all these embodiments.

(62) Concerning the above description, the optimal dimensional relations of the parts of the invention, including any variations in size, materials, shapes, function and modes of working, assembly and use, are considered as apparent and obvious to the person skilled in the art, and all relations equivalent to those shown in the drawings and those detailed in the description are intended to be included in the present invention.