DE29706568U1 - Lighting device - Google Patents

Description

Description:
Lighting device

The invention relates to a lighting device with optical fibers which are combined at one end to form at least one bundle into which the light from a light source is fed. In particular, the invention relates to a device for feeding light into an edge surface of a flat, essentially transparent pane, in particular a glass or acrylic pane.

Light rays are fed into the edge surfaces of transparent panes for various purposes. For example, German utility model 89 09 067 discloses a light strip for a shelf insert with light-emitting diodes arranged at regular intervals, which is placed on the edge of a transparent pane, on the front surface of which information, for example a label, consisting of an opaque or frosted surface is attached. By feeding light into the edge of the pane, a clearly visible contrast to the information surface is created, and the pane can be used as an information or advertising display. US-PS 5 165 187 shows a similar device, but in which the light is fed in via optical fibers, which are individually attached (e.g. glued) to the edge of the transparent pane. The use of optical fibers has the advantage that a single light source can be used, which radiates the light into the optical fibers combined into a bundle, whereby the light is evenly distributed over this edge surface by the optical fibers fanned out and distributed along the edge surface of the disc.

A further development of these known information or advertising displays, in which the images are etched or milled into the surface of the pane, is evident from the applicant's German utility model 295 06 455. Here, the optical fibers are accommodated and attached in an edge frame of the transparent pane in such a way that they end at an exit surface of the edge frame, which is opposite the edge of the transparent pane. This embodiment has the advantage that a lighting strip is produced with the edge frame, which can be easily attached to the transparent pane. There is no need for the laborious gluing of the individual optical fibers to the edge of the pane.

The lighting unit and the display disc can be manufactured separately as a complete assembly.

The edge edging described in the utility model 295 06 455 has the disadvantage that it was very complex to manufacture. To fix the optical fibers in the edge edging, a metal profile is poured with a synthetic resin. Synthetic resins of this type, which are suitable for binding optical fibers without destroying them, are very expensive. The pouring and setting process is also very labor-intensive and time-consuming.
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In addition, the well-known edge edging can only be used for transparent panes that have at least one exposed edge. It cannot be used universally, for example to illuminate window panes in building facades or even as a separate lighting element.
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The object of the invention is to propose a simple and cost-effective lighting device that can be used universally.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that it comprises at least one elongated holding body which is provided with channels arranged at a distance from one another, into which the other ends of the optical fibers can be inserted and fastened, and in that the holding body can be inserted into a cavity in such a way that its exit surface, into which the exit openings of the channels open, is oriented in the light emission direction, the inlet openings of the channels opening into at least one entry surface of the holding body which is different from the exit surface.

The elongated holding body can be manufactured using a simple and inexpensive process, for example using a plastic injection molding process. The ends of the individual optical fibers, whose opposite ends are supplied with light by the projector, can be inserted into its channels so that the end face of the optical fibers lie in the exit face of the holding body. When using the device according to the invention to supply light to the edge of a pane, the exit face of the holding body lies against the edge face of the pane.

The device according to the invention can also be used as a separate lighting device, for example as a hanging lamp or as a light integrated into a ceiling surface or

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A light strip integrated into the floor surface can be used. If used as a lamp, the holder body can be enclosed in a hollow profile, which forms the lamp body. The optical fibers are fed to this lamp in the form of a coated fiber bundle. Alternatively, the lamp can be attached to a ceiling or wall with a rigid attachment, whereby the optical fiber bundle can be guided to the lamp within the attachment device (for example a hollow rod).

The number and distance of the channels and the exit openings of these channels in the exit surface can be selected depending on the application. Alternatively, a large number of channels with exit openings located relatively close to one another can be provided, which are fully or only partially provided with optical fibers depending on the application.

The optical fibers are preferably fixed in the channels of the holding body by clamping. The channel width should be selected to be slightly smaller than the diameter of an optical fiber. In order to achieve optimal clamping, it is particularly advantageous to use a thermoplastic material to produce the holding body, as such a material has the necessary elastic flexibility to clamp the optical fibers.

The channels should be evenly curved so that the optical fibers, which run essentially in the longitudinal direction within the hollow profile to enclose the edge of the pane, are diverted from this longitudinal direction along the channel extension with a defined curvature into the direction perpendicular to the exit surface of the holding body, i.e. by about 90°. Maintaining a defined, not excessively strong curvature is necessary in order to prevent undesirable attenuation of the light passing through the optical fiber due to excessive curvature or kinking of the optical fiber. When fixing the optical fibers using synthetic resin according to the state of the art, the risk of kinking can never be completely ruled out. In the area of the inlet openings, the channels should run as parallel as possible to the longitudinal direction of the holding body, i.e. form as acute an angle as possible with this longitudinal direction.

If necessary, the inlet openings of one half of the channels can point to one end of the holding body and the inlet openings of the other half of the channels can point to the other end of the holding body. In this case, it is possible to

to supply an optical fiber strand from the first end of the disk edge and a second optical fiber strand from the second end of the disk edge. This is particularly advantageous for particularly long disks.

The outlet openings of the channels should be located as close as possible to the center line of the edge surface of the disc. To achieve this, the holding body can consist of two partial bodies which are joined together along two complementary contact surfaces extending in the longitudinal direction of the holding body. The channels can be formed into at least one of the contact surfaces. Preferably, both contact surfaces have channels. In this way, the total number of channels per unit length of the holding body can be increased.

In a preferred embodiment of the device, the channels in each holding surface are arranged in such a way that their inlet openings point alternately to the left and right ends of the holding body. Since the curvature must not be too great, the channels have a certain minimum extension in the longitudinal direction of the holding body. In order to produce a sufficiently high channel density, two adjacent channels cross each other. In the area of these crossing points, the recess formed in the contact surface to form the channels must have a depth of twice the diameter of the optical fibers so that one optical fiber can be accommodated in each of the two crossing channels and the two optical fibers can be completely sunk into the channels.

A lens can be provided in the area of the outlet openings of the channels, with which the beam angle of the optical fibers can be varied. The lens should be used in particular if the lighting device is not to be used to supply light to the edge of a pane but to illuminate a room.

When attaching the holding body to the edge surface of the disc, an inversion gel can be applied between the exit surface of the holding body and this edge surface. This inversion gel prevents attenuation of the light fed in, which would occur if the light from the exit surface of the optical fiber were fed into the edge surface of the disc via a short air-filled section.

The two partial bodies mentioned are preferably provided with aligned holes for receiving a connecting screw. Furthermore, interlocking connecting elements, in particular pins and pin receptacles, can be provided on the contact surfaces of the partial bodies that lie against one another. The ends of the partial bodies can be provided with interlocking connecting elements that extend either in the longitudinal direction or to the outside of the partial bodies. In this way, the partial bodies can be extended in the longitudinal direction by adding further partial bodies. As will be explained further below in the description of the drawing, the individual connecting elements and holes can be arranged on a single embodiment of the partial bodies in such a way that this embodiment forms the two partial bodies that are opposite one another and ensures that the connecting elements and holes fit precisely in relation to one another.

On the outer surfaces of the holding bodies, locking receptacles can be provided, which interact with locking bodies within the hollow profile so that the holding body is fixed in its position within the hollow profile.

A special hollow profile, which is intended for edging a pane that forms a display surface, is divided lengthwise and consists of two partial profiles. These partial profiles are also screwed together using connecting screws that pass through the holes in the locking bodies. The two partial profiles should have locking bodies that engage in complementary locking recesses in the pane of the display device. Depending on the length and depth of the engagement area, a firm connection can be created between the hollow profile and the pane. The hollow profile can even serve as a fastening device for the pane, e.g. on a wall or ceiling of a room.

In the area opposite the pane holder, the partial profiles have back bars that are essentially firmly attached to one another. A receiving channel for a seal should be provided within the back bars of the partial profiles to prevent dust or moisture from penetrating the hollow profile.

As already mentioned at the beginning, a significant advantage of using the holder body is the possibility of such a lighting device being universally applicable and also being able to be used with conventional window surrounds, for example with

Mirror frames or picture frames but also with the frames of window panes, in building facades. Any hollow frame profile is suitable for accommodating a holding body according to the invention. Since modern external windows generally use insulating glass panes which have two panes parallel to one another, the holding body is designed so that its exit surface rests against the edge surface of one of the two panes of the insulating glass pane. A clamping element is preferably provided which fixes the holding body within the hollow profile in such a way that its exit surface rests against the edge surface of the pane.

Due to the spatial conditions within a hollow profile for enclosing a conventional insulating glass pane, it may be necessary to arrange the optical fiber bundle in a cavity between the two panes of the insulating glass pane, so that the ends of the optical fibers, which essentially end on the center line of the edge surface of one of the two panes, must be deflected by the holding body not only in the center plane of the pane, but also transversely to the pane. In this case, the entry surface of the holding body is at right angles to the exit surface of the holding body. The first part of the holding body is designed as a quarter of a round rod, with the contact surface forming the cylindrical outer surface. The second part of the body also has a 90° spanning part of a cylindrical outer surface as a contact surface, but here it is concave. The outer contour of the second part of the body is to be selected depending on the spatial conditions within the hollow profile that forms the pane frame.

Further advantages and features of the invention emerge from the following drawing description. The drawings show in

Fig. 1 is an exploded diagram of a first embodiment of the invention with a hollow profile consisting of two partial profiles,

Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the device of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the device of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention and
Fig. 5 is a sectional drawing of the device from Fig. 4.

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The device shown in Fig. 1 to 3 comprises two partial profiles 1, e.g. made of aluminum, to form a hollow profile 2. To seal the hollow profile 2, the partial profiles 1 have back webs 3 that abut against one another. Parallel to the back webs 3, retaining webs 4 are arranged, which together with the back webs 3 form a receiving channel for a sealing strip 5 made of flexible plastic or rubber.

The side of the hollow profile 2 opposite the back webs 4 is open. Parallel to the lower edges 6, a locking body 7 in the form of a holding web is formed on the inside of each partial profile 1, which engages in a locking recess 8 in the form of a longitudinal groove on one of the outer surfaces of a transparent pane 9. Another web-shaped locking body 10 engages in a groove-shaped locking receptacle 11, which is arranged on the outer surface of a partial body 12, which forms a holding body 13 according to the invention with an opposite identical partial body 12.

The holding body 13 can be made in any length and consists in each section of two partial bodies 12, which lie against each other at their contact surfaces 14. Curved channels 15 are formed in the contact surfaces 14, which are intended to accommodate the end section of an optical fiber 16. It can be seen that successive channels 15 are curved in opposite directions, so that the inlet openings 17 for the optical fibers each point to the other end of the holding body 13. It can be seen that in Fig. 3 the channels 15 are arranged more densely than in Fig. 1. In this way, crossing points 18 of the channels 15 are created, at which a channel depth is to be provided that corresponds to twice the diameter of the optical fibers 16, so that neither of the two optical fibers protrudes from the plane of the contact surface 14 of the partial body when the channels 15 are completely occupied.

The exit openings 19 of the channels 15 lie on the exit surface 20 of the holding body 13 essentially on a straight line, namely on the center line of the exit surface 20. Likewise, the entry openings 17 of the channels 15 lie essentially on the center line of the entry surface 21 of the holding body. As can be seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the exit surface 20 of the holding body 13 lies flush against the edge surface 22 of the transparent pane 9. In order to achieve better light introduction from the optical fibers 16 into the transparent pane 9,

an inversion gel is applied to the interface between the edge surface 22 of the transparent pane 9 and the exit surface 20 of the holding body 13.

As can be seen in particular in Fig. 1, the ends of the partial bodies 12 of the holding body 13 have, on the one hand, a recess 23 on the inside in which small locking holes 24 are arranged, and, on the other hand, a recess 25 on the outside in which small locking pins 26 are arranged. The partial bodies 12 can thus be extended as often as desired by adding another partial body 12. On their contact surfaces 14, the partial bodies 12 have, on the one hand, a pin 27 and, on the other hand, a pin receptacle 28. The pin receptacle 28 is offset from the pin 27 by a certain distance, so that identical partial bodies 12 can be used to form both halves of the holding body 13, the partial bodies 12 being offset from one another by the distance mentioned. The distance is preferably one third of the total length of the partial body 12. A bore 29 is arranged offset by a further third of the partial body length from the pin receptacle 28, which is intended to accommodate a connecting screw. The partial profiles 1 of the hollow profile 2 also have screw receptacles 30, which are arranged on the partial profiles 1 at a distance equal to the length of a partial body 12 of the holding body 13. The partial profiles 1 and the partial bodies 12 can thus be connected to one another by means of connecting screws 31 arranged at regular intervals, with both the sealing strip 5 and the transparent pane 9 being held firmly in the hollow profile 2.

It should be noted that the locking and connecting elements shown in Fig. 3 do not exactly match those previously described in connection with Fig. 1. The connecting elements at the ends of the partial bodies 12 are smaller here and no pin 27 and no pin receptacle 28 are provided. The partial bodies 12 are attached to one another exclusively by a connecting screw which extends through the bore 29.
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Furthermore, a fixing tab 32 can be seen in Fig. 1, which can be inserted into a tab holder 33 that is formed in the contact surface 14 of the partial body 12. The fixing tab 32 serves to fix the optical fibers 16 in a half-space of the hollow profile above the holding body 13 and below the holding web 4. The optical fiber bundles can also be fixed in any other suitable way, for example by means of an adhesive tape within the hollow profile 2.

The optical fibers 16 are combined into a bundle within the hollow profile 2 and guided out of the hollow profile 2. Their ends are arranged opposite a light source, which feeds the light in. If optical fibers 16 are guided out of the hollow profile 2 in the two opposite longitudinal directions of the holding body 13, the optical fiber bundles can either be subsequently brought together again or guided to two different light sources. The use of different light sources has the advantage that different light colors or light brightnesses can be generated in different areas of the transparent pane 9.

Figures 4 and 5 show an alternative embodiment of the light feed device according to the invention.

Here, the light is fed into a pane 34 of an insulating glazing, which includes a second pane 35, which is arranged parallel to the first pane 34 via a spacer 36. The insulating glazing is attached to a building facade using a conventional window frame. In the present case, Fig. 5 shows a rigid frame for two insulating glass panes. It consists of a post 37 firmly anchored in the building facade, to which two insulating glass panes are attached via clamps 38. On the side of the insulating glass pane opposite the post 37 there is a frame 39.

The holding body 40 according to the invention is arranged on the edge surface 41 of the first pane 34 of an insulating glass pane. The hollow profile 56 in the sense of the invention, into which the holding body 40 according to the invention and the relevant pane 34 can be inserted, is formed by the clamps 38 and the post 37. The holding body 40 consists of two partial bodies 42, 43. The convex partial body 42 has the shape of a quarter rod with a 90° spanning cylindrical surface, which forms the contact surface 44 of the partial body 42. The concave partial body 43 has a concave contact surface 45. Channels 46, 47 for receiving the optical fibers 16 are provided in both contact surfaces 44, 45.

Due to the cylindrically curved contact surfaces 44,45 of the partial bodies 42,43, the ends of the optical fibers 16 are diverted from the entry surfaces 48 of the holding body 40, which run parallel to the pane plane, to the exit surfaces 49 resting on the edge surface 41 of the first pane 34 of the insulating glazing.

The inlet openings 59, 60 and the outlet openings 57,57 are therefore located in two surfaces 48,49 that are at right angles to one another.

The holding bodies 40 are fixed by two clamping elements 51, 52. The first clamping element 51 is arranged between the two panes 34, 35 of the insulating glass pane. An elastic band 53 is arranged on the back of the first clamping element 51, which ensures that the clamping element 51 is held firmly between the panes 34, 35. An end section 54 of the first clamping element 51 engages in a holding groove 55 of the convex part body 42 and thus ensures that it rests firmly against the edge surface 41 of the pane 34.

The second clamping element 52 is designed in the form of an angle strip, which is positively connected to one end of the first clamping element 51. The second clamping element 52 is pressed against the outer surface of the first disk 34 via one of the clamps 38. The angle of the second clamping element 52 encloses the outer surfaces of the concave part body 43.

Reference list: Partial profile 1 Hollow profile 2 Back bar 5 3 Holding bridge 4 Sealing tape 5 lower edge 6 Locking body 7 Recess 10 8th transparent pane 9 Locking body 10 Locking mechanism 11 Partial body 12 Holding body 15 13 Contact surface 14 channel 15 Optical fiber 16 Entrance opening 17 Crossing point 20 18 Outlet opening 19 Exit area 20 Entrance area 21 Edge area 22 ₍ inside recess 25 23 Rest hole 24 external recess 25 Locking pin 26 cone 27 Tenon holder 30 28 drilling 29 Screw holder 30 Connecting screw 31 Fixing tab 32 Tab holder 35 33 first disc 34 second disc 35

36 Spacers 37 post 38 Clamp 39 Frame 5 40 Holding body 41 Edge area 42 convex body 43 concave partial body 44 convex contact surface 10 45 concave contact surface 46 channel 47 channel 48 Entrance area 49 Exit area 15 50 51 first clamping element 52 second clamping element 53 elastic band 54 End section 20 55 Retaining groove 56 Hollow profile 57 Outlet opening 58 Outlet opening 59 Entrance opening 25 60 , entrance opening
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Claims (21)

Expectations: 1. Lighting device with optical fibers (16) which are combined at one end to form at least one bundle into which the light from a light source is fed, characterized in that it comprises at least one elongated holding body (13, 40) which is provided with channels (15; 46, 47) arranged at a distance from one another, into which the other ends of the optical fibers (16) can be inserted and fastened, and that the holding body (13, 40) can be inserted into a cavity in such a way that its exit surface (20, 49), into which the exit openings (19; 57, 58) of the channels (15; 46, 47) open, is oriented in the light emission direction, the entry openings (17; 59, 60) of the channels being in at least one entry surface (48) of the holding body (13, 40) which is different from the exit surface (20; 49). flow into. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that for feeding light into an edge surface (22,41) of a flat, substantially transparent pane (9,34), in particular a glass or acrylic glass pane, the exit surface (20,49) of the holding body (13,40) rests against this edge surface (22,41). 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the width of the channels (15; 46, 47) for clampingly receiving the optical fibers (16) is slightly smaller than the diameter of an optical fiber (16). 4. Device according to one of the preceding claims , characterized in that the channels (15) are uniformly curved so that their center line in the region of the inlet opening (17; 59, 60) runs at an acute angle of less than 45° to the longitudinal direction of the holding bodies (13; 40) and that their center line in the region of the outlet opening (19; 57, 58) runs essentially perpendicular to the outlet surface (49) of the holding body (13; 40).
30 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that in the region of the inlet openings (17; 59, 60) the center lines of a part of the channels (15; 46, 47) are inclined towards the first end of the holding body (13; 40) and the center lines of the other part of the channels (15; 46, 47) are inclined towards the second end of the holding body (13; 40). 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outlet openings (19; 57, 58) open essentially along a line on the outlet surface (20; 49) of the holding body (13, 40) which lies opposite the center line of the edge surface (22, 41) of the disc (9, 34) when the holding body (13, 40) and disc (9, 34) are accommodated in the hollow profile (2, 56). 7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding bodies (13; 40) consist of two partial bodies (12; 42, 43) which are joined together along two complementary contact surfaces (14; 44, 45) extending in the longitudinal direction of the holding body (13; 40), the channels (15) being formed in at least one of the contact surfaces (14; 44, 45). 8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that two channels (15) in a contact surface (14), the center lines of which are inclined in the region of the inlet openings (17) towards the two different ends of the holding body (13), cross each other, the channel depth starting from the contact surface (12) at the crossing point corresponding to twice the diameter of an optical fiber (16). 9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a receptacle for a lens is provided in the region of the outlet openings (19; 57, 58) of the channels (15; 46, 47). 10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an inversion gel is applied between the exit surface (20; 49) of the holding body (13; 40) and the edge surface (22, 41) of the disc (9, 34) to reduce the light feed losses. 11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the partial bodies (12) are provided with aligned bores (29) for receiving a connecting screw (31). 12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the partial bodies (12) are provided on their mutually abutting contact surfaces (14) with interlocking connecting elements, in particular a pin (27) and a pin receptacle (28). 13. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the partial bodies (12) of the holding bodies (13) are provided at their ends with connecting elements (23, 24; 25, 26) which can be inserted into one another, so that they can be extended in the longitudinal direction by adding a further partial body (12). 14. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding bodies (13) have locking receptacles (11) on their outer surfaces, which interact with locking bodies (10) within the hollow profile (2). 15. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hollow profile (2) is provided on its inner surfaces with locking bodies (7) which are intended to engage in locking recesses (8) on the outer surfaces of the disc (9) in the vicinity of its edge surface (22). 16. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hollow profile (2) is divided in the longitudinal direction and consists of two partial profiles (1). 17. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the partial profiles (1) are provided with substantially mutually opposing back webs (3) in the region opposite the receptacle for the pane (9) and that they have a receiving channel for receiving a sealing strip (5) within the back webs (3). 18. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hollow profile (56) is designed as a frame profile for receiving a transparent pane such as a window pane. 19. Device according to claim 18, characterized in that the window pane is an insulating glass pane with two panes (34, 35) parallel to one another, the exit surface (49) of the holding body (40) resting against the edge surfaces (41) of one (34) of the two panes ,. . O7G961 20. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one clamping element (51 or 52) is provided for fixing the holding body (40) within the hollow profile (56). 21. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the entry surface (48) of the holding body (40) is arranged at right angles to the exit surface (49) of the holding body (40), wherein the contact surfaces (44; 45) of the two partial bodies (42; 43) run along a quarter of a cylinder surface and wherein the first partial body (42) has the shape of a quarter of a round rod, the two flat surfaces of which form at least part of the entry surface (48) and the exit surface (49).