WO2004011849A1

WO2004011849A1 - A lighting device with an electrified track and with high-efficiency lighting elements

Info

Publication number: WO2004011849A1
Application number: PCT/IT2002/000502
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fabrizio Favilli; Gabriele Biancotto
Original assignee: L & S S.R.L.
Priority date: 2002-07-30
Filing date: 2002-07-30
Publication date: 2004-02-05
Also published as: AU2002330745A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lighting device with an electrified track and with high-efficiency lighting elements, comprising a profiled body (1) which defines means for releasable engagement with a contact element (4) supporting at least one light source. The distinguishing feature of the invention is that the light source is a LED- type lighting element (10) and the contact element (4) comprises a plate (4a) which supports the LED-type lighting element (10) and defines electrically- conductive portions (7) which can be arranged in contact with the electrical conductors (8) provided in the profiled body (1 ).

Description

A lighting device with an electrified track and with high-efficiency lighting elements

Technical field

The present invention relates to a lighting device with an electrified track and with high-efficiency lighting elements. Technological background

As is known, electrified bars are already used in the lighting field and are constituted in general by profiled sections, inside which seats are defined for housing electrical conductors, and which have further seats for the mechanical engagement of a lighting body which can be positioned freely at any point on the track.

In the solutions of the prior art which have electrified tracks or bars, it is possible at the moment to use only incandescent lamps or halogen lamps and, because of the types of lamps which necessarily have to be used, they do not fully solve the various lighting problems. Lighting elements of the LED type, which are used, for example, for lighting in furniture and kitchens and which have a particularly good type of light, as well as "sport ring" LEDs, which have a plurality of lighting elements distributed on a single plate in a manner such as to have a characteristic illumination which is

, optimal in many situations, are also known commercially. However, lamps of this type have the disadvantage of having particularly rigid and restrictive elements for connection to the supports so that their installation becomes problematical in many situations and, moreover, is not such as to allow free positioning of the light sources. Description of the invention The aim of the invention is precisely to eliminate the disadvantages discussed above, providing a lighting device with an electrified track and with high-efficiency lighting elements which enables the types of lamps usable with the tracks to be extended considerably, thus achieving a considerable improvement in lighting quality. Another object of the present invention is to provide a track lighting device in which the configuration and aesthetic type of the lamp can be changed, without the need to change the technical connection characteristics. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a lighting device which, owing to its particular constructional features, can provide very extensive guarantees of reliability and safety in use.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an electrified track with high-efficiency lighting elements which can easily be produced from conventional commercially-available materials and which is also competitive from a purely economic point of view.

The aim set forth above, as well as the objects mentioned and others which will become clearer from the following, are achieved by a lighting device with an electrified track and with high-efficiency lighting elements according to the invention, comprising a profiled body defining means for releasable engagement with a contact element supporting at least one light source, characterized in that the at least one light source is a LED-type lighting element and in that the contact element comprises a plate supporting the LED-type lighting element and defining electrically-conductive portions which can be arranged in contact with electrical conductors provided in the profiled body. Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages will become clearer from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a lighting device with an electrified track and with high-efficiency lighting elements, described by way of non-limiting example with the aid of the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 shows the lighting device with the profiled body, shown sectioned transversely,

- Figure 2 is a schematic, perspective view of the lighting device with the plate contact,

- Figure 3 is a perspective view of the lighting device with a lighting element housed in a casing for connection to the profiled body,

- Figure 4 is a schematic, perspective view from below, showing the lighting element positioned in the casing, - Figure 5 is a perspective view of the lighting element from above, showing the foot for connection to the profiled body, and

- Figure 6 shows the lighting element with the casing, schematically and in section. Preferred embodiments of the invention.

A lighting device with an electrified track and with high-efficiency lighting elements according to the invention, is described with reference to the drawings mentioned and, in particular to Figures 1 and 2; the lighting device comprises a profiled body, generally indicated 1 , which is advantageously substantially C- shaped in cross-section with an open portion partially closed by lips 2 which are resiliently yielding since they are made of elastomeric material, such as synthetic mouldings. Defined inside the profiled body 1 are means for releasable engagement with a contact element, generally indicated 4, which supports a light source.

The engagement means are preferably formed by an engagement seat 5. A first important feature of the invention is that the light source is constituted by a LED-type lighting element, indicated 10, which projects from the resilient lips 2, thus enabling access to the interior of the profiled body which constitutes the track to be closed against dust and dirt whilst permitting easy movement of the assembly.

The contact 4 is preferably formed by a plate 4a which has on its surface, a printed circuit defining electrically-conductive portions, the conductive surfaces 7 of which can be positioned in the region of electrical conductors 8 which are provided inside the profiled body 1 in order to perform the electrical connection of the lighting element 10. The conductive surfaces 7 form "flash"-type contacts and are gold-plated to a thickness of 35 //m.

A high-dissipation material known by the trade name THERMACLED, covered by a ceramic insulator processed under vacuum, is used, for example, to form the plate 4a, permitting good electrical insulation between the contacts 7 and rapid heat dissipation. Moreover, a layer of silk-screen printing ink is interposed between the two contacts 7, covering the ceramic insulation, to insulate the two contacts 7 from one another, thus achieving a degree of insulation of 6000 V. The LED 10 is fixed to the plate 4a by means of a two-part, thermally- conductive glue and is soldered by means of a tin-lead alloy. The LED 10 is supplied with energy with the interposition of an electrical resistance (not shown) to limit the current supplied to the LED 10 and thus to enable several LEDs 10, mounted on different plates 4a, to be mounted in parallel. To keep the conductive surfaces 7 correctly in contact with the conductor

8, a resilient projection 15 is provided inside the profiled body and, in practice, is formed by a bridge which joins the opposed inside edges of the profiled body 1 and engages a central portion of the plate 4a, which is thus kept pressed against the conductors 8, forming a firm contact therewith. The plate 4a which supports the LED can be positioned inside the profiled body simply by sliding, since it is fitted in from the exterior and is brought to the desired position simply by sliding.

The arched bridge in practice forms a spring which maintains the electrical contact for the LED.

With reference to Figures 3 to 6, a lighting element, again formed by a LED 10 supported by the plate 4a, is provided and is housed inside a casing, indicated 20 and constituted by a base 21 connected to which is a cover 22 which defines the opening 23, through which the LED projects.

The casing also has a foot 30 which permits connection to a general track, indicated 31 , which is electrified. The foot 30 is constituted by an oblong body 33 which has one dimension such that it can be inserted between arms 32 of the track 31 , and a larger, transverse dimension so that it can be locked beneath the arms 32 by rotation through 90°.

The casing 20 has the characteristic that it defines, in its interior, connection contacts, indicated 40, which engage the conductive surfaces 7 of the plate 4a and project to the exterior, defining arc-like contact elements 41 which extend in the region of the foot 30 and can be arranged in electrical contact with the conductors that are provided on the track 33, as shown in Figure 3.

Resilient plates 35 are also provided inside the casing and have the function of maintaining the correct position of the element for contact with the lighting element inside the casing.

It is pointed out that the casing can act as a decorative element which may adopt any desired shape, for example, a stylized flower corolla. It is clear from the foregoing description that the invention achieves the objects proposed and, in particular, it is stressed that the invention provides a lighting device with an electrified track which makes it possible to use LED-type lighting elements particularly advantageously.

Claims

1. A lighting device with an electrified track and with high-efficiency lighting elements, comprising a profiled body (1 ) defining means for releasable engagement with a contact element (4) supporting at least one light source, characterized in that the at least one light source is a LED-type lighting element (10) and in that the contact element (4) comprises a plate (4a) supporting the LED-type lighting element (10) and defining electrically-conductive portions (7) which can be arranged in contact with electrical conductors (8, 40) provided in the profiled body (1 ).

2. A lighting device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the profiled body (1 ) is substantially C-shaped and defines an opening delimited by a pair of opposed, resiliently deformable lips (2).

3. A lighting device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, on the plate (4a), a printed circuit defining the electrically-conductive portions (7).

4. A lighting device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the profiled body (1) has, in its interior, a bridge element (15) suitable for acting as a spring in order to exert a resilient pressure on the plate (4a) in order to keep the electrically-conductive portions (7) in contact with the electrical conductors (8, 40).

5. A lighting device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plate (4a) with the LED-type lighting element (10) can be housed in a casing (20) which can be connected releasably to an electrified track (31 ).

6. A lighting device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the casing (20) defines an engagement foot (30) with an oblong body (33) having one dimension which is suitable for permitting its insertion in an opening of the electrified track (31 ), the other dimension being larger to allow the foot (30) to be locked in the electrified track (31 ) by their relative rotation.

7. A lighting device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, inside the casing (20), auxiliary contacts (40) which can be arranged in contact with the electrically-conductive portions (7) and which have respective arc-like contact portions (41) that are accessible from the exterior in order to be put in contact with the conductors of the electrified track (31 ).

8. A lighting device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, inside the casing (20), resilient plates (35) for keeping the plate (4a) pressed resiliently against the auxiliary contacts (40).

9. A lighting device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the casing (20) is shaped as a decorative element.

10. A device according to Claim 9 in which the casing (20) is associated with the foot (30) interchangeably.