Lighting system and vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a lighting device and a vehicle equipped therewith. The lighting device (1) comprises a battery light (10) and a storage compartment (2,3) in which the battery light (10) is received or can be received in such a way that the battery light (10) is largely surrounded by the storage compartment (2,3) and only a small part of the surface (11) of the battery light (10) is freely accessible.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a lighting device and a vehicle equipped therewith.

[0002] When using vehicles, it may often be necessary to have a light source available in addition to the lighting systems installed in or on the vehicle to generate brightness inside and / or outside the vehicle.

[0003] This is especially true when using caravans or camping vehicles. To increase flexibility, battery-powered lights equipped with a battery storage system can be used anywhere.

[0004] The current battery-powered lights have the disadvantage that they cannot be stored in a predefined location when not in use. As a result, they take up unnecessary space during transport in the vehicle and move around while driving. This can increase the risk of injury in the event of an accident.

[0005] DE 20 2018 002 900 U1 discloses a battery-powered interior light, particularly for mobile homes or caravans, that is attached to a base by means of a magnetic connection in the form of a ball joint. The battery-powered light is charged via two contacts in the base, via a contactless charging device in the base, or via an external charging cable in the base. Thanks to the magnetic attachment, the battery-powered light can be used as a ceiling light or table lamp. The battery-powered light has a winding mechanism, whereby the battery-powered light switches from a concentrated light emission to a diffused light emission when extended.

[0006] The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing a lighting device and a motor vehicle equipped therewith, which enable lighting in a simple and cost-effective manner, flexibly and with little space requirement while being safely stored.

[0007] The object is achieved according to the invention by a lighting device according to claim 1 and by a vehicle according to claim 9. Advantageous embodiments of the lighting device are specified in subclaims 2 to 8, and an advantageous embodiment of the vehicle is specified in subclaim 10.

[0008] A first aspect of the invention is a lighting device comprising a battery-powered light and a storage compartment in which the battery-powered light is accommodated or can be accommodated in such a way that the battery-powered light is largely surrounded by the storage compartment and only a small part of the surface of the battery-powered light is freely accessible.

[0009] The small part of the battery light that is accessible may be a part of the surface that is smaller than a part of the surface of the battery light that is surrounded by the storage compartment and that accordingly obstructs accessibility to the surface of the battery light.

[0010] A storage compartment within the meaning of the invention can be any structure that partially surrounds the surface of the battery-powered light, and thus a holding device for fixing the battery-powered light and / or also a cladding element or a cladding system, a housing, a piece of furniture or the like in which the battery-powered light is or can be arranged.

[0011] The battery-powered light can be switched on and off using at least one control element. In one embodiment of the battery-powered light, the battery-powered light can be set to different brightness levels and / or different light colors using the control element(s). If necessary, the adjustment can be continuous. The control element(s) can be designed as a switch, optionally as a button, such as a touch button.

[0012] The lighting device allows for very space-saving and safe storage of the battery light in the vehicle.

[0013] The battery-powered light can have an elongated shape, which is limited on the longer side by at least one side surface and on its shorter sides by one end face each.

[0014] When the battery-powered light is stored in the storage compartment, one of its two ends can be accessible. Accessibility, as defined by the invention, means that it is possible to manually grasp the battery-powered light or a component thereof in this area. Accessibility is therefore also ensured when only a small portion of the battery-powered light is exposed from the storage compartment.

[0015] Furthermore, at least one side surface of the battery-powered light can be configured to transmit light. This side surface can, for example, be the cylindrical surface of a battery-powered light that is generally shaped essentially as a cylinder. In this embodiment, the battery-powered light is further configured such that a lamp or the like for emitting light is arranged behind the side surface.

[0016] It may be that the side surface is not fully designed to transmit light.

[0017] For example, the battery-powered light can have a cylindrical shape, where the length of the cylinder is larger than the diameter of the cylinder's end faces. When stored in the storage compartment when not in use, only one end face is freely accessible. The advantages of this design are a secure storage position when not in use, as well as a small footprint and good accessibility, as the battery-powered light is both visible at all times and easily and freely accessible via one end face.

[0018] At least one of the two end faces of the battery-powered light can be designed as a stand for setting up the battery-powered light.

[0019] The installation side can be one of the end faces of the aforementioned cylindrical shape. The side surface of this cylindrical shape runs in a different plane and / or in a different space than the installation side.

[0020] In an alternative embodiment, the battery-powered light has a cuboid shape with rectangular side surfaces. At least one of the side surfaces can be configured for light emission. This means that in a cuboid-shaped design, at least one of the larger, rectangular side surfaces is equipped with a luminous surface.

[0021] In this embodiment, too, the storage position when not in use is such that only one of the smallest, rectangular side surfaces is freely accessible.

[0022] Furthermore, the battery-powered light can be designed such that at least one of the two end faces is not designed as an illuminating surface. For example, an end face designed as a support face can be configured not as an illuminating surface and thus for transmitting or emitting light. However, the invention is not limited to this embodiment; it is also possible to design the battery-powered light with at least one end face as an illuminating surface.

[0023] In this embodiment, it is accordingly possible for the battery light to illuminate via its front light even when it is in the vehicle and thus to contribute to the illumination of the interior of the vehicle.

[0024] In an advantageous embodiment of the battery-powered light, the operating element or elements can be arranged on the front surface which is opposite the front surface of the battery-powered light which is freely accessible in the stowed position.

[0025] In a design with an additional luminous surface on at least one of the end faces, the battery-powered light can be designed in such a way that it is possible to select which of the existing luminous surfaces is to be illuminated in the position of use.

[0026] A further control element can be provided for this purpose. In an advantageous embodiment, the illuminated areas can be adjusted or switched independently of each other by combining the two control elements.

[0027] In an advantageous embodiment, it is also provided that the storage compartment is set up as a charging device for the battery-powered light.

[0028] Charging the battery-powered light in the stowed position in the storage compartment can be done contactlessly, for example, via inductive charging. Alternatively, charging occurs via contact surfaces on the outside of the battery-powered light. In such a design, the battery-powered light and / or the storage compartment can have a guide that allows the battery-powered light to be stored in the storage compartment in such a way that the contact surfaces of the battery-powered light and the storage compartment are securely in contact. The advantage of the charging option is its dual function of storage and charging.

[0029] Furthermore, the storage compartment and the battery light can be designed in such a way that the battery light can be fixed to or in the storage compartment in a position in which the battery light partially protrudes from the storage compartment.

[0030] In this way, the battery-powered light can be held by the storage compartment and at the same time emits light, for example downwards towards a table surface, so that the battery-powered light also functions as a table lamp or desk lamp.

[0031] The power supply for the battery light can be provided via the battery of the battery light, and / or via an inductive power supply between the storage compartment and the battery light and / or via sliding contacts between the storage compartment and the battery light.

[0032] A further embodiment provides that the storage compartment and the battery light are designed in such a way that when the battery light is completely inserted into the storage compartment, the lighting operation of the battery light is automatically stopped.

[0033] This has the advantage that the battery light in the storage compartment is safely switched off.

[0034] Furthermore, the battery light can be designed to indicate its charge level by means of a display device.

[0035] This can be done, for example, by an automatic display via an illuminated area of ​​the battery light, e.g. by flashing the illuminated area. In another version of the charge level indicator, the display of the charge level can be initiated via the control element. After pressing the control element, the brightness of the illuminated area is adjusted for a short period of time so that this allows a conclusion to be drawn about the charge level. The actuation differs from the other operating steps and can, for example, be a long press of the control element. For example, the battery light can briefly shine at a very high brightness when the charge level is high and at a low brightness when the charge level is low.

[0036] Furthermore, the storage compartment can have a display device which is designed such that it is visible even when the battery light is stored in the storage compartment. The display device can have a signaling device that the battery light is in contact with the charging connection in the storage compartment. The display device can be designed as a lamp. In one embodiment, the display is designed as a light strip, e.g. linearly next to the storage compartment or in a ring around the storage compartment as an light ring. The current charge level of the battery light is displayed along the length of the light display. In an additional or alternative embodiment, the display device directly shows the charge level of the battery light alphanumerically as a percentage. The advantage of these designs is that the charge level is easy to see.

[0037] The advantage of the charge level indicator in all versions is reliable signaling without the need to install or operate additional controls. In another version, the battery light has an illuminated symbol or sign that illuminates to indicate the charge level.

[0038] A further advantageous embodiment of the lighting device provides that the battery-powered light has at least one motion sensor which is designed to activate the battery-powered light when movement is detected.

[0039] The battery-powered light can be designed in such a way that the motion detector can be activated or deactivated via at least one control element with corresponding operating logic, whereby the continuous light of the battery-powered light can be set if necessary. Furthermore, the battery-powered light can be designed in such a way that the lighting duration can be set via the operating logic.

[0040] In another embodiment, the battery-powered light can also include a light sensor, so that motion control only occurs at a certain level of dusk. The threshold at which the motion detector is activated at dusk can also be configured via the operating logic. The advantage of the motion detector is that, in addition to functioning as a continuous light, e.g., on a dining table, the battery-powered light can also be used as a surveillance light, e.g., when a person is in the vicinity of a vehicle equipped with the battery-powered light at night.

[0041] Furthermore, the battery-powered light can feature an additional charging port for a charging cable. This has the advantage that the battery-powered light can be operated for very long periods, exceeding the operating time of the existing batteries.

[0042] An alternative or additional embodiment provides for at least one battery of the battery-powered light to be designed as a so-called removable battery, allowing it to be easily and quickly replaced with another battery. The advantage of this solution is a longer operating time for the battery-powered light, which is independent of a charging cable attached to the battery-powered light.

[0043] In a further embodiment, the battery-powered light has at least one connection for supplying electrical power to other battery-powered devices. This at least one connection can be embodied, for example, as a USB port.

[0044] When not in use, the battery-powered light can be stored in the storage compartment in such a way that removal from the storage compartment requires manual intervention. This has the advantage that the battery-powered light is safely stowed and will not fall out of the storage compartment on its own during any movement of the vehicle—for example, while driving.

[0045] The lighting device can comprise a locking mechanism, which makes it possible to secure the battery-powered light in the storage compartment after it has been pushed sufficiently far into the storage compartment. The locking mechanism can further be designed such that when the battery-powered light is pushed back into the storage compartment, the locking effect is canceled and the battery-powered light is released, allowing it to be moved out of the storage compartment. In other words, the battery-powered light can be secured and released in or out of the storage compartment using a so-called push-push operation.

[0046] The push-push mechanism used for this purpose can have at least one spring unit whose spring force counteracts the insertion movement and can therefore automatically cause at least part of the battery-powered light to move out of the storage compartment. In this position, a section of the battery-powered light protrudes from the storage compartment and can be grasped manually.

[0047] The spring unit can be a component of the storage compartment.

[0048] In a further embodiment, the battery light is secured against falling out or removal in the storage position in the storage compartment, e.g. by a clamping mechanism that is in operative connection with the locking tensioning mechanism.

[0049] The advantage of the above designs is simple, intuitive operation while simultaneously allowing the battery light to be stored safely in the storage compartment.

[0050] In an alternative embodiment, the battery light is secured in the storage position in the storage compartment with a bayonet lock, the release of which and the establishment of the fixing effect requires a rotating movement of the battery light.

[0051] Other alternatives for securing the battery light in the storage compartment include clamping the battery light, although this requires a certain amount of force when inserting or removing the battery light, but with the advantage of a strong fixing effect.

[0052] Alternatively or in addition to the above-mentioned embodiments, the battery light can also be fixed in the storage compartment magnetically.

[0053] In addition to the above-mentioned embodiments, a grip element such as a handle can be arranged on the battery-powered light in order to facilitate its handling when removing it from the storage compartment and when inserting it into the storage compartment.

[0054] The storage compartment can be designed in such a way that at least one other insert can be inserted into the storage compartment instead of the battery light.

[0055] In this respect, the invention also provides a lighting system that, in addition to the battery-powered light and the storage compartment, also includes at least one additional electrical device that can be arranged in the storage compartment when the battery-powered light is not located in the storage compartment. This additional electrical device can also have a battery storage unit or a rechargeable battery that can be charged while accommodated in the storage compartment.

[0056] Such an additional electrical device could be, for example, a socket insert that provides a power outlet on the surface of the insert when stowed. The outlet can be a 230V, 12V, and / or USB outlet. Combinations of these are also possible, e.g., a 12V outlet combined with several and / or different USB outlets.

[0057] Another version provides an additional electrical device, a fan, as an insert for the storage compartment.

[0058] The advantage of the above designs is the flexible use of the storage compartment through various inserts.

[0059] A further aspect of the present invention is a vehicle comprising at least one described lighting device. The vehicle can be, for example, a motor vehicle, such as a camping vehicle or mobile home, or even a caravan.

[0060] The storage compartment can be integrated into the vehicle in such a way that the small portion of the battery-powered light's surface left freely accessible by the storage compartment is accessible from the interior of the vehicle. The interior of the vehicle can, for example, be the interior of a caravan or camper van equipped for living.

[0061] The storage compartment, and consequently the battery-powered light, can be located within the movement range of a vehicle's hatch. The hatch could be a sliding door or a tailgate, for example.

[0062] The storage compartment containing the battery-powered light is only accessible when the lid is open, i.e., when the sliding door or tailgate is open. The advantage is that the battery-powered light stored in the storage compartment is additionally secured by the lid when not in use. Another advantage is that this position doesn't take up any space inside the vehicle, and the battery-powered light is accessible from outside the caravan or camper van and can be removed from the storage compartment without having to enter the vehicle.

[0063] In another design, at least two storage compartments, each with battery-powered lights, are arranged within the movement area of ​​a hatch. This has the advantage that different inserts or storage compartments and battery-powered lights can be used simultaneously.

[0064] The invention is explained below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, in which a battery-powered lamp with a cylindrical shape is shown as an example.

[0065] It shows Fig. 1: a lighting device in the interior of a vehicle with a battery lamp in three different positions, and Fig. 2: a view of a partial area of ​​an interior of a vehicle with 2 storage compartments.

[0066] Fig. 1 shows a section of the interior of a motorhome, with the battery light 10 of the lighting device 1 shown in three different positions.

[0067] It can be seen that the interior of the motorhome has a panel 4 that partially delimits the interior, wherein the battery-powered light 10, which is cylindrical in shape here, is integrated into the storage compartment 2 laterally enclosing the battery-powered light 10 in such a way that only a small part of the surface 11 of the battery-powered light 10 faces the interior and is therefore accessible. This small part of the surface 11 is formed here by a first end face 13 of the battery-powered light 10. It can be seen that the battery-powered light 10, in the stowed position within the storage compartment 2, is inserted flush with the panel 4. The accessible surface of the battery-powered light 10 visually forms a common surface with the storage compartment 2 and the panel 4.

[0068] Furthermore, the battery-powered light 10 can be seen in a position pulled out of the storage compartment 2, with the battery-powered light 10 resting on the surface of a table 30. Here, it is clearly visible that the battery-powered light 10 essentially has the shape of a cylinder and, accordingly, has a circumferential side surface 12 designed as a cylindrical surface.

[0069] At least this side surface 12 is configured, at least in part, for the transmission of light emitted by a light source housed inside the battery-operated lamp 10. An advantageous embodiment of the side surface 12 provides that it is configured for the majority of its area for the transmission of light.

[0070] On the first end face 13, an operating element 20 and a further operating element 21 are arranged, which serve for commissioning and configuration, for example for implementing the various switching functions, such as switching on and off, activating a motion sensor, displaying a charge status and the like.

[0071] Alternatively, at least one of the operating elements 20, 21 can be arranged on the end face opposite the first end face 13.

[0072] A respective control element 20, 21 can be designed as a touch switch, which, however, can only be activated when the battery light 10 is no longer in the storage compartment 2.

[0073] For example, the touch switch is only activated after the battery-operated light 10 has been released from the charging position in the storage compartment 2 via a push movement. In the opposite case, i.e., when the battery-operated light 10 is stowed in the storage compartment 2, the lighting can be turned off and / or the touch switch deactivated by the beginning of the charging process of the battery-operated light 10.

[0074] Furthermore, Fig. 1 shows the battery-powered light 10 positioned on the table 30 of the motorhome. Here, the battery-powered light 10 is positioned on the table 30 with its second end face 14, which is opposite the first end face 13, so that the second end face 14 forms the support face 15 of the battery-powered light 10.

[0075] In this position, the battery-powered light 10 can efficiently emit light into the interior of the motorhome and / or onto the surface of the table 30 via its side surface 12.

[0076] The battery-powered light 10 can be equipped with a USB port, for example to connect it to a USB charging port 31 integrated in the casing 4 via a cable that may also be included in the lighting device 1.

[0077] The battery-powered light 10 can be removed from the storage compartment 2 by actuating a locking mechanism (not shown here) or by a so-called push-push mechanism. This means that the battery-powered light 10 can be inserted into the storage compartment 2 either via a first insertion movement or a so-called push movement, or removed from the storage compartment 2 via a second insertion movement over a shorter distance or via a second push movement. The principle is similar to a ballpoint pen, where the refill can be extended or retracted with a push movement.

[0078] In the present exemplary embodiment, a force is exerted on the small part of the surface 11 or on the first end face 13 of the battery-powered light 10 to realize the insertion movement or a respective push movement. As a result, the battery-powered light 10 is released from the storage position in the storage compartment 2 and the battery-powered light 1 subsequently protrudes slightly from the storage compartment 2.

[0079] The battery light 10 can be grasped by the protruding part and removed from the storage compartment 2.

[0080] If the battery-powered light 10 is only partially pulled out of the storage compartment 2, it can remain in this partially pulled-out position and emit light there. Depending on the design of a charging device of the lighting device 1, the battery-powered light 10 can continue to be charged or supplied with electrical energy, or the lighting operation of the battery-powered light 10 can be powered by the batteries.

[0081] Fig. Figure 2 shows another embodiment of the lighting system, here with two storage compartments 2, 3. The special feature here is that a battery-powered light 1 is installed in one storage compartment 2, and a charging device 5 in the form of an electrical plug-in connector is installed in the upper, additional storage compartment 3. The storage compartments 2, 3 can be used modularly and flexibly using various inserts.

[0082] In the storage position within the storage compartment 2, the battery light 10 can be charged contactlessly via an inductive contact provided on the bottom of the storage compartment 2.

[0083] Alternatively, plug connectors of the charging device 5 arranged in the further storage compartment 3 in the form of the electrical plug connection device can be used to charge the battery light 10.

[0084] Both storage compartments 2,3 can be equipped with such a charging device.

[0085] Furthermore, the two storage compartments 2, 3 shown here each comprise a charge level indicator 6 in the form of an arc-shaped illuminated ring or light strip, which runs along the contour of the respective storage compartment 2, 3 and, depending on the length, indicates the charge level of the associated battery light 10. List of reference symbols 1 lighting device 2 storage compartments 3 Additional storage compartment 4 Cladding 5 Charging device 6 Charge level indicator 10 battery lights 11 small part of the surface 12 side surface 13 First front side 14 Second front side 15 Installation side 20 Control element 21 additional control element 30 table 31 USB charging port QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 20 2018 002 900 U1

[0005]

Claims

[1] Lighting device (1), comprising a battery-operated light (10) and a storage compartment (2, 3) in which the battery-operated light (10) is accommodated or can be accommodated in such a way that the battery-operated light (10) is largely surrounded by the storage compartment (2, 3) and only a small part of the surface (11) of the battery-operated light (10) is freely accessible. [2] Lighting device according to claim 1, characterized by that the battery lamp (10) has an elongated shape which is delimited on the longer side by at least one side surface (12) and on its shorter sides by one end face (13, 14). [3] Lighting device according to claim 2, characterized by that when the battery light (10) is accommodated in the storage compartment (2,3), one of the two end faces (13,14) is accessible. [4] Lighting device according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized by that at least one side surface (12) of the battery-powered lamp (10) is designed to transmit light. [5] Lighting device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by that at least one of the two end faces (13, 14) of the battery-powered light (10) is designed as a mounting face (15) for mounting the battery-powered light (10). [6] Lighting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the storage compartment (2,3) is set up as a charging device (5) for the battery light (10). [7] Lighting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the storage compartment (2,3) and the battery-powered light (10) are designed in such a way that the battery-powered light (10) is fixed to or in the storage compartment (2,3) in a position in which the battery-powered light (10) partially protrudes from the storage compartment (2,3). [8] Lighting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the battery-powered light (10) has at least one motion sensor which is designed to activate the battery-powered light (10) when movement is detected. [9] Vehicle comprising at least one lighting device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8. [10] Vehicle according to claim 9, characterized by that the storage compartment (2,3) is integrated in the motor vehicle in such a way that the small part of the surface (11) of the battery light (10) left freely accessible by the storage compartment (2,3) is accessible from an interior of the vehicle.

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