FENCE SYSTEM WITH INDIRECT LIGHTING

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a fence system according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Illumination of fences and fence systems is becoming increasingly popular. This serves both to enhance the aesthetic appearance and to increase safety in unlit, dark areas of a path or property. The term "fence systems" is used here to refer to fences made of profile rails and connecting elements, as well as to fence systems with additional elements, such as wall sections, pillars, glass blocks, and similar elements.

[0003] Document FR 2 888 273 A1 discloses a fence system according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0004] So far, it is known to illuminate fence systems using lighting devices that are embedded in the ground or placed on the upper edge of the fence system.

[0005] Alternatively, lighting devices can be embedded in profile rails, which allow light to be emitted forwards or backwards when viewed from the fence system.

[0006] However, this leads to significant light pollution because the light emitted in this way also illuminates areas further away where lighting is not desired. With frontal light emission, only a small amount of the fence itself is illuminated.

[0007] To prevent blinding a person standing in front of the fence and to improve its visual appearance, it is common practice to cover the lighting device with a partially transparent cover, a so-called diffuser. However, this can also be optimized.

[0008] Therefore, it is an object of the invention to eliminate the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a fence system which ensures improved lighting of the fence system and an attractive appearance.

[0009] Main features of the invention are defined in the characterizing part of claim 1. Embodiments are the subject of claims 2 to 8.

[0010] The invention relates to a fence system comprising at least one profile rail and at least one slat, wherein the profile rail has at least one functional groove aligned parallel to a longitudinal direction of the profile rail, wherein at least one slat is fastened in the functional groove. It is provided that at least one lighting element is arranged in the functional groove in which the at least one slat is fastened.

[0011] A slat is a substantially horizontally extending element arranged between two fastening elements. Such a fastening element is, for example, a profile rail. However, a slat can also be attached, particularly on one side, to a brick pillar, column, or similar fastening element.

[0012] A profile rail is an elongated component that extends essentially vertically when installed and is used to attach slats, for example.

[0013] The at least one functional groove is arranged in the profile rail parallel to a longitudinal direction of the profile rail. In other words, the functional groove is recessed into the profile rail on a surface that extends vertically in the installed state and also extends essentially vertically. For example, one or more slats can be attached in a functional groove.

[0014] By providing a lighting element in the functional groove of a profile rail, in which at least one slat is arranged, indirect illumination of the fence system, in particular of the at least one slat, is enabled. This not only reduces scattered light but also prevents frontal illumination, which could potentially lead to glare. Furthermore, it enhances the aesthetic appearance of the fence system.

[0015] Preferably, the at least one lamella has a concave shape, whereby, particularly in the case of several successive lamellas, a change from wave trough, preferably in the

[0016] The center of a slat and the wave crest formed by the edge area of at least one slat or the edge areas of two consecutive slats. This creates indirect lighting, with the fence system being illuminated more strongly and brightly in the area of a wave trough than in the area of a wave crest. This leads to alternating areas of the fence system with more and less illumination, particularly when a large number of slats are arranged in the functional groove with a lighting element.

[0017] The profile rail preferably has one, two, three, or four functional grooves, each of which is arranged parallel to a longitudinal direction of the profile rail in different surfaces of the profile rail that extend vertically when the profile rail is installed. This allows for different designs of the desired fence system.

[0018] Preferably, several or even all functional grooves of a profile rail each have at least one lighting element. This embodiment enables indirect lighting of a long-extending or angled fence system.

[0019] Preferably, the fence system comprises a plurality of slats mounted in at least one functional groove of the profile rail. The number and size of the slats can be varied depending on customer requirements.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, at least one or a plurality of slats are mounted in several functional grooves of the profile rail. This allows a customized fence system to be created according to customer requirements.

[0021] Preferably, the lighting element extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the profile rail. In particular, the lighting element extends substantially across the entire longitudinal extent of the profile rail. In other words, the lighting element has a longitudinal extension that essentially corresponds to the longitudinal extension of the profile rail in the longitudinal direction of the latter. This allows for uniform illumination across the entire height of the fence system.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the lighting element comprises several light-emitting diodes (LEDs). This enables energy-efficient illumination of the fence system. Furthermore, LEDs have a long service life.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the lighting element consists of at least one LED strip. An LED strip is an arrangement of several LEDs, which

[0024] Longitudinal extension. This form of lighting element allows indirect illumination of the fence element over a wide area.

[0025] Preferably, the at least one slat is secured in the functional groove with a sliding block. This allows for a secure and permanent attachment of the at least one slat in the functional groove. In a preferred embodiment, one slat of a plurality of slats is secured in the functional groove with a sliding block.

[0026] According to the invention, at least one surface of the at least one slat is curved. The at least one surface of the at least one slat has a bend such that it is arranged along the longitudinal direction of the profile rail. The slat is thus essentially flat along its longitudinal extent, between two fastening elements, in particular profile rails, and is curved along a width extension which is perpendicular to the longitudinal extent. A slat with a curved surface, wherein the bend is arranged parallel to the longitudinal extent of the profile rail, leads to a defined, focused illumination of the fence system by a lighting element arranged in the functional groove. In particular, wave troughs and wave crests, caused by the bending of at least one surface of the at least one slat, are illuminated differently, starting from the lighting element in the functional groove.The bending, in particular, varies the distance between a slat surface and a functional groove side surface, thus enabling defined indirect lighting. The functional groove side surface corresponds to the surface that runs parallel to the slat surface on average, especially without taking into account the curvature of the slat surface.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, two opposing surfaces of the at least one slat each have a bend, wherein the bends of the two opposing surfaces are arranged in particular along the longitudinal direction of the profile rail. The surfaces of the slat are thus bent opposite to, in particular perpendicular to, their longitudinal extension. This also enables a definable, different, indirect illumination of the fence system and thus an improvement in the visual appearance of the illuminated fence system.

[0028] Preferably, one or two opposing surfaces of the at least one slat are concavely curved. By concavely bending one surface or two opposing surfaces of a slat along an axis which, when installed, is arranged parallel to a longitudinal direction of the profile rail, a fence system with multiple slats can be created in which wave crests and wave troughs always alternate. The concave bend of the slat corresponds to an inward bend, in particular towards the center of the slat, in contrast to an unbent slat, along a longitudinal direction of the profile rail. This creates a wave trough in the center of a slat. A wave crest is formed by successive slat edge regions of two slats.

[0029] In an alternative embodiment, one or two opposing surfaces of the at least one lamella are convexly curved. This results in an opposite embodiment, with the wave crest being formed by the center of the lamella.

[0030] Further features, details, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the wording of the claims and from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. They show: Fig. 1Perspective view of a fence system with detailed view, Fig. 2Sectional view of the fence system from Fig. 1 , Fig. 3Top view of a profile rail with lighting element.

[0031] Fig. 1shows a perspective view of a fence system 1 and a detailed view of a section of the fence system 1. The fence system 1 comprises two profile rails 2, between which a plurality of slats 3 are arranged. The profile rails 2 each have at least one functional groove 4 running parallel to the longitudinal direction L of the profile rail. In particular, the functional groove 4 is arranged centrally on one side of the profile rail 2 and preferably extends substantially from one end to the other end of the profile rail 2.

[0032] At least one slat 3 or several slats 3 are mounted in the functional groove 4 of the respective profile rail 2. Furthermore, at least one lighting element is arranged in the functional groove. In the illustrated embodiment, this is concealed by the slats 3.

[0033] At least one surface 5 of the slats 3 is concavely curved, wherein the surface is arranged parallel to the longitudinal direction L of the profile rail 2 and the concave bend is formed along the longitudinal direction L of the profile rail 2. The slat 3 forms a wave trough 6 centrally on the surface 5 along the longitudinal direction L of the profile rail 2. A type of wave crest 7 is created by two consecutive edge regions of two adjacent slats 3.

[0034] This results in indirect illumination of the fence system 1, with the fence system being brighter illuminated in the area of a wave trough 6 than in the area of a wave crest 7. This results in areas of brighter and less bright illumination of the fence system 1 alternating.

[0035] In the Fig.1 A cap 8 is provided at the upper end of the profile rails, which covers the respective profile rail 2 with at least one functional groove 4.

[0036] Fig. 2shows a sectional view of the fence system 1 from Fig. 1 . The viewing direction is onto the profile rail 2 with several slats 3 arranged and fastened in the functional groove 4, in particular two slats 3 are completely visible and one slat 3 is only partially visible.

[0037] In the illustration shown, two opposing surfaces 5 of the slat are concavely curved along the longitudinal direction L of the profile rail 2. This creates a wave trough 6 centrally in the slat 3 along the longitudinal direction L of the profile rail 2. In addition, a wave crest 7 is formed by two edge regions of two consecutive slats 3.

[0038] Fig. 3 shows a top view of a profile rail 2. At least one slat 3 of the fence system 1 is not shown. At least one lighting element 9 is arranged in the functional groove 4 and enables indirect illumination of a fixed slat 3 of a fence system 1.

[0039] In Fig. 3 A profile rail with two functional grooves 4 arranged on opposite sides is shown. This represents one possible embodiment. Other arrangements of one to four functional grooves 4 per profile rail 2 are possible. More than one lighting element 9 can also be provided; thus, at least one or more lighting elements 9 can be arranged for each functional groove in which slats are arranged.

[0040] The invention is not limited to one of the embodiments described above, but can be modified in many ways within the scope of the invention defined by the following claims. List of reference symbols

[0041] 1Fence system 2Profile rail 3Slat 4Functional groove 5Slat surface 6Valley 7Crest 8Cap 9Lighting element

Claims

1. Fence system (1) comprising at least one profile rail (2) and at least one lamella (3), wherein the profile rail (2) has at least one functional groove (4) aligned parallel to a longitudinal direction (L) of the profile rail (2), wherein at least one lamella (3) is arranged and secured in the functional groove (4), wherein at least one surface (5) of the at least one lamella (3) has a bend, wherein the bend is arranged along the longitudinal direction (L) of the profile rail (2), characterized in that at least one lighting element (9) is arranged in the functional groove (4) in which the at least one lamella (3) is arranged and secured.

2. Fence system (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the lighting element (9) extends parallel to the longitudinal direction (L) of the profile rail (2).

3. Fence system (1) according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lighting element (9) has LEDs.

4. Fence system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lighting element (9) consists of at least one LED strip.

5. Fence system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one lamella (3) is secured with a groove block in the functional groove (4).

6. Fence system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that two opposite surfaces (5) of the at least one lamella (3) each have a bend, wherein in particular the bends of the two opposite surfaces (5) are arranged along the longitudinal direction (L) of the profile rail (2).

7. Fence system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or two opposite surfaces (5) of the at least one lamella (3) is / are bent concavely.