SAFETY AND / OR EMERGENCY SIGN LIGHT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a safety and / or emergency exit sign, in particular for an emergency lighting system, with at least one first light source, in particular with at least one LED, with a light-guiding plate optically connected to the first light source for backlighting a display, and with an outer housing, in particular U-shaped in cross-section, into which a first, in particular upper, narrow side of the light-guiding plate projects, and with at least one retaining element provided between the outer housing and the light-guiding plate, which holds the light-guiding plate in the outer housing and for this purpose has a web and at least one leg projecting therefrom and forming a snap element with a snap projection.

[0002] To attach a light-guiding plate for backlighting a display in an outdoor housing of safety and / or emergency exit signs, it is known from the prior art (EP2650856A2) to use a U-shaped retaining element that snaps into opposing grooves in the plate and is firmly connected to the outdoor housing via a screw connection. For this purpose, the retaining element has two legs projecting from a web, forming snap-in elements, and a threaded stud on the web. First, the retaining element is firmly connected to the plate and then to an inner strip of the outdoor housing via a nut. However, such an assembly is comparatively complex and difficult to handle. This is especially true if the outdoor housing has relatively small dimensions, thus restricting or hindering access to components inside the housing.Maintenance-friendliness also suffers under such a design – particularly when components of the safety and / or emergency exit signs, such as light sources optically connected to the light-guiding plate, need to be replaced. Document EP2650865A is considered the closest prior art and discloses all the features in the preamble of claim 1.

[0003] Starting from a safety and / or emergency exit sign described above, the invention therefore aims to simplify its design so that the assembly and / or disassembly of its light-guiding plate or other components can be carried out quickly and easily without jeopardizing the stability of the safety and / or emergency exit sign.

[0004] The invention solves the stated problem through the features of claim 1.

[0005] If the outer housing has at least one undercut with which the snap-in element of the retaining bracket engages, the assembly and / or disassembly of the light-guiding plate on the outer housing can be significantly simplified compared to the prior art. For example, the outer housing can be snapped into place via the retaining bracket simultaneously with the insertion of the light-guiding plate – thus eliminating the need for complex assembly work, such as screwing. Disassembly of the light-guiding plate from the outer housing is also comparatively easy, requiring only the release of the snap connection.

[0006] Furthermore, the retaining element can be positioned on the light-guiding plate for ease of handling before being inserted into the outer housing. For this purpose, the light-guiding plate has at least one retaining recess, particularly a perforated one, into which the rib of the retaining element engages. For example, the rib of the retaining element can be inserted into the retaining recess.

[0007] The mounting and / or dismounting of the light-guiding plate in the outer housing can therefore be carried out quickly and easily – even without the use of tools. Furthermore, the retaining element provided between the light-guiding plate and the outer housing ensures a particularly secure hold, resulting in comparatively high stability for the safety and / or emergency exit sign. In addition, the connection between the light-guiding plate and the outer housing is designed with a relatively simple construction, which in turn allows for a structurally simple safety and / or emergency exit sign.

[0008] Preferably, the outer housing has several, in particular two, undercuts per retaining element to ensure a more stable attachment of the light-conducting plate. For this purpose, the retaining element, which is particularly U-shaped in cross-section, has several, in particular two, legs projecting from the web and forming a snap-in element, with each snap-in element engaging with an undercut. By extending the web of the retaining element through the retaining recess and into the light-conducting plate, a retaining element, particularly a U-shaped one, can be created that securely engages the light-conducting plate and the outer housing in the manner of a clamp. This further increases the stability of the safety and / or emergency exit sign.

[0009] The assembly of the retaining element can be further simplified if the retaining element consists of two interconnected retaining element parts, each of which has, or in particular forms, the snap-in element of the retaining element. For example, the retaining element parts can be plugged together for connection when they are positioned in the retaining recess of the light-guiding plate.

[0010] For example, each retaining element component forms a web section of the retaining element's web, via which web section the retaining element components connect to one another. This allows the retaining element components to be connected to each other in a user-friendly manner when positioned in the retaining recess.

[0011] Preferably, the first retaining element part has at least one projection and the second retaining element part has at least one recess into which the projection engages to connect the retaining element parts – which further simplifies the assembly of the retaining element. This also allows for the creation of a stable retaining element despite its multi-part structure.

[0012] This stability can be further increased if each retaining element part has the projection and the recess which are arranged next to each other and via which the retaining element parts are connected to each other.

[0013] The design effort and therefore the manufacturing costs, but also the assembly effort of the safety and / or emergency exit sign light can be further reduced if the mounting element parts are identically designed.

[0014] If the projection has a pin shape and the recess has a complementary, in particular cylindrical, bushing shape, this can further facilitate the mounting of the retaining element on the light-guiding plate.

[0015] The cohesion of the retaining element components can be further improved if the projection has longitudinally running outer ribs. This will further increase the stability of the safety and / or emergency exit sign.

[0016] Preferably, the outer housing has at least one opening, with the undercut located on an outer surface of the outer housing and adjacent to this opening. This allows for easy and reliable verification of the light-guiding plate's attachment and also facilitates its removal.

[0017] For example, the outer housing can have two longitudinal legs, with at least one leg having a recess on its inner side into which the retaining element snaps. This also secures the retaining element in the snapped position within the outer housing, further increasing the stability of the safety and / or emergency exit sign.

[0018] Preferably, the elongated outer housing completely encompasses the first, in particular upper, narrow side of the light-guiding plate in order to protect it and any light sources that may be present in this area not only from damage, but also to protect the snap connection from shear forces.

[0019] For example, the retaining recess in cross-section has a circumferential contour that is open, especially towards the top, in order to improve the clamping of the retaining element and the light-guiding plate.

[0020] The safety and / or emergency exit sign can be mounted more easily, for example, if the outer housing has at least one mounting bracket for attaching the safety and / or emergency exit sign. Preferably, the outer housing has one mounting bracket at each of its free ends.

[0021] The design of the safety and / or emergency exit sign can be further simplified if the mounting element also secures the display, which features a pictogram disc and a pictogram on that disc. For this purpose, the mounting element also extends through the pictogram, thus securing it within the outer housing.

[0022] The safety and / or emergency exit sign light according to the invention is therefore particularly suitable for an emergency lighting system.

[0023] The figures illustrate, for example, the invention in more detail using one embodiment as an example. They show Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a safety and emergency exit sign, Figs. 1a and 1b are enlarged views of a mounting element part of a mounting element of the safety and / or emergency exit sign according to Fig. 1 , Fig. 2 a rippled three-dimensional partial view of the after Fig. 1 composite safety and / or emergency exit sign light, Fig. 3 a top view of the Fig. 2 The illustrated composite safety and / or emergency exit sign light.

[0024] After Fig. 1 For example, a safety and emergency exit sign 1 is shown for an emergency lighting system that is not depicted in detail. The safety and emergency exit sign 1 could also be a safety light or an emergency exit sign – which has not been specified.

[0025] The safety and emergency exit sign 1 has a first light source 2 with a strip 2a that carries several LEDs 2b. The first light source 2 is provided on the surface of the first, upper narrow side 3a of a light-guiding plate 3 and is optically connected to the light-guiding plate 3 of the safety and emergency exit sign 1.

[0026] This allows the light-guiding plate 3 to backlight two displays 4a, 4b, each provided on one of its broad sides 3c, 3d. The two displays 4a, 4b each consist of a pictogram disc 20 and a pictogram 21, which is provided on the pictogram disc 20, for example, by a printing process. The light-guiding plate 3 also has a recess 23 in the area of ​​its second, lower narrow side 3b.

[0027] The light-guiding plate 3 projects at its upper narrow side 3a into an outer housing 5 of the safety and escape route sign 1. The elongated outer housing 5 completely encloses this first upper narrow side 3a with its outer sides 5a to 5e, as shown in Fig. 1 as indicated.

[0028] Furthermore, the light-guiding plate 3 is held in this outer housing 5. For this purpose, the safety and emergency exit sign 1 has two retaining elements 6, 7, which are provided between the outer housing 5 and the light-guiding plate 3. These retaining elements 6, 7 have a web 8 and a leg 9, which projects from the web 8 and, with a snap projection 10, each form a snap element 11, namely a snap hook.

[0029] For easy installation and / or removal of the safety and emergency exit sign 1, the holder for the light-guiding plate 3 in the outer housing 5 is specially designed. According to the invention, the outer housing 5 has an undercut 12a, 12b with which the respective snap-in element 11 of the retaining element 6, 7 snaps into place. In addition, the light-guiding plate 3 has a perforated retaining recess 13, 14. The web 8 of the respective retaining element 6, 7 engages in this perforated retaining recess 13, 14, as shown in the Figures 2 and 2a. This ensures that the light-guiding plate 3 is securely held against the outer housing 5. Furthermore, the light-guiding plate 3 can be mounted and / or dismounted without tools – which significantly simplifies the manufacturing and / or maintenance of the safety and emergency exit sign 1.

[0030] Preferably, as shown in Fig. 2The outer housing has two undercuts 12a, 12b for each retaining element 6, 7. Two legs 9, each with a snap-in projection 10, extend from the U-shaped retaining element 6, 7, which is itself projecting from the web 8. These legs 11 form a snap-in element 11. The two snap-in elements 11 engage with the two undercuts 12a, 12b. This results in a robust mounting of the light-conducting plate 3 on the outer housing, resistant to mechanical stress. Furthermore, the web 8 extends through the perforated retaining recesses 13, 14, making it more difficult to remove the retaining element 6, 7 from the light-conducting plate 3 and thus further improving the stability of the mounting.

[0031] The retaining element 6, 7 can also be easily provided on the light-conducting plate 3 by consisting of two interconnected retaining element parts 6a, 6b or 7a, 7b, which can be plugged together. As shown in Fig. 2As can be seen, these retaining element parts 6a, 6b or 7a, 7b are joined together at the web 8 via two web sections 8a, 8b, which connect the retaining element parts 6a, 6b or 7a, 7b to each other. Each retaining element part 6a, 6b or 7a, 7b also forms a snap element 11 of the retaining element 6, 7. The retaining elements 6, 7 are thus two-part and are reproducibly assembled when placed on the light-conducting plate 3, which is particularly user-friendly.

[0032] The cohesion of the retaining element parts 6a, 6b or 7a, 7b is also extremely reliable. Each retaining element part 6a, 6b or 7a, 7b has a projection 15 in the form of a pin 15a and a recess 16 in the form of a cylindrical bushing 16a.

[0033] Projection 15 and recess 16 are arranged side by side on each retaining element part 6a, 6b or 7a, 7b and are designed to be complementary to each other so that the retaining element parts 6a, 6b or 7a, 7b can be plugged together, as shown in Fig. 1a and 1b to recognize.

[0034] Since the retaining element parts 6a, 6b or 7a, 7b are connected to each other by means of two projections 15 and two recesses 16 in a form-fit (because one direction of movement of the connected retaining element parts 6a, 6b or 7a, 7b is blocked) and also force-fit, a stable connection is achieved between them. This is further enhanced by the fact that the projection 15 has four longitudinally extending outer ribs 15b.

[0035] Constructive simplicity is achieved by having the retaining element parts 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b designed identically, as is also the case in the Figure 1 , 1a , 1b and 2 to recognize.

[0036] According to the Fig. 3The outer housing 5 has several openings 18a, 18b on its upper outer surface 5a. The undercuts 12a, 12b located on the outer surface 5a of the outer housing 5 connect to the respective openings 18a, 18b, so that the respective snap connection between the light-conducting plate 3 and the outer housing 5 is relatively easily accessible. This significantly simplifies the maintenance of the safety and emergency exit sign 1.

[0037] Furthermore, the retaining elements 6, 7 snap into place in the outer housing 5. For this purpose, the outer housing 5 has a recess 19 on its two opposing housing legs 5b, 5c in its longitudinal direction for each retaining element part 6a, 6b or 7a, 7b. This allows the retaining element 6, 7 to snap into place between the housing legs 5b, 5c of the outer housing 5, which secures the retaining element 6, 7 firmly in place in the outer housing 5 – and can be particularly advantageous when the light-guiding plate 3 moves against the longitudinal direction of the outer housing 5.

[0038] The outer housing 5 has at least one, and in the exemplary embodiment two, mounting brackets 31a, 31b, via which the safety and / or emergency exit sign luminaire can be attached. The pin-shaped mounting brackets 31a, 31b also serve, for example, for the electrical power supply. A differently designed mounting bracket 31a, 31b is conceivable, for example a cable. Preferably, the mounting brackets 31a, 31b are arranged in the corner region of the outer housing 5. The mounting brackets 31a, 31b enable stable and secure mounting of the safety and emergency exit sign luminaire 1.

[0039] Furthermore, in Fig. 1 It can be seen that the retaining recess 13, 14 has an upwardly open circumferential contour 13a, 14a in cross-section. This can facilitate the clamping of the retaining elements 6, 7, which engage there, for example, with their longitudinal ribs 17.

[0040] The retaining element 6, 7 - after Fig. 1the two retaining elements 6, 7 also extend through the two displays 4a, 4b, as in Fig. 1 and 2 The pictogram discs 20 are also excluded for this purpose, so that the respective section of the bridge 8 of the retaining elements 6, 7 can penetrate them. This ensures that the displays 4a, 4b are held securely in the outer housing 5 as well as on the light-conducting plate 3.

[0041] The safety and emergency exit sign 1 also features an optical lens 24a. This optical lens 24a serves to adjust the beam pattern of the safety and emergency exit sign 1 in order to create the desired ambient lighting. The optical lens 24a is designed to be inserted into the recess 23. This simplifies the installation of the lens 24a and also allows the selection of the appropriate lens 24a according to the requirements for illuminating the area around the safety and emergency exit sign 1. The safety and emergency exit sign 1 is therefore extremely versatile. Furthermore, this optical lens 24a is positioned in the optical path between the light source 2 and the second lower narrow side 3b and the pictogram discs 20. The lens 24a, 24b directs the light from the light source 2 to the second lower narrow side 3b as well as to the pictogram disc 20.The lens 24a is located directly opposite the first light source 2 in the optical path, as it is directly illuminated by this light source 2. The pictogram discs 20 of the two displays 4a, 4b extend over this recess 23 and thus close this recess 23, as shown in . Fig. 1 can be seen.

[0042] In general, it is mentioned that an optical lens 24a, 24b can be understood as any optical element used to create an image or to change the emission characteristic 30 of a safety and emergency exit sign 1 for ambient illumination. For example, a spherical lens, converging lens, diverging lens, Fresnel lens, stepped lens, etc., can be used for this purpose. Furthermore, it is generally mentioned that the broad side 3b, 3c of a plate 3 can be understood as its front and / or back sides, which are separated from each other by narrow sides 3a, 3d, 3e, 3f. As well as the Figure 1To extract, the recess 23 completely penetrates the light-guiding plate 3, from the first broad side 3b to the opposite second broad side 3c.

[0043] Furthermore, the light-guiding plate 3 has at least one U-shaped slot 26 on at least one broad side 3b, with an optical reflector 27 provided therein as a mirror, in particular a plane mirror. The reflector 27 is, for example, formed by an aluminum foil. The slot 26 penetrates the light-guiding plate 3.

Claims

1. Safety and / or emergency sign light, more particularly for an emergency lighting system, having at least one first lighting means (2), more particularly having at least one LED, having a light guide plate (3) optically connected to the first lighting means (2) for backlighting a display (4a, 4b), and having an outer housing (5), more particularly U-shaped in cross-section, into which a first, more particularly upper, narrow side (3a) of the light guide plate (3) projects, and having at least one retaining element (6, 7) provided between the outer housing (5) and the light guide plate (3), which holds the light guide plate (3) in the outer housing (5) and has a web (8) and at least one leg (9) projecting therefrom and forming a snap element (11) with a snap projection (10), characterized in that the outer housing (5) has at least one undercut (12a, 12b) with which the snap element (11) of the retaining element (6, 7) snap-fits, and in that the light guide plate (3) has at least one, more particularly hole-shaped, retaining recess (13, 14) into which the web (8) of the retaining element (6, 7) engages.

2. Safety and / or emergency sign light according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer housing (5) has several, more particularly two, undercuts (12a, 12b) per retaining element (6, 7), and in that the retaining element (6, 7), which is more particularly U-shaped in cross-section, has several, more particularly two, legs (9) projecting from the web (8) and forming a snap element (11), wherein the snap elements (11) each snap into an undercut (12a, 12b) and the web (8) of the retaining element (6, 7) engages through the light guide plate (3) via the retaining recess (13, 14).

3. Safety and / or emergency sign light according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the retaining element (6, 7) consists of two interconnected, more particularly plugged-together, retaining element parts (6a, 6b or 7a, 7b) which each have, more particularly form, the snap element (11) of the retaining element (6, 7).

4. Safety and / or emergency exit sign according to claim 3, characterized in that the retaining element parts (6a, 6b or 7a, 7b) each form a web section (8a, 8b) of the web (8) of the retaining element (6, 7), via which web section (8a, 8b) the retaining element parts (6a, 6b or 7a, 7b) adjoin each other.

5. Safety and / or emergency sign light according to one of claims 3 to 4, characterized in that the first retaining element part (6a, 7a) has at least one projection (15) and the second retaining element part (6b, 7b) has at least one recess (16) into which the projection (15) engages to connect the two retaining element parts (6b, 7b).

6. Safety and / or emergency exit sign according to claim 5, characterized in that each retaining element part (6a, 6b or 7a, 7b) has the projection (15) and the recess (16), which projection (15) and recess (16) are arranged next to each other and via which the retaining element parts (6a, 6b or 7a, 7b) are connected to each other.

7. Safety and / or emergency sign light according to claim 6, characterized in that the retaining element parts (6a, 6b or 7a, 7b) are identically designed.

8. Safety and / or emergency exit sign according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the projection (15), which has outer ribs (15b) running more particularly in its longitudinal direction, has a pin shape and the recess (16) has a complementary, more particularly cylindrical, socket shape.

9. Safety and / or emergency exit sign according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the outer housing (5) has at least one housing opening (18a, 18b), and in that the undercut (12a, 12b) is arranged on one, more particularly upper, outer side (5a) of the outer housing (5) and adjacent to this housing opening (18a, 18b).

10. Safety and / or emergency sign light according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the outer housing (5) has two housing legs (5b, 5c) in its longitudinal direction, wherein at least one housing leg (5b, 5c) has a depression (19) on its inner side into which the retaining element (6, 7) latches.

11. Safety and / or emergency sign light according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the elongated outer housing (5) completely encloses the first, more particularly upper, narrow side (3a) of the light guide plate (3).

12. Safety and / or emergency sign light according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the retaining recess (13, 14) has a cross-section with a circumferential contour (13a, 14a) that is open, more particularly at the top.

13. Safety and / or emergency sign light according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the outer housing (5) has at least one mounting bracket (31a, 31b) for fastening the safety and / or emergency sign light (1).

14. Safety and / or emergency sign light according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the display (4a, 4b) has a pictogram panel (20) and a pictogram (21) on this pictogram panel (20), wherein the retaining element (6, 7) additionally also engages through the pictogram (21) and holds it in the outer housing (5).

15. Emergency lighting system with a safety and / or emergency sign light (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14.