Production process of a point-like effect lighting system and related product

Abstract

Production process of a point-like effect lighting system (100) comprising a panel (101) having an internal surface (101a) and an external surface (101b), and at least one light source (102) positioned in correspondence with an internal surface (101a), said production process consisting of the following steps: - of extruding or of injection molding a panel; - simultaneously with the previous step, of punching in non-passing mode an internal surface (101a) and / or an external surface (101b) by means of a nailed etching roller, so as to obtain a plurality of zones (103) having shape of points or grooves and thickness S1 lower than the thickness S2 of the remaining surface of the panel (101), and being able to diffuse light emitted by at least one light source.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a production process of a point-like effect lighting system.

[0002] The present invention also relates to the use of such a production process to produce a point-like effect lighting system.

[0003] In particular, the present invention relates to production process of a point-like effect lighting system, of the type which includes optimized phases to create a panel having luminous effects.

[0004] The technical sector of reference is that of decorative lighting, in particular decorative lighting designed for the interiors of means of transport such as buses, trains, special and recreational vehicles, cars and airplanes.

[0005] Various point-like effect lighting systems are currently known.

[0006] A first example of a known technical solution is represented by the text of the patent US2009059610A1 which describes a lighting panel capable of producing lighting effects similar to a starry sky and which can be easily adapted to aircraft also already in operation. The panel comprises a structural panel, a plurality of inserts containing miniaturized light sources such as LEDs, mounted in openings in the panel, as well as conductive traces formed on the upper surface of the panel so as to make electrical connections with the respective conductors of the light sources. A decorative film is provided applied to a lower surface of the panel, with this translucent, transparent or open-containing film, and with each of these formed in a position corresponding to a relative light source.

[0007] Furthermore, the text of application US2019137091A1 relates to a fabric panel illuminated with optical fibers and comprising a perimeter frame and a covering fabric applied frontally to the perimeter frame and covering the latter. The covering fabric comprises, in the weft and / or warp, a set of optical fibers intertwined with textile fibers, lighting means electrically connected to power supply means connected to the optical fibers so as to convey light inside them. The perimeter frame comprises a first support element on which the lighting means are fixed, and a second support element, interposed between the covering fabric and the first support element, on which the covering fabric is fixed.

[0008] Also, patent document EP3572282A1 mentions a backlit decorative element for a motor vehicle. The decorative element has a layered structure formed by a decorative element and a light guide arranged on the back of the decorative element, with intermediate elements to locally guide the light emitted by an external light source, and make it visible on the external side of the decorative element. The layered structure also includes a mirror layer, with an area arranged on the back side of the light guide useful for reflecting the light coming from the same guide up to the visible side, and generating a depth effect in the observer.

[0009] Other documents that describe the production process of a point-like effect lighting system are DE102012015436A1, citing a display with a decorative element backlit by a light source, i.e., LED elements, in which said decorative element is arranged with a visible side facing interior or fascia of a vehicle, and a rear side facing the light source, wherein a set of regions i.e. groove-shaped recesses, made of light transmissive materials is arranged for formation of a set of display symbols, and EP2571010A1, whose subject are a display member and a display device capable of outputting bright and highly uniform light, with the display member comprising a light guiding member which guides light outputted from a first light source, and a light spreading part which is provided on at least one side surface of the light guiding member and spreads the light guided by the light guiding member. However, both two systems described are not optimized in terms of costs and production time.

[0010] Still, the patent application JPH07271309A describes a display designed to give strong impression to an observer by forming a group of small holes in the display main body, to draw desired characters or figures, so that the character or figure is displayed with the collective light leaking through such small holes.

[0011] The patent application cites a stone decorative plate, comprising a natural stone plate, a ceramic tile, light sources and a curable transparent glue. The ceramic tile is glued to the inner surface of the natural stone plate. Several recessed carvings are provided on the inner surface of the natural stone plate.

[0012] Finally, the patent application EP3647837A1 describes a display unit comprising a light-emitting layer for emitting light in an actuated state thereof, a pattern-defining layer, and a light-shaping layer located between the light-emitting layer and the pattern-defining layer. Both the light-shaping layer and the pattern-defining layer comprise areas of different transparency to the light emitted by the light-emitting layer in the actuated state thereof.

[0013] However, point-like effect lighting systems such as those described suffer from intrinsic limitations such as the need to adopt single light sources to be applied in correspondence with each of the areas in which it is desired to create a luminous effect, point or fluorescent, often with the need to drill the panels in which the effect is created, in order to position the aforementioned sources.

[0014] Furthermore, the production processes of known lighting systems provide for several steps with relative high production times and costs.

[0015] The object of the present invention is to provide an effective and functional point-like effect lighting system production process, with reduced processing times and costs compared to current processes.

[0016] Furthermore, the object of the present invention is to provide a point-like effect lighting system that provides for the use of a reduced number of light sources compared to systems of the state of the art, specifically without one-to-one correspondence with the areas to be illuminated, thus having characteristics such as to overcome the limits that still affect the current point-effect lighting systems, with reference to the known art.

[0017] A further object of the present invention is to provide a point-like effect lighting system comprising a panel on which the luminous effects are visible in use, worked with innovative techniques.

[0018] According to the present invention, a production process of a point-like effect lighting system is carried out, as defined in claim 1.

[0019] According to the present invention, a point-like effect lighting system is also realized, as defined in claim 2 using the production process according to claim 1.

[0020] For a better understanding of the present invention, a preferred embodiment is now described, purely by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic overall view of a point-like effect lighting system, according to the invention; Figures 2a and 2b show perspective views of an element of the point-like effect lighting system with portions off and illuminated, respectively, according to the invention; Figures 3a and 3b show perspective and section views of the element of the point-like effect lighting system with off and illuminated areas, respectively, according to the invention; Figure 4 shows a further perspective and sectional view of the element of the point-like effect lighting system which highlights areas of said element respectively reflecting and having light diffusion properties, according to the invention; Figure 5 shows a schematic view of a production process according to the invention; Figure 6 shows a further schematic view of the product obtained by the production process according to the invention.

[0021] With reference to these figures and, in particular, to figure 1, a point-like effect lighting system 100 is shown, according to the invention.

[0022] In particular, as better shown in Figure 1, the point-like effect lighting system 100 comprises: a panel 101; at least one light source 102 positioned at an internal surface 101a of the panel 101 and capable of diffusely illuminating the entire internal surface 101a of the panel 101.

[0023] According to one aspect of the invention, the panel 101 comprises a plurality of zones 103 formed on its internal surface 101a and / or on its external surface 101b and with a thickness S1 less than the thickness S2 of the remaining surface of said panel 101. Wherein the thickness S2 is substantially equal to the distance between the internal surface 101a and the external surface 101b. The panel 101 is substantially flat is shape.

[0024] According to another aspect of the invention, the zones 103 are designed to diffuse the light emitted by at least one light source 102 and to make it visible at the external surface 101b of the panel 101, thanks to their thickness S1. In use, the zones 103 are luminous and crossed by light while the remaining areas of the panel 100 are dark and not illuminated.

[0025] In particular, according to one aspect of the invention, the light emitted by the at least one light source 102, the latter implemented for example by means of one, two or a greater number of dedicated light modules, visible at the external surface 101b of the panel 101 by means of the plurality of zones 103, it creates a fluorescent or point-like effect in the eyes of an observer positioned at any distance, within the visual field of the same observer, from the aforementioned external surface of the panel 101.

[0026] Advantageously according to the invention, the thickness S1 of the zones 103, referable as blind imprints since the panel 101 must not be perforated, for example for the application of single lighting elements in correspondence one to one with each hole, like the known systems, is such as to allow the observer positioned in such a way as to observe the external surface 101b of the aforementioned panel 101 to ascertain the luminous effect, punctiform or fluorescent, in correspondence with the projections of the zones 103 on the aforementioned external surface 101b of the panel 101.

[0027] Advantageously according to the invention, with the at least one light source 102 off, the observer positioned near the external surface 101b of the panel 101 observes a uniform surface without discontinuity, in the case in which the zones 103, suitable for diffusing from a on the other side of the panel 101, the light emitted by the light source 102 is obtained on portions of the internal surface 101a.

[0028] According to one aspect of the invention, the at least one light source 102 is made with LED modules.

[0029] According to another aspect of the invention, the at least one light source 102 is made using fluorescent lighting elements.

[0030] According to one aspect of the invention, the thickness S1 is less than or equal to 1.2 mm.

[0031] According to another aspect of the invention, the thickness S1 is less than or equal to 5 mm.

[0032] According to one aspect of the invention, the panel 101 is configured to be applied in the interior of means of transport such as buses, trains, special and recreational vehicles, cars and airplanes.

[0033] According to one aspect of the invention, the panel 101 consists of a plate or a plastic profile worked by extrusion or injection molding.

[0034] According to one aspect of the invention, the panel 101 is made using a non-transparent colored plastic profile.

[0035] According to another aspect of the invention, the plurality of zones 103 consists of traces or points made by means of a nailed scoring roller, shown in figure 5, used simultaneously with the extrusion of the panel 101, which punches the same panel 101.

[0036] According to one aspect of the invention, during the production phase of the panel 101 the aforementioned scoring roller is configured to engrave on the internal surface 101a and / or external 101b the traces or points that illuminated by the light source 102 allow to observe the light effect.

[0037] According to another aspect of the invention, the plurality of zones 103, once illuminated, allow the observer positioned in front of the external surface to observe, for example, graphic symbols or texts, as visible in Figures 2, 3 and 4, and in particular when the aforesaid zones 103 are formed on the external surface 101b.

[0038] Advantageously according to the invention, the processing of the panel 101 by means of the nailed scoring roller allows to obtain the zones 103, whose thickness S1 reduced with respect to the remaining areas of the panel 101 allows to observe the illumination from the side of the panel 101 corresponding to its external surface 101b, without the need to drill the entire thickness and to apply individual lighting elements in each hole, whether these are LEDs or optical fibers.

[0039] According to another aspect of the invention, the zones 103 are made by injection molding of the panel 101.

[0040] Figures 2, 3 and 4, show the implementation of zones 103 on both surfaces, internal 101a and external 101b, displaying these adjacent technical solutions on the same portion of panel 101, visually separated by means of dashed lines.

[0041] The present invention, as said, also relates to a production process 200 of a point-like effect lighting system 100 comprising a panel 101 having an internal surface 101a and an external surface 101b, comprising a plurality of zones 103 on the internal surface 101a and / or on the external surface 101b, having a thickness S1 lower than the thickness S2 of the remaining surface of the panel 101, and at least one light source 102 positioned in correspondence with an internal surface 101a.

[0042] Said production process 200 consists of the following steps: of extruding or of injection molding a panel, substantially flat in shape; simultaneously with the previous step, of punching in non-passing mode an internal surface 101a and / or an external surface 101bof said panel by means of a nailed etching roller, so as to obtain on said internal surface 101a and / or external surface 101b a plurality of zones 103 said zones 103 having shape of points or grooves, having thickness S1 lower than the thickness S2 of the remaining surface of said panel, said zones 103 being able to diffuse light emitted by at least one light source positioned in correspondence with the internal surface 101a, so that said light is visible in correspondence with the external surface 101b.

[0043] Advantageously according to the invention, the production process 200 of the system 100 allows the panel 101 to be worked in line with the extrusion step without having to resume the detail with mechanical machining operations with chip removal.

[0044] According to one aspect of the invention, the production process 200 of the system 100 comprises the step of injection molding the panel 101 so as to obtain on said internal surface 101a and / or external 101b the zones of thickness S1 reduced with respect to the thickness S2 of the remaining surface of the aforementioned panel 101.

[0045] Advantageously according to the invention, also the injection molding step of the panel 101 allows an observer to benefit from the luminous effect, punctiform or fluorescent, in correspondence with the zones 103 suitable for diffusing light emitted by at least one light source positioned in correspondence with the internal surface 101a.

[0046] Therefore, the production process of the point-like effect lighting system according to the invention allows to obtain lighting effects with reduced costs and optimized time.

[0047] In addition, the point-like effect lighting system according to the invention allows for high economies of scale, thanks to the possibility of being easily applied to means of transport such as buses, trains, special and recreational vehicles, cars and airplanes.

[0048] A further advantage of the point-like effect lighting system according to the invention is that it is safe.

[0049] Furthermore, the point-like effect lighting system according to the invention is easy to use.

[0050] Finally, the point-like effect lighting system according to the invention and the related production process are of low cost and involve reduced complexity linked to the prototyping and mass production phases.

[0051] Finally, it is clear that modifications and variations may be made to the production process of a point-like effect lighting system and the related product described and illustrated here without thereby departing from the protective scope of the present invention, as defined in the attached claims.

Claims

1. Production process (200) of a point-like effect lighting system (100) comprising a panel (101) having an internal surface (101a) and an external surface (101b), and at least one light source (102) positioned in correspondence with an internal surface (101a), said production process (200) being characterized in consisting of the following steps: - of extruding or of injection molding the panel (101), substantially flat in shape; - simultaneously with the previous step, of punching in non-passing mode an internal surface (101a) and / or an external surface (101b) of said panel by means of a nailed etching roller, so as to obtain on said internal surface (101a) and / or external surface (101b) a plurality of zones (103) having shape of points or grooves and thickness S1 lower than the thickness S2 of the remaining surface of said panel, said zones (103) being able to diffuse light emitted by at least one light source positioned in correspondence with the internal surface (101a), so that said light is visible in correspondence with the external surface (101b).

2. Use of the production process disclosed in claim 1 to produce a point-like effect lighting system (100) comprising: - a panel (101) substantially flat in shape, having an internal surface (101a) and an external surface (101b) and comprising a plurality of zones (103) on the internal surface (101a) and / or on the external surface (101b), said zones (103) having a thickness S1 lower than the thickness S2 of the remaining surface of the panel (101) and being able to diffuse light emitted by the at least one light source (102) so that said light is visible in correspondence with the external surface (101b) of the panel (101); - at least one light source (102) positioned in correspondence with an internal surface (101a) and configured to diffusely illuminating the entire internal surface (101a) of the panel (101); in which said plurality of zones (103) consists of grooves or points made by means of a nailed etching roller configured for engraving the internal surface (101a) and / or the external surface (101b) of the panel (101).

3. Use of the production process disclosed in claim 1, to produce a point-like effect lighting system (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the light source (102) consists of LED modules.

4. Use of the production process disclosed in claim 1, to produce a point - like effect lighting system (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the at least one light source (102) consists of fluorescent lighting elements.

5. Use of the production process disclosed in claim 1, to produce a point - like effect lighting system (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the panel (101) consists of a plate or a non-transparent colored plastic profile applied in the interiors of trains, buses, special and recreational vehicles, cars and airplanes.

6. Use of the production method disclosed in claim 1, to produce a point - like effect lighting system (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the plurality of zones (103) have a thickness S1 less or equal to 5 mm.

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