Luminaire comprising a lens or cover arranged on a housing
The luminaire design with an O-ring clamping mechanism addresses the issue of water ingress by providing a secure seal and adjustability, ensuring reliable protection and higher IP ratings for emergency lighting systems.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2025701970
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-01-29
- Filing Date
- 2025-01-27
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-14
- Estimated Expiration
- 2045-01-27
AI Technical Summary
Existing luminaire designs provide insufficient protection against water ingress, particularly from angled or horizontal water jets, compromising the IP rating and versatility of emergency lights.
A luminaire design utilizing an O-ring that rolls over a dead point to clamp the lens in the housing, providing a secure seal while allowing adjustability and easy replacement, and incorporating a frictional force to prevent rotation without tools.
Ensures reliable protection against dust and moisture ingress, maintains adjustability, and meets higher IP ratings, enhancing the versatility and reliability of emergency lighting systems.
Smart Images

Figure IMGF0001 
Figure IMGF0002 
Figure IMGF0003
Abstract
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a luminaire comprising at least one lens or cover arranged on a housing or housing part of the luminaire. In particular, the invention relates to an emergency light comprising a light source and an emergency light lens designed to direct the light emitted by the light source into a specific area to illuminate an escape route. A particularly preferred application of the invention is a so-called emergency exit sign luminaire, which additionally also features an escape route lighting function.
[0002] Reliable lighting of escape routes plays a central role in building safety concepts, as such lighting is essential for ensuring safe evacuation in an emergency. Clear lighting facilitates orientation and allows people to quickly and safely find the shortest route to the exits, even in the event of power outages or smoke. Therefore, appropriate escape route lighting is often combined with a graphic representation of the escape route's direction, which is why this type of lighting is particularly common in so-called emergency exit signs.
[0003] Directional lighting is typically achieved using specially designed lenses that redirect the light from a corresponding light source in a specific direction. The emergency light lens is mounted on or within the wall of a luminaire housing and aligned so that the light emitted by the light source inside the housing is directed as desired. Since the emergency light lens must be oriented in a specific direction depending on the application and mounting situation, it is often designed to be rotatable while still attached to the housing.
[0004] A luminaire with such an emergency light lens is known from the prior art. The lens's light coupling area is mounted in a receiving opening in a luminaire housing, and a light source associated with the emergency light lens is positioned within the housing. In this case, the emergency light lens is held in place on the luminaire housing by means of snap-fit elements, with a flange-like section of the lens in contact with the luminaire housing from the outside. Such an arrangement is described, for example, in DE 10 2011 082 844 A1. A ring-shaped sealing element is often provided between the luminaire housing and the flange-like section of the emergency light lens. Due to the snap-fit mounting of the emergency light lens to the housing, it is pressed towards the sealing element, thus providing a simple seal between the luminaire housing and the emergency light lens.In particular, this method prevents spray water striking the outside of the luminaire and thus the emergency light lens perpendicularly from penetrating the luminaire housing.
[0005] This known implementation thus allows, to a certain extent, the protection of the emergency light against the ingress of splashing water. However, it has been found that the solution known from the prior art provides insufficient protection against a water jet striking at an angle or horizontally, as the contact pressure of the emergency light lens and the sealing element is not high enough to prevent water ingress. This is particularly relevant with regard to a desired better IP rating of the light, since a higher IP rating corresponds to a better sealed light and can therefore be used more versatilely and flexibly.
[0006] US 2019 / 0120458 A1 describes a luminaire in which a rotationally symmetrical glass body is held in a receiving element by means of an elastic element, the receiving element having a conically tapered receiving opening. Furthermore, US 2008 / 002411 A1 describes a so-called downlight with a cup-shaped reflector, the position of which is determined by means of an O-ring that can selectively snap into various outer constrictions of the reflector.
[0007] The present invention is based on the objective of providing a novel solution that enables a lens to be reliably and securely mounted in the housing wall of a luminaire. Particularly preferred is the improved protection of an emergency light against the ingress of moisture, while still ensuring the aforementioned adjustability of the emergency light lens to reliably illuminate escape routes regardless of the specific mounting situation of the luminaire.
[0008] The problem is solved according to the present invention by a lamp having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.
[0009] According to the present invention, an O-ring is used to seal the luminaire housing with respect to the lens. The sealing mechanism is designed such that, when the lens is inserted or pressed into a corresponding receptacle in the housing or housing element, the O-ring rolls over a dead point on the outer circumference of the lens body and then clamps the lens in the receptacle, preventing it from falling out. To insert the lens, the O-ring must first be positioned in a starting position before the dead point on the lens. Due to the lens design, the O-ring then rolls into the desired mounting position as the lens is inserted into the housing or housing element. The lens then remains in the housing solely due to the frictional force of the compressed O-ring. However, it can still be rotated with a certain amount of force, so that—if desired—the light output can be adjusted.For example, it can be directed in a desired direction for emergency exit lighting.
[0010] Furthermore, it is still possible to replace the lens, whereby when removing it from the housing or housing element the O-ring again rolls past the dead point and returns to its starting position.
[0011] Furthermore, the concept according to the invention is not limited to the detachable arrangement of lenses on a luminaire housing, but can be used in a variety of ways. For example, according to the solution of the invention, a detachable cover element can also be arranged on a luminaire housing, which allows access to components located inside the housing when necessary. For example, the present invention can also provide a cover that seals the housing, the removal of which allows access to a maintenance or configuration element located inside the housing, such as a fuse, a battery, or a switch for setting parameters.
[0012] According to the present invention, a lamp is proposed which has: a) a housing or housing element which has a receiving opening for receiving at least part of a lens or a cover; b) a lens or cover which can be attached to the receiving opening; wherein the receiving opening of the housing or housing element forms a hollow cylindrical receiving area in which, in the mounted state of the lens or cover, a rotationally symmetrical bearing area of the lens or cover is rotatably positioned, wherein a circumferential seal in the form of an O-ring is arranged on the outer circumference of the bearing area of the lens or cover, which is located between the housing or housing element.The housing element and the lens or cover are effective, wherein the bearing area of the lens or cover has a first circumferential groove or constriction for receiving the O-ring in a starting position and axially offset thereto a second circumferential groove or constriction for receiving the O-ring in a mounting position, wherein the first and second circumferential groove or constriction are separated from each other by a protrusion defining a dead point and the O-ring, when the lens or cover is inserted into the receiving area, rolls from the first circumferential groove or constriction over the dead point into the second circumferential groove or constriction.
[0013] The advantage of the solution according to the invention lies in the fact that a sealed arrangement of the lens or cover within the luminaire housing can be achieved in a very simple manner, so that the housing in this area is sufficiently well protected against the ingress of dust and / or moisture, thus fulfilling the requirements for a so-called higher degree of protection. Due to the special design of the lens or cover, it is possible to manufacture both the lens or cover, as well as the luminaire housing or the housing component holding the lens or cover, very simply and reliably using an injection molding process, thereby reducing both the effort and the manufacturing costs.
[0014] Preferably, the raised section forms a ramp leading from the first circumferential groove or constriction to the dead center, facilitating the rolling of the O-ring during insertion of the lens or cover into the housing or housing element. Since, as mentioned above, subsequent removal of the lens or cover should also be possible, and the O-ring should return to its initial position in this case, it is further preferred that the raised section also forms a second ramp leading from the second circumferential groove or constriction to the dead center, this second ramp preferably being steeper than the first ramp leading from the first circumferential groove or constriction to the dead center.Rolling from the starting position to the mounting position should therefore be easier, while removing the lens or cover from the housing or housing element should only be possible with increased effort.
[0015] To assist the rolling of the O-ring according to the invention during the assembly or removal of the lens or cover, it is preferably provided that the receiving area of the housing or housing element has an inwardly projecting small projection or ridge on a circumferential wall of the receiving opening, which assists the rolling along the bearing area of the lens or cover between the two grooves accordingly.
[0016] The seal between the lens or cover and the housing, as already mentioned, is solely responsible for reliably holding the lens or cover in the housing or housing part. It also exerts a certain frictional force, preventing the lens or cover from being rotated without significant effort. Ideally, this frictional force is so high that simply gripping and twisting the lens or cover is impossible, requiring the use of a suitable tool.Accordingly, it can be provided that one or more indentations are formed on a portion of the lens or cover projecting outwards beyond the housing element. These indentations allow the lens or cover inserted into the housing element to be rotated and / or removed using only a suitable tool, preferably in the form of slots. Using appropriate screwdrivers, the lens or cover can then be rotated and / or removed from the housing, ensuring that it remains permanently in the desired position and orientation. The projecting portion of the lens or cover can have a collar, with at least some of the indentations preferably being formed on the outer circumference of the collar.
[0017] The concept according to the invention is applicable to all types of luminaires in which one or more lenses are to be reliably sealed within the wall of the housing or a housing part of the luminaire. Particularly preferred is the luminaire being a so-called emergency exit luminaire, used for illuminating escape routes, in which the lens(es) are used to emit light in the direction of an escape route to be illuminated. In particular, the lens(es) can be designed such that the light is emitted asymmetrically in a specific direction.
[0018] As already mentioned, the lighting of an escape route is often combined with a graphic representation of the direction of the escape route. According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the escape light is therefore an emergency exit sign light which, in addition to the light source for the escape route lighting, has further light sources with the aid of which an escape route symbol is illuminated and displayed. This can, in particular, be an emergency exit sign light based on the known light guide technology. That is to say,The luminaire preferably comprises a light guide element, which forms a plate-shaped light guide into which the light from the additional light sources is coupled. A pictogram element is arranged on at least one flat side of the light guide, and the light guide is designed to distribute the coupled light and emit it across the flat side to illuminate the pictogram element. The emergency light lens intended for illuminating the escape route is preferably arranged on a holder for the light guide, laterally adjacent to it.
[0019] The light guide element in question can also form part of the housing or a cover for the luminaire housing, with the light guide element preferably forming the housing element on which the emergency light lens is mounted. This results in a very simple design for the emergency exit sign, in which the graphic representation of an escape route is efficiently combined with the illumination of the escape route, and reliable sealing of the luminaire housing is also achieved. In particular, this ensures that the luminaire also meets the requirements for a higher protection class (IP class).
[0020] Naturally, the luminaire according to the invention can also have several lenses with associated light sources. In the case of an emergency exit sign luminaire as mentioned above with a light guide, the use of several emergency light lenses is particularly advantageous, since, regardless of the specific mounting situation, at least one of the available emergency light lenses can be used for efficient illumination of an escape route.
[0021] According to another embodiment, the luminaire may also have a sensor element arranged in the housing, which is positioned in the area of the receiving opening. This sensor element may, in particular, be a camera sensor or a PIR sensor, with the lens attached according to the invention then serving as optics for the sensor element. Furthermore, a maintenance or configuration element, for example a fuse, a battery, a switch for setting parameters, or a memory component (e.g., in the form of a memory card), may be arranged in the housing, wherein the maintenance or configuration element is accessible via the receiving opening, which is closed by the cover, in order to, for example, carry out maintenance work, read out data, or perform an update.Finally, the element protected by the cover according to the invention could also be a communication module, for example an NFC antenna or a Bluetooth module, which should also be accessible if necessary.
[0022] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing. The drawing shows: Figure 1 shows a particularly preferred application example of the present invention in the form of an emergency exit sign luminaire, which is designed according to the present invention and in which emergency light lenses for escape route illumination are arranged on a luminaire housing according to the solution of the invention; Figure 2 shows a view of the underside of the emergency exit sign luminaire. Figure 1Figure 3 shows a view of a light guide element which serves as the holder for the emergency light lens according to the invention; Figure 4 shows an enlarged view of the light guide element with corresponding receptacles for two emergency light lenses; Figure 5 shows a view of the light guide element from above; Figures 6 and 7 are perspective views of a lens according to the invention, with the O-ring in the mounting position; Figure 8 shows a sectional view of the emergency light lens attached to the light guide element before its mounting; Figures 9a and 10a are side views of the emergency light lens, with the O-ring in the initial position and mounting position, respectively; Figures 9b and 10b are sectional views of the emergency light lens attached to the light guide element and inserted into the light guide element, respectively; Figures 9c and 10c are enlarged views of partial areas of the Figures 9b and 10bFigure 11 shows a further embodiment of a luminaire according to the invention, in which access to an underlying functional part can be obtained by means of a detachably fastened cover; Figures 12 to 14 show a further embodiment in which manufacturing-related openings of a luminaire housing are detachably and sealed by means of corresponding covers.
[0023] The Figures 1 and 2Two views show an emergency exit sign luminaire, generally designated with reference numeral 100, designed according to the invention. This emergency exit sign luminaire indicates the direction of an escape route by means of an illuminated pictogram, and simultaneously illuminates the escape route with supplementary light sources. It should be noted, however, that the inventive concept for the optimized mounting of at least one lens can also be used with other types of luminaires. In principle, the inventive solution can always be used when lenses are to be arranged in a sealed manner on the housing wall of a luminaire, ideally in a rotatable manner.Thus, the solution according to the invention can also be used, for example, with floor-standing, ceiling-mounted, suspended, or recessed luminaires that are not necessarily used for illuminating escape routes, even though the invention is explained below in particular with reference to the illustrated emergency exit sign luminaire. As will be further explained below, a cover can also be detachably attached to a luminaire housing in a similar manner, allowing access to components located inside the luminaire.
[0024] In the illustrated embodiment, the direction of the escape route is indicated by a pictogram element 90, which is arranged on a flat side of a plate-shaped light guide, which will be described in more detail below. Light is coupled into this light guide from one narrow side and then distributed as evenly as possible across the entire surface via multiple reflections in a known manner before being emitted from the flat side on which the pictogram element 90 is located. Typically, the pictogram element 90 is formed by a film or a thin, plate-like component, which is arranged on the outside of a so-called light guide element 10 and attached there in a suitable manner.However, this aspect plays a rather subordinate role for the present invention, and the realization of the pictogram and its arrangement on the light guide element 10 could be carried out in various ways. Direct printing on the light guide would also be conceivable in principle.
[0025] In this case, the light coupled into the light guide element 10 originates from elongated light sources, which can be formed, for example, by a linear arrangement of LEDs located within the housing 60 of the luminaire 100. The LEDs are positioned such that the light is coupled into the light guide element 10 as efficiently as possible, i.e., completely, and then emitted via its flat side. For this purpose, the light guide element 10 can have corresponding output coupling structures in the area of pictogram 90, which deflect incident light rays instead of totally reflecting them, allowing them to exit the light guide element 10. The positioning of these output coupling structures depends on whether corresponding pictograms 90 are arranged on one or both sides of the light guide element 10.
[0026] Within the housing 60, which extends along the longitudinal axis L defined by the LED light sources, not only the light sources are arranged. Additional electronic components for operating and powering the light sources are also located within the housing 60. These components may include, in particular, a suitably designed converter that supplies the LEDs used with a voltage appropriate for their operation. Emergency power supplies in the form of batteries or accumulators may also be arranged within the cuboid housing 60, which is then, for example, mounted on a ceiling or another suitable support structure.
[0027] The previously mentioned light guide element 10 is insulated in Figure 3The light guide element 10 is preferably a single-piece component which, in addition to transmitting and distributing the light emitted by the LED light sources over a surface, also fulfills other functions. For this purpose, the light guide element 10 essentially consists of three areas or sections: a light coupling section 15, a light guide section 20, and a cover 25. All three sections are preferably integrally joined to form a single-piece component, which is manufactured particularly by injection molding. In principle, it would be conceivable for the three sections to be made of different materials; for example, the cover 25, which will be explained in more detail below, could be made of an opaque material. However, the light guide element 10 according to the invention will generally consist entirely of the same, preferably clear, plastic material, with PMMA or PC being particularly suitable for this purpose.
[0028] The function of the light coupling section 15 is to capture and transmit the light emitted by the LED light sources as completely as possible. The rib-shaped light coupling section 15 has a narrow end face 16 on its upper surface, which faces the LEDs and is positioned so that their light can enter the light coupling section 15 with minimal loss. Optionally, the end face 16 can also incorporate additional structures such as lenses or similar components tailored to the LEDs in order to further improve the efficiency of the light coupling.
[0029] The actual light emission, i.e., the illumination of pictogram 90, is the responsibility of the light guide section 20 following the light coupling section 15, which is designed in the known manner as a classic planar light guide. The light guide section 20 is thus plate-shaped, such that light undergoes total internal reflection multiple times and is thereby transmitted and evenly distributed within the light guide section 20. The light can then be emitted evenly via the aforementioned light coupling structures onto one or both flat sides 21 of the light guide section 20.
[0030] Adjoining the transition area between light coupling section 15 and light guide section 20 is the third section of the light guide element 10, namely the cover 25. Beyond the photometric functions described above, the light guide element 10 also forms part of the housing of the luminaire 100. Specifically, the cover 25 of the light guide element 10 serves to close the open underside of the actual housing 60 of the luminaire 100. Adjacent to the light coupling section 15 and the light guide section 20, the cover 25 initially forms a cover area 26 oriented perpendicular to them, which, when the light guide element 10 is mounted on the housing 60, forms the underside of the housing. The dimensions of this cover area 26 correspond to the dimensions of the further housing 60, whereby, here too, a tight seal between the cover 25 and the housing 60 is desired.For this purpose, a vertically extending web 28 is formed around the perimeter of the cover area 26, which, when mounted on the housing 60, engages in a corresponding annular channel of the housing 60 (see, for example, . Figure 8 In this area, a seal can be positioned into which the upper end of the bridge 28 is inserted, thus creating a highly efficient connection in the transition area between the housing 60 and the cover 25, which prevents the ingress of dust, and especially also of moisture and splashing water. The cover 25 can also be fitted with corresponding snap-in or clamping elements, which are used to attach the light guide element 10 to the luminaire housing 60.
[0031] In addition, the cover 25 also serves as a mounting for the emergency light lenses 40 used for escape route lighting. These are arranged laterally in the horizontal cover area 26 next to the centrally running light guide section 20 and are designed in a known manner to emit light in a targeted direction, for example, to illuminate an escape route running below or diagonally below the luminaire 100. Inside the luminaire housing 60, in addition to the first light sources already mentioned for illuminating the pictogram 90, further light sources are arranged that are assigned to the emergency light lenses 40 and can be selectively activated to illuminate an escape route with the aid of their assigned emergency light lens 40.
[0032] As shown here, in particular, by Figure 2As can be seen, the horizontal cover section 26 of the cover 25 has a total of three receptacles 30 for holding associated emergency light lenses 40, wherein in Figure 2The two upper mountings 30 are equipped with emergency light lenses 40, while the lower mounting 30, the design of which will be described in more detail below, is shown without its associated lens 40. It should be noted that during the subsequent operation of the luminaire 100, all three mountings 30 will be equipped with corresponding emergency light lenses 40; however, for the actual illumination of the escape route, it is not necessarily required that all emergency light lenses 40 be used simultaneously.The illustrated arrangement of the three mounts 30, in conjunction with the fact that the light guide element 10 can also be arranged rotated by 180° on the luminaire housing 60 and furthermore the emergency light lenses 40 can be variably rotated as explained in more detail below, covers all conceivable situations, so that depending on the mounting situation of the luminaire 100 and the course of the escape route, only a part of the associated light sources can be used with appropriate alignment of the associated emergency light lens(es) 40.
[0033] In principle, the cover 25 could also be provided with four receptacles for emergency light lenses 40 or with just two diagonally opposite receptacles 30. This is of minor importance for the present invention, as it primarily concerns itself with the task of reliably attaching the lenses 40 to the corresponding receptacles 30 in such a way that they can be aligned as desired and yet a permanently reliable seal between the emergency light lens 40 and the housing 60 or the cover 25 for the housing 60 can be achieved. This will be explained in more detail below with reference to the further figures.
[0034] The basic shape of lenses 40 is best suited to the Figure 6 , 7 , 9a and 10aThe emergency light lens 40 according to the invention is similar to emergency light lenses known from the prior art with regard to the components responsible for light emission. The emergency light lens 40 shown in the figures thus initially comprises a lens body 41, which is approximately conical in shape and forms a recess 42 at its upper end. The light source (not shown in the figures), which is preferably a high-performance LED, projects at least partially into this recess 42, so that the outer surface and the base surface of the recess 42 represent light entry surfaces of the lens body 41. The circumferential outer wall of the conical body then serves to direct incident light rays downwards onto the light emission area by means of total internal reflection.In this sense, the lens body 41 primarily serves as a collimator for the light typically emitted by the LED over a relatively wide angular range.
[0035] The light from the LED, directed downwards by this collimator, is then emitted via a Fresnel-like structure 45. This sawtooth-shaped structure 45 is provided with flanks such that the light rays are deflected accordingly and then emitted laterally and obliquely downwards in a preferred direction, as shown in Figure 7 This is schematically indicated by the arrow. In this way, the light produced by the associated light source can be emitted in a highly directed manner in a specific radiation direction A, in which an escape route runs, in order to illuminate it.
[0036] A collar 46 is formed around the Fresnel structure 45. In the area corresponding to the direction A of light emission, this collar is reduced in height to allow for unobstructed light emission. The remaining portion of this collar 46 forms a circumferential, approximately partially cylindrical outer wall, which is provided with two opposing, slot-shaped indentations 48, described in more detail below. This design of the collar 46 facilitates identification of the light emission direction, enabling the emergency light lens 40 to be positioned in the desired orientation on the luminaire housing 60 or the cover 25. Furthermore, the collar 46 prevents unwanted stray light emission in other directions.
[0037] The bearing area 50 adjoins the upper side of the collar 46. When the emergency light lens 40 is mounted on the cover 25, this bearing area engages in the receptacle 30 of the cover 25 and serves to support an O-ring 5 that acts as a seal. The outer contour of this bearing area 50 is perfectly rotationally symmetrical, which simplifies the manufacturing of the emergency light lens 40, for example, using an injection molding process. The bearing area 50 forms two grooves 51 and 52 arranged one above the other in the axial direction of the lens 40. The design of these grooves is shown in detail in the enlarged sectional views of the Figures 9c and 10c can be extracted.
[0038] Both grooves or constrictions 51, 52 are separated from each other by a single sawtooth-like projection 53, the tip of which defines a dead center 55, which will be explained in more detail below. The projection 53 is designed such that a first ramp is formed starting from the upper circumferential groove 51, and a second ramp is formed starting from the lower groove 52, the slope of which is steeper than that of the first ramp. Below the lower groove 52, a flange-like, outwardly projecting circumferential projection 58 is also formed, which, as will be described in more detail below, serves as a stop element when inserting the emergency light lens 40 into the receptacle 30 of the cover 25.
[0039] Regarding the receptacle 30 itself, it should be noted that it forms a corresponding circular receiving opening 31, which is enclosed by an annular circumferential wall 32. This circumferential wall 32 preferably extends into the interior of the luminaire, but could optionally also project to the underside beyond the horizontal area 26 of the cover 25. At the lower end of the circumferential wall 32, a slightly inwardly projecting projection or collar 35 is also formed, which supports the rolling of the O-ring according to the inventive procedure described in more detail below and prevents the lens 40 from slipping out with the O-ring 5.
[0040] As in Figure 4As indicated, to mount an emergency light lens 40 in the receptacle 30 of the cover 25, the lens 40, with the O-ring 5 located in the upper groove 51 and thus in its starting position, is placed against the opening 31 from below and then pressed into it. This process is described in detail in the Figures 9a to 9c or 10a to 10c, where the Figures 9a to 9c Show the starting position of the seal, i.e., the O-ring 5. Figures 10a to 10c The resulting arrangement is shown with the emergency light lens 40 arranged in the image 30.
[0041] Before the emergency light lens 40 is pressed in, the O-ring 5 is located in the upper groove 51. It protrudes slightly beyond the lateral circumference of the upper end region of the emergency light lens 40, as shown in Figure 9c is recognizable and accordingly, when the emergency light lens 40 is attached to the cover 25, it comes into contact with the aforementioned projection 35.
[0042] If the emergency light lens 40 is now moved in the direction of the arrow (see Figures 9b and 9c When the O-ring 5 is pressed into the receptacle 30, it rolls slightly along the first ramp 51 of the protrusion 53, but already reaches the receiving area 30 of the opening 31. Because the O-ring 5 is made of a flexible material, it compresses slightly and can therefore overcome the dead center 55 as the emergency light lens 40 is further pressed into the opening 31, so that it rolls into the lower groove 52. The lens 40 is pressed into the receiving opening 31 until the lower flange-like projection 58 comes into contact with the lower edge of the projection 35, at which point the Figure 8 or in the Figures 10b and 10c The arrangement of the O-ring 5 shown on the outer circumference of the emergency light lens 40 results.
[0043] The projection 58 at the lower edge of the receptacle 30 prevents the lens 40 from being pressed further into the receptacle 30. At the same time, the O-ring 5 is positioned as in Figure 10c This is recognizable at the top of the projection or collar 35, which ensures that the flange-like projection 58 is pressed against the underside of the cover 25. This results in precise positioning of the lens 40 relative to the associated LED, thus ensuring efficient coupling of the corresponding light.
[0044] Furthermore, the size and flexibility of the O-ring 5 are such that it cannot easily overcome the steeper lower ramp of the elevation 53 and thus the dead center 55, especially not due to the weight of the lens 40 itself. In this situation, the emergency light lens 40 is reliably and precisely positioned in the receptacle 30 of the cover 25, while simultaneously providing an extremely reliable seal of the receptacle opening 31, which prevents the ingress of dust and / or moisture or splashing water.
[0045] Since both the outer contour of the emergency light lens 40 and the circumferential wall 32 of the receptacle 30 are rotationally symmetrical, the emergency light lens 40 can obviously be inserted into the receptacle 30 in any desired rotational position. This means that, depending on the mounting situation of the luminaire 100 and the course of an escape route to be illuminated, the emergency light lens 40 can be oriented appropriately to emit light specifically in the direction of the escape route and illuminate it.
[0046] The rotationally symmetrical design of the various components also offers the advantage that manufacturing via injection molding is relatively simple, as there are no recesses or similar structures that would complicate demolding after injection molding. The flexibility of the O-ring is intended not only to ensure the desired seal of the receiving opening 31 of the cover 25, but also to guarantee that the mounted emergency light lens 40 remains permanently in the desired position and orientation. This means that the friction generated by the O-ring 5 is such that a certain amount of force is required to rotate the emergency light lens 40. In particular, simple rotation by gripping the collar 46 should not be possible.For this purpose, the previously mentioned slot-like indentations 48 provided on the outer circumference and a further indentation 49 provided in the area of the Fresnel structure 45 are used (see, for example, . Fig. 5 or Fig. 7 / 8 ) responsible. Thus, these indentations 48 and 49 can be designed to allow the end of a suitable tool, e.g., a screwdriver, to be inserted and then used to rotate the emergency light lens 40 or to pry it out of the receptacle 30 of the cover 25. This provides an additional safety measure that prevents the already installed emergency light lens 40 from being unintentionally or easily rotated out of its intended orientation at a later time.
[0047] Ultimately, the solution according to the invention allows lenses – e.g., for targeted illumination of an escape route – to be easily and securely mounted on a suitable housing of a luminaire or a part of a luminaire housing and aligned as desired. The resulting seal represents a significant improvement compared to previously known solutions, ensuring that this area of the housing is also reliably protected against external influences.
[0048] Moreover, the concept according to the invention is extremely versatile and not limited to the rotatable arrangement of lenses for variable escape route lighting.
[0049] Similarly, lenses could be arranged on a luminaire housing that do not serve to influence the light emitted by the light source, but rather act as optics for a sensor located inside the housing. For example, a sensor, such as a camera sensor or a PIR sensor, could be installed inside the housing to detect the presence of people, with this sensor located near the sensor opening. The lens, which is detachably sealed and attached to the sensor opening as described above, could then serve as optics for the sensor, defining the area monitored by the sensor. In this case, too, the preferably rotatable arrangement would be advantageous, for example, to allow for adjustments in the event of motion or other changes in the sensor's position.PIR sensors allow you to precisely define the area they detect and monitor by aligning the lens that forms the optics. Of course, the lens could also be rotationally symmetrical to completely cover the area below the light, i.e., across its entire circumference.
[0050] Another application example of the concept according to the invention involves using the solution described above to detachably attach a cover, in particular an opaque cover, to the luminaire housing to seal the receiving opening, while still allowing the housing to be opened in this area if necessary. A maintenance or configuration element, or more generally a functional component, can then be arranged inside the housing in the area of the receiving opening, which is accessed by removing the cover. This would then provide easy access to, for example, a fuse or battery located inside the luminaire. Access to switches or other elements used to set and / or save the luminaire's operating parameters (e.g.,(e.g., a memory card) would be possible in this way, for example, to perform maintenance, read data, or carry out an update. Positioning a communication module, such as an NFC antenna or a Bluetooth module, within the area of the cover according to the invention would also be conceivable.
[0051] This further application possibility is initially in Figure 11 shown, where comparable elements have been provided with the same reference symbols. The housing 60 of the luminaire 100 shown here, which is also designed as an emergency exit sign, therefore also has a receiving area 30, which is analogous to the one shown based on the Figures 1 - 10 The illustrated embodiment has a receiving opening 31 with a surrounding wall area 32.
[0052] In this case, the receiving opening 30 is closed by a cover 70, which in turn has a circumferential seal in the form of an O-ring 5, wherein, in particular, the bearing area 50 of the cover 70 is identical to the bearing area 50 of the lenses 40 described above. That is, in this case too, the contour of the bearing area 50 of the cover 70 is selected such that when the cover 70 is inserted into the receiving opening 31 of the luminaire housing 60, the O-ring 50 rolls down and, according to the Figures 9 and 10 The process shown achieves a sealed attachment of the cover 70 to the housing 60.
[0053] The cover 70 no longer serves to emit light, but rather to provide access to a functional component 75 located beneath it, i.e., within the housing 60. As already mentioned, this component could be, for example, a fuse or a battery, but also another component used, for instance, to adjust an operating parameter of the light 100. The cover, which is detachably attached to the housing 60, allows easy access to this functional component 75 when needed, while the cover 70 reliably and securely closes the housing 60 when access is not required.To facilitate the removal of the cover 70 if necessary, an opening or notch can be provided, analogous to the lenses 40 described in the previous embodiment, which makes it easier to insert a tool to pry the cover 70 out of its position attached to the housing 60. In this case, the cover can be made of any material, in particular also of an opaque material.
[0054] A third embodiment is finally found in the Figures 12 - 14As shown, the luminaire 100 does not have a light guide element, but rather a vertically oriented, box-shaped housing 65, which could, for example, be used to illuminate pictograms to display information, such as indicating the direction of an escape route. In this case, corresponding light sources – not shown in detail in the figures – are arranged inside the housing 65, and these light sources are preferably designed to emit light over a large area and uniformly across the side walls of the housing 65, for example, to backlight pictograms arranged therein.
[0055] In the illustrated embodiment, the underside of the housing 65 is provided with three openings 67, which may be necessary for manufacturing purposes or, if required, to allow access to an underlying functional component (not shown in detail). Again, corresponding covers 80 serve this purpose, which are to be attached to the luminaire housing 65 by means of an annular seal in the form of an O-ring 5. The components used for this purpose are identical. That is, each housing opening 67 again has a corresponding receptacle 30, which, analogous to the two previous embodiments, Figures 1 - 11is designed, wherein the cover 80 also has the rotationally shaped bearing area 50 in this case, which is used for the bearing of the O-rings 5 according to the invention. What is new is that the circular receptacle 30 extends from a square housing opening 67, as shown in Figure 12 This is evident. Similarly, the cover 80 now has a correspondingly shaped, square cover plate 82, from which the storage area 50 extends. This allows the square opening 67 to be closed with precise contours, as shown in the following sections. Figure 12 and 13 This is evident. The interaction between receptacle 30, bearing area 50 and O-ring 5 is, however, identical to the interaction in the previously discussed embodiments. As in the Figure 12 and 14It is evident - and of course also intended - that the housing openings 67 and associated covers 80 are of different sizes.
Claims
1. Luminaire (1) comprising: • a housing (60) or housing element (25) having a receiving opening (31) for receiving at least part of a lens (40) or a cover (70, 80); • a lens (40) or cover (70, 80) that can be attached to the receiving opening (31); wherein the receiving opening (31) of the housing (60) or housing element (25) forms a hollow cylindrical receiving area (30) in which, in the mounted state of the lens (40) or cover (70, 80), a rotationally symmetrical bearing portion (50) of the lens (40) or cover (70, 80) is rotatably positioned, and wherein a circumferential seal in the form of an O-ring (5) is arranged on the outer circumference of the bearing portion (50) of the lens (40) or cover (70, 80), which seal is effective between the housing (60) or housing element (25) and the lens (40) or cover (70, 80), characterized in that the bearing portion (50) of the lens (40) or cover (70, 80) has a first circumferential groove (51) or constriction for receiving the O-ring (5) in an initial position and, axially offset thereto, a second circumferential groove (52) or constriction for receiving the O-ring (5) in a mounting position, wherein the first and second circumferential grooves (51, 52) or constriction are separated from each other by a projection (53) defining a dead point (55), and the O-ring (5) rolls into the receiving area (30) from the first circumferential groove (51) or constriction via the dead point (55) into the second circumferential groove (52) when the lens (40) or cover (70, 80) is inserted into the receiving area (30).
2. Luminaire according to claim 1, characterized in that the projection (53) forms a ramp leading from the first circumferential groove (51) or constriction to the dead point (55).
3. Luminaire according to claim 2, characterized in that the projection (53) additionally forms a further ramp leading from the second circumferential groove (52) or constriction to the dead point (55), wherein this further ramp is preferably steeper than the ramp leading from the first circumferential groove (51) or constriction to the dead point (55), and wherein the projection (53) is particularly preferably designed in a sawtooth-like manner.
4. Luminaire according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the receiving area (30) of the housing (60) or housing element (25) has an inwardly projecting protrusion (35) or collar on a peripheral wall (32) of the receiving opening (31), which supports the rolling of the O-ring (5) along the bearing portion (50) of the lens (40) or cover (70, 80).
5. Luminaire according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that one or more indentations (48, 49) are formed on a region of the lens (40) or cover (70, 80) that protrudes outward beyond the housing (60) or housing element (25), which indentations enable the lens (40) or cover (70, 80) inserted into the housing (60) or housing element (25) to be rotated and / or the lens (40) or cover (70, 80) to be removed with the aid of a tool, wherein the indentations (48, 49) are preferably slotted, and wherein, most preferably the protruding region of the lens (40) or cover (70, 80) has a collar (46), wherein at least some of the indentations (48, 49) are formed in particular on the outer circumference of the collar (46).
6. Luminaire according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the luminaire (1) further comprises a light source arranged in the housing and the lens (40) is provided for emitting the light generated by the light source; wherein the luminaire (1) preferably comprises a plurality of lenses (4) with associated light sources.
7. Luminaire according to claim 6, characterized in that the lens or lenses (40) are designed to emit the light emitted by the associated light sources asymmetrically in a direction of emission (A).
8. Luminaire according to claim 7, characterized in that it is an emergency luminaire, wherein the lens or lenses (40) are emergency light lenses which are designed to emit light for illuminating an escape route.
9. Emergency sign according to claim 8, characterized in that it is an emergency exit sign which, in addition to the light source or light sources for emergency route illumination, comprises further light sources whose light illuminates an emergency route symbol.
10. Emergency exit sign according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises a light guide element (10) which forms a plate-shaped light guide (20) into which the light from the additional light source is coupled, wherein a pictogram element (90) is arranged on at least one flat side (21) of the light guide (20) and the light guide (20) is designed to distribute the coupled light and emit it distributed via the flat side (21) in order to illuminate the pictogram element (90).
11. Emergency exit sign according to claim 10, characterized in that the emergency sign lens(es) (40) is / are arranged on a holder for the light guide (20) next to the side of the latter.
12. Emergency exit sign according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the light guide element (10) additionally also forms part of the housing (60) or a cover (25) for the housing (60) of the luminaire (100), wherein the light guide element (10) preferably forms the housing element on which the emergency light lens(es) (40) is / are arranged.
13. Luminaire according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the luminaire (1) further comprises a sensor element arranged in the housing, which is positioned in the area of the receiving opening (31), wherein the sensor element is preferably a camera sensor or a PIR sensor, and the lens (40) serves as optics for the sensor element.
14. Luminaire according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the luminaire (1) further comprises a maintenance or configuration element (75) arranged in the housing, for example a fuse, a battery, a switch for setting parameters, or a memory element, wherein the maintenance or configuration element is accessible via the receiving opening (31) closed by the cover (70, 80).
15. Luminaire according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the luminaire (1) further comprises a communication module, e.g. an NFC antenna or a Bluetooth module, arranged in the housing, wherein the communication module is accessible via the receiving opening (31) closed by the cover (70, 80).
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Luminaire and method for fastening two components
US20190120458A1
Lighting arrangement, especially for emergency exit lighting
DE102011082844A1
Decorative luminaires
US20080002411A1