Light with a light guide and a light-emitting diode arrangement, and furniture element comprising same

Abstract

The invention provides a luminaire (1) with an elongated light guide (2) having a vertical axis (H) and a longitudinal axis, and an elongated light-emitting diode arrangement (11) received in a recess (9) within an outer circumferential contour (24) of the light guide (2), which is configured to emit light into an interior space (12) formed within the outer circumferential contour (24) of the light guide (2), wherein the light guide (2) is provided on a partial region of the outer circumferential contour (24) with a device (13) that reflects light into the interior space (12) of the light guide (2), and the light guide (2) has at least one light-emitting surface (16) on the outer circumferential contour (24).wherein the light emission surface (16) is arranged in a cross-sectional view of the light guide (2) at an angle (α) to the vertical axis (H) of the light guide (2) and the device (13) is arranged on the outer circumferential contour (24) of the light guide (2) with the exception of the at least one light emission surface (16) and the recess (9).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a luminaire with an elongated light guide having a vertical axis and a longitudinal axis, and an elongated light-emitting diode arrangement received in a recess within an outer circumferential contour of the light guide, which is configured to emit light into an interior formed within the outer circumferential contour of the light guide, wherein the light guide is provided on a partial region of the outer circumferential contour with a device for reflecting light into the interior of the light guide, and the light guide has at least one light-emitting surface on the outer circumferential contour, according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] The invention also relates to a furniture element with a light fixture according to the invention.

[0003] A well-known luminaire, as explained above, has been described in reference to DE 20 2011 005 624 U1.

[0004] Furniture or furniture components often have built-in compartments or interiors that are easier for the user to handle when illuminated. This is especially true for drawers, whose interiors are more user-friendly with good lighting, for example, when sorting or removing items from the interior.

[0005] The drawers mentioned as examples have limited installation space in both the vertical and horizontal directions, so a light fixture intended for illuminating the drawer must only require a small installation space and, in particular, a small installation height, as otherwise the light fixture would restrict the usable interior space of the drawer or there is a risk that items stored inside the drawer would collide with the light fixture.

[0006] Based on this, the present invention aims to create a light fixture specifically designed for illuminating drawers, which does not or only minimally restricts the usable interior space of the drawer and, moreover, enables efficient and homogeneous illumination of the interior. The invention also aims to create a furniture element equipped with the light fixture according to the invention.

[0007] The invention, with regard to the lamp, has the features specified in claim 1 to solve this problem. Advantageous embodiments thereof are described in the further claims. Furthermore, with regard to the furniture element, the invention has the features specified in claim 15; advantageous embodiments thereof are described in the further claims.

[0008] The invention provides a luminaire with an elongated light guide having a vertical axis and a longitudinal axis, and an elongated light-emitting diode arrangement received in a recess within an outer circumferential contour of the light guide, which is configured to emit light into an interior formed within the outer circumferential contour of the light guide, wherein the light guide is provided on a partial region of the outer circumferential contour with a device for reflecting light into the interior of the light guide, and the light guide has at least one light-emitting surface on an outer circumferential contour, wherein the light-emitting surface is arranged in a cross-sectional view of the light guide at an angle to the vertical axis of the light guide, and the device is arranged on the outer circumferential contour of the light guide with the exception of the at least one light-emitting surface and the recess.

[0009] By arranging the LED array within a recess of the light guide, the height, overall height, or thickness of the light, as viewed in the vertical direction of the light guide, can be reduced, thus allowing the light, for example, when mounted on the side wall of a drawer, to only imperceptibly reduce the drawer's available width for holding objects inside.

[0010] The lamp according to the invention achieves that the height or installation height of the lamp, i.e., the installation height considered when arranging the lamp according to the invention on a side wall of the drawer into the interior of the drawer, by which the lamp protrudes into the drawer, is preferably in the range of less than four millimeters and preferably the installation height of the lamp is in the range between three and four millimeters.

[0011] By arranging the light, for example, on the top of a drawer's side wall, the height of the drawer's side wall is only slightly increased, allowing the drawer to be easily pulled out and pushed back into a piece of furniture without the light, positioned on the top of the drawer's side wall, colliding with the recess of the furniture, while still achieving homogeneous illumination of the drawer's interior.

[0012] According to the invention, the light emission surface is arranged in a cross-sectional view of the light guide at an angle to the vertical axis of the light guide, and the device is arranged on the outer circumferential contour of the light guide with the exception of the at least one light emission surface and the recess which accommodates the light-emitting diode arrangement.

[0013] By arranging the light emission surface in a cross-sectional view of the light guide at an angle to the vertical axis of the light guide, it can be achieved that the light coupled into the light guide by the light-emitting diode arrangement over largely the entire length of the light guide in the longitudinal direction of the light guide is specifically emitted into the interior of the furniture element to be illuminated, via the light emission surface, which extends in particular over the entire length of the light guide along the longitudinal axis of the light guide.

[0014] By arranging the light, for example, on a side surface or side wall or on the top of a side surface or side wall of the drawer, the light emitted surface directs the light coupled into the light guide by the light-emitting diode arrangement into the interior space to be illuminated; thus, the light emitted surface performs a light-directing function.

[0015] The light-emitting diode arrangement extends within the recess of the light guide largely over the entire axial length of the light guide, thus coupling the light emitted or coupled into the light guide by the light-emitting diode arrangement over largely the entire length of the light guide.

[0016] By arranging the light-reflecting device on the outer circumference of the light guide such that the device is positioned on the outer contour of the light guide, with the exception of the light-emitting surface and the recess, multiple reflections of the light coupled into the light guide by the LED array are achieved. This prevents the light from exiting the light guide unintentionally at any point along its outer circumference, ensuring that it is emitted only at the light-emitting surface. In a cross-sectional view of the light guide, this light-emitting surface is positioned at an angle to the vertical axis of the light guide. This angle is selected according to the area of ​​the interior of the drawer, for example, that is to be illuminated.

[0017] By coupling light from the LED array into the optical fiber not just at one or both ends of the fiber, but across virtually the entire axial or longitudinal extent of the fiber, a homogenization of the coupled light is achieved. This allows the light emitted from the light-emitting surface of the fiber to be radiated into the interior of the object to be illuminated—for example, a piece of furniture, a drawer, or a cabinet—with a homogeneous light distribution. By positioning the light-reflecting element on the outer circumference of the fiber optic cable, further homogenization of the light emerging from the light-emitting surface is achieved through multiple reflections of the coupled light at the reflecting element.

[0018] The angle of the light emission surface relative to the vertical axis of the light guide is selected so that the interior space to be illuminated is homogeneously illuminated by the luminaire according to the invention, i.e., for example, hotspots with high luminous intensity in the lighting scheme of the luminaire and dark areas in the lighting scheme of the luminaire can be avoided.

[0019] According to a further development of the invention, the light emission surface extends at least along a partial area of ​​a side surface of the light guide arranged at an angle to the vertical axis of the light guide, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the light guide.

[0020] This configuration allows light to be emitted through a side surface of the light guide towards the room to be illuminated, or the interior of, for example, a piece of furniture, with the side surface of the light guide oriented towards the interior. The side surface of the light guide can also be designed in the form of an optical lens extending along the longitudinal direction of the light guide, so that the light emitted from the side surface is directed into the interior, for example, towards the underside or floor of the interior, or towards a side surface or wall of the furniture to be illuminated opposite the side surface of the light guide.By shaping the side surface or the light emission surface of the light guide in the form of an optical lens, further homogenization of the light emitted by the light guide and a steering of the emitted light is achieved.

[0021] According to a further development of the invention, the angle changes in the direction of the light-emitting surface. In other words, the angle of the light-emitting surface relative to the vertical axis of the light guide is not constant, but can also change along the direction of the light-emitting surface. This allows for further homogenization of the light emitted by the light guide, or, for example, for a concentration of the light emitted by the light guide on an area of ​​the interior that requires more intense illumination, such as a surface of the interior that is to be highlighted by means of concentrated or focused lighting.This could be, for example, an area of ​​the floor surface of the interior where a special optical or lighting effect is to be achieved, i.e., an area of ​​the floor surface or other surface bearing an emblem or the like is to be focused and thus highlighted.

[0022] According to a further development of the invention, the angle along the light-emitting surface also has at least one discontinuity. In other words, this means that the angle of the light-emitting surface relative to the vertical axis of the light guide does not remain constant, but rather changes abruptly at the discontinuity. This also allows, for example, a lighting effect to be achieved in the interior space or on the surface to be illuminated.

[0023] According to a further development of the invention, the light-emitting surface also includes at least one section designed in the form of an optical lens. However, by designing the light-emitting surface or the section in the form of an optical lens, focused areas of the surface to be illuminated can be more intensely lit than other areas, thus homogenizing the light emitted by the optical fiber.

[0024] According to a further development of the invention, it is also provided that the recess is designed as a groove extending along the longitudinal axis of the light guide, which is designed to accommodate the light-emitting diode arrangement.

[0025] This allows such a groove to be incorporated into a light guide manufactured using an extrusion process, for example, to accommodate the LED array during the manufacturing process itself. The light guide can be made of a transparent thermoplastic material, such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), to which a plasticizer is added. This makes it possible to supply the light guide on a reel, which can then be cut to the required length at the installation site, such as where furniture is being assembled. An LED array can then be positioned in the groove of the light guide, allowing the light fixture to be manufactured or supplied at the installation site in any desired length.Besides the aforementioned material, the optical fiber can also be made from other materials, such as polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, glass, or similar materials. It is also possible to construct the optical fiber from transparent or translucent materials such as silicone, polyurethane, or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer (ABS).

[0026] Since, for example, if the light guide is made of PMMA, it can be cut to the required length at the installation site, and since the applicant also provides a light-emitting diode arrangement in a freely configurable length, the luminaire can be supplied at the installation site in a freely configurable length. Furthermore, predefined segment lengths of the luminaire according to the invention can be prefabricated and inserted into the furniture at the site of series production.

[0027] According to a further development of the invention, it is also provided that the light-emitting diode arrangement is arranged in the recess such that a distance is formed between a head region of the light-emitting diode arrangement and a lower region of the recess in the vertical axis direction of the light guide.

[0028] With such a configuration, the LED assembly can be easily inserted into the recess or groove of the light guide by the user, similar to a clip connection, and the clearance provided in the head area of ​​the LED assembly to the lower area or bottom of the recess creates clearance so that the LEDs do not come into contact with the lower area or bottom of the recess or groove during installation and therefore cannot be damaged.

[0029] According to a further development of the invention, it is also provided that the light emission surface is equipped with a device for reflecting light into the interior of the light guide along a partial area extending at an angle to the vertical axis.

[0030] This ensures that the light-emitting surface is partially closed or mirrored, for example to achieve optical effects, and thus no light is emitted from the light-emitting surface towards the interior of the area to be illuminated through the closed or mirrored area. This can be used, for example, to provide selectively darkened areas on the surface or in the interior space to be illuminated.

[0031] According to a further development of the invention, the light-emitting surface is also designed to deflect the light passing through it. This allows the light emitted by the light-emitting surface to be selectively influenced, i.e., directed, with regard to its direction of emission. This makes it possible, for example, to focus the light on specific areas of the surface to be illuminated, while other areas of the surface are illuminated homogeneously.

[0032] According to a further development of the invention, the light guide also has a greater extent in a lateral direction perpendicular to the vertical axis than in the vertical direction. This creates a flat configuration with a low profile in the vertical direction of the light guide, while the lateral extent of the light guide allows for the arrangement of the light-emitting surface, and thus the emission of light from the light-emitting surface, at a point or area within the interior space or surface to be illuminated, thereby achieving the desired homogenization of the illumination of the surface or interior space.

[0033] According to a further development of the invention, it is also provided that the device reflecting light into the interior of the light guide is designed as a reflective film with a thickness in the range of about 50 to about 100 micrometers, which is arranged on the outer circumferential contour of the light guide.

[0034] The exceptionally thin configuration of the film contributes to the fact that the luminaire according to the invention still has a low overall height, while the light coupled into the light guide by the LED arrangement is reflected multiple times by the reflective film into the interior of the light guide until it can be coupled out of the light guide at the light-emitting surface. This further improves the homogenization of the light emitted from the light guide.

[0035] According to a further development of the invention, the light-reflecting device is also designed as a metallization, for example as a metallization layer, and in particular as a vapor-deposited metallization layer. This results in multiple reflections of the light coupled into the interior of the light guide by the LED arrangement at the reflective surface of the metallization or metallization layer until the light reaches the light-emitting surface of the light guide and is emitted homogeneously from there into the interior or onto the surface of the object to be illuminated, for example, a piece of furniture, a cabinet element, a drawer, or the like.Designing the light-reflecting element into the interior of the optical fiber as a metallization or metallization layer has the advantage that it allows for an extremely thin layer thickness, sufficient for reflecting the light into the interior of the optical fiber. The layer thickness can, for example, range from 10 to 50 micrometers.

[0036] Although a film or metallization for forming the light-reflecting device into the interior of the optical fiber is described above, other technologies can also be used to provide the reflective device. For example, a mirror-like silver coating can be applied to the outer circumference of the optical fiber, with a thickness in the range of approximately 50 to 100 nanometers, to achieve a high reflectivity for reflecting the light emitted by the LED array into the interior of the optical fiber.

[0037] According to a further development of the invention, it is also provided that the device reflecting light into the interior of the light guide is provided with a decorative device on an outer side facing away from the interior of the light guide.

[0038] For example, a metallized film on the side facing the interior of the light guide can be provided with a furniture-style decorative finish on its outer surface, matching the appearance of the piece of furniture on which the luminaire according to the invention is mounted. This allows the luminaire to blend harmoniously into the furniture's appearance while still providing homogeneous illumination of the area to be lit, such as an interior space or a surface of the furniture, via its light-emitting surface. The decorative finish can also be in the form of an optical coating on the outer surface of the light guide, with a thickness ranging from approximately 10 nanometers to several micrometers, for example, 20 to 50 micrometers.This optical decorative device ensures that the light guide or the light fixture is homogeneously integrated into the receiving surface for the light fixture on, for example, the piece of furniture, and therefore does not appear as a contrast to the receiving surface.

[0039] In a further development of the invention, it is also provided that the light-emitting diode arrangement has a light-emitting diode strip arranged in an elongated profile, which has a plurality of light-emitting diodes provided in a longitudinal direction of the light-emitting diode strip and contact means extending in the longitudinal direction of the light-emitting diode strip for supplying the light-emitting diodes with electrical energy are provided on the light-emitting diode strip and the light-emitting diode strip has potting compound at least partially surrounding the light-emitting diodes.

[0040] Thus, the LED assembly can, for example, be a prefabricated unit with a large number of LEDs arranged in a COB configuration on a flexible circuit board. This unit can be inserted into the groove or recess of the light guide in situ, i.e., at the mounting location, for example, similar to a clip connection, and secured there. For this purpose, the LED assembly, which can be a flexible LED strip, can be cut to a predetermined length at the mounting location and inserted into the light guide, which has also been cut to a predetermined length at the mounting location.

[0041] In this way, a system with a light guide and a light-emitting diode arrangement is created which can be freely configured according to the length requirements at the installation site and can therefore also be adapted to complicated installation situations without it being necessary to deliver pre-made luminaires in standardized length or segment length to the installation site, but rather the luminaire according to the invention required for the desired lighting purposes can be manufactured and provided on site, i.e. at the place of assembly, for example by a craftsman who assembles the furniture segments or furniture elements or furniture assemblies to be illuminated at the place of assembly.

[0042] According to the invention, it is therefore also provided that a furniture element is supplied with a light fixture, as explained in detail above.

[0043] In the simplest case, the furniture element can be a drawer, which is intended, for example, for the formation of cabinets or kitchen segments or the like.

[0044] According to a further development of the invention, it is also provided that the furniture element is equipped with a switchable device which is intended to supply the lamp with electrical energy.

[0045] The switchable device can, for example, be designed to detect an action on the furniture element, such as the opening of a drawer equipped with the light according to the invention, so that the switchable device automatically switches on the electrical power supply to the light according to the invention, thus automatically illuminating the interior of the drawer when it is opened. The switchable device can also switch off the electrical power supply to the light according to the invention after the drawer is closed.

[0046] The switchable device can be provided on the furniture element, but it is also possible for the switchable device to be an element or component of the luminaire according to the invention itself. For example, the luminaire can have a sensor that detects when the furniture element is opened and / or closed, in order to switch the power supply to the luminaire on and / or off depending on the action of the furniture element. Such a sensor can, for example, be integrated into the structure of the light guide, since such a configuration still fulfills the requirements that the luminaire can be arranged or integrated into the piece of furniture or another object to be illuminated with very little space.

[0047] According to a further development of the invention, it is also provided that the light fixture is fixed to the furniture element by means of a material bond, in particular by means of an adhesive bond. For this purpose, the light fixture can be provided with a double-sided adhesive film or double-sided tape along its longitudinal extent on the mounting surface, which is, for example, the underside of the light fixture, on the opposite upper side of which a decorative element is provided, so that the protective layer of the tape or adhesive film only needs to be peeled off, so that the light fixture according to the invention can then be fixed at the mounting location by means of a simple adhesive process.

[0048] Finally, according to the invention, the furniture element also includes a light fixture in which the light reflecting device of the light fixture is provided on the outside facing away from the interior of the light guide with a decorative device which corresponds at least largely to the color and / or surface structure of the surface of the furniture element.

[0049] This configuration results in the furniture element giving the viewer the visual impression that the light is integrated into the structure or construction of the furniture element and therefore does not differ visually from the color and / or surface structure of the furniture element.

[0050] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. This shows: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a cross-sectional view of a luminaire according to an embodiment according to the present invention; Fig. 2 a cross-sectional view similar to the representation according to Fig. 1 , which shows the light guide; Fig. 3 a representation similar to that shown after Fig. 1 , which shows a cross-sectional view of a luminaire according to a further embodiment according to the present invention; Fig. 4 a schematic representation of a cross-sectional view of a light fixture similar to that shown in Fig. 3 , in which a clear distance is shown between the light-emitting diode arrangement and a bottom area of ​​a groove receiving the light-emitting diode arrangement; Fig. 5 a representation similar to that shown after Fig. 4 , which shows a further embodiment of a lamp according to the present invention; Fig. 6 a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the lamp according to the present invention; Fig. 7 a cross-sectional view of a light-emitting diode arrangement in the form of a light-emitting diode strip; Fig. 8 a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the luminaire, in which a portion of the light-emitting surface is formed in the form of an optical lens; Fig. 9 a schematic cross-sectional representation of a drawer with lights according to the invention arranged on each side wall; Fig. 10 a schematic cross-sectional view of a drawer with a light fixture according to the invention arranged on the top of a side wall; and Fig. 11 A perspective schematic representation of a sideboard as an example of a furnishing item, with various installation situations of the luminaire according to the invention shown for clarification. Fig. 1 The drawing shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a luminaire 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] The luminaire 1 has an elongated light guide 2, as can be seen from the dashed lines 3 and the dotted line 4, which clearly show a longitudinal extension of the luminaire 1 and thus of the light guide 2 as well as the light-emitting diode arrangement 11.

[0052] Fig. 1 The drawing also shows a longitudinal axis 5 of the light guide 2 and Fig. 4 The drawing shows that the optical fiber 2 also has a vertical axis H and a horizontal axis B.

[0053] The light guide 2 has an upper wall or top wall 6 and a lower wall or bottom wall 7 as well as a side wall 8.

[0054] As demonstrated by Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 As can be seen in the drawing, the light guide has a recess 9 in the area of ​​the cover wall 6, which is designed as a groove 10 and extends along the longitudinal axis 5 of the light guide 2 and serves to accommodate a light-emitting diode arrangement 11, which can be, for example, based on Fig. 1 as can be seen in the drawing.

[0055] The cross-sectional view of the Fig. 7 shows an embodiment of a light-emitting diode arrangement 11, which is also elongated, as can be seen from the dashed lines 3 and the dash-dotted line 4 according to Fig. 1 As can be seen in the drawing. The light-emitting diode arrangement 11 preferably extends along the entire longitudinal direction of the light guide 2 along the longitudinal axis 5 of the light guide 2, so that the light emitted by the light-emitting diode arrangement 11 can be coupled into the interior 12 of the light guide 2 along the entire longitudinal extent of the light guide 2.

[0056] The light required to illuminate the interior of a piece of furniture is therefore coupled into the light guide 2 not only at one or both ends of the light guide 2, but preferably along its entire longitudinal extent in the direction of the longitudinal axis 5 of the light guide 2. The invention also provides that the light is coupled into the interior 12 of the light guide 2 along the longitudinal axis 5 of the light guide over a shorter length than the entire length of the light guide 2. In such a case, the LED arrangement 11 can have a shorter length in the direction of the longitudinal axis 5 of the light guide 2 than the light guide 2 itself.

[0057] As can be seen from the Fig. 1 As can be seen in the drawing, the light guide 2 has a light-reflecting device 13 on its outer circumferential contour, which reflects light into the interior 12 of the light guide 2 and which can be formed, for example, in the form of a metallized foil 14 facing the interior 12, which, due to the metallization, has a mirroring function that reflects the light emitted by the light-emitting diode arrangement 11 into the interior 12 of the light guide 2 back into the interior 12, as can be seen from the multiple arrows 15 representing the light beam paths in the interior 12.

[0058] The mirroring allows for a homogenization of the light emitted by the light-emitting diode arrangement 11 into the interior 12 within the interior 12 of the light guide 2.

[0059] Fig. 1 The drawing also shows that the surface 150 of the light guide 2 opposite the side wall 8 in the width direction B is not provided with a light-reflecting device 13 in the form of the foil 14, so that the surface 150 serves as a light-emitting surface 16, from which the light, which has been reflected multiple times in the interior 12 of the light guide 2, can exit the light guide 2, as can be seen from the schematically depicted beam paths 17 according to Fig. 1 as can be seen in the drawing.

[0060] The light from the light-emitting surface 16 can be used to illuminate an interior 18 of a piece of furniture, for example in the form of a drawer 19, as shown by Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 The drawing schematically illustrates this.

[0061] The in Fig. 1 The embodiment of the luminaire shown in the drawing has a emission surface 16 which is inclined at an angle "α" of about 28 degrees relative to the axis of the light guide 2.

[0062] The angle "α" can be chosen depending on the height "A" of the interior 18 and the width "C" of the interior 18 of the drawer 19.

[0063] At the in Fig. 1 In the embodiment of the luminaire 1 shown in the drawing, the light guide 2 has a side surface 20 opposite the side wall 8, which functions as a light emission surface 16.

[0064] The side surface 20 extends in the luminaire 1 according to the embodiment shown. Fig. 1 along the entire longitudinal extent of the light guide 2 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 5, so that the interior 18 of the drawer 19 extends in the direction of the plane of the drawing Fig. 9 the increasing depth of the drawer 19 with the in Fig. 9 The lights 1, schematically depicted in the drawing, can be illuminated homogeneously. The lights 1 are attached to an inner surface 21 of a side wall 22 of the drawer 19 by means of an adhesive bond (not shown in detail) and have a small height relative to the width C of the interior 18, which means that the usable interior 18 of the drawer 19 is only minimally restricted by the two lights 1.

[0065] Since the two lights 1 are located very high up on the respective inner surface 21 in the direction of height A of the interior space 18, the interior space 18 of the drawer 19 available from the bottom wall 23 of the interior space 18 is only very slightly reduced.

[0066] Fig. 2 The drawing shows the light guide 2 in a cross-sectional view with the rectangular groove 10 in the area of ​​the cover wall 6 in the form of a recess 9, wherein the following is inserted into the groove 10 based on the Fig. 1 visible light-emitting diode arrangement 11 can be used.

[0067] Based on the Fig. 2 The light emission surface 16 is also visible, as is the light guide 2, as shown in Fig. 2 As shown in the drawing, the light guide 2 does not yet have a light-reflecting film 14 on its outer circumference contour 24. The film 14 can be applied to the outer circumference contour 24 after the light guide 2 has been manufactured, for example, by means of an extrusion process, or it can be applied, for example, by metallizing the light guide 2, so that the outer circumference contour 24 of the light guide 2 facing the interior 12 of the light guide 2 is provided with a metallization layer, for example, by vapor deposition, and this applies to the entire outer circumference contour except for the light-emitting surface 16 and the recess 9 in which the light-emitting diode arrangement 11 is located, for example, in the form of the one shown in the drawing. Fig. 7 The LED strip 25 shown in the drawing is arranged.

[0068] Fig. 3 The drawing shows a representation similar to that shown in Fig. 1 , which shows a cross-sectional view of a luminaire 1 according to a further embodiment according to the present invention.

[0069] At the in Fig. 3 In the embodiment of the luminaire 1 shown in the drawing, the light-emitting surface 16 of the light guide 2 is inclined at an angle of approximately 50 degrees relative to the vertical axis of the light guide 2. This results in a light-emitting surface that is inclined more steeply relative to the vertical axis of the light guide 2, making it suitable for illuminating a drawer 19 with a lower internal height in the direction of the height A of the interior space 18.

[0070] Fig. 4 The drawing shows another embodiment of the lamp 1, which is similar to the one in Fig. 3 The luminaire 1 shown in the drawing is designed and differs from it in that the light-emitting diode arrangement 11 is arranged in the recess 9 such that a distance 27 is realized between the head region 29 of the light-emitting diode arrangement 1 and a lower region 26 of the recess 9 in the vertical axis H of the light guide 2, which represents a head clearance 28.

[0071] This ensures that the light-emitting diode arrangement11, which is the one in Fig. 7 The LED strip 25 shown in the drawing can be inserted into the groove 9 or recess 10 in the opposite direction H to the vertical axis, in the manner of a clip connection, such that the LEDs 31 arranged on a flexible circuit board 30, which are in Fig. 7 which are shown schematically in the drawing and which may be light-emitting diodes in COB arrangement, are oriented towards the head area 29, i.e. emit light into the interior 12 of the light guide 2.

[0072] Fig. 8 The drawing shows that a section 32 of the light-emitting surface 16 can be designed in the form of an optical lens 33, so that the light emitted by the light-emitting surface 16 is deflected in the area of ​​the optical lens, thereby illuminating the interior 18 of the drawer 19. The lens 33 thus makes it possible to highlight specific areas of the interior 18.

[0073] The recess 9 formed in the shape of the groove 10 extends along the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber 2, i.e., for example, along the entire longitudinal extent of the optical fiber 2 in its longitudinal direction or along a partial area of ​​the longitudinal extent of the optical fiber 2.

[0074] Fig. 5 The drawing shows that the light-emitting surface 16 can run along the vertical axis H of the light guide 2 at an angle relative to the vertical axis, which can also change along the light-emitting surface 16. In this embodiment, the light-emitting surface 16 has a discontinuity 47. This makes it possible to implement special optical functions by changing the angle of the light axis relative to the vertical axis of the light guide 2.

[0075] Fig. 6 The drawing shows that the light emission surface 16 can also be shaded along one or more sections 34, for example by means of a film or a mirroring or metallization, in order to achieve an area with a shading in the interior 16 of the drawer 19 or of another interior or area to be illuminated, for example of another piece of furniture.

[0076] Fig. 7 The drawing shows a cross-sectional view of a light-emitting diode arrangement in the form of a light-emitting diode strip 25.

[0077] The light-emitting diode strip 25 has an elastically designed base profile 35, which has a channel-shaped receiving space in which a light-emitting diode strip 36 with a plurality of light-emitting diodes 31 provided at a small distance from each other is arranged.

[0078] The LED strip 36 can be used based on Fig. 7 The flexible conductor track 30 shown in the drawing and the in Fig. 7 The light-emitting diodes 31, shown only schematically, can be mounted on the circuit board or circuit board 30 using chip-on-board (COB) technology. With the COB arrangement, it is possible to position the light-emitting diodes at such a small distance from each other that they produce a uniform or homogeneous light for the viewer, which can be used to homogeneously illuminate the interior 18 of the drawer 19 or other piece of furniture.

[0079] The basic profile 35 can be an elastic profile with a trough-shaped or channel-shaped cross-section, which is made, for example, of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), in particular a urethane-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPU), or also on the basis of a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material or on the basis of an elastic thermosetting material.

[0080] The basic profile 35 of the LED strip 25, as shown by Fig. 7 As can be seen in the drawing, the illustrated embodiment has two side walls 37 which are formed integrally with a bottom wall 38 of the LED strip 25. Fig. 7 The drawing also shows that a bulge 39 is provided on the respective side wall 37, which can be provided in a corresponding indentation (not shown) of the groove 9 running longitudinally along the light guide 2 on the respective side wall of the groove 9, so that the LED strip 25 can be inserted into the groove 9 in the manner of a clip connection. The interior 41 of the base profile 35 can be filled with a potting compound, which serves to homogenize the light emitted by the LEDs 31, so that the light emitted into the interior 12 of the light guide 2 is already homogenized upon exiting the LED strip 25.

[0081] The drawing in the form of the figures shows that the light guide 2 has a greater extent in the lateral direction B perpendicular to the vertical axis H than in the direction of the vertical axis H. This results in a flat or low configuration of the light guide 2, and thus of the luminaire 1, in the direction of the vertical axis H, so that the width C of the interior 18 of the drawer 19, which is available for holding objects in the interior 18, is not restricted.

[0082] For example, based on Fig. 1 The foil 14 shown in the drawing, which reflects the light into the interior 12 of the light guide 2, has a thickness in the range of about 50 to about 100 micrometers, so that the circumference dimensions of the light guide 2 are only slightly or not at all increased by the foil 14.

[0083] The device 13, which reflects the light into the interior 12 of the light guide and is in the form of the aforementioned foil 14, can be attached to the outer contour, i.e., the area that is exposed during the process. Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 as shown in the mounting examples of the luminaire 1 according to the invention on the inner surface 21 of the side wall 22 or the upper surface 40 of the side wall 22, as shown by Fig. 10 As can be seen in the drawing, the decorative element or decorative foil is adapted to the color and structure of the side wall 22, so that the light 1, as an object attached to the side wall 22, is hardly visible and is inconspicuously mounted.

[0084] Fig. 9 The drawing shows an embodiment of the arrangement of two lights 1 according to the invention on the respective inner surface 21 of the respective side wall 22 of a drawer 19.

[0085] The light emanating from the luminaires 1, which is represented by the schematic beam paths 42, enters the interior 18 of the drawer 1 and illuminates the interior 18 homogeneously. As can be seen from the representation of the Fig. 9 As can be seen, the available width C of the interior 18 is not limited by the two lights 1, since the lights 1 have a very low height, as has already been explained above, and furthermore, the two lights 1 are arranged in the vertical axis V of the drawer 19 at the respective upper end of the inner surface 21 of the side wall 22 and thus do not or only insignificantly limit the storage volume of the interior 18, since the interior 18 of a drawer 19 is not usually filled to the top edge.

[0086] The two lights 1 run in the direction of the depth of the drawer 19, i.e., in the illustration according to Fig. 9 the drawing in the direction of the drawing plane along the entire depth or longitudinal extent of the respective side wall 22 and thus completely illuminate the interior 18 of the drawer 19.

[0087] The furniture element, for example in the form of a drawer 19, can have a schematically depicted switchable device 43, which is intended to supply the respective light 1 with electrical energy. Furthermore, the device 43 can also detect the opening action of the drawer 19 and thus switch the electrical power supply to the two lights 1 on and off depending on the opening state of the drawer 19.

[0088] The respective light fixture 1 is fixed to the inner surface 21 of the side wall 22 in area 44 by an adhesive connection, which is, for example, made of a double-sided adhesive tape 45, which is in Fig. 9 The schematic representation in the drawing shows how it is implemented.

[0089] Fig. 10 The drawing finally shows a schematic cross-sectional representation of a drawer 19 with a lamp 1 according to the invention arranged on a side wall 22 at the top 40.

[0090] The in Fig. 10 The luminaire 1 according to the invention, as shown in the drawing, is fixed to the upper surface 40 of the side wall 22 by means of an adhesive tape 45 and can be supplied with electrical energy via the switchable device 43, as already explained above. The in Fig. 10 The arrangement of the lamp according to the invention on the upper surface 40 of the side wall 22, as shown in the drawing, has the advantage that the interior 18 of the drawer 19 is available up to the top edge for filling with objects, since the lamp according to the invention is located outside the interior 18 of the drawer 19. In such a configuration, as is the case, for example, in Fig. 10 As shown in the drawing, the side wall 22, on the upper surface 40 of which the luminaire 1 according to the invention is arranged, can also be shorter or less high in the direction of the vertical axis V of the side wall, so that the upper edge 46 of the luminaire 1 according to the invention is flush with the height of the other or opposite side wall 22 in the vertical axis V direction. The configuration according to Fig. 10 The drawing has the advantage that the interior 18 of the drawer 19 can be illuminated with only one luminaire 1, whose light-emitting surface 16 can also be designed as an optical lens, so that the interior 18 is illuminated homogeneously. A luminaire 1 with an optical lens in the area of ​​the light-emitting surface 16 can also be arranged on an inner surface of a side wall, as shown in the Fig. 9 as is evident.

[0091] Fig. 10 The drawing also shows a detailed view of the luminaire 1, from which it can be seen that the light-emitting surface 16 can also have an optical lens 33, which is located in the Fig. 10 The diagram is shown schematically. The area of ​​the light-emitting surface 16, designed as an optical lens 33, can illuminate the interior 18 of the drawer 19 very well.

[0092] The above described Figuren 9 and 10 The figures show the respective arrangement of a lamp according to the invention on a drawer as an example of the arrangement of the lamp on a piece of furniture.

[0093] Fig. 11 The drawing shows a perspective schematic representation of a sideboard as an example of a furnishing item, with various installation situations of the luminaire according to the invention shown for clarification.

[0094] The sideboard 50 has several drawer elements or drawers 51, the interiors of which are to be illuminated. In the case of the Fig. 11 In the illustrated installation situation, the lamps according to the invention, which are provided for illuminating the respective interior space 52 of the drawer element 51, are arranged in the area of ​​the rear wall 53 of the sideboard 50. Due to the small thickness of the respective lamp 1 of approximately four millimeters, the drawer elements 51 can be pulled out of the sideboard 50 and pushed back in without the rear wall 54 of the respective drawer element 51 colliding with the lamp 1.

[0095] The in Fig. 11 The line 56, schematically depicted on the upper top panel 55 of the sideboard 50, shows another possible installation situation for the light fixture 1 on the sideboard 50. The sideboard 50 also has a drawer element 51 in the installation space directly below the top panel 55, which is shown for simplified illustration in the Fig. 11but is not shown.

[0096] The arrangement of each luminaire 1 for illuminating the respective interior space 52 can be chosen such that the luminaire 1 illuminates the interior space from different positions relative to the interior space 52. The luminaire 1 therefore does not have to be located in the area of ​​the rear wall 54 of the sideboard 50, but can be located at another point on the sideboard 50, for example, also in the area of ​​the front edge 57 of the top wall 55, in order to illuminate the interior space 52 in the direction of the rear wall 53.

[0097] Since the lamp 1 according to the invention has very small dimensions in the vertical direction, the sliding element 51 (not shown) can be inserted into and pulled out of the interior of the sideboard 50 below the top wall 55 relative to the lamp 1 without any risk of the sliding element 51 colliding with the lamp 1.

[0098] Previously known light fixtures have dimensions in terms of height that allow installation in a sideboard or other piece of furniture only if they are recessed into the respective mounting space, for example, by being recessed into a groove. This necessitates the creation of corresponding mounting spaces or grooves in the furniture, increasing the manufacturing effort and thus the production costs. Furthermore, the mounting surfaces, such as the furniture's walls, must be specially configured to accommodate the grooves in which these light fixtures can be installed, requiring significant wall thickness. This, in turn, increases the furniture's weight and the material required for its production.These problems are solved by the luminaire according to the invention, since, due to its small dimensions in the vertical direction, it does not require any specifically provided installation situations, but can be arranged on existing receiving surfaces, so that otherwise necessary work steps for the introduction of the grooves in the receiving surfaces can also be avoided.

[0099] Although the luminaire according to the invention has been described above for installation on a piece of furniture, furniture element, or furnishing, a wide variety of applications are possible for the luminaire according to the invention. This is due, among other things, to the fact that the luminaire according to the invention requires very little installation space, as has been explained several times above, and can therefore be used to illuminate interiors or objects wherever installation space is limited.

[0100] With regard to features of the invention not explained in detail above, explicit reference is made to the patent claims and the drawing. Reference symbol list

[0101] 1. Lamp 2. Light guide 3. Line 4. Line 5. Longitudinal axis 6. Top wall 7. Bottom wall 8. Side wall 9. Recess 10. Groove 11. LED arrangement 12. Interior 13. Light-reflecting device 14. Foil 15. Light beam path 16. Light emission surface 17. Light beam path 18. Interior of a piece of furniture 19. Drawer 20. Side surface 21. Interior surface 22. Side wall 23. Bottom wall 24. Outer perimeter contour 25. LED strip 26. Lower area 27. Spacing 28. Head clearance 29. Head area 30. Circuit board 31. LEDs 32. Section 33. Optical lens 34. Section of the light emission surface 35. Base profile 36. LED strip 37. Side wall 38. Bottom wall 39. Bulge 40. Top 41. Interior 42. Beam path 43. Switchable device 44. Area 45. Adhesive tape 46. Top edge 47. Point of discontinuity 48. Potting compound 50. Sideboard 51. Drawer element 52. Interior 53. Back panel 54. Back panel 55. Top panel 56. Line 57. Front edge 150. Surface H. Vertical axis B. Width direction A.Height of the interior space C. Width of the interior space V. Vertical axis direction α angle.

Claims

1. Luminaire (1) with an elongated light guide (2) having a vertical axis (H) and a longitudinal axis and an elongated light-emitting diode arrangement (11) received in a recess (9) within an outer circumferential contour (24) of the light guide (2), which is configured to emit light into an interior space (12) formed within the outer circumferential contour (24) of the light guide (2), wherein the light guide (2) is provided on a partial region of the outer circumferential contour (24) with a device (13) for reflecting light into the interior space (12) of the light guide (2) and the light guide (2) has at least one light-emitting surface (16) on the outer circumferential contour (24), characterized by the fact thatthe light emission surface (16) is arranged in a cross-sectional view of the light guide (2) at an angle (α) to the vertical axis (H) of the light guide (2) and the device (13) is arranged on the outer circumferential contour (24) of the light guide (2) with the exception of the at least one light emission surface (16) and the recess (9).

2. Luminaire (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the light emission surface (16) extends at least along a partial area of ​​a side surface (20) of the light guide (2) arranged at an angle to the vertical axis (H) of the light guide (2), which extends in the longitudinal direction of the light guide (2).

3. Luminaire (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that the angle changes in the direction of the light-emitting surface (16).

4. Luminaire (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the angle along the light emission surface (16) has at least one discontinuity (47).

5. Luminaire (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the light emission surface (16) has at least one section (34) which is designed in the form of an optical lens (33).

6. Luminaire (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the recess (9) is designed as a groove (10) extending along the longitudinal axis of the light guide (2), which is designed to accommodate the light-emitting diode arrangement (11).

7. Luminaire (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that The light-emitting diode arrangement (11) is arranged in the recess (9) such that a distance is formed between a head region (26) of the light-emitting diode arrangement (11) and a lower region (26) of the recess (9) in the vertical axis direction of the light guide (2).

8. Luminaire (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact thatthe light emission surface (16) is provided along a partial area extending at an angle to the vertical axis with a device (13) that reflects light into the interior of the light guide.

9. Luminaire (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the light emission surface (16) is designed to deflect the light passing through the light emission surface (16).

10. Luminaire (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that The optical fiber (2) has a greater extent in a lateral direction (B) perpendicular to the vertical axis (H) than in the vertical direction.

11. Luminaire (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that The light-reflecting device (13) into the interior (12) of the light guide is designed as a reflective foil (14) with a thickness in the range of about 50 to about 100 micrometers, which is arranged on at least a part of the outer circumferential contour (24) of the light guide (2).

12. Luminaire (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the light-reflecting device (13) into the interior (12) of the light guide (2) is designed as a metallization layer, in particular a vapor-deposited layer.

13. Luminaire (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the light reflecting device (13) into the interior (12) of the light guide (2) is provided with a decorative device on an outer surface facing away from the interior (12) of the light guide (2).

14. Luminaire (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact thatthe light-emitting diode arrangement (11) has a light-emitting diode strip (36) arranged in an elongated profile (35), which has a plurality of light-emitting diodes (31) provided in a longitudinal direction of the light-emitting diode strip (36) and contact means extending in the longitudinal direction of the light-emitting diode strip (36) for supplying the light-emitting diodes (31) with electrical energy are provided on the light-emitting diode strip (36) and the light-emitting diode strip (36) has potting compound (48) at least partially surrounding the light-emitting diodes (31).

15. Furniture element (19) with a light fixture (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

16. Furniture element (19) according to claim 15, characterized by the fact that the furniture element (19) is equipped with a switchable device (43) which is intended to supply the light (1) with electrical energy.

17. Furniture element (19) according to claim 16, characterized by the fact thatthe device (43) is set up to detect an opening operation of the furniture element (19).

18. Furniture element (19) according to one of claims 15 to 17, characterized by the fact that the light fixture (1) is fixed to the furniture element (19) in a material-bonded manner, in particular by means of an adhesive bond (45).

19. Furniture element (19) according to one of claims 15 to 18, characterized by the fact that the light reflecting device (13) of the luminaire (1) on the outside facing away from the interior (12) of the light guide (2) is provided with a decorative device which corresponds at least largely to the color and / or surface structure of the surface of the furniture element (19).

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