Lamp with detachable connector

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for realizing a longitudinally elongated (X) luminaire and a coupling of such a system, the system comprising several longitudinally elongated (X) mounting rails (1) and several longitudinally elongated (X) conductor rails (4), wherein the system comprises a first and a second luminaire assembly, each comprising one of the mounting rails (1) and one of the conductor rails (4), wherein the conductor rail (4) of each luminaire assembly is attached to the mounting rail (1) of the respective luminaire assembly, wherein in an assembled state of the system the coupling (8) is inserted into the first longitudinal end of the mounting rail (1) of the first luminaire assembly and is inserted into the second longitudinal end of the mounting rail (1) of the second luminaire assembly, with the mounting rails (1) of the luminaire assemblies being fixed in position relative to each other.wherein the coupling (8) has at least a first opening in its coupling base which is completely closed by a first locking piece (800) which is in particular pressed into the first opening, and the support rail (1) has a second opening in its support rail base (11) which is in particular completely closed by a second locking piece (100), wherein the first locking piece (800) can be released from the first opening by a vertical pressing force.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a coupling, a system for realizing a longitudinally elongated lamp comprising such a coupling, a lamp produced by means of such a system, and a method for connecting two lamp assemblies by means of such a coupling to produce the lamp.

[0002] Systems of this type are suitable for creating a luminaire that is elongated in a longitudinal direction and features a longitudinally elongated mounting rail and a longitudinally elongated conductor rail. The conductor rail has longitudinally extending channels arranged side by side in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Because the channels are arranged side by side along the transverse direction, this direction is sometimes also referred to as the arrangement direction. At least one conductor wire is arranged in at least some of the channels. The channels are designed to insulate the conductor wires running within them from each other. Accordingly, the conductor wires also run longitudinally in an elongated direction. Channel walls, which form the channels, extend in the transverse direction to insulate the conductor wires from each other.Preferably, the channels are open at an access side, wherein the access side is perpendicular to the transverse direction and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, so that the conductor wires arranged in the channels are accessible and thus contactable from the access side, wherein the channels are preferably continuously open at the access side over their longitudinal extent.

[0003] Preferably, the channels are closed on their side facing away from the access side, where the conductor rail is preferably mounted abutting the mounting rail, to insulate the conductor wires from the mounting rail. Due to their arrangement in the conductor rail, the conductor wires are sufficiently spaced from the other conductor wires to be insulated from them. Preferably, the conductor wires are arranged such that two transversely adjacent conductor wires are either sufficiently spaced on different channel walls of a channel or are separated from each other by a channel wall running between them, which separates two channels. Typically, the mounting rail serves to fix the luminaire to a building structure, for example, a ceiling.The conductor rail, with its channels containing conductor wires, supplies power to the electrical components of the luminaire. These components are mounted at various positions along the rail to create the luminaire and are electrically connected to at least some of the conductor wires. Systems of this type often include corresponding functional components, such as lighting modules (especially circuit boards with LEDs), control gear, radio modules, sensors (e.g., cameras or other presence detection sensors), etc. Systems of this type also frequently include at least one mounting body, and in particular, several identically designed mounting bodies.To implement a luminaire using a generic system, at least one functional element and a contact device are usually mounted on the mounting body, and, equipped accordingly, the mounting body is connected to the mounting rail to create a luminaire, thereby bringing the contact device into electrically conductive contact with at least some, in particular all, conductor wires that are arranged in the conductor rail.

[0004] The support rail typically has a base and two side walls extending vertically from the base in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The base runs transversely between the side walls, thus spacing the side walls apart in the transverse direction. The transverse direction is perpendicular to both the vertical and longitudinal directions. Preferably, the transverse direction runs parallel to or coincides with the transverse direction. Preferably, the access side is vertical. The base and side walls together form a wall that defines a receiving space open at both longitudinal ends of the support rail, suitable for receiving the conductor rail.The mounting rail often has a U-shaped cross-section perpendicular to its longitudinal direction, so that the mounting space is open not only at the longitudinal ends of the mounting rail but also at one vertical end. When constructing a luminaire using a system of this type and the mounting body described, the mounting body is typically attached to the open vertical end of the mounting rail, thus vertically defining the mounting space on the side opposite the base of the mounting rail. To create the luminaire, both the conductor rail and the electrical functional elements are arranged within this mounting space. The mounting rail is usually attached to a building structure via its base.Typically, a luminaire realized using a system of this type has an interior formed by the mounting rail. This interior is bounded in the transverse and vertical directions by the mounting rail and the mounting body, and in the longitudinal direction by protective caps on the mounting rail, which are arranged at the longitudinal ends of the mounting rail to create the luminaire, thus providing a protected interior for the functional elements. The mounting rail and the mounting body are generally manufactured separately; preferably, the mounting rail and / or the mounting body are each formed from a single sheet of metal by forming. The mounting body is preferably held on the mounting rail by a retaining spring to create the luminaire.For this purpose, the support rail typically has a side wall projection on each of the mutually facing inner sides of its support rail side walls, wherein the retaining spring is firmly connected to the mounting body and, in its connected state to the mounting body, has elastically deflectable retaining projections at its transverse end, which can be elastically deflected towards each other in the transverse direction during a vertical mounting movement of the mounting body with the retaining spring attached to it, while they are moved past the side wall projections of the support rail side walls, after which they engage behind these side wall projections under elastically induced return and thus elastically induced movement away from each other in the transverse direction, whereby the mounting body can be reliably held on the support rail.Preferably, the contact device is attached to the mounting body and electrically connected to at least one electrical functional element, which is also attached to the mounting body. Preferably, the mounting body, contact device, conductor rail, and support rail are configured to correspond to one another such that, during the mounting process, the contact fingers of the contact device are inserted into channels of the conductor rail, thereby electrically connecting the functional element via the contact device to at least some of the conductor wires arranged in the conductor rail. For example, the side wall projections of the support rail side walls can be formed by shaping the support rail side walls.To realize a luminaire, it is first necessary to establish an assembly state of the system by arranging the conductor rail within the receiving space formed by the mounting rail and attaching it to the mounting rail. Embodiments are known in which the conductor rail is attached to at least one of the mounting rail's side walls. Frequently, the conductor rail is attached to the mounting rail's base. In any case, in the system's assembly state, which describes a specific arrangement of the system's components relative to one another, the conductor rail extends longitudinally within the receiving space bounded by the mounting rail's wall. The mounting rail and conductor rail thus provide a structure that enables the positioning of functional elements and their electrical supply along the length of the conductor rail and mounting rail.In its installed state, the conductor rail typically extends over at least 80%, in particular at least 90%, and in particular at least 95% of the longitudinal extent of the mounting rail. The conductor rail is usually made of plastic, especially by extrusion or injection molding.

[0005] A system of this type is particularly preferred for realizing such an elongated luminaire, in which at least two luminaire assemblies are arranged longitudinally one behind the other. Each luminaire assemblies comprises a mounting rail and a conductor rail, which are arranged relative to each other as described in the section on the system's assembly state. The two luminaire assemblies are connected to each other by mechanically connecting the mounting rails via a coupling and by connecting the conductor rails at their opposing ends via an electrical connector. This connector electrically connects a conductor wire located in the conductor rail of one luminaire assemblies to a conductor wire located in the conductor rail of the other luminaire assembly.To ensure the desired modularity of the system, the mounting rail and conductor rail of a generic system must be designed to form a luminaire assembly that has a receiving compartment which can be closed at its longitudinal ends. Furthermore, they must be able to be connected to another luminaire assembly as described above, with each of the two luminaire assemblies then forming a receiving compartment. These receiving compartments are interconnected and together form a complete receiving compartment that can be closed at its longitudinal ends, thus creating an enclosed interior for the luminaire. It is essential that such an interior is sufficiently sealed to create a luminaire, at least according to standard IP20, preferably to prevent the ingress of dust.Ideally, such an interior should meet at least the requirements of standard IP5X and thus standard IP50, and in particular IP6X and thus standard IP60 (according to DIN EN 60529). Furthermore, it must be ensured that the conductors guided in the busbars can be easily connected via a contact device, that the busbars can be easily connected to each other via an electrical connector, and that voltage breakdown between two conductors, especially at the longitudinal ends of the busbars, is prevented. In addition, such a system should be as flexible and modular as possible, allowing for a wide variety of connection positions for supplying external power. These complex and diverse requirements for systems of this type mean that such systems are usually either complicated or insufficiently protected.For example, it is known to provide protective caps for support rails at their longitudinal ends to close the receiving space at these ends. These caps are held in place on the support rail by retaining springs. This necessitates a complex design for the retaining springs or the protective caps, as well as a complex configuration on the support rail itself, since the retaining springs, protective caps, and support rails must be designed to correspond with each other in order to ensure sufficient fixation of the protective caps to the support rail. Furthermore, it is known to design conductor rails at their longitudinal ends in such a way that their conductor wires are sufficiently insulated from each other by the conductor rail itself, even at the longitudinal ends. However, this makes it more difficult to connect the conductor wires using an electrical connector as described above.

[0006] The present invention is based on the objective of providing a system that at least partially overcomes at least one disadvantage of generic systems. Furthermore, the invention is based on the objective of providing at least one method for realizing a luminaire using a system and / or components of a system in order to at least partially overcome at least one disadvantage of generic systems.

[0007] As a solution to the problem described above, the invention proposes a system with the features according to claim 1.

[0008] The system according to the invention is designed to create a longitudinally elongated luminaire. The system comprises at least one longitudinally elongated mounting rail and one longitudinally elongated conductor rail. Preferably, the system comprises several mounting rails and several conductor rails, each of which, in embodiments according to the invention, may have features as described herein in connection with embodiments according to the invention with respect to a mounting rail and a conductor rail, respectively. The conductor rail has longitudinally extending channels in which at least one conductor wire is arranged. The channels are preferably arranged side by side in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; more preferably, the direction of arrangement runs in the transverse direction.The conductor rail can, of course, also have additional channels in which no conductor wire is arranged, wherein all channels, thus both the channels in which conductor wires are arranged and the additional channels, run longitudinally, are preferably of the same design, and are arranged one behind the other in the direction of assembly. The support rail has a base and two side walls extending vertically from the base and spaced apart from each other in a transverse direction by the base.

[0009] The vertical and transverse directions are perpendicular to each other and to the longitudinal direction. The base of the support rail and the side walls of the support rail form a wall that defines a receiving space open at both longitudinal ends of the support rail for receiving the conductor rail. In a specific assembly state of the system, where each system state describes a specific arrangement of system components relative to each other, the conductor rail is arranged in the receiving space and attached to the support rail. Preferably, the conductor rail is attached to the support rail in such a way that relative movement between the support rail and the conductor rail is prevented along both the transverse and vertical directions.Preferably, the longitudinal displacement of the conductor rail relative to the mounting rail is limited, in particular to less than 5% of the conductor rail's longitudinal extent. Preferably, the conductor rail is fixed in position to a fixing section of the mounting rail in the longitudinal direction. Preferably, the channels of the conductor rail are open on an access side of the conductor rail, with the conductor rail being attached to the mounting rail at its side facing away from the access side, particularly preferably to the base of the mounting rail. Preferably, the access side faces either transversely or vertically. Preferably, the conductor rail is attached to the base of the mounting rail in the installed state, with the access side facing vertically away from the base. Preferably, the mounting rail has a U-shaped cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, with the access side facing the open side of the U.The system according to the invention can, in particular, have further features that are described in connection with generic systems. In one embodiment, the system has a support rail protective cap that can be attached to each of the longitudinal ends of the support rails to close the receiving space at the longitudinal ends. Particularly preferably, the system has several of these support rail protective caps, which are thus each identical in design, wherein, starting from the assembly state, one of the support rail protective caps can be attached to each longitudinal end of the support rail.By attaching the mounting rail end caps to the longitudinal ends of the mounting rail, the receiving space can be closed longitudinally, so that the mounting rail end caps with their longitudinally facing inner surfaces, the mounting rail side walls with their transversely facing inner surfaces, and the mounting rail base with its inner surface facing the mounting rail side walls together define an interior space in which, for example, as explained above, at least one electrical functional element of the luminaire can be arranged to realize a luminaire. Preferably, this interior space can be delimited at its end opposite the mounting rail base in the vertical direction by a mounting body, as explained above. In one embodiment, the system has a conductor rail end cap designed to be attached to a longitudinal end of the conductor rail, insulating the conductor wires from each other.For example, the busbar protective cap can cover the conductor wires exclusively at their longitudinal end to prevent contact of the conductor wires from their longitudinal end and thus through contact in the longitudinal direction; in a particularly preferred embodiment, the mounting rail protective cap, when attached, extends in the mounting direction between each pair of conductor wires adjacent in the mounting direction, so that the conductor wires are also insulated by the mounting rail protective cap with respect to the mounting direction.

[0010] In one embodiment according to the invention, the support rail protective cap has a first retaining contour. Furthermore, each longitudinal end of the support rail is formed by a longitudinal end region of the support rail, which has a second retaining contour. Each of the two longitudinal end regions forming the two longitudinally opposite longitudinal ends of the support rail thus has such a second retaining contour. Each of the retaining contours, i.e., the first and second retaining contours, has a rear gripping section and a press-fit section, wherein the press-fit section is spaced apart from the rear gripping section in a locking direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.The protective cap for the mounting rail is designed to correspond to the mounting rail in such a way that it can be attached to the longitudinal end section forming that end in an operating position to close a specific longitudinal end. This is achieved by engaging the retaining contours in such a way that the retaining contours, with their pressing sections, press against each other along the locking direction. The rear-engaging section of the protective cap for the mounting rail is further away from the longitudinal end of the mounting rail in the longitudinal direction than the rear-engaging section of the mounting rail and overlaps it in the locking direction. Each retaining contour thus has a rear-engaging section and a pressing section spaced from this rear-engaging section along the locking direction.By pressing the clamping sections of the two retaining contours against each other in the locking direction in the operating position, and by overlapping the rear gripping sections of the retaining contours in the locking direction, the mounting rail protective cap is particularly reliably fixed to the mounting rail in the operating position. This ensures that the overlap of the rear gripping sections in the locking direction is reliably maintained and can only be released by a relative force acting against the clamping force between the rear gripping sections. The operating position refers to a defined position of the mounting rail protective cap relative to the mounting rail.In the operating position, the mounting rail protective cap is preferably fixed to the mounting rail in such a way that it is held in a longitudinally fixed position and can only be displaced relative to the mounting rail by applying a considerable force, preferably at least 20 N, particularly at least 40 N, acting in the longitudinal direction. The locking direction is particularly preferably vertical or transverse, but most preferably vertical. The mounting rail protective cap particularly preferably has a stop that, in the operating position, rests against the longitudinal end of the mounting rail that it closes. Particularly preferably, in the operating position, the mounting rail protective cap presses against the longitudinal end of the mounting rail with a longitudinally acting pressing force against the stop.Generally preferably, the support rail protective cap in the operating position closes at least 70%, in particular at least 80%, in particular at least 90% of the clear cross-section of the support rail which is bounded by the support rail base and the support rail side walls.

[0011] In one embodiment of the system according to the invention, the conductor wires arranged in the channels of the busbar are accessible from both longitudinal ends of the busbar, wherein the busbar forms a first plug-in face at its first longitudinal end and a second plug-in face at its second longitudinal end, which differs from the first plug-in face. The plug-in faces of the busbar are formed by its contour. For example, the busbar has a rear-engaging device at each longitudinal end, by means of which the busbar can be engaged with a longitudinally adjacent busbar and / or a mounting rail protective cap, wherein the rear-engaging devices of the two plug-in faces differ from each other. In general, the channels are preferably arranged asymmetrically with respect to the center of the busbar, relative to the mounting direction.This prevents incorrect insertion of, for example, a contact device or an electrical connector when plugging it onto the busbar or its conductors. For instance, the mating faces can differ due to the asymmetrical arrangement of the channels, as each mating face then has a different shape when viewed along its length at the respective end. For example, the busbar channels can be open at their longitudinal ends, allowing the conductors to be connected directly within the channels. Alternatively, the conductors can protrude beyond the busbar at their longitudinal ends, making them accessible and thus connectable. This accessibility of the conductors from the longitudinal end of the busbar simplifies connecting them, for example, to an electrical connector.In a preferred embodiment, the system has a busbar protective cap, wherein the busbar protective cap has two longitudinal ends which are designed differently and of which a first longitudinal end is designed corresponding to the first plug-in face and a second longitudinal end to the second plug-in face such that the busbar protective cap can be plugged onto the first longitudinal end of the busbar in a first protective position with its first end under insulation of the conductor wires at the first end of the busbar and can be plugged onto the second longitudinal end of the busbar in a second protective position with its second end under insulation of the conductor wires at the second end of the busbar.The busbar protective cap can thus have a first plug-in face at its first longitudinal end and a second plug-in face at its second longitudinal end, wherein the first plug-in faces of the busbar and the busbar protective cap are configured to correspond to each other, and the second plug-in faces of the busbar and the busbar protective cap are configured to correspond to each other. For example, the busbar protective cap can be configured at its respective longitudinal end to correspond to the respective longitudinal end of the busbar in such a way that, in its respective protective position, it covers the conductor wires at its longitudinal ends and / or extends in the direction of the conductor's arrangement between two conductor wires adjacent to each other in the direction of arrangement, in order to insulate them from each other.By designing the busbar protective cap such that each of its longitudinal ends corresponds to one of the two plug-in faces of the busbar, a busbar protective cap can be arranged at each longitudinal end of the busbar, insulating the conductor wires at the longitudinal end of the busbar. The busbar protective cap is positioned at each of the two longitudinal ends of the busbar with its respective opposite longitudinal ends. Providing such a busbar protective cap can provide particularly effective and simple protection for the conductor wires at the ends of the busbar, especially by preventing electrical breakdown between adjacent conductor wires and / or between components such as a luminaire or luminaire assembly and at least one of the conductor wires located at the longitudinal end of the busbar.Providing a conductor rail protective cap according to the invention is advantageous in a system even independently of providing at least one mounting rail protective cap, but is particularly advantageous in combination with providing at least one mounting rail protective cap, especially according to another embodiment of the invention. Generally preferably, the conductor rail protective cap has a longitudinal extent of at most one-tenth, and more preferably at most one-twentieth, of the conductor rail. Generally preferably, the conductor rail protective cap has a longitudinal extent of at most 7 cm, and more preferably at most 5 cm.

[0012] In one embodiment, the mounting rail protective cap, the conductor rail protective cap, the mounting rail, and the conductor rail are designed to correspond to one another in such a way that, starting from the assembly state, to achieve an operating state of the system while maintaining the attachment of the conductor rail to the mounting rail, one of the conductor rail protective caps can be attached to each longitudinal end of the conductor rail and one of the mounting rail protective caps can be attached to each longitudinal end of the mounting rail. More preferably, the system comprises several mounting rail protective caps and several conductor rail protective caps, each having features that are described here with reference to embodiments of the invention with reference to a mounting rail protective cap and a conductor rail protective cap, respectively.Preferably, the system comprises several identically designed mounting rail protective caps and several identically designed conductor rail protective caps. Particularly preferably, in the operating state of the system, the mounting rail protective cap is located at each longitudinal end of the mounting rail in the operating position described above, and the conductor rail protective cap is located at the first longitudinal end of the conductor rail in its first protective position and at the second longitudinal end of the conductor rail in its second protective position. This design of the system enables an operating state to be achieved, particularly when implementing a luminaire assembly, in which the receiving space is reliably sealed at both longitudinal ends by the mounting rail protective caps and in which the conductor wires at the longitudinal ends of the conductor rail are reliably protected against fault connections, unwanted contact, and / or electrical breakdown.In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the support rail protective cap arranged at a first longitudinal end of the support rail rests against the current conductor protective cap arranged at the first longitudinal end of the current conductor rail, and the support rail protective cap arranged at the second longitudinal end of the support rail rests against the current conductor protective cap arranged at the second longitudinal end of the current conductor rail.

[0013] In one embodiment, the retaining contours are designed to correspond to each other such that the support rail protective cap can be attached to the longitudinal end section by pushing it onto the longitudinal end of the support rail in a plug-in direction to achieve its operating position. The first retaining contour formed by the support rail protective cap and the second retaining contour formed by the support rail can thus be engaged with their rear-engaging sections solely by a relative movement of the support rail and the support rail protective cap relative to each other at the longitudinal end of the support rail in the plug-in direction, so that the support rail protective cap is fixed in position on the support rail by being brought into engagement, in particular fixed in position with respect to all three spatial directions. Preferably, the plug-in direction is longitudinal.Particularly preferably, the retaining contours of the mounting rail and the mounting rail protective cap are designed to correspond to each other such that, starting from its operating position, the mounting rail protective cap can only be detached from the longitudinal end of the mounting rail by a release force applied to it against the insertion direction, the magnitude of which is at least 20 N, in particular at least 25 N, in particular at least 30 N, in particular at least 50 N. More generally, the mounting rail protective cap is fixed to the mounting rail in its operating position in such a way that it can only be detached from the mounting rail against the insertion direction, while in the two other spatial directions perpendicular to the insertion direction, which are of course perpendicular to each other, it is indetachable from the mounting rail, so that it can only be released from its position and removed from the mounting rail by a relative movement against the insertion direction.Preferably, the insertion direction is longitudinal, wherein the support rail in the operating position transversely and vertically encloses the support rail protective cap at least partially at each of its transverse ends and next to its vertical ends, and wherein the support rail protective cap rests against a stop at the longitudinal end of the support rail in one direction along the longitudinal direction, preventing relative movement to the support rail in a first direction along the longitudinal direction, and wherein the rear-engaging sections of the support rail and support rail protective cap overlap perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, preventing relative movement of the support rail protective cap to the support rail in a second direction opposite to the first along the longitudinal direction.The mounting rail protective cap particularly preferably has a cover section that, in the operating position, conceals at least 80% of the cross-sectional area bounded by the mounting rail base and side walls, and thus of the clear cross-section enclosed at least partially by the mounting rail base and side walls, wherein the cross-section extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Preferably, the cover section conceals at least 90% of the aforementioned cross-sectional area. Thus, in the operating position, the clear cross-section enclosed by the wall at the longitudinal end of the mounting rail is at least largely concealed by the mounting rail protective cap, which ensures protection of the receiving space enclosed by the mounting rail protective cap. Preferably, at least one, and preferably at least two, knockout sections are provided in the cover section.Such a knockout section can be easily knocked out of the remaining cover section. In particular, the cover section provides a material thinning area surrounding the knockout section, i.e., a cut-off line with reduced wall thickness. By knocking out the knockout section, a knockout opening can be created in the cover section, through which a supply cable can be fed from the outside through the cover into the receiving space when the mounting rail protective cap is in its operating position.Preferably, in an operating state, the knockout section is separated from the remaining cover section, and a sealing element, for example an elastomer ring, is provided in the resulting knockout opening. A supply cable is guided through the knockout opening, and the sealing element surrounds the supply cable and connects it to an edge of the cover section surrounding the knockout opening, so that the supply cable is connected to the cover section by the sealing element, in particular via a frictional connection. The inventors have recognized that, due to the special design of the retaining contours, even the provision of a cable entry in the cover section, with the associated load on the cover section, is possible without the mounting rail protective cap being expected to detach from the mounting rail in typical applications.

[0014] In one embodiment, the protective cap for the support rail, when in its operating position, covers the side walls and / or the bottom of the support rail at the longitudinal end of the support rail, which is formed by the longitudinal end region to which it is attached. The protective cap thus extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction across the extent of the side walls and / or the bottom of the support rail. This can, on the one hand, provide an improved seal between the protective cap and the wall of the support rail, and on the other hand, it can define the longitudinal position of the support rail in its operating position with particular reliability, especially in conjunction with the provision of the overlapping or interlocking sections in the operating position.Preferably, the area of ​​the support rail protective cap that covers the support rail side walls and / or the support rail base at its longitudinal end is formed directly adjacent to the cover section. Preferably, the cover section is formed by a plate-like section of the support rail protective cap that extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction over the support rail side walls and / or the support rail base, covering them. Preferably, the support rail protective cap rests against the longitudinal end in the longitudinal direction. Particularly preferably, the support rail protective cap extends vertically and / or transversely beyond the longitudinal end of the support rail and thus beyond the extent of the support rail in the respective direction at this longitudinal end. This ensures a reliable stop between the support rail and the support rail protective cap and, furthermore, a particularly reliable seal.

[0015] In one embodiment, the retaining contours are designed to correspond to each other such that the support rail protective cap, after being attached to the longitudinal end section of the support rail, can only be detached from the support rail by elastic deformation. Thus, at least one of the retaining contours, preferably the first retaining contour formed by the support rail protective cap, is designed to be elastically deformable, whereby the elastic deformability allows the overlap of the rear gripping sections to be released or eliminated starting from the operating position. After the overlap of the rear gripping sections has been released, or even during this overlap, the support rail protective cap can be detached from the support rail, in particular by relative movement against the insertion direction.

[0016] In one embodiment, the rear gripping section formed by the support rail is created by an embossed indentation in the wall. Preferably, the wall is closed across the embossed indentation, so that the rear gripping section formed by the support rail is contained within a closed wall section. By creating the rear gripping section by means of the embossed indentation, the wall of the support rail can completely enclose the receiving space along the entire length of the second retaining contour, thus enclosing it without any opening in the wall, which can particularly facilitate sealing the interior. Preferably, the wall is made of sheet metal, and the embossing is formed by forming the sheet metal. Preferably, the embossing is formed at least partially in the base of the support rail.The embossing can be a continuous embossing or comprise several spaced-apart partial embossings. The embossing can be formed as a projection or a recess on the inside of the wall. Forming the embossing as a recess has proven particularly advantageous, as such an embossing is especially easy to implement and can be designed as smoothly as possible on the outside of the wall, i.e., with as little unevenness as possible visible from the outside. This can be advantageous both for the visual design and for preventing dirt accumulation. Generally preferred is the embossing, at least partially, and in particular at least 70% of the depth of the embossing, formed by a reduction in the wall thickness.The wall thickness refers, of course, to the extent of the wall perpendicular to its planar extent, with which it defines the receiving space. Preferably, the wall thickness corresponds to the extent of the wall in the pressing direction. Particularly preferably, the embossing has a depth in the pressing direction of less than 1 mm, and especially less than 0.5 mm. Particularly preferably, the wall at the level of the embossing has a wall thickness of less than 1 mm, and especially less than 0.8 mm, less than 0.6 mm, less than 0.5 mm, and especially less than 0.4 mm. The wall thickness in the area of ​​the embossing where it has its maximum depth is the determining factor. The depth of the embossing defines a step in the wall created by the embossing. Accordingly, the depth of the embossing defines the extent of the rear grip section in the pressing direction.Particularly preferably, in the operating position, the recessed section formed by the support rail protective cap extends more than 50%, particularly more than 70%, and particularly more than 90% of the depth of the embossing into the embossing, naturally with reference to the pressing direction. Preferably, the recessed sections overlap in the operating position along a distance in the pressing direction that is less than 0.8 mm, particularly less than 0.5 mm, and particularly between 0.2 mm and 0.5 mm. More generally, the depth of the embossing is an extension of the embossing in the pressing direction. More generally, the embossing borders directly on a wall section of the wall, with the bottom of the embossing being spaced from the adjacent wall section along the pressing direction by the depth of the embossing.Preferably, the base of the embossing and the transition from the base of the embossing to the wall section immediately adjacent to the embossing, which completely encloses the embossing, are formed by a completely closed area of ​​the wall. Particularly preferably, the embossing transitions into the immediately adjacent wall section via a step, the step height of which is defined by the depth of the embossing. Preferably, the step is perpendicular or deviates from a right angle by less than 20°, so that the embossing can form a hard stop for the rear gripping section formed by the support rail protective cap.Accordingly, the embossing is preferably limited by an embossing wall section that transitions directly into an embossing base, wherein the embossing wall section is angled at less than 30°, in particular less than 20°, in particular less than 10° to the pressing direction, and the embossing base has an angle between 60° and 120°, in particular 70° and 110°, in particular 80° and 100°, in particular 85° and 95° to the embossing wall section. The embossing wall section preferably extends with a length in the pressing direction that defines the depth of the embossing, from the embossing base to the wall section immediately adjacent to the embossing. Preferably, the wall section borders the embossing only on one side; in one embodiment, the wall section borders the embossing in several directions, in particular, it completely encloses the embossing.Preferably, the wall in the section immediately adjacent to the embossing has a thickness of less than 1 mm, particularly less than 0.8 mm, particularly less than 0.7 mm, and particularly between 0.5 mm and 0.7 mm. Preferably, the wall has the embossing on its inner surface facing the receiving space, while the outer surface of the wall, at the level of the embossing, is smooth. Thus, the wall deviates from a plane considerably more on its inner surface at the level of the embossing than on its outer surface.Preferably, the outer surface of the wall at the level of the embossing is smooth, exhibiting at most a slight unevenness whose extent in the pressing direction is less than half, particularly less than a quarter, and particularly less than a tenth of the depth of the embossing on the inner surface. This unevenness is defined as a deviation from a plane perpendicular to the pressing direction, caused by a raised or recessed area on the side. Particularly preferably, the embossing has a width perpendicular to its depth that is at least twenty times, and particularly at least fifty times, its depth, and in particular at least 5 mm, and in particular at least 10 mm. The embossing is particularly preferably provided in the base of the support rail, with the depth extending vertically and the width transversely.When referring to depth, the maximum depth is specified if the depth varies; when referring to width, the total width is specified; and when an embossing with multiple sub-embossings is specified, the combined extent of all sub-embossings is specified. Preferably, the embossing has a depth that varies along the longitudinal direction over at least 50%, and particularly at least 70%, of its longitudinal extent. The depth decreases along the longitudinal direction with increasing distance from the longitudinal end of the support rail formed by the longitudinal end region within which the embossing is located. Preferably, the depth of the embossing in this longitudinal extent region decreases continuously with increasing distance from the longitudinal end.Particularly preferred is the depth at a first longitudinal end of the embossing, which forms the rear gripping section of the support rail, dimensioned as described above, providing a rear gripping section with sufficient extension in the pressing direction, whereas the depth at the second longitudinal end of the embossing, opposite the first longitudinal end in the longitudinal direction, is less than one-third, and in particular less than one-fifth, of the depth at the first longitudinal end. Preferably, the embossing at its second longitudinal end transitions seamlessly, i.e., with a depth of zero, into a wall section immediately adjacent to it. Preferably, the first longitudinal end of the embossing is arranged closer in the longitudinal direction to the longitudinal end of the support rail where the support rail protective cap is located in the operating position than its second longitudinal end.Particularly preferably, the embossing has a cross-section extending in the longitudinal and pressing directions, which is shaped like a triangle, wherein preferably one side of the triangle forms the embossing base and the other side the embossing wall, wherein preferably the side forming the embossing base extends along the longitudinal direction and has a longitudinal extension length which is at least three times, in particular at least five times, the extension length of the side forming the embossing wall along the vertical direction.

[0017] In one embodiment, the mounting rail protective cap is bounded along the pressing direction by two pressing direction ends, one of which forms the rear gripping section of the mounting rail protective cap and the other forming the pressing section of the mounting rail protective cap. By forming the pressing section and rear gripping section at two pressing direction ends of the mounting rail protective cap, these can be formed with a particularly simple and precisely defined contour and, moreover, specifically adapted to the retaining contour formed by the mounting rail. A pressing direction end is not necessarily the absolute end of the mounting rail protective cap in the pressing direction, but it does, at least partially, form an end of the mounting rail protective cap with respect to the pressing direction.

[0018] In one embodiment, the first retaining contour formed by the support rail protective cap has a plug-in section which, in the operating position, is arranged in the receiving space formed by the support rail. Particularly preferably, the plug-in section forms the rear gripping section formed by the support rail protective cap. More preferably, the support rail and the support rail protective cap overlap at a longitudinal end of the support rail, which is thus oriented in a specific direction along the longitudinal axis, exclusively with their rear gripping sections. More preferably, the rear gripping sections are arranged exclusively within the receiving space in the operating position.In the embodiment where the mounting rail protective cap has the aforementioned plug-in section, the plug-in section preferably has two side walls and a base connecting the side walls on its outer surface. In the operating position of the mounting rail protective cap, each of the side walls rests against one of the mounting rail side walls, and the base rests against the mounting rail base. Preferably, the base of the plug-in section is spaced from the mounting rail base by less than 0.5 mm, and particularly less than 0.3 mm, over at least 70%, and in particular at least 80% of its transverse extent. Particularly preferably, the side walls of the plug-in section are spaced from their respective mounting rail side walls by less than 0.5 mm, and in particular less than 0.3 mm, over at least 70%, and in particular at least 80% of their vertical extent.This ensures a particularly good seal and fixation of the mounting rail protective cap relative to the mounting rail in its operating position.

[0019] In one embodiment, the first retaining contour formed by the support rail protective cap creates an overlap section that runs along the outside of the wall. While the wall's inner surface faces the receiving space and defines its boundaries, its outer surface faces away from the outside. By having the support rail protective cap's retaining contour run at least partially along the outside of the wall, a particularly good seal and fixation between the protective cap and the support rail in the operating position can be achieved. Preferably, the overlap section extends from the longitudinal end of the support rail, where it is positioned in the operating position, along the outside of the wall to the section of the wall where the wall forms the first rebate section on its inner surface.Preferably, the support rail protective cap with its first retaining contour extends along the outer surface of the wall in a section where the inner surface of the wall forms the first interlocking section. This ensures a particularly reliable interlocking of the interlocking sections. Preferably, the overlapping section of the retaining contour extends along the base of the support rail. Preferably, the overlapping section has an area of ​​at least 3 cm², i.e., the retaining contour extends over at least 3 cm² as described on the outer surface of the wall.

[0020] In one embodiment, the pressing section formed by the support rail protective cap includes a projection extending along the pressing direction. The pressing section is particularly preferably formed by one or more such projections. The projection thus extends in the pressing direction relative to sections of the support rail protective cap adjacent to the pressing direction perpendicular to the pressing direction. The support rail protective cap particularly preferably has a longitudinally extending web section on which the projection is arranged. The web section particularly preferably extends longitudinally away from the cover section described above. The support rail protective cap particularly preferably has the described plug-in section, which has side walls and a base, wherein the pressing section formed by the support rail protective cap includes at least two projections, each formed on one of the side walls.The projections can extend transversely away from the side walls and are preferably designed as projections extending along the pressing direction. Particularly preferably, the at least one projection extending in the pressing direction has an insertion ramp, its extension in the pressing direction increasing along the longitudinal direction. Thus, the projection is preferably designed to slide along a section of the support rail along its insertion ramp when the support rail protective cap is placed longitudinally onto the longitudinal end of the support rail, thereby increasing the contact pressure between itself and the support rail section. Particularly preferably, the support rail section is formed by a projection located on a support rail side wall.

[0021] In one embodiment, the rear gripping section formed by the support rail is located in the base of the support rail, wherein the support rail side walls each have a transversely extending projection, the projections together forming the first pressing section, the pressing direction being vertical. Particularly preferably, the projections formed by the support rail side walls correspond to the projections formed by the pressing section of the support rail protective cap.Preferably, the projections of the pressing sections of the support rail protection cap and the support rail are designed to correspond to each other in such a way that, under elastic deflection of the projection of the pressing section of the support rail protection cap, an increasing pressing force is generated between the projections when the support rail protection cap is placed on the support rail in the longitudinal direction until the operating position is reached, while the projections slide along each other.

[0022] Generally, preferably, in the operating position, only the overlapping rear grip sections perpendicular to the longitudinal direction limit the longitudinal displacement of the mounting rail protective cap relative to the mounting rail in a specific direction along the longitudinal direction. This allows for a targeted limitation of the longitudinal displacement and, in particular, enables the specification of a specific release force or release movement with which the mounting rail protective cap can be detached from the mounting rail from the operating position, overcoming the overlap of the rear grip sections.

[0023] In one embodiment, the busbar protective cap has a first longitudinal end region forming the first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end region forming the second longitudinal end. The busbar protective cap has longitudinally adjacent channel sections in both longitudinal end regions, wherein the busbar protective cap can be plugged onto the first plug-in face of the busbar with its first longitudinal end region, receiving the first conductor wire ends of the conductor wires arranged in the busbar into the channel sections of its first longitudinal end region, and wherein the busbar protective cap can be plugged onto the second plug-in face of the busbar with its second longitudinal end region, receiving the second conductor wire ends of the conductor wires arranged in the busbar into the channel sections of its second longitudinal end region.In the particularly preferred embodiment, the longitudinal ends of the busbar protective cap are thus configured to correspond to the plug-in faces or longitudinal ends of the busbar such that, in the protected position, the conductor wires are received with their ends in the channel sections and are therefore electrically insulated from one another by the channel walls of the respective channel section, which form between the channel sections. The channel sections are sections of a channel that runs longitudinally and is thus configured to receive a longitudinally extending longitudinal end region of a conductor wire. In the protected position, a channel wall of the channel section runs along each side of a conductor wire, relative to the direction of assembly, where an adjacent conductor wire is arranged.The inventors recognized that by providing channel sections in the busbar protective cap, a particularly reliable reception and insulation of the conductor wires at their ends can be ensured. The inventors further determined that, in particularly simple embodiments, it is even possible for the channel sections formed by the busbar protective cap to be open at their longitudinal ends facing away from the conductor wire ends in the protective position, since sufficient insulation can be ensured by the channels themselves and the distance between the conductor wire ends and the longitudinal end of the channel sections facing away from them.Preferably, in the protective position, the conductor wire ends are spaced at least 20%, in particular at least 30%, of the longitudinal extent of the busbar protective cap from the longitudinal end of the channel sections furthest from them in the longitudinal direction, in particular at least 3 mm, in particular at least 5 mm in the longitudinal direction from this longitudinal end of the channel sections.

[0024] In one embodiment, the busbar protective cap can be attached to the corresponding longitudinal end of the busbar at each of its longitudinal ends in such a way that the channel sections formed in its respective longitudinal end region overlap the channels of the busbar in the longitudinal direction and, together with them, form continuous channels extending longitudinally across a transition between the busbar and the busbar protective cap. By arranging the channel sections of the busbar protective cap overlapping the channels of the busbar in the longitudinal direction, particularly reliable continuous electrical insulation of the conductor wires from each other and from the environment can be ensured.It should be noted here that, generally, the channel sections are preferably arranged side by side in the mounting direction, analogous to the channels of the conductor rail, and extend elongated in the longitudinal direction, preferably being open at an access side perpendicular to both the mounting direction and the longitudinal direction. Preferably, the access side of the conductor rail protective cap points in the same direction as the access side of the conductor rail or in the opposite direction.

[0025] In one embodiment, the first and second channel sections are arranged in alignment with each other. Preferably, the first and second channel sections together form longitudinally continuous channels of the busbar protective cap. The inventors have recognized that the aligned arrangement of the channel sections, in particular the continuous design of the channels, is especially easy to manufacture and ensures sufficient insulation of the conductor wires at the end of the busbar when the busbar protective cap is attached to a longitudinal end of the busbar.Preferably, the busbar protective cap has a different plug-in face at each of its longitudinal ends, wherein the plug-in faces differ, in particular, at least in that, when viewed along the longitudinal direction of the respective longitudinal end of the busbar protective cap, the plug-in faces are asymmetrically formed, and in particular, are laterally reversed relative to each other. Preferably, the plug-in faces of the busbar protective cap differ analogously to the plug-in faces of the busbar.

[0026] In one embodiment, the longitudinal end sections of the busbar protective cap are designed to correspond to the longitudinal ends of the busbar such that, in the protective position, the busbar and the busbar protective cap overlap transversely. Preferably, in the first protective position, the busbar overlaps the busbar protective cap transversely, and in the second protective position, the busbar protective cap overlaps the busbar transversely. This transverse overlap ensures a particularly reliable fixation between the busbar protective cap and the busbar. Because the busbar overlaps the busbar protective cap transversely in one protective position, and the busbar protective cap overlaps the busbar transversely in the other, the busbar protective cap can be easily and reliably attached to the corresponding longitudinal end of the busbar.Preferably, the busbar protective cap has a first locking device at its first longitudinal end, corresponding to a first locking device formed at the first longitudinal end of the busbar. Particularly preferably, the busbar protective cap has a second locking device at its second longitudinal end, corresponding to a second locking device formed at the second longitudinal end of the busbar. The locking device can be formed by the respective plug-in face of the busbar protective cap or busbar.The locking device and corresponding locking mechanism are preferably designed to correspond to each other such that, in the protective position of the busbar guard cap, when its corresponding locking device engages behind the corresponding locking mechanism of the busbar, they limit longitudinal displacement of the busbar guard cap and the busbar relative to each other. Preferably, the longitudinal position of the busbar guard cap relative to the busbar is fixed by the interlocking of the locking device and locking mechanism. Particularly preferably, the locking device and locking mechanism are designed to correspond to each other such that they can only be separated from each other by elastic deformation of the busbar guard cap and / or busbar, starting from the protective position.The first retaining device is particularly preferably formed on a transverse outer surface or on at least one first retaining arm that transversely encompasses the conductor rail at its first longitudinal end in the first protective position. The second retaining device is particularly preferably formed on a vertical outer surface or on at least one second retaining arm that vertically encompasses the conductor rail at its second longitudinal end in the second protective position. A transversely or vertically encompassing retaining arm extends along a transverse side or vertical side, i.e., transversely beside or vertically beside, the conductor rail and overlaps it longitudinally. Preferably, the first retaining device has two first retaining arms between which the conductor rail is arranged in the transverse direction and which encompass the conductor rail on both transverse sides.Preferably, the second retaining device has one or more retaining arms on only one vertical side of the conductor rail, preferably on the vertical side of the conductor rail facing away from the access side. Particularly preferably, a retaining projection is provided on the retaining arm, which engages with a retaining recess on the conductor rail. Naturally, in such an embodiment, where the retaining device is formed on a transverse outer side or vertical outer side of the conductor rail protective cap, the conductor rail has a retaining arm that engages the conductor rail protective cap on this side, as explained in relation to the retaining arm of the conductor rail protective cap. This retaining arm may also preferably have a corresponding retaining projection that engages in a recess provided on the outer side in the protected position.

[0027] In one embodiment, the conductor rail comprises several conductor profiles arranged longitudinally one behind the other, wherein two conductor profiles arranged longitudinally one behind the other have corresponding engagement devices at their mutually facing longitudinal end regions, which are engaged in the assembled state and limit the longitudinal displacement of the two adjacent conductor profiles relative to each other to a defined displacement range, naturally with respect to relative movement in the longitudinal direction. Preferably, each of the conductor profiles is designed in the same way in its first longitudinal end region as the conductor rail in its first longitudinal end region and / or each of the conductor profiles is designed in the same way in its second longitudinal end region as the conductor rail in its second longitudinal end region.This allows for a particularly advantageous contour to be formed at a longitudinal end region of the busbar and the busbar profiles, which provides both a plug-in interface corresponding to the busbar protective cap and an engagement device for connecting two busbar profiles arranged longitudinally one behind the other. Particularly preferably, at least some of the busbar profiles have a rear engagement device in their first longitudinal end region that is similar to the second rear engagement device and / or have a rear engagement device in their second longitudinal end region that is similar to the first rear engagement device. The rear engagement device formed by the respective busbar profile can be encompassed by the engagement device formed by it.In this particularly preferred embodiment, the engagement devices can thus be designed to correspond to the rear-engaging devices of the conductor rail protective cap, so that a conductor profile can be selectively engaged with its second longitudinal end either with the first longitudinal end of a longitudinally adjacent conductor profile or with the second longitudinal end of the conductor rail protective cap. The inventors have recognized that this enables an analogous design of the engagement devices on the one hand and the rear-engaging devices and rear-engaging mechanisms on the other, which greatly simplifies and reduces the cost of manufacturing the system.

[0028] Preferably, in the assembled state, the conductor wires protrude longitudinally from at least one of the longitudinal ends of the busbar. Preferably, the mounting rail end cap and the busbar end cap can be fixedly connected to each other in two different relative positions. Fixedly connected means that the mounting rail end cap and the busbar end cap are held securely against each other. In a first relative position, the busbar end cap points longitudinally away from the mounting rail end cap with its first longitudinal end. In a second relative position, the busbar end cap points longitudinally towards the mounting rail end cap with its first longitudinal end. Similarly, in the first relative position, its second longitudinal end points towards the mounting rail end cap, and in the second relative position, it points away from it.The inventors recognized that this allows for the simple and cost-effective realization of a single component comprising a mounting rail protective cap and a conductor rail protective cap, which can be attached to both longitudinal ends of a lighting assembly. This ensures that the mounting rail protective cap is in its operating position and the conductor rail protective cap is in its respective protective position. For example, the conductor rail protective cap can be rotatably mounted on the mounting rail protective cap, allowing the two different relative positions to be achieved by rotating the conductor rail protective cap. Alternatively, a sliding guide can be provided between the mounting rail protective cap and the conductor rail protective cap, enabling the conductor rail protective cap to be pulled off, rotated, and then reattached to the mounting rail protective cap to achieve the two different relative positions.The mounting rail protection cap and the conductor rail protection cap are particularly advantageously positioned so that, in the first relative position, they can be attached together to the first longitudinal end of the mounting rail and conductor rail, and in the second relative position, they can be attached together to the second longitudinal end of the mounting rail and conductor rail, thus realizing the operating position of the mounting rail protection cap and the respective protective position of the conductor rail protection cap. This joint attachment of the mounting rail protection cap and conductor rail protection cap greatly simplifies the process of closing the receiving area, starting from the system's assembly state. The conductor rail protection cap and mounting rail protection cap can therefore be attached as a single component to the respective longitudinal end of the mounting rail and conductor rail, starting from the system's assembly state.

[0029] In one embodiment, the system comprises several mounting rails and several conductor rails, wherein the system includes a first and a second lighting assembly, each comprising one mounting rail and one conductor rail. All mounting rails may each have features that are described in connection with a mounting rail in an embodiment of a system according to the invention. Similarly, all conductor rails may have features that are described in connection with embodiments of the system according to the invention with reference to a conductor rail. Preferably, all mounting rails and all conductor rails of the system are identical. Of course, the system may also include additional mounting rails and additional conductor rails that are configured differently.The conductor rail of each luminaire assembly is attached to the mounting rail of the respective luminaire assembly. In each luminaire assembly, the conductor rail and mounting rail are thus in their relative positions to each other, which they occupy in the assembly state of the system described above. In the preferred embodiment, the system further comprises a coupling having a coupling base and coupling side walls, which can be inserted longitudinally into the mounting rail from each longitudinal end of each mounting rail. The mounting rail preferably forms a guide with its wall, into which the coupling can be inserted, at least with its coupling side walls, thereby fixing the coupling to the mounting rail in a position-fixed manner. The guide preferably has a vertically upper and a vertically lower guide end, with the coupling bearing against the upper and lower guide ends when inserted into the guide.In an assembled state of the system, the coupling is inserted into the first longitudinal end of the mounting rail of the first lighting assembly and into the second longitudinal end of the mounting rail of the second lighting assembly, with the mounting rails of the lighting assemblies fixed relative to each other. Particularly preferably, the mounting rails are abutting each other in the assembled state, especially with their longitudinal ends facing each other, and particularly directly against each other. In the assembled state, the conductor rails of the lighting assemblies are spaced apart longitudinally, in particular by at least twenty times the longitudinal distance between the mounting rails.A particularly preferred operating state of the system is achievable in which the mounting rails of the lighting assemblies are fixed to one another in a position-fixed manner by the coupling, wherein the mounting rail protective cap is fixed in its operating position relative to the second longitudinal end of the mounting rail of the first lighting assembly, a current conductor protective cap is fixed in its second protective position relative to the second longitudinal end of the current conductor of the first lighting assembly, another mounting rail protective cap is fixed in its operating position relative to the first longitudinal end of the mounting rail of the second lighting assembly, and another current conductor protective cap is fixed in its first protective position relative to the first longitudinal end of the current conductor of the second lighting assembly.Accordingly, in the operating state, the interior of a luminaire can be defined by the two mounting rails of the luminaire assemblies and the two mounting rail protective caps. This interior can, for example, be open on the vertical side facing away from the mounting rail bases, allowing electrical components to be introduced into the interior through this opening. This can be achieved, for example, by fixing one or more mounting bodies to this opening, thereby closing off the interior on this side. When multiple mounting bodies are used, they are arranged longitudinally one behind the other and attached to one or both of the mounting rails, particularly by means of the retaining springs described above.

[0030] In one embodiment, the system has an electrical connector whose first longitudinal end corresponds to the first plug-in face of the busbar and whose second longitudinal end corresponds to the second plug-in face of the busbar. The electrical connector is designed to electrically connect, in the assembled state, one conductor wire arranged in the busbar of the first lighting assembly to one conductor wire arranged in the busbar of the second lighting assembly. Preferably, the electrical connector is detachably fixed to the coupling.A particularly preferred operating state of the system is achievable in which the electrical connector, as explained, connects the conductor wires of the busbar of the two lighting assemblies, wherein in an intermediate state to realize the operating state, the electrical connector and the coupling are first connected to the busbar or mounting rail of one of the lighting assemblies, after which this lighting assembly is moved longitudinally towards the other lighting assembly, while the coupling is inserted into one of the longitudinal ends of the other lighting assembly and the electrical connector is brought into electrically conductive contact with the conductor wires of the other lighting assembly.Preferably, the mounting rails of the lighting assemblies are fixed in position by means of the coupling, and the conductor wires of the lighting assemblies are electrically connected by means of the electrical connector, with a single, continuous longitudinal relative movement of the lighting assemblies to each other, after the coupling and the electrical connector have been previously connected to one of the lighting assemblies. For detachable fixing of the electrical connector to the coupling, for example, a locking device on the connector and a corresponding locking device on the coupling can be provided, with which they are locked together. The conductor rail, mounting rail, coupling, and connector of the system are specifically designed to correspond to each other in order to realize the respective states of the system.

[0031] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the conductor rails, mounting rails, coupling, electrical connector and conductor rail protective caps of the system are designed to correspond to one another in such a way that, in the assembled state, either one of the conductor rail protective caps of the system can be arranged in the first protective position at the first longitudinal end of the conductor rail of the first luminaire assembly and another conductor rail protective cap of the system can be arranged in the second protective position at the second longitudinal end of the conductor rail of the second luminaire assembly, with insulation of the conductor wires arranged in the conductor rails from one another, or alternatively, the electrical connector can be arranged between the conductor rails of the luminaire assemblies with an electrically conductive connection of the conductor wires arranged in the conductor rails.It must be taken into account that, in the assembled state, the first longitudinal end of the conductor rail of the first luminaire assembly points longitudinally towards the second longitudinal end of the conductor rail of the second luminaire assembly, and the first longitudinal end of the mounting rail of the first luminaire assembly points longitudinally towards the second longitudinal end of the mounting rail of the second luminaire assembly. Due to the particularly advantageous design of the system according to the invention, it is thus possible to decide on-site whether the conductor rails of interconnected luminaire assemblies should be electrically insulated from each other or electrically connected to each other.The inventors recognized that the modular design of the system is particularly advantageous because it allows the busbar protective cap to be used in a wide variety of positions, thereby enabling a diverse range of applications for the system in a particularly cost-effective manner. In one embodiment, the system comprises an elongated combination busbar protective cap, the two longitudinal ends of which correspond to one of the two plug-in faces of the busbar, as generally described herein for busbar protective caps, and which may exhibit features of embodiments of busbar protective caps described herein in connection with various embodiments of the system according to the invention.The combination conductor rail protective cap is designed to be elongated in the longitudinal direction such that, in the assembled state, it can be arranged with its first longitudinal end at the first longitudinal end of the conductor rail of the first luminaire assembly and with its second longitudinal end at the second longitudinal end of the conductor rail of the second luminaire assembly as an alternative to providing the electrical connector, while insulating the conductor wires arranged in the conductor rails from each other, whereby it insulates the conductor wires of the first luminaire assembly from each other at its first longitudinal end and the conductor wires of the second luminaire assembly from each other at its second longitudinal end, and furthermore also ensures insulation of the conductor wires of the luminaire assemblies from each other.The combined busbar protective cap is thus specifically designed so that, in the assembled state, it extends between the busbars of the two lighting assemblies in such a way that, as generally explained for busbar protective caps, its longitudinal ends are positioned at the longitudinal ends of the two busbars. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the combined busbar protective cap has a locking device that corresponds to the locking device of the coupling, so that either the electrical connector with its locking device or the combined busbar protective cap with its locking device can be detachably fixed to the coupling.

[0032] In one embodiment of the system according to the invention, the coupling has at least one first opening in its coupling base, which is completely closed by a first locking element, which is preferably pressed into a first opening, and the support rail has a second opening in its support rail base, which is preferably completely closed by a second locking element, which is preferably pressed into the second opening. The first locking element can be released from the first opening by a vertical pressing force. Release is preferably possible without deformation of the coupling. The second locking element can preferably be released from the second opening by a vertical pressing force. Release is preferably possible without deformation of the support rail. Preferably, the respective locking element is fixed in the respective opening without a material connection, i.e., without a material bond to the edge defining the opening, preferably exclusively by frictional connection.The described embodiment is generally advantageous for a system for realizing a longitudinally elongated luminaire, comprising at least one longitudinally elongated mounting rail and one longitudinally elongated conductor rail having longitudinally extending channels in which at least one conductor wire is arranged, wherein the mounting rail has a mounting rail base and two mounting rail side walls extending vertically away from the mounting rail base and spaced apart from each other in a transverse direction by the mounting rail base, wherein the mounting rail base and the mounting rail side walls form a wall that delimits a receiving space open at both longitudinal ends of the mounting rail for receiving the conductor rail, wherein in an assembly state of the system the conductor rail is arranged in the receiving space and attached to the mounting rail.The system can have further features, which are described herein in connection with other embodiments. The particular design of the coupling is especially preferred in further embodiments of the invention, in which, as explained, at least one support rail protective cap and / or at least one conductor rail protective cap is provided, and accordingly, the support rail has a corresponding advantageous second retaining contour at its longitudinal ends, corresponding to the first retaining contour of the support rail protective cap. The described advantageous embodiment offers the particular advantage that the coupling can be designed to be as sealing as possible at its coupling base, and at the same time, the ability to press out the first closing piece from the first opening allows for easy insertion of, for example, access cables into the receiving space of a support rail.in the receiving space formed by two support rails connected by the coupling. Generally, the support rail is preferably manufactured from a sheet of metal by forming, and the coupling is manufactured from a different sheet of metal by forming, the other sheet being harder and / or thicker than the support rail. Here, the thickness refers to the sheet thickness, which, in the case of the support rail, defines the wall thickness of the support rail. Preferably, the sheet of metal from which the support rail is manufactured has a thickness of at least 0.5 mm, in particular at least 0.6 mm, and preferably a maximum of 0.8 mm. Preferably, the sheet of metal from which the coupling is manufactured has a thickness of at least 0.9 mm, in particular at least 1.0 mm, and in particular at least 1.2 mm. The coupling is particularly preferably made of stainless steel.Particularly preferably, the coupling is manufactured from a sheet metal part by cutting, especially punching, and forming, wherein the first locking element is made from the sheet metal part. Particularly preferably, the support rail is manufactured from a further sheet metal part by cutting, especially punching, and forming, wherein the first locking element is made from the further sheet metal part. Manufacturing the coupling and support rail from a single sheet metal part allows for a particularly simple implementation. The inventors have found that realizing the opening and the locking element from a single sheet metal part, from which the coupling or support rail is manufactured, is particularly advantageous, cost-effective, and can be implemented at a high cycle rate. Surprisingly, the inventors have also discovered that providing an opening and a locking element in the coupling is possible even though the coupling must have a sheet metal part with sufficient hardness and thickness.It has proven particularly advantageous to manufacture the coupling using a process in which a sheet metal part is cut and shaped. In an intermediate step of the manufacturing process, the opening is punched into the coupling base using a punching tool, simultaneously punching out the locking piece. In a subsequent intermediate step, the locking piece is pressed back into the opening. Preferably, the punching is performed completely around the locking piece, so that the locking piece—in the case of the coupling itself, the first locking piece—is completely punched out of the sheet metal around its entire circumference and then pressed back into the opening. Naturally, an analogous manufacturing process can be used to create the support rail and the second opening or locking piece.Particularly preferred are the first and second openings in the assembly state of the system described above, in which protective caps for the mounting rails or conductor rails may, but are not mandatory, be provided at the longitudinal ends of the mounting rails and conductor rails. These openings are arranged longitudinally between the conductor rails of the two luminaire assemblies. This allows for particularly easy access to the receiving space formed jointly by the connected mounting rails, since the conductor rails are offset from the openings, and thus an element, such as an electrical supply cable, can easily be inserted into the receiving space from the outside through the openings.In one embodiment, the first opening is aligned with the second opening, so that both openings each form a clear cross-section, and these clear cross-sections are aligned with each other, allowing an access cable to be routed from the outside into the receiving space through these aligned clear cross-sections. A first operating state is particularly preferred with the system, in which the first opening is closed by the locking piece, with the coupling connecting the mounting rails in such a way that the transition between the mounting rails is dustproof due to their contact with the coupling, at least according to standard IP50, preferably according to IP54.Furthermore, a second operating state is preferably achievable in which the first sealing piece is removed from the first opening and the first opening is freely accessible from the outside through the second opening, preferably with a second sealing piece previously provided at the second opening being removed from the second opening. In this embodiment, the connection between the mounting rails is not dustproof, since the first and second openings provide access from the outside to the receiving space formed by the mounting rails. When inserting an access cable into the receiving space, a sealing material, for example an elastomer plug, must be provided in the first and / or second opening to achieve a rod-tight seal on the luminaire. Generally, preferably, the mounting rails of the luminaire assemblies rest against each other with their mutually facing longitudinal ends in the assembled state, ensuring a dustproof transition between them.The contact can be direct at their longitudinal ends or indirect via the coupling, whereby the dustproof transition can be, for example, a dust tightness according to standard IP50.

[0033] In one embodiment, the coupling, in a fixed state of the system in which a first and a second support rail of the system are fixed to one another by the coupling described herein, is arranged with a first longitudinal section forming a first longitudinal end of the coupling in the first support rail and with a second longitudinal section forming a second longitudinal end of the coupling in the second support rail, thus fixing these two support rails to each other. In a separation state of the system, however, the coupling is arranged only with its second longitudinal section in the second support rail and is fixed to it, and is detached from the first support rail. Thus, in the separation state of the system, the coupling projects longitudinally beyond the second support rail with its first longitudinal section, to which it is fixed in position. The separation state and the fixed state each define a specific arrangement of the system components relative to each other.In the separation state, the first mounting rail is detached from the second mounting rail and the coupling, and can therefore be arranged independently of them. The first and second mounting rails are two of the system's mounting rails designed to assume the arrangements defined herein, in which the system's fixed and separation state properties, respectively, are present. The first and second mounting rails can have features generally described herein in connection with a mounting rail of the system. In the system's separation state, for example, the second mounting rail can be the longitudinally last mounting rail of a luminaire component arrangement.The mounting rail arrangement consists of multiple mounting rails arranged longitudinally one behind the other, each held in a fixed position relative to the other by a coupling of the system. In this case, the coupling described above, to which the definition of the operating and separation state refers, projects beyond one longitudinal end of the second mounting rail, while another mounting rail is arranged at the opposite longitudinal end of the second mounting rail and connected to it by another coupling of the system. As explained above, in this case, it may be necessary on a construction site to separate the coupling from the second mounting rail in order to achieve a proper termination of the mounting rail arrangement or luminaire component arrangement, and then, for example, to close the mounting rail with a mounting rail end cap.In one embodiment, the busbar protective cap is designed as a disassembly tool for the system, enabling the coupling to be detached from the second mounting rail from the separated state. Thus, the busbar protective cap combines several functions, depending on its positioning and use. The busbar protective cap is therefore preferably the disassembly tool described in more detail below. The coupling has a receptacle corresponding to the disassembly tool, formed by at least one of the coupling side walls, in particular by both coupling side walls, and / or the coupling base.The disassembly tool is designed in such a way as to correspond to the coupling, that it can be inserted into the receptacle in such a way as to realize a disassembly position of the disassembly tool, such that it is guided relative to the coupling with a positive locking action acting along the longitudinal direction towards the first longitudinal end of the coupling in order to enable such a force load on the disassembly tool relative to the second support rail in the longitudinal direction towards the first longitudinal end of the coupling, with which the coupling can be detached and removed from the second support rail starting from the separation state along the longitudinal direction.The system thus includes a disassembly tool specifically designed to correspond to the coupling, enabling easy removal and separation of the coupling from the second support rail. This separation occurs when the coupling's second longitudinal section is positioned within the second support rail, while its first longitudinal section extends beyond the second support rail in the longitudinal direction. Separation or removal of the coupling refers to removing it from the longitudinal end of the second support rail, which is defined by the longitudinal section of the second support rail in which the coupling's second longitudinal section is positioned in both the fixed and separated positions.

[0034] The disassembly tool is thus designed to correspond to the coupling in such a way that by applying a release force to the disassembly tool, acting predominantly in the longitudinal direction, and in particular exclusively in the longitudinal direction, the coupling can be detached from the second support rail relative to the second support rail. In one embodiment, the receptacle and the disassembly tool are designed to correspond to each other in such a way that a sufficient release force relative to the second support rail can be applied to the coupling via the disassembly tool alone to detach the coupling from the second support rail from the separated state and thus remove it from there. Thus, preferably, applying a force to the coupling by means of the disassembly tool is sufficient to detach it from the second support rail.

[0035] In one embodiment, the receptacle extends over a transverse width that is at least 10%, in particular at least 20%, of the transverse width of the coupling, and in particular at least 80%, and in particular at least 90%. The transverse width of the coupling is its total length in the transverse direction. The receptacle can extend continuously or intermittently across its transverse width. For example, the receptacle can comprise several partial receptacles that correspond to the disassembly tool.By providing a sufficiently large transverse width for the receptacle, it is particularly effective to prevent the coupling from jamming relative to the second support rail when applying the described release force to the disassembly tool and thus to the receptacle for separating the coupling from the second support rail. For example, the receptacle can be designed as two partial receptacles with two aligned recesses, allowing the disassembly tool to be inserted into both recesses or partial receptacles simultaneously.

[0036] In one embodiment, the receptacle has a contact surface against which the disassembly tool rests in the disassembly position with its longitudinal end pointing towards the first longitudinal end of the coupling. The contact surface has at least one component perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, so that the force required to pull the coupling out of the second support rail can be applied to the coupling via the contact surface through the interaction between the contact surface and the disassembly tool. Preferably, in the disassembly position, the disassembly tool rests only with its aforementioned longitudinal end against the contact surface, so that force is applied to the coupling from the disassembly tool only via the contact surface when the coupling is removed from the second support rail using the disassembly tool.The preferred method of receiving the coupling is through an undercut formed in at least one of the coupling side walls and / or the coupling base. Preferably, this undercut forms the contact surface. The contact surface extends as a plane in two plane or spatial directions, its shape being defined by these two plane directions that span the surface. The plane directions can also be curved, for example, if the contact surface has a curved plane. At least one of its plane directions, and in particular both plane directions within the same plane section, run with a directional component perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Preferably, at least one of the plane directions runs perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in at least some section.By ensuring that at least one of its surface directions, and in particular both of its surface directions, is at least partially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, slippage of the disassembly tool from its disassembly position can be effectively prevented when a release force is applied to the disassembly tool, pressing it longitudinally against the surface while it is in its disassembly position. Since both surface directions within a section of the contact surface are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, this section of the surface is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.Preferably, the contact surface has an area of ​​at least 2 mm², in particular at least 3 mm², in particular at least 5 mm², in particular less than 50 mm², and in particular less than 30 mm², over which the disassembly tool rests in the disassembly position, thus providing a sufficiently large area over which force can be transmitted from the disassembly tool to the coupling in the longitudinal direction towards the first longitudinal end of the coupling. Preferably, the contact surface extends continuously over this area with at least one directional component perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The contact surface can, for example, be formed by a step which, with a step surface corresponding to the contact surface, runs in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.The mounting surface can, for example, have a circular arc-shaped cross-section perpendicular to the transverse direction and extend parallel to the transverse direction with a directional component, in particular one of its surface directions, and, due to its transverse extension, with a directional component perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Preferably, the receptacle encloses the disassembly tool in the disassembly position along at least one specific spatial direction on both sides. Thus, the receptacle preferably extends on both sides, each forming an end of the disassembly tool in a specific spatial direction. Particularly preferably, the specific spatial direction is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.Particularly preferred is the receptacle arranged on one side of the disassembly tool in the disassembly position, limiting the disassembly tool longitudinally towards the first longitudinal end of the coupling, and on two sides of the disassembly tool, limiting the disassembly tool in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, particularly in the vertical direction. This allows the receptacle to provide particularly good guidance of the disassembly tool in the disassembly position. By resting the receptacle against one side of the disassembly tool that limits the disassembly tool longitudinally, the disassembly tool can be pressed against the receptacle by applying a longitudinally acting release force, so that the coupling can be detached from the second support rail via the disassembly tool, starting from the separation state described above.Preferably, the disassembly tool and the contact surface are designed to correspond to each other in such a way that a force of at least 50 N acting in the longitudinal direction towards the first longitudinal end of the coupling can be transmitted from the disassembly tool to the coupling to remove the coupling from the second support rail simply by the contact of the disassembly tool.

[0037] In one embodiment, a contour formed in at least one of the coupling side walls and / or the coupling base forms at least a section of the receptacle, in particular the receptacle itself. The contour preferably includes a hole. More generally, the coupling side walls and coupling base are manufactured in one piece from a sheet metal part by forming the sheet metal. Preferably, the contour includes a hole provided in the sheet metal. Preferably, the receptacle includes this hole, so that the hole is part of the receptacle. In one embodiment, the contour comprises a first partial contour, in particular a first hole, provided in a first of the coupling side walls, and a second partial contour, in particular a second hole, provided in a second of the coupling side walls. Particularly preferably, the partial contours each form a part of the receptacle and thus constitute a partial receptacle. Preferably, the receptacle comprises both partial contours.Preferably, the partial contours each form a section of the contact surface. By providing a partial contour in each of the coupling side walls, a particularly uniform force can be applied to the coupling relative to the second support rail via the disassembly tool, which is held by the receptacle in the disassembly position and rests against both partial contours. This effectively prevents the coupling from tilting relative to the second support rail. By designing the partial contours as holes in the respective coupling side walls, the disassembly tool can be guided particularly well relative to the coupling side walls in its disassembly position, and the receptacle can be easily integrated into the coupling. The partial contours are particularly preferably arranged in alignment with each other along the transverse direction.This can particularly simplify the insertion of the disassembly tool into the receptacle formed at least partially by both partial contours, and this can enable a uniform force application from the disassembly tool to the coupling to release the coupling from the second support rail.

[0038] In one embodiment, the coupling includes at least one spring-loaded scraper spring on at least one of its coupling side walls and / or on the coupling base, which is resiliently deflectable from a rest position. Preferably, the coupling includes at least one spring-loaded scraper spring on each of its coupling side walls, which is resiliently deflectable from a rest position. If only one scraper spring is provided, it is preferably arranged centrally on the coupling base with respect to the transverse direction. In one embodiment, at least one scraper spring is arranged on each of the coupling side walls, but not on the coupling base. By arranging only one scraper spring centrally on the coupling base and / or by arranging at least one scraper spring on each of the coupling side walls, uniform fixation of the coupling on the second support rail can be ensured. All scraper springs, i.e.,The at least one scratch spring, and in the case of multiple scratch springs, the scratch springs, are deflected in the separated state and each rests against one of the support rail side walls and / or the support rail base of the second support rail, ensuring that the coupling is fixed relative to the second support rail. A scratch spring's rest position refers to a position in which no external forces act on the scratch spring encompassed by the coupling. Generally, a first scratch spring is arranged on a first of the coupling side walls and a second scratch spring on a second of the coupling side walls, particularly in each case directly adjacent to it.In the separated state, the scraper spring is deflected from its rest position by the respective support rail side wall against which it rests and / or by the support rail bottom against which it rests, generating an inherent spring force that presses the scraper spring against the support rail. Preferably, due to the deflection, the scraper spring exerts a pressing force against the support rail side wall or bottom associated with it, which is at least predominantly perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.Preferably, the scraper springs provided on the respective coupling side wall are each, in the fixed state, pressed against one of the support rail side walls and / or the support rail base of the second support rail and against one of the support rail side walls and / or the support rail base of the first support rail, so that they are pressed against both the first and the second support rail, thereby ensuring that the two support rails are fixed relative to each other in the fixed state. Generally, preferably, the scraper spring is deflected in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, starting from its rest position, in both the disseparation state and the fixed state.

[0039] Particularly preferably, the first and second support rails each comprise a first and a second support rail side wall, and the coupling comprises a first scraper spring which, in the fixed state, bears against the two first support rail side walls of the two support rails, and in particular a second scraper spring which, in the fixed state, bears against the second support rail side walls of the two support rails in a positionally fixed manner. This allows the relative position of the two support rails to be particularly advantageous due to the contact of the scraper spring against the support rail side walls of both support rails.

[0040] Preferably, each of the coupling side walls comprises a coupling side wall section. The coupling side wall section preferably extends in a straight line along the vertical direction and rests against the first and second support rails at its vertical upper and lower ends, respectively. Due to the straight extension of the coupling side wall section and its contact at its vertical ends, the coupling side wall section enables a particularly reliable fixation of the coupling to the support rails and thus a particularly reliable fixation of the support rails to each other.

[0041] The inclusion of at least one locking spring ensures particularly reliable fixation of the coupling to the mounting rails. Specifically, in the locked position, the locking spring ensures reliable relative fixation of the mounting rails to each other along their longitudinal axis by interlocking them. Furthermore, the locking spring establishes reliable electrical contact between the two mounting rails, so that when only one mounting rail is connected to a PE conductor via the coupling, the other mounting rail is also connected to the PE conductor. If the locking spring is positioned on the side wall of the coupling, it can also be designed to be particularly space-saving.

[0042] Particularly preferably, all the scraper springs are arranged exclusively in a longitudinal region of the coupling which, in the fixed state, extends longitudinally from the opposing longitudinal ends of the two support rails by less than 10 cm, particularly less than 8 cm, particularly less than 5 cm, and particularly less than 3 cm, into both support rails. By thus providing the scraper spring close to the opposing longitudinal ends of the support rails, the joining of the support rails is particularly simplified, since the force generated by the scraper spring on the support rail side wall only has to be overcome over a short joining path. In a preferred embodiment, the scraper springs each have at least one scraper lug which, in the separated state, presses directly against one of the support rail side walls and / or the support rail base of the second support rail.In particular, the scratch springs each have several scratch lugs, which are spaced apart from one another, especially along the longitudinal direction and especially along the transverse direction, wherein, particularly preferably in the fixed state, all of the scratch lugs press directly against one of the support rail side walls and / or one of the support rail bottoms of the first and second support rails. In particular, the scratch springs have a spring section, and in particular several spring sections. The spring section, and in particular the spring sections, extend from at least one, and in particular all, of the scratch lugs, particularly in the longitudinal direction and preferably in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction away from the scratch lug. In particular, the spring section borders directly on the scratch lug.Preferably, the spring section forms a first section and the scraper nose a second section of the scraper spring, the two sections transitioning into each other by an angle, in particular at an angle of at least 30°, wherein the first section forms an angle to the transverse direction that is at least 30° larger than the second section. In the operating position, the spring section, and in particular each of the spring sections, is deflected elastically relative to the rest position along a deflection direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. In particular, the scraper nose is rigid in a section extending away from the spring section along the deflection direction. Preferably, in the separation state and in particular in the fixation state, at least 90% of the deflection of the scraper spring from the rest position is achieved by deflection of the spring section and thus not by the scraper nose.In particular, a projection surface depicting the extent of the spring section and extending perpendicular to the deflection direction is larger, in particular 20% larger, in particular 60% larger, in particular 80% larger, in particular more than 100% larger, than a projection surface depicting the extent of the scraper nose and extending perpendicular to the deflection direction. In particular, the scraper nose has an axial area moment of inertia that is at least twice as high as the axial area moment of inertia of the spring section with respect to deformation due to deflection in the deflection direction. In a preferred embodiment, the scraper springs are formed separately from the first and second coupling side walls. In particular, the scraper noses are each attached to one of the coupling side walls, in particular indirectly via the spring section of the respective scraper spring.The scratch springs are particularly preferred in the separated state and especially in the fixed state, deflected vertically from their rest position. This ensures a sufficient spring force with which the scratch springs press vertically against the side wall or bottom of the support rail.

[0043] In one embodiment, the busbar protective cap is designed as a release tool for the system, corresponding to the scratch springs. It can be positioned in a release position where it rests against all scratch springs—that is, against the single scratch spring when only one is present, and against all scratch springs when multiple are present—and deflects them beyond their deflection. This results in a release state for the system, starting from the separation state in which all scratch springs are detached from the second support rail. Thus, the busbar protective cap combines several functions, depending on its position and use. Therefore, the busbar protective cap is preferably the release tool for the system, as described in more detail below. In the release state, the coupling remains unchanged compared to the separation state, with its second longitudinal section positioned in the second support rail.However, while in the separated state the locking springs press against their respective side walls and / or bases of the second support rail, in the released state they are detached from their respective side walls and bases. Therefore, in the released state, the locking springs no longer contribute to fixing the coupling relative to the second support rail. The release tool can thus be used to achieve a deflection of the locking springs that allows the coupling to be easily removed from the second support rail, particularly by sliding the coupling in the longitudinal direction as described.Thus, the coupling can be separated from the second mounting rail from its separated state by first achieving the separated state using the release tool. This is accomplished by positioning the release tool in its release position, after which the coupling side walls and base are moved longitudinally relative to the second mounting rail to remove the coupling. The release tool is designed to correspond to the scraper springs located on the two coupling side walls. Therefore, the release tool releases the scraper springs, thus significantly simplifying the separation of the coupling from the second mounting rail.Particularly preferably, releasing the scraper springs from the second support rail reduces the magnitude of the longitudinal force required to remove the coupling from the support rail by at least 50%, and in particular by at least 70%. For example, the second support rail and the coupling can be designed to correspond to each other in such a way that, to remove the coupling from the second support rail, starting from the separation state without reaching the release state, i.e.,When, starting from the assembled state, the coupling is removed from the second support rail without releasing the locking springs from the second support rail while they are located within the second support rail, a longitudinal force of at least 200 N, in particular at least 300 N, is required. In contrast, to remove the coupling from the second support rail starting from the separation state after reaching the release state and while maintaining the release of the locking springs from the second support rail achieved in the release state, only a longitudinal force of less than 100 N, in particular less than 80 N, and in particular less than 60 N, is required. Particularly preferably, in the separation state, at least one of the locking springs rests against each of the side walls of the second support rail, and the release tool rests against all locking springs, spanning the coupling base, in the release state.Thus, the single release tool, which spans the clutch base in its release position, makes it particularly easy to release the scraper springs located on the two clutch side walls.

[0044] In one embodiment, the scraper springs, when separated, each exert a vertically acting spring force against a projection provided in their respective side walls of the support rail and / or against the base of the support rail. Since the support rail side walls extend over a considerable vertical length, this vertical pressing against such a projection can provide a particularly effective and sufficiently large pressing force between the scraper spring and the support rail side wall.Particularly preferably, the coupling side walls, with their upper and lower ends, abut each of their respective coupling side wall sections against an associated guide receptacle, which is formed by the respective support rail side walls and, in particular, together with the support rail base. The coupling side wall section comprises a flat wall area that extends perpendicular to the transverse direction and connects the upper and lower ends of the coupling side wall section. This allows the coupling side wall section to be designed to be particularly load-bearing in the vertical direction. This also allows a scraper spring to be fixed to the coupling side wall section, particularly enclosed by the wall area, in a particularly load-bearing manner in the vertical direction.Particularly preferably, the coupling side walls each have a shoulder with a recess through which the scraper springs extend vertically. Preferably, the coupling side wall section, which in the separated state is received by the guide receptacle of the second support rail and rests against this guide receptacle with its upper and lower ends, extends vertically beyond this recess. The design of a shoulder particularly advantageously ensures that the scraper spring passes through the coupling side wall without mechanically impairing the stability of the coupling side wall section. Generally, the respective scraper spring is preferably located on an inner side of its associated coupling side wall.arranged and fastened on the inside of the coupling base, the inside of the coupling side wall being, of course, the side of the coupling side wall that faces the other coupling side wall in a transverse direction.

[0045] In one embodiment, at least one of the coupling side walls and / or the coupling base comprises a fixing device, and the scraper spring arranged on the respective coupling side wall or coupling base comprises a holding device configured to correspond to the fixing device. In particular, the fixing device is integrally formed by the coupling side wall or coupling base, and / or the holding device is integrally formed by the scraper spring. Specifically, the first coupling side wall and the second coupling side wall each have a fixing device, wherein the scraper springs each have a holding device configured to correspond to the fixing device of their respective coupling side wall.In the separation state, and particularly in the fixing state, the fixing device is rigidly connected to the holding device, specifically by positive locking and / or friction locking, with the scraper spring fixed in position to the coupling side wall. In particular, the fixing device is positively connected to the holding device along the longitudinal direction. In particular, in the separation state, and especially in the fixing state, the fixing device is connected to the holding device exclusively by friction locking in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. In particular, the fixing device and the holding device are clamped to one another with the scraper spring fixed in position to the coupling side wall. In particular, the fixing device and the holding device can be connected to one another by applying a fixing force directed perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0046] In one embodiment, the release tool and the disassembly tool are both integrated into the busbar protective cap, making the busbar protective cap a multifunctional tool within the system. Particularly preferably, the tool can be moved into the disassembly position in such a way that it simultaneously occupies both the disassembly and release positions, so that the system is in the disassembly state when the tool is in the disassembly position. This tool can thus simultaneously release the locking springs and be positioned in the receptacle such that a longitudinal force can be applied to the coupling relative to the second support rail, thereby pulling the coupling out of the support rail while the locking springs are deflected to such an extent that they no longer contribute to fixing the coupling relative to the second support rail.

[0047] In one embodiment, the busbar protective cap has a cap body in which channels are formed for receiving the end sections of the conductor wires of the second busbar. The end sections of the conductor wires form the respective ends of the conductor wire at the longitudinal end of the busbar, onto which the busbar protective cap is placed in its protective position. A wing is formed at each transverse end of the cap body, the wings forming a section of the dismantling tool that interacts with the receiving channel and / or a section of the release tool that interacts with the scraping springs.

[0048] By having a cap body with channels for receiving the end sections of the conductor wires of the second conductor rail, the busbar protective cap can effectively provide insulation for the conductor wires at said end of the second conductor rail. The inventors have recognized that it is particularly advantageous to provide at least one wing on this cap body, which can be specifically designed to ensure sufficient insulation. This wing can then provide further features of the busbar protective cap as a disassembly or removal tool and, for this purpose, can be designed without regard to the properties of the busbar protective cap required to achieve sufficient insulation, since these are already provided by the corresponding design of the cap body. It is particularly preferred that the wing, or, if several wings are provided, all wings, be located at one end, i.e.,A wing is provided on one side of the cap body, which limits the cap body in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. In particular, a wing is provided at each transverse end of the cap body. Generally, all wings and the cap body are preferably manufactured as a single component, especially by injection molding. Particularly preferably, all wings are arranged, at least partially, outside the spatial extent of the cap body, which is formed or arranged transversely between the wings, both in the transverse direction and in the vertical direction. In one embodiment, the at least one wing, in particular each of the multiple wings, has a first and a second wing part. In one embodiment, the first wing part is designed to interact with the receptacle, and the second wing part is designed to interact with the scraper springs.In one embodiment, the first wing section is angled relative to the second wing section. In another embodiment, the second wing section is at least as large as the first wing section, and in particular, larger, and especially at least 1.5 times larger, than the first wing section, referring to its volume. This allows the different requirements placed on the two wing sections to be met particularly well, while simultaneously keeping the overall size of the wing as small as possible. It should be noted that the interaction of the wings with the locking springs provides the described additional deflection of the locking springs to achieve the release state in which the locking springs are detached from the second support rail, thus allowing the coupling to be removed from the second support rail particularly easily.Furthermore, it should be generally noted that the interaction of the wings with the receiver aims to ensure that, as explained, by means of the current conductor protection cap acting as a disassembly tool, such a force can be applied to the coupling in the disassembly position of the current conductor protection cap that it can be moved out of the second support rail from the separation state, in particular after the release state has been achieved.

[0049] The invention further relates to a luminaire manufactured using a system according to the invention. The system is in one of the operating states described above. The luminaire preferably comprises at least one mounting body, wherein the mounting body closes the opening of the at least one mounting rail of the luminaire facing away from the base of the mounting rail, in particular sealing it dust-tight. The mounting body is preferably designed in multiple parts and may include a sheet metal body and a cover, which together are fixed to the mounting rail to close the opening.

[0050] The invention further relates to a busbar protective cap, which is designed corresponding to an embodiment of a system according to the invention. The busbar protective cap is designed corresponding to an embodiment of the system in which the conductor wires arranged in the channels of the busbar are accessible from both longitudinal ends of the busbar and the busbar forms a first plug-in face at its first longitudinal end and a second plug-in face at its second longitudinal end, which differs from the first plug-in face, wherein the busbar protective cap has two longitudinal ends which are designed differently and of which a first longitudinal end is designed corresponding to the first plug-in face and a second longitudinal end to the second plug-in face, such thatthat the busbar protective cap can be attached to the first longitudinal end of the busbar in a first protective position with its first longitudinal end under insulation of the conductor wires, and with its second longitudinal end under insulation of the conductor wires, can be attached to the second longitudinal end of the busbar in a second protective position.

[0051] The invention further relates to a protective cap for a support rail in an embodiment of a system according to the invention. In the embodiment of the system according to the invention, each longitudinal end of the support rail is formed by a longitudinal end region of the support rail which has a second retaining contour.The mounting rail protective cap has a first retaining contour, each of which has a rear-engaging section and, spaced apart from this in a locking direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, a pressing section, wherein the mounting rail protective cap can be fastened in an operating position to close a specific of the longitudinal ends on the longitudinal end section forming this longitudinal end by engaging the retaining contours in such a way that the retaining contours with their pressing sections press against each other along the locking direction and that the rear-engaging section of the mounting rail protective cap is spaced further away from the longitudinal end of the mounting rail in the longitudinal direction than the rear-engaging section of the mounting rail and overlaps with it in the locking direction.

[0052] The invention further relates to a support rail for an embodiment of a system according to the invention. The support rail is longitudinally elongated and has a base and two side walls extending vertically from the base, spaced apart from each other in a transverse direction, and connected by the base. The base and side walls form a wall that defines a receiving space open at both longitudinal ends of the support rail for receiving the conductor rail. An embossing is formed on an inner surface of the wall facing the receiving space, particularly in the base. The embossing is preferably designed as described above, in particular as a rear gripping section of the support rail, corresponding to a rear gripping section of a support rail protective cap of the system, as described above.In one embodiment, the support rail side walls each have a projection facing the other support rail side wall within their vertical end region facing away from the support rail base. In another embodiment, the support rail side walls each have a contour with a constriction within their vertical end region adjacent to the support rail base. Preferably, the vertical end regions extend from an absolute vertical end of the support rail over a maximum of 30%, and in particular a maximum of 20%, of the total vertical extent of the support rail between its absolute vertical ends. The projection and the constriction can each be realized by forming the respective support rail side wall. The contour orThe constriction forms a recess on the outside of the respective support rail side wall and a projection on the inside of the respective support rail side wall resulting from the recess, with this projection facing or projecting towards the other support rail side wall. Particularly preferably, the projection provided in the vertical end region facing away from the support rail base is formed by a deformation of the support rail side wall at its end. Preferably, the support rail side wall extends from this projection, particularly over several deformations, to the support rail base. The inventors have recognized that a system according to the invention with the described advantages can be implemented particularly advantageously using such a support rail.

[0053] The invention further relates to a coupling for an embodiment of a system according to the invention. The coupling has a coupling base and coupling side walls. The coupling is designed to correspond to each of the support rails of the system such that it can be inserted longitudinally into the support rail from each longitudinal end of each support rail to achieve an assembly state of the system in which the coupling is inserted into the first longitudinal end of the support rail of a first lighting assembly and into the second longitudinal end of the support rail of a second lighting assembly, with the support rails of the lighting assemblies fixed relative to each other. Further explanations regarding the assembly state of second lighting assemblies have already been given in connection with embodiments of the system according to the invention.The coupling has at least one first opening in its coupling base, which is completely closed by a first locking piece that is pressed into the first opening, wherein the first locking piece can be released from the first opening by a vertical pressing force.

[0054] The invention further relates to a method for realizing a luminaire using a system according to the invention. In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, starting from the assembly state, an identically designed protective cap for the conductor rail is pushed longitudinally onto both longitudinal ends of the conductor rail, and an identically designed protective cap for the support rail is pushed onto both longitudinal ends of the mounting rail, with the protective caps for the conductor rail and the protective caps for the support rail being fixed in position. In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, a first and a second luminaire assembly, each comprising a mounting rail and a conductor rail attached thereto, are connected to one another.by fixing a coupling to a longitudinal end of the first luminaire assembly and connecting an electrical connector or a first conductor rail protective cap to the longitudinal end of the conductor rail of the first luminaire assembly that lies towards this longitudinal end of the first luminaire assembly,and by sliding the first luminaire assembly, with its coupling fixed to its mounting rail, longitudinally towards the second luminaire assembly, inserting the coupling into the mounting rail of the second luminaire assembly and fixing the coupling to this mounting rail of the second luminaire assembly, and by connecting the electrical connector to the longitudinal end of the power rail of the second luminaire assembly that points towards the power rail of the first luminaire assembly while inserting the coupling into the mounting rail of the second luminaire assembly, or by connecting a second power rail protective cap to the longitudinal end of the power rail of the second luminaire assembly that points towards the power rail of the first luminaire assembly.

[0055] The various embodiments according to the invention may each have features of generic embodiments and may each have features that are apparent from the description of other embodiments according to the invention. The features, particularly with regard to their advantageous effects, of various solutions according to the invention may be provided analogously in other solutions according to the invention.

[0056] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to six figures and exemplary embodiments.

[0057] They show: Figure 1: Schematic representations of a support rail protective cap and a support rail of an embodiment of a system according to the invention; Figure 2: Various views of the support rail and support rail protective cap of the embodiment according to Figure 1Figure 3: Various schematic representations of different views of a conductor rail protective cap of an embodiment of a system according to the invention; Figure 4: Various schematic representations of different views of the conductor rail and conductor rail protective cap of the embodiment according to Figure 3 Figure 5: Various schematic representations of different views of the conductor rail and conductor rail protective cap of the embodiment according to Figure 3 Figure 6: In various schematic representations, views of components of a combination of the embodiment according to Figure 1 and 3in an operating state of the system; Figure 7: in a schematic principle representation of a mounting rail protective cap and a conductor rail protective cap of a further embodiment of a system according to the invention; Figure 8: in various schematic principle representations of a coupling, a combination conductor rail protective cap and an electrical connector of a further embodiment of a system according to the invention; Figure 9: in various schematic principle representations of views of a conductor rail protective cap of an embodiment of a system according to the invention; Figure 10: in various schematic principle representations of views of components of an embodiment of a system according to the invention to illustrate the function of the disassembly and release tool of the system.

[0058] In Figure 1 comprehensive the Figures 1a and 1bA mounting rail 1 and a mounting rail protective cap 2 are each shown separately in schematic principle diagrams. Figure 2 comprehensive the Figures 2a and 2b Views of mounting rail 1 and mounting rail protective cap 2 are shown in the operating position of the mounting rail protective cap 2. While in Figure 2a A section view is shown in Figure 2b a supervisor's viewpoint. Figure 1 and 2 These will be explained together below. The figures show that the support rail 1 has a support rail base 11 and two support rail side walls 12. The support rail base 11 extends in the transverse direction Y between the two support rail side walls 12, which extend away from the support rail base 11 in the vertical direction Z and are spaced apart from the support rail base 11 in the transverse direction Y.

[0059] The support rail side walls 12 and the support rail base 11 are integrally connected and merge seamlessly into one another, which is generally advantageous according to the invention. The support rail 1 is manufactured from a sheet metal part by forming. The support rail 1 extends elongated in the longitudinal direction X. The support rail 1 has a length in the longitudinal direction X that is more than five times, in particular more than ten times, and in particular more than twenty times, the width of the support rail 1 in the transverse direction Y, which is generally advantageous according to the invention. The support rail side walls 12 each have a projection 13 extending in the transverse direction Y, which projects towards the opposite support rail side wall 12.The support rail 1 has an embossing 14 in its base 11, which in this case is formed by two partial embossings extending over a width in the transverse direction Y and spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction Y. The support rail 1 also has a contour 120, which is formed as a constriction of the support rail side walls 12, which is generally advantageous according to the invention, since this makes the mountability and stability of the support rail 1 particularly advantageous. The support rail protective cap 2 has a plug-in section which is located in the Figure 2The operating position shown is arranged in the receiving space formed by the wall of the support rail 1. The plug-in section has two side walls 22 and a base 25 connecting the side walls 22, the base 25 connecting the side walls 22 in the transverse direction Y. Each side wall 22 has a projection 23 that protrudes along the pressing direction, which in this case corresponds to the vertical direction Z, relative to adjacent areas. The projection 23 has an insertion ramp so that the support rail protective cap 2 can be slid onto one of the longitudinal ends of the support rail 1 in the longitudinal direction X to achieve the operating position. During sliding, an increasing pressing pressure is generated due to the insertion ramp of the projection 23, with which the projection 23 of the support rail protective cap 2 presses against the associated projection 13 of the support rail side wall 12 associated with its side wall 22. As can be seen from the overall view of the Figure 1 and 2 As can be seen, the support rail protective cap 2 with its plug-in section has an outer contour that essentially corresponds to the inner contour of the support rail 1, which is generally advantageous according to the invention. Thus, the side walls 22 of the support rail protective cap 2 form corresponding constrictions 220, which correspond to the constrictions or the contour 120 of the side walls 12 of the support rail 1.

[0060] From the overall view of Figure 1 and 2It is particularly evident that the support rail 1 has an embossing 14 in its support rail base 11, which forms a rear gripping section of the support rail 1, whereas the support rail protective cap 2 has a projection 24, which forms the rear gripping section of the support rail protective cap 2. The rear gripping section, and thus the projection 24, is formed by the base of the plug-in section of the support rail protective cap 2, which is generally advantageous according to the invention. The embossing 14 and the projection 24 each comprise several sub-sections spaced apart from one another in the transverse direction Y, with each sub-embossing forming a pair together with a sub-projection, which are located in the Figure 2 The operating position shown is interlocking. The marking 14 indicates, as in Figure 1bAs indicated, a cross-section perpendicular to the transverse direction Y is formed, shaped in the form of a triangle, with the depth of the embossing 14 decreasing in the longitudinal direction X with increasing distance from the longitudinal end. Accordingly, a substantially right-angled step is formed between the embossing 14 and the section of the support rail base 11 immediately adjacent in the longitudinal direction X, and in the operating position the projection 24 rests against this step, as shown in Figure 2aAs shown, the mounting rail protective cap 2 is held in a positionally fixed position on the mounting rail 1 with respect to the longitudinal direction X. By forming press-fit sections between the projections 23, 13 of the mounting rail protective cap 2 and the mounting rail 1, which press against each other in the pressing direction, in this case the vertical direction Z, the interlocking sections, which in this case are formed by projection 24 and embossing 23, are forced into a position in which they overlap along the vertical direction Z. This ensures the interlocking of the interlocking sections, even if the embossing 14 has only a shallow depth. In this case, the embossing 14 has a depth of 0.4 mm, while the wall, and thus also the mounting rail base 11, has a wall thickness of approximately 0.6 mm. The mounting rail base 11 is smooth on its outer surface at the level of the embossing 14. It should be noted here that in Figure 2For illustrative purposes only, the projections 23 are shown visible and seemingly protruding through the projections 13 of the support rail 1, whereas in reality, of course, the projections 23 rest on the projections 13 and press against them. To further secure the support rail end cap 2 to the support rail 1, the support rail also has an overlap section that extends longitudinally from the longitudinal end of the support rail 1 towards the embossing 14, almost reaching the area of ​​the embossing 14 on the outside of the support rail base 1. This creates a groove in the support rail end cap 2 into which the support rail base 11 is inserted. The formation of such a groove, particularly as in the present case by the base forming the receptacle section and the overlap section of the support rail end cap 2, is generally advantageous according to the invention.The mounting rail protective cap 2 further comprises a cover section in which knockout sections 20 are provided. These knockout sections can be knocked out from the rest of the cover section along the material weakening lines surrounding them, thus creating a knockout opening through which a supply cable can be guided from the outside into the receiving space of the mounting rail 1. The cover section ensures a reliable closure of the receiving space, and the knockout sections 20 allow the insertion of supply lines into the receiving space.

[0061] In Figure 3 comprehensive the Figures 3a and 3b A conductor rail protection cap 3 is shown in two different views in schematic diagrams. Figure 3a a slanted view from a first vertical side shows Figure 3b An oblique view from the opposite vertical side. From Figure 3 It can be seen that the busbar protective cap 3 has a different plug-in face at each of its two longitudinal ends, with which it can be plugged onto a longitudinal end of a busbar 4, as shown in Figure 4 comprehensive the Figures 4a and 4b for a first longitudinal end of the conductor rail 4 is shown and Figure 5 comprehensive the Figures 5a and 5b shown for a second longitudinal end of the conductor rail 4, opposite the first.

[0062] The busbar protective cap 3 has a first longitudinal end region forming the first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end region forming the second longitudinal end. Each of the longitudinal end regions comprises channel sections, wherein the channel sections are aligned with each other and form continuous channels 30 extending in the longitudinal direction X between the longitudinal ends of the busbar protective cap 3. The channels 30 are formed by channel walls, which form the channels between them, as shown in Figure 4b and 5b in conjunction with the Figures 4a and 4b It is evident that the conductor wires 5, which are arranged in the channels 30 of the busbar 4, can be arranged in the channels 30 of the busbar protective cap 3 when the busbar protective cap 3 is attached to a longitudinal end of the busbar 4. From the overall view of the Figures 3 , 4 and 5It is evident that the various plug-in faces of the busbar protective cap 3 differ at least in that the arrangement of the channels 30 in the alignment direction, which in this case corresponds to the transverse direction Y, differs, since the channels 30 are not arranged symmetrically. The term plug-in face refers to the design of the respective longitudinal end when the longitudinal end is considered along the longitudinal direction X. Furthermore, the plug-in faces differ in the design of the transverse outer surfaces of the busbar protective cap 3 in their respective longitudinal end regions. The busbar protective cap 3 has a rear gripping device 320, 310 at each of its longitudinal ends. The rear gripping device 310, 320 is each provided on a retaining arm 311, 32. The busbar protective cap 3 is designed to fit onto one of the longitudinal ends of the busbar 4, as shown in Figure 4As shown, they are attached by arranging their retaining arms 311 on a vertical outer surface of the conductor rail 4 and engaging their rear-engaging devices 310 with corresponding rear-engaging devices of the conductor rail 4, wherein the rear-engaging devices of the conductor rail 4 are not shown here and are designed as recesses into which the rear-engaging devices 310 snap. As shown in Figure 4 As can be seen, the conductor rail 4 has transverse outer side walls 41 in its longitudinal end section 401, with which it connects to the conductor rail protective cap 3 in the Figure 4bThe protective position shown is transversely encompassed and thus rests transversely from the outside against the transverse end 31 of the conductor rail protective cap 3 provided in the first longitudinal end region of the conductor rail protective cap 3. The ends of the conductor wires 5, with which these extend beyond the channels of the conductor rail 4 at the relevant longitudinal end, are thereby protected, as shown in Figure 4a As shown, the channels 40 of the busbar 4 and the channels 30 of the busbar 3 protective cap are arranged in the channels 30 of the busbar 4 protective cap 3. The channels 40 of the busbar 4 and the channels 30 of the busbar 3 protective cap 3 overlap in the longitudinal direction X and together form continuous channels in the longitudinal direction X. The busbar 4 protective cap 3 can be attached to the other longitudinal end of the busbar 4, as shown in the figure. Figure 5as shown. Accordingly, the conductor rail 4 has a differently designed longitudinal end region 402 at its other longitudinal end, in which a differently designed rear gripping device 42 is provided, which engages with the rear gripping device 320 at the corresponding longitudinal end of the conductor rail protective cap 3, as shown in Figure 5b This is shown when the busbar protection cap 3 is arranged in its corresponding protective position. As shown in Figure 3aAs shown, and generally advantageously, the conductor rail protective cap 3 further comprises spacer sections 326 on one of its vertical sides, with which it can be supported in any protective position relative to the support rail base 11, ensuring a sufficient distance between the channel bottoms of its channels 30 and the support rail base 11. Accordingly, it is generally advantageous that these section sections 326 are arranged in the operating position on the vertical side of the conductor rail 4 facing away from the access side. Accordingly, it is generally preferred that the retaining arms 311 and the rear-engaging devices 310, with which the conductor rail protective cap 3 is attached to a vertical outer side of the conductor rail 4 in the Figure 4The protective position shown is located on the side of the busbar 4 facing away from the access side. Generally, the busbar protective cap 3 is preferably designed such that in every protective position its same vertical side is aligned with the same side as the access side of the busbar 4, as is also shown in the present embodiment. This allows the channels 30 of the busbar protective cap 3 to be particularly well aligned with the channels 40 of the busbar 4.

[0063] In Figure 6 comprehensive the Figures 6a, 6b and 6c An embodiment of a system according to the invention is shown in various schematic representations in an operating state, wherein different components of the system are shown in the different representations. The exemplary embodiment according to Figure 6comprises two lighting assemblies, each consisting of a mounting rail 1, a conductor rail 4, and a mounting body 6 with a cover 7. As shown in Figure 6a The mounting rails 1 of the lighting assemblies are shown arranged adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction X in the operating state of the system. The mounting rails 1 are connected by a joint as shown in Figure 6b The coupling 8 shown is connected to each other in a positionally fixed manner. For this purpose, the coupling 8 is inserted into the respective support rail 1 from its respective longitudinal end. The coupling 8 has a scraper spring with scraper lugs 81, which presses against the support rail side walls of both support rails 1, thereby reliably fixing the relative position of the support rails 1 to each other, which is generally advantageous according to the invention. The coupling 8 has, as shown in Figure 6bThe coupling base shows four first openings, each closed by a first locking piece 800. The support rails 1 each have two second openings, each closed by a second locking piece 100. The first and second openings are shown in the Figure 6a the state shown, albeit in Figure 6a not discernible, however, from the overall view of the Figures 6a and 6bto be removed, arranged in alignment with each other. Accordingly, in the operating state shown, a dust-tight seal of the receiving space formed by the support rails 1 is ensured. Conversely, a supply line can, for example, be inserted into this receiving space by pressing a first sealing piece 800 and a second sealing piece 100 out of the openings along the vertical direction Z, thus creating a passage through which the supply line can be guided into the receiving space. After sealing the area between the supply line and the edge of the respective opening, a dust-tight seal of the receiving space can then be achieved again. As in Figure 6cAs can be seen in the described embodiment, a conductor rail protective cap 3 is arranged at each of the longitudinal ends of the conductor rails 4 of the lighting assemblies facing each other in the longitudinal direction X, wherein the conductor rail protective cap 3 is attached to the other of the two conductor rails 4 with its opposite longitudinal end and is thereby held in a positionally fixed position on the conductor rail 4 by its retaining devices 310, 320, which are provided at the respective longitudinal end and, as shown in the Figures 4 and 5 The figure shows that the conductor wires 5 arranged in the conductor rails 4 are electrically insulated from each other at their respective ends.

[0064] In Figure 7 A conductor rail protective cap 3 and a mounting rail protective cap 2 of a further embodiment of a system according to the invention are shown schematically. The essential difference between the embodiment according to Figure 7and the embodiments according to the Figures 1 to 6The feature consists in the fact that the mounting rail protective cap 2 can be connected to the conductor rail protective cap 3 in a captive manner, for which purpose the mounting rail protective cap 2 has a guide rail 26 onto which the conductor rail protective cap 3 can be slid along the longitudinal direction X. Thus, two relative positions of the conductor rail protective cap 3 relative to the mounting rail protective cap 2 are possible, wherein in the first relative position the conductor rail protective cap 3 points with one of its longitudinal ends in the longitudinal direction X towards the mounting rail protective cap 2 and with its opposite longitudinal end points away from the mounting rail protective cap 2, whereas in the second relative position it points with one longitudinal end in the longitudinal direction X away from the mounting rail protective cap 2 and with its other longitudinal end points towards the mounting rail protective cap 2.Accordingly, by specifically positioning the conductor rail protective cap 3 on the mounting rail protective cap 2, a self-contained component can be created that can be attached to one end of a luminaire assembly, whereby, using the same mounting rail protective cap 2 and the same conductor rail protective cap 3, a self-contained component can be created by changing the relative position that can be attached to the other longitudinal end of a luminaire assembly, whereby, when the entire component, which can be attached as a single unit, is attached, the receiving space at the respective longitudinal end of the mounting rail 1 can be closed and the conductor wires 5 at the respective longitudinal end of the conductor rail 4 can be insulated by the conductor rail protective cap 3.

[0065] In Figure 8 comprehensive the Figures 8a , 8b and 8cThe combination busbar protection cap 3 of an embodiment of a system according to the invention is shown. As shown in Figure 8a As can be seen, this combination busbar protective cap 300 is elongated in the longitudinal direction X and forms a first longitudinal end region 301 and a second longitudinal end region 302. It can be attached to a first longitudinal end of a busbar 4 of the system with its first longitudinal end region 301, and to a second longitudinal end of the busbar 4 of the system with its second longitudinal end region 302. Furthermore, the combination busbar protective cap 300 has a locking device 303. The embodiment according to Figure 8The system according to the invention further comprises an electrical connector 9. The electrical connector 9 has a locking device that corresponds to the locking device 303 of the combination busbar protective cap 300. In the system according to the invention, it is provided that either the combination busbar protective cap 300 or the electrical connector 900 can be selectively attached to the coupling 8. Accordingly, two lighting assemblies can be connected using a coupling 8 to which an electrical connector 9 is attached. Figure 8c The two luminaire assemblies are fixed in place and mechanically connected to each other by means of the coupling 8 via their mounting rails 1, and their conductor wires 5 are connected to each other via the electrical connector 9. In contrast, two luminaire assemblies of the system can be connected using a coupling 8 with an attached combination conductor rail protective cap 300, as shown in Figure 8bshown, are connected to each other in a position-fixed manner by means of the coupling 8 via their mounting rails 1, while the combination current conductor protection cap 300 ensures that the conductor wires 5 at the two ends of the current conductors 4 of the luminaire assemblies, which point towards each other in longitudinal direction X, are reliably insulated.

[0066] In Figure 9 comprehensive the Figure 9a and 9b A busbar protective cap 2 of an embodiment of a system according to the invention is schematically illustrated in two schematic diagrams with two different views. This busbar protective cap 3 is manufactured as a plastic injection-molded part and fulfills several purposes: Firstly, the busbar protective cap 3 with its cap body 35 can be attached to a longitudinal end of the busbar 4 to insulate the conductor wires 5 that are arranged in the busbar 4, as is shown in a preliminary way in Figure 9aAs shown in the figure. For this purpose, the busbar protective cap 3 has 35 channels 30 in its cap body for receiving the end sections of the conductor wires 5, as shown in the figure. Figure 9b As shown, a wing 33 is formed at each transverse end of the cap body 35. These wings 33 enable the busbar protective cap 3 to fulfill a further purpose, namely its suitability as a disassembly and removal tool. Each wing 33 has a first wing part 332, which is designed to interact with the receptacle 860, which is shown by way of example in Figure 10As shown, the busbar protective cap 3 is designed to function as a disassembly tool. Furthermore, the wings have a second wing part 331, which is designed to interact with the scratch springs 88 so that the busbar protective cap 3 can fulfill its purpose as a release tool. The first and second wing parts 332, 331 are angled relative to each other, in this case at approximately 90°. The functionality of the busbar protective cap 3 as a release tool, i.e., its interaction with the scratch springs 88, and the functionality of the scratch springs 88 themselves are explained in particular by Figure 10 comprehensive the Figures 10a , 10b , 10c , 10d and 10e The scraper springs 88 each have a retaining device 83 which corresponds to a fixing device 84 which is formed on the respective coupling side wall, as can be seen in particular from Figure 10a ,10b and 10c to be recognized. The scratch springs 88 each have a spring section 82 which is resilient in the vertical direction Z and via which the scratch lugs 81 of the scratch springs 88 are connected to the holding device 83 of the respective scratch spring 88. In the operating and separation state, the spring sections 82 of the scratch springs 88 are deflected vertically and press the scratch lugs 81 against the respective support rail 1, in the separation state against the second support rail, and in the fixed state against the second and the first support rail. For better understanding, in Figure 10b For the sake of clarification, the support rail 1 with the coupling 8 and its scratch springs 81 arranged therein is shown in its rest position, which it naturally cannot have when the coupling 8 is arranged in the support rail 1. Figure 10bHowever, it is evident that a deflection of the scraper springs 81 is absolutely necessary when the coupling 8 is arranged in the support rail 1. This allows the coupling 8 to be easily removed from the second support rail 1, as shown in Figure 10c , 10d As can be seen, it is necessary to detach the scratch tabs 81 from the second support rail 1. For this purpose, the conductor rail protective cap 3 is positioned relative to the second support rail 1 and to the scratch springs 88 such that its second wing part 331 presses against the spring section 82, as shown in the Figures 10d and 10eAs illustrated, by moving the conductor rail protective cap 3 in the longitudinal direction X relative to the second support rail 1 and the coupling 8, the scratch springs 88 are deflected further and further until their scratch lugs 81 are released from the second support rail 1. During this relative movement of the conductor rail protective cap 3 along the longitudinal direction X to the second support rail 1 and coupling 8, the first wing part 332 comes into contact with the contact surface provided by the receptacle 860, thereby bringing the conductor rail protective cap 3 into its disassembly position, in which the system remains in the released state, so that the release position and disassembly position are identical.By continuing the relative movement of the conductor rail protective cap 3 relative to the second mounting rail 1 in longitudinal direction X, during which no further relative movement of the conductor rail protective cap 3 to the coupling 8 can take place, since they are positively locked together with respect to the longitudinal direction X, the coupling 8 can be easily pulled out of the mounting rail 1 along the longitudinal direction X. Reference symbol list

[0067] 1 Mounting rail 2 Mounting rail protective cap 3 Conductor rail protective cap 4 Conductor rail 5 Conductor wire 6 Mounting body 7 Cover 8 Coupling 9 Electrical connector 11 Mounting rail base 12 Mounting rail side wall 13 Projection 14 Embossing 20 Knockout section 22 Side wall 23 Projection 24 Projection 25 Base 26 Guide rail 30 Channel 31 Absolute transverse end 32 Retaining arm 33 Wing 35 Cap body 40 Channel 41 Side wall 42 Rear gripping device 81 Scratch nose 82 Spring section 83 Holding device 84 Fixing device 88 Scratch spring 100 Second locking piece 120 Contour 220 Reduction 300 Combination conductor rail protective cap 301 First longitudinal end area 302 Second Longitudinal end section 303 Locking device 310 Rear gripping device 311 Holding arm 320 Rear gripping device 326 Spacing section 331 Wing section 332 Wing section 401 Longitudinal end section 402 Longitudinal end section 800 First locking piece 860 Mounting XL Longitudinal direction Y Transverse direction Z Vertical direction

Claims

1. Coupling for connecting two lighting assemblies, each comprising a longitudinally elongated mounting rail (1) and each comprising a longitudinally elongated conductor rail (4) having longitudinally extending channels (30) in which at least one conductor wire (5) is arranged, wherein the mounting rails (1) each have a mounting rail base (11) and two mounting rail side walls (12) extending from the mounting rail base (11) in a vertical direction (Z) and spaced apart from each other in a transverse direction (Y) by the mounting rail base (11), wherein the mounting rail base (11) and the mounting rail side walls (12) form a wall that delimits a receiving space open at both longitudinal ends of the mounting rail (1), wherein the conductor rail (4) is arranged in the receiving space and attached to the mounting rail (1).wherein the coupling (8) has a coupling base and coupling side walls and can be inserted into the mounting rail (1) in the longitudinal direction (X) from each longitudinal end of each mounting rail (1) to realize an assembly state of the system in which the coupling (8) is inserted into a first longitudinal end of the mounting rail (1) of a first luminaire assembly and into a second longitudinal end of the mounting rail (1) of a second luminaire assembly with the mounting rails (1) of the luminaire assemblies fixed in position relative to each other, . characterized by the fact that the coupling (8) has at least one first opening in its coupling base which is completely closed by a first locking piece (800) which is in particular pressed into the first opening, wherein the first locking piece (800) can be released from the first opening by a vertical pressing force, in particular without deformation of the coupling (8).

2. Coupling (8) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the first closure piece (800) is fixed in the first opening without a fabric connection, i.e. without a material connection to an edge defining the first opening, wherein in particular the first closure piece (800) is fixed in the first opening exclusively by frictional connection.

3. Coupling (8) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the coupling (8) is made from a sheet of metal by cutting, in particular punching, and forming, wherein the first locking piece (800) is made from the sheet of metal.

4. Coupling (8) according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the coupling (8) is produced by punching the first opening (800) into the coupling base using a punching tool, punching out the first locking piece (800) during the realization of the first opening.

5. Coupling (8) according to claim 4, characterized by the fact thatthe coupling (8) is produced by pressing the first locking piece (800) back into the first opening after punching it out, in particular the punching is carried out completely closed around the first locking piece (800), so that the first locking piece (800) is completely punched out of the sheet metal around its entire circumference and is then pressed back into the first opening.

6. System for realizing a longitudinally (X) elongated luminaire, the system comprising a coupling (8) according to one of the preceding claims and several longitudinally (X) elongated support rails (1) and several longitudinally (X) elongated conductor rails (4), each having longitudinally (X) extending channels (30) in which at least one conductor wire (5) is arranged, wherein the support rails (1) each have a support rail base (11) and two support rail side walls (12) extending from the support rail base (11) in a vertical direction (Z) and spaced apart from each other by the support rail base (11) in a transverse direction (Y), wherein the support rail base (11) and the support rail side walls (12) form a wall that defines a receiving space open at both longitudinal ends of the support rail (1) for receiving the conductor rail,wherein in an assembly state of the system the conductor rail (4) is arranged in the receiving space and attached to the support rail (1), , , characterized by the fact that- the system comprises a first and a second luminaire assembly, each comprising one of the mounting rails (1) and one of the conductor rails (4), wherein the conductor rail (4) of each luminaire assembly is attached to the mounting rail (1) of the respective luminaire assembly, wherein the coupling (8) can be inserted into the mounting rail (1) in the longitudinal direction (X) from each longitudinal end of each mounting rail (1), wherein - in an assembled state of the system, the coupling (8) is inserted into the first longitudinal end of the mounting rail (1) of the first luminaire assembly and is inserted into the second longitudinal end of the mounting rail (1) of the second luminaire assembly, with the mounting rails (1) of the luminaire assemblies fixed relative to each other, wherein the conductor rails (4) of the luminaire assemblies are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction (X) in the assembled state, wherein - the coupling (8) has at least one first opening in its coupling base,the first opening is completely closed by a first closure piece (800), which is in particular pressed into the first opening, and - the support rail (1) has a second opening in its support rail base (11), which is in particular completely closed by a second closure piece (100), which is in particular pressed into the second opening, wherein the first closure piece (800) can be released from the first opening by a vertical pressing force, wherein in particular the openings in the assembled state are arranged in the longitudinal direction (X) between the conductor rails (4) of the two luminaire assemblies and / or the first opening is arranged in alignment with the second opening.

7. System according to claim 6, characterized by the fact thatthe support rail (1) is manufactured from a sheet metal by forming and the coupling (8) is manufactured from another sheet metal by forming, wherein the other sheet metal is harder and / or thicker than the sheet metal, wherein in particular the sheet metal from which the support rail (1) is manufactured has a sheet thickness of at least 0.5 mm, in particular at least 0.6 mm, preferably a maximum of 0.8 mm and / or the other sheet metal from which the coupling (8) is manufactured has a sheet thickness of at least 0.9 mm, in particular at least 1.0 mm, in particular at least 1.2 mm.

8. System according to claim 7, characterized by the fact thatThe support rail (1) is produced from one sheet metal by cutting, in particular punching, and forming, wherein the second locking piece (100) is produced from one sheet metal, wherein in particular the support rail (1) is produced by punching the second opening into the base of the support rail using a punching tool, punching out the second locking piece (100) during the creation of the second opening, wherein in particular the support rail (1) is produced by pressing the second locking piece (100) back into the second opening after the second locking piece (100) has been punched out, wherein in particular the punching is carried out circumferentially closed around the second locking piece, so that the second locking piece (100) is completely punched out of one sheet metal around its entire circumference and is then pressed back into the second opening.

9. System according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized by the fact thatthe first opening of the coupling (8) and the second opening of the mounting rail (1) are arranged in the longitudinal direction (X) between the conductor rails (4) of the two lighting assemblies in the assembled state and / or the first opening is aligned with the second opening.

10. System according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized by the fact that The mounting rails (1) of the lighting assemblies, when assembled, shall be in contact with each other with their longitudinal ends pointing towards each other, ensuring a dust-tight transition between them.

11. System according to any one of claims 6 to 10, characterized by the fact thatThe system enables a first operating state in which the first opening is closed by the first locking piece (800), wherein the coupling (8) connects the support rails (1) in the first operating state in such a way that the transition between the support rails (1) is dustproof due to their contact with the coupling (8), at least in accordance with standard IP50, preferably in accordance with IP 54, and in which the system enables a second operating state in which the first locking piece (800) is removed from the first opening and the first opening is freely accessible from the outside through the second opening, preferably with a second locking piece (100) previously provided at the second opening being removed from the second opening.

12. Luminaire manufactured using a system according to one of the preceding claims.

13. Method for connecting two luminaire assemblies to manufacture a luminaire, wherein the luminaire assemblies each comprise a longitudinally elongated support rail (1) and each a longitudinally elongated conductor rail (4) which has longitudinally extending channels (30) in which at least one conductor wire (5) is arranged, wherein the support rails (1) each have a support rail base (11) and two support rail side walls (12) extending from the support rail base (11) in a vertical direction (Z) and spaced apart from each other in a transverse direction (Y) by the support rail base (11), wherein the support rail base (11) and the support rail side walls (12) form a wall which delimits a receiving space open at both longitudinal ends of the support rail (1), wherein the conductor rail (4) is arranged in the receiving space and attached to the support rail (1), wherein a coupling (8),which has a coupling base and coupling side walls, is inserted into the first longitudinal end of the mounting rail (1) of the first luminaire assembly and is inserted into the second longitudinal end of the mounting rail (1) of the second luminaire assembly, with the mounting rails (1) of the luminaire assemblies fixed in position relative to each other, , characterized by the fact that a first closing piece (800) which closes a first opening which is provided in the coupling base is removed from the first opening and in particular a second closing piece (100) which closes a second opening which is provided in the support rail base of the support rail (1) of one of the lighting assemblies is removed from the second opening, after which an access line is inserted from the outside through the first and the second opening into the receiving space of this lighting assembly.

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