DEVICE FOR INTERCHANGED LEDS IN A LIGHT FIXTURE

Abstract

Device for replacing LEDs in a light source without tools. The present invention relates to a device for interchanging light-emitting diodes (LEDs) without tools, arranged to be installed in a luminaire (1) and connected to its power supply wires, notable in that it comprises at least: - a tubular body (11) having a lateral slot (12), - a plate (13) disposed at one end of said tubular body (11), - a plate (14) receiving at least one LED connected to at least two electrical contact areas and being reversibly inserted into said tubular body (11) via its lateral slot (12), and - at least two first push members (16) exerting pressure on said plate (14), when it is inserted into said tubular body (11), to press it against the plate (13) and ensure heat transfer. Fig 1

Description

Title of the invention: DEVICE FOR INTERCHANGING LEDS IN A LIGHTING LIGHT Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the general field of lighting, and more particularly to a device for interchanging light-emitting diodes (conventionally designated by the abbreviation LED from the English: Light Emitting Diod) in a luminaire such as, for example, a spotlight for a retail store. State of the art

[0002] In the field of lighting, it is known to use LED technology in many types of luminaires such as, for example, spotlights for a retail store.

[0003] Furthermore, the LED, which has become the most popular light source in many areas of application, owes its success to its efficiency and its ability to be energy-saving. In addition, thanks to their compactness, LEDs allow, in particular, the creation of trendy design luminaires.

[0004] However, LEDs have the major disadvantage of having to replace the entire luminaire once the LEDs' lifespan has ended. In fact, in many luminaires, the board receiving the LEDs is generally permanently installed in said luminaires, which means that not only the light source, as was the case with older technologies, but also the complete luminaires have to be replaced. This means not only an unnecessary burden on the environment, but also, in the case of professional applications, a great loss of flexibility and profitability. Summary of the invention

[0005] The aim of the present invention is therefore to propose a device for interchanging light-emitting diodes (LEDs) allowing the latter to be replaced quickly and easily in a luminaire without using special tools and without having to completely dismantle said luminaire, this device only allowing the changing of the LEDs and not the replacement of said complete luminaire.

[0006] According to the invention, there is therefore proposed a device for interchanging light-emitting diodes (LEDs) without tools, arranged to be placed in a light fitting and connected to the electrical supply wires of the latter, remarkable in that it comprises at least: - a tubular body comprising a lateral slot, - a plate arranged at one end of said tubular body, - a plate receiving at least one LED connected to at least two electrical contact zones and being capable of being reversibly inserted into said tubular body through its lateral slot, and - at least two first thrust members exerting pressure on said plate, when it is inserted into said tubular body, to apply it against the plate and ensure thermal transfer, said first thrust members establishing electrical contact between the electrical supply wires of the luminaire and the electrical contact zones, when the plate is inserted into said tubular body.

[0007] It is understood that with this configuration, changing the LEDs is easy without special tools by removing the plate from the side slot.

[0008] The tubular body and the plate are advantageously made from a material promoting heat dissipation.

[0009] The tubular body comprises, along its end opposite the plate, an internal flange.

[0010] Advantageously, the internal flange is provided on its internal face with a plurality of housings each receiving at least one of the first thrust members.

[0011] Said internal flange and, where appropriate, the tubular body are preferably cut up to the side slot.

[0012] The plate advantageously comprises a plurality of orifices allowing the passage of the electrical supply wires of the luminaire.

[0013] Advantageously, the plate comprises at least one cutout allowing the passage of the electrical supply wires of the luminaire.

[0014] According to a particular embodiment, the plate comprises: - a gripping tab facilitating its handling and insertion into the tubular body through the side slot and being breakable once the plate is inserted, and - an extraction orifice passing through or not through said plate and facilitating the removal of the latter from the tubular body.

[0015] The device for interchanging LEDs without tools advantageously comprises a second elastically deformable thrust member which advantageously cooperates with a locking orifice provided on the plate, to hold the latter when it is inserted into the tubular body.

[0016] The second thrust member is preferably a ball pusher arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body and then comprises a tube enclosing a ball and a spring pressing on said ball.

[0017] Advantageously, each first thrust member is elastically deformable and cooperates with one of the electrical contact zones of the plate, when the latter is inserted into the tubular body.

[0018] Each first pushing member is preferably a ball pusher arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body and then comprises a tube made of electrically insulating material enclosing a ball made of electrically conductive material, a spring pressing on said ball, and a conductive insert inserted into the tube and stressed with the spring and the ball, said conductive insert being connected to one of the electrical supply wires of the luminaire.

[0019] According to a particular embodiment, the device is arranged so that each electrical supply wire of the luminaire passes successively through an orifice in the plate, through a cutout in the plate and through a through orifice provided in the internal flange of the tubular body.

[0020] The invention also relates to a luminaire comprising a body arranged to be fixed by one of its ends to a wall and to allow the passage of the electrical supply wires and an optical carrier barrel removably secured to the free end of said body, and receiving a device according to the invention, remarkable in that the device is placed in the luminaire at the junction between its body and its optical carrier barrel, so as to arrange the plate in said body and the lateral slot outside the latter.

[0021] Advantageously, the tubular body of the device comprises a peripheral thread capable of being screwed into a tapping provided on the body up to the lateral slot, the optical carrier barrel then being screwed onto said peripheral thread until it comes into contact with said body. Brief description of the figures

[0022] Other advantages and characteristics will emerge more clearly from the following description of an embodiment of the invention, with reference to the appended figure in which:

[0023] [Fig-1] is an exploded perspective view of a luminaire comprising a device to interchange light-emitting diodes (LEDs) according to the invention,

[0024] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of the device for interchanging LEDs of the [Fig.l] from another angle of view,

[0025] [Fig.3] is a partially exploded perspective view of the device for interchanging LEDs in [Fig.2]. Description of the embodiments

[0026] In [Fig.l], there is shown a luminaire 1 comprising a device 10 for interchanging light-emitting diodes, hereinafter designated by the abbreviation LED from the English: Light Emitting Diod, in accordance with the invention.

[0027] Said luminaire 1, which is, for example, of the spotlight type for a commercial shop in detail, includes, in a classic manner: - a generally tubular body 2 arranged to be fixed by one of its ends to a wall and to allow the passage of the electrical supply wires of the luminaire 1, - an optical carrier barrel 3 generally tubular and removably secured to the free end of said body 1, - a reflective conical insert 4 being inserted into said optical holder barrel 3 and making it possible to direct the luminous flux towards the end of the luminaire 1, and - a blocking member 5 removably secured to the end of the optical holder barrel 3 to block the conical insert 4 in said optical holder barrel 3.

[0028] As described above, the luminaire 1 is arranged to be fixed by its body 2, advantageously in an articulated manner, to a wall by means of a support such as, for example, a rail or a hook. However, the wall, the support and the electrical supply wires of the luminaire 1 are not shown in the figures, so as not to overload them.

[0029] Furthermore, the various elements of the luminaire 1 are, in a conventional manner, secured to each other by screwing or by a quarter-turn type connection.

[0030] With reference to figures 1 to 3, the device 10 for interchanging LEDs according to the invention is arranged to be placed in said luminaire 1, advantageously at the junction between the body 2 and the optical holder barrel 3, and comprises at least: - a tubular body 11 comprising a lateral slot 12, - a plate 13 arranged at one of the ends of said tubular body 11, - a plate 14 receiving at least one LED 15 and capable of being reversibly inserted into said tubular body 11 via its lateral slot 12, and - at least two first thrust members 16 and a second thrust member 17 exerting pressure on said plate 14, when it is inserted into said tubular body 11, to apply it against the plate 13 and ensure thermal transfer.

[0031] The tubular body 11 comprises, along its end opposite the plate 13, an internal flange 18 provided on its internal face 19 with a plurality of housings 20 each receiving one of the first and second thrust members 16, 17. Advantageously, said internal flange 18 and, where appropriate, the tubular body 11 are cut up to the lateral slot 12 to facilitate the insertion of the plate 14 into the tubular body 11.

[0032] The plate 13 partially closes the corresponding end of the tubular body 11 and comprises a plurality of orifices 21 allowing the passage of the electrical supply wires of the luminaire 1 coming from the body 2 of the latter. The plate 13 is advantageously screwed onto the tubular body 11.

[0033] Even if, in the embodiment described, the tubular body 11 and the plate 13 are two separate parts, it is understood that the tubular body 11 and the plate 13 may be only one and the same part obtained, for example, by molding or by addition of material (3D printing), without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0034] It is known that an increase in temperature at the level of an LED reduces the light power delivered by the latter. This is why the tubular body 11 and the plate 13 are advantageously made from a material promoting heat dissipation in order to limit the temperature at the level of each LED 15 of the plate 14. The tubular body 11 and the plate 13 are preferably made of aluminum.

[0035] The plate 14 is a printed circuit board, conventionally designated by the abbreviation PCB from the English Printed Circuit Board, and consists of a base plate which physically accommodates and by wiring at least one LED 15 mounted on the surface and connected to at least two electrical contact zones, not shown in the figures, arranged on the surface to allow the electrical supply of each LED 15. However, the LED 15 may also be inserted into the thickness of the plate 14, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0036] It goes without saying that the board 14 may include more than one LED 15 and therefore more than two electrical contact zones without departing from the scope of the present invention. Indeed, it is known to use one of the following four configurations: monochrome (one channel and two electrical contact zones), two-color (two channels and four electrical contact zones), three-color (three channels and six electrical contact zones) and four-color (four channels and eight electrical contact zones).

[0037] Furthermore, said plate 14 advantageously comprises at least: - a gripping tab 22 facilitating its handling and its insertion into the tubular body 11 through the lateral slot 12 and being breakable once the plate 14 is inserted, - an extraction orifice 23 passing through or not said plate 14 and facilitating the removal of the latter from the tubular body 11, - a locking orifice 24 passing through or not and being able to cooperate with the second pushing member 17 to keep the plate 14 inserted in the tubular body 11, and - a cutout 25, preferably two, allowing the passage of the electrical supply wires of the luminaire 1 coming from the body 2 of the latter and passing through the orifices 21 of the plate 13.

[0038] Concerning this last point, the person skilled in the art will have no difficulty in determining the number and distribution of the orifices 21 of the plate 13 as well as the dimensions of each cutout 25 of the plate 14, so that the electrical supply wires of the luminaire 1 can pass through one or more orifices 21 then through at least one of said cutouts 25, whatever the relative position of said plate 12 with respect to the tubular body 11.

[0039] As described previously, the device 10 for interchanging LEDs according to the invention also comprises at least two first pushing members 16 and a second pushing member 17, the latter having a first function: to exert pressure on said plate 14, when it is inserted into said tubular body 11, to apply it against the plate 13 to allow heat dissipation from said plate to the plate 13 by heat transfer.

[0040] The first pushing members 16 have a second function: to establish electrical contact between the electrical supply wires of the luminaire 1 and each LED 15 of the plate 14. For this, each first pushing member 16 is elastically deformable and cooperates advantageously with one of the electrical contact zones of the plate 14, when it is inserted into the tubular body 11. Thus, according to an advantageous embodiment, each first pushing member 16 is a ball plunger arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body 11 and, preferably in one of the housings 20 arranged on the internal flange 18 of the tubular body 11.Each first pushing member 16 then comprises a tube 26 made of electrically insulating material enclosing a ball 27 made of electrically conductive material, a spring pressing on said ball 27, and a conductive insert, not shown in the figures, inserted into the tube 26 and stressed with the spring and the ball 27, said conductive insert being connected to one of the electrical supply wires of the luminaire 1. Thus, when the plate 14 is inserted into the tubular body 11, the spring presses on said ball 27 which comes into contact not only with the conductive insert inserted in the tube 26 but also with one of the electrical contact zones of the plate 14 to establish the electrical connection between one of the electrical supply wires of the luminaire 1 and the LED(s) 15 of the plate 14.

[0041] The second thrust member 17 also has a second function: to keep the plate 14 inserted into the tubular body 11. For this purpose, said second thrust member 17 is elastically deformable and advantageously cooperates with the locking orifice 24 of the plate 14, when it is inserted into the tubular body 11. Thus, according to an advantageous embodiment, the second thrust member 17 is a ball plunger arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body 11 and, preferably in one of the housings 20 provided on the internal flange 18 of the tubular body 11. The second thrust member 17 then comprises a tube 28 enclosing a ball 29 and a spring pressing on said ball 29. When the plate 14 is inserted into the tubular body 11, the spring presses on said ball 29 which is housed in the locking orifice 24 of the plate 14 and hold the latter in position.

[0042] However, in a simplified embodiment, the device 10 for interchanging LED according to the invention will not include a second pushing member 17, the maintenance of the plate 14 inserted in the tubular body 11 being ensured by the first pushing members 16 and electrical contact zones of the plate 14, for example, in the form of a hollow.

[0043] According to the embodiment shown, it is clearly understood that to allow the passage of the electrical supply wires of the luminaire 1 coming from the cutouts 25 of the plate 14 and the connection of the conductive insert of each first pushing member 16 to one of said supply wires at the level of the housings 20, the internal flange 18 of the tubular body 11 further comprises a plurality of through orifices 30. Thus, each electrical supply wire of the luminaire 1 passes successively through an orifice 21 of the plate 13, through a cutout 25 of the plate 14 and into one of said through orifices 30.

[0044] For reasons of standardization of the manufacture of the device 10 according to the invention, the first thrust members 16 and the second thrust member 17 are practically identical with the exception of the conductive insert inserted into the tube 26 of each first thrust member 16.

[0045] This embodiment has the advantage of having a very reduced size in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body 11 and a size in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body 11 remaining acceptable for luminaires 1 of small dimensions.

[0046] However, it is understood that the first and second pushing members 16, 17 could be of a completely different type such as, for example, a spring clip similar to those used in card slots used in mobile telephony or in camera battery chargers, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0047] Thus, with this configuration, the device 10 according to the invention is placed in the luminaire 1 at the junction between its body 2 and its optical carrier barrel 3, so as to arrange the plate 13 in said body 2 and the lateral slot 15 outside the latter. This position of the device 10 in the luminaire 1 allows, by separating only the optical carrier barrel 3 from the body 2, to have access to the lateral slot 15 and therefore to proceed, if necessary, to the replacement of the plate 14 and the associated LED(s) 15. It is understood that this operation does not require the use of special tools or the complete disassembly of said luminaire 1.

[0048] According to another particular embodiment not shown, the tubular body 11 of the device 10 participates in the securing of the optical carrier barrel 3 to the body 2 of the luminaire 1. For this, said tubular body 11 comprises a peripheral thread arranged to be screwed into a tapping provided on the body 2 up to the lateral slot 15, the optical carrier barrel 3 is then screwed onto said peripheral thread until coming into contact with said body 2.

[0049] According to a last particular embodiment not shown, the tubular body 11 of the device 10 is integral with the optical carrier gun 3.

[0050] It is understood that the device 10 for interchanging LEDs according to the invention is, of course, used in a luminaire 1 such as, preferably, a spotlight for a retail store.

[0051] Finally, it goes without saying that the examples of devices 10 for interchanging LEDs according to the invention which have just been given are only particular illustrations, in no way limiting the fields of the invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Device (10) for interchanging light-emitting diodes (LEDs) without tools, arranged to be placed in a luminaire (1) and connected to the electrical supply wires of the latter, comprising at least: - a tubular body (11) comprising a lateral slot (12), - a plate (13) arranged at one of the ends of said tubular body (11), - a plate (14) receiving at least one LED (15) connected to at least two electrical contact zones and being capable of being reversibly inserted into said tubular body (11) via its lateral slot (12), and - at least two first thrust members (16) exerting pressure on said plate (14), when it is inserted into said tubular body (11), to apply it against the plate (13) and ensure thermal transfer,said first thrust members (16) each being elastically deformable and each cooperating with one of the electrical contact zones of the plate (14) to establish electrical contact between the electrical supply wires of the luminaire (1) and said electrical contact zones, when the plate (14) is inserted into said tubular body (11), said device (10) being characterized in that each first thrust member (16) is a ball plunger arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body (11) and then comprises a tube (26) made of electrically insulating material enclosing a ball (27) made of electrically conductive material, a spring pressing on said ball (27), and a conductive insert inserted into the tube (26) and stressed with the spring and the ball (27), said conductive insert being connected to one of the electrical supply wires of the luminaire (1).,

2. Device (10) according to claim 1 characterized in that the tubular body (11) and the plate (13) are made from a material promoting heat dissipation.

3. Device (10) according to any one of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the tubular body (11) comprises, along its end opposite the plate (13), an internal flange (18).

4. Device (10) according to claim 3 characterized in that the internal flange (18) is provided on its internal face (19) with a plurality of housings (20) each receiving at least one of the first members of thrust (16).

5. Device (10) according to any one of claims 3 or 4 characterized in that said internal flange (18) and, where appropriate, the tubular body (11) are cut up to the lateral slot (12).

6. Device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the plate (13) comprises a plurality of orifices (21) allowing the passage of the electrical supply wires of the luminaire (1).

7. Device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that the plate (14) comprises at least one cutout (25) allowing the passage of the electrical supply wires of the luminaire (1).

8. Device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the plate (14) comprises: - a gripping tab (22) facilitating its handling and its insertion into the tubular body (11) via the lateral slot (12) and being breakable once the plate (14) is inserted, and - an extraction orifice (23) passing through or not said plate (14) and facilitating the removal of the latter from the tubular body (11).

9. Device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a second elastically deformable thrust member (17) which cooperates advantageously with a locking orifice (24) provided on the plate (14), to hold the latter when it is inserted into the tubular body (11).

10. Device (10) according to claim 9 characterized in that the second pushing member (17) is a ball pusher arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body (11) and then comprises a tube (28) enclosing a ball (29) and a spring pressing on said ball (29).

11. Device (10) according to claims 6 and 7 characterized in that it is arranged so that each electrical supply wire of the luminaire (1) passes successively through an orifice (21) of the plate (13), into a cutout (25) of the plate (14) and into a through orifice (30) provided in the internal flange (18) of the tubular body (11).

12. Luminaire (1) comprising a generally tubular body (2) arranged to be fixed by one of its ends to a wall and to allow the passage of the electrical supply wires and an optical carrier gun (3) removably secured to the free end of said body (2) and receiving a device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 characterized in that the device (10) is put in place in the luminaire (1) at the junction between its body (2) and its optical carrier barrel (3), so as to arrange the plate (13) in said body (2) and the lateral slot (15) outside the latter.

13. Luminaire (1) according to claim 12 characterized in that the tubular body (11) of the device (10) comprises a peripheral thread capable of being screwed into a tapping provided on the body (2) up to the lateral slot (15), the optical carrier barrel (3) then being screwed onto said peripheral thread until it comes into contact with said body (2).

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