Lighting device

The dual-axis tilting and sliding mechanism in the lighting device expands the tilting range and reduces vignetting, enhancing adjustability and visibility in ceiling-embedded lighting systems.

JP2026076557APending Publication Date: 2026-05-12KOWA CO LTD
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
KOWA CO LTD
Filing Date
2024-10-24
Publication Date
2026-05-12

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing ceiling-embedded lighting devices have limited tilting ranges and generate significant vignetting due to contact with the frame, especially at larger angles.

Method used

A lighting device with a luminaire body supported by a dual-axis tilting mechanism and a sliding mechanism that allows for two-stage sliding, enabling adjustable angle and position of the light output opening, and a retractable arm with two pivot points to minimize vignetting.

Benefits of technology

The device achieves an expanded tilting range and reduced vignetting by allowing significant tilting adjustments while minimizing light obstruction, with the ability to protrude or retract the luminaire body as needed.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

In a ceiling-mounted lighting fixture, the goal is to achieve both an expanded tilt range for the light fixture body and a reduction in vignetting that occurs during tilting. [Solution] The lighting device is a ceiling-mounted lighting device that is installed embedded in the ceiling, and comprises a luminaire body and a support mechanism that supports the luminaire body so that it can tilt. The support mechanism includes a base portion installed above the luminaire body and an arm portion. The arm portion is extendable and retractable in its longitudinal direction and has a first axis pivotally supported by the base portion and a second axis pivotally supported by the luminaire body, and the luminaire body can be tilted using these two axes, and the distance between the two axes can be changed by extending and retracting in the longitudinal direction.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a lighting device (ceiling-embedded lighting device) installed by being embedded in a ceiling.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a ceiling-embedded lighting device including a frame body fitted into a mounting hole formed in a ceiling, and a lamp body supported tiltably by being pivotally supported by bolts on the frame body.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the lighting device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the lamp body can only be rotated around one axis (bolt) that supports it on the frame body. For this reason, this lighting device has problems such as the tilting range of the lamp body being limited by contact with the frame body or the like when the lamp body tilts, and the larger the tilting angle of the lamp body, the larger the kerare (the portion where light is blocked by the ceiling, frame body, etc.).

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to achieve both an expansion of the tilting range of the lamp body and a reduction in kerare generated during tilting in a ceiling-embedded lighting device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The lighting device according to the present invention is a lighting device (ceiling-recessed lighting device) that is installed embedded in the ceiling and has the following configuration (Aspect 1). The lighting device comprises a luminaire body and a support mechanism that supports the luminaire body so that it can tilt. The support mechanism includes a base portion installed above the luminaire body and an arm portion. The arm portion is extendable and retractable in its longitudinal direction and has a first axis pivotally supported by the base portion and a second axis pivotally supported by the luminaire body. The luminaire body can be tilted using these two axes, and the distance between the two axes can be changed by extending and retracting in the longitudinal direction.

[0007] According to the above embodiment 1, by tilting the light fixture body on two axes and changing the distance between the two axes, it becomes possible to individually adjust both the angle and position of the light output opening of the light fixture body. Therefore, even when illuminating the space below the ceiling with the light fixture body from above the ceiling, it becomes possible to tilt the light fixture body significantly while adjusting the position of the light output opening so that vignetting (the part where light is blocked by the ceiling, etc.) is minimized.

[0008] The lighting device according to Embodiment 1 described above may have the following configuration (Embodiment 2). The luminaire body may be provided with a second axis for an arm inside, and a passage may be formed that allows the arm to rotate around the second axis. In this configuration, the arm may rotate around the second axis through the passage when the orientation of the luminaire body is changed between a first orientation in which the light output opening of the luminaire body is pointed directly downwards and a second orientation in which the luminaire body is tilted so that the light output opening is pointed diagonally downwards.

[0009] According to the above embodiment 2, it becomes possible to pass a part of the arm (a part on the second axis side) inside the luminaire body, and as a result, it becomes possible to achieve tilting of the luminaire body without increasing the size of the lighting device.

[0010] The lighting device according to the above embodiment 1 or 2 may have the following configuration (embodiment 3). The lighting device may further include a frame that is fitted into a mounting hole opened in the ceiling, and a sliding mechanism provided on the frame. Here, the sliding mechanism is a mechanism that includes a movable part and a guide part that holds the movable part so that it can slide in the vertical direction, and the base part of the support mechanism is fixed to the movable part. The guide part holds the movable part so that it can move up and down between a first position in which the light fixture body protrudes outwards from the ceiling through the mounting hole, and a second position in which the light fixture body is retracted into the space above the ceiling through the mounting hole.

[0011] According to the above embodiment 3, depending on the application, the light fixture body can be made to protrude below the ceiling or to be recessed into the space above the ceiling.

[0012] The lighting device according to embodiment 3 described above may have the following configuration (embodiment 4). The guide section may include a first guide section and a second guide section. Here, the first guide section holds the movable section so that it can slide vertically, and the second guide section further holds the first guide section so that it can slide in the same direction as the sliding direction of the movable section. In this way, the sliding of the luminaire body may be made possible in two stages by the sliding of the first guide section relative to the second guide section and the sliding of the movable section relative to the first guide section.

[0013] According to the above embodiment 4, it becomes possible to stabilize the sliding of the movable part (i.e., the sliding of the lamp body) without increasing the size of the sliding mechanism. Specifically, it is as follows.

[0014] First, let's consider a sliding mechanism in which the movable part is held in a slidable position by only the second guide section. If we want to stabilize the sliding of the movable part relative to the second guide section in this sliding mechanism (specifically, if we want to suppress the rattle of the movable part during sliding), one possible means is to increase the length of the movable part in the sliding direction. However, in this case, if we want to slide the movable part by the same distance, it will be necessary to increase the length of the second guide section by the same amount as increasing the length of the movable part, which will make the sliding mechanism larger.

[0015] According to embodiment 4 described above, the sliding of the lamp body is performed in two stages: the sliding of the first guide part relative to the second guide part, and the sliding of the movable part relative to the first guide part. This makes it possible to move the movable part by the same distance without increasing the length of the second guide part. Furthermore, since the length of the first guide part is greater than that of the movable part, at least the sliding of the first guide part relative to the second guide part can be stabilized. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention, in a ceiling-mounted lighting device, it becomes possible to achieve both an expanded tilt range of the light fixture body and a reduction in vignetting that occurs during tilting. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the lighting device according to the embodiment, as seen from above. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of the lighting device according to the embodiment, as seen from below. [Figure 3] This is a top view of the lighting device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view along the line J1-J1. [Figure 5] (A) A front view showing one of the two sets of movable parts and guide parts of the slide mechanism, and (B) An enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line J2-J2 shown in Figure 5(A). [Figure 6]It is a front view showing a specific example of the arm part. [Figure 7] It is a perspective view showing the state of the lighting device when the lamp body is tilted. [Figure 8] It is a cross-sectional view showing the state of the lighting device when the lamp body is tilted. [Figure 9] It is a cross-sectional view showing the state of the lighting device when the lamp body protrudes downward into the ceiling in the first posture. [Figure 10] It is a cross-sectional view showing the state of the lighting device when the lamp body is rotated from the first posture to change the direction of the light emission port after the lamp body protrudes downward into the ceiling.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] [1] Embodiment FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views conceptually showing the lighting device according to the embodiment as viewed from above and below, respectively. FIG. 3 is a top view of the lighting device, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line J1-J1 shown in FIG. 3. The lighting device is a lighting device (ceiling-embedded lighting device) embedded in the ceiling as shown in FIG. 4, and includes a lamp body 1, a frame body 2, a slide mechanism 3, and a support mechanism 4.

[0019] The lamp body 1 includes a cylindrical case 10, and one opening of the case 10 is used as a light emission port 10p. Hereinafter, in the lamp body 1, the side of the light emission port 10p is defined as the front side.

[0020] Specifically, a partition plate 11 that divides the internal space of the case 10 into two front and rear spaces is provided in the case 10 (see FIG. 4). In the present embodiment, the partition plate 11 is integrally formed with the case 10. Then, a light source, a lens, etc. are installed on the front surface 11a of the partition plate 11, and a power source, a heat sink, etc. are installed on the back surface 11b of the partition plate 11.

[0021] Mounting holes Kt for installing the lighting device are provided in the ceiling, and the frame 2 is the part that is fitted into the mounting holes Kt and fixed when the lighting device is installed on the ceiling (see Figure 4). In this embodiment, an annular frame 2 is used to match the shape (circular) of the light output opening 10p (see Figure 1). In addition, the mounting holes Kt and the frame 2 are formed to a size that allows the luminaire body 1 to pass through the inside of the frame 2 (see Figure 4).

[0022] Specifically, the frame 2 has a cylindrical portion 21 that fits into the mounting hole Kt, and a flange portion 22 that extends outward from one open end of the cylindrical portion 21 (see Figures 1 to 4). When the lighting device is installed on the ceiling, the frame 2 is fixed to the mounting hole Kt with the cylindrical portion 21 fitted into the mounting hole Kt and the flange portion 22 in contact with the edge of the mounting hole Kt (see Figure 4).

[0023] The slide mechanism 3 is a mechanism that supports the lamp body 1 in a slidable manner, and comprises a movable part 31 and a guide part 32 that slidably holds the movable part 31 (see Figure 4). Specifically, the slide mechanism 3 is provided on the frame 2, and is configured such that when the frame 2 is fitted into the mounting hole Kt and fixed, the sliding direction of the movable part 31 along the guide part 32 is vertical. As will be described in detail later, the slide mechanism 3 of this embodiment comprises two sets of such movable parts 31 and guide parts 32.

[0024] Figure 5(A) is a front view showing one of the two sets of movable parts 31 and guide parts 32 provided by the slide mechanism 3, and Figure 5(B) is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line J2-J2 shown in Figure 5(A). In this embodiment, the guide part 32 includes a first guide part 321 and a second guide part 322. Here, the first guide part 321 holds the movable part 31 in a slidable manner, and the second guide part 322 further holds the first guide part 321 so that it can slide in the same direction as the sliding direction of the movable part 31. Furthermore, both the guiding method of the first guide part 321 with respect to the movable part 31 and the guiding method of the second guide part 322 with respect to the first guide part 321 are sliding guide methods.

[0025] In the specific examples shown in Figures 5(A) and 5(B), the first guide portion 321 is a long member with a groove shape, and the second guide portion 322 is an even longer member with a lip groove shape. The first guide portion 321 is slidably held inside the second guide portion 322 with its outer bottom surface 321a facing toward the lip 322t of the second guide portion 322. Furthermore, a movable portion 31 is slidably held between the inner bottom surface 321b of the first guide portion 321 and the inner bottom surface 322a of the second guide portion 322, sandwiched between them. In addition, a slit 302 extending in the sliding direction is formed in the bottom portion 321x of the first guide portion 321, exposed between the left and right lips 322t of the second guide portion 322. Furthermore, the movable part 31 has a projection 303 that protrudes from the slit 302, and the base part 41 of the support mechanism 4, which will be described later, is fixed to the projection 303 with a fixing device 34 (see Figures 1 and 2), thereby attaching the lamp body 1 via the support mechanism 4. Note that the fixing device 34 is omitted from the cross-sectional view in Figure 4, and is similarly omitted in the other cross-sectional views (Figures 8 to 10).

[0026] This makes it possible to slide the lamp body 1 in two stages: the sliding of the first guide part 321 relative to the second guide part 322, and the sliding of the movable part 31 relative to the first guide part 321.

[0027] This configuration of the sliding mechanism 3 makes it possible to stabilize the sliding of the movable part 31 (i.e., the sliding of the lamp body 1) without increasing the size of the sliding mechanism 3. Specifically, it is as follows.

[0028] First, let's consider a slide mechanism 3 in which the movable part 31 is held slidably by the second guide part 322 alone. If we want to stabilize the sliding of the movable part 31 relative to the second guide part 322 in this slide mechanism 3 (specifically, if we want to suppress the rattling of the movable part 31 when sliding), one possible means to do so is to increase the length of the movable part 31 in the sliding direction. However, in this case, if we want to slide the movable part 31 by the same distance, it will be necessary to increase the length of the second guide part 322 by the same amount as increasing the length of the movable part 31, which will make the slide mechanism 3 larger.

[0029] According to the sliding mechanism 3 of this embodiment, the sliding of the lamp body 1 is performed in two stages: the sliding of the first guide portion 321 relative to the second guide portion 322, and the sliding of the movable portion 31 relative to the first guide portion 321. This makes it possible to move the movable portion 31 by the same distance without increasing the length of the second guide portion 322. Furthermore, since the length of the first guide portion 321 is greater than that of the movable portion 31, it becomes possible to stabilize the sliding of the first guide portion 321 relative to the second guide portion 322.

[0030] Furthermore, in the sliding guide type slide mechanism 3 described above, increasing the length of the sliding portion (in this case, the length of the first guide portion 321) is particularly effective in stabilizing the slide.

[0031] In this embodiment, the movable parts 31 and guide parts 32 are provided in pairs on both sides of the frame 2, with the movable parts 31 facing inward (see Figures 1 and 2). Furthermore, the two guide parts 32 are installed parallel to each other so that the distance between the two movable parts 31 remains constant when the two movable parts 31 are slid while keeping their vertical positions aligned. To maintain this parallel state, the upper ends of the two guide parts 32 (specifically, the upper end of the second guide part 322) are connected to each other via the beam part 33.

[0032] Furthermore, the two guide portions 32 are provided such that they can rotate around the central axis of the frame 2 while their upper ends are connected by the beam portion 33 (see Figures 1 and 2). Specifically, an inward-facing claw portion 301, formed on either of the lower ends of the two guide portions 32 (specifically, either of the lower ends of the second guide portion 322), is slidably held in a guide groove 201 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the open end of the cylindrical portion 21 of the frame 2 opposite to the end where the flange portion 22 is formed (the upper open end when the frame 2 is fixed to the mounting hole Kt).

[0033] The support mechanism 4 is a mechanism that supports the lamp body 1 so that it can tilt, and comprises a base portion 41 and an arm portion 42 (see Figures 1 to 4). In this embodiment, the base portion 41 is a disc and is fixed to two movable parts 31 provided by the slide mechanism 3. Specifically, the base portion 41 is fixed to the two movable parts 31 by a fixing device 34 so that it becomes horizontal when the lighting device is installed on the ceiling (i.e., when the frame 2 is fitted into the mounting hole Kt and fixed).

[0034] The lamp body 1 is positioned below the base portion 41 with its light-emitting opening 10p facing downwards, and is connected to the base portion 41 via an arm portion 42 so that it can tilt in that lower position (see Figure 4).

[0035] Specifically, the arm portion 42 is configured to be extendable and retractable in its longitudinal direction Ds, in other words, to allow adjustment of its length in the longitudinal direction Ds. Figure 6 is a front view showing a specific example of the arm portion 42. In this specific example, the arm portion 42 is configured by slidably holding a rectangular prism-shaped or rectangular tubular second arm portion 422 inside a rectangular tubular first arm portion 421.

[0036] Furthermore, the arm portion 42 has a first axis Cx1 formed by pivotally supporting the end on the first arm component 421 side to the base portion 41, and a second axis Cx2 formed by pivotally supporting the end on the second arm component 422 side to the luminaire body 1 (see Figure 4). As a result, the arm portion 42 can tilt the luminaire body 1 using these two axes, and the distance between the two axes can be changed by expansion and contraction in the longitudinal direction Ds. Figures 7 and 8 are perspective and cross-sectional views, respectively, showing the state of the lighting device when the luminaire body 1 is tilted.

[0037] Furthermore, the first axis Cx1 and the second axis Cx2 of the arm portion 42 are arranged such that the rotation of the arm portion 42 relative to the base portion 41 (rotation of the arm portion 42 around the first axis Cx1) and the rotation of the lamp body 1 relative to the arm portion 42 (rotation of the lamp body 1 around the second axis Cx2) occur in the same plane perpendicular to the lower surface 41a of the base portion 41 (see Figures 4 and 8). Specifically, the first axis Cx1 and the second axis Cx2 are provided at both ends of the arm portion 42 so as to be parallel to each other and both horizontal.

[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the second axis Cx2 is provided on the back surface 11b of the partition plate 11 inside the case 10. That is, the second axis Cx2 is provided inside the lamp body 1 (see Figures 4 and 8). The case 10 has a passage 12 for the arm portion 42 to pass through in order to allow the arm portion 42 to rotate around the second axis Cx2 (see also Figures 1 and 7).

[0039] This allows the arm portion 42 to rotate around the second axis Cx2 through the passage 12 when the luminaire body 1 is tilted, and as a result, the orientation of the luminaire body 1 can be changed between a first orientation (see Figure 4) in which the light output opening 10p of the luminaire body 1 is pointed directly downwards, and a second orientation (see Figure 8) in which the luminaire body 1 is tilted so that the light output opening 10p is pointed diagonally downwards. Specifically, in the second orientation, the luminaire body 1 can be tilted at an angle of 45° or more from the first orientation.

[0040] With this configuration of the second axis Cx2 and passage 12, it becomes possible to pass a part of the arm portion 42 (the part on the second axis Cx2 side) through the inside of the luminaire body 1, and as a result, tilting of the luminaire body 1 can be achieved without increasing the size of the lighting device.

[0041] In this embodiment, the passage 12 is formed so that the light fixture body 1 can be rotated 90° around the second axis Cx2 from a state in which the light outlet 10p of the light fixture body 1 is oriented in the same direction as the longitudinal direction Ds of the arm portion 42 (a first position in which the light outlet 10p is facing directly downwards when the lighting device is installed on the ceiling).

[0042] With this lighting device configuration, the luminaire body 1 can be tilted along two axes (first axis Cx1 and second axis Cx2), and by changing the distance between these two axes, both the angle and position of the light output opening 10p of the luminaire body 1 can be individually adjusted. Therefore, even when illuminating the space below the ceiling with the luminaire body 1 from above the ceiling, it is possible to tilt the luminaire body 1 significantly while adjusting the position of the light output opening 10p so that vignetting (the part where light is blocked by the ceiling or frame 2, etc.) is minimized (see Figure 8). Thus, in a ceiling-recessed lighting device, it is possible to achieve both an expanded tilting range of the luminaire body 1 and a reduction in vignetting that occurs during tilting.

[0043] Furthermore, by rotating the guide section 32 around the central axis of the frame 2, the direction of the light outlet 10p (the direction of illumination when viewing the space below the ceiling in a plan view) can be changed while the luminaire body 1 remains tilted.

[0044] Furthermore, with the sliding mechanism 3, when the luminaire body 1 is in the first position (with the light outlet 10p facing directly downwards), the movable part 31 can be slid along the guide part 32 (specifically, by sliding the movable part 31 in two stages by the first guide part 321 and the second guide part 322), thereby allowing the movable part 31 to move up and down between a first position P1 (see Figure 9) in which the luminaire body 1 protrudes downwards through the mounting hole Kt, and a second position P2 (see Figure 4) in which the luminaire body 1 is retracted into the ceiling space through the mounting hole Kt.

[0045] In this embodiment, as described above, the lamp body 1 can be rotated 90° around the second axis Cx2 from the first position. By utilizing this, the movable part 31 is moved to the first position P1, causing the lamp body 1 to protrude below the ceiling (see Figure 9). Then, by rotating the lamp body 1 90° around the second axis Cx2, the light output opening 10p can be directed horizontally (see Figure 10).

[0046] Thus, depending on the application, the lighting device of this embodiment can have the light fixture body 1 protrude below the ceiling or retract into the space above the ceiling.

[0047] [2] Variant The configuration described above, in which the lamp body 1 is tilted by the arm portion 42 (which is extendable and has two axes), can also be applied to lighting devices in which the sliding mechanism 3 does not have a two-stage sliding mechanism for the movable part 31, and to lighting devices that do not have a sliding mechanism 3.

[0048] The above-described embodiments and modifications should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, rather than by the above-described embodiments and modifications. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0049] 1 Light fixture body 2 frame 3. Sliding mechanism 4 Support mechanism 10 cases 10p Light Emission Port 11 partition plates 11a Front 11b Back 12 aisles 21 Cylindrical section 22 Flange section 31 Moving parts 32 Guide section 33 Beam section 34 Fixtures 41 Base section 41a Bottom side 42 Arm section Ds Longitudinal Direction Kt mounting holes P1 1st position P2 2nd position 201 Guide groove 301 Nail part 302 Slit 303 Protrusion 321 First Guide Section 321a Outer bottom surface 321b Inner bottom surface 321x bottom 322 Second Guide Section 322a Inner bottom surface 322t lip 421 First Arm Component 422 Second Arm Component Cx1 1st axis Cx2 2nd axis

Claims

1. It is a lighting device that is installed embedded in the ceiling. The light fixture body and A support mechanism that supports the lamp body so that it can tilt, Equipped with, The aforementioned support mechanism is A base portion is installed above the main body of the lamp, An arm portion that is extendable and retractable in its longitudinal direction, having a first axis pivotally supported on the base portion and a second axis pivotally supported on the lamp body, and capable of tilting the lamp body with respect to these two axes, and of changing the distance between the two axes by extending and retracting in the longitudinal direction, Lighting devices, including...

2. The lamp body is provided with a second axis of the arm portion inside, and a passage is formed therein that allows the arm portion to rotate around the second axis. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the arm rotates around the second axis through the passage when the orientation of the luminaire body is changed between a first orientation in which the light-emitting opening of the luminaire body is pointed directly downward and a second orientation in which the luminaire body is tilted in which the light-emitting opening is pointed diagonally downward.

3. A frame that fits into a mounting hole made in the ceiling, A slide mechanism provided on the frame, comprising a movable part and a guide part that holds the movable part so that it can slide in the vertical direction, Furthermore, The base portion is fixed to the movable portion, The lighting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide portion holds the movable portion so that it can move up and down between a first position in which the light fixture body protrudes downward from the ceiling through the mounting hole and a second position in which the light fixture body is retracted into the space above the ceiling through the mounting hole.

4. The aforementioned guide portion is A first guide portion holds the movable portion so that it can slide vertically, Furthermore, a second guide portion holds the first guide portion so that it can slide in the same direction as the sliding direction of the movable portion, Includes, The lighting device according to claim 3, wherein the sliding of the light fixture body can be performed in two stages by the sliding of the first guide portion relative to the second guide portion and the sliding of the movable portion relative to the first guide portion.