Lighting apparatus of the spot type with means for quick replacement of accessories

Abstract

The lighting apparatus described has a structure comprising a container designed to house optical elements such as lenses, screens and optical filters. In addition, there are reversible coupling means for such optical elements. These means are designed to be easily accessible and operable from the light emission mouth of the lighting apparatus. This allows the user to insert, replace or remove the optical elements associated with the spotlight in a quick and easy manner, even with one hand, without the need to remove the spotlight from the installation position thereof.

Description

[0001] “LIGHTING APPARATUS OF THE SPOT TYPE WITH MEANS FOR QUICK REPLACEMENT OF ACCESSORIES”

[0002] ********************

[0003] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates to the technical field of lighting apparatuses, in particular to the technical field of lighting devices of the so-called spotlight type (often simply called spots) adapted to project light beams which may have different and adjustable shapes, diffusion axes and emission cones.

[0005] BACKGROUND ART

[0006] So-called spotlight lighting apparatuses, or, more simply, “spots”, an abbreviation of the term “cantilever spot”, are adapted to project light beams which may have different and adjustable shapes, diffusion axes and emission cones.

[0007] Apparatuses of this type are known in the art. They generally consist of a container casing which may be of various shapes and sizes, provided with an arm for the connection to a base configured to fix the spotlight to a wall, ceiling, or electrified track by means of an adapter which provides both for mechanical coupling as well as electrical coupling.

[0008] Said container generally houses an optical group, in turn comprising at least one LED lighting source and means for modifying the emitted light beam comprising, for example: lenses and reflectors, additional optical filters and other accessories adapted to concentrate and shape the emitted light beam according to the needs.

[0009] The major manufacturers of lighting apparatuses create and offer spotlights equipped with a series of accessories capable of offering different performances in terms of lighting produced. These accessories, as previously mentioned, are associated with the optical group of the spotlight and are inserted or replaced whenever it is necessary to adapt the emission of the spotlight to the changed needs of the environment in which it is installed.

[0010] It is the main object of the use of a spotlight to provide lighting capable of highlighting 3D items or surfaces having different and changeable features. The spotlight allows a very high level of flexibility, both from a mechanical point of view and in terms of installation and orientation, as well as from the point of view of light emission. The light cones emitted, in fact, may be easily modified in a symmetrical and asymmetrical manner and they may also be partially obscured to avoid unwanted glare effects.

[0011] This flexibility of use and application is unique. In museum and exhibition environments, for example, the readjustment of the emission configuration and of the glare control of a lighting installation is frequent and shall be managed swiftly. Very often, interventions of this type require the addition or replacement of one or more accessories for previously installed spotlights. It is therefore very important that these accessories, and in particular the lenses and the optical filters which belong to these accessories, may be installed and replaced simply and in a quick and precise manner, possibly without the need to remove the spotlight from the operating position thereof, and possibly using only one hand, so as to allow a greater degree of safety to the operator performing the intervention when the spotlight is installed in positions which are particularly difficult to reach.

[0012] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The lighting apparatus of the spotlight or spot type according to the present description allows solving the issues described by means of a structure which comprises a container configured to house optical elements such as lenses, screens and optical filters, and reversible coupling means for these optical elements. Said reversible coupling means are configured to be accessible and operable from the light emission mouth of the lighting apparatus so as to make simple and quick the insertion, replacement or removal of the optical elements associable with the spotlight by a user, even using only one hand and without the need to remove the spotlight from the position in which it is installed.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, said reversible coupling means for the optical elements of the spotlight according to the present description comprise at least one first spring, preferably but not necessarily of the wire type, configured to provide a support for the accessory which is inserted - and in particular for the peripheral part of said accessory - by deforming and generating a thrust in the opposite direction with respect to that of insertion, and at least one second spring, preferably but not necessarily of the leaf type, configured to deform so as to allow the insertion of the edge of the accessory and then return to the resting position when the edge of the accessory is completely inserted.

[0015] Upon the insertion of the accessory, the second spring provides a stop to the periphery of the inserted accessory which is pushed towards said second spring due to the thrust received from the first spring underneath.

[0016] The second spring is made so as to be easily compressed by the manual action of a user, so as to allow the edge of the previously inserted accessory to come out. Therefore, the removal of any accessory of the spotlight is extremely easy and may be carried out by any user, without the need for tools or instruments.

[0017] The tension and mutual positioning of the two springs, with the first spring anchored more internally but with more protruding ends and the second spring anchored more externally, determines the maximum height that the edges of the inserted accessories may occupy and the maximum number of accessories which may be used simultaneously.

[0018] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0019] Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description provided by way of non-limiting example and illustrated in the accompanying Figures, in which:

[0020] Figure 1 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of the lighting apparatus according to the present description in which no accessory is inserted;

[0021] Figure 2 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of the lighting apparatus according to the present description in which an accessory consisting of a filter adapted to modify the emitted light cone is inserted;

[0022] Figure 3 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of the lighting apparatus according to the present description in which the accessory consisting of a filter adapted to modify the emitted light cone is released during the insertion or removal step; Figure 4 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of the lighting apparatus according to the present description configured to accommodate four different accessories, also shown externally to the apparatus;

[0023] Figure 5 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of the lighting apparatus according to the present description configured to accommodate four different accessories, also shown inserted into the apparatus, and

[0024] Figure 6 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of the lighting apparatus according to the present description configured to accommodate two different accessories, also shown inserted into the apparatus.

[0025] Figure 7 shows an axonometric view of an embodiment of the first spring of the wire type;

[0026] Figure 8 shows an axonometric view of an embodiment of the first spring of the wire type;

[0027] Figure 9 shows an axonometric view of an embodiment of the spotlight according to the present description in which the light emission mouth and the reversible coupling means for the optical elements of the spotlight are visible;

[0028] Figure 10 shows an axonometric and sectional view of an embodiment of the spotlight according to the present description in which the light emission mouth and the reversible coupling means for the optical elements of the spotlight are visible;

[0029] Figure 11 shows an axonometric view of an embodiment of the spotlight according to the present description in which an optical accessory is visible during the step of being extracted from the light emission mouth, and

[0030] Figure 12 shows a detail of the light emission mouth of an embodiment of the spotlight according to the present description, in which the distance between the ends of the first spring and the second spring is highlighted.

[0031] The following description of exemplary embodiments relates to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in different drawings identify the same elements or similar elements. The following detailed description does not limit the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the accompanying claims. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] The spotlight lighting apparatus according to the present description comprises a container casing 10 comprising an optical group therewithin configured to emit a light beam. Said optical group in turn comprises one or more LED light sources and associated accessories 14 for modifying the light beam emitted by the one or more light sources.

[0033] In preferred embodiments, said accessories for modifying the light beam comprise lenses, reflectors, additional optical filters and other devices adapted to concentrate and shape the light beam emitted by the LEDs, according to the needs.

[0034] Furthermore, said optical group comprises reversible coupling means for these accessories; reversible coupling means which are configured to be accessible and operable from the light emission mouth 11 of the spotlight so as to make the insertion, replacement or removal of the accessories associable with the spotlight simple and quick, by a user, even using only one hand and without the need to remove the spotlight from the position in which it is installed.

[0035] With reference to the accompanying Figure 1 , which shows a preferred embodiment of the spotlight according to the present description, said reversible coupling means for the optical elements of the spotlight comprise at least one first spring 12, configured to provide support for the accessory being inserted. The first spring 12 provides the aforesaid support by deforming and generating a counterthrust directed in the opposite direction to the direction of insertion of the accessory.

[0036] Said reversible coupling means further comprise at least one second spring 13, configured to deform, thus reducing the size thereof so as to allow the insertion of the edge of the accessory, and then recover the resting position and size thereof when the edge of the accessory is completely inserted.

[0037] In the resting position, the edge of the second spring 13 acts on the edge of the accessory so as to oppose the thrust that the accessory itself receives from the first spring 12. The second spring 13 at rest therefore provides a stop to the edge of the accessory which is thus maintained in the correct operating position. The second spring 13 is made and positioned so that it may be easily reached and compressed by a user by means of the light emission mouth 11 of the spotlight. Preferably, the spotlight according to this description comprises two first springs 12 and two second springs 13 for a total of 4 springs overall. Said 4 springs form two pairs, comprising a first spring 12 and a second spring 13, arranged so that the respective pressure points correspond. The two pairs of springs are fixed to the edge of the container 10 of the spotlight, inside the light emission mouth 11 , in diametrically opposed positions.

[0038] The introduction of an accessory 14 into the spotlight is very simply achieved by inserting said accessory 14 into the light emission mouth of the spotlight and by exerting a slight pressure onto the accessory directed towards the inside of the spotlight. Under the effect of the pressure applied to the accessory, both the first spring 12 and the second spring 13 deform due to the thrust exerted by the edge of the accessory 14, thus allowing the edge of the accessory to be introduced. The introduction proceeds until reaching the position in which the edge of the accessory 14 is squeezed between the first spring 12 and the edge of the second spring 13 as shown in the accompanying Figure 2. The accessory 14 is stably positioned being subject to the thrust of the first spring 12 against the stop offered by the edge of the second spring 13.

[0039] The extraction of an accessory 14 from the spotlight is also simple:

[0040] The back of the second spring 13 is visible and reachable from the light emission mouth 11 of the spotlight. By simply pressing a finger on the back of the second spring 13, a user may compress the second spring 13 until the edge of the accessory 14 passes over it upon the push received from the first spring 12 directed towards the light emission mouth 11 and towards the outside of the spotlight. Thereby, the accessory 14 is in the position shown in Figure 3 and Figure 11 : on one side still held by the first spring 12 and the second spring 13, on the other side free and facing towards the outside of the light emission mouth 11 , ready to be extracted by the user. Therefore, the insertion and removal of any accessory of the spotlight are characterized by extreme ease and may be carried out by any user by using only one hand and without the need for tools or instruments.

[0041] Advantageously, the profile of said first spring 12 may be selected so as to present a plurality of support points for the accessory 14. In the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying Figure 7 and Figure 8, said first spring 12 has three support points 17, 18, 19, by means of which the accessory 14 is supported and pushed towards the second spring 13 during operation.

[0042] In a preferred embodiment, in the resting position (i.e., without accessories inserted), the first spring 12 is positioned so that the support points for the accessory 14 are more external, i.e., closer to the light emission mouth 11 of the container 10, with respect to the second spring 13, as shown in the accompanying Figure 1. To define the exact mutual positioning of the two springs, the first spring 12 and the second spring 13, and to select the compression force of the two springs, the maximum height that the edges of the inserted accessories may occupy, and therefore the maximum number of accessories that may be used simultaneously, must also be taken into consideration.

[0043] Furthermore, preferably the first spring 12 and the second spring 13 are arranged so that the minimum distance 25 between the facing ends of said first spring 12 and of said second spring 13 is smaller than the thickness of the accessory 14.

[0044] This means that, after the operator has freed one side of the edge of the accessory 14 by acting on the second spring 13 arranged on that side, the accessory 14 is set in rotation by the effect of the thrust of the first spring 12. Such rotation occurs with respect to a rotation axis approximately coinciding with the edge of the second spring 13 up to an equilibrium point in which the edge of the accessory 14 is retained by the concurrent action of the first spring 12 and the second spring 13.

[0045] The accompanying Figure 12 shows the trajectory 26 travelled by the end of the spring 12 after the accessory 14 has been freed on one side. During the movement of the end of the first spring 12 and the second spring 13 following the disengagement of one side of the accessory 14, the fact that the minimum mutual distance between the ends of said first 12 and second 13 springs is smaller than the thickness of the accessory 14 ensures that the accessory 14 remains held between the two springs and that it does not fall. Thereby, the user may conveniently extract it.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment, said at least one second spring 13 is made with a leaf spring and said at least one first spring 12 is made with a wire spring configured to engage, at the two ends 15, 16, with appropriate seats obtained on the internal part of the container 10 of the spotlight, at the light emission mouth 11 .

[0047] In another preferred embodiment, both said first spring 12 and said second spring 13 are made of springs of the leaf type. Also in this case, the first spring 12 behaves in the manner described above: during the step of introducing the accessory 14, it deforms due to the thrust exerted by the edge of the accessory 14 (which correspondingly compresses the second spring 13), thus allowing the introduction of the edge of the accessory. The introduction of the accessory 14 proceeds until reaching the position in which the edge of the accessory 14 is squeezed between the first spring 12 and the edge of the second spring 13, and the accessory 14 is stably positioned being subject to the thrust of the first spring 12 against the stop offered by the edge of the second spring 13.

[0048] The accessories which may be used in the optical group of the spotlight according to the present description are numerous and may comprise, as previously stated, lenses, screens and optical filters and also devices for shielding the light beam emitted so as to prevent glare phenomena. The accompanying Figure 4 shows 4 different accessories: a first filter 14, a second filter 20, a first honeycomb screen 21 , configured to remain inside the container 10, and a second visor screen 22, configured to protrude outside the light emission mouth 11 of the container 10.

[0049] The accompanying Figure 5 shows the aforesaid 4 different accessories installed one above the other and correctly maintained in the correct position by the combined action of the first spring 12 and the second spring 13.

[0050] In another embodiment shown in Figure 6, the installed accessories comprise a filter 14 and a ring 23 configured to support external flaps 24. In general, said ring 23 may be replaced by a support of another type for said external flaps 24 and, more generally, for external anti-glare devices.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A lighting apparatus of the spotlight type comprising an external container(10) having a light emission mouth (11) and configured to accommodate accessories (14, 20, 21 , 22), and reversible coupling means for said accessories, said reversible coupling means being configured to be accessible and operable from the light emission mouth (11) of the lighting apparatus so as to allow insertion, replacement or removal of accessories by a user, characterized in that said reversible coupling means for the optical elements comprise at least one first spring (12) configured to provide a support for the accessory which is inserted into the light emission mouth(11 ), deforming and generating a thrust in the direction opposite to the insertion direction of the accessory, and at least one second spring (13) configured to deform, so as to allow the insertion and extraction of the edge of the accessory, and then return to the resting position when the edge of the accessory is inserted or extracted completely, the edge of said second spring (13) in the resting position being adapted to provide a stop to the edge of the accessory when inserted.

2. A lighting apparatus according to the preceding claim, wherein said at least one first spring (12) is of the wire type and said at least one second spring (13) is of the leaf type.

3. A lighting apparatus according to the preceding claim, wherein said at least one first spring (12) is made with a wire spring configured to engage, at the two ends (15, 16), with appropriate seats obtained on the internal part of the container (10), at the light emission mouth (11 ).

4. A lighting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one first spring (12) and said at least one second spring (13) are of the leaf type.

5. A lighting apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising two first springs (12) and two second springs (13) arranged in two pairs, each pair comprising a first spring (12) and a second spring (13) arranged so that the respective pressure points correspond, the first spring(12) and the second spring (13) of each pair being fastened to the edge ofthe container (10), inside the light emission mouth (11 ), in positions diametrically opposite with respect to the first spring (12) and second spring (13) of the other pair.

6. A lighting apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one first spring (12) has a profile comprising a plurality of support points for said accessories (14) when installed.

7. A lighting apparatus according to the preceding claim, wherein said at least one first spring (12) has a profile comprising three support points (17, 18,19) for said accessories (14) when installed.

8. A lighting apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the first spring (12) is positioned so that the support points for said accessories (14) are more external with respect to the second spring (13) when said first spring ( 12) is in the resting position.

9. A lighting apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said first spring (12) and said second spring (13) are arranged so that the minimum distance (25) between the facing ends of said first spring (12) and of said second spring (13) is smaller than the thickness of the accessory (14).

10. A lighting apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said accessories are chosen from the group comprising filters (14,20), screens (21 , 22), flaps (24), anti-glare devices and supports for said anti-glare devices.

Images