Suspension unit for light-emitting device, and suspension structure for light-emitting device

Abstract

[Problem] To enable installation of a light-emitting device below a sprinkler head while complying with the installation standards of the head. [Solution] A suspension unit (30) is for suspending a light-emitting device (20) from a ceiling (10) and comprises: a plurality of hanging columns (31) fixed to the ceiling; and a support part (32) for supporting the light-emitting device (20) provided at a lower part of the plurality of hanging columns (31). The suspension unit (30) is configured so that all of the plurality of hanging columns (31) are outside an open range H in the horizontal direction centered on a sprinkler head SP and determined by the installation standards of the head, and the support part (32) is provided at the lower part of the hanging columns (31) so that the support part is outside an open range (height V) in the vertical direction from the head determined by the installation standards.

Description

Hanging device for luminous fixture and hanging structure for luminous fixture

[0001] The present invention relates to a hanging device for hanging a light-emitting device from a ceiling.

[0002] The applicant of the present application has previously developed a light-emitting device by connecting multiple light-emitting elements such as LEDs vertically, and has provided artworks in which a large number of these light-emitting devices are suspended from the ceiling (Non-Patent Document 1). These artworks, in which a three-dimensional object is created by a collection of light points and the viewer can enter the work, have been well-received as highly immersive works. In particular, by mirroring the ceiling, floor, and walls of the indoor space in which these many light-emitting devices are suspended, the viewer can be given the impression that the light emitted by the light-emitting devices is spreading infinitely.

[0003] teamLab, “The Infinite Crystal Universe”, [online], 2018, [Retrieved January 5, 2024], Internet<URL: https: / / www.teamlab.art / jp / w / infinite_crystaluniverse / >

[0004] Incidentally, sprinklers are required to be installed in rooms with a certain floor area. The aforementioned work by the applicant is also intended to be exhibited in a room with a relatively large floor area, so at least one sprinkler head (watering device) must be installed on the ceiling of the room. Furthermore, sprinkler head installation standards vary depending on the type, size, purpose, building height, and room floor of the facility, as well as by country and region. However, to prevent interference with the sprinkler head's spray, basically, no other objects are permitted within a certain horizontal radius from the head and a certain vertical height from the head. For example, within a cylindrical area within a 30 cm horizontal radius and 45 cm vertical radius from the head, objects such as lighting fixtures and partitions are prohibited. In this specification, the area around the sprinkler head where no objects can be placed is referred to as the "open area."

[0005] Because sprinkler head installation standards must be observed, when exhibiting the aforementioned works, it was not possible to hang luminous devices from the ceiling around the sprinkler heads. For this reason, the applicant of the present application has dealt with this problem by not installing luminous devices around or below the sprinkler heads, but instead using them as a walkway for spectators. However, there is a demand for suspending luminous devices below the sprinkler heads in order to reduce the restrictions imposed on the exhibition of works, broaden the scope of expression of the works, and increase the sense of immersion in the works.

[0006] Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to increase the degree of freedom in installing light-emitting devices by allowing light-emitting devices to be installed below the head while complying with the installation standards for sprinkler heads.

[0007] The inventor of the present invention has thoroughly investigated means for solving the above-mentioned problems and developed a hanging device with a structure that can avoid an open area around a sprinkler head. By installing this hanging device around the sprinkler head and hanging a light-emitting device from this hanging device, it is possible to install a light-emitting device below the head while complying with sprinkler head installation standards. Based on this finding, the inventor has come up with the idea that the above-mentioned problems can be solved and has completed the present invention. Specifically, the present invention has the following configuration.

[0008] A first aspect of the present invention relates to a hanger 30 for suspending a light-emitting device 20 from a ceiling 10. Note that the light-emitting device 20 suspended by the hanger 30 is not limited to the above-mentioned light-emitting device having a plurality of light-emitting elements (such as LEDs) connected vertically, but may also be a general lighting device such as a pendant light or a spotlight. The hanger 30 according to the present invention has a plurality of hanging poles 31 and a support portion 32. Each hanging pole 31 is fixed to the ceiling 10. The support portion 32 is provided at the bottom of the plurality of hanging poles 31, and the light-emitting device 20 is supported by this support portion 32. Here, the hanger 30 according to the present invention is configured so that all of the plurality of hanging poles 31 can be located outside the horizontal opening range (radius H) centered on the sprinkler head SP as defined by the installation standards for the head. Furthermore, in the hanger 30 according to the present invention, the support portion 32 is provided at the bottom of the hanging pole 31 so as to be outside the vertical opening range (height V) from the head SP as defined by the installation standards. Therefore, by installing this suspending device 30 around the sprinkler head SP, it is possible to ensure an open area around the head SP using this suspending device 30. In particular, even if directly below the sprinkler head SP, the light-emitting device 20 can be suspended as long as it is separated from the head SP by a predetermined height V. In this way, by using the suspending device 30 of the present invention, it is possible to install the light-emitting device 20 while complying with the installation standards for the head SP, even if it is directly below the sprinkler head SP.

[0009] In the hanger 30 according to the present invention, the suspension poles 31 are preferably formed in a cylindrical shape having through holes 31a through which one or more cables 23 connected to the light emitting device 20 can be inserted. By making the suspension poles 31 of the hanger 30 cylindrical in this way, the cables 23 extending from the light emitting device 20 can be concealed and the cables 23 can be guided up to the ceiling.

[0010] In the hanging device 30 according to the present invention, it is preferable that a hanging bolt 31b is further inserted into the through hole 31a of the hanging pole 31, and the hanging pole 31 is fixed to the ceiling 10 using this hanging bolt 31b. By using the hanging bolt 31b in this manner, the hanging device 30 can be stably fixed to the ceiling 10.

[0011] In the hanging device 30 according to the present invention, the support portion 32 preferably includes a frame body 32a and a plurality of cross members 32b. The frame body 32a is fixed to the suspension pole 31. The cross members 32b are fixed to the frame body 32a with gaps between them. The light-emitting device 20 is preferably supported by the cross members 32b of the support portion 32. By fixing the plurality of cross members 32b to the frame body 32a with gaps in this way, even in the unlikely event that a fire breaks out in the room and water spraying from the sprinkler head SP becomes necessary, water passes through the gaps between the cross members 32b, and the hanging device 30 does not interfere with the water spraying.

[0012] A second aspect of the present invention relates to a suspension structure 100 in which a light-emitting device 20 is suspended from a ceiling 10. The suspension structure 100 according to the present invention comprises a ceiling surface 11, a support structure 13 provided on the back side of the ceiling surface 11, a sprinkler head SP provided on the front side of the ceiling surface 11, and a suspension device 30 for suspending the light-emitting device 20 below the sprinkler head SP. The suspension device 30 has a plurality of suspension poles 31 fixed to the support structure 13, and support parts 32 provided at the bottom of the plurality of suspension poles 31 for supporting the light-emitting devices 20. All of the plurality of suspension poles 31 are configured to be outside the horizontal opening range (radius H) centered on the sprinkler head SP as defined in the installation standards for the sprinkler head SP, and the support parts 32 are provided at the bottom of the suspension poles 31 so as to be outside the vertical opening range (height V) from the head SP as defined in the installation standards.

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to install a light-emitting device below the sprinkler head while complying with the installation standards for the head, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in installing the light-emitting device.

[0014] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a hanging structure for a light-emitting device from the side, Fig. 2 is a perspective view mainly showing the configuration of the hanging tool, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view mainly showing the internal configuration of the hanging pole of the hanging tool.

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and includes appropriate modifications of the embodiments described below within the scope obvious to those skilled in the art.

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a suspension structure 100 for a light-emitting device 20 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is intended to install a large number of light-emitting devices 20 in a windowless exhibition room with mirrored floors, ceilings, and walls. The light-emitting devices 20 are composed of a plurality of light-emitting elements 21, such as LEDs, connected vertically by connectors 22. A large number of these light-emitting devices 20 are suspended from the ceiling 10 of the exhibition room. Cables 23 that supply power and control signals to the light-emitting devices 20 are located on the underside of the ceiling 10. Some light-emitting devices 20 are long enough to reach from the ceiling 10 to the floor, while others are long enough to reach only above the heads of visitors. By adjusting the length of the light-emitting devices 20, a walkway for visitors can be created within the exhibition room. Such light-emitting devices 20 are already known, as disclosed in the aforementioned non-patent document 1.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1 , a sprinkler head SP is installed on the front side (inside the room) of the ceiling 10 of an exhibition room. While there are various installation standards for sprinkler heads SP, when visitors are invited into a windowless exhibition room, such as the exhibition room of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , and a large number of light-emitting devices 20 are installed, installing a sprinkler on the ceiling 10 is essential for fire prevention and visitor safety. Furthermore, there is an "open area" around the sprinkler head SP, where installation standards prohibit placing other objects to prevent obstruction to water spraying. In FIG. 1 , this open area is indicated by a dot-dash line. As shown in FIG. 1 , the open area extends horizontally from the sprinkler head SP to a radius H. In other words, the diameter of the open area is 2H. Furthermore, when viewed vertically, the open area extends directly below the sprinkler head SP to a height V. This cylindrical area with a radius H and a height V is the open area where placing objects around the sprinkler head SP is prohibited. The standards for the radius H and height V of the open range vary depending on the country or region, but typically the radius H is 20 to 50 cm and the height V is 30 to 70 cm. More specifically, the radius H is 30 cm and the height V is 45 cm. Because it is prohibited to place other objects within a certain range in the horizontal and vertical directions of the sprinkler head SP, it has traditionally been impossible to install a light-emitting device 20 or the like below the sprinkler head SP.

[0018] The present invention relates to a suspending device 30 that enables a light-emitting device 20 to be installed primarily below a sprinkler head SP. FIG. 1 shows an overview of this suspending device 30. As shown in FIG. 1, the suspending device 30 is configured to suspend the light-emitting device 20 below the open area around the sprinkler head SP while avoiding the open area around the sprinkler head SP. Specifically, the suspending device 30 includes multiple suspension poles 31 fixed to the ceiling 10 and support parts 32 provided at the bottom of the suspension poles 31. The suspension poles 31 and support parts 32 are provided so as to surround the open area around the sprinkler head SP, but none of them are within this open area. Therefore, even if a suspending device 30 having such a structure is placed around the sprinkler head SP, it does not violate the installation standards. More specifically, the spacing between the suspension poles 31 is equal to or greater than the diameter 2H of the open area, and the support parts 32 are positioned at a height V or greater from the sprinkler head SP. One or more light-emitting devices 20 can be hung from the support portion 32 of the hanger 30. Therefore, it is possible to install light-emitting devices 20 below the open range. Furthermore, as in the example shown in Figure 1, the sprinkler head SP and the hanger 30 are hidden behind the light-emitting device 20 from the audience's line of sight, so the head SP and the hanger 30 are not noticeable to the audience.

[0019] FIG. 2 shows a more specific configuration of the ceiling 10 and the hanging device 30. Note that FIG. 2 simplifies the configuration of the light-emitting device 20. As shown in FIG. 2 , the ceiling 10 is provided with a plate-shaped ceiling surface 11, which separates the interior of the exhibition room from the attic. Holes 12 are formed in the ceiling surface 11 at predetermined intervals, and the hanging poles 31 of the light-emitting devices 20 and the hanging devices 30 are mainly inserted into these holes 12. In addition, a support structure 13 is provided on the back side (attic) of the ceiling surface 11 to support the ceiling surface 11 and to secure the light-emitting devices 20 and the hanging devices 30. In the example shown in FIG. 2 , the support structure 13 is formed by arranging multiple angle members 14 with L-shaped cross sections in parallel at approximately equal intervals. The ceiling surface 11 is fixed to the bottom surface (horizontal surface) of each angle member 14, and the hanging poles 31 of the light-emitting devices 20 and the hanging devices 30 can be secured to the elevation surface (vertical surface) of each angle member 14. There are no particular limitations on the method for fixing the ceiling surface 11, the light emitting device 20, and the suspension pole 31 to the angle member 14, and known fixing metal fittings may be used.

[0020] 2, the suspension device 30 has four suspension poles 31. Each suspension pole 31 penetrates the ceiling surface 11 and is fixed to a support structure 13 (angle member 14) provided above the ceiling. It is preferable that the number of suspension poles 31 is four or more, but it is also possible to use two or three.

[0021] In the hanger 30, the lower end of each suspension pole 31 is provided with a support portion 32 capable of suspending a light-emitting device 20, as described above. In the example shown in FIG. 2 , the support portion 32 includes a frame body 32a. This frame body 32a is configured to surround all of the suspension poles 31 using a plate-like member spanning between adjacent suspension poles 31, with the interior of the frame body 32a being an opening. The support portion 32 further includes a plurality of cross members 32b provided in the opening within the frame body 32a. Each cross member 32b is fixed so as to span the plate-like member constituting the frame body 32a. Specifically, in the example shown in FIG. 2 , four suspension poles 31 are installed, and the frame body 32a surrounding them is rectangular in plan view. Each cross member 32b extends parallel to the diagonal direction of the rectangular shape of the frame body 32a. In other words, the cross members 32b are basically bridged diagonally between the plate-like members corresponding to adjacent sides of the rectangular frame body 32a. As shown in the example in Figure 2, the cross members 32b may be bridged between two diagonally positioned suspension columns 31 among the suspension columns 31 installed at the four corners of the rectangular shape. In this way, the cross members 32b are arranged parallel to the diagonal direction of the rectangular frame body 32a with a predetermined gap between them.

[0022] Furthermore, the horizontal member 32b of the hanger 30 has an elevation (vertical surface) that is approximately perpendicular to the ceiling surface 11 or the floor surface, and this elevation surface is designed to allow the light emitting device 20 to be fixed. There are no particular restrictions on the method for fixing the light emitting device 20 to this horizontal member 32b, and a known fixing metal fitting may be used, similar to the angle member 14 described above. While Fig. 2 shows, as an example, a state in which one light emitting device 20 is fixed to the horizontal member 32b of the hanger 30, it is possible to fix a plurality of light emitting devices 20 to this horizontal member 32b.

[0023] Furthermore, it is preferable that the extending direction of the horizontal member 32b of the hanging device 30 and the extending direction of the angle member 14 in the ceiling are approximately parallel in a plan view. This allows the regularity of fixing the light emitting devices 20 to the horizontal member 32b of the hanging device 30 and the regularity of fixing the light emitting devices 20 to the angle member 14 in the ceiling to be unified, so that the sense of unity of the entire artwork is not lost even at the locations where the light emitting devices 20 are fixed to the hanging device 30.

[0024] 3 shows a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the suspension pole 31 of the suspension device 30. The suspension pole 31 of the suspension device 30 is cylindrical (square cylindrical) with a through-hole 31a that penetrates in the vertical direction. A suspension bolt 31b is first inserted into the through-hole 31a of the suspension pole 31. The lower end portion of the suspension bolt 31b is connected by being screwed into a screw hole or the like (not shown) provided in the lower end of the suspension pole 31, and the upper end portion of the suspension pole 31 protrudes above the upper end of the suspension pole 31. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper end portion of the suspension bolt 31b protruding from the suspension pole 31 is fixed to an angle member 14 above the ceiling by a fixing bracket or the like.

[0025] Furthermore, the cable 23 connected to the light-emitting device 20 suspended from the suspension device 30 can be inserted through the through-hole 31a of the suspension pole 31. As shown in FIG. 3 , a connector 24 is usually coupled to the end of the cable 23, and the through-hole 31a of the suspension pole 31 has sufficient space to allow this connector 24 to pass through. Therefore, the cable 23 can be stored inside the through-hole 31a by inserting the connector 24 from the lower end of the through-hole 31a of the suspension pole 31 and pulling it out from the upper end. Also, as in the example shown in FIG. 3 , it is possible to store multiple cables 23 in the through-hole 31a of the suspension pole 31. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2 , since the upper end of the suspension pole 31 reaches the ceiling, the cable 23 can be led to the ceiling via the through-hole 31a of the suspension pole 31. Therefore, by utilizing the through-hole 31a of the suspension pole 31, the cable 23 connected to the light-emitting device 20 can be made almost invisible to visitors in the exhibition room.

[0026] In the above description of the present invention, the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings in order to express the contents of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and includes modifications and improvements that are obvious to those skilled in the art based on the matters described in the present specification.

[0027] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10...Ceiling 11...Ceiling surface 12...Hole 13...Support structure 14...Angle member 20...Light-emitting device 21...Light-emitting element 22...Connector 23...Cable 24...Connector 30...Hanging device 31...Hanging pole 31a...Through-hole 31b...Hanging bolt 32...Support portion 32a...Frame body 32b...Horizontal member 100...Hanging structure SP...Sprinkler head

Claims

1. A hanging tool (30) for hanging a lighting fixture (20) on a ceiling (10), comprising: a plurality of hanging columns (31) fixed to the ceiling; and a support portion (32) provided at the lower portions of the plurality of hanging columns for supporting the lighting fixture, wherein all of the plurality of hanging columns are configured to be outside a horizontal opening range centered on the head defined by the installation standard of a sprinkler head (SP), and the support portion is provided at the lower portion of the hanging column so as to be outside a vertical opening range from the head defined by the installation standard.

2. The hanging tool according to claim 1, wherein the hanging column is formed in a cylindrical shape having a through hole (31a) through which one or more cables connected to the lighting fixture can be inserted.

3. The hanging tool according to claim 2, wherein a suspension bolt (31b) is further inserted through the through hole of the hanging column, and the hanging column is fixed to the ceiling using the suspension bolt.

4. The hanging tool according to claim 1, wherein the support portion includes a frame body (32a) fixed to the hanging column and a plurality of horizontal members (32b) fixed to the frame body with a gap therebetween, and the lighting fixture is supported by the horizontal members.

5. A hanging structure (100) for hanging a lighting fixture (20) on a ceiling (10), comprising: a ceiling surface (11); a support structure (12) provided on the back side of the ceiling surface; a sprinkler head (SP) provided on the front side of the ceiling surface; and a hanging tool (30) for hanging the lighting fixture below the sprinkler head, wherein the hanging tool includes a plurality of hanging columns (31) fixed to the support structure and a support portion (32) provided at the lower portions of the plurality of hanging columns for supporting the lighting fixture, wherein all of the plurality of hanging columns are configured to be outside a horizontal opening range centered on the head defined by the installation standard of the sprinkler head (SP), and the support portion is provided at the lower portion of the hanging column so as to be outside a vertical opening range from the head defined by the installation standard.

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