Luminous base adapted to support and illuminate an object

Abstract

The invention relates to a luminous base (10) adapted to support and illuminate an object, said base (10) comprising a housing (12) having an upper receiving face (14) provided for supporting an object to be illuminated, at least one light source (20) provided for illuminating the object placed on the upper receiving face (14), characterised in that it is equipped with a detection device (32) which is designed to detect the presence or absence of an object placed on the receiving face (14), and in that the light intensity of the light source (20) is adjusted as a function of the detection of the presence or absence of an object placed on the receiving face (14).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Title: Illuminated base designed to support and illuminate an object

[0003] Scope of the invention

[0004] The present invention relates to the field of lighting fixtures.

[0005] The object of the present invention relates to a luminous base, or luminous display stand, which is adapted to support and illuminate from below an object of the container type such as, for example, a bottle which is placed on said base.

[0006] The present invention will thus find advantageous applications, on a non-exclusive basis, for showcasing wine bottles, or in any other field that requires the showcasing of objects.

[0007] The object of the present invention will find advantageous applications in the field of decoration and tableware, particularly for restaurants, bars, hotels or any place where drinks are consumed.

[0008] Of course, domestic use in private homes is also conceivable.

[0009] State of the art

[0010] We know of a light base which is described in document FR2866098 and which is designed to support and illuminate the object which is placed on it.

[0011] For this purpose, this light base comprises a housing, a plurality of light sources which are powered by an electrical energy accumulator housed in the housing or by an external electrical energy source.

[0012] The housing features a top surface designed to support the object to be illuminated. This surface is made of translucent material, and the light sources are arranged inside the housing, beneath the translucent surface.

[0013] The light sources are directed upwards, so as to illuminate the object placed on the receiving face from below.

[0014] In addition, the light base according to document FR2866098 includes a first three-position switch intended to select an on mode in which the light sources are on, an off mode in which the light sources are off and a charging mode which allows the battery to be charged.

[0015] Furthermore, the housing is equipped with a second switch that allows the selection of lighting zones by selectively switching on the light sources. Although it fulfills its function of highlighting the light, the light base according to document FR2866098 is not intuitive to use and could be improved.

[0016] Indeed, when a user lifts the object that is placed on the base, that user risks being dazzled by the light sources that are directed upwards.

[0017] The user's glare will be proportional to the power of the light sources.

[0018] This drawback prevents the use of such a light base in public places, particularly on restaurant tables to illuminate bottles.

[0019] The invention aims to remedy this state of affairs.

[0020] In particular, one objective of the invention is to provide a light base which is suitable for supporting and illuminating an object and which is designed to prevent any risk of glare for a user who lifts this object.

[0021] Description of the invention

[0022] The present invention aims to improve the situation described above.

[0023] This objective, as well as others which will appear upon reading the description that follows, is achieved with a light base adapted to support and illuminate an object.

[0024] According to the present invention, the base comprises:

[0025] a casing which has an upper surface designed to support an object to be illuminated and an opposite lower surface,

[0026] at least one light source intended to illuminate the object placed on the upper receiving surface, and

[0027] an energy source that powers said light source.

[0028] According to the present invention, the base is equipped with a detection device which is designed to detect the presence or absence of an object placed on the receiving face.

[0029] According to the present invention, the light intensity of the light source is adjusted according to the detection of the presence or absence of an object placed on the receiving face.

[0030] Thus, the light intensity of the light sources on the base can be adjusted automatically when an object is removed from the base, so as not to dazzle the person removing the object from the base.

[0031] According to other optional features of the invention, taken alone or in combination: - the light intensity of the light source is increased when the presence of an object is detected and the light intensity of the light source is decreased when the absence of an object is detected; - the light intensity of the light source is decreased to zero when the absence of an object is detected. This feature prevents glare for the person removing the object from the base;

[0032] - the detection device is a mechanical detection device;

[0033] - the detection device may include one or more optical sensors, one or more light sensors, one or more infrared type sensors;

[0034] - said mechanical detection device comprises at least:

[0035] a foot that is mounted to move between a rest position corresponding to the absence of an object placed on the receiving surface and a recessed position corresponding to the presence of an object placed on the receiving surface, and

[0036] a means of return which elastically returns the foot to its resting position and which is calibrated to allow movement of the foot towards its compressed position under the pressure exerted by the weight of said object, and

[0037] a sensor which is activated when the foot is in its pressed position and which allows the presence or absence of an object to be detected;

[0038] - the housing's receiving face includes at least one part made of translucent material, and the light source is arranged inside the housing so as to illuminate the object placed on the receiving face through said translucent part. This feature allows the light source to be positioned below the object to be illuminated;

[0039] - The base has multiple light sources. This feature helps to illuminate the object placed on the base;

[0040] - said energy source is an electrical energy accumulator which is capable of being recharged by means of a charger.

[0041] - the power source can also consist of a power outlet plugged into the mains.

[0042] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising at least one light base of the type described above, in which said base is equipped with a charging connector for the associated battery, said assembly comprising a charger defining at least one housing which is equipped with a charging socket and which is adapted to accommodate the light base in a charging position in which the charging socket cooperates with said charging connector of the light base to charge the battery.

[0043] This complex also includes several dwellings, each adapted to accommodate a light fixture. Brief description of the drawings

[0044] Other features, purposes and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description that follows, for understanding which reference should be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0045] [Fig. 1] is a side view that illustrates the light base according to the invention;

[0046] [Fig. 2] is an axial section view along axis II-II of figure 4, which illustrates the feet of the base of figure 1 in a resting position;

[0047] [Fig. 3] is an axial section view along axis II-II of figure 4, which illustrates the feet of the base of figure 1 in a recessed position;

[0048] [Fig. 4] is a view from below of the base of figure 1;

[0049] [Fig. 5] is a perspective view illustrating an assembly comprising nine light bases and a charger.

[0050] In the description and claims, the terminology vertical will be adopted without limitation, considering that the base occupies a normal use position placed on a horizontal plane according to terrestrial gravity.

[0051] Detailed description

[0052] Figure 1 shows a luminous base 10 according to the invention which is adapted to support and illuminate an object (not shown).

[0053] The object to be illuminated can be a bottle of wine, a vase, a statuette or any other object to be highlighted.

[0054] As can be seen in figure 2, the base 10 includes a housing 12 which has a circular shape extending around a central axis A.

[0055] The housing 12 is delimited by an upper reception face 14 and an opposite lower face 16. The reception face 14 is designed to support an object to be illuminated, such as a bottle or a vase for example.

[0056] For this purpose, the reception face 14 of the housing 12 includes a central part 18 of circular shape which is made of translucent material, for example of polymethyl methacrylate, better known by the trade name Plexiglas®.

[0057] Also, the housing 12 of the base 10 contains a plurality of light sources 20 which are arranged below the central translucent part 18 of the reception face 14, so as to be able to illuminate the object placed on the reception face 14 from below, through the reception face 14.

[0058] Preferably, the light sources 20 are light-emitting diodes. The light sources 20 are powered by an energy source (not visible) consisting of an electrical energy storage device housed inside the casing 12 and capable of being recharged by means of a charger 22 (or connected to mains power – not shown here). For this purpose, as can be seen in Figure 4, the underside 16 of the casing 12 has a recess 24 which houses a connector 26 for charging the storage device.

[0059] The connector 26 includes two metal tabs 28 which are connected to the accumulator via a transformer (not shown), to allow charging of the accumulator with direct current via an external alternating current power source, via the charger 22.

[0060] Furthermore, according to Figure 4, the base 10 is equipped with a push-button type switch 30 which extends through an opening made on the lower face 16 of the housing 12.

[0061] Switch 30 allows a general interruption of the electrical supply to the terminals of the accumulator.

[0062] To power and control the various electrical and electronic components of base 10, base 10 includes a printed circuit board (not shown).

[0063] In one embodiment, the printed circuit board is associated with several buttons (not shown here) which are arranged on the front of the housing 12 and which are designed in particular to select an operating mode of the base 10, for example a mode of flickering of the light sources 20, a mode of forced operation of the light sources 20 in which the light sources 20 are lit even in the absence of an object on the base 10 and a detection mode in which the light sources 20 are lit if the presence of an object on the reception face is detected.

[0064] As illustrated in Figure 1, the front of the housing is equipped with power and battery level indicators 31, for example LEDs, which gradually indicate the status to the user. The base 10 according to the invention is equipped with a detection device 32 designed to detect the presence or absence of an object placed on the upper surface 14 of the housing 12.

[0065] In the present embodiment of the invention, the detection device 32 is a mechanical detection device which includes three feet 34a, 34b, 34c regularly spaced angularly around the central axis A of the base 10, as can be seen in Figure 4.

[0066] Since the three feet 34a, 34b, 34c are identical, only foot 34a, visible in section in figures 2 and 3, will be described in detail below.

[0067] With reference to Figure 2, the foot 34a comprises a cylindrical body 36 which extends vertically around a vertical axis B, from a lower base 38 intended to bear on a support (not shown), such as a table, to an upper annular collar 40 which forms a radially projecting shoulder. The collar 40 has a first upper bearing face 42 which extends radially and which is arranged opposite a ceiling 44 integral with the housing 12, and a second lower bearing face 46 which extends radially and which is arranged opposite an annular seat 48 integral with the housing 12.

[0068] It should be noted that the foot 34a delimits an internal housing 50 open on the top, which is delimited by a radial base 52 resting on a sensor 54 attached to the housing 12.

[0069] The sensor 54 is a switch which is connected on the printed circuit board and which has a button 56 movable vertically along the axis B, between an deployed state illustrated in figure 2, in which the sensor 54 opens a trace of the printed circuit board and a retracted state illustrated in figure 3, in which the sensor closes a trace of the printed circuit board.

[0070] In addition, the sensor 54 includes an elastic return means (not shown), such as a spring, which elastically returns the button 56 to its deployed position.

[0071] In addition, the foot 34a is mounted to slide vertically along the axis B in a tubular housing 58 which is delimited by the housing 12, between a rest position, illustrated in figure 2, which corresponds to the absence of an object placed on the receiving face 14 and a pushed-in position, illustrated in figure 3, which corresponds to the presence of an object placed on the receiving face 14.

[0072] The stroke of foot 34a is limited by the collar 40 which rests on the seat 48 of the housing 12 when foot 34a is in its resting position, and which rests on the ceiling 44 when foot 34a is in its compressed position.

[0073] In the rest position of foot 34a, the button 56 of sensor 54 adopts its deployed state, so that sensor 54 opens a trace of the printed circuit board, which is interpreted as an absence of object on the home face 14.

[0074] Conversely, in the depressed position of the foot 34a, the bottom 52 of the housing 50 delimited by the foot 34a presses on the button 56 of the sensor 54 which is drawn into its retracted state, so that the sensor 54 closes a track of the printed circuit, which is interpreted as the presence of an object on the reception face 14.

[0075] Thus, the sensor 54 is activated when the foot 34a occupies its pressed position, which makes it possible to detect the presence of an object placed on the reception face 14.

[0076] It will be understood that the elastic return means of the sensor 54 returns the foot 34a to its resting position.

[0077] Also, the elastic return means of the sensor 54 is calibrated so as to allow the movement of the foot 34a towards its depressed detection position under the pressure exerted by the weight of the object placed on the receiving face 14. For example, the elastic return means of the sensor 54 is calibrated so as to allow the movement of the foot 34a towards its depressed detection position under the pressure exerted by an object of more than ten grams.

[0078] Although the three feet 34a, 34b, 34c of the base 10 are identical, it is possible that one of the feet 34a, 34b, 34c may detect the presence or absence of an object placed on the receiving face 14 in advance of the other two, depending on how the object is placed on the receiving face 14.

[0079] The detection device 32 described above is a mechanical detection device which can be considered as a mechanical proximity switch detection device.

[0080] By way of example, the detection device 32 for the presence or absence of an object placed on the receiving surface 14 may also be a detection device with an optical sensor, an inductive sensor, a capacitive sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a pressure sensor, an infrared sensor, a magnetic sensor, or any other type of device capable of detecting the presence or absence of an object. According to the invention, the light intensity of the light sources 20 is adjusted according to the detection of the presence or absence of an object placed on the receiving surface 14. More specifically, the light intensity of the light sources 20 is reduced to zero when the absence of an object is detected by the detection device 32. In other words, the light sources of the base 10 are automatically switched off when no object is placed on the base 10, or when an object is removed from the base 10.

[0081] This feature prevents glare for the person removing the object placed on the base 10. Also, the light intensity of the light sources 20 is increased up to a predetermined intensity when the presence of an object is detected by the detection device 32.

[0082] This feature allows the light sources 20 to switch on automatically when a user places an object on the receiving face of the base 10.

[0083] It will be understood that, in a less complex mode, it will be possible to turn the base on and off manually using an ON / OFF type button.

[0084] Similarly, the light intensity can be adjusted manually using the touch button. When the container is lifted, the intensity decreases to a predetermined level. When the container is placed back on the stand, the light intensity returns to its last manually set level.

[0085] According to an alternative embodiment not shown, the base 10 is equipped with a sensor adapted to measure the opacity of the object which is placed on the receiving face 14.

[0086] The measurement provided by the opacity sensor allows the light intensity of the light sources 20 to be adjusted according to the opacity of the object placed on the receiving face 14, so that the more opaque the object, the higher the light intensity of the light sources 20 will be. Thus, according to this characteristic, a bottle of red wine will be more illuminated than a bottle of white wine, for example.

[0087] Figure 5 shows a set 60 which includes nine illuminated bases 10 and a charger 22.

[0088] The charger 60 comprises three modules 62 which are mechanically connected to each other in a removable manner in an aligned position illustrated in Figure 5, in which they are electrically connected to each other.

[0089] In addition, the long, slender assembly formed by the three modules 62 is terminated by a first end piece 64 and a second end piece 66 which are removable.

[0090] Each module 62 delimits three housings 68 which are each equipped with a charging socket (not visible) and which are each adapted to accommodate a luminous base 10 in a charging position, illustrated in figure 5, in which the charging socket cooperates with the charging connector 26 of the associated luminous base 10, to charge the accumulator of said base 10.

[0091] For this purpose, it should be noted that the charger 22 is equipped with a cable (not shown) which can be connected to an electrical network to supply the bases 10 with electricity.

[0092] The arrangement of the various elements and / or means of the invention, in the embodiments described above, should not be understood as requiring such an arrangement in all implementations of the invention.

[0093] In any event, it will be understood that various modifications can be made to these elements and / or means, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, the number of modules 62 of the charger 60 and the number of loading slots 68 for each module can vary.

[0094] Also, it should be noted that the base 10 according to the invention can be used as an accent light or an ambient light.

Claims

Demands 1. A lighted base (10) adapted to support and illuminate an object, said base (10) comprising: • a housing (12) which has an upper receiving face (14) designed to support an object to be illuminated and an opposite lower face (16), • at least one light source (20) intended to illuminate the object which is placed on the upper receiving face (14), and • a power source that supplies said light source (20), characterized in that it is equipped with a detection device (32) which is designed to detect the presence or absence of an object placed on the reception face (14), and in that the luminous intensity of the light source (20) is adjusted according to the detection of the presence or absence of an object placed on the reception face (14).

2. Light base (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the light intensity of the light source (20) is increased when the presence of an object is detected and the light intensity of the light source (20) is decreased when the absence of an object is detected.

3. Light base (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light intensity of the light source (20) is reduced to a zero intensity level when the absence of an object is detected.

4. Illuminated base (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detection device (32) is a mechanical detection device.

5. Illuminated base (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that said mechanical detection device (32) comprises at least: • a foot (34a, 34b, 34c) which is mounted to move between a rest position corresponding to the absence of an object placed on the receiving face (14) and a recessed position corresponding to the presence of an object placed on the receiving face (14), and • a return means which elastically returns the foot (34a, 34b, 34c) to its rest position and which is calibrated to allow movement of the foot (34a, 34b, 34c) to its recessed position under the pressure exerted by the weight of said object, and • a sensor (54) which is activated when the foot (34a, 34b, 34c) is in its pressed position and which allows the presence or absence of an object to be detected.

6. Illuminated base (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving face (14) of the housing (12) comprises at least one part (18) which is made of translucent material, and in that the light source (20) is arranged inside the housing (12) so as to be able to illuminate the object placed on the receiving face (14) through said translucent part (18).

7. Light base (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of light sources (20).

8. Illuminated base (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said energy source is an electrical energy accumulator which is capable of being recharged by means of a charger (22).

9. Assembly (60) comprising at least one light base (10) according to claim 8, in which said base (10) is equipped with a connector (26) for charging the associated battery, said assembly (60) comprising a charger (22) defining at least one housing (68) which is equipped with a charging socket and which is adapted to accommodate the light base (10) in a charging position in which the charging socket cooperates with said charging connector (26) of the light base (10) to charge the battery.

10. Assembly (60) according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of housings (68) which are each adapted to accommodate a luminous base (10).

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