Emergency Lighting Device With Elastic Interconnecting Means

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing emergency lighting devices for confined spaces, such as recessed luminaires, face challenges in manufacturing and mounting complexity due to extensive cabling and cumbersome handling of multiple flexible parts, which complicates installation and access to small spaces.

Innovation Solution

A lighting device with a first housing containing electronic circuitry and a second housing with energy storage, connected via an interconnecting means that provides both elastic mechanical and electrical connections, featuring a hinge-like structure with pre-bended portions to facilitate insertion and mounting in tight spaces, allowing for thermal isolation and easy handling as a single unit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If extensive cabling and multiple flexible parts are used to connect battery and electronic circuitry in confined spaces, then the lighting device can function in emergency mode, but manufacturing and mounting complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemergency operation capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing and mounting complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the mechanical connection and electrical connection functions into a single integrated interconnecting means. The connector assembly includes both mechanical attachment features and electrical contacts within one component, eliminating the need for separate cabling and reducing the number of parts that need to be handled during installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The interconnecting means serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical support, enables electrical connection, and allows for pivotal movement. This multi-functional design reduces the overall complexity of the system by consolidating multiple requirements into a single component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Volume of moving object

If multiple separately connected functional units are used to fit in confined spaces, then the lighting device can be installed in tight spaces, but handling and assembly becomes cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace requirementVSAvoidhandling ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic circuitry and energy storage means are connected through an integrated interconnecting means that acts as a single handling unit. This allows the installer to manipulate the connection as one piece rather than dealing with multiple separate cables and connectors, significantly improving ease of operation during installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Volume of moving object

If electronic circuitry and energy storage are placed close together to reduce space, then the lighting device fits in confined spaces, but thermal isolation is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidthermal interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the energy storage means into a separate housing from the electronic circuitry. This physical separation removes the heat-generating electronic components from proximity to the temperature-sensitive battery, providing thermal isolation while still allowing the device to fit in confined spaces due to the compact interconnecting means.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Stability of the object's composition

If rigid connections are used between housings to ensure structural stability, then the lighting device maintains structural integrity, but installation in tight spaces becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidadaptability to confined spaces
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The interconnecting means incorporates pivotal capability that allows it to change its angular position during installation. This dynamic feature enables the connector to navigate tight spaces and awkward angles while still providing stable structural connection once installed, combining adaptability with structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design simplifies manufacturing and assembly by reducing structural elements, enables easier access to small spaces through compressive force transmission, and ensures thermal isolation between electronic circuitry and energy storage, making installation more efficient and adaptable.

Implementation Method 1

The interconnecting means connects the first housing and the second housing elastically

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3315849B1Lighting device
Publication Date: 2019.07.03 TRIDONIC GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3315849B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3315849B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3315849B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention proposes a lighting device, in particular an emergency lighting device. The lighting device includes a first housing (2), a lighting means (12), for example an LED arranged at the first housing (2) and an electronic circuitry accommodated in the first housing (2) for operating the lighting means (12). A second housing (3) of the lighting device accommodates an energy storage means (13) such as a rechargeable battery, wherein the first housing (2) and the second housing (3) are arranged spaced apart. An interconnecting means (4) mechanically connects the first housing (2) and the second housing (3) in an elastic manner and also connects electrically the electronic circuitry and the energy storage means (13). The interconnecting means (4) of the lighting device of a preferred embodiment comprises a cable which is overmoulded to provide compressive strength in an axial direction of the cable.