Tool-Free Lamp Driver Latching Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lamp operating devices require tools for assembly, disassembly, and installation, leading to significant effort and time consumption.

Innovation Solution

A lamp operating device with latching or clamping means, such as tabs and recesses, allows for tool-free attachment and detachment by engaging with bent-out webs on the luminaire housing, ensuring secure fastening without the need for tools.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If screw connections are used to fasten the lamp operating device to the luminaire housing, then secure attachment is achieved, but tool usage and assembly time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment securityVSAvoidassembly time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening system is segmented into separate functional elements: tabs protruding from the lamp operating device and corresponding recesses in the luminaire housing. This segmentation allows the device to be attached through simple insertion without requiring tools, while still achieving secure attachment through the interlocking tab-recess structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using active fastening elements like screws that require tightening actions, the invention uses passive geometric interlocking where the tabs naturally engage with the recesses through their complementary shapes. The attachment is achieved by simply pushing the device into place, inverting the traditional approach where active fastening mechanisms are required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If screw connections are used to fasten the lamp operating device, then reliable fastening is achieved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefastening reliabilityVSAvoidassembly ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The tab-recess structure is designed to be self-aligning and self-latching. When the lamp operating device is pushed toward the luminaire housing, the tabs automatically guide themselves into the recesses and lock into place without requiring external tools or complex manipulation. This self-service mechanism maintains fastening reliability while dramatically improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If tabs and recesses are used for tool-free fastening, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetool-free assemblyVSAvoidfastening mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tabs and recesses are positioned at specific locations on the lamp operating device and luminaire housing to provide effective fastening with minimal structural modification. By concentrating the fastening function at these localized points, the overall device complexity remains low while achieving tool-free assembly capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2702322B1Lamp operating device with tool-free securing means

Publication Date: 2015.09.23 ZUMTOBEL LIGHTING GMBH

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5

AI summary

Lamp operating device (1, 11, 21) for operating at least one light source arranged inside a luminaire housing (2, 12, 22), the lamp operating device (1, 11, 21) comprising means for the tool-free securing (3, 13, 23, 26) of the lamp operating device (1, 11, 21) to the luminaire housing (2, 12, 22).