Rail Lighting Fastener With Quick-Release Locking Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional profile lighting systems face complexities in assembly and disassembly, particularly with cabling, making it difficult to insert and remove lighting inserts from rail profiles efficiently and flexibly.
Innovation Solution
A fastening device with a body that grips the lighting assembly from the rear and features locking elements that engage behind the rail profile's edge or undercut, allowing for easy insertion and removal by an actuating element, enabling quick and flexible placement of lighting assemblies along the rail profile.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If light inserts are permanently attached to the profile with conventional wiring methods, then the lighting assembly is securely fixed, but the assembly and disassembly process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening device is divided into separate functional components: a body that interfaces with the lighting assembly, locking elements that engage with the rail profile, and an actuating element for release. This segmentation allows the lighting assembly to be quickly detached by actuating the release element, which triggers the locking elements to disengage from the rail profile edges, thereby reducing assembly and disassembly time while maintaining secure fixation during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening device transitions from a static permanent attachment to a dynamic reversible connection. The locking elements are designed to be movable, allowing them to engage with the rail profile edges for secure fixation and disengage when the actuating element is operated. This dynamic capability enables quick assembly and disassembly without compromising the reliability of the connection during normal operation.
2Ease of manufacture
If light inserts are delivered pre-wired to the profile, then installation is straightforward, but flexibility for repositioning and modification is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The wiring complexity is extracted from the lighting assembly itself and separated into the rail profile infrastructure. The fastening device provides a mechanical connection that is independent of electrical wiring, allowing the lighting assembly to be quickly removed and repositioned without dealing with cumbersome wiring. This extraction of the fastening function from the electrical system enables both easy installation and flexible repositioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening device serves multiple functions: it provides secure mechanical fixation, enables quick release through the actuating element, and allows repositioning along the rail profile. This multi-functionality addresses both the need for simple installation and the requirement for flexibility in repositioning and modification of the lighting system.
3Reliability
If the fastening device uses complex locking mechanisms, then the fixation is more secure, but the ease of operation for release is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating element serves as an intermediary that simplifies the release operation. Instead of requiring direct manipulation of complex locking mechanisms, the user operates the actuating element which then triggers the locking elements to disengage. This intermediary mechanism maintains secure fixation during normal operation while providing convenient one-handed release operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening device incorporates self-service features where the actuating element automatically triggers the release mechanism. When the actuating element is operated, it automatically causes the locking elements to disengage from the rail profile edges, eliminating the need for complex manual manipulation of multiple locking components and simplifying the release operation while maintaining security during operation.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6(b)
Figure 7~9
AI summary
The invention relates to a fastening device (1; 1') for attaching a lighting assembly (2; 2') in an elongated rail profile (3; 3') open on one longitudinal side (10; 10'). The fastening device is designed to be mechanically coupled to the lighting assembly and has a body (4; 4') through which the lighting assembly can be partially engaged from a rear area (5; 5') of the same, which faces away from a light-emitting side (6; 6') of the lighting assembly. The fastening device has locking elements (7; 7') which are designed to engage behind an edge (8; 8') or undercut (8; 8') running along the rail profile in a locking manner.Furthermore, the fastening device (1; 1') has an actuating element (9; 9') or actuating elements (9; 9') which, in a state where the fastening device holds the lighting assembly inserted into the rail profile, can be actuated from the open longitudinal side by an operator to move the locking elements into a release position. The invention further relates to a lighting arrangement (100; 100') with an elongated rail profile open on one longitudinal side, a lighting assembly (2; 2') and at least one such fastening device (1; 1').