Wedge-Shaped Magnet Mount for Oblique Shelf Lighting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional lighting devices attached to metal shelves using magnets often result in light being emitted vertically downwards, leading to inefficient product illumination as some light shines beyond the shelves, causing customer dazzling and inadequate product lighting.

Innovation Solution

A wedge-shaped magnet is used for magnetic attachment of the lighting device to the shelf, allowing the lamp to be positioned asymmetrically, ensuring light is emitted obliquely downwards, thereby directing all light towards the products and preventing unnecessary illumination of areas in front of the shelves.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a magnet of uniform thickness is used to attach the lamp to the shelf, then the lamp is attached vertically downwards with symmetrical positioning, but the light is emitted vertically downwards causing some light to shine beyond the shelves and leading to customer dazzling and inadequate product lighting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesymmetrical attachmentVSAvoidlighting efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by using a wedge-shaped magnet with non-uniform thickness instead of a magnet of uniform thickness. This asymmetric design causes the lamp to be attached at an oblique angle rather than vertically, directing the light beam onto the products on the shelf below while preventing light from shining beyond the shelf edges, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and lighting efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Device complexity

If the lamp is positioned to emit light vertically downwards, then the attachment structure is simple and symmetrical, but part of the light is wasted by shining beyond the shelves and does not illuminate the products

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment structureVSAvoidlight energy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The wedge-shaped magnet introduces asymmetry into the attachment structure, which tilts the lamp at an oblique angle. This asymmetric positioning redirects the light beam onto the products, ensuring that all emitted light energy is utilized effectively for product illumination rather than being wasted by shining beyond the shelf edges

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The magnet has non-uniform thickness with a thicker end and a thinner end, creating local quality variation. This design concentrates the light direction onto a specific target area (the products on the shelf below) while preventing light dispersion into unwanted areas, thereby reducing energy loss

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Illumination intensity

If a larger lamp is used to ensure sufficient product illumination, then adequate lighting is achieved, but energy consumption increases and the need for weaker luminaires is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct illuminationVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By using the asymmetric wedge-shaped magnet to direct light precisely onto the products, the system achieves high illumination intensity on the target area with a smaller, lower-power lamp. The oblique angle ensures concentrated light delivery, eliminating the need for larger, higher-consumption luminaires that would be required with vertical downward lighting

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

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 configuration enhances the efficiency of product lighting by ensuring all emitted light illuminates the products, allowing for the use of weaker luminaires and reducing energy consumption.

Implementation Method 1

at least one magnet for magnetic attachment of lights to shelves of metal shelves

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic attachment: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP2920504B1Magnet for the magnetic fastening of lamps; illumination device and metal shelving
Publication Date: 2017.04.26 ZUMTOBEL LIGHTING GMBH
  • EP2920504B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2920504B1 patent drawingFigure 4~8
  • EP2920504B1 patent drawingFigure 9~11

AI summary

The invention relates to a magnet (11) for the magnetic fastening of lamps (2), illumination device (13) and metal shelving, wherein said magnet (11) has a wedge-shaped cross section, said illumination device (13) has a lamp (2) and at least one such magnet (11), which is fastened to the lamp (2) with the aid of fastening means (7), and said metal shelving has a plurality of shelves (4) and at least one such illumination device (13) for illuminating objects (6) arranged in or on said shelves (4), wherein the illumination device (13) is arranged on the underside of a shelf (4) and the lamp (2) is magnetically fastened asymmetrically to the underside of the shelf (4) by the wedge shape of the magnet (11) in such a way that light is emitted from the lamps (2) substantially obliquely downwards in the direction of the objects (6) to be illuminated.