Abstract:
The invention relates to a lighting unit, in particular a lighting fixture for ceilings and/or walls comprising a coupled housing frame ( 2 ) and a functional frame ( 3 ) which is pivotally mounted with respect to the housing frame. A closing device is provided between the housing and functional frames and consists of a specially shaped wire spring ( 4 ) which interacts with the rest reception area ( 10 ) of the functional frame ( 3 ) and comprises a spring leg ( 8 ) interacting with the functional frame ( 3 ) in a predefined pivoting area under a preload effect.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2004/013460, filed Nov. 26, 2004, and which claims the benefit of DE 103 60 948.2, filed Dec. 23, 2003. The disclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD  
       [0002]     The invention relates to a lamp, in particular to a built-in lamp for ceilings and/or walls, comprising a built-in housing designed to receive an illuminant, reflector and associated mechanical and electrical or electronic components, a housing frame couplable to the housing and to a functional frame supported in an outwardly pivotal manner with respect to the housing frame, and also a closing arrangement active between the housing frame and the functional frame.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.  
         [0004]     With built-in lamps provided with a cover plate, it is known to fasten the cover frame holding the cover plate to the housing via a screw connection, bayonet connection or snap and latch connection so as to be able to change the illuminant or carry out a cleaning procedure after releasing the corresponding connection.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     It is the object of the present invention to develop the closing arrangement between the housing frame and the functional frame in a cost-favorable manner with a built-in lamp of the initially named kind such that, on the one hand, a comfortable change of the illuminant is possible without tools and, on the other hand, the long-term functional capability of the closing arrangement is also ensured with respect to the thermal strains which occur.  
         [0006]     This object is essentially satisfied in accordance with the invention in that the closing arrangement consists of at least one wire spring with a fixing region, a spring section which adjoins the fixing region in an angled manner at a side and whose end region is made as a bolt element ( 5 ) and cooperates with a latch receiver in the functional frame as well as of a spring limb which adjoins the fixing region at the other side and cooperates with the functional frame over a presettable pivoting range.  
         [0007]     In this connection, the latch receiver in the functional frame preferably consists of a spring member with an ingoing slider and an outgoing slider and a latch position provided therebetween, with the locking and unlocking of the preferably pin-shaped bolt element taking place by exertion of pressure onto the functional frame in its direction of opening.  
         [0008]     Accordingly, in accordance with the invention, a “push-push” closing arrangement is created, in particular for oblong or square downlights, in which the especially designed wire spring has at least one dual function in that it cooperates with the slider of the latch receiver, on the one hand, and exerts a bias force onto the functional frame, on the other hand, which is required as a counter-force for the operating procedure and which moves the functional frame in a compulsory manner into an outwardly pivoting position on opening.  
         [0009]     It is furthermore of substantial importance that the closing arrangement in accordance with the invention is practically integrated into the overall structure in a completely covered manner and that thereby any irritating shadow formation can be avoided and that any problems with respect to the thermal strain capability are precluded, whereby the complete functional capability of the closing arrangement in long-term operation is ensured.  
         [0010]     The housing frame is preferably received in the housing in a shape matched manner and the wire spring is arranged with its fixing region and the spring section bearing the bolt element in a cut-out at the outside of the housing frame which is covered by the wall of the housing while defining the fixing region.  
         [0011]     A captive fixing of the wire spring together with a precise positioning is achieved by a simple clipping of the wire spring into the corresponding recess of the housing frame and the subsequent joining together of the housing and the housing frame.  
         [0012]     The desired exertion of a bias onto the functional frame in its direction of pivoting open is achieved in that the connection region of the wire spring engages over the housing frame and the spring limb adjoining the connection region and disposed at the frame inner side is arranged in the pivot path of the functional frame, whereby the desired spring charge on the functional frame results.  
         [0013]     A heat-resistant plastic sleeve is preferably placed onto the angled end region of the spring limb forming the pin-shaped bolt element.  
         [0014]     This sleeve, preferably provided with a flange at its end remote from the closed end, ensures a low-friction and noise-free guidance of the bolt element in the latch receiver and contributes to an operation-friendly manner of functioning.  
         [0015]     In accordance with an embodiment of the pivot joints required for the pivoting of the functional frame, which is expedient, but does not restrict the present invention, the former respectively consist of a plug-in spigot received in a passage bore of the housing frame and extending into a recess of the functional frame, with the plug-in spigot being held in its position by an elastically resilient region of the sheet steel housing preferably lasered free. In this manner, the functional frame can be simply clipped in and also fully removed for cleaning.  
         [0016]     To achieve a dustproof closing, a peripheral seal held in the housing frame is preferably provided which the functional frame contacts in the inwardly pivoted and latched position, in particular under bias.  
         [0017]     The functional frame itself is preferably made as a bearer of a reflector or part reflector and can carry at least one light permeable cover plate and/or scattering plate. Irrespective of the respective design of the functional frame, it is ensured in this connection that a free and unimpeded access to the respective illuminant is ensured in the pivoted open state.  
         [0018]     Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     DRAWINGS  
       [0019]     The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective illustration of a downlight with an oblong housing in the partly opened state;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a detailed view of the downlight of  FIG. 1  with the important elements of the closing arrangement;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a further perspective part view of the downlight of  FIG. 1  in a part open position effected by spring force;  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a perspective representation of the wire spring used for the closing arrangement;  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is a partly sectional representation of the downlight of  FIG. 1  in the closed state;  
         [0025]      FIGS. 6 and 7  are schematic representations of the latch receiver for the explanation of the “push-push” closing mechanism; and  
         [0026]      FIG. 8  is a partly sectional representation of the downlight of  FIG. 1  for the explanation of an embodiment of a pivot axle realization. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0027]     The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.  
         [0028]      FIG. 1  shows a rectangular housing  1  which preferably consists of sheet steel and into which a housing frame  2  is clipped at which a functional frame or reflector frame  3  is pivotally supported. A closing arrangement is provided between the housing frame  2  and the functional frame  3  which comprises a wire spring  4  which cooperates via a bolt element  5  formed at it with a latch receiver  10  which is integrated into the functional frame  3  in a flush manner.  
         [0029]     The closing arrangement is functionally designed as a “push-push” mechanism, i.e. the pivotally supported functional frame  3  is latched in the closed position by pressing in the closing direction relative to the housing frame  2 , whereas it is released from the latched position by exertion of a further pressure in the closing direction and can be pivoted open supported by spring action.  
         [0030]      FIG. 2  shows the housing frame  2 , preferably made as an aluminum die cast frame, in connection with the partly opened functional frame  3  with the housing removed.  
         [0031]     The housing frame  2  is provided with an especially shaped cut-out  12  for the reception of the wire spring  4  of which the fixing region  6 , the spring section  7  and the connection region  9  can be seen. The fixing region  6  is substantially arranged in a shape matched manner in a correspondingly adapted region of the recess  12 , whereas the spring section  7 , which bears the bolt element  5 , is arranged in an extended region of the cut-out  12  which permits a pivoting of this spring section to the degree it is required by the necessary movements of the bolt element  5  in the associated latch receiver  10 .  
         [0032]     The connection region  9  of the wire spring engages over the housing frame  2  and extends into the inner region of the housing frame.  
         [0033]     The housing frame  2  is furthermore provided with a curved guide slit  16  through which the bolt element  5  inwardly extends. The bolt element  5  is formed by the end of the wire spring which is bent from the spring section at right angles and onto which a heat-resistant plastic sleeve  11  with a rear abutment and guidance flange is placed.  
         [0034]     The latch receiver  10  is arranged in a shape matched and outwardly flush manner in a cut-out provided in the functional frame  3 . The latch receiver  10  represents a finished part which can be inserted into the corresponding recess, which cooperates with the bolt element  5  and has an ingoing slider  13 , a latch position  14  and an outgoing slider  15  for its reception. The latch receiver  10  with its sliders  13 ,  15  and the latch position  14  can preferably also be cast on directly i.e. be shaped and manufactured integrally as part of the molding process of the functional frame.  
         [0035]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective inner view of the housing frame  2  and the functional frame  3  corresponding to the representation in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0036]     In addition to the bolt element  5  which extends inwardly through the guide slit  16  and is formed by the one end of the wire spring, the other end of the wire spring disposed at the frame inner side can be seen in the form of the spring limb  8  adjoining the connection region  9 . This spring limb  8  acts as a bias spring with respect to the functional frame  3  and engages into a presettable pivot region of the functional frame  3  at its inside end face. In this manner, the functional frame  3  is always brought into the compulsory open position shown in  FIG. 3  on a release of the closing arrangement. When the functional frame  3  is closed and also when the closing arrangement is actuated, the spring limb  8  generates the counter forces desired or needed in this process.  
         [0037]     The multifunctional spring  4  provided in accordance with the invention is shown perspectively in  FIG. 4 . There can be seen in this connection the spring limb  8  which is disposed at the frame inner side and is made angled, in particular in U shape, at its free end to ensure a good and reliably functioning contact with the functional frame  3  as well as the connection region  9  which the fixing region  6  adjoins. The spring section  7  whose end angled at right angles forms the bolt element  5  extends at a right angle to the fixing region  6 . The sleeve element  11  of a plastic material, e.g. Teflon, which is placed onto the spring end, can also be seen in this representation.  
         [0038]     The partly sectional representation of  FIG. 5  shows the housing  1  coupled to the housing frame  2 , in particular via snap and latch connections, with an inwardly pivoted functional frame  3  located in the unlatched position. In this latched position, the functional frame  3  contacts a peripheral housing seal  17 , whereby a dustproof closure is achieved. The housing seal  17  is made such that it can be compressed by the functional frame  3  for the operation of the “push-push” latching to the required degree, e.g. by approximately 3 to 4 millimeters.  
         [0039]     In the latched position shown, the latching element  5  bearing the plastic sleeve  11  is in engagement with the latch receiver  10 . The positioning of the spring section  7  in the cut-out  12  of the housing frame  2  which is already shown in detail in  FIG. 2  and in which the wire spring is held by the housing clipped to the housing frame  2  can also be recognized in this representation.  
         [0040]     The basic functions of the latch receiver  10  already shown in a specific embodiment in  FIG. 1  in the form of a push-push mechanism are shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Both Figures each show the ingoing slider  13 , the latch position  14  for the bolt element  5  and the outgoing slider  15 .  
         [0041]     When the functional frame  3  is closed, the bolt element  5  moves into the ingoing slider  13  and springs into the latch position  14  in the region of the lower end of the resiliently made unit, where the bolt element  5  is fixed and held in a shape matched manner at a corresponding radius. The functional frame  3  is then located in its preset closed position and is precisely positioned in it.  
         [0042]     If—in accordance with the representation in  FIG. 7 —the functional frame  3  is again pressed in the closing direction, the bolt element  5  springs out of the position still shown in  FIG. 7  into the lowest position of the outgoing slider  15  and can then move outwardly by the outgoing slider  15  due to the action of the wire spring  4 , with the functional frame  3  being moved in a compulsory manner by the wire spring  4  into the compulsory open position shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0043]     The described function accordingly has the result that the closing and opening procedure can be carried out without any use of a tool by a simple exertion of pressure onto the functional frame, with the functional frame being positioned flush with the housing frame  2  in the slider of the latch receiver  10  by the latching procedure in the case of the closing of the functional frame, whereas the bolt element  5  is released and the functional frame  3  is pivoted outward in the opening procedure after a simple pressing onto this functional frame. It is thus ensured that a lamp change can be realized without a tool in an exceptionally easy manner.  
         [0044]     Although the respectively required pivot axle  4  on the functional frame  3  can be realized in various manners, a particularly advantageous aspect of this pivot axle can be realized in the manner shown in  FIG. 8 . For this purpose, a pivot joint is in each case received in a passage bore of the housing frame  2  and a plug-in spigot  20  extending into a recess  21  of the functional frame  3  is formed, with the plug-in spigot  20  being held in its position by an elastically resilient region  19  of the housing. The elastic region  19  of the housing  1 , which preferably consists of spring steel, is achieved by a slit  18  in the housing  1  which is already shown in  FIG. 1  and is, for example, lasered free. The pivot axle realization shown in  FIG. 8  also above all has the advantage, in addition to the simplicity and the favorable price thus achieved, that in this aspect the functional frame  3  can be very simply clipped into the housing frame  2  or can also be fully removed for cleaning purposes.  
         [0045]     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.  
       REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST  
       [0000]    
       
           1  housing (sheet steel)  
           2  housing frame  
           3  functional frame (reflector frame)  
           4  wire spring  
           5  bolt element  
           6  fixing region  
           7  spring section  
           8  spring limb  
           9  connection region  
           10  latch receiver  
           11  sleeve  
           12  cut-out  
           13  ingoing slider  
           14  latch position  
           15  outgoing slider  
           16  guide slit  
           17  housing seal  
           18  slit  
           19  spring region  
           20  plug-in spigot  
           21  recess