Patent Publication Number: US-2011051433-A1

Title: Luminaire device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a luminaire device, and more particularly to a luminaire device attached to a guiding rail. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A conventional flexible connecter assembly for track lighting device in accordance with the prior art comprises a first connector segment and a second connector segment. Each of the first and the second connector segment has a first end being in a plug-in type tapping mechanism for joining the connector segments mechanically and electrically to electrical distribution track sections. At least one lamp is screwedly mounted to the track sections. A flexible member is formed of a first coiled wire element and a second coiled wire element are concentrically wrapped in opposite directions with respect to each other. The first and second coiled wire elements are respectively joined at first end of the first connector segment and at second end of the second connector segment. The first and second coiled wire elements define a tubular passageway for a first and a second electrical conductor coupling the connector segments electrically, and the flexible member itself provides a ground connection between the connector segments and corresponding track sections. The construction of the flexible member permits the positioning of joined track sections at a variety of angles with respect to each other and protects the first and second electrical conductors passing therethrough between the connector segments. 
     Although the flexible connecter assembly for track lighting device has a flexible and expandable member permitting the positioning of joined track sections at a variety of angles, such that the track lighting device is able to be mounted to different environments. However, the at least one lamp is screwed to the track sections. The at least one lamp is not easy to detach from the track sections for maintenance. Moreover the assembly of the flexible connecter assembly for track lighting device is not simple. 
     The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantages of the conventional flexible connecter assembly for track lighting device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The main objective of the present invention is to provide an improved luminaire device. 
     To achieve the objective, the luminaire device in accordance with the present invention includes at least one fixer. Each fixer has a fixing portion formed on one end thereof and a connecting portion formed on the other end thereof. The fixing portion has a threaded shaft extending therefrom for being adapted to be screwedly fixed in a ceiling or a wall. The connecting portion has a through hole defined in the lateral thereof. The through hole of the connecting portion is passed through by a guiding rail having a shape corresponding to the through hole. The guiding rail has a first groove and a second groove respectively defined along two opposite lateral sides thereof. A width of the first groove is relatively narrower than that of the second groove. A first electricity conducting plate is disposed along an inner periphery of the first groove. A second electricity conducting plate is disposed in along an inner periphery of the second groove. 
     The luminaire device includes at least one illuminating device detachably connected to the guiding rail. Each illuminating device includes an illuminating member for providing illumination effect. The illuminating member includes a holder connected to the clamp and at least one light source connected to the holder. The at least one light source is an arc-shaped or a U-shaped cold cathode fluorescent lamp. The at least one light source may be of any suitable type such as light emitted diodes, halogen lamps or the like. The illuminating member is electrically connected to a clamp extending therefrom. 
     The clamp includes a first body and a second body pivotally connected to each other. The first body and the second body are able to rotate about a pivotal axis in the middle thereof. The first body has a first clamping head and a first pressing portion respectively formed on two opposite ends thereof. The first clamping head has a first electricity conducting unit disposed on a first surface thereof. The first body includes an electric wire having two ends respectively connected to the first electricity conducting unit and the illuminating member. The first clamping head has a first protrusion extending from the first surface thereof. When the first protrusion is correspondingly engaged with the first groove of the guiding rail, the first electricity conducting unit is electrically connected to the first electricity conducting plate. 
     The second body has a second clamping head and a second pressing portion respectively formed on two opposite ends thereof. The second clamping head has a second electricity conducting unit disposed on a second surface thereof. The first surface and the second surface are facially arranged to each other. The second body includes a third electricity conducting unit having two ends respectively connected to the second electricity conducting unit and the illuminating member. The second clamping head has a second protrusion extending from the second surface thereof. When the second protrusion is correspondingly engaged with the second groove of the guiding rail, the second electricity conducting unit is electrically connected to the second electricity conducting plate. 
     The clamp further includes a resilient unit mounted between the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion. The resilient unit tends to push the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion aside, such that the first clamping head and the second clamping head are simultaneously closed together. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the luminaire device further includes a jacket having an opening defined in one end thereof, such that the clamp is received in the jacket through the opening. The jacket has two slots symmetrically defined in two lateral sides thereof and adjacent to the opening for being passed through by the guiding rail. 
     Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an assembly perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a luminaire device in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the luminaire device in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the clamp of the luminaire device in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the clamp of the luminaire device in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional side view of the preferred embodiment of the luminaire device in accordance with the present invention as the clamp is attached to the guiding rail in a correct way; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial cross-sectional side view of the preferred embodiment of the luminaire device in accordance with the present invention as the clamp is attached to the guiding rail in a reverse way; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a second embodiment of the luminaire device in accordance with the present invention as the at least one light source is an arc-shaped cold cathode fluorescent lamp; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the luminaire device in accordance with the present invention as the at least one light source is a U-shaped cold cathode fluorescent lamp; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the luminaire device in accordance with the present invention as the at least one light source is three U-shaped cold cathode fluorescent lamps; and 
         FIGS. 10-11  are operational perspective views of a fifth embodiment of the luminaire device in accordance with the present invention as the jacket covers the clamp. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings and initially to  FIGS. 1-6 , a luminaire device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises at least one fixer  2 . Each fixer  2  has a fixing portion  21  formed on one end thereof and a connecting portion  22  formed on the other end thereof. The fixing portion  21  has a threaded shaft  211  extending from one end thereof for adapting to be screwedly fixed on a ceiling or a wall. The connecting portion  22  has a through hole  221  defined in the lateral thereof. The through hole  221  of the connecting portion  22  is passed through by a guiding rail  1  having a shape corresponding to the through hole  221 . 
     The guiding rail  1  has a first groove  13  and a second groove  14  respectively defined along two opposite lateral sides thereof. A width of the first groove  13  is relatively narrower than that of the second groove  14 . A first electricity conducting plate  11  is disposed along an inner periphery of the first groove  13 . A second electricity conducting plate  12  is disposed along an inner periphery of the second groove  14 . The first electricity conducting plate  11  and the second electricity conducting plate  12  are adapted to be correspondingly connected to a negative electrode and a positive electrode of a power supply. 
     The luminaire device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention further comprises at least one illuminating device  3  detachably connected to the guiding rail  1 . Each illuminating device  3  comprises an illuminating member  32  for providing illumination effect. The illuminating member  32  includes a holder  321  and at least one light source  322  mounted on one end of the holder  321  and electrically connected to the holder  321 . In this embodiment, the at least one light source  322  is two arc-shaped cold cathode fluorescent lamps. The at least one light source  322  may be of any suitable type such as light emitted diodes, halogen lamps or the like. The illuminating member  32  has one end electrically connected to a clamp  31  extending therefrom. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the clamp  31  includes a first body  311  and a second body  312  pivotally connected to each other. The first body  311  and the second body  312  are able to rotate about a pivotal axis in the middle thereof. The first body  311  has a first clamping head  3111  and a first pressing portion  3112  respectively formed on two opposite ends thereof. The first clamping head  3111  has a first electricity conducting unit  3114  disposed on a first surface  3113  thereof. The first body  311  includes an electric wire  3116  having two ends respectively connected to the first electricity conducting unit  3114  and the illuminating member  32 . The first clamping head  3111  has a first protrusion  3115  extending from the first surface  3113  thereof and adjacent to the first electricity conducting unit  3114 . The first protrusion  3115  is in a shape corresponding to the first groove  13 . 
     The second body  312  has a second clamping head  3121  and a second pressing portion  3122  respectively formed on two opposite ends thereof. The second clamping head  3121  has a second electricity conducting unit  3124  disposed on a second surface  3123  thereof. The first surface  3113  and the second surface  3123  are facially arranged to each other. The second body  312  includes a third electricity conducting unit  3126  having two ends respectively connected to the second electricity conducting unit  3124  and the illuminating member  32 . The second clamping head  3121  has a second protrusion  3125  extending from the second surface  3123  thereof and adjacent to the second electricity conducting unit  3124 . The second protrusion  3125  is in a shape corresponding to the second groove  14 . 
     The clamp  31  further includes a resilient unit  313  mounted between the first pressing portion  3112  and the second pressing portion  3122 . Two ends of the resilient unit  313  respectively abuts against the first pressing portion  3112  and the second pressing portion  3122  for tending to push the first pressing portion  3112  and the second pressing portion  3122  aside, such that the first clamping head  3111  and the second clamping head  3121  are simultaneously rotated about the pivot axis to be closed together for clamping the guiding rail  1  tightly. When the first pressing portion  3112  and the second pressing portion  3122  are pressed close to each other, the first clamping head  3111  and the second clamping head  3121  are simultaneously rotated about the pivot axis, such that the clamp  31  is disengaged with the guiding rail  1 . In accordance, the at least one illuminating device  3  is detachable for easy maintenance and changing an illuminated area. 
     Moreover, as shown in  FIG. 5 , when the clamp  31  is attached to the guiding rail  1  in a correct way, the first protrusion  3115  is correspondingly engaged with the first groove  13  of the guiding rail  1 , such that the first electricity conducting unit  3114  is electrically connected to the first electricity conducting plate  11 . The second protrusion  3125  is correspondingly engaged with the second groove  14  of the guiding rail  1 , such that the second electricity conducting unit  3124  electrically connected to the second electricity conducting plate  12 . The illuminating member  32  is provided electricity through the guiding rail  1  and the clamp  31 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , when the clamp  31  is attached to the guiding rail  1  in a reverse way, the first protrusion  3115  and the second protrusion  3125  are unable to be respectively engaged with the second groove  14  and first groove  13  due to the different widths of the first groove  13  and the second groove  14 . Therefore, the illuminating member  32  is unable to illuminate. 
       FIG. 7  shows a second embodiment of a luminaire device according to the present invention. The elements and effects of the second embodiment which are the same with the preferred embodiment are not described, only the differences are described. The at least one light source  322  is an arc-shaped cold cathode fluorescent lamp. 
       FIG. 8  shows a third embodiment of a luminaire device according to the present invention. The elements and effects of the third embodiment which are the same with the preferred embodiment are not described, only the differences are described. The at least one light source  322  is a U-shaped cold cathode fluorescent lamp. 
       FIG. 9  shows a fourth embodiment of a luminaire device according to the present invention. The elements and effects of the fourth embodiment which are the same with the preferred embodiment are not described, only the differences are described. The at least one light source  322  is three U-shaped cold cathode fluorescent lamps. The three U-shaped cold cathode fluorescent lamps are respectively connected to the bottom and two lateral sides of the holder  321 . 
       FIG. 10  shows a fifth embodiment of a luminaire device according to the present invention. The elements and effects of the fifth embodiment which are the same with the preferred embodiment are not described, only the differences are described. The luminaire device according to the present invention further comprises a jacket  4  having an opening  41  defined in one end thereof, such that the clamp  31  is received in the jacket  4  through the opening  41 . The jacket  4  has two slots  42  symmetrically defined in two lateral sides thereof and adjacent to the opening  41 . The two slots  42  are in a shape corresponding to the guiding rail  1 . When the clamp  31  is attached to the guiding rail  1 , the jacket  4  covers the clamp  31  and the guiding rail  1  passes through the two slots  42 , such that the clamp  31  is protected by the jacket  4  from disengagement. 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.