Patent Publication Number: US-10767841-B2

Title: Lighting system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application claims priority from Italian patent application No. 102018000004554 filed on Apr. 16, 2018, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a lighting system. 
     Lighting systems are known comprising lighting modules, which can be variously connected to one another in different spatial configurations. 
     BACKGROUND 
     However, in general, it seems that with the known modular lighting systems there is still room for improvement, particularly in terms of ease of production and assembly, as well as versatility. 
     For example, most known modular systems allow the various modules to be assembled only in one or two directions, consequently allowing the creation of final configurations, which are substantially linear or two-dimensional. 
     Furthermore, in general, in known systems, modules can only be connected to one another with predetermined inclinations (and normally on a single plane), typically at 90° with respect to one another, or nonetheless with predetermined inclinations. 
     Thus, known modular systems cannot develop on various levels or have different vertical inclinations. 
     On the other hand, the lighting sector is constantly searching for technical solutions, which also allow the integration into aesthetically original objects, besides obtaining new concept lighting effects, since not only is the purely functional aspect vital in this sector, but also the aesthetic and emotive component. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a lighting system, which overcomes the evidenced drawbacks of the prior art; in particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a lighting system, which is simple to make and assemble and which allows a wide variety of different spatial configurations to be created, also three-dimensional (i.e. extending not only in two directions, but in three directions) and with different inclinations on various planes between the various parts of the system. 
     Thus, the present invention relates to a lighting system as defined in basic terms in the appended claim  1  and, in the additional features thereof, in the dependent claims. 
     Besides being particularly simple to make and assemble, the lighting system allows a wide variety of different spatial configurations to be created, also three-dimensional (i.e. extending not only in two different directions, but in three directions) and with different inclinations on different planes between the various parts of the system. 
     The system of the invention is characterized, in particular, by the configuration of the joints, which join the various lighting units forming the system. 
     In particular, such joints allow a flexible light distribution in the space according to continuous lines of devices. Flexible spatial distributions are thus possible, both on a plane and also varying in height, for example, to follow variations in architecture (such as stairs or different ceiling levels) or to position the light sources at different heights (which may be opportune, for example, to pass from lighting above a work station or a desk, which needs a lower lighting device, to a passage space, where a higher lighting device is needed). 
     Furthermore, the joints not only fulfil the function of a mechanical connection, but they also fulfil the function of an electrical connection, having an internal geometry, which allows the passage, inside the joints themselves, of the system power supplying and controlling cables. 
     The components of the joints are further shaped so as to be used in the system in various positions and in different orientations: thus, the number of different components, which need to be made, is reduced, with important advantages in terms of production. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the description of the following non-limiting examples of embodiments, with reference to the appended figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a partially exploded, perspective schematic view of a lighting system according to the invention, assembled in an example configuration; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a component of the system in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  are a perspective view and a longitudinal section view respectively of an assembled detail of the component in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIGS. 5 and 6  are an exploded perspective view and an exploded side view respectively of a detail of the system in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 7 and 8  are a perspective view and a longitudinal section view respectively of a further detail of the system in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a lighting system  1  comprises a plurality of lighting units  2  and at least one joint  3  joining two or more units  2 . 
     The system  1  can comprise two or more units  2 , variously connected to one another by joints  3 . 
     Each joint  3  can connect two, three or four units  2 . 
     In the non-limiting illustrative example, the system comprises four units  2  connected by a joint  3 . 
     The units  2  can have various shapes. 
     In the non-limiting illustrative example (but not necessarily) the units  2  are substantially equal to one another. 
     Each unit  2  comprises a hollow body  4  elongated longitudinally along an axis A between two opposite longitudinal ends  5 , one of which connected to the joint  3  by means of a connection head  6  and the other closed by a closing head  7 . It is understood that both ends  5  of the unit  2  can be connected to respective joints  3  (to form variously configured systems  1 ) and thus have respective connection heads  6 . 
     The body  4  has an emission opening  8 , extending parallel to the axis A, and houses a light source (known and not illustrated for simplicity), for example, a strip of LEDs aligned along the axis A, optionally associated with an appropriate element or optical group. 
     Also, with reference to  FIGS. 2-4 , the joint  3  comprises a central support  11  extending along an axis R 1  and a plurality of arms  12  (two or more), which project radially from the support  11  and are hinged in a rotary manner to the support  11 . 
     In particular, the support  11  comprises a pin  13  extending along the axis R 1  and having a lower end flange  14  and an upper cover flange  15 . 
     Optionally, the support  11  also comprises a cap  16  positioned above the flange  15  and fixed to the flange  15  by means of a stem  17  arranged through a central hole  18  of the cap  16  and joined to the pin  13 . The cap  16  has substantially an inverted cup shape and is provided with at least one entry opening  19  formed passing through the cap  16  and specifically, through a top wall of the cap  16 ; in the illustrated example, the entry opening  19  is defined by a pair of windows, which are diametrically opposite with respect to the hole  18 . 
     The entry opening  19  allows the insertion of one or more cables  20 , for example, power supplying and controlling cables for the system  1  (i.e. for the units  2 ) connected to a power supply  21  or another power supplying and controlling device. 
     The pin  13  is optionally connected to a suspension cable  22 , which allows, for example, to hang the system  1  to a ceiling. 
     Preferably, the pin  13  is hollow inside (i.e. it has a tubular structure) and the suspension cable  22  is housed inside the pin  13 , where one end of the suspension cable  22  is hooked to a head  23 , which axially engages a locking seat  24  formed, for example, in the flange  14 . 
     Each arm  12  substantially extends along a longitudinal axis B perpendicular to the axis R 1  between a root rim  25 , provided with a connection ring  26  hinged in a rotary manner to the pin  13 ; and a free end rim  27 , opposite the root rim  25  and provided with a front access opening  28 . 
     In greater detail and also with reference to  FIGS. 5-6 , the ring  26  is fitted on the pin  13  so as to be rotatable, together with the arm  12  as a whole, with respect to the pin  13  and about the axis R 1 , defining a first rotation axis of the joint  3 . 
     The ring  26  extends from an outer surface  29  of the root rim  25 ; advantageously, the surface  29  is a curved surface (having an arc of a circle cross section). 
     The arm  12  comprises a pair of lateral sides  31  parallel to the axis B, which extend from the root rim  25 ; a transverse core  32 , which joins the sides  31 ; an upper closing element  33  and a lower closing element  34 , which join the sides  31  along an upper edge and a lower edge of the arm  12  respectively. 
     The sides  31  have substantially circular respective lateral rotation seats  35 , delimited at the back (from the part of the root rim  25 ) by respective circle-arc shaped shoulders  36  facing the free end rim  27 . 
     The opening  28  opens on the free end rim  27  and communicates with an inner through seat  37  formed inside the arm  12  between the sides  31 . 
     The seat  37  comprises a substantially semi-cylindrical central rotation seat  38 , extending along and about an axis R 2  defining a second rotation axis of the joint  3  orthogonal to the axis R 1 ; and an enlarged portion  39  positioned between the seat  38  and the opening  28 . 
     The seat  38  is aligned with the opening  28  along the axis B of the arm  12  and the portion  39  extends laterally on opposite sides of the axis B with two opposing cavities. 
     The core  32  is provided with at least one threaded service hole  41 , for example, substantially perpendicular to the axis B and parallel to the axis R 1 , communicating with the seat  37  and, specifically, with the seat  38  and housing a locking member  42 , for example, a pin, which screws into the hole  41 . 
     The closing elements  33 ,  34  connect the sides  31  on opposite sides of the axis B and are joined to the sides  31  and/or to the root rim  25 . One of the closing elements  33 ,  34 , for example, the upper closing element  33 , is provided with an appendage  43  (in the illustrated example, shaped like a fork and having two fingers set side-by-side), which is substantially perpendicular to the axis B and parallel to the axis R 1  and which extends in the seat  37  and in particular in the upper cavity of the seat  37  and faces the seat  38 . 
     According to the invention, the joint  3  can comprise a different number of arms  12 , in particular two, three or (as in the illustrated example) four arms  12 . 
     The arms  12  of the joint  3  extend radially from the support  11  and are angularly spaced apart from one another about the axis R 1 . The arms  12  are all positioned at the same height along the axis R 1  with respect to the support  11 , and have the respective rings  26  positioned on the pin  13  at different heights (measured along the axis R 1 ) along the pin  13 . 
     Thus, the arms  12  have the respective rings  26  axially staggered and superimposed axially along the axis R 1 . 
     Also depending on the number of arms  12  extending from the support  11  (and therefore of rings  26  positioned on the pin  13 ), one or more spacer washers (not shown) can be mounted on the pin  13  between pairs of rings  26  of respective arms  12 . 
     The rings  26  are rotatable on the pin  13  about the axis R 1 , thus allowing the rotation of the respective arms  12  with respect to the support  11  and with respect to one another about the axis R 1 . All of the arms  12  are rotatable about the same rotation axis, defined by the axis R 1 , independently of one another. 
     The seat  37  is shaped so as to receive and support a connection head  6  of a unit  2 . 
     As shown in detail in  FIGS. 7-8 , the head  6  comprises a closing portion  45 , shaped so as to hook and close one end  5  of the unit  2 , and a coupling portion  46 , shaped to engage the seat  37  in a rotary manner. 
     In particular, the closing portion  45  comprises an internally hollow tubular profile  47  and a closing plate  48 , extending from a lower rim of the profile  47 , substantially perpendicular to the profile  47  and shaped so as to close the end  5  of the unit  2 . 
     The coupling portion  46  comprises a pair of side walls  49  set side-by-side and parallel to each other, which extend from the closing portion  45 , opposite the profile  47 . 
     The walls  49  are laterally spaced apart from each other and delimit an inner cavity  50 , in which a central cross pin  51  extends, positioned between the walls  49  in the cavity  50 . 
     The pin  51  is perpendicular to the walls  49 . 
     The walls  49  have respective free end edges  52  curved in an arc of a circle. 
     With the joint  3  mounted, the pin  51  is housed in the seat  37  and engages, in particular, the central rotation seat  38 ; thus, the pin  51  extends, in turn, along the axis R 2  defining the second rotation axis of the joint  3 , orthogonal to the axis R 1 . 
     The sides  31  of the arm  12  are inserted in the cavity  50  between the walls  49 ; the walls  49  are positioned on respective sides  31  and engage the lateral rotation seats  35  on the sides  31 ; the free end edges  52  of the walls  49  cooperate with respective shoulders  36 . 
     The pin  51  can be inserted in the seat  37  through the access opening  28  to engage the central rotation seat  38 . 
     In the assembly step, the head  6  can be supported by the portion  39  of the seat  37  before the final fixing thereof, which occurs, for example, by means of the locking member  42  inserted in the hole  41 , which presses on an outer side surface of the pin  51 . 
     The closing element  33  then closes the pin  51  in the seat  38  by means of the appendage  43 . 
     The joint  3  is configured to house internally the power supplying and controlling cable  20  (or cables) for the system  1 . Therefore, the joint  3  comprises ( FIGS. 3-4 ) internal passages  53 , formed, in particular, inside the cap  16  and each arm  12 , between the entry opening  19  and respective exit openings  54  ( FIGS. 7-8 ) formed on respective heads  6 . 
     In particular, for the passage of the power supplying and controlling cable  20  (or cables), besides the entry opening  19  on the cap  16 , the joint  3  has a pair of passage openings  55 ,  56  on each arm  12 , formed, in particular, at respective opposite ends of the closing element  33 , above the flange  15  and on the free end rim  27  ( FIG. 5 ) respectively. The cable  20  enters the cap  16  through the entry opening  19 , passes through the arm  12  passing into the openings  55 ,  56 , optionally guided by the fork appendage  43 , and reaches the head  6  and, in particular, the profile  47  through the exit opening  54 . 
     It is clear from what is described and illustrated that the system  1  can assume multiple configurations. Starting from few basic components (units  2 , joints  3 , connection heads  6 , closing heads  7 ), it is possible to compose a system  1  of various shapes and sizes, also with three-dimensional development. 
     Each joint  3  can not only connect a different number of units  2 , but it also allows each unit  2  to rotate with respect to two rotation axes R 1 , R 2 , orthogonal to each other. 
     Finally, it is understood that further modifications and variations can be made to the modular lighting system described and illustrated herein, which do not go beyond the scope of the appended claims.