Patent Publication Number: US-10309628-B2

Title: Lighting means support for a strip light luminaire

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is the U.S. national stage application of International Application PCT/EP2015/079730, filed Dec. 15, 2015, which international application was published on Jun. 23, 2016 as International Publication WO 2016/096809 A1. The International Application claims priority to German Patent Application 20 2014 106 106.1, filed Dec. 17, 2014. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a lighting means support for a strip light rail as well as a strip light luminaire with such a lighting means support. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A plurality of different strip light luminaires is known from the prior art. Above all, large areas with long light lines adapted to these areas (for example supermarkets, factory halls, office areas etc.) can be equipped with strip light luminaires or strip light systems. Ordinarily, these strip light luminaires have u-shaped strip light rails in which the cabling, the (control) electronics and the lighting sources are arranged. 
     To simplify assembly, it is further known to build the strip light luminaire with modular units. For example, Publication DE 20 2012 101 765 U1 discloses arranging a first module in the form of a device support and a second module in the form of a lighting means support in a u-shaped strip light rail. 
     The device support has, in particular, a converter unit arranged thereon for electrically coupling the lighting means to the external power supply inserted into the strip light luminaire. The lighting means support comprises in the process the actual lighting means, for example in the form of light emitting diodes or fluorescent tubes. 
     In practice, it turns out that in the assembly of such a strip light luminaire the arrangement of the lighting means support in the strip light rail is relatively awkward and thus time-consuming, since these components are often screwed into one another or must be attached to one another in a separate work step. In addition, the maintenance of such a strip light luminaire is likewise time-consuming, since the connection between the lighting means support and the strip light rail must first be disengaged in a separate step, in order to be able to get to the device support underneath. 
     Proceeding from the prior art, the present invention addresses the problem of providing a lighting means support for a strip light rail which can be easily brought into engagement with a strip light rail and which can be easily removed from the strip light rail for maintenance work. 
     This and other problems to be mentioned in the following description or which can be recognized by a person skilled in the art are solved with the subject matter of the independent claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A lighting means support for a strip light luminaire according to the invention comprises: 
     at least one spring element for detachably connecting the lighting means support to a strip light rail of a strip light luminaire; 
     wherein the at least one spring element comprises at least one latching element which can be brought into engagement with a correspondingly formed latching element or a correspondingly formed wall section of the strip light rail in order to latch the lighting means support to the strip light rail in such a way that movement of the lighting means support counter to an insertion direction of the lighting means support into the strip light rail is prevented. 
     In other words, the present invention proposes providing a spring element with at least one latching element on the lighting means support that automatically latches to the strip light rail during the insertion of the lighting means support into the strip light rail, and to be precise, in such a way to prevent the lighting means support from falling out from the strip light rail (that is, in the direction counter to the insertion direction). 
     Advantageously, the spring element is formed as a separate component and arranged on the lighting means support. The spring element preferably comprises at least one fastening element which can be brought into engagement with a correspondingly formed holding fixture on the lighting means support. It is preferable that the fastening element of the spring element be conically formed and can be undetachably (preferably positive form locking) arranged in the holding fixture of the lighting means support by a corresponding configuration of the holding fixture. Such a configuration makes it possible to arrange the spring element on the lighting means support prior to assembly, so that during the assembly no separate parts must be held or no screw connections or the like must be performed. 
     Further, it is preferred that the latching element of the spring element comprises at least one insertion chamfer, which in the case of the insertion of the lighting means support into the strip light rail can be brought into contact with the correspondingly formed wall section of the strip light rail in such a way that the latching element of the spring element bends away from the strip light rail. For example, when inserting the lighting means support into the strip light rail, a corbel of the strip light rail can press against the insertion chamfer of the spring element, so that the latching element of the spring element is pressed away during insertion and only snaps back to its original position to fasten once insertion is complete. In the fastening position, the latching element comes into contact with the corbel of the strip light rail on a contact surface and hence prevents a movement of the lighting means support against the insertion direction. 
     It is further preferred that the spring element comprises at least two (preferably identical) latching elements spaced apart from one another. As a result, an especially stable connection of the lighting means support in the strip light rail can be provided. 
     Advantageously, the spring element is arranged on an interior of the lighting means support and the at least one latching element is guided through a correspondingly formed recess in the lighting means support (thus inserted on the exterior of the lighting means support). The lighting means support is molded u-shaped when viewed in cross-section. In this case, it is preferred that the spring element is arranged on an interior of a leg of the u-shaped lighting means support (preferably spring elements are provided on both opposing legs of the u-shaped lighting means support). 
     Advantageously, the spring element is integrally formed, wherein it is especially preferred that the spring element is formed as a stamped/bent part (preferably made of sheet metal). This makes it possible to make a spring element in essentially only one process step. 
     Further, it is preferred that the spring element comprises at least one support and clamping element which can be brought into engagement with a corresponding wall section of the lighting means support in such a way that the spring element is clamped on the lighting means support between the fastening element and the support and clamping element. The undetachable arrangement of the spring element on the lighting means support can be improved. In addition, it can be ensured that in the bending away of the latching element or latching elements (when inserting the lighting means support into the strip light rail) the remaining spring element remains in the provided position. 
     Preferably, relief slots are provided adjacent to the support and clamping element, so that the support and clamping element is not likewise bent way when the spring element is bent away. 
     Advantageously, the lighting means support comprises at least two spring elements on opposing wall sections of the lighting means support (in the u-shaped embodiment of the lighting means support preferably on two opposing legs of the lighting means support). To increase the stability of the connection between the lighting means support and the strip light rail, the spring element is preferably provided on a front region of the lighting means support or the spring elements are preferably provided on opposing front regions of the lighting means support. 
     Advantageously, the lighting mean support further comprises at least one first plug-in connector arrangement, which is formed in such a way that it is brought into engagement with a second plug-in connector arrangement arranged on a device support, in order to connect the lighting means support to a power supply circuit. This power supply circuit is typically provided by a converter unit arranged on the device support. The at least one spring element of the lighting means support and the latching element or the wall section of the strip light rail are molded and positioned in such a way that a latching does not occur until the two plug-in connector arrangements, as provided, are in engagement with one another. In other words, the latching element should only latch into a fastening position when the two plug-in connectors are in the proper installation position (and hence an electrical connection of the plug-in connector arrangements is present). This further simplifies the assembly of a strip light luminaire according to the invention. 
     Further, the present invention relates to a strip light luminaire having at least one of the above described lighting means supports. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the following a detailed description of the figures is given. The figures show the following: 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic view of a strip light rail with a lighting means support arranged therein (without lighting means); 
         FIG. 2  shows schematic views of a spring element which was used in the representation shown in  FIG. 1  for connecting the lighting means support to the strip light rail; 
         FIG. 3  shows a schematic view of a lighting means support according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a schematic view of a strip light rail  1 , in which a lighting means support  10  is arranged. 
     As clearly shown in  FIG. 1 , the strip light rail  1  has an essentially u-shaped cross-section, wherein corbels  2  are provided on the upper sides of the legs. 
     As likewise clearly shown in  FIG. 1 , the lighting means support  10  has a u-shaped cross-section adapted to the u-shaped cross-section of the strip light rail  1 . The lighting means support  10  further comprises spring elements  20  on opposite interiors of the legs of the u-shaped cross-section. Said spring elements  20  latch the lighting means support  10  to the strip light rail  1 . 
     The spring elements  20  are molded as flat stamped/bent components (cf.  FIG. 2 ). In the region that is aligned to the base of the u-shaped lighting means support  10 , the spring elements  20  comprise fastening elements  21 , which are essentially conically formed and which are arranged in the correspondingly formed holding fixture  11  of the lighting means support  10  (preferably positively and non-positively locked). 
     Further, the spring elements  20  comprise latching elements  22 , which are guided through the lighting means support  10 , so that the corbels  2  of the strip light rail  1  work together and can latch into place with them. 
     On the ends of the spring elements  20  opposite the fastening elements  21  there are engagement and/or grip sections  23 , upon which an assembler can grip the spring elements  20  and bend them inward such that the latching elements  22  are guided inward and the lighting means support  10  can be removed from the strip light rail  1  again. 
       FIG. 2  shows two schematic views of a spring element  20 , with which the lighting means support  10  can be latched in the strip light rail  1  (cf.  FIG. 1 ). 
     As clearly shown in  FIG. 2 , the fastening elements  21  of the spring element  20  are arranged spaced apart from one another and have an essentially conical shape, said fastening elements being able to be inserted into the correspondingly formed holding fixture  11  of the lighting means support  10  (preferably positively locked). 
     As already stated, through the arrangement of the fastening elements  21  in the holding fixture  11  an undetachable arrangement of the spring element  20  on the lighting means support  10  is provided. 
     The latching element  22  is provided by two wall sections  22  essentially protruding at a right angle from the spring element  20 , wherein the latching elements  22  comprise insertion chambers  24 . 
     Further, the spring element  20  comprises a (preferably centrally arranged) support and clamping element  25 , which can be brought into engagement with a corresponding further holding receptacle of the lighting means support  10  in such a way that the spring element  20  is clamped between the fastening elements  21  and the support and clamping element  25  on the lighting means support  10 . As an alternative or in addition to this, it is also possible to clamp the spring element  20  between the latching element  22  and the fastening element  21  on the lighting means support  10 . 
     As  FIG. 2  shows, relief slots  26  are provided laterally to the support and clamping element  25 , and extend from the support and clamping element  25  in the direction of the fastening elements  21 . The relief slots  26  are intended to prevent the support and clamping element  25  from being bent out of engagement with the lighting means support  10  in the case of the bending or swiveling of the spring element  20 . 
     In order to connect the lighting means support  10  to the strip light rail  1 , the following procedure can be employed: 
     first, the fastening elements  21  of a respective spring element  20  are inserted into the correspondingly formed holding fixtures  11  (preferably non-positively and positively locked); 
     then the support and clamping element  25  of a respective spring element  20  is brought into a corresponding holding fixture (not shown in the figure) of the lighting means support  10 , so that the respective spring element  20  is clamped between the fastening elements  21  and the support and clamping element  2  on the lighting means support  10 ; 
     now the lighting means support  10  is inserted into the strip light rail  1  in such a way that the corbels  2  of the strip light rail  1  come into contact with the insertion chamfers  24  of the latching elements  22 . During further insertion, the latching elements  22  are pressed inward (indicated by Arrow B in  FIG. 2 ) until the positioning shown in  FIG. 1  is achieved and the latching elements  22  return to the shown original position. 
     If the lighting means support  10  is removed from the strip light rail  1  again, the assembler can manually bend the spring element  20  on the engagement and/or grip section  23  in such a way that the latching element  22  is guided inward and the lighting means support  10  can be removed from the strip light rail  1 . As an alternative, an adapted assembly tool can be arranged on the engagement and/or grip section  23  in order to be able to perform a corresponding bending of the spring element  20  and with it the latching elements  22  (cf. Arrow B in  FIG. 2 ). 
     Further, it is preferred that the spring element  20  or the spring elements  20  are arranged and positioned on the device support  10  in such a way that a latching only occurs (cf.  FIG. 1 ) when a first plug-in connector arrangement (not shown in the figure) of the lighting means support  10  is correctly brought into engagement with a second plug-in connector arrangement (not shown in the figure) of a device support likewise arranged in the strip light rail  1 , so that the latching also is an indicator for a correct connection of the two plug-in connector arrangements. 
       FIG. 3  shows a schematic view of a lighting means support  10  according to the invention, wherein two opposing spring elements  20  are provided on a front region, in order to be able to connect the lighting means support  10  to a strip light rail  1  (cf.  FIG. 1 ). 
     The present invention is not restricted to the preceding described preferred exemplary embodiment, as long as it is comprised by the subject matter of the following claims. In particular, the present invention is not restricted to the use of a specified number of spring elements  20 , i.e. depending on the application case and dimensioning of the strip light luminaire, more or fewer spring elements  20  can be provided on the lighting means support  10 . Further, the present invention is also not restricted to the number of fastening elements  21 /latching elements  22  provided on the spring element  20 , i.e. one, two (as shown in the figures) or a plurality of fastening elements  21 /latching elements  22  can be provided on a spring element  20  according to the invention.