Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US5357412?ie=ISO-8859-1
Timestamp: 2015-05-23 10:43:58
Document Index: 588094255

Matched Legal Cases: ['art.\n6', 'arts 7', 'arts 32', 'arts 7', 'art 32', 'art 53', 'art 52', 'art 52', 'art 52', 'art 52', 'art 52', 'art 92', 'art 93', 'art 93', 'art 96', 'art 93', 'art 193', 'arts 192', 'art 232', 'art 231']

Patent US5357412 - Line illumination device and mounting member for this device - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA device for line illumination comprises a carrier and a plurality of double ended tubular fluorescent lamps arranged in line and mounted in pairs of lamp holders. Between each two lamps a capped, single ended compact fluorescent lamp is present and with its cap proximate the carrier. The device may...http://www.google.com/patents/US5357412?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5357412 - Line illumination device and mounting member for this deviceAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS5357412 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 07/878,649Publication dateOct 18, 1994Filing dateMay 5, 1992Priority dateMay 7, 1991Fee statusLapsedAlso published asCA2067992A1, CA2067992C, DE69200740D1, DE69200740T2, EP0514963A2, EP0514963A3, EP0514963B1, US5422800Publication number07878649, 878649, US 5357412 A, US 5357412A, US-A-5357412, US5357412 A, US5357412AInventorsJean Paul Entrop, Gerrit J. Van Den BeldOriginal AssigneeU.S. Philips CorporationExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (11), Non-Patent Citations (1), Referenced by (12), Classifications (32), Legal Events (6) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetLine illumination device and mounting member for this device
US 5357412 AAbstract
A device for line illumination comprises a carrier and a plurality of double ended tubular fluorescent lamps arranged in line and mounted in pairs of lamp holders. Between each two lamps a capped, single ended compact fluorescent lamp is present and with its cap proximate the carrier. The device may also comprise a screen having a side facing the carrier. The tubular and the compact fluorescent lamps are then located at the side facing the carrier. A T-shaped, light transmitting mounting member is provided in which respective parts of two pairs of lamp holders are mounted, back to back, remote from each other, so as to allow a compact fluorescent lamp to be accommodated therebetween. The device provides a light line of homogeneous brightness giving an even illumination.
1. A line illumination device comprising:a carrier, a plurality of tubular fluorescent lamps in a linear arrangement and each of which has end portions with respective lamp caps, a plurality of lampholder pairs which are connected to the carrier and in each of which a respective fluorescent lamp is held via its lamp caps, characterized in that between each two adjacent tubular fluorescent lamps a respective single-ended capped compact fluorescent lamp is accommodated, with its lamp cap in a lamp holder which is mounted proximate to the carrier, whereby said line illumination device provides greater evenness in brightness and illuminance. 2. A line illumination device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a mounting member connected to a lampholder which is positioned near the carrier, wherein the mounting member accommodates the compact fluorescent lamp and with the lamp cap of the compact fluorescent lamp in said lampholder, and respective parts of two lampholder pairs are accommodated in said mounting member and at a distance from the carrier.
3. A line illumination device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the mounting member comprises a substantially light-transmitting T-shaped body.
4. A line illumination device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the mounting member comprises optically active means.
5. A line illumination device as claimed in claim 2, the mounting member substantially surrounds a respective compact fluorescent lamp and is divided so as to comprise a first and a second part.
6. A line illumination device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the tubular fluorescent lamps are each surrounded by a tube extending between their end portions and with a space between the tubular fluorescent lamp and the tube.
7. A line illumination device as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the mounting member is sealed in a watertight manner at least outside the carrier.
8. A line illumination device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the carrier has a duct-shaped cavity and the mounting member has a profile which is enclosed in said cavity.
9. A line illumination device as claimed in claim 2 or 8, wherein the mounting member is fixed to the carrier by means of a bayonet coupling.
10. A line illumination device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a screen which is connected to the carrier and having a side facing the carrier wherein the tubular and the compact fluorescent lamps are arranged at said side of the screen which faces the carrier.
11. A line illumination device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the screen has the shape of a tube.
12. A line illumination device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the screen comprises a plate shaped so as to form a tube.
13. A line illumination device as claimed in claim 2, the lampholder for the compact fluorescent lamp is tiltably mounted about a pivot axis which extends substantially parallel to the tubular fluorescent lamps.
14. A line illumination device comprising:an elongate carrier, a plurality of tubular fluorescent discharge lamps linearly aligned and with each lamp having end portions including respective lamp caps, a plurality of lamp holder pairs coupled to the carrier and in each of the lamp holder pairs a respective discharge lamp is mounted via its respective lamp caps, and a plurality of single-ended capped compact fluorescent discharge lamps and with a respective compact fluorescent discharge lamp mounted between each two adjacent tubular fluorescent discharge lamps and with its lamp cap proximate the carrier and wherein the compact fluorescent discharge lamps are chosen so that they just radiate sufficient light to compensate for otherwise dark spaces between any two adjacent tubular fluorescent discharge lamps thereby to produce a line of light of even brightness along the length of said line illumination device. 15. A line illumination device as claimed in claim 14 further comprising:a mounting member secured to and supported by said carrier, and wherein said compact fluorescent discharge lamp and two lamp holders for adjacent tubular fluorescent discharge lamps are positioned inside of said mounting member. 16. A line illumination device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the mounting member comprises a substantially light-transmissive T-shaped hollow body.
17. A line illumination device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said carrier supports the tubular fluorescent discharge lamps, the compact fluorescent discharge lamp, and the plurality of lamp holder pairs.
This invention relates to a line illumination device comprising
DE 284 537 discloses a line illumination device in which prismatic, mirroring bodies are positioned on each of the lampholders, which bodies throw the light coming from the lamps in a direction away from the carrier. The result is that light seems to be coming from the lampholder. This measure, however, only effects a small reduction in the unevenness of the illuminance and of the brightness of the light line. In fact, the prismatic bodies receive only that small fraction of light which is radiated by the lamp ends at a great angle to the perpendicular of these ends, while these ends already have a lower brightness than portions farther away from the ends. The prismatic bodies do not throw light towards the carrier.
An object of the invention is to provide a line illumination device of the kind described in the opening paragraph which offers a greater evenness in brightness and illuminance and avoids undesirable patterns.
The screen may be impervious to light, for example, diffusely reflecting. The line illumination device then yields an illuminated field of great evenness on the carrier. Alternatively, however, the screen may be light-transmitting, for example, light-scattering, for example, diffusing or opal. The screen may also be transparent and colourless, for example for forming a closed space together with the carrier, in which space the lamps are present. The screen may be optically active, for example, coloured, may have light-diffracting elements such as lenses, prisms, or have other light-spreading characteristics, for example, owing to a profile such as semicylindrical ridges. The line illumination device with a light-transmitting screen results in a light line of an even brightness and, if applicable, an illuminated field of great evenness on the carrier.
The carrier may be a wall, for example, an exterior wall, a ceiling, a roof, canopy or porch edge, etc., or a covering mounted against it, for example, a panel board. The carrier may have a duct-shaped cavity in which a profile, for example having substantially a U-shape, is accommodated, other parts of the device, such as lampholders and possibly a screen, being fixed thereto. Supply means, such as ignition and/or dimming and/or stabilization means, and electric wiring for the lamps may also be accommodated in such a profile. A mounting member to be described below may also be fixed to such a profile. The advantage of such a profile is that segments may be previously assembled and cabled, so that segments of the device are completed when the profile and the lamps are provided against the carrier. This is particularly attractive when the carrier is much larger than the profile.
In a favourable embodiment, the device, which may or may not have a screen, comprises a mounting member which is connected to a lampholder positioned near the carrier. This lampholder may be fastened to or in the mounting member. The compact fluorescent lamp is accommodated in this mounting member with its lamp cap in said lampholder. At a distance from the carrier, respective parts of two lampholder pairs are accommodated in the mounting member for holding and supplying ends of the tubular lamps on either side of the compact fluorescent lamp. The mounting member is a useful means for connecting the lamps to the carrier in the desired geometrical arrangement.
The mounting member may be provided with optically active means, for example, which may be light-scattering or light-spreading at a surface facing away from the carrier. This may be favourable in the presence of a light-transmitting screen, but also if no screen is present. Light diffusion may be obtained through local roughening or by frosting, which may or may not be obtained by means of a coating. Light spreading may be obtained, for example, by a profile, for example with prismatic or concave cylindrical grooves. Light from the compact lamp may be strongly deflected sideways by this.
Also, dependence on the distance between the screen and the carrier, it may be favourable for the mounting member to comprise optically active means near the carrier, for example, to be light-scattering. A local over-illumination of the carrier can then be counteracted, if this should occur without the measure. Alternatively, optically active means of the mounting member, for example means near the carrier, may comprise a colour filter or prismatic grooves, for example, running parallel to the carrier. Such grooves are capable of guiding light into the material of the mounting member and away from the carrier. A colour filter may be transparent or only translucent. It is favourable for this filter to have the same colour as the carrier or, depending on its position, as the screen. The filter can obviate that which is irradiated by the compact lamp through the filter has a colour which differs from the colour of adjoining regions. The filter may be integrated in the mounting member. The mounting member may be manufactured from coloured material, or the filter may be provided as a coating or film, for example as a foil, in or around the mounting member.
Alternatively, the mounting member may be divided into a T-shaped part and, for example, a substantially semi-cylindrical part. The actual shapes of parts of the mounting member can be chosen dependent upon the geometric proportions of the embodiment of the device. The proportions may be such that the crossbar of the T is relatively short compared with the leg.
It is also favourable when for the mounting member to have prismatic grooves remote from the carrier, which grooves are so formed that they spread the light issuing there. Grooves may be present elsewhere for guiding light into the material of the mounting member. Furthermore, bodies having the shape of cone segments may be present in the mounting member opposite the compact fluorescent lamp, also for guiding light into the material of the mounting member and thus distributing this light. Alternatively, conical bodies having, for example, radially extending prismatic grooves may be present laterally of the compact lamp, between the latter and the tubular lamps.
In an embodiment in which the mounting member has a first and a second T-shaped part and is provided with screwthread so as to be sealed around tubular lamps by means of nuts, said parts in a favourable modification are coupled at a first end by cooperating portions of these parts so as to be hinged, and are kept coupled together at a second end by nuts cooperating with the screwthread, otherwise they may be coupled in a detachable manner at a first end, for example, with a snap connection.
The line illumination device may extend in one line or with angles along a flat carrier. In the latter case, compact fluorescent lamps may also be positioned at corner points between two adjoining tubular lamps. When the device is installed along two walls which enclose an angle with one another, it is also possible to include a compact fluorescent lamp between two tubular lamps in the corner point.
Embodiments of the line illumination device and the mounting member according to the invention are shown in the drawings, in which:
FIG. 6 shows a sixth embodiment of a mounting member with:
In FIG. 1, the line illumination device comprises a carrier 1 which may be a self-supporting wall or a panel which may be fastened against a partition, a wall, or a different surface. The device has several tubular fluorescent lamps 4, 14, 24, in linear arrangement, each having end portions 5 with respective lamp caps 6. The lamps may all be of the same length and power rating, or there may be lamps of a different length among them in order to give the device a length so as to fit the carrier. Lampholder pairs 7a,b; 17a,b; 27a and (not visible) 27b are present, connected to the carrier 1 in which respective lamps 4, 14 and 24 are accommodated with their lamp caps.
A single-ended capped compact fluorescent lamp 8, 18 is arranged between each pair of tubular fluorescent lamps 4, 14; 14,24 with its lamp cap 9, 19 proximate the carrier. Lampholders 10, 20, in which the relevant caps of the compact lamps 8, 18 are held, are present near the carrier, in the Figure in the carrier. The compact lamps shown are of the type in which straight tubes are interconnected in series.
In FIG. 2, the line illumination device comprises a mounting member 30 connected to a lampholder 10 positioned near the carrier 1. The compact fluorescent lamp 8 is accommodated in the mounting member, which is made of, for example, PMMA, with its lamp cap 9 in said lampholder 10. Relevant parts 7b, 17a (see FIGS. 3 and 4) of two lampholder pairs 7a,b; 17a,b are accommodated in the mounting member 30 at a distance from the carrier 1.
The mounting member 30 shown is a substantially translucent, T-shaped body. It is provided with optically active means. It is light-spreading at a surface 31 which faces away from the carrier 1, towards the screen 2. The mounting member 30 shown is hollow and surrounds the lamp 8 in its entirety and the lamps 4, 14 at their end portions 5. The member is of divided construction, comprising a first, relatively short T-shaped part and a second, longer T-shaped part which is complementary thereto. The division renders it possible to enclose the lamps and to replace them. The parts 32 and 33, however, could have been substantially of the same shape. A portion 35 near the lamp cap 9 and the carrier 1 may be light-scattering and/or coloured.
In FIG. 3, parts of the mounting member 40 corresponding to parts from FIG. 2 have reference numerals which are 10 higher. The light-spreading surface 41 derives its optical activity from prismatic ribs 44 at the inside. Lampholder parts 7b, 17a are provided in the member 40. A portion 45 is optically active and has a coloured light filter and/or frosting. Sealing means 46, 47, of which means 47 may be O-rings, facilitate a watertight closure of the mounting member when a part (not shown) corresponding to part 32 of FIG. 2 is provided.
The substantially T-shaped mounting member 50 of FIG. 4, in which corresponding parts have reference numerals 10 higher than in FIG. 3, has a substantially T-shaped part 53 and a substantially semi-cylindrical part 52. The part 52 has a colour, at least centrally, which is substantially complementary to that of a screen behind which the mounting member may be positioned. A too strong illumination of said screen can be prevented by this in the case in which, without this colour, an excessive local illumination of the screen would occur. The colour saturation of the part 52 may be lower than that of the screen in this case.
It is indicated with broken lines in FIG. 4b that the part 52 may be a larger body 52', in which case the mounting member 50 may be integral with a screen. The part 52' of the mounting member and of the screen extends to beyond the end portion 5 of a tubular lamp 4.
In FIGS. 5 and 6, parts corresponding to those in FIGS. 1 or 2 have reference numerals which are 60 higher than in the first two Figures.
The line illumination device of FIG. 5 has a tubular screen 62 in front of a carrier 61. The screen is quadrilateral in cross-section with a curved side remote from the carrier. The tube comprises a plate 72 which closes a profile 71. The screen 62 is light-scattering. The plate 72 may, for example, have the same colour as the carrier 61 whereas the profile 71 has a different colour.
The T-shaped mounting member 90 has a first part 92 and a second part 93. A light-transmitting tube 94, which surrounds the tubular fluorescent lamp 64 with clearance, is accommodated in the mounting member 90.
The carrier 61 has a duct-shaped cavity 61'. The mounting member 90 has a profile 75, U-shaped in the Figure, to which it is fixed. Other parts of the device: the lampholder 70, lampholder parts for tubular fluorescent lamps 64 not visible in the Figure, are secured to the profile 75 via the mounting member. The screen 62 may also be secured to this profile. The profile 75 is accommodated and fastened in the duct-shaped cavity 61'. Supply means 76 such as electric or electronic circuits are accommodated in the profile for starting, operating, stabilizing and possibly dimming of the tubular and the compact fluorescent lamps. The lamps and the screen in the Figure have a much smaller vertical dimension than the carrier. The profile renders it possible to unite the remaining parts of the device with the carrier in one operation or in segments, in longitudinal sections, as easily manageable units.
The mounting member of FIG. 6 comprises, as shown in FIG. 6a,b, a second and a first part 93, 92, respectively, each provided with prismatic grooves as depicted in FIG. 6c for spreading the light issuing from the mounting member and for guiding light into the material of the mounting member. The portions 95 are frosted for scattering the light issuing there.
A third and a fourth part 96 and 97, respectively, which are one another's mirrored images, are joined together with the second part 93 in FIG. 6d, for example, indetachably connected thereto or integral therewith. The third and the fourth part, see FIG. 6e,f, each comprise a moulded piece 98, 99 in the shape of a cone segment, which pieces lie near the lampholder parts for the tubular fluorescent lamps. These lampholder parts are accommodated in respective cavities 100. Recesses 101 serve to admit the lamp cap and the attached contact pins of a tubular lamp. Screwthread 102 is capable of accommodating a nut with sealing ring and of allowing light to emerge from the material of the mounting member.
In FIG. 7, the line illumination device has a mounting member 190 with a first 192 and a second part 193 which are substantially T-shaped. The mounting member is provided with screwthread 202. The parts 192, 193 can be or are coupled at a first end by their cooperating portions 212,213: hooks 212 and the boundary 213 of an opening in a flange 214.
In FIG. 8, the T-shaped mounting member 230 has a first 231 and a second part 232 which are coupled by means of a snap connection 233,234 (FIG. 8d) at one end, and which can be kept coupled together by nuts 235 cooperating with screwthread at a second end. The two parts are joined to one another and to the nuts with a watertight seal. The nuts each surround a respective pipe 94 around a tubular lamp 4 (FIG. 8c) in a watertight manner. The mounting member has an interrupted first 236 and a second circumferential collar 237 which provide a bayonet coupling to a carrier 61 or to a profile 75 to be accommodated therein. The first part 231 has a prismatic profile on the inside near the carrier 61 for guiding light into the material of the mounting member and away from the carrier. The mounting member has a groove 239 for coupling it to a grommet for a watertight seal and a watertight cabling passage. A compact fluorescent lamp 168 is accommodated with its lamp cap 169 in a lampholder which is suspended in the mounting member with tilting possibility, pivoting about an axis 241 which is parallel to the lamps 4. Lampholders 242 for tubular lamps are arranged in the mounting member (FIG. 8c), into which lampholders such a lamp can be mounted by slipping in sideways. The lampholders 242 are each accommodated in a cavity 243 bounded by walls with prismatic grooves. A moulding 243' of this cavity is shown in FIG. 8e. The mounting member 230 shown has surfaces which face the compact lamp 168 and which have the appearance of the portion 243", with radially extending grooves. Light coming from the compact lamp is guided into the material of the mounting member by the grooves and radiated inter alia by the nuts.
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