Patent Description:
In a previous patent application <CIT> by the same applicant, an assembly and a method for forming a lamp incorporated in a masonry wall, in particular in a reinforced concrete wall, were described.

An assembly and a method for forming a substantially parallelepiped-shaped single-piece panel in which a lamp body is completely embedded and which can be inserted and fixed between bricks, blocks or panels that form the wall or a cladding of the wall, in particular the panels of external insulation have been described in another previous patent application <CIT> by the same applicant.

Conversely, it has not yet been proposed how to form a lamp incorporated in a plasterboard wall or in a wall made of fiber-cement sheets in order to obtain the same excellent functional, structural and aesthetic effects achieved by means of the teachings described in the patent applications cited.

<CIT> discloses a furnishing structure with a linear extension which is suitable for generating a continuous light strip and which is adapted to be integrated within building backgrounds of the most varied nature, and which is made of masonry work, plasterboard, wood, etc. <CIT> relates to the use of a LED strip fitting or a kit of parts for finishing a wall, a ceiling or a construction. The luminaire comprises a first integratable component for building in a construction and a second component for cooperating with the first integratable component, so as to provide indirect illumination. <CIT> discloses a partition wall with integrated lighting. The wall has a laminar carrier body comprising a recess in which an integrated lamp is arranged, where the recess is defined by a lamp profile. <CIT> discloses a wall wash light fixture which includes a housing having a bottom plate at least partially defining an opening; a light source disposed within the housing; and a reflector disposed such that light emitted from the light source is received by the reflector and reflected.

One object of the present invention is therefore to bridge such a gap by proposing an assembly and a method that can allow for the installation of a lamp in a plasterboard wall or in a wall made of fiber-cement sheets.

Another object of the invention is to propose an assembly and a method that can advantageously also be used to install a lamp in a wall made of materials for on-site construction to be clad, for example in hollow bricks or reinforced concrete.

Another object of the invention is to propose an assembly and a method that also make it possible for a non-specialized operator, for example the same plasterboard installer or bricklayer, to incorporate a lamp in a plasterboard wall or in a wall made of fiber-cement sheets or in a wall made of materials for on-site construction to be clad in a manner that is quick, safe and at the same time very precise.

Said objects are achieved by an assembly according to claim <NUM>, by a method according to claim <NUM> and by a method according to claim <NUM>. The dependent claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention.

The features and the advantages of the assembly and of the method according to the invention will, however, become clear from the following description of preferred embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:.

In the following description, elements that the different embodiments have in common or that are equivalent are indicated by the same reference numerals.

In addition, unless stated otherwise, features described with reference to one embodiment can also be used in other embodiments.

In said drawings, <NUM> indicates, as a whole, an assembly for forming a lamp incorporated in a plasterboard wall <NUM> or in a wall <NUM> made of fiber-cement sheets or in a wall <NUM> made of materials for on-site construction to be clad.

The assembly <NUM> comprises a lamp body <NUM> and a formwork <NUM>.

The lamp body <NUM> houses a light source <NUM>.

The formwork <NUM> defines a rebated front wall <NUM> suitable to be attached to the inner side of a plasterboard panel <NUM>' or a panel <NUM>' made of fiber-cement sheets or cladding <NUM>' of the wall <NUM> to be clad.

The formwork <NUM> also defines a light-emitting cavity <NUM> that forms a seat <NUM> at the back for housing the lamp body <NUM> and a light-emitting opening <NUM> at the front in the front wall <NUM>.

The light-emitting opening <NUM> is delimited by a peripheral frame <NUM> that extends perpendicularly from the front of the front wall <NUM> and such that the front edge <NUM>' of the peripheral frame <NUM> is flush with the outer side of the plasterboard panel <NUM>' or the fiber-cement sheet <NUM>' or of the cladding <NUM>' of the wall, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG>.

The light-emitting cavity <NUM> is delimited at the bottom by an inclined surface <NUM> towards which the light generated by the light source <NUM> is projected and which ends in the light-emitting opening <NUM>.

In other words, in a preferred embodiment, the lamp body <NUM>, when positioned in its housing seat <NUM>, is not only arranged in a withdrawn position with respect to the light-emitting opening <NUM>, but also in a raised position such that an observer stood in front of the wall <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, is not blinded by the direct light of the light source <NUM> (<FIG>).

The formwork <NUM> is also provided with retaining means <NUM> that cooperate with the inclined surface <NUM> in order to hold a cladding sheet <NUM> of the inclined surface <NUM>.

This cladding sheet <NUM> can be made from the same material as the wall (plasterboard, fiber-cement, cladding), and can therefore be obtained and installed by the same plasterboard installer or bricklayer, or from a different material. For example, the cladding sheet <NUM> can be made of anodized aluminum and can be supplied together with the formwork <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a few examples of cladding sheet 5a, 5b, 5c that can not only differ in terms of materials but also shape. For example, the cladding sheet 5b has a concave upper side rather than a flat one.

In one embodiment, the formwork <NUM> is formed as one piece having an extruded profile <NUM>. In this case, the assembly <NUM> can comprise two side caps <NUM> suitable to close the open ends of the extruded profile <NUM> so as to form the lateral sides of the light-emitting cavity <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the formwork formed as an extruded profile <NUM> can have a longitudinal extension that is much greater than its vertical dimension, or a plurality of formworks can be brought together without side caps so as to form a continuous linear lamp. In this case, the side caps <NUM> would not be necessary either.

It should be noted that, in one embodiment shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the formwork <NUM> is provided with a wall <NUM> at the front for closing the light-emitting opening <NUM>. This closing wall <NUM> can easily be moved by the peripheral frame <NUM> once the formwork <NUM> is placed on-site, for example on account of the reduced thickness of its edge that connects to the peripheral frame <NUM>. The closing wall <NUM> protects the light-emitting cavity <NUM> during the steps of installing the formwork <NUM> and stiffens the structure itself of the formwork <NUM>. In particular, when the formwork <NUM> is placed on-site, the closing wall <NUM> prevents the weight that can bear down thereon from tending to squash the light-emitting cavity <NUM>, which would thus impede the subsequent insertion of the lamp body <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the light source <NUM> comprises one or more LED light source cables mounted on a printed circuit board <NUM>'.

In one embodiment, the lamp body <NUM> comprises, in addition to the light source, electrical and/or electronic circuits for controlling the light source. The lamp body <NUM> is also intended for receiving a power supply <NUM> and an electrical connector for electrically connecting to power supply and/or control cables.

The lamp body <NUM> may also comprise optical elements for controlling the light beam generated by the light source <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the lamp body <NUM> is also provided with heat dissipation means for the heat generated by the light source.

In one embodiment, the lamp body <NUM> and the light-emitting cavity <NUM> are dimensioned so as to allow the lamp body <NUM> to be inserted into the housing seat <NUM> through the light-emitting opening <NUM> and the light-emitting cavity <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the lamp body <NUM> is insertable into its housing seat <NUM> by a snap fit. For example, the walls of the formwork <NUM> that delimit the housing seat <NUM> form undercuts <NUM>' that engage with corresponding resilient tabs <NUM> made in the lamp body <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the extruded profile <NUM> forms, in the rear portion of the light-emitting cavity <NUM>, a longitudinal retaining wall <NUM> that extends from a rear wall <NUM>, substantially in parallel with the inclined surface <NUM>, and has an upper side shaped suitable for snap engaging with the lamp body <NUM> and an end tooth <NUM>' that can interact with the cladding sheet <NUM> of the inclined pane.

In one embodiment, the cladding sheet <NUM> of the inclined surface <NUM> is provided with fastening means <NUM>', for example a fastening tooth, which cooperate with the retaining means <NUM> and also comprise a hole, for example, in which the fastening tooth can engage so that said cladding sheet is fastened to the inclined surface <NUM>.

It should be noted that, in order to create, as far as possible, surface continuity between the outer side of the panel <NUM>, sheet <NUM> or cladding <NUM> and the cladding sheet <NUM> of the inclined surface <NUM>, the cladding sheet <NUM> has a lower end that is counter-shaped to the lower side of the peripheral frame <NUM>. According to the invention, this lower end is cut so as to form a horizontal support base that rests against the horizontal lower side of the peripheral frame <NUM>.

In one embodiment, a rear opening <NUM> is made in a rear wall of the formwork <NUM>, which delimits the housing seat <NUM> of the lamp body <NUM>, suitable for the passage of the end of a corrugated tube <NUM> that can carry the electrical power supply/control cables for the lamp body <NUM>.

The installation of the assembly <NUM> in a plasterboard wall <NUM> or in a wall <NUM> made of fiber-cement sheets is carried out as follows.

A window 2a; 3a is made in a plasterboard panel <NUM>' or in a fiber-cement sheet <NUM>', which has dimensions that correspond to the light-emitting opening <NUM>.

The electrical power supply/control cables of the lamp are brought in the proximity of the region where the lamp is positioned.

The formwork <NUM> is fixed to the inside of the panel or sheet so as to pass the peripheral frame <NUM> through the window 2a; 3a.

For example, the formwork <NUM> is fixed by means of screws and/or glue applied to the front wall <NUM> of the formwork <NUM>.

At this point, the panel or sheet is fixed to the bars <NUM> of the frame of the plasterboard or fiber-cement wall.

It is therefore possible to proceed with positioning a cladding sheet <NUM> on the inclined surface <NUM>.

The electrical cables are connected to the lamp <NUM>.

The lamp body <NUM> is fastened to its housing seat <NUM>.

When the lamp is installed in a wall made of materials for on-site construction, the method is carried out as follows.

A recess <NUM> is made in the wall that is suitable to house the formwork <NUM> and the electrical cables are therefore pulled inside this recess <NUM>.

The formwork <NUM> is inserted into the recess <NUM> so that the peripheral frame <NUM> protrudes with respect to the outside of the wall that is not clad such that the front edge <NUM>' of the peripheral frame <NUM> will be flush with the outer side of the cladding once it has been glued to the wall.

After having locked the formwork <NUM> in position in the recess <NUM>, a layer of cladding adhesive <NUM> is applied to the wall to be clad and to the front wall <NUM> of the formwork such that said walls are coplanar.

At this point, the cladding can be applied to the wall and a cladding sheet <NUM> can be positioned on the inclined surface <NUM>.

The electrical cables are therefore connected to the lamp body and the lamp body is attached to its housing seat.

It should be noted that, in order to use said formwork <NUM> with panels, sheets or cladding having different thicknesses, a spacer <NUM>, for example in the form of an extruded profile screwed to the front wall <NUM>, can be arranged between the front wall <NUM> of the formwork and the inner side of the panel, sheet or cladding.

Claim 1:
Assembly for making a lamp incorporated in a plasterboard wall (<NUM>) or in a wall made of fiber-cement sheets (<NUM>) or in a wall composed of materials for on-site construction to be clad (<NUM>), comprising:
- a lamp body (<NUM>) that houses a light source (<NUM>);
- a formwork (<NUM>) defining a rebated front wall (<NUM>) suitable to be attached to the inner side of a plasterboard panel (<NUM>'), a fiber-cement sheet (<NUM>') or wall cladding (<NUM>'), at the rear a light-emitting cavity (<NUM>) forming a housing seat (<NUM>) for the lamp body (<NUM>) and in front a light-emitting opening (<NUM>) in the front wall (<NUM>), said light-emitting opening (<NUM>) being delimited by a peripheral frame (<NUM>) extending frontally and perpendicularly from the front wall (<NUM>) in such a way that the front edge (<NUM>') of said peripheral frame (<NUM>) is flush with the outer side of the panel, sheet or wall cladding, the light-emitting cavity (<NUM>) being delimited below by an inclined plane (<NUM>) towards which the light generated by the light source is projected and which ends at the light-emitting opening (<NUM>), the formwork (<NUM>) being further equipped with retaining means (<NUM>) cooperating with said inclined plane (<NUM>),
- a cladding sheet (<NUM>) of the inclined plane, e.g. made of anodized aluminum, equipped with fastening means (<NUM>') cooperating with the retaining means (<NUM>) so as to retain the cladding sheet (<NUM>) fastened to the inclined plane (<NUM>),
wherein the cladding sheet (<NUM>) has a lower end counter-shaped to the lower side of the peripheral frame (<NUM>), characterized in that the lower end is cut so as to form a horizontal support base that rests against the horizontal lower side of the peripheral frame (<NUM>).