LIGHT SYSTEM

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention generally relates to lighting systems, and especially concerns a light system, in particular a battery-light system, as well as a lamp unit which is eminently suitable for a light system according to the invention.

Description of the Prior Art

[0002] Light systems that comprise electric lights imitating candles are previously known, for instance from SE-B-451,400 and EP-A-0 138 786 (family member of SE-B-442 052) being the prior art whereupon the preamble of independent claim 1 is based. Such electric lights have a pivotally suspended incandescent lamp, and the suspension is fairly complicated and does not enable expedient exchange of the incandescent lamp proper. Also, the pivotal function has been found to be less than satisfactory.

Objects of the Invention

[0003] One object of this invention is to provide an improved light system with a pivotable incandescent lamp.

[0004] Another object of the invention is to provide a battery-light system, especially a system which efficiently utilises the capacity of the batteries and which enables expedient and effective charging of the batteries.

[0005] Another object of the invention is to provide a light system whose incandescent lamp is easy to replace.

[0006] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a lamp unit which is especially suited for use in light systems and which is easy to handle and apply and involves an improved pivotal function.

[0007] A further object of the invention is to provide a lamp unit which makes it possible to expediently vary the amplitude of the pivotal movement of the lamp unit.

[0008] Finally, an additional object of the invention is to provide a pivotable lamp-unit suspension ensuring reliable current supply by means of contact elements also in difficult surroundings.

Summary of the invention

[0009] The above objects, as well as other objects which will appear from the following description, are achieved by a light system and a lamp unit exhibiting the inventive features stated in the appended claims.

[0010] Thus, the invention is based on the insight that it is highly advantageous to utilise a self-contained lamp unit which, in accordance with the invention, comprises a frame element having rigid mounting arms which project transversely in opposite directions, a contact means being arranged on the end underside of the respective arms, an incandescent lamp being fixed to the upper side of the frame element and equipped with connecting wires connected to, and preferably constituting, said contact means, and a balancing means being fixed to the underside of said frame element, said contact means defining a transverse mounting axis about which the lamp unit may pivot or swing as a coherent unit when, in use, it has been, from above, freely and directly placed in a lamp holder provided with current-supply contact means corresponding to the contact means of the lamp unit.

[0011] Thus, a light system according the invention comprises electric lights, which each include a sleeve-shaped light body, current-supply means arranged in said light body, and a lamp unit of the above type which is arranged at the upper, upwardly open end of said light body, contact means connected to the current-supply means being so arranged in the light body as to be freely exposed at said end, thus forming a lamp holder having current-supply contact means corresponding to the contact means of the lamp unit.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lights are battery lights, said current-supply means comprising one or more chargeable batteries arranged in said light body, a charging device for charging battery lights being provided and comprising a light stand adapted to separately accommodate, for charging purposes, one or more battery lights from which the associated lamp unit has been removed. Said light stand has, at each light-accommodating site, charging contact means adapted to come into contact with the contact means in the light body of a battery light when said light body is placed on the light-accommodating site at issue, said charging contact means being connected to a charging unit for emitting charging current to said charging contact means and, hence, to the batteries of an associated light body.

[0013] Advantageously, the light stand of the charging device is adapted to receive the respective light bodies (thus without the associated lamp unit) turned upside-down, especially vertically, in a hole adapted to the light-body configuration, such that the light body is made to occupy a predetermined position adapted to the charging contact means arranged in said hole. The charging contact means preferably comprises upwardly-converging, spaced-apart contact elements with which the contact means of the light body are brought into engagement during charging. As is quite easily understood, such an engagement implies sliding between cooperating contact-element surfaces, which ensures good electrical contact.

[0014] Advantageously, the holes of the light stand are throughgoing and so overdimensioned as to enable air to flow up through them and coolingly flow round the battery lights placed in the respective holes in order to be charged. Should further cooling be desirable in connection with the charging operation, for instance if the batteries are of nickel-metal-hydride type, the charging device may advantageously be placed in a cooling compartment, where the low temperature required, for instance of about 14-16°C, can easily be maintained during the charging operation.

[0015] In connection with the charging operation, a battery light may thus simply be removed from its holder, whereupon the lamp unit is removed and the remainder of the battery light is placed in the charging device.

[0016] Advantageously, a lamp unit according to the invention has a balancing means, preferably of pendulum type, which is connected to the frame element and which positions the centre of gravity of the lamp unit below the mounting or pivot axis of the unit.

[0017] The frame element of the lamp unit may be equipped with arms which project transversely in opposite directions and on which the contact means of the lamp unit are arranged. It has been found advantageous that the frame element of the lamp unit should have a generally cruciform shape, the contact means of the lamp unit being arranged on the underside of the respective frame-element arms projecting in the transverse direction. The balancing means mentioned above may then be connected to a downwardly-directed frame-element projection, the incandescent lamp of the lamp unit being connected to an upwardly-directed frame-element projection.

[0018] As is quite easily understood, a lamp unit according to the invention may very easily swing or pivot about its suspension axis. This will ensure relative motion between the contact means of the lamp unit and the corresponding contact means of the associated lamp holder or light body, thus ensuring excellent electrical contact also in difficult surroundings, where e.g. oxidation of the contact means would normally occur. It has been found that a lamp unit that is designed and suspended in accordance with the invention is highly liable to move as a result of jolts, air currents and the like, i.e. without any active creation of a pivoting or swinging movement.

[0019] According to the invention, however, one may advantageously make arrangements for an active, controlled pivoting or swinging movement of the lamp unit. In view hereof, the lamp unit may comprise an element which can be acted upon magnetically, preferably a permanent magnet element, means being arranged in the lamp holder of the lamp unit or its associated light body below the lamp unit to periodically generate a magnetic field, thereby to magnetically act upon said element, and hence the lamp unit, such that the latter is caused to pivot or swing periodically about its axis.

[0020] Advantageously, the position of the element that can be acted upon magnetically can be adjusted in relation to the remainder of the lamp unit, such that the degree of magnetic action, and hence the amplitude of the pivotal movement of the lamp unit, is adjustable. Preferably, this can be achieved by arranging the element that can be acted upon magnetically on said balancing means, preferably at the bottom thereof, said balancing means being arranged on the frame element of the lamp unit in such a manner as to be rotatable about a vertical axis.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lamp unit comprises an incandescent lamp having a bulb containing a filament and an associated filament base, whence project the connecting wires of the incandescent lamp, as well as a downwardly-directed mounting pin by means of which the incandescent lamp is fixed to the frame element of the lamp unit, preferably at an upwardly-directed frame-element projection, which preferably is tubular at least at the top so as to receive said mounting pin. The connecting wires of the incandescent lamp are advantageously so arranged as to constitute the contact means of the lamp unit as well as arranged in such a manner that the incandescent lamp with the associated connecting wires may be expediently replaced. Advantageously, the connecting wires may be arranged along or inside the upwardly-directed frame-element projection down to the respective undersides of frame-element arms projecting in the transverse direction, and then outwards along the respective undersides, the connecting wires being then in locking fashion folded upwards at the outer ends of the frame-element arms projecting in the transverse direction. As is easily understood, one may expediently, once the lamp unit has been lifted out of the associated lamp holder or light body, unfasten the connecting wires from the frame element and remove a broken incandescent lamp and subsequently mount a new incandescent lamp. As a result, exchanging an incandescent lamp is very inexpensive.

[0022] In order to facilitate correct positioning of the lamp unit in a lamp holder or light body, the contact means found in the lamp holder or light body are preferably formed with concavely-recessed upper contact edges. As a result, the lamp unit will automatically come to occupy the correct position after being applied, at the same time as contact-resistance-reducing relative motion at the correct place is ensured.

[0023] When being a battery light, an electric light in accordance with the invention advantageously comprises an electronic circuit adapted to convert, by pulse modulation, an incoming battery supply voltage from a number of batteries connected in series to an outgoing lamp supply voltage which is lower than the nominal supply voltage from a smallest number of utilised batteries connected in series. This has been found to prolong the battery life and to improve the utilisation of the batteries, while enabling the use of one and the same lamp unit for different battery lights, regardless of whether the battery lights have, say, two, three or four batteries connected in series, depending on the size of the lights.

[0024] When use is made of electric lights other than battery lights, the light body may, of course, be provided with a base of conventional type for current-supplying engagement with a holder of suitable design. If so, current may be supplied to the holder from a suitable external source of current.

[0025] If external current supply is carried out at such a high voltage that it is deemed unsuitable that this voltage should be freely exposed on the contact means on which the lamp unit is intended to rest, one may, for instance in a light body, arrange a transformer means or the like instead of batteries, thereby reducing the voltage to a suitable level.

[0026] An embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0027] In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a schematic, partially sectional view of an embodiment of a battery light according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a lamp unit according to the invention,

Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the lamp unit in Fig. 2 as seen obliquely from below,

Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of an incandescent lamp with associated connecting wires for a lamp unit of the type shown in Figs 2 and 3,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged schematic top view of the battery light shown in Fig. 1, the lamp unit having been removed, the Figure being intended to illustrate the provision of contact plates for the lamp unit,

Fig. 6 is a schematic side view of one of the contact plates of the battery light for the lamp unit,

Fig. 7 is a schematic side view of a charging device with a number of battery lights (without lamp units) placed therein in order to be charged,

Fig. 8 is a schematic top view of the charger shown in Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is an enlarged partially sectional view of the lower part of a charging hole in the charger of Figs 7 and 8, the position of a light body introduced into the hole in order to be charged being indicated by dashed lines, and

Fig. 10 is a flow chart which schematically illustrates the design of the electric circuit in the battery light of Fig. 1.

Description of an Embodiment

[0028] The illustrated embodiment of a battery light according to the invention comprises the following main components
   a cylindrical, tubular light body 1, which at the top is completely open (the opening 2) and which at the bottom is equipped with a closed, tapering foot element 3 and at the top is formed with an outward, longitudinal bead or ridge 5 imitating trickled, solidified candle grease and serving as guiding means in connection with the charging operation, as will be described in more detail below,
   a battery stack 7 consisting of a number of batteries which are connected in series and stacked upon one another inside the light body 1 and which are surrounded by a paper sleeve 8,
   a sleeve-shaped holder element 9 which is arranged on top of the battery stack 7 and whose upper end is open and is located slightly below the opening 2 and supports lamp current-supply contact plates 11, 12 that are freely exposed in the upward direction, and whose lower part comprises a bottom 13 formed with a central hole 14 for receiving the central plus pole 15 of the uppermost battery in the battery stack 7,
   an electronic circuit 17 which is arranged at the bottom 13 in the holder element 9 and on which is arranged an associated magnetic-field-generating coil 18, the electronic circuit having a connector (not illustrated in detail) which is in electrical contact with the plus pole 15 of the battery stack 7, and
   a lamp unit 21 which is arranged at the open end of the light body 1 in such a manner as to rest on the contact plates 11, 12.

[0029] As appears more clearly from Figs 5 and 6, the contact plates 11, 12 have a curved configuration which is adapted to the curvature of the holder element 9, and the contact plates are further arranged in corresponding, diametrically-opposed recesses 23, 24 in the upper circular edge 25 of the holder element 9. The contact plates 11, 12 have a concavely-recessed upper edge 27, on which the lamp unit is intended to rest while being supplied with current.

[0030] From the contact plate 11, a conductor 29 extends downwards along the outside of the holder element 9 and is connected to the electronic circuit 17. From the contact plate 12, a conductor 30 extends in similar fashion downwards along the outside of the holder element 9 and the outside of the paper sleeve 8 of the battery stack 7 to the underside of the battery stack, where it contacts the negative bottom electrode 31 of the lowermost battery. The conductor 30 is also connected to the electronic circuit 17 at 32.

[0031] In the illustrated embodiment, the contact plates 11, 12 have a restricted circumferential extension, but it will be appreciated that they might have an extension up to slightly below half the circumference, i.e. such that the contact plates basically cover the whole circumference but do not come into contact with one another. Such a design would facilitate the introduction of the lamp unit 21, since the concavity will result in the lamp unit automatically striving to occupy a centred position.

[0032] The lamp unit 21, which is illustrated in more detail in Figs 2-4, consists of an incandescent lamp 41, a frame element 43 and a diameter-reduced pendulum balancing body 45. The incandescent lamp 41 comprises a bulb 47, which essentially has the shape of a candle flame and has an inner base 48 supporting a filament 49. From the base extend two connecting wires 51, 52 through the lower part of the bulb, as well as a downwardly-directed pin 50 intended for centred, guided mounting of the incandescent lamp in the frame element 43.

[0033] The frame element 43 comprises a central portion 55, whence projects an upwardly-directed cylindrical projection 56 having an axial, dimensionally-adapted bore which is arranged at least at the top so as to receive the mounting pin 50 of the incandescent lamp. From the central portion 55 projects a downwardly-directed, opposite cylindrical projection 57, on which the circular-cylindrical pendulum body 45 is centrally mounted. The projection 57 is with good fit introduced into a bore formed in the pendulum body 45, such that the latter will be retained but nevertheless be rotatable about the projection 57, for reasons which will be accounted for in the following.

[0034] Two diametrically-opposed and rather narrow arms 58, 59 project in the lateral direction from the central portion. With the aid of these arms, the lamp unit 21 rests freely in the light body 1, i.e. on the contact plates 11, 12.

[0035] The connecting wires 51, 52 of the incandescent lamp 41 extend downwards along the projection 56, through the central portion 55 in through-holes provided therefor, further outwards on the flat undersides of the respective arms 58, 59, and then back onto the upper sides of said arms via the oblique free end surfaces of the arms, suitably in grooves provided therefor.

[0036] In an alternative embodiment, the connecting wires may be arranged inside the projection, extending either through special holes or channels provided therefor or through an adapted, completely throughgoing axial bore, connection being of course provided with the above-mentioned holes in the central portion.

[0037] If the connecting wires are to be arranged through a throughgoing axial channel in the upward projection of the frame element, this channel may advantageously have an oval cross-section (at least at the top where the downwardly-directed pin of the incandescent lamp is received), such that the connecting wires can be received on both sides of the guided, centrally-received pin of the incandescent lamp.

[0038] At least the projection 56 of the frame element 43 may advantageously be coloured, for instance transparently blue, in order to enhance the impression of a candle wick.

[0039] As will be appreciated, the above configurations entail that the incandescent lamp 41 can easily be mounted on as well as be dismounted from the frame element, i.e. the incandescent lamp may be expediently replaced, if need be. Owing to its simple design, the incandescent lamp is, in addition, very inexpensive.

[0040] The arranged connecting wires 51, 52 form lamp contact means farthest out on the undersides of the arms 58, 59, in that the connecting wires will here rest on the contact plates 11, 12 when the lamp unit 21 has been dropped into the light body 1.

[0041] It will be appreciated that the width of the arms 58, 59, the diameter of the connecting wires 51, 52 and the concavity of the contact plates 11, 12 should be so chosen as to ensure reliable electrical contact, also when the lamp unit 21 swings about the mounting axis resulting from the suspension structure described above.

[0042] In view hereof, as well as in consideration of the requirements for simple handling of the connecting wires, it has been found suitable to have a wire diameter of typically about 0.3-0.5 mm, preferably in the lower part of this range, when using conventional material for the wires.

[0043] In order to actively produce a swinging or pivotal movement of the lamp unit, use is made of magnetic and periodic action on a permanent magnet means 61, which is arranged at the bottom of the pendulum body 45. The magnetic action is brought about with the aid of the magnetic coil 18 and the associated operating circuit in the electronic circuit 17, conveniently in accordance with the teachings of the above SE-B-451,400, which is hereby incorporated by way of reference.

[0044] In the illustrated embodiment, the permanent magnet means 61 is a round bar magnet having a north pole in the one end surface and a south pole in the other end surface. The bar magnet is inserted in a corresponding diametral groove perpendicular to the axis of said body 45 and in connection with the lower surface of said body. Maximum action is obtained when the extension of the bar magnet is perpendicular to the arms 58, 59. As will be appreciated, the magnetic action may easily be reduced by rotating the body 45 about the projection 57. Minimum action is obtained when the bar magnet is parallel to the arms 58, 59.

[0045] Alternatively, the magnet means 61 may be unsymmetrical in order to give the lamp unit a more "flickering" swinging movement. The bar magnet may, for instance, have half the length shown in the Figures, i.e. be arranged radially out from the centre of the body 45 to the periphery thereof.

[0046] In order to charge a battery light 1, the latter is removed from its holder or candle stick, and the lamp unit 21 is removed. Then, the battery light is placed upside-down in a charging hole in a charging device 71, which is schematically illustrated in Figs 7-9.

[0047] The charging device comprises a light stand 73 in the form of a parallelepipedic frame, which is formed with four vertical, throughgoing charging holes 75. The respective holes have a diameter slightly exceeding that of a battery light, thereby to enable cooling air to flow upwards round the light in a hole. Furthermore, each hole 75 has in its wall a throughgoing groove 77 having a cross-section corresponding to that of the ridge 5 of the light body 1, such that a light can only be placed in a single, correct position in a charging hole 75. Also the groove 77 may be slightly overdimensioned to enable the passage of air.

[0048] Each hole 75 is associated with a separate, intelligent charging unit 79 (not illustrated in detail) of a suitable conventional type, as well as two signal lamps 80, 81 indicating, respectively, that a light is being charged and that a light has been fully charged.

[0049] At the bottom of each hole 75, there are provided two charging electrodes 83, 84 (see Fig. 9) which, via conductors 85, 86, are connected to an associated charging unit 79. The electrodes 83, 84 consist of flat or slightly outwardly-bulging plates, which are attached to a transverse beam 87 and which converge conically upwards. The upper ends of the plates are interconnected by an insulating spacer 89. The transverse beam 87 is fastened by snap-in action at the bottom of the groove 77 and an opposite recess 90 in the wall of the hole 75.

[0050] As is easily understood, positioning of a light body 1 in charging position in a hole 75, as indicated by dashed lines in Fig. 9, means that the contact plates 11, 12 of the light body are brought into reliable electrical engagement with the charging contact plates 83, 84.

[0051] In Fig. 7, three light bodies 1 are placed in the charging device 73 in order to be charged, these light bodies having different lengths, since they contain different numbers of batteries, for instance 4, 2 and 3, respectively, as seen from the left in the Figure.

[0052] As already mentioned, it is advantageous that the light bodies 1 are cooled during the charging operation by coming into contact with air passing in the upward direction. In order to further enhance this effect, cooling channels 91 are so arranged as to be throughgoing in the foot element 3 of the light bodies 1, thereby enabling air to flow through also the interior of the light bodies. This may be especially suitable when the batteries are of nickel-metal-hydride type, the charging of which is highly sensitive to temperature. It should here be emphasised that the charging device 71 may easily in its entirety be placed in, say, a refrigerator, thus ensuring a controlled low temperature during the charging operation.

[0053] Fig. 10 schematically illustrates a possible construction of the electronic circuit 17 with the associated magnetic coil 18. The magnetic coil 18 is periodically supplied with current pulses from a circuit 95, which in turn is supplied with current directly from the battery stack 7. The contact plates 11, 12 are supplied with current via a circuit 96 producing pulse-modulated supply to the incandescent lamp 41 corresponding to an incandescent-lamp supply voltage that is lower than the supply voltage of the battery stack 7. For exemplifying purposes, the following typical values may be indicated: a voltage of 2.4-6 V of the battery stack corresponding to 2-5 batteries connected in series; a nominal voltage of about 1.3 V of the incandescent lamp; and a pulse supply corresponding to a ordinary supply of about 1.8 V, i.e. a certain excess-voltage.

[0054] This type of supply has been found to involve a particularly excellent utilisation of the capacity of the batteries, there being an even high flow of light from the incandescent lamp 41, regardless of the number of batteries in the stack 7. The circuit 96 may be constructed in a manner well-known to those skilled in the art as regards pulsed or switched, voltage-reducing current supply.

[0055] A diode 97 is so connected across the circuit 96 as to bridge over this circuit 96 and permit a current flow in the opposite direction in connection with charging, i.e. when a charging voltage is applied to the contact plates 11, 12 in the charging device 71.

[0056] The circuit illustrated in Fig. 10 does not comprise any switch, since such a device is not called for. As will be appreciated, the incandescent lamp may easily be switched off when need be by a change of its position in the light body, such that the current-supply contacts will no longer be in contact with each other. It goes without saying that a switch might, however, be arranged on the light body 1, for instance at the bottom thereof, in order to break the conductor 30 to the lower pole 31 of the battery stack 7. Such a switch might also be so designed as to imitate trickled, solidified candle grease.

Claims

1. A light system comprising electric lights, which each include a sleeve-shaped light body (1), current-supply means (7) which is arranged in said light body, and a lamp unit (21) which is arranged at the upper, upwardly open end of said light body and which comprises an incandescent lamp (41), first contact means (11, 12) connected to the current-supply means being arranged in the light body, and second contact means (51, 52) being arranged on a frame element (43) of the lamp unit and connected to the filament (49) of the incandescent lamp (41) belonging to the lamp unit (21), and said first and second contact means being so arranged that they define a pivot axis which is horizontal when the light is vertically arranged and about which the lamp unit may pivot, characterised in that the lamp unit (21) including said second contact means (51, 52) is a separate self-contained unit, the frame element (43) of the lamp unit (21) comprising rigid arms (58, 59) which project transversely in opposite directions and on which are arranged said second contact means (51, 52), and in that said first contact means (11, 12) are arranged so as to be freely exposed at said open end of the light body, said frame element (43) being so designed, that the lamp unit may, from above, be freely and directly placed in the open end of the light body with said second contact means (51, 52) resting on and being in electrical contact with said first contact means (11, 12), such that the contact points define said pivot axis about which the lamp unit may pivot as a coherent unit during relative motion between said first and second contact means.

2. A light system as set forth in claim 1, characterised in that the lamp unit (21) of the lights has a balancing means (45), preferably of pendulum type, which is connected to the frame element (43) and which positions the centre of gravity of the lamp unit below said pivot axis.

3. A light system as set forths in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said first contact means (11, 12) have a restricted circumferential extension enabling the lamp unit (21) to be changed in position in the light body (1) so as to switch off the current supply to the lamp (41).

4. A light system as set forth in any one of claims 1-3, characterised in that the frame element (43) of the lamp unit is generally cruciform, said second contact means (51, 52) being arranged on the underside of the respective frame-element arms (59, 58) projecting in the transverse direction, said balancing means (45) being connected to a downwardly-directed frame-element projection (57), and the incandescent lamp (41) itself being connected to an upwardly-directed frame-element projection (56).

5. A light system as set forth in claim 4, characterised in that the incandescent lamp (41) comprises a bulb (47) containing a filament (49) and an associated filament base (48), whence project the connecting wires (51, 52) of the incandescent lamp, as well as a downwardly-directed mounting pin (50) by means of which the incandescent lamp is fixed to the upwardly-directed frame-element projection (56), which preferably is tubular at least at the top so as to receive said mounting pin.

6. A light system as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said second contact means consist of the provided connecting wires (51, 52) of the incandescent lamp (41).

7. A light system as set forth in claim 6, characterised in that the connecting wires (51, 52) are detachably arranged, thus enabling expedient exchange of the incandescent lamp (41) with associated connecting wires.

8. A light system as set forth in any one of claims 3-5 in combination with claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the connecting wires (51, 52) extend down to the respective undersides of the transversely-projecting frame-element arms (58, 59) and then outwards along the respective undersides, said connecting wires being then folded upwards in locking fashion at the outer ends of the frame-element arms projecting in the transverse direction.

9. A light system as set forth in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the incandescent lamp (41) is, preferably in detachable fashion so arranged as to be spaced apart from a central portion (55) of the frame element (43) having said projecting arms (58, 59) and be supported by its connecting wires and/or spacers (50, 56), said connecting wires (51, 52) being extended to and arranged on the transversely-projecting arms (58, 59) of the frame element so as to form said second connecting means.

10. A light system as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said first contact means (11, 12) consist of diametrically opposite and upright contact plates having concavely-recessed upper contact edges (27).

11. A light system as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lamp unit (21) comprises an element (61) which can be acted upon magnetically, preferably a permanent magnet element, and that means (17, 18) are arranged in the light body (1) below the lamp unit to periodically generate a magnetic field, thereby to magnetically act upon said element, and hence the lamp unit, such that the latter is caused to pivot periodically about its pivot axis.

12. A light system as set forth in claim 11, characterised in that the position of the element (61) that can be acted upon magnetically is adjustable in relation to the remainder of the lamp unit (21), such that the degree of magnetic action, and hence the amplitude of the pivotal movement of the lamp unit, is adjustable.

13. A light system as set forth in claim 12 and claim 2, characterised in that the element (61) that can be acted upon magnetically is arranged on said balancing means (45), preferably at the bottom thereof, and that said balancing means is so arranged on the frame element (43) of the lamp unit as to be rotatable about a vertical axis.

14. A light system as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lights are battery lights, said current-supply means comprising one or more chargeable batteries (7) arranged in said light body, a charging device (71) for charging the battery lights being provided and comprising a light stand (73) adapted to accommodate, for charging purposes, one or more battery lights from which the associated lamp unit has been removed, said light stand having, at each light-accommodating site, charging contact means (83, 84) adapted to come into contact with said first contact means (11, 12) in the light body (1) of a battery light when said light body is placed on the light-accommodating site at issue, said charging contact means (83, 84) being connected to a charging unit (79) for emitting charging current to said charging contact means and, hence, to the batteries of an associated light body.

15. A light system as set forth in claim 14, characterised in that the light stand (73) of the charging device (71) is adapted to receive the respective light bodies turned upside-down, preferably at least essentially vertically, in a hole (75) adapted to the light-body configuration, such that the light body is made to occupy a predetermined position adapted to the charging contact means (83, 84) arranged in said hole, said charging contact means preferably comprising upwardly-converging, spaced-apart contact elements with which the first contact means of the light body are brought into engagement during charging.

16. A light system as set forth in claim 15, characterised in that the holes (75) of the light stand (73) are throughgoing and so dimensioned that air can flow up through them and coolingly flow round a battery light placed in a hole in order to be charged.

17. A light system as set forth in claim 14, 15 or 16, characterised in that the light body (1) of a battery light on the outside has one or more elevations (5), ridges or the like, which are unsymmetrically arranged and extend in the longitudinal direction and which preferably imitate candle grease that has trickled down and solidified, and that the light-stand holes (75) have corresponding guiding grooves (77) in their walls.

18. A light system as set forth in any one of claims 14-17, characterised in that a battery light having a certain member of batteries (7) connected in series comprises an electronic circuit (17) adapted to convert, preferably with the aid of pulse modulation, an incoming supply voltage from said number of batteries (7) connected in series to an outgoing lamp supply voltage which is lower than the nominal supply voltage from a smallest number of batteries connected in series that is used in a battery light of the light system, said outgoing lamp supply voltage preferably being a certain excess-voltage relative to the nominal voltage of the lamp (41) of the lamp unit (21).

19. A self-contained lamp unit intended especially for a light system as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a frame element (43) having rigid mounting arms (58, 59) which project transversely in opposite directions, a contact means (51, 52) being arranged on the end underside of the respective arms, an incandescent lamp (41) being fixed to the upper side of the frame element and equipped with connecting wires (51, 52) connected to, and preferably constituting, said contact means, and a balancing means (45) being fixed to the underside of said frame element, said contact means defining a transverse mounting axis about which the lamp unit may pivot as a coherent unit when, in use, it is, from above, freely and directly placed in a lamp holder provided with current-supply contact means corresponding to the contact means of the lamp unit.

20. A lamp unit as set forth in claim 19, characterised in that the incandescent lamp (41) is arranged, preferably in detachable fashion, so as to be spaced apart from a central portion (55) of the frame element (43) having said projecting mounting arms (58, 59) and be supported by its connecting wires (51, 52) and/or spacers (56, 50), said connecting wires being extended to and arranged on the transversely-projecting arms (58, 59) of the frame element so as to form said contact means,

21. A lamp unit as set forth in claim 19 or 20, characterised in that the incandescent lamp (41) comprises a bulb (47) containing a filament (49) and an associated filament base (48), whence project the connecting wires (51, 52) of the incandescent lamp, as well as a downwardly-directed mounting pin (50) by means of which the incandescent lamp is fixed to an upwardly-directed frame-element projection (56) which is tubular, preferably at least at the top, in order to receive said mounting pin.

22. A lamp unit as set forth in any one of claims 19-21, characterised in that it comprises an element (61) which can be acted upon magnetically, preferably a permanent magnet element, and which is adapted to be acted upon by a magnetic field periodically generated in the lamp holder in order to magnetically act upon said element, and hence the lamp unit, such that the latter is caused to pivot periodically about its mounting axis.

23. A lamp unit as set forth in claim 22, characterised in that the position of the element (61) that can be acted upon magnetically is adjustable in relation to the remainder of the lamp unit (21), such that the degree of magnetic action, and hence the amplitude of the pivotal movement of the lamp unit, is adjustable.

24. A lamp unit as set forth in claim 22 or 23, characterised in that the element (61) that can be acted upon magnetically is arranged on said balancing means (45), preferably at the bottom thereof, and that said balancing means is so arranged on the frame element (43) of the lamp unit (21) as to be rotatable about a vertical axis.

Ansprüche

1. Leuchtensystem, das elektrische Leuchten umfasst, die jeweils einen hülsenförmigen Leuchtenkörper (1), eine Stromzuführeinrichtung (7), die in dem Leuchtenkörper angeordnet ist, und eine Lampeneinheit (21) enthalten, die am oberen, nach oben offenen Ende des Leuchtenkörpers angeordnet ist und die eine Glühlampe (41) umfasst, wobei erste Kontakteinrichtungen (11, 12), die mit der Stromzuführeinrichtung verbunden sind, in dem Leuchtenkörper angeordnet ist, und zweite Kontakteinrichtungen (51, 52), die an einem Rahmenelement (43) der Lampeneinheit angeordnet sind, mit dem Glühfaden (49) der Glühlampe (41) verbunden sind, die zu der Lampeneinheit (21) gehört, und die ersten sowie die zweiten Kontakteinrichtungen so angeordnet sind, dass sie eine Schwenkachse bilden, die horizontal ist, wenn die Leuchte vertikal angeordnet ist, und um die die Lampeneinheit geschwenkt werden kann, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Lampeneinheit (21) einschließlich der zweiten Kontakteinrichtungen (51, 52) eine separate, in sich geschlossene Einheit ist, wobei das Rahmenelement (43) der Lampeneinheit (21) starre Arme (58, 59) umfasst, die in einander entgegengesetzten Richtungen quer vorstehen und an denen die zweiten Kontakteinrichtungen (51, 52) angeordnet sind, und dadurch, dass die ersten Kontakteinrichtungen (11, 12) so angeordnet sind, dass sie an dem offenen Ende des Leuchtenkörpers freiliegen, wobei das Rahmenelement (43) so gestaltet ist, dass die Lampeneinheit von oben ungehindert und direkt in das offene Ende des Leuchtenkörpers eingesetzt werden kann, wobei die zweiten Kontakteinrichtungen (51, 52) auf den ersten Kontakteinrichtungen (11, 12) aufsitzen und in elektrischem Kontakt mit ihnen sind, so dass die Kontaktpunkte die Schwenkachse bilden, um die die Lampeneinheit während relativer Bewegung der ersten und der zweiten Kontakteinrichtungen zueinander als geschlossene Einheit geschwenkt werden kann.

2. Leuchtensystem nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Lampeneinheit (21) der Leuchten eine Stabilisierungseinrichtung (45), vorzugsweise vom Pendeltyp, aufweist, die mit dem Rahmenelement (43) verbunden ist und den Schwerpunkt der Lampeneinheit unter der Schwenkachse positioniert.

3. Leuchtensystem nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die ersten Kontakteinrichtungen (11, 12) eine eingeschränkte Umfangsausdehnung haben, die es ermöglicht, die Position der Lampeneinheit (21) in dem Leuchtenkörper (1) zu verändern, um die Stromzufuhr zu der Lampe (41) abzuschalten.

4. Leuchtensystem nach einem der Ansprüche 1-3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Rahmenelement (43) der Lampeneinheit im Allgemeinen kreuzförmig ist, wobei die zweiten Kontakteinrichtungen (51, 52) an der Unterseite der entsprechenden Rahmenelement-Arme (59, 58) angeordnet sind, die in der Querrichtung vorstehen, die Stabilisierungseinrichtung (45) mit einem nach unten gerichteten Rahmenelement-Vorsprung (45) verbunden ist und die Glühlampe (41) selbst mit einem nach oben gerichteten Rahmenelement-Vorsprung (56) verbunden ist.

5. Leuchtensystem nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Glühlampe (41) einen Kolben (47), der einen Glühfaden (49) und einen dazugehörigen Glühfadensockel (48) enthält, von dem aus die Verbindungsdrähte (51, 52) der Glühlampe vorstehen, sowie einen nach unten gerichteten Anbringungszapfen (50) umfasst, mit dem die Glühlampe an dem nach oben gerichteten Rahmenelement-Vorsprung (56) befestigt wird, der vorzugsweise wenigstens an der Oberseite röhrenförmig ist, um den Anbringungszapfen aufzunehmen.

6. Leuchtensystem nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die zweiten Kontakteinrichtungen aus den vorhandenen Verbindungsdrähten (51, 52) der Glühlampe (41) bestehen.

7. Leuchtensystem nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Verbindungsdrähte (51, 52) abnehmbar angeordnet sind, so dass einfaches Wechseln der Glühlampe (41) mit dazugehörigen Verbindungsdrähten möglich ist.

8. Leuchtensystem nach einem der Ansprüche 3-5 in Kombination mit Anspruch 6 oder 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Verbindungsdrähte (51, 52) sich zu den entsprechenden Unterseiten der quer vorstehenden Rahmenelement-Arme (58, 59) nach unten und dann nach außen an den entsprechenden Unterseiten entlang erstrecken, wobei die Verbindungsdrähte dann an den äußeren Enden der Rahmenelement-Arme, die in der Querrichtung vorstehen, arretierend nach oben gebogen sind.

9. Leuchtensystem nach Anspruch 1, 2 oder 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Glühlampe (41) vorzugsweise abnehmbar so angeordnet ist, dass sie von einem Mittelabschnitt (55) des Rahmenelementes (43), der die vorstehenden Arme (58, 59) aufweist, beabstandet ist und von ihren Verbindungsdrähten und/oder Abstandshaltern (50, 56) getragen wird, wobei die Verbindungsdrähte (51, 52) zu den quer vorstehenden Armen (58, 59) des Rahmenelementes hin verlängert und an ihnen angeordnet sind, um die zweiten Verbindungseinrichtungen zu bilden.

10. Leuchtensystem nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die ersten Kontakteinrichtungen (11, 12) aus einander diametral gegenüberliegenden und aufrechtstehenden Kontaktplatten mit konkav vertieften oberen Kontakträndem (27) bestehen.

11. Leuchtensystem nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Lampeneinheit (21) ein Element (61) umfasst, auf das magnetisch eingewirkt werden kann, vorzugsweise ein Permanentmagnetelement, und dass Einrichtungen (17, 18) in dem Leuchtenkörper (1) unter der Lampeneinheit angeordnet sind, die periodisch ein Magnetfeld erzeugen, um so magnetisch auf das Element und damit die Lampeneinheit einzuwirken, so dass letztere periodisch um ihre Schwenkachse geschwenkt wird.

12. Leuchtensystem nach Anspruch 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Position des Elementes (61), auf das magnetisch eingewirkt werden kann, in Bezug auf den Rest der Lampeneinheit (21) verstellt werden kann, so dass der Grad magnetischer Einwirkung und damit die Amplitude der Schwenkbewegung der Lampeneinheit verstellt werden kann.

13. Leuchtensystem nach Anspruch 12 und Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Element (61), auf das magnetisch eingewirkt werden kann, an der Stabilisierungseinrichtung (45), vorzugsweise an der Unterseite derselben, angeordnet ist, und dass die Stabilisierungseinrichtung so an dem Rahmenelement (43) der Lampeneinheit angeordnet ist, dass sie um eine vertikale Achse herum gedreht werden kann.

14. Leuchtensystem nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Leuchten Batterieleuchten sind, wobei die Stromzufuhreinrichtung eine oder mehrere ladbare Batterien (7) umfasst, die in dem Leuchtenkörper angeordnet sind, wobei eine Ladevorrichtung (71) zum Laden der Batterieleuchten vorhanden ist und einen Leuchtenständer (73) umfasst, der so eingerichtet ist, dass er zu Ladezwecken eine oder mehrere Batterieleuchten aufnimmt, aus denen die dazugehörige Lampeneinheit entfernt worden ist, wobei der Leuchtenständer an jeder Leuchtenaufnahmestelle Lade-Kontakteinrichtungen (83, 84) aufweist, die so eingerichtet sind, dass sie mit den ersten Kontakteinrichtungen (11, 12) in dem Leuchtenkörper (1) einer Batterieleuchte in Kontakt kommen, wenn der Leuchtenkörper auf die betreffende Leuchtenaufnahmestelle gesetzt wird, wobei die Lade-Kontakteinrichtungen (83, 84) mit einer Ladeeinheit (79) zum Abgeben von Ladestrom an die Lade-Kontakteinrichtungen und damit die Batterien eines dazugehörigen Leuchtenkörpers verbunden sind.

15. Leuchtensystem nach Anspruch 14, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Leuchtenständer (73) der Ladevorrichtung (71) so eingerichtet ist, dass er die entsprechenden Leuchtenkörper umgedreht, vorzugsweise wenigstens im Wesentlichen vertikal, in einem Loch (75) aufnimmt, das an die Leuchtenkörperform angepasst ist, so dass der Leuchtenkörper dazu gebracht wird, eine vorgegebene Position einzunehmen, die an die Lade-Kontakteinrichtungen (83, 84) angepasst ist, die in dem Loch angeordnet sind, wobei die Lade-Kontakteinrichtungen vorzugsweise nach oben zusammenlaufende, beabstandete Kontaktelemente umfassen, mit denen die ersten Kontakteinrichtungen des Leuchtenkörpers beim Laden in Eingriff gebracht werden.

16. Leuchtensystem nach Anspruch 15, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Löcher (75) des Leuchtenständers (73) durchgehend und so bemessen sind, dass Luft durch sie nach oben strömen und kühlend um eine Batterieleuchte herum strömen kann, die zum Laden in ein Loch eingesetzt ist.

17. Leuchtensystem nach Anspruch 14, 15 oder 16, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Leuchtenkörper (1) einer Batterieleuchte an der Außenseite eine oder mehrere Erhebungen (5), Stege oder dergleichen aufweist, die unsymmetrisch angeordnet sind und sich in der Längsrichtung erstrecken und die vorzugsweise Kerzenwachs imitieren, das nach unten getropft ist und sich verfestigt hat, und dass die Leuchtenständer-Löcher (75) entsprechende Führungsnuten (77) in ihren Wänden aufweisen.

18. Leuchtensystem nach einem der Ansprüche 14-17, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine Batterieleuchte mit einer bestimmten Anzahl Batterien (7), die in Reihe verbunden sind, eine elektronische Schaltung (17) umfasst, die so eingerichtet ist, dass sie, vorzugsweise mit Hilfe von Pulsmodulation, eine eintretende Speisespannung von der Anzahl von Batterien (7), die in Reihe verbunden sind, in eine austretende Lampen-Speisespannung umwandelt, die niedriger ist als die Nenn-Speisespannung von einer kleinsten Anzahl Batterien, die in Reihe verbunden sind, die in einer Batterieleuchte des Leuchtensystems eingesetzt wird, wobei die austretende Lampen-Speisespannung vorzugsweise eine bestimmte Überspannung in Bezug auf die Nennspannung der Lampe (41) der Lampeneinheit (21) ist.

19. In sich geschlossene Lampeneinheit, die insbesondere für ein Leuchtensystem nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche bestimmt ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sie ein Rahmenelement (43) mit starren Anbringungsarmen (58, 59), die in einander entgegengesetzten Richtungen quer vorstehen, Kontakteinrichtungen (51, 52), die an der Abschluss-Unterseite der entsprechenden Arme angeordnet sind, eine Glühlampe (41), die an der Oberseite des Rahmenelementes befestigt und mit Verbindungsdrähten (51, 52) versehen ist, die mit der Kontakteinrichtung verbunden sind und sie vorzugsweise bilden, sowie eine Stabilisierungseinrichtung (45) umfasst, die an der Unterseite des Rahmenelementes befestigt ist, wobei die Kontakteinrichtungen eine Quer-Anbringungsachse bilden, um die die Lampeneinheit als eine geschlossene Einheit geschwenkt werden kann, wenn sie in Funktion von oben ungehindert und direkt in eine Lampenfassung eingesetzt wird, die mit Stromzuführ-Kontakteinrichtungen versehen ist, die den Kontakteinrichtungen der Lampeneinheit entsprechen.

20. Lampeneinheit nach Anspruch 19, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Glühlampe (41) vorzugsweise abnehmbar so angeordnet ist, dass sie von einem Mittelabschnitt (55) des Rahmenelementes (43), das die vorstehenden Anbringungsarme (58, 59) aufweist, beabstandet ist und von ihren Verbindungsdrähten (51, 52) und/oder Abstandshaltern (56, 50) getragen wird, wobei die Verbindungsdrähte zu den quer vorstehenden Armen (58, 59) des Rahmenelementes hin verlängert und daran angeordnet sind, um die Kontakteinrichtungen zu bilden.

21. Lampeneinheit nach Anspruch 19 oder 20, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Glühlampe (41) einen Kolben (47), der einen Glühfaden (49) und einen dazugehörigen Glühfaden-Sockel (48) enthält, von dem aus die Verbindungsdrähte (51, 52) der Glühlampe vorstehen, sowie einen nach unten gerichteten Anbringungszapfen (50) umfasst, mit dem die Glühlampe an einem nach oben gerichteten Rahmenelement-Vorsprung (56) befestigt wird, der vorzugsweise wenigstens an der Oberseite röhrenförmig ist, um den Anbringungszapfen aufzunehmen.

22. Lampeneinheit nach einem der Ansprüche 19-21, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sie ein Element (61) umfasst, auf das magnetisch eingewirkt werden kann, vorzugsweise ein Permanentmagnetelement, und das so eingerichtet ist, dass von einem Magnetfeld darauf eingewirkt wird, das periodisch in der Lampenfassung erzeugt wird, um magnetisch auf das Element und damit auf die Lampeneinheit einzuwirken, so dass letztere periodisch um ihre Anbringungsachse herum geschwenkt wird.

23. Lampeneinheit nach Anspruch 22, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Position des Elementes (61), auf das magnetisch eingewirkt werden kann, in Bezug auf den Rest der Lampeneinheit (21) verstellt werden kann, so dass der Grad magnetischer Einwirkung und damit die Amplitude der Schwenkbewegung der Lampeneinheit verstellt werden kann.

24. Lampeneinheit nach Anspruch 22 oder 23, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Element (61), auf das magnetisch eingewirkt werden kann, an der Stabilisierungseinrichtung (45), vorzugsweise an der Unterseite derselben, angeordnet ist, und dass die Stabilisierungseinrichtung so an dem Rahmenelement (43) der Lampeneinheit (21) angeordnet ist, dass sie um eine vertikale Achse herum gedreht werden kann.

Revendications

1. Système d'éclairage comprenant des éclairages électriques qui comportent chacun un corps (1) d'éclairage en forme de manchon, des moyens (7) d'alimentation en courant qui sont disposés dans le corps d'éclairage et une unité (21) de lampe qui est placée à l'extrémité supérieure ouverte vers le haut du corps d'éclairage et qui comprend une lampe (41) à incandescence, des premiers moyens (11, 12) de contact connectés aux moyens d'alimentation en courant étant placés dans le corps d'éclairage et des seconds moyens (51, 52) de contact étant placés sur un élément (43) formant cadre de l'unité de lampe et connectés au filament (49) de la lampe (41) à incandescence appartenant à l'unité (21) de lampe, et les premiers et les deuxièmes moyens de contact étant placés de manière à définir un axe de basculement qui est horizontal lorsque l'éclairage est disposé verticalement et par rapport auquel l'unité de lampe peut basculer, caractérisé en ce que l'unité (21) de lampe, y compris les deuxièmes moyens (51, 52) de contact, est une unité distincte autonome, l'élément (43) formant cadre de l'unité (21) de lampe comprenant des bras (58, 59) rigides qui font saillie transversalement dans des sens opposés et sur lesquels sont placés les deuxièmes moyens (51, 52) de contact, et en ce que les premiers moyens (11, 12) de contact sont placés de manière à être dégagés librement à l'extrémité ouverte du corps d'éclairage, l'élément (43) formant cadre étant conçu de façon à ce que l'unité de lampe puisse, par le dessus, être dégagés librement et directement dans l'extrémité ouverte du corps d'éclairage, alors que les deuxièmes moyens (51, 52) de contact reposent sur les premiers moyens (11, 12) de contact et sont en contact électrique avec eux, de façon à ce que les points de contact définissent l'axe de basculement par rapport auquel l'unité de lampe peut basculer sous la forme d'une unité d'un seul bloc pendant le mouvement relatif entre les premiers et les deuxièmes moyens de contact.

2. Système d'éclairage suivant la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'unité (21) de lampe des éclairages a des moyens (45) de balancier de préférence du type à pendule qui sont reliés à l'élément (43) formant cadre et qui mettent le centre de gravité de l'unité de lampe en position en dessous de l'axe de basculement.

3. Système d'éclairage suivant la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que les premiers moyens (11, 12) de contact ont une étendue circonférentielle restreinte permettant de modifier la position de l'unité (21) de lampe dans le corps (1) d'éclairage de manière à interrompre l'alimentation en courant de la lampe (41).

4. Système d'éclairage suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que l'élément (43) formant cadre de l'unité de lampe est d'une manière générale cruciforme, les deuxièmes moyens (51, 52) de contact étant placés sur la face inférieure des bras (59, 58) respectifs de l'élément formant cadre qui font saillie dans la direction transversale, les moyens (45) de balancier étant reliés à une saillie (57) dirigée vers le bas de l'élément formant cadre et la lampe (41) à incandescence soi-même étant reliée à une saillie (56) dirigée vers le haut de l'élément formant cadre.

5. Système d'éclairage suivant la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que la lampe (41) à incandescence comprend une ampoule (47) contenant un filament (49) et une base (48) associée de filament, dont partent les fils (51, 52) de connexion de la lampe à incandescence, ainsi qu'une broche (50) de montage, dirigée vers le bas, et au moyen de laquelle la lampe à incandescence est fixée à la saillie (56), dirigée vers le haut, de l'élément formant cadre, laquelle de préférence est tubulaire au moins au sommet de manière à recevoir la broche de montage.

6. Système d'éclairage suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que les deuxièmes moyens de contact consistent en les fils (51, 52) de connexion de la lampe (41) à incandescence qui sont prévus.

7. Système d'éclairage suivant la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que les fils (51, 52) de connexion sont montés de manière détachable en permettant ainsi un remplacement facile de la lampe (41) à incandescence avec des fils de connexion associés.

8. Système d'éclairage suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 3 à 5 en combinaison avec la revendication 6 ou 7, caractérisé en ce que les fils (51, 52) de connexion s'étendent vers le bas vers les faces inférieures respectives des bras (58, 59) faisant saillie transversalement de l'élément en forme de cadre, puis vers l'extérieur le long des faces intérieures respectives, les fils de connexion étant alors pliés vers le haut à verrouillage aux extrémités extérieures des bras des éléments en forme de cadre qui font saillie dans la direction transversale.

9. Système d'éclairage suivant la revendication 1, 2 ou 3, caractérisé en ce que la lampe (4) à incandescence est placée, de préférence de manière amovible, de façon à être à distance d'une partie (55) centrale de l'élément (43) formant cadre ayant les bras (58, 59) en saillie et de manière à être supportée par ses fils de connexion et/ou par des entretoises (50, 56), les fils (51, 52) de connexion s'étendant vers les bras (58, 59) en saillie transversalement de l'élément formant cadre et y étant disposés de manière à former les deuxièmes moyens de connexion.

10. Système d'éclairage suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que les premiers moyens (11, 12) de contact consistent en des plaques de contact, diamétralement opposées et verticales, ayant des bords (27) supérieurs de contact concaves.

11. Système d'éclairage suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que l'unité (21) de lampe comprend un élément (61) qui peut être actionné par voie magnétique, de préférence un élément à aimant permanent, et en ce qu'il est prévu des moyens (17, 18) dans le corps (1) d'éclairage en dessous de l'unité de lampe pour engendrer périodiquement un champ magnétique, de façon à agir magnétiquement sur l'élément, et ainsi sur l'unité de lampe, de sorte à provoquer le basculement de cette dernière périodiquement par rapport à son axe de basculement.

12. Système d'éclairage suivant la revendication 11, caractérisé en ce que la position de l'élément (61) qui peut être actionné par voie magnétique est réglable par rapport au reste de l'unité (21) de lampe, de façon à ce que le degré de l'effet magnétique, et donc l'amplitude du mouvement de basculement de l'unité de lampe, puisse être ajusté.

13. Système d'éclairage suivant la revendication 12 et la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que l'élément (61) qui peut être actionné par voie magnétique est placé sur les moyens de balancier, de préférence au bas de ceux-ci, et en ce que les moyens de balancier sont disposés de telle façon sur l'élément (43) formant cadre de l'unité de lampe, qu'ils peuvent tourner par rapport à un axe vertical.

14. Système d'éclairage suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que les éclairages sont des éclairages à accumulateur, les moyens d'alimentation en courant comprennent un accumulateur (7) qui peut être chargé et qui est placé dans le corps d'éclairage ou plusieurs accumulateurs (7) qui peuvent être chargés et qui sont placés dans le corps d'éclairage, un dispositif (71) de charge pour charger les éclairages à accumulateur étant prévu et comprenant un support (73) d'éclairage apte à loger, à des fins de charge, un éclairage à accumulateur ou plusieurs éclairages à accumulateur, dont l'unité de lampe associée a été retirée, le support d'éclairage ayant, à chaque emplacement où un éclairage est logé, des moyens (83, 84) de contact de charge aptes à venir en contact avec les premiers moyens (11, 12) de contact du corps (1) d'éclairage d'un éclairage à accumulateur, lorsque le corps d'éclairage est placé à l'emplacement de logement de l'éclairage en question, les moyens (83, 84) de contact de charge étant connectés à une unité (79) de charge pour émettre du courant de charge vers les moyens de contact de charge et ainsi vers les accumulateurs d'un corps d'éclairage associé.

15. Système d'éclairage suivant la revendication 14, caractérisé en ce que le support (73) d'éclairage du dispositif (71) de charge est apte à recevoir les corps respectifs d'éclairage sens dessus dessous, de préférence au moins sensiblement verticalement, dans un trou (75) adapté à la configuration du corps d'éclairage, de façon à ce que le corps d'éclairage occupe une position déterminée à l'avance adaptée aux moyens (83, 84) de contact de charge disposés dans le trou, les moyens de contact de charge comprenant de préférence des éléments de contact convergeant vers le haut et à distance les uns des autres, avec lesquels les premiers moyens de contact du corps d'éclairage viennent en contact pendant une charge.

16. Système d'éclairage suivant la revendication 15, caractérisé en ce que les trous (75) du support (73) d'éclairage sont traversants et ont des dimensions telles que de l'air peut s'y élever et passer, en le refroidissant, autour d'un éclairage à accumulateur placé dans un trou en vue d'être chargé.

17. Système d'éclairage suivant la revendication 14, 15 ou 16, caractérisé en ce que le corps (1) d'éclairage d'un éclairage à accumulateur a, à l'extérieur, une surélévation (5), nervure ou analogue ou plusieurs surélévations (5), nervures ou analogues qui sont disposées dissymétriquement et qui s'étendent dans la direction longitudinale et qui, de préférence, ressemblent à du suif qui s'est égoutté et solidifié et en ce que les trous (75) du support d'éclairage ont des gorges (77) correspondantes de guidage ménagées dans leurs parois.

18. Système d'éclairage suivant l'une des revendications 14 à 17, caractérisé en ce qu'un éclairage à accumulateur, ayant un certain nombre d'accumulateurs (7) montés en série, comprend un circuit (17) électronique apte à transformer, de préférence à l'aide d'une modulation par impulsion, une tension d'alimentation d'entrée provenant d'un certain nombre d'accumulateurs (7) montés en série en une tension de sortie d'alimentation de la lampe qui est inférieure à la tension d'alimentation nominale provenant du nombre d'accumulateurs montés en série le plus petit qui est utilisé dans un éclairage à accumulateur du système d'éclairage, la tension de sortie d'alimentation de la lampe ayant de préférence une certaine tension en excès par rapport à la tension nominale de la lampe (41) de l'unité (21) de lampe.

19. Unité de lampe autonome, destinée en particulier à un système d'éclairage suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend un élément (43) formant cadre ayant des bras (58, 59) rigides de montage qui font saillie transversalement dans des sens opposés, des moyens (51, 52) de contact étant placés sur la face inférieure d'extrémité des bras respectifs, une lampe (41) à incandescence étant fixée à la face supérieure de l'élément formant cadre et munie de fils (51, 52) de connexion connectés aux moyens de contact et de préférence les constituant et des moyens (45) à balancier étant fixés à la face inférieure de l'élément formant cadre, les moyens de contact définissant un axe transversal de montage par rapport auquel l'unité de lampe peut basculer sous la forme d'une unité d'un seul tenant lorsque, en utilisation, elle est, par le dessus, placée librement et directement dans une douille de lampe munie de moyens de contact d'alimentation en courant correspondant aux moyens de contact de l'unité de lampe.

20. Unité de lampe suivant la revendication 19, caractérisée en ce que la lampe (41) à incandescence est placée de préférence de manière amovible, de manière à être à distance d'une partie (55) centrale de l'élément (43) formant cadre ayant les bras (58, 59) en saillie de montage et de manière à être supportée par les fils (51, 52) de connexion et/ou par des entretoises (56, 50), les fils de connexion s'étendant vers les bras (58, 59) en saillie transversalement de l'élément formant cadre et y étant placés de façon à former les moyens de contact.

21. Unité de lampe suivant la revendication 19 ou 20, caractérisée en ce que la lampe (41) à incandescence comprend une ampoule (47) contenant un filament (49) et une base (48) associée de filament, de laquelle sortent les fils (51, 52) de connexion de la lampe à incandescence, ainsi qu'une broche (51) de montage, qui est dirigée vers le bas et au moyen de laquelle la lampe à incandescence est fixée à une saillie (56) dirigée vers le haut d'un élément formant cadre, saillie qui est tubulaire, de préférence au moins au sommet, afin de recevoir la broche de montage.

22. Unité de lampe suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 19 à 21, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend un élément (61) qui peut être actionné par voie magnétique, de préférence un élément à aimant permanent, et qui est apte à être actionnée par un champ magnétique engendré périodiquement dans la douille de la lampe, afin d'agir magnétiquement sur l'élément et ainsi sur l'unité de lampe, de façon à faire en sorte que cette dernière bascule périodiquement par rapport à son axe de montage.

23. Unité de lampe suivant la revendication 22, caractérisée en ce que la position de l'élément (61) qui peut être actionnée par voie magnétique est réglable par rapport au reste de l'unité (21) de lampe, de façon à ce que le degré de l'effet magnétique et donc l'amplitude du mouvement de basculement de l'unité de lampe, puisse être réglé.

24. Unité de lampe suivant la revendication 22 ou 23, caractérisée en ce que l'élément (61) qui peut être actionné par voie magnétique est placé sur les moyens (45) à balancier, de préférence en leur fond et en ce que les moyens à balancier sont placés de telle façon sur l'élément (43) formant cadre de l'unité (21) de lampe qu'ils peuvent tourner par rapport à un axe vertical.

Drawing