The present invention relates to a wall-washing-effect LED lighting device.

Various lighting systems are known designed to give a so-called wall-washing effect, i.e. to substantially evenly illuminate a vertical surface (normally a room wall or a building façade).

Known systems, however, are not altogether satisfactory, especially in terms of easy manufacture, efficiency, and versatility.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a wall-washing-effect LED lighting device which, compared with known solutions, is at least equally, if not more, efficient, straightforward, and versatile.

According to the present invention, there is provided a wall-washing-effect LED lighting device as defined basically in the accompanying Claim 1, and in more detail in the dependent Claims.

The device according to the invention is easy to manufacture and install, fully efficient, and highly versatile, in that it can be made to compact size, can be installed in various configurations (e.g. recessed in a ceiling or floor, or even wall-mounted), and can be equipped with various types of additional light sources. The device is specially designed to conceal the LEDs from direct view, at least in normal observation conditions, and so eliminates the annoying glare effect typical of strong spot light sources, such as LEDs.

A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 shows a schematic, overall view in perspective of a lighting device in accordance with the invention;
• Figure 2 shows a schematic longitudinal section of the Figure 1 device;
• Figure 3 shows a schematic cross section of the Figure 1 device.

With reference to the attached drawings, a wall-washing-effect LED lighting device 1 comprises a supporting bar 2 elongated longitudinally along an axis A; and a plurality of LEDs 3 fitted to bar 2 and associated with a reflector 4.

Device 1 is designed to be installed preferably (though not necessarily) close to a wall W (shown schematically in Figure 3) to be illuminated substantially evenly (wall-washing effect), e.g. an interior or exterior building wall, is recessed, for example, in a floor or ceiling adjacent to wall W, and is substantially parallel to wall W.

Bar 2 is defined, for example (though not necessarily), by a metal, e.g. aluminium, section.

In the non-limiting example shown, bar 2 has an H-shaped cross section, and comprises two substantially parallel flanges 6 parallel to axis A; and a central partition 7 substantially perpendicular to flanges 6 and also parallel to axis A.

Bar 2 comprises two opposite longitudinal compartments 8, 9 bounded laterally by flanges 6 and separated by partition 7. Compartments 8, 9 define respective opposite, parallel, substantially U-shaped longitudinal channels 11, 12, and more specifically : a main longitudinal channel 11 housing LEDs 3 and reflector 4; and an auxiliary longitudinal channel 12 housing components 13 for powering and controlling LEDs 3, and/or additional light sources 14 (e.g. one or more fluorescent sources) and relative power and/or control components 15.

Channel 11 is bounded by two opposite lateral walls 17, 18 defined by respective portions of flanges 6, and by a back wall 19 defined by partition 7, and has a light-emitting opening 20 opposite back wall 19 (i.e. partition 7) and bounded by respective end edges 22 of flanges 6. More specifically, opening 20 is bounded by a first longitudinal edge 22a on the same side of channel 11 as LEDs 3 (i.e. LEDs 3 and edge 22a are located on the same side of channel 11, i.e. the same side of a longitudinal centre plane P of channel 11); and by a second longitudinal edge 22b opposite first edge 22a (i.e. LEDs 3 and edge 22b are located on opposite sides of channel 11, i.e. on opposite sides of the longitudinal centre plane P of channel 11).

More specifically, lateral walls 17 and 18 comprise a distal lateral wall 17 and a proximal lateral wall 18, which in use, i.e. when device 1 is installed, are located further from and closer to wall W respectively; and light-emitting opening 20 is located, in use, at the top or bottom of bar 2.

Inside channel 11, LEDs 3 are fitted to an inner surface 23 of lateral wall 17, alongside light-emitting opening 20. As stated, when device 1 is installed, lateral wall 17 is located further from wall W, which means surface 23 is positioned facing wall W.

LEDs 3 are spaced apart, parallel to axis A, on surface 23 of lateral wall 17, and project inwards of channel 11, towards the opposite lateral wall 18. Surface 23, to which LEDs 3 are fitted, is substantially perpendicular to light-emitting opening 20, and LEDs 3 project perpendicularly from surface 23 towards lateral wall 18 and reflector 4, which is also housed in channel 11, is interposed between lateral walls 17 and 18, and is positioned facing LEDs 3.

Reflector 4 is asymmetrical with respect to LEDs 3. More specifically, reflector 4 is designed and located to reflect the light from LEDs 3 through light-emitting opening 20 with a light distribution which is asymmetrical with respect to a centre plane P of light-emitting opening 20 (i.e. a plane through axis A, substantially perpendicular to opening 20, and dividing opening 20 longitudinally in half), and which extends horizontally beyond a vertical plane parallel to centre plane P and through (containing) the longitudinal edge 22b opposite LEDs 3.

More specifically, reflector 4 is designed to reflect the light from LEDs 3 with a light distribution that is offset laterally towards the side of bar 2 opposite the lateral wall 17 fitted with LEDs 3, i.e. towards the wall to be illuminated.

In other words, reflector 4 is designed to reflect at least part of the light from LEDs 3 through opening 20 and obliquely beyond the longitudinal edge 22b opposite LEDs 3, i.e. obliquely beyond the proximal lateral wall 18 of channel 11 (closer to wall W) opposite the distal lateral wall 17 (further from wall W) fitted with LEDs 3.

In the non-limiting embodiment shown, for example, reflector 4 is a substantially plane reflector sloping with respect to lateral wall 17 fitted with LEDs 3, and is therefore positioned on a slant inside channel 11. A reflector 4 of different design may, however, be used, such as a parabolic or generically curved or complex-surface reflector.

More specifically, reflector 4 extends obliquely from lateral wall 17 fitted with LEDs 3, to the opposite lateral wall 18, and from the bottom of channel 11 (i.e. a position close to back wall 19) to light-emitting opening 20, and preferably comprises a single reflecting, e.g. metal, sheet 24 housed in channel 11 and facing all of LEDs 3.

Device 1 also comprises an optional diffuser screen 26 (only shown in Figure 3) located substantially in front of reflector 4 and/or closing light-emitting opening 20 between edges 22, to diffuse the light reflected by reflector 4. Accordingly, diffuser screen 26 is made of material which diffuses light passing through it.

In actual use, device 1 is installed alongside and substantially parallel to wall W to be illuminated, e.g. recessed in a floor or ceiling, or mounted to the actual wall to be illuminated.

The light emitted by LEDs 3 is reflected by reflector 4 onto wall W with the desired, i.e. wall-washing, distribution; and user glare is prevented by LEDs 3 being concealed inside channel 11, out of direct view, at least in normal observation conditions.

Optional diffuser 26 serves to further improve the overall lighting effect of device 1, and more specifically to eliminate the light-shade boundary line projected onto wall W.

The design and compactness of device 1 enable it to be installed in various configurations (e.g. recessed in a ceiling or wall, or wall-mounted); and additional light sources housed in auxiliary channel 12 provide for additional lighting effects, thus enhancing the versatility of device 1.

Clearly, changes may be made to the device as described and illustrated herein without, however, departing from the scope defined in the accompanying Claims.