Assembly of voltage rail, adapter and led-tube, adapter suitable for the assembly and method of mounting lighting elements

Abstract

 The present invention provides a method for a light rail (12) provided with one or more conductive tracks (20) which conduct electric current; an adapter (14) mountable in the rail (12) and provided with an electrical contact (18) configured to engage on the conductive track (20) of the light rail (12), wherein the adapter (12) is provided with clamping means in the rail for fixedly clamping the adapter (12); a tube socket (22) for arranging on the adapter (14) and provided with at least one electrical connection; and a light-emitting diode tube (LED tube) (30) which is provided with two contacts (32, 34) configured to fit into the tube socket (22).

Description

[0001] Fluorescent lighting has been applied on a large scale in the past for industrial applications. This lighting has a relatively long lifespan and consumes less energy than light bulbs and the like. A starter and choke are however required herefor for the purpose of igniting the light in a fluorescent tube. In private settings, and also in shops and retail, much use is also made, in addition to light bulbs, of spot lighting wherein a spotlight with a socket is displaceable along a light rail in order to enable illumination of an object at any desired location.

[0002] Known from the British patent GB 2120024 is a fluorescent tube, i.e. with starter and choke, which can be arranged in a light rail via a tube socket. A fitting is required for the choke and the starter.

[0003] The present invention provides in the preferred embodiment an assembly comprising a light rail provided with one or more conductive tracks which conduct electric current; an adapter mountable in the rail and provided with an electrical contact configured to engage on the conductive track of the light rail, wherein the adapter is provided with clamping means in the rail for fixedly clamping the adapter; a tube socket for arranging on the adapter and provided with at least one electrical connection; and a light-emitting diode tube (LED tube) which is provided with two contacts configured to fit into the tube socket.

[0004] Owing to the preferred embodiment of the present invention spot lighting can be combined with an LED tube which can use current directly from the light rail, wherein the adverse consequences of fluorescent lighting can be avoided.

[0005] Owing to the present invention a number of LED tubes can moreover be arranged successively on a light rail in simple manner.

[0006] In a further preferred embodiment the tube socket is arranged rotatably on the adapter so that the LED tubes can also be arranged obliquely, transversely and/or between mutually adjacent light rails.

[0007] In a further preferred embodiment openings are arranged on the tube socket on the rear side in order to support the other voltage-free end of the LED tube, so that further structural measures can be dispensed with.

[0008] A spotlight can be used if more lighting is considered necessary in a determined aisle in a shop or the like.

[0009] In a further preferred embodiment a tube socket can comprise two, three or more mutually adjacent elements so that two, three or more LED tubes can be arranged substantially parallel adjacently of each other. By rotating LED tubes over their longitudinal axis they can be oriented to greater or lesser extent to the left and right, for instance for the purpose of illuminating shop displays and the like.

[0010] Although use can be made of the normal mains voltage, a three-phase voltage is in practice usually available in the light rail, wherein three conductive tracks which conduct electric current are arranged in the light rail and the phases can be activated or deactivated for each of the LED tubes using a rotary switch.

[0011] In a further advantageous embodiment use is made of low voltage and LED tubes without built-in transformer which are suitable for the purpose, whereby costs will be further reduced. The LED tubes can make use of safe low voltage, such as 12, 24, 36, 48 V and so on. The LED tubes can be suitable for direct voltage or alternating voltage of such a low voltage.

[0012] The present invention also provides a method for arranging lighting elements in a space provided with light rails, comprising the following steps of: arranging an adapter in the light rail; fixedly clamping an adapter in the light rail; arranging an LED tube in a tube socket arranged on the adapter; and arranging one or more spot lighting elements in the light rails.

[0013] Further advantages, features and details of the present invention will be elucidated on the basis of the following description of the preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows the assembly according to FIG. 1 in which the LED tube is arranged in a tube socket;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view for the purpose of further elucidation of the assembly in FIG. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 1, 2 and 3 in mounted situation;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the assembly mounted in alternative manner;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a further preferred embodiment of the assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a further preferred embodiment of the assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 and 12 are perspective views of a further preferred embodiment of the assembly according to the present invention; and

FIG. 11 and 13 are exploded perspective views of the assembly according to FIG. 10.

[0014] Assembly 10 (FIG. 1) comprises a light rail 12 provided with three conductive tracks for three phases of an alternating voltage, for instance varying between 85 and 240 V. An adapter 14 is arranged slidably in light rail 12, wherein adapter 14 is clamped fixedly in the light rail using a sliding knob 16.

[0015] Arranged on the adapter is an electrical contact 18 which is in contact with a conductive track 20. The adapter is also provided with a rotary knob 20 which regulates whether the voltage of the conductive track is transmitted to a tube socket 22 which is arranged rotatably on adapter 14 and which is provided with two insertion openings 24 and 26 for receiving therein contacts of an LED tube 30 - see contact pins 32 and 34 on the left.

[0016] The LED tube can begin to emit light as soon as the pins of the LED tube are inserted into the voltage-carrying opening 24, 26 - see FIG. 2.

[0017] Contact pins 32, 34 can then be inserted into the rear side of a second tube socket 22 which is provided on the rear side with voltage-free openings 42, 44 for receiving pins 32, 34. Tube socket 22' is slidable together with adapter 14' relative to light rail 12 so that mounting of tube 30 is extremely simple, see also FIG. 4.

[0018] A second (or subsequent) LED tube can then be mounted in similar manner on tube socket 42' and adapter 14'.

[0019] In a manner not shown the tube socket can be configured to be able to receive two or more LED tubes 30 extending adjacently of each other - if desired, rotatably and/or adjustably to diverse positions and emission angles - in order to generate more ambient light locally. The LED tubes shine downward over an angle of 120-180°.

[0020] In the present preferred embodiment, wherein tube sockets 22", 22"' are arranged rotatably on the respective adapters 14", 14"', LED tubes 30' can also be arranged transversely of light rails 12", 12"', for instance adjacently of a spotlight 40 which can likewise be mounted on light rail 12"' for more locally directed lighting in the assembly according to the present invention.

[0021] Assembly 60 (FIG. 6) comprises a serrated thumb wheel 61 with which a centrally disposed rotary plate 62 can be rotated. Rotary plate 62 is embodied with double flanges 63 and 64 which extend respectively above and below wall 65 of an adapter housing 66 in which electrical contacts are arranged. Respective tube sockets 67 and 68 can be snapped fixedly via respective recesses 69 and 70 into an upright double-walled member 71 mounted on rotary plate 64. Upper housing 72 can be snapped and/or screwed fixedly over the construction via screw holes 73.

[0022] All components of the embodiment of FIG. 6 and 7 (as well as of the following embodiments of FIG. 8-12) are preferably manufactured from plastic, for instance printed in three dimensions, while injection moulding is recommended in the case of large batches.

[0023] In embodiment 80 (FIG. 8, 9) a thumb wheel 81 is likewise arranged, while outer housing 83 consists of two parts 84 and 85. Components 86 and 87 can be provided in simple manner on the underside of respective semi-circular rotary plates 88 and 89 which are snapped together after housing parts 84 and 85 have been pulled apart, and the housing parts are snapped onto each other, after which the semi-circular rotary plates extend to a position below and above upper wall 90 of housing 83. Tube sockets 91 and 92 can then be snapped fixedly onto the housing parts.

[0024] In assembly 100 (FIG. 10 and 11) an adapter 101 is suitable for two fluorescent tubes 102, 103, while outer housing 104 is provided for this purpose with two cavities, while modular components 67, 68 of the embodiment according to FIG. 6, 7 can likewise be applied with this embodiment. Housing 101 also substantially corresponds to the housing of FIG. 6.

[0025] The same applies for embodiment 120 (FIG. 12 and 13), wherein only the rotatable partitions 121, 122 differ from the components of the embodiment according to FIG. 9, 10, while the housing and tube sockets 91, 92 of the embodiment according to FIG. 8, 9 can be used.

[0026] The tube sockets can be injection-moulded in large numbers; the housing parts will in the first instance still be 3D printed for a longer period of time, which will make these components relatively expensive.

[0027] The present invention is not limited to the described preferred embodiment, the rights sought being defined by the following claims, within the scope of which many modifications can be envisaged.

Claims

1. Assembly, comprising:

a light rail provided with one or more conductive tracks which conduct electric current;

an adapter mountable in the rail and provided with an electrical contact configured to engage on the conductive track of the light rail, wherein the adapter is provided with clamping means in the rail for fixedly clamping the adapter;

a tube socket for arranging on the adapter and provided with at least one electrical connection; and

a light-emitting diode tube (LED tube) which is provided with two contacts configured to fit into the tube socket.

2. Assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tube socket is arranged rotatably on the adapter.

3. Assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, comprising two, three or more tube sockets, wherein at least one of the tube sockets is provided with openings for supporting an LED tube arranged therein.

4. Assembly as claimed in claim 2 or 3, provided with a spot lighting element configured for arranging on the conductive track of the light rail.

5. Assembly as claimed in one or more of the claims 1-4, wherein the tube socket is configured such that two, three or more LED tubes can be arranged adjacently of each other and substantially parallel to each other, optionally in combination with a special LED tube which is rotatable and/or adjustable to diverse positions and emission angles.

6. Assembly as claimed in one or more of the claims 1-5, wherein the light rail is provided with three conductive tracks which conduct electric current and which are each provided with a phase such that there is a voltage difference of about 230 V (or 115 or 110 V) between each two conductive tracks.

7. Assembly as claimed in one or more of the claims 1-6, wherein the light rail is provided with 1, 2, 4, 5 or more conductive tracks.

8. Assembly as claimed in one or more of the claims 1-7, wherein the adapter is provided with a rotary switch in order to enable individual activation or deactivation of an LED tube.

9. Assembly as claimed in one or more of the claims 1-8, wherein a relatively low (direct or alternating) voltage of for instance 12, 24, 36 or 48 V is applied to the conductive tracks which conduct electric current, and the LED tube is configured to emit light at this relatively low voltage.

10. Adapter, configured for arranging in a light rail and provided with a tube socket arranged rotatably on the adapter and configured to receive two contacts of an LED tube.

11. Method for arranging lighting elements in a space provided with light rails, comprising the following steps of:

arranging an adapter in the light rail;

fixedly clamping an adapter in the light rail;

arranging an LED tube in a tube socket arranged on the adapter; and

arranging one or more spot lighting elements in the light rails.

Drawing