MODULAR LIGHTING SYSTEM

Abstract

 The lighting system comprises a plurality of lighting modules, and at least one or every lighting module comprises at least one rotary electrical connector. Moreover, each rotary electrical connector comprises a plurality of electrical connection recesses or projections.
This rotary electrical connector makes it possible to use the same lighting module in the event of coupling the lighting modules longitudinally (one after another) or transversely (forming a right angle), or forming any angle.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a modular lighting system comprising a plurality of lighting modules coupled to each other.

Background of the invention

[0002] Modular lighting systems comprising a plurality of lighting modules, usually elongated, that are coupled to each other, both longitudinally and transversely, forming a desired layout, are well known.

[0003] The objective of these modular lighting systems is to minimise costs using lighting modules of a single type. To this end, the elongated lighting modules must be coupled by means of coupling elements disposed at their ends.

[0004] A drawback of the currently known modular lighting systems is that these coupling elements block the light in their mounted position, such that the lighting is not continuous throughout the lighting system, but rather is interrupted at the ends of each lighting module.

[0005] This drawback prevents the provision of the desired lighting and, also, is not aesthetically pleasing to users.

[0006] Also, the electrical connections between the modules are usually executed using terminal strips, which slows down installation, as the electrical connection between each module is executed individually and manually.

[0007] Therefore, the objective of the present invention is to provide a modular lighting system formed by a plurality of lighting modules coupled to each other, wherein lighting is continuous throughout the system, without there being any interruption at the ends of the lighting modules, and which enables the same lighting module to be used in the event of coupling the lighting modules longitudinally (one after another) or transversely (forming a right angle).

Description of the invention

[0008] The lighting system of the invention resolves the aforementioned drawbacks and has other advantages which are described below.

[0009] The lighting system in accordance with the present invention comprises a plurality of lighting modules, and at least one or every lighting module comprises at least one rotary electrical connector. It preferably comprises a rotary electrical connector next to each of its ends. Each rotary electrical connector comprises a plurality of electrical connection recesses and/or projections.

[0010] This rotary electrical connector makes it possible to use the same lighting module in the event of coupling the lighting modules longitudinally (one after another) or transversely (forming a right angle), or forming any angle.

[0011] Each rotary electrical connector comprises, in addition to the electrical connection projections and/or recesses, a rotary base, out of which the electrical connection projections project and/or in which the electrical connection recesses are housed. The electrical connection projections and/or recesses rotate together with the rotary base. The rotary base connects to a wall of the module, such that it can rotate around its axial axis with respect to the module, said axial axis being perpendicular to the surface of the wall of the module. The rotary base connects to one of the walls of the module, the one through which light is not emitted; preferably the rotary base connects to the wall of the module opposite the surface through which light is emitted.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the base is housed such that it is embedded in the wall of the module.

[0013] The electrical connection projections and/or recesses are preferably aligned on the outer surface of the rotary base, although they may have any other arrangement.

[0014] Additionally, the use of a link connector that connects two rotary connectors of two adjacent lighting modules is also envisaged, said link connector comprising terminals.

[0015] The link connector further comprises electrical connection recesses and/or projections to which the electrical connection projections and/or recesses of the rotary base connect, respectively, these electrical connection recesses and/or projections of the link connector being arranged on both ends of the link connector.

[0016] Preferably, the link connector comprises the same number of recesses and/or projections on each of its ends as the number of projections and/or recesses respectively comprised by the rotary electrical connector to which it connects.

[0017] Preferably, the electrical connection recesses and/or projections of the link connector are aligned in two rows, one on each end, these rows preferably being parallel to one another.

[0018] Preferably, the electrical connection projections and recesses comprise poka-yoke connections, such that the phase and neutral connection of the electrical connection projections and/or recesses of the rotary electrical connector only fit respectively into/onto the phase and neutral connections of the electrical connection recesses and/or projections of the link connector.

[0019] Preferably, two adjacent lighting modules are connected so as to form any angle, and the rotary base of the rotary electrical connector of both modules turn at any angle, such that the electrical connection projections and/or recesses of each rotary electrical connector of each adjacent module are situated in a position in which they fit into/onto the recesses and/or projections of the corresponding ends of the link connector.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment in which the electrical connection projections and/or recesses of the rotary electrical connector and of the link connector are aligned on their respective ends, two adjacent modules connect at any angle, rotating the respective rotary connectors of the ends to be joined, such that the lines of electrical connection projections and/or recesses of both rotary electrical connectors are arranged in parallel.

[0021] Advantageously, the plurality of lighting modules are housed inside at least two profiles, said profiles being coupled to each other by means of at least one coupling element, characterised in that the or each coupling element comprises a plate and fixations for fixing the coupling element to at least two adjacent profiles.

[0022] Due to this characteristic, the plate does not block the light emitted in the desired direction of lighting and the rest of the coupling element is substantially free from obstacles.

[0023] In accordance with two possible additional embodiments, depending on the number of lighting modules coupled, said coupling element comprises a lateral plate fixed to the end of two adjacent profiles, or said coupling element comprises two lateral plates joined together perpendicularly, also joined to two adjacent profiles.

[0024] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, said fixations are disposed on projections substantially perpendicular to the plate.

[0025] Also, said projections may be formed by two strips forming a right angle and, on each projection, the fixations may be formed by two tabs that form a right angle, said tabs being disposed on the vertex formed by said two strips.

Brief description of the drawings

[0026] For the purpose of helping to make the foregoing description more readily understandable, it is accompanied by a set of drawings which, schematically and by way of illustration and not limitation, represent an embodiment.

Figure 1 shows an upper perspective view of four lighting modules housed inside corresponding profiles of the lighting system in accordance with the present invention, coupled to each other forming a cross-junction;

Figure 2 shows an upper perspective view of three lighting modules housed inside corresponding profiles of the lighting system in accordance with the present invention, coupled to each other forming a T-junction;

Figure 3 shows an upper perspective view of two lighting modules housed inside corresponding profiles of the lighting system in accordance with the present invention, coupled to each other forming right-angle junction;

Figure 4 shows an upper perspective view of the rotary electrical connector between two lighting modules of the lighting system in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 5 shows a lower perspective view of a lighting system in accordance with the present invention.

Description of a preferred embodiment

[0027] The lighting system in accordance with the present invention comprises a plurality of lighting modules 1 coupled to each other and housed in one or more profiles 10.One or more lighting modules 1 can be housed inside a single profile 10 and the profiles 10 are made of an appropriate material, preferably aluminium.

[0028] In the present description and in the claims, "lighting module" is understood to be a body having light-emitting elements and a screen which allows light to pass through in the desired direction, wherein the lighting module is elongated. All the lighting modules of a lighting system in accordance with the present invention are preferably of the same length, although they may be of different lengths.

[0029] The profiles 10 may be joined together by means of coupling elements 2, which may be of three different types depending on the number of profiles 10 coupled to each other, as shown in figures 1 to 3.

[0030] However, all the coupling elements 2 include common characteristics that provide the technical advantage, which is the objective of the present invention, to provide continuous, uninterrupted lighting, as indicated previously.

[0031] Each coupling element 2 comprises a plate 3 and fixations 4 for fixing the coupling element 2 to at least two adjacent profiles 10. This basic embodiment of the coupling element 2 is shown in figure 1, for the coupling of four profiles 10 forming a cross-junction.

[0032] It should be understood that, when reference is made to the plate 3, this plate may be disposed in an upper, lateral or lower position depending on where the lighting system of the present invention is installed, such that this plate only blocks the light in a direction one does not wish to illuminate. Therefore, when the plate is disposed in an upper position, the lighting system will be mounted on the ceiling or near the ceiling; when it is disposed in a lateral position, the lighting system will be mounted on a wall; and when the plate is disposed in a lower position, the lighting system will be mounted on the floor, with the plate blocking the light towards the ceiling, wall or floor, respectively.

[0033] In accordance with the embodiment represented, said fixations 4 are disposed on projections 6 substantially perpendicular with respect to said plate 3.Additionally, in this embodiment, said projections are formed by two strips that form a right angle and in each projection 6 the fixations 4 may be formed by two tabs that form a right angle, wherein said tabs are disposed on the vertex formed by said two strips.

[0034] The tabs may be joined to each profile in any appropriate manner. For example, each tab may comprise a hole for inserting a nail or screw, or similar.

[0035] Figure 2 shows the coupling element 2 used to couple three profiles 10 to each other, forming a T-junction. In this embodiment, as opposed to the coupling element 2 of figure 1, it comprises a lateral plate 5 fixed to the ends of two adjacent profiles 10.

[0036] Figure 3 shows a coupling element 2 used to couple two profiles 10 to each other, forming a right-angle junction. In this embodiment, as opposed to the coupling element 2 of figure 1, it comprises two lateral plates 5 joined together forming a right angle, each of which is fixed to one end of said profiles 10.

[0037] In order to use the same lighting module in the event of coupling the lighting modules longitudinally (one after the other) or transversely (forming a right angle), or forming any angle, each lighting module 1 comprises a rotary electrical connector 7, wherein each rotary electrical connector 7 comprises a plurality of electrical connection projections and/or recesses 8, as can be observed in figure 4. Preferably, each lighting module comprises a rotary electrical connector 7 next to each of its ends, and preferably the rotary electrical connector 7 comprises a plurality of electrical connection projections.

[0038] The rotary electrical connector 7 comprises, in addition to the plurality of electrical connection projections 8, a rotary base 13, out of which the electrical connection projections 8 project. The rotary base 13 connects to a wall of the lighting module 1, such that it can rotate around its axial axis with respect to the lighting module 1, said axial axis being perpendicular to the surface of the wall of the lighting module 1.The electrical connection projections 8 rotate together with the rotary base 13.

[0039] The rotary base 13 connects to one of the walls of the lighting module 1, the one through which light is not emitted; preferably the rotary base 13 connects to the wall of the lighting module 1 opposite the surface through which light is emitted.

[0040] Preferably, the rotary base 13 is housed such that it is embedded in the wall of the lighting module 1.

[0041] Preferably, there will be three electrical connection projections, each one with the phase, neutral and ground connections, respectively, and more preferably there will be five electrical connection projections, two for regulating the light intensity and phase, neutral and ground.

[0042] In one embodiment, preferably the electrical connection projections 8 are aligned on the outer surface of the rotary base 13, although they may be arranged in any other way.

[0043] In the preferred embodiment in which the electrical connection projections 8 of the rotary electrical connector 7 are aligned, they are arranged parallel to the row of electrical connection projections 8 of the adjacent lighting module 1 to which it connects, such that upon connecting two lighting modules 1, one after the other longitudinally, the rows of electrical connection projections 8 of both rotary electrical connectors 7 are arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the corresponding lighting module 1.

[0044] It should be noted that figure 4 shows two lighting modules 1 to be connected one after the other. In the event that two lighting modules 1 are connected so as to form a right angle, the rotary base 13 of the rotary electrical connector 7 of one of the two lighting modules 1 will rotate 90 degrees with respect to the position in which it would connect longitudinally, such that, moving together with it, the row formed by the electrical connection projections 8 that project from this rotary base 13 are parallel to the row of electrical connection projections of the adjacent module to which it connects at an angle.

[0045] In another preferred embodiment, two adjacent lighting modules 1 are connected so as to form any angle, and the rotary base 13 of the rotary electrical connector 7 of both modules turn at any angle, such that the lines formed by the electrical connection projections 8 of each rotary electrical connector 7 of each adjacent lighting module 1 form two parallel lines.

[0046] In order to connect two lighting modules 1 to each other, a link connector 9 is used, having terminals 11 which enable the connection of more lighting modules 1 or the selection of lighting modules 1 that light up simultaneously in accordance with the electrical connections executed.

[0047] The link connector 9 further comprises electrical connection recesses and/or projections to which the electrical connection projections and/or recesses 8 of the rotary electrical connector 7 connect, these electrical connection recesses and/or projections being arranged on both ends of the link connector 9.

[0048] Preferably, the link connector 9 comprises electrical connection recesses, and more preferably the latter are aligned in two rows, one on each end of the link connector 9, these rows preferably being parallel to one another. Preferably, there will be three electrical connection recesses, each one with the phase, neutral and ground connections, respectively, and more preferably there will be five electrical connection recesses, two for regulating the light intensity and phase, neutral and ground.

[0049] Preferably the electrical connection projections 8 of the rotary electrical connector 7 and the electrical connection recesses of the link connector 9 comprise poka-yoke connections, such that the phase and neutral connection of the electrical connection projections 8 of the rotary electrical connector 7 only fit respectively into the phase and neutral connections of the electrical connection recesses of the link connector 9.

[0050] In figure 5, which shows a lighting system in accordance with the present invention from below, i.e. as a user would see it, it can be observed that the coupling elements do not block the light and the user cannot see any coupling element, as they are hidden.

[0051] This characteristic has technical advantages, as it does not interrupt the lighting, providing the desired lighting and aesthetics, as mentioned earlier. It also has advantages in terms of installation, making it easier to install by carrying out the electrical connection in an orderly and safe manner through the link connector.

[0052] Despite the fact that reference has been made to a specific embodiment of the invention, it is evident for the person skilled in the art that numerous variations and changes may be made to the lighting system described, and that all the aforementioned details may be substituted by other technically equivalent ones, without detracting from the scope of protection defined by the attached claims.

Claims

1. A lighting system that comprises a plurality of lighting modules (1), characterized in that at least one lighting module (1) comprises at least one rotary electrical connector (7).

2. The lighting system, according to claim 1, wherein the or each rotary electrical connector (7) comprises a rotary base (13).

3. The lighting system, according to claim 2, wherein the rotary base (13) of the rotary electrical connector (7) comprises a plurality of electrical connection projections and/or recesses (8).

4. The lighting system, according to claim 3, wherein said projections and/or recesses (8) rotate together with the rotary base (13).

5. The lighting system, according to claim 1, which comprises at least one link connector (9) that connects two rotary electrical connectors (7) of two adjacent lighting modules (1).

6. The lighting system, according to claim 5, wherein said link connector (9) comprises terminals (11).

7. The lighting system, according to claim 5, wherein said link connector (9) comprises connection projections and/or recesses.

8. The lighting system, according to claim 1, wherein the or each rotary electrical connector (7) is arranged next to at least one of the ends of the lighting module (1).

9. The lighting system, according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of lighting modules (1) are housed inside the at least two profiles (10), the profiles (10) being coupled to each other by means of at least one coupling element (2), wherein the or each coupling element (2) comprises a plate (3) and fixations (4) for fixing the coupling element (2) to the at least two adjacent profiles (10).

10. The lighting system, according to claim 9, wherein said coupling element (2) comprises a lateral plate (5) fixed to the end of said profile (1).

11. The lighting system, according to claim 9, wherein said coupling element (2) comprises two lateral plates (5) joined together, each of which is fixed to the end of a profile (10).

12. The lighting system, according to claim 9, wherein said fixations (4) are disposed on projections (6) substantially perpendicular to said plate (3).

13. The lighting system, according to claim 12, wherein said projections (6) are formed by two strips that form a right angle.

14. The lighting system, according to claim 12, wherein in each projection (6) the fixations (4) are formed by two tabs that form a right angle.

15. The lighting system, according to claims 13 and 14, wherein said tabs are disposed on the vertex formed by said two strips.

Drawing