ILLUMINATION DEVICE FOR A CEILING SYSTEM

Abstract

 The invention provides an illumination device for a ceiling system comprising a lighting device integrated into an illumination panel comprising a ceiling or rear face and an opposite, front face comprising an illumination area and peripheral ledges along at least two opposite sides of the front face for resting said illumination device on a rail of a ceiling system.

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to an illumination device for a ceiling system.

Background of the invention

[0002] US 1470728 is one of the first patents that refer to a lowered ceiling, and sometimes US2984946 is referred to as the first patent that refers to a ceiling system. Many other patent publications followed.

[0003] The ceiling system can have many objectives, like aesthetics, hiding building infrastructures like pipes and wiring, and for enabling functionalities to be integrated into a ceiling system. Lighting or illumination is one of these functions. Many designs of for instance TL tube armatures are provided that allow easy integration into a ceiling system.

[0004] FR2998315 According to the abstract of its US family member relates to "a lighted tile for false panel, including a frame having a bottom and sides that extend projecting from the bottom, a backlighting system having a series of lights attached to the bottom, and a stretched flexible sheet that extends between the sides facing the lights. The lights are light-emitting diodes, and the sheet is secured to the sides of the frame." In fact, the lighting panel for a ceiling system fits in-register in the frame. WO2007008801 According to its abstract describes "an acoustic housing, a light fixture, a suspended ceiling system, and a method of decreasing sound transfer from a light fixture in a suspended ceiling are disclosed. An acoustic hood for a light fixture in a suspended ceiling may include a partially enclosed space formed between a plurality of wall portions. A light fixture may include first and second layers that are coupled to one another and form a partially enclosed space. A suspended ceiling system may include the acoustic hood or light fixture. The method relates to disposing an acoustic housing spaced from the light fixture."

[0005] US2014362566 According to its abstract describes "In accordance with certain embodiments, lighting systems include flexible light sheets and one or more sealed regions containing light-emitting elements, the sealed regions defined by seals between a top housing and a bottom housing and/or the light sheet."

Summary of the invention

[0006] It is an aspect of the invention to provide an alternative illumination device for a ceiling system. In an embodiment, an illumination device for a ceiling system is provided which preferably further at least partly obviates one or more of above-described drawbacks.

[0007] The invention thus provides an illumination device according to claim 1.

[0008] The current invention pertains to an illumination device for use in a suspended ceiling system. Such a ceiling system is sometimes also referred to as "dropped ceiling", "false ceiling", modular ceiling, secondary ceiling or hanging ceiling". Other references are drop ceiling, T-bar ceiling, false ceiling, grid ceiling, drop in ceiling, drop out ceiling, or ceiling tiles. This will further be referred to in general as a ceiling system. Such a ceiling system usually extends from a physical or structural (main) ceiling of a building or a room. Such a physical ceiling often is a concrete surface. Usually, attachment parts are fixed to the physical ceiling and ceiling panels are held in place at a distance from the physical ceiling to form the ceiling system. The space between the physical or main ceiling and the suspended ceiling system is also referred to as the "plenum" or plenum space.

[0009] Examples of a ceiling system is a drop panel system. One type of suspended ceiling is known as "concealed" (in Dutch: verdekt uitneembaar), where panels interlock at least partially, and conceal the grid or rail partially or completely. In another type, the suspended ceiling is in fact of the "dropped ceiling" type where the room- or building-space-sided surface of panels in fact extend beyond the suspension rails. This is here referred as a lowered surface ceiling. In Dutch it is referred to as "doorzak-plafond".

[0010] The current illumination device provides in particular an illumination system that can be integrated into a known ceiling system. To that end, the illumination device comprises an illumination panels that is adapted to the usually standardized sizes of a ceiling panel. Usually, the illumination device provides rectangular illumination panels, or rectangular mounting panels, or both, in order to be easily integrated into a ceiling system. In an embodiment, the panels can be between 50 and 70 cm along one side. In an embodiment, a panel is rectangular, more in particular square. Often-used sized are a grid size of about 60 cm along one side. In some instances, the panels or elements are rectangular, square, and are about 60x60 cm. Usually, about 595mmx595 mm is used or 595mmx1195 mm. In the US, these sizes are 2 feet x 2 feet or 2ft x 4 ft. small deviations are possible as long as panels functionally fit the size. In Germany, often sizes of 620 x 620 mm are used, for instance.

[0011] In am embodiment, the lighting device comprises solid-state lighting elements, like lighting emitting diodes, quantum dots, and similar flat lighting devices. Thus, an illumination device is easily integrated in a ceiling system.

[0012] In an embodiment, the illumination device further comprises a light-diffusing element on its front face for providing said illumination area, said light-diffusing element selected from a wave plate, a diffusor, and a combination thereof.

[0013] In an embodiment, the illumination device comprises a substantially rectangular periphery, in particular said illumination device is square.

[0014] In an embodiment, the illumination device further comprises an illumination panel and a mounting plate, said mounting plate provided with a mounting provision that engage a mounting provision on a mounting surface of said illumination panel for holding said illumination panel and said mounting panels attached to one another, in use said mounting plate being on said ceiling face and said illumination panel being on said front face.

[0015] In an embodiment, the mounting plate comprising mounting elements, in particular permanent magnets, and said illumination panel comprise a iron plate forming at least part of its rear face.

[0016] In an embodiment, the illumination panel and said mounting plate have a functionally equal length and width, and in use said illumination panel is mounted out-of-register but with its sides functionally parallel to sides of said mounting panel, in particular said illumination panel is mounted with two opposite sides functionally aligned with two opposite sides of said mounting panel.

[0017] In an embodiment, the illumination device comprises a substantially box-shaped rear frame holding at least one lighting device and a diffusor plate closing off said rear frame.

[0018] In an embodiment, the diffusor plate comprises a peripheral rim allowing mounting said diffusor plate to said rear frame, and an illumination window which in use radiates light from said at least one lighting device, said illumination window providing an external surface that is raised above said peripheral rim.

[0019] In an embodiment, the box-shaped rear frame comprises an extending peripheral flange providing an attachment flange for said peripheral rim of said diffusor plate, said extending peripheral flange and said peripheral rim providing an mounting flange for resting said illumination device onto rails of a ceiling system.

[0020] The invention further relates to an illumination device for a ceiling system comprising a lighting device integrated into an illumination panel comprising a ceiling or rear face and an opposite, front face comprising an illumination area and peripheral ledges along at least two opposite sides of the front face for resting said illumination device on a rail of a ceiling system.

[0021] The terms "upstream" and "downstream" relate to an arrangement of items or features relative to the propagation of the light from a light generating means (here the especially the first light source), wherein relative to a first position within a beam of light from the light generating means, a second position in the beam of light closer to the light generating means is "upstream", and a third position within the beam of light further away from the light generating means is "downstream".

[0022] The term "substantially" herein, such as in in "substantially consists", will be understood by the person skilled in the art. The term "substantially" may also include embodiments with "entirely", "completely", "all", etc. Hence, in embodiments the adjective substantially may also be removed. Where applicable, the term "substantially" may also relate to 90% or higher, such as 95% or higher, especially 99% or higher, even more especially 99.5% or higher, including 100%. The term "comprise" includes also embodiments wherein the term "comprises" means "consists of'.

[0023] Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

[0024] The devices or apparatus herein are amongst others described during operation. As will be clear to the person skilled in the art, the invention is not limited to methods of operation or devices in operation.

[0025] It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb "to comprise" and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. In the device or apparatus claims enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

[0026] The invention further applies to an apparatus or device comprising one or more of the characterising features described in the description and/or shown in the attached drawings. The invention further pertains to a method or process comprising one or more of the characterising features described in the description and/or shown in the attached drawings.

[0027] The various aspects discussed in this patent can be combined in order to provide additional advantages. Furthermore, some of the features can form the basis for one or more divisional applications.

Brief description of the drawings

[0028] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts, and in which:

Figure 1 schematically depicts a front view (illumination side) of an illumination panel for an illumination device;

Figure 2 shows a rear (ceiling) side of the part of the illumination panel of figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a side view of figure 1;

Figure 4 shows a front view of a mounting plate that is part of an illumination device;

Figure 5 shows a rear (ceiling side) view of figure 4;

Figures 6A-6C show cross sections as indicated in figure 5;

Figure 7 several illumination devices with the illumination panels of figures 1-3 and mounting plates of figures 3-6C integrated in a suspended ceiling system;

Figure 7A an illumination device with the illumination panel of figures 1-3 and a mounting plate of figures 3-6C combined with common ceiling panels integrated in a suspended ceiling system;

Figure 8 an alternative embodiment of an illumination device in perspective view from the rear (ceiling) side;

Figure 9 the illumination device of figure 1 in perspective view from the illumination side;

Figure 10 part of the illumination device of figure 8 in cross section;

Figure 11 several illumination devices integrated in a lowered surface ceiling;

Figure 11A the illumination device combined with common ceiling panels integrated in a lowered surface ceiling, and

Figure 12 an alternative embodiment of an illumination device.

[0029] The drawings are not necessarily on scale

Description of preferred embodiments

[0030] Figure 1 schematically depicts an illumination panel 1 that has a front surface 2 from which in operation light is transmitted. In mounted state, this side will also be referred to as illumination side. The illumination panel 1 in this embodiment has a frame 3. Usually, the illumination panel comprises one or more light emitting diode (LED) lighting devices of other solid state or thin form factor lighting elements. In an embodiment, a diffusor is provided at the illumination side. In a further or alternative or additional embodiment, lighting elements are provided at or in a peripheral frame that is part of the frame 3. In an embodiment, these lighting elements provide in operation illumination towards the centre of the illumination panel and provide lighting to the sides of a waveplate. The light that enters the waveplate from its sides will be transmitted from the illumination side 2.

[0031] In figure 2, the illumination panel 1 is depicted from its rear side 4 or ceiling side. At this rear side, usually a power connector 5 is provided, here a power cord with a plug. A strain relief 6 is provide in this embodiment. When an illumination panels drops down from a ceiling, for instance in case of an earthquake, the strain relief 6 will keep the illumination panel pending on its power connector 5.

[0032] In the current embodiment, the illumination panel 1 is rectangular and substantially flat. In many applications, the illumination panel will measure between 50 and 70 cm. for many ceiling systems, the illumination panel 1 will measure about 60x60 cm. In an embodiment, the rear side of the illumination panel 1 will comprise a metal plate.

[0033] In figure 3, a side view of the illumination panel 1 is shown. In many embodiments, the illumination panel 1 will have a thickness of between 0.5 and 3 cm. In the current embodiment, the illumination panel 1 will be between 1 and 1.5 cm in thickness, but thinner may also be possible..

[0034] In figures 4-6, several views of a mounting plate 7 are shown. The illumination panel 1 together with the mounting plate here show an embodiment of an illumination device for a ceiling system. The use in a ceiling system is shown in figure 7.

[0035] In figure 4, a front side 10 of the mounting plate is shown. Here, the mounting plate has a central hole in order to allow access to the space above a ceiling system. Furthermore, such a hole 9 saves material.

[0036] The mounting plate 7 also has mounting parts 8 that engage with mounting provisions in or on the rear side of the illumination panel 1. Here, permanent magnets 8 are provided in the mounting plate 7 that attract an iron metal rear surface of the illumination panel 1. Alternatively, iron or magnetic patches may be incorporated in the rear surface of the illumination panel 1 that interact and are attracted by the mounting parts 8 in order to hold the illumination panel 1 attached to the mounting panel 7. The attachment is usually of a reversible nature, allowing the illumination panel 1 to be removed from the mounting plate. Alternatively, Velcro patches or parts or similar mounting parts 8 may be used.

[0037] The mounting plate 7 is shown from its rear or ceiling side 1 in figure 5. Here, to provide additional rigidity, the mounting plate 7 has ribs 15. In order to allow attachment of a power cord 5 to a power supply above a ceiling system, the mounting plate 7 is provided with a cable passage 14. A recessed part 13 allows positioning of the strain relief 6. In that way, the illumination panel 1 can be mounted to the mounting plate 7 with its substantially flat rear surface 4 almost against the surface 10 of the mounting plate 7. Figures 6A-6C show the indicated parts of the mounting plate in cross section, illustrating the various features that are described.

[0038] Figure 7 shows several illumination devices comprising mounting plates 7 and illumination panels 1 together mounted in a ceiling system. The ceiling system has attachment means 16, schematically indicated and here comprising rails and hooks mounting the rails. The mounting plates 7 are here carried by the rails, and rest on the rails. The mounting plate 7 as here recesses 12 that are provided with permanent magnets that are almost level with the front surface 10 of the mounting plate 7.

[0039] The illumination panel 1 and said mounting plate 7 have a functionally equal length and width. The illumination panel 1 is in figure 7 (and also in 7A) mounted out-of-register but with its sides functionally parallel to sides of said mounting panel or mounting plate 7. Here, the illumination panel 1 is mounted with two opposite sides functionally aligned with two opposite sides of said mounting panel or mounting plate 7.

[0040] In figure 7A, an illumination device comprising a mounting plate 7 and illumination panel 1 is combined with common ceiling panels 30 of the type used in a concealed ceiling. The panels hide the rail 16 (almost) completely from sight.

[0041] The mounting plate 7 in an embodiment comprises two or more strips that rest between the rails 16. The mounting plate 7 may comprise additional alignment strips that hold the strips at pre-set distance in order to in fact form the mounting plate 7. The strips and/or the alignment strips comprise one or more permanent magnets 8. The permanent magnets 8 extend in front side from the mounting plate 7 beyond the ceiling rails 16, leaving the front, attachment surface of the magnets 8 extend beyond the front rail surface. In this way, the illumination panels can be mounted off-register with respect to the ceiling rails 16 and cover these, thus hiding the rails 16 as shown in figure 7 and 7A.

[0042] In an embodiment, the mounting plate 7 (or its composing strips forming said mounting plate) comprise or are made from ferromagnetic material, for instance iron. In an embodiment, the permanent magnets are attached to the ferromagnetic material of the mounting plate 7. The mounting plate 7 may comprise shallow cavities for holding the permanent magnets more or less in place, as illustrated in figure 6A and 7-7A. In an embodiment, each shallow cavity may have several depth regions, allowing in combination with a thickness of the permanent magnets 8 to set a height position of an illumination panel 1.

[0043] In figures 8-10, an alternative embodiment of the illumination device is shown.

[0044] In figure 8, a rear view or the ceiling side of an illumination device 20 is shown. In figure 1 the illumination device 20 of figure 8 is shown from its front side or illumination side.

[0045] The illumination device 20 here is one single unit comprising a rear casing or rear frame 22 that usually comprises a closed box that is here rectangular. Here, a power connector 21 extends from the rear side.

[0046] In its front side, the illumination device has a diffusor plate 23.

[0047] In figure 10, a partial cross section of the illumination device 20 of figures 8 and 9 is shown. In the rear box part 22, lighting elements are mounted. Here, a series of light emitting diodes (LEDs) is mounted inside the rear box part 22. The same lighting elements as explained above can be applied.

[0048] The diffusor plate 23 is such that from the illumination side or front side, the illumination device provides a homogeneous, evenly illuminating area.

[0049] At its peripheral rim 26, forming a flange, the diffusor plate 23 is here attached to a peripheral rim 25 of the rear box part 22. The diffusor may be glued to the rear box part 22, or attached for instance by means of rivets, of the parts may be screwed or bolted together. Here, the diffusor plate 23 falls inside a flange surrounding the periphery of the rear box part 22. Alternatively by folding extending parts of the rear box part 22 around the sides of the diffusor plate 23 (not shown), forming a complete flange holding the diffusor plate 23 onto the rear box part 22. The flange 25 from the rear box part and the flange 26 from the diffusor 23 form a mounting flange 27 for resting an the rail 16 of the ceiling system. The mounting flange 27 may extend along two opposite sides of the illumination device, or form a peripheral mounting flange 27.

[0050] The diffusor plate 23 has a central part extending in front direction beyond the peripheral rim. In this way, the illumination device 20 can be mounted with its peripheral rim resting on ceiling system rails 16 and its central part having a surface extending into the room or building space beyond the rail 16.

[0051] In figure 11, part of a ceiling system is shown, in which several illumination devices 20 are combined. In figure 11A, the illumination device 20 is combined with common ceiling panels 31 that have a lowered surface.

[0052] In figure 12, an alternative embodiment of an illumination device is depicted. On the rear surface of illumination panel 1, holding parts 32are mounted. These holding parts 32 may be glued, attached via screws or bolts, or in another way known to a skilled person. Alternatively, these holding parts 32 may be attached in a less permanent or even removable way, for instance using permanent magnets, or via velcro, for instance. A first holding part 32 is mounted in such a way as to provide a (in use horizontal) groove substantially parallel to a side of the illumination panel 1. The groove extends in longitudinal direction substantially of functionally parallel to a side of the illumination panel 1. Here, the groove opening starts at a distance from the side of the illumination panel 1. It allows the ceiling system rail 16 to fall within the illumination panel 1, or in other words in use to be covered by the illumination panel 1.

[0053] At an opposite side, a holding part 32 is mounted in such a way that it provides a ledge for resting on a ceiling system rail 16, and which ledge extends beyond a side of the illumination panel 1. Usually, the illumination panel 1 is rectangular, often square.

[0054] It will also be clear that the above description and drawings are included to illustrate some embodiments of the invention, and not to limit the scope of protection. Starting from this disclosure, many more embodiments will be evident to a skilled person. These embodiments are within the scope of protection and the essence of this invention and are obvious combinations of prior art techniques and the disclosure of this patent.

Claims

1. An illumination device for a ceiling system that comprises a series of parallel, equidistant rails (16) at a distance from a ceiling (17), said illumination device comprising a lighting device integrated into an illumination panel (1) comprising a rear face (4) which in use is directed towards said ceiling (17) and an opposite, front face (2) comprising an illumination area, said illumination device further comprising a mounting plate (7), said mounting plate (7) provided with a mounting provision that engage a mounting provision on a mounting surface on said rear face (4) of said illumination panel (1) for holding said illumination panel (1) and said mounting plate (7) attached to one another, in use said front face (10) of said mounting plate (7) being directed to said rear face (4) of said illumination panel (1), wherein said mounting provision comprises permanent magnets (8), and said illumination panel (1) comprise a iron plate forming at least part of its rear face (4), and said mounting plate (7) comprising ledges along at least two opposite sides of its front face (10) for in use resting said mounting plate (7) on rails (16) of said ceiling system and in use holding said mounting plate (7) between two neighbouring rails (16) with said illumination panel (1) below said rails (16).

2. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein a width of said illumination panel (1) is at least a hart-to-hart distance of said rails (16).

3. The illumination device of claim 1 or 2, wherein in use said illumination panel (1) is mounted out-of-register but with its sides functionally parallel to sides of said mounting plate (7), in particular said illumination panel (1) is mounted with two opposite sides functionally aligned with two opposite sides of said mounting plate (7).

4. The illumination device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said illumination panel (1) and said mounting plate (7) have a functionally equal width, matching a repeating space between said subsequent ceiling system rails (16) on a ceiling system.

5. The illumination device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said illumination panel (1) and said mounting plate (7) have a functionally equal length and width, and in use said illumination panel (1) is mounted out-of-register but with its sides functionally parallel to sides of said mounting plate (7), in particular said illumination panel (1) is mounted with two opposite sides functionally aligned with two opposite sides of said mounting plate (7).

6. The illumination device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least two strips form a mounting plate (7), in an embodiment said strips comprise one or more alignment strips holding said strips apart.

7. The illumination device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said mounting plate (7) comprises at least one reinforcement rib (15) extending between opposite ledges, in particular reinforcement ribs formed by bending plate-shaped material, like iron plate.

8. The illumination device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said lighting device comprises solid-state lighting elements, like lighting emitting diodes, quantum dots, and similar flat lighting devices

9. The illumination device of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a light-diffusing element on its front face for providing said illumination area, said light-diffusing element selected from a wave plate, a diffusor, and a combination thereof.

10. The illumination device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said illumination device comprises a substantially rectangular periphery, in particular said illumination device is square.

11. The illumination device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said illumination panel and said mounting plate have a functionally equal length and width, and in use said illumination panel is mounted out-of-register but with its sides functionally parallel to sides of said mounting panel, in particular said illumination panel is mounted with two opposite sides functionally aligned with two opposite sides of said mounting panel.

12. The illumination device of any one of the preceding claims, comprising a substantially box-shaped rear frame holding at least one lighting device and a diffusor plate closing off said rear frame.

13. The illumination device of the previous claim, wherein said diffusor plate comprises a peripheral rim allowing mounting said diffusor plate to said rear frame, and an illumination window which in use radiates light from said at least one lighting device, said illumination window providing an external surface that is raised above said peripheral rim.

14. The illumination device of the previous claim, wherein said box-shaped rear frame comprises an extending peripheral flange providing an attachment flange for said peripheral rim of said diffusor plate, said extending peripheral flange and said peripheral rim providing an mounting flange for resting said illumination device onto rails of a ceiling system.

Drawing