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(11) | EP 3 657 070 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | LIGHT FIXTURE HOUSING |
| (57) Light fixture housing (1) which comprises an upper housing portion (10) with two
first long sides (12, 13) protruding downwards from an upper side (11), a lower housing
portion (20) with two second long sides (22, 23) protruding upwards from a lower side
(21), wherein the lower housing portion is arranged to carry a light source (30).
Further, first and second terminal blocks (40, 41) are respectively fixedly attach
to the upper housing portion (10) near first and second ends (14, 15), and a driver
(50) is arranged to drive the light source (30) and is fixedly connected to the upper
housing portion (10). The lower housing portion (20) is slidably arranged to the upper
housing portion (10), and at least one of the first and second terminal blocks (40,
41) is connected to the driver (50), and the first and second terminal blocks (40,
41) are electrically connected to each other by wires (42).
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Technical field
Background art
[0002] Different kinds of light fixture housings for lighting armatures are known. There are a number of issues to solve for enabling a flexible and quick installation of the lighting armatures. Prior art solutions normally are manufactured in steel sheet and may comprise an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion, where normally the upper housing portion comprise a terminal block, a driver for driving/controlling a light source of some kind, and wires between the driver and terminal block and the light source. The light source often also is attached to the upper housing portion, but especially LED light sources may be attached to the lower housing portion. The lower housing portion often has some kind of reflector or other light spreading apparatus.
[0003] The lower housing portion normally has a hinged connection to the upper housing portion, and the to install the lighting armature, the light fixture housing may be suspended from a wire, a ceiling or the like, normally with some kind of bracket or connection between the housing and the ceiling or wire. Electrical connection of prior art armatures is time consuming and often not so convenient since the lower housing portion may interfere the working area. Further, the electrical feeder cable must, after being connected to the terminal block, be fixedly attached to the upper housing portion to prevent the cable from loosening from the terminal block, which takes time. If the lighting armature in one of several armatures in a row, the installer also needs to connect another feeding cable and strap it to the housing for further feeding of the next lighting armature in the row.
Summary of the invention
[0004] It is an object of the invention to address at least some of the problems and issues outlined above. It is possible to achieve these objects and others by a new type of an inventive light fixture housing as defined in the attached independent claim.
[0005] According to an aspect of the invention, a light fixture housing for a lighting armature is disclosed, which referring to a normal use of the light fixture housing comprises an upper housing portion with an upper side, facing upwards, and two first long sides protruding downwards from the upper side. Further, the light fixture housing comprises a lower housing portion with a lower side, facing downwards, and two second long sides protruding upwards from the lower side, wherein the lower housing portion is arranged to carry a light source of some kind. Preferred is a LED-light source. The light fixture housing further comprises a first terminal block, fixedly attach to the upper housing portion near a first end of the upper housing portion, a second terminal block fixedly attach to the upper housing portion near a second end of the upper housing portion, and a driver, arranged to drive the light source and which also is fixedly connected to the upper housing portion.
[0006] The unique design of the light fixture housing discloses that the lower housing portion is slidably arranged to the upper housing portion, and at least one of the first and second terminal blocks is connected to the driver, and the first and second terminal blocks are electrically connected to each other by internal wires.
[0007] Normally, prior art solutions have the driver and one terminal block, which are mounted near the middle of the light fixture housing. This means that an installer first must open the lighting armature, which is normally done by open some locks or the like and swing down the lower part of the housing which normally is hinged to the upper part of the housing. Secondly, the installer must connect the electric feeder cable with its wires to the terminal block and then strap or in other way fixedly attach the feeder cable to the housing to ensure that the wires do not loosen from the terminal block. If the lighting armature in one of several armatures in a row, the installer also needs to connect another feeding cable and strap it to the housing for further feeding of the next lighting armature. Then, the installer may close the lighting armature again. By a solution like the inventive light fixture housing, with one terminal block in each end of the upper housing portion with already fixed wiring between them, and the slidingly arranged lower housing portion, an easy, quick and safe installation is disclosed with no need of on-site wiring and strapping. The installer first slides the lower housing portion a short bit just to expose the first terminal block, for example the left one, connects the feeder cable with its wires to the terminal block, then slides the lower housing portion in the other direction, either to a closed position if it is only one lighting armature to connect, or slides its further to expose the right terminal block. If it is a row of lighting armatures, the installer connects, for example the left side and then slides the lower housing portion to expose the right terminal block on the right side, connects a next feeding cable for feeding the next lighting armature in the row, and then closes the light fixture housing by sliding the lower housing portion to a closed position. This is a far better solution than existing solutions on the market.
[0008] According to an embodiment, the lower housing portion is slidably arranged to the upper housing portion by that either the two first long sides of the upper housing portion or the two second long sides of the lower housing portion comprises lips and the other one which not comprises the lips, instead comprises corresponding elongate grooves. The lips are slidable in the elongate grooves, such as the sliding motion is possible. It is preferred that the lip and groove on respective sides are possible to snap together in an easy manner, which means that the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion may be snapped together.
[0009] According to an embodiment, the light fixture housing further comprises a stop arranged to stop the sliding motion of the lower housing portion relative the upper housing portion. This is to prevent that the upper and lower housing portions are disconnected and also to prevent exposure or disconnection of the internal wiring etc. which is increases the overall safety of the product.
[0010] According to an embodiment, the stop is a mounting plate stop, which is fixedly connected to the upper housing portion. The stop protrudes in direction towards the lower housing portion and is engageable with the lower housing portion, preferably by that the stop abuts for example a part of a gable or another fixed internal part of the lower housing portion.
[0011] According to an embodiment, the wires between the terminal blocks are fixedly attached to at least one of the upper housing portion or lower housing portion, preferably the upper one and protected from exposure. By that the wires are fixedly attached already during production of the light fixture housing, there is no risk of loosed contact between the terminal blocks, which might be a problem otherwise.
[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion are extruded aluminium profiles. This enables to in an easy way provide corresponding lips and grooves of the upper and lower housing portions for snap-connection and for slidable connection between the housing portions. Another aspect is that, unlike most prior art, the upper housing portion may have an upper side which totally lacks holes for screw-attachments of the interior parts, holes for suspension brackets etc. since most such functionality may be provided by the aluminium profiles. Further, aluminium is very efficient regarding heat transfer, why the heat produced by the electric parts as driver, lamp (LED) etc., is transferred away from the light fixture housing in an efficient way.
[0013] According to an embodiment, the two first long sides of the upper housing portion are arranged for cooperation with suspension brackets for suspension of the light fixture housing. Preferred is that the two first long sides are relatively low which means that for example a suspension bracket may be snapped on to (partly around) the long sides, why it may be very easy to install the light fixture housing (i.e. the complete lighting armature) to a ceiling or the like. To design the first long sides of the upper housing portion with low sides also enables good access to the terminal blocks, which makes the installation more rapid, especially compared to prior art solutions where the lower housing portion is hinged down and partly occupies the installation area or the visibility of the installation area around the terminal block.
[0014] According to an embodiment, the light fixture housing further comprises a first gable attached at the first end of the upper housing portion and a second gable attached at the second end of the upper housing portion. The gables preferably have an opening for an electric feeder cable, but also provides protection of the interior.
[0015] According to an embodiment, the light fixture housing further comprises a third gable attached at a first end of the lower housing portion and a fourth gable attached at a second end of the lower housing portion. These gables protect the interior and may have an opening or part of opening for an electric feeder cable. Especially together with the first and second gables of the upper housing portion, the ends of the light fixture housing are closed by means of the gables, since the gables of the lower housing portion and the upper housing portion have mating parts.
[0016] According to an embodiment, the first gable and the second gable of the upper housing portion comprise cable locking means. Preferably, these are arranged as quick connectors for securing the electric feeder cable when installed to the terminal block/blocks.
[0017] Further possible features and benefits of this solution will become apparent from the detailed description below.
Brief description of drawings
[0018] The solution will now be described in more detail by means of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1a is a perspective view from below of a lighting armature with a light fixture housing according to the invention.
Fig. 1b is a perspective view from above of the lighting armature with the light fixture housing according to the invention.
Fig. 1c is a side view of the lighting armature with the light fixture housing in an open position.
Fig. 2a is a section through an upper and a lower housing portion of the light fixture housing according to the invention.
Fig. 2b is a view of the upper housing portion when the lower housing portion is removed.
Fig. 2c is a detailed view of one end of the lighting armature with the light fixture housing in a closed position.
Fig. 2d is a detailed view of the same end of the lighting armature with the light fixture housing in an open position.
Fig. 3a is a detailed view of a connector bracket with a stop and with a terminal block and a gable mounted on the connector bracket.
Fig. 3b is a detailed view of the connector bracket when the lower housing portion and its gable is prevented from moving to the right in the figure because of the stop of the connector bracket.
Detailed description
[0019] Fig. 1a-c shows different views of a lighting armature 100 with a light fixture housing 1 according to the invention, in a closed position (Fig. 1a-b) and an open position (Fig. 1c) which is an installation position for connection of an electric cable.
[0020] The light fixture housing 1 comprises an upper housing portion 10 with an upper side 11 facing upwards in the normal installed mode, for example suspended from a ceiling, from a wire, a bracket or the like. The upper housing portion 10 comprises two first long sides 12, 13, which in the preferred embodiment protrudes perpendicularly downwards from the upper side 11. Slidingly attached to the upper housing portion 10 is a lower housing portion 20 with a lower side 21 (not visible) which faces downwards and two second long sides 22, 23, which long sides protrudes perpendicularly upwards from the lower side 21. The lower housing portion 20 is arranged to carry a light source 30, which light source preferably is a LED-light source.
[0021] The light fixture housing 1 further comprises a first gable 71 attached at a first end 14 of the upper housing portion 10 and a second gable 72 attached at a second end 15 of the upper housing portion 20. Further, the light fixture housing 1 comprises a third gable 73 attached at a first end 24 of the lower housing portion 20 and a fourth gable 74 attached at a second end 25 of the lower housing portion 20.
[0022] In Fig. 1c the lower housing portion 20 is displaced to the right by a sliding motion to expose a first terminal block 40. This will be further explained in relation to Fig. 2c-d.
[0023] Fig. 2a is a section through the upper and a lower housing portions 10, 20 of the light fixture housing 1, which preferably are aluminium profiles. The upper housing portion 10 comprises the upper side 11 and the two first long sides 12, 13, which protrudes perpendicularly downwards from the upper side 11. To enable a quick-connection, for example by snap-connector brackets, each of the two first long sides 12, 13 comprises a respective protrusion 16, 17. Further, the two first long sides 12, 13 of the upper housing portion 10 comprises lips 18, 19 protruding inwards and arranged for cooperation with elongate grooves 28, 29, of the lower housing portion 20, which grooves 28, 29 are arranged at the top of the lower housing portion 20. The lower housing comprises the two second long sides 22, 23, which protrudes perpendicularly upwards from the lower side 21. The lower housing portion 20 is arranged to carry a light source 30, which is attached to the lower side 21. The inventive design of the upper and lower housing portions 10, 20 also provides good visibility and good cooling of electrical components. This, due to that the upper housing portion 10 has rather low first long sides 12, 13 which is good for the access and visibility during installation (se also Fig. 2d) and two second long sides 22, 23 of the lower housing portion 20 is rather high which is good for the cooling of the LED source and its electrical components.
[0024] Fig. 2b is a view of the upper housing portion 10 when the lower housing portion 20 is removed. To the left is a first terminal block 40 fixedly attach to the upper housing portion 10 near the first end 14 of the upper housing portion 10. Attached to the first end 14 is also the first gable 71 which comprises cable locking means 75, for securing of an electric feeder cable. To the right is a second terminal block 41 fixedly attach to the upper housing portion 10 near a second end 15 of the upper housing portion 10. Attached to the second end 15 is also the second gable 72 which also comprises cable locking means 76, for securing of an electric feeder cable. The first and second terminal blocks 40, 41 are connected to each other by wires 42, which hardly are visible in the figure due to a substantially hidden location. The wires are pre-assembled and fixed to the upper housing portion 10. A driver 50 is arranged to drive the light source 30 and is fixedly connected to the upper housing portion 10. The driver 50 is connected to at least one of the first and second terminal blocks 40, 41. Details of the above may also be seen in Fig. 2c-d which shows a detailed view of the left side of the light fixture housing 1 in a closed and open state. The right side of the light fixture housing 1 is a mirror-copy of the left side. The gables 71, 72, 72, 74 may comprise openings for entry of an electric feeder cable.
[0025] Fig. 3a-b are detailed views of a mounting plate 80 which is arranged at the left side of the light fixture housing 1, but the right side has a similar mounting plate. The mounting plate 80 comprises a stop 60, which is a protruding tab directed towards the lower housing portion 20. According to the preferred embodiment, the mounting plate 80 also comprises the first terminal block 40 and the first gable 71 with the cable locking means 75. Visible in the figure is also a terminal block for connection to the driver 50. In Fig. 3b is also the lower housing portion 20 with its third gable 73 visible. The lower housing portion 20 is prevented from moving further to the right in the figure because of the stop 60 of the mounting plate 80.
[0026] Reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean "one and only one" unless explicitly so stated, but rather "one or more." All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described embodiments that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein and are intended to be encompassed hereby.
1. A light fixture housing (1) for a lighting armature (100), which light fixture housing
(1), referring to a normal use of the light fixture housing (1), comprises:
an upper housing portion (10) with an upper side (11) facing upwards and two first long sides (12, 13) protruding downwards from the upper side (11),
a lower housing portion (20) with a lower side (21) facing downwards and two second long sides (22, 23) protruding upwards from the lower side (21), wherein the lower housing portion is arranged to carry a light source (30),
a first terminal block (40), fixedly attach to the upper housing portion (10) near a first end (14) of the upper housing portion (10),
a second terminal block (41), fixedly attach to the upper housing portion (10) near a second end (15) of the upper housing portion (10),
a driver (50) arranged to drive the light source (30) and fixedly connected to the upper housing portion (10),
wherein the lower housing portion (20) is slidably arranged to the upper housing portion (10), and wherein at least one of the first and second terminal blocks (40, 41) is connected to the driver (50), and wherein the first and second terminal blocks (40, 41) are electrically connected to each other by wires (42).2. The light fixture housing (1) according to claim 1, wherein the lower housing portion
(20) is slidably arranged to the upper housing portion (10) by that either the two
first long sides (12, 13) of the upper housing portion (10) or the two second long
sides (22, 23) of the lower housing portion (20) comprises lips (18, 19) and the other
one which not comprises the lips comprises corresponding elongate grooves (28, 29),
and the lips (17, 18) are slidable in the elongate grooves (27, 28).
3. The light fixture housing (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the light fixture
housing (1) further comprises a stop (60) arranged to stop the sliding motion of the
lower housing portion (20) relative the upper housing portion (10).
4. The light fixture housing (1) according to claim 3, wherein the stop (60) is a mounting
plate stop fixedly connected to the upper housing portion (10) and protruding in direction
towards the lower housing portion (20) and engageable with the lower housing portion
(20).
5. The light fixture housing (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the
wires (42) are fixedly attached to at least one of the upper housing portion (10)
or lower housing portion (20).
6. The light fixture housing (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the
upper housing portion (10) and the lower housing portion (20) are extruded aluminium
profiles.
7. The light fixture housing (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the
two first long sides (12, 13) of the upper housing portion (10) are arranged for cooperation
with suspension brackets for suspension of the light fixture housing (1).
8. The light fixture housing (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the
light fixture housing (1) further comprises a first gable (71) attached at the first
end (14) of the upper housing portion (10) and a second gable (72) attached at the
second end (15) of the upper housing portion (20).
9. The light fixture housing (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the
light fixture housing (1) further comprises a third gable (73) attached at a first
end (24) of the lower housing portion (20) and a fourth gable (74) attached at a second
end (25) of the lower housing portion (20).
10. The light fixture housing (1) according to any of claims 8 or 9, wherein the first
gable (71) and the second gable (72) comprises cable locking means (75, 76).