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(11) | EP 3 690 308 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | A MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR A LUMINAIRE, AND A LUMINAIRE SYSTEM |
| (57) The present invention relates to a mounting system for a luminaire, comprising - a hanger assembly comprising: - a hollow part configured to be fixed to a ceiling (C) or wall and having an open bottom; and - a self-locking member (L) defined by or placed within the hollow part; and - a bar (B) having first (B1) and second (B2) opposite ends: - wherein the first end (B1) is to be attached to an attachment point of a luminaire; and - wherein the second end (B2) is to be lockedly attached to the self-locking member (L), by traversing, in an insertion displacement, the open bottom of the hollow part. The present invention also relates to a luminaire system, comprising the mounting system of the present invention and a luminaire to be attached thereto. |
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates, in a first aspect, to a mounting system for a luminaire, particularly to hang a luminaire therefrom, which comprises components configured and arranged to provide an easy and quick installation of the system, and robust holding of the luminaire.
[0002] A second aspect of the present invention relates to a luminaire system, comprising the mounting system of the first aspect of the present invention and a luminaire to be attached thereto.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Different mounting systems for luminaires are known in the art. Most of them, particularly those intended to hold a suspension-type luminaire, comprises metallic cables attached to the luminaire a fixing part fixed to a ceiling or wall.
[0004] Those system based on metallic cables has several drawbacks, including that associated to a bad orientation of the luminaire attached thereto when the ceiling is not perfectly horizontal.
[0005] Other systems comprise the use of bars, but in that case each bar must have an end configuration to fit into a through opening of a part fixed to a ceiling. Generally such end configuration is a threaded outer surface for the screwing therein of a nut, so the mounting process comprises first inserting the bar end with the outer threaded surface into such a through opening, and then screw that nut thereon, which makes the mounting process complicated and slow, as the operator must access with his hands to a very small space to introduce the nut and then couple the same to the threaded outer surface of the bar end.
[0006] Also, in those cases the bar cannot be cut to a desired length, because if so the end configuration would be removed, and its attachment to the part fixed to the ceiling unfeasible.
[0007] It is, therefore, necessary to provide an alternative to the state of the art which covers the gaps found therein, by providing a mounting system that improves the ones known in the prior art, including a bar which can be cut at the desired length before its attachment to a ceiling or wall, and that also allows an easy and quick mounting process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] To that end, the present invention relates, in an aspect, to a mounting system for a luminaire, comprising:
- a hanger assembly comprising:
- a hollow part configured to be fixed to a ceiling or wall and having an open bottom; and
- at least one self-locking member defined by or placed within said hollow part;
- a bar having first and second opposite ends:
- wherein said first end is to be attached to an attachment point of a luminaire; and
- wherein said second end is to be lockedly attached to said at least one self-locking member, by traversing, in an insertion displacement, said open bottom of the hollow part.
[0009] For an embodiment, the mounting system comprises several hanger assemblies and bars like the ones described above (and below, in more detail).
[0010] By the system of the first aspect of the present invention, and due to the fact that the second end does not need to have any end configuration (in contrast to the prior art systems), the bar can be cut at the desired length before the cut end, i.e. the second end, is to be inserted into the hollow part open bottom and locked by the self-locking member.
[0011] Generally, said insertion displacement is a linear displacement along the longitudinal axis of the hollow part, although other types of insertion displacements are also covered by the present invention, for other embodiments.
[0012] For an embodiment, the at least one self-locking member is at least one-locking washer, to be traversed by and lock said second end of said bar.
[0013] For a preferred implementation of said embodiment, the at least one self-locking washer is an internal tooth self-locking washer with teeth extending at least radially inwards so that theirfree ends define a central through opening enlargeable by the second end of the bar when, in an insertion displacement of the bar, the second end of the bar exerts force against said teeth free ends until a portion of the second end of the bar traverses the enlarged through opening and is blocked, for a bar extraction displacement opposite to said insertion displacement, by friction of an outer surface (such as cylindrical or prismatic) of the second end with said teeth.
[0014] The teeth of the self-locking washer, generally, extend also axially with respect to the centre geometric axis of the self-locking washer, so that, in use (i.e., when the components of the mounting system are mounted), the teeth are tilted upwardly (when the mounting system is installed in a ceiling).
[0015] As stated above, during the insertion displacement, the bar forces the central opening of the self-locking washer to enlarge by pushing them in the direction of the insertion displacement. That happens because that pushing causes the angle of the above mentioned tilt to increase, until the bar is completely inserted or considered as inserted enough so as the extraction displacement is blocked, specifically by friction of the teeth free ends with the outer surface of the bar.
[0016] For an alternative embodiment, the at least one self-locking member comprises a ratchet mechanism configured and arranged so that the insertion displacement of the bar is allowed but a bar extraction displacement, opposite to that insertion displacement, is blocked.
[0017] Alternatively or complementarily to the inclusion of any of the above described self-locking members, for other embodiment, the inclusion in the mounting system of the first aspect of the present invention of different self-locking members known in the art (O-rings, steel strips for springs, etc.) is also embraced by the present invention.
[0018] Preferably, the outer surface of the second end of the bar and the self-blocking member has a kinetic friction coefficient ranging between and 0.1 µk and 0.8 µk, more preferably between 0.4 µk and 0.6 µk. However, bars with an outer surface of its second end having a different kinetic friction can also be included in the mounting system of the first aspect of the present invention.
[0019] According to an embodiment, the hanger assembly comprises a fixing part configured to be fixed to said ceiling or wall, and wherein the above mentioned hollow part is to be fixed to said ceiling or wall indirectly by being configured to be coupled to that fixing part.
[0020] For an embodiment, the above mentioned hollow part is a first hollow part, and the fixing part is a second hollow part, wherein the first and second hollow parts are dimensioned so as one can be inserted into the other.
[0021] Preferably, the above mentioned hollow part, or each of the first and second hollow parts, is a tubular hollow part.
[0022] The inner shape of said tubular hollow part (when there is only one tubular hollow part) or of at least the first tubular hollow part, matches the shape of the bar (such as cylindrical or any type of prismatic shape: triangular, square, hexagonal, etc.) or at least provides an interior volume dimensioned to allow the insertion of the second end of the bar therein.
[0023] For an implementation of the embodiment for which the first and second hollow parts are first and second tubular hollow parts, outer and inner surfaces of, respectively, the first and second tubular hollow parts, or vice versa, have complementary threads to be coupled to each other when one of the first and second tubular hollow parts is inserted into the other.
[0024] Coupling means known in the art for the coupling of two tubular hollow parts when one is inserted into the other, and that tare different to those constituted by the complementary threads are also embraced by the present invention, for alternative embodiments.
[0025] According to an embodiment, the outer diameter of the at least one self-locking washer is larger than the inner diameter or inner cross-dimension of the first or second tubular hollow part and larger than the inner diameter or inner cross-dimension of a through hole, for the insertion of the bar, defined by a wall of the other of the first and second tubular hollow parts, so that the at least one self-locking washer is trapped between a free perimeter edge of the first or second tubular hollow part and said wall.
[0026] Alternatively, for some embodiments, the self-locking washer (or a different type of self-locking member) is blocked into the first or second tubular hollow part in a different manner to the one described above, such as by means of friction of its outer perimeter with the inner contour of the corresponding tubular hollow part, or by means of some blocking configuration attached to or integral with the corresponding tubular hollow part (constituted, for example, by protuberant elements projecting inwardly from the inner contour of the corresponding tubular hollow part), or stuck or welded to that inner contour. Any means for blocking the self-locking washer into the corresponding tubular hollow part known for the skilled person are embraced by the present invention.
[0027] Also, for other embodiments, the self-locking washer (or a different type of self-locking member) is integral with the corresponding tubular hollow part, i.e. defined thereby, projecting inwardly from the inner contour of that tubular hollow part.
[0028] For an implementation of said embodiment, the above mentioned wall is a bottom wall of the first tubular hollow part, wherein the through hole defined by the wall provides the above mentioned open bottom of the hollow part.
[0029] Especially for some applications for which the hanger assembly of the mounting system is to be fixed to a ceiling and, by the first bar end, to a suspension-type luminaire to be suspended from that ceiling, in order to compensate for a non-horizontality of that ceiling, the through hole defined by the bottom wall of the first tubular hollow part has a larger diameter or cross-dimension than the outer diameter or outer cross-dimension of the bar, so a gap is defined between the bar and the contour of the through hole to allow the bar to tilt an angle α, the self-locking member being configured and arranged to allow said bar tilt. By tilting the bar that angle α, or an angular portion thereof (the angular portion needed to compensate the non-horizontality of the ceiling), the bar is forced, by the action of gravity on the luminaire attached thereto, to be in a vertical position, so that the orientation of the luminaire is not affected by that non-horizontality of the ceiling.
[0030] A second aspect of the present invention relates to a luminaire system, comprising the mounting system of the first aspect of the present invention and a luminaire comprising the above mentioned attachment point for the attaching of the first end of the bar thereto.
[0031] Preferably, the luminaire of the second aspect of the present invention is a suspension-type luminaire to be suspended from a ceiling when the hanger assembly of the mounting system is fixed to said ceiling.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0032] In the following some preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the enclosed figures. They are provided only for illustration purposes without however limiting the scope of the invention.
Figures 1 and 2 are respective bottom and top perspective exploded views of the mounting system of the first aspect of the present invention, for an embodiment, where only a portion of the bar included therein has been depicted.
Figure 3 shows top and bottom plan views, respectively taken from the points of views A and B indicated in Figure 1, for the same embodiment of the mounting system of the first aspect of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a crossed-section elevation exploded view of the system of the first aspect of the invention, for the same embodiment of the previous Figures, where the cross-section has been taken with a cut plane running longitudinally through the centre axis of the illustrated components.
Figures 5 and 6 show the self-locking washer of the system of the first aspect of the present invention, for an embodiment, by means of a perspective and a cross-section elevation view, respectively.
Figure 7 show, by means of two respective cross-section elevation views, the mounting system of the first aspect of the present invention, fixed to a ceiling, when the bar has not yet been inserted into the fixation part attached to the ceiling (left view) and once the bar is already inserted thereto and locked by the self-locking washer (right view).
Figure 8 schematically illustrates the angle α that the bar is allowed to tilt by the mounting system of the first aspect of the present invention, for an embodiment.
Figure 9 shows the luminaire system of the second aspect of the present invention, comprising two mounting systems attached to a ceiling, and a luminaire (particularly a suspension-type luminaire) attached to the first end of the bars of the mounting systems.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0033] For the embodiment shown in the figures, the mounting system for a luminaire of the first aspect of the present invention, comprises, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 7:
- a hanger assembly comprising:
- a first tubular hollow part T1 having an open bottom, and a second tubular hollow part T2 to be fixed to a ceiling C or wall, wherein the first T1 and second T2 tubular hollow parts are dimensioned so as one can be inserted into the other, specifically, for the illustrated embodiment, T2 into T1; and
- a self-locking washer L placed within the first tubular hollow part T1; and
- a bar B having first B1 (shown in the luminaire Figure 9) and second B2 opposite ends:
- wherein the first end B1 is to be attached to an attachment point of a luminaire; and
- wherein the second end B2 is to be lockedly attached to the self-locking washer L (as shown in Figure 7), by traversing, in an insertion displacement, the open bottom of the first tubular hollow part T1.
[0034] For the illustrated embodiment, as indicated in Figures 1, 2 and 4, outer and inner surfaces of, respectively, the first T1 and second T2 tubular hollow parts have complementary threads T1s, T2s to be coupled to each other when one of the first T1 and second T2 tubular hollow parts is inserted into the other.
[0035] As identified in Figures 1, 3, 4 and 7, the first tubular hollow part T1 has a bottom wall W that defines a through hole Wo providing the above mentioned open bottom for the insertion of the bar B.
[0036] As clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6, for the illustrated embodiment, the self-locking washer L is an internal tooth self-locking washer with teeth Lt extending radially inwards so that their free ends define a central through opening Lo enlargeable by the second end B2 of the bar B when, in an insertion displacement of the bar B, the second end B2 of the bar B exerts force against said teeth free ends until a portion of the second end B2 of the bar B traverses the enlarged through opening Lo and is blocked (situation illustrated in Figure 7, right view), for a bar extraction displacement opposite to the insertion displacement, by friction of an outer surface of the second end B2 with the teeth Lt.
[0037] As shown in Figure 6, the teeth Lt extend also axially with respect to the centre geometric axis of the self-locking washer L, so that, in use (i.e., when the components of the mounting system are mounted), the teeth Lt are tilted upwardly (when the mounting system is installed in a ceiling).
[0038] As stated above, during the insertion displacement, the bar B enlarges the central opening Lo by pushing the teeth Lt in the direction of the insertion displacement. That happens because that pushing causes the angle β (see Figure 6) to increase, until the bar B is completely inserted or considered as inserted enough (as shown in Figure 7) so as the extraction displacement is blocked, specifically by friction of the teeth free ends with the outer surface of the bar B.
[0039] The outer diameter of the self-locking washer L is larger than the inner diameter or inner cross-dimension of the second tubular hollow part T2 and larger than the diameter or cross-dimension of the through hole Wo of the bottom wall W of the first tubular hollow part T1, for the insertion of the bar B, so that the self-locking washer L is trapped between a free perimeter edge P of the second tubular hollow part T2 and the bottom wall W of the first tubular part T1, as shown in Figure 7.
[0040] Specifically, the self-locking washer L is placed in a small housing H (see Figure 4) and, as stated above, trapped between edge P and an upper face of wall W that defines the bottom of said housing H. That's done, for the illustrated embodiment, when coupling both tubular hollow parts, T1, T2, by screwing, the coupling course arrives at an end point at which stepped lower perimeter edge S1 of T2 bumps against stepped perimeter surface S2 of T1 (see Figure 4).
[0041] As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, for the illustrated embodiment, the second tubular hollow part T2 has a top wall V that defines a central through opening Vo so as to allow its attachment to a ceiling C (or wall) by passing therethrough a screw F1 which is screwed to an anchor plug F2 inserted into a through hole Co defined in the ceiling C.
[0042] Therefore, the mounting process is very simple and quick, as the operator only has to attach the second tubular hollow part T2 to the ceiling C, as explained above, and illustrated in Figure 7 left view, the couple by screwing the first tubular hollow part T1 to the second one T2, and then just insert the bar B through the hole Wo and the hole Lo, enlarging the latter until the second bar end B2 is well inserted in the inner chamber T2o defined within T2. At that point, as illustrated in Figure 7 right view, the extraction displacement of the bar B is locked by the self-locking washer.
[0044] As shown also in Figure 7, hole Wo has a larger diameter or cross-dimension than the outer diameter or outer cross-dimension of the bar B, so a gap g is defined between the bar B and the contour of the through hole Wo to allow the bar B to tilt an angle α (see Figure 8), the self-locking member L being configured and arranged to allow said bar tilt. This feature has the purpose, already explained in a previous section, of compensating a possible non-horizontality of the ceiling, so that the bar B keeps its verticality, and the luminaire is suspended with the correct orientation.
1. A mounting system for a luminaire, comprising
- a hanger assembly comprising:
- a hollow part configured to be fixed to a ceiling (C) or wall and having an open bottom; and
- at least one self-locking member (L) defined by or placed within said hollow part;
and- a bar (B) having first (B1) and second (B2) opposite ends:
- wherein said first end (B1) is to be attached to an attachment point of a luminaire; and
- wherein said second end (B2) is to be lockedly attached to said at least one self-locking member (L), by traversing, in an insertion displacement, said open bottom of the hollow part.
2. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein said at least one self-locking member (L)
is at least one-locking washer, to be traversed by and lock said second end of said
bar (B).
3. The mounting system of claim 2, wherein said at least one self-locking washer (L)
is an internal tooth self-locking washer with teeth (Lt) extending at least radially
inwards so that their free ends define a central through opening (Lo) enlargeable
by the second end (B2) of the bar (B) when, in an insertion displacement of the bar
(B), the second end (B2) of the bar (B) exerts force against said teeth free ends
until a portion of the second end (B2) of the bar (B) traverses the enlarged through
opening (Lo) and is blocked, for a bar extraction displacement opposite to said insertion
displacement, by friction of an outer surface of the second end (B2) with said teeth
(Lt).
4. The mounting system of claim 3, wherein the outer surface of the second end of the
bar (B) has a kinetic friction coefficient ranging between 0.1 µk and 0.8 µk, more preferably between 0.4 µk and 0.6 µk.
5. The mounting system of any of the previous claims, wherein said hanger assembly comprises
a fixing part configured to be fixed to said ceiling (C) or wall, and wherein said
hollow part is to be fixed to said ceiling (C) or wall indirectly by being configured
to be coupled to said fixing part.
6. The mounting system of any of the previous claims, wherein said hollow part is a tubular
hollow part.
7. The mounting system of claim 5 or of claim 6 when depending on claim 5, wherein said
hollow part is a first hollow part (T1), and wherein said fixing part is a second
hollow part (T2), wherein said first (T1) and second (T2) hollow parts are dimensioned
so as one can be inserted into the other.
8. The mounting system of claim 7 when depending on claim 6, wherein the first (T1) and
second (T2) hollow parts are first (T1) and second (T2) tubular hollow parts, wherein
outer and inner surfaces of, respectively, the first (T1) and second (T2) tubular
hollow parts, or vice versa, have complementary threads (T1s, T2s) to be coupled to
each other when one of the first (T1) and second (T2) tubular hollow parts is inserted
into the other.
9. The mounting system of claim 7, when depending on claim 2 or 3, wherein the outer
diameter of said at least one self-locking washer (L) is larger than the inner diameter
or inner cross-dimension of the first (T1) or second (T2) tubular hollow part and
larger than the inner diameter or inner cross-dimension of a through hole (Wo), for
the insertion of the bar (B), defined by a wall (W) of the other of the first (T1)
and second (T2) tubular hollow parts, so that the at least one self-locking washer
(L) is trapped between a free perimeter edge (P) of the first (T1) or second (T2)
tubular hollow part and said wall (W).
10. The mounting system of claim 9, wherein said wall (W) is a bottom wall of the first
tubular hollow part (T1), wherein said through hole (Wo) defined by the wall (W) provides
said open bottom of the hollow part.
11. The mounting system of claim 10, wherein said through hole (Wo) has a larger diameter
or cross-dimension than the outer diameter or outer cross-dimension of the bar (B),
so a gap (g) is defined between the bar (B) and the contour of the through hole (Wo)
to allow the bar (B) to tilt an angle α, the self-locking member (L) being configured
and arranged to allow said bar tilt.
12. The mounting system of claim 1, wherein said at least one self-locking member (L)
comprises a ratchet mechanism configured and arranged so that the insertion displacement
of the bar (B) is allowed but a bar extraction displacement, opposite to said insertion
displacement, is blocked.
13. The mounting system of any of the previous claims, wherein said insertion displacement
is a linear displacement along the longitudinal axis of said hollow part.
14. A luminaire system, comprising the mounting system of any of the previous claims and
a luminaire comprising said attachment point for the attaching of the first end (B1)
of the bar (B) thereto.
15. The luminaire of claim 14, wherein it is a suspension-type luminaire to be suspended
from a ceiling (C) when the hanger assembly of the mounting system is fixed to said
ceiling (C).