[0001] The invention relates to a segment for a line lighting device comprising:
a gutter-shaped housing open at a first and a second end portion and provided with
a base and with walls connected to this base, which walls each have a rim remote from
said base,
a first and a second multipole contact element of mutually mating design and mutually
connected by conductors, arranged in line and facing away from one another on the
base in the housing at respective ends thereof,
an aligning member arranged on the base, in the housing, projecting to outside
the first end portion,
which housing is shaped so as to provide a grip to means for fastening it to a
carrier.
[0002] Such a segment for a line lighting device is known from DE-GM-1 890 672.
[0003] The rims of the walls in that segment are bent inwards parallel to the base. A double
Z-profile is fastened against the underside of a horizontal carrier and grips behind
the bent rims.
[0004] An attractive characteristic of the known segment is that it can be electrically
coupled to another segment so as to form a line lighting device in that its first
end portion is made to butt against the second end portion of the other segment in
alignment. To facilitate this, an aligning member is present which aligns the two
houses laterally,
i.e. transversely to the wall portions, relative to one another so that the relevant contact
elements come into line laterally before they touch one another. The object of this
is that all poles of the first contact element come into contact with respective poles
of the second contact element.
[0005] A disadvantage of the known segment is that spread in the spacing between the bent
rims and the base has the result that the segments are not aligned transverse to the
base. The male and adjoining female connectors of two segments may be at different
heights, so that they do not mate automatically.
[0006] The electrician must keep the known segments vertically aligned when bringing them
into contact with one another. Once achieved, the electric coupling will be mechanically
loaded. The aligning member is a flat plate which may become bent under the influence
of the weight of the segment which was rifled during coupling. The risk of a mechanical
load on the electric coupling between segments is a serious drawback.
[0007] The invention has for its object to provide a segment for a line lighting device
of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph which is of a simple construction and
which counteracts a mechanical load on the contact elements of coupled segments. The
invention also has for its object to provide a line lighting device fitted with such
segments.
[0008] According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the aligning member is
gutter-shaped and has a base and walls connected thereto,
the aligning member is rigidly fixed in the housing, with its base facing the base
of the housing and substantially rigidly connected to the first contact element, and
has a furcate portion outside the housing for accommodating a second contact element,
and
the second contact element is movably arranged.
Owing to its gutter shape, the alignment member is rigid and suitable for absorbing
lateral forces. The furcate portion is capable of aligning a second contact element
relative to the first contact element which is rigidly connected to the aligning member,
while supporting said second contact element, owing to the movability of the latter.
[0009] In a favourable embodiment, the second end portion of the housing has means for aligning
an aligning member entering therein relative to the aligning member in the first end
portion, transverse to the base.
[0010] These aligning means may consist of, for example, a flanged rim at the walls, for
example U- or V-shaped, and a resilient member or a guide which forces the aligning
member towards this rim, away from the base. Such a flanged rim has the additional
advantage of rendering the wall more rigid.
[0011] In a favourable modification, however, the means may consist, for example, of a resilient
member, or of a guide of a different kind which forces the aligning member towards
the base of the housing.
[0012] The alignment has the advantage that the coupling of segments becomes more rigid.
In addition, the linearity of a device formed by coupled segments is increased, in
spite of manufacturing tolerances.
[0013] It is advantageous for easy mounting of a device if the aligning means are at a distance
from the corresponding end. An aligning member may then be shifted into the second
end portion more easily, whereby it is not aligned until shortly before reaching its
end position, by which it experiences an increased friction.
[0014] In a favourable embodiment, the aligning member has a recess into which the aligning
means grip with locking action in the end position. The aligning means then give an
even stronger fixation of two segments against the insertion direction than would
be the case without locking. The locking, however, need not be undetachable.
[0015] The housing may be provided with electrical components, such as a lampholder member,
possibly also with an electric device, for example, for limiting a current through
a lamp to be mounted and/or a starter for igniting a lamp, and with a cover. A favourable
embodiment, however, is one in which the housing is closed off opposite the base with
a cover which carries such components. Such a cover, for example batten-shaped, may
be provided with piercing contact for making electrical connections with the conductors
interconnecting the contact elements. In addition, a reflector or a screen plate may
be connected to the cover, possibly with refracting, scattering, or mirroring elements.
[0016] The segment offers the possibility of being coupled fully mounted, and provided with
a lamp, for example a tubular fluorescent lamp, to a segment already mounted against
a carrier, and of emitting light immediately upon achieving this coupling.
[0017] The embodiment of the segment in which the aligning member is forced towards the
base of the housing has the advantage that, if a cover for the housing is used, the
position of this cover relative to the housing may be a position relative to the base
of the housing. It is achieved by this that the dimensions of the housing together
with the cover perpendicular to the base can be kept constant within narrow limits,
so that the segments are capable of forming a straight line lighting device. The cover
may for this purpose be included between the walls of the housing. It is favourable
in this connection if the housing provides its grip to means for fastening the housing
to a carrier remote from the rims of the walls, for example in the form of a bracket
formed at the base, folds shaped in the walls near the base, into which folds a fastening
member, for example a hook, can grip.
[0018] To support the aligning means, for example the resilient means, which force the aligning
member towards the base of the housing in the said embodiment, the aligning member
may have a tapering abutment member at its base for the corresponding end of an adjoining
segment to be mounted, which member catches the base of the latter segment and aligns
it with the base of its own segment.
[0019] It is favourable to construct the first contact element as a male connector and the
second contact element as a female connector. Projecting connector pins of the first
contact element are then protected in the aligning member prior to assembly of a line
lighting device.
[0020] Embodiments of the segment for a line lighting device according to the invention
are shown in the drawings, in which:
Fig. 1a shows a device with first segments in side elevation, partly in longitudinal
section;
Figs. 1b and 1c are cross-sections taken on the lines Ib and Ic, respectively;
Fig. 2a shows a detail of a second embodiment of a segment, partly in longitudinal
section, partly in side elevation;
Figs. 2b and 2c show the aligning member of Fig. 2a taken on the lines IIb and IIc,
respectively;
Fig. 3a shows aligning means for the segment of Fig. 2;
Fig. 3b shows the first contact element of the segment of Fig. 2 in front elevation;
and
Figs. 3c and 3d show the second contact element of the segment of Fig. 2 in front
elevation and taken on the line IIId, respectively.
[0021] The line lighting device of Fig. 1 comprises a segment 1 which is coupled to identical
segments 1' and 1''. The segments each have a gutter-shaped housing 2 which is open
at a first 3 and a second end portion 4 thereof and which is provided with a base
5 and with walls 6 connected to this base and each having a rim 7 remote from the
base.
A first 21 and a second multipole contact element 22, of mutually mating design and
interconnected by conductors 23, are arranged on the base 5 in the housing 2 at respective
ends thereof, in line and facing away from one another.
An aligning member 30 is arranged on the base 5 in the housing 2, projecting to beyond
the first end portion 3. The housing 2 is so shaped as to provide a grip 8 to means
for fastening it to a carrier.
[0022] The aligning member 30 (see also Figs. 1a and 1b) is gutter-shaped and has a base
35 and walls 36 connected thereto. The aligning member 30 is rigidly fastened in the
housing 2, with its base 35 facing the base 5 of the housing, and substantially rigidly
connected to the first contact element 21. The aligning member has a furcate portion
31 outside the housing for accommodating a second contact element 22'. The second
contact element 22 is movably arranged.
[0023] The second end portion 4 of the housing 2 has aligning means 9, 7 for aligning an
aligning member 30'' entering therein relative to the aligning member 30 in the first
end portion 3. The rim 7 of the walls 6 is U-shaped, flanged inwards, and thus renders
the walls more rigid. The aligning member 30'' is pressed into this rim by the compression
spring 9 (Fig. 1a). The spring 9 grips into and locks itself in a recess 32'' in the
aligning member 30'' in order to fix the latter in its end position. It is difficult
to lift the locking action of the spring without auxiliary means owing to the shape
of this spring.
[0024] The aligning member 30 is also pressed into the rim 7 by means of screws 17.
[0025] A batten-shaped cover 10 carrying one or more electrical components, among them a
pair of lampholders 11, is enclosed between the walls 6 of the housing 2, thus closing
the housing. The pair of lampholders 11 supports a lamp 12, for example, a low-pressure
mercury discharge lamp. The housing 2 has a fold 8 in each of its side walls 6 remote
from the rim 7 so as to offer a grip to means for suspending the segment from a carrier,
for example, a ceiling. Such means may be formed by, for example, brackets which grip
around the base 5. Alternatively, the base may comprise a bracket into which, for
example, a pendant grips. The grip may then consist of one or several holes in the
base.
[0026] The compression spring 9 is at a distance from the end of the housing 2, separated
therefrom as it is by the second contact element 22.
[0027] In Figs. 2a, b, c, parts corresponding to parts of the preceding Figures have the
same reference numerals. The aligning member 40 here is drawn with its base 35 against
the base 5 of the housing 2, away from the rim 7. The aligning member 40 presses against
the base 5 with its rounded, stamped-out tags 34. These facilitate assembly of the
segment and mounting of a device which uses several of these segments. A forward sloping
tongue 41 and the adjoining tag 34 together form a tapering abutment 33 at the base
5 for the base of a segment to be coupled. The latter segment slides as it were automatically
into this and is aligned with its base relative to the base 5.
[0028] The aligning member 40 has a furcate portion 31 for accommodating a second contact
element of an adjoining segment in a device, which element has a bevelled edge 37
and a narrowing entrance 38 so as to be self-locating in directions which are perpendicular
to one another for said contact element. An opening 39 is present for fastening the
first contact element of Fig. 3b therein. Aligning means, for example, a resilient
member of Fig. 3a, can grip with locking action into the recesses 32.
[0029] The resilient member 19 in Fig. 3a has tags 13 which project to the exterior through
respective openings in the base 5 of the housing 2 (
cf. Fig. 1a) and grip behind the base. The tongue 14 projects into one of these openings
and fixes the member. Two spring blades 15 lying one behind the other in the Figure
are tensioned when an aligning member 40'' enters so as to press the aligning member
towards the base 5. Folds 16 enter recesses 32'' in the end position with locking
action.
[0030] In Fig. 3b, the first contact element 21 has contact pins 24 so as to form a male
connector. A wedge-shaped stud 25 is intended for projecting through the opening 39
in the aligning member 40, and connecting the element substantially rigidly therewith.
The element then has little clearance transverse to the base of said member and is
thus accurately positioned relative to the base.
[0031] The second contact element 22 in Figs. 3c and d has contact bushes 26 so as to form
a female connector. A wedge-shaped stud 25 can project through the base 5 of the housing
2 (
cf. Fig. 1a). Elastic tags 27 press the element away from the base. The element has grooves
28 for cooperating with the furcate portion 31'' of an aligning member 40''. The grooves
have a narrowing entrance to facilitate the accommodation of the aligning member.
In the position drawn, the element is lifted by the member and at the same time aligned
laterally so as to come into line with the first contact element of the adjoining
segment. When the aligning member is then forced towards the base 5 by the resilient
member 19, the contact element 22 is still further lifted against the pressure of
the elastic tags. The two contact elements 21, 22, however, are securely supported
by the aligning member during this, so that the electrical coupling of the relevant
segments remains mechanically unloaded. The segments are then also mutually aligned
as regards their housings, so that a substantially linear device is obtained.
[0032] When a segment provided with a cover and a lamp is coupled to a segment which is
already electrically energized, the lamp of the coupled segment starts burning the
moment the relevant contact elements come into connection with one another. After
fixing of the mechanical coupling to a carrier, if applicable, the segment has been
mounted and the device has been prolonged by one segment.
1. A segment for a line lighting device comprising:
a gutter-shaped housing (2) open at a first (3) and a second end portion (4) and
provided with a base (5) and with walls (6) connected to this base (5), which walls
(6) each have a rim (7) remote from said base,
a first (21) and a second multipole contact element (22) of mutually mating design
and mutually connected by conductors (23), arranged in line and facing away from one
another on the base (5) in the housing (2) at respective ends thereof,
an aligning member (30) arranged on the base (5), in the housing (2), projecting
to outside the first end portion (3),
which housing (2) is shaped so as to provide a grip (8) to means for fastening
it to a carrier,
characterized in that
the aligning member (30) is gutter-shaped and has a base (35) and walls (36) connected
thereto,
the aligning member (30) is rigidly fixed in the housing (2), with its base (35)
facing the base (5) of the housing and substantially rigidly connected to the first
contact element (21), and has a furcate portion (31) outside the housing for accommodating
a second contact element, and
the second contact element (22) is movably arranged.
2. A segment as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the second end portion (4)
of the housing (2) has aligning means (9) for aligning an aligning member (30'') entering
therein relative to the aligning member (30) in the first end portion (3).
3. A segment as claimed in Claim 2, characterized in that the aligning means (19) force
the aligning member (40) towards the base (5) of the housing (2).
4. A segment as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the aligning means (19)
comprise a resilient member.
5. A segment as claimed in Claim 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the aligning means
(9, 19) are at a distance from the corresponding end.
6. A segment as claimed in Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the aligning member (40)
has a recess (32) into which the aligning means (19') of a second segment (1') grip
with locking action in an end position.
7. A segment as claimed in Claim 3, characterized in that the aligning member (40) has
a tapering abutment member (33) for the base (5') of the housing (2') of a second
segment (1').
8. A segment as claimed in Claim 1, 3 or 7, characterized in that the housing (2) is
closed off with a cover (10) which carries electrical components (11).
9. A segment as claimed in Claim 8, characterized in that the cover (10) is enclosed
between the walls (6) of the housing (2).
10. A segment as claimed in Claim 1, 3, 7 or 9, characterized in that the housing (2)
offers a grip (8) to means for fastening to a carrier remote from the rim (7) of the
wall (6).
11. A segment as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the first contact element (21)
has contact pins.
12. A line lighting device provided with several segments (1, 1', 1'') as claimed in any
one or several of the preceding Claims.