EP1586815A2

EP1586815A2 - Reflector assembly with modifiable reflective surface in a lighting apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP1586815A2
Application number: EP05102784A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giannunzio Guzzini
Original assignee: Iguzzini Illuminazione SpA
Current assignee: Iguzzini Illuminazione SpA
Priority date: 2004-04-15
Filing date: 2005-04-08
Publication date: 2005-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 2025-04-08
Also published as: EP1586815A3; ATE395555T1; SI1586815T1; ITMI20040172U1; PL1586815T3; NO20051816D0; CN1683821A; PT1586815E; NO20051816L; DE602005006651D1; ES2307112T3; DK1586815T3; EP1586815B1

Abstract

A reflector assembly with modifiable reflective surface in a lighting apparatus (10) that comprises an outer casing (11), equipped with stable positioning elements (12) and containing at least one bulb socket (14) for a bulb (15) and an internal reflective wall (16) that determines a fixed reflective surface, formed inside the casing (11), in which assembly an additional reflective wall element (17) is foreseen, able to be freely inserted and withdrawn into/from the inside of the casing (11) through stable positioning elements (18, 19) to lie over and modify the internal reflective wall (16).

Description

The present invention refers to a reflector assembly with modifiable reflective surface in a lighting apparatus.
In the vast range of lighting apparatuses existing on the market it is foreseen that the reflection thereof be determined by the reflector that makes up the individual lighting apparatus.
It is usually the case that for the lighting of a certain room, the specific lighting apparatus is selected and the number of such apparatuses that are necessary for the type of lighting desired by the user is identified.
The number, selected according to certain parameters, generally allows a lighting in accordance with the user's requirements to be achieved, avoiding the possibility of undesired effects occurring in the room, such as "blots" in various areas thereof with asymmetric or non-uniform distribution of light creating disturbances for the user.
Therefore, it is also important to take into account the areas of the room that must, for example, be subjected to particular lighting.
An example of these specific and particular requirements is, for example, the one determined by the lighting of a corner or angle of the room or of an upper part of perimeter walls where, for example, paintings or other specific decorative elements are arranged.
The arrangement of a lighting apparatus with a specific arrangement and a particular orientation of the reflector of which it consists certainly allows the individual requirement to be satisfied.
Moreover, it should be taken into account that the lighting requirements of the room can also be variable according to what is arranged in the room on each occasion.
In this case one or more lighting apparatuses have to be replaced according to what is put on display in the room.
The purpose of the present invention is therefore that of making a reflector assembly with modifiable reflective surface in a lighting apparatus that allows all of the series of problems and drawbacks outlined previously to be eliminated.
Another purpose is that of making a reflector assembly with modifiable reflective surface that allows its wide use for the most varied uses in the lighting of rooms.
Yet another purpose of the present invention is therefore that of making a reflector assembly with modifiable reflective surface that allows the user to avoid non-uniform lighting.
Yet another purpose of the present invention is therefore that of making a reflector assembly with modifiable reflective surface that allows the user to use lighting apparatuses of any whatever general type, not made for the single use specified previously.
These purposes according to the present invention are accomplished by making a reflector assembly with modifiable reflective surface in a lighting apparatus as outlined in claim 1.
The further claims defines the additional characteristics of the present invention.
The characteristics and advantages of a reflector assembly with modifiable reflective surface in a lighting apparatus according to the present invention shall become clearer from the following description, given as an example and not for limiting purposes, referring to the attached schematic drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first example of a reflector assembly with modifiable reflective surface with the additional reflective wall element exploded from the lighting apparatus.
Figure 2 is a view similar to that of figure 1 of a second example.
Figure 3 is a schematic top side section view of one of the lighting apparatuses shown in figures 1 and 2.
Figure 4 shows the same section of figure 3 in which the bulb has been inserted.
With reference to the figures, a reflector assembly with modifiable reflective surface according to the invention is shown arranged in a lighting apparatus, wholly indicated with 10, shown in a couple of examples.
The lighting apparatus 10 comprises an outer casing 11, equipped with stable positioning elements 12 with respect to a wall or to a ceiling of the external environment.
The casing 11, variously shaped, has an area 13 for the arrangement of at least one bulb socket 14 for a respective bulb 15.
The casing 11 also has a shaped area inside of it that make an internal reflective wall 16 that is determined by a fixed reflective surface, formed in the casing.
According to the present invention, it has been thought of, in such a context of a lighting apparatus, to make an additional reflective wall element 17 that can be freely inserted and withdrawn into/from the inside of the casing 11 itself. This additional reflective wall element 17 is made in such a way as to lie over at least a portion of the internal reflective wall and in such a way modify the reflective surface of the internal reflective wall.
This is, for example, allowed due to the fact that the quoted additional reflective wall element 17 foresees extensions or appendices 18, for example of the elastic type, with hooked ends 19 which allow the element 17 to be freely inserted and withdrawn into/from the inside of the casing 11 itself. The appendices 18 slide with respect to the fixed reflective surface 16 and through their hooked ends 19 are arranged stably with respect to the casing 11. This additional element 17 thus foresees stable positioning elements identified in the example by elements 18 and 19.
Moreover, the additional reflective wall element 17 foresees a central recessed area 22 that allows the use of various types of bulbs 15 and that at the same time screens the light avoiding it being filtered in undesired areas. Curved areas 20 are also foreseen that abut against undercuts 21 of the casing present in the area 13 for the arrangement of the bulb socket 14.
Furthermore, the additional reflective wall element 17 foresees thinned ends 23 that allow it to adapt to the fixed reflective surface of the internal reflective wall 16 of the casing.
Figures 3 and 4 in section show extremely clearly how lower curved areas 25 of the additional reflective wall element 17 modify the path of the reflected rays.
Indeed, a hypothetical light ray A that would normally strike a reflective surface portion 24 of the internal reflective wall 16 would be reflected with a certain angle and would become the light ray B.
With the new additional reflective wall element 17 the same ray A, striking the curved area 25 of the element itself 17, is reflected with another angle becoming the ray C.
This different inclination for an angle X ensures that the light is reflected so as to light up a wall placed in front of the product more uniformly.
Figures 1 and 2 show how the additional reflective wall element 17 can be variously shaped to adapt both to a lighting apparatus with a square or circular section, allowing the widest use.
This arrangement makes a freely removable connection in an extremely quick manner that allows both interventions to modify the reflective surface and
interventions for necessary maintenance, even without the help of tools.
Of course, the bulb socket 14 is connected to a control circuit (not shown). The internal surfaces with reflector function are, for example, made from metalized thermoplastic material or polished anodised superpure aluminium.
In the two examples shown in figures 1 and 2, for which the same reference numerals are used for identical elements, an additional reflective wall element 17 is foreseen that is shaped similarly. Moreover, such an additional reflective wall element 17 can have a different type of fastening means provided as they allow a free insertion and withdrawal into/from the inside of the casing to lie over and modify the internal reflective wall.
The reflector assembly with modifiable reflective surface in a lighting apparatus according to the invention thus allows adjustment of the reflective surface and various direction of the light emitted by it. Moreover, it allows a directed light distribution to be obtained, whilst avoiding the replacement of the entire apparatus, indeed using the one already existing, whilst increasing visual comfort.
A reflector assembly with modifiable reflective surface in a lighting apparatus according to the present invention is mounted in a simple and quick manner.
The additional reflective wall element 17 is so simple that it can be mounted in a way that almost any user is able to take care of its installation and maintenance, even without the help of tools.
A reflector assembly with modifiable reflective surface in a lighting apparatus thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, which are all covered by the present invention; moreover, all of the details can be replaced with technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used, as well as the sizes, can be whatever according to the technical requirements.

Claims

Reflector assembly with modifiable reflective surface in a lighting apparatus (10) that comprises an outer casing (11), equipped with stable positioning elements (12) and containing at least one bulb socket (14) for a bulb (15) and an internal reflective wall (16) that determines a fixed reflective surface, formed inside said casing (11), characterised in that an additional reflective wall element (17) is foreseen, able to be freely inserted and withdrawn into/from the inside of said casing (11) through stable positioning elements (18, 19) to lie over and modify said internal reflective wall (16).
Reflector assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that said stable positioning elements foresee extensions or appendices (18) with hooked ends (19) that allow said additional reflective wall element (17) to be freely inserted and withdrawn into/from the inside of the casing (11) itself.
Reflector assembly according to claim 2, characterised in that said extensions or appendices (18) are of the elastic type.
Reflector assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that said additional reflective wall element (17) foresees a central recessed area (22) that allows the use of various types of bulbs and that at the same time screens the light avoiding it filtering into undesired areas.
Reflector assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that said additional reflective wall element (17) foresees lower curved areas (25) that modify the path of the reflected rays.
Reflector assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that said additional reflective wall element (17) foresees curved areas (20) that abut against undercuts (21) of the casing present in a shaped area (13) for the arrangement of the bulb socket (14).
Reflector assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that said additional reflective wall element (17) foresees thinned ends (23) that allow it to adapt to the fixed reflective surface of the internal reflective wall (16) of the casing (11).