AU2005239754B2

AU2005239754B2 - Lighting device

Info

Publication number: AU2005239754B2
Application number: AU2005239754A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Perter Ernst; Robert Ochsenschlager
Original assignee: Aldi Einkauf GmbH and Co OHG
Current assignee: Aldi Einkauf GmbH and Co OHG
Priority date: 2004-12-10
Filing date: 2005-12-05
Publication date: 2011-10-06
Anticipated expiration: 2025-12-05
Also published as: SI1669664T1; HRP20070468T3; CY1107755T1; EP1669664A2; EP1669664B1; AU2005239754A1; DE102004059786A1; DE502005001011D1; EP1669664A3; ATE366893T1

Abstract

The subject matter of the present invention is a lighting device, in particular, wall and/or suspended lights. This includes a housing (6) and an illuminant (7) arranged 5 therein. In addition, an at least partially transparent covering (9) for a light emission opening of the housing (6) is provided. The covering (9) includes a multi-layer structure with at least one inner layer (9a) facing the illuminant (7) and an outer layer (9b) facing outwardly. 10 According to the present invention, the housing (6) additionally has an at least partially transparent head plate (10) for ceiling-flooding of a room. In addition, the inner layer (9a) is formed to be light dispersing and the outer layer (9b) is colored or clear with a character (K) disposed thereon. 05/12/05,ehl 5377.spc,2 C -g.2G

Description

P/00/0 I I Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: ALDI EINKAUF GMBH & CO. OHG Actual Inventors: Perter Ernst; and Robert Ochsenschlager Address for Service: CALLINAN LAWRIE, 711 High Street, Kew, Victoria 3101, Australia Invention Title: LIGHTING DEVICE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:- -2 LIGHTING DEVICE The invention relates to a lighting device, in particular, wall lights and/or suspended lights, with a housing and an illuminant arranged therein, and with an at least 5 partially transparent covering for a light emission opening of the housing, whereby the covering has a multi-layer structure with at least one inner layer facing the illuminant and an outwardly facing outer layer. Such a lighting device is described in DE 203 19 505 Ul. 10 Here, this document relates primary to the suitable use of recycled glass for making a light source screen. Therefore, whether the illuminant is seen in the interior of the housing or not plays no role. 15 In addition, common suspended lights exist, which, for example, serve to illuminate goods in self-service stores. Furthermore, they generally serve the function of illuminating aisles between individual shelves. 20 Further, illuminated signs are described in the disclosure document DE 82 36 975 Ul, namely, a device for holding identification signs for goods. The light emission opening in the housing is covered with the aid of a dispersion disk, whereby an identification sign for goods formed as a slide is disposed in front of the dispersion 25 disk. The known device, however, is not suited for enabling an additional room illumination. For this, the present invention is used. The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing this type of lighting device that not only makes possible room illumination, but simultaneously, 30 an indicator function can be performed. 05/12/05,eh 15377.spc,2 -3 Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and 'comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group 5 of integers or steps. The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not, be taken as an acknowledgment or any form or suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia. 10 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an illumination device including: a housing and a lighting means arranged therein, and including an at least partially transparent cover for a light exit opening of the housing, wherein the cover includes a multilayer 15 structure including at least an inner layer which faces towards the lighting means and an outer layer which points outwards, and wherein the inner layer scatters light and the outer layer is coloured or clear with a sign arranged in front of it, and wherein the housing further includes an at least partially transparent top plate for indirectly lighting a room via the ceiling, and wherein the inner layer and the outer layer bear 20 against one another and form a manufactured unit, and wherein the inner layer includes embedded particles for light scattering purposes, and wherein the inner layer and the outer layer are formed of coextruded plastic lamellae. In the frame of the present invention, then, the described illumination device serves a 25 double function. First, it serves, as noted, for room illumination, whereby the light primarily is emitted against the ceiling, because, here, the partially transparent head plate makes possible a flooding of the ceiling of the room with light. Because the associated ceiling generally is white or coated with a reflected material, the light beamed to the ceiling in this manner is thrown back practically into all room 30 directions and thereby produces a homogenous illumination effect. At that same time, naturally, additional light falls through the covering with the character disposed thereon primarily downwardly or to the side.

- 3a The character may be embodied as an identification sign for goods, a price label, etc. and is particularly highlighted by means of the illumination device of the present invention, for example, in the sense of an illuminated price label. Thus, it is to be understood that the character optionally can be colored and transparent. At the same 5 time, the light exiting outwardly through the covering serves additionally for room illumination. By means of the two-layer structure of the at least partially transparent covering with the inner layer and outer layer, the back scatter from the character and/or the outer 10 layer through the head plate to the ceiling of the room is avoided, and the homogenous impression is not disturbed. The light-dispersing inner layer serves this purpose, which does not permit such direct reflections. 21/09110.dh-15377 - speciclean - cdm.doc.3 -4 That means that light emitted eventually from the characters and/or the outer layer can only enter the interior of the housing when the light-dispersing inner layer facing the illuminant is adapted previously. As a result of this passage, the light is damped and dispersed, so that negative effects on the ceiling flooding through the head plate 5 are not to be feared. In this connection, it should be noted that the housing is formed to be trapezoidal in cross section with two coverings in the respective trapezoid legs. The cover plate cooperates together with a head-side base of the trapezoid, while the other base at the 10 foot-side of the housing is closed. This naturally, likewise, could be transparent or at least partially transparent when this is necessary. In any case, as a result of the trapezoid character, an acute angle is formed between the head plate and the covering, such that in connection with the light-dispersing inner layer, no disturbing reflections from the character and/or the outer layer and/or the inner layer are thrown 15 onto the ceiling. This is particularly important when considering that the outer layer can be colored. Such a variation is provided, in order to form a specific goods design in the sense of a "corporate identity". In spite of the colored form of the outer layer, the ceiling 20 flooding is not effected, because, if necessary, colored light emitted from the outer layer first must pass through the light-dispersing inner layer and as a result, is damped to such a point that a negative effect on the ceiling of the room is not noticeable. 25 In detail, it has been established to embody the inner layer and the outer layer to lie on one another and form a manufactured unit. This can be realized best if the inner layer and the outer layer are made from co-extruded plastic lamellae. This means that the inner layer and the outer layer are made in a common manufacturing step. The inner layer can be fitted with embedded particles for light dispersion. Typically, the 30 particle size is selected in the range of the light wave length, meaning a diameter of approximately 1 jim. With the help of an optical device provided on the front side of 05/1 2/05,eh 15377.spc,4 -5 the covering, light emitted from the covering can be focused additionally or broadened. Because the particles for light dispersion can be applied with an extrusion process or 5 with the co-extrusion of the covering in the light dispersing inner layer, in addition, the possibility exists of altering the dispersion effect of the inner layer in sections. Thus, it is contemplated that in the region, behind the illuminant, for example, a longitudinally extending cathode ray tube is arranged, with a higher particle density than that next to it. That means that the particle density of the particles embedded in 10 the inner layer for light dispersion is varied, and indeed, preferably, is varied according to the position of the illuminant disposed behind it. For fixing of the previously mentioned character or of comparable signs, indicators, etc., the covering can be equipped with lateral holding means. In the simplest case, 15 these are insertion rails, which receive the associated sign. These insertion rails, then, can be made as a whole particularly simply, like the housing, when it operates with a body of the housing as an extruded profile. Such extruded profiles, for example, are made from aluminum in any length and depending on the specifications, are cut to length. In this manner, the housing length can be approximately variable. 20 Finally, the housing includes in practice a terminal strip arranged generally on the foot-side for supplying current to additional consumers. This terminal strip, then, is arranged in the non-transparent foot region of the housing and can be used advantageously to supply signs, devices, etc. disposed beneath the illumination 25 device with current. It should be understood that the terminal strip is formed in a U-shape with inner lying contacts, in order to avoid health hazards. 30 Finally, the housing commonly accommodates an electronics unit, which includes at least one series connection unit. 05/12/05,ehI5377.spc,5 -6 The electronics unit serves for producing the operating current (generally high voltage) from the supply current needed to operate the illuminant. Generally, the series connection unit is mounted on a front sheet or back sheet of the housing, which both cooperate to cover the longitudinally extending and cut-to-length housing 5 or body. Preferably, the electronics unit or the series connection unit is placed above the illuminant, because then only the light emitted to the ceiling is minimally shadowed through the electronics unit, if at all, which does not stand out with the ceiling 10 flooding. The light falling from the illuminant into the respective inclined coverings is not effected in this manner from the electronics unit or the series connection unit. Next, the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to one embodiment shown in the accompanying figures. In the drawings: 15 Fig. I shows a store schematically with an illumination device according to the present invention as well as another illumination device; Figs. 2 and 3 show the illumination device of the present invention in perspective and 20 in section; Fig. 4 shows a variation of the illumination device of the present invention; and Fig. 5 shows a section through the covering. 25 In Fig. 1, a self-service store is shown in perspective. One recognizes individual rows of shelves 1 and a passage 2 therebetween. The passage 2 is illuminated with the aid of a built-in ceiling light 3, which includes a 30 secondary and primary reflector. Such a ceiling light 3 is described in DE 1 597 992 A, for example. 05/12/05,ch 15377.spc,6 -7 Above the respective rows of shelves 1, the lighting device of the present invention is arranged, which, without limitation, is shown in the right part of Fig. 1 as a suspended light or wall light. With the aid of two or four ropes 4, the related suspended lights are attached to a ceiling 5 of a room to be illuminated. The ropes 4 5 can function also as electrical supply lines, in addition to their support function. Typically, however, separate electrical lines are realized. Details of the illumination device of the present invention or suspended lights are shown in Figs. 2 through 5. Here, one recognizes that the suspended light is equipped 10 with a housing 6 and an illuminate 7 arranged therein. As the illuminant, by way of example and without limitation, a rod-shaped cathode tube or fluorescent tube can be used, which is operated with a high voltage, which is comprised of an electronics unit 8 or a series connection unit 8. Of course, also a (white light) LED-row can be used as the illuminant 7. 15 The housing 6 comprises a total of three parts, namely, a longitudinally extending body 6a, a front sheet 6b, and a back sheet 6c. The longitudinally extending body 6a is embodied as an extruded profile, for example, of aluminum, and can be made as a result in a single operation with practically any length. The front sheet 6b and back 20 sheet 6c operate against it as beveled and curved sheet sections, which are conjoined with the body 6a, for example, by welding, spot welding, clipping, etc. In particular, in the sectional representation according to Figs. 3 and 4, it can be recognized that the housing 6 is formed to be trapezoidal in cross section. The two 25 trapezoid legs (see Fig. 3) or one of the trapezoid legs (Fig. 4) are thereby respectively formed as an at least partially transparent covering 9. The trapezoidal bases 10, 11 act, on the one hand, as an at least partially transparent head plate 10 for ceiling flooding of the room or illuminating the ceiling 5, and on the other hand, a foot plate 11, which is embodied as a terminal strip 11 for current supply of 30 additional consumers. 05/12/05,eh 15377.spc,7 -8 As far as the described illumination device is suspended as a suspended light with the ropes 4 on the ceiling 5, the housing 6 is formed mirror-symmetrically compared to a mirror plane S with the illuminant 7 disposed on the mirror plane, as shown clearly in Fig. 3. If, in contrast, the illumination device is used as a wall light, as shown in 5 the right part of Fig. 1, the housing 6 includes an asymmetrical character with only one individual covering 9 as a trapezoid leg. The other trapezoid leg opposite to the individual covering 9, in contrast, serves as a wall connection. With the help of the respective covering 9, a light emission opening of the housing 6 10 is closed. This light emission opening is framed in the longitudinal direction of the housing or the body 6a by attachment rails 12, which receive the respective covering 9 in associated grooves 13. At the same time, the grooves 13 enable a merely implied character K located on the 15 respective covering 9 to be received and held. This character K, by way of example and without limitation, can be a price label. The attachment rails 12 form holding or retention means 12, 13 in connection with the grooves 13. According to the present invention, the covering 9 includes a multi-layer structure, 20 such as that shown in the sectional representation according to Fig. 5. Actually, the inner layer 9a facing the illuminant 7, as well as an outwardly facing outer layer 9b are realized, which, lying on one another, form a manufacturing unit. That means that the inner layer 9a and the outer layer 9b are made commonly from plastic in a co extrusion process. 25 The merely implied particles 14 embedded in the inner layer 9a serve to beam the radiallly emitted light from the illuminant into the inner layer 9a. The outer layer 9b typically is colored. Any light thrown back from the outer layer 9b in the direction of the housing interior must always first pass through the light dispersing inner layer 9a, 30 and hereby, is beamed in all directions and simultaneously damped. Therefore, practically no colored light can be thrown upwardly by the head plate 10 to the ceiling 5 of the room. 05/12/05,ch 15377.spc,8 -9 The respective covering 9 is placed at a slant relative to a vertical at an angle a. This angle a can have a value between 10 and 500, in particular, 20 to 300, preferably approximately 20*. As a result of the slanted positioning of the covering 9, the 5 character K, illuminated with the aid of the illuminant 7, is registered by a person P in the passage 2 at an optimal angle, because the lighting device of the present invention has a height H of approximately 2.50 m over the floor of the passage. Of course, the angle a can be changed, if necessary. 10 The groove 13 for receiving the covering 9 as well as the character 13 function collectively as a holding means 12, 13 on the housing 6. The terminal strip 11 includes inner contacts 15 (merely implied), which can serve for connecting further electrical consumers. 15 As a result of the two-layer structure of the respective covering 9 with the light dispersing inner layer 9a as well as the colored outer layer 9b, the person P does not first recognize the illuminant 7 in the interior of the housing 6. Additionally, it should be noted that the density of the particles 14 embedded in the inner layer 9a for light dispersion is greater in the perpendicular projection of the illuminant 7 on the 20 covering 9 than it is laterally thereon. This is shown in Fig. 5. In that the illuminant 7 in the interior of the housing 6 cannot be recognized, the described lighting device is satisfied by the particular colored design. In this manner, a characteristic appearance of the room in the sense of a "corporate identity" is 25 produced. The light beamed into the inner layer 9a uniformly moves through the outer layer 9b outwardly and in this manner, can achieve a color-filtering effect. By way of example and without limitation, an orange color filter can be used, so that only orange components of the white light emitted from the light means 7 leave the covering 9. Any back scatter from the outer layer 9b into the housing interior is 30 suppressed by the inner layer 9a. Any back scatter from the outer layer 9b into the housing interior is suppressed by the inner layer 9a. 05/12/05,ch 15377.spc,9 - 10 An upstream optical device 16 serves to focus or broaden the light emitted outwardly through the outer layer 9b depending on the design of the optical device. Actually, the optic 16 acts as a Fresnel lens mounted in a plastic layer or plastic film. Therefore, the optical device 16 can be made in a single process in connection with 5 the inner layer 9a and the outer layer 9b, and as a result, is low-priced. Where the terms "comprise", "comprises", "comprised" or "comprising" are used in this specification, they are to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components referred to, but not to preclude the presence 10 or addition of one or more other feature, integer, step, component or group thereof. 05/12/05,ch 1 5 37 7.spc,10

Claims

1. An illumination device including: a housing and a lighting means arranged therein, and including an at least partially transparent cover for a light exit opening of 5 the housing, wherein the cover includes a multilayer structure including at least an inner layer which faces towards the lighting means and an outer layer which points outwards, and wherein 10 the inner layer scatters light and the outer layer is coloured or clear with a sign arranged in front of it, and wherein the housing further includes an at least partially transparent top plate for 15 indirectly lighting a room via the ceiling, and wherein the inner layer and the outer layer bear against one another and form a manufactured unit, and wherein the inner layer includes embedded particles for light scattering purposes, and wherein the inner layer and the 20 outer layer are formed of coextruded plastic lamellae.

2. An illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the housing is trapezoidal in cross section, with two covers in the trapezoid legs and the top plate in a trapezoid base. 25

3. An illumination device according to either claim I or claim 2, wherein the housing includes retaining means for fixing the cover and/or the sign.

4. An illumination device according to any one of claims I to 3, wherein a body 30 of the housing is designed as an extruded profile. 25/08/11 ,dh-15377 - claimsclean - cdm.1 I - 12

5. An illumination device according to any one of claims I to 4, wherein the housing includes a connector strip for supplying power to additional consumers.

6. An illumination device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the 5 density of the embedded particles within the inner layer varies.

7. An illumination device according to any one of claims I to 6, wherein the cover includes optics on the front side for widening the beam or for bundling the exiting light. 10

8. An illumination device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying figures. 15 25/08/1 Idh-15377 - claimsclean - cdni,12