DE20016602U1 - Signal light, in particular room signal light for hospitals or nursing homes or the like. Facilities - Google Patents

Description

Description:

Signal light, especially room signal light for hospitals or nursing homes or similar facilities

The present invention relates to a signal light, in particular a room signal light for hospitals or nursing homes or similar facilities, with a housing that can be attached to or on a wall, with at least one illuminant arranged therein and with at least one housing region that is permeable to the light emitted by the illuminant.

Signal lights of the type mentioned above are generally known due to their widespread use in the facilities mentioned. These signal lights are usually provided with one or more openings in the housing, which are backed with a translucent plastic strip or covered with a translucent cap. The light sources used are usually incandescent lamps, which can be colored by dip-coating. If several signal states are to be displayed, the housing is either divided by separately inserted walls and a separate light source is installed in each compartment, or several single signal lights are arranged in a row. It is obvious that the installation effort for these signal lights is relatively high. In addition, the status displayed is not particularly easy to recognize, especially in the presence of external light.

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DE-U-295 20 661 discloses an arrangement for transmitting light call signals, which comprises actuating means for triggering a light call signal as well as transmission means and display means which emit the light call signal perceptibly using light beams. The display means are provided for light-emitting diodes (LEDs). To improve visibility from different viewing directions, the LEDs can have differently aligned beam angles. Here too, however, visibility varies depending on the angle and is particularly difficult when there is extraneous light, so that signal states cannot be recognized or can be misinterpreted.

The object of the present invention is therefore to create a signal light of the type mentioned at the outset which, on the one hand, can be manufactured and assembled quickly and easily and, on the other hand, which ensures good recognizability of the respective signal state, whereby this good recognizability should also be ensured in the event of external light or other disturbing circumstances.

This object is achieved according to the invention with a signal light of the type mentioned above, which is characterized in that

- that the housing has two or more opaque partition walls which project approximately at right angles from a base parallel to the wall and run horizontally and parallel to one another,

- that between every two adjacent partition walls a luminous element is inserted which visibly conducts the light emitted by the lamp to the outside and

- that each luminaire has at least one separate, separately switchable light source.

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Because the housing is already equipped with partitions, their subsequent installation is no longer necessary. Furthermore, the luminous elements provided according to the invention ensure effective light guidance and distribution in the directions from which the signal light is to be read. In the case of a design with several luminous elements, the signal light can display different signal states due to the separately switchable light source assigned to each luminous element. The dividing walls provided on the housing prevent light from spilling over into an adjacent luminous element, so that incorrect readings of the signal light can practically no longer occur. At the same time, the luminous elements ensure that the luminous surfaces of the signal light that can be seen by an observer are evenly illuminated, which increases the safety when reading the signal light.

It is further provided that the housing is detachably connected to a circuit board forming a base plate, which carries the lamps and possibly other electrical or electronic components, via detachable connecting means, preferably locking elements. The circuit board preferably accommodates the lamps and associated wiring and possibly additional electrical or electronic components that are required for the operation of the signal light and a higher-level signaling system. The circuit board itself is preferably designed and dimensioned in such a way that it can be connected to a commercially available surface-mounted or flush-mounted box.

In order to be able to read the signal light, which is usually arranged on a wall, from all directions, i.e. over a viewing angle of about 180°, it is intended that the partition walls and the lighting bodies are in

In plan view, they have an essentially triangular or semicircular contour with their base aligned parallel to the wall.

For the purpose of simple and quick installation of the signal light, it is preferably provided that each luminous element can be inserted between the partition walls from the wall side of the housing and can be fixed in its final position via detachable connecting means, preferably locking elements.

A further contribution to cost-effective production is that the housing is preferably a one-piece molded body made of an opaque material, preferably plastic.

It is also intended that each luminous element is a molded body made of a translucent material, preferably plastic. The housing and luminous element can thus be manufactured in large quantities with high precision and at low production costs. In addition, both the housing and the luminous element are lightweight when made of plastic. The injection molding process is ideal for production here.

Depending on the type of light source used and the desired light distribution, each luminaire can be a solid body or a hollow body.

In order to ensure uniform light emission from the luminaires in all required viewing directions, it is preferably provided that the surfaces of each luminaire involved in the light emission are structured or frosted or that each luminaire is colored opaque as a whole or in parts.

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Another version of the signal light proposes that a reflector surface is provided in each light body, which is aligned perpendicular to the wall plane and vertically and divides the light body into two symmetrical halves. The reflector surface ensures that the light emitted by the lamps is also emitted with sufficient intensity in directions parallel to the wall. The reflector surfaces also ensure that disturbing external light, which falls through a window at the end of a corridor, for example, cannot pass through the light body. In this way, misperceptions of signal light states are avoided.

The reflector surface can be formed by a reflective partition wall or a reflective coating or by an air gap. A reflective material can also be inserted into the air gap.

Finally, the design of the light fittings equipped with reflector surfaces offers the possibility of assigning at least one separate light source to each half of the light fitting. In this way, different signals can be given using the signal light, depending on the direction of view. This option can be used, for example, to indicate a specified escape direction in the event of danger and at the same time to warn against an incorrect direction of travel that leads to danger points using a warning display, e.g. a red light.

An embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to a drawing. The figures of the drawing show:

Figure 1 shows a signal light arranged on a wall in perspective view,

Figure 2 the housing of the signal light from Figure 1 in side view,

Figure 3 shows a luminous element as part of the signal light from Figure 1, in perspective view,

Figure 4 is a horizontal section through the housing of the signal light according to the section line IV - IV in Figure 2 and

Figure 5 shows the signal light according to Figure 1, now with the housing removed and in top view.

Figure 1 shows a signal light 1 arranged on a wall 10. The signal light 1 comprises a housing 2 with a base surface 20 approximately parallel to the wall and several partition walls 21 extending from this, approximately perpendicular to the wall surface and running in a horizontal plane. The embodiment of the signal light 1 shown here comprises an upper and a lower partition wall 21 and three further partition walls 21 arranged at a mutual distance between them.

Between each two adjacent partition walls 21, a luminous body 3 is inserted which, like the partition walls 21, has a triangular contour in plan view.

The housing 2 with the partition walls 21 formed in one piece therewith consists of an opaque material, preferably plastic. The lighting elements 3, on the other hand, consist of a transparent or at least translucent material, preferably also plastic.

At least one light source is arranged in the housing 2 for each light body 3, which is concealed here and therefore not visible. The light sources can be switched separately,

so that different signal states with the signal light

1 can be displayed depending on which luminous element 3 is illuminated by the light source. Due to the light conduction and distribution by the luminous element 3, the signal state of the signal light 1 is clearly visible from all viewing directions.

Figure 2 of the drawing shows the housing 2 of the signal light 1 from Figure 1, now in side view. The parallel arrangement of the partition walls 21 to one another is particularly clear. The base area 20, which is on the right here, runs parallel to the wall 10 (not shown here) according to Figure 1 when the signal light 1 is mounted.

Furthermore, Figure 2 shows two locking arms 25 on the rear side of the housing 2, which faces to the right in the drawing. These locking arms 25 serve to releasably hold the housing 2 on a circuit board that forms a base plate, which is not shown here. The circuit board is arranged, for example, in an electrical distribution box that is attached to or in the wall. The housing

2 can therefore be quickly and easily attached to the wall and just as quickly and easily dismantled if necessary.

In the sectioned detail enlargement of one partition wall 21 shown on the very left in Figure 2, it can be seen that this has a thickening on its outer edge. This forms an inner circumferential step on the top and bottom of each partition wall 21, which serves as a stop for holding the light elements.

3 serves.

In Figure 3 of the drawing, a single luminous element 3 is shown in perspective. Here,

The triangular contour of the luminous element 3 is particularly clear. The base 30 of the luminous element 3, which points upwards to the right in Figure 3, faces the wall 10 when mounted. The recess in the base 30 of the luminous element 3 serves to accommodate one or more lamps, as will be shown in Figure 5.

On both sides of the base 30, a locking step 32 is formed on the luminous element 3, which serves to hold the luminous element 3 in the housing 2.

Finally, Figure 3 shows a reflector surface 33 within the luminous body 3, the reflector surface 33 running perpendicular to the base 30 and in a vertical plane. This reflector surface 33 serves, on the one hand, to prevent extraneous light from passing through the luminous body 3 perpendicular to the direction of the reflector surface 33. In addition, the reflector surface 33 ensures that the light radiated into the luminous body 3 by the lamps is emitted in the desired manner in all required viewing directions, so that the respective signal state of the signal light is clearly visible. The light radiated into the luminous body 3 by the lamps essentially only emerges from the narrow sides 31 of the luminous body 3, which act as light-emitting surfaces. When the signal light is mounted, the luminous body 3 is covered on the top and bottom by one of the partition walls 21, so that no light escapes here and at the same time no disturbing extraneous light can enter.

Figure 4 of the drawing shows the housing 2 from Figure 2 in section along the line IV - IV in Figure 2. Here it is clear that the housing 2 has a contour corresponding to the contour of the luminous element 3. The partition walls 21 are now parallel to the plane of the drawing,

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whereby a locking hook 23 is provided on the left and right of the base of the housing 2, which points downwards in the drawing. These locking hooks 23 interact with the locking steps 32 of the lighting elements 3 in such a way that a lighting element 3 pushed in from behind, i.e. from the side of the housing 2 facing the wall, is locked into the housing 2 in its final position. This fixes the lighting element 3 in the desired position, but can be separated from the housing 2 if necessary. In addition, one of the two locking arms 25 is visible in the middle of the base of the housing 2, which are used to connect the housing 2 to a circuit board. Finally, on the far left and right in Figure 4, the base area 20 of the housing 2 can be seen, via which the partition walls 21 are connected to one another.

Finally, Figure 5 of the drawing shows a luminaire 3 together with a circuit board 5 forming a base plate of the signal light, which is connected to an electrical distribution box 6, which here is a flush-mounted box embedded in the wall 10.

On the outside of the circuit board 5, which faces upwards in the drawing, several lighting devices 4, here in the form of light-emitting diodes, are arranged, with a total of four lighting devices 4 being assigned to the lighting element 3 visible in Figure 5. The reflector surface 33 runs in the longitudinal center of the lighting element 3, as already explained with reference to Figure 3. The lighting devices 4 are divided into two groups of two lighting devices 4 each, with a pair of two lighting devices being spatially assigned to each half of the lighting element 3.

When switched on, the lamps 4 emit their light essentially forwards into the lamp body 3. Within the lamp body 3, the light is guided and reflected to the light-emitting

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emitting surfaces 31 of the luminous element 3, from where the light visibly emerges to the outside. The light perception is ensured over an angular range of approximately 180° in the drawing plane.

Finally, on the far left and right of the luminous element 3, the two locking steps 32 can be seen again in Figure 5, which interact with the locking lugs 23 of the housing 2 (see Figure 4) when the signal light is mounted.

Additional electrical or electronic components or assemblies that are part of an associated signaling system can be arranged on the side of the circuit board 5 facing away from the luminous element 3. In addition, there is space on the top and bottom of the circuit board 5 for an acoustic signal generator that may be provided and that is activated, for example, when the switching state of one of the lighting devices 4 changes.

As Figure 5 shows, the lamps 4, each of which is assigned to one half of the lamp 3, can have different colors on the left and right, so that the halves of the lamp 3 with different colors can represent different signal states. Two lamps 4 of different colors can also be provided in each half, so that several, here four, signal states can be represented by different color combinations. The lamps 4 can also be designed as miniature light bulbs instead of as light-emitting diodes.

Claims (12)

1. Signal light ( 1 ), in particular a room signal light for hospitals or nursing homes or similar facilities, with a housing ( 2 ) attachable to or on a wall ( 10 ), with at least one illuminant ( 4 ) arranged therein and with at least one housing area permeable to the light emitted by the illuminant ( 4 ), characterized in that - that the housing ( 2 ) has two or more opaque partition walls ( 21 ) which project approximately at right angles from a base surface ( 20 ) parallel to the wall and run horizontally and parallel to one another, - that between each two adjacent partition walls ( 21 ) there is inserted a luminous body ( 3 ) which visibly conducts the light emitted by the luminous means ( 4 ) to the outside, and - that each luminaire ( 3 ) has at least one separate, separately switchable light source ( 4 ). 2. Signal light according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing ( 2 ) is detachably connected to a circuit board ( 5 ) forming a base plate, which carries the lighting means ( 4 ) and possibly further electrical or electronic components, via detachable connecting means, preferably locking elements ( 25 ). 3. Signal light according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the partition walls ( 21 ) and the luminous bodies ( 3 ) have a substantially triangular or semicircular contour in plan view, the base of which is aligned parallel to the wall. 4. Signal light according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each luminous element ( 3 ) can be introduced from the wall side of the housing ( 2 ) between the partition walls ( 21 ) and can be fixed in its end position via detachable connecting means, preferably locking elements ( 23 ). 5. Signal light according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing ( 2 ) is a one-piece molded body made of an opaque material, preferably plastic. 6. Signal light according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each luminous body ( 3 ) is a molded body made of a translucent material, preferably plastic. 7. Signal light according to claim 6, characterized in that each luminous body ( 3 ) is a solid material body. 8. Signal light according to claim 6, characterized in that each luminous body ( 3 ) is a hollow body. 9. Signal light according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surfaces of each luminous element ( 3 ) involved in the light emission are structured or matt or that each luminous element ( 3 ) is colored opaque as a whole or in regions. 10. Signal light according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in each luminous body ( 3 ) a reflector surface ( 33 ) is provided which is aligned perpendicular to the wall plane and vertically and divides the luminous body ( 3 ) into two symmetrical halves. 11. Signal light according to claim 10, characterized in that the reflector surface ( 33 ) is formed by a reflective or coated partition wall or by an air gap. 12. Signal light according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that each half of each luminous element ( 3 ) is assigned at least one separate luminous means ( 4 ).