DE20121486U1 - lighting device - Google Patents

Description

Estermann, Wolfgang E 2743 GDE

Langara, Thomas

Lighting equipment

The invention relates to a lighting device, in particular for sports or leisure equipment such as roller skates, inline skates, rollerblades or scooters.

For example, bicycle lights powered by batteries or rechargeable batteries are known, in which the batteries or rechargeable batteries, the lamp and all other components are integrated into a common housing, resulting in a compact but relatively heavy unit that requires a special, highly stable bracket to be attached to the bicycle. The part of the bracket that is fixed to the bicycle is firmly attached to the bicycle during assembly in a position that is not changed later, so that the bicycle lamp can only be used in this one position on the bicycle. Dynamo-powered lighting devices for inline skates are also known, in which lamps integrated into a roller (available as an accessory) light up when the roller mounted on the shoe rotates.

The object of the invention is to create a lighting device which is as flexible and versatile as possible and can be easily installed, with the simplest possible construction, easy to manufacture, low weight and high light output, and which can be used in particular in connection with sports or leisure equipment used for locomotion, e.g. from the fun sports sector.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 1 and in particular in that the lighting device comprises at least one compact power supply unit, in particular designed as a battery and/or accumulator pack and detachably attachable to an object, and at least one luminous element spatially separated from the power supply unit, which is connected to the power supply unit in particular detachably via at least one flexible electrical connection line enabling different relative positions between the luminous element and the power supply unit, wherein the luminous element is designed as a luminous head forming the free end of the connection line, in particular with minimized dimensions, and can be detachably attached to the object independently of fastening means for the power supply unit.

According to the invention, the luminous element designed as a light head can be attached to the respective object in any mounting position relative to the power supply unit due to the spatial separation of the power supply unit and the luminous element and due to the flexible design of the connecting cable within the limits given by its length. This creates a maximum degree of flexibility and versatility and results in a wide range of new application possibilities.

Depending on the circumstances, the user can decide individually where the power supply unit and the light source should be mounted on the object. In particular, the invention enables the light source to be mounted

in places where the entire device would be too heavy due to the power supply unit. Furthermore, the luminaire can be attached in places with limited space where there is not enough space for a power supply unit. In addition, by changing the length of the connecting cable or by replacing the connecting cable, the lighting device according to the invention can be adapted to any desired application in the simplest possible way.

Consequently, the lighting device according to the invention can be used to achieve new, previously impossible and, above all, unusual and spectacular lighting and/or signaling effects and, in addition, to meet existing or future safety regulations. In addition, the invention opens up a wide range of new possible uses, as lighting devices can now be used in areas - for example, in a wide variety of fun sports and in equestrian sports - for which no or no satisfactory solutions previously existed.

A particularly preferred use of the lighting device according to the invention relates to the attachment to sports or leisure equipment such as roller skates, inline skates, rollers or scooters. The power supply unit, in particular a battery and/or accumulator pack, can be attached to the shaft of the shoe or to the lower leg of the user, while the light head can be attached to any point on the shoe and, for example, near the ground on the support rail for the rollers, whereby unusual and, in particular, individually designed lighting effects can be achieved.

Furthermore, the lighting device according to the invention is particularly advantageous for use by runners in the dark, for example. The power supply unit can be held in the hand, attached to the waistband or belt, or simply put in the trouser pocket, while the light head can be attached to any place on the clothing or shoes.

Preferred embodiments of the lighting device according to the invention are specified in the subclaims, the description and the drawing.

The luminous element is preferably provided in the form of a slim extension of the connecting cable. The dimensions of the luminous element are preferably determined by the dimensions of the light source, for which a light-emitting diode is preferably used, whereby the size of the luminous element is minimized and the luminous element as a light head represents, in a way, an endoscope-like, merely an axial extension of the connecting cable.

Preferably, the dimensions of the luminous element are kept to a minimum necessary for pure lighting and/or signaling purposes. Widenings or thickenings in the area of the free end of the connecting cable, which would interfere with the laying of the connecting cable provided with the luminous element at its free end and the mounting of the luminous element on the respective object and would be undesirable from an aesthetic point of view, are thereby advantageously avoided.

In a particularly preferred practical embodiment of the invention, the luminous body comprises at least one light-emitting diode as a light source.

This minimizes the space required and the energy consumption of the lighting device according to the invention while at the same time achieving a comparatively high luminous intensity. In particular, light-emitting diodes enable the formation of particularly slim lighting elements. Light-emitting diodes with a comparatively high luminous intensity, e.g. in the range of around 1,800 mcd, are preferably used. In principle, the luminous intensities of the light-emitting diodes used can be in the range of 10 mcd to 15,000 mcd.

Furthermore, the use of colored LEDs is particularly preferred, as this allows interesting and unusual lighting and/or signaling effects to be achieved, particularly from an aesthetic point of view, and safety effects to be further improved. For example, clear or white LEDs can be used as front lights and red LEDs as rear lights.
20

Furthermore, it is preferred if the luminous body comprises a preferably cylindrical carrier, which is designed as a socket for a light source and can be coupled to the connecting cable, in particular via a plug connection. The shape of the carrier is basically arbitrary, with its dimensions preferably being kept minimal.

In another particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, several luminous elements are connected to the power supply unit.

which can be attached to the object independently of one another in different relative positions with respect to the power supply unit.

This creates a particularly flexible and versatile lighting device with which light can be emitted simultaneously in several directions that can be individually selected by the user, so that with the help of a single device the surroundings can be illuminated, spectacular lighting effects can be created and one's own safety can be increased through targeted signaling effects.

One part of the light sources, preferably in the form of light-emitting diodes, can be operated continuously and the other part discontinuously, e.g. in a flashing mode. 15

Preferably, the multiple light sources are connected to the power supply unit via a continuous cable harness.

The individual lighting elements can each be connected via a separate line extending from the power supply unit to the lighting element. Preferably, however, at least one distributor is provided, which is arranged between a common line section connected to the power supply unit and several individual line sections each leading to one of the lighting elements. 25

The distributor is preferably designed as a plug connection arrangement for the line sections and can be designed in such a way that any number of connection lines can be connected up to a predetermined maximum number.

gen, whereby the distributor in the manner of an extension cable provided with a multiple socket enables a particularly versatile use of the lighting device according to the invention.
5

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that fastening means for the power supply unit and/or for the luminous element each comprise a holding part forming a unit with the power supply unit or the luminous element and a base part that can be fastened to the object and detachably coupled to the holding part.

This means that the base parts can be attached to a desired location on the object in a pre-assembly step in order to individually and in particular independently determine the mounting positions for the respective holding parts of the power supply unit or the light body that form the counterpart. After the base parts have been attached to the object, only the power supply unit provided with the holding parts and the light body need to be coupled to the respective base parts, although this does not need to be done before the object is actually used.

Preferably, the holding part and the base part for the light body and/or the power supply unit are provided in the form of a Velcro fastening. The base part to be attached to the respective object can be designed, for example, as a self-adhesive Velcro strip with, for example, hooking elements on the fastening side, and the holding part designed as a corresponding counterpart can be firmly attached to the light body and/or the power supply unit.

body or the power supply unit or a receptacle therefor.

The holding part for the power supply unit is preferably designed as a holding pocket, in particular a lockable one, for accommodating the power supply unit. Using such a pocket, the power supply unit can be optimally protected from external influences such as moisture and dust.

The holding bag can preferably be coupled to a band or strap-shaped base part for fastening to the object and for this purpose preferably has at least one outer holding loop or eyelet.

Furthermore, it is proposed according to the invention that the power supply unit has a common holder for a plurality of individual battery and/or accumulator elements, which simplifies the handling of the power supply unit. The holder is preferably designed as a closable, in particular cup-like receptacle for the individual battery and/or accumulator elements. A cover of the receptacle can be designed as a slide switch for switching the power supply unit on and off.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the luminous element comprises at least one electrical resistor connected upstream of a light source in order to adapt to the supply voltage of the power supply unit.

The invention is described below by way of example with reference to the drawing.

Fig. 1 shows a lighting device according to an embodiment

form of invention,

Fig. 2a the use of an inventive lighting

equipment on inline skates,

Fig. 2b is an enlarged section of Fig. 2a, and

Fig. 3 the use of an inventive lighting

setup on a kickboard.

The lighting device according to the invention shown in Fig. 1 comprises a power supply unit 13 arranged in a holding pocket 27, indicated only by dashed lines, to which three lighting elements 15 are connected by means of a cable harness 23 in this embodiment, each of which comprises a light-emitting diode 19. The light-emitting diodes 19 can be switched on and off jointly by the user by means of a switch arranged on the power supply unit 13.

The power supply unit 13 comprises, for example, a battery pack made up of four rechargeable batteries of type AA or AAA, each of which provides an output voltage of 1.2 V. The four batteries can be mounted on a common plastic carrier, thereby creating a compact unit with minimal space requirements and low weight. Alternatively, the voltage source 13 can - depending

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Depending on the application, it can also be designed to provide higher voltages.

The holding pocket 27, in which the power supply unit 13 is arranged, is preferably made of a neoprene material and can be closed by means of a Velcro fastener. For this purpose, a closure tab designed as a Velcro strip is attached to one side of the pocket 27, which interacts with a Velcro area of the pocket 27 arranged on the opposite side.

The cable harness 23 is detachably connected to the power supply unit 13 on the one hand and the lighting elements 15 on the other hand via plug connectors 35 and has a distributor 25. Due to the plug connections 35, the cable harness 23 can be easily replaced in order to be able to use cable harnesses 23 of different lengths depending on the respective application. In this way, a particularly advantageous modular design is realized. Alternatively, the plug connectors 35 can also be dispensed with.

The distributor 25 is arranged between a common line section coming from the power supply unit 13 and the individual connecting lines 17, each leading to one of the lighting elements 15, and can be formed by a simple branching node or by a plug connection arrangement to which line sections of different lengths can be connected, for example to adapt to the respective application.

The distributor 25 can be designed in such a way that any number of lamps 15 can be connected up to a predetermined maximum number. In order to adapt the number of lamps 15 to the output voltage provided by the supply unit 13, the lamps 15 can be provided with appropriately dimensioned resistors.

The light bodies 15 arranged at the free ends of the connecting lines 17 and forming light heads each comprise a carrier 21 into which the light-emitting diode 19 is preferably cast, but which can alternatively be designed at its front end as a plug, screw or clamp socket for the light-emitting diode 19. The carrier 21 is connected to the respective connecting line 17 at its rear end. For this purpose, the carrier 21 can be designed as a plug or socket of a detachable plug connection. The carrier 21 can be cylindrical, for example, but can basically have any cross-sectional shape and form.

The arrangement of the light-emitting diode 19 and the carrier 21 can - if necessary together with a comparatively short line section and a part (plug or socket) of the plug connection 35 serving for connection to the cable harness 23 - be manufactured as a module that can only be replaced as a whole.

The axial length and/or the diameter of the light-emitting diodes 19 used according to the invention is preferably - depending on the area of application - in the range from 1 mm to 20 mm. The light output or light intensity of the light-emitting diodes 19 preferably extends - depending on the application -

purpose - over a range of 10 mcd to 15,000 mcd, whereby light-emitting diodes with a luminous intensity of about 1,800 mcd are preferably used.
Both clear and coloured LEDs can be used, with red, green or blue being preferred in the latter case.
Light-emitting diodes are used.

The luminaires 15 are designed to adapt to the supply voltage
the power supply unit 13 each with a correspondingly dimensioned electrical resistor connected upstream of the light-emitting diode 19
Mistake.

Alternatively or additionally, a control device with a voltage regulation function can also be integrated into the power supply unit 13 in order to keep the voltage supplied by the battery pack at a constant level that is optimally adapted to the respective LEDs 19 used.
value and counteract premature voltage drop.

To attach the light elements 15 to an object, a holding part in the form of a Velcro strip 31 is provided, which is firmly connected to the carrier 21 and/or the light-emitting diode 19, e.g. by gluing, welding, sewing or binding.

The counterparts to be attached to the object, which form the Velcro fastening with the Velcro strips 31 of the light body 15 and e.g. the
Hooking elements are not shown in Fig. 1.

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The fastening of the holding bag 27 and thus the power supply unit 13 to the respective object is carried out by a belt system (not shown) with an adjustable belt width. For this purpose, the bag 27 is provided with a holding loop on its outside opposite the Velcro area for the closure flap, through which a holding strap, which can also be designed as a Velcro strip, can be passed.

Alternatively or additionally, the holding bag 27 can have a Velcro area designed as a fleece area or provided with hooking elements instead of the holding loop in order to be fastened by means of a Velcro connection to a Velcro element designed as a corresponding counterpart, which is firmly connected to the respective object. A holding belt designed as a Velcro strip, for example, can then be used both in connection with a "belt bag" and with a "Velcro bag".

Fig. 2a shows the use of a lighting device according to the invention with three light-emitting diodes 19 (only two of which are shown) on inline skates. The user wears the holding bag 27, which is attached by means of a holding strap and in which the battery or accumulator pack 13 is arranged, on his lower leg 37. Alternatively, the bag 27 can also be attached to the shoe 11.

Self-adhesive Velcro strips are attached to the back of the shoe 11 and to the two outer sides of the support rail 39 for the rollers 41, to which the light elements 15 are each attached with their holding parts 31, which form the counterparts of the Velcro fastening. The light head 15 attached to the back of the shoe is directed towards the floor.

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tet, while the light heads attached to the sides of the support rail 39 are used as headlights directed forwards in the direction of travel.

The connecting cables 17 leading to the lighting elements 15 originate from a distributor 25 designed as a plug connection arrangement, which is connected to the power supply unit 13.

The enlarged illustration in Fig. 2b shows schematically one of the preferably identically constructed luminous elements 15, each of which comprises a cylindrical carrier 21 which is firmly connected to the Velcro fastening strip 31, carries the light-emitting diode 19 on its front side and is connected on the back to the connecting line 17 which initially leads to a plug connector 35 and from there to the distributor 25.

The Velcro strip 33, which serves as the base part of the fastening arrangement and is glued to the shoe 11 or its support rail, is shown in Fig. 2b with a dashed line.

The connecting lines 17 are only schematically indicated as thin lines in the illustrations and are not shown to scale in terms of their diameter. The connecting lines 17 are preferably surrounded by a protective sheath, e.g. in the form of a flexible plastic hose with a bending stiffness that is specified depending on the respective application. Alternatively - e.g. for applications in running - the connecting lines 17 can also be formed exclusively from thin connecting cables.

The diameter of the supports 21 is at least approximately of the same order of magnitude as the diameter of the respective light-emitting diode 19. Preferably, the support 21 is at most slightly thicker than the light-emitting diode 19, so that the light heads 15 at least do not represent any significant thickenings on the free ends of the connecting lines 17 that would be disruptive during installation and impair the overall aesthetic impression.

When using a lighting device according to the invention on a scooter 11 as shown in Fig. 3, the power supply unit 13 arranged in the holding bag 27 is fastened in the upper area of the handlebar 45, while one or more light elements 15 fastened to the handlebar 45 below the power supply unit 13 are directed forward in the direction of travel and one or more further light elements 15 fastened to the footboard 43 are directed towards the ground. The bag 27 and the light elements 15 are fastened to the kickboard 11 in the manner explained above in connection with Fig. 1 and Fig. 2a, 2b. These mounting positions for the power supply unit 13 and for the light heads 15 are merely examples and are basically arbitrary and can be freely selected by the user.

The uses described above are merely particularly preferred examples. In principle, the lighting device according to the invention can be used anywhere due to its flexible design, its advantageous modular construction, its minimal dimensions of the light heads and its simple and quickly changeable mountability.

are used in places where, and in particular in connection with means of transport powered by human power and sports and leisure equipment of all kinds, unusual lighting effects are to be created, the area in front of the user in the direction of travel or walking is to be illuminated, the user wants to draw attention to himself with light signals, e.g. for safety reasons, and/or where space is limited.

Furthermore, the lighting device according to the invention is not limited to use in connection with locomotion devices, but can also advantageously be used for lighting and/or signaling purposes in running and equestrian sports.

List of reference symbols

11 Object 13 Power supply unit 5 15 Luminaires 17 Connection cable 19 Light source, light-emitting diode 21 carrier 23 Wiring harness 10 25 Distributor 27 Holding part 29 Base part 31 Holding part 33 Base part 15 35 Connectors 37 Lower leg 39 Support rail 41 Roller 43 Running board 20 45 Handlebar

Claims (15)

1. Lighting device, in particular for means of transport preferably operated by muscle power, preferably sports or leisure equipment such as. B. roller skates, inline skates, rollers and scooters, with at least one compact power supply unit ( 13 ), in particular designed as a battery and/or accumulator pack and detachably attachable to an object ( 11 ), and at least one luminous element ( 15 ) spatially separated from the power supply unit ( 13 ), which is connected, in particular detachably, to the power supply unit ( 13 ) via at least one flexible electrical connecting line ( 17 ) enabling different relative positions between the luminous element ( 15 ) and the power supply unit ( 13 ), wherein the luminous element ( 15 ) is designed as a luminous head forming the free end of the connecting line ( 17 ), in particular with minimized dimensions, and can be detachably attached to the object ( 11 ) independently of fastening means ( 27 , 29 ) for the power supply unit ( 13 ). 2. Lighting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the luminous body ( 15 ) is provided in the form of a slim extension of the connecting cable ( 17 ). 3. Lighting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the luminous body ( 15 ) comprises at least one light-emitting diode ( 19 ) as a light source. 4. Lighting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the luminous element ( 15 ) comprises a carrier ( 21 ) which is designed as a socket for a light source ( 19 ) and can be coupled to the connecting line ( 17 ) in particular via a plug connection, wherein preferably the radial dimensions of the carrier ( 21 ) correspond at least approximately to those of the light source ( 19 ) provided in particular in the form of a light-emitting diode. 5. Lighting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of lighting elements ( 15 ) are connected to the power supply unit ( 13 ), which lighting elements can be fastened to the object ( 11 ) independently of one another in different relative positions with respect to the power supply unit ( 13 ). 6. Lighting device according to claim 5, characterized in that the lighting elements ( 15 ) are connected to the power supply unit ( 13 ) via a continuous cable harness ( 23 ). 7. Lighting device according to claim 6, characterized in that the cable harness ( 23 ) has at least one distributor ( 25 ) between a common line section connected to the power supply unit ( 13 ) and a plurality of individual line sections each leading to one of the lighting elements ( 15 ). 8. Lighting device according to claim 7, characterized in that the distributor ( 25 ) is designed as a plug connection arrangement for the line sections. 9. Lighting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that fastening means for the power supply unit ( 13 ) and/or for the luminous element ( 15 ) each comprise a holding part ( 27 , 31 ) forming a unit with the power supply unit ( 13 ) or the luminous element ( 15 ) and a base part ( 29 , 33 ) which can be fastened to the object ( 11 ) and detachably coupled to the holding part ( 27 , 31 ). 10. Lighting device according to claim 9, characterized in that the holding part ( 31 ) and the base part ( 33 ) for the lighting element ( 15 ) and/or the power supply unit ( 13 ) are provided in the form of a Velcro fastening. 11. Lighting device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the holding part for the power supply unit ( 13 ) is designed as a holding pocket ( 27 ) serving to accommodate the power supply unit ( 13 ), in particular a closable holding pocket. 12. Lighting device according to claim 11, characterized in that the holding pocket ( 27 ) can be coupled to a band- or belt-shaped base part ( 29 ) for fastening to the object ( 11 ) and for this purpose preferably has at least one holding loop or eyelet arranged in particular on an outer side. 13. Lighting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the power supply unit ( 13 ) has a common holder for a plurality of individual battery and/or accumulator elements, wherein the holder is preferably designed as a closable, in particular cup-like receptacle for the individual battery and/or accumulator elements. 14. Lighting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the luminous element ( 15 ) comprises at least one electrical resistor connected upstream of a light source ( 19 ) for adaptation to the supply voltage of the power supply unit ( 13 ). 15. Sports or leisure equipment, in particular roller skates, inline skates, rollers or scooters, with at least one removably attached lighting device according to one of the preceding claims.