WO2000057103A1

WO2000057103A1 - Lighting device

Info

Publication number: WO2000057103A1
Application number: PCT/SE2000/000559
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mikael Andersson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-03-22
Filing date: 2000-03-22
Publication date: 2000-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 2001-09-22
Also published as: SE9901022L; AU4157200A; SE9901022D0

Abstract

An illuminating device comprising a light emitting member (1) and a first means (5) for interconnecting the device and an object, said device including a second means (6) for interconnecting the device and the object, or for interconnecting the device and another object, for the purpose of ensuring the position of the device in relation to the object/objects by means of the two interconnecting means (5, 6).

Description

Lighting device

FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

The present invention relates to an illuminating device comprising a light emitting member and the first means for interconnecting the device and an object, and further the invention relates to an illuminating arrangement of the portable lamp-type comprising a light emitting member and a shielding means for shielding and reflecting at least a portion of the light emitted from the light emitting member.

In many situations, for example when work will be performed, at working sites as well as at home, there is a need to use mobile illuminating devices. These lightings are particularly usable when work is performed in limited and hidden surroundings which are hard to illuminate and where the stationary installed lighting is insufficient or there such is missing. By means of a mobile lighting, and especially a smaller portable lighting, there is a possibility to adapt the placing of a light source to the present need of illuminating in a flexible way.

A wide field of application is for example the utilization of these devices when renovation and repair work of vehicles of different kind are performed. For enabling illuminating of chosen parts, for example the space around the engine or the underbody of a car, high demands are put on a lighting particularly adapted for the purpose. In the cases mentioned above, traditionally, a portable illuminating device of the type that is called hand lamp is used for lighting purposes when work is performed. Besides a light source in the shape of an incandescent lamp or a fluorescent lamp, the hand lamp has a long cord for connecting the lamp to the electric energy source required, a conventional power point for instance. The long cord together with the limited weight and size of the lamp make the lamp easy to handle and place near to the object that will be illuminated. Furthermore, this type of illu- minating device for working purposes is often provided with a hook for hanging up the device in an object.

However, the portable illuminating devices for working purposes present today in accordance with the prior art have several dis- advantages.

When using a hand lamp for illuminating a special object and when placing the lamp near to the object, it is hard and sometimes impractical to bring the lamp in the position desired and ensure that this position is maintained during the following work in a rational and suitable way without other means. The alternatives that are available for bringing the lamp into the right position, i.e. first to put the lamp unfixed on the floor/ground or on an object, or "wedge" the lamp between two objects or, when so is possible, hang up the lamp in an object by means of a suspension hook thereto, are insufficient, and sometimes directly unsuitable and therefore in many cases only constitute exceptional solutions.

Another disadvantage of the existing devices of the kind mentioned above are their incapacity for shielding and reflecting the light in accordance with the desires of the user.

Hand lamps with a spot-like light source, such as a spherical incandescent lamp, emitting light in a practically isotropic way, i.e. they emit light in substantially all directions perpendicularly to a spherical surface, whereas such lamps that have an elongated light source, such as a cylindrical fluorescent tube, emit light in substantially all the directions perpendicularly to a cylindrical envelope surface. In many cases this may be a large disadvantage, since it would be desired to be able to instead direct the light only toward the object that will be illuminated and that other light emitting directions could be avoided. Particularly, it is desired to shield the light that otherwise would dazzle a user. For solving this problem at least the portable illuminating devices with an elongated cylindrical light source include a so- called shield. It is not possible for the light to pass through the shield and the shield may constitute a part of an envelope enclosing the light source, and has often a longitudinal extension along the full length of the light source and an extension along the circumference corresponding to a smaller part, often approximately a third of the total circumference of the light source. Thus, in this way a certain portion of the light emitted from the light source is shielded.

However, the desires regarding in which direction it is desired to shield the light vary owing to different working positions, working operations etc. This leads to that the illuminating device continually has to be redirected and/or replaced for satisfying the users needs of an appropriate illuminating, which for the user in turn leads to time consuming and strenuous work with the lighting itself. This is obvious, as previous described, since it do not exist any satisfactory procedure to easily bring the lamp into a position desired and ensure that this position is maintained during the following work.

THE OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide an illuminating device in which the disadvantages mentioned above have been reduced to a large extent, i.e. to provide a portable illuminating device that in an easy and rational way may be brought to the position desired, and to provide an illuminating arrangement in which the adjustment of different shielding directions may be varied by means of a simple operation without replacing or redirecting of the arrangement itself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objects mentioned above are obtained by providing of a device which includes a second means for interconnecting the device and the object, or for interconnecting the device and an other object, for the purpose of ensuring the position of the device in relation to the object/objects, and further by providing an illuminating arrangement, in which the light emitting member and the shielding means are mutually adjustable to enable shielding of the light emitted from the light emitting member in different directions.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention in which the interconnecting means are arranged to enable ensuring of the orientation of the device in relation to the obejct/objects, besides the possibility to place the device in the position desired, it is possible to orientate the device, i.e. to adjust the direction of the device in the room, and thus the flow of light of the device may be directed as required.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention in which the mutual distance of the interconnecting means is adjustable, a device which is adjustable to different sets of interconnecting points at objects, which sets of interconnecting points have different mutual distances, is obtained.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention in which at least one interconnecting means and the device itself are interconnected in such a way that they are movable in rela- tion to each other, and particularly in combination with another preferred embodiment of the invention in which a spring member is arranged to counteract a mutual movement of the interconnecting means by means of its spring force, for example counteract an increase or decrease of the mutual distance of the interconnecting means, a device very adjustable to different sets of interconnecting points with different mutual distances is obtained, which device in addition will be able to be interconnected in an easy and safe way at the object/objects as a result of the spring member.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention in which each interconnecting means and the device itself are piv- otally interconnected, and particularly together with another preferred embodiment of the invention in which each interconnecting means and the device itself are pivotally interconnected in such a way that each interconnecting means may be pivoted about an axis which is substantially in parallel with a direction in which the mutual distance of the interconnecting means is adjustable, further adaptability of the device with respect to different types of interconnecting points, to which the device may be interconnected, is achieved.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention in which each interconnecting means include a hook, interconnecting means which are able to interconnect the device with different objects in a safe way, are obtained.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention in which at least one of the interconnecting means includes a telescopic assembly, a practical and net way to adjust the mutual distance of the interconnecting means is obtained, simultaneously that interconnecting of the device at two interconnecting points located quite far from each other is enabled, while maintaining of a fairly short device in the retracted state of the telescopic assembly. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention in which the light emitting member includes an elongated light source, radiation of light in substantially all directions perpendicular to the envelope surface of the light source is obtained, and by this a surface with an extension approximately equal to the length of the light emitting member may be illuminated while the distance between said surface and the light emitting member being substantially constant along said extension.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention in which the device comprises at least one shielding means for shielding and reflecting at least a portion of the light emitted from the light emitting member, and particularly together with another preferred embodiment of the invention in which the shielding means and the device itself are pivotally interconnected, the possibility for a user to adjust the shielding means for shielding of light emitting directions not desired, and in a even higher degree direct the light only towards the object that will be illuminated, is obtained.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention in which the device includes two shielding means designed to enable adjusting of the degree of shielding, in addition to the adjusting of the light emitting directions desired, also the possibility to adjust the size of the light emitting surface of the device that is shielded, is enabled.

The invention also relates to an illuminating arrangement of the kind defined in the introduction, in which the light emitting mem- ber and the shielding means are mutually adjustable to enable shielding of light emitted from the light emitting member in different directions, which arrangement provides for a user the possibility to shield certain light emitting directions according to the requirements, when using the illuminating arrangement. Further advantages and advantageous characteristics of the invention are declosed in the following description and remaining dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the appended drawings below follows examples of preferred embodiments of the invention, in which drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a partly cut elevation view of the device according to the invention in Fig. 1 including a shield,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section view of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a partly cut elevation view of a device according to the invention including two shields,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section view of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a cross section view of Fig . 4 similar to the view in Fig. 5, but with another placing of one of the two shields.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In Fig. 1 a device according to the invention is illustrated in perspective, which device comprises a light emitting member 1 , an envelope 2 enclosing the light emitting member 1 , a first 3 and a second 4 end closing, two interconnecting means 5, 6, a connection cord 7 and a shielding means 8. The light emitting member 1 in the exemplifying embodiment is an elongated light-emitting member of the type usually called fluorescent tube. However, it is pointed out that a number of different light emitting members 1 may be used, which may have different geometrical designs as well as different functions. In this connection for example incandescent lamps may be mentioned, i.e. such light emitting members which use an incandescent filament, in different geometries, for example spherical and substantially spot-like incandescent lamps, but which geometries also include the elongated cylindrical shape usually associated with fluorescent tubes. Furthermore, as already mentioned, fluorescent tubes, i.e. light emitting members that use electrical discharge in gas for production of light, may be used and these may also have different geometrical designs.

The cylindrical fluorescent tube 1 illustrated in Fig. 1 , in contrast to a spot-like source, leads to that a surface with an extension approximately equal to the length of the fluorescent tube 1 may be illuminated while the distance between said surface and the fluorescent tube is substantially constant along said extension, which often is to prefer when quite large surfaces will be illuminated.

The device according to the invention have two interconnecting means 5, 6 for interconnecting the device and an object. It is also possible that each interconnecting means is interconnected with different objects. By these interconnecting means 5, 6 the device may be attached to different objects in an easy and rational way and by that both the position and orientation of the device in relation to the object may be ensured. Thus, by the interconnecting means 5, 6 it is possible to fix the location of the device as well as the direction of the device in the room with the purpose of receiving the desired illuminating of an object. Although the device illustrated in the drawings has interconnecting means including hooks 5, 6, other interconnecting means may also be used. For example other types of hooks and clutches, clamps, pins etc. would be used. The interconnecting means 5, 6 will be described more in detail below with reference to Fig. 2.

The envelope 2 mentioned above enclosing the fluorescent tube for protecting this against hits and impacts, and for obstructing that dirt, dust or water will be in contact with the fluorescent tube 1 or its connections. Furthermore, the envelope 2 protects the user from being in direct contact with the fluorescent tube 1 . The envelope 2 is for the most part transparent to let from the fluorescent tube 1 emitted light through, but includes also the shielding means 8 for shielding and where appropriate reflecting at least a portion of the light emitted from the fluorescent tube 1 .

The shielding means 8 may be designed in many different ways constituting a separate shield or an integral part of the envelope 2. The shield may be located inside or outside the envelope 2, or in the envelope. Furthermore, the shield may be achieved by coating the envelope with a suitable paint or layer or simply by that the envelope in one area has a pigmentation that decrease the permeability of light.

It is preferred, as in the embodiment illustrated, that the shield extends along substantially the whole length of the light emitting member 1 and that the shield 8 has a circumferentially extension in the order of from a tenth turn to a half turn, preferably approximately a third part of a turn, for shielding the desired portion of light.

Furthermore, the connection cord 7 for electrical connection of the light emitting member 1 to an electrical energy source required, such as to a conventional power point, is indicated in Fig. 1. The connection cord 7 is suitably quite long and flexible for avoiding that the same is obstructing in the handling of the illuminating device to the largest possible extent, for example when interconnecting the device and an object. In Fig. 2 a partly cut elevation view of the device according to Fig. 1 is illustrated. Between the end closings 3, 4 a tube 9 is arranged in parallel with the light emitting member 1 , in which tube both the first interconnecting means 5 and the second interconnecting means 6 are arranged. The tube 9, which is a cylindrical tube with a circular cross section, even if other designs are possible, and the end closings 3, 4 may be made in one piece, but it will probably be more advantageous that the tube 9 is dismountable. In such a case the tube is suitably attached by means of for example a press fit in each end closing 3, 4 and possibly also by means of some kind of adhesive.

The first interconnecting means 5 has a hook in one end 10 to enable the device to be securely hooked in different objects. A second end 1 1 of the interconnecting means 5 is pivotally arranged in one end of the tube 9. The other end 1 1 has a diameter which is somewhat smaller than the internal diameter of the tube 9. The hook may be pivoted 360° about an axis substantially in parallel with the longitudinal centre axis of the device, and more precisely about the longitudinal centre axis of the tube 9. The hook is obstructed from movement in the longitudinal direction of the tube 9 in one direction by a cap 12 and in the other direction by means of a stopping part 13.

Although not illustrated, the interconnecting means 5 would advantageously be arranged to be freely pivotable 360° in one position as described above, and in a second position displaced in the axial direction of the tube 9 in relation to the first position, it would be arranged to be looked against pivoting in a number of locations by means of any kind of looking device, for example of spline-type, and thus the interconnecting means may be pivoted to the location desired in the first position and then be looked in the second position with the location with respect to pivoting maintained with the purpose to obstruct that undesired pivoting of the interconnecting means appears when interconnecting the device to an object, for example as a consequence of the weight of the device.

The second interconnecting means 6 is also pivotally arranged in the opposite end of the tube 9 for enabling mutual pivoting motion of the device itself and the interconnecting means 6 by 360° about the longitudinal centre axis of the tube 9. By this further adaptability to different applying conditions, when attaching the lighting to an object, is obtained. The second inter- connecting means 6 has a hook in one end 15, in the same way as the first interconnecting means, and further the interconnecting means 6 together with the tube 9 are designed as a telescopic assembly 14. By the telescopic assembly 14 the interconnecting means 6 and the device itself are interconnected so that they are movable in relation to each other, and thus the mutual distance of the interconnecting means 5, 6 is adjustable. In the example of embodiment illustrated the device has a substantially elongated shape and the mutual distance of the interconnecting means 5, 6 is adjustable in a direction substantially in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the device. In an alternative embodiment, of course it is also possible that also the first interconnecting means 5 and the device itself are interconnected so that they are movable in relation to each other.

Furthermore, the device includes a spring member 16 arranged to counteract a mutual movement of the interconnecting means 5, 6 by means of its spring force. By this, the device may be clamped between two interconnecting points of an object.

The spring member 16 is located in the telescopic assembly 14 in the shape of a tensile spring 16 arranged inside the tube 9 and extending in a helical shape from a first attachment point 17 in the stopping part 13, and outside the other end 18 of the interconnecting means 6, to a second point 19 of the intercon- necting means 6. Although the spring member 16 is arranged to counteract an increase of the mutual distance of the interconnecting means 5, 6 in the embodiment illustrated, the opposite would very well be possible, i.e. that a spring member is arranged to counteract a decrease of the distance of the interconnecting means 5, 6. In such a case the outer end of each interconnecting means 5, 6 would not necessary need to be a hook or a clamp, but instead would very well be designed as a simple pin having a suitable contact surface to bear against an object.

In a further embodiment (not illustrated) of the device according to the invention the device is provided with a spring member arranged to counteract a mutual pivoting motion of the interconnecting means by means of its spring force with the purpose to clamp or interconnect the device to an object by means of the interconnecting means. In this embodiment one of the interconnecting means and the device itself are suitably pivotally interconnected, so that the interconnecting means may be pivoted about the longitudinal centre axis of the device, or about an axis substantially in parallel with this axis, simultaneously that the pivoting motion is counteracted by means of a torsion spring.

Fig. 3 is a cross section view along the line Ill-I ll in Fig. 2, in which the cross-section of the shield 8 is clearly indicated. The shield 8 is designed as a not transparent layer located on the inside of the envelope 2. The surface 20 of the shield 8, which is turned toward the fluorescent tube 1 , may suitably have the capability of reflecting the incident light to a high extent and by that increase the amount of light that radiate through the enve- lope 2 in the directions desired. Furthermore, the shield 8 and the fluorescent tube 1 are mutually adjustable to enable shielding of light emitted from the fluorescent tube 1 in different directions. This is achieved by arranging the envelope 2, including the shield 8, pivotable in each end closing 3, 4. By this, the shield 8 and the device itself are pivotably interconnected so that the shield 8 may be pivoted, preferably by 360°, about an axis substantially coinciding with the longitudinal centre axis of the fluorescent tube 1 . By this the envelope 2 may be pivoted and by that the shield 8 may be adjusted to shield radiation directions not desired.

An alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention, including two shielding means 8, 21 designed to enable adjusting of the degree of shielding, in addition to the adjusting of different shielding directions, is illustrated in fig. 4, 5 and 6.

In this connection the shielding means 21 is arranged on the inside of a second envelope 22 enclosing the first envelope 2. The envelope 22, including the shield 21 , and the device itself are pivotally interconnected, whereas the envelope 2 is firmly fixed to the device in this embodiment. By bringing the shield 22 into different positions in which this overlaps with the shield 8 in different extent, the degree of shielding may be varied. This is illustrated in Fig. 5 and 6, which are cross section views taken along the line V-V in Fig. 4.

However, it is to be noted that this embodiment with a shielding means 21 which may be pivoted about the longitudinal centre axis of the device, outside the envelope 2, is applicable also when omitting the shield 8, in the case that only different direc- tions of shielding are desired and variation of the degree of shielding is not interesting. With an external placing of the shielding means 21 , and particularly in combination with the envelope 22, the possibility to change the shielding means 21 in an easy way is available. For example it may be desired to change to an envelope 22 including a larger or smaller shield 21. Furthermore, the possibility to produce the envelope 22 in a cheap and simple design is available, in contrast to the envelope 2 which must satisfy more rigorous requirements regarding strength, impenetrability etc. to protect the fluorescent tube 1 , so that for example when the envelope 22 has become dirty, and no longer is permeable to light in the degree required, the envelope 22 may be removed and replaced by a new envelope.

Furthermore, both in the embodiment according to Fig . 1 and 4, the envelope may be provided with a suitable adjusting device 23 for facilitating pivoting of the shield to the right position. This is illustrated in Fig. 4 by that the envelope 22 has a patterned elevation 23 in both ends.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but a number of modifications are possible within the scope of the idea of the invention.

Although the device in the embodiments described above is so constructed that both the position and the direction of the device is fixed by means of the interconnecting means, it is very well possible to design the device so that the position is fixed whereas the direction may be varied. For example by that the telescopic assembly, including the both interconnecting means, and the device itself are coupled together in only one point, at the first end closing for instance, and in addition are pivotally coupled in this point, the device may be placed at an object simultaneously that the light emitting member and the envelope may be pivoted to different directions about said coupling point.

Claims

1 . An illuminating device comprising a light emitting member (1 ) and a first means (5) for interconnecting the device and an object, characterized in that the device includes a second means (6) for interconnecting the device and the object, or for interconnecting the device and another object, for the purpose of ensuring the position of the device in relation to the object/objects by means of the two interconnecting means (5, 6).

2. A device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the interconnecting means (5, 6) are arranged to enable ensuring of the orientation of the device in relation to the ob- ject/objects.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the mutual distance of the interconnecting means (5, 6) is adjustable.

4. A device according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one interconnecting means (6) and the device itself are interconnected in such a way that they are movable in relation to each other.

5. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that the each interconnecting means and the device itself are interconnected in such a way that they are movable in relation to each other.

6. A device according to claim 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that it includes at least one spring member (16), which spring member is arranged to counteract a mutual movement of the interconnecting means (5, 6) by means of its spring force.

7. A device according to claim 6, characterized in that one spring member (16) is arranged to counteract an increase of the mutual distance of the interconnecting means by means of its spring force.

8. A device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that one spring member is arranged to counteract a decrease of the mutual distance of the interconnecting means by means of its spring force.

9. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that at least one interconnecting means (5) and the device itself are pivotally interconnected.

10. A device according to claim 9, characterized in that each interconnecting means (5, 6) and the device itself are pivotally interconnected.

1 1 . A device according to claim 9 or 10 and claim 6, character- ized in that one spring member is arranged to counteract a mutual pivoting motion of the interconnecting means by means of its spring force.

12. A device according to claim 9, 10 or 1 1 and at least any of the claims 3-8, characterized in that at least one interconnecting means (5) and the device itself are pivotally interconnected in such a way that the interconnecting means may be pivoted about an axis which is substantially in parallel with a direction in which the mutual distance of the intercon- necting means is adjustable.

13. A device according to claim 12, characterized in that each interconnecting means (5, 6) and the device itself are pivotally interconnected in such a way that respective interconnecting means may be pivoted about an axis which is substantially in parallel with a direction in which the mutual distance of the interconnecting means is adjustable.

14. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that at least one interconnecting means (5) includes a hook.

15. A device according to claim 14, characterized in that each interconnecting means (5, 6) include a hook.

16. A device according to any of the claims 3-15, characterized in that at least one of the interconnecting means (6) includes telescopic assembly.

17. A device according to claim 16, characterized in that each interconnecting means include a telescopic assembly.

18. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the light emitting member includes a substantially spotlike light source.

19. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the light emitting member (1 ) includes an elongated light source.

20. A device according to any of the claims 3-19, characterized in that the device has a substantially elongated shape and that the mutual distance of the interconnecting means (5, 6) is adjustable in a direction substantially in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the device.

21. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises an envelope (2) being light permeable, at least to some extent, and enclosing the light emitting member (1 ).

22. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises at least one shielding means (8) for shielding and reflecting at least a portion of the light emitted from the light emitting member (1 ).

23. A device according to claim 22, characterized in that the device includes two shielding means (8, 21 ) adapted to enable adjusting of the degree of the shielding .

24. A device according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that the light emitting member (1 ) and at least one shielding means (8) are mutually adjustable to enable shielding of light emitted from the light-emitting member in different directions.

25. A device according to claim 22, 23 or 24, characterized in that at least one shielding means (8) and the device itself are pivotally interconnected.

26. A device according to claim 25, characterized in that at least one shielding means (8) and the device itself are pivotally interconnected in such a way that the shielding means may be pivoted about an axis substantially coinciding with a centre axis of the device.

27. A device according to claim 21 and any of the claims 22-26, characterized in that at least one shielding means (8) is arranged inside the envelope (2).

28. A device according to claim 21 and any of the claims 22-27, characterized in that at least one shielding means (21 ) is arranged outside the envelope (2).

29. A device according to claim 21 and any of the claims 22-28, characterized in that at least one shielding means (8) con- stitutes an integral part of the envelope (2).

30. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that it is of the portable lamp-type including a hand lamp with a long cord (7).

31 . An illuminating arrangement of the portable lamp-type comprising a light emitting member (1 ) and at least one shielding means (8, 21 ) for shielding and reflecting at least a portion of the light emitted from the light emitting member, characterized in that the light emitting member and the shielding means are mutually adjustable to enable shielding of light emitted from the light emitting member in different directions.

32. An arrangement according to claim 31 , characterized in that the arrangement includes two shielding means (8, 21 ) adapted to enable adjusting of the degree of the shielding.

33. An arrangement according to claim 31 or 32, characterized in that it comprises means for interconnecting (5, 6) the arrangement and at least one other object.

34. An arrangement according to any of the claims 31 -33, characterized in that it includes two interconnecting means (5, 6) for interconnecting the arrangement and at least one object, said mutual distance of the interconnecting means being ad- justable.

35. An arrangement according to any of the claims 31 -34, characterized in that at least one shielding means (8, 21 ) and the device itself are pivotally interconnected.

36. An arrangement according to claim 35, characterized in that at least one shielding means (8, 21 ) and the device itself are pivotally interconnected in such a way that the shielding means may be pivoted about an axis substantially coinciding with a centre axis of the arrangement.