WO2006125792A1

WO2006125792A1 - Articulated support unit for lighting apparatuses

Info

Publication number: WO2006125792A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/062559
Authority: WO
Inventors: Angelo Renato Martini
Original assignee: Martini SpA
Current assignee: Martini SpA
Priority date: 2005-05-26
Filing date: 2006-05-24
Publication date: 2006-11-30
Anticipated expiration: 2007-11-26
Also published as: ITUD20050086A1

Abstract

Articulated support unit (10) for lighting apparatuses (11) comprising at least an arm (13) able to be associated with a support means (15), and a connection bracket (14) pivoted to the arm (13) so as to selectively rotate around a first axis of rotation (X), on which at least a projector (12) is able to be pivoted; the connection bracket (14) comprises at least a central body (19) by means of which it is pivoted to the arm (13), and at least an appendix (20), pivoted to the central body (19), so as to selectively rotate around a second axis of rotation (Y), on which the projector (12) is able to be pivoted.

Description

"ARTICULATED SUPPORT UNIT FOR LIGHTING APPARATUSES"

* * * * *

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns an articulated support unit by means of which it is possible to obtain an extensive adjustment of the orientation of the projectors in lighting apparatuses.

The invention is able to be employed, advantageously but not only, for outside lighting apparatuses, such as for example street lamps or suchlike.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various articulated support units for lighting apparatuses are known, particularly for outside, which allow to orientate the projectors of said apparatuses in a desired manner.

The support units normally comprise an arm, associated with an upright, a post, a wall, or another fixed structure, at the end of which a connection bracket is pivoted on which in turn one or more projectors are pivoted.

Moreover, in some embodiments, the arm is associated with the relative upright or fixed structure so as to be able to vary its inclination on said plane.

In these support units, the axis of rotation of the arm, the axis of rotation of the bracket and the axis of rotation of the projectors are parallel with each other, so that the orientation of the latter can be carried out on a single plane passing through the arm.

This constitutes a considerable limit to the possibility of orientating the projectors, even though when there are two or more projectors each of them can be orientated independently of the other.

Purpose of the present invention is to achieve an articulated support unit for lighting apparatuses which is simple and economical from the constructional point of view and which allows a great possibility of orientating the projectors of said lighting apparatuses, even independently of each other.

The Applicant has devised and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art in order to achieve the above purpose and to obtain other advantages. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized essentially in the main claim, while the dependent claims describe other innovative characteristics of the invention.

The articulated support unit according to the present invention comprises at least an arm, able to be associated with a support means such as an upright, a post, a wall, or other fixed structure, and a connection bracket, pivoted to said arm in order to rotate selectively around a first axis of rotation, on which at least a projector is able to be pivoted.

According to the invention, the connection bracket comprises at least a central body, by means of which it is pivoted to the arm, and at least an appendix, pivoted to the central body in order to rotate around a second axis of rotation, on which the projector is able to be pivoted.

In a preferential form of embodiment of the invention, usable in lighting apparatuses comprising two or more projectors, the connection bracket comprises a plurality of such appendixes, to each of which at least a relative projector is able to be pivoted.

According to a characteristic feature of the present invention, the second axis of rotation of the appendixes is inclined with respect to the first axis of rotation of the central body.

Advantageously said second axis of rotation is orthogonal to said first axis of rotation and the latter is substantially orthogonal to the arm. Moreover, the appendixes include pivoting means able to allow the relative projectors to rotate around a third axis of rotation orthogonal to said second axis of rotation.

In this way, each projector can be orientated independently of the other, rotating both around an axis lying on the plane of the arm, and also around an axis orthogonal to said arm.

In a preferential form of embodiment, each of the appendixes is associated with a relative end of the central body and has a forked or U-shaped conformation, defining a housing hollow for at least a relative projector.

In a possible form of embodiment of the invention, the arm is at least partly inserted inside the central body and cooperates with relative tie-rod means.

The arms and the tie-rod means are pivoted with respect to mating flange means, by means of which they are connected to the support means (upright, post, wall or other structure), so as to be able to rotate around respective axes of pivoting, parallel to the first axis of rotation, in order to vary their inclination and/or their position along the support means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- fig. 1 shows a lighting apparatus using an articulated support unit according to the invention;

- figs. 2 and 3 show variants of fig. 1; - figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 show a lighting apparatus using two articulated support units according to the invention;

- figs. 8, 9 and 10 show other lighting apparatuses using articulated support units according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERENTIAL FORM OF EMBODIMENT

With reference to the attached drawings, the number 10 denotes generally the articulated support unit according to the invention used in lighting apparatuses 11 provided with one or more projectors 12 of the orientatable type.

The support unit 10 essentially comprises an arm 13 and a connection bracket 14 on which the projectors 12 are able to be pivoted. In this case the arm 13 is pivoted at a first end 13a to an attachment wedge 21 of a first flange 16, by means of which it is attached to an upright or post 15; the end 17a of a tie-rod 17 is associated with the second end 13b of the arm 13. The other end 17b of the tie-rod 17 is in turn pivoted to a relative attachment wedge 23 of a second flange 18 by means of which the tie-rod 17 is constrained to the upright 15.

The attachment wedges 21 and 23 are of the reversible type and can be fixed, also in an upside-down position, on two opposite sides of the flanges 16 and 18.

The flanges 16 and 18 allow the arm 13 and the tie-rod 17 to slide and be selectively clamped, by means of clamping screws 22, in a desired position along the upright 15. The connection bracket 14 comprises a central body 19, pivoted to the second end 13b of the arm 13, and two appendixes 20, pivoted to the central body 19, on each of which a relative projector 12 is rotatably mounted. The axis of rotation Y of the appendixes 20 with respect to the central body 19 is orthogonal to the axis of rotation X of the central body 19 with respect to the arm

13 and to the axis of rotation Z of the projectors 12 with respect to the appendixes 20.

Moreover, the axis of rotation X is orthogonal to the arm

13, while the axis of rotation Y is orthogonal respectively to the axis of pivoting V of the arm 13 and to the axis of pivoting W of the tie-rod 17 on the respective attachment wedges 21 and 23.

In the embodiment shown in figs. 1, 2 and 3, the central body 19 consists of a profile with an angular development defining a through cavity inside which the second end 13b of the arm 13 is inserted. Each of the two appendixes 20 is associated with a relative end of the central body and has a forked or U- shaped conformation; this conformation defines a housing cavity for the relative projector 12, allowing the free rotation thereof around the axis Z, for more than 270°. The appendixes 20 are able to rotate, with respect to the central body 19 and around the relative axis of rotation Y, for 360°.

All the pivoting points of the support unit 10 are equipped with clamping screws by means of which the projectors 12, the appendixes 20, the central body 19, the arm 13 and the tie-rod 17 are clamped in the desired position.

The support unit 10 therefore allows a great possibility of orientating the projectors 12, which is not just limited to the plane on which the arm 13 lies, as usually happens in support units of a known type.

To be more exact, the composition of the connection bracket 14 substantially allows each projector 12 to rotate independently of the other, both around an axis lying on the plane of the arm 13, and also around an axis orthogonal to the arm 13.

The possibility of rotating the central body 19 around the axis X and the possibility of varying the inclination of the arm 13 by rotating it around the axis V, constitute other opportunities to diversify the configuration of the support unit 10 and hence the lighting apparatus 11; the latter can therefore be applied in different contexts with multiple possibilities to personalize it, both from the aesthetic and from the lighting and technical point of view.

The replacement or different disposition of some components of the support unit 10 allow to obtain further diversifications thereof.

For example, using a tie-rod 17 of a different length, as shown in figs. 2 and 3, or a tie-rod 17 of an extendible type as shown in fig. 1, possibly turning the attachment wedge 21 upside down, it is possible to vary as desired the inclination of the arm 13 and hence the disposition of the projectors 12.

Figs. 4 to 10 show other possible applications or variants of the articulated support unit 10.

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 show for example a lighting apparatus 11 comprising two articulated support units 10 of the type shown in fig. 1 mounted specular on a single upright or post 15.

In this embodiment, a single first flange 16 is used for the two arms 13 and a single second flange 18 for the two tie-rods 17.

In the variant shown in fig. 8, the lighting apparatus 11 comprises two support units 10 each provided with a single appendix 20 for a relative projector 12. In this embodiment the two connection brackets 14 have two different central bodies 19, one with an acute angle development and one with an obtuse angle development; the two central bodies 19 are also clamped, with a segment thereof aligned with the arm 13, with additional clamping screws 24.

This, together with the inverse orientation of the attachment wedges 21, a different inclination of the two arms 13 and a different length of the relative tie-rods 17, allows to dispose the two projectors 12 in a different position.

In the variant shown in fig. 9, the two central bodies 19 have a linear development and a right-angled development; in this solution too the two main bodies are clamped in alignment with the relative arms 13, in this case disposed in a horizontal position, and are associated with two respective appendixes 20.

In the other solution shown in fig. 10, the lighting apparatus 11 comprises, on a single upright 15, a support unit 10 of the type shown in fig. 2 for two projectors 12 and a support unit 10 with an acute angle central body 19, of the type shown in fig. 8, for a single projector 12.

It is clear, however, that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the articulated support unit 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

For example, the central body 19 and/or the appendixes 20 can be of different shape from those shown, also according to the type of projector 12 to be used. Or the connection bracket 14 can comprise a larger number of appendixes 20, or a single appendix 20, on which several projectors 12 may be pivoted.

Furthermore, the support unit 10 can be associated not only with an upright or post 15, but with any other means, such as a metal frame, a beam, a column, a wall or another fixed structure.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of articulated support unit for lighting apparatuses, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

Claims

1. Articulated support unit for lighting apparatuses (11) comprising at least an arm (13) able to be associated with a support means (15), and a connection bracket (14) pivoted to said arm (13) so as to selectively rotate around a first axis of rotation (X), on which at least a projector (12) is able to be pivoted, characterized in that said connection bracket (14) comprises at least a central body (19) by means of which it is pivoted to said arm (13), and at least an appendix (20), pivoted to said central body (19), so as to selectively rotate around a second axis of rotation (Y), on which said projector (12) is able to be pivoted.

2. Unit as in claim 1, characterized in that said connection bracket (14) comprises a plurality of appendixes (20) to each of which at least a relative projector (12) is able to be pivoted.

3. Unit as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said second axis of rotation (Y) is inclined with respect to said first axis of rotation (X).

4. Unit as in claim 3, characterized in that said second axis of rotation (Y) is perpendicular to said first axis of rotation (X) .

5. Unit as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said first axis of rotation (X) is substantially perpendicular to said arm (13).

6. Unit as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said appendixes (20) include pivoting means able to allow the rotation of said projectors (12) around a third axis of rotation (Z) orthogonal to said second axis of rotation (Y).

7. Unit as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that each of said appendixes (20) has a forked or U-shaped conformation, and defines a housing cavity for at least a relative projector (12).

8. Unit as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that each of said appendixes (20) is associated with a relative end of said central body (19).

9. Unit as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said central body (19) comprises at least a profile with an angular development.

10. Unit as in claim 9, characterized in that said profile has an acute angle development.

11. Unit as in claim 9, characterized in that said profile has an obtuse angle development.

12. Unit as in claim 9, characterized in that said profile has a right-angled development.

13. Unit as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said arm (13) is at least partly inserted inside said central body ( 19) .

14. Unit as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said arm (13) is connected rotatably with respect to said support means (15).

15. Unit as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said arm (13) cooperates with tie-rod means (17) associated with said support means (15).

16. Unit as in claim 15, characterized in that said tie-rod means (17) are of the extendible type.

17. Unit as in claim 14 and 15 or 16, characterized in that said tie-rod means (17) is pivoted with respect to flange means (16, 18) by means of which it is connected to said support means (15), so as to be able to rotate around respective axes of pivoting (V, W) in order to vary its inclination and/or position along said support means (15).

18. Unit as in claim 17, characterized in that said axes of pivoting (V, W) are parallel to said first axis of rotation (X).

19. Unit as in claim 17 or 18, characterized in that said arm (13) and said tie-rod means (17) are pivoted on respective attachment elements (21, 23) able to be associated in different positions on said flange means (16, 18).