FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a support device for installation on a wall or ceiling of lighting devices such as lamps, spotlights, lighting profiles or other furnishing components.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the field of room lighting, it is known to use support devices for installing lighting elements, for example including lamps and/or spotlights, coupled with a wall, also of a furnishing element, or with a ceiling, so as to generate for example an effect of diffused light sources coming from different points of the room.

The support devices normally used generally comprise a section bar element of a mainly elongated shape, although other shapes can be used, depending on the overall lighting effect to be obtained.

The section bar element normally has, at least partly, a C-shaped or U-shaped profile, defining inside it a housing seating in which one or more light sources can be inserted, and a corresponding electric power circuit.

The section bar element can be associated with or installed on a plate, or segment, of suitable shape, which is then used to attach the lighting element to the wall or other application surface.

The plate is normally coupled with the section bar element so as to be substantially flush with the internal edge of the section bar element itself.

To attach and connect the section bar element to the support plate it is known to use removable attachment elements, such as screws, bolts or suchlike, or same- shape coupling attachment elements or tongue and groove elements, which allow to replace the light sources and/or components of the electric power circuit.

However, known attachment elements are not very versatile, since they constrain the coupling position of the section bar element and the corresponding plate.

If one wanted, or if it were necessary, for example, to move the lighting element according to needs, even by small amounts, it is therefore necessary to remove the support plate from the wall or furnishing element on which it is mounted, and to re-assemble it in the desired position; these operations take a long time, entail possible damage to the surfaces affected, and it is also necessary to cover possible holes caused by the previous assembly of the support plate and create new holes.

Known attachment elements are therefore not very suitable for use in places where it may be necessary to frequently change the disposition and/or orientation of the lamps or spotlights, such as for example in shops or exhibition rooms, where the lights are generally disposed in the most appropriate way according to the different setups.

To try to make support devices for lamps and/or spotlights more versatile, it is known to couple the section bar element with the corresponding plate using magnetic components.

An example of this solution is described in WO 2009/014387.

Another example is described in JP 2007 026720.

In this case, the magnetic component or components are generally positioned in a suitable positioning and sliding seating made in the section bar element, so as to dispose its external surface in direct contact with an internal surface of the support plate, so that the latter is disposed substantially flush with the edge of the section bar element.

Using these magnetic elements allows to be able to slide the section bar element with respect to the plate to modify the position of the lighting elements, without requiring complex dis-assembly and re-assembly operations.

Using the magnetic components also allows to mount the section bar element directly on any application surface, for example of a furnishing element, provided that it is the magnetic type, without using the plate; however, in this case, the retracted position of the magnet with respect to the external edge of the section bar element may not guarantee a direct contact between the magnetic component and the application surface on which it is to be installed, which gives an unstable and insecure coupling.

This disadvantage is more obvious if the application surface has a particular shape, such as to prevent or limit the direct contact between the magnetic component and the application surface.

For example, if the support device has to be associated with a component of a particular shape, which cannot be inserted into the housing seating for the support plate, as there is no contact between the magnetic parts, there is no guarantee of a stable coupling and assembly of the support device.

One purpose of the present invention is to obtain a support device of the type described above which is able to guarantee a stable adhesion in each of the following situations:

- presence of metal plates or segments;

- presence of metal support surfaces with particular shapes.

Another purpose of the invention is to obtain a support plate of the type that uses magnetic components that does not require one or more pieces to be replaced in order to be adapted to different support surfaces.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a support plate of the type that uses magnetic components that is economical, compact and easy to install and maintain.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes, a support device usable as a support for lamps and/or spotlights for their installation on an application surface, comprises a section bar element and at least a magnetic element cooperating with the section bar element to attach the support device to the application surface by means of magnetic attraction, with or without the interposition of a plate or other similar anchoring element to the application surface.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the magnetic element is asymmetrical and with a double configuration, so that it can be inserted in a hollow seating of the section bar element in two different positions of use.

In particular, in a first configuration, the magnetic element can be inserted in a first position of use so as to be flush, or just slightly recessed, with the external edge of the hollow seating of the section bar element, and to be able to magnetically attract a support plate by contact in order to attach the support device to an application surface.

In the second configuration, rotated with respect to the first configuration, the magnetic element can be inserted in a second position of use, so as to protrude at least partly toward the outside of the hollow seating, and to be able to be positioned in direct contact with an application surface, in the absence of a metal plate or in the presence of application surfaces of non-conventional shapes, for example not suitable for association with the section bar element.

According to some embodiments, the magnetic element can be, or can comprise, a permanent magnet.

According to some embodiments, the magnetic element develops along two planes, one orthogonal to the other, between which it is possible to define a longitudinal median plane and a plane orthogonal to said longitudinal median plane.

According to some embodiments, the magnetic element comprises a main body that develops along the median plane, and positioning portions, laterally protruding with respect to the main body, that develop orthogonally.

According to some embodiments, the orthogonal plane passing through the center line of the positioning portions intersects the main body so as to divide it into two opposite portions with different extensions along the median plane.

According to some embodiments, the magnetic element can provide a single magnet with opposite North and South poles, aligned along the median pane.

According to a variant, the two parts which are designated for the magnetic anchorage can be disposed at 90° with respect to each other or according to another desired angle. This solution can be achieved with a composite magnet. According to some solutions, the positioning portions can be fins, or longitudinal ridges that protrude from the main body.

According to other embodiments, the hollow seating is provided with positioning seatings, made symmetrical on lateral walls opposite each other, in which the positioning portions of the element can be inserted both in the first direction and also in the second direction.

According to the present invention, a lighting device is also provided comprising one or more light sources and a support device as described heretofore, configured to support said light sources and install them on an application surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

- fig. 1 is a perspective view of a support device according to embodiments described here;

- fig. 2 is a section view of the support device in fig. 1, in a first configuration of use;

- fig. 3 is a section view of the support device in fig. 1, in a second configuration of use;

- fig. 4 is a section view of a variant of support device according to embodiments described here.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

We shall now refer in detail to the various embodiments of the present invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawings. Each example is supplied by way of illustration of the invention and shall not be understood as a limitation thereof. For example, the characteristics shown or described insomuch as they are part of one embodiment can be adopted on, or in association with, other embodiments to produce another embodiment. It is understood that the present invention shall include all such modifications and variants.

Embodiments described here using figs. 1-4 concern a support device 10 usable for example in the field of lighting spaces, to install lighting devices 50 such as lamps and/or spotlights, on an application surface 14, for example a wall or a furnishing element.

According to some embodiments, the lighting device 50 comprises one or more light sources 20 and a support device 10 configured to support the light sources 20. According to some embodiments, the light source 20 preferably consists of LED type lights (Light Emitting Diodes), although the use of halogen lamps, neon lights or other types of light sources is not excluded.

The support device 10 comprises a section bar element 12 with a constant section in a longitudinal direction L, comprising an attachment portion 16, configured to attach and install the support device 10 on the application surface 14.

The section bar element 12 also comprises a containing portion 18, in which a light source 20 and/or possible components to power it can be inserted.

According to some embodiments, the support device 10 comprises a magnetic element 22 cooperating with the attachment portion 16 and configured to attach the support device 10 by magnetic attraction to the application surface 14.

According to some embodiments, the support device 10 can comprise a support plate or segment 11, attachable to an application surface 14, with which the magnetic element 22 can interact to keep the support device 10 in position.

According to some solutions, the support plate 11 has a shape such that it can be inserted flush in an insertion seating 13 made on the section bar element 12.

According to possible solutions, the attachment portion 16 comprises a hollow seating 24 in which the magnetic component 22 can be inserted so that it is at most free to translate in the longitudinal direction L, but is constrained and held in an orthogonal direction thereto.

According to some embodiments, the hollow seating 24 is provided with positioning seatings 26 made on the lateral walls 23 opposite each other and which extend in the longitudinal direction L.

The magnetic element 22 can be, or can comprise, a permanent magnet, made of any ferromagnetic material, such as for example iron, cobalt, nickel, neodymium or other rare earths, or alloys or oxides, or combinations thereof.

According to some embodiments, the magnetic element 22 can comprise a main body 28 and positioning portions 30 protruding laterally on opposite sides of the main body 28.

According to some embodiments, the main body 28 defines a longitudinal median plane M, while a plane P, orthogonal to the longitudinal median plane M, passes through the center line of the positioning portions 30. According to some embodiments, the magnetic element 22 has an asymmetric geometric shape with respect to at least the median plane M, said asymmetry defining at least two configurations of use.

In one embodiment, the orthogonal plane P intersects the main body 28 so as to divide it into two opposite portions 28a, 28b, having different extensions along the median plane M.

In particular, the main body 28 can have a smaller portion 28a and a bigger portion 28b.

According to embodiments described using figs. 1-3, the magnetic element 22 can provide a single magnet with opposite North and South poles, aligned along the median plane M and associated with the smaller portion 28a and the bigger portion 28b.

According to this embodiment of the present invention, the magnetic element 22 is symmetrical with respect to the median plane M and asymmetrical with respect to the orthogonal plane P.

According to this embodiment, the orthogonal plane P can be a plane parallel to and offset with respect to a transverse plane T which divides the main body 28 into two equal parts, ideally dividing the North pole N and the South pole S.

This geometric configuration allows to insert the magnetic element 22 in two different ways and positions in the hollow seating 24.

This advantageously allows to have a single support device 10 that can be used with different types of application surfaces 14, guaranteeing a stable attachment on every occasion. The support device 10 is therefore very versatile, and the operations to install the lamps/spotlights are very simple and quick. In fact, the dis-assembly and installation operations simply require to pull the section bar element 12 and/or make it slide along the support plate 11 to remove it from a first application surface 14, and to move it to a second application surface 14, possibly removing the magnetic element 22 from the positioning seatings 26, and to re-insert it in the opposite direction.

Figs. 2 and 3 are used to describe the two possible insertion modes of the magnetic element 22 in the guide grooves 26, and hence the two configurations of use of the support device 10.

In a first configuration of use, described using fig. 2, the magnetic element 22 is inserted in the guide grooves 26 in a first position of use, so as to be flush with the external edge of the hollow seating 24.

In this first configuration, the bigger portion 28b faces toward the inside of the hollow seating 24, the smaller portion 28a is positioned flush with the hollow seating 24, and the positioning portions 30 are inserted in the positioning seatings 26.

In a second configuration of use, described using fig. 3, the magnetic element 22 is inserted in the guide grooves 26 in a second position of use, rotated by 180° with respect to the first position of use, so as to partly protrude toward the outside with respect to the hollow seating 24.

In this second configuration, the smaller portion 28a faces toward the inside of the hollow seating 24, the bigger portion 28b protrudes from the hollow seating 24, and the positioning portions 30 are inserted in the positioning seatings 26.

In the first configuration, the support device 10 can be mounted and installed using the support plate 1 1 made of ferromagnetic material.

The support plate 1 1 can be provided with through holes 34 in which releasable attachment members 36 can be inserted, to attach the support plate to an application surface 14 with a flat surface, such as for example a wall.

The support device 10 can thus be attached to the application surface 14 by positioning the section bar element 12 with the insertion seating 13 in correspondence with the support plate 11, so that the magnetic element 22 can act through magnetic attraction on the support plate 11, keeping the support device 10 in position.

According to embodiments described using figs. 1 and 2, the insertion seating 13 is defined laterally by the outermost walls of the section bar element 12, and on a third side by the top of the lateral walls 23 of the hollow seating 24, so that the support plate 11 , during use, is in direct contact with the magnetic element 22.

On the contrary, in the second configuration, the support device 10 can be installed even without the support plate 11, on any application surface 14 whatsoever, even irregular in shape. In this case, the magnetic element 22 partly protrudes from the hollow seating 24 and can be put in direct contact with a ferromagnetic application surface 14 of any shape whatsoever. It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the support device 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

For example, according to a possible variant, it is possible to provide a magnetic element 122 consisting of two or more magnets suitably assembled, providing two magnetic poles at 90°, or according to any other desired angle.

In one embodiment, shown for example in fig. 4, two magnetic elements 122a, 122b can be provided, at an angle of 90° with respect to each other, for example a first magnetic element 122a in correspondence with the bigger portion 28b of the main body 28, and a second magnetic element 122b in correspondence with a positioning portion 30, angled by 90° with respect to the first magnetic element 122a.

According to this variant embodiment, the magnetic element 122 is also asymmetrical with respect to the median plane M, and can be inserted in a first position of use, with the second magnetic element 122b that is flush with the hollow seating 124, and in a second position of use, rotated by an angle of 90° with respect to the first position of use, with the first magnetic element 122a that protrudes at least partly from the hollow seating 24 (indicated by a line of dots in fig. 4).

According to this embodiment, the positioning seatings 26 will be suitably shaped to position the magnetic element 122 correctly.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of support device 10, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.