The present invention relates to an articulated lamp of the type specified in the preamble of the first claim.

In particular, the present invention relates to an articulated table lamp, ie adapted to be used mainly, although not exclusively, on desks, tables, counters or other work surfaces.

As known, articulated lamps are lighting devices that have had great success in the commercial field both as an object of undisputed usefulness and as an object of industrial design.

The first example to have received a lot of attention throughout history is known as the Anglepoise lamp. This lamp substantially includes an illumination lens supported by three independent arms mutually connected by fixed hinges and whose balance is determined by the presence of various springs arranged above all in the base area or in the area resting on the work surface.

The Anglepoise lamp has also given rise to other similar designs that include some small alternative tricks. For example, in some versions, counterweights were used in the base area to balance the lamp support arms. Or, in a version made by Luxo, the Anglepoise articulated lamp has been modified using, instead of at least one arm, an articulated quadrilateral individually balanced by one or more springs or counterweights . The known art described includes some important drawbacks. In particular, the designs of the aforementioned historical solutions, which were taken up and slightly modified by Pixar with the animated Luxo Jr lamp, feature exposed springs or counterweights.

At the same time, the entire articulated structure, especially if it includes articulated quadrilaterals, is also completely on display. Therefore, the known articulated lamps are not very elegant and not very adaptable to the new minimalist design styles in which complex shapes and structures have been replaced by simple and balanced objects.

In addition, known articulated lamps require many components which must be assembled in an optimal manner. Among the various components, there are therefore particularly expensive objects, such as springs, which can involve greater costs also in economic terms and not only in terms of labor. In this situation, the technical task underlying the present invention is to devise an articulated lamp capable of substantially obviating at least part of the aforementioned drawbacks.

Within the scope of said technical task, an important object of the invention is to obtain an articulated lamp whose structure is extremely simple and balanced.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an articulated lamp which is stripped of the plurality of visible components which characterize known articulated lamps.

Furthermore, a further task of the invention is to create an articulated lamp whose structural complexity is reduced, while also reducing the need for labor and time for assembly, as well as the cost of making the lamp itself.

The technical task and the specified aims are achieved by an articulated lamp as claimed in the attached claim 1.

Preferred technical solutions are highlighted in the dependent claims.

The features and advantages of the invention are clarified below by the detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an articulated lamp according to the invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates a side view of an articulated lamp according to the invention in which the first and second extreme positions of equilibrium that the structure of the lamp can achieve are visible in broken lines;

Fig. 3a is a side view of an articulated lamp according to the invention in which the structure defines an example of an equilibrium position;

Fig. 3b represents a side view of an articulated lamp according to the invention in which the structure defines an example of a second extreme position of equilibrium; Fig. 3c shows a side view of an articulated lamp according to the invention in which the structure defines an example of the first extreme position of equilibrium; and

Fig. 4 illustrates the detail of the triangular mechanism of an articulated lamp according to the invention.

In this document, measurements, values, shapes and geometric references (such as perpendicularity and parallelism), when associated with words such as "about" or other similar terms such as "almost" or "substantially", are to be understood as less than measurement errors or inaccuracies due to production and/or manufacturing errors and, above all, unless there is a slight deviation from the value, measurement, shape or geometric reference to which it is associated. For example, these terms, if associated with a value, preferably indicate a deviation of no more than 10% of the value itself.

Furthermore, when used, terms such as "first", "second", "superior", "inferior", "main" and "secondary" do not necessarily identify an order, relationship priority or relative position, but can simply be used to more clearly distinguish different components from each other. Unless otherwise specified, as reflected in the following discussions, terms such as

"processing", "computing", "determination",

"computation", or the like, are deemed to refer to the action and/or processes of a computer or similar device electronic computation that manipulates and/or transforms data represented as physical, such as electronic quantities of registers of a computer system and/or memories into, other data similarly represented as physical quantities within computer systems, registers or other storage, transmission devices or information display.

The measurements and data reported in this text are to be considered, unless otherwise indicated, as carried out in the ICAO International Standard Atmosphere (ISO 2533: 1975).

With reference to the Figures, the articulated lamp according to the invention is globally indicated with the number 1. The lamp 1 comprises, briefly, an emitter 2, a base 3 and a structure 4.

Emitter 2 is basically configured to emit light. Therefore, the emitter 2 can consist of a simple light bulb, or an LED component or other equivalent elements.

Furthermore, the emitter 2 can comprise a support to which elements such as the aforementioned light bulb, the aforementioned LED component or other equivalent elements are connected. The support can therefore have a rounded or square shape. For example, the support can be configured to wrap the illuminating component of the emitter 2 in such a way as to focus the light within a predetermined beam. Furthermore, the surface of the support facing the illuminating element could be reflective.

The base 3 is configured, however, to allow the support of the lamp 1. In particular, preferably, the base 3 allows the lamp 1 to be placed on a surface 3a.

The plane 3a can be determined by any supporting surface. It can, therefore, be the support surface of a table, a desk, a bedside table, a shelf, or any other element that allows to stably support objects, such as lamp 1, above itself.

The structure 4, therefore, is connected between the base 3 and the emitter 2 . In particular, the structure is configured to connect the base 3 and the emitter 2. Therefore, preferably, the structure 4 is configured in such a way as to support emitter 2 with respect to plane 3a.

As already mentioned, the lamp 1 is articulated. Therefore, in this regard, the lamp 1 comprises elements which allow to easily move some parts thereof.

Preferably, the structure 4 comprises at least a first arm 40 and a second arm 41. The first arm 40 is substantially a long-form element, for example a rod or an element similar to a thinned beam. Therefore, the first arm 40 defines a first development direction 4a. The first development direction 4a is substantially the direction along which the first arm 40 develops.

The first arm 40 is therefore preferably constrained to the base 3. The first arm 40 can be constrained in a labile or non-labile manner to the base 3. In any case, preferably, the first development direction 4a is transversal with respect to the plane to the plane 3a. In this sense, even more in detail, the first development direction 4a is inclined with respect to the plane 3a in such a way as to create a support angle b. The support angle b is substantially the angle subtended between the first arm 40 and the plane 3a, or the angle between the first development direction 4a and the plane 3a. If the support angle b is a right angle, the first development direction 4a is orthogonal with respect to the plane 3a. Preferably, the support angle b is different from the right angle, so that the first arm 40 is arranged at an angle with respect to the plane 3a.

For example, the support angle b can be equal to 75°. The second arm 41 is preferably connected to the emitter 2.

The second arm 41 is also substantially a long-form element, for example a rod or an element similar to a thinned beam. Therefore, the second arm 40 defines a second development direction 4b. The second development direction 4b is substantially the direction along which the second arm 41 develops.

The second development direction 4b is preferably not oriented in a fixed manner with respect to the plane 3a, but can be oriented with respect to it. In fact, preferably, the structure 4 also includes a first hinge 42.

The first hinge 42 is configured to loosely constrain the first arm 40 with the second arm 41. It can be a mechanical hinge or an equivalent hinge, for example bearingless, suitable in any case to allow the second arm 41 to be moved with respect to the first arm 40. In this way it is also possible to orient the second development direction 4b with respect to the plane 3a and also to the first development direction 4a.

When the arms 40, 41 are mutually rotated, in detail, they define a rotation a. The rotation is substantially the angle of movement of the first arm 41 with respect to the second arm 40. Of course, the angle cannot be considered as the angle between the first arm 40 and the second arm 41, but is preferably considered as the angle between the second arm 41 and a plane parallel to the plane 3a.

The first hinge 42 therefore substantially defines a first rotation axis 4c. The first rotation axis 4c is preferably the axis around which the second arm 40 can rotate with respect to the first arm 41. The rotation can therefore be defined as the rotation around the first rotation axis 4c. The first rotation axis 4c is therefore preferably parallel to the plane 3a, but could also be inclined with respect to it.

In any case, preferably, the first hinge 42 is configured to divide the second arm 41 into a first portion 410 and a second portion 411. The first portion 410 is preferably arranged between the emitter 2 and the first hinge 42. The second portion 411, on the other hand, is preferably spaced from the emitter 2 and separated from the first portion 410 by the first hinge 42.

In other words, the second portion 411 is arranged on the opposite side to the first portion 410 with respect to the hinge 42. The first portion 410 can, therefore, be rigidly constrained to the emitter 2, or the emitter 2 can be loosely constrained to the first portion 410. In the latter case, preferably, the labile constraint can be achieved by means of a second hinge 43. Therefore, the structure 4 can comprise a second hinge 43. The second hinge 43 can be of the same type as the first hinge 42. Furthermore, also the second hinge 43 can define a second rotation axis 4d.

The second rotation axis 4d is, therefore, the axis around which the emitter 2 can be rotated with respect to the first portion 410 and, therefore, with respect to the second arm 41.

Preferably, the second rotation axis 4d is parallel to the first rotation axis 4c, but it could also be oriented differently.

Advantageously, the first arm 40 comprises a guide 400. The guide 400 is substantially a portion of the first arm 40 which extends along the first development direction 4a. It can, therefore, be a rail, a slot or other object that allows to determine an orientation of an object connected therein.

Preferably, the guide 400 is determined by a cavity. In other words, the first arm 40 is hollow so as to make a duct inside it so as to make said guide 400. The guide 400 is therefore preferably a duct extending along the first development direction 4a within the first arm 40. Furthermore, advantageously, the first arm 40 comprises elastic means 401. The elastic means 401 are substantially configured to expand. In particular, they expand at least linearly along the development direction. In addition, preferably, the elastic means 401 are housed at least partially within the guide 400. Naturally, the elastic means 401 could also be constrained on the guide 400 if the latter is not, by way of example, a duct, but also only a rail or slot.

The elastic means 401 are preferably adapted to work in traction. For example, they can comprise a choice between a spring and an elastomeric elastic. Naturally, the elastic means 401, as such, are adapted to realize an elastic force Fe.

The elastic force Fe is preferably realized along the development direction 4a, but can be transmitted in any direction as described below.

Even more in detail, preferably, the elastic force Fe is at least partially transverse with respect to the second development direction 4b. The elastic force Fe is, however, transmitted to the second portion 411. In fact, the elastic means 401 are connected to the second portion 411. The connection can be direct or indirect as explained below. In any case, the elastic means 401 and the second portion 411 are connected in such a way that, when the arms 40, 41 are mutually rotated around the hinge 42 defining the rotation a, the elastic means 401 expand defining an expansion d. The expansion d is preferably substantially the linear expansion of the elastic means 401 along the first development axis 4a. In particular, advantageously, the expansion d is proportional to the rotation a. Furthermore, the expansion d implies a variation of the elastic force Fe proportional to the expansion d itself.

The expansion d is allowed above all by the fact that the elastic means 401 are at least partially constrained to the arm 40. In particular, the elastic means 401 define at least a first end 401a. The first end 401a is therefore an end of the elastic means 401 in correspondence with which the connection between the elastic means 401a and the arm 40 is made. The first end 401a, moreover, can be more in detail arranged in correspondence with the first hinge 42. The elastic means 401, moreover, also define a second end 401b. The second end 401b is substantially an opposite end to the first end 401a. The expansion d is, therefore, substantially determined by the distancing or reciprocal approach, preferably along the first development direction 4a, of the ends 401a, 401b.

In a preferred but not exclusive embodiment, the elastic means 401 are indirectly connected to the second portion 411. In particular, preferably, the elastic means 401 are connected to the second portion 411 by means of a flexible elongated element 5. The second end 401b is, therefore, preferably connected to the second portion 411 by means of the flexible elongated element 5.

The latter is essentially an element configured to work in tension. A flexible elongated element 5 can be a simple cable or a corresponding element.

In particular, it is configured to convert the expansion d into rotation a. To do this, the flexible elongated element 5 is substantially capable of releasing or pulling the second portion 411 in proportion to the expansion d of the elastic means 401 in such a way as to drive the rotation of the second arm 41 with respect to the first arm 40 around the first rotation axis 4c.

The flexible elongated element 5 can be constrained to the free end of the second portion 411, or it can also be constrained at an intermediate point.

In addition, preferably, the elongated flexible element 5 and the elastic means 401 are configured in such a way that the elastic means remain within the guide 400 and the elongated flexible element 5 is arranged partly within the guide 400 and partly externally to it is in the first arm 40.

To achieve this embodiment, the first arm 40 can comprise a slot 402. The slot 402 is preferably adapted to arrange the inside of the first arm 40, substantially the guide 400, in communication with the outside. The elongated flexible element 5 is therefore configured to come out of the slot 402 with respect to the first arm 40. The elongated flexible element 5 can, therefore, lean against an edge defined by the slot 402 and move on it. Alternatively, the first arm 40 can comprise a pulley 403. Of course, the pulley 403 can be combined with the slot 402 or be present without the need for the slot 402.

The pulley 403 is preferably arranged, if present, in a fixed point of the first arm 40 along the first development direction 4a. The flexible elongated element 5 is therefore configured to move on the pulley 403. The latter thus favors the transmission of the expansion d reducing the friction present between the elongated flexible element 5 and the first arm 40.

In the preferred embodiment, substantially, the structure 4 defines a triangular mechanism. The triangular mechanism is therefore determined by elements arranged on the sides of the triangle. The sides are, in detail, determined respectively by the second component 411, by the flexible elongated element 5 and by the elastic means 401 and part of the flexible elongated element 5, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

The lamp 1 therefore creates particular configurations of use. The emitter 2 defines a weight force Fp. The weight force Fp is substantially corresponding mainly to the weight of the emitter 2, but can also include part of the weight of the second arm 41, in particular of the first portion 410.

Of course, the entity of the weights mainly affects the displacement of the center of gravity with respect to the hinge 42. In any case, schematically, the first portion 410 substantially defines a first projection bl.

The first projection bl is determined by the projection of the first portion 410 onto the plane 3a. As already mentioned, the first projection bl can also correspond to only part of the first portion 410 if the center of gravity is shifted towards the hinge 42. The present description of the balancing of forces and moments is, in any case, to be considered schematic and "ideal" and it must not be understood in a strict and literal sense.

Mainly, the present description has the purpose of making explicit the operation of the lamp 1 and the realization of the various configurations .

The second portion 411 also defines a second projection b2. The second projection b2 is preferably determined by the projection of at least part of the first portion 410 onto the plane 3a. Also in this case, the second projection b2 can correspond to the projection of only part of the second portion 411 or of the whole. For example, the second projection b2 can vary depending on where the elongated flexible element 5 is constrained or where the elastic means 401 are constrained with respect to the second portion 411.

In any case, the weight force Fp and the first projection bl determining a first angular moment Ml. The first angular moment Ml is evaluated with respect to the first hinge 42, i.e. around the first rotation axis 4c. As known, the second angular moment Ml can be defined as the product of the weight force Fp, which is oriented perpendicular to the plane 3a, and the first projection bl.

The elastic force Fe and the second projection b2, on the other hand, produce a second angular moment M2. The second angular moment M2 is also evaluated with respect to the first hinge 42, that is to the first rotation axis 4c. As known, the second angular moment M2 can be defined as the product of the component perpendicular to the plane 3a of the elastic force Fe and the second projection b2. In this case the component of the elastic force Fe is considered since the elastic force Fe determined by the elastic means 401 is oriented according to the local orientation of the elastic means 401 themselves and/or of the elongated flexible element 5 which works in tension.

The structure 4 is therefore configured in such a way that, in at least one equilibrium position, the moments Ml, M2 are equivalent to each other in magnitude and in opposite directions.

Naturally, the lamp 1 does not realize a single equilibrium position, but realizes a plurality of equilibrium positions. These positions are obtained from the proportional balance between the moments Ml, M2. Of course, any imbalances between the moments

Ml, M2 can still be balanced by friction, that is the resistant torque, created by the first hinge 42. In a preferred embodiment, the lamp 1 allows certain particular positions to be determined.

In particular, the structure 4 defines a first extreme equilibrium position and a second extreme equilibrium position. In the first extreme equilibrium position, preferably, the second development direction 4b is inclined by a first maximum angle oil with respect to the plane 3a. The first maximum angle oil is preferably the maximum positive rotation obtainable from the second arm 41 so that the moments Ml, M2, possibly further balanced by the friction of the first hinge 42, are in equilibrium with each other. Beyond the first extreme equilibrium position, i.e. beyond the first maximum angle oil, the first angular moment Ml exceeds the second angular moment M2, possibly also considering any friction of the first hinge 42.

Therefore, beyond the first extreme position of equilibrium, the emitter 2 tends to return autonomously towards the 3a plane until it finds the balance between Ml and M2. In the second extreme equilibrium position the second development direction 4b is inclined by a second maximum angle 2 with respect to the plane 3a. The second maximum angle 2 is substantially opposite to the first maximum angle oil. Therefore, the second maximum angle 2 is preferably the maximum negative rotation a, or the minimum rotation a, obtainable from the second arm 41 in such a way that the moments Ml, M2, possibly further balanced by the friction of the first hinge 42, are in equilibrium between them. Beyond the second extreme equilibrium position, i.e. beyond the second maximum angle a2, the second angular moment M2 exceeds the first angular moment Ml, possibly also considering any friction of the first hinge 42.

Therefore, beyond the second extreme position of equilibrium, the emitter 2 tends to move away autonomously from the plane 3a until it finds the balance between Ml and M2, driven by the elastic force Fe which pulls the second portion 411 to itself. The equilibrium positions of the structure 4 are therefore defined between the second extreme equilibrium position and the first extreme equilibrium position.

In the equilibrium positions, as already explained, the moments Ml, M2 vary simultaneously in proportion to the rotation a, that is, in such a way as to keep each other balanced.

Naturally, the lamp 1 also includes power supply means, which are not the main object of the present invention. These power supply means are preferably connected to the emitter 2, and they can be external to the structure 4, for example a connection cable, or they can be included within the structure 4.

For example, the structure 4, in particular the arms 40, 41, can be entirely hollow and the hinge 42 can include a hole to allow the passage of power cables inside the structure 4. These cables can pass from the base 3 and be connectable to an electrical network external, for example on the wall, or a battery can be provided for example positioned inside the base 3.

Of course, the power supply means can be operationally connected to control means suitable for allowing the command of the emitter 2 to a user. In any case, such feeding and control means are widely known in the current state of the art.

The articulated lamp 1 according to the invention achieves important advantages. In fact, the articulated lamp 1 includes an extremely simple and balanced structure.

In particular, it includes only two arms and the visible parts are quite limited in number.

A further advantage is given by the fact that the elastic means 401, in the preferred embodiment, are hidden within the guide 400 so that the heart of the mechanism remains concealed and the lamp 1 is stripped of bulky and not aesthetically useful components. The reduced structural complexity, at the same time, also reduces the need for labor and time for assembly, as well as the cost for manufacturing the lamp 1 itself.

The invention is susceptible of variants falling within the scope of the inventive concept defined by the claims. As already mentioned, instead of including elastic means 401 connected to the second portion 411 through the flexible elongated element 5, the elastic means 401 could themselves include an elastic elongated element, for example a simple elastomeric elastic, bound to the second portion 411 and act to directly transmit the dilations d and, therefore, the rotations to the second portion 411 with respect to the first hinge 42, or to the first arm 40.