BATTERY POWERED STEM LAMP

Technical Field

[1] The present invention concerns a battery powered stem lamp, in particular for the sector of the entertainment industry or catering.

Background Art

[2]

[3] Lamps for the entertainment industry are known including LED bulbs, with their electronic power adapters, which include wireless DMX receivers so they can be controlled by respective wireless DMX console, possibly programmable, capable of individually controlling the dimming of a plurality of the above lamps to create the desired scenic light environment. These lamps are usually constituted by light projectors in spots, lines, or with other shapes, that can be anchored to suspended supports.

[4] These type lamps are also increasingly in demand in the catering and organization of events of limited size. In fact, in these sectors there is a need to create a lighting in correspondence with a plurality of tables often set up outdoors in gardens and in positions not fixed but widely variable. In these cases it is appropriate and required a very versatile lighting capable of both effectively illuminate the seats at a table during a lunch or dinner, both can be adjusted and varied in intensity and possibly also in color in order to create the desired stage effects. In addition, the individual lamps must have its own battery power supply because a cabled grid connection can be very uncomfortable and unsightly.

[5] Neither the lamps with DMX control of the conventional type outlined above, nor other types of conventional lamps are able to satisfy all the needs outlined above. In fact, although they are known lamps with DMX control with battery and wireless control, these have a structure suitable to be bound to supports such as rods, bars, or other supports able to hold then suspended, and they are also usually configured to project the light beams relatively focused and directional rather than to create a diffuse lighting.

[6] Obviously, they are also known stem lamps to be placed on tables or on the ground that have battery power supply and which are provided with means for regulating the intensity of the light emitted, for example via simple potentiometers or via a electronic control relatively more complex, however, these also have significant limitations which make them not suitable to satisfy all the needs outlined previously. First, conventional stem lamps are not individually remotely controllable to adjust the light intensity. In addition, conventional stem lamps have a battery capacity or intensity too limited.

[7] In addition, besides the possibility of adjusting the light intensity remotely and in a programmed mode, very important and desired features for a stem lamp usable in the organization of events that provide catering services are the ease and cheapness of transport, the simplicity and speed of operation, the absence of electrical wires in sight, the speed of charging the batteries. In fact, the event organizer or the catering company must be able to carry on event location a often high number of lamps so it is critical that both the transport operations and the installation of the lamps is the most simple, inexpensive and fast possible. Conventional stem lamps are known, also with battery, which are removable and re-assembled in a relatively simple manner, however, they do not have all the features outlined above so that it is desirable to seek solutions capable of optimizing, the overall dimensions and total weights for transport, assembly operations, installation and charging the batteries.

Disclosure of Invention

Summary of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to propose a battery stem lamp with battery particularly suitable for use in the catering sector or organizing events that include food services.

Another object of the invention is to propose a battery stem lamp that has excellent compactness during transport and that in general can be transported in a configuration particularly convenient.

Another object of the invention is to propose a battery stem lamp that is removable and whose re-assembly in the use configuration is particularly simple and quick.

Conventionally, a battery stem lamp, in particular for the entertainment industry or catering, comprises at least one light source, batteries (23, 24), an electronics for power supply and charging the batteries, means for adjusting the power absorbed by the light source.

According to one aspect of the present invention a battery stem lamp comprises:

• base in which are housed the batteries, the electronics for power supply and charging the batteries and the means for adjusting the power absorbed by the light source,

• a stem one end of which is associable with the light source, the opposite end of the stem being associable via rapid fastening means to the base, the rapid fastening means being suitable to perform both the mechanical connection and the electrical connection between the stem and the base,

• a reflection and darkening assembly attachable to the upper end of the stem, suitable for protecting the light source, partially obscuring it and orienting its light beam.

A lamp as above defined can be used in a very advantageous way as a table lamp or floor above or in the vicinity of a dining table of an event of restoration. The lamp can be transported dismantled and assembled extremely quickly, and allows an adjustment of the light diffused by it. [14] Advantageously, the rapid fastening means are constituted by a three-pole coaxial connector associated with the base and a corresponding and complementary three poles coaxial connector associated to the stem.

[15] Still advantageously, the lamp base comprises a Wireless DMX receiver suitable to command the means for adjusting the power absorbed by the light source.

[16] Thanks to the presence of the receiver DMX light intensity adjustment can be

performed remotely via a DMX console capable of controlling simultaneously and individually, a plurality of lamps according to the invention and also other light means.

[17] According to a preferred embodiment the base comprises:

[18]

• a plate on an upper surface of which are provided housings for batteries, electronics for power supply and charging the batteries and the means for adjusting the power absorbed by the light source, while a lower surface of the plate is provided with support legs,

• the reflection and darkening assembly includes a shade -holder frame associated to the stem, a reflector associated to the shade-holder, a shade associated to the shade-holder.

[19] Advantageously, the lamp comprises a flight case for a plurality of lamps, constituted by a container on wheels whose interior is divided into a plurality of first compartments each of which suitable to house a lamp base, and in one or more second compartments suitable to accommodate the stems and the reflection and darkening assembly of the lamp, the container being provided with an electrical outlet associated with an outer wall of the container and accessible from outside suitable to allow the wired connection to a source of external power supply (for example, the mains), and electric power supply members inside the container adapted to suitably connect the electronics for power supply and charging the batteries of each of the bases accommodated in said first compartments with said electrical outlet so as to allow simultaneous charging of the bases from the external power supply source.

[20] Preferably, each of said first compartments comprises a coaxial connector disposed in its bottom surface facing upward in such a way that the insertion of a base upside down in one of the first compartments involves the connection of the relevant coaxial connector with a corresponding coaxial connector of the base, the recharging of the batteries of the base taking place by means of the connection between respective coaxial connectors of said first compartment and the base.

[21] A case as outlined above allows to carry a plurality of lamps smoothly in a very compact configuration and at the same time performs the charging of the batteries through the same connector of the lamp base in which is inserted the stem when the lamp is to be used.

[22] According to another aspect of the present invention the above purposes are

achieved by means of a system of lighting, in particular for the entertainment industry and / or of the restoration, comprising a plurality of lamps according to the invention, in particular the type provided with DMX wireless receiver, and at least one wireless DMX console designed to control each individual lamp.

[23] According to still another aspect of the present invention the above purposes are achieved by means of a method of assembling a battery powered stem lamp as outlined above, which method includes steps of:

• association of the base with the stem by rapid fastening means suitable to realize at the same time a mechanical and electrical connection of the base with said stem following the insertion of an end of the stem in a housing provided in the base;

• association of the light source to a lamp-holder provided at an end of the stem opposite the end inserted into the base,

• association of the reflection and darkening assembly to the stem in correspondence with the light source.

Description of Drawings

[24] These and other features of the invention will be more easily understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given as non- limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• Figure 1 shows a schematic exploded perspective view of a battery powered stem lamp according to the present invention;

• Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the lamp of Fig. 1, resting on a table in the configuration of use;

• Figure 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a lighting system comprising lamps according to the present invention;

• Figure 4 shows a base of the lamp of Fig. 1: FIG. 4a shows a schematic side sectional view, FIG. 4b shows a schematic top view;

• Figure 5 shows a case for the transportation of four lamps according to the invention in the configuration of non-use and recharging of the same: FIG. 5 shows the case in a top view, Figure 5b shows the case in side section.

Description of Preferred Embodiments

[25] With reference to Figures 1 to 4 it is indicated as a whole with 10 a lamp according to the present invention. The lamp 10 comprises a base 20, a stem 30, a light source 40, and a reflection and darkening assembly, 50.

[26] As shown in the schematic representations of Fig. 4, the base 20 is constituted by a plate, 21, substantially flat and by a cover 22, associable perimetrically in a stable manner to the plate 21 and shaped so as to create an internal volume of the base sufficient to accommodate the main electrical and electronic components of the lamp 10. In fact, as can be seen schematically in the top view of Fig. 4b in which the cover 22 has been removed, on the plate are housed, specularly with respect to a vertical barycentric plane, two batteries, 23, 24, which are preferably last generation batteries with high efficiency and of sufficient capacity, once established the maximum power absorbed by the lamp when in use, to allow continuous use for at least twelve hours. As it can be seen, to optimize the operative time between two charge operations, the overall dimensions of the base 20 are substantially equivalent to the dimensions of the batteries 23 and 24. In addition, the specular arrangement of the batteries 23 and 24 on the plate 21 ensures an optimal balance of the base, and then a high stability of the lamp 10 as a whole.

[27] On the plate 21 is housed an electronic board 25, which is suitable to manage the power of the light source 40 and the charging of the batteries 23 and 24.

[28] A three-way switch, 26, is also housed on the plate 21, and has the corresponding control lever, 27, which through a suitable hole made in the plate 21 protrudes from the lower side of the plate itself.

[29] In a central position of the plate 21 there is a housing in which is housed a female three-pole coaxial connector, 28, shown schematically as of known technique, arranged oriented upward so as to be able to superiorly receive a corresponding male three-pole coaxial connector integral with the stem 30. Obviously, the connector 28 integral with the plate 11 could also be a male connector and in this case the stem 30 would be integral with a corresponding female three-pole coaxial connector.

[30] Finally, in the embodiment depicted on the plate it is housed a DMX wireless receiver, 29, of known technique. DMX wireless receiver wirelessly receives commands related to the dimming of the light source and transmits them to the circuit board which performs dimming. In other embodiments of a lamp according to the invention, the adjustment of the power absorbed by the light source and therefore the intensity of the emitted light can be performed by means of other adjusting means such as rheostat potentiometers or electronic dimmers controlled by mechanical or electronic control organs present on the lamp itself. Alternatively, the circuit board 25 may include dimmers controlled remotely via communication protocols other than DMX. The adjustment means of the power absorbed by the light source may be of the analogue type or continuous, or of the digital type or discrete.

[31] The three-way switch 26 has a position in which the lamp 10 is turned off, an on position and a position dedicated to the recharging of the batteries, which occurs through the same coaxial connector 28 through which takes place the power supply of the light source 40 .

[32] The batteries 23 and 24 and the electronic board 25, the switch 26, the coaxial connector 28 and the DMX wireless receiver 29 are of course appropriately connected electrically with each other via electric cables, and yet the wirings are not shown for simplicity of representation and as a technician in the sector is certainly able to correctly perform the electrical connections between the various components mentioned above.

[33] The plate 21 is provided with holes, 211, for the insertion of screw type support legs, 212, that allow to adjust the height of the base 20 from the supporting surface.

[34] The plate 21 and its cover 22 can be made of metal material such as steel or

aluminum, or plastic material with high resistance. The batteries 23 and 24 and the other electronic components may be bound to the plate 21 by means of suitable brackets or mounting plates made integral to the plate through holes and screw connections, or an appropriate slot could be formed directly in the plate 21 by molding. Obviously the housing of the electrical and electronic components on the plate could be accomplished in different ways yet. For example, a single plastic element shaped to include adequate housings may be glued or bonded in some other way on a metal plate substantially flat.

[35] The cover 22 is provided perimetrically with constraining means, 221, to the peripheral zone of the plate 21, suitable to allow a stable connection but removable between the plate 21 and the cover 22. In addition, the cover 22 has centrally a hole in which is stably fitted a bushing, 223, the inner surface of which is suitable to mate with the outer surface of the end portion of the stem 30 in order to guide the vertical sliding.

[36] The stem 30 is constituted by a tubular element, 31, of suitable length, to a lower end of which is bound a three-pole coaxial connector, 32, corresponding and complementary to the coaxial connector 28 of the base 20. The end portion of the stem 30 in which is housed the coaxial connector 32 has the form of the outer surface suitable to mate with the bushing 223 so that the stem 30 is guided by the bushing 223 to slide vertically. Thanks to the aforesaid coupling between the end portion of the stem and the bushing 223, the insertion of the stem in the bushing 223 leads, at the end of its run, to coupling of the coaxial connector 28 of the base with the corresponding and complementary coaxial connector 32 of the stem 30.

[37] At an opposite end of the stem 30 there is at least one lamp-holder, 33, provided with first constraint members for the electrical coupling of the light source 40 and second means of constraint for the coupling of a lampshade holder.

[38] Inside the tubular element 31 of the stem 30 are housed electrical wiring

connecting the coaxial connector 32 with the lamp-holder 33.

[39] The reflection and darkening assembly 50 is constituted by the lampshade holder,

51, which is a frame of truncated-cone shape whose smaller base, 511, is provided with members for connecting to the lamp-holder 33, a reflector, 52, having form of paraboloid whose inner surface is advantageously reflective, and a lampshade, 53, constituted by a frame associable to the lampshade holder 51 and by a partially transparent cover, for example in paper or fabric.

[40] A lamp 10 as described above can be disassembled in a very simple way to be

transported in a compact configuration and small footprint, and can just as quickly be recomposed in the use configuration.

[41] As can be seen from the exploded view of Fig. 1, the mounting the lamp 10 is

performed by fitting the stem 30 in the base 20 simply by inserting the end portion of the stem equipped with the coaxial connector 32 in the bushing 223 until you get to the stop. When the stem 30 is at the end of its run in the base 20 it has both the electrical connection given by the coupling of the coaxial connector 28 of the base with the corresponding and complementary coaxial connector 32 of the stem, both the mechanical connection between the base 20 and the stem 30 given by the coupling between the inner surface of the bushing 223 and the outer surface of the end portion of the stem 30. Subsequently, the lampshade holder 51 is coupled to the lamp-holder 33, for example through a threaded coupling, and also the light source 40 is coupled to the lamp-holder 33. The light source 40, which is preferably an LED bulb, may have connection means of any known technique such as threaded couplings type E27 or E14, bayonet couplings or others yet, obviously depending on the type of the first constraint members provided in the lamp-holder 33.

[42] The larger base of the lampshade holder 51 is associated with the reflector 52, for example simply by means of supports or joints, and finally the lampshade 53 is associated with the lampshade holder, even this simply by supports or joints.

[43] At this point, the lamp of the invention, devoid of any wire in view, it is ready to be used, after a simple switching of the lever 27 of the switch 26 in the on position.

[44] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the lamp of the invention is typically and advantageously used in a lighting system for events and shows that include catering services. A lighting system, 100, according to the invention comprises a plurality of lamps, 10, according to the invention and at least one control console DMX, 110, wireless type.

[45] Conventionally, wireless DMX consoles, possibly programmable, are associated with wireless DMX projectors, to control the lighting of the scene. In a system according to the present invention, a same wireless DMX control console 110 can control both the DMX projectors for the scene lighting and a plurality of lamps 10 according to the invention, each associated with a dining table, T, to control in a much more accurate all the lighting of the event, considering that the necessary illumination at the tables participates in creating the light scenario of the event.

[46] With a lighting system 100 according to the present invention, in which lamps 10 according to the present invention are associated to the dining tables in an event or show which would also provide catering services, it is possible for example to allow the public to eat with adequate light and then lower in sync and custom mode the lights at the tables when the show takes place. Obviously, what above mentioned is just the simplest example of use, but certainly the ability to individually control the dimming of each lamp 10, possibly in a programmed way, allows to obtain lighting scenarios of any type.

[47] As shown in FIG. 5, a lighting system 100 according to the present invention advantageously comprises also a flight case, 120, capable of storing and charging a plurality of lamps 10 according to the invention.

[48] According to a preferred embodiment the flight case 120 is able to house four lamps 10 as it is provided with: four first compartments, 121, of shape and size suitable for containing each a base 20 of a lamp 10; a second compartment, 122, of elongated shape suitable for containing the stems 30, the light sources 40 and the reflection and darkening assembly 50 of the four lamps. A further compartment, 123, is provided inferiorly to the first compartment 121 for housing a power supply, 124, and other electrical components useful to recharge the batteries of the bases 20 housed in the first compartment 121.

[49] In fact, at the bottom surface of each of the first compartments 121 there is a

coaxial connector, 126, identical to the connector 32 of the stem 30. Each of the four connectors 126 is connected by electric wires, 125, 124 to the power supply and this is in turn connected to a panel plug, 127, associated with an external wall of the container

120 and accessible from outside. In this way, through a simple electric cable equipped with a plug at one end (for connection to an electrical outlet) and socket at the other end (for connection to the panel plug 127), the case 120 can be plugged to the mains to recharge the batteries of the bases 20 housed therein. The mode of connection of the bases 20 to the charging connector 126 is extremely simple. In fact, the connector 126 is positioned such that it is sufficient to insert the base 20 upside down in one of the first compartments 121 for lowering also the bushing 223 on the connector 126 so that when the cover of the base comes in abutment on the bottom of the first compartment

121 also connector 28 of the base is in connection with the connector 126 of the first compartment 121. Obviously, the case 120 may also have a different configuration from the above-described and be suitable to accommodate a greater or lesser number of lamps and moreover also the connection mode of the bases for recharging its batteries could be different from that described above.

[50] The flight case 120 is provided at the top with a door, 130, hinged along one side to the lower portion and is also advantageously provided with wheels, 131, in the lower side and grip handles. Furthermore, in the embodiment represented, the case is also provided with two wheels, 132, in the lower part of an outer side wall and an extensible handle, 133, in correspondence of the opposite wall, so it can be transported like a trolley.

[51] A case 120 as described above is particularly useful in a lighting system according to the invention since in the field of application is very often necessary to transport at the same time a large number of lamps in places often different. Thanks to the case 120 the lamps 10 may be transported and recharged in a very compact configuration and without the risk that they may be damaged during transport.

[52] The characteristics and the advantages of the lamp of the invention and in general of a lighting system according to the present invention of course remain unaltered even in the presence of further embodiments, modifications or variations of practical nature, though always remaining within the scope of protection defined by the following claims.