~k ~k ~k ~k

Technical Field

The description relates to lighting devices.

One or more embodiments may refer to lighting devices employing electrically-powered solid-state light radiation sources, such as LED sources.

Technological Background

In the field of lighting technology the use is spreading of lighting devices or modules having an elongate shape, e.g. a ribbon shape, including an optionally flexible support whereon one or more solid- state light radiation sources, e.g. LED sources, may be mounted: such devices are sometimes named "flex" modules .

Said lighting devices may require a protection against a penetration of external agents, e.g. an IP grade protection.

For this purpose different solutions are known and implemented, such as dispensing a protective layer of a material such as silicone or glue, over-moulding of similar protective materials and/or using gaskets or particular mechanical features (e.g. clips or similar members) .

These solutions, however, may entail additional process steps, which may jeopardize the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the production processes and/or originate thermal stresses in components or changes in the optical properties of the light radiation sources (e.g. LEDs), moreover leading to rather complex module assembly processes.

Object and Summary

One or more embodiment aim at overcoming the previously outlined drawbacks. According to one or more embodiments, said object may be achieved thanks to a casing for lighting devices having the features set forth in the claims that follow .

One or more embodiments may also concern a corresponding device, as well as a corresponding method .

The claims are an integral part of the technical teaching provided herein in relation to the embodiments.

One or more embodiments may lead to the achievement of a (e.g. IP grade) protection of a ribbon-shaped lighting module (e.g. a LED strip) while avoiding processes of dispensing/co-extruding materials such as silicone.

One or more embodiments may exhibit various advantages, such as:

- avoiding delicate and complex processes in the production line,

- avoiding the generation of thermal stresses in components and/or changes in the optical properties of the light radiation sources (e.g. with colour shifts), e.g. in LED sources, and

implementing a simple and cost-efficient assembly process.

Moreover, one or more embodiments offer the possibility of customizing the length of the lighting devices according to the application needs, e.g. by enabling an easy change of the LED strip, e.g. in order to obtain different CCTs, colours, powers, LED pitches, and an easy change of the light emission properties, e.g. by means of various optical systems.

Brief Description of the Figures

One or more embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the annexed Figures, wherein:

Figure 1 is a general perspective view of a portion of a lighting device comprising one or more embodiments ;

- Figure 2 is a view which substantially corresponds to the viewpoint shown by arrow II in Figure 1, depicted on an enlarged scale,

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view exemplifying one or more embodiments,

- Figure 4 exemplifies the possibility of coupling an end terminal in one or more embodiments, and

Figures 5 to 9 exemplify, according to a viewpoint approximately corresponding to the viewpoint of Figure 1, various possibilities envisaged in one or more embodiments.

It will be appreciated that, for clarity and simplicity of illustration, the various Figures may not be drawn to the same scale.

Detailed Description

In the following description, numerous specific details are given to provide a thorough understanding of various examples of embodiments. The embodiments may be obtained without one or several of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring various aspects of the embodiments .

Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the possible appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

The headings provided herein are for convenience only, and therefore do not interpret the extent of protection or the scope of the embodiments.

In the Figures, reference 10 denotes on the whole a lighting device with an elongate shape, e.g. the shape of a ribbon, and which is optionally flexible. As far as the present case is concerned, device 10 may therefore be considered as having an indefinite length, the features thereof being appreciable primarily, although not exclusively, in a cross-section rather than in the direction of the lengthwise extension.

In one or more embodiments device 10 may comprise, as a light radiation source, a light radiation source module L adapted to include, as visible e.g. in Figure 3, a ribbon-shaped support LI (substantially similar to a e.g. flexible Printed Circuit Board, PCB) whereon there can be mounted one or more electrically-powered light radiation sources L2 (e.g. solid-state light radiation sources, such as LED sources) .

Such modules, which are sometimes named "flex" modules, are known in the art, which makes it unnecessary to provide a more thorough description herein .

One or more embodiments may concern a casing wherein module L may be mounted, in such a way that module L is protected from a penetration by external agents, e.g. with an IP grade protection.

In one or more embodiments, such a casing may include two members 12 and 14, both of a channel-like shape, which are adapted to be coupled in sealing engagement with each other (so as to achieve the previously mentioned protective effect) . In one or more embodiments, the first channel-like member 12, which can be considered as the casing body, includes a web wall 120 adapted to support (within channel-like profile) lighting module L, e.g. with the sources L2 facing the open part of the channel-shaped profile of body 12. In one or more embodiments, this may take place in a condition of snug fitting, so as to facilitate the dissipation, across body 12, of the heat generated by sources L2 during operation.

Laterally of web portion 120 which supports module L, body 12 may also include a (first) pair of lateral walls 122.

In one or more embodiments, body 12 may comprise a thermally conductive material, e.g. a metal material such as e.g. aluminium, such as aluminium A11060.

In one or more embodiments it is therefore possible to facilitate the mechanical fixation of module 10 onto a support structure (e.g. a wall), while simultaneously ensuring a correct thermal dissipation (aluminium A11060 has a thermal conductivity of about 200W/mK) .

In one or more embodiments, body 12 may be obtained via an extrusion process, without the need of performing surface finishing or protective coating treatments .

In one or more embodiments, channel-shaped member 14 may include a web wall 140 of a light-permeable material (e.g. a transparent material) with a (second) pair of lateral walls 142.

The channel-shaped member 14 may therefore be coupled, cover-like, to body 12 in a coupling condition wherein the lateral walls of the first pair 122 (carried by body 12) and of the second pair 142 (carried by cover 14) are mutually engaged. In one or more embodiments this may take place e.g. with the lateral walls 142 of cover 14 fitting into lateral walls 122 of the body, which so to say enclose them.

Of course, in one or more embodiments the coupling arrangement may be reversed, i.e. with lateral walls of cover 14 enclosing lateral walls of body 12.

In one or more embodiments as exemplified herein, i.e. with lateral walls 142 of cover 14 fitting between lateral walls 122 of body 12, cover 14 may have an overall n-shape, e.g. having two lateral extensions 144 which may abut against the "distal" sides of the lateral walls 122 of body 12.

In one or more embodiments, lateral walls 143 of cover 14 may also have distal extensions 146 (see Figure 2) adapted to abut against the surface of lighting module L, so as to push module L against web wall 120 of body 12 when cover 14 is coupled with body 12.

In one or more embodiments, lateral walls 142 of cover 14 may include tooth-like formations 148, which protrude outwards of the channel shape of cover 14 and which are adapted to hook lateral walls 122 of body 12 (e.g. by projecting into channel-shaped cavities 1220 provided in walls 122) when cover 14 is coupled with body 12 itself.

In one or more embodiments, cover 14 may be comprised of a mouldable material, e.g. a plastic material such as silicone, adapted to be made permeable to light radiation (e.g. transparent) at least at the middle part of web wall 140, therefore enabling the passage of the light radiation emitted by sources L2 and the propagation of such a light radiation outside module 10.

As may be better appreciated in the view of Figure 2, in one or more embodiments body 12 and cover 14 are sized (e.g. as regards the position and the distance of the respective lateral walls 122 and 142) so that, when cover 14 is coupled to body 12 (e.g. with the lateral walls 142 fitted between lateral walls 122 in conditions of mutual centring) , between each wall 122 of the first pair and each wall 142 of the second pair facing the same, there may be present a gap having a width h.

One or more embodiments may envisage that one of such mutually facing walls (e.g. wall 142 in the presently considered example) be provided with seal formations 1420, e.g. in the form of flexible lip ribs extending along the wall carrying them (wall 142, in the presently considered example) .

In one or more embodiments, lip seal formations 1420 may be one-piece (e.g. via a single moulding or extrusion process) with said wall.

In one or more embodiments, seal formations 1420 may have a width (at least approximately amounting to the projection of the distal edge of said lip ribs from the external surface of wall 142 carrying them) corresponding to a value w, wherein w is at least 4/3 times gap h.

In one or more embodiments there may be provided at least three such seal formations 1420.

In one or more embodiments, as exemplified in Figure 2, the coupling of cover 14 with body 12, with lateral walls 142 penetrating into lateral walls 122, may cause formations 1420 to bend, specifically by bending towards the exit opening or free portion of the channel-shaped profile of body 12 (i.e. towards the lying plane of web wall 140 of cover 14) . In this way, formations 1420 achieve a sealing action between body 12 and cover 14. In one or more embodiments, formations 1420 may facilitate the achievement of various useful effects, such as :

the compensation of mechanical tolerances between body 12 and cover 14, which enables the implementation of such components with more relaxed tolerances, reducing therefore the production cost,

- the compatibility between bodies 12 and covers 14 of different types: for example, one cover 14 may be coupled with bodies 12 which are different as regards type, shape and material (the coupling of cover 14 being determined primarily by the possibility of achieving a coupling between the lateral walls 122 and 142) ,

- the achievement of a sufficient retention force between cover 14 and body 12, without the need of glues or other fixation means.

In one or more embodiments, said sealing/retention effect may be facilitated by using, in order to obtain formations 1420 (and optionally lateral walls 142, which may be one-piece with formations 1420) of a material, such as silicone, having a hardness of 60-80 Shore A.

The Figures show the possibility, in one or more embodiments, of coupling cover 14, e.g. on the inner side (Figures 1 to 7), e.g. interposed between lateral walls 142 or on the outer side of web wall 140 (Figures 8 and 9), with an elongate (e.g. bar-shaped) member 16, which may be inserted e.g. into a groove 160 and which is adapted to be shaped in different configurations.

In one or more embodiments, member 16 may include a colour filter, e.g. with the possibility of influencing the chromatic properties of the radiation emitted by sources L2.

In one or more embodiments, component 16 may be comprised of a lens (see e.g. Figure 5 or Figure 8) .

In one or more embodiments, component 16 may have the features of a reflector (see e.g. Figure 7, showing the possible provision of distal edges 162 of the reflector being adapted to urge lighting module L against web wall 120 of body 12) .

In one or more embodiments, member 16 may include (see e.g. Figures 6 and 9) a member having diffusive properties, e.g. through surface micro-optics or volumetric diffusion (e.g. because component 16 contains a diffusive and reflective material, e.g. alumina particles dispersed in a silicone matrix) .

In one or more embodiments, member 16 may be produced as an extruded component, e.g. of a plastic material.

Figure 4 exemplifies the possibility of providing module 10 with at least one end terminal 18 (i.e. a sort of "plug") which may be coupled e.g. to body 12 or to cover 14 coupled thereto.

In one or more embodiments, such a terminal 18 may have the simplified configuration shown in Figure 4, i.e. a general cup-like shape, so as to enable mounting terminal 18 as a closing cap onto an end of module 10.

In one or more embodiments, terminal 18 may have an insert comprising a vent formation 180, e.g. of a vapour-permeable material.

A membrane of the material known as Gore-Tex® on the market may be used for this purpose.

In one or more embodiments, formation 180 avoids the build-up of condensation within module 10, while performing a balancing function on the moisture percentage and on the pressure within device 10, e.g. in the different switching on and switching off phases of light radiation sources L2.

Without prejudice to the basic principles, the implementation details and the embodiments may vary, even appreciably, with respect to what has been described herein by way of non-limiting example only, without departing from the extent of protection.

The extent of protection is defined by the annexed claims .