BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a Sighting device which cars be used for diverse purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention provides a lighting device which indudes an elongate body of constant cross-sectional shape, the body including a first elongate channel and at least one elongate formation, at least one light source which is located in the first elongate channel, and an elongate Sight-transmissive cover which is engaged with the elongate formation and which overHes the at feast one light source..

[0003] With the body viewed in cross-section, the at least one light source may be on a first side of the body and the lighting device may include signage located on or secured to a second side of the body opposing the first side.

[0004] A clear overlay may be located over the signage,

[0005] The body may include a web with a first end and a second end and the first elongate channel may be at or near the first end of the web. The body may include at least one fixing formation at or near the second end of the web _; and at least one formation defining or engageable with a curtain track located between the first end and the second end of the web on what, in use, is a lower side of the web,

[0006] The body may include a second elongate channel, which is parallel to the first elongate channel, and at least one light source may be located in the second elongate channel. One Iight source may be configured to illuminate generally upwards and the other light source may be configured to illuminate generaliy downwardly (in use),

[0007] The invention also extends to a lighting arrangement, which includes four lighting devices each of the aforementioned kind, wherein the four lighting devices are interconnected to form a rectangular or square frame, and a light diffusing panel mounted to the frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The invention is further described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a lighting device according to the invention, Figure 2 illustrates ancillary components which can be used in conjunction with the lighting device of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 illustrates, in cross-section, a lighting device according to the invention configured to act as a pelmet and as a curtain, screen or blind support component;

Figure 4 shows a signage support arrangement engaged with the lighting device; Figure 5 is a view from above of the signage support arrangement;

Figure 8 is a view from above of a signage support arrangement according to a different form of the invention;

Figure 7 shows a signage support arrangement according to a different form of the invention; and

Figure 8 and Figure 9 show further possible configurations for a signage support arrangement,

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates in cross-section a lighting device 10 according to a first form of the invention,

[0010] The lighting device has an elongate body 12, a cover 14, a distributed light source 15 and an overlay 18 (optional).

[0011] The body 12 is formed with an elongate channel 24, which has a number of slots 28. which extend continuously along the length of the body. Two of the slots 28A and 28B respectively are at a mouth 30 to the channel.

[0012] An outer side 36 of the body is curved, A shallow recess or channel 38 _: which extends along the length of the body, is formed in the outer surface 38. The recess 38 is designed to accommodate signage such as an LCD display strip 40 which is engaged with the recess by slipping shaped sides 40A and 408 into undercut formations 39 of the recess 38. Standard labels could be used to replace the LCD material and these labels could carry information on products, pricing and the like. The invention is not limited in this respect. [0013] The overlay 18 can be used when a display stop or label 40 Is used. The overlay has a curved outer surface 18A, which is sized to extend substantially over the entire side 38 of the body 12. The overlay 18 terminates in respective dip formations 18B and 18C at opposing longitudinal edges. These are sized and shaped to engage with corresponding formations 18X and 18Y on an outer surface of the body.

[0014] The lighting device 10 is engageable with one or more support brackets 42 with fastening formations 42A and 42B. The bracket 42 is fixed by means of suitable fasteners 44 to external supporting structure 48. The body 12 has a second channel 48 with opposed rims 48A and 488 which are engageabie with a clip action with the formations 42A and 42B on the bracket 42,

[0018] The lighting device 10 can be used in various ways. The invention is not restricted in this regard. One particular application which is of importance lies in the attachment of the lighting device to a refrigeration cabinet e.g. of the kind encountered In a retail outlet. In this instance the externai structure 46 is, typically, part of a refrigeration cabinet, not shown. The structure 48 overlies a refrigerated volume which contains products for sale (not shown). The distributed light source 16 housed in the channel 24 is angled to direct light outwardly and downwardly from the channei as is indicated by means of arrows 18X and 18Y. This light would fall directly onto products in the refrigeration cabinet. The cover 14 is engaged with the slots 28A and 28B and acts as a lens, a filter or a diffuser. [0018] Details of products in the refrigeration cabinet are carried on the display strips 40 or on equivalent labels or other carriers. The strips or labels are located inside the shallow recess 38 with opposed upper and lower vertical edges 4QA and 40B of each strip or label clipping into the formations 39. The overlay 18 provides a smooth and attractive outer surface over the outer surface of the body.

[0017] A number of the lighting devices, of the kind described, can be interconnected to form a continuous elongate arrangement for refrigeration cabinets which have extended lengths. Equipment to control the operation of the light sources can be housed anywhere convenient and, for example, can be positioned inside the channel 24 at one or more locations. This equipment can be used for example to pulse the light sources, to change the intensity of the light emitted by the sources, to change the colours of the light and to generate different lighting patterns or sequences, [0018] The lighting device 10 can also be used to make up a frame of, say, a rectangular configuration. Thus four lengths of the body can be connected in a rectangular or square outline to form a frame which can outline a billboard, a message board or any equivalent mechanism used to provide information etc. to third parties. This aspect is further described hereafter with reference to Figure 8. [0019] in Figure 1 the structure 48 could be extended downwardly and effectively form a backing sheet to a plurality of the bodies 12 which are directly mounted to the structure in any appropriate configuration,

[302G] Figure 2 illustrates a number of ancillary parts which can be used together with the lighting device 10 of Figure 1. Figure 2A shows an end cap 50 which is engageable with a snap fit to cover an exposed end of the body 12, Figure 2B shows a connector 52 which is used to connect a body 12A to a body 12B which is positioned at a right angle to the body 12A, The connector is an aluminium piece with short spigots 52X, shown in dotted outline, which fit into corresponding ends of the bodies 12A and 12B respectively. The connector 52 could have appropriate channels (not shown) through which cables or wires could run to and from adjacent lighting devices,

[0021] Figure 2C shows a connector 58 used to offset a body 12B by an angle 58 equal to 135°, from a body 12A,

[0022] Use of the connectors 52 and 58 is not obligatory for it is possible to mitre the ends of the bodies 12A and 12B so that the ends can meet in a flush manner. If desired a cover strip could then overlie abutting ends of the bodies,

[0023] Figure 2D shows in dotted outline a cover strip 80 which clips onto end sections of bodies 12A and 12B and which overlies an interface 82 at which ends of the bodies are brought into an abutting arrangement. [0024] Figure 3 shows a modified lighting device 10A which includes a body 12A which has a Iower outer section 70, an upper outer sectbn 72 and a web 74. For practical purposes the Iower outer section 70 can be substantially the same as the channel 24 shown in Figure 1. The tower section has a channel 24A in which is mounted a distributed light source 18 A. A cover 14A closes a mouth of the channel 24A. Similarly the upper section 72 has a channel 24B, a distributed light source 18B and a cover 14B. A fiat facade or surface 75 connects the upper and lower sections and provides an attractive outer finish.

[0025] The web 74 is apertured to save weight and to enhance strength. The web has a sloping upper surface 74A and a substantially horizontal lower surface 74B. C-tracks 78 and 80 for use with curtain rails are integrally formed with the web 74 and extend downwardly from the Iower surface 74B.

[0026] The web 74 at an end which is remote from the sections 70 and 72 has a fixing formation 84, This is engageable with one or more brackets 88, of complementary shape, which are fixed beforehand to a surface of a wall 90.

[0027] Structure on the right in Figure 3 acts as a pelmet with up and down lighting. The web 74 is Integrally formed with the tracks and can accommodate curtain runners In a known manner, The end result is an attractive and unusual pelmet structure. [0028] The lighting device 10A could alternatively be used to support a screen or blind - in this case the C-tracks 78 and 80 would be omitted, or not used. [0029] As an alternative to what is shown in Figure 3 the lower surface 74B and the curtain tracks could be of a conventional nature, separately made from steel or aluminium

[0030] In another form of the invention a signage support arrangement 62 (see Figure 4} is engaged with the recess 38 by sliding a base 84 of the arrangement into the undercut formations 39 of the recess 38 . The arrangement 82 includes a support column 66 which extends upwardly from the base 64. The support column and the base may be integrally formed.

[0031] Viewed from above (see Figure 5) if is evident that the support column 68 includes three support formations 68, 70 and 73 respectively, which are side-by- side. Each support formation includes a respective longitudinally extending arcuate slot 68 A, 70A and 73A.

[0032] The support arrangement 62 is usable with a display member 81 which can take on different forms. An insert drawing to Figure 4 shows one type of display member 81 from the front while, In Figure 4, the display member 81 is shown from one side. The display member 81 includes an inverted U-shaped frame 83 with a crossbar 85 and two spaced apart downwardly extending limbs 85A and 85B respectively, These limbs have cylindrical formations 87 and 89. Opposed inner surfaces of the limbs respectively have slots 91 and 93 - this is indicated in a dotted line in the insert drawing. An under surface 94 of the crossbar 85 is similarly formed with a slot 97. A label, not shown, is engageable with the frame by inserting respective edges of the label into the slots 91 , 93 and 97.

[0033] The display member 81 is coupled to the support column 88 by sliding a cylindrical formation 87, 89 into engagement with one of the slots 6ΘΑ, 70A or 73A. As the support column has the three tubular support formations 88, 70 and 73, it is possible to position the display member 81 so that a selected side faces to the left or to the right (relative to the body 12} or, alternatively, to position the display member 81 so that the crossbar 85 extends in a direction which is parallel to a longitudinal direction of the body 12. Another possibility Is to engage each of the cylindrical formations 87 and 89 with a respective slot (88A, 70 A. 73A) in two spaced apart support columns.

[0034] In another form of the invention, as shown in Figure 8, a support column 88A includes a single slotted tubular support formation 96 which receives a formation 87 or 89 - an arrangement which allows the display member 81 to be pivoted through about 180° relative to the body 12.

[0035] In another form of the Invention (see Figure 7) a support column 88B, attached to the recess 38 in the manner described, extends around a lower end 100 of the body 12. A display member 81 B is attached to an end 102 of the support column 86B. The device 10 is suspended from an external structure 48 by means of a framework 104 so that the display member 81 B is conveniently located to be illuminated by the light source 18. [0036] Figure 8 shows a rectangular frame 1 10 formed from devices 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D, respectively which are interconnected using connections (not illustrated) of the kind shown in Figure 2). The frame 110 is suspended from a support structure (not shown) by flexible links 112. A diffuser pane! 1 14 with is located on and fixed to the devices is illuminated from above by the light sources 18 (not shown) in the devices 10A to 10D.

[0037] Signage 118 is suspended from the frame as required,

[0038] Figure 9 shows a device 10G and two displays 12.0 and 122 attached to the device. The display 120 extends vertically so that it is legible from a distance.. The display 122 is angled so thai it is legible to a person who is standing almost directly below the device.