Search

EP-4071404-B1 - LIGHTING SYSTEM

EP4071404B1EP 4071404 B1EP4071404 B1EP 4071404B1EP-4071404-B1

Inventors

  • de Bevilacqua, Carlotta Francesca Isolina Maria
  • LEONI, PAOLO
  • PESSONI, Laura

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20220404

Claims (10)

  1. A lighting system (1) comprising a support cable (2) having two conductive wires (13) only, arranged longitudinally parallel to each other and covered by a covering sheath (14); a plurality of fastening elements (3) for supporting the cable (2) along a path; a plurality of coupling elements (4) fixable to the cable (2) and having respective pairs of contacts (44) which draw current from the cable (2); and a plurality of lighting devices (5) coupled to respective coupling elements (4); each coupling element (4) being provided with a printed circuit board (50), comprising a dimmer (52) and connected to the contacts (44) and to the lighting device (5) coupled to the coupling element (4); wherein each board (50) comprises a DC converter (51); and a Bluetooth module (53) for receiving and processing signals from an external control device; each board (50) being configured to receive a direct current from the cable (2) at an input voltage, via the two pairs of contacts (44), and to generate a dimmed direct current at an output voltage, different from the input voltage, which supplies the lighting device (5) connected to the board (50); wherein each coupling element (4) comprises a casing (40) provided with a guide (42) which extends along an axis (B) and receives the cable (2) and comprises clips (43) projecting from the casing (40) to engage the cable (2), the clips (43) being provided with respective electric contacts (44) for contacting the cable (2); the guide (42) having a bottom wall (47) which supports the cable (2) and from which the clips (43) project, each clip (43) being formed of two opposite facing arms (45, 46), which can be separated or opened for inserting the cable (2), and being provided with a contact (44) projecting from an arm (45) of the clip (43) towards the opposite arm (46) and having a sharp free end.
  2. A system according to claim 1, wherein each board (50) is configured to adjust the power transferred to the respective lighting device (5) for piloting the lighting device (5) independently of the other lighting devices (5) of the system (1).
  3. A system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each fastening element (3) comprises an internally hollow body (20), having an inner seat (21) for housing a portion of the cable (2); and at least one tensioner assembly (22) supported by the body (20) and extending along a longitudinal axis (A) and internally provided with an inner channel (25) extending along the axis (A) and in which the cable (2) is fitted.
  4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the tensioner assembly (22) comprises a cable clamp (26) and a tensioning device (27) acting on the cable (2) to clamp and tighten the cable (2).
  5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the cable clamp (26) comprises a pair of pads (28) facing each other and having respective contact surfaces (29) shaped to define a passage (30), preferably serpentine-shaped, in which the cable (2) is fitted; the pads being pressed against each other by respective shells (31), joined to each other.
  6. A system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the tensioning device (27) is a screw tensioning device, comprising an inner male member (33) and an outer female member (34), screwed together by rotation about the axis (A).
  7. A system according to one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the tensioner assembly (22) is coupled to the body (20) via a rotating joint (35), in particular a ball joint.
  8. A system according to one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the fastening element (3) comprises a pair of tensioner assemblies (22) projecting from respective faces (23) of the body (20).
  9. A system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the casing (40) is formed by two half-shells (41) joined to each other.
  10. A system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cable (2) is a flat cable, in particular a substantially rectangular cross section cable; and comprises said pair of conductive wires (13) arranged longitudinally parallel to each other; said covering sheath (14) which envelops the conductive wires (13); and a filler material (15) positioned between the conductive wires (13) and the sheath (14); and wherein each conductive wire (13) is associated to a reinforcement rope (16), made for example of aramid fibres, and is covered by an insulation layer (17) made of an insulating material.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This patent application claims priority from Italian patent application no. 102021000008942 filed on April 9, 2021. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a lighting system. In particular, the invention relates to a suspended, modular lighting system, which can be installed according to different patterns and geometries. STATE OF THE PRIOR ART Lighting systems formed by different lighting devices mounted on a track or other support structure in which a power and control cable passes are known. In some cases, the versatility of the known systems can be limited, i.e. there can be limits as to the spatial shapes and configurations achievable. Moreover, in the known systems, the devices are connected in series to each other. In order to control the lighting devices independently of one another, it is necessary to use a cable with at least two pairs of conductors (two for the power supply and two for the control). US2006/158882 A1 discloses a modular lighting system suitable to form a string: a plurality of LED are mounted with a mounting on a base, which base is provided with electric connection wires wherein the LED mounting and electric contacts to the connection wires are protected from the surroundings by a package of hot melt material. US2018/299084 A1 discloses a projection light string comprising LED light units forming a light string, wherein direct current is supplied to an integrated circuit to create different projection patterns, and wherein the light string has more than one function selected by a switch or controller to change a first function to another function. US2019/341718 A1 and US5738436 A disclose other examples of modular lighting systems. In general, the known modular lighting systems thus still have margin for improvement, in particular in terms of simplicity of manufacture and assembly and versatility. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a lighting system which is particularly easy to manufacture and assemble and which allows preparing a wide variety of different configurations. The present invention thus relates to a lighting system as defined in essential terms in the appended claim 1 and, in its additional features, in the dependent claims. The system of the invention is simple to manufacture and install and can be prepared in different spatial configurations, with various shapes and sizes, by further varying the number of lighting devices. Moreover, the system allows directing and controlling each single lighting device forming part of the system independently of the others, yet using a cable with two conductors only. The advantages of the system of the invention with respect to the known systems are thus mainly the following: possibility of controlling each single lighting device;lighting devices connected in parallel and not in series, and thus there are no limits as to the number of lighting devices (except with respect to the total available power) ; possibility of having lighting devices with a high luminous flux;possibility of achieving multiple luminous performances;possibility of making different strands in space and not just from wall to wall, and not necessarily in coplanar positions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further features and advantages of the present invention will be clear from the description of the following non-limiting example embodiments, with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a lighting system in accordance with the invention, prepared in an exemplifying configuration;Figure 2 is a partial schematic perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of a component of the system of Figure 1, in particular a support cable;Figure 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of a further component of the system of Figure 1, in particular a fastening element;Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view, with parts removed for clarity, of a detail of the component of Figure 3;Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of a further component of the system of Figure 1, in particular a coupling element for a lighting device. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION With reference to Figure 1, a lighting system 1 comprises a support cable 2; a plurality of fastening elements 3 for supporting the cable 2 along a path, i.e. in a certain spatial configuration also three-dimensional; a plurality of coupling elements 4 which can be fixed to the cable 2; and a plurality of lighting devices 5 which are coupled to respective coupling elements 4. With specific reference to Figure 2, the support cable 2 is a flat cable, in particular a cable with a substantially rectangular cross-section (optionally with bevelled and/or rounded edges); the cable 2 has a pair of larger sides 11 and a pair of smaller sides 12, having a width less than the width of the larger sides 11. The cable 2 comprises a pair of conductive wires 13 arranged longi