Search

EP-4299978-B1 - SNAP-FIT ASSEMBLY FOR MOUNTING LAMPS AND LAMP ASSEMBLY COMPRISING THE SAME

EP4299978B1EP 4299978 B1EP4299978 B1EP 4299978B1EP-4299978-B1

Inventors

  • ZENG, Guoqing
  • XU, KAI
  • LIU, XIAOYUN

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20230622

Claims (14)

  1. A snap-fit assembly (100; 101) configured to be latched to a track (300) configured for holding a lamp (200), the track (300) having a planar bottom (301) extending in an axial direction and two side-walls (302) extending perpendicular to the bottom (301) and being disposed opposite to each other at a predetermined distance (W), wherein at least one pair of opposite recesses (304) is formed in the side-walls (302), the snap-fit assembly (100; 101) comprising: a housing (1) of a length that is smaller than the predetermined distance (W), the housing (1) comprising a main body portion with a mounting channel (17) formed in the main body portion, a first elastic member (111) and a second elastic member (112) each being provided inside the mounting channel (17), and a first snap-fit member (2) and a second snap-fit member (3), each being slidably accommodated in the mounting channel (17), wherein the first snap-fit member (2) is resiliently biased by the first elastic member (111) towards a first end of the housing (1) so as to partially protrude beyond the first end, and the second snap-fit member (3) is resiliently biased by the second elastic member (112) towards a second end of the housing (1) opposite to the first end so as to partially protrude beyond the second end; wherein the main body portion comprises a top wall (131), a first side wall (132) and a second side wall (133) opposite to the first side wall (132) so that the housing (1) is of rectangular shape, the mounting channel (17) being formed by the top wall (131), the first side wall (132) and the second side wall (133) of the main body portion, wherein the first and second snap-fit member (2, 3) together are configured to latch the snap-fit assembly (100; 101) to the track (300) in a positive-fit manner and transverse to the axial direction of the track (300) by engagement with the two opposite recesses (304) of the at least one pair of opposite recesses (304) and to be moved in the mounting channel (17) towards each other when subjected to an external force against the resilient force exerted by the first and second elastic member (111, 112), for releasing the latching of the snap-fit assembly (100; 101) to the track (300), and at least the housing (1), the first snap-fit member (2) and the second snap-fit member (3) are each formed by bending and processing of a metal sheet member.
  2. The snap-fit assembly (100; 101) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first snap-fit member (2) comprises a first pressing portion (21) and a first bending portion (22), the first pressing portion (21) being adapted to abut against the first elastic member (111) and being located at a first side of the first elastic member (111), the first bending portion (22) extending from a vertical side-wall (24) of the first snap-fit member (2) beyond the first elastic member (111) and is bent to a second side of the first elastic member (111) opposite to the first side; and/or the second snap-fit member (3) comprises a second pressing portion (31) and a second bending portion (32), the second pressing portion (31) being adapted to abut against the second elastic member (112) and being located at a first side of the second elastic member (112), the first bending portion (32) extending from a vertical side-wall (34) of the second snap-fit member (3) beyond the second elastic member (112) and is bent to a second side of the second elastic member (112) opposite to the first side.
  3. The snap-fit assembly (100; 101) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first pressing portion (21) and the first bending portion (22) are formed on the vertical side-wall (24) of the first snap-fit member (2), and the second pressing portion (31) and the second bending portion (32) are formed on the vertical side-wall (34) of the second snap-fit member (3), wherein the vertical side-wall (24) of the first snap-fit member (2) and the vertical side-wall (34) of the second snap-fit member (3) face each other and are preferably abutted against each other.
  4. The snap-fit assembly (100; 101) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first elastic member (111) is formed on a top wall (131) of the housing (1) and, along its direction of extension, extends first beyond the top wall (131) and then extends into the mounting channel (17), for exerting a resilient force on the first snap-fit member (2) into a first direction; and the second elastic member (112) is formed on the top wall (131) of the housing (1) and, along its direction of extension, extends first beyond the top wall (131) and then extends into the mounting channel (17), for exerting a resilient force on the second snap-fit member (3) into a second direction opposite to the first direction.
  5. The snap-fit assembly (100; 101) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising a first latching member (4) and a second latching member (5), wherein the first latching member (4) is configured to pass through a first recess (304) of a pair of recesses formed in a first side wall (302) of the track (300), for latching the first snap-fit member (2) to the track (300) by engagement, and the second latching member (5) is configured to pass through an opposite second recess (304) of the pair of recesses formed in an opposite second side wall (302) of the track (300), for latching the second snap-fit member (3) to the track (300) by engagement.
  6. The snap-fit assembly (100; 101) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first latching member (4) is provided separately from the first snap-fit member (2); and the second latching member (5) is provided separately from the second snap-fit member (3).
  7. The snap-fit assembly (100; 101) as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a first anti-release structure (27, 41, 42) for preventing disengagement of the first latching member (4) with the first snap-fit member (2), and a second anti-release structure (37, 51, 52) for preventing disengagement of the second latching member (5) with the second snap-fit member (3); wherein the first anti-release structure comprises first anti-release notch (27) formed on the first snap-fit member (2) or on the first latching member (4) and a first clamping opening (41) with a first anti-release projection (42) narrowing a width of the first clamping opening (41) formed on the first latching member (4) or on the first snap-fit member (2), for preventing disengagement of the first latching member (4) with the first snap-fit member (2) by engagement of the first anti-release projection (42) with the first anti-release notch (27), and the second anti-release structure comprises second anti-release notch (37) formed on the second snap-fit member (3) or on the second latching member (5) and a second clamping opening (51) with a second anti-release projection (52) narrowing a width of the second clamping opening (51) formed on the second latching member (5) or on the second snap-fit member (3), for preventing disengagement of the second latching member (5) with the second snap-fit member (3) by engagement of the second anti-release projection (52) with the second anti-release notch (37).
  8. The snap-fit assembly (100; 101) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first clamping opening (41) is further provided with a first anti-slip projection (43) formed at a bottom of the first clamping opening (41), for pressing against a portion of the first snap-fit member (2) when accommodated in the first clamping opening (41); and the second clamping opening (51) is further provided with a second anti-slip projection (53) formed at a bottom of the second clamping opening (51), for pressing against a portion of the second snap-fit member (3) when accommodated in the second clamping opening (51).
  9. The snap-fit assembly (100; 101) as claimed in any of claims 6 to 8, wherein a third anti-release structure adapted to prevent the first latching member (4) from detaching from the sidewall (301) of the track (300) is formed on the first latching member; and a fourth anti-release structure adapted to prevent the second latching member (5) from detaching from the sidewall (301) of the track (300) is formed on the first latching member; wherein the third anti-release structure comprises a resilient clamping protrusion (44) formed on the first latching member (4), a free end of the resilient clamping protrusion (44) being adapted to press against the sidewall (301) of the track (300) when the first latching member (4) is in engagement with the first snap-fit member (2); and the fourth anti-release structure comprises a resilient clamping protrusion (54) formed on the second latching member (5), a free end of the resilient clamping protrusion (54) being adapted to press against the sidewall (301) of the track (300) when the second latching member (5) is in engagement with the second snap-fit member (3).
  10. The snap-fit assembly (100) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, said snap-fit assembly further comprising a mounting plate (121) adapted to be fixed to a base (201) of a lamp (200) to be held by the track (300) wherein the housing (1) is provided with a fifth anti-release structure adapted to prevent the first snap-fit member (2) from detaching from the housing (1) and a sixth anti-release structure adapted to prevent the second snap-fit member (3) from detaching from the housing (1); and the housing is fixedly coupled with the mounting plate (121).
  11. The snap-fit assembly (100) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the fifth anti-release structure is formed as a first anti-release projection (124) on a top surface of the mounting plate (121) and the sixth anti-release structure is formed as a second anti-release projection (125) formed on the top surface of the mounting plate (121) and the mounting plate (121) further comprises a guiding structure (122), the first snap-fit member (2) and the second snap-fit member (3) are slidingly connected to the guiding structure, respectively, while being accommodated in the mounting channel (17) of the main body portion, and the guiding structure (122) is configured for preventing lifting-off of the first and second snap-fit member (2, 3) from the mounting plate (121) in a direction perpendicular to the top surface of the mounting plate (121); wherein the mounting plate (121) comprises a base plate (123) and two guiding legs (122) projecting from the base plate (123) and extending parallel to each other, each of said guiding legs (122) having a flange portion extending in parallel with the base plate (123), the first snap-fit member (2) comprises a first clamping plate (23) and second snap-fit member (3) comprises a second clamping plate (33) and the clamping plates (23, 33) are accommodated in an interspace between the top surface of the mounting plate (121) and a respective flange portion of the guiding legs (122).
  12. The snap-fit assembly (101) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first side wall (132) comprises a first mounting flange (141) extending laterally away from the mounting channel (17), the second side wall (133) comprises a second mounting flange (142) extending laterally away from the mounting channel (17), and the first mounting flange (141) and the second mounting flange (142) is each adapted to be fixed to a base (201) of a lamp (200) to be held by the track (300); wherein a fifth anti-release structure is provided comprising a first guide recess (151) and a first stop tab (26) adapted to slide in the first guide recess (151), the first guide recess (151) being formed on the first sidewall (132) or on the first snap-fit member (2), and the first stop tab (26) being formed on the first snap-fit member (2) or on the first sidewall (132); and/or a sixth anti-release structure is provided comprising a second guide recess (152) and a second stop tab (36) adapted to slide in the second guide recess (152), the second guide recess (152) being formed on the second sidewall (133) or on the second snap-fit member (3), and the second stop tab (36) being formed on the second snap-fit member (3) or on the second sidewall (133).
  13. The snap-fit assembly (101) as claimed in claim 12, wherein a first support flange (161) extends from the first side wall (132) inwardly into the mounting channel (17), the first snap-fit member (2) being located between the first support flange (161) and the top wall (131); and a second support flange (162) extends from the second side wall (133) inwardly into the mounting channel (17), the second snap-fit member (3) being located between the second support flange (162) and the top wall (131); wherein the first snap-fit member (2) preferably comprises a first support flange (25) in abutment with the first sidewall (132); and the second snap-fit member (3) preferably comprises a second holding flange (35) in abutment with the face of the second sidewall (133).
  14. A lamp assembly, wherein it comprises: a track (300) having a planar bottom (301) extending in an axial direction and two side-walls (302) extending perpendicular to the bottom (301) and being disposed opposite to each other at a predetermined distance (W), wherein at least one wire channel (303) is formed in the bottom (301) extending in the axial direction and at least one pair of opposite recesses (304) is formed in the side-walls (302); a lamp having a lamp body (200); the snap-fit assembly (100; 101) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the snap-fit assembly (100; 101) is fixedly coupled mounted to the lamp body (200), and the first and second snap-fit member (2, 3) is each biased by the first elastic member (111) and second elastic member (112), respectively, towards a side-wall (302) of the track, for latching the snap-fit assembly (100; 101) to the track (300) in a positive-fit manner and transverse to the axial direction of the track (300) by engagement with the two opposite recesses (304) of the at least one pair of opposite recesses (304).

Description

Technical Field The present invention relates to the technical field of lighting equipment, and more specifically relates to a snap-fit assembly that can be used in particular for mounting a lamp or lamp body to a mounting track to be mounted e.g. to a ceiling. A further aspect relates to a lamp assembly including at least one lamp, such as a downlight or spotlight, comprising such a snap-fit assembly. Background of Invention Tracks for lights and brackets with wire channels are one of the more common lighting fixtures on the market. Typically, a track includes a central wire slot, extending in the longitudinal direction of the track, and a wire used for electric power supply of the lamp extends through the wire slot at or near the position where the lamp is held at the track. The lamp housing is usually removably mounted to the track, and for this purpose snap-fit assemblies are known from the prior art that are configured to be latched to the track at a desired position along the axial direction of the track. A snap-fit assembly known from the prior art includes a housing, a first snap-fit member and a second snap-fit member slidably set in the housing. A mounting channel is formed in the housing and the first snap-fit member and the second snap-fit member can be moved or displaced relative to each other, often against the resilient biasing force exerted by a spring provided in the mounting channel. The first and second snap-fit members can partially protrude from the housing due to the resilient biasing exerted by the spring and to be latched at the track, thereby securing the lamp housing to the track. However, the assembly process of such a snap-fit assembly requires first aligning the first snap-fit member and the second snap-fit member, then installing the spring into the mounting recess, and finally assembling the first snap-fit member, the second snap-fit member and the spring into the housing. During such an installation process, the spring is easily misaligned or falls off from the mounting recess, resulting in a more complicated installation process of the snap-fit assembly and increasing the manufacturing cost of the snap-fit assembly. CN 109 282 190 A discloses a snap-fit assembly for a track light according to the preamble of claim 1, which comprises a resilient snapping member and a plate-shaped guiding member. A holding bracket having a housing of generally rectangular shape is not disclosed. CN 207 762 650 U discloses a snap-fit assembly for a track light. The lamp is held by a solid guided sliding block that is snap-fitted by means of resilient locking pins to a track. The resilient locking pins are in engagement with apertures formed on the two opposite side-walls of the track. At least the guided sliding block is not made by bending and processing a metal sheet member, and it also does not have a housing of a generally rectangular shape. CN 210 241 305 U discloses a snap-fit assembly for a track light, comprising a guided sliding block, which is, however, not made by bending and processing a metal sheet member. EP 2086065 A1 discloses snap-fit assembly configured to be latched to a track configured for holding a lamp, which comprises, however, only one elastic member disposed at a central position to resiliently bias and drive two opposite snap-fit members for latching. Summary of invention It is an object of the present invention to overcome the afore-mentioned deficiencies of the prior art, in particular to provide an enhanced snap-fit assembly of a simple and cost-effective configuration that can be mounted quickly, intuitively and in an easy manner, thereby easing the installation of lamps at tracks. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a lamp comprising such a snap-fit assembly. This problem is solved by a snap-fit assembly as claimed in claim 1, and by a lamp comprising such a -fit assembly as claimed in claim 14. Further advantageous embodiments are the subject-matter of the dependent claims. According to the present invention, there is provided a snap-fit assembly configured to be latched to a track configured for holding a lamp, the track having a planar bottom extending in an axial direction and two side-walls extending perpendicular to the bottom and being disposed opposite to each other at a predetermined distance W, wherein at least one pair of opposite recesses is formed in the side-walls, the snap-fit assembly comprising: a housing of a length that is smaller than the predetermined distance W, the housing comprising a main body portion with a mounting channel formed in the main body portion, a first elastic member and a second elastic member each being provided inside the mounting channel, and a first snap-fit member and a second snap-fit member, each being slidably accommodated in the mounting channel, wherein the first snap-fit member is resiliently biased by the first elastic member towards a first end of the housing so as to partially protrude be