EP1612470A2 - Articulated linear lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

A self supporting flexible linear lamp formed by modular components of one type (1) made of a hard plastic material such as polycarbonate, that rotate (fig.4) and then interlock with each other, enabling the lamp to assume infinite stable configurations and conferring its characteristic flexibility (fig.5 and fig.6).

The lamp can assume configurations also in upright positions without the aid of fixings.

The components are made of a translucent plastic to let the internal light, from an LED flexible tube or similar, to go through.

Description

• This invention relates to a lamp of the ambient light fittings type, which are complimentary to the main source of lighting, in any room or space. There are many different types of decorative lamps, and in particular, some of them have a linear, flexible form that can be adapted to assume a variety of different configurations. This invention belongs to this category of lamps.
• Normally linear, flexible lamps have a loose structure, therefore they need to be fixed at intervals to stabilize their configurations, or they lay on a horizontal surface.
• The structure of this lamp is self supporting. Consequently it does not need the aid of other fixings to stabilize the configuration assumed. It can also assume configurations in an upright position. The nature of the structure that permits such states is what is unique and original about this lamp, and what is being patented. The body or structure of the lamp is made by modular components of one type - with the exception of the components at the two ends - that interlock and can enable infinite stable configurations.
• The components are made with a hard plastic material, such as polycarbonate, that can be molded and that have two characteristics:
• 1. Translucency to let the internal light go through.
• 2. An ability to a friction between the components to ensure the interlocking mechanism.
• The light source inside the body can be an LED flexible tube or similar.
• This invention will be described in the example of a possible configuration, with reference to drawings in which:

FIGURE 1

shows the profile of a single component.

FIGURE 2

shows the top view of a single component.

FIGURE 3

shows the section of a single component.

FIGURE 4

shows in section the interlocking mechanism of two components.

FIGURE 5

shows a top view of a possible configuration.

FIGURE 6

shows an axonometric view of the configuration shown in figure 5.

• The modular component 1 is shaped as described in figures 1, 2, and 3. Its shape, together with the properties of the material with which it is made, allows the components to interlock with each other. In fact, each component is formed by two extremities: one male and one female (2 and 3). With reference to figure 4, the male and female extremities, when loose, can rotate. A gentle action of pulling apart the two components creates a friction that tightens the male and female extremities and locks the components at a certain angle. As the angles between consecutive components can vary, the overall structure can assume different configurations. Figures 5 and 6 show one of the possible configurations in a top view and an axonometric.
• The first end component 4 could be made of a different opaque material such as metal to contain the connection to the electric wire of the internal lighting tube. The last component 5 has only a male extremity, being the end element. The number 6 indicates the electric wire. The number 7 indicates the switch.

Claims (3)

1. A self supporting flexible linear lamp formed by modular components of one type (1), made of a hard plastic material such as polycarbonate, which, because of their shape and the properties of the material they are made from, interlock with each other, with each component characterised by one male (2) and one female (3) extremity which, when loose, can rotate (fig.4), and when tightened by a gentle action of pulling two consecutive components apart, are locked by friction at a certain angle thus enabling the lamp to assume infinite stable configurations through rotating consecutive components of a certain angle.
2. A flexible linear lamp as claimed in Claim 1, which can assume configurations in upright positions without the aid of fixings.
3. A flexible linear lamp as claimed in Claim 1, where the components are made of a translucent hard plastic to let the internal light, from an LED flexible tube or similar, to go through.

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