WO2001084042A1

WO2001084042A1 - Rechargeable lamp assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2001084042A1
Application number: PCT/NL2001/000329
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ferdinand Karel Steup; Hugo Antonin Geurt Macek
Original assignee: Ferdinand Karel Steup; Hugo Antonin Geurt Macek
Priority date: 2000-05-02
Filing date: 2001-05-02
Publication date: 2001-11-08
Also published as: AU5277101A; NL1015089C2

Abstract

Rechargeable lamp (1, 21, 31) comprising a lamp holder, a light-emitting element (3) and a rechargeable battery (5). According to the invention, the lamp is embodied as a table lamp, an effect light or a reading lamp, and for this purpose is provided with a base (2, 22, 32) which can be positioned on a preferably flat surface (8) in order to set up the lamp. According to a particular embodiment, the battery and any electronics (6) which are present are accommodated in the base piece (2). Recharging is carried out using a separate recharger (10). Connection to this recharger may optionally be contactless. The base of the lamp is placed on the recharger, which is embodied as a flat support.

Description

Rechargeable lamp assembly

The present invention relates to a rechargeable lamp assembly, comprising a rechargeable lamp, having a lamp holder, a light-emitting element, at least one rechargeable battery, which is connected to the said light-emitting element via a switch, and a base piece, as well as a recharger, which can be connected to the said lamp, for said battery.

A lamp assembly of this type is known from DE 19647171A. In this assembly, the lamp holder is provided with an extension which comprises two electrical contacts and a suspension. This suspension means can be used to hang the lamp holder, together with the base, from a support frame. The lamps used are gas discharge tubes.

Although a design of this type could be considered decorative, it is technically expensive to produce, requires a large storage battery and the supporting structure from which the rechargeable lamp is suspended takes up far too much space when not being used.

US 4,816,970A discloses a rechargeable lamp which acts with the aid of solar cells. It is fixedly connected to a base piece in which the electronics are arranged. Modern fitting of houses, offices and the like is increasingly witness to a trend towards no longer using cables and designing various appliances to be wireless as far as possible. This is because the increasing use of all kinds of electronic devices is giving rise to increasing numbers of wire connections between various assemblies. Hitherto, this trend has not extended to lamps which are used, for example, in rooms, offices and the like. This insight makes the present invention unique.

DE 4009777A1 discloses a lamp holder which is provided with rechargeable batteries. It can be placed on a support and the batteries which are present can then be recharged via the mains using electrical contacts. The rechargeable lamp is not provided with a base piece and is round, i.e. does not have a stable at-rest position. Therefore, it is only suitable as a torch.

The object of the present invention is to improve the structure which is known from the prior art and to provide a more compact design of the combination of rechargeable lamp/recharger. A further object of the present invention is to make a lamp of this type more acceptable for users, i.e. to increase the burning time for which it is independent of the lighting mains.

In the case of a rechargeable lamp as described above, this object is achieved in that said recharger and the said base piece are embodied such that said base piece can be positioned so that it rests on said recharger, and said light- emitting element comprises a light-emitting diode.

According to the invention, the base piece of the lamp is placed onto the recharger, and these two parts form a single unit. This contrasts with the structure described in DE 4009777, in which the support very elongated and the rechargeable lamp is not provided with a base piece. What this means is that, according to the invention, the recharger is preferably of flat design and its height preferably corresponds at most to the height of the base piece. More particularly, these two parts can easily be fitted into one another, preferably in different positions, and as a result both a stable position of the lamp assembly obtained in this way and the possibility of recharging are obtained.

The lamp according to the present invention can be designed as a table lamp, an effect light, a reading light and the like. It is in each case of importance that it is designed to be used in a stationary position at a single location, while the batteries are to be recharged at a different location. The lamp according to the invention can be used both indoors and outdoors, in homes and offices and at other locations. Of course, it is also possible for the lamp to remain at the recharging point.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the rechargeable battery is arranged in the base piece of the lamp. This base piece may be in the form of any base piece of a conventional lamp which is known from the prior art. Of course, it is also possible for the base piece to be designed so that it is typically adapted to the design according to the present invention, i.e. no longer has to take into account the presence of a mains cable.

The base piece may be designed to rest on any type of surface. Preferably, however, this surface is a flat or planar surface, such as a table, desk, window-sill or the like.

The lamp may optionally be designed with a lampcover. Moreover, it is possible for there to be lampcover of different colours. It is also possible for so- called multiple light-emitting diodes to be used, i.e. diodes which give off a different colour depending on the voltage/current supplied thereto.

The lamp according to the present invention preferably radiates light sideways. This applies in particular when used as a table lamp and effect light. Recharging can be carried out using a recharging device. Connection to this device may optionally be contactless. In the case of contactless connection, recharging can be carried out with the aid of induction currents.

The illumination element may comprise either a conventional lamp with a filament or a gas discharge lamp or one or more light-emitting diodes. The light-emitting diode may be of any colour known in the prior art and is preferably designed as a white light-emitting diode with a high output.

One example of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the appended drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows the lamp according to the invention arranged on a table; Fig. 2 shows the lamp according to the invention in the recharging position;

Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of the lamp according to the invention, in partially exploded form; and

Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment of the lamp according to the invention, in the exploded state.

Fig. 1 shows, as an example of the lamp according to the invention, a table lamp. It should be understood that the lamp according to the invention may be designed as any other form of lamp, such as a reading light, an effect light and the like. This reading lamp 1 is provided with a base piece 2 and an illumination element or lamp 3. There is a lampshade 4 in order to disperse and/or deflect the light from lamp 3 in a defined way. There is a rechargeable battery 5 in the base piece 2. This battery is connected, if appropriate, to an electronic circuit 6. On the other hand, the rechargeable battery may be connected, via an electronic circuit (not shown), and via a switch 7, to lamp 3. All this is positioned on a table 8. In Fig. 2, 10 denotes a recharging device which can be connected, via mains cable 11, to the supply mains. This recharger is embodied as an inductive recharger. The electronics required for this purpose are denoted by 12. When the table lamp 1, and more particularly the base piece 2, is positioned on the recharging device 10, recharging can take place inductively without contact. The electronic circuit 6 on the table lamp ensures that battery 5 is recharged.

Naturally, it is possible for the recharging to take place with contact. In that case, the base piece 2 will be provided, on the underside or on the side, with contact lips which engage on corresponding contact lips arranged on recharger 10.

Fig. 3 shows a further variant of the invention, which is denoted overall by 21. 22 denotes the base piece of the portable lamp 23. 30 denotes the recharging part which is connected, with the aid of a cable 29, to a mains adapter/transformer. 24 denotes the lampshade, inside which a number of light- emitting diodes (not shown) are arranged.

Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment of the invention, which is denoted overall by 31. 32 indicates the base piece, which comprises three parts. 35 denotes the housing in which a switch 36 is arranged. 37 represents the substrate for the printed-circuit board in which light-emitting diodes are accommodated as well as the battery holder. 38 is the cover for the battery holder. An auxiliary cover 39 can be fitted into the housing 35. This auxiliary cover is optional. Cover 34 is positioned over this. By using parts 39 of different colours, it is possible to change the light radiated through shade 34. 40 denotes the recharging station. This is provided with a projecting part 41 which serves both to centre the base piece 32 and to produce electric contact.

It will be understood that in the above merely preferred embodiments of the invention are described. Numerous variants are possible and will be obvious to the person skilled in the art on reading the above description, and these variants lie within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. Rechargeable lamp assembly, comprising a rechargeable lamp (1, 21, 31), having a lamp holder, a light-emitting element (3), at least one rechargeable battery (5), which is connected to the said light-emitting element via a switch (7), and a base piece (2, 22, 32), as well as a recharger (10, 30, 40), which can be connected to said lamp, for said battery, characterized in that said recharger and the said base piece are designed in such a manner that the said base piece can be positioned so that it rests on the said recharger, and the said light-emitting element comprising a light-emitting diode.

2. Lamp assembly according to Claim 1, in which said base piece is designed to rest on a substantially flat surface (8).

3. Lamp assembly according to one of the preceding claims, in which said base piece includes said rechargeable battery.

4. Lamp assembly according to one of the preceding claims, designed as a table lamp.

5. Lamp assembly according to one of Claims 1-3, designed as a reading light.

6. Lamp assembly according to one of Claims 1-4, designed as an effect light.

7. Lamp assembly according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a lampcover (4, 24) which at least partially shields said illumination-emitting element.

8. Lamp assembly according to one of the preceding claims, in which said lamp holder and said light-emitting element are arranged in such a manner that, in an in-use state, the rechargeable lamp radiates light to the sides.

9. Lamp assembly according to one of the preceding claims, in which said lamp and said recharger are designed for contactless recharging of the said battery.

10. Lamp assembly according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a transparent, coloured auxiliary cover (39) which surrounds the illumination- emitting element.

11. Rechargeable lamp (1, 21) for use with a rechargeable lamp assembly according to one of the preceding claims.