JP7849028B2 - Outdoor lighting fixtures - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to an outdoor lighting fixture for illuminating outdoor areas.

Outdoor lighting fixtures, such as park lights, serve the purpose of illuminating a wide area for security reasons.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a lighting fixture comprising: a fixture body; a translucent cover member provided on the fixture body and having a spherical light-transmitting portion; and a light-emitting portion having a light-emitting surface with a solid-state light-emitting element, disposed within the cover member, with the light-emitting surface being substantially parallel to the tangent of the light-transmitting portion, and with multiple tangents positioned in the circumferential direction of the cover member.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2012-181992

However, if the upward luminous flux ratio—the ratio of light beams directed upwards to those directed horizontally—is high, it can negatively impact surrounding houses and ecosystems, resulting in light pollution.
Therefore, in parks surrounded by private residences, lighting fixtures with a low upward luminous flux ratio are required.

This invention provides a lighting fixture that allows for adjustment of the upward luminous flux ratio depending on the installation location.

The first outdoor lighting fixture of the present invention comprises a substrate on which a light-emitting element is mounted, a translucent cover housing the substrate, an upper cover provided on the upper part of the translucent cover, and an adjustment member that can adjust the upward luminous flux ratio, which is the ratio of the luminous flux directed upward rather than horizontally among the luminous flux irradiated from the light-emitting element to the surroundings, by moving and fixing the upper cover in a vertical direction relative to the translucent cover.

The second outdoor lighting fixture of the present invention, in the first invention described above, has an adjustment member comprising a first member and a second member for adjusting the height of the first member, and the adjustment member is capable of adjusting the upward luminous flux ratio by a combination of the first member and the second member.

In the third aspect of the present invention, the outdoor lighting fixture is such that, in the second aspect of the present invention, the upper cover can be fixed in a first position using only the first component and in a second position using both the first and second components.

The fourth outdoor lighting fixture of the present invention, in the first invention described above, has an angle switching member that allows for further adjustment of the upward luminous flux ratio by fixing the substrate to a mounting plate provided horizontally, or by fixing it at an angle to the mounting plate.

The fifth aspect of the present invention is an outdoor lighting fixture in which, in the first aspect of the present invention, the upper cover has a screw-fastening portion that protrudes above the surrounding surface, and the upper cover is fixed to the adjustment member by the screw-fastening portion.

In this invention, the upward luminous flux ratio can be adjusted depending on the installation location.

Figure 1 shows an outdoor lighting fixture according to the present invention. Figure 2(A) is a perspective view of the outdoor lighting fixture according to the present invention, viewed from above, and Figure 2(B) is a perspective view of the outdoor lighting fixture according to the present invention, viewed from below. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the outdoor lighting fixture according to the present invention. Figures 4(A) and 4(B) show the adjustment members used in the outdoor lighting fixture according to the present invention. Figure 5 is a front view of the outdoor lighting fixture according to the present invention installed on a pole. Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the upward luminous flux ratio. Figure 7(A) is a front view of an outdoor lighting fixture when the upward luminous flux ratio is set to 0%, Figure 7(B) is a cross-sectional view of Figure 7(A), and Figure 7(C) is a perspective view of Figure 7(A). Figure 8(A) is a front view of an outdoor lighting fixture with an upward luminous flux ratio of 5%, Figure 8(B) is a cross-sectional view of Figure 8(A), and Figure 8(C) is a perspective view of Figure 8(A). Figure 9(A) is a front view of an outdoor lighting fixture with an upward luminous flux ratio of 15%, Figure 9(B) is a cross-sectional view of Figure 9(A), and Figure 9(C) is a perspective view of Figure 9(A). Figure 10 is a partially enlarged view of the area around the fixing part that fixes the position of the upper cover of the outdoor lighting fixture according to the present invention.

One form of an outdoor lighting fixture according to the present invention comprises a substrate on which a light-emitting element is mounted, a translucent cover housing the substrate, an upper cover provided on the upper part of the translucent cover, and an adjustment member that can adjust the upward luminous flux ratio, which is the ratio of the luminous flux directed upward rather than horizontally among the luminous flux irradiated from the light-emitting element to the surroundings, by moving and fixing the upper cover in a vertical direction relative to the translucent cover.
The specific embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The outdoor lighting fixture 1 according to the present invention (hereinafter referred to as "lighting fixture 1") is a lighting fixture 1 that is attached to the tip of a pole, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, and comprises a lighting unit 10 and a holder 12 which serves as a pole receiving unit into which the tip of the pole is inserted.

The lighting unit 10 comprises a light-transmitting cover, a globe 14, and an upper cover 16 provided on the upper part of the globe 14. The globe 14 is made of, for example, resin, and has light-transmitting and light-diffusing properties. An opening 14a is formed in the center of the globe 14, through which a portion of the holder 12 passes.

The holder 12 is cylindrical. Around the holder 12, protrusions 12a are formed at approximately equal intervals, projecting outwards. Furthermore, the protrusions 12a are thinner on the lower side than on the upper side, which faces the glove 14.

Furthermore, a retaining portion 30 is formed on the upper surface of the protruding portion 12a to hold the periphery of the opening 14a of the glove 14. The glove 14 is screwed to the retaining portion 30. In other words, the glove 14 is held by the retaining portion 30 and then screwed in to secure it.

Multiple stepped sections are formed on the upper inner side of the holder 12 to support the upper end of the inserted pole. Specifically, the inner side of the holder 12 has stepped sections 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d, in order from the outside. Stepped sections 20a and 20d are of the same height. Stepped sections 20b and 20c are of the same height and are positioned higher than stepped sections 20a and 20d.

By configuring the stepped sections 20a to 20d as a four-tiered structure (two outer tiers and two inner tiers), and setting the height of each tier in two stages, the lighting fixture 1 can be fixed to accommodate poles 22 of multiple diameters.

Furthermore, a power line fixing bracket 24, connected to the power supply unit located inside the pole 22, is fixed to the upper surface 19c formed below the stepped portions 20a to 20d in the inner center of the holder 12.

As shown in Figure 1, the holder 12 has a fixing portion 26a for use when the diameter of the pole 22 is less than or equal to a predetermined diameter, and a fixing portion 26b for use when the diameter of the pole 22 is greater than the predetermined diameter. The fixing portion 26a is provided in a location without a protruding portion 12a, and the fixing portion 26b is provided on the protruding portion 12a. That is, the fixing portion 26b is provided in a position that protrudes further outward than the fixing portion 26a. Three fixing portions 26a and three fixing portions 26b are provided, arranged alternately and at approximately equal intervals on approximately the same diameter. The lighting fixture 1 is configured to be fixed to the pole 22 inserted inside the holder 12 by the three fixing portions 26a or the three fixing portions 26b.

Furthermore, stepped portions 21a to 21d are formed on the outer surface of the holder 12 at positions corresponding to the stepped portions 20a to 20d.

The mounting plate 34 is, for example, disc-shaped, with a hole 34a formed approximately in the center for a portion of the holder 12 to pass through. The hole 34a is configured to penetrate between the outer surface 23a forming the stepped portion 21a and the outer surface 23b forming the stepped portion 21b of the holder 12. Multiple power supply boards 38 are fixed to the upper surface of the mounting plate 34. The power supply boards 38 are equipped with components for converting AC voltage supplied from the power supply unit via the power line fixing bracket 24 into DC voltage.

Furthermore, a mounting plate 40, acting as an angle-switching member, is fixed to the outer circumference of the lower surface of the mounting plate 34. The mounting plate 40 is flat and has a bent portion 40a at its end. This bent portion 40a is fixed to the lower surface of the mounting plate 34, causing the mounting plate 40 to be bent at an acute angle relative to the mounting plate 34, and thus the mounting plate 40 is fixed at an inclination relative to the mounting plate 34. As will be described in detail later, the side of the mounting plate 40 that does not have the bent portion 40a is also fixed to the lower surface of the mounting plate 34, so that the mounting plate 40 is positioned on the back surface of the mounting plate 34 and on the back surface of the power supply board 38.

An LED substrate 44, on which multiple light-emitting elements (LEDs 42) are mounted, is fixed to the lower surface of the mounting plate 40 by screws. The mounting plate 40, on which the LED substrate 44 is mounted, can be fixed to a horizontally positioned mounting plate 34 using the side without the bent portion 40a, or it can be fixed at an angle to the horizontally positioned mounting plate 34 using the bent portion 40a. By adjusting the mounting angle of the LED substrate 44 relative to the mounting plate 34, the upward luminous flux ratio can be adjusted.

Furthermore, an adjustment member 50 is provided on the upper surface of the mounting plate 34, which allows for vertical adjustment of the position of the upper cover 16 relative to the globe 14. The adjustment member 50 comprises a first member 51 and a second member 52 for adjusting the height of the first member 51. Both the first member 51 and the second member 52 are elongated, thin plates of similar width, formed by bending them multiple times approximately perpendicular to their longitudinal direction.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4(A), the first member 51 is composed of a bent portion 51a bent inward approximately perpendicularly, a bent portion 51b bent outward approximately perpendicularly, a bent portion 51c bent inward approximately perpendicularly, a bent portion 51d bent outward approximately perpendicularly, a bent portion 51e bent outward approximately perpendicularly, a bent portion 51f bent inward approximately perpendicularly, a bent portion 51g bent outward approximately perpendicularly, and a bent portion 51h bent inward approximately perpendicularly. The plane from one end of the first member 51 to bent portion 51a and the plane from the other end to bent portion 51h are used as leg portions 53a and 53b, respectively. The plane between bent portion 51d and bent portion 51e is used as a fixing portion 54 fixed to the upper cover 16. The fixing portion 54 has screw holes and is configured to be screwed to the upper cover 16.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4(B), the second member 52 is composed of a bent portion 52a bent approximately perpendicularly inward, a bent portion 52b bent approximately perpendicularly outward, a bent portion 52c bent approximately perpendicularly outward, and a bent portion 52d bent approximately perpendicularly inward. The plane from one end of the second member 52 to bent portion 52a and the plane from the other end to bent portion 52d are used as leg portions 55a and 55b, respectively. The plane between bent portion 52b and bent portion 52c is used as a support portion 56 for supporting the first member 51.

The length of the support portion 56 of the second member 52 is configured to be longer than the length of the first member 51 from the bent portion 51a to the bent portion 51h, and preferably longer than the length of the first member 51 from one end to the other. Furthermore, the height of the second member 52 (length from bent portion 52a to bent portion 52b, and from bent portion 52d to bent portion 52c) is configured to be lower (shorter) than the height of the first member 51 (length from bent portion 51a to bent portion 51b, and from bent portion 51h to bent portion 51g).

Furthermore, there are two cases: one in which the upper cover 16 is fixed to a first position using only the first member 51 (described later), and another in which the upper cover 16 is fixed to a second position by fixing the legs 53a and 53b of the first member 51 onto the support portion 56 of the second member 52, as shown in Figure 3.

In other words, the adjustment member 50 can adjust the upward luminous flux ratio by moving the position of the upper cover 16 relative to the globe 14 vertically, depending on whether the upper cover 16 is fixed to a first position using only the first member 51 or to a second position using both the first member 51 and the second member 52.

In other words, the adjustment member 50 allows adjustment of the upward luminous flux ratio by moving and fixing the upper cover 16 vertically to a first or second position relative to the globe 14. That is, the adjustment member 50 is configured to adjust the upward luminous flux ratio through a combination of the first member 51 and the second member 52. Here, the upward luminous flux ratio is the ratio of the luminous flux emitted from the LED 42 to the luminous flux directed upward rather than horizontally.

Next, the holder 12 is inserted into the opening 14a of the globe 14, and the globe 14 is screwed to the holding portion 30 of the holder 12. Then, the mounting plate 34, to which the power supply board 38, LED board 44, and adjustment member 50 are fixed, is attached to the holder 12 inside the globe 14. Finally, the upper cover 16 is attached to the top of the globe 14, and the upper cover 16 is secured by screwing it through a screw hole formed near the center of the upper cover 16 to the fixing portion 54 of the first member 51. As a result, the power supply board 38 and LED board 44 are housed within the lighting unit 10.

Next, the upward luminous flux ratio of the lighting fixture 1 will be explained using Figures 5 and 6. Figures 5 and 6 show the lighting fixture 1 installed on the pole 22. An upward luminous flux ratio of 0% indicates that no light is emitted horizontally upward from the lower end of the upper cover 16 (no leakage). An upward luminous flux ratio of 5% indicates that approximately 5% of the light is emitted horizontally upward from the lower end of the upper cover 16. An upward luminous flux ratio of 15% indicates that approximately 15% of the light is emitted horizontally upward from the lower end of the upper cover 16. In other words, in areas where light pollution is possible, the lighting fixture 1 can be installed with a low upward luminous flux ratio, for example, around 0% to 5%. In areas where light pollution is not possible and where wide-area illumination is desired, the lighting fixture 1 can be installed with a high upward luminous flux ratio, for example, around 15%.

Next, the configuration for installing the lighting fixture 1 on the pole 22 so that the upward luminous flux ratio is 0%, 5%, and 15% will be explained using Figures 7 to 9.

Figures 7(A) to 7(C) show the configuration of the lighting fixture 1 when the upward luminous flux ratio is set to 0%. For explanatory purposes, the power line fixing bracket 24 and the power supply board 38 are omitted in Figures 7(B) and 7(C). The same applies to Figures 8(B) and 8(C), and Figures 9(B) and 9(C) below.

To set the upward luminous flux ratio to 0%, only the first member 51 is used as the adjustment member 50. The legs 53a and 53b of the first member 51 are then fixed to the upper surface of the mounting plate 34. The mounting plate 40, with the LED board 44 attached, is then fixed to the lower surface of the mounting plate 34 using the side that is not the bent portion 40a. Finally, the upper cover 16 is lowered to the first position so that it covers all sides of the globe 14, and the upper cover 16 is screwed and fixed to the fixing portion 54 of the first member 51.

Figures 8(A) to 8(C) show the configuration of the lighting fixture 1 when the upward luminous flux ratio is set to 5%. When the upward luminous flux ratio is set to 5%, the first member 51 and the second member 52 are used as the adjustment member 50. The legs 55a and 55b of the second member 52 are fixed to the upper surface of the mounting plate 34, and the legs 53a and 53b of the first member 51 are fixed to the upper surface of the support portion 56 of the second member 52. Also, as in the case of an upward luminous flux ratio of 0% described above, the mounting plate 40 with the LED substrate 44 attached is fixed to the lower surface of the mounting plate 34 on the side that is not the bent portion 40a. The upper cover 16 is raised from the first position to the second position above the first position so as to cover a part of the side of the globe 14, and the upper cover 16 is fixed by screwing it to the fixing portion 54 of the first member 51. In other words, the upper cover 16 is positioned at a second position, which is higher than the first position where the upward luminous flux ratio is 0%.

Figures 9(A) to 9(C) show the configuration of the lighting fixture 1 when the upward luminous flux ratio is set to 15%. When the upward luminous flux ratio is set to 15%, the first member 51 and the second member 52 are used as the adjustment member 50, as described above for the case with an upward luminous flux ratio of 5%. The legs 55a and 55b of the second member 52 are fixed to the upper surface of the mounting plate 34, and the legs 53a and 53b of the first member 51 are fixed to the upper surface of the support portion 56 of the second member 52. In addition, a mounting plate 40 with the LED substrate 44 attached is fixed to the outer circumference of the lower surface of the mounting plate 34 by a bent portion 40a. The mounting plate 40 is bent at an acute angle relative to the mounting plate 34 and fixed. That is, the mounting angle of the LED substrate 44 with respect to the horizontal direction is changed from the cases of upward luminous flux ratios of 0% and 5%. This makes it possible to change the direction of the light emitted from the LED 42. Then, the upper cover 16 is screwed and fixed to the fixing portion 54 of the first member 51 so that it covers a portion of the side of the globe 14. Here, the position of the upper cover 16 relative to the globe 14 is the same as the second position described above when the upward luminous flux ratio is 5%.

In other words, the lighting fixture 1 can adjust the upward luminous flux ratio by moving the upper cover 16 vertically up and down relative to the globe 14, and by adjusting the mounting angle of the LED board 44 in the horizontal direction.

Figure 10 is a partially enlarged view of the area around the fixing part 54 that secures the upper cover 16 in the first or second position.

A surface 16b is formed at the center of the upper surface of the upper cover 16, protruding upward from the surrounding surface 16a. Surface 16b is formed to protrude diagonally and continuously upward from the surrounding surface 16a. A screw hole 16c is formed in surface 16b. A protective member 61 with a screw hole is provided on the upper surface of surface 16b. A screw fastening portion 60 is formed by inserting a screw into the screw hole 16c via the protective member 61. That is, the upper cover 16 is fixed by screw fastening the screw fastening portion 60 to the fixing portion 54 of the first member 51. Therefore, it is configured to prevent water from easily flowing into the lighting unit 10 through the screw hole 16c formed in the upper cover 16.

In other words, compared to the case where the screw hole 16c is at the same height as the surrounding surface of the upper cover 16, this design makes it less susceptible to problems such as water flowing into the lighting unit 10 and causing component deterioration.

In the above embodiment, the case in which the adjustment member 50 is made up of a first member 51 and a second member 52 was used as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied when a member made up of three or more members is used.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and encompasses a range of technical modifications that can be made within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention.

1. Lighting fixture 10. Lighting unit 12. Holder 14. Globe (translucent cover)
16 Top cover 22 Pole 24 Power cord fixing bracket 30 Holding part 34, 40 Mounting plate 38 Power board 42 LED
44 LED substrate 50 Adjustment member 51 First member 52 Second member

Claims (5)

A substrate on which a light-emitting element is mounted,
A translucent cover for housing the aforementioned substrate,
An upper cover provided on the upper part of the light-transmitting cover,
An adjustment member is provided that allows adjustment of the upward luminous flux ratio, which is the ratio of the luminous flux directed upward rather than horizontally, of the luminous flux irradiated from the light-emitting element to the surroundings, by moving and fixing the upper cover in the vertical direction relative to the light-transmitting cover.
Outdoor lighting fixtures with [specific features/features]. The adjustment member comprises a first member and a second member for adjusting the height of the first member.
The outdoor lighting fixture according to claim 1, wherein the adjusting member is capable of adjusting the upward luminous flux ratio by a combination of the first member and the second member. The outdoor lighting fixture according to claim 2, wherein the upper cover can be fixed in a first position using only the first member and in a second position using both the first and second members. The outdoor lighting fixture according to claim 1, further comprising an angle-switching member that allows for further adjustment of the upward luminous flux ratio by fixing the substrate to a mounting plate provided horizontally, or by fixing it at an angle to the mounting plate. The upper cover has a screw-fastening portion that protrudes above the surrounding surface,
The outdoor lighting fixture according to claim 1, wherein the upper cover is fixed to the adjustment member by the screw fastening portion.