WO2009083039A1

WO2009083039A1 - Lighting device for a refrigerating storing device and refrigerating storing device comprising such lighting device

Info

Publication number: WO2009083039A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/000012
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Naaijkens; Piet De Wild
Original assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Priority date: 2008-01-02
Filing date: 2008-01-02
Publication date: 2009-07-09
Also published as: EP2242973A1

Abstract

A lighting device (10) for a refrigerating storing device (1) comprises a solid state lighting element (12) which radiates light and a solid rod (13) which is aligned with the solid state lighting element (12) and which receives light (15) radiated from the solid state lighting device to be transmitted through a longitudinal length (L) of the solid rod (13). The solid state lighting element (12) and the solid rod (13) are adapted to be arranged inside the refrigerating storing device (1), so that the longitudinal length (L) of the solid rod extends along an extension of a storage space (3) of the refrigerating storing device. The solid rod (13) comprises reflecting means (14) for directing at least a portion of the light (15) transmitted through the longitudinal length (L) of the solid rod out from the solid rod (13) into the storage space (3) of the refrigerating storing device. The invention provides a way of managing light from a light-source to an area where lighting is desired and provides an efficient way of lighting with low loss of energy and light.

Description

K 71 324/8

Lighting device for a refrigerating storing device and refrigerating storing device comprising such lighting device

The present invention relates to a lighting device for a refrigerating storing device, such as a refrigerating cabinet, and to a refrigerating storing device comprising such lighting device.

In some applications, refrigerating storing devices such as refrigerating cabinets or, more generally, display coolers, are provided with illumination of their display spaces, the illumination being made by one or more lighting devices placed inside the display space. Typically, such lighting devices comprise one or more lamps for illumination of the display space, wherein such lamps have a rather low efficiency with respect to the provided illumination, i.e. there is a rather large amount of heat generated by such lamps. For example, such lamps generate approximately 75 % heat and only 25 % light of the consumed energy. This provides the disadvantage that lighting devices placed inside the display space which is to be cooled for the cooling of the goods to be stored in the refrigerating storing devices counteract the cooling of the storage space of such refrigerating storing device. Since the direct environment of such lighting device, which acts as a heater, is to be cooled, the described way of providing a lighting device inside a display space of a refrigerating storing device is an energy inefficient way of providing light inside a refrigerating storing device.

Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide an improved lighting device for a refrigerating storing device which provides the possibility that a refrigerating storing device having such lighting device can operate with increased efficiency.

Embodiments of the present invention include, according to one aspect of the invention, a lighting device for a refrigerating storing device comprising a solid state lighting element which radiates light and a solid rod which is aligned with the solid state lighting element and which receives light radiated from the solid state lighting device to be transmitted through a longitudinal length of the solid

[/data/so52/8/7l/71324/071109_NA_SR.odt) 2008-01-02 12:33 rod. The solid state lighting element is adapted to be arranged inside the refrigerating storing device, and the solid rod is adapted to be arranged inside the refrigerating storing device, so that the longitudinal length of the solid rod extends along an extension of a storage space of the refrigerating storing device. The solid rod comprises reflecting means for directing at least a portion of the light transmitted through the longitudinal length of the solid rod out from the solid rod into the storage space of the refrigerating storing device.

According to an embodiment, the reflecting means is adapted for directing the at least one portion of the light out from the solid rod in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to the longitudinal length of the solid rod. Further, the reflecting means may be adapted for directing the at least one portion of the light out from the solid rod to illuminate only a predetermined portion of the storage space. In this way, light can be directed into areas of the storage space which should be provided with illumination, whereas regions of the storage space which do not require illumination are not illuminated, so that the generated light is efficiently distributed into the areas of the storage space which are to be provided with illumination.

According to other embodiments of the invention there is provided a refrigerating storing device comprising a display case including a storage space for the storage of goods requiring refrigeration and at least one lighting device attached to the display case, the lighting device comprising a solid state lighting element which radiates light and a solid rod which is aligned with the solid state lighting element and which receives light radiated from the solid state lighting device to be transmitted through a longitudinal length of the solid rod. The solid state lighting element and the solid rod are arranged inside the refrigerating storing device, so that a longitudinal length of the solid rod extends along an extension of the storage space. The solid rod comprises reflecting means for directing at least a portion of the light transmitted through the longitudinal length of the solid rod out from the solid rod into the storage space.

Further embodiments and aspects of the invention are evident from the dependent claims.

[/data/so52/8/71^71324/071109_NA_SR.odt] 2008-01-02 12:33 The invention will now be described with reference to the following disclosure of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig.1 shows an embodiment of a refrigerating storing device having the form of a cabinet with a front access door and with two lighting devices according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of a lighting device accord- ing to the invention;

Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a lighting device according to the invention;

Fig. 4 shows another cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a lighting device according to the invention;

Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the lighting device according to Fig. 4 from another perspective;

Fig. 6 shows top views of the lighting device according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 7 shows cross-sectional views of the lighting device according to an em- bodiment of the invention.

In Fig. 1, an embodiment of a refrigerating storing device is shown, wherein the refrigerating storing device of the present example has the construction of a refrigerating cabinet. Particularly, the refrigerating storing device 1 comprises a display case 2 having a front access door 6. The side walls of the display case 2 as well as the front access door 6 are provided with glass panels, so that the storage space 3 included within the display case 2 and behind the front access door 6 is visible from the outside of the refrigerating storing device 1. Further, the display case 2 comprises two front vertical edges 4, 5, wherein at vertical

[/data/so52/8/71/71324/071109_NA_SR.odt] 2008-01-02 12:33 edge 5 the front access door 6 is hinged and at vertical edge 4 the front access door 6 may be taken for opening and closing the door.

In the present embodiment, the display case 2 of the refrigerating storing device 1 has corner regions 7, 8, the corner region 7 located at the top of the vertical edge 4 and the corner region 8 located at the top of the vertical edge 5 of the display case 2, wherein a lighting element is arranged in the respective corner regions 7, 8 as explained in more detail herein below. The lighting element placed in corner regions 7, 8 is in the form of a solid state lighting ele- ment 12 which is part of a lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to Fig. 2, 3 and Fig. 6, 7 an embodiment of a lighting device according to the principles of the present invention will now be described.

The lighting device 10 of the present embodiment comprises a solid state lighting element 12 which radiates light intended for illumination of the storage space 3 of the display case 2 of the refrigerating storage device. Particularly, the solid state lighting element 12 is a light emitting diode (LED) placed on a re- spective circuit board or the like for providing energy to the LED and for activating or disabling the LED, respectively. With applying such LED technology, the heat generated inside the storage space 3 of the refrigerating storing device is reduced significantly, thus resulting in a more energy efficient way of illuminating the inside of a refrigerating storing device. Providing an illuminated stor- age space may particularly be used for the display of cooling goods in hospitality trade, more specifically behind bars.

A solid rod 13 is aligned with the LED 12 in such a way that it receives light which is radiated from the LED 12. The solid rod 13 is made from a transparent material such as glass or transparent plastic (plexi glass, PMMA (PMMA: Poly- Methyl MethAcrylate, known as plexiglass) and has the form of a longitudinal rod of substantially circular cross-section and having a longitudinal length L extending along a vertical edge 4 and 5, respectively, of the storage space 3. The solid rod 13 is aligned with the LED 12 in such a way that light 15 radiated from the LED 12, at least a large part of the light produced by the LED 12, is transmit-

|/data/so52/8/71/71324/071109_NA_SR.odt| 2008-01-02 12:33 ted through the longitudinal length L of the solid rod 13 as shown particularly in Fig. 3 and in Fig. 7. The solid rod 13 is arranged inside the storage space 3 of the refrigerating storing device in a way that the longitudinal length L of the solid rod 13 extends along the vertical extension of the storage space 3. However, according to other embodiments of the invention, the solid rod may also extend along a horizontal extension, e.g. a horizontal edge, of the storage space or in any other direction with respect to a refrigerating storing device depending on the particular application. The involved parts and functionality are similar or equal.

The LED 12 is particularly arranged inside a first housing 21, made for example from aluminum material, whereas the solid rod 13 is fixed with an end portion thereof in a second housing 22 which may also be made from aluminum material. The housing 21 for incorporating the LED 12 has an opening 24 which is designed for the output of the light radiated from the LED 12, wherein the solid rod is aligned with respect to the opening 24 of the housing 21. Particularly, with the alignment of the second housing 22 with respect to the first housing 21, and more specifically with respect to the opening 24 of the first housing 21, the solid rod 13 may precisely be aligned with respect to the LED 12 so that a large part of the generated light may be received from the solid rod to be transmitted through its longitudinal length L.

As shown particularly with respect to Fig. 4 and 5, the first housing 21 and the second housing 22 each comprise at least one alignment means which inter- acts with at least one complementary alignment means of the respective other one of the first and second housing 21, 22. Particularly, the housing 21 comprises an edge portion 25 for providing the at least one alignment means, whereas the second housing 22 comprises at least one recess 26 for receiving the edge portion 25, thus providing the at least one complementary alignment means interacting with the edge portion 25. In this way, it can be assured that the housings 21 and 22, and hence the LED 12 and solid rod 13, are precisely aligned with respect to one other. In this way, a maximum amount of light can be received by the solid rod 13 which acts as a light distributor as explained in more detail below.

[/data/so5Σ78/71/71324/071109_NA_SR.odt] 2008-01-02 12:33 Each of the first housing and second housing 21, 22 comprise means, such as a screw or the like, which are adapted for fixing the housings 21, 22 to the storage device 1, as shown particularly with respect to Fig. 2. In this way, the LED 12 and the solid rod 13 can be arranged in a frame construction 31 of the refri- gerating storage device. In the present example, the frame construction 31 comprises two parallel extending sheet metal strips 32 with an insulation 33 included in between, the sheet metal strips 32 having respective openings for receiving the screws 23 for fixing the housings 21 and 22 to the frame construction 31. The frame construction 31 may be of plastic material or any other suit- able material, wherein the sheet metal strips 32 increase the strength of the frame construction.

The lighting device 10 further comprises a clear protection device which, in the present example, consists of a substantially L-shaped member 34 made from a transparent material such as glass or transparent plastic material. The L-shaped member 34 extends along the longitudinal length L of the solid rod 13 in an almost parallel fashion and partially encases the rod 13. There are also provided means such as screws 35 for fixing the L-shaped member 34 to the storage device 1, particularly to one of the sheet metal strips 32.

The display case 2 of the refrigerating storage device 1 as shown in Fig. 1 comprises two lighting devices 10 each arranged along a respective vertical edge 4, 5 of the storage space 3. Particularly, a first lighting device 10 is arranged extending along the left vertical edge 4 and a second lighting device 10 is ar- ranged extending along the right vertical edge 5 of the storage space 3. Particularly, the solid rod 13 of each lighting device 10 is arranged with its longitudinal length L extending along a respective edge 4, 5. The LED 12 of the first lighting device 10 is arranged in the left corner region 7 and the LED 12 of the second lighting device 10 is arranged in the right corner region 8 of the refrigerating storing device 1. In this way, the solid rod 13 of each of the lighting devices 10 is arranged in a substantially vertical arrangement inside the display case 2 for illumination of the storage space 3.

As shown particularly with respect to Fig. 3, 6 and 7, the solid rod 13 comprises reflecting means 14 which are adapted for directing at least a portion of the

[/data/so52/8/71/7l324/07l 109_NA_SR.odt] 2008-01-02 12:33 light 15 transmitted through the longitudinal length L of the solid rod 13 out from the solid rod 13 into the storage space 3. In the present embodiment, the reflecting means 14, which may comprise or may have the form of reflecting pixels placed on the outer circumferential surface of the solid rod 13, are adap- ted and arranged in such that the received portion of light 15 is directed out from the solid rod 13 in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to the longitudinal length L of the rod 13. As shown particularly with respect to Fig. 6 and 7, the reflecting means 14 in the rod 13 is adapted for directing the received light 15 out from the rod 13 to illuminate only a predetermined portion 16 of the storage space 3. In other words, the light leaves the solid rod 13 only within a certain area 16 to precisely direct the light for illumination of only a predetermined portion of the storage space as shown. With this system it is possible to "manage" exactly which area of the storage space is to be illuminated and which area is not to be illuminated, thus avoiding a loss of light for il- lumination of undesired parts of the display space. With the application as shown, the light leaving the solid rod 13 may be directed, for example, to bottles or the like, which are placed inside the storage space, which improves the effect of presentation of the bottles inside the refrigerating storing device 1.

With arranging of the solid rod 13 with its longitudinal length L extending along a respective vertical edge 4, 5 of the storage space 3 in an access front area of the storage space, a very effective illumination of the storage space may be established. As a matter of the low energy consumption and heat generation of the LEDs 12, the efficiency of the refrigerating storing device is increased. Par- ticularly, this is a matter of less energy consumption for the generating of the light and less energy consumption for refrigeration needed due to a reduced heat generation of the lighting device. A further advantage of applying solid state lighting devices is a rather long lifetime of such lighting devices so that less service time is required. With the lighting device according to the invention many color combinations for illuminating the storage space may be generated by controlling differently colored LEDs in a corresponding way. With respect to commonly known tube light and colored sleeve light which are provided with a respective color once before applied in a respective device, which color may not be changed, this provides the advantage of higher flexibility for the operat-

[/data/so52/8/71/71324/071109_NA_SR.odt] 2008-01-02 12:33 or of the refrigerating storing device according to the invention during operation.

According to another embodiment, the reflecting means may be implemented by tape placed on the outer circumferential surface of the solid rod 13. Moreover, reflecting material should be placed on the bottom of the solid rod 13 (at the opposite side of the rod as where the light source is positioned to avoid that light escapes at this area of the rod where there is no need to) so that maximum amount of light will leave the rod only in the shown perpendicu- lar direction with respect to the longitudinal length L of the rod 13. Generally, the reflecting means 14 are adapted to ensure a substantially uniform light output into the storage space 3. In the lower regions of the solid rod 13 the density of the reflecting pixels or labels/tapes may be increased in order to compensate the loss of light along the longitudinal length L of the rod 13 in the re- gions of the rod which are farest from the LED 12. With the increase of the density of the pixels, the amount of light reflected and directed into the display space may be increased to compensate for any lower amount of light received in the lower regions of the rod.

The lighting device according to the present invention may be used, in principle, for any kind of refrigerating storing device such as a refrigerating cabinet as shown or a storage container having drawers with glass panels or the like. Furthermore, the invention may be used in storing devices having a chest form with an access area from the top such as used for freezers.

While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

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Claims

K 71 324/8Claims

1. A lighting device (10) for a refrigerating storing device (1), comprising

- a solid state lighting element (12) which radiates light,

- a solid rod (13) which is aligned with the solid state lighting element (12) and which receives light (15) radiated from the solid state lighting device to be transmitted through a longitudinal length (L) of the solid rod (13), - wherein the solid state lighting element (12) is adapted to be arranged inside the refrigerating storing device (1),

- wherein the solid rod (13) is adapted to be arranged inside the refrigerating storing device (1), so that the longitudinal length (L) of the solid rod extends along an extension of a storage space (3) of the refrigerating storing device, - the solid rod (13) comprising reflecting means (14) for directing at least a portion of the light (15) transmitted through the longitudinal length (L) of the solid rod out from the solid rod (13) into the storage space (3) of the refrigerating storing device.

2. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the reflecting means (14) is adapted for directing the at least one portion of the light (15) out from the solid rod (13) in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to the longitudinal length (L) of the solid rod (13).

3. The lighting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reflecting means (14) is adapted for directing the at least one portion of the light (15) out from the solid rod (13) to illuminate only a predetermined portion (16) of the storage space (3).

4. The lighting device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the solid state lighting device (12) is arranged inside a first housing (21), the first housing having an opening (24) for outputting radiated light, and the solid rod (13) is aligned with respect to the opening (24) of the first housing.

5. The lighting device according to claim 4, wherein

|/data/so52/8/71/71324/071109_NA_SR.odtl 2008-01-02 12:33 the solid rod (13) is fixed with an end portion thereof in a second housing (22), the second housing being aligned with respect to the opening (24) of the first housing (21).

6. The lighting device according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the first and second housings (21, 22) comprises at least one alignment means (25) which interacts with at least one complementary alignment means (26) of the respective other one of the first and second housings.

7. The lighting device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one alignment means comprises an edge portion (25), and the at least one complementary alignment means comprises at least one recess (26) for receiving the edge portion (25).

8. The lighting device according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the first and second housings (21, 22) each comprise means (23) which are adapted for fixing the first and second housings to the storage device (1).

9. The lighting device according to one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a clear protection device (34) extending along the longitudinal length (L) of the solid rod (13).

10. The lighting device according to claim 13, wherein the clear protection device comprises a substantially L-shaped member (34) having means (35) which are adapted for fixing the L-shaped member to the storage device (1).

11. A refrigerating storing device (1), comprising

- a display case (2) including a storage space (3) for the storage of goods re- quiring refrigeration,

- at least one lighting device (10) attached to the display case (2), the lighting device comprising:

- a solid state lighting element (12) which radiates light.

[/data/so52/8/71/71324/071109_NA_SR odt] 2008-01-02 12:33 - a solid rod (13) which is aligned with the solid state lighting element (12) and which receives light (15) radiated from the solid state lighting device to be transmitted through a longitudinal length (L) of the solid rod,

- wherein the solid state lighting element (12) and the solid rod (13) are ar- ranged inside the refrigerating storing device (1), so that the longitudinal length

(L) of the solid rod (13) extends along an extension of the storage space (3),

- the solid rod (13) comprising reflecting means (14) for directing at least a portion of the light (15) transmitted through the longitudinal length (L) of the solid rod out from the solid rod (13) into the storage space (3).

12. The refrigerating storing device according to claim 11, wherein the solid state lighting element (12) and the solid rod (13) are arranged in a frame construction (31) of the refrigerating storage device (1).

13. The refrigerating storing device according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the solid rod (13) is arranged with its longitudinal length (L) extending along an edge (4, 5) of the storage space (3).

14. The refrigerating storing device according to one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the solid rod (13) is arranged with its longitudinal length (L) extending along a vertical or horizontal edge (4, 5) of the storage space (3).

15. The refrigerating storing device according to one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the solid state lighting element (12) is arranged in a corner region (7, 8) of the refrigerating storing device (1).

16. The refrigerating storage device according to one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the display case (2) has the construction of a refrigerating cabinet and the solid rod (13) is arranged in a substantially vertical arrangement inside the display case for illumination of the storage space (3) of the display case.

17. The refrigerating storage device according to one of claims 11 to 16, wherein the solid rod (13) is arranged with its longitudinal length (L) extending along an edge (4, 5) of the storage space (3) in an access front area thereof.

|/data/so52/8/71/71324/071109_NA_SR.odt] 2008-01-02 12:33

18. The refrigerating storage device according to one of claims 11 to 17, wherein at least two lighting devices (10) are arranged at respective opposing edges (4, 5) of the display case.

[/data/so52/8/7l/7l324/071109_NA_SR.odt] 2008-01-02 12:33