Illumination – Light source and modifier – With sealing means or artificial atmosphere
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-12
2003-10-14
O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Light source and modifier
With sealing means or artificial atmosphere
C362S229000, C362S363000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06632003
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a signal apparatus, particularly an optical signal apparatus such as from a signal lamp, or an acoustic signal.
As a rule, signal apparatuses, for example, for optical or acoustic signals on machines, systems, buildings or the like, are provided with a housing which has the required electrical connections and in which the necessary function parts are housed. According to the further development of the signal apparatus, a spherical cap is mounted on this housing.
Signal apparatuses of this type are, as a rule, conceived and used as a complete constructional unit, the individual constructional components being completely adapted to the use on the respective signal apparatus.
It is an object of the invention to suggest a signal apparatus which permits a more flexible use of the individual signal apparatus components.
Based on a signal apparatus of the initially mentioned type, this object is achieved by a signal apparatus characterized in that a holder and a signal generator for the connection to the holder are provided, the signal generator comprising a base housing made of a plastic material and penetrated by at least two contact elements, and function elements of the signal apparatus.
As a result of the measures indicated in the claims, advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention can be obtained.
Correspondingly, a signal apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that a holder and a signal generator for the connection to the holder are provided, the signal generator comprising a base housing made of plastic and penetrated by at least two contact elements, and comprising the function elements of the signal apparatus.
In the case of such a signal apparatus, different signal generators can be used with one and the same holder, which signal generators differ according to the type of their function or according to their size. The holder has the purpose of implementing the mounting and the electrical connection at the application site.
In contrast, the signal generator is adapted with respect to the size and function to the application purpose of the signal apparatus and, when placed in the above-mentioned holder, is simultaneously fixed at the application site and electrically contacted.
As a result of this construction of a signal apparatus, the multiplicity of the parts is reduced, on the one hand, because the same holder can be used for a plurality of different signal apparatuses. On the other hand, the flexibility is improved since, as a result of the simple exchange of the signal generator, the type of the signal apparatus can be varied or defective operating components can be exchanged.
As a result of the construction of the base housing of the signal generator of a plastic material and thus of an insulating material, sufficient safety is provided with respect to current-carrying parts as well as concerning a good tightness with respect to dust and water.
The contact elements preferably penetrate a bottom plate of the base housing. As a result, the base can be designed such that it can be used in known standard holders, for example, for illumination devices, in which case, during the insertion into the corresponding holder, the required electrical contact is closed at the conventional contact points. In this case, the contact elements can be constructed, for example, as contact pins which establish not only the exterior contact but simultaneously project to the components to be contacted into the interior of the base.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the base of the signal generator is constructed as an adapter piece for differently shaped signal apparatuses which fits onto the holder according to the invention. Such an adapter piece permits, for example, the variation of the overall height or of the diameter of a signal apparatus without the requirement of changing the holder provided for fixing the signal apparatus and the electrical connection.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the contact elements are simultaneously provided with cutting and/or detent elements which are used for the fixation in the base of the signal generator. The cutting elements may be constructed, for example, in the form of sawtooth-shaped external toothings
90
on the contact pins which, when pressed in, cut into the base material and thus at least partially gear with the base plate, whereby, after the pressing-in, the contact elements are fixed. The detent elements, by means of which the contact elements are locked at the base, are also conceivable in a different embodiment.
Advantageously, the base of the signal generator is constructed such that electronic components are arranged in the base housing. Because of the insulating characteristic of the base housing, the components can be connected without any problem on the base housing itself. However, in a preferred embodiment, a printed circuit board is provided which is electrically connected with the contact elements. A base which is provided with electronic components in such a manner can be used as a complete signal generator for a plurality of various signal apparatus types. Particularly by means of the embodiment in which the electronic components are arranged on the printed circuit board, as a result of the exchange of the printed circuit board and a variable design of the remaining construction on the base housing, a large number of different signal apparatus applications can be implemented in this case.
The above-mentioned printed circuit board, which is connected with the electrical contact elements, for example, by means of a plug contact, can, in turn, be used for electrically contacting arbitrary additional function elements. Thus, for example, an LED-type printed circuit board can be fitted onto the first-mentioned printed circuit board, or connecting elements can be provided for contacting a buzzer. It is also conceivable to provide another mounting for function elements in the base housing which is controlled by means of the electronic components arranged on the printed circuit board or at an arbitrary point in the interior of the base housing.
In a special embodiment of the invention, additional fastening elements for other components are molded into the base housing of the signal generator. This can be achieved without any problem mainly because the base housing is made of a plastic material and facilitates the mounting of, for example, a printed circuit board or a spherical cap on the base housing.
In this case, all conceivable embodiments, such as a bayonet catch or a threaded piece, etc. can be used as the fastening element.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the fastening elements, for example, for fixing the printed circuit board or a spherical cap, are constructed as a detent element, so that a particularly simple and optionally detachable mounting of the corresponding component can be achieved.
When the printed circuit board is pressed into detent elements of this type, for example, in the case of a plug-type connection, a contacting as well as the fixing of the printed circuit board with respect to the base housing can be established simultaneously.
The above-mentioned spherical cap can carry out several functions, and can, for example, in the case of an optical signal apparatus, influence the radiation characteristic. Furthermore, the spherical cap can have a protective and insulating function. Thus, the interior of the signal generator, for example, is protected from dirt by means of such a spherical cap. The spherical cap also represents a touch guard because it can be constructed to be electrically as well as thermally insulating.
As required, this protection and insulating function of the spherical cap can be further improved by an additional sealing between the spherical cap and the base of the signal generator.
According to the design of the base of the signal generator, another spherical cap may also be provided which closes off the signal apparatus toward the outside and is connecte
Marquardt Erich
Mordau Reinhard
Rudischhauser Steffen
Crowell & Moring LLP
O'Shea Sandra
Truong Bao
Werma Signaltechnik GmbH & Co.
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