U.S. patent application number 12/265823 was filed with the patent office on 2009-05-07 for supply device.
This patent application is currently assigned to VS VEREINIGTE SPEZIALMOBELFABRIKEN GMBH & CO. KG. Invention is credited to Reinhard Weber.
Application Number | 20090113813 12/265823 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40514489 |
Filed Date | 2009-05-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090113813 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Weber; Reinhard |
May 7, 2009 |
Supply Device
Abstract
A supply device, in particular for work rooms such as
classrooms, includes a profiled body for providing at least one
lighting member and/or at least one user connection, which can be
connected with an external media line. At least one mounting device
is provided for mounting the profiled body. In order to improve
room acoustics in a classroom, for example, the supply device also
has at least one acoustic surface with a sound-absorbing surface
and/or a sound-reflecting surface.
Inventors: |
Weber; Reinhard; (Minden,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LERNER GREENBERG STEMER LLP
P O BOX 2480
HOLLYWOOD
FL
33022-2480
US
|
Assignee: |
VS VEREINIGTE SPEZIALMOBELFABRIKEN
GMBH & CO. KG
Tauberbischofsheim
DE
|
Family ID: |
40514489 |
Appl. No.: |
12/265823 |
Filed: |
November 6, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/28 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02G 3/0493 20130101;
F21V 7/0016 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/28 |
International
Class: |
E04F 19/02 20060101
E04F019/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 6, 2007 |
DE |
10 2007 052 850.9 |
Jan 10, 2008 |
DE |
10 2008 003 860.1 |
Claims
1. A supply device, comprising: a profiled body for providing at
least one of at least one lighting member or at least one user
connection configured to be connected with an external media line;
at least one mounting device configured for mounting said profiled
body; and at least one acoustic surface.
2. The supply device according to claim 1, which further comprises
a holder, said at least one acoustic surface including an acoustic
surface fixed by said holder to at least one of said at least one
mounting device or said profiled body.
3. The supply device according to claim 2, wherein said holder
permits said acoustic surface to pivot between at least two
positions.
4. The supply device according to claim 2, wherein said holder
holds said acoustic surface in one position relative to said
profiled body.
5. The supply device according to claim 1, wherein said at least
one acoustic surface includes an acoustic surface provided on a
surface section of said profiled body.
6. The supply device according to claim 1, wherein said at least
one acoustic surface includes a sound-absorbing surface.
7. The supply device according to claim 1, wherein said at least
one acoustic surface includes a sound-reflecting surface.
8. The supply device according to claim 1, wherein said at least
one acoustic surface includes at least one sound-absorbing surface
and at least one sound-reflecting surface.
9. The supply device according to claim 1, wherein said at least
one acoustic surface is made from an acoustically effective
material and/or is constructed in an acoustically effective
shape.
10. The supply device according to claim 1, wherein said at least
one acoustic surface is at least partially formed in an optically
reflective manner.
11. The supply device according to claim 1, wherein said at least
one mounting device is configured for at least one of mounting said
profiled body to a ceiling, mounting said profiled body to a wall
or setting up said profiled body.
12. The supply device according to claim 1, wherein said at least
one mounting device is vertically adjustable.
13. The supply device according to claim 1, wherein said at least
one lighting member includes at least one of a lighting member for
direct lighting or a lighting member for indirect lighting.
14. The supply device according to claim 1, wherein said at least
one user connection is selected from the group consisting of power
connections, water connections, gas connections, compressed air
connections, data jacks and communication ports.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.
119, of German Patent Application DE 10 2007 052 850.9, filed Nov.
6, 2007, and German Patent Application DE 10 2008 003 860.1, filed
Jan. 10, 2008; the prior applications are herewith incorporated by
reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a supply device, in
particular for work rooms such as classrooms and the like,
including a profiled body for providing at least one lighting
member and/or at least one user connection, which can be connected
with an external media line, and at least one mounting device for
mounting the profiled body.
[0003] Such a supply device is known, for example, from German
Utility Model DE 20 2005 003 257 U1. The known supply device, which
is also referred to as a media distributor, is formed basically of
a (hollow) profiled body, that can be mounted to a room ceiling
through supports. The profiled body has various supply lines, that
can be connected with building media lines, as well as various user
connections and lighting members, which are connected with the
corresponding supply lines in the profiled body.
[0004] Such supply devices can be used to construct multifunctional
classrooms, for instance, which can be used for example as "normal"
classrooms or as laboratories, as is required, thanks to the
numerous and various user connections and lighting options which
have been made available.
[0005] In addition to that multifunctionality, there has also been
an increasing desire in the case of work rooms in general and
especially in the case of schoolrooms for good room acoustics with
reduced noise.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a
supply device, which overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned
disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type
and which improves room acoustics.
[0007] With the foregoing and other objects in view there is
provided, in accordance with the invention, a supply device,
comprising a profiled body for providing at least one lighting
member and/or at least one user connection, configured to be
connected with an external media line. At least one mounting device
is configured for mounting the profiled body, and at least one
acoustic surface is provided.
[0008] The supply device of the invention that can be
advantageously used in a work room, for example a classroom, has a
profiled body which provides the user with at least one lighting
member and/or at least one user connection, which can be connected,
for example, through a supply line running in the profiled body
with an external, i.e. for example building, media line. In this
manner, the work room which is equipped with the supply device can
have a multifunctional and varying use.
[0009] The supply device of the invention also has at least one
acoustic surface, i.e. an acoustically effective surface. Thus, the
supply device can at the same time be used to specifically change
the acoustics in the work room, without additional units or
components having to be installed in the work room, even if they
may, of course, also still be available.
[0010] In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the at
least one acoustic surface contains an acoustic surface which is
fixed through a holder to the at least one mounting device and/or
to the profiled body. The holder can then be optionally formed in
such a way that the acoustic surface can pivot between at least two
positions or that the acoustic surface is held in one position
relative to the profiled body.
[0011] In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the
at least one acoustic surface alternatively or additionally
contains an acoustic surface which is provided on a surface section
of the profiled body.
[0012] In accordance with a further feature of the invention, in
order to improve the acoustics, for example in a work room, the
acoustic surface can contain a sound-absorbing surface, a
sound-reflecting surface or at least one sound-absorbing surface
and at least one sound-reflecting surface. The acoustic surface can
then additionally be made from an acoustically effective material
and/or constructed in an acoustically effective shape.
[0013] In an added embodiment of the invention, the acoustic
surface is at least partially formed in an optically reflective
manner. Thus, the acoustic surface can, for example, advantageously
work in conjunction with a lighting member, particularly a lighting
member for indirect lighting, on the profiled body.
[0014] In yet another embodiment of the invention, the at least one
mounting device can be formed for mounting the profiled body to the
ceiling, for mounting it to the wall and/or for setting or putting
it up. The at least one mounting device is then preferably formed
in a vertically adjustable manner.
[0015] In accordance with yet a further feature of the invention,
the at least one lighting member can contain a lighting member for
direct lighting and/or a lighting member for indirect lighting.
[0016] In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention,
the at least one user connection is, for example, chosen from power
connections, water connections, gas connections, compressed air
connections, data jacks and communications ports.
[0017] Other features which are considered as characteristic for
the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
[0018] Although the invention is illustrated and described herein
as embodied in a supply device, it is nevertheless not intended to
be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and
structural changes may be made therein without departing from the
spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of
equivalents of the claims.
[0019] The construction and method of operation of the invention,
however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof
will be best understood from the following description of specific
embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0020] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, top-plan view of a classroom,
which is equipped with several supply devices according to the
invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a side-elevational view of a work station in the
classroom of FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side-elevational view of
a supply device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the
present invention;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, side-elevational view of a supply
device according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0024] FIGS. 5 to 7 are fragmentary, longitudinal-sectional views
of a supply device according to a third exemplary embodiment of the
present invention; and
[0025] FIG. 8 is a bottom-plan view of the supply device of FIGS. 5
to 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and
first, particularly, to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, there is seen a
construction of a multifunctional classroom 10 as an example of a
work room with one or more supply devices of the invention, which
will now be initially described.
[0027] In the classroom 10, a teacher's station 12 and a
multiplicity of work stations 14 for students are provided as
usual, noting that the configuration of FIG. 1 is only selected as
an example. Two rows of supply devices 16 above the student work
stations 14 are, for example, disposed in the classroom 10, as is a
control cabinet 18 acting as a control device for controlling the
supply devices 16. The control device 18 can, of course, also be
disposed outside the classroom 10. As is shown in FIG. 2, the
supply devices 16 are basically formed of a profiled body 20, which
is mounted to a ceiling 24 of the room through the use of at least
one support (mounting device) 22.
[0028] The profiled body 20, which is formed in general as a hollow
profiled body, can have various supply lines, user connections 26
and lighting members. As is shown in FIG. 2, a student at a work
station 14 can for example, if required, connect his or her laptop
computer through corresponding connection lines 28 to a power
supply connection, a data jack and/or an internet connection of the
user connections 26 of the supply device 16. As a result of the
supply device 16, which is mounted on the ceiling, "cases of
stumbling" due to a connection of cables to connections in the
floor and on side walls, are advantageously prevented.
Alternatively, the classroom 10 can, for example, also be used as a
laboratory in which the user connections 26 for compressed air,
gas, water and the like are provided for the work stations 14
through a corresponding operation of the control device 18.
[0029] Various exemplary embodiments of supply devices 16 according
to the invention are described in greater detail below with
reference to FIGS. 3 to 8.
[0030] In the first exemplary embodiment, which is shown in FIG. 3,
the profiled body 20 can be mounted to a room ceiling 24 through a
support 22. The support (mounting device of the invention) 22 is
then preferably formed in a vertically adjustable manner, for
example like a telescope-type holder that has an adjustable length
(see the double arrow 25). The underside of the profiled body 20
has a centrally disposed lighting member 30 for direct lighting of
the work station 14 and its longitudinal sides have lighting
members 32 which are directed diagonally upwards for indirect
lighting of the classroom 10. The invention is not limited in this
case to any special type of lighting members, and the configuration
of the lighting members 30, 32 can also change over the length of
the profiled body 20.
[0031] The underside of this profiled body 20 also has (generally
facing the work station 14, which is below in FIG. 3) acoustic
surfaces 34 on sections which are not required for the lighting
member 30. These acoustic surfaces 34 are optionally
sound-absorbing surfaces, sound-reflecting surfaces or a combined
configuration of such surface types. Furthermore, the acoustic
surfaces 34 are, for example, made from an acoustically effective
material and/or formed in an acoustically effective shape. These
acoustic surfaces 34 should, in particular, reduce noise in the
work room, but can also, if required, produce a more beneficial
diffusion of sound waves in the room.
[0032] The acoustic surfaces 34 on the supply devices 16 can, of
course, also work in conjunction with other acoustic surfaces on
ceilings and walls of the room or on pieces of furniture in the
room.
[0033] In the second exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4, the hollow
profiled body 20, which is likewise mounted through preferably
vertically adjustable supports 22 to a room ceiling 24, has on its
underside, which is facing the work station 14, a centrally
disposed lighting member 30 running in the longitudinal direction
of the profiled body 20 for direct lighting of the work station 14,
as well as user connections 26 placed next to the lighting member
30. These user connections 26 are, for example, chosen from power
connections, water connections, gas connections, compressed air
connections, data jacks, communication ports and the like, and can
be connected through appropriate supply lines (not shown) in the
hollow profiled body 20 with external, i.e. in this case building,
media lines. The respective connections are then controlled through
the use of the control device 18, but can optionally also be made
available in a continuous manner.
[0034] In this example, the acoustic surfaces 34 are provided on
the longitudinal sides of the profiled body 20 which are diagonally
inclined upwards, as is shown in FIG. 4. Incidentally, the
embodiments given above in connection with the first exemplary
embodiment of FIG. 3 apply once again to the acoustic surfaces
34.
[0035] It should be noted that the numbers, sizes and shapes of the
acoustic surfaces 34 provided on the profiled body 20 are not
limited to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.
In particular, all surface sections of the profiled body 20, which
are not required for a lighting member 30, 32, a user connection 26
or the mounting device 22, can be basically used for the acoustic
surfaces 34. Furthermore, the two exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 3
and 4 can also be combined in which, for example, the profiled body
20 of the supply device 16 is constructed in the longitudinal
direction thereof sectionally according to FIG. 3 and sectionally
according to FIG. 4.
[0036] A third exemplary embodiment of a supply device will now be
described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8.
[0037] Whereas in the first and second exemplary embodiments, which
were explained in detail above using FIGS. 3 and 4, the acoustic
surfaces 34 were provided on surface sections of the profiled body
20, on which no lighting members 30, 32 or user connections 26 were
provided, the supply device 16 of this exemplary embodiment has
acoustic surfaces 36, which are fixed through a holder 38 on the
support (mounting device) 22 for mounting the profiled body 20 to
the ceiling.
[0038] As is illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7, the acoustic surfaces 36
in this case are basically panel-shaped constructions, which are
formed at least partially from an acoustically effective material,
i.e. for instance a material with sound-absorbing or
sound-reflecting properties. For example, the acoustic surfaces 36
are formed from a sound-absorbing insulation material, on which a
perforated plate is disposed on the side facing the work station
14.
[0039] The profiled body 20, in particular a hollow profiled body,
optionally provides various lighting members 30 for direct lighting
of a work station 14, lighting members 32 for indirect room
lighting and/or user connections 26. The numbers, choices and
configuration positions of these components are not limited in any
particular manner, i.e. FIGS. 5 to 8 each show only an exemplary
embodiment.
[0040] Furthermore, FIGS. 5 to 7 each show a cross section of the
profiled body 20, in which a lighting member 30 is provided on one
side, displaced in relation to the longitudinal center axis, and a
user connection 26 is provided on the other side. As is illustrated
in the bottom plan view of the supply device 16 in FIG. 8, the
lighting member 30 and the user connections 26 can advantageously
also be disposed in an alternate manner in which, additionally, the
types of the provided user connections 26 can also change
constantly in the longitudinal direction of the profiled body 20.
Of course, a centrally disposed lighting member 30 can also be
provided only on the underside of the profiled body (see, for
example, FIGS. 3 and 4).
[0041] In this exemplary embodiment, the acoustic surfaces 36 are
each connected through a hinge 40 with the holder 38. The holder
38, in this embodiment, is fixed to the support 22 of the profiled
body 20. Alternatively, it is also possible to attach the holder 38
for the acoustic surfaces 36 to the profiled body 20 itself. The
term "holder" includes both supporting connection members, as are
shown for example in FIGS. 5 to 7, as well as direct fixing devices
such as screw fittings and the like.
[0042] With this type of fixing using the hinge 40, the acoustic
surfaces 36 can be moved between a first, basically horizontal
position (FIGS. 5 and 6) and a second, basically vertical position
(FIG. 7) to produce different effects on the room acoustics, as
required. Of course, other intermediate positions of the acoustic
surfaces 36, which are not shown in the figures, are also possible.
The two end positions of the acoustic surfaces 36 also do not have
to correspond to the horizontal or vertical orientation.
Furthermore, the acoustic surfaces 36 can be locked in the
respective chosen positions.
[0043] Adjustment of the acoustic surfaces 36 occurs in the
illustrated exemplary embodiment through a cable spindle 42
disposed inside the support 22. One end of a guy cable 44 is
connected to this cable spindle 42 and the other end thereof is
connected to the outer end, i.e. to that end of the acoustic
surface 36 facing away from the holder 38. The angle of inclination
of the acoustic surface 36 is adjusted accordingly by winding and
unwinding the guy cable 44 onto and from the cable spindle 42. The
guy cable 44 is furthermore used to stably support the acoustic
surface 36, in particular in the horizontal orientation shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6.
[0044] The side of the acoustic surfaces, which faces the profiled
body 20 or the work station 14, i.e. the underside thereof in this
example, can also at least partially be formed, in another
embodiment, in an optically reflective manner. This can be
achieved, for example, as the result of a corresponding chosen
material or by coating the acoustic surface 36. This embodiment of
the acoustic surfaces 36 is particularly advantageous when the
profiled body 20 of the supply device 16 provides a lighting member
32 for indirect room lighting, as is the case in the exemplary
embodiment of FIGS. 5 to 7. The beams of light emitting from this
lighting member 32 are then effectively reflected at the undersides
of the acoustic surfaces 36 (instead of, for example, at a room
ceiling 24, as is normally the case).
[0045] In the third exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 5 to 8, the
support (mounting device) 22 is also preferably formed in a
vertically adjustable manner.
[0046] The third exemplary embodiment has the advantage, over the
examples of FIGS. 3 and 4 described above, of the acoustic surfaces
36 having larger acoustically effective surfaces in comparison with
the acoustic surfaces 34 and of being able to be formed in an
acoustically more effective manner as a result of the greater
thickness thereof. This also becomes clear from the size ratios,
shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, between the acoustic surfaces 36 and the
profiled body 20.
[0047] The present invention is, of course, not limited only to the
exemplary embodiments and variations described above. The following
modifications and alternatives, for example, are therefore
possible.
[0048] Additionally, in the case of the third exemplary embodiment
of FIGS. 5 to 7 with the acoustic surfaces 36, the profiled body 20
can also be provided on suitable surface sections with acoustic
surfaces 34. In other words, a combination of the third exemplary
embodiment with the first or second exemplary embodiment is also
possible, in which of course the above-mentioned variations can, in
each case, also be taken into consideration.
[0049] In the above-described exemplary embodiments, the respective
acoustic surfaces 34 or 36 are provided symmetrically on the supply
device 16. However, an asymmetric configuration is also possible.
For example, in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 5 to 8, a single
acoustic surface 36 can also be attached on one side of the
mounting device 22.
[0050] Whereas in the above-described third exemplary embodiment of
FIGS. 5 to 8, the acoustic surfaces 36 are attached to the holder
38 through the use of the hinge 40 in a pivoting manner, it is also
possible in an alternative embodiment to fix the acoustic surfaces
36 without a hinge 40 directly to the holder 38, in such a way that
the acoustic surfaces 36 are attached in a fixed position relative
to the profiled body 20. This one fixed position of the acoustic
surfaces 36 corresponds then normally to that shown in FIGS. 5, 6
and 8, without being limited thereto.
[0051] Whereas in the above-described third exemplary embodiment,
the acoustic surfaces 36 are fixed through the holder 38 to the
support (mounting device) 22 for mounting the profiled body 20 to
the ceiling, it is also alternatively possible to attach the holder
38 to the profiled body 20.
[0052] In the above-described exemplary embodiments, the supply
device 16 is in each case equipped with one or more mounting
devices 22 for mounting the profiled body 20 to the ceiling.
However, it is also possible to construct the at least one mounting
device 22 additionally or alternatively for mounting the profiled
body 20 to the wall and/or for setting it up, putting it up or
hanging it up. The undersides of the profiled body 20 and of the
acoustic surfaces 36 in the above-described exemplary embodiments
correspond in this case generally to the sides of the supply device
16 that face the work station 14. The horizontal and vertical
orientations of the acoustic surfaces 36 then simply denote an
extended or retracted position. Thus, there are further possible
alternatives for constructing multifunctional work rooms 10.
[0053] The present invention advantageously combines a (known per
se) profiled body with lighting members and/or user connections
with an acoustic function as a result of the acoustic surfaces 34,
36. The supply device 16 of the invention is, of course, not
limited in this case to specific profiled bodies 20 and specific
types, configurations, numbers, and the like, of lighting members
and user connections.
[0054] The use of the supply devices 16 constructed as described
above enables, on one hand, the formation, for example, of
multifunctional classrooms and at the same time creates better room
acoustics, without having to install and/or put up additional
components or a large number of additional components in the actual
room for this purpose. The supply devices 16 according to the
invention can, however, also work in conjunction with other
acoustic surfaces on ceilings, walls, furniture and the like and/or
add to and influence the effects thereof.
[0055] Of course, the present invention is not limited only to
classroom use. The supply devices according to the invention can
advantageously also be used in other work rooms such as
laboratories, open plan offices, patient rooms and the like.
* * * * *