1. A method of manufacturing a heat sink (1) for a lamp (10), comprising:

-obtaining at least one tubular element (100) extending along a main axis (1a) and defining a section with a convex shape corresponding to a ring (1b) defining a minimum thickness of 5mm, an inner bulkhead (21) and an outer bulkhead (22),

-cutting the tubular element (100) along the main axis (1a) so that at least one housing (2) defines a section (20) having a convex shape corresponding to a portion of the ring (1b),

-drilling a hole in one of said partitions (22, 21) to define a seat (23), said seat (23) being configured to house a lighting element (11) to realize said apparatus (1).

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

-sectioning the tubular element (100) along one or more planes perpendicular to the main axis (1 a).

3. Method according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein the ring (1b) is circular and the cutting of the tubular element (100) along the main axis (1a) is carried out along a centreline plane, so that the sections (20) define a semi-circle.

4. Heat sink (1) for a lamp (10), realized according to the method of any one of claims 1-3.

5. Heat sink (1) according to claim 4, wherein the ring (1b) defines a minimum thickness equal to 1 cm.

6. Heat sink (1) according to any of claims 4-5, wherein the section (20) defines a semi-circle.

7. Heat sink (1) according to any of claims 4-6, comprising a cover (3) configured to be at least partially inserted into the base (23).

8. Heat sink (1) according to any of claims 4-7, wherein the cover (3) is counter-shaped with respect to the base (23).

9. A lamp (10) comprising a heat sink (1) according to any of claims 4-8, a lighting element (11) arranged within the base (23) and a support structure (12) configured to support the heat sink (1).

10. Lamp (10) according to claim 9, wherein the heat sink (1) and the support structure (12) are constrained to each other by releasable magnetic means.

Background

A similar heat sink is described in patent application WO-A-2007/006130.

Lamps are well known tools for illumination.

In this category, a number of product categories may be highlighted, such as wall, ceiling, desk, room, outdoor, and other categories of lights.

Generally, the above-mentioned lamps comprise in many cases at least a support and a container, which is electrically connected to an external light source, typically by means of a cable, and which comprises at least one lighting element.

The element may be a common light bulb or LED, or other type of technology used in the current state of the art for lighting.

In addition, the lamp includes at least one device capable of dissipating heat at the lighting element to reduce the temperature experienced by the lamp in the lighting area.

In particular, the term of the device is known as "heat sink" and may have various shapes and sizes.

Typically, the heat sink employed on the lamp is of the passive type and therefore comprises a body consisting of thin sheets of metallic material (for example copper or aluminium) and fixed together by a support structure (also copper or aluminium).

The heat is dissipated due to the thermal conductivity of the metal used and the convection currents in the air surrounding the heat sink due to temperature differences.

The known technique described comprises some serious drawbacks.

In particular, these heat sinks require machining, which implies high times and costs, since their geometry is rather complex.

In addition, the support body of the heat sink may have a contoured shape, which means further machining and further manufacturing costs and time.

There are also box-like parts that can incorporate lighting elements to ensure the dissipation of the heat generated by the lighting elements themselves. However, these box-like components have low heat dissipation efficiency and are very unsightly like an ordinary radiator.

Disclosure of Invention

In this case, the technical task on which the present invention is based is to devise a heat sink for a lamp and a method for implementing said heat sink for a lamp that substantially eliminate at least some of the drawbacks mentioned above.

Within the scope of said technical task, an important object of the present invention is to obtain a heat sink capable of ensuring good efficiency, adapted to not undermine the structural features of the design of the lamp comprising the heat sink.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a method for realising a heat sink for a lamp which is extremely economical and reduces the time required for manufacturing the heat sink.

The technical task and the specific objects are achieved by a heat sink for a lamp as claimed in the appended claim 1.

Preferred embodiments are highlighted in the dependent claims.

Drawings

The features and advantages of the present invention are explained in detail below by referring to the drawings of preferred embodiments of the present invention, in which:

fig. 1 shows a tubular element with a semicircular cross section from which a heat sink for a lamp according to the invention is obtained;

figure 2 shows a tubular element with a half-square cross-section from which a heat sink for a lamp according to the invention is obtained;

FIG. 3a is an exploded view of a heat sink for a lamp according to the present invention in a preferred embodiment, wherein a lighting element and a cover are also provided;

fig. 3b shows a support structure of a lamp comprising a heat sink according to the invention, wherein the heat sink is constrained to the support structure by means of a fixed constraint;

FIG. 4a shows a cross-sectional view of a heat sink for a lamp according to the present invention in an alternative embodiment;

FIG. 4b shows a cross-sectional view of a lamp comprising the heat sink of FIG. 4a and wherein the constraint between the support structure and the heat sink is achieved by a magnetically separable constraint; and

fig. 5 is a perspective view of the lamp of fig. 4 b.

Detailed Description

In this document, measurements, values, shapes and geometric references (e.g. perpendicularity and parallelism), when associated with "about" or other similar terms (e.g. "about" or "approximately"), should be considered to exclude measurement errors or inaccuracies due to manufacturing and/or fabrication errors, and most importantly, to exclude minor differences in the values, measurements, shapes or geometric references associated therewith. For example, these terms, if associated with a value, preferably mean no more than 10% of the value.

Moreover, terms such as "first," "second," "higher," "lower," "primary," and "second," when used, do not necessarily identify an order, priority, or relative position of relationships, but may simply be used to distinguish between different components thereof.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, in the following discussion, terms such as "processing," "computing," "calculating," "determining," or "calculating" refer to the action and/or processes of a computer or similar electronic computing device that manipulates and/or transforms data represented as physical quantities, such as electronic quantities within the computer system's registers and/or memories therein, and other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system, registers or other storage, transmission or information display devices.

Unless otherwise indicated, the measurements and data reported herein are to be considered as performed by the International Standard atmospheric International civil aviation organization (ISO 2533: 1975).

With reference to the accompanying drawings, a heat sink for a lamp according to the present invention is generally indicated by numeral 1.

The heat sink 1 can be used for various lamps 10. For example, the heat sink 1 may be used on an indoor lamp 10, such as the lamp 10 shown in fig. 3a-3b, or more specifically, it may be used on a wall lamp, such as the lamp 10 shown in fig. 4 a-5.

The heat sink 1 can be equivalently used for different types of lamps 10, such as desk lamps and outdoor lamps.

In fact, the heat sink 1 may be connected to any support structure 12.

The support structure 12 may comprise a simple bar onto which the heat sink 1 may be constrained, or the support structure 12 may comprise other elements, such as a deformable structure for making a desk lamp or a wall-mounted platform with one or more support bars.

For example, the support structure 12 may have a base and a stem and is generally configured to support the heat sink 1 in any case, or with respect to a wall, floor, ceiling, etc.

The invention may thus allow to realize a new lamp 10 comprising a heat sink 1 and a support structure 12 configured to support the heat sink 1. Of course, it is necessary that the lamp 10 also comprises at least one lighting element 11.

The lighting element 11 may be of any type, such as a light bulb, neon light or other commonly available type. Preferably, the lighting element 11 is of the LED type. Further, it is preferable that the lighting element 11 is included in the heat sink 1 when the heat sink 1 is used, as described later.

The heat sink 1 defines in particular a main axis 1 a.

The main axis 1a is essentially the main deployment axis. In general, however, the main axis 1a is preferably the reference axis about which the heat sink 1 is spread.

Indeed, the heat sink 1 preferably comprises a housing 2.

The housing 2 is substantially a one-piece element adapted to allow heat dissipation. However, the housing 2 does not have the geometrical characteristics of the heat sink of the known art.

In fact, as expected, the housing 2 is preferably unfolded around the main axis 1 a. In detail, the casing 2 defines a section 20.

The section 20 is flat and perpendicular to the main axis 1 a. Thus, the sections 20 are continuously developed along the main axis 1 a. In this way, the casing 2 substantially defines a section 20 that is constant along the entire extension of the main axis 1a of the heat sink 1.

Furthermore, the casing 2 defines an inner partition 21 and an outer partition 22.

The internal bulkhead 21 preferably coincides with the surface of the casing 2 facing the main axis 1 a. The outer partition 22 preferably coincides with the outer, outwardly facing surface of the housing 2.

Advantageously, the casing 2 also defines a seat 23.

The base 23 is preferably provided on at least one of the partitions 20, 21.

Preferably, the seat 23 is obtained on the internal partition 21. However, it can be equivalently obtained on the outer partition 22. In particular, the seat 23 corresponds to a recess formed on the inner surface 21, enabling the accommodation of an object therein.

In particular, in practice, the seat 23 is configured to house at least one lighting element 11.

Furthermore, the base 23 may be shaped substantially opposite to the lighting element 11, so that it just accommodates the lighting element 11 without additional free space.

The base 23 may also include one or more apertures adapted to allow passage of an engagement element (e.g., for engagement with the support structure 12). Alternatively, the base 23 may allow the passage of a cable or other corresponding element and can allow the passage of the power supply of the lighting element 11.

Or, for example, in a configuration in which the base 23 is made on the external baffle 22, the base 23 may comprise a hole suitable for allowing the passage of light from the lighting element 11 towards the main axis 1 a.

In any case, it is preferred that the section 20 of the casing 2 has some specific features.

In detail, advantageously, the sectors 20 have a convex shape corresponding to the ring 1 b.

The ring 1b as shown in fig. 1-2 is however a virtual geometry that allows defining the segment 20. The ring 1b may be substantially a closed geometric figure defining its own circumferential thickness.

Preferably, in particular, the ring 1b defines a minimum thickness of 5 mm.

Even more conveniently, the ring 1b defines a minimum thickness of 1 cm.

Of course, the ring portion 1b and therefore the section 20 of the housing 2 also define the same thickness as the ring 1 b.

Further, the ring 1b may be a circular or square ring.

For example, as shown in fig. 1, the ring 1b may define a circular crown, and in this configuration, the segments 20 may define a semi-circle.

Alternatively, as shown in fig. 2, the ring 1b may define a substantially square or rectangular or quadrangular shape. Thus, in this configuration, the segments 20 may define a half square or even a triangle depending on how the segments 20 are manufactured. Regardless of the shape of the section 20, the heat sink 1 may further comprise a cover 3.

The cover 3, if present, is generally configured to be at least partially inserted into the base 23. In this way, the lighting element 11 is enclosed between the base 2 and the cover 3.

Even more preferably, the cover 3 may have one or more holes designed to allow the passage of light from the lighting elements 11, or of engagement elements between the heat sink 1 and the support structure 12, or also for the passage of connection elements of the power supply of the lighting elements 11. To minimize the empty space, the cover 3 may be shaped opposite the base 23.

The operation of the heat sink 1 described in terms of structure is substantially similar to that of the prior art heat sinks, with similar efficiency, but with extremely simplified structure, and also allows to support the lighting elements 11.

The invention also comprises a new method of manufacturing a heat sink 1 for a lamp 10.

Preferably, the method comprises an acquisition step. In this step, at least one tubular element 100 is obtained.

The tubular element 100 may be any tube commonly manufactured on the market. In fact, there are no specific technical limitations that prevent these tubular elements 100 from being realised.

The greatest advantage of the method according to the invention given by the structure of the radiator 1 is that it does not provide a manufacturing stage of the tubular element 100, but a simple procurement or procurement stage.

In other words, the structure of the radiator 1 allows to manufacture the radiator 1 by exploiting or recycling the tubular elements 100 commonly found on the market.

Of course, the tubular element 100 extends along the main axis 1a and defines a section having a convex shape corresponding to the ring 1b as described above.

Furthermore, the tubular element 100 itself defines an internal partition 21 and an external partition 22. Basically, a portion of the tubular element 100 defines the housing 2 of the heat sink 1.

In this sense, the housing 2 is simply a portion of the tubular element 100 which is cut and separated from the rest of the tubular element 100.

Indeed, preferably, the method further comprises a cutting phase. In the cutting phase, the tubular element 100 is cut along the main axis 1a, or more precisely parallel to the main axis 1a, to define a section that is pushed out from the ring 1 b.

Preferably, before the cutting phase, the method may advantageously comprise a sectioning step. In the segmenting stage, the tubular element 100 is segmented or cut by lines perpendicular to the main axis 1a along one or more planes perpendicular to the main axis 1 a. In this way, a long tubular element 100 can create a plurality of housings 2 to manufacture various heat sinks 1 from the same tubular element 100.

Of course, the cutting phase may also produce a plurality of housings 2 of the heat sink 1.

Furthermore, the cut may be made along a median plane, so that the section 20 defines a semi-circle, for example in the case of the circular ring 1 b.

Thus, the method may comprise a drilling stage. In the drilling stage, one of the bulkheads 20, 21 is drilled to define a seat 23 and thus make the apparatus 1.

The heat sink 1 for a lamp and the method of manufacturing a heat sink 1 according to the invention have important advantages.

In fact, the heat sink ensures good efficiency, suitable for not compromising the structural characteristics of the design of the lamp comprising the heat sink. The lines of the heat sink are simple and uncomplicated.

Another advantage in this sense is that the manufacturing method of the heat sink is very economical and reduces the time for manufacturing the heat sink.

In addition, the possibility of using conventional tubular elements on the market particularly reduces the manufacturing steps and, above all, the use of recycled materials for manufacturing the radiator.

The invention is susceptible of modifications falling within the scope of the inventive concept as defined by the claims.

In this case all the details may be replaced with equivalent elements and the materials, shapes and dimensions may be any.