The present invention relates to a fixture housing for a light source, and particularly to a durable, suspension mounted light fixture that is resistant to damage caused by physical abuse, vandalism or tampering.
It is generally well-known that furnishings used inside certain buildings, such as schools, athletic facilities and stadiums, correctional institutions, detention facilities, hospitals and universities are frequently subject to heightened wear and often times intentional or unintentional physical abuse. Despite this well-known fact, many government and business entities commonly use low-cost, bulky overhead lighting and light fixtures in connection with large-scale commercial, municipal or recreational buildings.
Unfortunately, the typically low-cost overhead lights and light fixtures that are used are often not robust enough to withstand the physical abuse to which they are subjected. The result is that these light fixtures are regularly and repeatedly damaged or destroyed needing to be repaired or replaced. Repeatedly repairing or replacing light fixtures is costly and time consuming, and is disruptive to the use of the space in the location of the damaged fixture. Fixtures vulnerable to damage from physical impact can also be a danger to individuals that happen to be in close proximity at the time the damage takes place. Such persons can be harmed by broken glass or metal from the fixture, and, in the case of fluorescent lighting, can also be exposed to toxic particles that become airborne when fluorescent tubes are ruptured. People near a damaged fixture also risk electrocution from exposure to wires and other electrical components.
One of the primary reasons that these types of lights are so susceptible to damage is that they use a fragile lamp or tube that is either openly exposed to the surrounding environment, or shielded only by a flimsy or unsupported cover. Another reason is that the frame of the fixture itself is rigidly affixed to the mounting surface and thus has no flexibility such that when the fixture is impacted by an object or person the force of the impact causes damage. Accordingly, when subjected to even slight forces the frame, cover or mounting elements of such fixtures can be easily damaged.
As an alternative to the ordinary light fixtures described above, light emitting diodes (LEDs) are becoming more common in home, commercial and institutional settings. Compared to traditional light sources, LEDs when used together in LED array panels have several advantages. LEDs are high in efficiency, since as will be understood by persons having skill in the art the energy used by LEDs is used to generate light generally and not on producing heat. In addition, it has been found that LEDs typically have a much longer life than traditional incandescent bulbs such that they need not be replaced as often as incandescent or fluorescent bulbs. However, LED array panels are typically very expensive and in their current state of technology are quite fragile such that there use as a replacement for ordinary fixtures in the situations described above is premature.
Accordingly, there is a need for an economical and highly durable light fixture that is resistant to damage caused by physical force, vandalism or tampering. Objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.
In accordance with the present invention an abuse resistant light fixture housing is provided. The housing includes a mounting plate and cooperative frame wherein the mounting plate has at least one bracket with a deflectable element and at least one fastener. The frame of the housing further defines fastener mounting points adjacent to each of the at least one brackets when the frame and mounting plate are in cooperative engagement. The deflectable elements of the brackets have cooperative fastening means such that when the at least one fastener is placed in a fastener mounting point in the frame and fastened to the adjacent cooperative fastening means on the bracket, the frame is flexibly attached to the mounting plate so that when the frame is struck the brackets deflect to absorb the energy of the strike. In effect, the frame is suspended from the mounting plate in a manner that allows the frame to move in response to being struck rather than crumple.
In the preferred embodiment, the light fixture housing includes a light fixture within the frame and a separate protective abuse resistive lens. To protect the light fixture it is attached to the frame or suspended element of the invention. The light fixture and protective abuse resistive lens are spaced apart, in the preferred embodiment to create a further energy absorbent gap there between. In some embodiments the frame defines low profile angular edges to minimize areas of direct impact on the frame, allowing for glancing blows instead.
With respect to the connection between the mounting bracket and frame, fasteners are threaded to connect the frame and the brackets; the brackets include cooperative threading means to engage the fasteners. In some embodiments the fasteners and the cooperative fastening means on the brackets cooperatively snap together.
In some embodiments of the present invention the frame includes a flange and the mounting plate defines a perimeter, and the mounting plate perimeter and frame flange are adjacent one another and spaced apart when the frame and mounting plate are in operative cooperative engagement so as to form an energy absorbing gap between the frame and mounting plate. The gap permits the elements of the fixture to flex without damaging each other.
In a preferred embodiment, the frame is created of steel and the seams of the frame are welded for strength. The cover is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of glass, reinforced glass, polycarbonate, fiberglass, plastic and fiberglass reinforced plastic.
According to additional embodiments of the present invention, the fixture includes a light source, such as for example a light emitting diode (LED). The light source is arranged in such a way as to provide light through the non-opaque cover of the fixture so as to illuminate areas near the fixture. In one embodiment, the light source has a substantially planar configuration that covers a substantial portion of the adjacent cover. The cover and light source are secured within the fixture by a retainer plate and a plurality of fasteners around the aperture in the frame.
It is a benefit of the present invention to provide a highly-durable light fixture that is capable of withstanding harsh treatment or physical abuse caused by individuals in close proximity. This benefit is in part achieved by the compact design and durable suspension mounting arrangement between the frame and the back plate. According to this arrangement, the frame of the fixture is mounted indirectly to the back mounting plate by angled mounting brackets, as opposed to being directly affixed to a particular mounting surface. This arrangement enables the frame of the fixture to move slightly in order to absorb an impact, thus making the fixture more resistant to various forces exerted upon it by deflecting upon impact to absorb energy without transmitting potentially destructive force to fragile internal lighting components.
Another benefit of the claimed invention is to provide improved illumination to areas proximate the fixture, while at the same time utilizing less energy than an equivalent high intensity lamp. In addition, the fixture has a compact design that requires minimal overhead space, and is thus highly desirable over bulky florescent fixtures in applications with limited space. An additional benefit is to provide a safe light fixture that does not contain any potentially harmful contaminants, such as for example mercury or lead, that can potentially leak into the environment.
Additional advantages of the claimed fixture include its versatility and visually appealing characteristics. The fixture can be produced in various standard or customized sizes or shapes and can be used in connection with a variety of settings including but not limited to schools, athletic facilities and stadiums, correctional institutions, universities, hotels, hospitals, factories and offices, conference or meeting rooms, or any other residential, commercial or industrial settings. In addition, the fixture can be used for decorative or commercial purposes by utilizing an artificial light source or cover with different colors or decorative designs. Such designs can include commercial signs, slogans or trademarks for advertising or marketing purposes.
Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
a is a perspective view, partially broken away, of a mounting bracket of the present invention.
While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings a number of presently preferred embodiments that are discussed in greater detail hereafter. It should be understood that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. It should be further understood that the title of this section of this application (“Detailed Description”) relates to a requirement of the United States Patent Office, and should not be found to limit the subject matter disclosed herein.
In this disclosure, the use of the disjunctive is intended to include the conjunctive. The use of the definite article or indefinite article is not intended to indicate cardinality. In particular, a reference to “the” object or “an” object is intended to denote also one of a possible plurality of such objects.
Referring now to the figures, and specifically to
While light fixture 10, mounting plate 12 and frame 30 are illustrated in the figures as having a generally rectangular shape it will be understood by persons having ordinary skill in the art that the device of the present invention can be made in other shapes or configurations and in a variety of sizes without departing from the novel scope of the present invention.
As shown in
Referring again to the figures, it will be seen that in the embodiment illustrated in
As will be seen in the figures, frame 30, in a preferred embodiment, comprises a substantially planar base 32 having a back side 33 and a front side 34, a perimeter 35, and at least one opening 36 through which light from the fixture emerges. While the illustrative embodiments show a single centrally located opening 36 it will be understood that fixture 10 can have any number of openings of any sizes or shapes without departing from the novel scope of the present invention. In
As shown in
As shown in
As shown most particularly in
It will be seen that fixture 10, shown in
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The present disclosure includes that which is contained in the appended claims, as well as that of the forgoing description. Although, this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example, and that numerous changes in the details of the elements, compositions and the combination of individual ingredients may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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7128461 | Hwang | Oct 2006 | B2 |
7364345 | Fang | Apr 2008 | B2 |
7524075 | Mastin | Apr 2009 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20110228525 A1 | Sep 2011 | US |