The present invention relates to light fixtures, and in particular to ceiling mount fixtures for light-emitting diode (“LED”), fluorescent or other luminaires.
Ceiling mount lighting fixtures for use in LED, fluorescent and other lighting applications are known. In a typical configuration, a ceiling mount fixture includes a channel, a channel cover, a light source (e.g., fluorescent bulbs or LEDs), a diffuser and end caps. In ceiling mount fixtures, the channel is mounted on the ceiling. The channel cover is positioned within the channel, and a power source (such as a ballast for a fluorescent light) and wiring is contained between the channel and the channel cover. In a traditional fluorescent ceiling mount fixture, fluorescent lamps are mounted on lamp sockets located at each end of the fixture so as to extend along the length of the fixture. A diffuser is positioned over the channel, and light from the light source passes through the diffuser and into the area to be illuminated. End caps are provided to enclose the ends of the fixture and impart a polished appearance to it.
There continues to be a need to facilitate assembly of and access to the various components of these light fixtures as well as better capture and distribution of the light emitted by the light sources in these fixtures.
The terms “invention,” “the invention,” “this invention” and “the present invention” used in this patent are intended to refer broadly to all of the subject matter of this patent and the patent claims below. Statements containing these terms should not be understood to limit the subject matter described herein or to limit the meaning or scope of the patent claims below. Embodiments of the invention covered by this patent are defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various aspects of the invention and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to the entire specification of this patent, all drawings and each claim.
In one embodiment, a ceiling mount lighting fixture includes a channel, a channel cover and a light source including a plurality of light-emitting diodes. The channel includes a first side and a second side that intersect in a V-shaped base, wherein at least one of the plurality of light-emitting diodes is mounted on the first side of the channel cover and at least another of the plurality of light-emitting diodes is mounted on the second side of the channel cover. The plurality of light-emitting diodes mounted on the channel cover emit light at cone angles that overlap at the base of the channel cover.
In an embodiment, the plurality of light-emitting diodes emit light at a cone angle of approximately 120 degrees.
In certain embodiments, the V-shaped base includes an internal angle defined by an angle between the first side and second side, and the internal angle is from about 170 to about 100 degrees. In other embodiments, the internal angle is from about 150 degrees to about 140 degrees.
In some embodiments, the ceiling mount fixture includes a diffuser having a first diffuser end plate located on a first end of the diffuser and a second diffuser end plate located on a second end of the diffuser opposite the first end, and a first end cap mounted on a first end of the channel and a second end cap mounted on a second end of the channel opposite the first end. One of the first diffuser end plate and the first end cap includes at least one pin and the other of the first diffuser end plate and the first end cap includes at least one hook-like structure that engages the at least one pin of the one of the first diffuser end plate and the first end cap.
In other embodiments one of the second diffuser end plate and the second end cap includes at least one pin and the other of the second diffuser end plate and the second end cap includes at least one hook-like structure that engages the at least one pin of the one of the second diffuser end plate and the second end cap.
In yet other embodiments, a diffuser includes a first diffuser end plate located on a first end of the diffuser, a second diffuser end plate located on a second end of the diffuser opposite the first end, a first end cap mounted on a first end of the channel and a second end cap mounted on a second end of the channel opposite the first end. The first diffuser end plate includes a first hook-like structure, the second diffuser end plate includes a second hook-like structure, the first end cap includes a first pin and the second end cap includes a second pin. The first pin on the first end cap engages the first hook-like structure on the first diffuser end plate, and the second pin on the second end cap engages the second hook-like structure on the second diffuser end plate, such that the diffuser is retained by the channel and rotatable about the first pin and second pin.
In some embodiments, one of the channel cover and channel includes at least one tab extending therefrom, wherein the tab comprises a distal portion and a proximal portion narrower than the distal portion, and the other of the channel and channel cover includes at least one T-slot for receiving the tab, wherein the T-slot comprises a wider portion and a narrower portion. The tab is movable within the T-slot from a first position in which the distal portion of the tab may pass through the wider portion of the T-slot to a second position in which the tab is retained in the T-slot by the narrower portion of the T-slot, such that the channel cover is retained by the channel.
In an embodiment, a ceiling mount lighting fixture includes a channel having two ends, a light source, a diffuser, an end cap positioned on each end of the channel, wherein each end cap includes a groove, and a plurality of strips located on the diffuser, each strip moveable from a first position on the diffuser a distance from the end caps to a second position in which the strip engages the groove on one of the end caps.
In some embodiments, methods are described for assembling the fixture, and in particular for installing the channel cover over the channel, for installing the diffuser and diffuser end plates to the channel and end caps, and for installing the strips over gaps between the diffuser and diffuser end plates.
Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawing figures:
The subject matter of embodiments of the present invention is described here with specificity to meet statutory requirements, but this description is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the claims. The claimed subject matter may be embodied in other ways, may include different elements or steps, and may be used in conjunction with other existing or future technologies. This description should not be interpreted as implying any particular order or arrangement among or between various steps or elements except when the order of individual steps or arrangement of elements is explicitly described.
With reference to
The channel 110, channel cover 150 and end caps 140 may independently be formed from known lighting fixture materials, including but not limited to aluminum, steel, non-ferrous metal and polymeric materials.
In one embodiment, the channel cover 150 is positioned and retained on the channel 110 through the use of a notched tab. With reference to
Lances 215 may be provided in the channel 110 to retain the tab 190 within the narrower part 210 of the T-slot 200 and thereby prevent the tab 190 from moving back towards the wider part 205 of the T-slot 200 where it could disengage from the channel 110. Once the at least one tab 190 is positioned in the T-slot 200, the channel cover 150 is rotated to cover the channel 110. The other side of the channel cover 150 may be secured to the channel 110 with screws or another type of fastener.
It will be recognized that the tab 190 need not necessarily be located on the channel cover 150 with the T-slot 200 located on the channel 110. Thus, in certain embodiments (not shown), the T-slot 200 is located on the channel cover 150 and the tab 190 is located on the channel 110. The tab 190 engages the T-slot 200 as described above.
In a traditional fluorescent ceiling mount fixture, fluorescent lamps 120 are mounted on lamp sockets 122 located at each end of the channel 110 so as to extend along the length of the fixture 100 adjacent the channel cover. In one embodiment, LEDs are used instead of fluorescent lamps. In such embodiments where the light source for the fixture 100 includes LEDs 125, the channel cover 150 may have a “V” or other similar shape, as illustrated in
The LEDs 125 and associated printed circuit boards (PCBs) 170 may be mounted to the channel cover 150 on each side of the “V”. The “V” shaped configuration thus allows for LEDs 125 on opposite sides of the “V” to have overlapping cone angles β of light emitted from the LEDs 125.
With reference to
The diffuser 130 may be formed of a translucent material such as a polymeric material. In certain embodiments, such as when used in LED fixtures, the diffuser may include a diffusing film applied to the diffuser to soften the light from the LEDs. Exemplary, though not limiting, types of diffusers include prismatic, smooth and frosted diffusers. In some embodiments, the diffuser 130 is retained on the fixture 100 by diffuser end plates 135 (located on each end of the diffuser 130) engaging end caps 140, as discussed below. In some embodiments, the diffuser end plates 135 are provided only on the ends of the diffuser 130 (i.e., they do not extend along the entire length of the diffuser). In one embodiment illustrated in
The diffuser end plate 135 may be formed from known lighting fixture materials, including but not limited to a polymeric, aluminum, steel or non-ferrous metal material. The diffuser end plates 135 may be connected to the diffuser 130 by known methods, including but not limited to sonic welding and adhesives. The diffuser end plates 135 may also be integrally formed with the diffuser 130. In the embodiment shown in
As mentioned, the diffuser 130 (and diffuser end plates 135 connected thereto) are retained on the fixture by end caps 140. An exemplary end cap 140 and its interaction with a diffuser end plate 135 is shown in FIGS. 8 and 10-12. The end cap 140 is typically affixed to an end panel 115 connected to the channel 110 with one or more fasteners, such a screw 142. In one embodiment, a pin 144 is provided on each side of each end cap 140. A hook-like structure 137 is similarly provided on each side of each diffuser end plate 135.
To install the diffuser end plates 135—and the diffuser 130 which is attached thereto—to the end caps 140, the hook-like structure 137 provided on one side of each diffuser end plate 135 is positioned on the pin 144 on one side of each end cap 140. The diffuser 130 is then rotated towards the other side of the fixture 100 and the hook-like structure 137 on the opposing side of each diffuser end plate 135 is hooked on the other pin 144 on each of the end caps 140. In other words, the diffuser end plates 135 are snapped onto the end caps 140 of the fixture 100 via hook and pin engagement to thereby retain the diffuser 130 on the fixture 100. The diffuser 130 is thus attached to the fixture 100 at the ends of the diffuser 130. Moreover, the hook-like structure 137 on either side of the diffuser end plate 135 may be disengaged from its associated pin 144 thereby creating a bi-direction hinge in that the diffuser 130 may be disengaged and rotated about the pins 144 on either side of the diffuser end plates 135 for easy access into the fixture.
Although the diffuser end plate 135 is shown in the figures as having two hook-like structures 137 and the end cap 140 as having two pins 144, in certain embodiments each diffuser end plate may have only one hook-like structure and its associated end cap may have only one pin for engaging the hook-like structure. In such embodiments, one side of the diffuser end plate may be screwed, bolted or otherwise attached a side of the end cap, while the other side of the diffuser end plate may include the hook-like structure for engaging a pin on the end cap. It will be recognized that in such an embodiment, the diffuser would only hinge in one direction, and only by removing the screw/bolt/etc. from the side of the diffuser end plate.
It will be recognized that the pins 144 need not necessarily be located on the end caps 140; rather, the pins 144 may be configured to extend directly from the channel 110 and engage the hook-like structures 137 on the diffuser end plate 135. In such an embodiment (not shown), the diffuser end plate would thus be directly connected to the channel 110.
In other embodiments (not shown), the location of the hook-like structures 137 and pins 144 can be reversed such that the hook-like structures 137 are located on the end caps 140 (or channel 110 as described above) and the pins 144 are located on the diffuser end plate 135. In such embodiments, the diffuser 130 could still hinge relative to the channel, with the pins on the diffuser end plate 135 rotating within the hook-like structures 144 located on the end cap 140 or channel 110.
With reference to
In certain embodiments, the strip 180, as installed on the diffuser 130, may have a smaller radius than the diffuser 130, resulting in a tight fit between the strip 180 and the diffuser 130. In this manner, the strip 180 remains securely installed on the diffuser 130 with the ability to slide along the length of the diffuser 130. With the diffuser 130 installed and the strip 180 properly seated within the groove 146 in the end cap 140, length changes of the diffuser 130 due to normal temperature variations should not be great enough for the strip 180 to fully disengage from the groove 146 in the end cap 140, maintaining the light-trapping and securing properties discussed above. The strip 180 thus compensates for manufacturing tolerances and normal thermal expansion of the diffuser 130.
Different arrangements of the components depicted in the drawings or described above, as well as components and steps not shown or described are possible. Similarly, some features and subcombinations are useful and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. Embodiments of the invention have been described for illustrative and not restrictive purposes, and alternative embodiments will become apparent to readers of this patent. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above or depicted in the drawings, and various embodiments and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the claims below.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application No. 61/708,272, filed Oct. 1, 2012, entitled “Ceiling mount fixture,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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61708272 | Oct 2012 | US |