Patent Application
20170175991
The present disclosure generally relates to light fixtures. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to light fixtures that include adjustable venting systems.
When deploying indoor air-vented luminaires, key factors associated with the building in which the luminaires are to be deployed must be taken into account. For example, each building design will require different air flow rate, pressure and noise criteria based on the building's HVAC system, its floor size, and its projected usage. As such, a light fixture that has a fixed air venting system cannot fit each and every building design. This is because all existing light fixtures have air vents that have fixed-size and pre-stamped openings. Consequently, prior to deployment, a typical light fixture must be customized specifically for the building in which it is to be installed. Furthermore, in many cases, an air diffuser with a volume damper is required to regulate airflow. In these cases, both the light fixture and the air diffuser must be customized to fit each other and at the same time meet the building requirements. As a result of the need for customization installing typical indoor air-vented luminaires is costly.
The embodiments featured herein help solve or mitigate the above-noted issues as well as other issues known in the art. Specifically, embodiments of the invention provide resizable air vents for indoor recessed light fixtures, thus allowing a light fixture to be compatible with any building design. In other words, the embodiments can be used by customers who require air venting and also by customers who do not require air venting. Moreover, the same fixture can satisfy customers who require high air flows and customers who require relatively smaller air flows. Furthermore, from a manufacturing perspective, the embodiments provide significant cost savings because fewer product skews are needed since one fixture can accommodate a wide range of building designs. Ultimately, the invention provide significant resource savings due to reduced stock handling complexity and fewer or no customer-requested customization.
In one exemplary embodiment there is provided a light fixture that includes an air venting system. The light fixture further includes a case having at least one reconfigurable surface that alters a flow area of the air venting system.
In another exemplary embodiment, there is provided a method that includes altering a flow area in a venting system of a light fixture. The altering can include performing at least one of increasing and decreasing the flow area by configuring at least one surface of the light fixture.
Additional features, modes of operations, advantages, and other aspects of various embodiments are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. These embodiments are presented for illustrative purposes only. Additional embodiments, or modifications of the embodiments disclosed, will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based on the teachings provided.
Illustrative embodiments may take form in various components and arrangements of components. Illustrative embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference numerals may indicate corresponding or similar parts in the various drawings. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating the embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the disclosure. Given the following enabling description of the drawings, the novel aspects of the present disclosure should become evident to a person of ordinary skill in the relevant art(s).
While the illustrative embodiments are described herein for particular applications, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art and with access to the teachings provided herein will recognize additional applications, modifications, and embodiments within the scope thereof and additional fields in which the present disclosure would be of significant utility.
Case 104 and lid 102 are linked via hinges 118, of which only two are shown for clarity. Light fixture 100 can have just one hinge or more than two hinges, in alternate embodiments. In yet other embodiments, there may be no hinge at all and lid 102 may simply be secured onto case 104 via plurality of screws, fastening tabs, or any other securing means known in the art.
Case 104 includes an over-hanging edge 110 that extends around its periphery. In one embodiment, edge 110 can include a plurality of openings 112, all around edge 110. In
Bottom surface 106 also includes a plurality of openings 108. Openings 112 and 108, together contribute to providing an air flow pattern that is capable of cooling light sources and/or electrical components included in case 104. These openings thus form an air-venting system and end connection point between building air-ventilation system to room. As will be described below, in embodiments of the invention, this air-venting system is adjustable.
As noted above, depending on where the fixture is deployed, a specific air flow pattern and pressure may be required. In the exemplary embodiment shown in
For example, in
Furthermore, while in the embodiments of
Having set forth the structure of various exemplary embodiments, a method 300 of adjusting a flow area in a light fixture including resizable air vents is now described with respect to
Method 300 begins at step 302 where a performance requirement is determined based on data associated with a location where a light fixture is to be deployed. For example, the performance requirement may be a specified air flow derived from air flow data, static pressure data, and noise data provided by a building manager.
Based on the determined requirements of step 302, an air venting system of the light fixture, such as the one described in
In step 306, the performance figure resulting from the altering performed in step 304 can be measured, for example, with a flow meter. At decision block 308, if the measured performance does not meet the performance requirements, method 300 returns to step 304 where the flow area is either decreased or increased in an attempt to meet the required performance. Method 300 ends only when the measured performance meets the required performance.
Those skilled in the relevant art(s) will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the embodiments described above can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the disclosure may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.
