Patent Application
20150103532
The present invention relates to housing and lenses used for light fixtures, more specifically a retractable blocking device for an expanding lens and housing used for LED recessed light fixtures.
Light fixtures and recessed light fixtures are known, and are typically used when it is desirable to minimize the projection of the light fixture below the ceiling surface. Recessed light fixtures tend to be more aesthetically appealing and provide a cleaner look when installed. Light fixtures that substantially extend below the ceiling surface may also be utilized. Recessed light fixtures tend to be used in commercial settings such as offices and the like.
Generally, light fixtures such as these may include a plastic lens attached to the housing.
As the plastic lens is heated up by a light source, such as LEDs, the plastic lens expands when it is heated. To offset and accommodate this heated expansion, the plastic lens is generally made shorter in length than the longitudinal length of the light fixture housing. With the plastic lens shorter in length, a small gap at one or both ends of the fixture is created, which allows someone under the light fixture to see into the internal housing of the light fixture. This can be a problem with LEDs and other light sources and light fixtures of the like. What is needed is a lens and light fixture that can block the unsightly gaps that are created with a plastic lens and an LED light source for a light fixture.
In an embodiment, a light fixture is provided that includes a housing, a lens configured to mount to the housing, a plate, and a light source located inside the housing. The housing may include a top panel, a pair of side panels, and a pair of end panels. The top panel may be attached to a top of each of the side panels and each of the two end panels to form the housing. The lens may have a length shorter than a longitudinal length of the housing, thereby creating a gap between the lens and at least one end panel of the housing. The plate may be attached to one of the pair of end panels. The plate may include a flat portion that attaches to the end panel and an angled portion that is angled away from the end panel. The angled portion may cover the gap between the lens and the housing.
In another embodiment, a light fixture is provided that includes a housing, an LED-based light source located inside the housing, a lens configured to mount to the housing, and a first plate attached to a first end panel of the housing. The housing may include a top panel, a pair of side panels, and a pair of end panels, wherein the top panel may be attached to a top of each of the side panels and each of the two end panels to form the housing. The lens may have a length shorter than a longitudinal length of the housing, thereby creating a gap between the lens and at least one end panel of the housing. The first plate may include a flat portion that attaches to the first end panel and an angled portion that extends from the flat portion of the first plate at an angle defined as between approximately 10 degrees and approximately 60 degrees. The angled portion of the first plate may cover the gap between the lens and the housing, wherein the angled portion of the first plate retracts against the lens as the lens expands due to heat from the light source.
Additionally, another embodiment may further include a second plate attached to a second end panel. The second plate may include a flat portion that attaches to the second end panel and an angled portion that extends from the flat portion of the second plate at an angle defined as between approximately 10 degrees and approximately 60 degrees. The angled portion of the second plate covers the gap between the lens and the housing, wherein the angled portion of the second plate retracts against the lens as the lens expands due to heat from the light source.
The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limited in the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements and in which:
The reader is advised that the attached drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.
In the following description of various example embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration various example structures, devices, systems, and environments in which aspects of the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other specific arrangements of parts, structures, example devices, systems, and environments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Also, while the terms “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “side,” and the like may be used in this specification to describe various example features and elements of the invention, these terms are used herein as a matter of convenience, e.g., based on the example orientations shown in the figures. Nothing in this specification should be construed as requiring a specific three dimensional orientation of structures in order to fall within the scope of this invention.
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Other shapes and sizes may be utilized for the lens 70 without departing from the invention. For example, the lens 70 may include curved surfaces fitting over the housing 20. The lens 70 may include multiple linear prisms that extend the full longitudinal direction of the lens 70. The linear prisms may diffuse and distribute light from the light source 80 more evenly and thus avoid the appearance of “hot spots,” or focused light, emanating from the fixture.
The lens 70 is preferably constructed of a flexible material so that it can be flexed and bent to engage the light fixture 10 as described above without cracking As was discussed above, when the light source 80 is powered on for an extended period of time, the lens 70 may expand due to thermal expansion. Therefore, to offset this thermal expansion, the lens 70 may be shorter in length than the longitudinal length of the housing 20. The lens 70 may not extend completely to the housing 20 and the end panel 30, 32. The lens 70 may be shorter than the housing 70 to allow for and offset the thermal expansion when the light source 80 is powered on for an extended period of time. Because the lens 70 is shorter than the housing 20, there may be a gap 72 formed between the lens 70 and the housing 20. The gap 72 may provide a visual opening to the housing 20 and allow a person looking at the light fixture 10 to see into the internal structure of the housing 20. Seeing the internal structures of the housing 20 may be un-aesthetically pleasing to a user or person looking at the light fixture 10.
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Additionally, the lens 70 may include optical lens properties. The lens 70 may be a plastic lens. The lens 70 may be frosted, clear, prism, or other characteristics depending on the requirements of the light source 80. Additionally, the lens 70 may include reflective properties. The lens 70 may help focus and direct light from the light source. In an embodiment, the lens 70 may collect the light beams, including side light and stray light from the light source 80. Additionally, the lens 70 may be provided to help focus the beam of light through the housing to reduce the light bouncing on the inside of the housing surface.
As can be appreciated, various known electrical components typically used in a light source fixture are required. These components are known in the art and, therefore, further discussion regarding the various electrical components is not required. The housing 20 may additionally include one or more holes suitable for the purpose of either accepting wires and/or for allowing various electrical components to be installed within or connected (either directly or indirectly) to the housing in a known manner. For example, the light source 80 may include LED lights in any configuration as known and used in the art. Additionally, the light source 80 may include T5 high output bulbs configured to provide reflectivity for the high output linear light sources. Additionally, the light source 80 may include T8 bulbs configured to provide reflectivity for the high output linear light sources.
The plate 100 may be made of any desirable material, such as but not limited to plastic or thermoplastic materials. The desirable material for the plate 100 may allow the plate 100 to bend and be flexible. The plate 100 may be formed using an injection molding process. Aluminum or steel may also be utilized for the plate without departing from this invention as long as the can bend and be flexible. The plate 100 may have a flat portion 110 and an angled portion 120. The angled portion 120 may extend from the flat portion 110 at an angle 122. The angle 122 may be defined as between 5 and 80 degrees in one embodiment. In other embodiments, the angle 122 may be defined as between 10 and 60 degrees, or 10 and 30 degrees.
The plate 100 may include an attaching portion 130 that attaches to and/or engages one of the end panels 30, 32 of the housing 20. The attaching portion 130 or attaching mechanism may preferably be located on the flat plate portion 110.
In another embodiment, the plate 100 may be integrally formed as part of the end panel 30, 32 of the housing 20. When the plate 100 is integrally formed as part of the end panel 30, 32 of the housing 20, the angled portion 120 may extend from the end panel 30, 32.
Additionally, the plate 100 and the attaching portion 130 may include an adjustment portion that allows the plate 100 to be adjusted along the end panel 30, 32 of the housing 20. The plate 100 may be adjusted either up and down or side to side longitudinally along the end panel 30, 32 of the housing 20. This adjustment may be utilized in order to accommodate various lens 70 configurations and housing 20 configurations. The adjustment portion may be a slide fastener with a slot that allows the plate 100 to slide up and down or side to side as known and used in the art. Other adjustment mechanisms known and used in the art may be utilized without departing from this invention.
In one embodiment without departing from the invention, one plate 100 may be engaged to one end panel 30. In another embodiment, a first plate 100 may be engaged to a first end panel 30 and a second plate 100 may be engaged to a second end panel 32, with both plates 100 being used to cover a gap 72 on each side of the lens 70.
In another embodiment, the plate 100 may be engaged to other portions of the housing, such as being engaged with or attached to the side panels 26, 28 of the housing 20.
The present invention has been described in terms of preferred and exemplary embodiments thereof. Numerous other embodiments, modifications and variations within the scope and spirit of the appended claims will occur to persons of ordinary skill in the art from a review of this disclosure.
