The present disclosure is generally directed to lighting fixtures and more specifically to a lighting fixture frame configured to mitigate unintended light leakage from joints of the frame.
Building lighting systems may include a variety of lighting fixtures including ceiling fixtures, wall fixtures, free-standing fixtures, and/or any other type of lighting fixture. Ceiling fixtures may include recessed fixtures, pendant fixtures, track/rail fixtures, and/or any other ceiling mounted lighting fixture. Recessed lighting fixtures may include a frame, a housing coupled to the frame, and an illumination source (e.g., a fluorescent bulb, an incandescent bulb, a light emitting diode (LED), and/or any other illumination source) disposed within the housing. An example frame includes three or more sides, wherein two sides abut to form a joint. A gap may be present at the joint (e.g., as a result of manufacturing tolerances) that allows light to pass therethrough. Light passing through the gap may have an adverse effect on the aesthetic appearance of the recessed fixture. While the gap may be at least partially covered using a separate component (e.g., an adhesive backed material), such a configuration may be prone to failure (e.g., an adhesive failing due to age, heat, and/or the like) and/or assembly challenges (e.g., a separate part for each gap).
These and other features and advantages will be better understood by reading the following detailed description, taken together with the drawings, wherein:
The present disclosure is generally directed to a lighting fixture. The lighting fixture includes a frame defining an open area, a housing coupled to the frame and defining a cavity, an illumination source disposed within the cavity and configured to generate light, and a diffuser extending over the open area through which the generated light passes. The frame includes a first side and a second side. A distal end of the first side abuts with a distal end of a second side to form a joint. A gap extends at the joint, wherein at least one of the first side and/or the second side is configured to obscure at least a portion of the gap.
The third side first distal end 420 abuts the first side first distal end 408 forming a first joint 432 and the third side second distal end 422 abuts the second side first distal end 414 forming a second joint 434. The fourth side first distal end 426 abuts the first side second distal end 410 forming a third joint 436 and the fourth side second distal end 428 abuts the second side second distal end 416 forming a fourth joint 438. A gap 440, 442, 444, and 446 may be present at one or more of (e.g., at each of) the first, second, third, and fourth joints 432, 434, 436, and/or 438, respectively. The gaps 440, 442, 444, and 446, absent an obstruction, may allow light to pass therethrough (which may generally be referred to as passthrough light). To mitigate (e.g., prevent) passthrough light, at least one of the first, second, third, and/or fourth sides 400, 402, 404, and/or 406 is/are configured to obscure at least a portion of a respective gap 440, 442, 444, and/or 446.
The first side room facing sidewall 600 includes a first mitered end 612 and the third side room facing sidewall 606 includes a second mitered end 614 that is configured to abut the first mitered end 612, forming the first joint 510. The first side room facing sidewall 600 includes (e.g., defines) a pocket 616 and the third side room facing sidewall 606 includes (e.g., defines) a tongue 618. The tongue 618 is configured to be received in the pocket 616 when the first side 502 is coupled to the third side 506. A tongue insertion length 619 may be less than or equal to a pocket insertion depth 621. The tongue insertion length 619 may decrease in a direction of the third side upstanding sidewall 610 as a result of the taper of the second mitered end 614.
As shown, when the first side 502 is coupled to the third side 506, the tongue 618 extends over at least a portion of the first joint 510, obscuring at least a portion of a gap that extends at the first joint 510. A tongue width 620 may be less than a sidewall width 622 of the third side room facing sidewall 606, forming an open region 624. The open region 624 extends between the tongue 618 and the third side upstanding sidewall 610 and has an open region width 626. The open region width 626 may be substantially (e.g., with 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, or 5% of) equal to a distance that a T-grid overlaps the frame 500 when the frame 500 is received within a T-grid of a ceiling. The tongue width 620 may, for example, be at least 40%, 50%, 60%, or 70% of the sidewall width 622.
When the first side 502 is coupled to the second side 506, the tongue 618 is positioned between the first side room facing sidewall 600 and the first side ceiling facing sidewall 602. Such a configuration may obscure the tongue 618 from view when the frame 500 is received within a ceiling. However, other configurations are possible. For example, the tongue 618 may be positioned below the first side room facing sidewall 600 such that the tongue 618 is visible when the frame 500 is received within a ceiling.
As shown, the tongue 618 may include first and second chamfered regions 628 and 630. The chamfered regions 628 and 630 may be positioned at an insertion end 632 of the tongue 618. For example, the chamfered regions 628 and 630 may be positioned at the insertion end 632 on opposing sides of the tongue 618.
The first side ceiling facing sidewall 602 may include a mounting bracket 634 having a bracket opening 636. The mounting bracket 634 may assist with assembly and/or alignment. The mounting bracket 634 may extend along at least a portion of the third side upstanding sidewall 610 when the first side 502 is coupled to the third side 506. The third side upstanding sidewall 610 includes a mounting opening 638. The mounting opening 638 is configured to cooperate with the bracket opening 636 to receive a fastener to couple the first side 502 to the third side 506. For example, the mounting opening 638 and the bracket opening 636 can be configured such that a threaded fastener (e.g., a bolt or screw) can be received therein.
The first side room facing sidewall 600 may include an alignment tab 702 configured to extend over at least a portion of the tongue 618 when the tongue 618 is received within the pocket 616. The alignment tab 702 may be configured to constrain movement of the tongue 618 in a direction of the first side ceiling facing sidewall 602 and/or in a longitudinal direction when the tongue 618 is received within the pocket 616.
As shown in
While
The first side room facing sidewall 1100 includes a first mitered end 1112 and the third side room facing sidewall 1106 includes a second mitered end 1114 that is configured to abut the first mitered end 1112, forming the first joint 1010. The first side room facing sidewall 1100 includes (e.g., defines) a pocket 1116 and the third side room facing sidewall 1106 includes (e.g., defines) a tongue 1118. The tongue 1118 is configured to be received by the pocket 1116 when the first side 1002 is coupled to the third side 1006. A tongue insertion length 1119 may be less than or equal to a pocket insertion depth 1121.
As shown, the third side room facing sidewall 1106 includes an inclined region 1120 that extends from the third side room facing sidewall 1106 towards the third side ceiling facing sidewall 1108. The tongue 1118 extends from the inclined region 1120 such that a room facing surface 1122 of the tongue is disposed between a room facing surface 1124 of the third side room facing sidewall 1106 and the third side ceiling facing sidewall 1108 (e.g., at or above a ceiling facing surface 1126 of the third side room facing sidewall 1106).
When the first side 1002 is coupled to the third side 1006, the tongue 1118 extends over at least a portion of the first joint 1010, obscuring at least a portion of a gap that extends at the first joint 1010. When the first side 1002 is coupled to the second side 1006, the tongue 1118 is positioned between the first side room facing sidewall 1100 and the first side ceiling facing sidewall 1102. Such a configuration may obscure the tongue 1118 from view when the frame 1000 is received within a ceiling. However, other configurations are possible. For example, the tongue 1118 may be positioned below the first side room facing sidewall 1100 such that the tongue 1118 is visible when the frame 1000 is received within a ceiling.
As shown, the first side room facing sidewall 1100 includes at least a first layer 1128 and a second layer 1130. The second layer 902 extends over a ceiling facing surface 1132 of the first layer 1128. The second layer 1130 includes (e.g., defines) at least a portion of the pocket 1116 and at least a portion of the ceiling facing surface 1132 may define at least a portion of the pocket 1116. In other words, the second layer 1130 and the first layer 1128 may collectively form at least a portion of the pocket 1116.
The first side ceiling facing sidewall 1102 may include a mounting bracket 1134 having a bracket opening 1136. The mounting bracket 1134 may assist with assembly and/or alignment. The mounting bracket 1134 may extend along at least a portion of the third side upstanding sidewall 1110. The third side upstanding sidewall 1110 may include a mounting opening that is configured to cooperate with the bracket opening 1136 to receive a fastener to couple the first side 1002 to the third side 1006. For example, the bracket opening 1136 can be configured such that a threaded fastener can be received therein, wherein the threaded fastener is configured to form the mounting opening in the third side upstanding sidewall 1110.
The first side room facing sidewall 1100 may include an alignment tab 1202 configured to extend over at least a portion of the tongue 1118 when the tongue 1118 is received within the pocket 1116. The alignment tab 1202 may be configured to constrain movement of the tongue 1118 in a direction of the first side ceiling facing sidewall 1102 and/or in a longitudinal direction when the tongue 1118 is received within the pocket 1116.
As shown in
While
As shown, the first side room facing sidewall 1400 includes at least a first layer 1412 and a second layer 1414. The second layer 1414 extends over a ceiling facing surface 1416 of the first layer 1412. The second layer 1414 includes (e.g., defines) at least a portion of a pocket 1418 and at least a portion of the ceiling facing surface 1416 may define at least a portion of the pocket 1418. In other words, the second layer 1414 and the first layer 1412 may collectively form at least a portion of the pocket 1418.
The pocket 1418 is configured to receive at least a portion of a distal end 1420 of the third side 1306. For example, a portion of the third side room facing sidewall 1406 may be received within the pocket 1418 such that a portion of the third side room facing sidewall 1406 is disposed between the first side room facing sidewall 1400 and the first side ceiling facing sidewall 1402 when the third side 1306 is coupled to the first side 1302. In other words, at least a portion of the first side room facing sidewall 1400 overlaps at least a portion of the third side room facing sidewall 1406 when the third side 1306 is coupled to the first side 1302. Such a configuration may obscure at least a portion of a gap that extends at the first joint 1310.
The first side room facing sidewall 1400 may include an alignment tab 1502. The alignment tab 1502 may be configured to constrain longitudinal movement of the third side 1306 along the first side room facing sidewall 1400. Additionally, or alternatively, and as shown in
As shown in
While
An example of a lighting fixture, consistent with the present disclosure, may include a housing, an illumination source disposed within the housing, and a frame coupled to the housing. The frame may include a first side and a second side abutting the first side to form a joint, wherein a gap extends at the joint and at least one of the first side or the second side is configured to obscure at least a portion of the gap.
In some instances, the first side may define a pocket and the second side may define a tongue, the tongue being received within the pocket and obscuring at least a portion of the gap. In some instances, the second side may include an inclined region and the tongue extends from the inclined region. In some instances, the first side may include a first layer and a second layer, the second layer defining the tongue. In some instances, the first side may include an alignment tab configured to constrain movement of the tongue within the pocket. In some instances, the first side may include a first side room facing sidewall, a first side ceiling facing sidewall, and a first side upstanding sidewall extending from the first side room facing sidewall to the first side ceiling facing sidewall and the second side may include a second side room facing sidewall, a second side ceiling facing sidewall, and a second side upstanding sidewall extending from the second side room facing sidewall to the second side ceiling facing sidewall. In some instances, the first side room facing sidewall may include a pocket that receives at least a portion of the second side room facing sidewall, obscuring at least portion of the gap. In some instances, the second side room facing sidewall may include a tongue and the first side room facing sidewall includes a pocket that receives the tongue, the tongue obscuring at least a portion of the gap. In some instances, the second side room facing sidewall may include a first layer and a second layer and the tongue is defined by the second layer. In some instances, the first side room facing sidewall may include an alignment tab configured to constrain movement of the second side room facing sidewall in a direction of the first side ceiling facing sidewall.
An example of a lighting fixture panel, consistent with the present disclosure, may include a diffuser and a frame defining an open area, the diffuser extending over the open area. The frame may include a first side and a second side abutting the first side to form a joint, wherein a gap extends at the joint and at least one of the first side or the second side is configured to obscure at least a portion of the gap.
In some instances, the first side may define a pocket and the second side may define a tongue, the tongue being received within the pocket and obscuring at least a portion of the gap. In some instances, the second side may include an inclined region and the tongue extends from the inclined region. In some instances, the first side may include a first layer and a second layer, the second layer defining the tongue. In some instances, the first side may include an alignment tab configured to constrain movement of the tongue within the pocket. In some instances, the first side may include a first side room facing sidewall, a first side ceiling facing sidewall, and a first side upstanding sidewall extending from the first side room facing sidewall to the first side ceiling facing sidewall and the second side may include a second side room facing sidewall, a second side ceiling facing sidewall, and a second side upstanding sidewall extending from the second side room facing sidewall to the second side ceiling facing sidewall. In some instances, the first side room facing sidewall may include a pocket that receives at least a portion of the second side room facing sidewall, obscuring at least portion of the gap. In some instances, the second side room facing sidewall may include a tongue and the first side room facing sidewall includes a pocket that receives the tongue, the tongue obscuring at least a portion of the gap. In some instances, the second side room facing sidewall may include a first layer and a second layer and the tongue is defined by the second layer. In some instances, the tongue may be disposed between the first side room facing sidewall and the first side ceiling facing sidewall.
While the principles of the invention have been described herein, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation as to the scope of the invention. Other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the present invention in addition to the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited except by the following claims.
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/380,967, entitled Lighting Frame, filed on Oct. 26, 2022, which is fully incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63380967 | Oct 2022 | US |