The present invention concerns housings for lighting fixtures. More particularly the present invention concerns IP65 vapor tight low profile lighting fixtures allowing outdoor/harsh environment placement of costly modern lighting fixtures with easier access to interior of the housing while maintaining impermeability.
Electronic fixtures are given a rating of Ingress Protection, or IP, rating. The IP Code, International Protection Marking, IEC standard 60529, sometimes interpreted as Ingress Protection Marking, classifies and rates the degree of protection provided against intrusion (body parts such as hands and fingers), dust, accidental contact, and water by mechanical casings and electrical enclosures. This rating system is created and published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
The standard aims to provide users more detailed information than vague marketing terms such as “waterproof”. The digits (characteristic numerals) indicate conformity with various conditions and can be found in tables created by the IEC. Many government agencies, municipalities, corporations and others look to a rating of IP65 for outdoor lighting. As noted above, the IP rating comprises a two number system, the first being for protection against intrusion by solid objects, and the second by liquids. The numbers progress from 0, meaning no protection to 6 for solids and 8 for liquids indicating no ingress or no ingress for a specified time period of exposure. A larger number encompasses all of the protection of each lower number as well. A rating of IP65 then, indicates a device that will withstand intrusion by all solid objects (as 6 is the highest rating for solids) and for all intrusion of water of vapor up to low-pressure jets of water from all directions. Higher protection against water is possible and rated higher, to include those items that are impermeable to strong jets of water and long and deep immersion in liquids. The IP65 standard has been found to be the sufficient and top standard needed for lighting fixtures exposed to atmospheric conditions in such places as transit stations, covered passages and others.
The advent of modern methods of lighting, including light emitting diodes (LEDs), mercury vapor, halogen, fluorescents and others have led to brightening up public plazas, transportation stations and other outdoor areas. Typically, such places are vulnerable to weather conditions that are inconsistent with electrical fixture longevity. Lighting fixtures tend to fail in the presence of moisture, either from atmospheric conditions or other moisture conditions.
Prior art lights have provided vapor tight casings that are typically made in such a way that the means and method of making such fixtures vapor tight increase the size of the fixture and require a person to exert considerable force to make the fixture water and vapor tight. Such fixtures have typically been made in such a way that the means to make the fixture impermeable is created at a point diametrically away from the fixture light so as not to interfere with the light and so as to provide the most force in a direction opposite to the typical direction of ingress of solids and liquids. As the fixtures are often placed in a ceiling, the means of providing ingress protection is typically located at the top of the fixture in such orientation as the typical direction of water and solid attack is from below the fixture. As the means to open the fixture for access, then, is at the top of the fixture, the fixture must typically be removed from the ceiling to provide any maintenance, including the changing out of light elements. While with the advent of LED lighting, such maintenance can be delayed; eventually the fixture must be removed in the event of failure or for maintenance.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a means for providing lighting with a rating of at least IP65 for lighting fixtures that are lower in profile, smaller in size, require less force to create the impermeability and are easier and less expensive to manufacture and install. Further, the present invention provides IP65 rated ingress protection while providing easy access to the interior of the fixture without removal of the fixture from its sites, easy access to the lighting element and other elements of the fixture all with the ability to restore the IP65 rating after maintenance or repair without removal.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.
In accordance with the present invention, a light fixture housing having IP65 or better impermeability protection when closed, is provided. The housing comprises a base, in the shape of a box, having a bottom and sides, and having space within the box for a light fixture to be placed therein. The base is pivotally attached, by pivoting means, at one side to a lid having a lens thereon, the base includes means to fasten the lid and box together on a side opposite to the pivoting means. The fastening means is at least a fastener and a linear cam.
When it is desired to seal the fixture housing, the base and lid are brought close together by pivoting one towards the other and then fastening the lid to the base. Sealability, to the IP65 impermeability standard is achieved by tightening of the fastener against the linear cam such that the force of the fastener against the plane pivots the lid tightly against the base.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fastener is a screw and tightening the screw pushes the end of the fastener against the linear cam, the fastener being attached to the lid and the linear cam being fixed to the base, such that the lid is pulled, pivotally, towards the base. In addition, the linear cam is joined to a flange having an opening in which the distal end of the fastener is locked when fully tightened. The preferred embodiment includes a pliable gasket, fitted between the lid and base, to perfect a seal when the base and lid are fastenably joined together. The present invention includes a flange attached to the lid and the fastening means includes a nut fixed to the lid, at the flange, for receiving the fastener therein.
So as to cause the tightening of the fastener to pull the lid down onto the base, the surface of linear cam, which the distal end of the fastener presses against as it is tightened, is inclined between 20° and 70° degrees; and preferably 45°. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lighting fixture is an LED light fixture. It will be understood that the preferred means to pivot the lid to the housing is a hinge.
The preferred embodiment of the invention is then described as a light fixture housing having IP65 or better impermeability protection when closed, having a base, comprising a box, having a bottom and sides, and having space for a light fixture to be placed therein, the base being pivotally attached, by a hinge, at one side to a lid having a diffuser thereon, the base having fastening means on a side opposite to the hinge, the fastening means comprising at least a screw, a nut (preferably attached to the lid so as to allow the user to screw in the fastening means single handedly) and a linear cam. The base and lid being fastenably closed together such that the screwing the fastener into the lid pushes the distal end of the screw against the linear cam, inclined at 45°, causing the lid to pivot tightly against the base to create the IP65 impermeability. The linear cam is joined to a flange having an opening in which the distal end of the screw parks or is locked when the screw is fully tightened into the lid. In addition, a pliable gasket is included between the lid and base to perfect the seal when the base and lid are fastenably joined together.
A more detailed explanation of the invention is provided in the following description and claims and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
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 of the Illustrative Embodiment”) relates to a requirement of the United States Patent Office, and should not be found to limit the subject matter disclosed herein.
Referring now to the drawings,
Diffuser 114 in a preferred embodiment, is created using a lens 114a, which as shown is a typical corrugated Fresnel type translucent element that tends to provide clean white light, seated between a bracket 114b and a bracket 114c, with a thin sealing gasket 114d therebetween to form this element of fixture 110. Base 112 comprises a box element made of metal, such as aluminum or steel, or plastic or other structurally stable material that can be formed to the shape necessary for its function. It will be seen that in the preferred embodiment base 112 comprises a hinge attachment flange 112a on one side and an extended flange 112b, comprising an opening 112o therein, flange 112b having an extended inclined element 112c, which will be described in greater detail below. Referring again to
Referring to
Fastener 116, in a preferred embodiment, is a screw (preferably having a Philips head 116a) with an extended threaded section 116b and a non-threaded cylindrical end 116c. A low profile nut 117 is provided, and in a preferred embodiment, is fixed to flange 114c so as to be self-supporting during use to allow fastener 116 to be threaded into fixture 110 more easily; and using only one hand.
Referring now to
When it is desired to open fixture 110, for whatever reason, fastener 116 need only be unscrewed to cause the gentle release of sealability as the fastener(s) 116 are loosened as the fastener end 116c withdraws from opening 112o and slides along the linear cam 112c until the diffuser 114 pivots away from the base 112.
It will be understood that while a Philips-type head is described, a special fastener head configuration, having a proprietary configuration and using a specific tool can be used so as to lock the fixture closed and provide a deterrent from unauthorized opening of the fixture. Such proprietary screw heads and tools are well known to persons having ordinary skill in the art. The use thereof providing additional security to the fixture against unwanted ingress.
In the operation of the fixture housing, it will be understood that in the closing of the fixture 110, the diffuser 114 and base 112 are pushed together until nearly closed and such that fastener 116 becomes adjacent to and touching linear cam 112c. The user then pushes a screw driver, or other similar tool, into the head of fastener 116 and turns the fastener such that it enters further into diffuser 116 and with each turn causes the distal end 116c of fastener 116 to push against linear cam 112c causing the fastener to slide against linear cam 112c pulling the diffuser 114 onto the base 112 and sealing the diffuser and base together into an IP65 impermeability condition.
It will be understood that by this means, less user force is required to achieve the IP65 impermeability condition, as the linear cam and fastener act as a machine to mechanically increase the force provided by the user. In addition, as the force necessary to achieve the IP65 standard is now achievable from the side of the fixture rather than at an angle of 90° (as in the prior art), the depth of the fixture box can be decreased and made more narrow so that it now has a smaller profile and can be placed in more locations. The smaller profile further acts to diminish the size of the device such that it is no longer such a desirable target for vandals.
Although an illustrative embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that various modifications and substitutions may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the novel spirit and scope of the invention.