Patent Grant
8905621
The present invention relates to lighting, and more specifically, to luminaires including solid state light sources.
A typical fluorescent tube lamp socket (commonly referred to in the art as a tombstone socket or simply a tombstone) is adapted to receive the one or more pins traditionally located on the end caps of a fluorescent lamp. The tombstone provides electricity to the lamp as well as mechanical support for the lamp. A tombstone is sometimes a removable part of a larger system (e.g., fluorescent lamp fixture, display case, refrigeration case, etc.) and is sometimes integral with the larger system.
Solid state light sources (such as but not limited to light emitting diodes (LEDs), organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), polymer light emitting diodes (PLEDs), and the like), and fixtures/luminaires containing the same, are being used more frequently to replace traditional light sources (e.g., incandescent, halogen, low-pressure discharge (i.e., fluorescent), high-pressure discharge (i.e., metal halide, sodium, etc.), etc.) and/or fixtures containing the same. Most retrofit solid state light source-based lamps designed to replace typical incandescent lamps (e.g., A19 lamps with screw bases or GU-24 bases) are designed with the same base, so that they will fit into the same socket, and thus may be operated from the same power source (i.e., AC mainline power). Some retrofit solid state light sources (either lamps or fixtures) designed to replace fluorescent tube lamps do not include the same bi-pin bases of the fluorescent tube lamp, which of course are designed to fit into tombstone sockets. This is because the solid state light sources typically are not able to be operated via the ballast that powers a fluorescent lamp. Rather, a solid state light source typically requires its own power supply (also referred to as a driver), whether as a separate unit or integral with the retrofit lamp/fixture. The retrofit solid state light source(s) (in either a lamp or a fixture), however, is supposed to occupy the same space. In some retrofit applications, the solid state light source lamp/fixture is secured in the space previously occupied by a fluorescent tube lamp by using metal snap brackets that need to be fastened to a stationary object using screws, or by removing the existing tombstone sockets and replacing them with a particular part designed for that particular lamp/fixture. This is time-consuming and costly. The costs, in terms of time and money, are increased in situations where the tombstone sockets were not designed to be removed from the existing installation.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a cover for the typical fluorescent tombstone sockets that mates to a connector that is easily attached to the retrofit solid state light source(s) (in either a lamp or a fixture). Embodiments provide an easy-to-install, tool-free and/or almost tool-free way to secure a retrofit lamp/fixture to a stationary object. Some embodiments include mating connectors that could be employed on a number of different objects for retrofit applications as well as new construction applications. Other embodiments provide for a single piece that covers a tombstone socket and is additionally mechanically attached (for example, via screws) to the existing fixture.
In an embodiment, there is provided a luminaire adapter. The luminaire adapter includes: a tombstone cover, wherein the tombstone cover comprises a housing that defines a slot opening to accept a tombstone socket and a pair of snap connectors; and a light source bracket, wherein the light source bracket comprises a top portion configured to connect to a bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion includes a pair of snap receivers configured to receive the pair of snap connectors, and wherein the top portion and the bottom portion define an opening to receive a luminaire.
In a related embodiment, the housing may include a front wall, a back wall, a pair of side walls, and a housing top, and the front wall may include the pair of snap connectors.
In a further related embodiment, each snap connector in the pair of snap connectors may include a first tab and a second tab, the first tab and the second tab for each snap connector may define a snap opening to receive a corresponding snap receiver of the pair of snap receivers. In a further related embodiment, for at least one snap connector in the pair of snap connectors, the first tab and the second tab may be oriented such that the snap opening is parallel to the housing top. In another further related embodiment, the first tab and the second tab of a first snap connector in the pair of snap connectors may be oriented such that a first snap opening is parallel to the housing top, and the first tab and the second tab of a second snap connector in the pair of snap connectors may be oriented such that a second snap opening is perpendicular to the housing top.
In another further related embodiment, the tombstone cover may include a first pair of snap connectors and a second pair of snap connectors, and the front wall may include the first pair and the second pair of snap connectors.
In a further related embodiment, each snap connector in the first pair and the second pair of snap connectors may include a first tab and a second tab, and the first tab and the second tab for each snap connector may define a snap opening to receive a corresponding snap receiver of the pair of snap receivers. In a further related embodiment, the first tab and the second tab of a first snap connector in the first pair of snap connectors may be oriented in a different direction from the first tab and the second tab of a second snap connector in the first pair of snap connectors, and the first tab and the second tab of a first snap connector in the second pair of snap connectors may be oriented in a different direction from the first tab and the second tab of a second snap connector in the second pair of snap connectors. In another further related embodiment, the first pair of snap connectors may be oriented parallel to the housing top and the second pair of snap connectors may be oriented perpendicular to the housing top.
In another further related embodiment, the light source bracket may include a first pair of snap receivers configured to receive the first pair of snap connectors and a second pair of snap receives configured to receive the second pair of snap connectors.
In still another further related embodiment, the front wall, the back wall, and each of the pair of side walls may have an upper portion and a lower portion.
In a further related embodiment, the lower portion of the front wall and the lower portion of the back wall may each be substantially wider than the upper portion of the front wall and the upper portion of the back wall. In a further related embodiment, the upper portion of each side wall may be substantially perpendicular in relation to the housing top, and the lower portion of each side wall may be angled with respect to the upper portion.
In another further related embodiment, the pair of snap connectors may be located on the lower portion of the front wall.
In another related embodiment, the top portion may include a first end and a second end, the bottom portion may include a rotating end and a receiving end, the first end may be rotationally connected to the rotating end and the second end may be removably connected to the receiving end. In a further related embodiment, the second end may include a top clip connected to a push tab, the receiving end may include a bottom clip, and the top clip and the bottom clip, when engaged, may be configured to retain a luminaire in the opening, and the push tab may be configured to allow the top clip and the bottom clip to be disengaged.
In still another related embodiment, the top portion may include a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end may each include a push tab connected to a corresponding top clip, the bottom portion may include a first receiving end and a second receiving end, each configured to engage a corresponding top clip of the top portion so as to retain a luminaire in the opening, and the push tab of the first end and the push tab of the second end may each be configured to allow the corresponding top clip to be disengaged from its respective receiving end.
In yet still another related embodiment, the bottom portion may include a first pressure clip and a second pressure clip, and the first pressure clip and the second pressure clip may be configured to engage with a plurality of teeth of a luminaire in the opening when the top portion is connected to the bottom portion so as to allow the luminaire to rotate while simultaneously allowing the luminaire adapter to be stationary.
In still yet another related embodiment, the bottom portion and the top portion may include a plurality of grooves, the plurality of grooves may be configured to match a corresponding plurality of teeth on a luminaire, and the plurality of grooves may be configured to interact with the corresponding plurality of teeth to allow the luminaire to rotate while simultaneously allowing the luminaire adapter to be stationary.
In yet still another related embodiment, the tombstone cover may include the pair of snap receivers and the light source bracket may include the pair of snap connectors.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages disclosed herein will be apparent from the following description of particular embodiments disclosed herein, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles disclosed herein.
The tombstone cover 110 has a housing 111. The housing 111 defines a slot opening 112 to accept a tombstone socket. In some embodiments, the housing 111 includes a front wall 113, a back wall 114, a pair of side walls 115 and 116, and a housing top 117. The housing top 117, in some embodiments, is above the top of a tombstone socket. It should be noted that directions used herein (i.e., top, bottom, upper, lower, etc.) are in regard to a particular orientation as shown in the figures for ease of explanation, and are not limiting in any way. Thus, for example, as is well known in the art, a tombstone socket may be connected to the underside of a shelf, such that the “top” of the tombstone socket faces the floor as opposed to the ceiling, and in such situations, the housing top 117 of the tombstone cover 110 would be below the “top” of the tombstone socket. The front wall 113, on its interior, faces the portion of the tombstone that accepts the pin and/or pins of a fluorescent lamp, with the back wall 114 being opposite the front wall 113. The pair of side walls 115 and 116 couple the front wall 113 to the back wall 114 along with the housing top 117 to form the slot opening 112. In some embodiments, the front wall 113, the back wall 114, and each of the pair of side walls 115 and 116 has an upper portion (113A, 114A, 115A, 116A) and a lower portion (113B, 114B, 115B, 116B). Each upper portion 113A, 114A, 115A, 116A includes the part of the respective wall that is nearest the housing top 117. Each lower portion 113B, 114B, 115B, 116B includes the part of the respective wall that is nearest the slot opening 112. In some embodiments, to be able to accommodate different shapes of tombstone sockets, the lower portion 113B of the front wall 113 and the lower portion 114B of the back wall 114 are each substantially wider than the upper portion 113A of the front wall 113 and the upper portion 114A of the back wall 114. In some embodiments, this results in the pair of side walls 115 and 116 being slanted from the housing top 117 to the slot opening 112. In some embodiments, only the lower portion 115B, 116B of the pair of side walls 115 and 116 is so slanted. In other words, in such embodiments, the upper portion 115A, 116A of each side wall 115, 116 is substantially perpendicular in relation to the housing top 117, and the lower portion 115B, 116B of each side wall 115, 116 is angled with respect to the upper portion 115A, 116A. Of course, the housing 111, in other embodiments, takes different shapes that are all capable of covering a tombstone socket. In some embodiments, the tombstone cover 110 simply sits on a tombstone socket and may be removed from the tombstone simply by lifting the tombstone cover 110. In some embodiments, the tombstone cover 110 is coupled, at least in part, to at least a portion of a tombstone socket by any known coupling mechanism, such as but not limited to friction, tensioning, bonding (i.e., glue, cement, epoxy, etc.), mechanical coupler (e.g., screw, clip, etc.) or the like. In some embodiments, the tombstone cover 110 is coupled to a surface that is near the tombstone, using any known coupling mechanism, such as but not limited to those described above.
A pair of snap connectors 130 and 140 is also part of the tombstone cover 110. In some embodiments, the pair of snap connectors 130 and 140 is attached to the front wall 113 of the housing 111. The pair of snap connectors 130 and 140 mechanically interacts with a corresponding pair of snap receivers 180 and 190 on the light source bracket 150 to couple the tombstone cover 110 with the light source bracket 150. In some embodiments, such as shown in
In some embodiments, the tombstone cover 110 includes a first pair of snap connectors 130, 140 and a second pair of snap connectors 135, 145. The second pair of snap connectors 135, 145 each includes a first tab 136, 146, a second tab 137, 147, and a snap opening 138, 148, similar to the first pair of snap connectors 130, 140. The snap openings 138, 148 receive a corresponding snap receiver 185, 195 (i.e., a second pair of snap receivers 185, 195) of the light source bracket 150. In some embodiments, such as shown in
As shown in
The top portion 160 and the bottom portion 170 define an opening 181 (seen most clearly in
Note that the light source bracket 150A of
In some embodiments, such as shown in
In some embodiments, the parts of the top portion 160/160A and the bottom portion 170/170A that define the opening 181 include a mechanical mechanism that allows for interaction with the plurality of teeth 400 or other shaping on the luminaire 101 for rotation. For example, the top portion 160/160A and the bottom portion 170/170A may include a plurality of grooves that are configured to match a corresponding plurality of teeth on the luminaire 101. The plurality of grooves are configured to interact with the corresponding plurality of teeth to allow the luminaire 101 to rotate while simultaneously allowing the luminaire adapter 100 to be stationary. The plurality of grooves, the plurality of teeth, and/or both allow for the luminaire 101 to be placed in one or more particular positions, as described in greater detail below.
In some embodiments wherein a first luminaire adapter is placed on one end of a luminaire and a second luminaire adapter is placed on the opposite end of the luminaire (see
As shown in
In some embodiments, there is enough give in the opening of the light source bracket 650 and/or in distance the pair of snap connectors 620 and 630 extend from the light source bracket 650 and/or in the pair of snap receivers 660 and 670 to accommodate luminaires in any of the various spaces that held different types (and lengths) of fluorescent lamps, while still maintaining a solid and secure connection for the luminaire.
In some embodiments, the light source bracket 650 includes a groove 625 that comes into contact with a corresponding post 665 located in (and/or substantially in) the center of the tombstone cover 650. This allows the luminaire 701 to be centered without extra effort or measurements on the part of the installer, while taking into account the tolerances built into the luminaire adapter 700 to work with differently sized luminaires and tombstones, and also serves to help hold the luminaire 701 securly in place.
Though embodiments have been described herein with relation to a luminaire, embodiments are not so limited. Embodiments may alternatively and/or additionally be realized as a light engine/module that fits within a luminaire housing, with the luminaire housing attaching to the light source bracket, without departing from the scope of the invention. Similarly, embodiments may alternatively and/or additionally be realized as a retrofit lamp that fits within a luminaire housing, with the luminaire housing attaching to the light source bracket, without departing from the scope of the invention. Further, some embodiments may be considered a light engine/module instead of a luminaire. In such embodiments, the light engine/module connects to the light source bracket of a luminaire adapter, and fits in place of a fluorescent lamp. In such embodiments, the combination of the luminaire adapter(s) and the light engine/module may itself be considered a luminaire.
Unless otherwise stated, use of the word “substantially” may be construed to include a precise relationship, condition, arrangement, orientation, and/or other characteristic, and deviations thereof as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, to the extent that such deviations do not materially affect the disclosed methods and systems.
Throughout the entirety of the present disclosure, use of the articles “a” and/or “an” and/or “the” to modify a noun may be understood to be used for convenience and to include one, or more than one, of the modified noun, unless otherwise specifically stated. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.
Elements, components, modules, and/or parts thereof that are described and/or otherwise portrayed through the figures to communicate with, be associated with, and/or be based on, something else, may be understood to so communicate, be associated with, and or be based on in a direct and/or indirect manner, unless otherwise stipulated herein.
Although the methods and systems have been described relative to a specific embodiment thereof, they are not so limited. Obviously many modifications and variations may become apparent in light of the above teachings. Many additional changes in the details, materials, and arrangement of parts, herein described and illustrated, may be made by those skilled in the art.
The present application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/565,496, filed Nov. 30, 2011 and entitled “RETROFIT FLUORESCENT TOMBSTONE COVER AND MATING CONNECTOR”, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/724,803, filed Nov. 9, 2012 and entitled “ADJUSTABLE END CONNECTORS AND CENTERING POSITIONER FOR LINEAR SOLID STATE LIGHT SOURCES AND LUMINAIRES”, the entire contents of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
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