Patent Application
20190338925
Embodiments of the technology relate generally to illumination systems and more particularly to attaching a trim to a luminaire and attaching mounting brackets to a luminaire.
Luminaires often have a trim (also referred to as a finishing section) that is attached to the luminaire. This is particularly true for luminaires recessed into a ceiling as the trim covers any gaps between the recessed luminaire and the ceiling and provides an improved appearance. Trims can also include a reflector that is used to direct light exiting the luminaire. A simpler method for attaching a trim to a luminaire would be beneficial. A simpler attachment mechanism also would allow one to more easily replace a trim attached to a luminaire with another trim of a different color or style. An improved mechanism for attaching mounting brackets to permit aligning recessed luminaires when they are installed in a ceiling would also be beneficial.
In one example embodiment, the present disclosure provides a luminaire with a trim attachment mechanism for easily detaching and reattaching trims to a recessed luminaire. The luminaire comprises a light module body with an open bottom end configured to emit light. The light module body has a first lever with a first cam and a second lever with a second cam. The first lever can rotate the first cam between a first release position and a first engage position. Similarly, the second lever can rotate the second cam between a second release position and a second engage position. As such, the first lever and the second lever can be rotated to release or engage a trim located at the open bottom end of the luminaire. For example, the trim can have a first post and a second post wherein when the trim is placed adjacent the open bottom end of the luminaire the first cam engages the first post and the second cam engages the second post thereby securing the trim to the luminaire.
In another embodiment, the disclosure provides a luminaire with a bracket attachment mechanism that accommodates different types of retention brackets. A recessed luminaire can comprise a light module body with an open bottom end to emit light and a recess circumscribing the light module body, the recess comprising a first notch and a second notch. The first and second notches can be located on opposite sides of the light module body. In a first installation mode, the recess is configured to receive a pair of torsion spring brackets so that the pair of torsion spring brackets can rotate within the recess. Permitting the torsion spring brackets to rotate within the recess allows the light module body and an attached trim to be rotated for alignment when the torsion spring brackets and torsion springs are locked in place within a recessed housing. In contrast, in a second installation mode, the recess is configured to receive a first friction blade bracket that fits within the first notch and the recess is configured to receive a second friction blade bracket that fits within the second notch. Fitting the friction blade brackets within the notches locks the friction blade brackets in place so that the friction blade brackets and the light module body do not rotate relative to each other once the luminaire is inserted and rotated within the recessed housing.
In yet another example embodiment, the disclosure provides a luminaire with a bracket attachment mechanism that permits rotation. A recessed luminaire can comprise a light module body with an open bottom end to emit light and a recess circumscribing the light module body. A top bracket is rotatably attached to a top of the light module body and first and second torsion spring brackets are attached to the top bracket. The first torsion spring bracket comprises a first foot that slides within the recess and the second torsion spring bracket comprises a second foot that slides within the recess. The arrangement of the slidable first foot and second foot within the recess and the rotatable top bracket permits rotation of the light module with respect to the torsion spring brackets after the light module and torsion spring brackets are installed in a recessed housing and the torsion spring brackets are locked into place with torsion springs placed in torsion spring receivers within the recessed housing. Rotation of the light module after installation in the recessed housing permits alignment of the light module and attached trim with other nearby light modules or features.
These and other aspects and embodiments will be apparent upon reviewing the following detailed description and claims and the accompanying drawings.
Reference will be made below to the accompanying drawings.
The drawings illustrate only example embodiments and are therefore not to be considered limiting of the embodiments described, as other equally effective embodiments are within the scope of this disclosure. The elements and features shown in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating principles of the embodiments. Additionally, certain dimensions or positions may be exaggerated to help visually convey certain principles. In the drawings, similar reference numerals among different figures designate like or corresponding, but not necessarily identical, elements.
The example luminaires described herein provide an attachment mechanism for attaching and detaching a trim to and from a light module body. The attachment mechanism is particularly useful for recessed luminaires that typically employ a trim. The attachment mechanism allows a person to easily attach a trim to the light module body. The attachment mechanism also allows a person to easily detach a trim from a light module so that the trim can be replaced with another trim of a different style or color.
The example luminaires described herein also provide a mounting bracket mechanism to facilitate use of different types of mounting brackets with the luminaire. Mounting brackets are typically used in a recessed luminaire to affix the light module portion of the luminaire within a housing in a ceiling, such as a cylindrical housing can.
In a first installation mode, when torsion spring brackets with torsion springs are used with a recessed luminaire, the ends of the torsion springs are received in torsion spring receivers within the housing. The torsion spring receivers lock the torsion springs and their attached torsion spring brackets into place. However, it is beneficial to be able to rotate the light module body relative the affixed torsion spring brackets so that the light module body and trim can be aligned with other luminaires or nearby walls. For example, square trims attached to adjacent luminaires that are misaligned can be an aesthetic problem.
Because the torsion spring receivers in the recessed housing lock the torsion springs and the torsion spring brackets into place, it is not possible to rotate the light module and trim once the light module is installed in the recessed housing of a conventional luminaire. However, the torsion spring brackets of the example luminaires described herein have a foot feature that fits and slides within a recess circumscribing the light module body so that the light module body can rotate relative to the torsion spring brackets when the torsion spring brackets are affixed in the receivers of the housing.
In a second installation mode, friction blade brackets are used instead of torsion spring brackets. Unlike torsion spring brackets, friction blades and friction blade brackets are not locked into place by receivers within the recessed housing. Therefore, the light module, the trim, and the friction blade brackets and friction blades can be rotated together to the desired orientation before insertion into the recessed housing. In other words, the light module, trim, and the friction blade brackets and friction blades can be rotated to align with nearby luminaires or other features and then once the light module and the attached components are in the aligned orientation they are pushed into the recessed housing. Because the light module and the attached friction blades are aligned at the time they are inserted into the recessed housing, it is beneficial if the light module body does not rotate relative to the friction blade brackets after they have been inserted into the recessed housing. The mounting bracket mechanism of the example luminaires described herein can address this need by including notches in the recess circumscribing the light module body. In contrast to the foot feature of the torsion spring brackets described in the first installation mode, the foot feature on the friction blade mounting brackets is longer and thereby engages the notches in the recess so that the friction blade mounting brackets do not rotate relative to the light module body. The foregoing features will now be described further with reference to the figures.
Referring now to
Two trim attachment mechanisms that are substantially identical are located on opposite sides of the recessed luminaire 100 along a bottom portion 106 of the light module body 102. The first trim attachment mechanism includes a cam 136 with a cam shaft 134 and a lever 132 that fits within the cam shaft 134. The lever 132 sits on a ledge on the bottom portion 106 of the light module body 102 and a shaft portion of the lever 132 passes through an aperture in the ledge. In certain embodiments, a flexible washer can be placed between the lever 132 and the ledge to facilitate smooth motion of the lever and smooth interaction of the cam with the trim. The cam 136 and cam shaft 134 are located inside the bottom portion 106 and below the ledge of the light module body 102. As illustrated in
The first post 138 shown in
The trim attachment mechanism allows a person to easily remove attached trim 130 by turning the first lever 132 and the second lever 142 outward and away from the light module body 102 so that the first and second cams 136 and 146 are in a release position. Once the trim 130 is removed, a second trim can then be easily attached by placing the second trim adjacent to the bottom open end of the light module body 102 so that the posts of the second trim are inserted into the bottom portion 106 of the light module body 102 and then turning the first lever 132 and the second lever 142 inward so that the first cam 136 and the second cam 146 are in the engage position engaging the posts of the second trim.
Other optional features on the trim 130 can also assist with removing and attaching trims. For example, trim 130 shown in
Referring again to
In contrast,
Representative embodiments have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings that illustrate embodiments of the technology. The technology may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the technology to those appropriately skilled in the art.
Any example luminaires, or components thereof, described herein can be made from a single piece (e.g., as from a mold, injection mold, die cast, 3-D printing process, extrusion process, stamping process, or other prototype methods). In addition, or in the alternative, an example luminaire (or components thereof) can be made from multiple pieces that are mechanically coupled to each other. In such a case, the multiple pieces can be mechanically coupled to each other using one or more of a number of coupling methods, including but not limited to epoxy, welding, soldering, etching, fastening devices, compression fittings, mating threads, tabs, and slotted fittings. One or more pieces that are mechanically coupled to each other can be coupled to each other in one or more of a number of ways, including but not limited to fixedly, hingedly, removeably, slidably, and threadably.
Components and/or features described herein can include elements that are described as coupling, fastening, securing, abutting, or other similar terms. Such terms are merely meant to distinguish various elements and/or features within a component or device and are not meant to limit the capability or function of that particular element and/or feature. For example, a feature described as a “coupling feature” can couple, secure, fasten, abut, and/or perform other functions aside from merely coupling.
A coupling feature (including a complementary coupling feature) as described herein can allow one or more components and/or portions of an example luminaire to become coupled, directly or indirectly, to another portion of the example luminaire and/or some external component (e.g., a wall, a ceiling). A coupling feature can include, but is not limited to, a snap, a clamp, a portion of a hinge, an aperture, a recessed area, a protrusion, a slot, a spring clip, a tab, a detent, and mating threads. One portion of an example luminaire can be coupled to another component of the example luminaire or an external component by the direct use of one or more coupling features.
In addition, or in the alternative, a portion of an example luminaire can be coupled to another portion of the luminaire or another component using one or more independent devices that interact with one or more coupling features disposed on the example luminaire. Examples of such devices can include, but are not limited to, a pin, a hinge, a fastening device (e.g., a bolt, a screw, a rivet), epoxy, a sealing member (e.g., an O-ring, a gasket), glue, adhesive, tape, and a spring. One coupling feature described herein can be the same as, or different than, one or more other coupling features described herein. A complementary coupling feature (also sometimes called a corresponding coupling feature) as described herein can be a coupling feature that mechanically couples, directly or indirectly, with another coupling feature.
If a component of a figure is described but not expressly shown or labeled in that figure, the label used for a corresponding component in another figure can be inferred to that component. Conversely, if a component in a figure is labeled but not described, the description for such component can be substantially the same as the description for the corresponding component in another figure. The numbering scheme for the various components in the figures herein is such that each component is a three-digit number, and corresponding components in other figures have the identical last two digits. For any figure shown and described herein, one or more of the components may be omitted, added, repeated, and/or substituted. Accordingly, embodiments shown in a particular figure should not be considered limited to the specific arrangements of components shown in such figure.
Further, a statement that a particular embodiment (e.g., as shown in a figure herein) does not have a particular feature or component does not mean, unless expressly stated, that such embodiment is not capable of having such feature or component. For example, for purposes of present or future claims herein, a feature or component that is described as not being included in an example embodiment shown in one or more particular drawings is capable of being included in one or more claims that correspond to such one or more particular drawings herein.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the disclosures set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these disclosures pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the disclosures are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of this application. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/667,310 filed May 4, 2018 and titled “Luminaire Trim Attachment Mechanism and Mounting Bracket Attachment Mechanism,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62667310 | May 2018 | US |
