1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of light fixtures and more specifically, to a recessed light fixture.
2. Background of the Invention
Various recessed downlight light fixtures have been designed for use in ceilings. Usually such fixtures create problems when it is necessary to relamp or reballast the fixture because of the difficulty encountered in removing the light fixture from the ceiling or gaining access to the light fixture's internal components.
Recessed ceiling light fixtures known in the art use different means of securing their components to each other and to a ceiling structure. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,567,041 discloses a recessed ceiling light having an outer housing, which includes an integral flange, and an inner housing, which is secured in position in the outer housing by spokes. The outer housing includes a cylindrical support ring to which the outer lens is secured to the outer housing by a threaded arrangement. Thus, the components of this light fixture are held in place by a complex combination of spokes and threaded fittings.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,970 discloses a recessed ceiling light fixture that includes an outer housing, which is supported in the sheet rock of the ceiling by support arms, a conical cup, which includes a peripheral flange, and an inner member, which is inserted into the conical cup. The inner member is supported within the outer housing by springs, while the conical cup is supported on the outer housing by a friction fit. Thus, the components of this light fixture are held in place in the ceiling by a combination of support arms, spring members, and a friction fit.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,436 discloses a modular lighting fixture that uses a spring member to secure the reflector module to the housing. U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,625 discloses a recessed light fixture that uses a spring clip to secure the light fixture to its housing and to a ceiling structure. U.S. Pat. No. 5,609,414 discloses a recessed lighting fixture that uses a pair of retaining clips and other components to secure the light fixture to its housing and to a ceiling structure.
In addition to the above, there are known light fixtures that are difficult to assemble and disassemble due to the intricate connecting means of their components. In such instances, the sheet rock and layer of spackle abutting the light fixture are damaged when a user has to pull on the light fixture or inordinately twist the light fixture to assemble or disassemble it. In addition, other known light fixtures are preset for use in ceilings or similar structures containing ½-inch, ¾-inch or 1-inch sheet rock.
Thus, the prior art does not teach or suggest a recessed light fixture that includes a structure that makes assembly and disassembly of the light fixture simple.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a recessed light fixture that includes features that make assembly and disassembly of the light fixture simple.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a recessed light fixture that includes features that make relamping and reballasting of the fixture simple.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a light fixture that can be used with sheet rock of different sizes.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the light fixture includes an outer member, a middle member, and an inner member, each of which has a generally cylindrical shape in the form of a ring. The outer member has a peripherial circular flange at one end and a threaded interior surface. The middle member has a similar flange at one end and a threaded male portion on its exterior surface. The outer member is connected to the middle member by threadedly engaging their respective thread surfaces.
The inner member has an exterior surface on which a plurality of grooves are formed therein, with the grooves extending transversely on its cylindrical wall. The middle member includes a plurality of openings for receiving a plurality of securing members, e.g. set screws, with each of the plurality of securing members having inner ends and being located such that these ends will be respectively received in the grooves, for securing the middle member to the inner member.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of the invention, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
As mentioned above, the present invention is directed to a recessed light fixture, and in particular, to a light fixture including an outer ring, a middle ring, and an inner ring. The light fixture can be used in a variety of applications, but is preferably secured in a housing mounted in a ceiling, in a down-light application.
Referring now to the drawings in detail, and initially to
Outer ring 12 is cylindrically shaped and has a circular peripheral flange 18 formed at one end 20 thereof. Cylindrical ring 12 has a threaded inner surface 22 which is adapted to receive a corresponding externally-threaded outer surface 24 of middle ring 14. The outer cylindrical surface portion 26 of ring 12 is generally smooth. Flat springs 28 having front and rear edges 30, 32, and top and bottom edges 34, 36, are secured to the outside surface of ring 12 by screws 45, rivets, welding or other securing means known by those skilled in the art. Such securing means should be selected so as not to impede the threading of middle ring 14 into outer ring 12.
Each spring 28 is preferably flat and has a general wing-shape. As seen in
Middle ring 14 is also cylindrical in shape and has a circular peripheral flange 40 formed at its lower end 42. As noted above, the outside surface of ring 14 is threaded to engage the threads on the inside surface of outer ring 12. This threading feature allows the light fixture to be used with sheet rock of different sizes, preferably in the range of ½″ to 1{fraction (l/4)}″. Thus, as seen in
Ring 14 has an inner surface 43 which is preferably smooth. Transverse, radial openings 44 are formed in the cylindrical portion of ring 14. These openings 44 preferably comprise at least two circular ¼-inch threaded openings for respectively receiving set screws 45, whose inner ends serve to secure the inner ring 16 in the fixture as described hereinafter. The inside diameter of middle ring 14, like the inside diameter of outer ring 12 described above, also must be large enough to allow the fixture's light bulb 29, electrical connections and wiring, and ballast 100 to pass through its internal diameter for relamping and reballasting.
Inner ring 16 is also generally cylindrical and has an outer surface 52, an inner surface 54, and top and bottom edges 56, 58. Inner ring 16 preferably does not have any flanges. The internal diameter of inner ring 16 is preferably not less than 2¾″. Inner surface 54 includes an internal circular ridge 55 (seen in
Installation of light fixture 10 in the rectangular support structure or a sheet metal box 90 (as seen in
Disassembly of light fixture 1 to relamp or reballast is done by performing the steps described above in reverse order. To remove inner ring 16 from its engagement with middle ring 14, this apparatus uses a “lift and shift” movement. This is done by manually pushing ring 16 inwardly, thereby “lifting” it until the ends of the set screws 45 reach elbow 70 of leg 67. The inner ring 16 is then rotated, i.e., “shifted” counterclockwise until it stops in first elbow 68 of the leg 62. Inner ring 16 is then gently pulled downwardly, thereby releasing it from middle ring 14. When inner ring 16 is released and pulled down further, the light bulb 29 is exposed, thereby allowing it to be changed. In addition, the wiring and ballast 100 can be pulled further downward through the opening in middle ring 14 thereby allowing the ballast 100 to be changed or repairs to be made to the fixture's internal components without removing the entire fixture from the ceiling.
Although an illustrative embodiment of the present invention has been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of this invention.