Patent Application
20170082266
The present disclosure generally relates to lighting systems, and more particularly, lighting systems for recessed deployment in ceilings and other architectural structures.
Recessed lighting systems are commonly used indoors to provide the effect of light shining through a hole in a ceiling or wall. Recessed lighting systems generally include a light fixture installed in a ceiling or wall recess. Depending on the desired illumination scheme, the light fixture is typically configured to provide either direct lighting or indirect lighting.
Direct lighting involves casting light primarily in one direction to illuminate an individual object (e.g., a painting, a table, a kitchen counter, etc.) or limited portion of a room, or even for general illumination purposes. A can light is one example of a recessed lighting system incorporating a direct lighting light fixture. Direct lighting tends to create glare and shadows and therefore is typically not used for illuminating a large area or an entire room.
Indirect lighting, on the other hand, provides more diffuse lighting and is suitable for illuminating large areas. Indirect lighting involves bouncing light off a reflective surface, thereby redirecting and/or scattering the light to various portions of a room. While indirect lighting reduces glare and provides generally uniform luminance levels, it can be uneconomical since at least some of the light is absorbed by the reflective surface. Moreover, because of its diffuse nature, indirect lighting is generally not suitable for spotlighting an individual object.
Various applications can benefit from including both direct and indirect lighting. For example, it can be useful to illuminate a kitchen surface where food is typically prepared, such as a kitchen counter, more brightly than other areas of the kitchen. Direct lighting can be used to spotlight the food preparation area(s), whereas indirect lighting can be used to illuminate the remainder of the kitchen. In the past, such an illumination scheme required the installation of separate direct and indirect lighting fixtures. This tends to be labor-intensive and require the formation of at least two recesses in an existing architectural structure to receive the distinct indirect and direct lighting fixtures.
The present disclosure sets forth various recessed lighting systems embodying advantageous alternatives to existing recessed lighting systems and that may address one or more of the challenges or needs mentioned above.
One aspect of the present disclosure provides a recessed lighting system including first and second elongate track members arranged alongside each other, first and second electric conductors, a reflector, a direct lighting fixture, and first and second pluralities of light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted, respectively, on the first and second elongate track members. The first elongate track member may include a first recess extending longitudinally for a length of the first elongate track member, and the second elongate track member may include a second recess extending longitudinally for a length of the second elongate track member. The first electric conductor may be disposed in the first recess and extend longitudinally for the length of the first elongate track member. The second electric conductor may be disposed in the second recess and extend longitudinally for the length of the second elongate track member. The first and second elongate track members may be spaced apart from each other by a distance, and the reflector may span at least a portion of that distance. The first and second pluralities of LEDs may be configured to emit light toward the reflector so that the reflector redirects the light to provide indirect lighting. The direct lighting fixture may be arranged between and slidably supported by the first and second elongate track members so that the direct lighting fixture is movable along the first and second elongate track members.
Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a light emitting track assembly for use in a recessed lighting system. The light emitting track assembly may include first and second elongate track members arranged alongside each other, a reflector, and a first plurality of LEDs. The first elongate track member may include a first recess extending longitudinally for a length of the first elongate track member. A first electric conductor may be disposed in the first recess and extend longitudinally for the length of the first elongate track member. The first and second elongate track members may be spaced apart from each other by a distance, and the reflector may span at least a portion of that distance. The first plurality of LEDs may be mounted on the first elongate track member and configured to emit light toward the reflector so that the reflector redirects the light to provide indirect lighting.
Yet another aspect of the present disclosure provides a recessed lighting system including a means for generating indirect lighting and a means for generating direct lighting. The means for generating indirect lighting may include at least one plurality of LEDs arranged parallel to a longitudinal axis of the recessed lighting system. The means for generating direct lighting may be suspended from the means for generating indirect lighting and movable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the recessed lighting system.
The present disclosure generally concerns recessed lighting systems and a light emitting track member for use in recessed lighting systems. The recessed lighting systems disclosed herein can be implemented in various applications requiring or benefiting from direct and/or indirect lighting. In general, the recessed lighting systems generate indirect lighting by including one or more elongate track members on which are mounted one or more rows of light emitting diodes (LEDs). The LEDs emit light rays towards a curved reflector, which in turn may scatter and/or redirect the light rays to various portions of a room. To provide direct lighting, the recessed lighting systems may include one or more direct lighting fixtures suspended from the one or more elongate track members. The one or more direct lighting fixtures may be slidably supported by the one or more elongate track members so that they can be moved to spotlight various objects or portions of a room. The combination of indirect and direct lighting provides users with greater flexibility in choosing a room's illumination scheme, and allows users to illuminate individual objects or portions of a room more brightly than others. Additionally, since the indirect and direct lighting fixtures are incorporated in a single assembly, their installation may be less burdensome than conventional indirect and direct light fixtures, which typically must be installed in separate ceiling or wall recesses. Another benefit of the presently disclosed recessed lighting system is that it may incorporate one or more decorative lips which makes it appear that the recessed lighting system is integrally formed with a ceiling or other architectural structure.
Each of the foregoing components and advantages of the recessed lighting system will be now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures.
The light emitting track assembly 22 may be constructed from a first elongate track member 30, a second elongate track member 32, and a reflector 34. The first and second elongate track members 30 and 32 may be arranged on opposite sides of the housing 22 and, as illustrated in the perspective view of
The first and second elongate track members 30 and 32 are spaced apart by a distance and the reflector 34 spans a portion or the entirety of that distance. In at least one embodiment, the reflector 34 connects the first elongate track member 30 directly to the second elongate track member 32.
The first elongate track member 30 includes a first recess 40 extending longitudinally and continuously for a length of the first elongate track member 30. The first recess 40 may be an opening formed in an inwardly facing surface of the first elongate track member 30 or a groove formed in an inwardly facing surface of the first elongate track member 30. A first upwardly facing sliding surface 41 may define a portion of the first recess 40 and slidably engage a first protrusion 78 of the direct lighting fixture 26.
A first electric conductor 42 may be disposed in the first recess 40 and may be supplied with electricity from an external power source. The first electric conductor 42 may extend along a portion, or the entire, length of the first recess 40. Arranging the first electric conductor 42 inside the first recess 40 makes it less likely that a user will touch the first electric conductor 42 with his or her fingers. In some embodiments, the first electric conductor 42 may consist solely of a cylindrical bus bar 43, as shown in
The second elongate track member 32 may be constructed in a similar manner as the first elongate track member 30. A second recess 44 may be formed in the second elongate track member 32 and extend longitudinally and continuously for a length of the second elongate track member 32. The second recess 44 may be an opening formed in an inwardly facing surface of the second elongate track member 32 or a groove formed in an inwardly facing surface of the second elongate track member 32. A second upwardly facing sliding surface 45 may define a portion of the first recess 44 and slidably engage a second protrusion 80 of the direct lighting fixture 26.
A second electric conductor 46 may disposed in the second recess 44 and may be supplied with electricity from the external power source. The second electric conductor 46 may extend along a portion, or the entire, length of the second recess 44. In some embodiments, the second electric conductor 46 may consist solely of a cylindrical bus bar. In other embodiments, such as the one illustrated in
In some embodiments, the first and second electric conductors 42 and 46 may be electrically coupled to a low-voltage transformer, which decreases the voltage of the electricity supplied by the external power source. The low-voltage transformer may output a voltage to the first and second electric conductors 42 and 46 in a range of approximately (e.g., ±10%) 60V or less. In some embodiments, the voltage outputted by the low-voltage transformer may be equal to approximately (e.g., ±10%) 6V, or 7V, or 12V, or 14V, or 24V, or 48V, or 60V.
Still referring to
The inner wall 52 may extend from a downwardly facing end surface 60 of the first elongate track member 30, and the inner wall 56 may extend from a downwardly facing end surface 62 of the second elongate track member 32. When the recessed lighting system 10 is installed in a ceiling or wall recess, the downwardly facing end surfaces 60 and 62 may be flush with the surface of the ceiling or wall, as depicted in
Still referring to
The second plurality of LEDs 66 may include one or more rows of LEDs extending parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the recessed lighting system 10. The second plurality of LEDs 66 may be mounted on a longitudinal flange 70 of the second elongate track member 32 located between the outer wall 54 and the inner wall 56. Accordingly, the second plurality of LEDs 66 may be hidden from view by the inner wall 56 when the recessed lighting system 10 is installed in a ceiling or wall. Furthermore, the longitudinal flange 70 may be angled relative to the horizontal direction so that each of the second plurality of LEDs 66 emits light in an upward direction at an angle relative to the vertical direction.
In alternative embodiments, other types of light sources may be mounted on the first and second elongate track members 30 and 32 in addition to, or as a substitute for, the first and second pluralities of LEDs 64 and 66. These light sources include, but are not limited to, incandescent, fluorescent, halogen, and/or high-intensity discharge light bulbs.
During operation, the first and second pluralities of LEDs 64 and 66 may emit light toward the reflector 34. The reflector 34 may include a reflective surface 72 that redirects the light out through the opening 58 and into the room. Accordingly, the reflector 34 functions to provide indirect lighting. In some embodiments, the reflective surface 72 may be textured so that it scatters the light during reflection, thereby providing more diffuse indirect light. Additionally, or alternatively, the reflective surface 72 may be painted a desired color and/or etched with a pattern such that the reflective surface 72 is aesthetically pleasing.
Referring to
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First and second support tabs 78 and 80 may protrude from opposite ends of the mounting structure 74. To connect the mounting structure 74 to the first and second elongate track members 30 and 32, the first support tab 78 may be inserted into the first recess 40, and the second support tab 80 may be inserted into the second recess 44. While the first and second recesses 40 and 44 may restrain movement of the first and second support tabs 78 and 80 in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis A, the first and second recesses 40 and 44 may permit back-and-forth movement of the first and second support tabs 78 and 80 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis A. The direct lighting fixture 26 may be moved manually by a user, or automatically be electric motors (not illustrated), along the first and second elongate track members 30 and 32. During movement of the direct lighting fixture 26, the first support tab 78 may slidingly engage the sliding surface 41, and the second support tab 80 may slidingly engage the sliding surface 45.
A first spring-biased electric contact 82 may protrude from the terminal end of the first support tab 78, and a second spring-biased electric contact 84 may protrude from the terminal end of the second support tab 80. The first spring-biased electric contact 82 may retract inside the first support tab 78 upon the application of a compressive force. Similarly, the second spring-biased electric contact 84 may retract inside the second support tab 80 upon the application of a compressive force. As illustrated in
The ability of the direct lighting fixture 26 to move along the first and second elongate track members 30 and 32 allows a user to adjust the position of the direct lighting fixture 26 to cast light on target object (e.g., a painting, a table, a kitchen counter, etc.) or limited portion of a room. Additionally, the ability to rotate the light source housing 76 relative to the mounting structure 74 provides the user with even more flexibility in choosing which objects to spotlight with the direct lighting fixture 26.
In some embodiments, the direct lighting fixture 26 and the first and second plurality of LEDs 64 and 66 may be operated simultaneously, so that the object which is illuminated by the direct lighting fixture 26 also receives indirect light from the first and second plurality of LEDs 64 and 66. In some embodiments, the direct lighting fixture 26 and the first and second plurality of LEDs 64 and 66 may be independently controllable, so that the target object can be provided with only direct light, or only indirect light.
While the present embodiment of the recessed lighting system 10 utilizes a single direct lighting fixture, other embodiments may arrange two, three, four, or more direct lighting fixtures along the length of the recessed lighting system 10. Also, the recessed lighting system 10 may incorporate different types of direct lighting fixtures than the one illustrated in
In some embodiments, the direct lighting fixture may include one or more locking members configured to prevent movement of the direct lighting fixture relative to the first and second elongate track members when engaged and allow movement of the direct lighting fixture relative to the first and second elongate track members when disengaged.
While the foregoing embodiments of the recessed lighting system are configured for installation in a generally planar surface such as a ceiling or a wall, other embodiments of the recessed lighting system may be configured for installation in non-planar surfaces.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present disclosure advantageously provides recessed lighting systems, and light emitting track members for use in recessed lighting systems, which provide both indirect and direct lighting. Incorporating both an indirect lighting fixture and a direct lighting fixture into a single assembly eliminates the need to create separate ceiling or wall recesses to accommodate the indirect and direct lighting fixtures. Moreover, the recessed lighting systems of the present disclosure advantageously allow the position of a direct lighting fixture to be adjusted, thereby providing a user with greater flexibility in choosing an illumination scheme. Furthermore, the recessed lighting system of the present disclosure can be provided with one or more decorative lips which makes it appear as if the recessed lighting system is integrally formed with the ceiling or wall.
While the invention has been described in connection with various embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is capable of further modifications. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention, and including such departures from the present disclosure as, within the known and customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains.
