1. Field of the Invention
The invention disclosed relates generally to lighting fixtures and in particular to directional recessed lighting fixtures.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A luminaire is generally considered to be a complete lighting unit consisting of a lamp or lamps together with the parts designed to distribute the light, to position and protect the lamps, and to connect the lamps to the power supply. Recessed luminaires are designed to be minimally visible from below a ceiling in which they are mounted. Many traditional methods of installing luminaires from below the ceiling require large vertical spaces above the ceiling for springs, brackets, and housings that fasten the luminaire to the ceiling.
An example recessed luminaire is described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,215,805, which depicts a recessed lighting adjustment assembly installed in a typical housing recessed above a ceiling. The bottom of the housing has a housing aperture defined by a rim that is registered with a cutout opening in the ceiling. A lamp assembly has a trim collar for attachment to the rim of the housing through the cutout opening in the ceiling. The trim collar fits through both the ceiling cutout and the housing aperture, and is secured to the rim of the housing by three circumferentially spaced collar clamps. The bottom of the trim collar is a flange-shaped trim face that is pushed up against the ceiling during installation, to be flush with the room-side of the ceiling. The collar clamps are vertically adjustable on the collar in vertical slots, such that the clamps and the housing can be raised or lowered on the collar as needed to compensate for differences in the thickness of the ceiling. However, the luminaire requires that it be clamped to the rim of the recessed housing that had to be previously installed from above the ceiling. The pre-installed housing requires a large vertical space above the ceiling.
Accordingly, there is a need for a mounting system for a recessed luminaire that may be completely installed from below a ceiling that has limited space above the ceiling. What is needed is a mounting system for a recessed luminaire, which does not require previously installing a recessed housing from above the ceiling. What is needed is a mounting system for a recessed luminaire that may be completely installed from below a ceiling when access above the ceiling is not available. What is needed is a mounting system for a recessed luminaire that is easily installed in architectural panels, such as ceilings or walls, having a variety of thicknesses. What is needed is a mounting system for a recessed luminaire that may be completely installed from below a ceiling, and which does not limit or interfere with the rotational adjustment or angular tilt of the light beam from the luminaire.
Example embodiments of the invention provide a mounting system for a recessed luminaire, which may be completely installed from below a ceiling that has limited space above the ceiling. Example embodiments of the invention provide a mounting system for a recessed luminaire, which does not require previously installing a recessed housing from above the ceiling. Example embodiments of the invention provide a mounting system for a recessed luminaire, which may be completely installed from below a ceiling when access above the ceiling is not available. Example embodiments of the invention provide a mounting system for a recessed luminaire, which is easily installed in architectural panels, such as ceilings or walls having a variety of thicknesses.
In accordance with an example embodiment of the invention, a mounting system for a recessed luminaire includes an upper frame that is generally annular in shape and configured to fit within a cutout opening in a ceiling having a room-side surface and a back surface behind the ceiling. The upper frame may include a support lever pivotally mounted on the upper frame. There may be one or more support levers configured to overlap the upper frame when the upper frame is being inserted into the cutout opening from the room-side surface of the ceiling. The support levers may be further configured to pivot away from overlapping the upper frame and move to overlap the back surface of the ceiling in an area of the back surface surrounding the cutout opening, after the upper frame has been inserted into the cutout opening from the room-side surface of the ceiling.
The mounting system for a recessed luminaire further includes a lower frame that is generally annular in shape and configured to fit within the cutout opening in the ceiling when the lower frame is inserted into the cutout opening from the room-side surface of the ceiling. The lower frame may include a trim face surrounding a lower edge of the lower frame, which projects outwardly from the lower frame. The trim face may be configured to abut against the room-side surface of the ceiling, when the lower frame is inserted into the cutout opening from the room-side surface of the ceiling.
The mounting system for a recessed luminaire further includes clamping screws configured to fasten the lower frame to the upper frame. The clamping screws are configured to clamp the ceiling between the support levers on the upper frame and the trim face surrounding a lower edge of the lower frame when the screws are tightened. The clamping screws may be adjustable to clamp varying thicknesses of the ceiling.
The luminaire is sized to be passed through the upper frame and the lower frame from the room-side surface of the ceiling.
The mounting system for a recessed luminaire further includes fasteners configured to fasten the luminaire to the lower frame, from the room-side surface of the ceiling.
The mounting system for a recessed luminaire may be installed by an installer assembling the generally annular shaped frame assembly, by fastening the generally annular shaped upper frame to the generally annular shaped lower frame with clamping screws, the clamping screws being adjustable to clamp varying thicknesses of ceiling by the lower frame and the upper frame.
The installer pivots the support levers inwardly on the upper frame, so as to clear the ceiling during the insertion. The installer then inserts the generally annular shaped frame assembly into the cutout opening in the ceiling. After fully inserting the frame assembly, the trim face surrounding a lower edge of the lower frame, abuts against the room-side surface of the ceiling.
The installer then reaches through the annular frame assembly to position the support levers pivotally mounted on the upper frame, to overlap the back surface of the ceiling in an area of the back surface surrounding the cutout opening.
The installer then tightens the clamping screws fastening the upper frame to the lower frame, to clamp the ceiling between the support levers on the upper frame and the trim face surrounding a lower edge of the lower frame, the tightening being by access from the room-side of the ceiling.
The installer may then pass the luminaire through the generally annular shaped frame assembly, from the room-side of the ceiling.
Finally, the installer may then fasten the luminaire to the lower frame with fasteners, by access from the room-side of the ceiling.
The generally annular shape of the upper frame and the lower frame may be circular or rectangular. The luminaire may be a low profile, variable direction luminaire.
In this manner, example embodiments of the invention provide a mounting system for a recessed luminaire, which may be completely installed from below a ceiling that has limited space above the ceiling. Example embodiments of the invention provide a mounting system for a recessed luminaire, which does not require previously installing a recessed housing from above the ceiling. Example embodiments of the invention provide a mounting system for a recessed luminaire, which may be completely installed from below a ceiling when access above the ceiling is not available. Example embodiments of the invention provide a mounting system for a recessed luminaire, which is easily installed in ceilings having a variety of thicknesses.
The lower frame 210 includes a trim face 220 surrounding a lower edge of the lower frame 210. The trim face 220 projects outwardly from the lower frame 210 and is configured to abut against the room-side surface of the ceiling 140, when the lower frame 210 is inserted into the cutout opening 141 from the room-side surface of the ceiling 140.
The figure shows clamping screws 212, with three being shown in the figure. The clamping screws 212 are configured to fasten the lower frame 210 to the upper frame 200. The clamping screws 212 are adjustable to clamp varying thicknesses of a ceiling between the trim face 220 of the lower frame 210 and the support levers 202 of the upper frame 200.
In an alternate example embodiment of the invention, the upper frame 200 and lower frame 210 may have a generally annular shape that is rectangular and be configured to fit within a rectangular cutout opening.
The mounting system for a recessed luminaire may be installed by an installer assembling the generally annular shaped frame assembly 215, by fastening the generally annular shaped upper frame 200 to the generally annular shaped lower frame 210 with clamping screws 212, the clamping screws being adjustable to clamp varying thicknesses of ceiling 140 with the lower frame and the upper frame.
The installer pivots the support levers inwardly on the upper frame, so as to clear the ceiling during the insertion. The installer then inserts the generally annular shaped frame assembly 215 into the cutout opening 141 in the ceiling 140. After fully inserting the frame assembly 215, the trim face 220 surrounding a lower edge of the lower frame 210, abuts against the room-side surface of the ceiling 140.
The installer then reaches through the annular frame assembly 215, from the room-side of the ceiling, to position the support levers 202 pivotally mounted on the upper frame 200, to overlap the back surface of the ceiling 140 in an area of the back surface surrounding the cutout opening 141.
The installer then tightens the clamping screws 212 fastening the upper frame 200 to the lower frame 210, to clamp the ceiling 140 between the support levers 202 on the upper frame 200 and the trim face 220 surrounding a lower edge of the lower frame 210, the tightening being by access from the room-side of the ceiling.
The installer may then pass the luminaire 100 through the generally annular shaped frame assembly 215, from the room-side of the ceiling.
Finally, the installer may then fasten the luminaire 100 to the lower frame 210 with fasteners 132, by access from the room-side of the ceiling.
In an alternate example embodiment of the invention, the frame assembly 215 may have a rectangular trim 230 surrounding a rectangular cutout opening in the ceiling 140, presenting a flush appearance upon finishing the ceiling.
In this manner, example embodiments of the invention provide a mounting system for a recessed luminaire, which may be completely installed from below a ceiling that has limited space above the ceiling. Example embodiments of the invention provide a mounting system for a recessed luminaire, which does not require previously installing a recessed housing from above the ceiling. Example embodiments of the invention provide a mounting system for a recessed luminaire, which may be completely installed from below a ceiling when access above the ceiling is not available. Example embodiments of the invention provide a mounting system for a recessed luminaire, which is easily installed in ceilings having a variety of thicknesses.
This patent application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e), of the earlier filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/945,354, filed Feb. 27, 2014.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61945354 | Feb 2014 | US |