Retrofit Canopy Luminaire and Installation Method

Abstract

A retrofit canopy luminaire assembly adapted for downward illumination and having a housing with inwardly-directed ledges near the lower edges of the housing. The luminaire has at least two support brackets secured to at least one of the ledges; a face plate removably secured to the brackets on the lower side of the housing; and a hanging tether attached to one of the brackets and to the face plate. The face plate is adapted to hold lighting fixture components. When the face plate is removed from the brackets, the face plate hangs freely held by the tether to allow free access to the inside of the luminaire.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of a preferred embodiment of the inventive retrofit luminaire.

FIG. 2 is a perspective drawing of a face plate of the luminaire embodiment of FIG. 1 viewed from below the plate.

FIG. 3 is a perspective drawing of a face plate of the luminaire embodiment of FIG. 1 viewed from above the plate.

FIG. 4 is a perspective drawing of the luminaire embodiment of FIG. 1 shown with the face plate unfastened from the housing.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation schematic drawing of the luminaire embodiment of FIG. 1 shown with the face plate unfastened from the housing.

FIG. 6 is a perspective drawing of a support bracket of the luminaire embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a perspective drawing of a support bracket and a hanging tether of the luminaire embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a perspective drawing of an installed support bracket and a hanging tether of the luminaire embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a perspective drawing of an installed support bracket with fasteners and a hanging tether of the luminaire embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a perspective drawing of an installed support bracket and a hanging tether.

FIG. 11 is a side perspective view of the luminaire embodiment of FIG. 1, showing the face plate with fixture components installed. The face plate is hanging from two hanging tethers, in position for installation or repair.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the luminaire embodiment shown in FIG. 11, showing the face plate supported by two hanging tethers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of a preferred embodiment of the inventive retrofit luminaire 10. Luminaire 10 includes a box-like housing 12 which is typically mounted on the underside of a canopy structure or ceiling (not shown) such that the light emanating from luminaire 10 is generally downward in direction. Luminaire 10 also includes a face plate 14 mounted on the underside of housing 12 with a set of fasteners 16 (four shown in FIG. 1) and a lamp component housing 18 with a hinged cover plate 20, two hinges 22, and a latch 24. Cover plate 20 includes a lamp lens 26 through which light from luminaire 10 emanates.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective drawings of face plate 14 of luminaire 10. FIG. 2 is viewed from below face plate 14, and FIG. 3 is viewed from above face plate 14. Face plate 14 includes four monitoring holes 30 for fasteners 16. Note that this embodiment shows four holes 30 and fasteners 16 but some embodiment of this inventive luminaire may include fewer than four holes and fasteners. A transformer or ballast 28 is mounted on the top side of face plate 14. Lamp component housing 18 is also mounted on face plate 14 by means of four mounting flanges 32, fasteners 32f (four shown) and mounting holes 32h (two shown). Also assembled with lamp component housing 18 are a lamp reflector 34, a lamp socket 36, and a socket support 38. The lamp installed in lamp socket 36 is not shown. Other components which may be assembled with lamp component housing 18 are also not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate two views of face plate 14 in an open position with respect to housing 12 of luminaire 10. Housing 12 includes four side walls 40 as part of the box-like structure of housing 12. Four inwardly-facing ledges 42 (two visible in FIG. 4) are attached to side walls 40, one to each side wall 40, near the bottom of and running parallel to each side wall 40. Ledges 42 may be formed integrally with side walls 40 (such as folded sheet metal structures) or may be attached thereto using any suitable fastening technique.

Four support brackets 44 (all four shown in FIG. 4) are installed on ledges 42 in the four corners of housing 12. Each of two of brackets 44 have one end 46b of a hanging tether 46 attached thereto. The other end 46p of each hanging tether 46 is attached to two flange attachment tabs 48 (one shown in FIG. 4). Tabs 48 may be formed as integral parts of flanges 32 or may be attached separately by fasteners 32f or by another suitable fastening 4 technique which connects tethers 46 to face plate 14 or to another element assembled thereto. A preferred embodiment of tether 46 would include a spring loaded snap clip for easier attachment to the face plate brackets.

Referring to FIGS. 6 through 9 for more detail on support brackets 44, each support bracket 44 includes two ledge slots 52 into which ledges 42 are place when brackets 44 are assembled into housing 12. Brackets 44 are preferably formed out of sheet metal but may be made of any other suitable material. Bracket 44 also includes a bracket attachment tab 50 to which end 46b of hanging tether 46 is attached. Any other suitable attachment point for end 46b may be formed in or attached to bracket 44 in order to provide sufficient strength of attachment to hold the weight of face plate 14 and all of the components attached thereto through one or more hanging tethers 46. Hanging tethers 46 can be made of braided metal, cable or any other suitably-strong flexible material of which tethers can be formed.

FIGS. 8-10 show bracket 44 in place on ledges 42 of housing 12. FIGS. 9 and 10 additionally illustrate two fasteners 58 used to secure bracket 44 to ledges 42 through holes 54.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate inventive luminaire 10 and the method by which it is used to effect installation or repair of such luminaire. FIG. 12 illustrates tether 46 attached to tab 50 of bracket 44 as well as the securing of bracket 44 as described in the previous paragraph. FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate faceplate 14 hanging by two tethers 46 in position for installation or repair. While face plate 14 is in such position, a technician has access to the inside of luminaire 10 thus freeing both hands to carry out the necessary installation or repair steps without having to support the weight of face plate 14 and any additional components attached thereto.

FIG. 12 illustrates face plate 14 in an approximately horizontal orientation supported by tethers 46. This places face plate 14 in an orientation which allows it to be easily lifted into place in proper alignment for final assembly of luminaire 10. Fasteners 16 (one shown in FIG. 1) are used to secure face plate 14 in position on housing 12.

While the principles of this invention have been described in connection with specific, embodiments, it should be understood clearly that these descriptions are made only by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. For example, depending on the weight of the face plate and the components attached thereto, only one hanging tether may be required to hold the face plate in position for installation or repair. It may also be possible to use two support brackets on opposite corners of the housing and to secure the face plate in place with only two fasteners. Further, the housing need not be square or rectangular but can be of any shape allowing the securing of suitably-configured support brackets to the inwardly-facing ledge or ledges of the housing.

Claims

1) A retrofit luminaire assembly adapted for downward illumination and having a housing with inwardly-directed ledges near the lower edges of the housing, comprising: at least two support brackets secured to at least one of the ledges;a face plate removably secured to the brackets on the lower side of the housing, the face plate adapted to hold lighting fixture components; anda hanging tether-attached to one of the brackets and to the face plate,

2) The luminaire assembly of claim 1 wherein the hanging tether is a first hanging tether and further including a second hanging tether attached to the other support bracket.

3) The luminaire assembly of claim 2 wherein the support brackets acid hanging tethers are each secured to opposite ends of one side of the face plate.

4) A method of installing a retrofit luminaire assembly adapted for downward illumination and having a housing with inwardly-directed ledges near the lower edges of the housing the method comprising the steps of: providing at least two support brackets;securing the two support brackets to at least one ledge;providing a face plate-adapted to hold lighting fixture components;providing at least one hanging tether; andsecuring the face plate to the brackets with the at least one tether such that the face plate hangs freely without further support during installation.