Patent Application
20190376670
The present invention relates to the field of mounted surface lighting and more specifically to an overhead light assembly and method of assembly.
Work surfaces and work stations, such as desks and the like, are commonly configured with overhead storage, such as shelves, cabinets, or other similar structures. While these overhead storage structures provide useful space, they also block and reduce other overhead lighting that would otherwise illuminate the work space.
In order to properly illuminate work spaces that include overhead structures, numerous under-cabinet lighting solutions have been developed. However, many of these solutions share certain drawbacks.
First, many common lighting solutions for under-cabinet lighting are fixed in a single location, such as mounted directly to the underside of the cabinet. This is often done by screwing or bolting the lighting assembly to the overhead structure. However, by fixing the location of the light, users are unable to move the light to its most desirable and effective location.
In addition, many common solutions lack a simple and effective method of assembly. Often, under-cabinet lighting solutions include numerous parts and components that complicate assembly and add to the cost of both the lighting and the assembly.
Accordingly, an improved soffit light assembly and method of assembly is needed.
A soffit light assembly is generally presented. The soffit light assembly includes an elongate housing having a top surface, a first and second inner walls extending downward from the top surface, a first and second outer walls spaced away from the first and second inner walls respectively, and a lip extending along an inner surface of an outer wall. An end cap may be positioned in slidable engagement with an end of the housing. The end cap may include an upper surface, a first and second sidewall extending downward from the upper surface, and a slot in an outer portion of at least one of the first and second sidewalls. The slot may be aligned with the lip of the housing and configured to slidably engage the lip. A magnet may be positioned within a recess in a sidewall. A light source may be connected to an underside of the top surface. The end cap is connected the housing by a fastener extending through the upper surface of the end cap and through the top surface of the housing.
In an embodiment, a method of assembling a soffit light assembly is presented. The method includes the steps of: (1) providing a housing having a top surface, a first and second inner walls extending downward from the top surface, a first and second outer walls spaced away from the first and second inner walls respectively, and a lip extending along an inner surface of an outer wall; (2) connecting a light source to an underside of the top surface; (3) providing an end cap comprising an upper surface, a first and second sidewall extending downward from the upper surface, a slot in an outer portion of at least one of the first and second sidewalls, and a magnet positioned within a recess in a sidewall; (4) slidably engaging the end cap with the housing, wherein the lip is aligned and slidably engaged with the slot; and (5) fastening the end cap to the housing.
In an embodiment, the light source is an LED light. The fastener comprises a screw extending through a hole in the end cap and engaged with an opening in the housing. The screw extends through the light source and connects the light source to the housing and further provides an electrical ground for the light source.
In an embodiment, the magnet comprises a lower portion, an upper portion extending from the lower portion, and a ridge formed along the intersection of the lower portion and upper portion. The ridge is configured to abut the lip when the end cap is positioned in slidable engagement with an end of the housing. A portion of the magnet may be exposed along the upper surface of the end cap.
The operation of the invention may be better understood by reference to the detailed description taken in connection with the following illustrations, wherein:
Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional changes may be made without departing from the respective scope of the invention. Moreover, features of the various embodiments may be combined or altered without departing from the scope of the invention. As such, the following description is presented by way of illustration only and should not limit in any way the various alternatives and modifications that may be made to the illustrated embodiments and still be within the spirit and scope of the invention.
A soffit light assembly 10 is generally presented. The soffit light assembly 10 may be configured to be mounted to a surface, such as an overhead structure, and emit light in a downward direction to a work surface or area beneath the mounting position.
As used herein, the term “soffit” shall mean the underside of an architectural structure, such as the underside of a cabinet, shelf, wall, structural support, or any structure. However, it will be appreciated that the soffit light assembly may be mounted to any appropriate structure and configured to emit light in any desired direction.
With reference to
As shown in
The housing 12 for the soffit light assembly 10 is best illustrated in
The housing may generally comprise a top surface 22 and a first and second inner wall 24 extending downward from the top surface 22. The inner walls 24 may be spaced apart to form a channel therebetween. A first and second outer wall 26 may be positioned exterior to and spaced away from the inner walls 24. For example, as shown in
The housing 12 may include a lip 28. The lip 28 may comprise a protrusion along an inner length of an outer wall 26 toward the respective inner walls 24. The lip 28 may assist in retaining the end caps 16 and related components in place, as described in further detail below. The housing may further include a groove 30 positioned in each inner wall 24. The respective grooves 30 may be located on the inner portions of the inner walls 24, within the channel between them.
The housing 12 may include an opening 32 positioned near each end. The opening 32 may be threaded and configured to receive a screw 34 or threaded bolt therethrough. The single opening 32 at each end may be configured to provide a complete connection for the housing 12, end caps 16, lens 14, and any other components or parts.
With reference to
The end cap 16 may be configured to hold a magnet 44 and position the magnet 44 along the top surface 22 when the end cap 16 is connected to the housing. The magnet 44 may be used to connect the soffit light assembly 10 to a metallic or magnetic surface. In an embodiment, the end cap 16 may include a recess along the sidewalls 40 configured to receive a magnet 44 therein. The recess may include a shelf or surface for the magnet 44 to rest on, and the recess may allow the magnet to be generally aligned with the slot 42.
The magnet 44 may be configured to be retained within the slot 42 by the lip 28 when the end cap 16 is connected to the housing 12. As shown in
The end cap 16 may include a through-hole 52 in the upper surface 36 for connecting the end cap 16 to the housing. As shown in
With reference to
The lens 14 may be inserted into the groove 30 and extend along the length of the housing 12. The lens may be configured to evenly disperse the light emitted from the light source 54. In an embodiment, the lens may be formed of an acrylic material and manufactured using an injection molding process, instead of other typical manufacturing methods. The injection molded lens may include a plurality of bubble optic pads, formed through a high quality diamond ground manufacturing process. In some cases, pairing of lenses with linear LED lights may yield yellow lines caused by a lack of sharpness at the intersection of the optic shapes. However, the injection molded and diamond ground acrylic lens provides the best light distribution without any yellow colored lines on the surface when paired with an LED linear light source.
In use, the soffit light assembly 10 may be assembled using the following steps. First, a housing 12 may be provided. The housing 12 may comprise an elongated extrusion having a top surface 22, inner walls 24, and outer walls 26 spaced away from the inner walls 24. A lip 28 may extend inward from each of the outer walls 26. A light source 54 may be connected to the underside of the top surface 22, and a lens may be inserted into a groove 30 in the inner walls 24. A first end cap 16 may be inserted into a first end of the housing 12. The end cap 16 having an upper surface 36 and sidewalls 40 extending downward from the upper surface 36 may be inserted into an end of the housing 12. A magnet 44 may be inserted into a recess in the sidewalls 40 and aligned with a groove in the sidewalls 40. The groove 40 may be aligned with the lip 28 to retain the end cap 16 and magnet 44 in slidable engagement with the housing 12. A screw 34 may be inserted through a through-hole 52 in the end cap 16 and into an opening 32 in the housing 12. As second end cap 16 may be connected to ta second end of the housing 12 in a similar manner as described above.
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to just the embodiments disclosed, but that the invention described herein is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the claims hereafter. The claims as follows are intended to include all modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the claims or the equivalent thereof.
