LED troffer lens assembly mount

• US 10,247,372 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2017
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wilcox, Kurt, Walker, Donald, Progl, Curt, Bernard, Randall Levy
• Primary Examiner(s): Garlen, Alexander K
• Application Number:
  US15/425,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20180224075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/20 Light sources comprising attachment means
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/27 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with two fittings for each light source, e.g. for substitution of fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/272 Details of end parts, i.e. the parts that connect the light source to a fitting; Arrangement of components within end parts F21K9/278 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/026 intended to be recessed in a ceiling or like overhead structure, e.g. suspended ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/015 Devices for covering joints between adjacent lighting devices; End coverings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/10 characterised by specific fastening means or way of fastening F21V17/02 - F21V17/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/008 the casing being outside the housing of the lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/045 the sensor receiving a signal from a remote controller
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/005 Sealing arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/22 characterised by materials, surface treatments or coatings, e.g. dichroic reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A light fixture includes a LED assembly and a housing. A lens assembly comprises a lens and a first end cap and a second end cap. The end caps are releasably connected to the housing such that the lens and the end caps are releasably mounted to the housing as a unit. The end caps may be releasably mounted to the housing by a deformable, resilient first engagement member that releasably engages a second engagement when the lens assembly is moved relative to the housing in a first direction. A force is created between the first engagement member and the second engagement member sufficient to hold the lens assembly in the housing and low enough that the lens assembly is removable from the housing by pulling the lens assembly in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Claims

1. A troffer light fixture, comprising:

a LED assembly comprising at least one LED operable to emit light when energized through an electrical path;

a housing; and

a lens assembly comprising a lens covering the at least one LED and a first end cap and a second end cap, the lens having a first end connected to the first end cap and a second end connected to the second end cap, wherein the first end cap comprises a first wall that that closes the first end of the lens, the first wall comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and a first slot formed in the first side of the first wall for receiving the first end, and the second end cap comprises a second wall that closes the second end of the lens, the second wall comprising a third side and a fourth side opposite the third side, and a second slot formed in the third side of the second wall for receiving the second end, and wherein the second side of the first wall and the third side of the second wall comprise a first one of a resilient first engagement member and second engagement member and the housing comprises a second one of the resilient first engagement member and the second engagement member where the resilient first engagement member engages the second engagement member such that the resilient first engagement member is deformed into engagement with the second engagement member such that the first end cap and the second end cap are releasably connected to the housing such that the lens and the first end cap and the second end cap are releasably mounted to the housing as a unit.

2. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the LED assembly comprises a LED board supporting a plurality of LEDs, the LED board being in the electrical path.

3. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the lens is resiliently deformable.

4. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the lens is made of diffusive plastic.

5. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the lens comprises a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge where the first and second longitudinal edges of the lens are compressed toward one another.

6. The light fixture of claim 5, wherein the housing comprises a first slot for receiving the first longitudinal edge and a second slot for receiving the second longitudinal edge where the first longitudinal edge is biased against the first slot and the second longitudinal edge is biased against the second slot.

7. The light fixture of claim 1, further comprising first retaining members for retaining the first end in the first slot and second retaining members for retaining the second end in the second slot.

8. The light fixture of claim 7, wherein the first and second retaining members comprise resilient members are deformed into engagement with the lens to create a force on the lens sufficient to retain the first end cap and the second end cap on the lens.

9. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the second engagement member comprises a rigid member.

10. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the second engagement member comprises a receptacle for receiving the first engagement member.

11. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the resilient first engagement member engages the second engagement member by moving the lens assembly in a first insertion direction relative to the housing.

12. The light fixture of claim 11, wherein the resilient first engagement member is disengaged from the second engagement member by moving the lens assembly in a second direction opposite to the first insertion direction.

13. The light fixture of claim 12, wherein the first insertion direction and the second direction are substantially linear.

14. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein a force is created between the resilient first engagement member and the second engagement member, the force being sufficient to hold the lens assembly in the housing and low enough that the lens assembly is removable from the housing by pulling the lens assembly in the second direction.

19. The light fixture of claim 1 wherein the lens comprises a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge and a recessed channel that extends substantially parallel to the first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge, the recessed chanel comprising an optical film.

15. A light fixture, comprising:

a LED assembly comprising at least one LED operable to emit light when energized through an electrical path;

a housing;

a lens assembly comprising a lens covering the at least one LED and a first end cap and a second end cap, the first end cap comprising a first aperture communicating with an exterior of the lens assembly; and

a communication component housing snap-fit to the housing, the communication component housing comprising a second aperture, the second aperture being in communication with the first aperture;

at least one communication component in the communication component housing comprising at least one of a RF component and a sensor, the communication component communicating with the exterior of the lamp through the first aperture and the second aperture, the communication component controlling an operation of the lamp;

wherein the first end cap and the second end cap are releasably mounted to the housing by a deformable, resilient first engagement member on one of the housing and the first end cap and second end cap that releasably engages a second engagement member on the other one of the housing and the first end cap and the second end cap.

16. The light fixture of claim 15, wherein a force is created between the first engagement member and the second engagement member, the force being sufficient to hold the lens assembly in the housing and low enough that the lens assembly is removable from the housing by pulling the lens assembly in a second direction opposite to the first insertion direction.

17. The light fixture of claim 15, wherein the lens comprises a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge where the first and second longitudinal edges of the lens are compressed toward one another and the housing comprises a first slot for receiving the first longitudinal edge and a second slot for receiving the second longitudinal edge where the first longitudinal edge is biased against the first slot and the second longitudinal edge is biased against the second slot.

18. A troffer light fixture, comprising:

a LED assembly comprising at least one LED operable to emit light when energized through an electrical path;

a housing; and

a lens assembly comprising a lens covering the at least one LED and a first end cap and a second end cap, the lens having a first end connected to the first end cap and a second end connected to the second end cap, wherein the first end cap and the second end cap comprise a first one of a resilient first engagement member and second engagement member and the housing comprises a second one of the resilient first engagement member and the second engagement member where the resilient first engagement member engages the second engagement member such that the resilient first engagement member is deformed into engagement with the second engagement member such that the first end cap and the second end cap are releasably connected to the housing such that the lens and the first end cap and the second end cap are releasably mounted to the housing as a unit.