Linear shelf light fixture with gap filler elements

• US 10,612,747 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2013
• Issued: 04/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rodgers, Elizabeth, Beck, Benjamin, Bowden, James, Huang, Yaote, Dungan, William Laird
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Anh T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Farokhrooz, Fatima N
• Application Number:
  US14/108,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20150167901A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,304 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/03 of surface-mounted type F21S8/02, F21S8/04 take precedence; details of wall or floor bases F21V21/02
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0045 by tongue and groove connections, e.g. dovetail interlocking means fixed by sliding
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0055 by screwing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/009 the casing being inside the housing of the lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/00 Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses with refracting properties F21V5/00; with reflecting properties F21V7/00; characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/506
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A linear light fixture with gap filler elements. The fixture comprises two primary structural components: a base and a light engine, which may be removably attached. The base comprises a body with end panels at both ends and is mountable to an external structure. The light engine comprises the light sources, an elongated lens, and any other optical elements that tailor the outgoing light to a particular profile. A gap filler element is disposed between the light engine and the end panels at one or both ends of the base to fill the space between those elements, giving the appearance that the light engine extends continuously to the end panel and eliminating direct imaging of the light sources outside the fixture. External reflectors may also be included to further shape the output beam.

Claims

1. A linear light fixture, comprising:

an elongated base comprising fixedly attached end panels at both ends; and

a light engine removably fastened to the elongated base, said light engine comprising;

a mount plate;

at least one light source coupled to said mount plate, in which said at least one light source emits light in at least an emission direction, said emission direction being at least a direction opposite said mount plate;

an elongated lens coupled to said mount plate such that light emitted in said emission direction by the at least one light source impinges on said elongated lens; and

a gap filler element between said elongated lens and said end panels of said linear light fixture and coupled to said elongated lens, in which said gap filler element comprises a translucent material such that light emitted from said at least one light source travels through said gap filler element in said emission direction;

said gap filler further comprising;

a spacer portion between an end of said lens and said end panel;

an internal ridge protruding from said spacer portion, said ridge shaped to conform to an interior surface of said lens; and

at least one tab that engages said mount plate with a snap-fit to fasten said gap filler to said mount plate.

2. The linear light fixture of claim 1, wherein an outermost surface of said spacer portion is shaped to mimic the external contour of said lens such that said lens appears to extend continuously to said end panel.

3. The linear light fixture of claim 1, said mount plate comprising at least one slot proximate to said light engine end, said gap filler element comprising at least one tab shaped to cooperate with said slot, wherein said tab and said slot attach with a snap-fit configuration.

4. The linear light fixture of claim 1, wherein said gap filler element comprises a translucent material allowing light emitted from said light source to pass through while preventing any direct imaging of said light source outside of said fixture.

5. The linear light fixture of claim 1, further comprising driver electronics.

6. The linear light fixture of claim 1, said at least one light source comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

7. The linear light fixture of claim 1, further comprising at least one elongated reflector extending away from said base and running along the length of said fixture.

8. The linear light fixture of claim 5, said driver electronics comprising:

an AC/DC converter;

a DC/DC converter; and

a battery backup unit.

9. The linear light fixture of claim 7, said at least one reflector shaped to define at least one hole to allow light to pass through.

10. The linear light fixture of claim 7, said at least one reflector shaped to define at least one louvre to allow light to pass through.

11. The linear light fixture of claim 7, said reflector connected to said base or said light engine with a snap-fit structure.

12. A light fixture, comprising:

an elongated base comprising integral end panels at least one end;

a light engine comprising a mount plate, said light engine removably fastened to said elongated base, said light engine emitting light in an emission direction, said emission direction being at least a direction opposite said mount plate; and

a gap filler element between said light engine and at least one of said at least one end panels, wherein said gap filler element is translucent such that light emitted from said light engine passes through the gap filler element in said emission direction, said gap filler element comprising;

a spacer portion between an end of said light engine and said end panel;

an internal ridge protruding from said spacer portion, said ridge shaped to conform to an interior surface of said light engine; and

at least one tab that engages said mount plate with a snap-fit to fasten said gap filler to said mount plate.

13. The light fixture of claim 12, wherein an outermost surface of said spacer portion is shaped to mimic the external contour of said light engine such that said light engine appears to extend continuously to said end panel.

14. The light fixture of claim 12, said light engine comprising at least one slot proximate to said light engine end, said gap filler element comprising at least one tab shaped to cooperate with said slot, wherein said tab and said slot attach with a snap-fit arrangement.

15. The light fixture of claim 12, wherein said gap filler element comprises a translucent material.

16. The light fixture of claim 12, further comprising at least one elongated reflector extending away from said base and running along the length of said fixture.

17. The light fixture of claim 16, said at least one reflector shaped to define at least one louvre to allow light to pass through.

18. The linear light fixture of claim 16, said reflector connected to said base or said light engine with a snap-fit structure.