Wall-wash light fixture

• US 20040090784A1
• Filed: 10/30/2003
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Patrick Ward
• Original Assignee: Patrick Ward
• Inventors: Ward, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 7,125,135 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/296.06
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/02 of recess-mounted type, e.g. downlighters specially adapted for vehicle exteriors F21S41/00-F21S45/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/09 with a combination of different curvatures

Abstract

A wall-wash light fixture for providing substantially uniform wall illumination includes a light source mounted to direct emitted light to a substantially arcuate kick reflector. The substantially arcuate kick reflector directs the emitted light toward the wall.

Claims

1. A wall-wash light system for providing substantially uniform illumination of a wall, said wall-wash light fixture comprising:

a mounting for a light source, said mounting constructed and arranged to position said light source near the plane of a ceiling or a floor adjoining the wall and to direct the light emitted from said light source at an acute angle to a plane perpendicular to the plane of the ceiling or of the floor and away from the wall;

an arcuate kick reflector constructed and arranged to reflect the light emitted from said light source and direct the light emitted from said light source toward the wall;

whereby the combination of said mounting of said light source and the reflection of said arcuate kick reflector provides substantially uniform illumination of the wall.

2. The wall-wash light system as defined in claim 1 wherein said acute angle is from about 1°

to about 5°

.

3. The wall-wash light system as defined in claim 1 wherein said kick reflector includes a reflective surface constructed and arranged to diffuse the light emitted by said light source.

4. The wall-wash light system as defined in claim 1 further including a light diffusing lens between said light source and said kick reflector.

5. The wall-wash light system as defined in claim 1 further including a trim ring assembly connected to said adjustable mounting.

6. The wall-wash light system as defined in claim 5 further including a housing connected to said trim ring assembly.

7. A wall-wash light fixture for positioning near a wall surface, said wall-wash light fixture comprising:

a trim ring assembly;

a housing connected to said trim ring assembly, said housing constructed and arranged to provide a mounting for a light source;

a light source positioning ring connected to said trim ring and positioned within said housing, said light source mounting ring including a mounting surface positioned in a plane which is at an acute angle with respect to the plane of said trim ring to direct the light emitted from said light source away from the wall;

a substantially arcuate kick reflector constructed and arranged to be positioned within said light source positioning ring to direct the light rays emitted from said light source toward the wall;

whereby substantially uniform illumination of an area on a wall is provided.

8. The wall-wash light fixture as defined in claim 7, wherein said acute angle is from about 1°

to about 5°

9. The wall-wash light fixture as defined in claim 8, wherein said substantially arcuate kick reflector diffuses the light from said light source.

10. The wall-wash light fixture as defined in claim 7 further including a diffusion lens between said kick reflector and said light source.

11. A method of providing substantially uniform light level on a wall from a light fixture, said method comprising the steps of:

mounting a light source at an acute angle to a plane perpendicular to the plane of a ceiling or a wall adjoining the wall to direct the light emitted from said light source away from the wall;

reflecting the light emitted by said light source toward the wall to provide substantially uniform level of light level on the wall.

12. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein said mounting of the light source is adjustable.

13. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein said adjustability of said mounting provides an acute angle from about 1°

to about 5°

.

14. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein said step of reflecting the light emitted by said light source employs an arcuate kick reflector.

15. The method as defined in claim 14 wherein said arcuate kick reflector includes a surface for diffusing the light emitted by said light source.

16. The method as defined in claim 11 further including the step of diffusing the light emitted by said light source with a lens before said light is reflected toward the wall.

17. The method as defined in claim 11 further including the step of positioning and mounting a trim ring assembly to a housing constructed and arranged to provide a mounting for said light source.

18. A system for providing substantially uniform illumination of a wall, said system comprising:

a plurality of individual light sources;

a plurality of individual light fixtures, one for each of said individual light sources;

each of said individual light fixtures including;

an adjustable mounting for positioning said individual light source at an acute angle with respect to a plane perpendicular to either the ceiling or the floor adjoining the wall to direct the light from said light source away from the wall;

a housing for positioning said adjustable mounting;

a trim ring assembly connected to said housing;

a substantially arcuate kick reflector for directing light emitted from said light source to the wall;

whereby the combination of the positioning of said light source and said substantially arcuate kick reflector within said plurality of individual mounted light fixtures provides a substantially uniform level of illumination on the wall.

19. An improved wall-wash light fixture including a trim ring assembly, a housing connected to said trim ring assembly for tiltable mounting of a light source, said improvement comprising:

a substantially arcuate kick reflector positioned within the housing to reflect light from the light source toward a wall;

said substantially arcuate kick reflector including a curved planar interior reflecting surface.

20. The improved wall-wash light fixture as defined in claim 20 wherein said substantially arcuate shape of said kick reflector is selected from a group including:

substantially circular, substantially elliptical, and substantially oval.