Housing for a Recessed Light Fixture

• US 20080180961A1
• Filed: 11/13/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Miles, Doug, Gibson, Jeffrey Lee
• Granted Patent: US 7,824,080 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/364
• 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 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/04 Recessed bases

Abstract

The housing for a light fixture includes a plaster frame with an opening. The can light, having opened ends along the top and bottom, is positioned through the opening. A trim assembly and lamp assembly are connected to the bottom side of the can. An outer housing, having dimensions suitable for placing the housing between joists having sixteen inch centers, is connect to the plaster frame and about the top portion of the can. The outer housing includes a doubler panel positioned within the inner walls of the outer housing and having a geometry and size to match with and fit snugly into the upper portion of the outer housing. The open can allows for convection to draw the heat away from the lamp assembly and into the outer housing. The doubler panel evenly distributes the heat along the exterior surfaces of the housing.

Claims

1. A recessed light fixture comprising:

a first plate comprising an aperture;

a can light positioned within the aperture, wherein the can light comprises;

a can comprising a first opening along an upper portion of the can and a second opening along a bottom portion of the can, the openings defining an axial channel through the can; and

a lamp positioned within the channel of the can;

a housing positioned about at least a portion of the can, wherein the housing comprises;

a plurality of wall members;

a ceiling member; and

a second plate positioned between the first plate and the ceiling member within the plurality of wall members.

2. The recessed light fixture of claim 1, wherein the housing is coupled to the first plate and the wall members extend in an upward direction from the first plate.

3. The recessed light fixture of claim 1, wherein the lamp is a fifty watt lamp.

4. The recessed light fixture of claim 1, wherein the second opening is a circular opening having a diameter of at least three inches.

5. The recessed light fixture of claim 1, wherein the second opening is a circular opening having a diameter of about three inches.

6. The recessed light fixture of claim 1, wherein the second plate and the ceiling member are in a spaced-apart orientation wherein an air gap is located between the second plate and the ceiling member.

7. The recessed light fixture of claim 6, wherein the ceiling member is substantially parallel to the second plate.

8. The recessed light fixture of claim 1, wherein the second plate is coupled to at least one of the plurality of walls and wherein the second plate further comprises:

at least one protrusion extending vertically from the second plate, wherein the top of the protrusion is in contact with the ceiling member.

9. The recessed light fixture of claim 1, further comprising a thermal sensor positioned between the second plate and the ceiling member, wherein the thermal sensor is electrically coupled to the lamp and deactivates the lamp if a predetermined temperature is sensed by the thermal sensor.

10. The recessed light fixture of claim 9, wherein the predetermined temperature is greater than ninety degrees Celsius.

11. The recessed light fixture of claim 1, further comprising:

a trim assembly slidably positioned through the second opening of the can and comprising;

a first section having at least a portion positioned within the can; and

a second section positioned adjacent a bottom lip of the can, wherein the second section has a greater outside dimension than the first annular section; and

a gasket disposed between the second section and the bottom lip of the can.

12. A recessed light fixture comprising:

a first substantially horizontal panel comprising an aperture extending vertically through a portion of the first panel;

an open-ended can comprising a top aperture, a bottom aperture, an outer wall and a hollow inner core connecting the top and bottom apertures and defining an axial channel through the can;

wherein at least a portion of the can is sized to fit through the aperture of the horizontal panel;

a lamp assembly comprising a fifty watt lamp positioned within the channel of the can and capable of illuminating an area proximate to the fixture;

a housing coupled to the first panel, the housing comprising;

a plurality of wall panels extending vertically away from the first panel;

a second substantially horizontal panel coupled to each of the wall panels along an upper portion of each of the wall panels; and

a heat deflection panel positioned within the housing, above the top aperture of the can, between the first panel and the second panel, and in a spaced-apart orientation with the second panel

13. The recessed light fixture of claim 12, wherein the housing has a volume of less than nine hundred cubic inches.

14. The recessed light fixture of claim 12, wherein the housing comprises an open-bottomed box further comprising a first dimension being less than or equal to seven inches, a second dimension being less than or equal to nine inches and a third dimension being less than or equal to eleven inches.

15. The recessed light fixture of claim 12, wherein the housing comprises an open-bottomed box further comprising a first dimension being less than or equal to five and one-quarter inches, a second dimension being less than or equal to twelve inches, and a third dimension being less than or equal to thirteen inches.

16. The recessed light fixture of claim 12, further comprising a trim assembly positioned adjacent a bottom lip of the can.

17. The recessed light fixture of claim 16 further comprising a gasket disposed between at least a portion of the trim assembly and the bottom lip of the can.

18. The recessed light fixture of claim 16, wherein the trim assembly is comprised of die-cast aluminum.

19. The recessed light fixture of claim 12, wherein the lamp comprises a fifty watt MR16 lamp.

20. A recessed light fixture comprising:

a first substantially horizontal panel comprising an aperture extending vertically through a portion of the aperture;

an open-ended cylindrically-shaped can coupled to the first panel and positioned through the aperture of the first panel, wherein a first portion of the can extends about the first panel and a second portion of the can extends below the first panel, the can comprising;

a top aperture;

a bottom aperture having a diameter substantially equal to three inches;

an outer wall; and

a hollow inner core connecting the top and bottom apertures and defining an open channel vertically through the can;

a lamp assembly positioned within the channel of the can, wherein the lamp assembly comprises a fifty watt lamp;

a housing coupled to the first panel and positioned about the first portion of the can, the housing comprising;

a substantially horizontal ceiling panel; and

a plurality of wall panels coupled to the ceiling panel and extending downward from the ceiling panel, wherein a lower portion of each wall panel is adjacent to the first panel;

a heat deflection panel positioned above the first portion of the can within the housing and in a spaced-apart orientation with the ceiling panel, wherein the heat deflection panel is in contact with each of the wall panels;

a trim assembly coupled to the second portion of the can and having a portion of the trim assembly positioned adjacent to a bottom lip of the can; and

a gasket disposed between the trim assembly and the bottom lip of the can.

21. The recessed light fixture of claim 20, wherein the lamp is an MR16 lamp.

22. The recessed light fixture of claim 20, wherein the housing has a volume of less than or equal to nine hundred cubic inches.