MODULAR INDIRECT SUSPENDED/CEILING MOUNT FIXTURE

• US 20130021792A1
• Filed: 07/24/2011
• Published: 01/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: Snell, Nathan, Lay, James Michael, Nguyen, Nick, O'Flaherty, Patrick John
• Granted Patent: US 10,823,347 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/218
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/00 Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/28 rigid, e.g. LED bars
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/026 intended to be recessed in a ceiling or like overhead structure, e.g. suspended ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/043 mounted by means of a rigid support, e.g. bracket or arm
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/06 by suspension
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/063 with a rigid pendant, i.e. a pipe or rod
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• 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 15/013 the housing being an extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/015 Devices for covering joints between adjacent lighting devices; End coverings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/005 for several lighting devices in an end-to-end arrangement, i.e. light tracks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/002 Arrangements of cables or conductors inside a lighting device, e.g. means for guiding along parts of the housing or in a pivoting arm
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/007 enclosed in a casing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/85 characterised by the material liquid coolants F21V29/56
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0008 providing for indirect lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0016 on lighting devices that also provide for direct lighting, e.g. by means of independent light sources, by splitting of the light beam, by switching between both lighting modes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/24 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/28 characterised by coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 : comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 : Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A modular troffer-style fixture particularly well-suited for use with solid state light sources. The fixture comprises a reflector that includes parallel rails running along its length, providing a mount mechanism and structural support. An exposed heat sink is disposed proximate to the reflector. The portion of the heat sink facing the reflector functions as a mount surface for the light sources. The heat sink is hollow through the center in the longitudinal direction. The hollow portion defines a conduit through which electrical conductors can be run to power light emitters. One or more light sources disposed along the heat sink mount surface emit light toward the reflector where it can be mixed and/or shaped before it is emitted from the troffer as useful light. End caps are arranged at both ends of the reflector and heat sink, allowing for the easy connection of multiple units in a serial arrangement.

Claims

1. A lighting assembly, comprising:

an elongated heat sink, said heat sink shaped to define a conduit running longitudinally through the interior of said heat sink;

a reflector proximate to said heat sink, said reflector comprising a surface facing said heat sink and a back surface; and

a first end cap, said heat sink and said reflector mountable to said end cap.

2. The lighting assembly of claim 1, said reflector further comprising a back surface comprising first and second rails running longitudinally along said back surface, said first and second rails providing mechanical support for said reflector.

3. The lighting assembly of claim 2, said first and second rails comprising an inner flange along an inside surface of said first and second rails.

4. The lighting assembly of claim 3, said inner flange shaped to cooperate with a U-shaped mount bracket that can be mounted to a ceiling.

5. The lighting assembly of claim 2, said first and second rails comprising an outer flange along an outside surface of said first and second rails.

6. The lighting assembly of claim 5, said outer flange shaped to cooperate with mount tongs that extend down from a ceiling.

7. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein said first end cap houses electronics for powering light emitters.

8. The lighting assembly of claim 7, wherein said electronics are accessible for testing when said end cap is mounted to said reflector and said heat sink.

9. The lighting assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second end cap, said first and second end caps comprising snap-fit structures such that said heat sink and said reflector are mountable between said end caps.

10. The lighting assembly of claim 9, wherein said second end cap further comprises mount structures on both sides such that said second end cap may be connected to an additional end cap or an additional reflector on either side.

11. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein said reflector comprises an extruded material having high optical reflectivity.

12. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein said heat sink comprises an extruded material having high thermal conductivity.

13. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein said reflector comprises a base material and a reflector material.

14. The lighting assembly of claim 13, wherein said reflective material is distributed across said surface such that said reflector comprises transmissive windows that allow light to pass through said reflector and out said back surface to provide uplight.

15. The lighting assembly of claim 13, wherein said reflective material is distributed non-uniformly across said surface.

16. A modular lighting assembly, comprising:

at least one lighting unit capable of being connected to additional lighting units in an end-to-end serial arrangement, said at least one lighting unit comprising;

an elongated heat sink;

a reflector proximate to said heat sink; and

a first end cap; and

a second end cap;

wherein said heat sink and said reflector are mounted between said first end cap and said second end cap.

17. The modular lighting assembly of claim 16, wherein a plurality of said lighting units is connected in an end-to-end serial arrangement.

18. The modular lighting assembly of claim 17, wherein each of said lighting units further comprises electronics within said first end cap for providing power to light emitters.

19. The modular lighting assembly of claim 18, wherein said electronics in each of said lighting units are accessible for testing when said lighting units are connected.

20. The modular lighting assembly of claim 16, said reflector comprising:

a reflective surface facing said heat sink and a back surface comprising first and second rails running longitudinally along said back surface.

21. The modular lighting assembly of claim 16, said heat sink shaped to define a conduit running longitudinally through the interior of said heat sink such that said heat sink is capable of housing electrical conductors.

22. The modular lighting assembly of claim 16, said first and second rails each comprising an inner flange along an inside surface of said first and second rails.

23. The modular lighting assembly of claim 22, said inner flange shaped to cooperate with a U-shaped mount bracket that can be mounted to a surface.

24. The modular lighting assembly of claim 16, said first and second rails comprising an outer flange along an outside surface of said first and second rails.

25. The modular lighting assembly of claim 24, said outer flange shaped to cooperate with mount tongs that extend down from a surface above said lighting assembly.

26. The modular lighting assembly of claim 16, said first and second end caps comprising snap-fit structures such that said heat sink and said reflector are mounted with a snap-fit connection between said end caps.

27. The modular lighting assembly of claim 16, wherein said reflector comprises an extruded material having high optical reflectivity.

28. The modular lighting assembly of claim 16, wherein said heat sink comprises an extruded material having high thermal conductivity.

29. The modular lighting assembly of claim 16, said second end cap comprising mount structures on two opposing surfaces.

30. A lighting assembly, comprising:

an elongated heat sink comprising a mount surface, said heat sink shaped to define a conduit running longitudinally through the interior of said heat sink;

a plurality of light emitters on said mount surface;

an electrical conductor running through said heat sink conduit to provide power to said light emitters;

a reflector comprising a surface facing toward said light emitters; and

first and second end caps comprising mount structures such that said heat sink and said reflector mount between said first and second end caps, said first end cap housing electronics for powering said light emitters.

31. The lighting assembly of claim 30, said reflector further comprising a back surface comprising first and second rails running longitudinally along said back surface, said first and second rails providing mechanical support for said reflector.

32. The lighting assembly of claim 31, said first and second rails comprising an inner flange along an inside surface of said first and second rails.

33. The lighting assembly of claim 32, said inner flange shaped to cooperate with a U-shaped mount bracket that can be mounted to a ceiling.

34. The lighting assembly of claim 31, said first and second rails comprising an outer flange along an outside surface of said first and second rails.

35. The lighting assembly of claim 34, said outer flange shaped to cooperate with mount tongs that extend down from a ceiling.

36. The lighting assembly of claim 30, wherein said electronics are accessible for testing when said end cap is mounted to said reflector and said heat sink.

37. The lighting assembly of claim 30, wherein said second end cap further comprises mount structures on both sides such that said second end cap may be connected to an additional end cap or an additional reflector on either side.

38. The lighting assembly of claim 30, wherein said reflector comprises an extruded material having high optical reflectivity.

39. The lighting assembly of claim 30, wherein said heat sink comprises an extruded material having high thermal conductivity.

40. The lighting assembly of claim 30, wherein said plurality of light emitters are aimed to emit toward said surface.

41. The lighting assembly of claim 30, wherein at least a portion of said reflector comprises a reflective material and a base material.

42. The lighting assembly of claim 41, wherein said reflective material is distributed across said surface such that said reflector comprises transmissive windows that allow light to pass through said reflector and out of said reflector to provide uplight.

43. The lighting assembly of claim 41, wherein said reflective material is distributed non-uniformly across said reflector.