SEMI-INDIRECT AISLE LIGHTING FIXTURE

• US 20130201674A1
• Filed: 02/02/2012
• Published: 08/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pickard, Paul Kenneth, Rodgers, Elizabeth Ann
• Granted Patent: US 8,870,417 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/218
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/063 with a rigid pendant, i.e. a pipe or rod
• 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 21/03 Ceiling bases, e.g. ceiling roses F21V21/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/67 characterised by the arrangement of fans
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/10 comprising photoluminescent material
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0008 providing for indirect lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/04 Optical design
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/22 characterised by materials, surface treatments or coatings, e.g. dichroic reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2107/10 for land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/301 for furniture
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/405 for shop-windows or displays
• 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 lighting fixture assembly. Multiple light pods can be removably mounted on both lateral sides of a mechanical thermal element, such as an elongated heat sink. The pods can be easily removed for cleaning, maintenance, and transport, for example. A light strip including multiple LEDs can be mounted to a surface of the heat sink on both sides. Each pod has a portion cutaway such that when the pods are mounted to the heat sink, the cutaway portions align with the light strips. Thus, when mounted, the light strip can be adjacent to or protrude into an interior cavity of the pod. The interior surfaces of the pods are shaped to redirect light in a particular output profile. The assembly may be mounted to a ceiling and used as an overhead fixture designed to efficiently light an aisle in a retail space or a storage facility, for example.

Claims

1. A light fixture assembly:

an elongated heat sink; and

at least one light pod removably mounted to at least one surface of said heat sink, each of said light pods comprising a hollow body, said hollow body defining an interior cavity and an open end.

2. The light fixture assembly of claim 1, said light fixture assembly further comprising a plurality of light pods removably mounted along a longitudinal direction of said heat sink.

3. The light fixture assembly of claim 1, wherein each pod comprises a mount structure for removably mounting said pods to said at least one surface of said heat sink.

4. The light fixture assembly of claim 1, wherein said body comprises an interior reflective surface.

5. The light fixture assembly of claim 4, said interior reflective surface comprising a specular finish.

6. The light fixture assembly of claim 1, said body defining a cutaway portion shaped to receive a linear light strip.

7. The light fixture assembly of claim 6, wherein said heat sink comprises at least one surface whereupon a light strip can be mounted, said at least one surface disposed to align with said cutaway portion when said pod is mounted to said heat sink.

8. The light fixture assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said pods is removably mounted to said heat sink with a snap-fit structure.

9. The light fixture assembly of claim 1, each of said pods further comprising a lens over said open end of said body.

10. The light fixture assembly of claim 1, each of said pods further comprising a lens mounted within said cavity.

11. The light fixture assembly of claim 1, further comprising a ceiling mount mechanism for mounting said heat sink to a ceiling.

12. The light fixture assembly of claim 11, wherein said ceiling mount mechanism comprises a suspension structure.

13. The light fixture assembly of claim 1, wherein said heat sink is open along one longitudinal surface.

14. The light fixture assembly of claim 1, wherein said heat sink defines an enclosed throughway.

15. The light fixture assembly of claim 14, further comprising a fan mounted to one end of said heat sink.

16. A light pod, comprising:

a base defining a cutaway portion shaped to receive an external light source, said base comprising a mount structure for removably mounting said light pod to an external structure;

a first reflective interior surface extending from said base, said first reflective interior surface shaped to redirect incident light in a direction away from said base;

a second reflective interior surface opposite said first reflective interior surface and extending from said base, said second reflective interior surface curved to redirect incident light in a direction away from said base; and

first and second reflective interior side panels extending from said base and between said first and second surfaces;

wherein said base, said first and second reflective interior surfaces, and said first and second side panels define an interior cavity and an open end.

17. The light pod of claim 16, further comprising a lens over said open end.

18. The light pod of claim 16, further comprising an internal lens disposed in said cavity between said cutaway portion and said open end.

19. The light pod of claim 16, said first and second reflective interior surfaces and said first and second reflective side panels comprising a specular reflective finish.

20. The light pod of claim 16, said first reflective interior surface curved such that substantially all impinging light is redirected toward said open end.

21. The light pod of claim 16, said second reflective interior surface curved such that substantially all impinging light is redirected toward said open end.

22. The light pod of claim 16, said mount structure comprising a snap-fit structure.

23. The light pod of claim 16, said first and second reflective side panels shaped such that substantially all impinging light is redirected toward said open end.

24. A lighting assembly, comprising:

an elongated heat sink;

at least one light strip comprising at least one light source, said at least one light strip mounted to a surface of said heat sink; and

at least one light pod removably mounted to said heat sink, each of said light pods comprising a body that defines a cutaway portion, an interior cavity, and an open end;

wherein said at least one light pod is mounted to said heat sink such that said light strip is aligned with said cutaway portion of said light pod.

25. The lighting assembly of claim 24, said heat sink comprising two planar surfaces and mount structures running along the length of said heat sink such that a plurality of said light pods can be mounted on both lateral sides of said heat sink.

26. The lighting assembly of claim 24, said heat sink having a substantially trapezoidal cross-section.

27. The lighting assembly of claim 24, wherein said heat sink is open along one longitudinal surface.

28. The lighting assembly of claim 24, wherein said heat sink defines an enclosed throughway.

29. The lighting assembly of claim 24, further comprising a fan mounted to one end of said heat sink.

30. The lighting assembly of claim 24, said heat sink comprising extruded metal.

31. The lighting assembly of claim 24, said heat sink comprising a snap-fit mount structure.

32. The lighting assembly of claim 24, said at least one light strip comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

33. The lighting assembly of claim 32, wherein said LEDs are arranged in clusters on said at least one light strip.

34. The lighting assembly of claim 24, wherein said body comprises an interior reflective surface.

35. The lighting assembly of claim 34, said interior reflective surface comprising a specular finish.

36. The lighting assembly of claim 24, wherein each pod comprises a mount structure for removably mounting said pods to said heat sink.

37. The lighting assembly of claim 24, wherein each of said pods is removably mounted to said heat sink with a snap-fit structure.

38. The lighting assembly of claim 24, each of said pods further comprising a lens over said open end of said body.

39. The lighting assembly of claim 24, each of said pods further comprising a lens mounted within said cavity.

40. The lighting assembly of claim 24, further comprising a ceiling mount mechanism for mounting said heat sink to a ceiling.

41. The lighting assembly of claim 40, wherein said ceiling mount mechanism comprises a suspension structure.

42. A light fixture assembly, comprising:

a mechanical thermal element; and

at least one light pod removably mounted to at least one surface of said mechanical thermal element, each of said light pods comprising a hollow body, said hollow body defining an interior cavity and an open end.

43. The light fixture assembly of claim 42, wherein said mechanical thermal element is configured as a geometric shape.

44. The light fixture assembly of claim 42, wherein each pod comprises a mount structure for removably mounting said pods to said at least one surface of said mechanical thermal element.