Lighting fixture for cleanroom and containment environments
First Claim
1. A recessed lighting fixture adapted for use in sealed environments including cleanroom and containment environments, said fixture comprising:
- a housing of unitary construction opening downwardly and having a continuous sealed enclosure;
a lens supporting assembly including a lens frame;
a lens supported on said lens frame;
gasket means for establishing a particulate and a fluid-impervious seal between said fixture and a ceiling structure;
said lens frame comprising a generally-planar web, said web being integrally formed at an outer periphery thereof with upwardly-directed, standing bevel means for abuttingly supporting said gasket means of said fixture;
lens frame fastener means extending from beneath and upwardly through said lens frame for engaging said housing, and for drawing said lens support assembly, including said gasket means, upwardly to abut said housing; and
support fulcrum bracket means including wall means secured to said housing interiorly thereof for establishing a fulcrum position displaced inwardly of said lens frame fastener means for preventing physical distortion of said lens supporting assembly, for effecting a stressing and positive seal between said fixture and a ceiling structure to which said fixture is secured, and for preventing impairment of said seal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A lighting fixture for sealed emvironments including cleanroom and containment environments. There is described a recessed, ceiling-mounted fixture which has a one-piece, seam-welded housing, and which carries swing out mounts. The fixture is further characterized by an improved system by which its lens assembly, which employs a specially-shaped lens frame and a uniquely-contoured, one-piece gasket, is doubly sealed, firmly and evenly. against the fixture housing and the ceiling in which the fixture is mounted. A unique and functionally significant feature of the fixture is the provision of a support fulcrum bracket which is positioned radially inwardly of the fixture securment screws. The support fulcrum bracket functions, in conjunction with a cooperating screw fastener, to reverse the fulcrum point of fixture constructions of this type, thereby drawing the lens frame and gasket system in consistent and reliable contact with the ceiling structure. The bracket also serves to ensure the preservation and retention of a planar configuration of the lens-carrying assembly, while effectively eliminating over-torque problems which otherwise commonly occur. Thus, the present invention ensures improved, positive, perimetric seals with the housing and at the ceiling. Such seals are not currently not available, to this extent, in sheet metal lighting fixtures being used for these applications.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A recessed lighting fixture adapted for use in sealed environments including cleanroom and containment environments, said fixture comprising:
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a housing of unitary construction opening downwardly and having a continuous sealed enclosure; a lens supporting assembly including a lens frame; a lens supported on said lens frame; gasket means for establishing a particulate and a fluid-impervious seal between said fixture and a ceiling structure; said lens frame comprising a generally-planar web, said web being integrally formed at an outer periphery thereof with upwardly-directed, standing bevel means for abuttingly supporting said gasket means of said fixture; lens frame fastener means extending from beneath and upwardly through said lens frame for engaging said housing, and for drawing said lens support assembly, including said gasket means, upwardly to abut said housing; and support fulcrum bracket means including wall means secured to said housing interiorly thereof for establishing a fulcrum position displaced inwardly of said lens frame fastener means for preventing physical distortion of said lens supporting assembly, for effecting a stressing and positive seal between said fixture and a ceiling structure to which said fixture is secured, and for preventing impairment of said seal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification