Recessed light fixture with a movable junction box

• US 7,993,037 B1
• Filed: 08/27/2008
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Buse, John Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar; Stephen F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunwiddie; Meghan K
• Application Number:
  US12/198,963
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 362/362, 362364-365, 362/368
• US Class Current: 362/365
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/026 intended to be recessed in a ceiling or like overhead structure, e.g. suspended ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/164 the parts being subjected to bending, e.g. snap joints
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/041 Mounting arrangements specially adapted for false ceiling panels or partition walls made of plates F21V21/047 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/00 Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/508

Abstract

A recessed light fixture is provided with a movable junction box. The light fixture has a frame for supporting a lamp housing and lamp socket. A plurality of connection areas are also provided along the frame. A junction box is removably attached to any one of the connection areas using a connection piece.

Claims

1. A recessed luminaire, comprising:

a lamp housing for substantially surrounding a lamp and having an opening defining a light exit aperture;

a frame supporting said lamp housing and having a frame aperture periphery and a plurality of connection areas, each of said connection areas being connected to said frame aperture periphery;

said frame aperture periphery at least partially surrounding said lamp housing;

a junction box removably attached to any of said plurality of connection areas of said frame;

a connection piece on said junction box for removably attaching said junction box to any of said plurality of connection areas of said frame.

2. The recessed luminaire of claim 1, wherein each said connection area has a flexible cantilever latch member and said connection piece is at least one protrusion coupled to said junction box, wherein each said flexible cantilever latch member is designed to removably engage each said protrusion.

3. The recessed luminaire of claim 1, wherein each said connection area has a protrusion and said connection piece is at least one flexible cantilever latch member coupled to said junction box, wherein each said flexible cantilever latch member is designed to removably engage each said protrusion.

4. The recessed luminaire of claim 1, wherein each said connection area has at least one threaded aperture formed therein and said connection piece is at least one screw removably insertable through said junction box and removably receivable in said threaded aperture.

5. The recessed luminaire of claim 1, wherein said junction box has at least one threaded aperture formed therein and said connection piece is at least one screw removably insertable through each said connection area and removably receivable in said threaded aperture.

6. The recessed luminaire of claim 1 further comprising two support elements forming a portion of said frame.

7. The recessed luminaire of claim 6, wherein a first and second connection area are provided, each said connection area coupled to a support element.

8. A recessed light fixture frame, comprising:

a lamp housing for substantially surrounding a lamp and having an opening defining a light exit aperture;

a frame supporting said lamp housing and having an aperture sidewall, at least one support element, and a plurality of connection areas, each of said connection areas being connected to said aperture sidewall;

said aperture sidewall at least partially surrounding said lamp housing and defining a frame aperture;

each said support element coupled to the periphery of said aperture sidewall and having a joist abutting surface and a passageway;

each said passageway extending through said support element and toward said joist abutting surface;

each said connection area positioned along the periphery of said frame;

a junction box removably attached to any of said plurality of connection areas of said frame;

a connection piece for removably attaching said junction box to said plurality of connection areas of said frame.

9. The recessed luminaire of claim 8, wherein each said connection area has a flexible cantilever latch member and said connection piece is at least one protrusion coupled to said junction box, wherein each said flexible cantilever latch member is designed to removably engage each said protrusion.

10. The recessed luminaire of claim 8, wherein each said connection area has a protrusion and said connection piece is at least one flexible cantilever latch member coupled to said junction box, wherein each said flexible cantilever latch member is designed to removably engage each said protrusion.

11. The recessed luminaire of claim 8, wherein two said support elements are provided and a first and second connection area are provided, each said connection area coupled to a support element.

12. The recessed luminaire of claim 11, wherein said passageways are configured to receive nails and are positioned at intersecting angles with respect to one another.

13. The recessed luminaire of claim 11, wherein said passageways are configured to receive hanger bars.

14. The recessed luminaire of claim 11, wherein each said connection area has a flexible cantilever latch member and said connection piece is at least one protrusion coupled to said junction box, wherein each said flexible cantilever latch member is designed to removably engage each said protrusion.

15. A recessed light fixture having a repositionable junction box, comprising:

a trim frame element supporting an upstanding housing, said trim frame defining a downlight aperture;

said trim frame having an aperture sidewall and a first and second support element, each of said support elements being connected to said aperture sidewall;

a junction box having at least one connection piece, wherein said at least one connection piece is removably connected to said first support element or said second support element on said trim frame;

wherein said removable connection between said junction box and said trim frame allows said junction box to be installed on either a first side or a second side of said recessed light fixture.

16. The recessed light fixture having a repositionable junction box of claim 15, wherein said trim frame is an annular support frame installable above a ceiling line.

17. The recessed light fixture having a repositionable junction box of claim 15, wherein each said connection piece of said junction box has a protrusion that can removably engage a flexible cantilever latch member coupled to said first support element and said second support element.

18. The recessed light fixture having a repositionable junction box of claim 16, wherein each said connection piece of said junction box has a flexible cantilever latch member that can removably engage a protrusion coupled to said first support element and said second support element.

19. The recessed light fixture having a repositionable junction box of claim 16, wherein said first support element and said second support element are positioned on a peripheral edge of said annular support frame.

20. The recessed light fixture having a repositionable junction box of claim 19, wherein each said connection piece of said junction box has a protrusion that can removably engage a flexible cantilever latch member coupled to said first support element and said second support element.