Rotatable reflector support system

• US 8,016,456 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2009
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Retrofit Ood
• Original Assignee: Pilux & Danpex, S.A.
• Inventors: Paravantsos, Antonis, Piperidis, Stavros
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Y My Quach
• Application Number:
  US12/371,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20100208455A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 362/217.04, 362/217.05, 362/217.06, 362/217.07, 362/217.08, 362/277, 362/282, 362/284, 362/319, 362/322, 362/323, 362/324, 362/269, 362/279
• US Class Current: 362/282
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/04 by movement of reflectors in vehicle head lamps F21S41/675
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/12 by screwing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/005 with an elongated shape to cooperate with linear light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/00 Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes

Abstract

Disclosed is a system for the support and rotation of a reflector onto a body of a fluorescent luminary. The luminary body has first and second longitudinal ends along an axis. The rotatable reflector support system comprises an elongated reflector having first and second longitudinal ends. The reflector has first and second arch-shaped fittings proximate to the first and second reflector ends, respectively. First and second bases are mounted on the luminary body and are proximate to the first and second ends of the body, respectively. The side of each base faces the lamp, when the lamp is mounted in the luminary, and is shaped to engage a plurality of serial portions of an associated arch-shaped fitting in a manner allowing serial portions of the fitting, when manipulated, to slide along an arch-shaped path transverse to said axis and to hold the fitting in place when the fitting is not manipulated.

Claims

1. A rotatable reflector support system for a fluorescent lamp luminary, wherein the luminary includes an elongated luminary body for concealing electrical supply wires;

the luminary body having first and second longitudinal ends along an axis;

the rotatable reflector support system comprising;

a) an elongated reflector having first and second longitudinal ends;

the reflector having first and second arch-shaped fittings proximate to the first and second reflector longitudinal ends, respectively; and

b) first and second bases mounted on respective surfaces of the luminaire body, wherein said respective surfaces are substantially aligned with said axis and are proximate to the first and second ends of the body, respectively;

wherein a side of each base faces the lamp, when the lamp is mounted on the luminary, and is shaped to engage a plurality of serial portions of an associated arch-shaped fitting of the reflector in a manner allowing serial portions of the fitting, when manipulated, to slide along an arch-shaped path transverse to said axis and to hold the fitting in place when the fitting is not manipulated; and

c) each base and associated arch-shaped fitting being shaped and oriented such that the foregoing arch-shaped fitting is initially spaced apart from the foregoing base, and then is overlaid onto the foregoing base, and engaged with the forgoing base, in a direction transverse to said axis.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each base has an arch-shaped surface that engages with an arch-shaped surface of an associated arch-shaped fitting.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

a) each base has first and second flexible shanks aligned along said axis;

b) each fitting has a pair of arch-shaped locking surfaces respectively extending away from each other in a direction parallel to said axis; and

c) the first and second shanks each have a respective lock flange for engaging the respective lock surface of an associated fitting, to prevent the fitting from separating from an associated base.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein:

a) each base has third and fourth flexible shanks aligned along said axis; and

b) the third and fourth shanks each have a respective lock flange for engaging the respective lock surface of an associated fitting, to prevent the fitting from separating from an associated base.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first and second flexible shanks have respective inclined surfaces facing each other along said axis and the third and fourth flexible shanks have respective inclined surfaces facing each other along said axis;

said surfaces being for guiding insertion of a respective fitting of the elongated reflector between the shanks.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein:

a) each fitting has a series of spaced wall portions forming recesses oriented along said axis; and

b) each base has a cooperating rib projecting along said axis for being received within one of said recesses for holding the associated fitting in place, when the fitting is not manipulated.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein:

a) each base has third and fourth flexible shanks aligned along said axis;

b) the third and fourth shanks each having a respective lock flange for engaging the respective lock surface of an associated fitting, to prevent the fitting from separating from an associated base; and

c) each rib is positioned between an associated pair of first and second shanks and an associated pair of third and fourth shanks.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first and second flexible shanks have respective inclined surfaces facing each other along said axis and the third and fourth flexible shanks have respective inclined surfaces facing each other along said axis;

said surfaces being for guiding insertion of a respective fitting of the elongated reflector between the shanks.