Method and apparatus for thermally effective removable trim for light fixture

• US 8,240,871 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2010
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enertron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Enertron, Inc.
• Inventors: Chou, Der Jeou
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, LAURA K
• Application Number:
  US12/684,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20100110699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 362147-150, 362/404, 362/294, 362/373, 362/547
• US Class Current: 362/148
• 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 21/04 Recessed bases
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/046 being tensioned by rotation of parts
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/773 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A lighting assembly has a light fixture with a light source and heatsink thermally coupled to the light source. The light source has a light engine with light emitting diodes. A lens is mounted to the light fixture over the light source. The lens is a clear or translucent material. A removable trim is mountable to the light fixture. The removable trim has a flange, recessed portion, and mounting rim. The recessed portion has a depth to reduce glare. The removable trim is formed using a stamping or die casting process. The flange has thermally conductive properties. The removable trim is a metal, thermally conductive plastic, or thermally conductive carbon fiber composite material. A screw is used to mount the removable trim to the light fixture. The light fixture and removable trim are mounted to a recessed can housing using a clip or spring.

Claims

1. A lighting assembly, comprising:

a light fixture including a light source and heatsink thermally coupled to the light source;

an attachable trim mountable to the light fixture, the attachable trim including a flange with thermally conductive properties around a perimeter of the attachable trim and an attachment point contacting the light source to form a direct thermal conduction path between the light source and attachable trim; and

a mounting mechanism for mounting the light fixture to an enclosure or ceiling panel.

2. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the attachable trim includes a metal, thermally conductive plastic, or thermally conductive carbon fiber composite material.

3. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the attachable trim further includes a recessed portion and rim.

4. The lighting assembly of claim 1, further including a screw for mounting the attachable trim to the light fixture.

5. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the mounting mechanism further includes a clip or spring for mounting the light fixture and attachable trim to the enclosure or ceiling panel.

6. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source includes a light engine including a plurality of light emitting diodes.

7. The lighting assembly of claim 1, including a lens mounted to the light fixture over the light source, the lens including a clear or translucent material.

8. A lighting assembly, comprising:

a light fixture including a light source and heatsink thermally coupled to the light source; and

a removable trim mountable to the light fixture, the removable trim physically contacting the light fixture to form a thermal conduction path.

9. The lighting assembly of claim 8, further including an enclosure for mounting to the light fixture and removable trim.

10. The lighting assembly of claim 8, further including a clip or spring for mounting the light fixture and removable trim to an enclosure or ceiling panel.

11. The lighting assembly of claim 8, wherein the removable trim includes a metal, thermally conductive plastic, or thermally conductive carbon fiber composite material.

12. The lighting assembly of claim 8, further including a screw for mounting the removable trim to the light fixture.

13. The lighting assembly of claim 8, wherein the light source includes a light engine including a plurality of light emitting diodes.

14. The lighting assembly of claim 8, including a lens mounted to the light fixture over the light source, the lens including a clear or translucent material.

15. A removable trim mountable to a light fixture, comprising:

a flange including thermally conductive properties; and

a rim with louvers connected to the flange.

16. The removable trim of claim 15, wherein the flange includes a metal, thermally conductive plastic, or thermally conductive carbon fiber composite material.

17. The removable trim of claim 15, further including a screw for mounting the removable trim to the light fixture.

18. A method of making a lighting assembly, comprising:

providing a light fixture including a light source;

mounting a heatsink to the light fixture in thermal communication with the light source; and

forming a removable trim mountable to the light fixture, the removable trim including thermally conductive properties to dissipate more heat from the light source than the heatsink.

19. The method of claim 18, further including providing an enclosure for mounting to the light fixture and removable trim.

20. The method of claim 18, further including providing a clip or spring for mounting the light fixture and removable trim to an enclosure or ceiling panel.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the removable trim includes a metal, thermally conductive plastic, or thermally conductive carbon fiber composite material.

22. The method of claim 18, further including providing a screw for mounting the removable trim to the light fixture.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the light source includes a light engine further including a plurality of light emitting diodes.

24. The method of claim 18, including mounting a lens to the light fixture over the light source, the lens including a clear or translucent material.

25. The method of claim 18, further including forming the removable trim using a stamping, molding, injection molding, or die casting process.

26. A lighting assembly, comprising:

a light fixture including a light source and heatsink thermally coupled to the light source; and

an attachable trim mountable to the light fixture, the attachable trim physically contacting the light fixture to form a thermal conduction path.

27. The lighting assembly of claim 26, further including an enclosure for mounting to the light fixture and attachable trim.

28. The lighting assembly of claim 26, further including a clip or spring for mounting the light fixture and attachable trim to an enclosure or ceiling panel.

29. The lighting assembly of claim 26, wherein the attachable trim includes a metal, thermally conductive plastic, or thermally conductive carbon fiber composite material.

30. The lighting assembly of claim 26, wherein the light source includes a light engine including a plurality of light emitting diodes.

31. The lighting assembly of claim 26, including a lens mounted to the light fixture over the light source, the lens including a clear or translucent material.