Standardized troffer fixture

• US 9,052,075 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: Demuynck, Randolph Cary, Medendorp, Nicholas W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Anh
• Assistant Examiner(s): HORIKOSHI, STEVEN Y
• Application Number:
  US13/844,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20140268747A1
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 362/235, 362/311.01, 362/311.02, 362/362, 362/364, 362/365, 362/374, 362/225, 362244-247, 362/297
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/026 intended to be recessed in a ceiling or like overhead structure, e.g. suspended ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/022 Emergency lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/04 the elements being reflectors and refractors for vehicle rear lights F21S43/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/015 Devices for covering joints between adjacent lighting devices; End coverings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/006 the substrate being distinct from the light source holder
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/005 with an elongated shape to cooperate with linear light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A direct troffer-style fixture for solid state light sources and pan structures for use in these fixtures. The fixture comprises a door frame assembly that is attached to the pan. The pan housing is defined by a base and two angled side walls. End caps are attached to the side walls. End reflectors extend at an angle away from the end caps and attach to the base. The end caps, the end reflectors, and the base define compartments at both ends of the housing in which components can be housed. A light board is attached to the base using alignment holes in the base and cutout portions of the end reflectors. The multifunctional end reflectors retain elements within the compartments, provide added structural stability to the pan, aid in aligning a light board, and they reflect light that impinges on them toward the open end of the fixture.

Claims

1. A pan structure for light fixtures, comprising:

a housing comprising a horizontal base and two angled sidewalls;

first and second vertical end caps removably attached to first and second ends of said housing between said sidewalls, wherein said housing and said end caps define an interior space having an open end opposite said base; and

first and second end reflectors in said interior space extending at an angle away from said first and second end caps and removably attaching to said base, wherein said end reflectors, said end caps, and said base define first and second compartments at said ends of said housing, said end reflectors providing structural support to said pan.

2. The pan structure of claim 1, further comprising a back reflector removably attached to said base and shaped to substantially cover said housing between said end reflectors, said back reflector comprising holes that cooperate with a plurality of light board alignment holes in said base.

3. The pan structure of claim 2, further comprising a light board that is removably attached to said base through said light board alignment holes such that said back reflector is secured between said base and said light board.

4. The pan structure of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of light sources on said light board.

5. The pan structure of claim 3, wherein said light board comprises at least one retention clip that cooperates with said base to align said light board.

6. The pan structure of claim 3, wherein said first and second end reflectors comprise a cutout portion.

7. The pan structure of claim 1, further comprising a driver circuit in said first compartment.

8. The pan structure of claim 1, wherein said first end cap comprises tuning holes that allow access to said first compartment from the exterior of said pan structure.

9. The pan structure of claim 1, wherein said first end cap comprises a notch to allow access between said first compartment and said interior space.

10. The pan structure of claim 1, further comprising a circuit isolation structure in said first compartment space.

11. The pan structure of claim 1, further comprising a battery in said second compartment.

12. The pan structure of claim 1, wherein said second end reflector comprises a removable access panel to allow access between said second compartment and said interior space.

13. The pan structure of claim 1, wherein said base comprises a removable access panel to allow access to said second compartment from the exterior of said pan structure.

14. A light fixture, comprising:

a door frame assembly, comprising;

a frame around the perimeter of said door frame assembly;

first and second rails spanning said frame from end to end;

two side lenses between said rails and said frame; and

a center lens between said rails; and

a pan structure, comprising;

a housing comprising a horizontal base and two angled sidewalls, said base aligning a light board with said first and second rails;

first and second vertical end caps removably attached to first and second ends of said housing between said sidewalls; and

first and second end reflectors extending at an angle away from said first and second end caps and removably attaching to said base, wherein said end reflectors, said end caps, and said base define first and second compartments at said ends of said housing.

15. The light fixture of claim 14, further comprising a light board removably attached to said base through a plurality of light board alignment holes such that said light board is aligned with said rails.

16. The light fixture of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of light sources on said light board such that said light sources are aligned with said rails.

17. The pan structure of claim 14, further comprising a back reflector removably attached to said base and shaped to substantially cover said housing between said end reflectors, said back reflector comprising holes that cooperate with a plurality of light board alignment holes in said base.

18. The pan structure of claim 14, further comprising a driver circuit in said first compartment.

19. The pan structure of claim 14, wherein said first end cap comprises tuning holes that allow access to said first compartment from the exterior of said pan structure.

20. The pan structure of claim 14, wherein said first end cap comprises a notch to allow access between said first compartment and areas of said housing on the opposite side of said first end cap.

21. The pan structure of claim 14, further comprising a circuit isolation structure in said first compartment space.

22. The pan structure of claim 14, further comprising a battery in said second compartment.

23. The pan structure of claim 14, wherein said second end reflector comprises a removable access panel to allow access between said second compartment and areas of said housing on the opposite side of said second end reflector.

24. The pan structure of claim 14, wherein said base comprises a removable access panel to allow access to said second compartment from the exterior of said pan structure.