Lighting assembly and method

• US 9,206,953 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2011
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Klik Systems Australia Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Klik Systems Australia Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Roos, Paul Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): CARTER, WILLIAM JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US13/807,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20130201665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,735 Days
• Field of Search: 362145-147, 362/152, 362/109
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/1817 Connections therefor E04F11/1812 and E04F11/1836 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2011/1872 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/02 of recess-mounted type, e.g. downlighters specially adapted for vehicle exteriors F21S41/00-F21S45/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/04 Recessed bases
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/006 General building constructions or finishing work for buildings, e.g. roofs, gutters, stairs or floors; Garden equipment; Sunshades or parasols
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/08 producing an asymmetric light distribution
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/08 for handles or handrails
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A lighting assembly for installing through a fitting aperture defined by a handrail. The lighting assembly including: a retaining element that is removably insertable through the fitting aperture; a body device for providing a light source, the body device comprising a coupling element releasably engageable to the retaining element; and wherein, with the retaining element inserted through the fitting aperture and located within the handrail, insertion of the body device through the fitting aperture enables the coupling element to engage the retaining element thereby releasably retaining the body device.

Claims

1. A lighting assembly for installing through a fitting aperture defined by a handrail, the fitting aperture defining a linear axis of insertion that is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the handrail, the lighting assembly including:

a retaining element that is removably insertable through the fitting aperture;

a body device for providing a light source, the body device comprising a coupling element releasably engageable to the retaining element;

wherein, with the retaining element inserted through the fitting aperture and located within the handrail, insertion of the body device along the linear axis of insertion through the fitting aperture enables the coupling element to engage the retaining element thereby releasably retaining the body device, and

wherein the body device is configured to be disengaged from the retaining element by relative rotation of the body device with respect to the retaining element and/or handrail about the linear axis of insertion, thereby enabling removal of the body device from the handrail, and

wherein with the body device disengaged from the retaining element by relative rotation of the body device with respect to the retaining element and/or handrail about the linear axis of insertion, a stop restricts further entry of the body device through the fitting aperture.

2. The lighting assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

with the body device inserted through fitting aperture and retained by the retaining element, the light source provides an asymmetric illumination pattern.

3. The lighting assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the lighting assembly directs light asymmetrically about the linear axis of insertion, such that with the body device installed in a handrail in a substantially downward orientation, the light source is asymmetrically directed toward a thoroughfare and away from a wall adjoining the handrail.

4. The lighting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the body device comprises:

a base element;

a heat sink element;

a light emitting diode light source; and

a lens element.

5. The lighting assembly according to claim 4, wherein:

the body device is formed by fixing the heat sink element to the base element;

the lens element being adapted to be located with the base; and

the light source being adapted to be located with the heat sink element.

6. The lighting assembly according to claim 4, wherein the light source is mounted at an angle offset to the linear axis of insertion.

7. The lighting assembly according to claim 4, wherein the linear axis of insertion is defined through a center of both the base and the heat sink when viewed as a side profile.

8. The lighting assembly according to-claim 1, wherein the retaining element is biased into a retaining configuration.

9. The lighting assembly according to-claim 1, wherein the retaining element is elongate and sized to circumferentially abut a portion of an interior of the handrail.

10. The lighting assembly according to-claim 1, wherein:

the coupling element is defined by a pair of groves on opposite sides of the body device for providing an abutment surface for engaging the retaining element and thereby retaining the body device.

11. The lighting assembly according to-claim 1, wherein:

the body device is configured to be disengaged from the retaining element by rotating the body device 90 degrees with respect to the retaining element and/or handrail about the linear axis of insertion.

12. The lighting assembly according to-claim 1, wherein:

with the body device installed in the handrail, the linear axis of insertion is substantially vertical.

13. A lighting assembly for installing through a fitting aperture defined by a handrail, the lighting assembly including:

a retaining element that is removably insertable through the fitting aperture;

a body device for providing a light source, the body device comprising a coupling element releasably engageable to the retaining element; and

wherein, with the retaining element inserted through the fitting aperture and located within the handrail, insertion of the body device through the fitting aperture enables the coupling element to engage the retaining element thereby releasably retaining the body device, wherein;

the body device comprises;

a base element a heat sink element a light emitting diode light source; and

a lens element, wherein the lens element is asymmetric with respect to an axis of insertion, and

directs light asymmetrically about the axis;

such that with the body device is installed in a handrail in a substantially downward orientation, the lens element directs light asymmetrically toward a thoroughfare and away from a wall adjoining the handrail.

14. A lighting assembly for installing through a fitting aperture defined by a handrail, the lighting assembly including:

a retaining element that is removably insertable through the fitting aperture;

a body device for providing a light source, the body device comprising a coupling element releasably engageable to the retaining element; and

wherein, with the retaining element inserted through the fitting aperture and located within the handrail, insertion of the body device through the fitting aperture enables the coupling element to engage the retaining element thereby releasably retaining the body device, wherein;

opposite end portions of the retaining element each abuttingly engage an abutment surface defined by the coupling element for retaining the body device; and

the opposite end portions each abuttingly engage a stop for restricting further entry of the body device through the fitting aperture.

15. A lighting assembly for installing through a fitting aperture defined by a handrail, the lighting assembly including:

a retaining element that is removably insertable through the fitting aperture;

a body device for providing a light source, the body device comprising a coupling element releasably engageable to the retaining element; and

wherein, with the retaining element inserted through the fitting aperture and located within the handrail, insertion of the body device through the fitting aperture enables the coupling element to engage the retaining element thereby releasably retaining the body device, wherein;

the coupling element is defined by a pair of flange protrusions on opposite sides of the body device, and the body device has an expanding taper for directing the retaining element into an expanded configuration for receiving the body device, and enabling a retaining configuration upon engagement with the coupling element.

16. A lighting assembly for installing through a fitting aperture defined by a handrail, the lighting assembly including:

a retaining element that is removably insertable through the fitting aperture;

a body device for providing a light source, the body device comprising a coupling element releasably engageable to the retaining element; and

wherein, with the retaining element inserted through the fitting aperture and located within the handrail, insertion of the body device through the fitting aperture enables the coupling element to engage the retaining element thereby releasably retaining the body device, wherein;

the body device includes a stop for restricting further entry of the body device through the fitting aperture;

the stop is adapted to abuttingly engage opposite end portion of the retaining element; and

the stop being further adapted to restrict movement of the body device, when the body device is substantially flush with the exterior of the handrail.