Assembly systems for modular light fixtures

• US 9,353,924 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2014
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Scarlata, Andrew Francis, DeCarr, Graig Edmund
• Primary Examiner(s): Breval, Elmito
• Assistant Examiner(s): HORIKOSHI, STEVEN Y
• Application Number:
  US14/152,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20150198298A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 362/238, 362/239, 36224901-24903, 362/249.07, 362/249.09, 362/249.1, 362/249.11
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/005 of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/00 Lighting devices with a built-in power supply; Systems employing lighting devices with a built-in power supply
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/003 Fastening of light source holders, e.g. of circuit boards or substrates holding light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/108 Arms
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/116 Fixing lighting devices to arms or standards F21V21/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A light fixture is disclosed. The light fixture can include a first light module and a second light module, each having at least one coupling feature, a power source, and at least one electrical receiver providing access to the power source. The light fixture can also include at least one first bracket having a first portion and a second portion, where the first portion mechanically couples to the at least one first coupling feature of the first light module, and where the second portion mechanically couples to the at least one second coupling feature of the second light module.

Claims

1. A light fixture, comprising:

a first light module comprising;

at least one first side coupling feature disposed on a first side of the first light module;

at least one second side coupling feature disposed on a second side of the first light module, wherein the second side is opposite the first side; and

at least one first rear coupling feature disposed on a first rear of the first light module, wherein the first rear is positioned adjacent to and in between the first side and the second side;

a second light module comprising;

at least one third side coupling feature disposed on a third side of the second light module;

at least one fourth side coupling feature disposed on a fourth side of the second light module, wherein the fourth side is opposite the third side; and

at least one second rear coupling feature disposed on a second rear of the second light module, wherein the second rear is positioned adjacent to and in between the third side and the fourth side;

at least one first side bracket comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion mechanically couples to the at least one first side coupling feature disposed on the first side of the first light module, and wherein the second portion mechanically couples to the at least one third side coupling feature disposed on the third side of the second light module;

at least one second side bracket comprising a third portion and a fourth portion, wherein the third portion mechanically couples to the at least one second side coupling feature disposed on the second side of the first light module, and wherein the fourth portion mechanically couples to the at least one fourth side coupling feature disposed on the fourth side of the second light module;

at least one first rear bracket comprising a fifth portion and a sixth portion, wherein the fifth portion mechanically couples to the at least one first rear coupling feature disposed on the first rear of the first light module, and wherein the sixth portion mechanically couples to the at least one second rear coupling feature disposed on the second rear of the second light module; and

a center interface disposed over a first front portion of the first light module, a second front portion of the second light module, and a gap between the first light module and the second light module, wherein the center interface is disposed within a first relief feature of the at least one first side bracket and a second relief feature of the at least one second side bracket, wherein the first relief feature traverses at least part of a first length of the at least one first side bracket, and wherein the second relief feature traverses at least part of a second length of the at least one second side bracket.

2. The light fixture of claim 1, further comprising:

a bridge cable comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is disposed in a first electrical receiver of the first light module and electrically coupled to a first power source of the first light module, and wherein the second end is disposed in a second electrical receiver of the second light module and electrically coupled to a second power source of the second light module.

3. The light fixture of claim 2, further comprising:

a power cable comprising a third end and a fourth end, wherein the third end is disposed in a third electrical receiver of the first light module and electrically coupled to the first power source of the first light module, and wherein the fourth end is electrically coupled to a power supply.

4. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the at least one first side bracket further comprises a seventh portion, wherein the seventh portion comprises a mounting assembly coupling feature that mechanically couples to a mounting assembly.

5. The light fixture of claim 4, wherein the mounting assembly mechanically couples to the seventh portion of the at least one first side bracket in one of a plurality of positions between a yoke bracket and the seventh portion.

6. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the center interface is mechanically coupled to the first rear of the first light module and to the second rear of the second light module.

7. The light fixture of claim 6, wherein the center interface comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is mechanically coupled to at least one third rear coupling feature disposed in the first rear of the first light module and at least one fourth rear coupling feature disposed in the second rear of the second light module, and wherein the second end is mechanically coupled to at least one fifth rear coupling feature disposed in the first rear of the first light module and at least one sixth rear coupling feature disposed in the second rear of the second light module.

8. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the at least one first side bracket are substantially coplanar with each other.

9. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the at least one first side bracket form an angle relative to each other.

10. The light fixture of claim 9, wherein the angle is adjustable.

11. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the at least one first side coupling feature comprises a plurality of first side coupling features disposed along the first side of the first light fixture, wherein the at least one first side bracket mechanically couples to the plurality of first side coupling features.

12. The light fixture of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one first fastening device that couples to the at least one first side coupling feature of the first light module and to the first portion of the at least one first side bracket; and

at least one second fastening device that couples to the at least one third side coupling feature of the second light module and to the second portion of the at least one first side bracket.

16. The light fixture of claim 12, wherein the first portion of the at least one first side bracket comprises at least one first aperture through which the at least one first fastening device is disposed, and wherein the second portion of the at least one first side bracket comprises at least one second aperture through which the at least one second fastening device is disposed.

13. An assembly system for a light fixture, comprising:

at least one first side bracket comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is configured to mechanically couple to at least one first side coupling feature disposed on a first side of a first light module, and wherein the second portion is configured to mechanically couple to at least one second side coupling feature disposed on a second side of a second light module;

at least one second side bracket comprising a third portion and a fourth portion, wherein the third portion is configured to mechanically couple to at least one third side coupling feature disposed on a second side of a first light module, and wherein the fourth portion is configured to mechanically couple to at least one fourth side coupling feature disposed on a fourth side of a second light module;

at least one first rear bracket comprising a fifth portion and a sixth portion, wherein the fifth portion mechanically couples to at least one first rear coupling feature disposed on a first rear of the first light module, and wherein the sixth portion mechanically couples to at least one second rear coupling feature disposed on a second rear of the second light module; and

a center interface that is configured to be disposed over a first front portion of the first light module, a second front portion of the second light module, and a gap between the first light module and the second light module when the first light module and the second light module are mechanically coupled to the at least one first side bracket and the at least one second side bracket,

wherein the first side of the first light module is opposite the second side of the first light module, wherein the first rear is positioned adjacent to and in between the first side and the second side, wherein the third side of the second light module is opposite the fourth side of the second light module, and wherein the second rear is positioned adjacent to and in between the third side and the fourth side, and

wherein the center interface is disposed within a relief feature of the at least one first side bracket, wherein the relief feature traverses at least part of a length of the at least one first side bracket.

14. The assembly system of claim 13, wherein the center interface is configured to mechanically couple to the first rear of the first light module and to the second rear of the second light module.

15. The assembly system of claim 14, wherein the center interface comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is mechanically coupled to at least one third rear coupling feature disposed in the first rear of the first light module and at least one fourth rear coupling feature disposed in the second rear of the second light module, and wherein the second end is mechanically coupled to at least one fifth rear coupling feature disposed in the first rear of the first light module and at least one sixth rear coupling feature disposed in the second rear of the second light module.