Thermally controlled light fixture

• US 5,743,632 A
• Filed: 11/12/1996
• Issued: 04/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Genlyte Thomas Group LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Genlyte Group Incorporated (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Carl, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, Y MY QUACH
• Application Number:
  US08/748,239
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 362/96, 362/268, 362/267, 362/294, 362/345, 362/373, 362/153, 52/171.3
• US Class Current: 362/294
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/33 specially adapted for headlamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 25/12 Flameproof or explosion-proof arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/15 Thermal insulation
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/03 with provision for venting for vehicle head lights F21S45/33; for vehicle rear lights F21S41/192
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/04 Provision of filling media
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/107 of the exterior of buildings

Abstract

An apparatus and method for thermally controlling a light fixture contemplate the use of a housing for holding a high-wattage, heat-producing lamp, with the housing having an opening through which light emanates from the lamp. Two lenses are provided, and mounting means support the lenses in spaced layered relation so as to form a thermal barrier that at least partially encloses the opening of the housing whereby the lens furthest from the heat-producing lamp is maintained cooler than the lens closest to the lamp.

Claims

1. A thermally controlled light fixture, comprising:

a housing for holding a high intensity, heat-producing lamp and having an opening through which light emanates from the lamp, said housing being adapted for mounting adjacent the ground in a publically accessible area so as to illuminate one of an object and a surface substantially above the ground;

at least two lenses;

mounting means for supporting said lenses in spaced layered relation, said mounting means including a resilient seal assembly forming a sealed thermal barrier between the lenses that at least partially encloses the opening of said housing such that one of said lenses is an outer lens positioned furthest from the heat-producing lamp and another of said lenses is an inner lens, whereby a temperature of the outer lens is maintained below a temperature that would cause discomfort if touched; and

a valve positioned within said mounting means for evacuating air within the sealed thermal barrier.

2. The light fixture of claim 1 wherein said valve is further operable for replacing the air in the sealed thermal barrier with an inert gas.

3. The light fixture of claim 1 wherein the inner lens closest to the lamp is coated with a dichroic substance to reflect infrared radiation away from the outer lens furthest from the lamp.