Patent ID: 6135613
Filing Date: 2000-10-24
Classification: F21V,F21Y

Abstract:
A lighting fixture assembly, comprising:(a) a lighting fixture including(i) a mounting member having a pair of opposite ends,(ii) a pair of end plates each mounted to one of said opposite ends of said mounting member and being substantially comprised of a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion,(iii) an elongated lamp mounted adjacent to said mounting member and extending between said end plates, said lamp having opposite ends disposed adjacent to said end plates, and(iv) an elongated lens mounted adjacent to said mounting member and extending between said end plates, said lens having opposite ends disposed adjacent to said end plates and together with said mounting member and end plates substantially enclosing said lamp, said lens being substantially comprised of a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion different from said first coefficient of thermal expansion of said first material of said end plates such that when said lens and end plates are heated during illumination of said lamp a difference in expansion of said second material of said lens and said first material of said end plates occurs creating respective gaps between said opposite ends of said elongated lens and said end plates; and(b) a pair of dust covers each securably fittable over at least one of said end plates, one of said opposite ends of said mounting member and one of said opposite ends of said lens for covering said gaps therebetween and thereby sealing said assembly at the locations of said gaps to prevent foreign matter from entering said assembly through said gaps, each of said dust covers includinga main wall having a pair of opposite faces and a periphery encompassing said faces, anda flange attached to and extending about said periphery of said main wall and extending away from one of said faces thereof so as to define a cavity for receiving therein one of said end plates, one of said opposite ends of said mounting member and one of said opposite ends of said lens of said lighting fixture.