Abstract:
A lighting fixture having a socket housing and a removable lamp housing. The socket housing includes a socket for receiving a lamp and for connecting the lamp to a power supply. The lamp housing has a first end for emitting light from the lamp and a second end that is removably coupled to the socket housing. The lamp housing least partially encloses the lamp when connected to the socket housing. The second end of the lamp housing is wider than the lamp, so as to allow the lamp housing to be removed from the socket housing without first removing the lamp from the socket. Removing the lamp housing from said socket housing substantially exposes the socket to view and allows for installation of a lamp into the socket without having to re-position or re-aim the track light fixture.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to a removable lamp housing for accessing a lamp in a track light fixture. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A light fixture is a device for producing, controlling, and distributing light. It is typically a complete unit consisting of one or more lamp, a socket or sockets for positioning the lamp(s) and for connecting the lamp(s) to a power supply, a covering to protect the lamp(s), optical devices for distributing the light, and mechanical components for supporting or attaching the light fixture. 
         [0003]    “Track lighting” is a term that generally refers to a system that includes at least one such light fixture and a track or rail that is designed to support the light fixture and deliver electric power. For example, the track may be mounted at or near the ceiling surface, recessed into the ceiling, or mounted horizontally or vertically along a wall or other surface. Track lighting systems come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and configurations. Track light fixtures also come in many shapes and styles and may be designed for use with a wide variety of lamps including incandescent, halogen, metal-halide, and fluorescent. However, in the typical configuration, a track light fixture includes a housing that encloses the lamp, socket and related internal electrical and mechanical components. The housing is coupled to external mechanical components for attaching the light fixture to a track. 
         [0004]    Optical control of track lighting system is typically accomplished by positioning the track light fixtures along the track and then aiming the positioned light fixtures at a particular target area. Often times, a light fixture will include one or more locking mechanism to lock the fixture in place once it is positioned and aimed. Other optical control techniques may rely upon reflectors, refractors, diffusers, shades, hoods, cowls, and other devices, which are either included within or mounted to the track light fixture. 
         [0005]    Lamps in a track light fixture must typically be replaced or maintained at regular intervals, so as to keep the light fixture in working order. In most track light fixtures, however, accessing the lamps can be relatively difficult and/or time consuming. Often, a portion of the housing, such as a lens assembly, must be removed in order to access the interior of the housing. Also, unless the light fixture is moved out of its desired position, the housing itself may often obstruct the view of the socket. Thus, once the lamp replacement or maintenance is complete, the light fixture must be repositioned to direct light to the target location. This process is inefficient, particularly where a large number of lamps must be replaced or maintained. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention provides a lighting fixture having a socket housing and a lamp housing. The socket housing includes a socket for receiving a lamp and for connecting the lamp to a power supply. Depending on the type of socket included in the socket housing, the lamp may be an incandescent lamp, a halogen lamp, a metal-halide lamp, a fluorescent lamp or any other type of lamp. The lamp housing has a first end for emitting light from the lamp and a second end that is removably coupled to the socket housing. The lamp housing least partially encloses the lamp when connected to the socket housing. A lens may be mounted to the first end of the lamp housing and a reflector may be mounted within the lamp housing. 
         [0007]    The second end of the lamp housing is preferably wider than the lamp that is intended for use within the fixture, so as to allow the lamp housing to be removed from the socket housing without first removing the lamp from the socket. Removing the lamp housing from said socket housing substantially exposes the socket to view and allows for installation of a lamp into the socket without having to re-position or re-aim the track light fixture. 
         [0008]    In certain embodiments, the socket housing of the light fixture may include one or more locking arms and the second end of the lamp housing may include one or more tabs configured for mating with corresponding ones of said one or more locking arms, so as to removably couple the lamp housing to the socket housing. In such embodiments, each of the one or more locking arms may include a protrusion and each of the one or more tabs may include a sloped edge or a second protrusion for mating with the corresponding protrusion of the corresponding locking arm. Accordingly, the lamp housing may be coupled to the socket housing by rotating the lamp housing in a first direction relative to the socket housing to thereby mate the corresponding tabs and locking arms and may be removed from the socket housing by rotating the lamp housing in a second direction relative to the socket housing to thereby separate the corresponding tabs and locking arms. 
         [0009]    In other embodiments, the lamp housing may be removably coupled to the socket housing by way of threads located on one of the second end of the lamp housing or the socket housing and corresponding grooves located on the other of the second end of the lamp housing or the socket housing. These and other aspects, features and embodiments of the invention will become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrated embodiments exemplifying the best mode for carrying out the invention as presently perceived. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective cross-sectional view of a removable lamp housing coupled to a socket housing, in accordance with certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a socket housing, in accordance with certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the exemplary socket housing shown in  FIG. 2 , including an exploded view of a locking arm assembly thereof. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    The following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention refers to the attached drawings, in which like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several figures. 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective cross-sectional view of an exemplary light fixture  100 , showing a removable lamp housing  102  coupled to a socket housing  104 . As will be described in more detail below, the lamp housing  102  may be separated from the socket housing  104  by rotating the lamp housing  102  relative to the stationary socket housing  104 . The lamp housing  102  may include mounting holes  106  for attaching a reflector, refractor, diffuser, or other component for controlling the light emitted from the lamp (not shown). A lens assembly may also be mounted within the lamp housing  102  or attached to a first end  110  of the lamp housing  102 . 
         [0015]    The lamp housing  102  includes a second end  112 , which meets the socket housing  104  when the lamp housing  102  is coupled thereto. This second end  112  includes an opening that is preferably wider than the lamp (not shown) that is intended for use within the fixture, so that the lamp housing  102  may be removed from and re-coupled to the socket housing  104  without having to first remove the lamp. In certain embodiments, this second end  112  of the lamp housing  102  also includes one or more tabs  114 . The tabs  114  may extend into or away from the opening in the second end  112  of the lamp housing  102 . 
         [0016]    The tabs  114  are configured to mate with corresponding locking arms  116  of the socket housing  104 , as will be shown and described in greater detail with respect to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The tabs  114  may be formed as part of the lamp housing  102  or may be attached to the lamp housing  102 . The tabs  114  and the lamp housing  102  may each be made of metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, etc.), plastic, a composite or any other suitable material that is sufficiently sturdy and resistant to heat produced by the lamp. In alternative embodiments, the tabs  114  of the lamp housing  102  may be replaced by hooks, latches or other suitable quick-release connectors and the locking arms  116  of the socket housing  104  may be replaced by corresponding connectors that mate with and secure the connectors of the lamp housing  102 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the exemplary socket housing  104  and  FIG. 3  is shows an exploded view of a locking arm  116  assembly thereof. The socket housing  104  includes a lamp socket  202  with insert holes  204  and stabilizing clamps  206  for accepting a lamp. The lamp socket  202  is coupled to the socket housing  104  with screws  208  or other connectors in a conventional manner. As previously mentioned, the socket housing  104  also includes one or more locking arms  116 , configure to mate with and secure the tabs  114  of the lamp housing  102 . 
         [0018]    The locking arms  116  and the socket housing  104  may each be made of metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, etc.), plastic, a composite or any other suitable material that is sufficiently sturdy and resistant to heat produced by the lamp. In certain embodiments, the lamp housing  102  includes three tabs  114  spaced along the second end  112  and the socket housing  104  includes three corresponding locking arms  116 . In alternative embodiments, one or more tab  114  locking arm  116  interactions may be used to removably couple the lamp housing  102  to the socket housing  104 . 
         [0019]    In the illustrated embodiments, each locking arm  116  is formed or bent to have three sections: a lower section  302 , a middle section  304  and an upper section  106 . The lower section  302  and the upper section  306  lie generally parallel to the opening in the socket housing  104 . The middle section  306  is angled relative to the lower section  302 , so as to offset the lower section  302  and the upper section  306  in the vertical plane (i.e., above the socket housing  104 , as oriented in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). The upper portion  306  of each locking arm  116  extends sufficiently above the socket housing  104  such that a corresponding tab  114  of the lamp housing  102  can fit thereunder, to thereby hold the lamp housing  102  securely to the socket housing  104 . 
         [0020]    The locking arms  116  may be formed as part of the socket housing  104  or may be attached to the lamp housing  104 , as illustrated. For example, each locking  116  may be attached to the lamp housing  104  with a screw  308  and, optionally, a washer  310 . The addition of a washer  310  adds further stability to the assembly. The screw  308  may be inserted through corresponding holes in the washer  310 , the lower section  302  of the locking arm  116 , and the socket housing  104 . Other methods for attaching the locking arm  116  to the socket housing  104  are possible, such as the use of an adhesive or spot welding or other suitable mechanical connectors. 
         [0021]    As should be apparent, the lamp housing  102  may be coupled to the socket housing  104  by placing the tabs  114  of the lamp housing  102  in juxtaposition with the corresponding locking arms  116  of the lamp housing  104  and rotating the lamp housing  102  until its tabs  114  slide under the corresponding locking arms  116 . Conversely, the lamp housing  102  may be removed from the socket housing  104  by rotating the lamp housing  102  in the opposite direction (relative to the direction of rotation for coupling the lamp housing  102  to the socket housing  104 ), so as to separate the tabs  114  from the locking arms  116 . 
         [0022]    In certain embodiments, the underside of the upper portion  306  of each locking arm  116  may include a protrusion  314 . The tabs  114  of the lamp housing  102  may have a ramped or sloped configuration, with the tallest edge thereof being closest to the first side  110  of the lamp housing  102  and the shortest edge thereof being closest to the second side  112  of the lamp housing  102 . The tallest edge of each tab  114  may be designed to mate with or otherwise contact the protrusion  314  of the corresponding locking arm  116 . In alternative embodiments, each tab  114  may be relatively flat, but include a protrusion for mating with or otherwise contacting the protrusion  314  of the corresponding locking arm  116 . 
         [0023]    In still other embodiments, each tab  114  may include a protrusion or indention for mating with or otherwise contacting a corresponding indention or protrusion on the corresponding locking arm  116 . As will be readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the corresponding protrusions, ramped edges and/or indentions of the tabs  114  and locking arms  116  will need to bypass each other when the lamp housing  102  is rotated into or out of connection with the socket housing  104 , thus requiring the application of a certain amount of additional force. Accordingly, the corresponding protrusions, ramped edges and/or indentions of the tabs  114  and locking arms  116  provide for a more secure connection between the lamp housing  102  and the socket housing  104 . In alternative embodiments, other means may be employed to secure the connection between the lamp housing  102  and the socket housing  104 , including but not limited to a latching mechanism, a locking screw or pin, a snap, or any other suitable type of fastener or connector. 
         [0024]    In still other embodiments, other mechanisms may be used to removably attach the lamp housing  102  to the socket housing  104 . For example, the lamp housing  102  may be secured to the socket housing  104  using corresponding pins and slots, latching mechanisms, threads and grooves, etc. The ability to remove the entire lamp housing  102  from the socket housing  104  provides a clear and unobstructed view of the socket  202 , which makes for easier installation of a lamp. With a clear view of the socket  202  from any angle, an installer is less likely to have to change the position or alignment of the light fixture when installing a lamp. 
         [0025]    Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described above in detail, the description is merely for purposes of illustration. It should be appreciated, therefore, that many aspects of the invention were described above by way of example only and are not intended as required or essential elements of the invention unless explicitly stated otherwise. Various modifications of, and equivalent steps corresponding to, the disclosed aspects of the exemplary embodiments, in addition to those described above, can be made by a person of ordinary skill in the art, having the benefit of the present disclosure, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention defined in the following claims, the scope of which is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass such modifications and equivalent structures.