Abstract:
A retrofit reflector for a fixture that may be utilizing an induction lamp, mounts the lamp at a point of zero bending moment on the reflector. The reflector bends widthwise in the fixture to fit within various widths of fixtures while maintaining the lamp along the zero bending moment on the reflector.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This application relates to lighting fixtures and more particularly to retrofit reflectors for lighting fixtures. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    As lighting becomes more efficient as evidenced, for instance, by the introduction of LED technology into homes and businesses, other forms of lighting technology are being left behind. For instance, incandescent light lamps as they exist today, are being legislated out of existence because of their energy inefficiency. As a result, the fixtures for use with old technology lamps that are less energy efficient than new technology lamps may not be able to fit the new technology lamps therein. Fluorescent lamps in particular need new fixtures to fit their narrower profiles and electronic ballasts. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    According to an embodiment disclosed herein, a retrofit reflector for a fixture that may be utilizing an induction lamp, mounts the lamp along a zero bending moment on the reflector. The reflector bends widthwise in the fixture to fit within various widths of fixtures while maintaining the lamp at along the zero bending moment on the reflector. 
         [0004]    According to a further embodiment disclosed herein, a method of mounting a retrofit reflector includes the steps of mounting a lamp to a point of zero bending on a base of the retrofit reflector, flexing arms of the reflector that extend from the base, and bending the base of the reflector while maintaining the lamp at a point of zero bending as the arms flex to fit the retrofit reflector with a fixture. 
         [0005]    These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a light fixture in which a high pressure sodium lamp is mounted. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  shows a retrofit reflector with an induction lamp for use within the fixture of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the retrofit reflector of  FIG. 2 , partially in perspective. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the retrofit reflector of  FIG. 3  shown in a larger fixture than the fixture shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  shows a side view of retrofit reflector and lamp shown in a smaller fixture than the fixture shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  shows the retrofit reflector and induction lamp in the fixture as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0012]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the fixture  10  is to be retrofitted as shown. The fixture has a left side  15 , a right side  20 , a top side  25 , bottom side  30 , back  33 , an attachment flange  35  for attaching to a lens (not shown), an old reflector  40 , an electronics compartment  45 , electronics  47  for controlling a lamp, and a separator plate  50  separating the electronics  47  from exemplary high intensity discharge (“HID”) lamp  55  that is to be replaced. 
         [0013]    HID lamp  55 , for instance, may be less energy efficient than induction lamp  60  (see  FIG. 2 ). HID fixtures or luminaires, for instance, typically used in parking lots, pole lights and other commercial/industrial settings will need flexible forms of retrofitting with more energy efficient lamps because the size of fixtures  10  holding HID and other types of lamps varies. 
         [0014]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an energy-efficient induction lamp  60  has a rectangular shape with external magnets  65  that create and induction field to stimulate plasma (not shown) in the induction lamp  60  to create light. 
         [0015]    A retrofit reflector  70  is designed to be placed in the fixture  10  in  FIG. 1 . The retrofit reflector has a left mounting lip  75 , a right mounting lip  80 , a left reflector arm  85 , a right reflector arm  90 , a base  95 , and a bending axis  100 . The left mounting lip  75  attaches to the left reflector arm  85  which attaches to the base  95 . Similarly, the right mounting lip  80  attaches to the right reflector  90  to attach to the base  95 . 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the relationship between the retrofit reflector  70  and the fixture  10  as shown in  FIG. 1  is shown. The left mounting lip  75  is disposed on top of the attachment flange  35  as is the right mounting lip  80 . The reflector arms  85 ,  90  depend downwardly into to the fixture  10  between the left side  15  and the right side  20 . The bending axis  100  extends below the magnets  65  of the induction lamp  60  within the back  33 . 
         [0017]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the back  133  of the fixture  120  is longer than the back  33  of fixture  10  shown in  FIG. 3 . The left mounting lip  75  is still attached to the attachment flange  35  on the left side and the right mounting lip  80  is attached to the attachment flange  35  on the right side of the fixture  120 . The retrofit reflector  70  because of its flexible nature, flexes at joint  125  between the base  95  and the left reflector arm  85  and the joint  130  between the base  95  and the right reflector arm  90  thereby causing the base  95  to bow upwardly to form a concave surface  105 . Concomitantly, the lamp  60  raises upwardly within the fixture  120 . The induction lamp  60  is mounted via mount structure  135  along the bending axis  100  which is also a line of zero bending moment so that the lamp  60  is not stressed by the bending of the retrofit reflector  70 . 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the retrofit reflector  70  is placed within a fixture  140  having a base  233  that is shorter base  33  shown in  FIG. 3 . As above, the left mounting lip  75  is placed upon the attachment flange  35  on the left side and the right mount mounting lip  80  is attached to the attachment flange  35  on the right side. Because the base  233  is shorter than the base  33 , the arms  85  and  90  are flexed inwardly towards the left side  15  by the left reflector arm and towards the right side  20  by the right reflector arm such that the base  90  is forced to bend concavely towards the back  233 . In this situation, the induction lamp  60  is mounted on its base  135  and attached to the base  95  along the bending axis  100  which is placed also at a zero bending moment. Because the base  95  bows concavely relative to the base  233 , the induction lamp is deeper within the fixture  140  and the lamp is in the fixture  120  in  FIG. 4  or in the fixture  10  shown in  FIG. 3 . Also, because the lamp  60  is also place along the line of zero bending moment, the lamp  60  is not stressed by the bending of the retrofit reflector  70 . 
         [0019]    Although a combination of features is shown in the illustrated examples, not all of them need to be combined to realize the benefits of various embodiments of this disclosure. In other words, a system designed according to an embodiment of this disclosure will not necessarily include all of the features shown in any one of the Figures or all of the portions schematically shown in the Figures. Moreover, selected features of one example embodiment may be combined with selected features of other example embodiments. 
         [0020]    The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this disclosure. The scope of legal protection given to this disclosure can only be determined by studying the following claims.