Abstract:
In a first embodiment the invention is for use with a light-fixture assembly for elongate light tubes of the type that includes (a) an elongate support frame and (b) a cross-structure at each of the opposite ends thereof and has at least one lamp holder thereon. The improvement of the embodiment wherein the cross-structures each include at least one folding arm movable between a stowed position substantially parallel with the support frame and a deployed position substantially perpendicular to the support frame.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to lighting fixtures and, more particularly, to lighting fixtures using elongate light tubes. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Lighting fixtures utilizing elongate light tubes are well known in the art and are utilized in many different lighting applications. In most cases these fixtures are large and bulky. A typical fixture includes a length that is slightly longer than the length of the tube to be utilized and a width that is dependent upon many variables. These variables include the number of tubes to be employed, the width and number of the reflectors to be used, and any additional features such as a housing to protect the fixture. 
         [0003]    The use of a fixture with a housing leads to a fixture that is bulky and difficult to move but one that does provide some protection against breakage of the internals portions of the fixture during shipping. However, many fixtures for use in industrial settings utilize exposed supports and reflectors that leave open a large potential for breakage during the shipping process. The exposed supports and reflectors are generally quite fragile and not designed to accept loads or impacts without damage. 
         [0004]    Furthermore, both types of fixtures present a large object to ship to the location where they are to be installed. Large boxes or other packaging for such transport is expensive to ship and takes up substantial room. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is an object of the invention to provide an improved linear light fixture that overcomes some of the problems and shortcomings of the prior art, including those referred to above. 
         [0006]    Another object of the invention is to provide an improved linear light fixture that allows the fixture to be packed in smaller packaging. 
         [0007]    Another object of the invention is to provide an improved linear light fixture that is easy to assemble on the sight where it is to be installed. 
         [0008]    Another object of the invention is to provide an improved linear light fixture that includes support arms that lock securely into place when deployed. 
         [0009]    How these and other objects are accomplished will become apparent from the following descriptions and the drawings. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    In a first embodiment the invention is for use with a light-fixture assembly for elongate light tubes of the type that includes (a) an elongate support frame and (b) a cross-structure at each of the opposite ends thereof and has at least one lamp holder thereon. The improvement of the embodiment is that the cross-structures each include at least one folding arm movable between a stowed position substantially parallel with the support frame and a deployed position substantially perpendicular to the support frame. 
         [0011]    In a second embodiment the light fixture assembly further includes at least one elongate reflector removably attached to both cross-structures when the cross-structures are in the deployed position. 
         [0012]    In a third embodiment of the light fixture assembly the cross-structures further include a mounting bracket, wherein the mounting bracket is attached to the support frame and the folding arm is movably attached to the mounting bracket. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment the light fixture assembly further includes a locking mechanism for locking the folding arms into the stowed position. 
         [0014]    In a further embodiment of the light fixture assembly the locking mechanism includes a hole defined on the mounting bracket and a locking ramp extending from the folding arm disposed and sized to sized to fit within the hole when the folding arm is in the stowed position. 
         [0015]    In yet another embodiment of the light fixture assembly each cross-structure includes two folding arms, whereby the folding arms of each cross-structure extend from opposite sides of the support frame. 
         [0016]    In a still further embodiment the light fixture assembly further includes at least one elongate reflector attached to the folding arms extending from each side of the support frame. In other embodiments the folding arm includes at least two lamp holders. 
         [0017]    In another embodiment of the light fixture assembly each cross-structure includes at least one screw for attaching the elongate reflector and the elongate reflector includes at least one keyhole-type opening for accepting the screw, thereby allowing for removable attachment of the reflector to the cross-structure. 
         [0018]    In other embodiments a light-fixture assembly for elongate light tubes of the type including an elongate support frame includes an improvement having at least one cross-structure attached to the frame and having at least one folding arm movable between a stowed position substantially parallel with the support frame and a deployed position substantially perpendicular to the support frame. 
         [0019]    In some embodiments the light fixture assembly further includes two cross-structures attached to the frame. Each of these cross structures has at least one folding arm that is movable between a stowed position substantially parallel with the support frame and a deployed position substantially perpendicular to the support frame. The folding arm of each of the two cross-structures is disposed to extend from a first side of the frame. In a further modification the folding arms extending from the cross-structures comprise a first folding arm assembly and the light fixture assembly further including a second folding arm assembly attached to cross-structures wherein the folding arms of the second folding arm assembly are disposed to extend from a second side of the frame. It is preferable that the cross-structures are disposed at opposite ends of the elongate support frame. Furthermore, the light fixture assembly could include a plurality of reflectors attached to each of the folding arm assemblies. 
         [0020]    A further embodiment of the invention includes a method of utilizing a light fixture assembly. In this method, an elongate light fixture support assembly having a width is provided along with a pair of cross-structures, the cross-structures each having at least one lamp holder. The support assembly and the cross-structures are packaged together such that the cross-structures extend away from the support assembly less than one-half of width of the support assembly. The packaged device is shipped a location where it is to be installed and the cross-structures are deployed whereby the lamp holders are positioned to receive an elongate light bulb. In other embodiments of the method the cross-structures include at least one folding arm movable between a stowed position substantially parallel with the support frame and a deployed position substantially perpendicular to the support frame. In such an embodiment, during the step of packaging the at least one folding arm is in the stowed position and during the step of deploying the at least one folding arm is moved into the deployed position. In another embodiment this method also includes prior to the step of packaging, providing at least one elongate reflector. Then the step of packaging also includes packaging the reflector together with the support assembly and cross-structure such that the cross-structures and at least one reflector extend away from the support assembly less than one-half of width of the support assembly. Finally, after the step of deploying the cross-structures, attaching the at least one reflector to the folding arms of the cross-structures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a light fixture assembly in accordance with this invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the light fixture assembly of  FIG. 1  without reflectors and the folding arms in the stowed position. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the light fixture of  FIG. 2  with the folding arms in the deployed position. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of the light fixture of  FIG. 2  with the folding arms between the deployed and stowed positions. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged fragmentary view of the cross-structure and folding arm assembly with the folding arm between the deployed and stowed positions. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged fragmentary view of the cross-structure and folding arm assembly with the folding arm in the deployed position. 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged fragmentary view of the cross-structure and folding arm assembly with the folding arm in the deployed position and including reflectors. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-7  a first preferred embodiment of a light fixture assembly  10  according to the present invention is shown. The assembly  10  includes an elongate support frame  12  and first and second cross-structures  14 ,  16  at opposite ends of the assembly  10 . However, other embodiments could include only one cross-structure mounted, for example, in the middle of the support frame. 
         [0029]    The support frame  12  includes a top surface  18  and a bottom surface  20  between which an interior is formed. The interior of the support frame  12  can house the internals of the light fixture such as a ballast. Each of the cross-structures  14 ,  16  include a mounting bracket  22  that is mounted to the top  18  of the support frame  12  at opposite ends and a pair of folding arms  28 ,  30  moveably attached to the mounting bracket. In this preferred embodiment, the mounting bracket  22  is generally L-shaped with a lower part  24  of the L-shape mounted to the support frame  12  and the upper part  26  of the L-shape perpendicular to the length of the support frame  12 . Additionally the mounting bracket  22  and the support frame  12  define an opening  40  that allows wiring (not shown) to pass into the interior of the support frame  12 . 
         [0030]    The lower part  24  of the mounting bracket  22  includes opposite support flanges  32 ,  34  that overhang the support frame  12 . The upper part  26  of the mounting bracket  22  includes a top flange  36  that is substantially perpendicular to the upper part  26  and extending therefrom. Top flange  36  and the lower part  24  of the mounting bracket  22  define a channel  38  for mounting the folding arms  28 ,  30 . 
         [0031]    Each of the folding arms  28 ,  30  includes a pivot end  42  and a free end  44 . As seen best in  FIGS. 5-7 , the pivot end  42  is attached to the mounting bracket  22  at pivot point  46  which is adjacent the support structure  12  in the channel  38 . Preferably, each folding arm  28 ,  30  is substantially as wide as the corresponding support flange  32 ,  34 . Each folding arm  28 ,  30  includes two electrical connections  48  extending from a lower side  50  of the folding arm  28 ,  30  and located adjacent to an interior edge  52 . Other embodiments could include one or more electrical connections, depending on the amount of bulbs needed. Folding arm  28 ,  30  further includes mounting flange  54  located adjacent to the electrical connections. Each mounting flange  54  includes either an L-shaped extension  56  creating a notch  57  or a connection point  58 , which in this preferred embodiment is a screw that is not flush with the mounting flange  54 . The extension  56  and connection point  58  are utilized in mounting reflectors  60 . 
         [0032]    Preferably, the mounting bracket  22  and each folding arm  30  also include a locking mechanism. In this embodiment the locking mechanism includes ramps  62  located near the interior edge  52  of the pivot end  42  of the folding arm  28 ,  30 . The support flanges  32 , 34  includes corresponding locking holes  64  for receiving the ramps  62  when the folding arm  28 ,  30  is in a deployed position with the folding arms  28 , 30  perpendicular to the support frame  12 . In this deployed position, elongate reflectors  60  can be attached. 
         [0033]    The elongate reflectors  60  of this embodiment each include two reflectors portions  66  for reflecting the light from two bulbs (not shown) on either side of the support frame  12 . However, in other embodiments the reflectors portions  66  could be tow independent reflectors separately attached to the folding arms  28 , 30 . Elongate reflector  60  includes mounting openings  68  at either end for connection to the extension  56  or connection point  58  of the mounting arms. These mounting openings  68  include a first section  70  sized to allow passage of the extension  56  or connection point  58  and a second section (not visible) sized to fit within the notch  57  or under the screw head of the connection point  58 . 
         [0034]    In use, the light fixture support assembly  10  has two positions, a stowed position wherein the folding arms  28 ,  30  are substantially parallel with the support frame  12 , and a deployed position wherein the folding arms  28 ,  30  are substantially perpendicular to the support frame  12 . It is most preferred that the reflectors  60  are about as wide as the assembly  10  in the stowed position. With such a matching width the assembly and reflectors can be packaged together in a manner that minimizes the potential for breakage during shipment. When the assembly  10  is in the location to be installed the folding arms  28 ,  30  can then be moved into the deployed position. When the arms  28 ,  30  are rotated into the deployed position the arms  28 ,  30  move up the ramps  62  until the ramps  62  are entirely under the locking holes  64 ; at which time the arms  28 ,  30  press down over the ramps  62  and are locked into the deployed position. The reflectors  60  are then installed by lining up the first section  70  of the mounting openings  68  with the extension  56  or connection point  58 . The reflector  60  is then slid so that the second section  72  of the mounting openings come into interference contact with the extension  56  or connection point. The screw of the connection point  58  can then be tighten to hold the reflector  60  in place. 
         [0035]    While the principles of the invention have been shown and described in connection with specific embodiments, it is to be understood that such embodiments are by way of example and are not limiting.