Recessed lamp housing with adjustable spring clipping device

A downlight that can be easily installed into and dismounted from a ceiling is provided. The housing of the downlight includes an adjustable spring clipping device. Utilization of the adjustable spring clipping device saves a user from having to spend much effort on installation or dismounting of the downlight, and allows installation and dismounting of the downlight to be easily and conveniently performed.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to lighting devices and, more particularly, to a downlight having a housing with an adjustable spring clipping device.

2. Description of Related Art

Downlights, also known as recessed lights, are light fixtures installed into a hollow opening in a ceiling. Existing downlights tend to have a number of disadvantages in terms of installation. First, for those downlights that are installed from above the ceiling board, it is usually necessary to drill holes next to the area where the downlight is to be installed and then cover up the holes with a board. Not only is it difficult to install but the aesthetics of the interior décor may also be impacted. Second, for those downlights that are installed from below the ceiling board, the downlights are typically force-inserted into a recess in the ceiling using a spring piece. However, dismounting such downlights usually requires a tremendous amount of force, not to mention the potential of damaging the ceiling board or the downlight itself.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a downlight that can be easily installed into and dismounted from a ceiling by utilizing an adjustable spring clipping device. This saves a user from having to spend much effort on installation or dismounting of the downlight, and allows installation and dismounting of the downlight to be easily and conveniently performed.

According to one aspect, a housing of a downlight may comprise a first cover, a first spring clipping piece, and a second spring clipping piece. The first cover may include a primary surface surrounded by a plurality of sidewalls forming a cavity therewithin that is configured to receive a light source. A first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls may include at least one opening. A second sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls may include at least one opening. The first spring clipping piece may be disposed on an exterior surface of the first sidewall of the first cover. The first spring clipping piece may include at least one movable portion that traverses through the at least one opening of the first sidewall, the movable portion of the first spring clipping piece configured to be pulled inwardly with respect to the housing through the at least one opening of the first sidewall. The second spring clipping piece may be disposed on an exterior surface of the second sidewall of the first cover. The second spring clipping piece may include at least one movable portion that traverses through the at least one opening of the second sidewall, the movable portion of the second spring clipping piece configured to be pulled inwardly with respect to the housing through the at least one opening of the second sidewall.

In at least some embodiments, a height of the first spring clipping piece with respect to the primary surface of the first cover may be adjustable.

In at least some embodiments, the first spring clipping piece may be fastened to the first cover by at least one screw.

In at least some embodiments, a height of the second spring clipping piece with respect to the primary surface of the first cover may be adjustable.

In at least some embodiments, the housing of a downlight may further comprise a second cover having an opening. The second cover may be mechanically coupled to the first cover.

According to another aspect, a downlight may comprise a light source, a first cover, a first spring clipping piece, and a second spring clipping piece. The first cover may include a primary surface surrounded by a plurality of sidewalls forming a cavity therewithin that is configured to receive a light source. A first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls may include at least one opening. A second sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls may include at least one opening. The first spring clipping piece may be disposed on an exterior surface of the first sidewall of the first cover. The first spring clipping piece may include at least one movable portion that traverses through the at least one opening of the first sidewall such that, when the movable portion is pulled inwardly with respect to the housing, the first spring clipping piece extends less from the exterior surface of the first sidewall. The second spring clipping piece may be disposed on an exterior surface of the second sidewall of the first cover. The second spring clipping piece may include at least one movable portion that traverses through the at least one opening of the second sidewall such that, when the movable portion is pulled inwardly with respect to the housing, the second spring clipping piece extends less from the exterior surface of the second sidewall.

In at least some embodiments, a height of the first spring clipping piece with respect to the primary surface of the first cover may be adjustable.

In at least some embodiments, the first spring clipping piece may be fastened to the first cover by at least one screw.

In at least some embodiments, a height of the second spring clipping piece with respect to the primary surface of the first cover may be adjustable.

In at least some embodiments, the housing of a downlight may further comprise a second cover having an opening. The second cover may be mechanically coupled to the first cover.

In at least some embodiments, the light source may comprise a light emitting diode (LED).

According to another aspect, a downlight may comprise a light source, a cover, and a spring clipping piece. The cover may include a sidewall and a cavity configured to receive the light source. The sidewall may include an opening. The spring clipping piece may comprise a fixing piece disposed on an exterior surface of the sidewall, a movable portion that traverses through the opening of the sidewall, and a cantilever piece coupled between the fixing piece and the movable portion. The cantilever piece may protrude outwardly from the fixing piece in a natural status. The cantilever may be swung toward the exterior surface of the sidewall in a motion status when the movable piece is pressed.

In at least some embodiments, the spring clipping piece may be adjustably movable with respect to the sidewall of the first cover.

In at least some embodiments, the spring clipping piece may be fastened to the cover by at least one screw.

In at least some embodiments, the downlight may further comprise a second cover having an opening, and the second cover may be mechanically coupled to the cover.

In at least some embodiments, the light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

According to another aspect, a housing of a downlight may comprise a cover and a spring clipping piece. The cover may include a surface and a wall. The surface and the wall may form a cavity therewithin. The wall may include an opening. The spring clipping piece may be disposed on an exterior surface of the wall. The spring clipping piece may include a protruding portion that extends away from the exterior surface and a movable portion that traverses through the opening of the wall such that, the protruding portion of the spring clipping piece extends less from the exterior surface of the wall when pressure is applied onto the movable portion.

In at least some embodiments, the spring clipping piece may be adjustably movable with respect to the wall of the cover.

In at least some embodiments, the spring clipping piece may be fastened to the cover by at least one screw.

In at least some embodiments, the housing of the downlight may further comprise a second cover having an opening. The second cover may be mechanically coupled to the cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1Ais a three-dimensional exploded view of a housing100of a downlight with an adjustable spring clipping device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 1Bis a close-up view of a spring clipping piece ofFIG. 1A.

As shown inFIG. 1A, the housing100comprises an upper cover110, a spring clipping device that includes a first spring clipping piece130aand a second spring clipping piece130b, a plurality of screws135, and a plurality of rivets115. The upper cover110includes a primary surface110csurrounded by a plurality of sidewalls, including first sidewall110aand second sidewall110b. The screws135fasten the first and second spring clipping pieces130a,130bto the upper housing100. That is, each of the first and second spring clipping pieces130a,130bis disposed on an exterior surface of a respective sidewall of the upper cover110, namely first sidewall110aand second sidewall110b. The rivets115fasten or otherwise affix the lower cover120to the upper cover110so that the lower cover120is mechanically coupled to the upper cover110. Each of the first and second spring clipping pieces130a,130bincludes at least one movable portion132a,132b, respectively, each of which traverses through a respective opening111a,111bon the respective sidewall110a,110bof the upper cover110, respectively. Each of the first and second spring clipping pieces130a,130balso includes an adjustable portion131a,131b, respectively. When the respective at least one movable portion132a,132bof each of the first and second spring clipping pieces130a,130bis pulled inwardly with respect to the upper cover110so that the first and second spring clipping pieces130a,130bextend less or minimally from the exterior surface of the respective sidewall110a,110bof the upper cover110, the housing100can snugly slide in and out of a cutout on a ceiling board for installation or dismounting of the housing100. During installation, after the respective at least one movable portion132a,132bof each of the first and second spring clipping pieces130a,130bis released, the at least one movable portion132a,132bsprings back so that the first and second spring clipping pieces130a,130bextend away from the respective side wall110a,110bof the upper cover110, the housing100is embedded in the recess in the ceiling.

FIG. 2shows various views of the housing of a downlight with an adjustable spring clipping device ofFIG. 1A. More specifically,FIG. 2includes a perspective view (A) and a side view (B) of the housing100.

FIG. 3shows various additional views of the housing of a downlight with an adjustable spring clipping device ofFIG. 1A. More specifically,FIG. 3includes a top view (A), a front view (B) and a bottom view (C) of the housing100.

A downlight with the housing100as described above provides several advantages. First, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, as the first and second spring clipping pieces130a,130bof the adjustable spring clipping device deform elastically when pulled inwardly with respect to the housing100(in the directions of the arrows shown inFIG. 5), installation and dismounting of the downlight are simplified. As shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, height of each of the first and second spring clipping pieces130a,130bof the adjustable spring clipping device can be adjusted to accommodate the thickness of the ceiling board. Once placed at a desired height, each of the first and second spring clipping pieces130a,130bis fastened to the upper cover110by the plurality of screws135.

FIG. 4is a cross-sectional perspective view of a housing of a downlight with an adjustable spring clipping device prior to installation in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. For example, the housing shown inFIG. 4may be the housing100ofFIG. 1Aand is to be installed into a ceiling board150.

FIG. 5is a cross-sectional side view of a housing of a downlight with an adjustable spring clipping device prior to installation in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. For example, the housing shown inFIG. 5may be the housing100ofFIG. 1A. As shown inFIG. 5, the movable portions132a,132bof the first and second spring clipping pieces130a,130bof the housing100are pulled inwardly toward the center of the upper cover100so that the first and second spring clipping pieces130a,103bextend less or minimally from the exterior surface of the respective sidewall110a,110bof the upper cover110. This allows the housing100to snugly slide in a cutout155on a ceiling board150for installation of the housing100.

FIG. 6shows a spring holder of an adjustable spring clipping device at a first height with respect to a housing of a downlight in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 7shows a spring holder of an adjustable spring clipping device at a second height with respect to a housing of a downlight in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. For example, the housing shown inFIGS. 6 and 7may be the housing100ofFIG. 1A. The height of each of the first and second spring clipping pieces130a,130bof the adjustable spring clipping device is adjustable to accommodate the thickness of the ceiling board. Once placed at a desired height, each of the first and second spring clipping pieces130a,130bis fastened to the upper cover110by the plurality of screws135. This advantageously allows the housing100to be installed on ceiling boards of different thicknesses.

FIGS. 8-11show installation procedure of a downlight with a housing having an adjustable spring clipping device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. For example, the housing shown inFIGS. 8-11may be the housing100ofFIG. 1A.

As shown inFIG. 8, a properly dimensioned cutout is provided at a location on the ceiling where a downlight described herein is to be installed. As shown inFIG. 9, the height of the spring clipping piece of the adjustable spring clipping device is adjusted according to the thickness of the ceiling board. As shown inFIG. 10, with a power unit of the downlight in place, the downlight is pushed into the cutout. The power unit supplies power to the one or more light sources of the downlight. As shown inFIG. 11, the downlight is placed and secured in position to complete the installation procedure.

Various embodiments of the housing100as described herein can be used in downlights having one or more light emitting diode (LED)-based light sources. Alternatively, a downlight in accordance with the present invention may include a non-LED light sources. For example, a light source of the downlight may include, for example, an incandescent light bulb, a halogen light bulb, a fluorescent light bulb, a mercury-vapor lamp, a sodium-vapor lamp, another type of a gas discharge lamp, etc.

Various embodiments of a downlight with an adjustable spring clipping device in accordance with the present invention are not limited to those described herein. The actual design and implementation of each component of the downlight or the adjustable spring clipping device in accordance with the present invention may vary from the embodiments described herein. Those ordinarily skilled in the art may make various deviations and improvements based on the disclosed embodiments, and such deviations and improvements are still within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of protection of a patent issued from the present disclosure is determined by the claims as follows.