Decorative replacement cover with onyx lens for recessed light fixture in wall or stair riser

A cover for a recessed light fixture includes a base plate mounted on a surface such that an outer perimeter of the base plate surrounds the recessed light fixture. A lens frame is removably secured to the base plate. The lens frame includes a recess that receives an onyx lens that is sized and shaped to fit within the recess. The onyx lens is secured between a lens border of the lens frame and the outer perimeter of the base plate so that the onyx lens is positioned over the recessed light fixture. Light from a lamp within the recessed light fixture passes through the onyx lens and is emitted from a polished surface of the onyx lens to provide a pleasing decorative glow for illuminating a step or other passageway.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is in the field of lighting fixtures for residences and commercial properties, and, more particularly, is in the field of covers for recessed lighting fixtures for stairways, hallways and other walking areas.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many residences and commercial properties have stairways, hallways and other walking areas that are lighted by recessed low wattage fixtures placed low on the wall or column or placed in a stair riser to provide lighting with low illumination so that a person can see the portion of the floor, walkway or the step without illuminating the entire hall, the walkway or stairway. Some conventional fixtures are covered with a plastic or metallic plate having a louvered grill that directs the light downward towards the area where a person steps. Other conventional fixtures include rectangular or round frames that hold frosted glass or plastic lenses of corresponding shapes. Although such louvered plates or lenses are functional, the plates and lenses are generally not attractive and do not add to the decor of a residence or commercial property.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A need exists for a cover for a recessed light fixture that is decorative as well as functional. Furthermore, it is desirable that the cover can be easily attached to an existing recessed light fixture to replace an existing louvered plate or an existing frosted glass or plastic lens. The cover disclosed herein comprises three easily installed components. A support bracket is mounted on the wall, column or stair riser surrounding the opening of a recessed step light fixture from which the conventional louvered plate or frosted glass or plastic lens frame has been removed. The support bracket does not require any connection to the recessed light fixture and can be installed without requiring any manipulation of the electrical wiring of the recessed light fixture. The support bracket provides a base for engaging a decorative cover frame that is also the frame for an onyx stone lens. In particular, the decorative cover frame is sized to fit onto the support bracket and to be secured thereto with thumb screws so that no tools are required to attach or detach the cover frame. In an illustrated embodiment, the onyx stone lens has a thickness of approximately ⅜ inch. Preferably, the stone lens comprises a naturally occurring “Honey Onyx” that is translucent. The thickness and color of the translucent stone filters the light from the source (e.g., an incandescent, fluorescent or light emitting diode (LED) lamp) within the recessed light fixture. The filtered light provides a beautiful warm glow that illuminates the desired area on the step or other walkway while adding to the ambience of the stairway, hallway or other walkway where the recessed light fixture is located. Each onyx stone lens is unique with no two lenses being identical. Thus, each cover is a “one-of-a-kind” design. The cover for the recessed light fixture allows a homeowner or a business to easily transform outdated step lights and other recessed light fixtures into a unique and attractive design using a product that is affordable and simple to install and that provides immediate and dramatic results.

An aspect of embodiments in accordance with the present invention is a cover for a recessed light fixture mounted in a fixture enclosure embedded in a fixture opening in a wall, a column or a stair riser. The cover comprises a base plate, a lens frame and an onyx lens. The base plate has an outer perimeter surrounding a central opening. The central opening is sized to be larger than the fixture opening such that the outer perimeter entirely surrounds the fixture opening. The base plate includes openings formed in the perimeter to accommodate fasteners to secure the base plate to the wall, the column or the stair riser. The lens frame has a base portion sized to fit around the outer perimeter of the base plate and has a lens support portion extending from the base portion. The lens support portion includes a lens receiving recess have a selected size and shape. The lens receiving recess has a view opening disposed away from the base portion. The view opening is surrounded by a lens border. The lens comprises a slab of onyx cut to a size and shape to fit within the recess of the lens frame. The lens has a polished face that highlights the naturally occurring colors of the onyx. The lens is positioned in the lens receiving recess of the lens frame with a perimeter portion of the lens adjacent the border surrounding the view opening and with the remaining portion of the polished face exposed through the view opening of the lens receiving recess. Thus, light incident on a face opposite the polished face is emitted from the remaining portion of the polished face and passes through the view opening.

Preferably, the base portion of the lens frame includes at least one fastener to fasten the lens frame to the base portion. Also preferably, the at least one fastener comprises a thumbscrew having a threaded shaft that passes through a bore in the lens frame and that engages a threaded bore in the base plate. More preferably, the at least one fastener comprises two thumbscrews that pass through bores formed symmetrically about a center of the lens frame and that engage corresponding threaded bores in the base plate.

In preferred embodiments, the slab of onyx forming the lens comprises “honey onyx.” In certain embodiments, the slab of onyx forming the lens has a thickness of approximately ⅜ inch. Preferably, the slab of onyx forming the lens is generally rectangular with a front surface, a rear surface, a first edge surface, a second edge surface, a third edge surface and a fourth edge surface. Preferably, only the front surface is polished to form the polished face. In certain embodiments, when the lens frame is secured to the base plate, the lens positioned in the lens receiving recess is secured within the lens receiving recess between the lens border of the view opening and the outer perimeter of the base plate.

Another aspect of embodiments in accordance with the present invention is a method of installing a cover over a recessed light fixture. The method comprises removing any existing cover from the recessed light fixture. A base plate is secured to the surface surrounding the recessed light fixture. The base plate is generally centered with respect to the recessed light fixture. The base plate includes an outer perimeter that surrounds a central opening. The recessed light fixture is accessible via the central opening. An onyx lens is inserted into a lens frame. The onyx lens is sized and shaped to fit within a recess in the lens frame. The recess has a viewing opening surrounded by a lens border. The onyx lens is positioned in the recess with a perimeter of a polished surface of the onyx lens against the lens border and with the remaining portion of the polished surface exposed through the viewing opening. The lens frame is secured to the base plate. The lens frame is positioned with respect to the base plate such that the onyx lens is positioned between the lens border of the lens frame and the outer perimeter of the base plate such that the onyx lens is positioned over the recessed light fixture. In preferred embodiments, the onyx lens comprises “honey onyx.”

Preferably, the lens frame is removably secured to the base plate via at least one thumbscrew having a threaded shaft that passes through a bore in the lens frame and engages a threaded bore in the base plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The step light cover is disclosed herein with respect to exemplary embodiments. The embodiments are disclosed for illustration of the cover for a recessed light fixture and are not limiting except as defined in the appended claims. The embodiments are described herein with respect to a recessed light fixture positioned in the riser of a step or in a wall proximate to a step; however, it should be understood that the embodiments may also be used with other recessed light fixtures for lighting walkways such as hallways, outdoor pathways and the like wherein the light fixtures may be installed in indoor or outdoor walls or columns or other structures.

FIG. 1illustrates a front perspective view of the components of a cover10prior to installation of the cover over an existing recessed light fixture. Preferably, the cover is provided as a kit having the components shown inFIG. 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the cover comprises a base plate20, an onyx lens22, a lens frame24, a pair of thumbscrews26, a set of base installation screws30and an optional set of wall anchors (mollies)32.

In the illustrated embodiment, the lens frame24is rectangular and is formed as a frame base portion40and a frame raised portion42. The frame base portion has a height of approximately ¼ inch, and the frame raised portion has a height of approximately ⅜ inch. The frame base portion has an outer width of approximately 4¼ inches and has an outer length of approximately 6¼ inches. The frame raised portion is generally centered on the frame base portion has an outer width of approximately 3¾ inches and an outer length of approximately 5 inches. Thus, the frame base portion forms a border around the frame raised portion. An upper portion50of the border extends approximately ⅝ inch above the frame raised portion; and a lower portion52of the border extends approximately ⅝ inch below the frame raised portion. A left portion54of the border extends horizontally approximately ¼ inch to the left of the frame raised portion; and a right portion56of the border extends approximately ¼ inch to the right of the frame raised portion. (As used herein “upper,” “lower,” “left” and “right” refer to the orientation shown inFIG. 1, and are not intended to limit the positioning of the lens frame to a particular orientation.)

A first through bore60is formed in the upper portion50of the border approximately 3/16 inch from the upper edge of the lens frame24and is centered with respect to the right and left edges of the lens frame. A second through bore62(seeFIGS. 2 and 3) is formed in the lower portion52of the border approximately 3/16 inch from the lower edge of the lens frame and is also centered with respect to the left and right edges of the lens frame. Thus, the two through bores are positioned approximately 5⅝ inches apart center-to-center. In the illustrated embodiment, the through bores have diameters of approximately ¼ inch. Preferably, the two through bores are disposed vertically by substantially equal distances from the center of the lens frame.

The raised portion42of the lens frame24has a rectangular opening70formed substantially in the center. The rectangular opening has a width of approximately 3¼ inches and has a length of approximately 4½ inches. Thus, the frame raised portion forms a lens border72having a width of approximately ¼ inch around the four edges of the rectangular opening. As described below, the rectangular opening is a view opening for the onyx lens22when the onyx lens is installed in the lens frame.

In the illustrated embodiment, the lens frame24is formed from metal such as steel or aluminum having a thickness corresponding to 22 gauge steel (approximately 0.0285 to 0.0314 inch) and is painted, anodized or otherwise coated with a decorative finish. Alternatively, the lens frame may be formed from a suitable plastic or other material, which may have a different thickness.

As shown in the rear perspective view ofFIG. 2, the lens frame24has a first recessed portion80corresponding to the border around the frame raised portion42and has a second recessed portion82corresponding to the lens border72around the rectangular view opening70. The first recessed portion has a depth of approximately 3/16 inch, which corresponds to the ¼-inch height of the frame base portion40less the thickness of the metal (or other material) and the thickness of any coating. The first recessed portion has an inside length that is slightly greater than 6 3/16 inches and has an inside width that is slightly greater than 4 3/16 inches. The second recessed portion has a depth of approximately ⅜ inch corresponding to the height of the frame raised portion42because the thickness of the raised frame portion is offset by the thickness of the frame base portion. The second recessed portion has a width of approximately 3⅝ inches and has a length (in the vertical direction in the drawings) of approximately 4⅞ inches.

The onyx lens22comprises a slab of naturally occurring onyx, which is formed of bands of chalcedony in alternating colors. In a preferred embodiment, the onyx lens comprises “honey onyx,” which has warm tones of orange, gold and yellow, with each slab having distinctive patterning so that each lens is unique. The onyx lens may also comprise other types of onyx with different colors and with different color patterns. Accordingly, it should be understood that the banding pattern shown in the drawings is only representative of a very large number of different naturally occurring color patterns that are generally irregular.

The onyx lens22is shaped and sized to fit within the second recessed portion82of the lens frame24. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the onyx lens is generally rectangular in the illustrated embodiment and has a front surface90, a rear surface92, an upper surface94, a lower surface96, a left surface98and a right surface100. The lower surface is substantially similar to the upper surface, and the left surface is substantially similar to the right surface.

The onyx lens22has a thickness between the front surface90and the rear surface92of approximately ⅜ inch, which is approximately the same as the depth of the second recessed portion82. The onyx lens has a width between the left surface98and the right surface100of approximately 3½ inches. The onyx lens has a length (in the vertical direction in the drawings) between the upper surface94and the lower surface96of approximately 4¾ inches. Thus, the onyx lens fits within the second recessed portion of the lens frame with the rear surface of the onyx lens approximately flush with the bottom of the first recessed portion80, as shown inFIG. 3. As shown inFIG. 9, when the onyx lens is positioned in the lens frame, an outer perimeter portion of the front surface of the onyx lens is positioned against the lens border72with the remaining portion of the onyx lens exposed through the view opening70.

In the illustrated embodiment, the front surface90of the onyx lens22is polished to form a polished face that highlights the naturally occurring pattern of colored bands or other structures of the onyx. The other five surfaces (the rear, upper, lower, left and right surfaces) of the onyx lens may also be polished; however, in the illustrated embodiment, the other five surfaces remain in the initial saw-cut state as represented by the arcuate phantom lines on the surfaces. The unpolished surfaces are not visible in the installed onyx lens and do not detract from the appearance of the finished surface. In addition, the saw marks on the rear surface92may also serve to diffuse the light as it passes through the onyx lens from the rear surface to the front surface, as described below.

As further shown inFIG. 1, the base plate20is generally rectangular and has upper edge120, a lower edge122, a left edge124and a right edge126. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper edge and the lower edge are spaced apart by a length that is slightly less than approximately 6⅛ inches. The left edge and the right edge are spaced apart by a width of slightly less than approximately 4 3/16 inches. Accordingly, the base plate is sized to fit within the first recessed portion80of the lens frame24. Preferably, the base plate has a thickness of approximately ⅛ inch. In the illustrated embodiment, the base plate comprises brass; however, other suitable metallic or nonmetallic materials may also be used.

The base plate20has a rectangular opening130formed in the central portion. The rectangular opening has a width of approximately 3 3/16 inches and has a length of approximately 5 3/16 inches. Thus, the remaining portions of the base plate form an outer perimeter around the rectangular opening.

The base plate20includes a respective countersunk bore132in each of the four corners with the center of each bore disposed approximately 5/16 inch from each of the two nearest edges. In the illustrated embodiment, the centers of the four countersunk bores are spaced apart by 3 9/16 inches horizontally and by 5 9/16 inches vertically. In the illustrated embodiment, the diameter of the non-countersunk portion of each bore is approximately 3/16 inch. The spacing can be varied from the illustrated embodiment.

The base plate20includes a first threaded bore140and a second threaded bore142. The first threaded bore is positioned between the top of the rectangular opening130and the upper edge120. The second threaded bore is positioned between the bottom of the rectangular opening and the lower edge122. The centers of the threaded bores are positioned approximately 5⅝ inches apart to match the spacing of the through bores60and62of the lens frame24. The threads of the threaded bores are selected to match the threads on the thumbscrews26. In the illustrated embodiment, the thumbscrews have a shaft length of approximately ¼ inch and are threaded with conventional 6-32 threads.

The cover10disclosed herein is preferably used to replace an existing cover over a recessed light fixture, such as for example, a louvered cover200shown inFIG. 4. The louvered cover is positioned over an existing recessed light fixture210(FIG. 5), which is positioned in an opening212in a wall, a column or a stair riser214. A portion of the wall, column or stair riser surrounding the recessed light fixture is shown inFIGS. 4-9. It should be understood that in some installations, the recessed light fixture is positioned in a wall alongside a flight of stairs. In other installations, the recessed light fixture is positioned in a riser to illuminate the step immediately below the riser. In other installations, the recessed light fixture may be installed in a column or other structure proximate to a walkway. The recessed light fixture may be installed in either indoor or outdoor locations. The cover may be used in many types of installations. It should be further understood that although the recessed light fixture is oriented vertically inFIGS. 4-9, the cover disclosed herein may also be installed over recessed light fixtures that are oriented horizontally.

Although described herein with respect to the replacement of a cover on an existing recessed light fixture, it should be understood that the cover10may also be installed over a recessed light fixture in new construction as will be apparent from the following description.

As shown inFIG. 5, the first step in replacing an existing cover200for a recessed light fixture with the cover10ofFIGS. 1-3is to remove the existing cover by disengaging a pair of screws220from the threaded holes222in the mounting tabs of the recessed light fixture210to release the cover and expose the existing recessed light fixture. For new construction where no cover has been attached to the recessed light fixture, the step shown inFIG. 5is not necessary. After removing the existing cover, a bulb224or other lighting component can be replaced if desired. For example, an incandescent bulb can be replaced with a lower wattage LED bulb, or the like, having a mounting base common to the mounting base of the existing bulb.

In the next step illustrated inFIG. 6, four holes230are formed in the wall, column or step riser214in a rectangular pattern surrounding the recessed light fixture210. Preferably, the rectangular pattern is symmetrical about the center of the recessed light fixture. A template (not shown) can be provided to indicate the locations of the four holes. Alternatively, the base plate20can be positioned temporarily around the recessed light fixture so that the countersunk bores132can be used as a template to mark the positions of the four holes. The holes are then drilled in the wall, column or step riser at the marked locations.

When the recessed light fixture is mounted in a wall214comprising wallboard, the holes230are drilled to the diameter specified for the size of the wall anchor mollies32. For some installations (for example, when the recessed light fixture is mounted in a solid wood stair riser), the wall anchor mollies may not be necessary, and the holes are drilled with a pilot hole selected for the size of the base installation screws30. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the base installation screws are #8 wood screws, and a ⅛ inch pilot hole is advantageous.

For the wallboard installation, the wall anchor mollies32are positioned in the holes230as shown inFIG. 7. The countersunk bores132in the base plate20are aligned with the mollies, and the base installation screws30are inserted through the countersunk bores and into the mollies. The base installation screws are then tightened to secure the base plate to the wall or stair riser214, as shown inFIG. 8. If the wall anchor mollies are not used, the base installation screws are screwed directly into the pilot holes formed in the wall.

After securing the base plate20to the wall214as shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, the lens frame24and the lens22are positioned over the base plate, and the lens frame is secured to the base plate by engaging the thumbscrews26into the threaded bores140,142as shown inFIG. 9. Prior to positioning the lens frame and lens over the base plate, the lens is positioned in the lens frame as shown inFIG. 3. Although the onyx lens may be shipped to a distributor and to an end user separate from the lens frame, as shown inFIG. 1, in certain preferred embodiments, the onyx lens is secured to the lens frame using an adhesive or other suitable means of attachment prior to shipping so that the end user does not have to handle the onyx lens during the installation process. Accordingly, when the lens frame is secured to the base plate, the lens is sandwiched between the border72of the lens frame and the base plate. A substantial portion of the front surface90of the lens is exposed via the rectangular opening in the lens frame.

After the installation is completed as shown inFIGS. 4-9, the recessed light fixture210operates as before; however, the light provided by the recessed light fixture is now filtered through the lens22of the cover10to provide a warm glow rather than the harsh lighting provided by a conventional recessed light fixture.

As set forth above, the installation does not require any modification of the existing recessed light fixture210and does not present any risk of electrical shock because the existing electrical wiring to the recessed light fixture is not modified during the installation of the cover10. If the bulb224needs to be replaced after installation of the cover, the lens frame24and the lens22are easily removed by disengaging the thumbscrews26to provide access to the bulb.

It should be understood that although described herein with respect to a rectangular cover10installed with the longest edge oriented vertically, the cover may also be installed in other orientations (e.g., horizontal or at an angle) to accommodate the positioning of the recessed light fixture210over which the cover is installed. Furthermore, the cover may also be configured as a square to accommodate a recessed light fixture having a wider enclosure. The cover may also be configured in other shapes to provide additional decorative options. For outdoor installations or other installations where the cover may be exposed to water, a suitable gasket, caulking or other material can be provided to seal the lens frame to the wall, column or step riser to inhibit water intrusion.