Light fixture with concealed wireway

A bracket device for mounting a light fixture comprising a flat grooved element and a flat cover to conceal and protect the electrical conductors powering the light source inside the lighting fixture is disclosed. When configured to swivel, the bracket device allows for adjustment of the light fixture without introducing significant wear or strain to the electrical conductors passing through the interior portion of the device. This bracket device is thin, compact and of very neat and simple appearance. Because of its thinness and its compact shape this device conceals and its main element can be made to have the same thickness as a prior art mechanical bracket element, which would not normally carry electrical conductors.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The current invention relates to improvements in lighting fixtures and in particular to lighting fixtures that utilize a light emitting source within an adjustable housing, enclosure or mounting means for the light source.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Lighting fixtures that have an adjustable position are very often used as the most effective equipment for certain lighting tasks. Adjustable lighting fixtures can be recessed into ceilings, mounted to electrified track systems, and mounted to permanent or temporary structures or surfaces. By nature of their design, they allow greater operational flexibility, as they can be accurately positioned in order to bring the light to the particular surface, object or task being lit.

Conventionally the prior art utilizes incandescent, fluorescent, high intensity discharge, halogen or LED (light emitting diode) as the light source for such fixtures. These light sources need electric energy in order to operate, as they all work by converting electricity into light.

An existing problem associated with the prior art relates to the way electricity is delivered to the light sources within an adjustable lighting fixture. With the exception of induction lamps, all light sources require that electricity be brought to them by means of electrical conductors, such as wires or cables. The adjustability requirement very often necessitates that the electrical conductors bringing power to the source also be adjustable because the conductors are required to move in some fashion to follow the light source and thereby allow for the position of the light source to be adjusted. Since these electrical conductors travel from the main energy source (mains power) or secondary energy source (transformers, converters, etc) to the light source, they often follow a tortuous path that can run along the inside of moving and static mechanical components, along the outside of the moving or static components or a combination thereof, and very often go around corners and through holes and constrictions within components. Frequent movement and repeated friction along the constrictions often results in premature damage to insulation surrounding the conductor, and/or a short circuit, which can cause shock or death.

Another problem with the prior art is that electrical conductors are exposed to the environment. This makes the electrical insulation of such conductors more likely to fail, due to damage from exposure to ultraviolet rays and exposure to the elements.

A further problem with the prior art is that a longer electrical conductor is required in order to provide enough slack for the conductor to be able to move with the movement of the light source. This longer electrical conductor is often prone to damage from impact with other equipment, tangling during shipping, installation and operation, or snagging.

A further problem with the prior art is the unsightliness of exposed conductors when they are routed along the outside of lighting fixtures. Most adjustable light fixtures are installed and operated in locations were they are within view of the public. As such, simplifying the appearance and providing a cleaner, less cluttered look constitutes a potentially valuable improvement.

Some prior art devices provide flexible connections that combine movable or adjustable mechanical joints with electrical conductors running along the inside of the joints. These joints are almost invariably bulky and oversized to allow the conductors to move smoothly and without constriction in such a way that does not damage the conductors after repeated movement. For the most part, they comprise either an oversized pivoting elbow type of arrangement, or a coiled metal (gooseneck) type of wireway. The oversized pivoting elbow is unsightly because it is typically large. The existing coiled metal wireways do not allow for very stable or repeatable positioning of a light source, and invariably result in the light source's position having to be frequently reset after any servicing or cleaning is performed on the light fixture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a lighting fixture comprising a bracket having a mounting portion and a groove, and a cover attached to the bracket concealing at least a portion of the groove. The groove may extend from the mounting portion to another area of the bracket. In one embodiment, the groove may extend beyond the cover.

In one embodiment, the bracket may have an outer perimeter, and the cover may be shaped to match at least a portion of the bracket's outer perimeter. In another embodiment, the bracket may have an inner perimeter, and the cover may be shaped to match at least a portion of the bracket's inner perimeter. In one embodiment, the bracket may have both an inner and outer perimeter, and the cover may be shaped to match at least a portion of the bracket's inner and outer perimeter.

In another embodiment, the invention may further comprise a wire residing at least partially in the groove. The wire may be a part of an electrical connection between a power supply and a lamp. The lamp housing may be supported by the bracket and/or connected to a power supply housing. In one embodiment, the lamp housing may be rotatable relative to the bracket.

In one embodiment, the invention may further comprise a power supply. The power supply may be electrically connected to the power supply housing. The bracket and power supply housing may be electrical connected. In one embodiment, the power supply, power supply housing, bracket, and lamp housing are electrically connected. The invention may further comprise a lamp connected to the lamp housing with an electrical conductor.

In another embodiment, the invention may provide a lighting fixture comprising a bracket extending from an electrical track adapter. The bracket has a groove, and a cover attached to the bracket. The cover may conceal at least a portion of the groove. In one embodiment, the lighting fixture may further comprise an electrical wireway over an electrical junction box. A canopy may cover the electrical junction box.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-3show a lighting fixture10that is in keeping with the invention. In such a fixture10there is a power supply housing13, a bracket16, a cover19, a lamp22, and a lamp housing25. The power supply housing13may include a port28, which is designed to receive an electrical conductor for supplying electricity to the lamp22. An interior surface of the port28may be threaded for receiving a conduit connector (not shown).

The bracket16may be pivotally attached to the lamp housing25at a pivot area31by inserting a connector33through the bracket16and into the housing25. By doing so, the lamp housing25may be pivoted to a desired position in order to direct light from the lamp22to a desired location.

The bracket16and cover19are shown in more detail inFIGS. 4 and 5.FIGS. 4 and 5also show that bracket16may include an overarching segment36to which the power supply and/or its housing13may be attached. InFIGS. 4 and 5there is shown a groove39in the bracket16that extends from a lamp side48of the bracket16to a portion of the bracket16that resides near the power supply housing13. An electrical conductor may extend from the power supply60to the lamp22via the groove39. By placing the cover19on the bracket16, the conductor in the groove39is substantially concealed from view, thereby improving the appearance of the fixture10.

The cover19may have a shape that is substantially similar to the bracket16, at least in most areas, so that the cover19does not extend beyond the bracket16. For example, the cover19may be shaped to match at least a portion of the bracket's16outer perimeter18, and/or the cover19may be shaped to match at least a portion of the bracket's16inner perimeter17(when the bracket16has an inner perimeter17). In addition, the bracket16and cover19may have a decorative shape or pattern.

The groove39may extend beyond the cover19on the power supply side45of the groove39so that the electrical conductors can easily enter the groove39. The groove39may extend beyond the cover19on the lamp side48of the groove39near the pivot hole42so that the electrical conductors can easily enter the lamp housing25, and ultimately reach the lamp22. In this manner, the cover19may be easily fitted to the bracket16while the conductor resides in the groove39.

FIGS. 6 and 7show a bracket and cover similar to that shown inFIG. 4, but also show a bushing51that may be used to protect the electrical conductor as it passes from the groove39into the housing25. Two fasteners54(one is partially shown inFIG. 7) may be used to engage the bushing51, and thereby hold the bushing to the cover19. An enlarged slot57is provided adjacent to the groove39, which facilitates insertion of the electrical conductor during assembly. The fasteners54may be covered with a label or decorative cover in order to hide the fasteners54and the slot57.

FIG. 8is a schematic showing the embodiment of the invention described above. InFIG. 8, there is shown a first set of electrical conductors63entering the fixture10at the port28. The first set of electrical conductors63deliver electricity at a high voltage to the power supply60. The power supply60reduces the voltage and delivers the low voltage electricity via a second set of electrical conductors66. The second set of electrical conductors66run from the power supply60, through the groove39to the lamp side48(not shown inFIG. 8).

In another embodiment, the lamp22is powered directly, without the need to modify the voltage provided to the fixture10.FIG. 9is a schematic depicting such an embodiment. Such an embodiment of the invention does not require a power supply60or housing13for the power supply60. With the exception of the bracket16not including a compartment for the power supply60, the bracket16, the conductor concealing groove39, the cosmetic wire cover19, and other mechanical and cosmetic parts could be substantially the same as the embodiments described above.

FIGS. 10 and 11are schematics showing a rear and side view of another embodiment of the present invention whereby a canopy70is attached to the port28to allow for attachment to any one of a number of standard electrical junction boxes. Such junction boxes may be mounted flush with the finished surface of a ceiling.

In one embodiment, two wires are placed in the groove39in order to complete an electrical circuit between the power supply60and the lamp22. In another embodiment of the invention that may be used with low-voltage/low current lamps22, one of the wires connecting the power supply60to the lamp22may be omitted.FIG. 12is a schematic depicting such an arrangement. The port28may be electrically insulated from the housing13, which is made of an electrically conductive material. Housing13could be electrically connected to one of the outputs of a low-voltage power supply60, via the bracket19, thereby making the fixture10one of the conductors in the electrical circuit between the power supply60and the lamp22. For example, the bracket19and a power supply housing13may be electrically connected. In another example. the power supply60, power supply housing13, bracket19, and lamp housing25may be electrically connected. At the location where the lamp22or the lampholder69is attached to lamp housing25, a short wire may be provided in order to electrically connect the lamp housing25to one of the electrical terminals on the lamp22or lampholder69.

Although the present invention has been described with respect to one or more particular embodiments, it will be understood that other embodiments of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Hence, the present invention is deemed limited only by the appended claims and the reasonable interpretation thereof.