Optical Tilt Mechanism For Wall Mount Light

A light assembly according to an embodiment has a body with an inside volume. A light panel is rotatably supported in the inside volume such that the light panel is configured to tilt about an axis A. The light assembly further includes a thread rod rotatably coupled to the body such that the thread rod is configured to rotate about an axis B different from the axis A. The light assembly also includes a direction converter engaged with the thread rod at a first end and the light panel at a second end such that the direction converter is configured to translate a rotational movement of the thread rod about the axis B to a tilting movement of the light panel about the axis A.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priorities from Indian Patent Application No. 1147/DEL/2015 filed on Apr. 24, 2015; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a light assembly adapted to be mounted to a wall surface, and more particularly relate to a tilt mechanism for a wall mounted light assembly.

BACKGROUND

Wall mounted lights are designed to be secured on a wall surface to illuminate a target area, preferably with relatively uniform illumination across that area. Generally such mounted lights include one or more light panels on which a plurality of LEDs is mounted. Such lights are typically employed in the inside of a factory or a warehouse, an indoor parking space or the like to provide illumination for convenience and safety.

Since the wall mounted lights are required to illuminate downward from an upper place, the tilt angle of the light panel needs to be set in accurately before securing on the wall surface. However sometimes, the tilt angle setting beforehand may not be correct enough to focus on the target object/area. Usually the tilt angle needs further adjustment to illuminate the target object/area accurately. In that case, the wall mounted lights are required to be removed from the wall surface to re-adjust the tilt angle. Also many of the times it may happen that the target objects that are to be illuminated are moved in the inside area, such as for reasons of change of factory layout. Again in that case, the already secured wall mounted lights may be required to be removed for re-adjustment of tilt angle for accurate illumination demand.

As the above situations put forth, it would be an advantage over the existing art to provide a wall mounted lighting assembly with flexibility in adjusting the tilt angle of the light panel easily without removing the same from the wall surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a light assembly. The light assembly includes a body having an inside volume. A light panel is rotatably supported in the inside volume such that the light panel is configured to tilt about an axis A. The light assembly further includes a thread rod rotatably coupled to the body such that the thread rod is configured to rotate about an axis B different from the axis A. The light assembly also includes a direction converter engaged with the thread rod at a first end and the light panel at a second end such that the direction converter is configured to translate a rotational movement of the thread rod about the axis B to a tilting movement of the light panel about the axis A.

In other aspect, the present disclosure provides a tilt mechanism for a light panel in a light assembly in which the light panel includes a guide groove and adapted to tilt about an axis A in the light assembly. The tilt mechanism includes a thread rod configured to rotate about an axis B different from the axis A. The tilt mechanism further includes a direction converter engaged with the thread rod at a first end and the guide groove at a second end such that the direction converter is configured to translate a rotational movement of the thread rod about the axis B to a tilting movement of the light panel about the axis A.

In yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for providing a tilt movement to a light panel in a light assembly in which the light panel includes a guide groove and adapted to tilt about an axis A. The method includes providing a rotational movement to a thread rod about an axis B different from the axis A. The method further includes translating the rotational movement of the thread rod about the axis B to a linear movement of a direction converter along the axis B by rotatably coupling the direction converter with the thread rod. The method further includes translating the linear movement of the direction converter along the axis B to a sliding movement of a slider in a guide groove of the light panel. The method further includes translating the sliding movement of the slider in the guide groove to a tilt action of the light panel by engaging the slider into the guide groove.

Detailed embodiments of the present light assembly are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the present disclosure, which may be embodied in various alternative forms. Specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure in virtually any appropriate structure.

FIG. 1illustrates a perspective view of a light assembly100in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Some electric devices such as control circuit and electric wirings are omitted in drawings, but conventional devices and methods may be adopted. The light assembly100may be typically employed to be installed in a workspace, such as a factory, a warehouse, an indoor parking, etc. The light assembly100of the present disclosure may be commonly installed above a target object/area to be illuminated in the workspace. In accordance with an embodiment, the light assembly100may be adapted to be secured on a wall surface10.

Referring toFIGS. 2A-D, the light assembly100may include a back cover102which may be adapted to be recessed into a concave void (not shown) in the wall surface10, The light assembly100may be mounted to the wall surface10by securing the back cover102to the wall surface10using some fastening means. In an embodiment, the back cover102may include a flange portion104adapted to rest against the wall surface10. Further, the light assembly100may include fasteners106, such as screws, to secure the flange portion104to the wall surface10. The back cover102may be employed to house some of the electronic components including a power circuit (not illustrated) of the light assembly100,

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the light assembly100may include a body108. The body108may be fixedly connected to the back cover102from one of the sides (not shown). In an embodiment, the body108may also include a flange portion110adapted to be fixedly secured with the flange portion104of the back cover102and thereby secured to the wall surface10. It may be contemplated by a person skilled in the art that the same fasteners106may be employed for securing both the body108as well as the back cover102to the wall surface10. In particular, the body108may include an upper side112which may be extending in a direction perpendicular to the wallsurface10. In an embodiment, as illustrated more clearly inFIG. 2B, the upper side112may be extending perpendicularly to some extent and therefrom extend in an angular fashion. The body108may further include two lateral sides114,116extending downwardly from the upper side112, more clearly illustrated inFIG. 2A. As in the illustrated embodiment, the lateral sides114,116may be defined as substantially triangle-shaped. Further in an embodiment, the body108may include a lower side118which defines its enclosed structure. The body108may be construed to be substantially in the shape of an extruded triangle, with one side removed and defining a hollow inside volume.

The light assembly100of the present disclosure may further include a light panel120. The light panel120may be disposed in the inside volume of the body108. The light assembly100may include a rod122supported between the two lateral sides114,116of the body108. It may be contemplated that the rod122may be supported by some fastening means known in the art. In one embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 3, the light panel120may be rotatably supported on the rod122adjacent to one of its edge124. In an alternate embodiment, the light panel120may be rotatably coupled to the rod122adjacent to the edge124. For this purpose the rod122may be supported between the two lateral sides114,116by some rotatable joints. In the light assembly100, an axis A is defined along the longitudinal direction of the rod122. The light panel120may be adapted to rotate along the rotational axis A in order to adjust a tilt angle θ with respect to the body108.

Referring back toFIG. 1, the light panel120may include a light source126disposed thereon. The light source126, for example, may include a plurality of LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) mounted on the light panel120. The light panel120may include a first surface128which may be in the form of a substrate with the required electrical connections, on to which the plurality of LEDs is mounted. Further the light panel120may be connected to the power circuit, as mentioned earlier, to provide the electric power for the light source126to illuminate.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, when the light panel120is angled such that θ is close to 0 degree, the light source126may be adapted to illuminate downside, along with the wall surface10. In other example, when the light panel120is angled such that θ is close to 50 degrees, the light source126may be adapted to illuminate in a down-front direction. It may be contemplated by a person skilled in the art that the tilt angle θ may be set based on the purpose and position of the target object/area to be illuminated.

FIG. 4illustrates a detailed back view of the light panel120in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The light panel120may include lateral end surfaces130disposed opposite to each other and may be made of insulating material. The light panel120may further include a second surface132stretching between the two end surfaces130. In an embodiment, the light panel120may include a heat sink assembly134disposed on the second surface132. The heat sink assembly134may be thermally connected to the light panel120, and configured to dissipate heat generated by the light source126mounted on the first surface128thereof. Further, as illustrated, the heat sink assembly134may include a plurality of fins136in the form of planar sheets extending orthogonally from the second surface132. The fins136may be made of materials with higher heat transfer efficiency such as, but not limited to, aluminium. The fins136may be adapted to increase the heat dissipation performance of the heat sink assembly134.

Further, as illustrated inFIG. 4, the light panel120may include a guide groove138defined towards the second surface132.FIG. 5provides a sectional schematic view of the guide groove138. The guide groove138may be located about the central portion140of the second surface132. From the illustration, it may be understood by a person skilled in the art that the guide groove138may be defined by four planar panes142a,142band144a,144b,where two panes each may be extruding from each of two fins136a,136b.It may be contemplated that the two fins136a,136bmay be located on opposite sides from the central portion140, and further the planar panes142a,142band144a,144bmay be extending parallel to the second surface132and in the opposite direction.

Referring back toFIG. 1, the light assembly100may also include a front cover146. According to an embodiment, the front cover146may be made of a substantially transparent material, such as, but no limited to, glass, plastic or other transparent materials in order to allow emitted light from the light panel120to pass through. As in the illustrated embodiment, the front cover146may be defined substantially in the shape of an extruded triangle with one side removed and with a hollow inside volume. However, it may be understood that the front cover146may be in any other shape such that, when connected to the body108, it may not interfere with a tilt action of the light panel120disposed therein.

The front cover146may be adapted to be connected with the body108in a manner as illustrated. The front cover146may be so arranged that the light panel120may be allowed to rotate inside the front cover146smoothly without any collision with the other parts. The front cover146may be designed to complement the shape of the body108substantially like a cover for a box. The front cover146may have a slightly smaller opened area in comparison to opened area of the body108, and is adapted such that the opened area of the front cover146may be seated into the opened area of the body108. Further the front cover146may be rigidly connected to the body108by means known in the art, such as, but not limited to, fasteners. The body108along with the front cover146may be construed to be in the form of a shell adapted to protect the components, such as the light panel120, installed in the inside volume of the light assembly100.

Now referring toFIG. 6, the light assembly100may include a tilt mechanism200in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The tilt mechanism200may be configured to adjust the tilt angle θ of the light panel118installed inside the body108. According to an exemplary embodiment, further illustrated inFIG. 8A-C, the tilt mechanism200of the present disclosure may be configured to set/adjust the tilt angle θ of the light panel120in the range between 0 to 50 degrees. However it may be understood that the present tilt mechanism200may not be restricted to this exemplary range and may be adapted to even beyond the said range. The tilt mechanism200may include a thread rod202having two ends, an upper end204aand a lower end204b.The two ends204a,204bmay be coupled in connection with the body108by means of two rotatable joints, an upper joint206aand a lower joint206b.In an embodiment, the thread rod202may include a thread portion208defined along a portion of its length along an axis B. The thread portion208may extend between an upper point209aand a lower point209b.

Further, the tilt mechanism200may include a screw210formed with the thread rod202. Specifically, the screw210may be formed below the lower joint206bof the thread rod202. The screw210may be disposed outside of the body108and/or the front cover146so that the screw210may be rotatable from downward of the light assembly100. The screw210may be positioned to afford no or minimum interference to the light emission from the light panel120. The screw210may be adapted to be turned both clockwise and counter-clockwise about the axis B.

It may be understood that the screw210may be turned by using a screwdriver or the like, by some personnel from outside of the light assembly100. In an alternate embodiment, the light assembly100may include a motorized turning mechanism (not illustrated) for the screw210. The said mechanism is regulated by a controller (not illustrated), such a two-way lever, knob or a dial with angular indentations corresponding to the tilt angle θ. The controller may be installed on the wall surface within the easy reach of the personnel.

The tilt mechanism200may further include a direction converter212coupled with the thread rod202.FIG. 7illustrates a detailed embodiment of the direction converter212in a particular reference with the thread rod202. In an embodiment, the direction converter212may include a ring214, with internal threads (not shown), disposed towards a first end216. The internal threads of the ring214may be engaged with the thread portion208of the thread rod202. It may be understood that the ring214encircles a part of the thread portion208. Further it may be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art that such an arrangement allows for translating the rotational movement of the thread rod202to a linear movement (upward and downward directions) of the direction converter212along the axis B.

The direction converter212may further include a slider218disposed towards a second end220. The slider218may be in the form of a rod connected at the second end220and extending orthogonally to a longitudinal axis C of the direction converter212. As may be understood fromFIG. 7, the slider218in conjunction with the direction converter212may form a substantially T-shaped structure. The slider218may further include protrusions222formed at its ends224. In an aspect of the present disclosure, the protrusions222may be adapted to be engaged in the guide groove138of the light panel120. It may be contemplated be a person skilled in the art that when the screw210is turned about the axis B, the direction converter212travels linearly along the axis B, forcing the slider218to slide in the guide groove138and in turn leading to the tilt action of the light panel120about the axis A. It may also be understood that the span of the thread rod from the axis B to the protrusions222remains constant during the linear movement of the direction converter212.

Aspects, advantages and/or other features of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure will become apparent in view of the following detailed description, which discloses various non-limiting embodiments of the disclosure. It is to be understood that specific examples may include all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. Further individual features shown or described for one embodiment may be combined with individual features shown or described for another embodiment. Also some features as shown or described in the context of functional segments may be omitted within the scope of the present disclosure.

Since the wall mounted lights are required to illuminate downward from an upper place, the tilt angle of the light panel installed therein needs be set in accurately before securing on the wall surface. However sometimes, the tilt angle setting beforehand may not be correct enough to focus on the target object/area and therefore the tilt angle may require further adjustments to illuminate the target object/area accurately. In that case, the wall mounted lights are required to be removed from the wall surface to re-adjust the tilt angle which may be a big hassle for the personnel.

The light assembly100of the present disclosure is designed such that the tilt angle θ of the light panel120may be changed without the need of removing it from the wall surface10. The present disclosure provides the tilt mechanism200for adjusting the tilt angle θ of the light panel120while the light assembly100is secured to the wall surface10. For the purpose of present disclosure, the tilt mechanism200may allow adjusting the tilt angle θ of the light panel120in the range between 0 to 50 degrees. The tilt mechanism200is explained in detail below with reference toFIGS. 8 to 10C-2.

FIG. 8Aillustrates a condition when the direction converter212, or specifically the ring214, is positioned at the lower point209balong the thread rod202. At this condition, the light panel120is disposed with the tilt angle θ close to 0 degrees resulting in the light source126illuminating in the downward direction along with the wall surface10.

As explained earlier, the light assembly100of the present disclosure allows for turning of the screw210from outside by some personnel. When the screw210is turned in a specific rotational direction about the axis B, the thread rod202rotates along with the screw210. Further the engagement of the thread portion208and the internal threads of the ring214translate this rotational motion about axis B to linear movement of direction converter212. Depending on the handedness of the thread portion208, the direction converter212may move either upwardly or downwardly along the axis B. Assuming on clockwise rotation of the screw210, the direction converter212moves upwardly along the axis B.

FIG. 8Billustrates a condition when the screw210is turned clockwise. In response to this, the direction converter212starts moving upwardly which forces the slider218to travel in the guide groove138and in turn lead to tilt action of the light panel120about the axis A. This may be possible because the span of the thread rod202from the axis B to the protrusions222remains constant during the linear movement of the direction converter212. As illustrated inFIG. 8B, as the direction converter212moves closer to the middle of the length of the thread portion208, the light panel120is tilted with the tilt angle θ close to 25 degrees. In this condition, the light source126illuminates the area in front and at a little distance from the wall surface10.

FIG. 8Cillustrates a condition when the screw210is further turned in the same rotational direction. In response, the direction converter212moves further upward along the axis B and the slider218travels further in the guide groove138. At some point, the direction converter212reaches the upper point209aof thread portion208, resulting in the light panel120being further tilted about the axis A with the tilt angle θ close to 50 degrees. In this arrangement, the light source126is adapted to illuminate further area from the wall surface10.

It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or illustrated in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting of the scope of the disclosure. Changes in detail or structure may be made based on design demands without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. For example, the size, shape or number of light panels120may be determined based on the optical design and the mounted LEDs performance. In some cases, the heat sink assembly may not be essential for the purpose of the present disclosure. It is further possible to include a screw formed at the upper end204ain order to adjust the tilt angle θ from upwards. Further it may be appreciated that the disclosed light assembly100may be easily modified to be mountable on to a ceiling.

While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad present disclosure, and that this present disclosure is not limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications and/or adaptations may occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. All directional references (e.g., upper, lower, upward, downward, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and counter-clockwise) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader's understanding of the present disclosure, and hence, may not be construed to create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the devices and/or methods disclosed herein. Examples and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not limiting in any manner, and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.