Abstract:
In a first aspect, a wallpack lighting fixture is provided herein for use with solid state lighting and which is configurable to selectively utilize different quantities, up to a maximum, of solid state lighting modules, allowing for different levels and patterns of light output. In a second aspect, a wallpack lighting fixture is provided herein for use with solid state lighting which includes a main housing and a secondary enclosure removably mountable to the main housing. In a further aspect, a wallpack lighting fixture is provided herein for use with solid state lighting which includes a housing having a wall mountable back panel and a door portion hingeably, and detachably, connected to the back panel.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/369,573 filed Aug. 1, 2016, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Wallpack (also known as “wall pack”) lighting fixtures are known in the prior art. Wallpack lighting fixtures are typically single enclosed housings configured for wall mounting with generally downward light throw. Examples of such designs may be found in U.S. Design Pat. No. D747,533, U.S. Design Pat. No. D691,320 and U.S. Design Pat. No. D653,377. 
         [0003]    Typically, wallpack designs are not provided with configurability. In addition, a typical wallpack design requires the use of two installers, particularly during wiring; one installer to support a portion of the housing and the second installer to complete the necessary electrical connections. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In a first aspect, a wallpack lighting fixture is provided herein for use with solid state lighting and which is configurable to selectively utilize different quantities, up to a maximum, of solid state lighting modules, allowing for different levels and patterns of light output. 
         [0005]    In a second aspect, a wallpack lighting fixture is provided herein for use with solid state lighting which includes a main housing and a secondary enclosure removably mountable to the main housing. The secondary enclosure includes an interior sized to accommodate at least one battery pack. This allows for optional use of a back-up battery with a wallpack lighting fixture with all associated heat output being located exteriorly of the main housing of the wallpack lighting fixture. 
         [0006]    In a further aspect, a wallpack lighting fixture is provided herein for use with solid state lighting which includes a housing having a wall mountable back panel and a door portion hingeably, and detachably, connected to the back panel. At least one solid state lighting module is located within the door portion. With this arrangement, for installation, the back panel may be removed from the door portion and mounted to a desired location. Thereafter, the door portion may be connected to the back panel. This allows for one-person installation with the weight of the fixture being self-supporting—the one installer may complete the necessary electrical connections without supporting the weight of the fixture. Once the electrical connections are completed, the door portion, relying on the hinged connection, may be swung into a closed state relative to the back panel. Preferably, at least one retaining arrangement may be provided to retain the door portion in a closed state relative to the back panel. 
         [0007]    As appreciated by those skilled in the art, the various aspects and features discussed herein may be used singularly or in any combination. 
         [0008]    These and other features of the invention will be better understood through a study of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIGS. 1-8  show a wallpack lighting fixture in accordance with the subject invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    With reference to the Figures, a wallpack lighting fixture is shown and generally designated with the reference numeral  10 . The wallpack lighting fixture  10  includes a housing  12  with a back panel  14 , for mounting to a surface, and a bottom panel  16 , for supporting light generating elements. The wallpack lighting fixture  10  is well-suited for wall-mounting applications with generally downward light throw. 
         [0011]    One or more solid state light generating modules  18  may be utilized with the wallpack lighting fixture  10  to generate light. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, any solid state light generating arrangements and elements may be utilized, including but not limited to, those in LED (light emitting diode), OLED (organic light emitting diode) and/or PLED (polymeric light emitting diode) form. The solid state light generating modules  18  may be each provided as an integrated circuit with a board (such a PCB (printed circuit board)) to which are mounted electrically coupled solid state light generating elements, such as LEDs, OLEDs, and/or PLEDs, in any known manner. The solid state light generating modules  18  may be each separately lensed with a lens  20 . The lens  20  may be configured to affect the distribution of generated light, such as by causing a defined pattern, focusing or diffusing. The lens  20  may be of various materials, including glass and/or polymeric material. 
         [0012]    The housing  12  may be formed with at least one opening  22  in the bottom panel  16  configured to accommodate a plurality of the solid state light generating modules  18  being mounted thereover. The opening  22  provides access for the solid state light generating modules  18  into an interior  24  of the housing  12 . In this manner, electronic components, including electrical power components, such as one or more drivers configured to convert alternating current into direct current, may be accommodated within the interior  24  and accessed by the solid state light generating modules  18 . Various control components likewise may be accommodated within the housing  12 , including the interior  24 , for controlling different aspects of the solid state light generating modules  18  such as actuation by motion sensors and/or daylight sensors. The sensors may have detectors (motion, daylight) located externally of the housing  12  or exposed by portions of the housing  12 . One or more drill outs  25  may be provided in the housing  12  to accommodate the detectors (with exposure thereof). 
         [0013]    The solid state light generating modules  18  may be electrically coupled with any components within the interior  24  via the opening  22  using any known connections. Optionally, or additionally, the driver(s) and/or other electrical components may be provided with the solid state light generating modules  18 . 
         [0014]    Preferably, the solid state light generating modules  18  are sized so as to allow for a plurality to be used with the wallpack lighting fixture  10 . This allows for different configurations of light generation, both in intensity and pattern. The solid state lighting generating modules  18  may be similarly prepared (e.g., same light output, same lenses) or differently prepared (e.g., different light output and/or different lenses) to allow for scalability and/or mixing and matching. If less than a permissible maximum quantity of the solid state light generating modules  18  is utilized, one or more cover plates  26  may be utilized to cover exposed (non-used) portions of the opening  22 .  FIG. 1  shows schematically the interchangeability of at least one of the solid state light generating modules  18  and the cover plate  26 . Various combinations may be used. Preferably, the solid state light generating module(s)  18  and the cover plate(s)  26  collectively cover the opening  22  with the wallpack lighting fixture  10  in use. 
         [0015]    The housing  12  may be provided with one or more knockouts  28  to allow for ingress of one or more wires. One or more of the knockouts  28  may be located in the back panel  14 , e.g., to accept external power supply wires (including grounding wire(s)). Also, one or more conduit access holes  30  may be provided to allow for junctions with tubing or piping conveying electrical wiring. The access holes  30  may be provided with removable plugs  32  to cover the access holes  30  when not in use. The access holes  30  may be internally threaded to threadedly engage the tubing or piping. Standard NPS (nominal pipe sizes) may be accommodated. Tubing or piping enclosed wiring may allow for a plurality of the wallpack lighting fixtures  10  be powered in series and/or in parallel by a common power source. 
         [0016]    Optionally, a secondary enclosure  34  may be utilized with the wallpack lighting fixture  10  configured to have an interior  36  sized to accommodate at least one battery pack. The enclosure  34  is preferably completely enclosed to restrict ingress of moisture into the interior  36 . The enclosure  34  preferably includes at least one external electrical connector  38  for electrically coupling with the housing  12  so that electrical power from the accommodated battery pack(s) may be utilized to power, at least in part, the solid state light generating modules  18 . A connector  40  may be provided with the housing  12  formed to electrically couple with the electrical connector  38 , as shown schematically in  FIG. 1 . The connector  40  may be in any known form, such as a port, jack, mateable connection element, etc. provided through a connector opening  41 . With the use of the electrical connector  38  and the connector  40 , an electrical connection may be established between the housing  12  and the enclosure  34  with both being fully enclosed. Also, this allows for addition of the enclosure  34  to the wallpack lighting fixture  10  after installation. All known manners of electrically coupling the electrical connector  38  with any accommodated battery pack(s) and of electrically coupling the connector  40  with the electrical components within the housing  12  to allow for proper supply and distribution of power for the battery pack(s) to the solid state light generating modules  18  may be utilized. This includes any by-passing of components as needed, as well as, the inclusion of triggers, such as magnetic relays, which reactively detect the need for back-up power. A back-up battery test button may be provided on the housing  12  or the enclosure  34  which is externally accessible to be actuated to test available back-up power. The test button may be accommodated by one of the drill outs  25  or the knockouts  28 . 
         [0017]    Any form of mounting arrangement may be utilized to mount the enclosure  34  to the housing  12 . Preferably, the mounting is reversible, such as with screw mounting. The enclosure  34  may be provided with screw mounting holes  42  positioned to be in registration with threaded bores  44  in the housing  12 . Other mounting arrangements may be utilized such as friction fits, interference fits and cooperating mechanical arrangements (bayonet locks, detents, ribs, grooves, etc.). 
         [0018]    Preferably, the enclosure  34  is configured to mount to external portions of the housing  12 . In this manner, heat generated within the enclosure  34  may be best dissipated. Increased heat dissipation typically results in prolongation of battery life. The external locating of the enclosure  34  on the housing  12  may provide a benefit to the useful life of any battery accommodated in the enclosure  34 . 
         [0019]    Further, the housing  12  may be provided as two basic components, the back panel  14  and a door portion  46 . Preferably, the door portion  46  is hingedly connected to the back panel  14  with a hinge connection  48 . The hinge connection  48  may be in one or more sections and may be of any known form, including a pinned hinge, living hinge, etc. Moreover, preferably, the door portion  46  is detachable from the back panel  14 . In this manner, the back panel  14  may be separated from the door portion  46  for installation. With the back panel  14  being mounted to a target surface, the door portion  46  may be connected to the back panel  14  so as to be supported thereby. With the door portion  46  being supported by the back panel  14  via the hinge connection  48 , the wallpack lighting fixture  10  may be installed by one installer. With the weight of the door portion  46  supported by the back panel  14 , one installer may be able to prepare all necessary electrical connections. Thereafter, utilizing the hinged connection  48 , the door portion  46  may be urged to a closed portion with the back panel  14 . By way of non-limiting example, screw holes  45  may be provided in the back panel  14  and/or the door portion  46  for accepting screws to retainingly fasten the door portion  46  to the back panel  14 . Preferably, a latch on other retaining arrangement may be provided to retain the door portion  46  in a closed state relative to the back panel  14 . Preferably, a seal or gasket is provided to create a liquid-tight seal about the junction between the back panel  14  and the door portion  46 . 
         [0020]    As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the components of the housing  12  may be distributed between the back panel  14  and the door portion  46  in various combinations. For example, the solid state light generating modules  18  may be fixed to the door portion  46 . Power supply wires may be pulled through the back panel  14 , such as through any of the knockouts  28  and the access holes  30  with electrical connections being made as needed. Advantageously, the use of the door portion  46  allows for one-person installation.