Patent Publication Number: US-7210827-B1

Title: Pendant style luminaire split design

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates to luminaires and particularly to a pendant style luminaire split design. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a bottom perspective view of a pendant style luminaire having a split design in a closed configuration depending from a mounting arm; 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the pendant style luminaire design of  FIG. 1  in an open configuration; 
       FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the pendant style luminaire design of  FIG. 2  in an open configuration; 
       FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of the pendant style luminaire design of  FIG. 2  in an open configuration; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged, partial sectional view of the lens frame junction with the lens and reflector of the luminaire of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged, partial sectional view of a lamp module and a reflector of the luminaire of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of another embodiment of the pendant style luminaire design. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The pendant style luminaire  20  of the present invention depicted in the drawings functions to create convenience for “hands free” maintenance of both lamps and electrical component assemblies or other internal components at the same time. The luminaire  20  design also provides dust and water tight seals to prolong the life and minimize maintenance of the lamp and luminaire. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a pendant style luminaire  20  may include a top casting  50 , a housing  22 , a lens frame  60 , a reflector  72 , and a lens  70 . Housing  22  may be further divided into a first housing  42  and a second housing  32 . Luminaire  20  is capable of being opened for access by a user whereby a hinged bottom  30 , comprising a second housing  32 , lens frame  60 , a reflector  72 , and lens  70 , is hingedly attached to first housing  42  of hinged top  40 . Luminaire  20  may be rotated by means of hinge  49  from a closed configuration, as shown in  FIG. 1 , to an open configuration, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  4 , housing  22  comprises a flared first housing  42  and a similarly flared second housing  32  mutually opposed and substantially parallel. A top member or casting  50  is disposed orthogonally to the first housing and second housing, and lens frame  60  is disposed orthogonally to the lower portion of the first housing and second housing. Lens  70  is disposed over an open aperture  66  formed by lens frame  60 . Housing  22 , top casting  50 , and lens frame  60  may be made from, but not limited to, cast aluminum or other materials known in the art for example metal or plastic. Housing  22  is essentially split along a substantially vertical axis separating first housing  42  and second housing  32  from each other. Although the housing  22  is shown in great detail with a substantially vertical split, it should be understood that there are many variations of the shape of the line of demarcation between hinged top  40  and hinged bottom  30  that can be used within the scope of the invention. 
   Lens frame  60  as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  4  is hingedly attached to first housing  42  to allow for luminaire  20  to rotate from a closed configuration ( FIG. 1 ) to an open configuration ( FIG. 2 ). Lens frame  60  is substantially ring-shape, and essentially half the circumference of lens frame  60  is secured to a bottom end  33  of second housing  32 . The remaining half of the circumference of lens frame  60  may be releasably secured to a bottom end  43  of first housing  42 . A hinge  49 , hingedly connecting lens frame  60  to bottom end  43  of first housing  42 , is located in a substantially opposed position from the area where second housing  32  is secured to lens frame  60 . Because hinge  49  is placed in a substantially opposed position, the weight of second housing  32  maximizes the cantilever action that occurs when the luminaire naturally travels to its open configuration ( FIG. 2 ) by gravity. The cantilever action pivots about hinge  49  which may allow lens  70 , lens frame  60 , reflector  72 , and second housing  32  (hinged bottom  30 ) to travel to its open configuration and remain in the open configuration without requiring the user to tie up his or her hands to keep luminaire  20  open for access by the user. The natural cantilever action of hinged bottom  30  provided by gravity, allows for internal component access without requiring the luminaire to be kept open by hand. 
   Hinge  49 , illustrated in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  4 , is merely representative of hinges in general, and it should be understood that there are many locations and variations of hinges that may be used with hinged top  40  and hinged bottom  30  sections. For example, a hinge may be placed externally to housing  22  (not shown) and still function to swing hinged bottom  30  into an open configuration. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1–4 , top casting  50  is generally dome-shaped with housing  22  depending therefrom. As shown in  FIG. 1 , top casting  50  may be secured to a mounting arm  100 , or other mounting device known in the art, which in turn may extend from a pole assembly (not shown). Top end  44  of first housing  42  is affixed to generally half of a lower end  54  of the top casting, while the remaining portion of lower end  54  of the top casting is releasably affixed to a top end  34  of second housing  32 . In the closed configuration ( FIG. 1 ), top casting  50  may have a manually operated latch  52  which engages second housing  32  to enable the second housing to be releasably secured. However, there are a variety of mechanisms known in the art, with manually or tool operated, which can be used to secure luminaire  20  in the closed configuration and still be within the scope of the invention. First housing  42  also has two opposed edges  45  and  46  which engage respectively with second housing&#39;s two opposed edges  35  and  36 . The mating of the respective edges along the line of demarcation between the hinged bottom  30  and hinged top  40  may include gaskets, o-rings, seals or the like to provide sealing along the line of demarcation, resulting in longer life of the lamp and minimizing maintenance of internal components such as a electrical component assembly  90 . Also, the mating of hinged bottom  30  and hinged top  40  along the line of demarcation may incorporate tongue and groove mating to maximize the sealing engagement when closing the luminaire into the closed configuration. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1–5 , lens  70  or globe depends from or seats within lens frame  60 . Lens  70  may be substantially, but is not limited to, acorn shaped. The globe or lens  70  is typically made from glass or plastic. The ring-shaped lens frame  60  allows for lens  70  to pass through open aperture  66  of the lens frame and rest within the interior surface of the lens frame. Located adjacent to lens  70  is reflector  72  of luminaire  20 . Reflector  72  extends from the junction between lens  70  and lens frame  60  in the opposite direction from lens  70 . Reflector  72  has an open aperture  73  ( FIG. 6 ) being dimensioned to receive a lamp module  80  and to focus light generated from a lamp  82  towards lens  70 . A seal  64  creates a sealing mechanism at the junction between reflector  72 , lens  70 , and lens frame  60 . Seal  64  with its engagement with lens  70  and reflector  72  may be held in place by a lens frame clamp  62  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Although seal  64  is shown in detail, the junction between the lens frame, lens, and reflector may include a gasket, o-ring, or any seal or combination thereof known in the art to create the required sealing effect. Seal  64 , enclosing the optical chamber of the lens, lens frame, and reflector, is essentially permanent because the seal  64  remains unbroken since neither lens, lens frame, nor reflector need to be separated to gain access to lamp module  80  for repair, replacement, or maintenance. This essentially sealed optical chamber creates a water and dust proof enclosure which prolongs the life and minimizes the maintenance required of the lamp and luminaire. 
   During maintenance, lamp module  80  is accessible by the user when luminaire  20  is positioned in the open configuration ( FIG. 2 ). Open aperture  73  of reflector  72  may have a dual radial-sealed, removable socket casting  74  allowing for the tool free removal of lamp module  80  for re-lamping. Lamp module  80  has at its base  84  an inner circumferential surface which may seal to a single or dual radial-sealed socket casting  74 . The dual seal may be created by an upper o-ring  75  and a lower o-ring  76 . Dual radial-sealed socket casting  74  is affixed to or part of aperture  73  of reflector  72 . Lamp module  80  may also have an internal thread to cooperate with external threads on the dual radial sealed socket casting. Lamp module  80  may be installed by axially inserting the module into reflector  72  and turning to lock and seal the top of the optical chamber. With lamp module  80  capable of being removed without the aid of tools, the lamp module is conveniently replaced. Although the seal engagement between lamp module  80  and socket casting  74  is shown in detail, a variety of seals or gaskets about the lamp module could be used to create and maintain the water and dust proof enclosure of the optical chamber. 
   Although lens  70 , lens frame,  60 , and reflector  72  are shown in detail in  FIGS. 2 ,  5 , and  6 , they are merely representative of lens, lens frames, and reflectors in general, and it is to be understood that there are many variations of those components that may be used with the luminaire. For example as shown in  FIG. 7 , a lens  170  affixed in luminaire  120  is substantially flat in shape while a reflector  172  has a low profile extending in a direction away from lens  170 . Luminaire  120  has a hinged bottom  130  hingedly connected to a hinged top  142  by hinge  149 . Also, as shown in  FIG. 7 , a lamp module  180  may extend horizontally from a lateral aperture in the reflector. 
   In use, pendant style luminaire  20  is operably connected to a power source (not shown). As shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  4 , lamp module  80  may be operably connected by a wire connection  92  to an electronic component assembly  90  located on the interior surface of first housing  42 . Electronic component assembly  90  may then be wired through an open orifice  56  in top casting  50  and through mounting arm  100  ( FIG. 1 ), or any other appropriate mount, to an external power supply (not shown). Electronic component assembly  90  may be mounted directly onto the interior of first housing  42  or may be attached to a removable tray inside the housing. Electronic component assembly  90  may include of a ballast, a capacitor, and an ignitor. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the removable electronic component assembly  90  may be mounted within first housing  42  at the bottom end  94  of the assembly which is secured by a clip  48  affixed to the interior surface of first housing  42 . Clip  48  releases assembly  90  from engagement with the inner surface of first housing  42  for removal. Clip  48  may be manually operable without tools for quick removal. Electronic component assembly  90  may alternatively be attached inside the housing  22  in any number of locations by a variety of attachments known in the art including but not limited to screws or other manual or tool operated means. The convenience of manual removal without tools and the accessibility of the electronic component assembly optimizes the efficiency and ease of repair and maintenance by the user. 
   The luminaire  20  design allows for the user to conveniently have their hands free for maintenance of both lamp module  80  and electrical component assembly  90  at the same time. Luminaire  20  may be opened from the closed configuration ( FIG. 1 ) to the open configuration ( FIG. 2 ) by a manual latch  52  joining top casting  50  to second housing  32 . Releasing latch  52  allows for hinged bottom  30  to pivot about hinge  49  in order for luminaire  20  to travel or cantilever to its open configuration. In traveling to the open configuration ( FIG. 2 ), the weight of lens  70 , lens frame  60 , and second housing  32  results in a cantilever effect which minimizes the force needed by the user to open the luminaire. The weight of hinged bottom  30  also allows for the luminaire to hang and remain in its open configuration. Luminaire  20  remains in its open configuration without the aid of the user, thus the user needing to conduct maintenance on lamp module  80  and electrical component assembly  90  without needing to use their hands to keep the luminaire open and accessible. This frees the user&#39;s hands for maintenance, both for re-lamping purposes and accessing the electrical component assembly  90  at the same time thereby allowing ready service to all the internal components that typically require maintenance. 
   There are many useful variations in size and shape of pendant style luminaire  20  that can be manufactured using this design. Although the housing  22 , lens frame  60 , top casting  50 , lens  70 , and reflector  72  are shown in one configuration in  FIG. 1 , that is merely one representation of various design configurations that can be used to allow “hands free” access to both the lamp and electrical component assembly while also retaining a substantially permanent seal  64  of the optical chamber. A plurality of aesthetic designs for the outer enclosure of the luminaire  20  can be created and still be within the scope of the present invention. 
   It is understood that while certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.