Patent Publication Number: US-2013235583-A1

Title: Light fixture and lighting module having the same

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The instant disclosure relates to a lighting device; more particularly, to a lighting fixture and a lighting module having the same. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Because of the advantages associated with light-emitting diodes (LEDs), such as high luminosity, energy saving, and long service life, the LEDS have been used widely with various lighting devices. One of the everyday applications is LED street light. Conventional LED light fixture comprises a housing and a light source. Light is dispersed from the bottom portion of the housing. Whereas another type of LED light comprises a housing, a frame, and a plurality of light sources. The light sources are recessed in the frame. 
     However, each type of existing LED light has its own efficiency and structural configurations. Therefore, each type of LED light is used for a particular lighting application. To adjust its efficiency, a new mold and electrical circuit have to be provided to manufacture an LED light having adjusted efficiency. Since the molding process requires a high cost, most industrial manufacturers can not afford such spending. 
     To address the above issues, the inventors strive via industrial experience and academic research to present the instant disclosure, which can effectively improve the limitations described above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To address the above issue, the instant disclosure provides a lighting fixture. The lighting fixture comprises a frame, at least one light source assembly, and a cover. The frame has a first engaging portion, a second engaging portion, and a plurality of third engaging portions. At least one opening is formed on the frame. The light source assembly is recessed within the frame and exposed through the opening. The cover is disposed on the frame and cooperatively define a heat dissipating space for heat dissipation. 
     The instant disclosure further provides a lighting module. The lighting module comprises at least a pair of light fixtures. Each light fixture includes a frame, at least one light source assembly, and a cover. The frame has a base plate, a first side plate, and a second side plate. The first side plate has a first engaging portion. The second side plate has a second engaging portion and a plurality of third engaging portions. The first engaging portion and the first side plate of one light fixture are engaged to the second engaging portion and the third engaging portions of the other light fixture, respectively. 
     In cases where the lighting efficiency and physical structures of the light fixture need to be changed, the light fixture and lighting module having the same of the instant disclosure are able to achieve the objectives without making a new mold and an electrical circuit, thus reducing the manufacturing cost. Moreover, the modularized design of the light fixture of the instant disclosure can dissipate heat effectively, is easy to maintain, replace, and adapt to various applications. The light fixture is also energy efficient and environmentally friendly. All of the aforementioned advantages allow the light fixture of the instant disclosure to be used widely both indoors and outdoors, such as in places like sidewalks, courtyards, plazas, freeways, parking structures, sport venues, etc. 
     In order to further appreciate the characteristics and technical contents of the instant disclosure, references are hereunder made to the detailed descriptions and appended drawings in connection with the instant disclosure. However, the appended drawings are merely shown for exemplary purposes, rather than being used to restrict the scope of the instant disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view showing a light fixture of the instant disclosure. 
         FIG. 1B  is a perspective view showing the light fixture of the instant disclosure at a different angle. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view showing a frame of the light fixture of the instant disclosure. 
         FIG. 3A  is an exploded view of a light source assembly for the light fixture of the instant disclosure. 
         FIG. 3B  is an exploded view of another light source assembly for the light fixture of the instant disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of yet another light source assembly for the light fixture of the instant disclosure. 
         FIG. 5A  is an exploded view for a lighting module of the instant disclosure. 
         FIG. 5B  is an enlarged view of section A in  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 5C  is an enlarged view of section B in  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 6A  is a perspective view showing a street light using the lighting module of the instant disclosure. 
         FIG. 6B  is a perspective view showing another street light using the lighting module of the instant disclosure. 
         FIG. 7A  is a perspective view showing a street light for a third embodiment of the instant disclosure. 
         FIG. 7B  is a perspective view showing a variant of the street light shown in  FIG. 7A . 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view showing a lighting module for a fourth embodiment of the instant disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B and  2 , where  FIGS. 1A and 1B  show a light fixture  1 A of the instant disclosure, and  FIG. 2  shows a frame  10  of the light fixture  1 A. The light fixture  1 A comprises the frame  10 , at least one light source assembly  20 , and a cover  30 . At least one opening  14  is formed on the frame  10 . The frame  10  has a first engaging portion  15 , a second engaging portion  16 , and a plurality of third engaging portions  17 . The light source assembly  20  is recessed into the frame  10  and exposed through the opening  14 . The cover  30  is disposed on the frame  10 . Together, the frame  10  and the cover  30  cooperatively define a heat dissipating space  32 , to reduce heat build up in the light fixture  1 A. Through the first, second, and third engaging portions  15 ,  16 , and  17 , two or more light fixtures  1 A can be mounted side by side. 
     More specifically, the frame  10  is substantially U-shaped. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the frame  10  has a base plate  11 , a first side plate  12 , and a second side plate  13 . The first and second side plates  12  and  13  extend from the opposed side portions of the base plate  11  parallelly toward the same direction. For the instant embodiment, the frame  10  is made of aluminum material, which is light weight and corrosion resistant, but is not limited thereto. 
     The opening  14  is formed on the base plate  11 . The first engaging portion  15  is formed protrudingly about half way along a surface of the first side plate  12 . Whereas the second engaging portion  16  is formed concavely about half way along a surface of the second side plate  13 . The first and second engaging portions  15  and  16  are sized and configured to structurally complement each other. For example, in the instant embodiment, the first engaging portion  15  has a pair of protruding lips for mating to a pair of notches of the second engaging portion  16 . Furthermore, each of the opposed ends of the second side plate  13  extends outwardly in forming the third engaging portion  17 . Each of the third engaging portions  17  is an L-shaped retaining slot. It is worth noting the interconnecting means of the light fixture  1 A is not limited to the example described above. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 3A , the light source assembly  20  includes a frame-shaped holder  21 , a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs)  22 , a circuit board  23 , and a base  24 . The holder  21  has a first connecting portion  211  and a light-permitting window  212 . The window  212  is recessed into the first connecting portion  211 . The LEDs  22  are fixed on the circuit board  23  and electrically connected thereto. The base  24  has a plurality of side walls  241 , a bottom wall  242 , and a second connecting portion  243 . The side walls  241  are formed extendingly from the bottom wall  242 . The side walls  241  and the bottom wall  242  cooperatively define a receiving space  244 . The second connecting portion  243  is formed extendingly from one end of each side wall  241 . 
     The assembling steps of the light source assembly  20  are described hereinbelow. First, the LED-mounted circuit board  23  is disposed in the receiving space  244  of the base  24 . Screws (not shown) are then used to fix the circuit board  23  on the base  24  through screw holes formed on the circuit board  23  and the bottom wall  242 . Next, screws can be used to secure the holder  21  to the base  24  through screw holes formed on the first connecting portion  211  of the holder  21  and the second connecting portion  243  of the base  24 . To prevent moisture, such as rain water, from entering the light source assembly  20 , a sealing ring (not shown) can be further included. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 3B , which shows an alternate light source assembly denoted by the numeral  20 ′. For the light source assembly  20 ′, a window  212 ′ of a holder  21 ′ includes a plurality of customized optical lenses  2121 . Each of the optical lenses  2121  has a curved central portion  2122 . Each of the central portions  2122  is aligned to a particular LED  22 . Thus, when the light source assembly  20 ′ is in use, the light emitting from the LEDs  22  is redirected by the light input and output surfaces of the central portions  2122  to accomplish different lighting effects. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 4  in conjunction with  FIGS. 3A and 3B . The aforementioned light source assembly  20 ,  20 ′ can further be provided with a heat sink  25 . The heat sink  25  is disposed on the outer surface of the bottom wall  242 . Structurally, the heat sink  25  has a plurality of heat dissipating fins  251  and a plurality of tube-like heat-conducting members  252 . The heat dissipating fins  251  and the heat-conducting members  252  are made of thermally conductive material. The heat dissipating fins  251  are spaced apart from each other and arranged on the outer surface of the bottom wall  242 . Each of the heat-conducting members  252  is U-shaped and arranged on the outer surface of the bottom wall  242 . Each of the heat-conducting members  252  is also connected to every heat dissipating fins  251 . Thus, when the light source assembly having the heat sink  25  is in use, as denoted by the numeral  20 ″ in  FIG. 4 , the generated heat is guided by the heat-conducting members  252  from the base  24  to the heat dissipating fins  251 . Since the heat dissipating fins  251  have larger surface areas, thus heat can be dissipated more quickly to the ambient. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 5A , in conjunction with  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B, and  2 . More specifically, the cover  30  is constructed like a half shell with a sheet metal or plastic material. A stepped lip portion  31  projects outwardly from an edge of the cover  30 , for reasons that will be discussed hereinafter. A third connecting portion  33  is further formed extendingly at each of the two opposed ends of the cover  30 . The third connecting portions  33  are used for mating to the base plate  11  of the frame  10 , thus forming the heat dissipating space  32 . In the case of the heat sink-mounted light source assembly  20 ″, the heat sink  25  is accommodated by the heat dissipating space  32 . Furthermore, a plurality of elongated holes  34  is formed on the cover  30  for heat dissipation. When the light source assembly  20 ″ is in use, the hot air adjacent to the heat sink  25  is guided by the cover  30  and vented to the ambient through the holes  34 . 
     The assembling process of the light fixture  1 A is discussed below. First, screws can be used to secure the light source assembly  20 ,  20 ′, and  20 ″ to the frame  10  through the screw holes formed on the holder  21  and  21 ′ and the base plate  11  of the frame  10 . Thus, the light source assembly  20 ,  20 ′,  20 ″ is exposed through the opening  14  of the frame  10 . Next, screws can be used to secure the cover  30  to the frame  10  through the screw holes formed on the third connecting portions  33  of the cover  30  and the base plate  11  of the frame  10 . The cover  30  shields the light source assembly  20 ,  20 ′, and  20 ″ and its heat sink  25  from direct contact with the rain water and dust. 
     It is worth noting, for the light fixture  1 A of the instant disclosure, the shape, structural configuration, and quantity of the light source assembly  20 ,  20 ′, and  20 ″ are not restricted. Depending on the desired visual effect or lighting efficiency, the shape, structural configuration, and the quantity of the light source assembly  20 ,  20 ′, and  20 ″ can be varied accordingly. Relatedly, the shape, structural configuration, and the number of openings  14  of the frame  10  must be compatible to the light source assembly  20 ,  20 ′, and  20 ″. 
     When using the light fixture  1 A outdoors, the number of light fixtures  1 A can be varied, depending on the required lighting efficiency. The assembling process of at least two light fixtures  1 A is discussed below. As shown in  FIGS. 5B and 5C , when connecting a pair of light fixtures  1 A, the first engaging portion  15  and the first side plate  12  of one light fixture  1 A is tightly snapped into the second engaging portion  16  and the third engaging portion  17  of the other light fixture  1 A, respectively. Moreover, the lip portion  31  of one light fixture  1 A is mated to the cover  30  of the other light fixture  1 A. 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 6A and 6B  in conjunction with  FIG. 5A .  FIG. 6A  shows a street light  100  using a lighting module  1 , where the lighting module  1  is constructed with a plurality of light fixtures  1 A of the instant disclosure. Whereas  FIG. 6B  shows a variant of the street light  100 . Depending on the lighting requirement, the number of light fixtures  1 A can be varied. In practice, the lighting module  1  can be widely used in places such as public squares, sidewalks, highways, airports, and places where a high lighting efficiency is required. The street light  100  further includes a mounting bracket  2  and a light post  3 . The mounting bracket  2  has a pivot member  4  for connecting pivotally to the cover  30  of selected light fixture  1 A. Thus, the lighting module  1  of the street light  100  can be adjusted angularly to change the light projection area. The application range of the street light  100  is greatly broadened. 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 7A and 7B  in conjunction with  FIG. 5A .  FIG. 7A  shows a street light  100 ′ using the lighting module  1 , and  FIG. 7B  shows a variant of the street light  100 ′ shown in  FIG. 7A . Similarly, the number of light fixtures  1 A of the lighting module  1  can be varied. Unlike the previous embodiment, the street light  100 ′ has a pair of mounting brackets  2 ′. Each mounting bracket  2 ′ is pivotally connected to the lighting module  1  as a support stand. Each mounting bracket  2 ′ has a pivot member  4 ′, such as a pivot pin. Thus, the lighting module  1  of the street light  100 ′ can be adjusted angularly to change the light projection area. For example, the street light  100 ′ can be used in construction sites or for large scale stage lighting applications. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 8  in conjunction with  FIG. 5A .  FIG. 8  shows a lighting module  1 ′ of the instant disclosure. The lighting module  1 ′ further has a mounting member  40 . When the lighting module  1 ′ is used in applications where high lighting efficiency is required, the mounting member  40  can be fixed to the frame  10  of each light fixture  1 A by fastening members such as screws. Thus, besides using the interconnecting means of employing the engaging portions by the light fixtures  1 A as previously described, the addition of the mounting member  40  provides further structural stabilization for the lighting module  1 ′. 
     Moreover, since the mounting member  40  is formed of extruded aluminum, the size of the mounting member  40  can be adjusted depending on the lighting requirement. Please note that  FIG. 8  is only used to illustrate the connecting means between the mounting member  40  and the light fixtures  1 A, where the size of the mounting member  40  and the number of the light fixtures  1 A are not restricted. 
     In view of the above, the instant disclosure has the following advantages. The light fixture can be mass produced using a standardized process to simplify the manufacturing process and ensure the product quality. The modularized light fixture has excellent heat dissipating capability, besides being easy to maintain, replace, and expand in numbers. The light fixture is also energy efficient, environmental friendly, and cost effective without the needs to make new molds and electrical circuit. Based on the lighting requirement, the number of light fixtures for the lighting module can be easily adjusted, where the lighting module can be widely used indoors and outdoors. 
     The descriptions illustrated supra set forth simply the preferred embodiments of the instant disclosure; however, the characteristics of the instant disclosure are by no means restricted thereto. All changes, alternations, or modifications conveniently considered by those skilled in the art are deemed to be encompassed within the scope of the instant disclosure delineated by the following claims.