Patent Abstract:
A lighting fixture having a housing with a main body, and a primary light source disposed beneath a cover secured thereto with a latching mechanism. The light fixture may include a reflector suspended above the main body on a pair of struts. The latching mechanism is engaged by pivoting at least one exterior wall of the housing to provide tool-less access to the light source. In an alternative embodiment, the main body attaches to a mounting arm and a wall mount housing with a secondary adjustable light source.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    The present invention relates to lighting fixtures, in particular to lighting fixtures having a primary light source in a closed housing that can be opened for access to the light source; and to lighting fixtures of this type provided with a secondary light source. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]    Accessing the primary light source of closed lighting fixtures, such as architectural fixtures, is usually a cumbersome task. Oftentimes, the light source is disposed behind a door or cover that requires tools for removal, and the cover and other parts can become separated from the fixture during the process. Darkness exacerbates the problem during relamping because most conventional lighting fixtures are not equipped with a backup light source that provides illumination when the primary light source fails. Accordingly, a need exists for providing a lighting fixture having a tool-less access to the light engine for replacing a lamp. Also, a need exists for providing a lighting fixture having a main light source in a primary location and a second auxiliary (e.g., emergency) light source in an alternate location that activates when the main light source fails. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]    Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a lighting fixture having a primary light source contained in a main body and an auxiliary light source disposed in a housing to compensate for any failure of the primary light source. 
         [0004]    Another object of the invention is to provide a lighting fixture having an external reflector for diffusing light that emerges from the fixture. 
         [0005]    A further object of the invention is to provide a lighting fixture having a latch mechanism for securing the cover to the main body, allowing tool-less and efficient access to the primary light source contained therein. 
         [0006]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a light fixture having pivotal walls forming parts of the latch mechanisms that provide access to the light source beneath the cover. 
         [0007]    Yet another object of the invention is to provide a light fixture having a primary light source accessible with a tool-less latch mechanism and a readily accessible auxiliary light source in a wall mount housing. 
         [0008]    Another object of the invention is to provide a light fixture having an easily adjustable auxiliary light source. 
         [0009]    The foregoing objects are basically attained by providing, in one embodiment, a lighting fixture having a housing with a main body, a cover mounted thereon, and a lower support adjacent a bottom. The main body includes a socket for a light source, and may include a reflector disposed above the main body secured by two struts. A latch mechanism disposed on the main body connects the cover thereto by means of pairs of mating clasp elements. The latch mechanism engages at least one hook on the cover and includes walls of the main body that are hinged to the main body and can be rotated outwardly to unlatch the cover to allow access to the light source. 
         [0010]    The foregoing objects concerning an auxiliary light source are basically attained by connecting the main body to a wall mount housing having a secondary adjustable light source. The secondary light source is mounted on a movable bracket that is clamped by a threaded stud and a wingnut. 
         [0011]    By forming the lighting fixture in this manner, a user has tool-less access to the interior of the main body and the light source. Other than the pivoting walls, the components of the latch mechanism are concealed when the walls are flush with the main body. By disengaging the latch mechanism, the walls rotate away from the main body to loosen the cover therefrom. Also, a user has easy access to the auxiliary light source by removing a separate cover. 
         [0012]    As used in this application, the terms “top”, “bottom”, and “side” are intended to facilitate the description of the invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention to any particular orientation. 
         [0013]    Other objects, advantages, and salient features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    Referring to the drawings which form a part of this disclosure: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the lighting fixture according to a first embodiment of the present invention with the cover disposed in an open position and the latch being disengaged; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the lighting fixture according to  FIG. 1  with the latch mechanism disengaged and the cover removed; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the lighting fixture according to  FIGS. 1 and 2  with the latch mechanism partially engaged; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational view with a partial cross-sectional view of the latch mechanism according to  FIG. 3  with the latch mechanism partially engaged; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the lighting fixture according to  FIGS. 1-4  with the latch mechanism fully engaged and the cover disposed in a closed position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a side elevational view with two partial cross-sectional views of the latch mechanism according to  FIG. 5  with the latch mechanism fully engaged; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a side elevational view of the lighting fixture according to  FIGS. 1-6  with an exploded view of the latch mechanism; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a side perspective view of the lighting fixture according to  FIGS. 1-7  with the latch mechanism fully disengaged and the cover removed; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a side elevational view of the lighting fixture according to  FIGS. 1-8  with an H-shaped wall fully rotated; 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a bottom perspective view of the lighting fixture according to a second embodiment of the present invention with a mounting arm connecting the lighting fixture to a wall mount housing having an auxiliary light source; 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a side perspective view of the lighting fixture with an exploded view of the wall mount housing according to  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  is a side perspective view of the housing according to  FIGS. 10 and 11  with the cover removed; 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  is a front elevational view of the housing according to  FIGS. 10-12 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 14  is a side elevational view of the housing, partly in section, according to  FIGS. 10-13 ; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 15  is a side elevational view of the housing according to  FIGS. 10-14  with the cover removed. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0030]    Turning to  FIG. 1 , a lighting fixture  10  includes a housing with a main body  12  containing a light source or lamp  20  beneath a cover  14 . The cover  14  is mounted onto the main body  12  with a latching mechanism  28  having components attached to both the cover  14  and at least one wall  40  of the main body  12 . An external reflector  22  is supported above the main body  12  with a first strut  24  protruding from the first side wall  30  and a second strut  26  protruding from a second side wall  32  of the main body  12 . While the illustrated reflector is round and flat, other shapes and contours can be used depending on desired lighting effects. 
         [0031]    The main body  12  is substantially rectangularly-shaped having a tapered bottom  18  opposite the top  15  adjacent the cover  14 . The top  15  of the main body  12  is circular to match the lens  48  and open area of the cover  14 . A sealing gasket  15 a may be provided at the top  15 . The tapered bottom  18  connects to a lower support portion  16  defined by a slightly narrower diameter than that of the main body  12 . The lighting fixture  10  may be pole-mounted with the lower support  16  joined to a pole (not shown). The lighting fixture is illustrated as vertically oriented (i.e., with cover  14  on top); however, it can be oriented at other angles with appropriate mounts to achieve desired lighting effects in particular applications. 
         [0032]    Light from the lamp  20  is transmitted through a lens  48  in the cover  14  and reflects off reflector  22  positioned directly above the cover  14 . The source of the light  20  is preferably a light emitting diode (LED)-type lamp, but a fluorescent or an incandescent lamp can be used. The reflector  22  is secured to the lighting fixture  10  with struts  24 ,  26  protruding from angled supports  34 ,  36  adjacent the first side wall  30  and second side wall  32 , respectively. The struts  24 ,  26  are secured to the reflective cover  22  with brackets  46  affixed to the outer circumference of the reflective cover  22 . The reflective cover  22  is preferably circular to conform generally to the beam of light emerging from lens  48 . 
         [0033]    The lighting fixture  10  includes a latch mechanism  28  on first and second sides  30 ,  32  of the main body  12 . Each latch mechanism  28  is primarily defined by the components of one wall  40  and first and second hooks  62 ,  63 , which connect the cover  14  to the main body  12 . Both latch mechanisms  28  preferably are undone to gain access to the interior cavity of the main body  12 . 
         [0034]    The first side  30  of the main body  12  and the second side  32  of the main body  12  each include a substantially H-shaped wall  40  that orbits or fits flush against the main body  12  when the cover  14  is secured to the top  15  of the main body  12  and the latch mechanism  28  is engaged. In this state, the upper end  52  is adjacent the main body top  15 , and the bottom end  54  is adjacent the lower support  16 , more specifically, adjacent the tapered bottom  18 . As seen in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , each H-shaped wall  40  includes a first leg  42 , a second leg  44  defining a notch therebetween, and a center portion  43  connecting the first leg  42  to the second leg  44 , with a finger aperture  45  therein. The first leg  42  is equipped with a first catch  38  along the interior surface  58  of the wall  40 , near the upper end  52 . The second leg  44  is equipped with a second catch  39  along the interior surface  58 , near the upper end  52 . Each of the catches  38 ,  39  has an apertured angled portion  60 ,  61 , respectively, that protrudes from the interior surface  58  of the wall  40 , while the remaining portion of each catch  38 ,  39  is attached to the interior surface  58  with a screw. 
         [0035]    Each H-shaped wall  40  is attached to the main body  12  by a wire-like hinge  50 . At the first side  30 , the hinge  50  hooks into and pivots about a first angled support  34  adjacent the top  15 . Along the second side  32 , the hinge  50  hooks into and pivots about a second angled support  36  adjacent the top  15 . The hinge  50  is-pivotally secured to the H-shaped wall  40  by bracket  53 , which is screwed or riveted to wall  40 . The hinge  50  allows the H-shaped wall  40  to rotate away from, and towards, the main body  12  without detaching therefrom, keeping the wall  40  stationary when the wall  40  has fully rotated away from the main body  12 . 
         [0036]    The first angled support  34  is fixed to the first side  30  of the main body  12 . The shape of the support  34  resembles a truncated pyramid with a pin  35  along its bottom surface. The bottom portion of the first strut  24  is secured to the first angled support  34 . Similarly, the second angled support  36  is fixed to the second side  32  of the main body  12 . The shape of the support  36  represents a truncated pyramid with a pin  37  along its bottom surface. 
         [0037]    The center  43  of each H-shaped wall  40  includes a resilient detent latch  56 . The detent latch  56  is substantially L-shaped and protrudes from the interior surface  58  at approximately 90°. The detent latch  56  yieldably slides over the bottom of the angled supports  34 ,  36  when the H-shaped wall  40  is moved in or out relative to main body  12 . More particularly, the detent latch  56  engages behind pins  35 ,  37  when the hinge  50  is adjacent to, or flush with, the interior of the main body  12 . When the hinge  50  is extracted from the main body  12 , the detent latch  56  yields enough to slide past the pin  35 ,  37 , but the material is sturdy enough to lock against the interior side of the top support  34 ,  36  when the hinge  50  is flush with the first and second sides  30 ,  32 . 
         [0038]    The cover  14  is attached to the main body  12  by first and second hooks  62 ,  63  along each side  30 ,  32 . The first hooks  62  engage the first catches  38  and the second hooks  63  engage the second catches  39 . The hooks  62 ,  63  are essentially C-shaped (See  FIG. 7 ) wherein the upper legs  64 ,  65  of the hooks  62 ,  63  are attached to the interior face of the cover  14  with screws  68 . The lower legs  66 ,  67  of the hooks  62 ,  63  engage the apertures in the angled upper portions  60 ,  61  of the catches  38 ,  39 . When the cover  14  is attached to the main body  12 , the hinge  50  is adjacent to the interior of the main body  12  and the top end  52  of the H-shaped wall  40  is near the bottom edge of the cover  14  to enable the hooks  62 ,  63  to engage the catches  38 ,  39 . 
         [0039]    Turning to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , in this second embodiment, the lighting fixture  10  includes a secondary light source or lamp  74  contained within an easily accessible wall mount housing  98 . The secondary light source  74  may be powered and controlled independently of the primary light source  20  described in the first embodiment. Preferably, the secondary light source  74  is not energized unless the building to which the housing  98  is attached activates its emergency lighting system. Both light sources  20 ,  74  can be activated simultaneously, but the preferable design of the lighting fixture  10  is for the secondary light source  74  to be activated when the primary light source  20  is unable to do so due to mechanical failures or the like. 
         [0040]    The main body  12  is attached to the wall mount housing  98  with mounting arms  70  therebetween. Specifically, the mounting arms  70  are secured to the lower support  16  adjacent a side of the lighting fixture  10  between the first and second sides  30 ,  32  so as not to interfere with the latch mechanism  28 . The upper and lower mounting arms  70  connect to the wall mount housing  98  at the connection points  128  disposed along the wall face  72  (See  FIG. 12 ). 
         [0041]    The wall mount housing  98  is molded and includes a wall plate  76  attached to a wall or flat surface of a building. The wall plate  76  is substantially rectangular having an opening  100  above the wall face  72  and a second opening  102  below the wall face  72 . The openings  100 ,  102  are key-shaped to receive screws or other mounting hardware to secure the wall plate  76  to a wall or flat surface. The wall plate  76  includes a top boss  124  and a bottom boss  126  protruding from the respective surfaces of the wall plate  76 . 
         [0042]    The entire wall plate  76  is covered by a cover  99 , which is secured to the wall mount housing  98  by a top tab (not shown) that engages the recess in top boss  124 , and a set screw  123  that engages the recess in bottom boss  126  of the wall plate  76 . Beneath the cover  99 , the wall plate  76  carries the secondary light source  74  and transformers. Light source  74  may be a 12V MR16 or MR11 reflector lamp, or any other type of lamp suitable for its purpose. 
         [0043]    The main wall face  72  is substantially rectangular and is positioned towards the upper portion of the wall plate  76 . Adjacent the wall face  72  is a transformer bracket  94  disposed along a longitudinal side  104  and mounted to the wall plate  76  with screws  96  through a lip  106 . A low voltage transformer  92  is mounted on the face of the transformer bracket  94 . The low voltage transformer  92  is substantially rectangular with an arcuate end facing the upper end of the wall plate  76 . The low voltage transformer  92  provides power to the secondary light source  74  via leads  97 . 
         [0044]    Beneath the wall face  72 , the secondary light source  74  is mounted to the wall plate  76 . Specifically, an adjustment bracket  84  is mounted to the wall plate  76  beneath the second opening  102 . Screws  90  secure the adjustment bracket  84  to holes  108  adjacent the second opening  102 . The adjustment bracket  80  has three surfaces including an L-shaped component  110  formed by two surfaces, and an angled component  112  having an arcuate slot  84  that spans about 30 degrees. 
         [0045]    A socket bracket  82  attaches to the adjustment bracket  84  with a threaded stud  86 . The stud  86  and an adjacent alignment tab  83  are received in the channel  84  from beneath the angled component  112 , and is secured in a selected position by a wing nut  88  on the top of the angled component  112 . Socket bracket  82  carries a bi-pin socket  118  having openings  122  that receive the pins  120  protruding from the base  114  of the lamp  74 . 
         [0046]    To access the primary light engine or LED  20 , the latching mechanisms  28  are undone to remove the cover  14  from the main body  12  of the lighting fixture  10 . For simplicity, only the latching mechanism  28  along a first side  30  of the lighting fixture  10  will be described. First, the finger aperture  45  is manually engaged to pull the bottom portion of H-shaped wall  40  away from the main body portion  12  (See  FIG. 3 ). This action releases the detent latch  56  from the pin  35  beneath the first angled top support  30 , allowing the wall  40  to move down. This disengages catches  38 ,  39  from hooks  62 ,  63 . 
         [0047]    The top end  52  can then be rotated away from the top  15  of the main body  12  until the bottom end  54  rests beneath the angled support  30  (See  FIG. 9 ). After the same operation is performed on the opposite side  32  with the opposing H-shaped wall  32 , all of the latches  62 ,  63  are disengaged, freeing the cover. The cover  14  is then removed, providing access to the light engine. 
         [0048]    To fully engage the latching mechanisms, the reverse is performed. The cover  14  is positioned along the top  15  of the main body  12  to create a sealed chamber for the light engine  20 . The H-shaped wall  40  is rotated inwardly towards the main body  12 . The top end  52  is tilted in so that the catches  38 ,  39  engage hooks  62 ,  63  on the cover. Then the wall  40  is pressed inwardly until the detent latch  56  snaps past the pin  35  beneath the angled support  34 . This pulls down on the hooks  62 ,  63 , creating a compression seal between the cover  14  and main body  12 . 
         [0049]    While a particular embodiment has been chosen to illustrate the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5