Patent Abstract:
A light fixture having a relatively narrow light emitting aperture in a bottom thereof, includes a pair of elliptically shaped reflectors mounted therein, wherein first terminating ends of each reflector are connected, the elliptically shaped reflectors extending in parallel along the housing. Disposed inwardly from each reflector and spaced therefrom are light sources, each said light source extending in parallel relation. The ellipsoidal reflectors being positioned to reflect light through the narrow width aperture.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a lighting system, including removable ellipsoidal configured reflectors. More particularly, the present invention relates to a lighting system having a lighting housing with a narrow width light emitting slot with a two piece ellipsoidal reflector removable through said narrow width slot. 
     Lighting systems, and particularly fluorescent lighting systems, are well known for use as ceiling lights. More particularly, it is well known to recess the fluorescent lighting housings above the ceiling so that the bottom panels of the housing are in alignment with the ceiling, thereby providing a ceiling with a clean appearance. Moreover, in many housings, even though the bottom of the housing may be flush with the ceiling, large openings for the emission of light have been necessary to provide adequate lighting for a room. Thus, there has been a desire to improve the clean appearance of the ceiling by narrowing the width of the light emitting slot from the housing. U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,666 to Preston et al teaches a recessed light fixture which includes a housing having a front or bottom panel with a narrow aperture therein for passing light therethrough. This reference teaches an elongated reflector of ellipsoidal configuration disposed behind the light source and inside the housing to reflect the light generated by the light source through the aperture. However, in fluorescent lighting fixtures, the ballast and other electrical components for operating the fluorescent lamps are generally disposed above the top plate of the housing and are accessible only from above the housing by removing a top plate or cover. Thus, for a recessed lighting fixture having a relatively narrow light-emitting slot, the electrical components can only be accessed from above the ceiling. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved recessed light fixture of the type having a narrow width light emitting slot with access to electrical components mounted along the top of the lighting fixture from below the fixture. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a two-piece reflector device wherein each reflector is of ellipsoidal configuration and capable of being inserted into a light fixture housing through a narrow width slot in the bottom of the housing. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a pair of ellipsoidal shaped reflectors having mating terminating ends. 
     It is even a further object of the present invention to provide a method for installing a pair of ellipsoidal shaped reflectors having mating connectable terminating ends in a lighting fixture having a narrow width light emitting slot 
     More particularly, the present invention provides a light fixture, including a housing with two spaced side panels, each side panel extending downwardly and inwardly with lower terminating edges defining a narrow width light emitting slot therebetween. A pair of ellipsoidal elongated reflectors wherein each reflector has an inside surface, including a plurality of segments of ellipsoidal cross section disposed between a light source and an inner surface of the housing. The ellipsoidal shaped elongated reflectors are provided with mating terminating ends wherein the light is reflected from the reflectors to a focal point which is disposed within the light emitting slot. 
    
    
     Additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art, upon consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived. The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which: 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lighting fixture of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a light fixture of FIG. 1 showing two elliptically figured reflectors of the present invention with one reflector being in an installed position and a second reflector being inserted through a bottom narrow slotted opening of a light fixture housing; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 showing the second reflector disposed within the light fixture housing but not installed in place; and, 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the light fixture of FIG. 1 showing both reflectors in an installed condition. 
    
    
     It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and that the preferred embodiment is illustrated by sectional views, which illustrate the typically used steps in installing the reflectors in a light fixture housing. Moreover, in the instances where details are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention, or which render other details difficult to perceive, such details may have been omitted. Even further, it should be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiment illustrated and described herein. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As best shown in FIG. 1, a light fixture  30 , which may be recessing in a ceiling (not shown), includes a housing  31  having a top plate  50  with opposed side panels  32   a  and  32   b , and an end panel  46 . The side panels  32   a  and  32   b  extend downwardly and then inwardly to lower terminating edges  37   a  and  37   b , respectively. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the terminating edges  37   a  and  37   b  of the side panels  32   a  and  32   b , respectively, define a relatively narrow light emitting opening or aperture  35 . Two ellipsoidal configured reflectors  34   a  and  34   b  are received within the housing  31 . 
     As best shown in FIG. 4, the reflectors  34   a  and  34   b  are mounted to the top plate  50  of the housing  31  with reflector mounting screws  54   a ,  54   b ,  54   c  and  54   d . Each reflector  34   a  and  34   b  has opposed terminating ends, reflector  34   a  including a lower outer edge  33   a  at one end and a V-shaped connecting or nesting end  55   a  at an opposed end whereas reflector  34   b  has a lower terminating outer edge  34   b  at one end and an opposed V-shaped connecting or nesting end  55   b  at an opposed end, end  55   b  being received by and nesting within the V-shaped nesting end  55   a  of reflector  34   a . The housing inner edges  37   a  and  37   b  extend inwardly past the lower terminating outer edges  33   a  and  33   b  of the reflectors  34   a  and  34   b , respectively wherein the outer edges  33   a ,  33   b  engage inner sides of said panels  32   a ,  32   b , at a position above edges  37   a ,  37   b.    
     Each reflector  34   a  and  34   b  is made up of a plurality of ellipsoidal segments  36   a  and  36   b , respectively, which circumscribe an individual light source for each reflector. Specifically, reflector  34   a  circumscribes the light source  38   a  and the reflector  34   b  circumscribes the light source  38   b , the light sources being elongated fluorescent tubes. 
     Referring back to FIG. 4, substantially all of the light reflected off the inside surfaces  41   a  and  41   b  passes through a common focal point or area indicated at  43 . However, it is realized that the reflectors  34   a  and  34   b  could be designed so that all light reflected off the inside surfaces  41   a  and  42   b , respectively, pass through a narrowly defined point such as indicated at  43  or the reflectors  34   a  and  34   b  could be designed so that all light reflected off the surfaces  41   a  and  41   b , respectively, pass through a broader space or area. And, the focal point or area indicated at  43  is referred to broadly as the focal area  43 . Thus, because the reflected light passes through the focal area  43 , aperture or opening  35  can be narrower than in prior art recessed light fixtures. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the light fixture  30  is provided with a ballast  45 , which is attached to the top plate  50 . And, as shown in FIG. 4, when the reflectors  34   a ,  34   b  are in a use condition the V-shaped nesting connections  55   a  and  55   b  are in a nesting relation and overlap as indicated at  56 . With the reflectors  34   a ,  34   b  in a use condition, the ballast  45  and other electrical components and connections are not easily accessible. As shown in FIG. 2, with the reflector  34   b  being partially removed from the housing  31 , the reflector  34   a  may also be removed from the housing thereby exposing the ballast  45  and other electrical components for easy access. 
     FIGS. 2-4 also illustrate one method for installing the reflectors  34   a  and  34   b  into a housing  31  having a relatively narrow slot  35  in the bottom of the housing. As shown in FIG. 2, the reflector  34   a  has been installed into the housing  31  and held in place with the reflector mounting screws  54   a  and  54   b  (FIG. 1) and the manner for installing the reflector  34   a  is essentially the same sequence as the following for installing the reflector  34   b . That is, the reflector  34   b  is first fed through the narrow slot  35  using the V-shaped terminating end  55   b  being threaded through the slot  35  first (FIG.  2 ). The rest of the reflector  34   b  is then threaded through the slot  35  (FIG. 3) and positioned so that the V-shaped terminating end  55   b  receives the V-shaped nesting connecting terminating  55   a  of the reflector  34   a.    
     As shown in FIG. 4, once the V-shaped end  55   a  is received within the V-shaped end  55   b , reflecting mounting screws  54   c  and  54   d  (FIG. 1) are installed to hold the reflector  34   b  in place. 
     Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to a preferred embodiment, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5