Patent Abstract:
A specialized lighting fixture including a main housing and a front bezel, and a pair of clip elements mounted in the bezel to removably secure one or more filters and a reflector. The clip elements also include a pair of opposed spring arms angled towards the bezel axis with the upper portion of the side edges of the arms positioned closer to the bezel axis than the lower portion of such edges. The bezel includes support surfaces that function, together with the clip elements to position the reflector with respect to the bezel and the bezel with respect to the main housing.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to lighting fixtures, particularly of the type used for commercial and theatrical lighting requirements. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Specialized lighting fixtures, for commercial and theatrical lighting, for example, frequently utilize various forms of accessories, such as filters, conditioners and lenses to modify the shape, color or other aspects of the emitted lighting. These accessories may be changed from time to time to achieve different lighting effects, and a number of arrangements have been proposed heretofore to accommodate such periodic changes. The fixture of the Kane et al U.S. Pat. No. 6,942,368, for example, utilizes a removable cartridge in which accessory elements are installed in advance of the cartridge itself being placed in the fixture. One of its important advantages is that the accessory group may be pre-assembled at ground level, which facilitates and makes safer the final installation, which frequently must take place on a high ladder. Many other proposals can, however, be overly complicated and expensive and/or can be more cumbersome and time consuming than is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a novel and improved form of specialized light fixture having a uniquely simplified and economical facility for the removable mounting of accessory elements as well as for mounting of a reflector element. The invention makes use of novel, multifunctional accessory retaining elements which are mounted in the bezel, at the front of the lamp housing, and enable one or several accessory elements to be carried in the bezel and to be easily installed in and removed therefrom. The bezel and the multifunctional retaining elements also include novel features for removably retaining and accurately positioning the reflector of the lamp to maximize the efficiency of the lighting output and to facilitate installation and replacement of the reflector and/or lamp as necessary or desirable. Additionally, the design of the lamp components is such that portions of the multifunctional elements are engageable with portions of the lamp housing to enable the bezel to be easily and expeditiously joined with and locked to the lamp housing after installing or changing accessories or changing of the lamp, for example. The fixture of the invention, while having significant functional advantages is also very economical to manufacture because primary components, i.e., housing and bezel, may be plastic moldings, while the inexpensive and easily installed multifunctional elements enable bezel to be securely and accurately attached to the housing with a small rotation of the bezel, while providing for mounting of the reflector and various accessories in an precise and reliable manner. 
     For a more complete understanding of the above and other features and advantages of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and to the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a typical form of lighting fixture incorporating the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a portion of the fixture of  FIG. 1  illustrating certain features of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of a novel form of multifunctional element incorporated in the fixture of  FIG. 1  and serving in multiple capacities therein as will be described. 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the multifunctional element of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIGS. 5 and 6  are front and side elevational views respectively of the element of  FIG. 3   
         FIG. 7  is a diametric cross sectional view through the lamp housing and bezel of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a broken away view illustrating the interaction between the multifunctional elements and the lamp housing for securing of the bezel to the housing. 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged, fragmentary cross sectional view showing elements of the bezel, housing and reflector in assembled relationship. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, the numeral  10  designates generally a light fixture incorporating the invention. The illustrated fixture is shown as a track lighting fixture, for mounting in a suitable bus bar (not shown). However, the invention is directed to features of the lamp itself without regard to the manner of its mounting. The illustrated embodiment includes a track mounting body  11 , a transformer housing  12  extending downward from the mounting body and rotatable with respect thereto, a lamp housing  13  rotatably mounted on the transformer housing, and a bezel  14  secured to the front of the lamp housing. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 7 , the lamp housing  13  comprises a lower portion  15  of circular cross section joined with an upper portion  16  which mounts to the transformer housing  12 . The upper portion of the lamp housing includes means of a standardized form (not shown) for mounting a lamp  17 . In the preferred form of the invention, the lamp  17  is a metal halide type, having an elongated cylindrical bulb form, which is mounted in the housing to be substantially coaxial with the circular portion  15  of the housing  13 . A suitable lamp for this purpose is a GE CMH14/T/U/830/G12 which is available commercially from the General Electric Company. 
     The lower portion of the lamp housing  13  is formed with a downwardly projecting cylindrical wall  18  of smaller diameter than adjacent portions of the housing  15 , which is adapted to be closely received within the cylindrical side wall  19  of the bezel  14 . The bezel  14  also is formed with an inwardly projecting annular bottom flange  21  which defines a front opening and provides support for one or more circular lenses or circular filter discs  22  in a manner to be described. It should be understood in connection with this description that directional references, such as vertical, horizontal, upper, lower, etc. are used for convenience only, and with respect to the invention in its specifically illustrated orientation. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the bezel  14  mounts internally a pair of diametrically opposed, multifunctional accessory retaining elements  23 , shown in detail in  FIGS. 3-6 . The accessory retaining elements  23  advantageously are stamped from a single section of spring metal, for example stainless steel of a thickness of about 0.015 inch. Each accessory retaining element  23  includes a flat base member  24  of arcuate shape, arranged to be supported on the bottom flange  21  of the bezel  14  and to be secured thereon by friction clips  25  which are engageable with posts (not shown) projecting upward from the flange  21 . A vertical support  26  extends upward from the base member  24  to a level near but not above the upper edge of the cylindrical bezel flange  21 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     On each side of the vertical support  26  there are formed inwardly projecting panels  27  which, among other things, impart stiffness to lower portions of the vertical support  26 . Spring arms  28  extend divergently inward from inner edges of the panels  27  and are disposed relative to each other at a relatively shallow angle of, in the illustrated embodiment, about 128 degrees. For a bezel of about four inches in diameter, an advantageous form of multifunctional accessory retaining element  23  may have a “wing span”, between upper corner areas  29  of the spring arms  28 , of about 1.46 inches. 
     As shown particularly in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the spring arms have upwardly divergent outer edges  30 . For example, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention the outer edges  30  may be disposed at an angle of about 102 degrees with respect to the horizontal. The arrangement is such that, because of angular disposition of the spring arms, the upper portions of the outer edges  30  are positioned slightly more radially inward, toward the center of the bezel, than lower portions of those edges. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the bottom flange  21  of the bezel  14  is provided with an upwardly projecting circular bead  31  extending around the inner edge of the flange. The bead  31  serves to support one or more (typically up to three) circular filter discs  22  in an axial stack. The filter discs  22  are positioned in centered relation in the bezel by means of circumferentially spaced internal ribs  32  extending inward from the circular flange of the bezel  14 . The upwardly divergent outer edges  30  of the spring arms are positioned so that the lower portions thereof will be resiliently displaced outwardly when a first disc is inserted into the bezel and supported on the annular bead  31 . The displaced spring arms bear inward against outer edges of the disc, and the upwardly divergent outer edges  30  of the spring arms bear somewhat downwardly on upper portions of the disc to retain the disc against the annular bead  31 . If a second filter disc is inserted into the bezel, it will be engaged by upper portions of the outer edges  30 , which are positioned slightly more inward than the edge portions engaging the lower disc, such that the spring arms will again be displaced in a radially outward direction and will resiliently bear inward and downward upon the uppermost disc. A similar action takes place if a third disc (not shown) is inserted onto the stack, it being understood that the accessory retaining elements  23  are, in the illustrated embodiment, configured to receive a maximum of three standard discs. In each case, downward pressure against the uppermost disc serves to retain the entire disc stack positioned in the bezel  14 . 
     To facilitate displacement of the spring arms  28  during insertion of filter discs  22 , the upper corner portions of the spring arms can be provided with outwardly bent tabs  33 . These tabs initially engage lower portions of the filter discs  22  during insertion into the bezel and cause the spring arms to be easily displaced outwardly when a disc is pressed downwardly into the bezel. 
     In the illustrated form of the invention, the vertical support  26  of the multifunctional accessory retaining element  23  has a support portion  34  which extends upward above the spring arms  28  and supports a spring clip  35 . The spring clip is integral with the support portion  34  and extends downward and inward therefrom. At its lower end, the spring clip has a V-shaped indentation  36  positioned to receive the edge of a flat, outwardly extending flange  37  of a reflector  38 , the body  39  of which is suitably shaped for the service intended. 
     As is evident in  FIGS. 7 and 9 , the internal ribs  32  of the bezel  14  are formed with upper and lower horizontally disposed support surfaces  40 ,  41 . The lower support surfaces  41  serve to position the reflector flange  37  (and thus the reflector  38  itself) accurately and in a stable manner with respect to the bezel  14 . The reflector is installed in the bezel by pressing the reflector downward until the flange  37  snaps into the V-shaped indentations  36  of an opposed pair of accessory retaining elements  23 . The V-shaped indentations then serve to press the flange resiliently downward against the several support surfaces  41 . The reflector is also accurately positioned coaxially with the bezel by the confining surfaces  42  of the internal ribs  32 . 
     Pursuant to another feature of the invention, the accessory retaining elements  23  are each provided with a housing engaging arm  43  integral with the support portion  34  of the vertical support  26  and extending laterally therefrom, spaced closely above the upper edges of the spring arms  28 . The arm  43  is curved inward slightly, to follow the arcuate contours of the bezel side wall  19 , and mounts an inwardly projecting cylindrical peg  44  at its outer end. 
     As indicated in  FIGS. 2 and 8 , the downwardly projecting cylindrical wall  18  of the lamp housing  13  has a bottom surface  45  which, when the bezel  14  if fully assembled to the lamp body, will engage the upper support surfaces of the internal ribs  32  of the bezel ( FIG. 9 ) to accurately position the bezel (and therefore the reflector  38  as well) with respect to the housing  13 . Pursuant to one aspect of the invention, the bezel  14  is secured to the housing  13  by means of the arms  43  and pegs  44 , which engage elements of the cylindrical wall  18 . To this end, the cylindrical wall  18  is formed in diametrically opposed locations with downward and outwardly opening recesses  46  which are of sufficient width (circumferentially) to receive upper portions of the multifunctional accessory retaining elements  23 . Communicating with the recesses  46  are adjacent recesses  47  which are outwardly open but closed at the bottom by means of a bottom wall  48 . 
     To initially assemble the bezel  14  with the housing  13 , the bezel is rotated to a position in which the multifunctional accessory retaining elements  23  are aligned with the downwardly opening recesses  46 , allowing the accessory retaining elements  23  to be inserted into the recesses and the bezel  14  to be applied over the downwardly projecting cylindrical wall  18 . Thereafter, the bezel  14  is rotated clockwise (as viewed from below) relative to the housing  13 , causing the arms  43  and pegs  44  to enter the open ends of the recesses  47 . The pegs  44  are thus engaged and supported by the bottom walls  48  of the recesses  47 . As evident in  FIGS. 2 and 8 , the bottom walls  48  are contoured such that, as the pegs  44  advance in a clockwise direction, they are first displaced upwardly and then allowed to drop downwardly slightly and captured with a detent action at the closed ends of the recesses  47 . The natural spring characteristics of the arms  48  allows the pegs to be moved through the detent position after the surface  45  has engaged the support surfaces  40  ( FIG. 9 ), such that the bezel is effectively locked in accurately positioned relation to the lamp housing  13 . To advantage, a stop element  49  ( FIG. 2 ) can be provided on the cylindrical projection, to engage with one of the internal ribs  32  of the bezel and limit the rotation of the bezel in the clockwise direction. The bezel can be readily removed, when desired, by a counterclockwise twisting motion to overcome the detent action and allow the pegs  44  to be withdrawn circumferentially from the recesses  47 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the internal ribs  32  have thin portions  50  extending upward from the upper support surfaces, between the cylindrical wall  18  and the bezel wall  19  to accurately position the bezel axially with respect to the housing while minimizing frictional resistance between the bezel and housing during mounting and removal of the bezel. Desirably, the interior of the lamp housing may be sealed with a Quad Ring  51  or the like to keep it free of dust. 
     The lighting fixture of the invention greatly facilitates rearrangement of the working elements, including the filters and the reflector, as is necessary or desirable from time to time to change the character of the lighting. When such changes are desired, a quick partial rotation of the bezel  14  enables it to be completely separated from the main housing  13 , and along with it, as a unit, the filters and the reflector. In this respect, it is often desirable to change the reflector to provide a different focus of the light beam. Both the reflector  38  and the filter discs  22  are easily removed by separating them from between the two multifunctional accessory retaining elements  23 , which both retain and position them by an advantageous spring action. While different reflectors can be easily snapped into place in the accessory retaining elements  23 , they are precisely positioned laterally by the confining surfaces  42  and axially by the support surfaces  41  on the bezel. In the preferred embodiment of the fixture, the lamp  17  has a cylindrical body. The precise positioning of the reflector in the bezel enables the reflector opening  52  fit around the lamp with an absolute minimum of clearance space, thus maximizing the efficiency of the reflected light. 
     The new fixture provides a number of advantageous features with respect to facilitating the periodic revision of lighting characteristics while providing a unit of low cost and minimal complication. All of the normally changeable elements (i.e., the reflector and filters) are held in the bezel and are easily removable and mountable with a simple twist action of the bezel. This is in made possible in large part by the use of unique and novel multifunctional accessory retaining elements which position and secure filters in various numbers, provide for easy but precise mounting of the reflector, and provide quick but positive and precise assembly of the bezel to the lamp housing. The multifunctional clip elements  23  are inexpensively made of sheet metal material, which shaped and formed in a novel manner to facilitate the initial mounting in the bezel and to obtain the desired multiple functions from the elements after mounting. 
     Mounting of the reflector in the removable bezel also makes the lamp  17  easily accessible and facilitates replacement of the lamp when necessary. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the specific form of the invention herein illustrated and described in intended to be illustrative only as many variations may be made thereto within the clear teachings and scope of the invention. Reference should therefore be made to the following claims in ascertaining the full and true scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5