Abstract:
An improved recessed lighting fixture allowing illumination from a lighting unit placed within a cavity of a planar surface, such as a ceiling or wall. The invention facilitates the ability to properly aim illumination because the user can aim the fixture while it is in place and illuminated. The invention is additionally designed to allow the substitution of lamps/light bulbs without requiring re-aiming of the fixture and to be used without modification with ceiling materials of varying thickness. The invention also includes an azimuthal adjustment mechanism wherein the lamp is mounted on a gimbal having a rack and pinion coupling to rotate the gimbal under control of a screw accessible from the exterior of the fixture and a horizontal aiming system.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of a U.S. application filed on Feb. 28, 2002 and having Ser. No. 60/360,456. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates generally to lighting fixtures and, more specifically, to an improved in-ceiling lighting fixture.  
           [0004]    2. Prior Art  
           [0005]    Recessed lighting fixtures are well known in prior art. However, such fixtures have been visually obtrusive in that all or some portion of the fixture falls below the ceiling line and disrupts the plane of the ceiling. Recently, low voltage halogen lights have become more popular because they are brighter and consume less energy. This has led to a need for further improvements in recessed lighting fixture design.  
           [0006]    For aesthetic reasons, an in-ceiling light fixture is normally at least partially recessed into the planar surface of the ceiling. An opening is cut into the ceiling to illuminate the area beneath the light fixture. The fixture is generally mounted into the ceiling such that the bottom of the fixture (that part closest to the floor when installed) does not extend beyond the plane of the ceiling. Because the opening in the ceiling does not generally have a finished appearance, a trim or bezel is generally installed in the opening to enhance its appearance and conceal the cut out. Historically, the trim piece has been below the planar surface of the ceiling, visually diminishing the aesthetics of the ceiling. The same situation exists with wall mounted recessed lighting.  
           [0007]    Another problem arising from the fixtures of prior art is that they could not accommodate differing thickness in ceiling materials. Ceiling panels are constructed in varying thickness and the trim/bezel must accommodate the multiple sizes of the ceiling material that are currently available in the market. Formerly, this required the manufacture and use of multiply sized trim kits and increased the costs of storage, materials and labor in installing recessed lighting.  
           [0008]    Additionally, the light within the fixture must be properly aimed to achieve the desired design and aesthetic effect and such fixtures have been difficult and time-consuming to aim properly. Traditionally, aiming the light required the user to first turn on the light to see where it is initially aimed, then turn off the light to let it cool down (as is required with halogen lighting), then adjust the aim of the light and then turn it on again to see where it is aimed after the adjustment. The process must be repeated until the light is aimed at the desired location. Thus, in the prior art, lights have been difficult to aim without generally requiring several iterations of aiming and adjusting the light, with a cool-down period between each of the several iterations.  
           [0009]    Additionally, the light bulbs within the fixtures have been difficult to replace without removing at least part of the fixture. Moreover, after removing the fixture, the aim of the light is often altered and requires re-adjustment and re-aiming of the fixture after the light bulb has been replaced.  
           [0010]    Therefore, what is needed is an in-ceiling or recessed lighting fixture that is east to install and use, easy to aim and facilitates bulb replacement without requiring re-aiming of the fixture.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    According to the present invention, an improved recessed lighting fixture allows aesthetically pleasing illumination from a lighting unit placed within a cavity of a planar surface, such as a ceiling or wall. The invention facilitates the ability to properly aim the lamp because the user can aim the fixture while it is in place and illuminated. It also allows the substitution of lamps/light bulbs without requiring re-aiming of the fixture. Additionally, the present invention may be used without modification with ceiling materials of varying thickness. The housing also includes an azimuthal adjustment mechanism. The lamp is mounted on a gimbal having a rack and pinion coupling to rotate the gimbal under control of a screw accessible from the exterior of the fixture.  
           [0012]    The basic elements of the invention include: a housing unit designed to fit into a structure (such as a ceiling or wall), a light source that illuminates an area (such as below a ceiling), electrical wiring from a power source to the housing unit, a lamp/light socket, a holder for the light socket, means to adjust the holder to aim a light placed in the light socket, a light bulb, means to easily replace the light bulb without removing the housing and a trim ring that provides a finished look to the housing unit when viewed from the area to be illuminated.  
           [0013]    Unlike prior art, the current invention contains means to aim the lamp while it is on, without the need to turn the lamp off and to allow it to cool down. Additionally, the lamp has a holder that allows rapid changing of the lamp without interfering with lamp aiming and without the need to disassemble the housing unit.  
           [0014]    It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a lighting system designed to fit into a recessed space, such as in a ceiling. To be architecturally and aesthetically pleasing, the light must be strong enough to provide adequate illumination, but diffuse enough to prevent glare or harsh lighting. Thus, the light must be aimable to allow for the proper lighting pattern for conditions within the area to be lit. As with any lighting system, light bulbs ultimately burn out and require replacement. In a recessed lighting system, the bulb should not require readjustment to obtain the correct aim after replacing the bulb.  
           [0015]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a trimless and recessed lighting fixture that has a light that can be easily aimed by a unique frictional clutch assembly.  
           [0016]    It is a further object of the present invention to incorporate a trim ring into said lighting assembly that is easily capable of adjusting to allow for installation into surfaces having various sizes (thickness).  
           [0017]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for a unique trim alignment tab and mating key slotted lockable rotation ring that allows for easy and repetitive replacement of fixture trims.  
           [0018]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method to quickly replace a bulb without changing the original lamp aiming angle and position.  
           [0019]    Further features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated by reviewing the following drawings and detailed description.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]    For a further understanding of the objects and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which like parts are given like reference numbers and wherein:  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 is a side section, cutaway view of the recessed ceiling light housing fixture;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 is a back elevation view of the azimuthal aiming bracket within the recessed ceiling light housing fixture of FIG. 1;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 is a side section view of;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 a  is a side section view of the rack and pinion lamp adjustment and aiming mechanism and the gearing assembly of the azimuthal aiming mechanism of FIG. 2;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 b  is a top section view of the rack and pinion lamp adjustment and aiming mechanism and the gearing assembly of the azimuthal aiming mechanism of FIG. 2;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 is a side section, cutaway view of the recessed ceiling light housing fixture and a trim ring;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 6 is a side section view of the cutaway view of the fixture of FIG. 5 along line  6 - 6  in the direction of the appended arrows;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the circular trim ring of FIG. 5;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 8 is a side section view of the trim ring of FIG. 7, taken along line  8 - 8  in the direction of the appended arrows;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 9 is a bottom view of a square trim ring according to the present invention;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 10 is a side view of the trim ring of FIG. 9 along the line  10 - 10  in the direction of the appended arrows; 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0032]    In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, specific component arrangements and constructions and other details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known manufacturing methods and structures have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention.  
         [0033]    Referring first to FIG. 1, a perspective view of the lamp housing unit  10  of the present invention is shown. FIG. 2 presents a cut away side section view of the housing unit  10 . Contained within the housing unit  10  is a lamp support system  14  that includes a lamp socket  16 , an azimuthal light aiming mechanism  18 , an angular light aiming system  19  and a light bulb/lamp  20 . Optionally, a transformer  12  (for low voltage operation) is coupled with the housing unit  10 .  
         [0034]    The housing unit  10  of the preferred embodiment is designed for installation in a cavity behind a planar surface, such as a wall or ceiling. The housing unit  10  may include a cylindrically shaped baffle  22  that helps direct light towards the area to be illuminated.  
         [0035]    Installation of the housing unit  10  requires an opening  24  in the planar surface to allow illumination from the housing unit  10  into a room or other area. The opening  24  will initially have an unfinished appearance and the baffle  22  of the housing unit  10  extends into the opening to provide a more finished appearance. Coupled to the baffle  22  is a mud/plaster ring  25 . Coupled to the mud ring  25  is a trim ring  26  that provides a finished appearance to the installed fixture.  
         [0036]    Referring next also to FIGS. 3 and 4, a detailed view of the means to aim the lamp/light bulb  20  is shown. The lamp  20  can be azimuthally adjusted through an arc angled from  0  to  45  degrees. The angle of illumination is adjustable, even while the lamp is on and/or hot, by means of a unique rack and pinion gear assembly  28  and screw adjustment assembly  30  (FIG. 1).  
         [0037]    The lamp aiming assembly  14  includes of a bracket  32  having a banana slide opening  34 , a rack and pinion assembly  28 , an adjustment screw  36 , and a lamp holder  14  coupled to the bracket  32  (best seen in FIG. 1). When fully assembled, the lamp assembly can rotate about a horizontal axis as much as  45  degrees from vertical. The rack and pinion assembly  28 , attached to the bracket  32 , includes a series of teeth  40  at its bottom edge, a rectangular opening  42  running parallel to the planar surface of the mud ring  26  and two holes  44  that allow the lamp holder  14  to be coupled to the rack and pinion assembly  28  and the bracket  32 .  
         [0038]    Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, as noted above, the bracket  32  is affixed perpendicularly to the housing trim  38  and has a front surface  46  located nearest the light opening  24  and a back surface  48 . A positioning screw  36  and pinion gear  30  are located at the base of the bracket  32 . The screw  36  head is located towards the light opening  24  such that the screw  36  can be turned with a screwdriver  37  and accessed from the light opening  24 .  
         [0039]    The rack and pinion assembly  28  is located at the back surface  48  of the bracket  32 . The lamp holder  14  is located adjacent to the front bracket surface  46  of the bracket  32  and is coupled to the rack and pinion assembly  28  by two rivets or screws affixed to each of the two holes  44  of the rack and pinion assembly  28 . At least one of the two holes  44  is elongated perpendicularly to the base of the trim  38 . When installed, the two lamp holder screws pass through the banana shaped arc opening  34  of the bracket  32  and the rack and pinion assembly  28 .  
         [0040]    Rotating the screw  36  with a screwdriver  37  (FIG. 1) causes the pinion gear  30  to rotate. Because the gear  30  engages the teeth  40  of the rack  28 , rotating the gear  30  causes translation of the rack  28  roughly parallel to the planar surface of the trim  38 . Because the lamp holder  14  is connected to the rack and pinion assembly  28  through the banana shaped opening  34 , the lateral movement of the rack and pinion assembly  28  causes the lamp holder  14  to move in a direction that follows the curvature of the banana shaped opening  34 . The movement of the lamp holder  14  causes the light/lamp  20  to pivot about a horizontal axis along the path of the banana shaped opening and allows it to be aimed from 0 degrees to 45 degrees relative to the bracket  32 . In this manner, the light can be aimed, even while it is on and hot, using only a screwdriver.  
         [0041]    Referring next to FIG. 5, in addition to angular aiming described above, the light can be adjusted in azimuth through rotation of the trim. To adjust the light about a vertical axis in a square trim  52  fixture, the trim is rotated about a vertical axis in 90-degree increments. This allows the illumination to be directed towards any of the four generic compass directions. After being set in one of these four general directions, the rotational aim can be further adjusted 45 degrees in either direction using a unique azimuthal aiming system.  
         [0042]    The horizontal aiming system includes a circular track  60 , track tabs  62  and a setscrew  36  mounted on the track. When the setscrew  36  is loosened, the track  60  may rotate 45 degrees in either direction from a central index point. Thus, within each 90-degree direction available from rotating the trim  38 , incremental rotation is available such that the combined rotational movement allows for a full 360 degrees of rotation. When the desired horizontal direction of illumination is achieved, the setscrew  36  can be tightened to prevent further rotational movement of the track  54 .  
         [0043]    When a circular trim unit  26  is used, the aiming system can permit a complete 360-degree rotation without the need for an adjustment track.  
         [0044]    Referring next to FIG. 6, coupled to the housing unit  10  is a mud ring  25 . The mud ring  25  couples to a trim ring  26 . One purpose of the trim  26  is to provide a finished look to the illumination opening in a way that allows the trim  26  to accommodate varying ranges of ceiling thickness. Common ceiling materials are standardized at a thickness of ½″, ⅝″, ¾″ or 1″. A trim ring  26  that is too shallow will leave the illumination opening  24  partially uncovered while a trim ring  26  that is too deep extends beyond the opening  24 . Either situation defeats the goal of having an architecturally pleasing ceiling.  
         [0045]    Referring now to FIGS. 7, 8  16  and  17 , ceilings of varying thicknesses are accommodated via a novel series of alignment tabs located both on the housing baffle  22  (baffle slots  70 ) and on the trim ring  26  (trim ring tabs  72 ). The trim ring tabs  72  are of various lengths such that the shortest such tab  72  allows for use in a ½″ ceiling. The longest tab  72  allows for use in a 1″ ceiling. The baffle slots  70  serve as the base and align with matching levels of staircase type tabs  72  of the trim ring  26 . Because the trim ring tabs  72  are stepped, i.e. of varying lengths to match different ceiling thickness, the trim ring  26  can be varyingly spaced in relation to the housing  10  to accommodate multiple ceiling thickness by rotating the ring to the appropriate tab position for the ceiling thickness of the specific installation. When the baffle tabs  70  and trim ring tabs  72  properly align for the appropriate ceiling thickness, the trim ring  26  connects to the baffle  22  through a set of screws (not shown) or other devices.  
         [0046]    The square trim ring  26 , shown in FIG. 17, works in much the same way as the round trim ring  26 . The trim ring  26  has trim ring tabs  72  to allow the trim ring  26  to properly align for ceiling thickness. Each side of the square baffle  22  has tabs  70  that are coordinated to align with the trim ring tabs  72  for a specific ceiling thickness. By way of example, the tabs  70  of the first edge of the baffle  22  may align with the trim ring tabs  72  for a 1″ ceiling tile. The baffle tabs  70  of the next side might may align with the trim ring tabs  72  for a 1″ ceiling tile.  
         [0047]    In this manner, the baffle  22  of the housing unit  10  can be extended or shortened, as necessary, through the stepped trim tabs  70  and  72 . When the trim  34  is at the proper depth for the ceiling thickness, plaster can be smoothly applied from the planar surface up to the inner edge of the mud ring  25 . The trim ring  26  is then affixed to the housing unit  10  and is flush with the planar surface, to provide a finished look to the installed fixture.  
         [0048]    As noted above, the trim pieces come in a variety of shapes with the most predominant shapes being round and square. Round trim pieces employ a unique method of ensuring that the lamp will remain properly aimed, even if lamp/light bulbs are replaced.  
         [0049]    Referring next to FIGS.  9 - 10 , the invention incorporates a unique trim alignment tab  74 , coupled to the trim ring  38 , and a mating key slotted lockable rotation ring  76  coupled to the light housing fixture  10 . This allows for repetitive replacement of fixture trims after re-lamping or lamp adjustment while still maintaining the original lamp aiming setting. The slot  78  of the ring  76  is sized to receive the trim alignment tab  74 . Using the slot  78  of the ring  76  as a guide, there is only one way for the alignment tab  74  to fit into the light housing fixture  10 . Because the aiming mechanism  18  is independent of the trim replacement process, replacing the trim  26  will not disturb the aim of the light bulb.  
         [0050]    The invention as described above can be produced in different embodiments. In one embodiment, known as a trim based system, the lamp aiming system  18  is coupled to the trim ring  26 . In another embodiment, known as a housing based system, the lamp aiming system  18  is coupled to the housing unit  10 . The housing and the trim based systems offer the same features as previously described. However, the housing based system additionally offers an extremely easy means to replace a lamp/light bulb  20  within the fixture.  
         [0051]    The description of the present invention has been made with respect to specific arrangements and constructions of recessed, trimless architectural lighting fixture. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing description is for illustrative purposes only, and that various changes and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the overall spirit and scope of the present invention. The full extent of the present invention is defined and limited only by the following claims.