Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of lighting systems, and more particularly to recessed lighting systems, and provides a structure for facilitating a completely or partially flush recessed lighting arrangement for an enhanced and finely customizable recessed lighting installation. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     One of the primary reasons that conventional recessed lighting systems, especially over systems which protrude from the wall or ceiling, are highly desirable is that they blend with almost any decor. These lighting systems are typically low-profile, and thus do not represent a commitment by the user to any specific decorating orientation. However, conventional recessed lighting systems are typically designed for installation within a ceiling and usually provide strong incandescent or halogen light in narrowly directed beams or spot lights. This kind of lighting can cause eye fatigue over long periods of exposure. Additionally, the harsh and direct lighting provided by the aforementioned recessed lighting methods are not optimal for use in dressing areas, as they tend to produce a shadow effect and can subsequently be less than helpful in fully and evenly illuminating a subject. Therefore, when lighting a bathroom, vanity area, or other location in which it is preferable that the lighting should be of a softer, more evenly distributed quality. 
     Another lighting option that may provide a less objectionable form of lighting than that previously described is standard incandescent or fluorescent lighting in the form of a wall sconce or a typical wall-mount or ceiling-mount lighting fixture. Although wall sconces are available in a variety of designs, they may not provide adequate task or subject lighting, since their purpose is usually to provide relatively low-power perimeter lighting in a room. Additionally, wall sources are often open toward the ceiling of a room, causing a large portion of the emitted light to be directed upwardly rather than provide direct illumination. Finally, wall sconces typically command the focus in any room in which they are utilized and are therefore diminished as a low-profile option. 
     What is therefore needed is a system which facilitates a custom installation, provides adequate and unobtrusive lighting, does not require updating, yet continues to meet the necessary requirements for lighting system operation and serviceability. The needed system should be as structurally secure as a conventional system and should facilitate a customized installation flush with the surrounding wall or mirror. The needed system will also be customizable to project slightly forward of or slightly recessed from the surrounding wall or mirror should a more dramatic lighting effect be desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An adjustable mount lighting system includes a housing for attachment to an anchoring structure, typically a wall or a beam within a wall. Attachment of the housing to the anchoring structure is facilitated by the use of adjustable brackets fastened to the housing using bolts or other similar connectors, and attached to the anchoring structure using screws or other similar hardware. The housing may preferably be a rectangular shape, having two side walls oppositely disposed from one another and both perpendicularly adjacent and contiguous with a rear enclosure, and two end walls contiguous with and perpendicularly adjacent both the rear enclosure and the two side walls, and oppositely disposed one from another. Each wall of the housing has a first planar portion extending from the rear enclosure to an edge, and a second planar portion extending from the edge toward the opposite wall and perpendicular with the first planar portion. The walls of the housing define an opening adjacent which each of the second planar portions of the walls terminate. Furthermore, the second planar portions of the end walls have apertures therethrough at which a light-transmitting face plate, also included in the adjustable mount lighting system, may be fitted and secured using screws or similar hardware. The side walls of the housing optimally have a series of slots therethrough which are perpendicular to the plane occupied by the opening and to the plane of the rear enclosure. The adjustable brackets each have a first planar portion extending to an edge, and a second planar portion extending away from the edge, each of first and second planar portions having a pair of apertures therethrough, the apertures on the second planar portions elongate as compared to those on the first planar portions. The screws used to attach the adjustable brackets to the anchoring structure are insertable into the elongate apertures of the second planar portions of the adjustable brackets at a variety of positions along the length of the aperture in order to facilitate lateral adjustment of the housing with respect to the anchoring structure prior to attachment of the housing to the anchoring structure. The bolts that attach the adjustable brackets to the housing optimally extend through the apertures of first planar portions of the adjustable brackets and through the corresponding slots of the housing to allow the adjustable brackets to be adjusted along the slots by translation of the bolts within the slots so that the adjustable brackets may be secured to the housing at a selectable position anywhere along the length of the slots. This adjustability allows the entire housing to be selectively positioned in a front-to-rear orientation with respect to the anchoring structure so that once the face plate is attached, the adjustable mount lighting system can be made to fit in a variety of positions defined by the position of the exterior surface of the face plate with respect to the surrounding wall or mirror. For example, the adjustable brackets can be positioned so that the face plate of the adjustable mount lighting system fits flush with, projects forward of, or is recessed from the surrounding wall or mirror. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention, its configuration, construction, and operation will be best further described in the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a lower perspective view of an adjustable mount lighting fixture including a housing supporting a pair of fluorescent light tubes (illustrated in phantom) and having an adjustable bracket system secured thereto with bolts and nuts through slots in the body of the housing, a face plate and screws for securing the face plate to the housing, both illustrated as exploded away from the housing, and the face plate, housing, and fluorescent light tubes shown with broken line to be any length and shown adjacent sections of mirror or wall which may also be of any length, and shown adjacent sections of mirror; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the adjustable bracket system of the adjustable mount lighting fixture as in FIG. 1 which illustrates the position of the adjustable bracket with respect to the housing and slots therein, and which illustrates in greater detail the bolts extending through the apertures of the adjustable bracket and through the slots of the housing and secured by nuts illustrated in phantom; 
     FIG. 3 is a view as in FIG. 1 of the adjustable mount lighting fixture which illustrates the housing with adjustable brackets and face plate attached thereto; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the adjustable mount lighting fixture which illustrates the housing with adjustable brackets and face plate attached thereto, the opposite side view of the adjustable mount lighting fixture being identical; 
     FIG. 5 is an end view of what could be either end of the adjustable mount lighting fixture which illustrates the housing with adjustable brackets and face plate attached thereto; 
     FIG. 6 is a rear view of the adjustable mount lighting fixture which illustrates the housing and adjustable brackets attached; 
     FIG. 7 is a plan frontal view of the adjustable mount lighting fixture which illustrates the face plate and adjustable brackets as attached to the housing; and 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional end perspective of the housing of the adjustable mount lighting fixture as attached to the adjustable brackets with pairs of nuts and bolts, the adjustable brackets fastened to an anchoring structure within a wall with pairs of screws, the fluorescent light tubes (illustrated in phantom) within the housing, and the face plate attached to the housing with screws, all elements of the adjustable mount lighting fixture illustrated as having been positioned so that the exterior surface of the face plate is coplanar with the exterior surface of the surrounding mirror or wall in a flush configuration. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The description and operation of the invention will be best initiated with reference to FIG.  1  and which illustrates a perspective view of the adjustable mount lighting fixture  11  of the present invention and illustrates a housing  13  of a rectangular shape and having a rear enclosure  15  (shown with an under arrow), a first side  17 , a second side  21  (shown with a hooked arrow) oppositely disposed from first side  17 , both first and second sides  17  and  21  generally perpendicular to and contiguous with rear enclosure  15 . Housing  13  further has a first end  23 , and a second end  25  oppositely disposed from first end  23 , first and second ends  23  and  25  generally perpendicular to and contiguous with first and second sides  17  and  21  and rear enclosure  15  and forming a partially enclosed rectangle with a front opening  26 . The body members above may be formed from sheet metal by folding, welding, and the like. 
     First side  17  of housing  13  has a first planar portion  27  extending from rear enclosure  15  to a first edge  31  of housing  13 , and a second planar portion  33  extending from first edge  31  of housing  13  in a direction perpendicular to first planar portion  27  and generally toward second side  21  and terminating adjacent front opening  26 . 
     Similarly, second side  21  of housing  13  has a first planar portion  37  extending from rear enclosure  15  to a second edge  41  of housing  13 , and a second planar portion  43  extending from second edge  41  of housing  13  in a direction perpendicular to first planar portion  37  and generally toward first side  17  and terminating adjacent front opening  26 . 
     First end  23  of housing  13  has a first planar portion  47  (shown with a hooking lead line) extending from rear enclosure  15  to a third edge  51  of housing  13 , and a second planar portion  53  extending from third edge  51  of housing  13  in a direction perpendicular to first planar portion  47  and generally toward second end  25 , and having an aperture  57  therethrough. Second planar portion  53  terminates adjacent front opening  26 . 
     Similarly, second end  25  of housing  13  has a first planar portion  61  extending from rear enclosure  15  to a fourth edge  63  of housing  13 , and a second planar portion  65  extending from fourth edge  63  of housing  13  in a direction perpendicular to first planar portion  61  and generally toward first end  23 , and having an aperture  71  therethrough. Second planar portion  65  terminates adjacent front opening  26 . 
     First planar portion  27  of first side  17  has a first slot  81  therethrough situated near first end  23  of housing  13 , and a second slot  83  therethrough situated near the second end  25  of housing  13 . Both first and second slots  81  and  83  extend between rear enclosure  15  and front opening  26  in a direction normal to the plane containing the rear enclosure  15  and to the plane of the front opening  26 . First slot  81  of first side  17  is shown adjacent a first adjustable bracket  85 , and second slot  83  of first side  17  is shown adjacent a second adjustable bracket  87 . First and second adjustable brackets  85  and  87  are illustrated as attached to housing  13  at slots  81  and  83  of first side  17  with bolts  89  and nuts (not yet illustrated). Slots  81  are preferably about one to two inches long and extend to about a half an inch from the front face of the fixture  11 . 
     Each of first and second adjustable brackets  85  and  87  has a first planar portion  91  with a pair of apertures  93  therethrough, and a second planar portion  95  with a pair of elongate apertures  97  therethrough, and which together form an edge  99  therebetween first and second planar portions  91  and  95  such that first and second planar portions  91  and  95  are perpendicular to with respect to one another. Each of first planar portions  91  of adjustable brackets  85  and  87  is situated adjacent first and second slots  81  and  83 , respectively, of first side  17  of housing  13  and parallel to the plane occupied by first side  17  of housing  13  with edge  99  perpendicular to and projected forward of corresponding slot  81  or  83 . First planar portion  91  extends away from edge  99  toward rear enclosure  15  in a direction parallel with first side  17 , and second planar portion  95  extends away from edge  99  and perpendicularly away from first side  17  of housing  13 . 
     Similarly, the first planar portion  37  of the second side  21  has a first slot  101  (not illustrated in FIG. 1) therethrough situated near first end  23  of housing  13 , and a second slot  103  (not illustrated in FIG. 1) therethrough situated near the second end  25  of housing  13 . Both first and second slots  101  and  103  extend between rear enclosure  15  and front opening  26  in a direction normal to that plane containing the rear enclosure  15  and to the plane of the front opening  26 . First slot  101  of second side  21  is shown adjacent a third adjustable bracket  105 , and second slot  103  of second side  21  is shown adjacent a fourth adjustable bracket  107 . First and second adjustable brackets  105  and  107  are illustrated as attached to housing  13  at slots  101  and  103  of second side  21  with bolts  89  and nuts (not yet illustrated). 
     Each of third and fourth adjustable brackets  105  and  107  has a physical configuration identical to that described for first and second adjustable brackets  85  and  87 , and are situated with respect to corresponding slots  101  and  103  of the second side  21  of housing  13  exactly as adjustable brackets  85  and  87  have been described as being situated with respect to slots  81  and  83 . 
     Bolts  89  extend through the pairs of apertures  93  of each of adjustable brackets  85 ,  87 ,  105 ,  107 , and simultaneously gag through each of the corresponding slots  81 ,  83 ,  101  and  103 , before interconnecting with their respective nuts. This configuration allows translation of the bolts  89  within the slots  81 ,  83 ,  101 , and  103  and consequently for selective positioning of the adjustable brackets  85 ,  87 ,  105 ,  107  with respect to the housing  13  to achieve a target position of the housing  13  with respect to an anchoring structure (not yet illustrated) and thus the overall position of the adjustable mount lighting fixture  11  with respect to surrounding structures. 
     Illustrated in phantom in FIG. 1 is a pair of fluorescent light tubes  111  located just within the front opening  26  of the housing  13  and shown supported at their ends with supports, and shown as they would be if the adjustable mount lighting fixture  11  was fully operational. In lieu of tubes  111 , a series of bulbs can be used. 
     Also illustrated in FIG. 1 as exploded away from the housing  13  of the adjustable mount lighting fixture  11  is a face plate  113  and screws  114  for attaching face plate  113  to housing  13  for enclosing the front opening  26  of housing  13 . Face plate  113  has an interior surface  115  directed toward the housing  13 , and an exterior surface  117  directed away from the housing  13 . The face plate  113  may be made of acrylic in a variety of patterns and textures, or may be constructed of glass or other similar medium through which light may be at least partially transmitted. The face plate  113  has a first aperture  121  and a second aperture  123  through which screws  114  may be inserted and subsequently threaded into apertures  57  and  71 , respectively, of the second planar portions  53  and  65  of each of first and second ends  23  and  25  of the housing  13  for securing the face plate  113  to the housing  13 . 
     Finally, FIG. 1 illustrates sections of a mirror or wall  125  on either side of the adjustable mount lighting fixture  11  having an exterior surface  127  that faces in the same direction as the exterior surface  117  of the face plate  113 . Note that the dashed lines shown as bisecting the housing  13 , the pair of fluorescent light tubes  111 , and the face plate  113  in FIG. 1 illustrate that the adjustable mount lighting fixture  11  may vary in height. Additionally, the mirror or wall  125  is illustrated as fragmented in order to convey that it may also be of any height. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a section of the first side  17  of housing  13  of FIG. 1 as broken away and includes first slot  81  therethrough first side  17  of housing  13  and first adjustable bracket  85  adjacent and attached to housing  13  through first slot  81 . FIG. 2 illustrates first and second planar portions  91  and  95  of adjustable bracket  85 , both features of which, it should be noted, are common to all adjustable brackets  85 ,  87 ,  105 , and  107 . The overall shape of the pair of elongate apertures  97  of the second planar portion  95  of adjustable bracket  85  is also more easily realized with reference to FIG.  2 . Further illustrated in FIG. 2 is a pair of bolts  89  extending through the pair of apertures  93  of the first planar portion  91  of the adjustable bracket  85 , through first slot  81  of first side  17 , and interconnected with a pair of nuts  133 . Note that although this configuration is described with respect to a single slot  81  and corresponding adjustable bracket  85 , the described configuration applies to each of the four slots  81 ,  83 ,  101 ,  103  and their corresponding adjustable brackets  85 ,  87 ,  105 , and  107 . When the nuts  133  are loosened, the bolts  89  become moveable within and translatable along slot  81 , and thus the adjustable bracket  85  becomes slidable and fixable in a variety of positions along slot  81 . All adjustable brackets  85 ,  87 ,  105 , and  107 , may be positioned so that once the housing  13  is fastened to an anchoring structure (not illustrated in FIG.  2 ), a flush fit or other such customized fit of the face plate  113  of the adjustable mount lighting fixture  11  with respect to the adjacent wall or mirror  125  may be achieved. The position may be further adjusted with respect to the additional dimension present by attaching the face plate  113  to the housing  13 . Once the adjustable bracket  85  has been positioned as necessary to achieve the desired fit, nuts  133  may be tightened in order to fixably secure the adjustable bracket  85  to the housing  13 . Another customized fit of the adjustable mount lighting fixture  11  may be achieved by positioning the adjustable brackets  85 ,  87 ,  105 , and  107  so that the exterior surface  117  of the face plate  113  projects just forward of, but still parallel with, the plane of the exterior surface  127  of the adjacent mirror or wall  125  when the face plate  113  is attached to the housing  13 . Likewise, the adjustable brackets  85 ,  87 ,  105 , and  107  may be positioned so that the exterior surface  117  of the face plate  113  is recessed with respect to the exterior surface  127  of the adjacent mirror or wall  125 . The ability to selectively locate the adjustable brackets  85 ,  87 ,  105 , and  107  with respect to the housing  13  allows a user a choice of customized applications with regard to the fit of the exterior surface  117  of the face plate  113  with respect to the exterior surface  127  of the adjacent mirror or wall  125 . The pair of elongate apertures  97  on the second planar portion  95  of each of adjustable brackets  85 ,  87 ,  105 , and  107  also allow for lateral adjustment of the housing  13  prior to fastening the housing  13  to an anchoring structure. 
     FIG. 3 is a view of the adjustable mount lighting fixture  11  as in FIG. 1 with the face plate  113  attached to housing  13  with screws  114  and with exterior surface  117  of the face plate  113  exposed. Also illustrated in FIG. 3 are the two adjustable brackets  85  and  87  adjacent first side  17  of housing  13 , and the two adjustable brackets  105  and  107  adjacent second side  21  of housing  13 . The pairs of elongate apertures  97 , second planar portions  95 , and edges  99  of all adjustable brackets  85 ,  87 ,  105 , and  107 , can be seen in FIG.  3 . Furthermore, the first planar portions  91  of adjustable brackets  85  and  87  are also visible. First and second ends  23  and  25  of the housing  13  are also included in FIG.  3 . As in FIG. 1, the dashed lines of FIG. 3 indicate that the adjustable mount lighting fixture  11  may be of any height. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the adjustable mount lighting fixture  11 , the view of the opposite side of the adjustable mount lighting fixture  11  being identical. FIG. 4 illustrates the first side  17  of housing  13  with face plate  113  attached to housing  13  and adjustable brackets  85  and  87  attached to first planar portion  27  of first side  17  of the housing  13  with bolts  89 . First and second planar portions  91  and  95  of each of adjustable brackets  85  and  87  may also be seen in FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 5 is an end view of the adjustable mount lighting fixture  11 , the view of opposite end of the adjustable mount lighting fixture  11  being identical. FIG. 5 illustrates first end  23  of housing  13 , and illustrates adjustable bracket  85  attached to first side  17  of housing  13 , and adjustable bracket  105  attached to second side  21  of housing  13  with bolts  89 . Face  37  plate  113  is illustrated as attached to housing  13 . 
     FIG. 6 is a rear view of the adjustable mount lighting fixture  11  which illustrates the rear enclosure  15 , two adjustable brackets  85  and  87  attached to first side  17  of housing  13 , and two adjustable brackets  105  and  107  attached to second side  21  of housing  13  with bolts  89 . 
     First planar portions  91  of all adjustable brackets  85 ,  87 ,  105 , and  107  are visible with pairs of elongate apertures  97 , and a partial view of the second planar portions  95  are also visible in this FIGURE. 
     FIG. 7 is a plan frontal view of the adjustable mount lighting fixture  11  which illustrates two adjustable brackets  85  and  87  adjacent first side  17  of housing  13 , and two adjustable brackets  105  and  107  adjacent second side  21  of housing  13 . The second planar portions  95  of each of the adjustable brackets  85 ,  87 ,  105 , and  107  with pairs of elongate apertures  97  may be seen in this FIGURE. 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional end perspective of the first end  23  of the housing  13  of the adjustable mount lighting fixture  11  as fastened to an anchoring structure  135  within a wall  137  and illustrates two of the adjustable brackets  85  and  105 . FIG. 8 illustrates the pair of fluorescent light tubes  111  (in phantom) within the front opening  26  of housing  13  as they would be positioned if the adjustable mount lighting fixture  11  were fully operational. Both first and second planar portions  91  and  95  of the two adjustable brackets  85  and  105  may be seen in FIG.  8 . The two adjustable brackets  85  and  105  are shown as secured to the housing  13  along through the two of the slots  81  and  101  (not illustrated in this FIGURE), respectively with bolts  89  and nuts  133 . The adjustable mount lighting fixture  11  of FIG. 8 is illustrated with face plate  113  attached with screws  114 , the exterior surface  117  of which is situated flush relative to the adjacent mirror or wall  125 . Note that although structure  137  has been defined as a wall in this illustration, structure  125  continues to be defined as either a mirror or a wall, and if a wall would simply be an extension of wall  137  in the form or sheetrock or some other similar finishing material, for example. The housing  13  of the adjustable mount lighting fixture  11  is attached to anchoring structure  135  by wood screws  141 . Each pair of wood screws  141  is shown extending through a corresponding pair of elongate apertures  97  in the second planar portion  95  of each of the two adjustable brackets  85  and  105 , or  87  and  107 . In this illustration, the housing  13  of the adjustable mount lighting fixture  11  is mounted so that the exterior surface  117  of the face plate  113  is coplanar with the exterior surface  127  of the adjacent mirror or wall  125 . 
     While the present invention has been described in terms of an adjustable mount lighting fixture, the principles contained herein are applicable to other types of custom lighting systems. 
     Although the invention has been derived with reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, included within the patent warranted hereon are all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of this contribution to the art.

Technology Category: f