Canopy luminaire

Details Canopy luminaire Canopy luminaire

1999-11-23

2001-05-01

Sember, Thomas M. (Department: 2875)

Illumination

With static structure

Wall or ceiling

C362S365000, C362S368000, C362S229000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06224233

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to canopy luminaires and more particularly to canopy luminaires adapted to be mounted to a horizontal mounting member by a single individual.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Canopy luminaires are typically mounted on or in a flat horizontal member. They are used in many applications ranging from canopies over fuel pumps in a service station, to storefronts for convenience stores, to drive-throughs of restaurants. To provide the desired level of lighting, canopy luminaires typically use high intensity discharge (HID) lamps.
HID light sources are regulated by control gear, which may include a ballast alone or in combination with other components such as capacitors, igniters, or other such equipment. This control gear may be as large as or larger than the lamp itself. Further, the lamp and control gear are frequently contained within a box-like housing, which must be mounted to the support structure.
To mount luminaires of currently existing designs, generally an opening must be made in the canopy in which the luminaire is to be mounted. As the canopy luminaire is in a box-like housing, an opening sized to receive that structure must be made. The luminaire is then mounted to the horizontal member of the support structure by brackets or other equipment, which typically requires a significant amount of manual labor. Further, cutting the substantial hole within the mounting member and installing the canopy luminaire into horizontal member typically requires the use of at least two electricians, resulting in a high installation cost.
Moreover, in luminaires of currently existing designs, the ballast is generally located within the housing with the other components of the luminaire. As a result, the operating temperature of the ballast and other control gear is increased due to exposure to heat from the HID lamp. This results in a corresponding reduction in the useful life of the components. Thus, the ballast and other control gear must be replaced on a more frequent basis than would otherwise be needed. As with installation, this too is an expensive procedure, as two individuals again are required, both of which generally must be electricians.
Another drawback associated with existing luminaires is that they frequently mount the HID lamp horizontally within the mounting structure. This degrades the amount of light emanating from the lamp, as approximately one-half of the luminous output of the lamp is directed upwardly, away from the target area. Although reflectors are used to reduce the amount of wasted light, a substantial portion of the luminous output of the lamp is nevertheless lost.
A still further drawback associated with existing luminaires is the difficulty in replacing the lamp. Typically, the glass lens of the luminaire is secured to the lamp housing by screws or similar fastening devices. To replace the lamp, an individual must use a ladder to reach the luminaire, loosen the fasteners to release the glass lens, and then replace the lamp. This is a time consuming procedure, often requiring more than one individual.
Thus, there is a substantial need for a canopy luminaire that may be easily and quickly mounted to a horizontal mounting member by a single individual. Further, there is a significant need for a canopy luminaire that mounts the lamp vertically to improve the lighting of the target area. Still further, there is a need for a canopy luminaire that extends the life of the ballast and other control gear and which permits quick and easy replacement of the lamp.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a canopy luminaire which overcomes drawbacks associated with the currently existing luminaires. More specifically, the canopy luminaire of the present invention comprises a luminaire housing having a bulbous body configured to receive the light-emitting section of a lamp and a narrow neck extending therefrom with an inner end connected to the bulbous body and an outer end, and a socket disposed within the narrow neck opening toward the bulbous body and which is sized to receive the base of a lamp. A spring clip for securement of the luminaire housing to a mounting structure having an opening into which the outer end of the narrow neck is inserted has an upper end secured to the narrow neck and a lower end extending downwardly and biased outwardly from the narrow neck. The narrow neck may be adapted to receive a locking component to fixedly secure the luminaire to a mounting member, wherein the mounting member opening is located between the locking component and the bulbous body.
The lower end of the spring clip is spaced above the bulbous body of the housing a distance sufficient to receive the mounting member therebetween. Preferably, there are two spring clips, which are secured on opposing sides of the narrow neck.
Preferably, the socket is oriented vertically and is sized to receive the base of a high intensity discharge lamp. Moreover, the luminaire may include a ballast that is external to the housing of the luminaire.
The locking component may comprise a threaded nut sized to receive the narrow neck therein and whose threads are sized to engage threads formed on the inner end of the narrow neck. The threads on the narrow neck comprise a plurality of threaded segments located circumferentially about the inner end of the narrow neck. The spring clip extends downwardly into the gap formed between two of the segments and the lower end of the spring clip is based outwardly beyond the outer surface of the threaded segments.
Alternatively, the locking component may comprise a clamp having an upper end adapted to be secured to the narrow neck, a lower end, and an opening therebetween sized to receive the narrow neck. The lower end of the clamp engages the mounting member to fixedly secure the luminaire thereto when the upper end of the clamp is secured to the narrow neck. Preferably the clamp is frustro-conical in shape, with the upper end having a diameter smaller than the lower end. Further, the lower end may include an outwardly extending annular flange for engaging the mounting member. The upper end of the clamp is secured to the narrow neck by a plurality of threaded fasteners.
Further to another aspect of the present invention, the canopy luminaire further comprises a spring clasp secured to the body of the luminaire housing at a first end and a glass lens hingedly attached to the body of the housing at a second end, opposite the first end, permitting the glass lens to swing between an open position and a closed position. The glass lens further includes a latch positioned for releasable engagement with the spring clasp and a handle secured to the glass lens to permit opening and closing of the lens.
In use, the single installer forms an opening in the horizontal mounting member that is sized to receive the narrow neck of the luminaire housing. The installer inserts the outer end of the narrow neck of the housing upwardly into the opening in the horizontal mounting member such that the periphery of the opening engages and deflects inwardly the spring clip. The installer continues to extend the neck upwardly through the opening until the spring clip emerges upwardly above the mounting member such that the spring clip is biased outwardly toward its original undeflected state. Thereafter, the installer may release the luminaire housing, which will be supported on the mounting member by the spring clip.
To permanently secure the luminaire to the mounting member, the installer may then go to the top of the mounting member and secure the locking component to the narrow neck, such as by securing the threaded collar onto the threads, or by securing the upper end of the clamp to the narrow neck, thereby engaging the lower end of the clamp with the mounting member.
To replace the lamp of the canopy luminaire, an individual uses a lamp changing pole having a generally C-shaped hook on a first end and a lamp gripper on a second, opposite end. The user engages the handle of the glass lens with the hook and moves

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Canopy luminaire does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Canopy luminaire, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Canopy luminaire will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2489795