Illumination – Housing – Recessed
Utility Patent
1999-04-30
2001-01-02
Cariaso, Alan (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Housing
Recessed
C362S229000, C362S216000, C362S260000
Utility Patent
active
06168299
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates primarily to a novel energy efficient recessed lighting fixture, and more particularly, to a novel recessed downlighted lighting fixture using a compact spring type fluorescent lamp that is associated with an electronic ballast.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent times, one of the more frequently used lighting fixtures is the recessed downlighted lighting fixture. These fixtures are found quite desirable when used in large expansive areas to attain a uniform pattern in lighting distribution. This type of fixture is also used for creating mood lighting for highlighting certain featured areas, such fireplaces, floral arrangements and the like.
Previously, much of the prior art disclosed recessed lighting fixtures that used incandescent lamps as the illumination source. Incandescent lamps provide inefficient operation, where it is not only the increased operating cost, but also the increased installation cost. Additionally, these incandescent lamps are generally short lived, thereby adding to the increased maintenance costs.
A typical incandescent lamp such as a 100-watt light bulb provides an average of 1710 lumens of lighting illumination, which approximates 17 lumens per watt. Additionally, this light bulb has an average life expectancy of 750 hours of operation, which equates to about one month of continuous operation.
Presently, the prior art teaches of fluorescent lamp sources of illumination that are supported by a tubular form, made from laminating two molded glass assemblies together. Other prior art teaches of downlighted retrofit fixtures that use hardwired ballasts that are mounted directly to the splice box of an existing fixture. Still other prior art disclose the use of candelabra based fluorescent lamps and bulbs as the illumination source.
The following prior art discloses the various aspects in the design and use of downlighted fluorescent fixtures.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,899,712, granted Aug. 12, 1975, to H. L. Whitting, discloses a tapered helical compact fluorescent lamp, comprising a tapered cylindrical envelope having a helically shaped channel of non-uniform pitch, thereby providing a discharge path circumferentially around the envelope with a pair of electrodes disposed at each end of the discharge path. The interior surface is coated with a luminescent material and its interior chamber is filled with an ionizable gas.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,845, granted Dec. 17, 1991, to T. R. Aubrey, teaches a retrofit unit for replacing conventional incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent or similar light sources. A hard-wired ballast is used in conjunction with conventional light fixtures to permit retrofit conversion.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,320,547, granted Jun. 14, 1994, to H. P. Mews, et al., discloses a lamp socket for a fluorescent lamp that permits insertion and removal of a fluorescent lamp in and from a socket, the socket being formed within a body and having an engagement surface wall from which a shelf projects.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,143, granted Jan. 13, 1998, to J. A. Hentz, teaches of a pull-on clip that is manually assembled to a downlighting reflector trim in a snap-fitting manner. The pull-on clip facilitates positive lamp positioning, thereby providing a clean appearance.
The prior art recited above does not teach of the novel advantages that are found in the present invention.
Accordingly, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel downlighted recessed lighting fixture that uses a compact, laterally twisted tube, fluorescent SpringLamp as the source of illumination.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel downlighted recessed lighting fixture that is comprised of two sub-assemblies: a unitized reflector having a simplified one-step mounting procedure and an integrated lamp socket and ballast.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a novel downlighted recessed lighting fixture that uses a simplified spring mounted assembly.
It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a novel downlighted recessed lighting fixture having a reflector that has a circular wire member to retain two reflector support arms which captivate a pair of mounting springs, each held in place, pivoted, on a blind pan-head rivet.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel downlighted recessed lighting fixture that utilizes an integrated socket and ballast.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a novel downlighted recessed lighting fixture whose total height of the integrated assembly is less than 7 inches.
It is still yet a further object of the present invention to provide a novel downlighted recessed lighting fixture that furnishes improved operating efficiency.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a novel downlighted recessed lighting fixture that whose universal design can be used in either new work or in retrofitting installations.
Still, one additional object of the present invention is to provide a novel downlighted recessed lighting fixture that obviates the need for a thermal protective device within the housing because of the substantially reduced operating temperature.
A final object of the present invention is to provide a novel downlighted recessed lighting fixture that has a simplified assembly thereby reducing the manufacturing costs.
These, as well as other objects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood and appreciated upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment and it's alternative embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a novel energy efficient recessed downlighted lighting fixture. This downlighted fixture is suitably designed for use in retrofitted installations, as well as in new work applications.
This novel recessed fixture is comprised of two basic subassemblies; a highly polished aluminum reflector, having novel spring type retention and a unique socket-and-ballast assembly. The height of the entire recessed lighting fixture is less than 7 inches when fully assembled.
This recessed fixture uses a newly designed energy efficient compact fluorescent lamp as the primary lighting source. This fluorescent lamp, a laterally twisted tube, more commonly referred to as a “SpringLamp” allows the shortest lamp known to the fluorescent lamp industry to be used. It provides for minimal light trapping, thereby creating the maximum concentrated lighting output, and lighting distribution that is closest to the illumination supplied by an incandescent bulb.
Typically, a 26 watt SpringLamp provides 1750 lumens of light output, which is 67.3 lumens per watt. This lamp provides a lighting output that slightly exceeds that of a standard conventional incandescent lamp—1750 lumens of the SpringLamp compared to 1710 lumens for an incandescent lamp, a 2.3 percent rated increase in lighting output.
The rated lamp life of the SpringLamp is 10,000 hours compared to the 750 hours of a standard incandescent bulb—a 13.3 fold improvement in the lamp longevity.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3986017 (1976-10-01), Kulle
patent: 5189339 (1993-02-01), Peshak
patent: 5320547 (1994-06-01), Mews et al.
patent: 5440471 (1995-08-01), Zadeh
patent: 5580158 (1996-12-01), Aubrey et al.
patent: 5653527 (1997-08-01), Muessli
patent: 5707143 (1998-01-01), Hentz
Alavi Ali
Cariaso Alan
Taddeo Joseph H.
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