Illumination – Light source and modifier – Including reflector
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-05
2002-03-12
O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Light source and modifier
Including reflector
C362S296040, C362S346000, C362S278000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06354717
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a luminaire having a removable reflector shield. More particularly, the present invention relates to a luminaire having a main reflector and one or two reflector shields releasably attached to the main reflector. Each reflector shield has tabs for releasably engaging openings in a plurality of slots in the main reflector. The reflector shields may be used individually or together to create a variety of beam configurations. The reflector shields can be easily disengaged and reattached to create new beam configurations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Luminaires can be mounted in a variety of locations, and are often mounted in or near corners in a room. Light is wasted when it is emitted directly into the walls forming the corner. Luminaires are also often installed to provide lighting on the owner's property. Light is again wasted when it is emitted directly onto neighboring property rather than onto the intended property of the owner. Moreover, lighting of the neighboring property may be unwanted and considered a nuisance.
Luminaires with adjustable reflectors and/or shields are common to the lighting industry. Typically, those adjustable reflectors require a lot of time to install due to the numerous parts making up the reflector, as well as requiring tools to perform the installation. To change the emitted beam configuration of the luminaire, the adjustable reflectors must be disconnected and then reconnected in a new position within the luminaire. Disconnecting and then reconnecting those reflectors requires tools and is therefore a labor intensive and time consuming task. Additionally, those reflectors are costly to manufacture due to the various parts making up the adjustable reflectors. Furthermore, a large inventory is required since the reflectors are made up of several different parts.
Examples of existing light reflectors are disclosed in the following references: U.S. Pat. No. 4,338,655 to Gulliksen et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,519,018 to Rowland; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,274,533 to Neary et al.
Thus, improved reflector shields are needed to make adjustment of the luminaire to its specific location and to the desired lighting simpler and more efficient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a luminaire with a reflector and/or shield that blocks light from emitting into an unwanted area, reflects that light to a desired area, and is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and simple and quick to adjust.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a reflector shield that can be attached to an existing luminaire.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a reflector shield that quickly and easily disconnects and reattaches to a luminaire for altering its emitted beam configuration, without requiring tools for such disconnection and reattachment.
The foregoing objects are basically attained by a luminaire having a housing, a lamp with optical sides mounted in the housing, and a main reflector mounted in the housing about the lamp. The main reflector has a plurality of openings. A first removable reflector shield has a body portion and a plurality of tabs extending from the body portion and releasably engaged in the main reflector openings, thereby allowing the reflector shield to be attached to an existing luminaire. Moreover, the configuration of the reflector shield makes it simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
The foregoing objects are also attained by a method of blocking and redirecting light from a luminaire by bending a first reflector shield to a shape defined by a plurality of openings in a luminaire reflector mounted in a luminaire. The first shield is releasably attached to the luminaire reflector by inserting a plurality of tabs on the first shield in the plurality of openings in the luminaire reflector for blocking and redirecting light emitted by a lamp mounted in the luminaire, thereby providing a luminaire with a reflector shield that blocks and redirects light as desired. The lamp has optical sides. The first shield covers a significant portion, preferably at least half, of the optical sides of the lamp. A first beam configuration is created by attaching the first shield on the luminaire reflector in a position resulting in the first beam configuration.
The luminaire with a reflector shield of the present invention blocks light from emitting into an unwanted area and reflects that light to a desired area. Furthermore, the beam configuration may be altered quickly and easily by disconnecting and reattaching the reflector shield in a new position, without requiring tools to perform the task. For example, a single shield may be used when the luminaire is mounted along a wall and the light is to be directed away from the wall. Two shields may be used when a 360-degree cut-off or spot-light effect is desired. Additionally, two shields may be overlapped to create a 270-degree cut-off, such as for use in a corner, thereby directing light away from the corner and into the remaining open quadrant. Due to the ease with which the shields may be installed in and removed from an existing luminaire, the arrangement of the shields may be readily altered to create a new beam configuration.
Other objects, advantages and salient features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses preferred embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1424525 (1922-08-01), Seely
patent: 3997778 (1976-12-01), Fieldstad, Jr. et al.
patent: 4028542 (1977-06-01), McReynolds et al.
patent: 4338655 (1982-07-01), Gulliksen et al.
patent: 4519018 (1985-05-01), Rowland
patent: 4954938 (1990-09-01), Lyons
patent: 5003447 (1991-03-01), James et al.
patent: 5274533 (1993-12-01), Neary et al.
patent: 6168295 (2001-01-01), Hein
'Hubbell Incorporated
Bicks Mark S.
Goodman Alfred N.
Mickney Marcus R.
O'Shea Sandra
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