Semi-recessed downlight wall wash canopy luminaire

Details Semi-recessed downlight wall wash canopy luminaire Semi-recessed downlight wall wash canopy luminaire

2002-01-04

2003-05-13

Tso, Laura K. (Department: 2875)

Illumination

With static structure

Wall or ceiling

C362S364000, C362S297000, C362S346000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06561670

ABSTRACT:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to light fixtures, or luminaires, and more particularly to a semi-recessed luminaire having both downlight and wall wash optical functions.
2. Description of Prior Art
Recessed light fixtures are popular design choices, providing direct illumination to a workspace while concealing the lamp, internal components (sockets, wiring, junction boxes, ballast, temperature switches, etc.) and mounting hardware of the fixture behind the plane of the mounting surface, usually a ceiling or canopy. With the addition of specialized optics, recessed light fixtures can achieve effects such as wall washing.
Recessed wall wash light fixtures are designed to project light from a recessed ceiling fixture located close to a wall at a range of angles to illuminate the wall from the top to the bottom. This, in effect, “washes” the wall with light. Since the lamp in such a fixture is recessed in the ceiling, the wall wash effect requires light from the lamp to be directed downwardly and outwardly in the direction of the wall. However, since light generally travels in a straight path through a medium such as air, it is very difficult to direct light from a completely recessed fixture high on the wall toward the junction of the ceiling and the wall.
Additionally, the optical performance of traditional recessed light fixtures is constrained by the requirement that the optical system of the fixture be located completely above the plane of the ceiling or canopy. Thus, the optical performance is limited to variations on the cone of light projected through the opening in the ceiling or canopy.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a semi-recessed downlight wall wash light fixture for installation in a ceiling or canopy for illumination of both the pathway or area underneath the canopy luminaire and a wall adjacent thereto.
It is a further objective of the invention to provide a semi-recessed luminaire having refractor optics for producing an elongated beam for illumination of an elongated area underneath the fixture.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a semi-recessed canopy luminaire capable of washing the adjacent wall completely from the top of the wall to the ground.
These and other objects are achieved through an improved luminaire mounted mostly behind a ceiling or canopy through the use of a plaster frame having an opening as described herein. A lamp socket is provided for holding a lamp in a recessed arrangement to the canopy and frame since the light generation region of the lamp is generally aligned with the opening of the frame and the canopy. A downlight reflector is positioned partially around the light generation region of the lamp for directing light downward out of the luminaire. Also provided is a wall wash reflector positioned partially around the light generation region of the lamp adjacent to and complimentary with the downlight reflector. A bottom portion of the wall wash reflector extends through the opening in the frame and below the plane of the canopy. Thus, the bottom portion of the wall wash reflector is able to direct light all the way to the top of the wall. A trim piece-is also provided for concealing the bottom portion of the wall wash reflector which extends downward from the frame. The trim piece has a bottom opening which allows the downward directed light to leave the luminaire, and a side window located opposite to the bottom portion of the wall wash reflector for allowing the light directed toward the wall to also exit the luminaire.
To improve the optical performance of the light directed downward out of the fixture, the trim piece may further include a downlight lens covering the bottom opening.
Additionally, to further improve the optical performance of the wall wash light, the trim piece may also include a wall wash lens covering the side window.


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