Illumination – Elongated source light unit or support – With means to accommodate additional circuit element
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-09
2001-01-23
O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Elongated source light unit or support
With means to accommodate additional circuit element
C362S084000, C362S260000, C362S430000, C362S432000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176594
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to fluorescent lighting. More specifically, the invention relates to a streamlined mounting assembly for securing a fluorescent lighting ballast and socket to any standard junction box.
On Jul. 26, 1990, national legislation was passed banning discrimination against persons with certain disabilities. The legislation, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), relates to a variety of fields, including but not limited to, public services, telecommunications, transportation, and employment.
As a consequence of the ADA, the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board published guidelines in order to allow manufacturers and designers of wall sconces, lighting fixtures, water fountains and phone booths to comply with the Act. Generally speaking, such manufacturers must be sensitive to the following: (a) all walkways, corridors and halls must provide at least 80 inches of head room; and (b) all objects mounted between 27 inches and 80 inches from the floor on the walls of hallways must not project more than four inches into the hallway.
There are many types of lighting fixtures available for use in hallways, including incandescent, halogen, fluorescent or recessed ceiling fixtures, sconces, etc. Fluorescent lighting is a preferred means of lighting in heavily trafficked areas where bright, uniform, and efficient illumination is desired, chiefly because fluorescent lighting provides the safest, most economical form of lighting available while providing relatively uniform illumination, all without significant heat.
Since the passage of the ADA, fluorescent lights have traditionally been rejected for such applications as a direct result of their spatial requirements. Even the smallest fluorescent lighting systems require significantly more space than their incandescent or halogen counterparts, in order to accommodate their ballasts and sockets. This general bulkiness has also limited the aesthetic potential for fluorescent lighting systems since applying them to more fashionable fixtures and sconces had traditionally required the re-engineering of the same. Such applications have also required the construction and installation of new junction boxes capable of accommodating the fluorescent light and its bulky ballast and socket assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
Some manufacturers have unsuccessfully attempted to solve the problem of providing a low profile ADA compliant fluorescent lamp. Although these attempts partially solve the bulkiness dilemma, they fail to provide a sufficiently safe and cost effective solution to the issues raised by the ADA. More particularly, these alternatives have sacrificed safety and quality in their efforts to cut cost and save space. As a direct result of the manufacturers' concentration on price and aesthetics these lighting fixtures may fail to meet the minimum U.L. safety standards.
Some attempts utilize low profile sconces to cure the space concerns raised by the new ADA standards. These sconces function by limiting the space between the bulb and the fixture's shell or casing. Such endeavors have, however, consistently failed to achieve uniform lighting. These failing efforts may be primarily attributed to the fact that when the shell or casing of the sconce is moved closer to the bulb in order to meet the ADA requirements limiting inward projection from walls, a “hot spot” is formed. The hot spot generally results in the fixture's suffering from at least one of two likely unacceptable side effects. First, the primary function of the sconce, aside from its aesthetic qualities, is to diffuse the light uniformly and thus eliminate any chance of hot spots, high intensity area or the like. Second, hot spots are, as the name implies hot, and thus potentially dangerous if contacted, although less so if fluorescent bulbs are used.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a low profile ballast mount for fluorescent lights that enables uniform illumination.
It is another object of the invention to provide a ballast mount for fluorescent lights that will comport with the standards of the ADA.
It is another object of the invention to provide a wall sconce for a lighting fixture that does not jut significantly away out from the wall upon which it is mounted. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a simple, cost effective device which can easily convert a standard, electrical junction box to a ballast and socket assembly with a dispersing sconce for an ADA compliant fluorescent lighting device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a safe, cost efficient means for providing fashionable fluorescent lighting, keeping all of the above referenced concerns in mind. More particularly, the mounting system and ballast disclosed in the present invention avoids the costly complications associated with the re-engineering, of current lighting systems, or the added expenses of reconstructing walls to include special junction boxes capable of accommodating fluorescent lights conforming with the strict requirements of the ADA.
The above and other objects are achieved by the present invention, which includes a fluorescent light mounting assembly, having a lamp ballast, a socket for the bulb and a ballast mounting plate which secures the lamp ballast and socket to the electrical junction box. The ballast mounting plate includes a bottom flat plate and two upwardly extending side flanges, the side flanges being parallel to one another on the outside surface of the bottom plate i.e., the side facing away from the electrical junction box. The flanges can be provided with inwardly directed locking edges. The side flanges and the bottom flat plate form a channel dimensioned to securely receive the base of a lamp socket and lamp ballast assembly. Longitudinal grooves or notches may preferably be provided in the lamp ballast assembly for engaging the locking edges of the side flanges. The lamp ballast has a first length and the ballast mounting plate has a second length, the second length being greater than the first length so as to form a socket mounting area on the ballast mounting plate adjacent the lamp ballast. The socket mounting area is provided beneath the lamp ballast so that when the base of the lamp ballast and socket assembly is mounted on the socket mounting area, the fluorescent bulbs is secured in the socket extends above the lamp ballast, projecting beyond the length of the lamp ballast.
The present invention also includes a fluorescent lamp wall sconce, having an interior surface, the housing being capable of at least partially transmitting light therethrough and securable to a wall. The sconce fixture is provided with a housing. Disposed inside the housing is a lamp ballast. A ballast mounting plate is fixed to the lamp ballast. The ballast mounting plate includes a bottom plate and two side flanges, the side flanges being disposed parallel to one another on one side of the bottom plate. The side flanges and the bottom plate form a channel dimensioned to securely receive a base of a lamp socket and the lamp ballast. The lamp ballast has a first length, and the ballast mounting plate has a second length, the second length being greater than the first length so as to form a socket mounting area on the ballast mounting plate adjacent the lamp ballast. The socket mounting area is provided behind the lamp ballast so that when the base of the lamp socket is mounted on the socket mounting area, fluorescent bulbs secured in the socket extend above the lamp ballast along the length of the lamp ballast. The housing includes one or more apertures to allow the ballast mounting plate to be secured to a standard, electrical junction box disposed in the wall, so that the ballast mounting plate is flush with the wall.
The invention further includes a method of mounting a fluorescent lamp ballast. A junction box is provided inside a wall so that the upper rim or edge of the junction box is flush with t
Lagin Herbert
Levisohn, Lerner, Berger & Langsam
O'Shea Sandra
Ward John Anthony
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