US3060309A - Lighting fixture - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 23, 1962 w. OGDEN El'AL LIGHTING FIXTURE 3 Sheets-Shut 1 Filed June 3, 1959 INVENTORS 45:25am 14 0 DEN Eezvgsr PESCUGCCI BggNQ Y c #115 a% l ATTOR Oct. 23, 1962 F. W. OGDEN ETAL LIGHTING FIXTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 5. 1959 INVENTORS flERI M 0420:

Oct. 23, 1962 F. w. OGDEN arm. 3,060,309

LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed June 3, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS team/c M oa'vew /07' ixavesr PxIscucc/ BZRY C-Sc F6 ATTORNE Y United States Patent i 3,060,309 Patented Oct. 23., 1962 3,060,309 LIGHTING FIXTURE Frederic W. Ogden, Cheshire, Ernest Pascueci, Meriden,

and Henry C. Schiifer, Cheshire, Conn., assignors to The Miller Company, Meriden, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed June 3, 1959, Ser. No. 817,779 6 Claims. (Cl. 240-51.11)

This invention relates to electric light fixtures and more specifically to a fixture affording an improved arrangement and organization of elements for shielding the light sources and at the same time facilitating maintenance and repair. Many forms of lighting fixtures have been proposed, but known structures and particularly those utilizing fluorescent lamps are relatively complicated and expensive to manufacture and maintain when embodying light shielding and bafiiing means to reduce direct glare from the light source.

This invention in addition to overcoming the disadvantages of prior known light fixtures, provides a new and improved design and organization of the component parts that greatly simplifies their manufacture and assembly with a resultant material reduction in cost. The invention further afi'ords improved light baffling and shielding means to afford good light distribution and at the same time facilitate maintenance and repair including lamp replacement. While the light fixture in accordance with the invention is particularly useful with tubular light sources such as those of the fluorescent type, it will be evident that other types of light sources may be employed. Another advantage of the invention is attained through improved light bafile configuration that is characterized by its simplicity and its improved cooperation with other fixture elements to provide a strong durable structure. By reason of the improved cooperation of the baffles with the other fixture elements, the degree of light baffiing afforded by the fixture can be modified over a relatively wide range with a minimum number of specific components.

Another advantage of the invention resides in the provision of improved light bafiiing means characterized by simplicity, versatility and effectiveness in the attainment of a high degree of shielding with minimum reduction of illumination.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved mount for light baffies in fluorescent and other types of illuminating devices.

Still another object of the invention resides in a novel and improved light fixture having an improved arrangement, design and arrangement of elements that will facilitate replacement of lamps and repair of the fixture, as well as replacement of fixture components.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved light fixture.

The above and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings forming part of this application.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a light fixture in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of a fragmentary part of the fixture shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the assembled fixture as shown in FIGURE 1 but with a light bafile assembly in lowered position for replacement of the lamps;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of the lighting fixture shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional View of FIGURE 3 taken along the line 5-5 thereof with the light bafiie assembly in operative position with the lamp assembly;

FIGURE 6 is an end elevation of a light fixture shown in FIGURES 1 to 5 with parts broken away and partially in section.

FIGURE 7 is a side elevation of the lighting fixture of FIGURE 6 with parts broken away and partially in section.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the lighting fixture shown in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a fragmentary part of the lower edge of the side wall of the fixture shown in FIGURES 1 through 8 and illustrating a modified mode of attachment to the light bafiles;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary view in partial section showing a modification baffle in accordance with the invention and in engagement with a side wall having the configuration shown in FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a diagrammatic view of a light fixture in accordance with the invention and illustrating the light control attained by transverse light baffles;

FIGURE 12 is a cross sectional view of a light fixture in accordance with the invention and showing a modified light bafile and side wall structure; and

FIGURE 13 is a cross sectional view of still another embodiment of the invention.

The lighting fixture in accordance with the invention constitutes a novel and improved design and arrangement of elements which affords improved light baffling, greatly simplifies construction and maintenance and lowers the cost of the completed structure by arranging the elements so that they can be readily fabricated by automatic processes and assembled with a minimum number of fastening means such as screws, rivets and the like.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURES 3 and 4, it will be observed that the fixture comprises essentially two components, namely, an upper portion including the light sources, generally denoted by the numeral 10, and a lower element 11 containing light directing and bafile elements. In these figures the subassembly 11 is in the lowermost position to facilitate replacement of the lamps 12 and making such other repairs as may be required. The sub-assembly 1-1 is movable to a raised position enclosing the lamps 12, as shown for example, in FIGURES 6 and 7, to form a completely assembled fixture.

The elements forming the light fixture in accordance with the invention and their cooperation one with the other is shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 5 through 7. The sub-assembly generally denoted by the numeral 10 and including the light sources 12-which may be either fluorescent or incandescent-consists of a central wiring channel 13 having a top wall 14 and side walls 15. A pair of L-shaped reflectors or plates 16 and 17 are secured to the side walls 15 of the wiring channel and extend outwardly therefrom, with the upper surfaces of the plates 16 and 17 substantially in the plane of the top wall 1 4- of the wiring channel. These reflectors or plates may be secured to the wiring channel in any desired manner as, for instance, by appropriate screws or rivets 18, as will be observed more clearly in FIGURES 5 and 7. When screws are employed, it is desirable to provide slotted openings 19 in the short legs of the reflectors 16 and 17 to facilitate their installation and removal.

In the instant embodiment of the invention the ends of the wiring channel are provided with slots 20 for reception of the lamp sockets 21 and a second set of slots 22 for cooperation with a U-shaped bracket member generally denoted by the numeral 23 to hold it in place in the end of the wiring channel 13. The U-shaped bracket member 23 has a bottom portion 24 and a pair of upwardly extending side walls 25. Each side wall has a T-shaped slot 26 therein and the top edge is flanged outwardly as indicated at 27. The forward edge of each side wall is pro-v vided with an outwardly extending tab 28 for cooperation with the openings 22 and the wiring channel and the rear edges have tabs 28 engaging recesses 22' in the side walls 15 of the wiring channel. The lower corners of the bracket member 23 have inclined portions 29 cooperating with the inwardly inclined portions 30 of the lower edges of the side walls of the wiring channel 13.

In the assembly of the bracket member 23, the side walls 25 are sprung inwardly so that the tabs 28 clear the side walls 15 of the wiring channel with the flanges 27 riding just below the indentations 15' in the side walls 15 of the trough. The U-shaped member 23 is inserted until the tabs 28 engage the openings 22 so that the tabs, together with the inclined portions 30 of the wiring channel hold the member 23 in place. The sockets are then inserted through the cooperating openings 26 in the side walls 25, and openings 26) as will be observed more clearly in FIGURE 1. Since the bottom of the wiring channel is open, the wiring for the sockets and any other devices such as ballasts and the like required for the operation of fluorescent lamps may be readily installed. Each of the brackets 23 as described above, further includes a downwardly depending hook 31 and upwardly extending flanges 32, the latter being utilized for interconnecting two or more fixtures to be placed in end to end relationship.

The light directing baflle assembly 11 includes a pair of end plates generally denoted by the numeral 33. Each plate has a narrow center section and upwardly extending end portions. The outer peripheries of the plates are provided with inwardly extending flanges 34 and 35. A central, inverted V-shaped trough 36 with the upper edges having upwardly extending parallel flange-like parts 37 is secured to the end plates 33 by screws 38 which extend through openings 39 in the associated end plates and engage threaded openings 40 formed in the base of V- shaped member 36. The trough 36 is further provided with spaced groups of slots for receiving and holding baffies 42 and each group of slots includes a slot 43 intersecting the apex of the trough 36 to form slotted openings in each inclined side wall and spaced slots 44 in alignment with the upper ends of the slots 43. The cooperating baffies 42 are preferably formed of suitable sheet material such as aluminum, steel or the like, and have central cutouts 45 each having a flat bottom portion 46 and inclined side walls 47. The side walls are inclined at an angle corresponding to the angle of the V-shaped trough 36 and include triangularly shaped tabs 48 for cooperation with the slots 44 in the trough 36. Installation of the baffles is accomplished by compressing the trough slightly and then inserting each baifie into a slot 43 and moving it upwardly until the tabs 48 are aligned with and engage the slots 44. Release of the side walls of the trough 36 effects fixed engagement of the baflles with the trough.

The outer edges of the baflles are inclined as indicated at 49 and terminate in narrowed sections 50, each having a recess 51 therein. The recesses 51 have the general configuration of a horseshoe with rounded base portions and open upwardly with each opening or access being narrower than the base portion. These recesses 51 engage a strip of resilient material 52, as will be described.

The baflie assembly 11 further includes a pair of L- shaped side walls 53 having a short horizontal section 54 and a longer vertical section 55, the latter having an L- shaped offset 56 along the bottom edge thereof. These side walls are supported between the end plates 33 and are held in place by the peripheral flanges 34 and engagement of the legs 54 with inwardly formed portions 57 on the top edges of the end walls 33. The offset portions 56 on the side walls are arranged to receive an elongated strip 52 of resilient material, as shown more clearly in FIG- URES 6 and 8. When the strip 52 is in engagement with the side wall 53, attachment of the baflles by engagement of the recesses 51 compresses the resilient strip 52 and causes one upper edge 52 to bear against the inner surface of the offset portion 56 and the other end 52' to bear upwardly against the underside of the offset portion, as

illustrated in FIGURE 8. In this way the baffle ends are securely held in position one relative to the others, and the baffles together with the side walls 53, mutually support each other to provide a sturdy, durable structure.

The sub-assembly 11 of the fixture thus far described is assembled by first attaching the bafiles 42 to the central trough 36. The elongated U-shaped member 52 of the resilient material is then inserted in the recess 51 of the baffles and the side walls 53 are placed in position as illustrated in the drawings. These elements are then secured by installation of the end plates 33, the latter having inclined slots 33 for reception of outwardly extending tabs 36' on the ends of the trough-shaped member 36. The tabs 36' are bent over to lock the end plates 33 in place and screws 38 are then inserted as previously described.

Longitudinally disposed light baffles 41 are preferably provided and these battles are installed prior to the assembly of the end plates 33. The baflles 41 each include a plurality of spaced slots 41 for engagement with cooperating slots 42 on the baffles 42. In this way the baflles 41 are interlocked with the baffles 42 in predetermined angular relationship as determined by the disposition and depth of the slots 42'. The baflles 41 are further provided with outwardly extending tabs 41" on the ends thereof which cooperate with the slots 33" in the end plates 33 to fix the baflles 41 in position. In the embodiment of the invention described further baflling means in the form of horizontally disposed strip 58' may also 'be included. For this purpose the battles 42 are provided with uncut slots 58 slidably receiving the element 58, the latter preferably being of a light transmitting material and having a light dispersing surface on one face thereof. The member 58' is automatically locked in position by installation of the end plates 33 as will be observed for instance in FIGURE 7 of the drawings.

The light bafile assembly 11 is secured in operative position to the sub-assembly 10 including light sources by means of spring clips which engage the hooks 31 as previously described. The clip structure on each end of the sub-assembly 11 is carried by an inwardly extending bracket 60 which forms part of the end plate 33. More specifically each bracket 60 includes a central opening 61 through which the hook 31 extends when the two sub-assemblies are coupled one to the other. The outer corners of the bracket 60 are cut away as indicated at 62 and a pair of openings 63 are provided at points adjoining the end plate 33. The spring clip or latch for engaging the hook 31 includes a spring member generally denoted by numeral 66 and a cooperating latch 72. The spring member 66 is formed of a resilient material and has a body portion 67 from which a pair of arcuate arms 68 extend. The body further includes a pair of slots 68, a pair of downwardly extending tabs 69 and a central spring arm 70 having a curved end portion 71. The latch 72 has a generally triangularly shaped body, is provided with a pair of angularly disposed tabs 74 spaced at a distance corresponding to the distance between the slot 68 and the spring member 66. A central tab 74 is cut from the body of the latch and inclined outwardly at an angle of 30 to 45 degrees as may be observed more clearly in FIGURE 7. A pair of outwardly and downwardly inclined tabs 73 are integrally formed with the body of the latch and provide means for releasing the latch to lower the sub-assembly 11.

The spring latch comprising elements 66 and 72 is assembled by placing the spring member 66 in position beneath the bracket 60 forming part of the end plate 33. The tabs 74 of the latch 72 are then inserted through the openings 68' and the cooperating openings 63 of the bracket. The downwardly extending spring tabs 69 bear against the end wall of the end plate 33 and function to lock the latch 72 in place. The spring arm 70 is inclined inwardly toward the latch member and holds it in an inclined position. When the latch and end plates are assembled the tabs 73 will extend through cooperating slots 76 in the ends of the trough 36 so that they can be actuated for release of the sub-assembly 11.

With this latch structure it is merely necessary to push the sub-assembly 11 upwardly against the sub-assembly whereupon the hooks 3-1 will extend through the openings 61 and the bracket 60 and become engaged by the tabs 75. To release the sub-assembly the latches are moved outwardly away from the hooks '31 by means of the tabs 33 as may be observed more clearly in FIGURES 6 and 7.

In order to retain the baflie assembly in the lowered position as shown, for instance, in FIGURE 3, a pair of chains 77 are provided. The upper ends of these chains are attached to a pair of spaced hooks 78 secured to the upper wall of the wiring channel 13, while the lower ends of the chains are secured to appropriate openings 79 in the end baffles 42.

The ends of the fixture are closed by a pair of flat plates 80 as shown in FIGURE 1. These plates each have an inwardly extending member 81 having rounded side edges 82 and a pair of rounded projections 83. To position the end plates 80 the member 81 is inserted in the wiring channel above the inwardly formed grooved portions until the projections 83 frictionally engage a pair of cooperating openings 84 in each end of the upper wall of the Wiring channel 13.

With the invention as described above, it will be observed that the entire fixture is assembled with a minimum of fastening means. Furthermore, the baffles 42 may be fabricated of sheet stock without the need for complicated configurations and with minimum waste. The plane baffles are supported by the central trough and the ends are fixed in position by the novel and improved cooperation of an elongated resilient member with the baffles and with the adjoining side walls.

FIGURES 9 and 10 illustrate an alternate mode of attachment of the bafiles 42 with the lower edges of the end walls 34. In this embodiment of the invention the modified side wall is denoted by the numeral 34 and has a rounded end configuration generally denoted by the numeral 80. The upturned edge 81 is provided with a series of spaced slots 82 with the spacing between the slots corresponding to the spacing between the slots 43 of the trough 36.

Each of the bafiles denoted herein by the numeral 42 includes an outwardly extending arcuate section 83 with a radius of the inner edge 84 corresponding to the radius of the outer surface of the curved end portion 80 of the side wall 34'. The inclined end wall 49 of the baffie terminates in a short vertical section 85, as may be observed more clearly in FIGURE 10. With this arrangement and the bafiles 42 in position on the trough 36, the end walls are placed in engagement with the ends of the bafiles 42' and with the edges 85 of the bafiies disposed within the slots 82 of the end Wall. When the light bat-Hing assembly is completed the baffles 42' and the end walls 34 are securely interlocked and form a rigid structure.

The light bafiling attained by the embodiment of the invention thus far described is illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 11. FIGURE 6 illustrates an arrangement for the attainment of 45 degrees bafiling in a transverse plane extending through the fixture. The inclined baffles 41 limit the rays A emitted outwardly toward the sides of the fixture while the central translucent or transparent bafile 58 limits the inwardly directed rays B. Thus, direct view of the lamp is restricted to a total angle of 45 degrees. Rays from the lamp 12 will also illuminate the trips 58 and reflected light will emerge from the fixture in the area between the baffies 41 and the side walls 34. It will be observed that other bafi'ling angles can be obtained by changing the depth of the baffles 41 as well as the width of the baffle 58'. In FIGURE 11 it will be observed that with the bafiles 42 as illustrated 6 in the drawings, 45 degree bafliing will be obtained as indicated by the ray C. Through the utilization of half the number of baflles it would then be possible to obtain 60 degree battling as indicated by the ray D.

Two or more fixtures in accordance with the invention may be secured in end to end relationship by improved end attaching means. More specifically, the flange 32 forming part of each of the U-shaped bracket members 23 previously described, is provided with a key slot opening 32' and a threaded opening 32" for the reception of a suitable screw 29' as illustrated in FIGURE 7. In connecting two fixtures, the end plates would be removed and the screws 29 backed away from the surface of the flange 32. When the fixtures are brought into engagement the heads of the screws 29' will pass through the key shaped slots whereupon movement of the fixtures relative one to the other will move the screw shanks into the narrow portions of the slots 32. The screws are then tightened to secure the fixtures in place. Precise alignment of one fixture relative to the other is accomplished by means of the opening 64 in each end plate 33 and a spring loaded pin 65. The pin extending through a second opening 65 of each fixture will move into the opening 64 in the other fixture to be coupled thereto when the fixtures are properly positioned and thus cooperate with the screws 29 to securely hold the fixtures in accurate end to end alignment.

A modified embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGURE 12 and shows an alternate mode of transverse baffie installation and disposition of the central bafiling means. For convenience, corresponding elements of the embodiments of the invention shown in FIGURE 12 and FIGURES 1 through 11, are identified by like numerals. 'Ihe bafiles, denoted in FIGURE 12 by the numeral 90, include an upper recess 91 and tabs 92 that correspond to the recesses 45 and the tabs 48 of the embodiment of the invention shown, for instance in FIGURE 1. The central trough 36 in this embodiment of the invention has its slots 43 cut to a greater depth to correspond to the somewhat shallower depth of the recess 91. In addition, the trough 36 is provided with inwardly formed channels 93 to receive the upper ends of a U-shaped light transmitting baflle 94 which is received within a recess 95 in the baffles 90, the edges of the recesses being denoted by the numerals 96. The upwardly extending walls 97 of the baffle 94 are inclined to correspond with the angular disposition of the edges 96 of the recess 95. The battle 94 is held in position by the engagement of tabs 98 on the battles with the corner channels 99 in the baffle 94. The outer edges of the bafiles 90 are provided with outwardly extending tabs 100 which engage cooperating recesses in the side walls 101 in order to effect support for and prevent vibration of the baffles. Bafiling of the outermost rays of the fixture is obtained by the baffles 41 as described in connection with the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES 1 through 11.

A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGURE 13 in which the transverse baffies are denoted by the numeral 102. The baffles 102 are pro vided with upper and lower recesses 103 and 104 with the upper recess 103 and the associated tabs 105 cooperating with and engaging the trough 36 in the manner described in connection with the prior embodiments of the invention. The lower end of the trough 36 which in this instance is made slightly shallower than in the prior embodiments of the invention includes longitudinal channels 106 on each inclined surface and adjoining the apex. The central bafiie 107 includes a pair of upwardly and inwardly curved arms 108 for engagement of the channels 106 and might either be snapped in place or slidably engaged, depending on the resiliency of the material of which the bafile 107 is formed. The bafile 107 serves essentially the same purpose as the bafiie 94 of FIGURE 12 and the baffle 58' of FIGURE 1 and 7 functions to limit the inwardly directed rays from the light source 12.

Baflling on the outer edges of the fixture is accomplished by providing end walls 109 having inwardly formed flanges 110 arranged to engage and afford support for the outer edges of the bafiles 102. The said walls 109 may of course be made of opaque or light transmitting materials, as may be desired.

While only certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described it is apparent that other modifications, alterations and changes may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit thereof as defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A lighting fixture, an elongated frame, at least two elongated lighting sources carried in spaced parallel relationship by said frame, means including a .!-shaped deflector disposed between said sources and at least coextensive therewith, a plurality of spaced parallel baflles carried by said V-shaped deflector and disposed transversely of and extending beyond said lighting sources, a pair of longitudinally disposed baflies aligned with and spaced outwardly from each of said light sources, a third longitudinal bafiie including a relatively flat elongated member and means supporting said third bafiie centrally of said light sources and adjoining the apex of said deflector, said third bafiie underlying parts of said parallel baflies adjoining the deflector and being disposed in a plane substantially parallel to a plane defined by said light sources.

2. A lighting fixture according to claim 1, wherein said third batlie is formed of a translucent material.

3. A lighting fixture according to claim 1 wherein said third baflie is carried by said transversely positioned baflies.

4. A lighting fixture according to claim 1 wherein said third baflie is carried by said deflector.

5. A lighting fixture comprising an elongated frame including a central longitudinal wiring channel, a pair of elongated light sources carried by said frame and spaced outwardly from the wiring channel, and a light deflecting and bafiling assembly releasably carried by said frame, said assembly comprising a central V-shaped trough, a pair of vertically disposed side walls in spaced parallel relationship to said trough, a plurality of spaced parallel vertically disposed baffles extending between the side walls and carried by said trough, a longitudinal light shield immediately underlying the bottom edge of said trough and substantially coextensive therewith, an oblique longitudinal baflie spaced outwardly from and parallel to each light source and end plates secured to said trough side walls and last said baflies, said light shield and battles restricting emitted light rays to a reduced angle in both the transverse and longitudinal planes.

6. A lighting fixture comprising an elongated frame having a downwardly extending central member, at least one elongated light source disposed on each side and above the lower edge of said central member, a plurality of light baflles disposed beneath said light sources and in substantially perpendicular relationship thereto, and a relatively narrow elongated flat strip carried in a horizontal position by said baflles and in contiguous relationship to said central member with the long central axis of the strip aligned with the lower edge of said central member, said strip having a width substantially less than the distance between said light sources and being formed of a light transmitting material to modify the distribution of light emitted by said light sources to limit the angle of view of said light sources and materially reduce glare.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,196,214 Kantack Apr. 9, 1940 2,277,433 Guth Mar. 24, 1942 2,365,614 Winkler et al. 'Dec. 19, 1944 2,525,553 Kingston et al Oct. 10, 1950 2,615,123 Guth Oct. -21, 1952 2,621,285 Nitardy Dec. 9, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 753,450 Great Britain July 21, 1952

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