US3492475A - Outdoor lighting fixture - Google Patents

Outdoor lighting fixture Download PDF

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Publication number
US3492475A
US3492475A US629535A US3492475DA US3492475A US 3492475 A US3492475 A US 3492475A US 629535 A US629535 A US 629535A US 3492475D A US3492475D A US 3492475DA US 3492475 A US3492475 A US 3492475A
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United States
Prior art keywords
lens
fixture
lighting fixture
retainer
castings
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Expired - Lifetime
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US629535A
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Elmer Oscar Reis
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OSCAR PHILLIPS CO
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OSCAR PHILLIPS CO
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S8/00—Lighting devices intended for fixed installation
    • F21S8/03—Lighting devices intended for fixed installation of surface-mounted type
    • F21S8/031—Lighting devices intended for fixed installation of surface-mounted type the device consisting essentially only of a light source holder with an exposed light source, e.g. a fluorescent tube
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V15/00—Protecting lighting devices from damage
    • F21V15/01—Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V17/00—Fastening of component parts of lighting devices, e.g. shades, globes, refractors, reflectors, filters, screens, grids or protective cages
    • F21V17/10—Fastening of component parts of lighting devices, e.g. shades, globes, refractors, reflectors, filters, screens, grids or protective cages characterised by specific fastening means or way of fastening
    • F21V17/12—Fastening of component parts of lighting devices, e.g. shades, globes, refractors, reflectors, filters, screens, grids or protective cages characterised by specific fastening means or way of fastening by screwing
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21W—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
    • F21W2131/00—Use or application of lighting devices or systems not provided for in codes F21W2102/00-F21W2121/00
    • F21W2131/10—Outdoor lighting
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
    • F21Y2103/00—Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes

Definitions

  • An elongated outdoor lighting fixture having a U- shaped lens with an outwardly extending flange.
  • a lens retainer receives and supports the flange along its entire length. The retainer is held in place by caps secured to the end casting of the fixture.
  • Outdoor fluorescent lighting fixtures such as contemplated by the instant invention are commonly used in a number of applications; they are used in gasoline service stations, in parking lots, and in connection with outdoor advertising and the like.
  • a light of the type under consideration comprises a generally elongate, slim fixture having a pair of end castings.
  • One or more fluorescent light tubes extend between these castings.
  • the castings will of course be suitably secured to a body portion or base for the fixture, and the light tube or tubes will be covered by a transparent, plastic lens.
  • Lighting fixtures of this general type are extremely old and well known. According to common, commercial practice, the plastic lens will be held in place by a plurality of clips or bands otherwise secured to the body or base of the light fixture. This expedient is unsatisfactory, in that it does not give proper support to the lens over its entire length. As a practical matter, commercial light fixtures of this type may be manufactured in lengths up to 8 feet. Over such a span, it is very ditficult to hold a plastic lens in place without sag.
  • a second common problem is providing an easy and quick method for removing and replacing the entire lens, either for cleaning and maintenance or for light tube replacement.
  • This invention contemplates the provision of a transparent, extruded lens having flanged edges. These flanged edges are configured to mate with and be supported by an extruded lens retainer. This lens retainer may readily be supported along its entire length, and the entire assembly comprising the lens and lens retainers is held in place by a pair of caps for the end castings.
  • the mating configuration of the flanged edge of the lens and its lens retainer provides very good support for the lens over its entire length, thereby completely preventing sag or the like.
  • the mating configuration of the lens and lens retainer provide a substantially insect proof and weather proof joint, which requires no gaskets, and is not subject to deterioration o-r loosening due to exposure to the elements.
  • the entire lens and lens retainer assembly of this invention may be quickly and easily removed for maintenance of the fixture or replacement of light tubes, and then be replaced in a minimum of time and Without any particular skill or tools.
  • FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a lighting fixture according to this invention with one of the end caps removed;
  • FIGURE 2 is a transverse cross-sectional line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;
  • FIGURE 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;
  • FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the fixture shown in FIGURE 1.
  • the lighting fixture includes a body portion indicated generally in FIGURE 1 at 10.
  • the body portion 10 is simply a piece of sheet metal or the like formed into a U- shaped configuration, having the sides 10a and 10b, and the bottom 10c. Secured at each end of the body portion 10 are the end castings 12. In the embodiment shown, the end castings 12 are screwed to the body portion 10 by means of the fasteners 14.
  • FIGURE 3 The configuration of the end casting is probably best seen in FIGURE 3. It will be observed that the lower portion of the end casting as indicated at 16 is adapted to fit snugly within the body portion 10, and in fact the fasteners 14 mentioned above are threadedly received by this portion 16.
  • an offset 18 Just above the portion 16 of the walls of the casting is an offset 18, so that the portions 20 of the end casting will be spaced inwardly from the side walls 10a and 10b forming the endmost portions of a channel which will be described in more detail.
  • FIGURES 2 and 4 that the end castings 12 are each provided with the inwardly extending shoulders 22. These inwardly extending shoulders from the two end castings support the formed reflector indicated generally at 24 in FIGURE 2. It will be observed that this reflector 24 has the side walls 26 and 28, which are spaced inwardly from the walls 10a and 10b of the body portion to form the remainder of the channels mentioned above.
  • the elongate hollow space within the body 10 and beneath the reflector 24 may be used to house wiring, electrical ballasts, and the like.
  • the mounting for the fluorescent light tubes are-entirely conventional, and will not be described in detail.
  • standard end plates 30 and 32 will be secured to the inside, upper portion of the end castings, to provide the conventional sockets 34 and 36 for the light tube.
  • the lens for the light fixture is indicated generally at 38.
  • this will be formed of a suitable, transparent plastic material, and will be contoured to fit over the upper portion of the end castings 12 as is clearly seen in FIGURE 2.
  • each edge of the lens 38 is seen in FIGURE 2. It will be observed that at the point 40, the edge of the lens is offset outwardly by a distance equal to the thickness of the inner wall of the view along the lens retainer described in a moment, It will also be observed that just below the offset 40, each edge of the lens is provided with an outwardly extending flange 42.
  • This lens retainer includes a lower portion 46 which is generally U-shaped in cross section, and adapted to receive the lowermost edge of the lens 38. It will also be noted that this portion 46 of the lens retainer will lit in the longitudinal channel formed between the walls 10a, 10b, and the walls 26 and 28 of the reflector 24.
  • the lens retainer includes a slot 48 adapted to receive the flange 42 of the lens described earlier.
  • the lower edge of the lens is oflset as at 40. It will now be recognized that this means that the innermost edge of the lens retainer and the portion of the lens above the offset 40 are substantially flush against the upper portion of the end casting.
  • the entire lens-lens retainer assembly is securely held in place by means of the caps 50 which are secured to the end castings by means of the fasteners 52.
  • the total length of the lens 38 is somewhat less than the length of the lens retainers 44. That is, the ends of the lens retainers 44 will be substantially flush with the outermost surface of the top portion of the end castings 12.
  • the ends of the lens 38 are short enough to be inside fasteners 52 passing through the end caps 50. Therefore, there is no hole or other opening in the lens itself which must be aligned prior to assembly,
  • a lens retainer for each longitudinal edge portion of said lens, said lens retainer including a first portion, generally U-shaped in cross section to receive said longitudinal edge portion of said lens, and a second portion extending outwardly from said first portion and having a slot to receive said flange;
  • (0) means to releasabiy secure said lens to said fixture with said lens retainers being received in said chan nels-in said body portion.
  • each said longitudinal edge portion of said lens is offset, whereby the inner surface of the lens adjacent the oifset is substantially flush with the inner surface of said lens retainer.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Arrangement Of Elements, Cooling, Sealing, Or The Like Of Lighting Devices (AREA)

Description

Jan. 27, 1970 E. o REIS 3,492,475
OUTDOOR LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed April 10, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l lNVENTOR/S [LMER 0 Pas,
Jan. 27, 1970 E. o. REIS OUTDOOR LIGHTING FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 10, 1967 l NVENTOR/S [444512 0 km,
ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 240-128 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An elongated outdoor lighting fixture having a U- shaped lens with an outwardly extending flange. A lens retainer receives and supports the flange along its entire length. The retainer is held in place by caps secured to the end casting of the fixture.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Outdoor fluorescent lighting fixtures such as contemplated by the instant invention are commonly used in a number of applications; they are used in gasoline service stations, in parking lots, and in connection with outdoor advertising and the like. A light of the type under consideration comprises a generally elongate, slim fixture having a pair of end castings. One or more fluorescent light tubes extend between these castings. The castings will of course be suitably secured to a body portion or base for the fixture, and the light tube or tubes will be covered by a transparent, plastic lens.
Lighting fixtures of this general type are extremely old and well known. According to common, commercial practice, the plastic lens will be held in place by a plurality of clips or bands otherwise secured to the body or base of the light fixture. This expedient is unsatisfactory, in that it does not give proper support to the lens over its entire length. As a practical matter, commercial light fixtures of this type may be manufactured in lengths up to 8 feet. Over such a span, it is very ditficult to hold a plastic lens in place without sag.
A second common problem is providing an easy and quick method for removing and replacing the entire lens, either for cleaning and maintenance or for light tube replacement.
Finally, it will be apparent that because of exposure to weather, insects, and the like, the fit between the lens and the body and castings of the fixtures should be as tight as possible. According to the prior art, this is generally accomplished by the use of gaskets and the like. While a properly gasketed fixture is satisfactory for a limited period of time, these gaskets tend to loose their resiliency and form, and become unsatisfactory after a period of use. This of course permits insects, dirt, and the like to get into the fixture, requiring relatively frequent cleaning.
SUMMARY This invention contemplates the provision of a transparent, extruded lens having flanged edges. These flanged edges are configured to mate with and be supported by an extruded lens retainer. This lens retainer may readily be supported along its entire length, and the entire assembly comprising the lens and lens retainers is held in place by a pair of caps for the end castings.
The mating configuration of the flanged edge of the lens and its lens retainer provides very good support for the lens over its entire length, thereby completely preventing sag or the like.
:Furthermore, the mating configuration of the lens and lens retainer provide a substantially insect proof and weather proof joint, which requires no gaskets, and is not subject to deterioration o-r loosening due to exposure to the elements.
In addition, the entire lens and lens retainer assembly of this invention may be quickly and easily removed for maintenance of the fixture or replacement of light tubes, and then be replaced in a minimum of time and Without any particular skill or tools.
DRAWINGS Reference will be made from time to time to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals have been used to designate identical parts throughout the several views, and in which:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a lighting fixture according to this invention with one of the end caps removed;
FIGURE 2 is a transverse cross-sectional line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1; and
FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the fixture shown in FIGURE 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The lighting fixture includes a body portion indicated generally in FIGURE 1 at 10. As will be clear from examining FIGURES 2 and 3, the body portion 10 is simply a piece of sheet metal or the like formed into a U- shaped configuration, having the sides 10a and 10b, and the bottom 10c. Secured at each end of the body portion 10 are the end castings 12. In the embodiment shown, the end castings 12 are screwed to the body portion 10 by means of the fasteners 14.
The configuration of the end casting is probably best seen in FIGURE 3. It will be observed that the lower portion of the end casting as indicated at 16 is adapted to fit snugly within the body portion 10, and in fact the fasteners 14 mentioned above are threadedly received by this portion 16.
Just above the portion 16 of the walls of the casting is an offset 18, so that the portions 20 of the end casting will be spaced inwardly from the side walls 10a and 10b forming the endmost portions of a channel which will be described in more detail.
It will also be noted that in FIGURES 2 and 4 that the end castings 12 are each provided with the inwardly extending shoulders 22. These inwardly extending shoulders from the two end castings support the formed reflector indicated generally at 24 in FIGURE 2. It will be observed that this reflector 24 has the side walls 26 and 28, which are spaced inwardly from the walls 10a and 10b of the body portion to form the remainder of the channels mentioned above.
The elongate hollow space within the body 10 and beneath the reflector 24 may be used to house wiring, electrical ballasts, and the like.
The mounting for the fluorescent light tubes are-entirely conventional, and will not be described in detail. As seen in FIGURES 2 and 4, standard end plates 30 and 32 will be secured to the inside, upper portion of the end castings, to provide the conventional sockets 34 and 36 for the light tube.
The lens for the light fixture is indicated generally at 38. Preferably this will be formed of a suitable, transparent plastic material, and will be contoured to fit over the upper portion of the end castings 12 as is clearly seen in FIGURE 2.
The preferred configuration of each edge of the lens 38 is seen in FIGURE 2. It will be observed that at the point 40, the edge of the lens is offset outwardly by a distance equal to the thickness of the inner wall of the view along the lens retainer described in a moment, It will also be observed that just below the offset 40, each edge of the lens is provided with an outwardly extending flange 42.
It will also be noted in FIGURE 2 that the edge just described is received in the extruded aluminum lens retainer indicated generally at 44. This lens retainer includes a lower portion 46 which is generally U-shaped in cross section, and adapted to receive the lowermost edge of the lens 38. It will also be noted that this portion 46 of the lens retainer will lit in the longitudinal channel formed between the walls 10a, 10b, and the walls 26 and 28 of the reflector 24.
It will also be noted that the lens retainer includes a slot 48 adapted to receive the flange 42 of the lens described earlier.
It will be recalled that the lower edge of the lens is oflset as at 40. It will now be recognized that this means that the innermost edge of the lens retainer and the portion of the lens above the offset 40 are substantially flush against the upper portion of the end casting.
As briefly indicated earlier in this specification, the entire lens-lens retainer assembly is securely held in place by means of the caps 50 which are secured to the end castings by means of the fasteners 52. It will be seen clearly in FIGURES l and 4 that the total length of the lens 38 is somewhat less than the length of the lens retainers 44. That is, the ends of the lens retainers 44 will be substantially flush with the outermost surface of the top portion of the end castings 12. By comparison, the ends of the lens 38 are short enough to be inside fasteners 52 passing through the end caps 50. Therefore, there is no hole or other opening in the lens itself which must be aligned prior to assembly,
Numerous modifications in the foregoing invention will be apparent to the skilled worker in the art. While the invention has been described in terms of an exemplary embodiment, no limitation is to be inferred or implied, except insofar as specifically set forth in the claims which follow.
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. In an outdoor lighting fixture including a body portion having a pair of longitudinal channels, the improvements comprising:
(a) a lens having spaced apart longitudinal edge p0r tions, each said longitudinal edge portion having an outwardly extending flange;
(b) a lens retainer for each longitudinal edge portion of said lens, said lens retainer including a first portion, generally U-shaped in cross section to receive said longitudinal edge portion of said lens, and a second portion extending outwardly from said first portion and having a slot to receive said flange; and
(0) means to releasabiy secure said lens to said fixture with said lens retainers being received in said chan nels-in said body portion.
2. The fixture claimed in claim 1 wherein said flange extends the full length of said lens.
3. The fixture claimed in claim 2 wherein said lens retainer is longer than said lens.
4. The fixture claimed in claim 1 wherein each said longitudinal edge portion of said lens is offset, whereby the inner surface of the lens adjacent the oifset is substantially flush with the inner surface of said lens retainer.
5. The improvement claimed in claim 1 wherein said outwardly extending flange is spaced from the free edge of said longitudinal edge portion.
6. The improvement claimed in claim 1 wherein said outwardly extending portion is configured to engage the longitudinal edge of said body portion.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,913,575 11/1959 Lipscomb 240 51.11 2,993,115 7/1961 Rosenblatt 240-5111 3,268,722 8/1966 Nolan 240128 3,397,308 8/1968 Wakefield 240l28 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner L. H. MCCORMICK, 1a., Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 2403, 51.11
US629535A 1967-04-10 1967-04-10 Outdoor lighting fixture Expired - Lifetime US3492475A (en)

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090161353A1 (en) * 2007-12-20 2009-06-25 Lanczy Geza T Reinforcement for linear indirect lighting fixtures

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2913575A (en) * 1955-06-27 1959-11-17 Willis L Lipscomb Controlled brightness luminous panel luminaire
US2993115A (en) * 1957-09-06 1961-07-18 Maurice C Rosenblatt Light diffuser for fluorescent lighting fixture
US3268722A (en) * 1963-09-30 1966-08-23 Nolan James Cover structure for lighting fixtures
US3397308A (en) * 1966-10-19 1968-08-13 Itt Lighting fixture

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2913575A (en) * 1955-06-27 1959-11-17 Willis L Lipscomb Controlled brightness luminous panel luminaire
US2993115A (en) * 1957-09-06 1961-07-18 Maurice C Rosenblatt Light diffuser for fluorescent lighting fixture
US3268722A (en) * 1963-09-30 1966-08-23 Nolan James Cover structure for lighting fixtures
US3397308A (en) * 1966-10-19 1968-08-13 Itt Lighting fixture

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090161353A1 (en) * 2007-12-20 2009-06-25 Lanczy Geza T Reinforcement for linear indirect lighting fixtures
US7806570B2 (en) 2007-12-20 2010-10-05 Group Dekko, Inc. Reinforcement for linear indirect lighting fixtures

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