Modular fixture with integrated acoustic sound absorbing housing

#The present description relates generally to the construction of fixtures such as lighting fixtures, in particular, the construction of an LED based lighting fixture having acoustic sound absorbing panels forming at least part of the housing of the lighting fixture, and in particular, to such a lighting fixture in which the acoustic sound absorbing side panels are mechanically and releasably affixed to an internal support structure by modular components. Principles of the present invention may further be adapted to providing acoustic sound absorbing panels that do not include any source of lighting.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lighting fixture according to the present invention in which the end caps are not shown.

#FIG. 2 is an elevated front view of the interior of the lighting fixture according to the present invention, in which the end caps are not shown.

#FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the interior of the lighting fixture shown in FIG. 2, in which the end caps are not shown, illustrating the linear support structure that supports the acoustic side panels.

#The following description of the invention herein is not intended to limit the scope of the description to the precise form or forms detailed herein. Instead the following description is intended to be illustrative so that others may follow its teachings.

#While the invention as disclosed and described herein is in the form of a linear LED lighting fixture designed to be suspended from a ceiling or other support structure, it should be appreciated that the inventive concepts disclosed herein can be utilized in other types of lighting fixtures, in other various shapes and orientations, and for other intended applications. For example, one or more novel aspects of the invention disclosed herein may be adapted and applied to sound absorbing acoustic panels that do not include a lighting element and wherein the modular aspect of the present invention may be integrated into a system comprising a plurality of aesthetically identical acoustic panels, some of which include lighting elements and some of which do not.

#FIG. 1 of the drawings discloses linear LED-based lighting fixture 10. As shown, lighting fixture 10 includes modular acoustic side panels 40 and 41 which are affixed to linear support structure, or spine, 20 that runs the length of the fixture. In this embodiment, linear support structure 20 is preferably constructed from an aluminum extrusion having an asymmetrical design that allows for the attachment of the various components of the lighting fixture, which includes an LED light board and an LED driver, as further described herein. Linear support structure 20 can be constructed of other materials and, depending upon the overall fixture design, may not necessarily extend the entire length of the fixture. While the lighting elements incorporated into the illustrated embodiments incorporate LED's, other light producing elements, such as incandescent, fluorescent, halogen or neon lighting sources may be used, either alone or in combination with LED's.