US 2003/0223231 A1 · Selectively extendable modular lighting fixture, and method of making and assembly

Abstract

A lighting fixture which includes an elongate modular lineal section fabricated of an extruded high-strencth metal alloy. The extrusion comprises an elongate generally flat base integrally joined at a pair of opposed lingitudinal edges thereof to upwardly extending sidewalls. The sidewalls are formed at opposed respective upper edge portions thereof with channel-like upwardly opening grooves for matingly receiving therewithin laterally spaced elongate free edge portions of a lens of a high strength plastics composition. The lens bridges opposed sidewalls of the extruded metal base to complete a lighting fixture housing section or module open at each end. Configured for matingly engaging and for positive attachment to each end of the housing section is a skeletal bridge-like end plate formed with through framed openings. Attachable to each or to either end plate is a skeletal adapter ring for facilitating attachment of an additional housing section or module to provide a lighting fixture comprised of two or more modular housing sections. End caps provide fluid-tight closures of the assembly. In other embodiments of the invention the modular structures may be connected to provide lighting fixtures which form L, T, cross, X, as well as closed-loop configurations.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An extendable modular lighting fixture including means for rendering said fixture functionally operable as a fixture with a single modular section and alternatively as a row-mount lighting fixture having a plurality of modular sections,

said row-mount lighting fixture comprising an array of housing sections joined to ome another endwise;
interconnecting means for providing physical and electrical continuity throughout a lineal expanse of said lighting fixture;
said lighting fixture being further chacterized as being, through structural configuration of components thereof and through composition, inherently effectively tolerant of and resistant to physical abuse as well as to environmental hazards;
said lighting fixture further comprising housing means for carrying therewithin an illumination source to extend interiorly therealong;
a lighting track in said housing means;
said lighting track including passageway means for accommodating electrical conductor means for connecting said lighting fixture to an independent electrical power supply for energizing said lighting fixture;
wire-way means formed within said lighting fixture for accommodating conductive wires residing in said housing means and extending along a lineal expanse thereof;
elongate lens means extending along a lineal expanse of said lighting fixture and secured thereto for defining and controlling distribution of illuminating light emanating from said lighting fixture;
and
removable cap means for closing and sealing opposed ends of end units of said lighting fixture.

7 more elements

The method of making and assembling a lighting fixture having any selectable length and finding utility in ceiling, wall and corner installations including suspended mounts;

said method utilizing modular components in selectable numbers, each component being of any desired length, and said components being connectable to one another endwise as a sealed, unitary, operating assemblage constituting a lighting fixture;
said method including the fabrication of a modular component of said fixture, and comprising the steps of:
forming an extrusion having a generally planar floor-like base integrally joined at opposed lateral lineally-extending side edges thereof with generally upwardly projecting wall sections;
forming said wall sections of said extrusions at lineally-extending opposed edge portions thereof with upwardly-directed coupler structures for attaching a lens thereto at opposed said lineally-extending said edge portions of said extrusions, and lineally coextensive therewith;
fabricating a separate, lineally-extending lens of a plastics composition and having opposed parallel, lineally-extended free edge portioins traversing a lineal expanse of said lens;
forming each opposed said lineally extended free edge portion of said lens with a configuration for matingly connecting said lens to said upwardly extending said wall sections of said extrusioin for sealing therewith along a full lineal expanse of said extrusion and said lens, and establishing an elongate, open-ended housing section having any sought lineal expanse;
fabricating a first casting, and forming said first casting with a plate-like configuration to serve as an end wall appendage of said housing section at each of opposite ends of said lighting fixture;
also forming said first casting to define a perimetric contour corresponding to a perimetric contour of each end edge of said housing section, including a surmounting lens of said housing section;
forming said first casting to define as well a lattice-like wall configuration including a plurality of deviders and through openings demarking passageways in said end walls of said housing section;
forming said first casting at an inwardly-presented limit thereof with coupler means for engaging end structures of functionally-united, intercoupling, longitudinally-extending ends of inter-connected said extrusion and said lens, and also
forming said first casting at a side thereof remote from an end of said extrusion and said lens with a circumscribing perimetriuc shoulder for sealingly selectively engaging either one of a coupler ring to be sleevedly attached thereto at an end cap to be secured thereon;
said method including the further optional steps of forming a plurality of lineally joined module-like housing sections;
and the further steps of
fabricating a second casting for use in the method of optionally connecting two, and optionally more, separate modular sections of said lighting fixture to one another endwise as a unitary linear array;
forming said second casting as a bilateral coupler to be secured to a free end of a said first casting mounted on an end of a body section of said body section of said lighting fixture;
forming said second casting to constitute a ring-like structure including at a circumscribing top wall thereof integrally-formed, laterally extending ring-like flanges including a first flange and a second flange;
said flanges each being dimensioned and configured to overlie in sealing engagement therewith a mating said top wall of said first casting;
whereby said second casting operates to establish a positive endwise joinder of two said housing sections to one another in a lineal array;
said method further including the steps of forming an end cap of a unitary one-piece configuration having a base, an upstanding endwall, and a top, and defining an integrally-formed, uninterrupted, circumscribing free edge contoured to be congruently superimposable over a corresponding said circunscribing perimetric shoulder of said first casting in sealing engagement therewith;
assembling a lighting fixture having a single housing section and including the steps of:
securedly mounting said first casting at each respective ends of said housing section in sealing engagement therewith;
affixing said end cap positively to each of opposed ends of said housing section in sealing engagement with outwardly perimetric said shoulders of said first casting;
and
assembling a lighting fixture which includes two housing sections, including the steps of:
securedly mounting a first said casting at each respective ends of a first end of second said housing section;
affixing a described said first casting to each opposed ends of said first housing section and to said second housing section;
connecting a first side of said second casting to a free end of a first said housing section in sealing engagement therewith;
connecting a second said housing section to a second side of said second casting to couple two said housing sections together as a linked, lineally-extending assembly;
and
affixing a said end cap to each free end of each said housing section to provide a completed, elongate, unitary, multi-sectional lighting fixture.

27 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Selectively extendable modular lighting fixture, and method of making and assembly

Life of this patent

Selectively extendable modular lighting fixture, and method of making and assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18