# US 2018/0320845 A1 · Retainer ring and associated methods for quiet-ceiling light fixtures > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0320845 A1 - Document ID: US20180320845A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/958,410 - Filed: 2018-04-20 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-02 - Assignees: ABL IP Holding LLC - Applicants: ABL IP Holding LLC - Inventors: Megan Marie Tepo; Douglas Dewayne Grove; John M. Reilly; Joseph James Onda; James Scott Conn; Jeff Robert Shaner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180320845A1 ## CPC - F21S 8/04: intended only for mounting on a ceiling or the like overhead structures (F21S8/02 takes precedence; {details of ceiling bases F21V21/03}) - F21K 9/20: Light sources comprising attachment means - F21S 8/026: {intended to be recessed in a ceiling or like overhead structure, e.g. suspended ceiling} - F21V 5/046: {the lens having a rotationally symmetrical shape about an axis for transmitting light in a direction mainly perpendicular to this axis, e.g. ring or annular lens with light source disposed inside the ring} - F21V 15/01: Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts (F21V15/02 takes precedence {housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04}) - F21V 17/162: {the parts being subjected to traction or compression, e.g. coil springs} - F21V 21/005: for several lighting devices in an end-to-end arrangement, i.e. light tracks - F21V 21/044: {with elastically deformable elements, e.g. spring tongues} - F21V 21/088: Clips; Clamps - F21V 21/14: Adjustable mountings - F21V 23/02: the elements being transformers, impedances {or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier} - F21V 29/503: of light sources (cooling arrangements structurally associated with gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps H01J61/52; cooling arrangements structurally associated with electric incandescent lamps H01K1/58; cooling arrangements structurally associated with light-emitting diodes H10H20/858) - H10H 20/855: Optical field-shaping means, e.g. lenses - H10W 90/00: Package configurations - F21K 9/68: Details of reflectors forming part of the light source - F21V 5/007: {Array of lenses or refractors for a cluster of light sources, e.g. for arrangement of multiple light sources in one plane (combination of two or more refractors F21V5/008)} - F21V 7/043: {with cylindrical surface} - F21V 7/28: characterised by coatings - F21V 29/763: {the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis} - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - Y10T 29/49117: Conductor or circuit manufacturing - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS - F21K: NON-ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES USING LUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING ELECTROCHEMILUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING CHARGES OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL; LIGHT SOURCES USING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AS LIGHT-GENERATING ELEMENTS; LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H10H: INORGANIC LIGHT-EMITTING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES HAVING POTENTIAL BARRIERS - H10W: GENERIC PACKAGES, INTERCONNECTIONS, CONNECTORS OR OTHER CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10 - 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 - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A retainer ring for a light fixture includes a cylindrical main body section that defines a cylindrical axis, and an inner retaining flange that extends radially inward from a distal end of the main body section. The inner retaining flange extends substantially about a circumference of the distal end. One or more coupling features extend radially inward from the retainer ring. A customization kit for a light engine that defines an optical axis includes a retainer ring configured to couple with the light engine, and two or more primary optics that are mechanically compatible with the light engine, and retainable to the light engine with the retainer ring. When the retainer ring couples with the light engine, a cylindrical axis of the retainer ring coincides with the optical axis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A retainer ring for a light fixture, comprising: a cylindrical main body section that defines a cylindrical axis; an inner retaining flange that extends radially inward from a distal end of the main body section, the inner retaining flange extending substantially about a circumference of the distal end; and one or more coupling features that extend radially inward from the retainer ring. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The retainer ring of claim 1, wherein the one or more coupling features are non-threading projections. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The retainer ring of claim 1, wherein a proximal end of the main body section forms a plurality of coupling flanges that: extend axially from a plurality of locations on the main body section, and include the one or more coupling features. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The retainer ring of claim 1, wherein the retainer ring is formed of a molded plastic, and further comprising one or more optical features formed of the same molded plastic, wherein the one or more optical features are integrally molded with the cylindrical main body section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The retainer ring of claim 4, wherein at least one of the one or more optical features comprises a metalized surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The retainer ring of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the main body section is larger than a length of the main body section along the cylindrical axis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A customization kit for a light engine that defines an optical axis, comprising: the retainer ring of claim 1; and a plurality of primary optics that are mechanically compatible with the light engine, and retainable to the light engine with the retainer ring, wherein when the retainer ring couples with the light engine, the cylindrical axis coincides with the optical axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The customization kit of claim 7, further comprising one or more of a honeycomb insert, a glare shield, a gel, and a filter, that are mechanically compatible with the light engine, and retainable to the light engine with the retainer ring. ### Claim 9 A method of field reconfiguring a light fixture, comprising: coupling an optical component with a light engine of the light fixture, by engaging one or more coupling features of a retainer ring, with corresponding coupling features of a light source housing of the light engine; wherein the retainer ring comprises: a cylindrical main body section that defines a cylindrical axis, an inner retaining flange that extends radially inward from a distal end of the main body section, the inner retaining flange extending substantially about a circumference of the distal end, and the one or more coupling features, extending radially inward from the retainer ring; and wherein the cylindrical axis of the retainer ring is coincident with an optical axis of the light source housing, when the one or more coupling features engage with the light source housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein coupling the optical component with the light engine comprises retaining the optical component between the light source housing and the inner retaining flange. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein coupling the optical component with the light engine comprises providing the optical component as an integrally formed part of the retainer ring. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the optical component is a second optical component, and further comprising: disengaging the retainer ring from a light engine of the light fixture; and removing a first optical component; wherein both disengaging the retainer ring and removing the first optical component precede coupling the second optical component with the light engine. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the second optical component provides a different cutoff angle than the first optical component. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first and second optical components include a reflective surface that is not present on the other of the first and second optical components. ### Claim 15 A method of field reconfiguring a light fixture that is mounted within an aperture of a surface, comprising: disengaging from the surface at least one spring clip that retains a housing of the light fixture within the aperture; removing the housing from the aperture; decoupling a first light engine from the housing; electrically decoupling the first light engine from a power supply; electrically coupling a second light engine with the power supply; coupling the second light engine with the housing; replacing the housing into the aperture; and re-engaging the at least one spring clip with the surface to retain the housing within the aperture. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: decoupling a trim ring of the light fixture from the housing before disengaging the spring clip from the surface; and recoupling the trim ring with the housing after re-engaging the spring clip with the surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein: the power supply includes a plurality of power supply modules to support a respective plurality of light engine types; and electrically coupling the second light engine with the power supply comprises electrically coupling the second light engine with a different power supply module of the power supply than a power supply module formerly coupled with the first light engine. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the different power supply module is of a different power supply module type than the power supply module formerly coupled with the first light engine. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein: decoupling the first light engine from the housing comprises decoupling, from the housing, an adapter plate that supports the first light engine, and coupling the second light engine with the housing comprises coupling, with the housing, the same or a different adapter plate that supports the second light engine. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: decoupling a first baffle from the housing, and recoupling a second baffle with the housing.