Modular lighting fixture
AssigneePower & Light, LLC
InventorsJohn H. Cummings, Alan I. Fujii
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Piercing, heat sink, and reflector modules are detachably connected together to provide a lighting fixture adaptable to low voltage, line voltage, halogen, fluorescent, incandescent, and other lighting systems. In heat sensitive applications, such as insulated ceilings, a heat conductive basket sleeve is disposed around the heat sink and reflector modules, and the sleeve, heat sink module and reflector module are enclosed within a heat-sealing cover. Heat from the sleeve is conducted to a trim ring externally disposed on the lighting fixture. The lighting fixture permits direct connection to a continuous insulated cable without the requirement of a junction box connection, thereby facilitating installation of the fixture in either new or existing construction.
Claims15
A lighting fixture for mounting in an opening in a predefined surface and electrically connecting to a power supply line having insulation, the lighting fixture comprising:
- an electrical power module having means for receiving an electric lamp and maintaining said lamp in a fixed position with respect to said power module, and separate first and second electrical circuits extending through said power module and in respective separate electrical connection with said means for receiving an electric lamp, wherein at least one of said first and second electrical circuits comprise an elongated strip formed of an electrically conductive metallic material having a portion of said means for receiving said electric lamp integrally formed at a defined end of said strip, and wherein at least one of said first and second electrical circuits comprises a piercing element;
- and
- a lamp shield module having a defined portion attachable to said electrical power module in fixed relationship with said lamp shield module, and a means for retaining the lighting fixture in fixed relationship with the opening in said predefined mounting surface when said lighting fixture is mounted in the opening.
A power module for receiving a high temperature lamp and electrically connecting to a power supply line having insulabon, the power module comprising:
- a first conductive path comprising a first piercing element at a first end and a first socket at an opposite second end and rigidly coupled to the first piercing element for receiving a first terminal of the lamp;
- and
- a second conductive path having a first conductive member comprising a second piercing element at a first end, a separate, second conductive member comprising a second socket at an opposite second end and rigidly coupled to the second piercing element for receiving a second terminal of the lamp, and a thermal cutout member.
A method for manufacturing a power module adapted for use in a lighting fixture and for connecting to an insulated power supply line, the method comprising:
- providing a first elongate strip composed of an electrically conductive material;
- providing a second elongate strip substantially similar to the first elongate strip;
- forming a first piercing element on a first end of the first elongate strip;
- forming a second piercing element on a first end of the second elongate strip;
- forming a first socket on a second end of the first elongate strip;
- forming a second socket on a second end of the second elongate strip;
- and
- removing a portion from the second elongate strip to form a first conductive member and a separate, second conductive member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.