Edge lit fixture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11079076-B2
Application number	US-201414526368-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 28, 2014
Priority date	Oct 28, 2014
Publication date	Aug 3, 2021
Grant date	Aug 3, 2021

Abstract

An edge lit fixture. A housing provides the basic shape and structure of the fixture. The housing is constructed from discrete segments including lens frames, side frames, and end frames, which can be used in many different combinations to create the desired fixture. The assembled housing defines an open central area. One or more light panels are arranged around the perimeter of the housing such that at least some of the light is emitted toward the central area. The open central area of the housing allows for existing materials, such as a ceiling tile, for example, to function as a back surface of the fixture.

First claim

We claim:

1. A light fixture for use in an opening in a ceiling grid, the opening having a periphery defined by the ceiling grid, the light fixture comprising:
a housing comprising a plurality of frames connected to one another to define an open central area, wherein the housing comprises a surface configured to be supported by the ceiling grid such that the housing is supported in the opening, the plurality of frames extending at least partially around the periphery of the opening, the plurality of frames comprising at least one lens frame;
at least one light panel mounted to the at least one lens frame, the at least one light panel comprising:
an elongated lens comprising a first structural side and a second structural side and a light-transmissive exit side spanning between the first structural side and the second structural side, wherein the first structural side and the second structural side are cooperatively shaped to form a slot for receiving a light strip; and
a light strip comprising at least one light source mounted thereon, the light strip held in place by the slot and positioned such that at least some light emitted from the at least one light source is emitted toward the light-transmissive exit side.

2. The light fixture of claim 1 , wherein the at least one lens frame comprises two lens frames and the at least one light panel comprises two light panels where the housing is configured in a rectangular shape with the two lens frames on opposite sides of the housing, each of the two lens frames supporting a respective one of the two light panels such that the two light panels are on an interior side of the housing.

3. The light fixture of claim 2 , the plurality of frames comprising side frames connected to and extending between the two lens frames.

4. The light fixture of claim 1 , wherein the at least one lens frame comprises four lens frames and the at least one light panel comprises four light panels where the housing is configured in a rectangular shape, each of the four lens frames supporting a respective one of the four light panels such that the light panels are on an interior side of the housing.

5. The light fixture of claim 4 , further comprising an angled joint cap between adjacent ones of the four light panels.

6. The light fixture of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of frames comprises two side frames; wherein the housing is configured in a rectangular shape, the housing comprising: a first lens frame at a first end of the housing, the first lens frame supporting the at least one light panel such that the at least one light panel faces the interior of the housing; and the two side frames connected to the first lens frame and extending therefrom.

7. The light fixture of claim 6 , the housing further comprising an end frame connected to the two side frames opposite the first lens frame.

8. The light fixture of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light panel comprises first and second light panels supported by first and second lens frames, the first and second lens frames mounted back-to-back such that the first and second light panels are opposite one another.

9. The light fixture of claim 1 , the housing configured in a rectangular shape, the at least one light panel comprising first and second light panels mounted back-to-back, the first and second light panels mounted at their respective ends to first and second lens frames such that the first and second light panels extend perpendicularly between the first and second lens frames.

10. The light fixture of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of frames comprises first and second side frames and wherein the at least one lens frame comprises first and second lens frames, the first and second side frames connected to the first and second lens frames and extending therebetween, and the at least one light panel comprising first and second light panels wherein the first and second light panels extend parallel to the first and second side frames through the interior of the housing.

11. The light fixture of claim 1 , further comprising at least one end cap over an end of the at least one light panel.

12. The light fixture of claim 1 , the housing further comprising at least one hang tab shaped to mount to the ceiling grid.

13. The light fixture of claim 1 , the at least one lens frame comprising a c-shaped cross section.

14. A light fixture for use in an opening in a ceiling grid, the opening having a first periphery defined by the ceiling grid, the light fixture comprising:
a housing having an interior defining an open central area having a second periphery, wherein the housing is configured to extend about the first periphery of the opening, and wherein the housing comprises a first surface configured to be mounted on the ceiling grid such that the housing is supported in the opening, wherein the housing comprises a second surface, the second surface configured to support a ceiling tile such that the ceiling tile covers the open central area and is exposed through the open central area;
at least one lens supported by the housing and positioned to extend along at least a portion of the open central area at the second periphery of the opening such that the at least one lens does not substantially cover a surface of the ceiling tile that faces the open central area, the at least one lens comprising a light-transmissive exit side that faces the open central area such that light is emitted from the light fixture through the at least one lens below the ceiling tile and into the open central area;
at least one light strip comprising at least one light source for generating light, wherein the at least one light strip is supported directly on the at least one lens and is positioned to extend along a portion of the open central area at the second periphery such that the light emitted by the at least one light source is emitted through the light-transmissive exit side of the at least one lens.

15. The light fixture of claim 14 , the housing comprising a plurality of segments.

16. The light fixture of claim 15 , wherein each of the at least one light strip and the at least one lens together define a light panel, and further comprising a plurality of light panels, each of the plurality of light panels on an interior surface of one of the plurality of segments such that each of the plurality of light panels is positioned to emit at least some light toward the open central area.

17. The light fixture of claim 14 , wherein the housing is configured to rest on a horizontal lip of the ceiling grid.

18. The light fixture of claim 14 , further comprising a fastener for fastening the housing to the ceiling grid.

19. The light fixture of claim 14 , wherein the at least one light strip is supported by at least one slot formed on the at least one lens.

20. A light fixture configured for use in an opening in a ceiling, the opening having a perimeter, the light fixture comprising:
a housing defining an open central area configured for placement along the opening in the ceiling, the housing comprising a plurality of lens frames extending along the perimeter; and
a plurality of light panels, each of the plurality of light panels being attached to one of the plurality of lens frames such that the plurality of light panels are positioned along and face the open central area, each of the plurality of light panels comprising first and second structural sides and a light-transmissive exit side spanning between the first structural side and the second structural side, wherein the first and second

Assignees

• Ideal Ind Lighting Llc

Inventors

• Bernard Randy
• Snell Nathan

Classifications

• E04B9/006

  with means for hanging lighting fixtures or other appliances to the framework of the ceiling · CPC title

• F21V17/007

  with provision for shipment or storage · CPC title

• F21V5/04

  of lens shape · CPC title

• F21S4/28

  rigid, e.g. LED bars · CPC title

• F21Y2103/10

  comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements · CPC title