Modular light fixtures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9869435-B2
Application number	US-201514693702-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 22, 2015
Priority date	Apr 22, 2014
Publication date	Jan 16, 2018
Grant date	Jan 16, 2018

Abstract

A modular light fixture is described herein. The light fixture can include a frame having at least one light module coupling device, where the at least one light module coupling device includes at least one light module coupling feature. The light fixture can also include at least one light module coupled to the frame, where the at least one light module includes at least one frame coupling feature that couples to the at least one light module coupling feature of the at least one light module coupling device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modular light fixture, comprising:
a frame comprising:
a housing comprising at least one housing wall that forms a cavity;
at least one first light module coupling device disposed on the at least one housing wall, wherein the at least one first light module coupling device comprises at least one first light module coupling feature;
a first mounting device coupled to the at least one housing wall of the housing; and
a connecting bracket comprising at least one second light module coupling device and a second mounting device disposed thereon, wherein the at least one second light module coupling device comprises at least one second light module coupling feature;

a first power source disposed within the cavity of the housing; and
a first light module mechanically coupled to the frame and electrically coupled to the first power source, wherein the first light module comprises at least one first frame coupling feature that couples to the at least one first light module coupling feature of the at least one first light module coupling device disposed on the at least one housing wall of the housing, and wherein the first light module further comprises at least one second frame coupling feature that couples to the at least one second light module coupling feature of the at least one light module coupling device disposed on the connecting bracket,
wherein the housing is coupled to a first end of the first light module, wherein the connecting bracket is coupled to a second end of the first light module that opposes the first end,
wherein the first mounting device and the second mounting device are used to suspend the frame,
wherein the housing and the connecting bracket, without the first light module, are uncoupled from each other, and
wherein the first power source provides a first power to the first light module.

2. The modular light fixture of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second light module mechanically coupled to the frame, wherein the second light module comprises at least one third frame coupling feature that couples to the at least one first light module coupling feature of the at least one light module coupling device disposed on the at least one housing wall of the housing, and wherein the second light module further comprises at least one fourth frame coupling feature that couples to the at least one second light module coupling feature of the at least one light module coupling device disposed on the connecting bracket, wherein the housing is disposed at a third end of the second light module, wherein the connecting bracket is disposed at a fourth end of the second light module that opposes the third end.

3. The modular light fixture of claim 2 , further comprising:
a second power source disposed within the cavity of the housing, wherein the second power source provides a second power to the second light module.

4. The modular light fixture of claim 3 , wherein the first power source provides the first power to the first light module during a first time period, and wherein the second power source provides the second power to the second light module during the first time period.

5. The modular light fixture of claim 4 , wherein the first power source provides the first power to the first light module and the second light module during a second time period.

6. The modular light fixture of claim 1 , wherein the at least one frame coupling feature comprises at least one first channel disposed in a light module wall of the first light module, wherein the at least one channel slidably receives the at least one light module coupling feature.

7. The modular light fixture of claim 6 , wherein the at least one first channel has a first width at the light module wall of the first light module and a second width within the light module wall of the first light module, wherein the second width is greater than the first width.

8. The modular light fixture of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one securing member that holds the first module in a fixed position relative to the housing and the connecting bracket of the frame.

9. The modular light fixture of claim 8 , wherein the at least one securing member comprises a first fastening device that traverses the at least one wall of the housing and at least a first portion of the first light module and a second fastening device that traverses the connecting bracket and at least a second portion of the first light module.

10. The modular light fixture of claim 1 , wherein the at least one housing wall of the housing is movable relative to the housing to allow access to the cavity when the first light module is coupled to the frame.

11. The modular light fixture of claim 2 , wherein the first light module and the second light module are separated by an air gap, wherein the air gap is adjustable.

12. The modular light fixture of claim 11 , wherein the first light module comprises a length and a width, wherein the length is longer than the width, wherein the length defines the first end and the second end.

13. The modular light fixture of claim 11 , wherein the air gap is adjustable and allows ambient air to flow between the first light module and the second light module, and wherein the ambient air removes heat absorbed by the first light module and the second light module.

14. A light module for a modular light fixture, the light module comprising:
a body comprising a length and a width, wherein the width defines a first end and a second end of the body, and wherein the length defines a first side and a second side of the body;
a first frame coupling feature disposed at the first end of the body, wherein the first frame coupling feature is configured to couple to a first light module coupling feature of a housing of a frame of the modular light fixture; and
a second frame coupling feature disposed at a second end of the body, wherein the second frame coupling feature is configured to couple to a second light module coupling feature of a connecting bracket of the frame of the module light fixture,
wherein the first frame coupling feature is configured to be adjustable along the first light module coupling feature of the housing of the frame, and
wherein the housing and the connecting bracket are uncoupled to each other without the body.

15. The light module of claim 14 ,
wherein the second frame coupling feature is configured to be adjustable along the second light module coupling feature of the frame.

16. The light module of claim 14 , wherein the body is thermally conductive, wherein the body comprises a plurality of fins that extend from at least a top surface of the body, and wherein the top surface is disposed between the first end, the second end, the first side, and the second side.

17. A frame for a modular light fixture, the frame comprising:
a housing comprising at least one wall that forms a cavity, wherein the cavity is configured to receive at least one power source; and
at least one first light module coupling device disposed on the at least one wall of the housing, wherein the at least one first light module coupling device comprises at least one first light module coupling feature and is configured to directly couple to a first frame coupling feature of at least one light module of the modular light fixture; and
a connecting bracket comprising at least one second light module coupling device, wherein the at least one second light module coupling device comprises at least one second light module coupling feature and is configured to directly couple to a second frame coupling featur

Assignees

• Decarr Graig
• Aldrich Alvah
• Skellham Jonathan Jay
• Gangoor Natesha Sanjeeve Gowda
• Venugopal Pradeep Bangalore
• Shet Vinod Manohar
• Cooper Technologies Co

Inventors

• Decarr Graig
• Aldrich Alvah
• Skellham Jonathan Jay
• Gangoor Natesha Sanjeeve Gowda
• Venugopal Pradeep Bangalore
• Shet Vinod Manohar

Classifications

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• F21S2/005

  of modular construction · CPC title

• F21V29/507

  of means for protecting lighting devices from damage, e.g. housings · CPC title

• F21V15/02

  Cages · CPC title

• F21Y2105/10

  comprising a two-dimensional [2D] array of point-like light-generating elements · CPC title