Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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HOLO 0346 PCA ~
MODULARLUMINAIRE ASSE~MBLY
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Technical Field
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This invention relates generally to ornamental
modular street or walkway 1~ i na ires. More particu-
10~ larly, this invention relates to a mechanical designwhich provides for the interchange of different optical
assemblies and different electrical assemblies as
modular units affixable to a mounting assembly which is
itself interchangeable with similar units. The design
further provides for simple ~s~sembly for repair and
; ~ replacement purposes.
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k~.round Art:
~in~ire ~sP~ly designs of the prior art
; include a housing for snclosing and protecting electri-
cal components required for operation of the luminaire,
and an optical assembly. The optical assembly is
generally comprised of a lighting unit and a rafractor
for producing and directing light of various intensi-
ties. These prior art designs often utilize electrical
~' 25 ~qs~ hlies that are wired directly to the lighting unit
through the use of a plurality of wires, splicing means,
and/or permanent connecting means.
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Direct wired electrical assP hlies of the type
referenced above have heretofore been used to ensure
proper electrical contact between system components.
~hose skilled in the art will recognize, however, that
such prior art designs have resulted in increased
installation and maintenance costs because of the
minimal flexibility afforded by the mechanical design.
For example, it is known by those skilled in the art
that particular system components of the luminaire
~s~-~lies of the type referenced herein often require
repair, replacement and adjustment. In high pressure
sodium systems, for example, starters, ballasts and
capacitors are known to require routine maintenance.
Similarly, the wattage and/or voltage characteristics of
the employed lighting units often require adjustment to
provide the proper amount of illumination and to con-
serve energy. These maintenance procedures often
include the ~is~asE hly of sometimes heavy and awkward
parts as well as the removal, splicing and reconnection
of electrical wires. Because of the direct wired design
of the prior art systems, these maintenance proce~uLes
must also be performed on-site or, in the alternative,
the luminaire must be temporarily disabled while the
particular component is repaired in the laboratory or
factory.
The optical units of the prior art luminaire
assemblies are also known to those skilled in the art to
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require routine repair, replacement and maintenance.
For example, it is known that refractors and lighting
units often must be replaced when the surfaces are
penetrated by foreign substances or, when they have been
fractured as a result of weather conditions or tamper~
ing. These time-consuming and labsr intènsive mainte-
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HOLO 0346 PCA -3
nance proced~Les must again be perPormed on-site and on
a regular basis.
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It is appreciated by those skilled in the art
that the maintenance procedures referenced above are, of
course, further hindered during adverse weather condi-
tions, including heavy winds, rain and snow as well as
extreme temperature gradients. The maintenance compli-
cations inherent in the prior art luminaire assembly
designs have resulted in increased labor and maintenance
costs which, in turn, have caused purchasers and lumi-
naire designers to turn their attention toward viable
design altnrnatives.
In addition to hindering repair and
replacement of components, luminaire assemblies of the
prior art suffer from a lack of flexibility in design.
These designs make insufficient use of subassemblies,
though it is well known that flexibility increases with
proper employment of subassemblies. For example,
instead of individually mounting small components such
as starters, ballasts and capacitors to a lighting unit,
it may be possible to instead attach them to a base or
platform. This platform would comprise a subassembly
which is then mounted to the lighting unit. Modified or
new electrical components may then be incorporated into
the platform. The platform can be modified to accept
the new component inexpensively and quickly without
affecting any other part of the luminaire. Creation of
the most efficient number and type of subassemblies is
an important object of current designers.
U.S. Patent Nos. 3,297,864 and 3,071,683
issued to Waldbauer and Queale, respectively disclose
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HOLO 0346 PCA -4-
prior art luminaire designs of the type referenced
above. The Waldbauer patent for example, discloses a;~
luminaire having a lighting unit, a refractor, and an
electrical assembly mounted on a pivoting door. The
system components of the Waldbauer luminaire are direct-
ly wired to the lighting unit. ~-
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Similarly, the Queale patent discloses a
luminaire having a lighting unit, a refractor, and an ~ ~-
electrical assembly wherein the luminaire is pivotably
affixed to the luminaire housing at one end. Again, the ~i;
electrical components are directly wired to the lighting ~ '
unit and thus reguire maintenance on-site.
Disclosure Of The Invention '~
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It is an object of the present invention to
provided a modular luminaire assembly including a
unitary optical assembly, a unitary mounting assembly
and an electrical assembly, all of which are inter-
changeably connectable.
It is a further object of the present inven-
tion to provide a modular 1- inaire assembly wherein the
system components may be readily repaired, replaced and
adjusted on-site.
It is another object of the present invention
to provide a modular luminaire assembly wherein design
modifications may be efficiently and economically
incorporated.
In carrying out the above objects and other
objects, the modular Iuminaire assembly of the present
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HOLO 0346 PCA -5-
invention comprises a mounting assembly having a termi-
nal block affixed thereto and a quick disconnect provid-
ed in eleatrical communication with the terminal block.
There is further provided an optical assembly removably
5 ~ affixable to the mounting assembly. Still further,
there is provided an electrical assembly removably
affixable to the optical assembly and electrically
coupled to the mounting assembly by a mated quick
disconnect. The optical assembly, mounting assembly and
electrical assembly form respective first, second and
third unitary modules.
The above objects and other objects, features,
and advantages of the present invention are readily
apparent from the following detailed description of the
best mode for carrying out the invention when takèn in
connection with the accompanying drawings.
- Brief Description Of The Draw;ng.~
FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the
modular luminaire assembly of the present invention;
20FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of
the modular ll ;n~ire assembly of the present invention;
FIGURE 3 is a top perspective view of a
modular electrical assembly provisioned for use in the ;~
present invention; and
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25FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the
modular ll ; n~ 1 re of the present invention shown in an
open repair position.
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HOLO 0346 PCA -6-
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Best Mode For Carrying Out Th~ Invention '.
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With reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the
drawings, the modular luminaire assembly of the present : .
invention is shown designated generally by reference -
numeral 10. The modular luminaire assembly 10 is ~: '
:comprised of an optical assembly 12, a top mounting
assembly 14, a removable electrical assembly 16, and an ';:.
- acaess cover plate 54. Significantly, Figures 1 and 2 :~show one preferred embodiment of the present invention
wherein an optical assembly having a tear-drop shaped .
prismatic glass refractor 15 is utilized.
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Optical assembly 12 generally contains a cast . .
aluminum reflector housing 17 (reflector not shown), a .~
cast aluminum ballast housing 18, a refractor door frame . .
20 and a glass refractor 15. Beginning with those ':~
:: ~ components located near the bottom of the luminaire
: assembly, glass refractor 15 is removably and pivotably . ~: affixable to door frame 20 in the following -nnP~ :
Glass refractor 15 contains an ext~n~ing mounting
' 20 bracket 24 including a mounting pin designed to rest on ~-
- v-sh~pe~ door hinge 22. Once mounting pin 25 and door ':~:
:: hinge 22 are cooperatively engaged, glass retractor 25~ :
is~ pivotable from a fully closed position to an open .
position, as shown in Figures 1 and 4. A latch pin 25
is provided to connect with a slotted refractor door
- latch 26. A wing nut 27 secures latch pin 25 to re~
~ractor door latch 26 to secure glass retractor 25 in ; --.
: the closed position. Not shown in the drawings are ;
reflector means which are located within housing 17.
Moving up the assembly, ballast housing 18 is
;~ adapted to receive alectrical assembly 16. Ballast
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HOLO 0346 PCA _7_
housing 18 contains a pair of threaded holes 23 for
receiving common screws 32. Electrical assembly 16 fits
inside ballast housing 18 and is connectable thereto by
cooperation of slots 34 with screws 32. As shown, slots
34 are provided on the periphery of a substantially flat
and horizontally disposed mounting plate 36. The wide
portions 72 of slots 34 are configured to accept the
heads of scraws 32. Once mounting plate 36 is seated
inside housing 18 the electrical assembly 16 is rotated
clockwise to engage the narrower portions 73 of slots
34. Screws 32 are then tightened to secure mounting
plate 36 to housing 18.
Referring now to Figure 3, plate 36 is adapted
to receive and retain various electrical components such
as a capacitor 38, a ballast 40 and a starter 42; In
the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 3, capacitor 38
is removably affixable to mounting plate 36 through the
use of a pair of mounting brackets 46. Tension in
brackets 46 is maintained by a pair of elastic - h~rS
47. Ballast 40 is affixed to mounting plate 36 through
the use of a mounting strap 48. Again, tension is
maintained by a pair of elastic members 49. Starter 42
is affixable to mounting plate 36 by a bracket 44 and a
- pair of screws 45 As readily seen, each of these
electrical components, i.e. starter 42, capacitor 38 and
ballast 40 have corresponding electrical connections
which terminate in a male quick disconnect 50.
. Referring again to Figures 1 and 2, it is seen
that an access cover plate 54 is further provided which
is removably affixable to top mounting assembly 14. Top
mounting assembly 14 includes three threaded holes 58
for receiving screws 57. Three slotted key-holes 56 are
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HOLO 0346 PCA -8~
disposed on cover plate 54 and cooperate with screws 57
to affix plate 54 to top mounting assembly 14. Cover
plate 54 is attachable to top mounting assembly 14 and
serves, in combination with top mounting assembly 14, as
a barrier for protecting the electrical components from
environmental effects.
Electrical assembly 16, cover plate 54 and top
mounting assembly 14 are maintained in electrical
- communication. As shown, male quick disconnect 50 is
engagable with female quick disconnect 52 provided in
cover plate 54. In turn, female quick disconnect 52 is
electrically connected to terminal block 60 provisioned
- in top mounting assembly 14. Electrical assembly 16
contains a socket 43 adapted to receive illumination
means (not shown).
Finally, top mounting assembly 14 is removably
and pivotably attached to optical assembly 12 and
electrical assembly 16 in the following manner. Top
mounting ARst hly 14 contains a ballast hinge 62 which
is adapted to receive hinge pin 64 affixed to ballast
housing 18. Opposite ballast hinge 62 is threaded hole
70 provisioned in top mounting assembly 14. Threaded
hole 70 i5 aligned with hole 66 provided in optical
- assembly 12. Ret~ining screw 68 extends through hole 66
and cooperates with threaded hole 70 to secure mounting
assembly 14 to housing 18.
As raferenced a~ove, optical assembly 12, top
mounting assembly 14 and electrical assembly 16 form
' first, seco~ and third unitary modules. Thus, to
achieve desired aesthetic appearances and/or different
light distribution, various unitary modules having
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HOLO 0346 PCA _g_
similar connecting characteristics but different
electrical, mechanical and luminating qualities may be
substituted. For example, a tear-drop shaped prismatic
glass re~ractor 15 is shown for use with optical
assembly 12 in Figure 1. If desired, a plurality of
different refractors adapted to be received by refractor
door frame 20 may be utilized. Similarly, a plurality
of selected top mounting assemblies may also be used for
varying aesthetic appearance so long as they aontain the
required electrical and mechanical components of top
mounting assembly 14. As a final example, various
electrical characteristics may be achieved by the
substitution of the components of the electrical
assembly 16 such as the capacitor 38.
In addition to interchangeability, the dèsign
of the luminaire of the present invention facilitates
simple repair and replacement of component parts. With
reference to Figures 1 and 4 it is readily seen that the
optical assembly 12 may be opened by removing wing nut
27 and rotating refractor 15 from a closed operating
position as shown in Figure 1 to an open repair position
as shown in Figure 4. The open position facilitates the
replacement of illumination means and reflector means
(not shown). Significantly, glass refractor 15, which
is of considerable weiqht, is retained during
maint~n~nce by the connection of mounting pin 24 and
hinge 22. Optical assembly 12 may then be closed by
reversing the above steps and normal operation of the
unit may resume.
With reference to Figures 1, 2 and 4 it is
readily seen that electrical assembly 16 can be accessed
by removing reta;ning screw 68 and pivot~ng top mounting
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HOLO 0346 PC~ -10-
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assembly 14 from a closed operating position as shown in
Figure 1 to an open repair position as shown in Figure
4. Quick disconnects 50 and 52 may be readily
disconnected to disengage electrical assembly 16 from
cover 54. After screws 32 are loosened, electrical
assembly 16 is then rotated counterclockwise and removed
for repair or replacement. A new or repaired electrical
asRembly may thereafter be positioned in place by
following the same steps in reverse order.
As those skilled in the art will recogniza,
the luminaire components which generally require
replacement, repair or adjustment are those found in
electrical assembly 16 and include, for example, capaci-
tor 38, ballast 40 and starter 42. In accordance with
the present invention, these components may be readily
acc~sse~ and replaced on site. More prèferably, in the
event of a malfunction, a service teçhnician may easily
replace the entire electrical assembly on-site and
examine the malfunctioning eIectrical assembly off-site
where testing equipment is readily available and trained
technicians may be consulted. In this mannerj the loss
of service by the Iuminaire in question will be mini-
mized and on-site servicing will be reduced.
It is appraciatèd that the modulàr design of
the present invention results in reduced service and
;~ maintenance time because no hard wiring or splicing is
required. Those skilled in thR art will recognize and
appreciate that this reduction in service time is
particularly important in high pressure sodium syst~m
where starters are known to require routine maintenance
; even if operated under normal operating and weather
conditions. It is ~urther appreciated that the particu-
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HOLO 0346 PCA -11-
lar modular design of the present invention which
provides for the retaining of optical assembly 12 in the
open and closed positions via hinge 22 and pin 75
further reduces the number of service personnel required
and thus minimizes the expense incurred in servicing
luminaires of the type described herein.
While the invention has been particularly
- shown and described in reference to the preferred
embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those
skilled in the art that various changes in form and
details may be made therein without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention.
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