Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02397906 2002-08-12
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to light fixtures, or luminaires, and more particularly
to a semi-
recessed luminaire having both downlight and wall wash optical functions.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
Recessed light fixtures are popular design choices, providing direct
illumination to a
workspace while concealing the lamp, internal components (sockets, wiring,
junction boxes,
ballast, temperature switches, etc.) and mounting hardware of the fixture
behind the plane of
the mounting surface, usually a ceiling or canopy. With the addition of
specialized optics,
recessed light fixtures can achieve effects such as wall washing.
Recessed wall wash light fixtures are designed to project light from a
recessed ceiling
fixture located close to a wall at a range of angles to illuminate the wall
from the top to the
bottom. This, in effect, "washes" the wall with light. Since the lamp in such
a fixture is
recessed in the ceiling, the wall wash effect requires light from the lamp to
be directed
downwardly and outwardly in the direction of the wall. However, since light
generally travels
in a straight path through a medium such as air, it is very difficult to
direct light from a
completely recessed fixture high on the wall toward the junction of the
ceiling and the wall.
Additionally, the optical performance of traditional recessed light fixtures
is
constrained by the requirement that the optical system of the fixture be
located completely
above the plane of the ceiling or canopy. Thus, the optical performance is
limited to
variations on the cone of light projected through the opening in the ceiling
or canopy.
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BRIEF SUNIMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a semi-recessed
downlight
wall wash light fixture for installation in a ceiling or canopy for
illumination of both the
pathway or area underneath the canopy luminaire and a wall adjacent thereto.
It is a further objective of the invention to provide a semi-recessed
luminaire having
refractor optics for producing an elongated beam for illumination of an
elongated area
underneath the fixture.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a semi-recessed
canopy
luminaire capable of washing the adjacent wall completely from the top of the
wall to the
ground.
These and other objects are achieved through an improved luminaire mounted
mostly
behind a ceiling or canopy through. the use of a plaster frame having an
opening as described
herein. A lamp socket is provided for holding a lamp in a recessed arrangement
to the canopy
and frame since the light generation region of the lamp is generally aligned
with the opening
of the frame and the canopy. A downlight reflector is positioned partially
around the light
generation region of the lamp for directing light downward out of the
luminaire. Also
provided is a wall wash reflector positioned partially around the light
generation region of the
lamp adjacent to and complimentary with the downlight reflector. A bottom
portion of the
wall wash reflector extends through the opening in the frame and below the
plane of the
canopy. Thus, the bottom portion of the wall wash reflector is able to direct
light all the way
to the top of the wall. A trim piece is also provided for concealing the
bottom portion of the
wall wash reflector which extends downward from the frame. The trim piece has
a bottom
opening which allows the downward directed light to leave the luminaire, and a
side window
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located opposite to the bottom portion of the wall wash reflector for allowing
the light
directed toward the wall to also exit the luininaire.
To improve the optical perfonnance of the light directed downward out of the
fixture, the trim piece may further include a downlight lens covering the
bottom opening.
Additionally, to further improve the optical performance of the wall wash
light, the trim piece may also include a wall wash lcns covering the side
window.
In an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a luminaire comprising:
a plaster frame having an opening;
a lamp socket for holding a lamp above said opening, said lamp having a
light generation region, said lamp socket thus determining the
location of light generation region;
a downlight reflector positioned partially around said light generation
region; a wall wash reflector positioned partially around said light
generation
region adjacent and complementarily to said downlight reflector,
said wall wash reflector having a bottom portion extending through
said opening into an area on a second side of said frame;
a trim piece extending downward from said frame, said trim piece having
a bottom opening and a side window, said side window opposed to
said wall wash reflector bottom portion.
In another exemplary embodiment, there is provided a downlight wall wash
luminaire, comprising:
a frame;
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a lamp sockct affixed to said frame;
a lamp area defined by said lainp socket;
a downlight reflector partially surrounding said lamp area;
a wall wash reflector partially surrounding said lamp area;
said downlight reflector and said wall wash reflector substantially
surrounding said lamp area;
further wherein said wall wash reflector extends downward to a point
below a lower end of said downlight reflector;
said luminaire further having a trim piece affixed to said frame and
extending below said downlight reflector and said wall wash
reflector and having at least one lens thereon.
In another exemplary embodiment, there is provided a semi-recessed downlight
wall wash luminaire, comprising:
a frame having a canopy sheeting, said frame adapted to be installed above
a ceiling;
a lamp socket affixed to said frame and retaining a lamp;
a downlight reflector surrounding a first portion of said lamp;
a wall wash reflector surrounding a second portion of said lamp;
wherein said wall wash reflector extends downward below said frame and
said downlight reflector;
a trim piece covering a lower exposed end of said semi-recessed
luminaire.
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CA 02397906 2009-05-20
ln yet another exemplary embodiment, there is provided a semi-recessed
luminaire, comprising:
a frame supporting a socket, said frame retaining a wall wash reflector and
a down light reflector;
a lamp retained in said socket;
said downlight reflector sufficiently surrounding said lamp so as to reflect
light downward along an elongated path;
said wall wash reflector surrounding said lamp and extending below said
frame sufficient to reflect light from said lamp on a plane parallel
and below said frame; a trim piece suspended below said frame and
substantially surrounding a
lower end of said wall wash reflector, said lower end of said wall
wash reflector extending below said frame;
said trim piece further having a downlight lens and a wall wash lens
affixed thereto.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
Figure 1 is a side section view taken along line 1-1 of Figure 2 of a semi-
recessed
canopy luminaire of the present invention. 20 Figure 2 is a sectional view
taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a side sectional view of a plaster frame of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the plaster frame of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a ray traced diagram of the reflector system of the present
invention.
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CA 02397906 2009-05-20
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a trirn piece having refractor optics of the
present
invention.
Figure 7 is a close up view of a toroidal pillow refractor of an embodiment of
the
present invention.
5. Figure 8 is demonstrative view of the optical performance of a single
pillow of the
refractor of Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a close up view of a fluted wall wash refractor of the present
invention.
Figure 10 is an illustration of a luminaire of the present invention as used
in a
typical installation setting.
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CA 02397906 2002-08-12
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A semi-recessed canopy luminaire 10 of the present invention is shown in
Figure 1.
The luminaire 10 has a plaster frame 12, a lamp socket 14, a lamp 16, a down
light reflector
18, a wall wash reflector 20, and a trim piece 22.
As best shown in Figures 3 and 4 the plaster frame 12 provides a mechanical
support
to which the luminaire components mentioned above and the junction box 24 can
be
mounted. Since the canopy or ceiling sheeting 26 is generally not designed to
support
additional weight, the plaster frame 12 may be supported between building
structural
members 28, such as joists or the like, by frame support members 30 which span
the building
structural members 28 and support the plaster frame 12 through its mounting
support
members 32. Power feed 34 provides electric power to the junction box 24.
Plaster frame 12
defines an opening 36 which coincides with an opening in the canopy sheeting
26 through
which light will pass from the luminaire.
Returning now to Figure 1, the lamp socket 14 holds a lamp 16 in alignment
with the
plaster frame opening 36. The lamp 16 will have a light generating region, for
instance, a
filament or an arc, around which. the optical system of the luminaire is
designed. Since
different types of lamps will have different light generating regions, the
exact type of lamp is
not a limitation of the invention, but rather, defines the light generation
region around which
the optical system is designed. Thus, the invention may utilize, for example,
such lamps as a
150 watt metal halide lamp, a 150 watt high pressure sodium lamp, or a 42 watt
compact
fluorescent lamp. These selections, however, are exemplary only.
Returning now to Figure 1, the lamp 16 is shown having a horizontal
orientation
along its longitudinal axis. This orientation allows the luminaire to have a
shallower depth
than, say, for instance, if the lamp were to have a vertical orientation.
However, one of skill
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in the art will recognize that the lamp may have any possible orientation
without departing
from the scope of the invention.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2, downlight reflector 18 and wall wash reflector 20
are
positioned in surrounding relationship to the light generation region of the
lamp 16. Thus,
light is directed downward and outward from the luminaire 10. As best shown in
Figure 2, the
downlight reflector 18 of the shown embodiment extends approximately 240
around the
lamp 16. The wall wash reflector 20 thus extends the remaining 120 about the
lamp. It
should be noted however, once again, that the exact angular measurements of
the optical
system are not a limiting factor of the present invention and may be varied
without departing
from the scope of the invention.
As shown in Figure 1, the bottom portion of the wall wash reflector 20 extends
through the opening in the plaster frame 12 and below the lower edge of the
down light
reflector 18. Thus, the bottom portion of the wall wash reflector 20 extends
below the plaster
frame 12 and, when installed in a canopy, below the canopy sheeting. This
configuration
creates a luminaire that is only semi-recessed.
Further, as shown in Figure 5, the reflector configuration allows the wall
wash
reflector 20 to reflect light from the light generation region of the lamp 16
toward the wall at
high angles that reach the top of the wall. In fact, the described
configuration allows wall
wash light to be directed at angles up to 90 . Additionally, the down light
reflector 18 reflects
light from the light generation region of the lamp 16 downward out of the
luminaire 10 at
relatively low angles to prevent glare when viewing the fixture from locations
away from the
wall. The exact contour of the downlight reflector 18 can be designed as
desired for emission
angles based on the height and location of the luminaire 10.
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Returning again to Figure 1, it is seen that trim piece 22 extends downward
from the
plaster frame 12 and below the bottom portion of wall wash reflector 20. Thus,
trim piece 22
conceals the bottom portion of wall wash reflector 20 and provides a finished
appearance to
the luminaire.
As seen in Figures 1 and 6, the trim piece 22 extends downward from the
plaster
frame 12 and below the lower portion of wall wash reflector 20. Thus, the trim
piece 22
conceals the lower portion of the wall wash reflector 20 and provides a
finished appearance
to the luminaire 10. The trim piece 22 further has a bottom opening 38 and a
side window 40.
The side window 40 is positioned opposite to the bottom portion of the wall
wash reflector 20
and adjacent to a wall (not shown) in order to allow light reflected off of
the wall wash
reflector 20 to exit the luminaire and reach the top of the wall. It is
possible that the wall
wash reflector 20 could be designed to reflect light on to the under side of
the canopy or
ceiling surface, thus exiting the luminaire at angles even greater than 90 .
Down light lens 42 may be provided to cover the bottom opening 38 of the trim
piece
22. By incorporating refractor optics in the downlight lens 42, the luminaire
may further
control and direct the light exiting the luminaire through the bottom opening
38 of the trim
piece 22.
One possible type of refractor optics for the downlight lens 42 is shown in
Figures 7
and 8. These figures show a toroidal pillow refractor lens which is comprised
of an array of
single toroidal optic elements 46. Each single toroidal optic element 46 is a
section of a toroid
(i.e. a doughnut) which has a different radius of curvature in each direction.
Thus, by varying
the radii of each element, light passing through the downlight lens 42 may be
redirected in an
elongated pattern along the corridor beneath the luminaire 10, as illustrated
in Figure 8. One
of skill in the art, however, will recognize that additional refractor
designs, or a clear lens
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with no refracting properties may be used to achieve a range of optical
performance without
departing from the spirit or the scope of the herein described invention.
Returning to Figures 1 and 6, the shown embodiment also provides a wall wash
lens
44 which covers the side window 40 of the trim piece 22. The wall wash lens 44
may also
incorporate refractor optics for further control and direction of light
exiting the luminaire 10
through the side window 40 of the trim piece 22. Thus, in the embodiment shown
in Figures
6 and 9, the wall wash lens 44 incorporates fluted refractor optics 48 for
evenly distributing
light over an elongated area of the adjacent wall.
Further, in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 6, the downlight lens 42 and
the
wall wash lens 44 may be fabricated integral with each other and sealed with
the trim piece
22 in order to cover the bottom opening 38 and side window 40 to exclude
insects, moisture,
dust, and pollutants from the interior of the luminaire.
Thus, as shown in Figure 10, a semi-recessed downlight wall wash luminaire 10
of the
present invention may be installed in a ceiling or canopy 50 for illumination
of both the area
or pathway 52 under the luminaire 10 and the wa1154 adjacent thereto.
This detailed description of the preferred embodiment, including specific
angles and
dimensions, shall not be construed as a limitation of the following claims, as
it will be readily
apparent to those skilled in the art that design choices may be made changing
the
configuration of the luminaire without departing from the spirit or scope of
the invention.
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