Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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OPTIMAL WALL WASHING KICK REFLECTOR
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to recessed light fixture reflector assemblies, and
particularly to
downlight wall wash reflector assemblies which provide an optimum reflection
onto the wall
near the plane of the ceiling.
2. DISCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
Recessed light fixtures are light fixtures which are recessed behind a planar
surface, such
as a ceiling, wall, or floor. The fixtures are designed such that light exits
the fixture through a
hole or opening in the planar surface. The fixtures are primarily used in
ceilings. Since
generally no components of the fixture hang down below the plane of the
ceiling, use of the
fixtures allows lighting designers to illuminate a workspace while maintaining
a smooth ceiling
line. Thus, illumination is provided while the source of the light is, in
effect, concealed.
Since the light source is located completely above the ceiling, efficiency
concerns require
the light from the source to be collected and focused downward and outward
through the
opening. Typically, this is accomplished through the use of a reflector
assembly located above
and around the sides of the light source directing the light downward and
outward. However, it
is desirable to shield the light source and reflections of the light source in
the reflector assembly
from normal viewing angles in the room. Direct view of the light source, or
even a reflection of
the light source in the reflector assembly, will create glare and
uncomfortable brightness to an
observer in the room. Thus, it is generally desirable in a home or workplace
environment that
the light from a recessed downlight reflector be focused outward at low
angles, i.e.
approximately 50 degrees or less, as measured from the nadir of the fixture.
This angular
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measurement has been determined to shield an observer looking across the room
from glare,
while allowing each fixture to illuminate a reasonably sized area.
Utilizing today's commonly available light sources, including incandescent,
fluorescent,
low voltage, metal halide, and high intensity discharge (HID), recessed
downlight reflectors are
generally conical in shape, have round light exit apertures, and produce a
generally conical
shaped area of illumination. Thus, the illumination of the room can be
accomplished by the
arrangement of multiple recessed downlight fixtures such that their output
light patterns produce
the desired result.
The placement of a recessed downlight fixture in proximity to a wall or other
vertical
surface produces a scalloped illumination pattern as the vertical surface
intersects the cone of
light produced by the downlight reflector. This scalloped illumination effect
is often undesirable
and occasionally unacceptable. Thus, lighting designers often desire for
recessed fixtures located
close to walls to project light at both high and low angles toward the walls
to evenly illuminate
them from the ceiling to the floor, in effect washing the walls with light.
However, it is desirable
1 S that light directed toward the room from such fixtures remain directed at
lower angles to prevent
glare. This requires the use of two different reflector designs in the same
fixture: 1 ) the
downlight reflector design to direct room side light downward and outward at
low angles; and 2)
a wall wash reflector or kick reflector to direct light primarily outward to
illuminate the wall
from near the plane of the ceiling to the floor. Thus, a recessed downlight
wall wash reflector or
kick reflector combines both downlight and wall wash light.
Additionally, it is desired that the ceiling opening and the appearance of the
downlight
wall wash fixture match the appearance of downlight only fixtures located
elsewhere in the
room.
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Further complicating matters, it is often desirable to provide kick reflectors
that optimize
the wall washing light by minimizing the distance from the plane of the
ceiling down the wall to
the wall wash light. For instance, typical kick reflectors have a reflecting
surface that terminates
well above the light exit aperture of the luminaire. Additionally, windows cut
out in the down
light reflector terminate above a trim flange thus shielding the lower edge of
the wall wash
reflector. This configuration limits the angle at which the light may be
reflected toward the
wall, thus leaving a large area of darkness on the wall above the wall washing
light.
Further, it is sometimes desirable to equip recessed fixtures having vertical
surfaces on
more than one side, such as hallways and corners, with wall wash reflectors to
wash each vertical
surface. The desired result can be achieved by outfitting the fixtures with
multiple wall wash
reflectors in either a double (parallel or opposite) configuration for a
hallway, or a perpendicular
configuration for a corner.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved
downlight wall wash
reflector or kick reflector assembly installable into standard recessed
downlight reflectors having
wall wash windows providing optimal wall washing capability.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a recessed downlight
wall wash
reflector assembly having a downlight reflector with a window cutout where the
wall wash
reflector of the present invention is positioned to provide wall washing
opposite the wall wash
reflector and downlighting around the rest of the reflector.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved
downlight wall wash
reflector assembly having single, double and corner wall wash configurations.
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Other embodiments of the recessed downlight wall wash reflector assembly of
the present
invention address having a variety of standard downlight reflectors with
different shaped
surfaces and wall wash window cutouts. Various configurations of the
downlight/wall wash
reflector assemblies of the present invention are claimed herein so that a
variety of down light
reflector configurations may provide optimal wall washing light.
These and other objectives are accomplished by the present invention by
providing a kick
or wall wash reflector having a partial ellipsoidal shape and having a
downwardly extending tab.
The tab extends into the lower edge of the wall wash window in the standard
downlight reflector
and terminates near the plane of the ceiling. This tab provides a reflective
surface near the light
exit aperture of the luminaire and reflects incident light near parallel to
the plane of the ceiling.
This configuration optimizes the wall washing capability of the luminaire by
minimizing the
dark areas on the wall near the plane of the ceiling.
1n another of its aspects, the present invention provides a recessed downlight
reflector
assembly comprising:
I 5 a downlight reflector having a lower edge;
a window cutout in said downlight reflector; and
a wall wash reflector removeably attached to said downlight reflector
generally over said
window cutout and having a lower edge in interior alignment with said lower
edge of said
downlight reflector.
In another of its aspects, the present invention provides a recessed downlight
wall wash
reflector assembly comprising:
a downlight reflector having an inside and an outside;
a window cutout in a wall of said downlight reflector;
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a wall wash reflector attached to said outside of said downlight reflector
generally around said
window cutout; and
a bottom edge of said wall wash reflector extending into said window cutout of
said downlight
reflector.
S In still another of its aspects, the present invention provides a wall wash
reflector
comprising:
a partial cylindrically shaped kick reflector flange;
an ellipsoidal shaped kick reflector extending generally downward from said
kick reflector
flange; and
a tab extending downwardly and inwardly from said kick reflector, said tab
having a horizontal
arc length less than the lower horizontal arc length of said kick reflector.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a recessed downlight
single wall
wash reflector assembly of the present invention. A lower portion of a window
cutout
1 S underlying the wall wash reflector and an upper portion of a wall wash
reflector are shown in
phantom lines to convey the wall wash reflector passing through the window cut-
out.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a recessed light fixture utilizing the two
wall wash
reflector assemblies for placing in a hallway.
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a recessed light fixture utilizing the two wall
wash reflector
assemblies for placing in a corner.
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a fully installed recessed light fixture
utilizing the two wall
wash reflector assemblies for placing in a hallway.
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FIGS. Sa, Sb, and Sc are perspective views of the wall wash reflector of the
present
invention showing an embodiment having a rounded portion on the horizontal
edges of the tab
for fitting downlight reflectors having rounded edges in the wall wash
windows.
FIG. 6 is perspective view of an installed wall wash reflector as shown in
FIG. Sa
showing the tab of the wall wash reflector and the wall wash window in the
downlight reflector
in phantom lines.
FIG. 7 is perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the wall wash
reflector of the
present invention having a tab with linear edges.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The objects of the present invention may be accomplished in several
embodiments. The
preferred embodiment will be determined by the configuration, single, double
or corner wall
washer, of the reflector assembly as well as the shape of the downlight
reflector and wall wash
window to achieve the desired results. References to the figures are made to
provide for a
detailed description of the present invention.
I S FIG. 1 shows a recessed downlight wall wash reflector assembly I O
configured for use as
a single wall washer. The orientation of the luminaire in FIG. 1 is such that
the left cross-
sectional cut passes along the window cutout. The luminaire in this embodiment
is designed for
use with an incandescent lamp light source 28 and has a socket cup receiving
neck 12, a light
source positioning section 14, a downlight reflector section 16, a window
cutout 18, a wall wash
reflector 20 and a trim flange 22. The assembly may be fabricated from
aluminum or any other
suitable material such that the reflector assembly 10 has the strength and
rigidity to support a
socket cup and lamp assembly, thus eliminating the requirement for a separate
fixture housing.
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Further shown in FIG. 1 is the wiring 24 of the fixture to an external power
source and to the
socket cup assembly 26.
The light source positioning section 14 is located below the socket cup
receiving neck 12.
This section may be open at the top and bottom. Light source positioning
section 14 is attached
to the socket cup receiving neck 12 and downlight reflector section 16 at its
top and bottom,
respectively. The lamp 28 extends through this section and slightly into the
downlight reflector
section 16. The light source positioning section 14 may have a slight tapering
curve to its walls
to transition from the diameter of the upper end of the downlight reflector
section I 6 to the lower
end of the socket cup receiving neck 12. The shape of the light source
positioning section 14 is
for ease of manufacture only and serves no other purpose. Likewise, the
material of the light
source positioning section 14 is typically comprised of an unfinished aluminum
and, while it
does encircle a portion of lamp 28, it performs little optical work. The
primary purpose of this
section is 14 to position the lamp 28 in proper relation to the downlight and
wall wash reflectors
16, 20 so that the desired effects of optimum and even illumination of a wall
and glare free room
1 S side illumination are achieved.
The downlight reflector section 16 is located below the light source
positioning section
14 and attached thereto around the light source positioning section's 14 lower
edge. Actually, in
the preferred embodiment, the downlight reflector section 16, light source
positioning section 14,
and socket cup receiving neck 12 have a unitary construction, but are
described herein as
sections according to their function. The downlight reflector section 16 is
also open at its top
and bottom. The downlight reflector section 16 is designed to deliver the
maximum available
light from the lamp 28 while shielding the lamp 28 from nornal viewing angles
to prevent
uncomfortable brightness or glare to the viewer. It is usually made of
aluminum and its interior
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reflective surface is polished to a specular finish. The bottom of the
downlight reflector section
16 is open to the room below and is referred to as the light exit aperture 30.
Extending outward from the bottom end of the downlight reflector section 16 is
an
annular trim flange 22. The purpose of the trim flange 22 is to cover the
rough appearance of the
S hole in the ceiling and to provide a smooth transition from the ceiling into
the reflector assembly
10.
A window cutout 18 is shown, window cutout 18 allows light from the lamp to be
reflected off of the wall wash reflector 20, which is attached to the assembly
such that it is
positioned generally behind the window cutout 18. The window cutout extends
from just
slightly above the lower edge of the downlight reflector section 16 upward
into the light source
positioning section 14 about 1/3 of the distance between the light source
positioning section 14
to the socket cup receiving neck 12. The angular width of the window cutout 18
is
approximately 120°. This is shown in FIG. 1 in that the left cross-
sectional cut in luminaire 10,
along an edge of wall wash reflector 20, and the other edge of wall wash
reflector 20, shown in
phantom lines, shows the wall washer reflector 20 to horizontally span about
two thirds of the
180° cross-section.
The wall wash reflector 20 is comprised of a kick reflector 32 and a flange 34
formed at
the upper end of the kick reflector 32. The kick reflector 32 is specifically
designed, in
conjunction with the herein described window cutout 18, to direct light from
the lamp 28 to
illuminate the adjacent wall evenly from the near the ceiling line to the
floor. The flange 34 is
shaped to match the contour of the light source positioning section 14. The
lower edge of kick
reflector 32 has a tab 36 extending into the lower portion of window 18. This
tab 36 extends to
near the plane of the wall or plane formed by trim flange 22 and provides for
a lower reflective
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surface than found in the prior art. This downwardly extending tab 36 allows
the wall wash
reflector 20 to reflect light onto the wall very near the plane of the
ceiling.
The wall wash reflector 20 may be attached at its flange 34 to the light
source positioning
section 14 through the use any attachment means known in the art.
Alternatively, the kick
reflector 32 may not be attached but instead rest on the lower edge of the
window 18 and light
source positioning section 14. The kick reflector tab 36 extending into window
18 helps to hold
wall wash reflector 20 into place.
F1G. 2 shows another embodiment of a recessed downlight wall wash reflector
assembly
designed for use in a double (parallel) wall washer configuration such as may
be used in a hall
way. The socket cup receiving neck 12, light source positioning section 14,
downlight reflector
section 16, window cutout 18, wall wash reflector 20 and trim flange 22 taught
in the previously
described embodiment are all present and function similarly in this
embodiment.
This figure shows a cross-sectional view having a wall wash reflector 20 on
each side of
reflector assembly 10. This view shows kick reflector flange 34 partially
enshrouding light
source positioning section 14. Kick reflectors 32 are shown with solid lines
at the sides of
reflector assembly 10 and with phantom lines where they extend beyond window
cutouts 18.
Window cutouts 18 are shown with solid lines except where tabs 36 extend into
window cutouts
18 they are shown with phantom lines.
FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of a recessed downlight wall wash reflector
assembly
designed for use in a double (perpendicular) wall washer configuration such as
may be used in a
corner. This view is an exploded view showing the individual parts of the
reflector assembly 10.
Wall wash reflectors 20 are depicted as being a single contiguous piece having
different
parts performing different functions. Kick reflector flange 34 surrounds a
portion of light source
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positioning section 12 and secures the wall wash reflector 20 into place. Kick
reflector 32
performs most of the optical work in redirecting light from lamp 28 onto the
wall. Tab 36 is a
partial extension of kick reflector 32. Tab 36 is shorter than the longer
section of kick reflector
36 and is also shorter than the lower horizontal length of window 18. This
configuration allows
tab 36 to pass through the lower portion of cutout window 18 and provide a
reflecting surface
almost in the plane of flange 22. Having a reflecting surface, tab 36, very
near the plane formed
by flange 22 allows the luminaire to light the walls nearly up to the ceiling
line.
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a recessed light fixture utilizing the two wall
wash reflector
assemblies for placing in a hallway. Shown in this figure is the parallel
facing relationship
between the two wall wash reflectors 20. Additionally, the embodiment of the
wall wash
reflector 20 has a curved section in tab 36 to fit within the curved surface
of window cutout 18.
This configuration provides for an optimum wall washing capability
FIGs. Sa, Sb, and Sc are perspective views of the wall wash reflector of the
present
invention showing an embodiment having a rounded portion on the horizontal
edges of the tab
I 5 36 for fitting downlight reflectors 16 having rounded edges in the wall
wash windows 18. These
figures show the details of wall wash reflector 20. Specifically shown here in
FIG. Sa is the
narrowing of kick reflector 32 forming tab 36. Generally kick reflector 32 is
wider than window
I 8 and extends outwardly from down light reflector 16. In order to optimize
the wall washing
capability of the present invention, tab 36 is narrower than window 18 so that
kick reflector 32
may extend to near the plane of the ceiling. This configuration allows for a
maximum angle of
reflection from nadir of a fully recessed luminaire.
Additionally, the wash reflector 20 is shown as having a partial cylindrically
shaped kick
reflector flange 34, an ellipsoidal shaped kick reflector 32 extending
downward form the kick
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reflector flange 34, and a tab 36 extending downward from the kick reflector
32. The tab 36 has
an arc length less than the lower horizontal arc length of the kick reflector
32.
FIG. 6 is perspective view of a wall wash reflector as shown in FIG. Sa
installed into a
standard recessed downlight luminaire having window cutouts in the downlight
reflector. This
figure shows the tab 36 extending down from kick reflector 32 and wall wash
window 18 in the
downlight reflector. Phantom lines are used to show that wall wash window I 8
is located behind
kick reflector 32 and kick reflector flange 34. A solid bottom line on window
28 indicates that
tab 36 extends into wall wash window 18. Additionally, the lower phantom lines
depicting tab
36 show tab 36 extending downwardly and inwardly toward a plane formed by
flange 22.
FIG. 7 is perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the wall wash
reflector of the
present invention. In this embodiment tab 36 has nearly flat vertical sides
which would provide
a better fit within a window cutout 18 that has square corners rather than
rounded corners as
shown in FIGS. 1-6.
These detailed description are given primarily for clearness of understanding
and no
unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, for modifications will
become obvious
to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made
without departing from
the spirit of the present invention and scope of the appended claims.
