US3604921A

US3604921A - Luminaire of generally rectangular shape

Info

Publication number: US3604921A
Application number: US853672*A
Authority: US
Inventors: David L Wood; Jonathan C Abercrombie
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1968-08-19
Filing date: 1968-08-19
Publication date: 1971-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 1988-09-14

Abstract

Luminaire of generally rectangular shape adapted to be mounted in vertical or horizontal position for illuminating surfaces at right angles thereto comprises a generally rectangular housing having curved sides and closed by a refractor mounted in a frame which overlaps the rim of the housing and is attached to one side thereof by partially concealed spring metal hinges. The hinges comprise spaced spring plates which are adapted to flex during movement of the frame between closed and open position. On the opposite side, a detent latch holds the frame in closed position. Ribs on the housing walls serve to hold the luminaire reflector in a downwardly tilted position. The rear wall of the housing is indented at opposite sides to define a slip fitter for mounting the luminaire on a pipe support.

Description

United States Patent [72] inventors David L. Wood;

Jonathan C. Abercrombie, both of Hendersonville, N.C. [21] Appl. No. 753,672 [22] Filed Aug. 19, 1968 [45] Patented Sept. 14, 1971 [73] Assignee General Electric Company 154] LUMlNAll-lii (1F GENERALLY RECTANGULAR SHAPE i 1 Claims, 12 Drawing Figs.

52 0.5. CI 240 25, 240/93, 240/147 [51] 1nt.Cl F21s 1/10 [50] Field of Search 240/25, 3, 103,106, 93, 147; 16/148, 149, 150; 292/87, 88, 89

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,007,039 10/1961 Dvorak 240/147 X 3,448,260 6/1969 Wince et al.. 243/93 2,342,453 2/1944 Colucci 16/148 3,213,270 10/1965 Appleton et al. 240/3 3,353,015 11/1967 Franklin et a1 240/147 3,358,133 12/1967 Thoman et al. 240/3 3,459,936 8/1969 Miller 240/3 3,198,942 8/1965 DiLello et al. 240/25 Primary Examiner-John M. Horan Assistant Examiner-T. A. Mauro Attorneys-Sidney (irecnherg, J. Wesley Hauhner, Hunk 1., Ntllllilltlfittl', 011cm ll. Wmltlcll mid Melvin M. (iulilvnlwrg ABSTRACT: Luminaire of generally rectangular shape adapted to be mounted in vertical or horizontal position for illuminating surfaces at right angles thereto comprises a generally rectangular housing having curved sides and closed by a refractor mounted in a frame which overlaps the rim of the housing and is attached to one side thereof by partially concealed spring metal hinges. The hinges comprise spaced spring plates which are adapted to flex during movement of the frame between closed and open position. On the opposite side, a detent latch holds the frame in closed positionv Ribs on the housing walls serve to hold the luminaire reflector in a downwardly tilted position. The rear wall of the housing is indented at opposite sides to define a slip fitter for mounting the luminaire on a pipe support.

PATENTED SEN 4mm 3 04 9 1 sum 1 or 4 Heir 49 @175 PATENTED SEP] 4 I971 3,604,921

saw u or 4 LUMINAIRE OF GENERALLY RECTANGULAR SHAPE The present invention relates to luminaries, and in particular concerns luminaires of the underpass type which may be mounted on a vertical wall for illuminating roadway surfaces adjacent the luminaire.

It is an object of the invention to provide a luminaire adapted to be mounted in different positions for illuminating surfaces at right angles to-the plane thereof.

It is another object of the invention to provide a luminaire of the underpass type which is compact in structure and readily and economically manufactured, is capable of rapid installation in different positions and is adapted for a wide variety of outdoor lighting applications.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a luminaire of the above type which has an improved closure arrangement for providing ready access to the interior of the luminaire for repair and maintenance operations.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a luminaire of the above type having an improved mounting for the reflector therein.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide a hinge and latch arrangement for the closure of the luminaire which is simple in construction and enhances the appearance of the luminaire.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

With the above objects in view, the present invention relates to a luminaire which in one of its aspects comprises, in combination, a housing having a rear wall and top, bottom, and opposite sidewalls projecting forwardly from the rear wall and defining a rim at the open front of the housing, at least one of the sidewalls being curved between top and bottom walls, and a closure for covering the open front of the housing including a frame having a flange surrounding the housing rim in overlapping relation in the closed position of the closure, and a pair of spaced hinge means hingedly connecting the frame to the housing on the curved sidewall thereof, each of the hinge means comprising spring means adapted to flex during movement of the frame between closed and open position to permit pivoting of the frame about the pair of hinge means.

The invention will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view in elevation of a luminaire embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the FIG. I luminaire taken along the line 22;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of the luminaire;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the luminaire with the refractor closure in open position;

FIG. 5 is a view of the interior of the luminaire housing with reflector removed;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the luminaire showing the closure latch;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the latch shown in FIG. 6 taken along the lines 7-7;

FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the joint between the refractor, frame, reflector, and housing of the luminaire;

FIGS. 9, l and 11 are respective views of the hinge structure of the luminaire; and

FIG. 12 is detailed view of a portion of the reflector showing the lampholder support structure.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown a luminaire of quadrilateral, somewhat trapezoidal form, comprising a boxlike housing 1 (see FIG. having a rear wall In and forwardly projecting top, bottom and sidewalls lb all of which are somewhat outwardly convex in shape and defining a rim edge at the open front of the housing which, in the illustrated embodiment, lies in the plane tilted downwardly somewhat from the vertical, as shown in FIG. 2. As is evident, the curvature of each housing wall is about an axis transverse the plane of the front opening of the housing. As seen in FIG. 3, the lower rear portion of housing I is indented at opposite sides so as to form a mounting socket or slip fitter M in the central portion of the housing for mounting the luminaire on a pipe support 3, the bottom wall of the housing in the slip fitter portion being formed with an aperture le for receiving the pipe support 3 therein and having suitable clamp means 4 for securing the housing to support 3. Mounted within housing 1 is a concave reflector 2 secured by a single screw 2a passing through a keyhole opening 2 c in the reflector threaded into a bracket which is secured to bosses projecting from the rear wall of housing 1. Reflector 2 is preferably in the form of a truncated paraboloid having its axis inclined downwardly, which in a typical vertical arrangement of the luminaire as shown in FIG. 2, slants downwardly from the horizontal at an angle of about 22, resulting from the l7 downward inclination of the paraboloidal reflector axis plus the 5 downward tilt of the housing rim against which reflector 2 is mounted. Reflector 2 has a flat surrounding flange 2b (see FIG. 4) on which is positioned a circumferential resilient gasket 5. For the purposes of properly positioning the reflector in the housing, the housing walls are formed with spaced ribs lf (see FIG. 5) extending toward the open front of the housing and having their front end edges defining a plane tilted downwardly as above mentioned and the reflector 2 in the assembly rests against the front edges of ribs If to assume the same tilted position.

Lamp 6, which is typically of the gaseous discharge type such as a mercury or sodium vapor lamp, is arranged in front of reflector 2 (see FIG. 4) with its base threaded into lampholder 7 which extends through an aperture at one side of reflector 2 to the rear thereof and is suitably secured to the rear side of the reflector. In the illustrated embodiment as shown in FIG. 12, lampholder 7 is attached to reflector 2 by means of a bracket 20 riveted to the reflector and having a support portion 20a punched out therefrom to which the end of lampholder 7 is secured by screws or the like. A gasket 21 held between bracket 20 and the rear side of reflector 2 covers the space between the outer surface of lampholder 7 and the edge of the reflector aperture. As seen in FIG. 2, lamp 6 having a light center LC is elongated with its axis arranged generally parallel to the rear wall and is located substantially entirely within the sidewalls of housing 1, with the result that very little, if any, direct light therefrom passes laterally out of the housing, i.e. in directions substantially parallel to the rear housing wall.

In the remaining space in housing 1 to the rear of reflector 2 are mounted electrical components for operating lamp 6, including ballast transformer 8, capacitor 9 and terminal board 10, all of which are suitably secured to the rear housing wall. The electrical components are suitably interconnected by conductors (not shown).

Closing the open front of housing is a boxlike, generally rectangular refractor 12 mounted in frame 13 which is hinged at one side to housing 1 by upper and lower hinges l4, and detachably secured at the opposite side by latch 17. The prismatic structure and arrangement of refractor I2 and the light distribution afforded thereby are more fully disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 753,566, filed Aug. 19, I968, in the names of Wood and Baldwin and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,524,051 issued Aug. I1, 1970.

The sides of frame 13, like the sides of housing I, reflector 2 and refractor 12, are slightly outwardly bowed in conformance with the general shape and appearance of the luminaire. In accordance with the invention, hinges 14 are constructed and arranged so that the main portions thereof are concealed between the frame and housing, the visible portions thereof conform generally to and blend well with the shape of the associated parts of the luminaire, and the hinges operate effectively despite the nonalignment of the upper and lower hinge pins due to the curved shape of the frame and housing on which they are mounted.

As seen in FIGS. 2 and 11, frame 13 is formed with a front portion 13a and a side flange portion 13b and has an intermediate, rearwardly projecting ledge portion 13c. In the closed position of frame 13, its side flange 13b overlaps the outer margins of housing 1 around its entire periphery. As a result, protection is afforded against the entry of rain and the like into the interior of the luminaire, whether mounted upright or horizontally. Refractor 12, having a flanged rim, is preferably secured to the inner side of frame 13 by suitable adhesive material provided between the mating portions of the frame and refractor. Suitable clips 16 of generally F-shaped form (see FIG. 8) may also be placed, if desired or necessary, at intervals around ledge portion 131: for retaining refractor 12 in assembly on the frame.

As seen in FIGS. 9-11, each hinge 14 comprises an upper hinge plate 140 secured by rivets or the like to the inner surface of frame 13, a lower hinge plate 14b similarly secured to the outer surface of housing 1, and a hinge pin 14c slidably fitting into the rolled hinge bearings of the hinge plates. The hinge plates are so arranged that their narrow elongated hinge bearings with interfitting hinge pin are the only portions of the hinge which are visible when frame 13 is in closed position. As a result, in a frontal view of the luminaire as seen in FIG. I, the hinges conform closely to the curvature of the frame, thereby harmonizing well with the overall appearance of the luminaire. In accordance with the invention, hinge plates 14a, 1412 are made of a spring material such as spring steel, e.g., stainless steel, such that the plates flex sufficiently to enable the frame and refractor closure to be swung about the hinge pivots in moving the closure to open position. Whereas in the closed position of frame 13 the upper and lower hinge pins are not aligned due to the curvature of the frame and housing, the pins are permitted to become aligned due to the flexing of the spring hinge plates when the frame is swung open.

Hinge pin 140 in each hinge is held captive in the lower hinge bearing by virtue of an enlargement 14d in the central portion of the pin and by the flattened or otherwise upset lower end Me of the pin, so that the pin cannot be slid out of the lower bearing in either direction. Frame 13 is readily assembled on the hinges simply by inserting the bearings of the hinge plates thereon over the exposed upper ends of the corresponding upper and lower hinge pins when frame 13 is held in the open position as shown in FIG. 10. Frame 13 with associated refractor closure may then be swung about the hinge pins to closed position as shown in FIG. 1 1. Due to the overlap of frame 13 around the outer margins of housing 1, the frame cannot be completely removed from the housing in the closed position, and only when it is swung open can the frame 13 be lifted off the hinge pins for complete removal from the housmg.

On the opposite side of the frame (see FIG. 1 and 6) latch plate 17, preferably of spring material, is riveted or otherwise secured to the inner side of frame 13 for detachably holding the closure in closed position on the housing. As seen in FIG. 7, latch plate 17 is formed with tab portion 170 at its free lateral edge and an intermediate recessed detent portion 17b adapted to yieldably fit over and engage spaced cars 18 projecting from the sidewall of housing 1 (see FIG. 4). The arrangement and spring nature of latch plate 17 are such that when frame 13 is moved into closed position, the angled tab portion 17a rides over cars 18, and detent portions 17b then snaps into locking position over ears 18 for holding the frame in closed position. To open the closure door, tab portion 170 is pulled outwardly to disengage spring plate 17 from ears l8 and frame 13 is swung about hinges 14 into open position.

In its closed position, as shown in FIG. 2, the rim of refractor 12 engages gasket on reflector 2 around its entire extent and thereby forms with reflector 2 a sealed optical system enclosing lamp 6 and the reflecting surface of reflector 2. As seen in FIG. 4, an air-purifying filter 11 is inserted in an aperture in reflector 2 for filtering the air passing into the otherwise sealed optical system, the filter being of the type, for example, disclosed in Franklin et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,353,015.

The described luminaire is versatile in its ability to be mounted in various ways. Thus, it may be mounted on a vertical surface by means of bolts 10 passing through apertures in rear wall 1a of the housing or by means of the bottom slip fitter on a hollow conduit or pipe 3 for illuminating underpass roadways or the grounds around buildings, or it may be horizontally mounted by the same means with refractor 12 facing upwardly for lighting vertical signs or walls.

Accordingly, while the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood that numerous modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without actually departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to cover all such equivalent variations as come within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A luminaire comprising, in combination, a housing having a rear wall and top, bottom and opposite sidewalls projecting forwardly from said rear wall and defining a rim extending about a front opening of said housing, at least one of said sidewalls being curved about an axis transverse the plane of said front opening, and a closure for covering the front opening of said housing including a frame having a flange surrounding said housing rim in overlapping relation in the closed position of said closure, and a pair of spaced hinge means hingedly connecting said frame to said housing on said one sidewall thereof, each said hinge means comprising spring means adapted to flex during movement of said frame between closed and open position to permit pivoting of said frame about said pair of hinge means, said one sidewall being outwardly convex, each said hinge means comprising an upper spring plate secured to said frame and a lower spring plate secured to said one housing sidewall, said plates in each pair having aligned hinge bearing portions, and a hinge pin extending through and pivotally interconnecting the aligned hinged bearing portions of each said hinge means.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, including means for retaining said hinge pin in position in said lower spring plate, said upper spring plate of each said hinge means being upwardly slidable off its respective hinge pin when said frame is in open position for removal of said frame from said housing, said frame being prevented from such removal in closed position by abutment of said flange thereof against said housing rim.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, said hinge plates, except for said bearing portions thereof, being concealed under said frame flange in closed position of said frame.

4. A luminaire comprising, in combination, a housing having a rear wall and top, bottom and opposite sidewalls projecting forwardly from said rear wall and defining a rim at the open front of said housing, at least one of said sidewalls being curved between top and bottom walls, and closure for covering the open front of said housing including a frame having a flange surrounding said housing rim in overlapping relation in the closed position of said closure, and a pair of spaced hinge means hingedly connecting said frame to said housing on said one sidewall thereof, each said hinge means comprising spring means adapted to flex during movement of said frame between closed and open position to permit pivoting of said frame about said pair of hinge means, and means for latching said frame to the opposite sidewall of said housing, said latching means including an elongated spring detent member secured to the inner side of said frame and extending along said frame, and projecting means of said opposite sidewall of said housing adapted to be detachably engaged by said detent member.

5. A device as defined in claim 1, said rear housing wall being indented at opposite sides at the lower portion thereof for defining slip fitter means, said slip fitter means including an opening in the bottom housing wall for receiving an elongated support member.

6. A device as defined in claim 1, a reflector having a forwardly facing, concave reflecting surface arranged in said housing, said housing having rib means peripherally spaced on the inner surfaces of its forwardly projecting walls, said reflector having a rim resting against said housing rib means for positioning said reflector.

7. A device as defined in claim 6, said reflector being detachably connected at a central portion of its concave surface to the rear wall of said housing.

8. A device defined in claim 7, said reflecting surface of said reflector being paraboloidal with a downwardly slanting axis.

9. A device as defined in claim 8, said housing rib means having front end edges lying in a plane tilted downwardly relative to the plane of said rear wall, whereby the rim of said reflector resting against said rib means is correspondingly tilted.

10. A device as defined in claim 2, a reflector arranged in said housing, a light source arranged in said housing in front of said reflector and having a light center spaced inwardly of the front edge of said housing rim, said closure including a refrac tor mounted in said frame.

11. A device as defined in claim 10, said reflector having a concave reflecting surface and spaced at its rear from said housing rear wall for defining a compartment within said housing, and electrical components for operating said light source arranged in said compartment.

Claims

10. A device as defined in claim 2, a reflector arranged in said housing, a light source arranged in said housing in front of said reflector and having a light center spaced inwardly of the front edge of said housing rim, said closure including a refractor mounted in said frame.