Suspended Up/Down Light

The present invention relates to a lamp housing, and in particular to a horizontally suspended tubular lamp housing which provides specially designed side reflectors for directing light both upward and downward with respect to the housing.

Tubular lamp housings having side reflectors for reflecting light both up and down are known such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,158,327 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,284,046. However, the former patent comprises a complicated structure for retaining cusp-shaped reflectors in a parabolic-shaped housing. The latter patent does not disclose housing structure in detail. The reflectors disclosed are curved reflectors facing the tubes.

The invention provides a four-sided housing open at the top and bottom for holding tubular lamps therein, wherein two reflectors are snapped into place along an inside of opposite side walls to direct light both upwardly and downwardly. Each of the reflectors is held in place by abutting a top flange of the respective side wall above and by being trapped in an inwardly directed channel lip of the respective side wall below. The reflectors have a straight segment V-shape pointing laterally inward toward the tubular lamps. One or both of the segments can have a bent-off distal end region which abuts the top and/or bottom flange flushly.

The present invention provides a simple, easily constructed and assembled rectangular lamp shroud assembly providing for an easy snap-in connection of the two lateral reflectors. The reflectors can be easily bent and formed sheet metal, treated to have proper surface reflectivity. The reflectors can be slightly resiliently compressed to fit between the top flange and channel lip and once released is gripped therebetween.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a light assembly of the present invention with a portion of a front panel removed for clarity;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the light assembly of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along line III--III of FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 shows a lighting assembly 10 of the present invention having a housing 14 having side panels 16, 17 and end panels 18, 20. A cableway enclosure 24 is provided along the length of the housing 14. Within the cableway enclosure 24 can be mounted wires and voltage regulation such as a transformer, for applying proper voltage to both ends of a tubular lamp 25. At opposite ends of the cableway 24 are mounted socket assemblies 28, 30 (see FIG. 3) for holding the lamps 25. Parallel lamps 25 and parallel sockets 28, 30 can be provided.

A plurality of cross brackets 36 are provided between side panels 16, 17 in spaced apart relation along the length of the housing 16 to attach the cableway enclosure 24 to the housing and to reinforce the overall integrity of the unit. The housing 14 can be hung by rods, or cables, or conduits 42, 46 or the like. If conduit is used for 42, 46, the power wires for the unit can be carried in these conduits. The conduits 42, 46 or other hanging structure can be attached to the cross brackets 36.

As shown in FIG. 2, the side panels 16, 17 and end panels 18, 20 have inwardly directed bottom flanges 16a, 17a, 18a, 20a. These bottom flanges strengthen the housing. The bottom flanges for the side panels 16, 17 are more further described with regard to FIG. 3.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, side reflectors 48, 50 are interfit along the length of the side panels 16, 17 outside of the tubes 25, 25.

As shown in FIG. 3, the reflectors 48, 50 are generally V-shaped, having apices 51, 52 respectively, but also having a bent-off upper flange 48a, 50a respectively. The side panels 16, 17 have inwardly turned top flanges 16b, 17b respectively which add rigidity to the panels and also serve to abut the upper flanges 48a, 50a of the reflectors. The top flanges 16b, 17b preferably have an approximate equal width to the upper flanges 48a, 50a of the reflectors to insure a proper assembly. The bottom flanges 16a, 17a of the side panels 16, 17 have upwardly turned segments 16c, 17c. To install each reflector 48, 50 within the housing, the top flange 48a, 50a is abutted against the top flange 16b, 17b and reflecting segments 48b, 48c, 50b, 50c which form each generally V-shape are resiliently deflected toward each other, 48b toward 48c, 50b toward 50c, until the reflecting segment 48c, 50c can be snapped within the channel formed by the bottom flange 16a and the upwardly turned segment 16c. The reflectors 48, 50 each can also have bottom turned portions 48d, 50d which fit each tightly within the channels.

The simple shape of the V-shaped reflector allows for quick assembly and change-out. Where the ratio of the light reflected up versus the light reflected down needs to be adjusted, a replacement reflector having, for example, different curvature or different height of its apex with respect to the tube can be snapped in place easily "in the field". A translucent lens or panel 56 can be applied on a top side and/or bottom side of the housing 14 as needed.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, those of skill in the art will recognize that changes may be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.