Semi-recessed downlight wall wash canopy luminaire

[0002] Not applicable.

[0003] Not applicable.

[0004] 1. Field of the Invention

[0005] This invention relates to light fixtures, or luminaires, and more particularly to a semi-recessed luminaire having both downlight and wall wash optical functions.

[0006] 2. Description of Prior Art

[0007] 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.

[0008] 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.

[0009] 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.

[0010] 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.

[0011] 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.

[0012] 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.

[0013] 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 located opposite to the bottom portion of the wall wash reflector for allowing the light directed toward the wall to also exit the luminaire.

[0014] To improve the optical performance of the light directed downward out of the fixture, the trim piece may further include a downlight lens covering the bottom opening.

[0015] Additionally, to further improve the optical performance of the wall wash light, the trim piece may also include a wall wash lens covering the side window.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a side section view taken along line 1—1 of FIG. 2 of a semi-recessed canopy luminaire of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2—2 of FIG. 1.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a plaster frame of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the plaster frame of FIG. 3.

[0020] FIG. 5 is a ray traced diagram of the reflector system of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a trim piece having refractor optics of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 7 is a close up view of a toroidal pillow refractor of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 8 is demonstrative view of the optical performance of a single pillow of the refractor of FIG. 7.

[0024] FIG. 9 is a close up view of a fluted wall wash refractor of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 10 is an illustration of a luminaire of the present invention as used in a typical installation setting.

[0026] A semi-recessed canopy luminaire 10 of the present invention is shown in FIG. 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.

[0027] As best shown in FIGS. 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.

[0028] Returning now to FIG. 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.

[0029] Returning now to FIG. 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 in the art will recognize that the lamp may have any possible orientation without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 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 FIG. 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.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 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.

[0032] Further, as shown in FIG. 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.

[0033] Returning again to FIG. 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.

[0034] As seen in FIGS. 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°.

[0035] 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.

[0036] One possible type of refractor optics for the downlight lens 42 is shown in FIGS. 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 FIG. 8. One of skill in the art, however, will recognize that additional refractor designs, or a clear lens 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.

[0037] Returning to FIGS. 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 FIGS. 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.

[0038] Further, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 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.

[0039] Thus, as shown in FIG. 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 wall 54 adjacent thereto.

[0040] 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.