Single-stage removable wire management connection for indoor luminaires

Abstract

A hook device is attached to the inside of a detachable plug of a luminaire such that the step of removing the detachable plug pulls an electric wire attached to the hook device out of the luminaire through a plug hole. This allows for easy access to the electrical wires for connection with external electrical wires. A conventional clamping device may then be attached to secure the external wire to the luminaire and close the plug hole.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to providing access to internal wiring contained in a metal housing, such as the internal wiring of a lighting fixture. In particular, the present invention employs a breakaway plug located in the housing having a hook mechanism on the inside of the plug that acts as a wire management piece for attaching the internal wiring of the housing. Removal of the breakaway plug pulls the wires out of the housing body through a breakaway hole, thereby providing easy access to the wires without requiring an additional opening in the housing. Background Art

[0002] Typically, it is necessary to open the metal housing that houses the internal wires to make electrical connections with the external wiring. Although many such housings have removable access panels, many housings do not have removable access panels. In addition, the use of these access panels requires that they meet UL certification requirements. The size of the panels and their removal (and replacement) often do not allow easy access when making the desired connection. This is particularly true in a hanging position of the housing or in a position where accessibility is limited. Therefore, in many cases, it is necessary to remove the housing.

[0003] The present invention overcomes these problems of the prior art, since an access plate is no longer required. Thus, the construction of the housing is saved by removing components from its assembly, and the above-mentioned difficulties in its use are avoided. Furthermore, the wire management function performed by the inner side of the breakaway plug not only allows easy access to the internal wires, but also presents these wires in an organized manner. Summary of the invention

[0004] Although generally applied to metal enclosures containing electrical wiring, the invention will be discussed below in its application to indoor luminaires. The invention is not so limited, as any metal enclosure requiring external access to one or more of its internal wires is contemplated by the invention.

[0005] As described below, one aspect of the present invention provides a wire retention device located on the inside of a breakaway plug positioned on the housing of the luminaire. The size of the device and the positioning of the wires attached to the device enable the device to be pulled through the hole created when the breakaway plug is removed, thus providing easy access to the wires for making / modifying wire connections.

[0006] Another aspect of the present invention creates a wire management system in conjunction with a wire retention device.

[0007] Once the desired connection to the external wires has been made, another aspect of the invention allows for the use of conventional clamping devices to secure the external wires to the luminaire and close the plug hole in a manner that complies with UL certification requirements. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Further details, aspects and embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. The elements in the drawings are shown for simplicity and clarity and are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the drawings, elements corresponding to elements already described may have the same reference numerals. In the drawings:

[0009] Figure 1A A luminaire housing 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0010] Figure 1B A breakaway access plug 104 according to the present invention is shown;

[0011] Figure 2 An internal view of the luminaire is shown showing a breakaway access plug;

[0012] Figure 3 A possible side view of a hook device 202 of a breakaway access plug is shown;

[0013] Figure 4 shows the use of the hook device during the manufacturing process;

[0014] Figure 5 shows the use of the hook device during installation; and

[0015] Figure 6 and 7 The use of a break-away access plug is shown, the removal of which allows access to the internal wires. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] While the invention is susceptible to embodiment in many different forms, there are one or more specific embodiments shown in the drawings and will be described in detail herein, it being understood that this disclosure should be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described.

[0017] Hereinafter, for the sake of understanding, the elements of the embodiments are described in operation. However, it will be apparent that the respective elements are arranged to perform the functions described as being performed by them.

[0018] Furthermore, the invention is not limited to these embodiments, and the invention lies in each and every novel feature or combination of features described herein or recited in mutually different dependent claims.

[0019] Figure 1A A luminaire housing 100 according to one embodiment of the invention is shown. The luminaire housing 100 may have two end walls / surfaces 110 and one or more side walls / surfaces 112. For example, the side walls form a rectangular containing box. Figure 1B An exploded view is shown showing a conventional breakaway plug 102 and a breakaway access plug 104 in a luminaire housing according to the present invention. As further described below, the breakaway access plug includes a hook device 202 on its inner side for attaching the internal wires of the luminaire. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the breakaway access plug is positioned in a luminaire housing aperture that includes a square cut edge 106. The square cut edge allows for the introduction of a screwdriver or similar device to more easily allow the breakaway access plug to be removed from the exterior of the luminaire without interfering with or causing damage to the wires attached to the hook.

[0020] exist Figure 1B The illustrated embodiment also shows a label 108 identifying the location of the breakaway access plug. In this embodiment, the language is of a general nature: "CONNECTION WIRES HERE." In other embodiments, a specific connection wire may be identified.

[0021] Figure 2 1 is an internal view of the luminaire, which shows the breakaway access plug 104 and the conventional breakaway plug 102 as viewed from the inside of the luminaire. As shown in this embodiment, the hook device 202 of the breakaway access plug includes a cantilever device formed integrally with the breakaway access plug 104.

[0022] Figure 3 1 shows a possible side view of the hook device 202. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hook device 202 is formed by cutting the metal side of the luminaire housing 101 and then bending the cut material to form a Figure 2 In this way, the breakaway access plug and its hooking device 202 are formed from the sheet metal material of the luminaire housing. Therefore, no additional material is required in the manufacture of a luminaire including the breakaway access plug of the claimed invention.

[0023] Figure 4 The use of the hook device during manufacturing is shown. In the illustrated embodiment, one or more internal wires 402 are pushed into the hook by a snap-like feature 404 near the end of the hook. For thinner, more flexible wires, a loop may then be formed where the wire is wrapped around the hook as shown to secure the wire and prevent it from falling out of the hook. For larger internal wires 402, it may not be necessary to form such a loop because the shape and flexibility of the hook that reaches the plug are sufficient to secure the wire (e.g., Figure 5 shown).

[0024] Figure 6 and 7The invention is shown in use during installation. A screwdriver or similar device (not shown) is inserted into the square cut edge of the breakaway access plug aperture 106 to begin removal of the plug. As the breakaway access plug is removed, it pulls the wire attached to its hook out of the luminaire, allowing easy access to the internal wiring. Upon completion of modifications to the wire and / or connector with external wires, the wire can then be secured to the luminaire housing with any well-known connection means that will close the breakaway access plug aperture 702 in a manner that complies with UL certification requirements.

[0025] The foregoing detailed description has set forth some of the many forms that the invention can take. The above examples illustrate only several possible embodiments of various aspects of the invention, wherein equivalent changes and / or modifications will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the invention and the accompanying drawings. Specifically, with respect to the different functions performed by the above-described components (devices, systems, etc.), unless otherwise indicated, the terms used to describe such components (including references to "devices") are intended to correspond to any component (such as hardware or combination thereof) that performs the specified functions of the described components (i.e., functionally equivalent), even if structurally not equivalent to the disclosed structures that perform the functions in the illustrated implementations of the present disclosure.

[0026] Although specific features of the invention may have been illustrated and / or described for only one of several implementations, such features may be combined with one or more other features of other implementations (as may be desirable and advantageous for any given application or particular applications). In addition, unless otherwise indicated, reference to a singular component or item is intended to cover two or more such components or items.

[0027] Unless expressly indicated to the contrary, the indefinite articles "one" and "a kind of" as used herein in the specification and claims should be understood to mean "at least one". As used herein in the specification and claims, the phrase "and / or" should be understood to refer to "either or both" of the elements so combined, i.e., elements that exist collectively in some cases and individually in other cases. Multiple elements listed with "and / or" should be interpreted in the same manner, i.e., "one or more" of the elements so combined. Other elements other than the elements specifically identified by the "and / or" clause may optionally be present, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, when used in conjunction with an open language such as "including", a reference to "A and / or B" may refer to only A (optionally including elements other than B) in one embodiment; to only B (optionally including elements other than A) in another embodiment; to both A and B (optionally including other elements) in yet another embodiment; and so on.

[0028] Here, "or" used in the specification and claims should be understood to have the same meaning as "and / or" as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, "or" or "and / or" should be interpreted as inclusive, i.e., including at least one of a plurality of elements or lists of elements, but also including more than one, and (optionally) other unlisted items. Only terms that are clearly indicated to the contrary, such as "only one" or "exactly one", or when used in the claims, "consisting of..." will refer to including exactly one element in a number of elements or lists of elements. Usually, when there is an exclusive term (such as "any one", "one of", "only one of" or "exactly one of") in front, the term "or" used here should only be interpreted as indicating an exclusive alternative (i.e., "one or the other, but not both"). When used in the claims, "consisting essentially of..." has its ordinary meaning used in the field of patent law.

[0029] As used herein in the specification and claims, the phrase "at least one" referring to a list of one or more elements should be understood to refer to at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but does not necessarily include at least one of each element specifically listed in the list of elements, and does not exclude any combination of the elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that in addition to the elements specifically specified in the list of elements referred to by the phrase "at least one", elements may optionally be present, whether related to or unrelated to those specifically specified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, "at least one of A and B" (or equivalently, "at least one of A or B", or equivalently "at least one of A and / or B") may refer to at least one A (optionally including more than one A) without B (and optionally including elements other than B) in one embodiment; to at least one B (optionally including more than one B) without A (and optionally including elements other than A) in another embodiment; to at least one A (optionally including more than one A) and at least one B (optionally including more than one B) (and optionally including other elements) in yet another embodiment; and so on.

[0030] It should also be understood that in any method claimed herein that includes more than one step or action, the order of the steps or actions of the method is not necessarily limited to the order of the steps or actions in the method recited unless explicitly stated to the contrary.

[0031] In the claims, as well as in the foregoing description, all transitional phrases such as "comprising," "including," "carrying," "having," "containing," "involving," "maintaining," "encompassing," and the like shall be construed as open ended, i.e., meaning including, but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases "consisting of" and "consisting essentially of" shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures, Section 2111.03.

Claims

1. A housing having an internal space enclosing at least one wire, wherein the housing has one or more wall surfaces, the one or more wall surfaces having at least one metal surface, the metal surface comprising: a metal breakaway access plug having an inner side facing the interior space of the housing, the inner side including a hook, wherein, when manufacturing the housing, the at least one wire is attached to the hook, Wherein, during installation or maintenance of the housing, removal of the access plug pulls the at least one wire out of the housing, thereby allowing access to the at least one wire to allow electrical connection to one or more external wires.

2. The housing according to claim 1, wherein: The hook is formed by cutting and bending the breakaway access plug.

3. The housing according to claim 2, wherein: The hook is biased in a direction opposite to a direction of the interior space of the housing.

4. The housing according to claim 1, wherein: The metal surface also includes a square cutting edge adjacent the breakaway access plug to enable removal of the breakaway access plug.

5. The housing according to claim 3, wherein: The housing is a luminaire.

6. The housing according to claim 5, wherein: The hook is used for wire management of multiple wires inside the luminaire.

7. The housing according to claim 5, wherein: Removal of the break-away access plug creates an aperture in the housing that is sized to be closed by a conventional cable connection device.

8. A method of providing access to at least one electrical wire contained within an interior space of a housing, the housing having at least one metallic surface, the method comprising: forming a metal breakaway access plug on the at least one metal surface, the breakaway access plug having a hooking device on a surface facing the interior space of the housing, attaching the at least one wire to the hook, Removal of the break-away access plug pulls the at least one wire out of the housing, thereby allowing access to the at least one wire.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein: The forming step includes cutting and bending the breakaway access plug.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein: The forming step includes bending the hook so that the hook is biased in a direction opposite to a direction of the interior space of the housing.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of: A square cutting edge is provided adjacent the break away access plug to enable removal of the break away access plug.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein: The housing is a luminaire.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein: The hook is used for wire management of multiple wires inside the luminaire.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein: Providing access to the at least one electrical wire enables connection to the at least one electrical wire to be performed using electrical wires external to the housing.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein: The removing step forms an aperture in the housing, and the method further comprises the step of closing the aperture with a conventional cable connection device that secures external electrical wiring to the luminaire.

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