Tool-less window replacement in lighting module

Abstract

A housing for a lighting module is described. The housing module may include a housing interface; a window, wherein the housing interface is configured as a frame that interfaces with outside edges of the window; and one or more slidable frames, wherein each of the one or more slidable frames is configured with a protrusion configured to slide along a notch in the housing interface and the window is held between the one or more slidable frames and the housing interface. The housing may include gaskets, wherein the gaskets are sandwiched between the window and the housing interface.

Description

[0001] TOOL-LESS WINDOW REPLACEMENT IN LIGHTING MODULE

[0002] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0003] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 662,236, filed June 20, 2024 and entitled “TOOL-LESS WINDOW REPLACEMENT IN LIGHTING MODULE,” the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Lighting modules with light emitting diodes (LEDs) provide light for a variety of applications.

[0006] SUMMARY

[0007] Some aspects relate to a housing for a lighting module comprising: a housing interface; a window, wherein the housing interface is configured as a frame that interfaces with outer edges of the window; and one or more slidable frames, wherein each of the one or more slidable frames is configured with a protrusion configured to slide along a notch in the housing interface and the window is held between the one or more slidable frames and the housing interface.

[0008] The housing may further include one or more gaskets, wherein the one or more gaskets are sandwiched between the window and the housing interface. The window may include one or more layers of glass. Each of the one or more slidable frames may include a lip that extends to hold the window to the housing. The gaskets may include a first U-shaped gasket and a second U-shaped gasket. The gaskets may further include a rectangular shaped gasket. The first U-shaped gasket may be positioned at a first end of the housing and the second U-shaped gasket may be positioned at a second end of the housing.. The rectangular shaped gasket may be positioned between the first U-shaped gasket and the second U-shaped gasket. The one or more slidable frames may extend for an entire length of the housing. The housing interface that is configured as the frame may form a rectangular frame. The protrusion may have a dovetail shape. The one or more slidable frames may include a first slidable frame coupled to a top portion of the housing and a second slidable frame coupled to a bottom portion of the housing. The protrusion of the one or more slidable frames and the notch may run along a sliding direction of the frame.

[0009] Some aspects relate to a method for window replacement including: positioning a housing comprising a housing interface; positioning a window on the housing, wherein the housing interface is configured as a frame that interfaces with outer edges of the window; and sliding one or more slidable frames into a position such that the window is held between the one or more slidable frames and the housing interface, wherein each of the one or more slidable frames is configured with a protrusion configured to slide along a notch in the housing interface.

[0010] According to some aspects, sliding the one or more slidable frames may include sliding a first slidable frame along a top portion of the housing and a second slidable frame along a bottom portion of the housing. The method may further include sandwiching one or more gaskets between the window and the housing interface. The one or more gaskets may include a first U-shaped gasket and a second U-shaped gasket. The one or more slidable frames may extend for an entire length of the housing. The protrusion of the one or more slidable frames and the notch may run along a sliding direction of the frame. Each of the one or more slidable frames may include a lip that extends to hold the window to the housing.

[0011] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a like reference character. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, with emphasis instead being placed on illustrating various aspects of the techniques and devices described herein.

[0013] FIG. 1 shows a housing of an exemplary lighting module.

[0014] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the housing of FIG. 1, according to some embodiments.

[0015] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the housing of FIG. 1, according to some embodiments. FIG. 4 shows an expanded view of the top right side of the housing of FIG. 1, according to the orientation shown in FIG. 3.

[0016] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the housing of FIG. 1 with the sliding frames and a window removed to expose the gasket (one at each end) and a second gasket.

[0017] FIG. 6 shows the gaskets of the housing at each end and the second gasket between the gaskets in a view separated from the housing, according to some embodiments.

[0018] FIG. 7 shows the gaskets at each end separated from the second gasket, according to some embodiments.

[0019] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] A lighting module may be used to cure ink, adhesive, resin, or another material via a photochemical process referred to as ultraviolet (UV) curing. Thus, the lighting module may be referred to as a UV curing lamp. A lighting module may include an array of light emitters (e.g., solid state light emitting diodes (LEDs)). The array of light emitters may be arranged in a row with one or more columns of light emitters associated with each element of the row. The array of light emitters and associated components may be enclosed in a housing that protects the lighting module from the environment. The housing may include a transparent window of a suitable material (e.g., glass) to protect the LEDs while allowing light to reach the material to be cured by the lighting module.

[0021] Based on the environment in which the lighting module is used, material (e.g., ink, adhesive, resin, dust) can be deposited on the window, requiring frequent cleaning or replacement of the window. The window is typically screwed into the housing frame or otherwise attached (e.g., by adhesive) to the housing. For a window installed in such a manner, tools or materials (e.g., screwdriver, adhesive) may be needed to unscrew or otherwise remove the glass for cleaning or replacement, making frequent removal challenging and inconvenient.

[0022] The inventor recognized advantages of an assembly that facilitates tool-less replacement of the glass window of a lighting module. Exemplary embodiments involve the use of sliding (slidable) frames on opposite sides of the window, each with a lip to hold back the window and a protrusion that fits into a notch in the housing and keeps the sliding frame coupled to the housing. The protrusion may be shaped like a dovetail, for example, to prevent the protrusion from coming out of the notch without being slid out. A housing 100 of an exemplary lighting module is shown in FIG. 1.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, a window 104 that may include one or more layers of glass is attached to the housing 100 by sliding frames 102 above and below the window 104 according to the orientation shown in FIG. 1. The sliding frames 102 may extend for an entire length of the housing. FIGS. 2 and 3, described further below, respectively show side and perspective side views of the housing according to some embodiments.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, each sliding frame 102 includes a lip 116 that extends to hold the window 104 to the housing 100 (i.e., prevents the window from pulling away from the housing). As further shown in FIG. 3, the window may be held between the one or more slidable frames 102 and the housing interface 110. The one or more slidable frames may include a first slidable frame coupled to a top portion of the housing and a second slidable frame coupled to a bottom portion of the housing. Each sliding frame also includes a protrusion 106, which may be a dovetail- shaped protrusion, as shown. The protrusion 106 may be designed to slide along a notch 108 in the housing interface 110. As shown in FIG. 5, for example, the housing interface 110 may form a frame that interfaces with the outside of the window 104 (i.e., outer edges of the window). The protrusion and notch may run along a sliding direction of the frame. The protrusion 106 may be shaped to prevent movement of the protrusion in the X direction indicated for FIGS. 2 and 3, which is a direction away from the housing, while allowing sliding along the Y direction indicated for FIGS. 2 and 3. One or more gaskets 112 may be included between the housing interface 110 and window 104, as indicated. That is, the gaskets 112 may be sandwiched between the window 104 and the housing interface 110. The gaskets may be deformed (i.e., compressed) by pushing the window 104 into the housing interface 110 when the sliding frame is being slid into place. Once the sliding frame 102 is in place, the gaskets 112 may expand to push the window 104 against the lip 116 of the sliding frame and keep a tight coupling between the sliding frame and window, so that the window is securely in place. The gaskets may be formed of any suitable compressible material or structure, such as rubber, for example. FIG. 4 is an expanded view of the top right side of the housing 100, according to the orientation shown in FIG. 3. The sliding frame 102 is separated from the housing interface 110 so that the protrusion 106 and the matching notch 108 are more clearly visible.

[0025] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the housing 100 with the sliding frames 102 and window 104 removed to expose the gasket 112 (one at each end) and a second gasket 114. The housing interface 110 that includes notches at the top and bottom (according to the orientation shown in FIG. 5) for insertion of the sliding frames forms a rectangular frame that the window is pressed against with the gaskets 112 and second gasket 114 therebetween.

[0026] FIG. 6 shows the gaskets 112 at each end (of the housing) and the second gasket 114 between the gaskets 112 separated from the housing 100. A first U-shaped gasket may be positioned at a first end of the housing and a second U-shaped gasket may be positioned at a second end of the housing.

[0027] FIG. 7 shows the gaskets 112 at each end separated from the second gasket 114. As shown in FIG. 7, the gaskets 112 may include a first U-shaped gasket and a second U-shaped gasket. The second gasket 114 may be a rectangular shaped gasket, according to some embodiments.

[0028] According to some embodiments, a method for window replacement may be provided. The method may include: positioning a housing comprising a housing interface; positioning a window on the housing, wherein the housing interface is configured as a frame that interfaces with outer edges of the window; and sliding one or more slidable frames into a position such that the window is held between the one or more slidable frames and the housing interface, wherein each of the one or more slidable frames is configured with a protrusion configured to slide along a notch in the housing interface. The method may include arranging one or more elements described herein. Sliding one or more slidable frames may include sliding a first slidable frame along a top portion of the housing and a second slidable frame along a bottom portion of the housing. The method may include sandwiching one or more gaskets between the window and the housing interface. The one or more gaskets may include a first U-shaped gasket and a second U-shaped gasket. The one or more slidable frames may extend for an entire length of the housing. The protrusion of the one or more slidable frames and the notch may run along a sliding direction of the frame. Each of the one or more slidable frames may include a lip that extends to hold the window to the housing. Examples:

[0029] Embodiments may include the following exemplary aspects and may include any suitable combination of the features described herein.

[0030] (1) A housing for a lighting module including: a housing interface; a window, wherein the housing interface is configured as a frame that interfaces with outer edges of the window; one or more slidable frames, wherein each of the one or more slidable frames is configured with a protrusion configured to slide along a notch in the housing interface and the window is held between the one or more slidable frames and the housing interface.

[0031] (2) The housing of aspect (1), further comprising one or more gaskets, wherein the one or more gaskets are sandwiched between the window and the housing interface.

[0032] (3) The housing of any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the window comprises one or more layers of glass.

[0033] (4) The housing of any one of the preceding aspects, wherein each of the one or more slidable frames includes a lip that extends to hold the window to the housing.

[0034] (5) The housing of aspect 2, wherein the gaskets include a first U-shaped gasket and a second U-shaped gasket.

[0035] (6) The housing of aspect 5, wherein the gaskets further include a rectangular shaped gasket.

[0036] (7) The housing of aspect 6, wherein the first U-shaped gasket is positioned at a first end of the housing and the second U-shaped gasket is positioned at a second end of the housing.

[0037] (8) The housing of aspect 7, wherein the rectangular shaped gasket is positioned between the first U-shaped gasket and the second U-shaped gasket.

[0038] (9) The housing of any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the one or more slidable frames extend for an entire length of the housing.

[0039] (10) The housing of any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the housing interface that is configured as the frame forms a rectangular frame. (11) The housing of any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the protrusion has a dovetail shape.

[0040] (12) The housing of any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the one or more slidable frames comprise a first slidable frame coupled to a top portion of the housing and a second slidable frame coupled to a bottom portion of the housing.

[0041] (13) The housing of any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the protrusion of the one or more slidable frames and the notch run along a sliding direction of the frame.

[0042] (14) A method for window replacement, the method comprising: positioning a housing comprising a housing interface; positioning a window on the housing, wherein the housing interface is configured as a frame that interfaces with outer edges of the window; and sliding one or more slidable frames into a position such that the window is held between the one or more slidable frames and the housing interface, wherein each of the one or more slidable frames is configured with a protrusion configured to slide along a notch in the housing interface.

[0043] (15) The method of aspect 14, wherein sliding the one or more slidable frames comprises sliding a first slidable frame along a top portion of the housing and a second slidable frame along a bottom portion of the housing.

[0044] (16) The method of any one of the preceding aspects, further comprising sandwiching one or more gaskets between the window and the housing interface.

[0045] (17) The method of any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the one or more gaskets include a first U-shaped gasket and a second U-shaped gasket.

[0046] (18) The method of any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the one or more slidable frames extend for an entire length of the housing.

[0047] (19) The method of any one of the preceding aspects, wherein the protrusion of the one or more slidable frames and the notch run along a sliding direction of the frame.

[0048] (20) The method of any one of the preceding aspects, wherein each of the one or more slidable frames includes a lip that extends to hold the window to the housing. Various aspects of the apparatus and techniques described herein may be used alone, in combination, or in a variety of arrangements not specifically discussed in the embodiments described in the foregoing description and is therefore not limited in its application to the details and arrangement of components set forth in the foregoing description or illustrated in the drawings. For example, aspects described in one embodiment may be combined in any manner with aspects described in other embodiments.

[0049] Use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” and so forth in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim elements.

[0050] The terms “substantially,” “approximately,” “about” and the like refer to a parameter being within 10%, optionally less than 5% of its stated value. Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of "including," "comprising," or "having," “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A housing for a lighting module comprising: a housing interface; a window, wherein the housing interface is configured as a frame that interfaces with outer edges of the window; and one or more slidable frames, wherein each of the one or more slidable frames is configured with a protrusion configured to slide along a notch in the housing interface and the window is held between the one or more slidable frames and the housing interface.

2. The housing according to claim 1, further comprising one or more gaskets, wherein the one or more gaskets are sandwiched between the window and the housing interface.

3. The housing of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the window comprises one or more layers of glass.

4. The housing of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each of the one or more slidable frames includes a lip that extends to hold the window to the housing.

5. The housing of claim 2, wherein the one or more gaskets include a first Ilshaped gasket and a second U-shaped gasket.

6. The housing of claim 5, wherein the one or more gaskets further include a rectangular shaped gasket.

7. The housing of claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the first U-shaped gasket is positioned at a first end of the housing and the second U-shaped gasket is positioned at a second end of the housing.

8. The housing of claim 7, wherein the rectangular shaped gasket is positioned between the first U-shaped gasket and the second U-shaped gasket.

9. The housing of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the one or more slidable frames extend for an entire length of the housing.

10. The housing of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the housing interface that is configured as the frame forms a rectangular frame.

11. The housing of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the protrusion has a dovetail shape.

12. The housing of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the one or more slidable frames comprise a first slidable frame coupled to a top portion of the housing and a second slidable frame coupled to a bottom portion of the housing.

13. The housing of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the protrusion of the one or more slidable frames and the notch run along a sliding direction of the frame.

14. A method for window replacement, the method comprising: positioning a housing comprising a housing interface; positioning a window on the housing, wherein the housing interface is configured as a frame that interfaces with outer edges of the window; and sliding one or more slidable frames into a position such that the window is held between the one or more slidable frames and the housing interface, wherein each of the one or more slidable frames is configured with a protrusion configured to slide along a notch in the housing interface.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein sliding the one or more slidable frames comprises sliding a first slidable frame along a top portion of the housing and a second slidable frame along a bottom portion of the housing.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising sandwiching one or more gaskets between the window and the housing interface.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more gaskets include a first LJ- shaped gasket and a second U-shaped gasket.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more slidable frames extends for an entire length of the housing.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the protrusion of the one or more slidable frames and the notch run along a sliding direction of the frame.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein each of the one or more slidable frames includes a lip that extends to hold the window to the housing.

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