Foldable Mounting Collar for Compact LED Recessed Fixtures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing recessed light fixtures face inefficiencies due to large size and high heat production from incandescent bulbs, and compact fluorescent bulbs do not fully utilize the fixture's size, while LED technology offers opportunities for more compact and energy-efficient solutions.
Innovation Solution
The use of retention assemblies with springs and foldable mounting collars allows for the installation of light fixtures within walls or ceilings with minimal visible hardware, utilizing LED technology to reduce size and energy consumption, and the retention assemblies and foldable mounting collars facilitate easy installation by rotating and folding mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If incandescent bulbs are used in recessed fixtures, then light can be emitted through the aperture, but the fixtures produce high heat and have large size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from incandescent to LED technology, fundamentally changing the light generation mechanism. LEDs convert electrical energy directly to light with minimal heat generation, resolving the high heat production issue while maintaining illumination functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes the traditional large bulb and socket assembly from the fixture design. By extracting these bulky components and using integrated LED modules, the fixture size is reduced while maintaining light emission capability.
2Illumination intensity
If incandescent bulbs with Edison base are used, then light fixtures can function, but the fixtures require large size to accommodate the bulb and socket
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the traditional Edison base bulb and socket assembly, extracting these bulky components from the fixture design. Integrated LED modules replace the separate bulb and socket, dramatically reducing fixture volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the bulb, socket, and housing into an integrated LED module. This merging of components eliminates the need for separate bulb and socket spaces, reducing overall fixture size while maintaining light emission function.
3Use of energy by moving object
If compact fluorescent bulbs are used to improve efficiency, then energy efficiency improves, but the fixtures remain sized according to Edison base predecessors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the LED light source directly into the fixture housing, eliminating the need for separate bulb and socket components. This merging allows the fixture to be sized according to actual space requirements rather than accommodating traditional bulb dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from CFL to LED technology, changing the light generation mechanism to achieve superior energy efficiency. LEDs consume less energy and generate less heat, allowing for more compact fixture design.
4Ease of operation
If retention assemblies with springs are used, then light fixtures can be installed with minimal visible hardware, but the installation mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded retention assemblies are designed to automatically engage and secure the fixture to the mounting surface. The springs provide automatic tension and locking without requiring additional fasteners or complex adjustment mechanisms, achieving self-service installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention assemblies incorporate movable spring components that dynamically adjust to accommodate slight variations in mounting surface geometry. This dynamic design simplifies installation by providing automatic adaptation rather than requiring precise pre-drilling or adjustment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables the installation of compact, energy-efficient LED light fixtures with reduced visible hardware, improving efficiency and minimizing heat production, while allowing for easy installation and reduced damage to mounting surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
a spring. A proximal end of the spring coils about the internal axle, and a distal end of the spring extends from the body, and is configured to couple with a coupling feature of the light fixture housing. When the body couples with the hinge and the distal end of the spring couples with the coupling feature of the light fixture housing, a tension within the spring exerts a torque on the body
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable mounting collar includes first and second collar segments. Each collar segment includes a planar annular segment that substantially subtends a semicircle, a collar flange that, when the planar annular segment is horizontal, extends vertically downward along an inner periphery of the planar annular segment, such that the collar flange forms a cylindrical portion, and two hinge flanges that, when the planar annular segment is horizontal, extend upwardly from each end of the semicircle formed by each planar annular segment. The mounting collar further includes pivot means that hingedly couple pairs of the hinge flanges of the collar segments. The second collar segment can rotate, relative to the first collar segment, through at least a polar angle range sufficient for the mounting collar to fit through an aperture having a diameter defined by the cylindrical portions of the collar flanges when both collar segments are horizontal.