Luminaire Spring Latch for One-Handed Door Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lighting fixtures require multiple parts and fasteners for latching, increasing manufacturing costs and operational complexity, and often necessitate two-handed operation, while not providing easy access for maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A unitary spring latch with a mating hook and flexible portions that latches and unlatches a luminaire door without screws or fasteners, allowing single-handed operation and easy access for maintenance, even when the luminaire is positioned upside down.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional latches with multiple parts and fasteners are used, then the latch can secure the door, but manufacturing costs increase and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components (latch body, spring, fastener, and door push portion) into a single integrated unitary latch member. The latch body includes an integrated spring portion that provides biasing force, and a door push portion that assists door opening, all formed as one piece rather than assembled from separate parts, thereby reducing part count and assembly complexity while maintaining door securing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The unitary latch member performs multiple functions simultaneously: it secures the door through the latch body, provides continuous biasing force through the integrated spring portion, and assists door opening through the door push portion. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate fasteners and spring components, reducing manufacturing steps and assembly operations
2Reliability
If conventional latches with multiple parts are used, then the latch can secure the door, but assembly time and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the latch body, spring, and door push portion into a single unitary component, the patent eliminates multiple assembly operations. The latch can be installed as one piece rather than assembling separate components, significantly reducing installation time and complexity while maintaining reliable door securing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The unitary latch member is pre-assembled as a complete functional unit before installation, with the spring already positioned and secured within the latch body. This preliminary assembly of the latch components eliminates the need for on-site assembly operations, reducing installation time and ensuring proper positioning of all functional elements
3Reliability
If conventional latches are used, then the door can be secured, but two-handed operation is required making maintenance difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of the door push portion with the latch body creates a coordinated mechanism where the door push portion can be actuated to assist door opening while the latch body maintains securing capability. This merged design enables single-handed operation by combining the functions of door pushing and latching into one integrated action, improving ease of operation during maintenance
4Device complexity
If a thumb screw mechanism is used, then the latch is simple in design, but manufacturing cost increases and corrosion risk exists
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thumb screw mechanism with a unitary latch member made of corrosion-resistant material that integrates the latching function and door push function. This eliminates the need for separate metallic fasteners that are prone to corrosion, while maintaining design simplicity through the single-piece construction that avoids dissimilar metal contact and corrosion issues
5Strength
If the latch consumes more horizontal space, then the latch mechanism can be robust, but luminaire cost increases due to reduced LED board area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reorients the latch mechanism to utilize the vertical dimension rather than consuming excessive horizontal space. The latch body extends vertically with the spring portion and door push portion arranged in a compact vertical configuration, allowing the latch to maintain robustness through vertical stacking of functions while minimizing the horizontal footprint that would otherwise reduce LED board area
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
The latch reduces manufacturing costs, simplifies installation, and facilitates quick, single-handed operation with reduced horizontal space consumption, while preventing door vibration and enabling easy access to the luminaire interior.
Implementation Method 1
A latch, which contains a mating hook, is connected to the housing. The latch includes a main flexing portion and a secondary flexing portion with the mating hook therebetween
Implementation Method 2
The handle portion and the mating hook are aligned such that when a force is applied to the handle portion, the main flexing portion, the secondary flexing portion and the door push portion are configured to be deformed and disengaged the mating hook from the latching surface
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus for a lighting fixture or luminaire latching mechanism. A lighting fixture's housing (16) is hinged at one end or portion and includes a door (14) which latches to the housing (16) at an opposite end. A latch (12), which contains a mating hook (32), is connected to the housing (16). A latching surface (28) on the housing (16) interlocks with the mating hook (32) when the door (14) is closed. The latch member includes a main (36) and secondary flexing portion (40) with the mating hook (32) therebetween, as well as door push portion (44) and handle portion (42). The door (14) is opened by applying a force to the handle portion (42) which deforms the main (36) and secondary flexing portion (40) to disengage the mating hook (32) from the latching surface (28), as well as pushing or applying a force to the door to help disengage it from the housing (16).