Retractable Support LED Panel for Ceiling Grid Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ceiling support grid lighting systems are labor-intensive for installation and retrofitting, particularly when replacing or upgrading light sources in ceiling support grids with curved or arched ceilings.
Innovation Solution
An LED light panel system that includes a hook for suspension below the ceiling grid, fixed flat extensions for secure placement on the grid, and retractable supports for easy integration into the grid structure, allowing for efficient installation and retrofitting by attaching to the ceiling grid or above it, and connecting to a power source.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional luminaire installation methods are used in ceiling support grids, then lighting functionality is achieved, but installation becomes labor-intensive and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The LED light panel is divided into modular components including the panel itself, hooks for suspension, fixed flat extensions for positioning, and retractable supports for stabilization. This segmentation allows each component to be independently installed and positioned, significantly reducing installation complexity and labor requirements compared to traditional monolithic luminaire installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The retractable supports provide dynamic adjustment capability during installation, allowing workers to extend supports for positioning and then retract them once the panel is secured. This dynamic feature simplifies the installation process by providing temporary assistance during positioning without requiring permanent complex mounting structures.
2Ease of operation
If LED light panels are suspended below the ceiling grid with hooks, then installation is simplified, but structural stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Hooks are pre-attached to the LED light panel during manufacturing, eliminating the need for separate attachment operations during installation. This preliminary action ensures proper hook positioning and reduces installation steps while maintaining structural integrity through factory-applied secure attachments.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixed flat extensions act as intermediary elements between the suspended LED panel and the ceiling grid structure. These extensions distribute the load across multiple contact points on the grid flanges, enhancing structural stability while maintaining the simplified suspension approach. The retractable supports serve as temporary intermediaries during installation to provide additional stabilization.
3Manufacturing precision
If fixed flat extensions are used to hold the LED panel on the ceiling grid, then positioning precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fixed flat extensions serve multiple functions: they provide positioning reference surfaces for precise alignment with the ceiling grid flanges, act as load distribution elements for structural stability, and serve as attachment points for the retractable supports. This multi-functionality achieves precise positioning without requiring separate complex positioning mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixed flat extensions are constructed from the same material and integrated seamlessly with the LED panel frame structure. This homogeneity maintains structural uniformity and simplifies manufacturing compared to attaching separate positioning components, achieving precision positioning without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
4Ease of operation
If retractable supports are extended for holding the LED panel, then installation ease is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retractable supports enable installers to quickly extend support structures during positioning and then rapidly retract them once the panel is secured to the ceiling grid. This skipping approach allows for fast deployment and removal of support structures, minimizing the time they are actively involved in the installation process while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The retractable supports are designed to be manually operated by installers without requiring additional tools or complex mechanisms. The supports self-extend and self-retract through simple manual manipulation, allowing installers to quickly deploy and remove support structures without time-consuming adjustment procedures, thus reducing overall installation time while maintaining ease of use.
Data Source
AI summary
Technologies are described for a lighting system configured to be mounted with a ceiling support grid and a method of installation. The lighting system has a rectangular or square LED light panel configured to be hung below the ceiling support grid and transform its outer perimeter from a first outer perimeter to a second outer perimeter, enabling it to be inserted into a ceiling grid and to be held therein. The method of installing an LED light panel in a ceiling support grid comprises hanging the LED light panel below the ceiling support grid.