Surface-Mounted Lighting Fixture With Spring Clamps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lighting fixtures for architectural surfaces are bulky, difficult to install, and require excessive clearance, often necessitating reframing and interfering with other structural elements, while also suffering from socket shadow issues that create light variations.
Innovation Solution
A lighting fixture design featuring a base plate with diametrically opposed mounting brackets and clamps with spring sections that bias the light source, allowing for easy insertion and removal, and automatic centering, which maintains a slim profile and minimizes interference with surrounding structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional lighting fixtures are used to secure light sources to architectural surfaces, then the light sources can be held in place, but the fixtures require excessive clearance space and necessitate reframing of architectural structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional deep recessed fixture design to a surface-mounted fixture that utilizes the architectural surface plane. The mounting bracket attaches to the front surface of the architectural feature, and the light source is secured horizontally within a shallow receptacle, effectively changing the dimensional approach from depth-based to surface-based installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixture is divided into separate functional components: a mounting bracket that attaches to the architectural surface, a receptacle that holds the light source, and spring clamps that secure the light source. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, resulting in a shallower overall profile while maintaining secure light source retention.
2Reliability
If conventional lighting fixtures are installed in architectural surfaces, then light sources can be secured, but the installation process becomes overly difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket is pre-assembled with the receptacle and spring clamps before installation. The spring clamps are pre-positioned within the receptacle, and the entire assembly is attached to the architectural surface as a single unit. This preliminary assembly eliminates complex field installation steps and reduces installation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring clamps provide dynamic, self-adjusting retention for the light source. The spring mechanism automatically accommodates slight variations in light source dimensions and provides continuous contact pressure, ensuring secure retention without requiring precise manual adjustment during installation.
3Reliability
If conventional lighting fixtures are used, then light sources can be held securely, but socket shadow effects create light variations on the lens or louver
Solution Approach 1:
The light source is extracted from a deep recessed position and placed in a shallow receptacle at the surface level. This extraction eliminates the deep cavity that causes socket shadow effects, allowing light to emit more uniformly from the fixture face without being blocked by surrounding structural elements.
Solution Approach 2:
By repositioning the light source from a deep vertical recess to a shallow horizontal mounting configuration, the patent changes the dimensional relationship between the light source and the architectural surface. This dimensional change eliminates the shadow-casting geometry while maintaining secure light source retention through the spring clamp mechanism.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional fixtures are installed, then lighting functionality is achieved, but excessive framing and structural modifications are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for deep vertical framing by transitioning to a surface-mounted configuration. The mounting bracket attaches to the existing architectural surface plane, requiring only minimal structural preparation such as surface mounting holes, rather than the extensive reframing and depth creation needed for conventional recessed fixtures.
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 solution enables quick and easy installation and removal of light sources, reduces the need for additional framing, and minimizes light variations by ensuring proper alignment and secure retention within the fixture.
Implementation Method 1
a spring section disposed between the base end and the grip portion and sized to receive a first edge of the light source, the spring section being configured to bias the first edge of the light source toward the base plate
Data Source
AI summary
Lighting fixtures (20) for attachment to architectural surface structures are adapted to hold light sources (100). The lighting fixtures (20) may include a base plate (32) and mounting brackets (34A, 34B). Clamps (80) are provided that may bias the light source (100) in either the forward or rearward direction. The clamps (80) may include spring arms (92) that center the light source (100) within the fixture (20) in addition to retaining the light source (100) in place. The fixtures (20) may further accommodate overlying structures, such as lenses (350). The lighting fixtures facilitate use with a variety of different architectural structures and formation in various shapes.