IP Library Granted Patent US 12680678
Granted Patent B2
US 12680678 · App. 19/090,491 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Apparatus, method, and system for providing a continuous spring force on a horizontally and vertically movable device

Inventors: Peter K. Nelson (New Braunfels, TX); Brian Beck (Spring Branch, TX)
Assignee: Lucifer Lighting Company
F21V19/04F21S8/026F21V21/03
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12680678
App. No.
19/090,491
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A light fixture assembly includes a carriage having a first side wall having a first opening therethrough, and a second side wall disposed opposite and spaced from the first side wall. A light assembly disposed at least partially within and coupled to the first side wall of the carriage. A spring is fixedly coupled to the second side wall extending between the second side wall and the light assembly. The spring is partially compressed by the light assembly while allowing horizontal and vertical movement of at least a portion of the light assembly.

Claims (33)

1 . A light fixture assembly comprising:

a carriage comprising a first side wall having a first opening therethrough, and a second side wall disposed opposite and spaced from the first side wall;

a light assembly disposed at least partially within and coupled to the carriage, said light assembly comprising a heat sink;

the heat sink comprising a spring channel; and

a spring fixedly coupled to the second side wall extending between the second side wall and the light assembly, the spring at least partially disposed in the spring channel and partially compressed by the heat sink while allowing horizontal and vertical movement of at least a portion of the heat sink.

2 . The light fixture assembly of claim 1 wherein the first side wall comprises a bottom side wall and the second side wall comprises a top side wall.

3 . The light fixture assembly of claim 2 wherein the spring comprises a first end coupled to the top side wall and a second end spaced apart from the second end coupled to the top side wall.

4 . The light fixture assembly of claim 3 wherein the first end comprises a first mounting flange and the second end comprises a second mounting flange.

5 . The light fixture assembly of claim 4 wherein the first mounting flange and the second mounting flange are coupled to the top side wall by fasteners.

6 . The light fixture assembly of claim 5 wherein the first mounting flange comprise a first laterally extending wall extending therefrom and the second mounting flange comprises a second laterally extending wall extending therefrom.

7 . The light fixture assembly of claim 6 wherein the first laterally extending wall and the second laterally extending wall comprises a first spring band and a second spring band of the spring extending therebetween.

8 . The light fixture assembly of claim 7 wherein the first spring band and the second spring band are compressed by the heat sink when the light assembly is assembled within the carriage.

9 . The light fixture assembly of claim 8 wherein the first spring band and the second spring band comprise at least an inch long portion contacting the heat sink.

10 . The light fixture assembly of claim 9 wherein the first spring band and the second spring band are compressed by the heat sink of the light assembly when the light assembly is assembled within the carriage.

11 . The light fixture assembly of claim 10 wherein the first spring band and the second spring band are disposed in channels of the heat sink.

12 . The light fixture assembly of claim 10 wherein the first spring band and the second spring band are disposed in longitudinally extending channels of the heat sink.

13 . A light fixture assembly comprising:

a carriage comprising a first side wall having a first opening therethrough, and a second side wall disposed opposite and spaced from the first side wall;

a light assembly disposed at least partially within and coupled to the first side wall of the carriage, the light assembly comprising a heat sink; and

a spring comprising a first laterally extending wall fixedly coupled to the second side wall and a second laterally extending wall coupled to the second side wall spaced apart from the first laterally extending wall, the spring comprising a first spring band and a second spring band spaced apart from the first spring band and extending between the first laterally extending wall and the second laterally extending wall, the first spring band and the second spring band partially compressed by the heat sink while allowing horizontal and vertical movement of the heat sink.

14 . The light fixture assembly of claim 13 wherein the heat sink comprises a plurality of channels, the first spring band received in a first channel of the plurality of channels and the second spring band is received in a second channel of the plurality of channels.

15 . The light fixture assembly of claim 14 wherein the first channel and the second channel a longitudinally extending.

16 . The light fixture assembly of claim 14 wherein the second side wall comprises a top side wall and further comprising fasteners coupling the first laterally extending wall and the second laterally extending wall to the top side wall.

17 . The light fixture assembly of claim 14 wherein the first laterally extending wall, the second laterally extending wall, the first spring band and the second spring band are monolithic.

18 . A method for forming a light fixture assembly having a carriage comprising at least a first side wall spaced apart from a second side wall comprising:

providing a spring comprising a first laterally extending wall fixedly coupled to the second side wall and a second laterally extending wall coupled to the second side wall spaced apart from the first laterally extending wall, the spring comprising a first spring band and a second spring band spaced apart from the first spring band and extending between the first laterally extending wall and the second laterally extending wall;

receiving at least a portion of the first spring band and the second spring band within respective spring channels of a heat sink;

partially compressing the first spring band and the second spring band by the heat sink;

thermally coupling a light engine assembly to the heat sink, the heat sink at least partially disposed within the carriage; and

coupling a baffle to the light fixture assembly.

19 . The method of claim 18 further comprising removing a baffle from the carriage; and

moving the heat sink with a horizontal and vertical movement within the carriage against a spring force provided by the first spring band and the second spring band.

20 . The method of claim 18 further comprising coupling a glare mask adjacent to the baffle or providing the baffle formed of a flexible material.