Horticulture light fixture
View Patent ↗A horticulture light fixture having a secure glass aperture and glass retention frame that is swingably hinged to provide easy and safe maintenance of the fixture and helps facilitate cleaning of the glass. The hinge portion is constructed from sheet metal that is formed during the fabrication of the fixture. The method of construction eliminates the need to install a separate hinge saving manufacturing time and expense. In a preferred embodiment, the glass retention frame is constructed from a single continuous sheet of metal, that is punched or cut into desired dimension and shape, formed or folded to hold a flat piece of glass, and installed using common pins that provide rotational motion for swingably opening and closing of the glass simplifying maintenance of the horticulture light fixture.
1. A horticulture light fixture comprising:
A housing, a first endplate, a second endplate, a glass retention frame, a glass portion, a first hinge pin, second hinge pin, and securing means;
The housing having an open bottom, a first open end, and second open end;
The first endplate constructed of sheet metal and attaching to the housing, covering the first open end and having a first tab and second tab;
The second endplate constructed of sheet metal and attaching to the housing, covering the second open end;
The first tab having a pivot hole and the second tab having a pivot hole, the pivot holes being axially aligned and axially spaced;
The glass retention frame constructed of sheet metal in size and dimension matching the open bottom, having a first edge, second edge, third edge, and fourth edge, the second edge and fourth edge being of length greater than the distance between the first tab and second tab;
The glass retention frame having a first flange constructed along the first edge against the second edge;
The glass retention frame having a second flange constructed along the third edge against the second edge;
The first flange having a pivot hole and the second flange having a pivot hole, the pivot holes being axially aligned;
The first flange pivot hole and first tab pivot hole being axially aligned and axially spaced to receive the first hinge pin through the first flange pivot hole and through the first tab pivot hole, providing rotation of the first flange around the axis of the first hinge pin;
The second flange pivot hole and second tab pivot hole being axially aligned and axially spaced to receive the second hinge pin through the second flange pivot hole and through the second tab pivot hole, providing rotation of the second flange around the axis of the second hinge pin;
Said glass portion fittingly rests within said glass retention frame;
Said glass portion and glass retention frame swings about the axis of the hinge pins covering the open bottom, attaching by securing means to the housing, first endplate, second endplate, or first and second endplates.
2. A horticulture light fixture comprising:
A housing, a first endplate, a second endplate, a glass retention frame, a glass portion, a first hinge pin, second hinge pin, and securing means;
The housing having an open bottom, a first open end, and second open end;
The first endplate constructed of sheet metal and attaching to the housing, covering the first open end and having a first tab;
The second endplate constructed of sheet metal and attaching to the housing, covering the second open end and having a second tab;
The first tab having a pivot hole and the second tab having a pivot hole, the pivot holes being axially aligned and axially spaced;
The glass retention frame constructed of sheet metal in size and dimension to cover the open bottom, having a first edge, second edge, third edge, and fourth edge, the second edge and fourth edge being of length greater than the distance between the first tab and second tab;
The glass retention frame having a first flange constructed along the first edge against the second edge;
The glass retention frame having a second flange constructed along the third edge against the second edge;
The first flange having a pivot hole and the second flange having a pivot hole, the pivot holes being axially aligned;
The first flange pivot hole and first tab pivot hole being axially aligned and axially spaced to receive the first hinge pin through the first flange pivot hole and through the first tab pivot hole, providing rotation of the first flange around the axis of the first hinge pin;
The second flange pivot hole and second tab pivot hole being axially aligned and axially spaced to receive the second hinge pin through the second flange pivot hole and through the second tab pivot hole, providing rotation of the second flange around the axis of the second hinge pin;
Said glass portion fittingly rests within said glass retention frame;
Said glass portion and glass retention frame swings about the axis of the hinge pins covering the open bottom, attaching by securing means to the housing or first endplate or second endplate, or first and second endplates.
3. A sheet metal hinge assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the glass retention frame is constructed from a single continuous sheet of metal.
4. A sheet metal hinge assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the first endplate, second endplate, or both first endplate and second endplate is constructed from a single sheet of metal.