Lighting fixture
A lighting fixture that can be installed in a ceiling or retrofitted into a ceiling containing ceiling tiles mounted in a grid, while providing a more pleasing aesthetic appearance than prior art lighting fixtures.
1. A light fixture comprising:
a heat sink having a heat sink length, a base wall extending along the heat sink length having a first side edge, a second side edge opposite the first side edge, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, an inside surface, and an outside surface, a first depending side wall extending from the first side edge of the base wall along the heat sink length, and a second depending side wall extending from the second side edge of the base wall along the heat sink length;
each of the first and second depending sidewalls having a lower end portion extending inward toward each other along the heat sink length;
a driver housing assembly affixed to the outside surface of the heat sink, the driver housing assembly comprising a driver, a housing, and a cover, wherein the driver is housed within a cavity defined by the housing and the cover;
at least one light emitting diode (LED) affixed to the inside surface of the heat sink and in electrical communication with the driver;
a substantially planar lens received within the heat sink along the lower end portions of the first and second depending side walls and extending over the at least one LED;
a first end cap attached to the heat sink at the first end;
a second end cap attached to the heat sink at the second end, and
at least one panel affixed to and extending from at least one of the first and second depending side walls.
2. The light fixture of claim 1 whereby the light fixture is configured to be installed within a two foot by two foot tray ceiling opening.
3. The light fixture of claim 1 whereby the light fixture is configured to be installed within a two foot by four foot tray ceiling opening.
4. The light fixture of claim 1 further comprising a first frame member affixed to the at least one panel at the first end of the heat sink and a second frame member affixed to the at least one panel at the second end of the heat sink, and whereby the at least one panel angles downward from the heat sink at an angle greater than zero degrees relative to the lens.
5. The light fixture of claim 4 , wherein the first frame member has a shelf portion with a slot, the shelf portion extending outwardly away from the heat sink and substantially coplanar with the lower end portions of the first and second depending side walls;
the second frame member has a shelf portion with a slot, the shelf portion extending outwardly away from the heat sink and substantially coplanar with the lower end portions of the first and second depending side walls;
the first end cap has an offset portion with a tab extending therefrom configured to be receivable within the slot of the shelf portion of the first frame member;
the second end cap has an offset portion with a tab extending therefrom configured to be receivable within the slot of the shelf portion of the second frame member;
wherein the distance between the tabs of the first and second end caps defines a total shelf length; and
whereby the lens has a length less than the total shelf length.
6. The light fixture of claim 5 , wherein the substantially planar lens has a thickness;
the first end cap has a pair of feet configured to contact the shelf portion of the first frame member and define a first distance between the offset portion of the first end cap and the shelf portion of the first frame member;
the second end cap has a pair of feet configured to contact the shelf portion of the second frame member and define a second distance between the offset portion of the second end cap and the shelf portion of the second frame member; and
whereby the thickness of the lens is less than the first distance and less than the second distance.
7. The light fixture of claim 6 , wherein the lens length is greater than or equal to
the
heat
sink
length
+
total
shelf
length
-
heat
sink
length
2
and less than the total shelf length when exposed to an ambient temperature of 27° C.
8. The light fixture of claim 7 , wherein the substantially planar lens is configured to experience a heat expansion of less than or equal to 0.004% the lens length when exposed to heat generated by the light fixture during use.
9. The light fixture of claim 4 , wherein the first frame member has a shelf portion, the shelf portion extending inwardly into the heat sink and substantially coplanar with the lower end portions of the first and second depending side walls;
the second frame member has a shelf portion, the shelf portion extending inwardly into the heat sink and substantially coplanar with the lower end portions of the first and second depending side walls; and
whereby the substantially planar lens has a length greater than the total opening length and less than the heat sink length.
10. The light fixture of claim 9 , wherein the length of the substantially planar lens is greater than or equal to
heat
sink
length
324
L
-
heat
sink
length
324
L
-
total
opening
length
370
2
and less than the heat sink length when exposed to an ambient temperature of 27° C.
11. The light fixture of claim 10 , wherein the substantially planar lens is configured to experience a heat expansion of less than or equal to 0.004% the length of the lens when exposed to heat generated by the light fixture during use.