DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to lighting devices, and more particularly, to frame clips for a lighting assembly.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, lighting devices such as cove lights or any form of suspended lights are installed in various places such as residential buildings and commercial buildings. The installation of the lighting devices is generally performed on a wall or ceiling of the building. On the other hand, the suspended lights may be attached to a separate structure using a cord or a chain.

The conventional lighting devices include a set of frame clips which are used to hold a light source of the lighting devices in place. For instance, the set of frame clips includes standalone/individual frame clips placed on opposite ends of a housing assembly of the lighting devices. Each of the set of the frame clips combination of the two parts is used to lock and secure the light source in place. The frame clips often may be disadvantageous to the lighting device assembly as the manufacturing and assembly of the frame clips is a tedious process and both the parts of the frame clips are required to be placed in a predefined orientation. Further, if one of the frame clips is defective, broken, or displaced from the lighting device assembly, the remaining part becomes useless and the lighting device is completely broken.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an improved frame clip assembly to address the aforementioned issues and challenges.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the invention nor intended to determine the scope of the invention.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a frame clip for a lighting device having a first housing member and a second housing member is disclosed. The frame clip includes a base element and at least a pair of clipping elements. The base element is attached to a bottom wall of the first housing member. The at least pair of clipping elements extend orthogonally from opposite edges of the base element. Further, the pair of clipping elements engage with the base element adapted to be attached to the bottom wall of the first housing member the second housing member to couple the first housing member with the second housing member.

In another embodiment of the disclosure, a lighting device is disclosed. The lighting device includes a housing assembly, at least one light source, a diffuser, and a frame clip. The housing assembly includes a first housing member and a second housing member attached to each other. Further, the at least one light source is disposed on the second housing member. Moreover, the diffuser is mounted on the second housing member and conceals the at least one light source. Furthermore, the frame clip includes a base element and at least a pair of clipping elements. The base element is attached to a bottom wall of the first housing member. The at least pair of clipping elements extend orthogonally from opposite edges of the base element. Further, the pair of clipping elements engage with the second housing member to couple the first housing member with the second housing member.

To further clarify the advantages and features of the present disclosure, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a lighting device, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of a first housing member with a plurality of frame clips, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figures 3A and 3B illustrate different perspective views of the frame clip, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 4 illustrates a top planar view of a portion of the first housing member with the frame clip, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Figure 5 illustrates a sectional front view of the first housing member with the frame clip, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

The term “some” as used herein is defined as “none, or one, or more than one, or all.” Accordingly, the terms “none,” “one,” “more than one,” “more than one, but not all” or “all” would all fall under the definition of “some.” The term “some embodiments” may refer to no embodiments or to one embodiment or to several embodiments or to all embodiments. Accordingly, the term “some embodiments” is defined as meaning “no embodiment, or one embodiment, or more than one embodiment, or all embodiments.”

The terminology and structure employed herein are for describing, teaching and illuminating some embodiments and their specific features and elements and do not limit, restrict or reduce the spirit and scope of the claims or their equivalents.

More specifically, any terms used herein such as but not limited to “includes,” “comprises,” “has,” “consists,” and grammatical variants thereof do NOT specify an exact limitation or restriction and certainly do NOT exclude the possible addition of one or more features or elements, unless otherwise stated, and furthermore must NOT be taken to exclude the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements, unless otherwise stated with the limiting language “MUST comprise” or “NEEDS TO include.”

Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once, either way, it may still be referred to as “one or more features” “one or more elements” “at least one feature” or “at least one element.” Furthermore, the use of the terms “one or more” or “at least one” feature or element does NOT preclude there being none of that feature or element, unless otherwise specified by limiting language such as “there NEEDS to be one or more . . . ” or “one or more element is REQUIRED.”

Unless otherwise defined, all terms, and especially any technical and/or scientific terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having an ordinary skill in the art.

Reference is made herein to some “embodiments.” It should be understood that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements presented in the attached claims. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of illuminating one or more of the potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements of the attached claims fulfil the requirements of uniqueness, utility, and non-obviousness.

Use of the phrases and/or terms such as but not limited to “a first embodiment,” “a further embodiment,” “an alternate embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “multiple embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “other embodiments,” “a further embodiment”, “furthermore embodiment”, “additional embodiment” or variants thereof do NOT necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more particular features and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be found in one embodiment or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may be found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one or more features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a single embodiment, or alternatively in the context of more than one embodiment, or further alternatively in the context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements may instead be provided separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any feature and/or element described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.

Any particular and all details set forth herein are used in the context of some embodiments and therefore should NOT be necessarily taken as limiting factors to the attached claims. The attached claims and their legal equivalents can be realized in the context of embodiments other than the ones used as illustrative examples in the description below.

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Further, skilled artisans will appreciate those elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the flow charts illustrate the method in terms of the most prominent steps involved to help to improve understanding of aspects of the present disclosure. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a lighting device 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of a first housing member 102-1 with a plurality of frame clips 112, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For the sake of brevity, Figure 1 and Figure 2 have been explained together.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the lighting device 100 may be employed for illuminating an area. The lighting device 100 may be embodied as one of a cove light, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Further, the lighting device 100 may include, but is not limited to, a housing assembly 102, at least one light source 108, a diffuser 110, and a frame clip 112. The housing assembly 102 may mount the at least one light source 108 and accommodate an electrical assembly (not shown) along with the plurality of frame clips 112. The electrical assembly may include, but is not limited to, a driver which may be used to supply power to the at least one light source 108. The housing assembly 102 may include the first housing member 102-1 and a second housing member 102-2. The first housing member 102-1 may be made of a conductive material and the second housing member 102-2 may be made of a metal or a plastic enabling the second housing member 102-2 to fit into the housing assembly 102.

Further, the diffuser 110 may be mounted on the housing assembly 102 and may be made up of, but not limited to, a translucent material which may be used to cover the at least one light source 108 in order to diffuse the light illuminating from the at least one light source 108. The diffuser 110 may facilitate creating uniform illumination in a predefined area by equal distribution of light from the at least one light source 108.

Moreover, the at least one light source 108 is disposed on the second housing member 102-2. The at least one light source 108 may be embodied as one of a Light Emitting Diode (LED), without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The at least one light source 108 may be used for illuminating a predefined area by diffusion of light using the diffuser 110.

Figures 3A and 3B illustrate different perspective views of the frame clip 112, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 4 illustrates a top planar view of a portion of the first housing member 102-1 with the frame clip 112, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 5 illustrates a sectional front view of the first housing member 102-1 with the frame clip 112, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. For the sake of brevity, Figure 3A and Figure 5 have been explained together.

The lighting device 100 may include the frame clips 112 adapted to couple the first housing member 102-1 and the second housing member 102-2. The frame clips 112 may be used to hold the at least one light source 108 within the housing assembly 102. The frame clips 112 may be a form of a spring lock which may be fabricated using 0.5 mm sheet of stainless steel. The frame clips 112, may include, but are not limited to, a base element 302, at least a pair of clipping elements 308, and acceptors 314.

The base element 302 may be attached to a bottom wall 104 of the first housing member 102-1 using an engaging portion 304 therethrough. The base element 302 may include a first planar portion 302-1, a second planar portion 302-2, a protruded portion, and a hole 306. The first planar portion 302-1 and the second planar portion 302-2 may be disposed parallelly extending from each of the at least pair of clipping elements 308. Moreover, the protruded portion may be disposed between the first planar portion 302-1 and the second planar portion 302-2. The protruded portion is defined as an engaging potion 304 having the hole 306. Furthermore, the protruded portion may be non-coplanar with respect to the first planar portion 302-1 and the second planar portion 302-2. The hole 306 may receive a fastening member to couple the engaging portion 304 of the base element 302 with the bottom wall 104 of the first housing member 102-1.

In an embodiment, the pair of clipping elements 308 may extend from parallel edges of the base element 302 alongside the walls of the first housing member 102-1. Each clipping element 308 may include a reinforcing portion 310 extending orthogonally from one of the edges of the base element 302. The base element 302 along with the pair of clipping elements 308 may form a U-shaped structure which may be coherent with the structure of the housing assembly 102. Further, each clipping element 308 may include an engaging portion 312 inclined at a predefined angle with respect to the reinforcing portion 310. The engaging portion 312 may be attached to an acceptor 314.

Further, the acceptor 314 may have a Z-shaped structure which may be used for securing the frame clips 112 in place with the housing assembly 102. The acceptor 314 may be adapted to be engaged with a groove formed in the second housing member 102-2 to attach the first housing member 102-1 with the second housing member 102-2 via the frame clip 112. The acceptor 314 having a flexible structure adapted to clip onto and engage with the groove of the second housing member 102-2.

According to this disclosure, the frame clips 112 is a single clip and facilitates the fabrication and assembling of the lighting device 100 as the fabrication of a single part is easier and assembling of a single part is plain sailing as compared to the conventional frame clips. Further, the frame clips 112 may be used to improve the maintenance frequency of the lighting device 100 as a single clip is easier to replace in case of any damage, or defect. Due to the reduced maintenance and easier assembly the frame clip 112 becomes cost-effective.

While specific language has been used to describe the present subject matter, any limitations arising on account thereto, are not intended. As would be apparent to a person in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein. The drawings and the foregoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment.
,CLAIMS:1. A frame clip (112) for a lighting device (100) having a first housing member (102-1) and a second housing member (102-2), the frame clip (112) comprising:
a base element (302) adapted to be attached to a bottom wall (104) of the first housing member (102-1); and
at least a pair of clipping elements (308) extending orthogonally from opposite edges of the base element (302),
wherein the pair of clipping elements (308) is adapted to be engaged with the second housing member (102-2) to couple the first housing member (102-1) with the second housing member (102-2).

2. The frame clip (112) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base element (302) comprises:
a first planar portion (302-1) extending from at least one of the pair of clipping elements (308);
a second planar portion (302-2) disposed parallelly to the first planar portion (302-1) and extending from at least one of the pair of clipping elements (308); and
a protruded portion disposed between the first planar portion (302-1) and the second planar portion (302-2), the protruded portion is defined as an engaging potion (304) having a hole (306).

3. The frame clip (112) as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2, wherein the engaging portion (304) having the hole (306) adapted to receive a fastening member to couple the base element (302) with the bottom wall (104) of the first housing member (102-1).

4. The frame clip (112) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each clipping element (308) comprises:
a reinforcing portion (310) extending orthogonally from one of the edges of the base element (302); and
an engaging portion (312) extending from the reinforcing portion (310) and inclined at an angle with respect to the reinforcing portion (310).

5. The frame clip (112) as claimed in claim 3, the engaging portion (312) comprises:
an acceptor (314) adapted to be engaged with a groove formed in the second housing member (102-2) to attach the first housing member (102-1) with the second housing member (102-2) via the frame clip (112).

6. The frame clip (112) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the acceptor (314) having a predefined Z-shape adapted to facilitate attachment of the first housing member (102-1) and the second housing member (102-2).

7. The frame clip (112) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the acceptor (314) having a flexible structure adapted to clip onto and engage with the groove of the second housing member (102-2).

8. A lighting device (100) comprising:
a housing assembly (102) having a first housing member (102-1) and a second housing member (102-2) adapted to be attached to each other;
at least one light source (108) disposed on the second housing member (102-2);
a diffuser (110) adapted to be mounted on the second housing member (102-2) and conceal the at least one light source (108); and
a frame clip (112) for the lighting device (100) having the first housing member (102-1) and the second housing member (102-2), the frame clip (112) comprising:
a base element (302) adapted to be attached to a bottom wall (104) of the first housing member (102-1); and
at least a pair of clipping elements (308) extending orthogonally from opposite edges of the base element (302),
wherein the pair of clipping elements (308) is adapted to be engaged with the second housing member (102-2) to couple the first housing member (102-1) with the second housing member (102-2).