DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a housing for a lighting apparatus. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to the housing capable of accommodating flexible configurations of the lighting apparatus.

BACKGROUND

Typically, a lighting apparatus has a specific design and dimension. The lighting apparatus thus requires specific moulds, tools, and production processes to manufacture in a desired configuration. However, sometimes to satisfy customer's specific requirements the lighting apparatus may have multiple variants requiring different moulds, tools, and production processes. Sometimes, there can be changes in customer orders, such as modifications or cancellations, that significantly impact production schedules and inventory management. This not only leads to increased production costs, longer lead times, and challenges in inventory management but also has environmental implications thereby contributing to increased waste generation and resource consumption. Further, maintaining inventory for different housing types can escalate costs and create storage challenges. Manufacturers often struggle to adjust to the last-minute changes leading to further delays in order fulfilment and potential customer dissatisfaction.

Moreover, specialized production processes for each housing variant limit the scalability of the manufacturing operations. Hence, it is difficult to increase the production capacity or introduce new housing designs due to the need for additional moulds, tools, and equipment thereby hindering the ability of manufacturers to respond effectively to the growing market demands or introduce innovative housing solutions. Additionally, managing multiple housing variants can complicate quality control processes. Ensuring consistent quality across different housing types requires meticulous monitoring and testing thereby adding complexity to the production processes thereby increasing the risk of quality.

Therefore, there is a requirement for an improved lighting apparatus that addresses the above-mentioned problems of the existing lighting apparatus.

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 and nor is it intended for determining the scope of the invention.

The present invention relates to a housing for a lighting apparatus. The housing includes a pair of side walls, a first guide rail, and a second guide rail. The pair of side walls are positioned parallel to each other and define a space in between and are adapted to receive one of a first bracket for attaching the lighting apparatus to a ceiling and a second bracket for suspending the lighting apparatus from the ceiling. The first guide rail is disposed longitudinally on an inner surface of each side wall from the pair of side walls and adapted to slidably mount the first bracket. The second guide rail is disposed beneath the first guide rail on the inner surface of each side wall of the pair of side walls and is adapted to slidably mount the second bracket for attaching the lighting apparatus.

The present disclosure provides enhanced flexibility for both suspended and surface-mounted configurations using the same housing design. The housing accommodating both the configurations simplifies a manufacturing process by eliminating a need for multiple housing variants thereby reducing complexity and costs. Additionally, the present invention improves inventory efficiency by reducing the number of housing variants that need to be stored leading to cost savings and better inventory management. The housing enables manufacturers to quickly adapt to changes in customer orders, such as modifications or cancellations, minimizing disruptions and delays in production.

Furthermore, the present invention enhances the scalability by allowing manufacturers to easily scale production to meet varying demands without the need for additional moulds, tools, or equipment. Additionally, the present invention reduces resource wastage by eliminating the need to remake the entire assembly to meet specific customer requests thereby contributing to a more sustainable manufacturing process. The flexibility of the housing also simplifies inventory management problems. Hence, the present disclosure of the housing is a more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solution for manufacturing and customizing lighting apparatus.

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 is 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 with 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 an exploded view of a lighting apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of a housing of the lighting apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of a first bracket, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of the lighting apparatus mounted on the first bracket attached to a ceiling, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 5 illustrates a front view of the lighting apparatus mounted on the first bracket attached to the ceiling, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of a second bracket, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view of the lighting apparatus mounted on the second bracket suspended from the ceiling, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; and

Figure 8 illustrates a front view of the lighting apparatus mounted on the second bracket suspended from the ceiling, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that 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 invention. 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 invention 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.

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 is for describing, teaching, and illuminating some embodiments and their specific features and elements and does 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” or “one or more elements” or “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 do 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 fulfill 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,” “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 features and/or elements 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.

Figure 1 illustrates an exploded view of a lighting apparatus 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure may relate to the lighting apparatus 100 that may be capable of attaching to a ceiling or adapted to be suspended from the ceiling. The lighting apparatus 100 may be easily customized as per a requirement of a customer. The present disclosure provides a customizable lighting solution without a need for extensive manual labour or specialized components. The present disclosure may offer an enhanced flexibility, reduces resource wastage, lowers manufacturing costs, simplifies inventory management, and enhances customer satisfaction.

The lighting apparatus 100 may include a housing 102 that may enclose and protect internal components, such as a light source (not shown), within the lighting apparatus 100. The housing 102 may be manufactured using an extrusion process which may allow for a creation of grooves or channels within the housing 102 thereby eliminating a need for separate parts. The extruded housing 102 may enhance a structural integrity of the housing 102 while providing convenient pathways for wiring or other components thereby streamlining the assembling process and reducing the complexity of the lighting apparatus 100. The housing 102 may be made up of a metal, a plastic, or a combination of both.

The housing 102 for the lighting apparatus 100 may include a pair of side walls 104. The pair of side walls 104 may provide structural support and enclosure for the internal components of the lighting apparatus 100. The pair of side walls 104 may be disposed parallel to each other. The housing 102 may include a platform 106. The platform 106 may be a horizontal slab that may be located between the pair of side walls 104 and may provide a base for the internal components of the lighting apparatus 100, such as a power regulator 108.

In one embodiment, the housing 102 may include an end cap 110. The end cap 110 may be attached to the end of the housing 102 to enclose the internal components disposed within the housing 102 and provide a finished look. The end cap 110 may enhance weatherproofing thereby preventing water ingress and protecting the internal components from environmental hazards. The end cap 110 may be detachably attached to the housing 102 thereby allowing for convenient access to the internal components for maintenance or customization.

Further, the housing 102 may include a pair of sliders 112. The pair of sliders 112 may be disposed longitudinally on an inner surface of the pair of side walls 104. The pair of sliders 112 and the platform 106 may be adapted to detachably attach the end cap 110. Further, the end cap 110 may be fastened orthogonally to a direction of insertion of the end cap 110.

The housing 102 may support the power regulator 108 adapted to be mounted on the platform 106. The power regulator 108 may regulate the power supply of the light source. The power regulator 108 may convert an input electrical power to an appropriate rated voltage and current of the light source thereby ensuring optimal performance and longevity. Further, the housing 102 may accommodate a mounting bracket (shown in Figure 5) to mount a light guide panel assembly 114 ensuring that a light guide panel (LGP) 116 may be properly aligned with the light source and the housing 102. In an embodiment, a first bracket 118 may be used to attach the housing 102 to the ceiling (shown in Figure 4) or another mounting surface. The first bracket 118 may provide a secure and stable mounting thereby ensuring that the lighting apparatus 100 may be properly positioned and supported.

In an embodiment, the light guide panel assembly 114 may include a pair of reflectors 120, a mounting tray 122, and the LGP 116. The mounting tray 122 may mount the light source and other internal components associated with the light source such as a control unit or one or more wires. The LGP 116 may be made from an acrylic or a polycarbonate material. The LGP 116 may have a flat and thin design. The LGP 116 may guide and distribute light emitted from the light source. The reflector 120 may redirect or reflect the emitted light from the light source.

Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the housing 102 of the lighting apparatus 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The housing 102 may have the pair of side walls 104 that and the platform 106 positioned in between the pair of side walls 104. The platform 106 may divide the housing 102 in two sections i.e., an upper section 202 and a lower section 204. The upper section 202 may be located above the platform 106 and may be formed by the extension of the pair of side walls 104. The upper section 202 may provide an additional space or functionality within the housing 102 for accommodating components or features of the lighting apparatus 100. The lower section 204 may be located below the platform 106. In an embodiment, the upper section 202 and the lower section 204 may have the pair of sliders 112 disposed on the pair of side walls 104. The lower section 204 may be adapted to receive the mounting bracket (shown in Figure 5) to mount the light guide panel assembly 114 therewithin.

In an embodiment, the pair of side walls 104 may be positioned parallel to each other and may have a space in between and is adapted to receive the first bracket 118 for attaching the lighting apparatus 100 to the ceiling or a second bracket (shown in Figure 6) for suspending the lighting apparatus 100 from the ceiling. The pair of sliders 112 disposed in the upper section 202 may include a first guide rail 206 and a second guide rail 208. The first guide rail 206 may be disposed longitudinally on an inner surface of each of the side wall from the pair of side walls 104 and may be adapted to slidably mount the first bracket 118. The second guide rail 208 may be disposed beneath the first guide rail 206 on the inner surface of each side wall of the pair of side walls 104 and may be adapted to slidably mount the second bracket (shown in figure 6) for attaching the lighting apparatus 100. The first guide rail 206 and the second guide rail 208 may have an intermediate gap 210 to accommodate a portion of the first bracket 118 therewithin. The first guide rail 206 may have a T-shaped profile and the second guide rail 208 may have an L-shaped profile that conforms with the contours of the first bracket 118 and the second bracket (shown in Figure 6) respectively.

Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of the first bracket 118, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of the lighting apparatus 100 mounted on the first bracket 118 attached to the ceiling 402, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 5 illustrates a front view of the lighting apparatus 100 mounted on the first bracket 118 attached to the ceiling 402, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The first bracket 118 may have a base portion 302 and a pair of mounting flanges extending orthogonally from opposite sides of the base portion 302. Each of the pair of mounting flanges may have a first portion 304a, a second portion 304b, and a notch portion 304c positioned between the first portion 304a and the second portion 304b. The notch portion 304c may be bent outwardly away from a centre of the first bracket 118 to form a V-shaped profile that bulges outwardly. Further, the first bracket 118 may have a plurality of reinforcement ribs inwardly recessed for providing additional strength and stability to the first bracket 118. Also, the first bracket 118 has a plurality of slots 308 for attaching the first bracket 118 to the ceiling 402 with the help of a fastener.

In an embodiment, the first guide rail 206 and the second guide rail 208 may be adapted to slidably couple with the first bracket 118. The first guide rail 206 may be adapted to abut the first portion 304a of the first bracket 118. The second guide rail 208 may be adapted to abut to the second portion 304b of the first bracket 118. The intermediate gap 210 may be adapted to receive the notch portion 304c of the first bracket 118. In an embodiment, the lower section 204 may be adapted to receive a mounting bracket 502 to mount the LGP assembly 114 therewithin.

Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of the second bracket 600, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view of the lighting apparatus 100 mounted on the second bracket 600 suspended from the ceiling 402, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 8 illustrates a front view of the lighting apparatus 100 mounted on the second bracket 600 suspended from the ceiling 402, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

In an embodiment, the second bracket 600 may have a base 602 and an engagement portion 604 extending orthogonally from the opposite sides of the base 602 and outwardly bulging away from a center of the second bracket 600. The second bracket 600 may further have at least one hole 608 adapted to attach with a suspension string 702 through a fastener 704 to suspend the housing 102 of the lighting apparatus 100 from the ceiling 402. Further, the engagement portion 604 may have ribs formed on an outer surface to provide additional strength and stability to the second bracket 600. The engagement portion 604 may be adapted to slidably mount the housing 102 by engaging with the second guide rail 208. The base 602 of the second bracket 600 may rest on a top surface of the upper section 202.

The present disclosure provides enhanced flexibility for both suspended and surface-mounted configurations using the same housing 102. The housing 102 simplifies a manufacturing process by eliminating a need for multiple housing variants thereby reducing complexity and costs. Additionally, the present invention improves an inventory efficiency by reducing a number of housing variants that need to be stored leading to cost savings and better inventory management. The housing 102 enables manufacturers to quickly adapt to changes in customer orders, such as modifications or cancellations, minimizing disruptions and delays in production.

Furthermore, the present disclosure enhances scalability by allowing manufacturers to easily scale production to meet varying demands without the need for additional moulds, tools, or equipment. Additionally, the present disclosure reduces resource wastage by eliminating a need to remake entire assembly to meet specific customer requests thereby contributing to a more sustainable manufacturing process. The flexibility of the housing 102 of the present disclosure also simplifies inventory management problem. Hence, the present disclosure is a more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solution for manufacturing and customizing lighting apparatus.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one 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.

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 to implement the inventive concept as taught herein. The drawings and the forgoing 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 housing (102) for a lighting apparatus (100), the housing (102) comprising:
a pair of side walls (104) positioned parallel to each other and defining a space in between and is adapted to receive one of a first bracket (118) for attaching the lighting apparatus (100) to a ceiling (402) and a second bracket (600) for suspending the lighting apparatus (100) from the ceiling (402);
a first guide rail (206) disposed longitudinally on an inner surface of each side wall from the pair of side walls (104) and adapted to slidably mount on the first bracket (118); and
a second guide rail (208) disposed beneath the first guide rail (206) on the inner surface of each side wall of the pair of side walls (104) and adapted to slidably mount on the second bracket (600).

2. The housing (102) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a platform (106) disposed within the space connecting the pair of side walls (104) with each other, wherein the platform (106) divides the housing (102) in an upper section (202) adapted to receive one of the first bracket (118) and the second bracket (600), and a lower section (204) adapted to receive a mounting bracket (502) to mount a light guide panel (LGP) assembly (114) therewithin.

3. The housing (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first guide rail (206) and the second guide rail (208) have an intermediate gap (210).

4. The housing (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first guide rail (206) has a T-shaped profile, and the second guide rail (208) has an L-shaped profile.

5. The housing (102) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first guide rail (206) is adapted to abut to a first portion (304a) of the first bracket (118), the second guide rail (208) is adapted to abut to a second portion (304b) of the first bracket (118), and the intermediate gap (210) is adapted to receive a notch portion (304c) of the first bracket (118).

6. The housing (102) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second guide rail (208) is adapted to fit an engagement portion (604) of the second bracket (600) such that a base (602) of the second bracket (600) is adapted to rests on a top surface of the upper section (202).