DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to lighting apparatuses and more particularly, relates to an emergency lighting apparatus.

BACKGROUND

With the advancement in technology, various lighting apparatuses are employed with a primary power source and an alternative power source. Generally, a lighting apparatus operates on power supplied from the primary power source. Although, when the power supply from the primary power source is interrupted, then the lighting apparatus receives power from the alternative power source, such as a battery, to illuminate light sources. During a prolonged period of operation of the battery, heat may be generated within the lighting apparatus which may lead to temperature fluctuations within such lighting apparatus. Owing to such temperature fluctuations, the lighting apparatus may be subjected to overheating which may further lead to failure of various sub-components, such as the light sources, of the lighting apparatus. This may also result in substantial reduction in overall service life of the lighting apparatus.

Therefore, it is essential to fix the battery in a specific position within the lighting device in order to effectively dissipate heat generated during operation of the battery. Generally, the lighting device can be positioned at different locations, such as a roof and a wall, for illuminating the area in vicinity of such lighting device. Based on the positioning of the lighting device, the battery is to be fixed at the specific location within the lighting device to effectively dissipate heat from the battery. Therefore, the provisions provided for fixing the battery in the lighting device to be positioned on the roof are different from the provisions provided for fixing the battery in the lighting device to be positioned on the wall. This substantially increases overall manufacturing cost of the lighting device.

Therefore, there is a need for an emergency lighting apparatus with improved heat dissipation from the battery.

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.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, an emergency lighting apparatus is disclosed. The emergency lighting apparatus includes a housing member defining a channel and having a top wall and a bottom wall. Further, the emergency lighting apparatus includes at least one light source disposed on the top wall of the housing member. The emergency lighting apparatus includes a driver circuit connected to the at least one light source and disposed within the channel of the housing member. The driver circuit is supported on the bottom wall of the housing member. Further, the emergency lighting apparatus includes a rechargeable battery disposed within the channel of the housing member. The rechargeable battery is adapted to be connected to the driver circuit to supply power to the driver circuit in an emergency mode. The rechargeable battery is adapted to be in contact with the housing member and to be laterally moved within the housing member based on an inclination of the housing member

To further clarify the advantages and features of the present invention, 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 invention 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 1a illustrates a top view of an emergency lighting apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 1b illustrates a side view of the emergency lighting apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

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

Figure 2b illustrates a cross-sectional view of the emergency lighting apparatus taken along an axis A-A’ of the Figure 1a, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 3a illustrates a cross-sectional view of the emergency lighting apparatus depicting a housing member and a cover member, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 3b illustrates a cross-sectional view of the housing member of the emergency lighting apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 4 illustrates another cross-sectional view of the emergency lighting apparatus taken along an axis B-B’ of the Figure 1a, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 5a illustrates a cross-sectional view of the emergency lighting apparatus positioned on a vertical surface, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

Figure 5b illustrates a cross-sectional view of the emergency lighting apparatus positioned on a horizontal surface, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have been 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 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 ordinary skills 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,” “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 invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1a illustrates a top view of an emergency lighting apparatus 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 1b illustrates a side view of the emergency lighting apparatus 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The emergency lighting apparatus 100 may interchangeably be referred to as the lighting apparatus 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The lighting apparatus 100 may be adapted to be operated in one of a regular mode and an emergency mode to illuminate an area in vicinity of the lighting apparatus 100. In the regular mode, the lighting apparatus 100 may be adapted to receive electrical power from a primary power source, such as Alternating Current (AC) source. In the emergency mode, the lighting apparatus 100 may be adapted to receive electrical power from an alternative power source, such as a rechargeable battery.

In an embodiment, the lighting apparatus 100 may be embodied as a lighting batten, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The lighting apparatus 100 may be adapted to be positioned in different orientations to illuminate the area in vicinity of the lighting apparatus 100. In one example, the lighting apparatus 100 may be positioned on a vertical surface, such as a wall. In another example, the lighting apparatus 100 may be positioned on a horizontal surface, such as a roof.

During a prolonged operation of the alternative power source, heat may be dissipated from such alternative power source which might affect overall efficiency of the lighting apparatus 100. Therefore, the alternative power source may be positioned in the lighting apparatus 100 in a manner that the heat is effectively dissipated from the alternative power source irrespective of the inclination of the lighting apparatus 100 on a surface, such as the vertical surface and the horizontal surface. Constructional and operational details of the lighting apparatus 100 are explained in subsequent sections of the present disclosure.

Figure 2a illustrates an exploded view of the lighting apparatus 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2b illustrates a cross-sectional view of the lighting apparatus 100 taken along an axis A-A’ of the Figure 1a, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to Figures 2a and 2b, in the illustrated embodiment, the lighting apparatus 100 may include, but is not limited to, a housing member 202, a cover member 204, at least one light source 206, a driver circuit 208 (shown in Figure 4), and a rechargeable battery 210. The housing member 202 may be adapted to be coupled to the cover member 204. Constructional details of the housing member 202 is explained in subsequent sections of the present disclosure.

Figure 3a illustrates a cross-sectional view of the lighting apparatus 100 depicting the housing member 202 and the cover member 204, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 3b illustrates a cross-sectional view of the housing member 202 of the lighting apparatus 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 4 illustrates another cross-sectional view of the lighting apparatus 100 taken along an axis B-B’ of the Figure 1a, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to Figure 2a, Figure 2b, and Figure 4, the housing member 202 may include a first end 202-1 and a second end 202-2 distal to the first end 202-1. The housing member 202 may define a channel 212 adapted to accommodate various sub-components of the lighting apparatus 100. Referring to Figure 3a and 3b, the housing member 202 may include a top wall 302, a bottom wall 304, and a pair of side walls 306. In an embodiment, the pair of side walls 306 may individually be referred to as the side wall 306-1 and the side wall 306-2, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The top wall 302, the bottom wall 304, and the pair of side walls 306 may define the channel 212 of the housing member 202 to accommodate various sub-components of the lighting apparatus 100.

Referring to Figure 3a, Figure 3b, and Figure 4, the channel 212 may extend from the first end 202-1 to the second end 202-2 along a central axis C-C’ of the housing member 202. In an embodiment, the channel 212 may be adapted to accommodate the driver circuit 208 and the rechargeable battery 210 of the lighting apparatus 100. The top wall 302 may include a first portion 308, an intermediate portion 310 adjacent to the first portion 308, and a second portion 312 adjacent to the intermediate portion 310. The intermediate portion 310 may be projected in a direction towards the central axis C-C’ of the housing member 202. Further, the first portion 308 and the second portion 312 may be inclined at an angle with respect to the intermediate portion 310 of the top wall 302. Such inclination of the first portion 308 and the second portion 312 may allow lateral movement of the rechargeable battery 210 towards the side walls 306 of the housing member 202.

In an embodiment, the top wall 302 may include an inner surface 314 facing towards the bottom wall 304 of the housing member 202 and an outer surface 316 opposite to the inner surface 314. The top wall 302 may be adapted to support the at least one light source 206 of the lighting apparatus 100. In an embodiment, the outer surface 316 of the top wall 302 may be adapted to support the light source 206 of the lighting apparatus 100. In particular, the light source 206 may be supported on the outer surface 316 corresponding to the intermediate portion 310 of the top wall 302. The light source 206 may be adapted to be operated by the driver circuit 308 to illuminate at different level of intensities. In an embodiment, the light source 206 may be embodied as at least one Light Emitting Diode (LED), without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Referring to Figure 2a, Figure 2b, and Figure 3a, the cover member 204 of the lighting apparatus 100 may be adapted to be coupled to the housing member 202. In an embodiment, the cover member 204 may be removably coupled to the housing member 202. The cover member 204 may be adapted to cover the light source 206 disposed on the outer surface 316 of the top wall 302. In an embodiment, the top wall 302 of the housing member 202 may be adapted to dissipate heat generated by the light source 206 during an operation of the lighting apparatus 100.

As mentioned earlier, the driver circuit 208 may be adapted to operate the light source 206 of the lighting apparatus 100. The driver circuit 208 may be connected to the light source 206. The driver circuit 208 may be disposed within the channel 212 of the housing member 202. The driver circuit 208 may be supported on the bottom wall 304 of the housing member 202. In the illustrated embodiment, the driver circuit 208 may be in contact with an inner surface of the bottom wall 304. In an embodiment, the driver circuit 208 may be sandwiched between the inner surface 314 of the top wall 302 and the inner surface of the bottom wall 304. The top wall 302 and the bottom wall 304 may be adapted to dissipate heat generated from the driver circuit 208 during the operation of the lighting apparatus 100.

Further, referring to Figure 2a, Figure 2b, and Figure 4, the rechargeable battery 210, i.e., the alternative power source, may be disposed within the channel 212 of the housing member 202. The rechargeable battery 210 may be adapted to be connected to the driver circuit 208 to supply power to the driver circuit 208 in the emergency mode. In the illustrated embodiment, the rechargeable battery may have a cylindrical shape, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The rechargeable battery 210 may include a first end 210-1 and a second end 210-2 distal from the first end 210-1. The second end 210-2 may be electrically connected to the driver circuit 208.

The rechargeable battery 210 may be adapted to be axially positioned within the channel 212 along the central axis C-C’ of the housing member 202. The rechargeable battery 210 may be adapted to be in contact with the housing member 202. In particular, the rechargeable battery 210 may be adapted to be in contact with at least one of the top wall 302, the bottom wall 304, and the pair of side walls 306 of the housing member 202. The housing member 202 may be adapted to dissipate heat generated from the rechargeable battery 210 during the operation of the lighting apparatus 100 in the emergency mode.

In an embodiment, the rechargeable battery 210 may be adapted to laterally moved within the housing member 202 based on the inclination of the housing member 202. The rechargeable battery 210 may be adapted to contact one of a pair of side surfaces 306 of the housing member 202, when the housing member is inclined parallel to the vertical surface, such as the wall. Further, the rechargeable battery 210 may be adapted to contact the inner surface 314 of the top wall 302 corresponding to the intermediate portion 310, when the housing member 202 is inclined parallel to the horizontal surface, such as the roof. The aforesaid arrangement of the housing member 202 is explained in detail with respect to the description of the Figure 5a and Figure 5b of the present disclosure.

Further, the lighting apparatus 100 may include, but is not limited to, an enclosing member 402 adapted to enclose the rechargeable battery 210 and the driver circuit 208. In an embodiment, the enclosing member 402 may be formed of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The enclosing member 402 may be adapted to be positioned within the channel 212 of the housing member 202. The enclosing member 402 may be adapted to form a frictional contact with the inner surface 314 of the top wall 302 of the housing member 202. In an embodiment, the enclosing member 402 may be adapted to hold the driver circuit 208 within the channel 212 of the housing member 202. This substantially reduces overall assembling cost associated with the lighting apparatus 100 and, increases serviceability of the lighting apparatus 100.

Figure 5a illustrates a cross-sectional view of the lighting apparatus 100 positioned on the vertical surface, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to Figure 5a, the lighting apparatus 100 may be supported on the vertical surface 502, such as the wall. In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom wall 304 of the housing member 202 may be removably coupled to the vertical surface 502 via a plurality of fastening members (not shown). As explained earlier, the rechargeable battery 210 may be movably disposed within the channel 212 of the housing member 202 and, in contact with an inner surface of the bottom wall 304 of the housing member 202.

When the housing member 202 is inclined parallel to the vertical surface 502, the rechargeable battery 210 may move towards the side wall 306-2 of the housing member 202. Subsequently, the rechargeable battery 210 may come in contact with an inner surface of the side wall 306-2 of the housing member 202. Owing to such an arrangement of the rechargeable battery 210, the side wall 306-2 and the bottom wall 304 dissipates the heat generated from the rechargeable battery 210 during the operation of the lighting apparatus 100. Further, referring to Figure 5a, the rechargeable battery 210 may be positioned offset from the top wall 302 of the housing member 202. This ensures that the rechargeable battery 210 may remain in a position away from the top wall 302 which is dissipating the heat generated by the light source 206. Thereby, eliminating possibility of further increase in an overall temperature of the rechargeable battery 210 due to the light source 206 supported on the top wall 302.

Figure 5b illustrates a cross-sectional view of the lighting apparatus 100 positioned on the horizontal surface, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to Figure 5b, the lighting apparatus 100 may be supported on the horizontal surface 504, such as the roof. In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom wall 304 of the housing member 202 may be removably coupled to the horizontal surface 504 via a plurality of fastening members (not shown). As explained earlier, the rechargeable battery 210 may be movably disposed within the channel 212 of the housing member 202 and, in contact with the inner surface of the bottom wall 304 of the housing member 202.

When the housing member 202 is inclined parallel to the horizontal surface 504, the rechargeable battery 210 may move towards the top wall 302 of the housing member 202. Subsequently, the rechargeable battery 210 may come in contact with the inner surface 314 of the top wall 302 of the housing member 202. Owing to such an arrangement of the rechargeable battery 210, the top wall 302 dissipates the heat generated from the rechargeable battery 210 during the operation of the lighting apparatus 100.

As would be gathered, the present disclosure offers the emergency lighting device 100 with improved heat dissipation from the rechargeable battery 210. As mentioned earlier, the rechargeable battery 210 may be adapted to be laterally moved within the housing member 202 based on the inclination of the housing member 202 on the surface. This substantially eliminates requirement of providing different provisions to fix the rechargeable battery 210 at a specific location based on intended positioning of the lighting apparatus 100 on the surface. In particular, the lighting apparatus 100 can be positioned on either the horizontal surface 504 or the vertical surface 502 without any substantial modification to fix the battery at the specific location based on the positioning of the lighting apparatus 100. This substantially reduces overall manufacturing cost of the lighting apparatus 100.

Further, as mentioned earlier, the rechargeable battery 210 may abut the side wall 306-2 and the bottom surface 304, when the lighting apparatus 100 is positioned on the vertical surface 502. This ensures that the rechargeable battery 210 may remain in a position away from the top wall 302 and resides in an area having a low temperature within the housing member 202. Thereby, eliminating possibility of further increase in the overall temperature of the battery due to the light source 206 supported on the top wall 302. Furthermore, the rechargeable battery 210 may remain in contact with the housing member 202 irrespective of the positioning of the lighting device 100 on the vertical surface 502 or the horizontal surface 504. This ensures effective heat dissipation from the rechargeable battery 210 to the housing member 202 of the lighting device 100. Therefore, the lighting device 100 of the present disclosure is flexible in implementation, compact, efficient, cost-effective, and convenient.

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. An emergency lighting apparatus (100) comprising:
a housing member (202) defining a channel (212) and having a top wall (302) and a bottom wall (304);
at least one light source (206) disposed on the top wall (302) of the housing member (202);
a driver circuit (208) connected to the at least one light source (206) and disposed within the channel (212) of the housing member (202), wherein the driver circuit (208) is supported on the bottom wall (304) of the housing member (202);
a rechargeable battery (210) disposed within the channel (212) of the housing member (202) and adapted to be connected to the driver circuit (208) to supply power to the driver circuit (208) in an emergency mode,
wherein the rechargeable battery (210) is adapted to be in contact with the housing member (202) and to be laterally moved within the housing member (202) based on an inclination of the housing member (202).

2. The emergency lighting apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a cover member (204) coupled to the housing member (202) and adapted to cover the at least one light source (206).

3. The emergency lighting apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rechargeable battery (210) includes a first end (210-1) and a second end (210-2) distal from the first end (210-1), the second end (210-2) is electrically connected to the driver circuit (208).

4. The emergency lighting apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an enclosing member (402) adapted to enclose the rechargeable battery (210) and the driver circuit (208), wherein the enclosing member (402) is adapted to be positioned within the channel (212) of the housing member (202).

5. The emergency lighting apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the enclosing member (402) is adapted to form a frictional contact with an inner surface (314) of the top wall (302) of the housing member (202).

6. The emergency lighting apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rechargeable battery (210) is adapted to be axially positioned within the channel (212) along a central axis (C-C’) of the housing member (202).

7. The emergency lighting apparatus (202) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rechargeable battery (210) is adapted to contact one of a pair of side surfaces (306) of the housing member (202), when the housing member (202) is inclined parallel to a vertical surface (502).

8. The emergency lighting apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top wall (302) includes a first portion (308), an intermediate portion (310) adjacent to the first portion (308), and a second portion (310) adjacent to the intermediate portion (310), wherein the intermediate portion (310) projects in a direction towards a central axis (C-C’) of the housing member (202).

9. The emergency lighting apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the rechargeable battery (210) is adapted to contact an inner surface (314) corresponding to the intermediate portion (310) of the top wall (320), when the housing member (202) is inclined parallel to a horizontal surface (504).