Emergency lighting device

ABSTRACT

A combination emergency light fixture having a housing constructed to have a minimum footprint or overall configuration for housing the required components and still conform to the code requirements for such emergency fixtures. The housing includes an annular body member having a front and rear opening defining a light chamber covered by a removable sign panel and/or a mounting panel. An interior lamp source and a pair of operating batteries are disposed within the light chamber in a manner to minimize the overall footprint of the housing. Disposed between the operating battery source is a triangular shaped component compartment having light reflecting surfaces to reflect the light rays generated by the internal light source outward toward the sign panel to enhance the illumination thereof. The fixture may also include external light sources.

INFORMATION

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a combination emergency light fixture embodying the present invention. As used herein, combination emergency light fixture means a light fixture capable of having an internal light source for illuminating a sign or direction panel, e.g. an exit sign or the like, which may also have an external light source. The arrangement is such that the fixture may be powered both by an AC line current and/or a battery source. Preferably, the light source for the fixture is powered by a direct line source generating alternating (AC) current and having an auxiliary battery power source to power the light sources in case of a power outage, fire or other form of an emergency.

In FIG. 1, the illustrated fixture is shown as having a pair of external lamps and adjustably mounted on the arcuate sides or wings , of the housing . If desired, the external lamps , may be optionally located at a remote distance from the fixture as shown by external lamp in FIG. . Alternatively, the fixture may be used with both the housing mounted lamps , and the remotely mounted lamps such as lamp .

In accordance with this invention, the housing includes an annular housing member having a top A, a bottom B and interconnected opposed sides C and D. The opposed sides C, D are preferably arcuate in shape to define opposed wings or sides C, D for supporting thereon the external lamps and . The opposed sides C, D terminate in a rearwardly extending flange E and F which circumscribes annular housing to define a full back opening . Disposed between the opposed wings or sides C, D and the top A and bottom B of the annular housing member and opposite the full back opening is a front opening .

Connected to the rearwardly extending flanges E and F circumscribing and defining the full back opening is a sub-back panel . As best seen in FIG. 5, the sub-back panel is provided with a back opening which is substantially co-extensive in size to the front opening . In accordance with this invention, the back sub-panel is provided with top and bottom slots , whereby the back sub-panel can be readily detachably connected to the annular housing member as will be hereinafter described.

As seen in FIG. 5, the back opening formed in the back sub-panel can be covered by a detachable back panel or can be optionally covered by a detachable sign panel as indicated in FIG. . The removable back panel is thus rendered interchangeable with the sign panel . As will be hereinafter described, the respective back panel and the sign panel are secured to the sub-back panel by a similar snap fitting retainer or fastening means as will be hereinafter described.

Referring to FIG. 3, the annular housing member is provided with an inner cross piece , spaced slightly inwardly and parallel to the top A of the annular housing member . As shown, the cross piece is supported between the upper ends of a pair of spaced apart partitions , extending between the bottom B of the annular member and the upper cross piece or plate . As best seen in FIG. 3, the respective partitions , are bent or bowed outwardly above the mid point of the respective partitions , as noted at A, A. The arrangement of the partitions , relative to the sides or wings C, D respectively define a battery chamber , for housing a battery , therein.

Disposed within the annular housing member and between the respective partitions , is an inner compartment for housing the electrical components and/or the circuitry required for energizing and controlling the powering of the lamps or light sources. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the inner component compartment is defined by opposed sides , that are inclined and converge inwardly of the housing member to define a component compartment that is generally triangular in cross section as seen in FIG. . The component compartment extends upwardly from the bottom wall B of the annular housing to about a midpoint of the annular housing .

In the illustrated embodiment, one side of the compartment is rendered readily removable so as to provide ready access to the component compartment . Within the component compartment is a printed circuit board or equivalent circuitry for operating the lamps or light sources. Also disposed within the component compartment is a lamp holder for supporting an internal lamp for directing light rays outwardly through an opening formed in the bottom wall B of the annular housing member .

Supported on the top cross piece or plate are a series of LED lamps for illuminating the interior of the light chamber. In accordance with this invention, the sides , of the component compartment are inclined inwardly at an angle relative the front and back openings , so as to reflect and direct the light rays generated by the LED lamps outwardly toward the respective front and back openings , . The opposed sides , are formed so as to have an outer reflective surface for reflecting more of the light rays toward the sign panels that cover the front or back openings or to enhance the illumination of the sign panel .

As shown in FIG. and FIG. 8, the sign panel comprises a planar surface A having a suitable sign, e.g. the letters E X I T formed thereon, which are illuminated when the LED lamps are illuminated. It will be understood that the sign panel may be formed to give any other desired “direction” or “phrase” e.g. STAIRS; -THIS WAY; or other instruction generally given in cases of an emergency. Also, the sign panel may be provided with a direction indicator or arrow, as shown at , which is also illuminated by the LED lamps . In accordance with this invention, the direction indicators are located on the planar surface A of the sign panel so as to be disposed opposite the outward bowed portions A, A of partitions , .

As noted in FIG. and FIG. 8, the sign panels are similarly formed so as to be readily interchangeable. The sign panels are detachably secured to the front of the annular housing member by means of a snap fit retainer, as best illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. The illustrated retainer means as seen in FIGS. 10 and 11 are shown as having the flange portion B of the sign panel formed with a slotted opening C, which is adapted to be disposed in alignment with a complementary latching detent formed on the complementary edge or flange of the annular housing . As the annular housing member is formed of a suitable plastic material, the flange being slightly spaced or separated from the circumscribing flange ′ defining the periphery of the annular member is rendered resilient and free to deflect when the sign panel is fitted onto the front opening . As noted in FIG. 10, detent is provided with a slightly angled face A which effects a camming action to deflect the flange portion downwardly, as seen in FIG. 10, when the front sign panel is fitted to the annular housing member . The inherent resiliency of the flange portion will cause the detent to engage the slot C and lock the front sign panel onto the annular member. As noted in FIG. 1, the front sign panel is provided with a pair of slots along the top and bottom edges thereof which are in alignment with a pair of detents formed in the upper and lower peripheral portions of the annular member .

It will be noted that the back sub-panel is detachably connected to the rear portion of the annular housing member with similar snap fit assembly as described with respect to FIGS. 10 and 11. Likewise, the back panel , functioning as a closure and mounting plate, is also secured to the back sub-panel in a similar manner. In addition, the back panel is provided with a pair of spaced apart resilient clips , arranged to extend into the light chamber. Each of the respective clips , has formed therein an aperture A, A which are adapted to receive a pin , located on the opposed partitions , . The arrangement is such that when the back closure panel is fitted to the back sub-panel to cover the rear opening , the clips , will engage pins , and will be received in apertures A, A when the apertures are positioned opposite the pins , . At the same time, the slots A (as seen in FIG. 7) will engage the detents to secure the back panel onto the sub-back panel .

The sign panel , as noted in FIG. 8, which is interchangeable with the back panel , is similarly secured to the sub-back panel by means of the slots B engaging the detents as hereinbefore described.

When the combination emergency fixture is utilized with the back panel , as described, the back panel can be readily secured or fixed to a supporting surface, e.g. a wall, by means of any type of suitable fasteners, e.g. screws, nails, adhesives and the like. The arrangement is such that the annular housing member and the connected sub-back panel can be rendered readily disengaged from the wall secured back panel simply by effecting the removal of the front sign panel as herein described, and releasing the clips , by deflecting the clips toward each other to free the locking pins and . The front sign panel can be readily released by depressing the detents to disengage the detent from the corresponding slot B.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the emergency light fixture can be utilized either as a single face or double face emergency light fixture with either attached exterior light source and/or remotely placed light source. Further, the components of the light fixture are rendered readily detachably connected by snap fit retaining means to provide easy and readily accessible to the working electrical components for repair or replacement of parts.

FIG. 9 illustrates a modified embodiment. In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the emergency lighting fixture is devoid of any external lighting means. In this simplified embodiment, the annular housing member is rectangular in shape to define a full front and rear opening which may be closed by a sign panel similar to that described herein with respect to FIGS. 1 and 8; and a back panel , which is rendered interchangeable with a sign panel , as hereinbefore described. The internal structure of the annular housing is similar to that herein described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to .

The embodiments herein described function so as to enhance the illumination of the interior lighting chamber to maintain the sign and direction indicators illuminated at all times, and which illumination is backed up with a battery source of power in the event of any interruption of the line current. The emergency fixture of this invention is rendered compact in that the electrical components are arranged within a component compartment within the lighting chamber, and which component compartment is uniquely formed and shaped to reflect the light generated by the interior light source outwardly toward the sign panel to enhance the illumination thereof, and whereby the code requirement for such emergency fixtures can be complied with in a more compact housing.

While the present invention has been described with respect to a several embodiments, modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention.

IN THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combination light fixture embodying the invention wherein the external light source may be either mounted on the fixture and/or at a location remote therefrom.

FIG. 2 is a sectional end view taken along line — on FIG. .

FIG. 3 is a front view of the housing construction of FIG. 1 with the front sign panel removed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view of the combination emergency light fixture similar to that of FIG. 1, illustrating the same for use as a double faced unit and having one face removed.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the combination emergency light fixture as viewed from the rear.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 5 with the back panel removed.

FIG. 7 is a detail perspective view of the back or support panel.

FIG. 8 is a perspective detail view of a sign panel which can be rendered readily interchangeable with the back or support panel of FIG. .

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a modified light fixture.

FIG. 10 is an exploded detail view of the latching arrangement for securing the front or back panels to the housing annular member.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary detail section view illustrating a front or back panel in the latched or secured position.

CLAIMS

1. An emergency light fixture comprising: a housing, said housing including an annular member having a front and back opening to define a light chamber, said member having a pair of spaced apart partitions to define within said annular member a pair of opposed battery chambers, a component compartment disposed between said partitions within said annular housing member, said component compartment having opposed inclined sides converging inwardly toward one another to define a generally triangular compartment in cross-section, said inclined walls having a reflective outer surface, a light source disposed within said annular member, a front sign panel covering said front opening, and a panel covering said back opening whereby the light generated by said light source is reflected off said sides of said component compartment toward said sign panel to enhance the illumination thereof.

2. An emergency light fixture as defined in claim 1 and including a snap fitting retaining means for detachably securing said panels to said annular housing member.

3. An emergency light fixture as defined in claim 2 wherein said snap fit retaining means include complementary detent and slot means, said annular housing member having a plurality of said detents circumferentially spaced about the periphery defining said front and rear openings, and said panels, each having a plurality of complementary slots circumferentially spaced apart the respective periphery thereof adapted to be disposed in alignment with said corresponding detent to effect a releasable detachment when said panels are fitted to the respective front and rear openings.

4. An emergency light fixture as defined in claim 1 wherein said annular member includes opposed wings extending laterally of said front opening to define a full rear opening grater than said front opening, a sub-back panel detachably connected to said annular housing member, said sub-back panel having a reduced opening therein that is substantially equal in size to said front opening, a sign panel covering said front opening detachably secured to said annular housing member, a panel detachably connected to said sub-back panel to cover said reduced opening, and an external emergency light source connected to each of said wings.

5. An emergency light fixture as defined in claim 4 and including an emergency light source remotely removed from said emergency light fixture.

6. An emergency light fixture for use as an illuminated emergency sign comprising: a housing, said housing including an annular member, said annular member having opposed top and bottom walls and interconnected opposed side walls to define a front and rear opening, a pair of opposed spaced apart partitions extending between said top and bottom walls within said annular member, said partitions being spaced inwardly from said side walls to define therebetween a compartment sized to receive a battery, a light source disposed between said partitions adjacent said top wall, a component compartment disposed between said partitions, said component compartment including opposed sides that converge toward an apex inwardly of said annular housing member, said component compartment being substantially triangular in cross-section, a sign panel covering at least one of said openings whereby the light generated by said lamp source is reflected off the sides of said component compartment and directed toward said sign panel to enhance the illumination thereof, and a second panel covering the other of said openings.

7. An emergency light fixture as defined in claim 6 wherein said second panel comprises a sign panel to define a double face fixture.

8. An emergency light fixture as defined in claim 6 wherein said second panel is a mounting panel.

9. An emergency light fixture as defined in claim 6 and including a back sub-panel detachably connected to said annular member to define a back sub-panel opening coextensive with said front opening, and a panel detachably connected to said back sub-panel to cover said sub-panel opening.

10. An emergency light fixture comprising: a housing of minimum size and suitable for complying with applicable code restrictions relating to said emergency light fixture, said housing including an annular body member having a top, bottom and interconnecting side walls to define a front and rear opening, said annular body member defining a light chamber, a pair of spaced apart chambers for supporting a battery disposed within said annular body member, a component compartment disposed between said opposed battery chambers, said component compartment including opposed upwardly and inwardly inclined sides to define a substantially triangular compartment in cross-section, an internal light source disposed within said light chamber adjacent said top wall of said annular body member, a sign panel detachably connected to said annular body member for covering said front opening, and a second panel means connected to said annular body member for covering said rear opening, means for detachably connecting said second panel means to said annular body member, and said component compartment having a light reflecting outer surface for reflecting the light generated by said internal light source toward said sign panel to enhance the illumination thereof, and a light source connected externally of said annular body member.

11. An emergency light fixture as defined in claim 10 wherein one side of said component compartment is rendered readily removable.

12. An emergency light fixture as defined in claim 10 wherein said second panel comprises a second sign panel, and said light reflecting surface of said component compartment reflects the light generated by said internal light source toward each of said sign panels.

13. An emergency light fixture as defined in claim 10 wherein said second panel comprises a back sub-panel detachably connected to said annular body member, said sub-back panel having an opening formed therein corresponding in size to said front opening, and a cover panel forming a closure for said back sub-panel opening.

14. An emergency light fixture as defined in claim 13 wherein said cover panel comprises a sign panel.

15. An emergency light fixture as defined in claim 14 wherein said sign panels include a direction indicator.

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