Lamp Reflector, Bulb, and Safety Socket

Abstract

This invention relates generally to the field of lighting products, and more particularly, a luminaire configured to provide optimal conditions for the growth of vegetation in indoor and/or greenhouse conditions in a way that is efficient for the users of those products.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field

This invention relates generally to the field of lighting products, and more particularly, to a luminaire configured to provide optimal conditions for the growth of vegetation in indoor and/or greenhouse conditions in a way that is efficient for the users of those products.

State of the Art

The need for lighting products to facilitate the creation of optimal growing conditions for vegetation in indoor and/or greenhouse settings is continually increasing. Current reflector and socket designs unnecessarily waste energy and do not provide optimal lighting conditions. In addition, current bulb designs do not provide optimal lighting from either a growth or energy consumption standpoint.

Accordingly, there is a need in the field of lighting products for an optimized luminaire that can provide more efficient light in indoor growing conditions.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an efficient horticultural luminaire suitable for both indoor and greenhouse applications. The efficient horticultural luminaire comprises CONVEX hybrid reflector technology that positions the lamp's arc tube on the reflector's base horizontal plane, utilizing the lamp's ability to spread the lamp's lumens while utilizing direct control from the reflector's precision design to maximize overall performance.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic side view generally illustrating and describing an efficient single-ended horticultural luminaire in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a schematic end view generally illustrating and describing an efficient single-ended horticultural luminaire in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a section view of a single-ended luminaire in accordance with the present invention, including dimensions of the same;

FIG. 2B is a profile view of a single-ended luminaire in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2C is a bottom view of a single-ended luminaire in accordance with the present invention, including dimensions of the same;

FIG. 2D is a side view of a single-ended luminaire in accordance with the present invention, including dimensions of the same;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view generally illustrating and describing an efficient single-ended horticultural luminaire in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic view generally illustrating and describing an efficient single-ended horticultural luminaire in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to an efficient luminaire suitable as a horticulture grow light for both indoor and greenhouse applications. The efficient horticultural luminaire comprises Concealed Vacuum Airflow Technology that maximizes the hood's photometric performance and thermal dissipation. The efficient horticultural luminaire further comprises CONVEX hybrid reflector technology that positions the lamp's arc tube on the reflector's base horizontal plane, utilizing the lamp's ability to spread the lamp's lumens while utilizing direct control from the reflector's precision design to maximize overall performance.

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1A, 1B and FIGS. 2A-2D are schematic views generally illustrating and describing an efficient single-ended horticultural luminaire 10 in accordance with the present invention. The luminaire comprises a housing 12, in which is located a socket 16 configured to receive a single-ended bulb 14. The housing further comprises a reflector 17 configured to optimally distribute light rays 18 emanating from single-ended bulb 14. The luminaire 10 is designed in such a way as to minimize the physical size of the luminaire 10 while optimizing the expected performance for a luminaire in this product category. The small physical size reduces the amount of shade the luminaire 10 produces when the sun (rather than the luminaire) is being utilized as the primary light source, and therefore increases the amount of sunlight striking the plant canopy. This in turn has a direct and positive effect on harvests.

The performance of the luminaire 10 is enhanced by the orientation and placement of the lamp 14 within the housing 12 of luminaire 10. In an embodiment, the lamp socket 16 is positioned in the luminaire 10 such that the internal arc tube of the lamp 14 inserted in the socket is positioned at the lower horizontal edge of the housing 12, such that the lamp extends beyond the plane of the lower horizontal edge of the housing 12. Positioning the lamp 14 in this way allows for the reflector 17, shown in

FIG. 3, to control and direct approximately 60% of the lamp bulb 14 output light rays 18 to penetrate the plant canopy directly below the luminaire 10. This is more fully illustrated in FIG. 3, below. It further allows the approximately 40% of the remaining lamp bulb 14 output light rays 18 to be directed by the outer glass envelope of the bulb 14, which acts as a distribution lens to spread the light rays 18 evenly and consistently across the plant canopy.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view generally illustrating and describing an efficient single-ended horticultural luminaire 10 in accordance with the present invention from a different angle and without a bulb 14. As can be seen in the figures, luminaire 10 comprises a socket 16 optimally positioned within the reflector 17 of housing 12 of luminaire 10 such that the internal arc tube of the lamp 14 inserted in the socket would be positioned at the lower horizontal edge of the luminaire 10.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view generally illustrating and describing an efficient single-ended horticultural luminaire 10 in accordance with the present invention. As shown, the positioning of socket 16 is such that light rays 18 emanating from bulb 14 are effectively broken into two portions: direct rays 19 which emanate directly from bulb 14, and reflected rays 15 which are reflected from reflector 17 before exiting the luminaire 10 to impact objects located below the luminaire 10.

Conventional luminaires have a “dead zone” beneath the bottom surface of the luminaire in which neither direct rays or reflected rays are present. This is in contrast with luminaire 10, which has little to no “dead zone” beneath the bottom surface of luminaire 10. Consequently, as a result of the placement of bulb 14 in socket 16, luminaire 10 is able to deliver more usable light rays 18 to the vegetation located near luminaire 10, significantly increasing the efficiency of luminaire 10 relative to conventional luminaires and its ability to produce growth in vegetation located near luminaire 10.

The embodiments and examples set forth herein were presented in order to best explain the present invention and its practical application and to thereby enable those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for the purposes of illustration and example only. The description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teachings above without departing from the spirit and scope of the forthcoming claims.

Claims

1. A luminaire comprising:

a housing, further comprising: a socket coupled to the housing, wherein the socket is disposed adjacent the lower horizontal edge of the housing such that a portion of lamp inserted therein extends beyond the lower horizontal edge of the housing; and a reflector coupled to the housing and generally enveloping the upper portion of the lamp such that light emanating from the lamp is reflected downward and outward from the housing.

2. The luminaire of claim 1, wherein the lamp is a mogul base lamp.

3. The luminaire of claim 1, wherein the luminaire is a horticulture grow light.