Patents by Inventor Alan J. Ruud

Alan J. Ruud has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20090086487
    Abstract: A low-voltage LED lighting system and method for installation thereof in which the system includes: (a) at least one LED lighting fixture each having one or more LEDs; (b) at least one remotely-located power driver; and (c) interconnections between the at least one LED fixture and the at least one driver using communication network cabling and standard 8P8C network connectors. Preferred lighting fixtures are recessed lighting fixtures adapted for ceiling mounting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: RUUD LIGHTING, INC.
    Inventors: Alan J. Ruud, Wayne P. Guillien, David G. Jansson
  • Publication number: 20090086490
    Abstract: The inventive ceiling-mounted light-fixture support assembly includes a mounting bracket having upper and lower surfaces, a length, and a width between two width sides. The assembly also includes a fixture attachment member having a top with portions defining a top opening which has a width narrower than the width of the mounting bracket. The fixture attachment member further has a recessed portion defining a slideway which (a) is in lateral communication with the top opening, (b) has a width wider than the width of the mounting bracket, and (c) is spaced sufficiently lower than the opening-defining portions of the top to receive the two width sides of the mounting bracket. In use, the fixture attachment member can be positioned so that the mounting bracket is at least partially within the slideway and then repositioned so that the mounting bracket is within the top opening for light-fixture support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: RUUD LIGHTING, INC.
    Inventors: Brian L. Kinnune, Alan J. Ruud
  • Publication number: 20090086491
    Abstract: An LED floodlight fixture having two major principal axes in a fixture plane, the dimensions parallel to the fixtures third principal axis being substantially smaller than the largest dimensions parallel to the fixture plane. The fixture is characterized by a first outer surface which has a first central portion and a first edge-adjacent portion, an opposite second outer surface which has a second central portion substantially aligned with the first central portion and encompassing a light-emitting region and a second edge-adjacent portion having a boundary with the second central portion such boundary defining a reference plane, the first and second edge-adjacent portions meet at a perimetrical edge. The first and second central portions each extend across at least 25% of the area within the perimetrical edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: RUUD LIGHTING, INC.
    Inventors: Alan J. Ruud, Kurt S. Wilcox, Steven R. Walczak
  • Patent number: 7425084
    Abstract: A bollard luminaire comprising a ground-mountable tubular vertical housing having a base portion and an upper portion, an annular lens member atop the housing in substantial axial alignment therewith, an upper reflector at the top of the lens member directing and reflecting light through the annular lens member, the housing and lens member being configured and the upper reflector positioned such that it receives upwardly directed light from below, and an LED module inside the base portion of the housing, the LED module being substantially centrally positioned, oriented for upward light emission, and having LED/optical-element sets themselves providing substantially vertically collimated light. In preferred embodiments, the housing is light-transmissive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Ruud Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan J. Ruud, Kurt Wilcox, Steven R. Walczak
  • Publication number: 20080080192
    Abstract: A bollard luminaire comprising a ground-mountable tubular vertical housing having a base portion and an upper portion, an annular lens member atop the housing in substantial axial alignment therewith, an upper reflector at the top of the lens member directing and reflecting light through the annular lens member, the housing and lens member being configured and the upper reflector positioned such that it receives upwardly directed light from below, and an LED module inside the base portion of the housing, the LED module being substantially centrally positioned, oriented for upward light emission, and having LED/optical-element sets themselves providing substantially vertically collimated light. In preferred embodiments, the housing is light-transmissive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: Alan J. Ruud, Kurt Wilcox, Steven R. Walczak
  • Patent number: 7261436
    Abstract: A method for implementing lighting utilizes a lighting fixture having a plurality of lateral reflector positions, including selectively installing a first type reflector panel or a second type reflector panel in individual ones of the plurality of lateral reflector positions, the first type reflector panel having a greater uplighting capacity compared to the second type reflector panel, whereby the selectively installing determines, for the lighting fixture, a proportion of uplight versus downlight. For a plurality of tube positions disposed in a plane, a method may include vertically positioning a reflector assembly with respect to the plane. Individual reflector panels may be replaced by flexing the panel. A method may include providing a sensor switch operative to detect an occupant and connect an electrical path when the occupant is detected, and providing a selector for selecting ones of the ballasts to be connected to the electrical path by the sensor switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Ruud Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. Haugaard, Craig Raleigh, Alan J. Ruud, Dallas I. Buchanan
  • Patent number: 7207690
    Abstract: A method, for implementing lighting by utilizing a lighting fixture having a plurality of laterally-spaced light source locations and corresponding lateral reflector positions, may include selectively installing a reflector of a first type or a second type in respective ones of the plurality of lateral reflector positions, the first type reflector having greater uplighting capacity compared to the second type reflector, whereby the selectively installing determines a proportion of uplight versus downlight. For a plurality of tube positions disposed in a plane, a method may include vertically positioning a reflector assembly with respect to the plane. Individual reflector panels may be replaced by flexing the panel. A method may include providing a sensor switch operative to detect an occupant and connect an electrical path when the occupant is detected, and providing a selector for selecting ones of the ballasts to be connected to the electrical path by the sensor switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Ruud Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. Haugaard, Craig Raleigh, Alan J. Ruud, Dallas I. Buchanan
  • Patent number: 6974230
    Abstract: An overhead industrial light fixture of the type including a housing, power-related components and a lamp-mounting socket. The housing has top and bottom walls and sidewalls together forming a substantially enclosed space, and the bottom wall defines a socket window. The power-related components and the socket are both secured to the housing and within the enclosed space, thereby to provide a low-profile fixture with its components within a single housing. Preferred embodiment include the socket having its lamp-receiving end substantially aligned with the socket window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Ruud Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan J. Ruud, Eric Haugaard, Kurt Wilcox
  • Patent number: 6508579
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus mountable on a support and used for illuminating well-defined limited areas is provided. The apparatus includes a support frame pivotably mounted to the support thereby to allow the support frame to pivot about a predetermined axis, a light-generating system supported by the support frame, the light-generating system having a light source, a light-gathering/directing element, a guide rod and a reflector, the light-generating system generating one or more beams directed toward corresponding target areas, and preferably a shield for blocking non-reflected light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Inventors: Alan J. Ruud, Roger Buelow, II, John M. Davenport, Eric J. Haugaard, Juris Sulcs
  • Patent number: 6302571
    Abstract: A light delivery system includes a light source. A first generally tubular, hollow coupling device with an interior light-reflective surface receives light from the source at an inlet and transmits it to an outlet. The coupling device increases in cross sectional area from inlet to outlet in such manner as to reduce the angle of light reflected from the surface as it passes through the device. A thermal-isolating region has an inlet positioned in proximity to an outlet of the coupling device and has an outlet for passing light to an optical member, the thermal-isolating region comprising one or more members. A waterproof container for the light source and coupling device has an aperture allowing light to pass out of the container. The aperture is sealed in part by a portion of a member of the thermal-isolating region. Advantageously, the system can be buried beneath the surface of the ground. This avoids the problem of people or equipment colliding with the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Fiberstars Incorporated
    Inventors: John M. Davenport, Roger F. Buelow, II, Eric J. Haugaard, Juris Sulcs, Craig D. Raleigh, Raymond A. Buchina, Alan J. Ruud
  • Patent number: 5927843
    Abstract: A canopy light has a housing with a lower portion terminating in an opening, and also has a reflector in the housing. In the improvement, the lower housing portion includes a pair of spaced mounting members and the reflector includes a mounting lip affixed below the mounting members. The reflector body extends above the mounting members and is dimensioned to permit the reflector to be removed downwardly through the housing opening. A ballast assembly is above the reflector and is mounted on ballast supports inside the housing. The ballast assembly platform and the ballast supports are configured so that the ballast assembly can be lifted upwardly away from the supports (preferably without having to remove or loosen any fasteners) and then lowered downwardly through the housing opening. A new method for servicing a ballast assembly using access only through the housing opening (i.e., without having to gain access to the top of the housing) is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Ruud Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. Haugaard, Richard L. Nachtigall, Alan J. Ruud
  • Patent number: D570535
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Ruud Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian L. Kinnune, Alan J. Ruud, Wayne P. Guillien, Kurt S. Wilcox, Russell S. Schultz, Steven R. Walczak
  • Patent number: D576330
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Ruud Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan J. Ruud, Kurt Wilcox, Steven R. Walczak, Robert D. Giese
  • Patent number: D576331
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Ruud Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan J. Ruud, Eric Haugaard, Brian L. Kinnune
  • Patent number: D576332
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Ruud Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan J. Ruud, Kurt Wilcox, Steven R. Walczak
  • Patent number: D577847
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Ruud Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan J. Ruud, Brian Kinnune, Robert D. Giese, Wayne Guillien
  • Patent number: D580589
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Ruud Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan J. Ruud, Eric J. Haugaard, Brian L. Kinnune
  • Patent number: D382363
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Ruud Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. Haugaard, Alan J. Ruud, Robert Giese, Kent Solberg, Cory Ternberg
  • Patent number: D385053
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Ruud Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. Haugaard, Alan J. Ruud, Robert Giese, Kent Solberg, Cory Ternberg
  • Patent number: D386275
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Ruud Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. Haugaard, Alan J. Ruud, Robert Giese, Kent Solberg, Cory Ternberg