当前申请(专利权)人地址：
1118 E 223rd St.,Carson, CA 90745 US | 36 Alton Rd.,Providence, RI 02906 US | 2034 Dorchester Road, Apt 105,Troy, MI 48084 US | 7890 E Spring St #13k,Long Beach, CA 90815 US
摘要：
A trim assembly includes a magnetic coupling mechanism to couple the trim assembly to a housing in a lighting system. In one example, the trim assembly includes one or more magnetic legs that magnetically couple to corresponding magnets in the housing. The magnetic attraction between the magnetic legs and the magnets generates a frictional force to hold the trim assembly in the housing. Unlike previous holding mechanisms with spring elements, the magnetic legs are static elements and, hence, not displaced during installation. Furthermore, the magnetic legs and the magnets may be shaped and arranged to occupy appreciably less space within the housing compared to a conventional spring element. The portion of the opening and the housing covered by a trim in the trim assembly is correspondingly reduced, allowing for a trim with a smaller flange and/or a larger aperture, which improves the aesthetic quality of the lighting system.
权利要求：
CLAIMS
1. A trim assembly (100) for a lighting system (200), the trim assembly comprising:
a trim (120) having a flange (122) that defines an aperture (123), the trim having a ring (110) disposed around the aperture; and
one or more magnetic legs (140) coupled to the ring.
2. The trim assembly of claim 1, wherein the flange has a width dimension (126) that is at least approximately 7 mm.
3. The trim assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
a first reflector (130) coupled to the ring such that a portion of the first reflector is partially disposed in the aperture.
4. The trim assembly of claim 3, wherein the first reflector is configured to be removably coupled to the ring so as to be interchangeable with a second reflector that is different from the first reflector and configured to be removably coupled to the ring.
5. The trim assembly of claim 3, wherein the first reflector and the trim are formed as a single part.
6. The trim assembly of claim 3, in combination with the lighting system, the lighting system comprising:
a housing (202) that defines a cavity (212);
one or more magnets (220) disposed in the cavity on an interior surface of the housing; a light source (240), disposed in the cavity of the housing of the lighting system, to emit light; and
an optic (230), disposed in the cavity of the housing of the lighting system, to redirect the light emitted by the light source,
wherein:
the first reflector has an input opening (132) that is proximate to the optic when the trim assembly is installed in the lighting system and an output opening (134) disposed in the aperture; and
each magnetic leg in the one or more magnetic legs is magnetically coupled to one or more magnets.
7. The combination of claim 6, wherein:
the ring of the trim is at least partially disposed inside the cavity of the housing of the lighting system; and
the combination is disposed in an opening of a ceiling or a wall such that the flange of the trim abuts the ceiling or the wall when the lighting system is installed to the ceiling or the wall.
8. The trim assembly of claim 1, in combination with the lighting system, the lighting system comprising:
a housing (210) that defines a cavity (212); and
one or more magnets (220) disposed in the cavity on an interior surface of the housing; wherein:
each magnetic leg in the one or more magnetic legs is magnetically coupled to one or more magnets.
9. The trim assembly of any of claims 2 through 5, in combination with the lighting system, wherein:
a housing (210) that defines a cavity (212); and
one or more magnets (220) disposed in the cavity on an interior surface of the housing; wherein:
each magnetic leg in the one or more magnetic legs is magnetically coupled to one or more magnets.
10. The combination of claim 8, wherein each magnet of the one or more magnets is magnetically coupled to two or more of the magnetic legs.
11. The combination of claim 8, wherein:
the ring of the trim is at least partially disposed inside the cavity of the housing of the lighting system; and
the combination is disposed in an opening of a ceiling or a wall such that the flange of the trim abuts the ceiling or the wall when the lighting system is installed to the ceiling or the wall.
12. The combination of claim 8, wherein a total frictional force equal to the sum of the frictional force generated between each magnetic leg of the one or more magnetic legs and the one or more magnets is sufficient to prevent movement between the trim assembly and the housing of the lighting system when no user-generated force is applied to the trim assembly installed in the lighting system.
13. The combination of claim 8, wherein each magnet of the one or more magnets protrudes from the interior surface of the housing of the lighting system.
14. The combination of claim 8, wherein:
each magnet of the one or more magnets is disposed in a corresponding groove formed on the interior surface of the housing of the lighting system; and
the corresponding groove guides the one or more magnetic legs as the trim assembly is installed in the lighting system.
15. The combination of claim 8, wherein the cavity of the housing of the lighting system has a characteristic width (216) less than or equal to 2 inches.
16. The trim assembly of claim 8, wherein each magnetic leg of the one or more magnetic legs is sufficiently compliant so as to bend when magnetically coupled to the one or more magnets.
17. The trim assembly of claim 8, wherein the one or more magnetic legs comprises:
a first magnetic leg; and
a second magnetic leg disposed diametrically opposite from the first magnetic leg so as to define an intra-leg distance between the first and second magnetic legs, the intra-leg distance being equal to or greater than a characteristic width (216) of the cavity.
18. A trim assembly (100) for a lighting system (200), the trim assembly comprising:
a trim (120) having a flange (122) configured to abut a ceiling or a wall when the lighting system is installed into an opening in the ceiling or the wall, the flange of the trim being further configured to cover at least a perimeter of the opening when the trim assembly is installed in the lighting system and when the lighting system is disposed in the opening in the wall or the ceiling, the trim having a ring (110) that is configured to be at least partially disposed inside a cavity (212) defined by a housing (202) of the lighting system; and
one or more magnetic legs (140) coupled to the ring, each magnetic leg of the one or more magnetic legs being configured to magnetically couple to a corresponding magnet (220) disposed proximate to the cavity of the housing when the trim assembly is installed in the lighting system.
19. The trim assembly of claim 18, wherein the flange has a first width dimension (126) that is at least approximately 7 mm.
20. The trim assembly of claim 18, wherein each magnetic leg of the one or more magnetic legs is sufficiently compliant so as to bend when magnetically coupled to the corresponding magnet.
21. The trim assembly of claim 18, wherein the one or more magnetic legs comprises:
a first magnetic leg; and
a second magnetic leg disposed diametrically opposite from the first magnetic leg such that an intra-leg distance between the first and second legs is equal to or greater than a characteristic width (216) of the cavity.
22. The trim assembly of claim 18, further comprising:
a first reflector (130), coupled to the ring, to reflect light emitted by a light source disposed in the cavity of the housing of the lighting system.
23. The trim assembly of claim 22, wherein the first reflector is configured to be removably coupled to the ring so as to be interchangeable with a second reflector that is different from the first reflector and configured to be removably coupled to the ring.
24. The trim assembly of claim 22, wherein the first reflector and the trim are formed as a single part.
25. The trim assembly of claim 22, in combination with the lighting system, wherein:
the ring of the trim is at least partially disposed inside the cavity defined by the housing of the lighting system;
the flange of the trim abuts the ceiling or the wall;
each magnetic leg of the one or more magnetic legs is magnetically coupled to the corresponding magnet disposed proximate to the cavity of the housing of the lighting system; and
wherein the combination further comprises:
a light source, disposed in the cavity of the housing of the lighting system, to emit light; and
an optic, disposed in the cavity of the housing of the lighting system, to redirect the light emitted by the light source.
26. The trim assembly of claim 18, in combination with the lighting system, wherein:
the ring of the trim is at least partially disposed inside the cavity defined by the housing of the lighting system;
the flange of the trim abuts the ceiling or the wall; and
each magnetic leg of the one or more magnetic legs is magnetically coupled to the corresponding magnet disposed proximate to the cavity of the housing of the lighting system.
27. The trim assembly of any of claims 19 through 24, in combination with the lighting system, wherein:
the ring of the trim is at least partially disposed inside the cavity defined by the housing of the lighting system;
the flange of the trim abuts the ceiling or the wall; and
each magnetic leg of the one or more magnetic legs is magnetically coupled to the corresponding magnet disposed proximate to the cavity of the housing of the lighting system.
28. The combination of claim 26, wherein the corresponding magnetic is magnetically coupled to two or more of the magnetic legs.
29. The combination of claim 26, wherein a total frictional force equal to the sum of the frictional force generated between each magnetic leg and the corresponding magnet is sufficient to prevent movement between the trim assembly and the housing of the lighting system when no user-generated force is applied to the trim assembly installed in the lighting system.
30. The combination of claim 26, wherein the corresponding magnet protrudes from an interior surface adjacent the cavity of the housing of the lighting system.
31. The combination of claim 26, wherein:
the corresponding magnet is disposed in a groove formed on the interior surface of the housing of the lighting system; and
the groove guides the one or more magnetic legs as the trim assembly is installed in the lighting system.
32. The combination of claim 26, wherein the cavity of the housing of the lighting system has a characteristic width less than or equal to 2 inches.
33. A method (600) of installing a lighting system, the method comprising:
inserting a housing of the lighting system into an opening of a ceiling or a wall (610); securing the housing to the opening via a mounting mechanism (620);
magnetically coupling one or more magnetic legs of a trim assembly to one or more magnets disposed in a cavity of the housing (630); and
while the one or more magnetic legs is magnetically coupled to the one or more magnets, pushing the trim assembly into the cavity until a flange of a trim in the trim assembly abuts the ceiling or the wall (640).
34. The method of claim 33, wherein the mounting mechanism comprises:
a frame that is configured to be at least partially inserted through the opening so as to be disposed between the opening and the housing after the light system is installed.
35. The method of claim 34, further comprising, before inserting the housing of the lighting system into the opening:
inserting the frame into the opening of the ceiling or the wall.
36. The method of claim 35, wherein inserting the housing of the lighting system into the opening includes inserting the housing through the frame.
37. The method of claim 35, wherein inserting the frame into the opening comprises:
inserting the frame from a side of the opening where the flange of the trim is disposed after pushing the trim assembly into the cavity.
38. The method of claim 35, wherein securing the housing to the frame comprises:
engaging one or more ball plungers disposed on the housing to the frame.
39. The method of claim 33, further comprising, before magnetically coupling the one or more magnetic legs of the trim assembly to the one or more magnets:
replacing a first reflector with a second reflector in the trim assembly.
40. The method of claim 33, wherein magnetically coupling the one or more magnetic legs of a trim assembly to one or more magnets comprises:
aligning the one or more magnetic legs to corresponding grooves formed on an interior surface adjacent the cavity of the housing; and
inserting the one or more magnetic legs into the cavity of the housing until the one or more magnetic legs magnetically couple to the one or more magnets.
41. A trim assembly (100) for a lighting system (200), the trim assembly comprising:
a trim (120) having a flange (122) that defines an aperture (123), the trim having a ring (110) disposed around the aperture;
a reflector (130) coupled to the ring such that a portion of the reflector is partially disposed in the aperture;
a first magnetic leg (140) coupled to the ring; and
a second magnetic leg (140) coupled to the ring and disposed diametrically opposite from the first magnetic leg with respect to the aperture.
42. The trim assembly of claim 41, wherein the reflector and the trim are formed as a single part.
43. The trim assembly of claim 41, in combination with the lighting system, the lighting system comprising:
a housing (210) that defines a cavity (212);
a first magnet (220) disposed in the cavity on an interior surface of the housing;
a second magnet (220) disposed in the cavity on the interior surface of the housing;
a light source, disposed in the cavity of the housing of the lighting system, to emit light; and
an optic, disposed in the cavity of the housing of the lighting system, to redirect the light emitted by the light source,
wherein:
the first reflector has an input opening (132) that is proximate to the optic when the trim assembly is installed in the lighting system and an output opening (134) disposed in the aperture; the first magnetic leg of the trim assembly is magnetically coupled to the first magnet; and
the second magnetic leg of the trim assembly is magnetically coupled to the second magnet.