Search

US-12616763-B2 - Quick connect device with disinfection feature and lighting fixture for lighting and disinfection

US12616763B2US 12616763 B2US12616763 B2US 12616763B2US-12616763-B2

Abstract

Electrical connectors and fixtures, and more particularly, electrical plug and socket combinations allowing quick connection and mounting of electrical fixtures are provided with a disinfection feature for disinfecting air and/or surfaces. Additionally, lighting fixtures include or are retrofitted to provide both lighting and disinfection functions. The disinfection feature can be provided by any suitable source of UV radiation, such as an LED array. The emitted UV radiation is UV-A or FAR UV-C so that disinfection can occur regardless of whether a human is exposed to the emitted UV radiation or the emitted UV radiation is UV-C so that disinfection should only occur if there is no human exposure to the emitted UV radiation. Some electrical connectors and fixture can provide both types of emitted UV radiation, which are selectively actuatable.

Inventors

  • RAN ROLAND KOHEN

Assignees

  • SKYX PLATFORMS CORP.

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20210504

Claims (19)

  1. 1 . A canopy for a light fixture, wherein the canopy includes a connector for coupling to the light fixture, a plug of a quick connect device, and a plurality of emitters on the canopy emitting UVA and/or FAR UVC radiation; and wherein the canopy is between the plurality of emitters and the light fixture.
  2. 2 . The canopy of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of emitters forms a ring on a periphery of the canopy.
  3. 3 . The canopy of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of emitters is an array of LEDs.
  4. 4 . The canopy of claim 3 , wherein the array of LEDs emits UVA radiation.
  5. 5 . The canopy of claim 4 , further comprising an antenna and/or sensor array to control selective activation of the plurality of emitters and/or illumination of the light fixture.
  6. 6 . The canopy of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of emitters is removably attached to the canopy.
  7. 7 . The canopy of claim 6 , wherein the removable attachment is achieved with at least one of a screw connection, a hook and loop fastener, a magnetic coupling, and an adhesive.
  8. 8 . The canopy of claim 7 , wherein the removable attachment is at a base of the canopy.
  9. 9 . The canopy of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of emitters includes a coupler for supplying electricity thereto and the canopy includes an aperture for accommodating the coupler.
  10. 10 . A smart quick connect device for electrically and mechanically connecting an electrical fixture, the device comprising a socket and a plurality of emitters on the socket emitting UV radiation; wherein the plurality of emitters includes a first plurality of emitters in the form of a ring along a periphery of the smart quick connect device and a second plurality of emitters centrally located within the ring on the smart quick connect device.
  11. 11 . The smart quick connect device of claim 10 , wherein the first and second plurality of emitters are separately activatable.
  12. 12 . The smart quick connect device of claim 11 , wherein the first plurality of emitters emits UVA and/or FAR UVC radiation when activated and the second plurality of emitters emits UVC radiation when activated.
  13. 13 . The smart quick connect device of claim 12 , wherein the first plurality of emitters comprises a first array of LEDs and the second plurality of emitters comprises a second array of LEDs.
  14. 14 . The smart quick connect device of claim 13 , wherein the first array of LED's emits UVA radiation when activated.
  15. 15 . The smart quick connect device of claim 12 , wherein the first plurality of emitters emits UVA radiation when activated.
  16. 16 . The smart quick connect device of claim 15 , further comprising at least one sensing unit for wirelessly communicating a sensed condition and/or for wireless receiving a signal.
  17. 17 . The smart quick connect device of claim 16 , wherein the at least one sensing unit includes a sensor for wirelessly receiving a command signal to control the device and/or an associated electrical fixture.
  18. 18 . The smart quick connect device of claim 17 , wherein the sensor controls activation of the first and second plurality of emitters.
  19. 19 . The smart quick connect device of claim 18 , wherein the command signal results from the sensed condition.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure relates to electrical connectors and fixtures, and more particularly, to an electrical plug and socket combination allowing quick connection and mounting of electrical fixtures and having a disinfection feature for disinfecting air and/or surfaces. The disclosure also relates to a lighting fixture that includes or is retrofitted to provide both lighting and disinfection functions. RELATED PATENTS AND APPLICATIONS This disclosure relates to U.S. Patent Application No. 62/486,132 filed Apr. 17, 2017; PCT International Patent Application No. PCT/US18/27956 filed Apr. 17, 2018 (published as WO 2018/195068 A1): U.S. Patent Application No. 62/467,176 filed Mar. 5, 2017: PCT International Patent Application No. PCT/US2016/032170 filed May 12, 2016 (published as WO 2016/183354 A1): U.S. Pat. No. 7,462,066 filed Mar. 20, 2007:7,192,303 filed Dec. 2, 2004; and 6,962,498 filed Dec. 12, 2001; and to U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0280673 filed Dec. 2, 2005: U.S. Provisional Applications 62/160,585 filed May 12, 2015; 62/308,718, filed Mar. 15, 2016; 62/467,176 filed Mar. 5, 2017:62,470,170 filed Mar. 10, 2017: 62/515,464, filed Jun. 5, 2017; and U.S. Patent Application No. 62/807,889 filed Feb. 20, 2019, the contents of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein, in their entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE The use of UV light for disinfecting is generally known. However, some UV wavelengths have no effect on killing microorganisms. Such emitted wavelengths waste energy and can be harmful to humans over time. Such lamps also need a high voltage power supply, which can create safety issues. The patents identified above in the Related Patents and Applications Section disclose various embodiments of quick connect devices and lighting fixtures. In particular, these related patents and applications disclose various embodiments of plug and socket combinations that permit quick connection of an electrical fixture or appliance at an electrical junction box on a wall or ceiling. The socket is secured on the wall or ceiling near electrical power supply wiring and includes female receptacles which receive male electrical prongs carried on the plug. The electrical fixture is secured to the plug. In addition to the quick electrical connection provided by this plug and socket combination, a mechanical connection between the plug and socket carries the mechanical load of the electrical fixture. This disclosure sets forth improvements related to various embodiments of the plug and socket combinations in the related patents and applications having a disinfection feature. Lighting fixtures that include or are retrofitted to provide both lighting and disinfection functions are also disclosed. SUMMARY One aspect of the disclosure relates to a canopy for a light fixture, with the canopy including a connector for coupling to the light fixture, a plug of a quick connect device, and a plurality of emitters emitting UVA and/or FAR UVC radiation. The plurality of emitters can include a coupler for supplying electricity thereto and the canopy can include an aperture for accommodating the coupler. In an embodiment, the plurality of emitters forms a ring on a periphery of the canopy. The plurality of emitters can be an array of LEDs that emits UVA radiation. The canopy can include an antenna and/or sensor array to control selective activation of the plurality of emitters and/or illumination of the light fixture. In an embodiment, the plurality of emitters is removably attached to the canopy. The removable attachment can be achieved with at least one of a screw connection, a hook and loop fastener, a magnetic coupling, and an adhesive. The removable attachment can be at any location of the canopy, but in an exemplary embodiment, the removable attachment is at a base of the canopy. Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a smart quick connect device for electrically and mechanically connecting an electrical fixture, the device comprising a socket and a plurality of emitters emitting UV radiation. In an embodiment, the plurality of emitters includes a first plurality of emitters in the form of a ring along a periphery of the smart quick connect device and a second plurality of emitters centrally located within the ring on the smart quick connect device. The first and second plurality of emitters can be separately activatable, with the first plurality of emitters emitting UVA and/or FAR UVC radiation when activated and the second plurality of emitters emitting UVC radiation when activated. In an embodiment, the first plurality of emitters comprises a first array of LEDs and the second plurality of emitters comprises a second array of LEDs. The first array of LED's can emit UVA radiation when activated. In some embodiments, the smart quick connect device further comprises at least one sensing unit for wirelessly communicating a sensed condition and/or for wireless receiving a sig