US-12624806-B1 - Modular light fixture with at least two light boards

Abstract

A modular light fixture including a support tower, a plurality of lighting tiers defined by the support tower, one or more light boards, and one or more placeholder blanks. The light boards and placeholder blanks configured to be selectively coupled to the support tower within the lighting tiers to vary the brightness capacity of the light providing alternative lighting characteristics.

Inventors

• Ronald Rezek
• Tyler Hayhurst

Assignees

• Rezek Engineering

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20241111

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A modular light fixture with at least two light boards comprising: a support tower; a base level lighting tier having at least one main light emitting board releasably secured to the support tower, the at least one main light emitting board defining a first brightness capacity; at least one auxiliary level lighting tier having at least one auxiliary light emitting board releasably secured to the support tower, the light emitting boards being electrically coupled in series to define a second brightness capacity; a driver unit configured to control the light emitting boards; and an auxiliary connector removably coupling the at least one main light emitting board of the base level lighting tier to the driver unit, wherein the driver unit is configured to be coupled to a power source to illuminate the light emitting boards.
2. 2 . The modular light fixture of claim 1 wherein: the at least one main light emitting board of the base level lighting tier includes a primary connector releasably coupled to the auxiliary connector and at least one expansion connector for releasably coupling to at least one other light emitting board on another level lighting tier.
3. 3 . The modular light fixture of claim 1 further comprising: at least one expansion level lighting tier having at least one placeholder blank releasably secured to the support tower with a first surface facing an interior of the support tower and a second surface facing an exterior of the support tower; and the connections between the light emitting boards of the base level lighting tier and the auxiliary level lighting tier are disposed behind the interior surface of the placeholder blank.
4. 4 . The modular light fixture of claim 1 wherein: the light emitting boards include at least one LED array; and the driver unit includes at least one LED driver.
5. 5 . The modular light fixture of claim 1 wherein: the driver unit is configured to be coupled to a power source to illuminate the light emitting boards connected electrically in series to the driver unit through the auxiliary connector.
6. 6 . The modular light fixture of claim 1 wherein: at least one light emitting board includes a heat sink, a set of cooling fins projecting toward an interior space of the support tower, an LED array, and a primary power input connector constructed to removably connect to the auxiliary connector and a transfer connector being constructed to removably connect to a sequentially arranged primary input connector of another light emitting board.
7. 7 . The modular light fixture of claim 1 wherein: the transfer connector of at least one light board may be disconnected from a first light board and connected to an alternative light board.
8. 8 . The modular light fixture of claim 1 further comprising: a first expansion level lighting tier including a plurality of expansion light emitting boards vertically aligned with a corresponding plurality of base level lighting tier light emitting boards and a corresponding plurality of auxiliary level lighting tier light emitting boards, each light emitting board in the first expansion lighting tier including a first expansion connector removably coupled to an expansion connector in a counterpart light emitting board in at least one other level lighting tier to connect the light emitting boards in series.
9. 9 . The modular light fixture of claim 8 wherein: the support tower includes a plurality of sides with each side including a light emitting board in the base level lighting tier, the auxiliary level lighting tier, and the first expansion level lighting tier all coupled in series and all vertically aligned on their respective sides.
10. 10 . The modular light fixture of claim 9 wherein: the auxiliary connector includes a driver side connector for each side of the support tower for connecting to the light emitting board on each side of the base level lighting tier.
11. 11 . The modular light fixture of claim 1 further comprising: at least one expansion level lighting tier having at least one placeholder blank releasably secured to the support tower, the placeholder blank being constructed to be swapped out with at least one expansion light emitting board to be coupled in series to at least one other light emitting board to alter the brightness capacity of the modular light fixture.
12. 12 . The modular light fixture of claim 11 wherein: the at least one placeholder blank at least partially spans a gap between the light emitting boards in the base level lighting tier and the auxiliary level lighting tier.
13. 13 . The modular light fixture of claim 11 wherein: the support tower includes a plurality of sides, the support tower having a set of spaced apart supporting pillars of a predetermined height defining an interior space formed by and separated from an exterior space by the supporting pillars with adjacent supporting pillars defining the sides of the support tower, the supporting pillars further having a lower end releasably coupled to a lower support plate and an upper end releasably coupled to an upper support plate with each of the pillars including a mounting surface for releasably receiving at least a portion of a light emitting board or a placeholder blank from each tier.
14. 14 . The modular light fixture of claim 13 further comprising: a protective cage slipped over the support tower with a lower end abutting the lower support plate and an upper end releasably secured to the respective top ends of the support pillars; a lower housing containing the driver unit and capped off with the lower support plate; a fan unit resting atop the upper support plate; a protective shell surrounding the top and sides of the fan unit, the protective shell including a plurality of slots along the radially outwardly projecting sides; and an inflatable diffuser having a lower end removably coupled to the lower housing and an upper end removably coupled to the upper end of the protective cage, the diffuser being configured to expand in response to air being pushed outwardly by the fan unit.
15. 15 . The modular light fixture of claim 14 further comprising: a power switch at least partially contained within the lower housing with an operative component exposed on the lower exterior surface of the lower housing; and a dimming knob at least partially contained within the lower housing with an operative component exposed on the lower exterior surface of the lower housing.
16. 16 . The modular light fixture of claim 14 wherein: the fan unit is a centrifugal fan.
17. 17 . The modular light fixture of claim 14 further comprising: a filtering sponge abutting the lower exterior surface of a lower housing in communication with the lower support plate; a press plate covering the filtering sponge; the fan unit drawing exterior air through the press plate and the sponge, through a hole in the lower housing and on into the interior of the support tower and through a hole in the upper support plate and then expelling the air out through the radial slots in the protective housing to be directed against the interior surface of the inflatable diffuser to inflate the diffuser while the fan is powered on.
18. 18 . The modular light fixture of claim 14 further comprising: a diffuser fixing plate secured to the top end of the protective cage, the diffuser fixing plate include a fastener receptacle constructed to secure the top end of the inflatable diffuser.
19. 19 . A modular light fixture with at least two light boards comprising: a support tower having a plurality of sides defining a predetermined height, at least one support plate, a set of spaced apart supporting pillars projecting from the support plate with adjacent supporting pillars defining the sides of the support tower, and an interior space formed by and separated from an exterior space by the supporting pillars, each of the pillars including a mounting surface; a base level lighting tier including at least one main light board releasably secured to the mounting surface of at least one of the support pillars, the at least one main light board including an outwardly facing light emitting panel, an interior facing primary power supply connector, and an interior facing transfer connector; at least one auxiliary level lighting tier including at least one auxiliary light board releasably secured to the mounting surface of at least one of the support pillars, the at least one auxiliary light board including an outwardly facing light emitting panel and an interior facing primary power supply connector for connecting to an interior facing transfer connector of a light board in another tier; at least one expansion level lighting tier including at least one expansion light board with an outwardly facing light emitting panel having a primary connector configured to releasably connect to the transfer connector of a light board in another level lighting tier and a transfer connector constructed to releasably connect to the primary connector in at least one other light board in another level lighting tier, such that a plurality of light boards on the same side of the support tower are electrically connected in series; at least one gap formed along the height of the support tower and configured to accommodate the at least one expansion level lighting tier; a driver unit configured to control the light boards; and an auxiliary connector removably coupling the primary connector of at least one light board in the base level lighting tier to the driver unit, wherein the driver unit is configured to be coupled to a power source to provide power to all the connected light boards.
20. 20 . A modular light fixture with at least two light boards comprising: a light fixture body including a support tower with a plurality of sides having a predetermined height, a lower support plate, an upper support plate, a set of spaced apart support pillars held by the upper support plate, with adjacent pillars defining the sides, a mounting surface, and substantially delineating an exterior tower space from an interior tower space; a base level lighting tier including a main light board on each side of the support tower, the base level light boards being releasably secured to the mounting surface on adjacent support pillars, the base level light boards combining to define a base level brightness capacity, the base level light boards including a heat sink, a set of cooling fins projecting into the interior space of the support tower, an LED array facing the exterior space, a primary power connector, and a transfer connector; a second level lighting tier including a second level light board on each side of the support tower, the second level light boards being releasably secured to the mounting surface on adjacent support, the second level light boards being vertically aligned with their counterpart main level light boards in the base level lighting tier, and combining to define second level brightness capacity, the second level light boards having a second level primary power connector; at least one expansion level light board having an expansion level primary connector configured to releasably connect to the transfer connector in a base level tier light board and an expansion level transfer connector to connect to a second level primary power connector; at least one expansion level lighting tier along the height of the support tower configured to accommodate the expansion level light board; a driver unit configured to control the lighting panels; an auxiliary connector removably coupling the primary connector of at least one main light board in the base level lighting tier to the driver unit, wherein the driver unit is configured to be coupled to a power source to provide power to all the connected light boards, and the expansion level transfer connector connects to the second level primary power connector to electrically connect the base level lighting tier, the expansion level lighting tier, and the second level lighting tier in series; a lower housing containing the driver unit and in communication with the lower support plate; a fan unit disposed on the upper support plate; a protective cage provided over the support tower and the fan unit and including an upper end spaced apart from a lower end resting on the lower support plate; and a diffuser at least partially surrounding the protective cage, and having a first end coupled to the lower housing and a second end coupled to the upper end of the protective cage, the diffuser configured to expand in response to air being pushed outwardly by the fan unit.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure relates generally to the field of light fixtures and, more particularly, to modular light fixtures capable of altering their illumination output. BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE A variety of light fixtures and lighting elements abound, some with more general applications and others with more specific applications. In both indoor and outdoor lighting environments, the wattage capacity and relative light emitted are typically altered by swapping out a light bulb with a higher or lower wattage rating. For example, the wattage rating of many indoor lamps may be increased by exchanging an incandescent bulb for an incandescent bulb with a higher wattage rating. Likewise, the brightness of the light fixture may be increased by increasing the total amount of lumens being produced. In recent years, light bulbs have gotten better in terms of design and efficiency with incandescent bulbs giving way to one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) in many instances. Even with LEDs being more efficient than incandescent bulbs resulting in more lumens per watt, lower heat output, and longer lifespans, there are scenarios wherein altering the wattage capacity of a light fixture may be desired. A particular light fixture construction includes an inflatable balloon surrounding a light tower. The degree of opacity of the balloon material, ranging from fully transparent to practically opaque, determines how the light emitted from the light tower is diffused. The lighting needs, where the light fixtures or lamps with a fixed wattage or brightness rating are to be placed, dictates the number of lamps needed to support the lighting needs. However, this is limiting in that multiple power sources may be needed and the lamps take up a certain amount of space. While the foregoing approaches generally describe conventional light fixtures usable with an inflatable diffuser element, there remains a need for a light fixture having the capability of altering its wattage and/or lumen capacity through a modular substitution system. SUMMARY In accordance with at least one embodiment disclosed herein, a modular light fixture may be provided with a light board support tower with a base level lighting tier having at least one light emitting board releasably secured to the light board support tower and defining a first brightness capacity and at least one auxiliary level lighting tier having at least one auxiliary light emitting board releasably secured to the light board support tower, the light emitting boards being coupled in series to define a second brightness capacity, and further comprising a driver unit constructed to control the lighting emitting boards and an auxiliary connector removably coupling the base level lighting tier to the driver unit wherein a power source may be coupled to the driver unit to illuminate the coupled light emitting boards. In at least one embodiment, the support tower of the modular light fixture includes a set of support pillars providing multiple mounting surfaces for a set of light boards. In at least one exemplary embodiment described herein, the modular light fixture includes a protective cage covering the support tower and light boards, a fan for drawing air into the interior of the support tower, and a diffuser element at least partially surrounding the protective cage with the fan operating to both assist in cooling the light boards and inflating the diffuser. In another exemplary embodiment, the light boards across multiple lighting tiers are removably coupled to the support tower and arranged in a vertical alignment and coupled in series. In yet another exemplary embodiment, one or more lighting tiers may incorporate one or more placeholder blanks to fill a space along the height of the support tower and assist in sealing off an interior space of the support tower when a light board is not being used, the placeholder blanks being swappable with light boards to vary the brightness capacity of the modular light tower. Methods of assembling and using the modular balloon light fixture are also disclosed herein. All of the embodiments summarized above are intended to be within the scope of the invention herein disclosed. However, despite the discussion of certain embodiments herein, only the appended claims (and not the present summary) are intended to define the invention. The summarized embodiments, and other embodiments and aspects of the present invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments having reference to the attached figures of the preferred embodiments, which are intended to illustrate and not limit the present disclosure, the invention not being limited to any particular embodiment(s) disclosed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of an exemplary first embodiment of a modular light fixture assembly mounted on a tripod light stand and including an infla