Inclined ceiling downlight fixtures

Abstract

Lighting fixtures which may be employed in inclined ceiling applications. The fixtures feature substantially elliptical cross-sectioned housings which, when intersected by the plane of an inclined ceiling, yield a circular opening and trim in order to lend an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Such fixtures may also employ adjustable socket housings in order to allow the lamp contained within the fixture to be disposed substantially perpendicular to the floor space, or as otherwise desired, to impart a desired lighting pattern.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A downlight fixture for an inclined ceiling, comprising: a. a housing which includes an upper end, a lower end and a longitudinal axis, which housing is substantially elliptical in cross section normal to its longitudinal axis, and whose lower end forms an opening that is substantially circular in a plane that is oblique to the housing longitudinal axis;   b. a lamp socket connected to the upper end of the housing for accommodating a lamp; and   c. a ceiling plate attached to the lower end of the housing, which plate contains a substantially circular opening in registration with the substantially circular opening formed by the lower end or the housing.   
     
     
       2. A fixture according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of mounting bars connected to the ceiling plate in adjustable fashion for attaching the ceiling plate to a ceiling structure. 
     
     
       3. A fixture according to claim 1 further comprising a baffle contained in the housing, which baffle conforms generally in shape to the housing, has an upper end and a lower end corresponding generally to the upper and lower ends of the housing, is open at both ends, and is adapted to receive, in its upper end, a lamp placed in the socket. 
     
     
       4. A fixture according to claim 1 in which at least a part of the baffle is corrugated for diffusing light. 
     
     
       5. A fixture according to claim 1 in which the lower end of the housing forms a substantially circular flange which is adapted to form a trim ring on the ceiling. 
     
     
       6. A fixture according to claim 1 in which a separate, substantially circular, trim ring Is attached to the lower end of the fixture in order to trim the fixture on the ceiling. 
     
     
       7. A fixture according to claim 1 further comprising structure for adjustably connecting the socket to the housing, which structure includes a dome connected to the upper end of the housing, a sliding plate connected in sliding fashion to the dome, and a socket housing connected to the sliding plate and to which the socket is connected. 
     
     
       8. A downlight fixture for an inclined ceiling, comprising: a. a housing which includes an upper end, a lower end and a longitudinal axis, which housing is substantially elliptical in cross section normal to its longitudinal axis, and whose lower end forms an opening that is substantially circular in a plane that is oblique to the housing longitudinal axis;   b. a dome connected to the upper end of the housing, which dome contains an opening and features a substantially elliptical lower portion that connects to the housing;   c. a sliding plate connected in sliding fashion to the dome; and   d. a socket connected to the sliding plate for accommodating a lamp so that the lamp may protrude through the opening in the dome substantially vertically to a floor below the ceiling.   
     
     
       9. A fixture according to claim 8 further comprising a ceiling plate attached to the lower end of the housing, which plate contains a substantially circular opening in registration with the substantially circular opening formed by the lower end of the housing. 
     
     
       10. A fixture according to claim 8 in which the fixture is adapted to accommodate ceilings that have various pitches. 
     
     
       11. A fixture according to claim 8 in which the lower end of the housing forms a substantially circular flange which is adapted to form a trim ring on the ceiling. 
     
     
       12. A fixture according to claim 9 in which the ceiling plate further comprises a number of mounting bars connected to the ceiling plate in adjustable fashion for attaching the ceiling plate to structure that forms the ceiling. 
     
     
       13. A downlight fixture for accommodating a lamp in an pitched ceiling, comprising: a. a generally tubular housing which includes an upper end, a lower end forming an opening, and a longitudinal axis, which housing is adapted to be disposed in the ceiling so that its longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to a floor below the ceiling;   b. a dome connected to the upper end of the housing, which dome contains an outer surface on a convex side of the dome, an inner surface on a concave side of the dome, an oblong opening oriented in the direction of the pitch of the ceiling and penetrating the outer and inner surfaces of the dome, and at least two tabs which are substantially L shaped in cross section protruding from the outer surface of the dome;   c. an oblong sliding plate which conforms in shape generally to the outer surface of the dome, and whose edges are adapted to be captured by the tabs protruding from the outer surface of the dome so that the sliding plate is captured in sliding fashion by the tabs in a fashion to cover at least a portion of the opening in the dome, and which sliding plate features a lamp opening through which at least a portion of the lamp may protrude;   d. a generally cylindrical socket housing extending from the sliding plate in a direction generally away from the dome; and   e. a socket contained in the socket housing for accommodating the lamp so that the lamp may protrude through the lamp opening in the sliding plate and the oblong opening in the dome substantially vertically to a floor below the ceiling when the sliding plate is disposed correctly relative to the dome.   
     
     
       14. A fixture according to claim 13 further comprising a ceiling plate attached to the lower end of the housing, which plate contains an opening in registration with the opening formed by the lower end of the housing. 
     
     
       15. A fixture according to claim 13 in which the housing is substantially elliptical in cross section perpendicular to its longitudinal axis and the opening at the lower end is substantially circular in a plane oblique to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       16. A fixture according to claim 13 further comprising a set screw inserted in the dome to set the position of the sliding plate relative to the dome, the set screw featuring a head which protrudes from the inner surface of the dome to be accessible from below the ceiling. 
     
     
       17. A fixture according to claim 13 further comprising a baffle within the housing, at least part of which is corrugated to diffuse light. 
     
     
       18. A fixture according to claim 13 in which the housing further includes a flange attached to its lower end in order to form trim on the ceiling to which the fixture is attached. .Iadd. 
     
     
       19.  In a downlight fixture for installation in a sloped ceiling, the fixture having a housing which includes an upper end, a lower end and a longitudinal axis, the fixture carrying a lamp socket to which a lamp is operably joined to produce light which emanates from the fixture at least through the lower end of the housing, the improvement comprising a substantially elliptical cross-section formed in at least a portion of the housing between the upper end and the lower end, the elliptical section of the housing being normal to the longitudinal axis of the housing, the lower end of the housing forming an opening which is substantially circular in a plane oblique to the longitudinal axis of the housing. .Iaddend..Iadd.20. In the downlight fixture of claim 19 wherein the ceiling has a circular opening formed therein and the lower end of the housing is disposed proximus to said circular opening formed in the ceiling, the substantially circular opening formed by the lower end of the housing being juxtaposed to the opening formed in the ceiling. .Iaddend..Iadd.21. In the downlight fixture of claim 20 wherein the circular opening formed in the ceiling is substantially congruent with the circular opening formed by the lower end of the housing. .Iaddend..Iadd.22. In the downlight fixture of claim 20 wherein the circular opening formed in the ceiling is in registration with the substantially circular opening formed by the lower end of the housing. 
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd.23.  In the downlight fixture of claim 19 wherein the improvement further comprises a ceiling plate attached to the lower end of the housing, which plate is formed with a substantially circular opening in registration with the substantially circular opening formed by the lower end of the housing. .Iaddend..Iadd.24. In the downlight fixture of claim 23 wherein the ceiling has a circular opening formed therein and the substantially circular opening formed in the ceiling plate is disposed proximus to the circular opening formed in the ceiling, the substantially circular opening formed in the ceiling plate being juxtaposed to the opening formed in the ceiling. .Iaddend..Iadd.25. In the downlight fixture of claim 24 wherein the circular opening formed in the ceiling is substantially congruent with the circular opening formed in the ceiling plate. .Iaddend..Iadd.26. In the downlight fixture of claim 24 wherein the circular opening formed in the ceiling is of a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the circular opening formed in the ceiling plate. .Iaddend..Iadd.27. In the downlight fixture of claim 24 wherein the lower end of the housing forms a substantially circular flange which is adapted to fit over the circular opening formed in the ceiling to trim said 
     
     
        ceiling opening. .Iaddend..Iadd.28.  In the downlight fixture of claim 24 and further comprising a separate, substantially circular trim ring affixed to the lower end of the housing to trim the circular opening formed in the ceiling. .Iaddend..Iadd.29. In the downlight fixture of claim 19 wherein the improvement further comprises means carried by the fixture for adjusting lamp socket position and thus lamp position. 
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd.30.  In the downlight fixture of claim 19 wherein the improvement further comprises means carried by the fixture for adjustably connecting the lamp socket to the housing. .Iaddend..Iadd.31. In the downlight fixture of claim 30 wherein the connecting means comprise: a dome connected to the upper end of the housing;   a sliding plate;   means for connecting the sliding plate to the dome for relative sliding motion therebetween; and,   a socket housing connected to the sliding plate and to which socket housing the socket is connected. .Iaddend.