Lighting fixture extension

Abstract

A lighting assembly includes an airflow chamber having a first and second ends and a side wall separating the first and second ends. The side wall: has a dimension exceeding a maximum opening dimension of a standard-sized light bulb ceiling recess that limits a dimension of objects insertable within the recess; at least partially defines a first opening in fluid communication with an outside environment; at least partially defines a second opening, the second opening being downstream to the first opening and in fluid communication with the outside environment; and includes an inner surface at least partially defining an airflow channel. A light-bulb assembly is coupled to the airflow chamber and includes at least one light emitting source thermally coupled and at least partially placed within the airflow channel, the light emitting source having an electrical contact portion disposed for attachment to an electrical source.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A self-cooled lighting assembly comprising:
 an airflow chamber:
 having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; 
 having a side wall separating the first and second ends, the side wall:
 having a dimension exceeding a maximum opening dimension of a standard-sized light bulb ceiling recess, the maximum opening dimension limiting a dimension of objects insertable within the standard-sized light bulb ceiling recess; 
 at least partially defining a first opening in fluid communication with an outside environment; 
 at least partially defining a second opening, the second opening being downstream to the first opening and in fluid communication with the outside environment; and 
 including an inner surface at least partially defining an airflow channel; and 
 
 a light-bulb assembly coupled to the airflow chamber, the light-bulb assembly including at least one light emitting source thermally coupled and at least partially placed within the airflow channel, the at least one light emitting source having an electrical contact portion disposed for attachment to an electrical source. 
   
     
     
         2 . The self-cooled lighting assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a light-source power receiving portion dimensioned to fit within the standard-sized light bulb ceiling recess and couplable to a standard light-bulb outlet disposed therein; and   wherein the side wall is disposed to be in contact with a ceiling when the light-source power receiving portion is coupled to the standard light-bulb outlet such that the first and second openings at least partially defined by the side wall are disposed beneath the ceiling so as to allow air to exit the airflow chamber beneath the ceiling.   
     
     
         3 . The self-cooled lighting assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a heat-dissipating engine at least partially defined by the airflow channel and driving a substantially continuous flow of air from the outside environment through the first opening at least partially defined by the sidewall, subsequently across the at least one light emitting source, and out of the second opening at least partially defined by the sidewall to the outside environment.   
     
     
         4 . The self-cooled lighting assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one light emitting source is disposed within a cavity at least partially defined by the first end, the second end, and the sidewall separating the first and second ends.   
     
     
         5 . A flush mounted self-cooled ceiling lighting assembly comprising:
 a light assembly dimensioned and shaped not to completely fit within a standard-sized light bulb recess in a ceiling, the standard-sized light bulb recess being of a size and shape to receive substantially all of a standard-sized light bulb therein, the light assembly having a light-emitting face and an electrical contact portion;   an airflow chamber shaped to be in contact with a ceiling and having a side wall:
 with an upper end dimension that exceeds the largest dimension of the standard sized light bulb recess in the ceiling; 
 defining at least one proximal opening; and 
 defining at least one distal opening in fluid communication with the proximal opening, wherein heat created by the light assembly drives a substantially continuous flow of air from the proximal opening, across a portion of the light assembly, and out of the at least one distal opening without the use of a fan, the at least one distal opening adapted to be disposed beneath the ceiling when the side wall is in contact with the ceiling and the light assembly is coupled to a light-bulb outlet disposed within the standard-sized light bulb recess. 
   
     
     
         6 . The flush mounted self-cooled ceiling lighting assembly in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the airflow chamber further comprises:
 a lower end that defines an aperture for passing light emitted from the light source.   
     
     
         7 . The flush mounted self-cooled ceiling lighting assembly in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the airflow chamber further comprises:
 a light-bulb electrical receptacle shaped to receive the electrical contact portion of the light assembly; and   a contact portion electrically couplable with a standard light-bulb outlet.   
     
     
         8 . The flush mounted self-cooled ceiling lighting assembly in accordance with  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a shaft separating the light-bulb electrical receptacle from the contact portion.   
     
     
         9 . The flush mounted self-cooled ceiling lighting assembly in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein:
 the at least one distal opening is aligned to emit the substantially continuous flow of air from the proximal opening away from the recess in the ceiling.   
     
     
         10 . The flush mounted self-cooled ceiling lighting assembly in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein:
 the exhaust port in the sidewall is located outside of the light bulb recess and directs air away from the light bulb recess.   
     
     
         11 . A self-cooled lighting assembly comprising:
 a ceiling with a standard-sized light bulb recess therein, the light bulb recess having a standard light-bulb outlet therein and a maximum opening dimension limiting the dimension of objects insertable within the light bulb recess; and   a light fixture including:
 a light-source power receiving portion dimensioned to fit within a light bulb recess and couplable to a standard light-bulb outlet; and 
 a sidewall having a dimension exceeding the maximum opening dimension of the light bulb recess and defining at least one aperture; and 
   a heat-dissipating engine defining an air-flow channel from the at least one aperture, across a portion of the light-source, and out of an exhaust port in the sidewall higher in altitude than the at least one aperture, the heat-dissipating engine driving a substantially continuous flow of air from the at least one aperture, across a portion of the light-source, and out of the exhaust port without the use of a fan, the exhaust port adapted to be disposed beneath the ceiling when the sidewall is in contact with the ceiling and the light-source power receiving portion is coupled to the standard light-bulb.   
     
     
         12 . The self-cooled lighting assembly in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the light fixture further includes:
 a light-source-supporting substrate within the sidewall and having a front surface and a back surface and defining an aperture between the front surface and the back surface;   a light-source supported by the substrate, adjacent the aperture, and operable to emit light from the front surface of the substrate; and   the heat-dissipating engine is coupled to the back surface of the substrate and in fluid communication with the aperture.