Ceiling mountable light box system

Abstract

A lighting fixture is provided in which the fixture includes a lighting surface, a lighting fixture frame adjacent an edge of the lighting surface, a sealable compartment within the lighting fixture frame, and a removable cover for sealing the sealable compartment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lighting fixture comprising:
 a lighting surface;   a lighting fixture frame adjacent an edge of the lighting surface;   a sealable compartment within the lighting fixture frame; and   a removable cover for the sealable compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The lighting fixture of  claim 1 , further comprising a diffusing surface parallel to and spaced apart from the lighting surface by the lighting fixture frame, wherein the sealable compartment is accessible through an opening between the lighting surface and the diffusing surface, and wherein the opening is covered by the removable cover. 
     
     
         3 . The lighting fixture of  claim 2 , wherein the diffusing surface, lighting fixture frame, removable cover, and lighting surface form a sealed lighting cavity independent of the sealable compartment. 
     
     
         4 . The lighting fixture of  claim 1 , wherein the lighting surface is a panel containing a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs). 
     
     
         5 . The lighting fixture of  claim 4 , wherein the lighting surface comprises reflector surfaces. 
     
     
         6 . The lighting fixture of  claim 1  further comprising a power source or control circuitry for the lighting surface within the sealable compartment, wherein the power source or control circuitry is accessible by removing the removable cover. 
     
     
         7 . The lighting fixture of  claim 6 , wherein the lighting surface is permanently fixed to the fixture frame. 
     
     
         8 . The lighting fixture of  claim 7 , wherein the sealable compartment is sealed against the removable cover with a gasket. 
     
     
         9 . The lighting fixture of  claim 8 , wherein the sealable compartment has a substantially consistent profile along at least one side of the lighting fixture, and wherein the gasket is provided along the length of the side of the lighting fixture. 
     
     
         10 . The lighting fixture of  claim 9 , wherein the substantially consistent profile includes a hook for retaining a corresponding profile of the removable cover, and wherein the removable cover pivots relative to the hook. 
     
     
         11 . The lighting fixture of  claim 9 , wherein the removable cover slopes away from the lighting surface when sealing the sealable compartment. 
     
     
         12 . The lighting fixture of  claim 9 , wherein the lighting fixture frame has a substantially consistent profile and is provided along multiple sides of the lighting surface, forming a boundary of the fixture. 
     
     
         13 . The lighting fixture of  claim 12  configured to mate with a neighboring identical lighting fixture, thereby forming a system comprising a plurality of lighting fixtures. 
     
     
         14 . The lighting fixture of  claim 1 , wherein the sealable compartment further comprises mounting locations for fixing the lighting fixture to a mounting element. 
     
     
         15 . The lighting fixture of  claim 2  further comprising a diffusing assembly comprising the diffusing surface and a diffusing frame for the diffusing surface, the diffusing frame comprising the removable cover. 
     
     
         16 . The lighting fixture of  claim 15 , the diffusing assembly further comprising a second layer of material, wherein the diffusing surface is fixed at a first end of the diffusing frame and the second layer of material is fixed to the diffusing frame such that, when the removable panel is installed, the second layer of material is adjacent the lighting surface, and wherein the diffusing frame, the diffusing surface, and the second layer of material form a sealed diffusing chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The lighting fixture of  claim 16 , wherein the sealable compartment comprises the lighting fixture frame, the diffusing frame, and an edge of the lighting surface. 
     
     
         18 . The lighting fixture of  claim 1 , wherein the sealable compartment or the removable cover further comprises a light pipe extending to an edge of the lighting fixture. 
     
     
         19 . The lighting fixture of  claim 2 , wherein the removable cover slopes away from the lighting surface when sealing the sealable compartment and forms a return for the lighting fixture. 
     
     
         20 . The lighting fixture of  claim 19  further comprising a light pipe, such that light from the lighting surface illuminates a portion of the return adjacent the diffusing surface.