Lighting fixture with direct and indirect lighting

Abstract

A lighting fixture and method of providing lighting is provided herein that utilizes both direct and indirect light sources. The direct and indirect light sources can be provided in arrays of light emitting diodes (LEDs) oriented along desired axes. In some versions, the light fixtures described herein include a direct lighting array having one or more LEDs oriented to project light downwardly and an indirect lighting array having a plurality of LEDs oriented to project light in a transverse direction. Further, the light fixtures can include an indirect lighting member configured to be illuminated by the plurality of LEDs of the indirect lighting array. Additionally, or alternatively, the light fixtures described herein can include one or more controllers that are configured to independently operate the direct and indirect lighting arrays. Moreover, the indirect lighting array can be configured to emit light in a plurality of colors to visually convey information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A light fixture comprising:
 a housing having an upper member and a lower member;   a direct lighting array coupled to the housing and comprising one or more light emitting diodes oriented to project light along a downward axis;   an indirect lighting array coupled to the housing and comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes oriented to project light along axes extending transverse to the downward axis;   an indirect lighting member at least partially captured between the upper and lower members to extend laterally outwardly from the housing and within a path of illumination of the indirect lighting array, such that energizing the plurality of light emitting diodes of the indirect lighting array illuminates at least a portion of the indirect lighting member.   
     
     
         2 . The light fixture of  claim 1 , wherein the indirect lighting member comprises an outer wall and a bottom wall. 
     
     
         3 . The light fixture of  claim 2 , wherein the outer wall includes a top portion engaging the upper member of the housing and a skirt portion extending downwardly and outwardly from the top portion. 
     
     
         4 . The light fixture of  claim 3 , wherein the skirt portion is linear in a vertical cross-section, extending downwardly and outwardly from the top portion at an angle. 
     
     
         5 . The light fixture of  claim 4 , wherein an outer surface of the skirt portion is aligned with an outer surface of the upper member of the housing giving the light fixture a frustoconical shape. 
     
     
         6 . The light fixture of  claim 3 , wherein the indirect lighting member further comprises a coupling wall extending upwardly from the top portion of the outer wall; and the upper member of the housing defines a channel sized to receive the coupling wall therein to couple the outer wall to the upper member of the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The light fixture of  claim 3 , wherein the indirect lighting array is aligned with an inner edge of the bottom wall. 
     
     
         8 . The light fixture of  claim 3 , wherein an outer edge of the bottom wall is coupled to a distal end of the outer wall. 
     
     
         9 . The light fixture of  claim 8 , wherein the distal end of the outer wall is disposed within a path of illumination of the light emitting diodes of the indirect lighting array. 
     
     
         10 . The light fixture of  claim 8 , wherein the bottom wall and outer wall are separate components. 
     
     
         11 . The light fixture of  claim 8 , wherein the distal end of the outer wall comprises an interior lip configured to abut a top surface of the bottom wall. 
     
     
         12 . The light fixture of  claim 8 , wherein the distal end of the outer wall has an outwardly pointed configuration with an upper surface and a lower surface angled relative to one another. 
     
     
         13 . The light fixture of  claim 2 , wherein the indirect lighting member further comprises an inner wall depending downwardly from an edge of the outer wall. 
     
     
         14 . The light fixture of  claim 13 , wherein a distal end of the inner wall engages an upper surface of the bottom wall. 
     
     
         15 . The light fixture of  claim 14 , wherein the lower member of the housing engages a lower surface of the bottom wall opposite the inner wall of the indirect lighting member to capture the bottom wall therebetween. 
     
     
         16 . The light fixture of  claim 15 , wherein the lower member of the housing comprises a pair of spaced, upstanding walls configured to engage the lower surface of the bottom wall. 
     
     
         17 . The light fixture of  claim 1 , wherein the indirect lighting member has an annular configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The light fixture of  claim 1 , wherein the indirect lighting member is transparent or translucent to allow light to at least partially pass therethrough. 
     
     
         19 . The light fixture of  claim 1 , wherein the indirect lighting member comprises a diffuser. 
     
     
         20 . The light fixture of  claim 1 , wherein the upper member of the housing comprises a top wall configured to be hung from or mounted to a substrate of a structure.