US Patent 7385771 Light fixture lens retaining device and method

The present invention provides a retainer assembly and method for securely retaining a lens in a housing such as a light fixture bezel. An exemplary retainer assembly includes a lens and lens seal within a light bezel having threads and a contact surface formed on the bezel interior, a retaining ring having external features for engaging the threads on the bezel interior, and a contact ring disposed between the retaining ring and the lens to be secured in the bezel. An exemplary method involves the steps of placing a seal around the periphery and edge of a disc shaped lens, seating the lens within the lens bezel or retaining ring, and advancing the retaining ring within the bezel with a contact ring adjacent the lens and seal to prevent wear from rotation.