US3101178A

US3101178A - Electric lighting fixture

Info

Publication number: US3101178A
Application number: US39878A
Authority: US
Inventors: Orval G Young
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-06-30
Filing date: 1960-06-30
Publication date: 1963-08-20
Anticipated expiration: 1980-08-20

Description

Aug. 20, 1963 G. YOUNG 3 78 Q ELECTRIC LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed June 30, 1960 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR RV/1L (5. You've m W A.

Aug; 20, 1963 O. G. YOUNG ELECTRIC LIGHTING FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 30, 1960 i V Elia! INVENTOR 0R VAL G. Yo u/v United States Patent 'jO 3,101,178 ELECTREC LIGHTING FIXTURE Orval G. Young, 3691 Mission St South San Francisco ll), Calif.

Filed lune 39, 1969, Ser. No. 39,878

3 Claims- (Cll. 240--51.11)

rnay be removably mounted on a fixedly-supported base element which independently and replaceably supports the lamps from a frame carried reflector element above them, and the present fixture has been particularly designed with the general object of providing a particularly simple and effective assembly having its aforesaid base and reflector and light-distributing elements comprising major parts of a structure which is arranged for aparticularly ready assembly and disassembly of its elements at an overhead installation point for the. fixture.

Another general object is to provide the aforesaid major elements of the assembly as comprising sections of elongated members which are of uniform cross-section therealong, whereby the elements may comprise member parts of corresponding and different lengths to provide fixture assemblies of various overall length as generally determined by the lengths of available light tubes to be used. 1

A more specific object is to provide the present lighting fixture with particularly simple and effective interlocking connections between the aforesaid major elements of the assembly in such relation to the connected elements that they are progressively accessible as-the fixture is assembled or disassembled.

A further object is to provide particularly simple and effective devices for removably mounting and supporting the lamps and the lamp-energizing ballast on the installed base element.

An added object is to provide a light fixtureassernbly in which the mutual connections between the major elements, and between said elements and members directly carried thereby, avoid the use of screws or other tooapplied fasteners, with said connections all arranged to be manually made or broken; 7

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth or be apparent in the following description of a typical embodiment thereof, and in the accompanying drawings, in which, 1 1

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing upper and side-edge and end faces of coterminously engaged and like fixtureassemblies embodying the present features of invention. v

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the showing of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a broken-away side elevation of the structure of FIGURE 1.

, FIGURE 4 is an end view taken at the line 4-4 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken at the line 55 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective end view taken at a hanger bracket connection shown in FIG- r" we v 2 URE 4 as connecting the base and reflector elements of the fixture. i

' FIGURE 7 is an exploded perspective view fragmentarily. showing various elements and members of a present fixture assembly more-or-less separated in their of mutual cooperation in the fixture assembly.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view taken Hfrom the line 8--8 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged broken-away and fragmentary view of a lower corner portion ofthe showing of FIGURE 4.

lucent light-emanating shadeenclosure for the'light tubes FIGURE-1U is a fragmentary perspective showing of a pane of the lighodi-st ributing element, with said pane providing a prismatic light-difiusing design at its outer face.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary perspective and underneath showing of the base element as uni-tarily mounting the ballast u-nitand a lamp tube socket. I

- FIGURE 12 is a wiring diagram of the power supply -to-thelarrrp tubes.

Essentially, .a present light fixture comprises a unitary assembly i t-utilizing one-onmo're electrically energizable luminescentlamp tubes 15 with an associated lamp-energizing ballast unit 16 for' the lamps, and including an elongated base or chassis element 17 0f channelcross-section adapted for its supported mounting on and beneath a ceiling or other overhead support overlying a space to be illuminated and with its open side down, and" arranged for the mutually independent and replaceable support thereby of the lamp tubes 15 and of the ballast l6 and of a reflector element 18 which is operative to distribute the light emanating from the tubes l5v within a light diffusing shade element 19 which is replaceably carried by and from the mounted reflector element in underlying relationthereto. As' comprising a feature of particular present interest and importance, each of the primary fixture "elements comprising the chassis 17 and reflector 18 and shade 19 are arranged'iior'their provision as cut-off portions of generally trough-shaped continuous strips of uniform cross-section which may be suitably and appropriately formed of metallic or non-metallic material.

For its'use in manners which will hereinafter appear,

the present base element 17 has a flat web portion'21 of uniform thickness and width connecting flanges 22 of like complementary cross-sectiondepending transversely and integrally from the web side edges and cooperative with the web to define a ballast-mounting channel space 23 of uniform cross-section above the plane of the bottom channel edge. Generally similar hanger elements. 2 4- and 25 of channel section are provided for the cooperative use of two or more of them with a base element 17 to i support the latter from a ceiling or other overhead support structure (not shown) in a relatively adjusted relationof the elements longitudinally thereof. As particu larly shown, the han-

ger'elernents

24 and 25 are arranged to independently receive a base element 17 in spanning relation thereto, and said hanger elements'comprise upper web-plate portions 26 of rectangular outline having complementar-ily like flanges 27 depending from opposite sides thereof and arranged for-their supporting connection with the flanges 22 of the base element 17 in a manner to at lea-stinitially permit relative and mutuallyfindependent longitudinal adjustmentsof said hanger elements with respect to a supported base element 17. 1

For a reason to'be herei after brought out, the web plate 26 of ahanger element 25 is shown as of substantially square outlinewhile the web plate of a hanger ele ment 24 may be somewhat shorter. Also, integral end parts 2 6 of the hanger element plates 26 are directed obliquely downwardly between the side flanges 27, and the v) to and spaced below the plane of the web 26, whereby to define a clearance space between the web 26 and the opposed upper face of the web '21 of a supported base element 17 while providing relatively rigid

hanger ele ments

24 and 25 of minimum weight.

As shown, the flat intermediate portion of the web-' plate 26 of a hanger element 24 is provided with a central circular opening 280: arranged for the upward extension therethrough of a plate-supporting hanger rod (not shown), and said plate portion is further provided with smaller circular openings 28b for the direct application of supporting bolts, or the like, upwardly therethrough with supporting heads or nuts of the rods or bolts disposed in the clearance space defined between the web of a hanger element and the supported base element. Also, and as shown, a longer hanger element 25 has its web portion 26 provided witha central hole 29a which is larger than the corresponding hole 28a of the hanger 24 and is provided with bolt-receiving slots 2% corresponding to the holes 28b of a hanger element 24 and arranged for use in supporting the element from a conventional outlet box or other support. When the hanger element 25 is mounted at an appropriate point of an overhead support structure, the web portion 21 of the underlying base element may be provided, as by the use of a hole saw, with a hole 21a registering with the hole 29a to provide for the extension through said registered

holes

21a and 29a of wires W-l supplying power to the ballast assembly '16 which is arranged to energize socket-carried lamptubes through wires W2 leading thereto from said ballast assembly-see FIGURE 12.

It will now be particularly noted that the depending flanges 27 of the

hanger elements

24 or 25 are formed and arranged for their supporting connection with the opposed base element flanges 22 through the cooperation with and between said flanges of key members 31 complementarily engaged in and between opposed

longitudinal dovetail grooves

32 and 33 of uniform cross-section extending oppositely and transversely from the mutually opposed face portions of the respective flanges in an upright plane. As particularly shown, the

grooves

32 and 33 are respectively provided in

portions

34 and 35 of the

flanges

27 and 22 wihch are transversely offset outwardly and inwardly from flat inner and outer faces of the respective flanges. Preferably, and most simply, the opposed said grooves are of like trapezoidal cross-section having their opposable ope-n sides of like width for their mutual registration to cooperatively define full dovetail spaces in which the complementarily formed keys 31 are arranged to slidably fit. In the present assembly, the grooves defining a said key-receiving space are of isosceles trapezoid cross-section of like depth whereby a key 3 1 to fit the keying space so defined has parallel side faces connecting edge grooves of isosceles triangle section, and such a key is symmetrical to the common plane defined as connectin the'apices of the V-grooves.

A means is preferably provided for releasably retaining a key 31 in set operative engagement between each hanger flange 26 and the corresponding supported base element 17. As particularly shown in FIGURES l and 7, the keys 31 are somewhat longerthan the grooves of the hanger flanges receiving them, and said keys are openatively disposable with the opposite ends thereof simultaneously extended from the mounting hanger flange and provided with transverse L-shaped slots 38 extending from side edge points of the key. The keys 31 are arranged for the insertion of the bitof a screwdriver or like tool (not shown) in the longitudinal portions of one or both of the key slots 38 for a cam-action twisting of the bit to laterally expand the key end thereat for locking the positioned key end in frictional engagement wtih the opposed key-receiving

grooves

22 and 27 of the base and hanger flanges, such a securing of a key 31 to and between the flanges being provided for by forming the key of an appropriately malleable metallic or other suitable material. It

v will be understood that a key =31 which has been installed in its operative relation to and between the flanges in the indicated, or other manner, initially functions to interlock the engaged flanges against relative transverse and lateral movements thereof, and thereafter prevents relative longitudinal adjustments or" the flanges after the key has been fixed in place by laterally expanding at a slot 38 of one or both key ends.

Preferably, and as shown, the offset 35 of each flange 22' is spaced slightly below the web 21 of the corresponding base element 17 to define mutually opposed grooves 39 having their upper and lower sides defined respectively by the web and by oblique faces provided by the upper edges of the offsets 35, and the semi-dovetail grooves 39 thus defined are advantageously utilizable for releasably mounting the ballast assembly 16 of a usual character within the space 23 of the base element .17, such a ballast assembly '16 being presently represented by its rectangular housing 41 having ears 41' extending oppositely as end extensions of the flat casing wall which is disposable against the inner face of the base element web 21. Accordingly, the present ballast assembly is arranged for its adjusted mounting in and along the channel space 23 by the application of leaf-spring clips 42 between the continuous uniform grooves 39 while said clips are sprung over and against the ears 4 1 of the ballast housing 41. Furthermore, the semi-dovetail grooves 39 may receive the ends of other similarly operative clips 43 which are sprung into place between them and may be utilized to hold the wires W'1 and/ or W-2 in place against the web 21 after the ballast assembly 16 has been disposed where desired in the base element space 23.

By particular reference to FIGURES 4 to 8 inclusive, it will now be noted that the outer flange faces of the base element 17 have lower portions thereof which extend below the flange grooves 33 and upwardly from bottom flange portions 45 which extend transversely outwardly from the planes of said faces and provide at their inner sides opposed uniform longitudinal grooves 46. As shown, said'lower portions 45 of the base flanges 22 extend as transverse ofr'sets of said flanges and are disposable beneath the lower ends of the offsets 34 provided by the,

bottom portions of the base-mounting hanger flanges 26, and the grooves 46 of said offsets are defined between flat upper and lower faces which are respectively perpendicular to and extend obliquely downwardly from the planes of the flange faces defining their inner edges and are connected by flat inner faces which are parallel to said plane. V-grooves 47 are provided in the lower portions of the upper flange offsets 35 which provide the keying grooves 33, with said grooves 47 defined between fiat inner faces extending obliquely upwardly and outwardly from bottom edges defined at the inner faces of the-offsets '35 and in the planes of the top faces of the offsets 45, the other faces of the grooves 47 being flat and coplanar with the inner faces of the grooves 33.

It. will now be particularly noted that the grooves 46 and 47 of the flanges 22 of the base element 17 are arranged for their cooperative use in independently mounting on the base element sockets 49 for the lamp tubes 15 and the reflector element 18 and the shade element 19 by utilizing like T-shaped brackets 51 which are relatively short longitudinally of the element 17, and are of a general T section. As particularly shown, a bracket element 51 has a tongue portion 52 of uniform crosssection which is formed for its close engagement with and between the grooves 46 and 47 of a base element flange 22 whereby to [mount the bracket on said base flange while preventing its rotation with respect thereto. In the present structure, the tongue 52 provides an upper V edge 53 for complementary engagement in and along the V-groove 47 and has a uniform rib portion 54 extending intermediately from its outer side and providing a lower V edge 55 for complementari'ly engaging in and along the bottom V-groove portion of the groove 46. For

reasons to be hereinafter brought out, the top face of the rib portion 54 of the tongue '52 is spaced from the upper side of the groove 46 by a distance substantially equal to the depth of the latter groove, whereby an open space or passage 56 of uniform cross-section is defined along and between the upper rib side and the opposed portion of the upper groove side.

In the present structure, the tongue 52 of each bracket 51 extends integrally and transversely from and across a plate extension 57 which is directed transversely outwardly from and substantially perpendicular to the tongue 52 and has its upper face portion immediately adjacent the tongue base arranged for its flat engagement with the under edge of the offset 45 of the base flange 22 in an arrangement in which the tongue 52 and the plate 57 are cooperative to transversely and laterally interlock said tongue and flange. From a point of the tongue adjacent its base at its inner side, a flat plate portion 58 extends obliquely downwardly and inwardly of the tongue '52 and this plate is shown as making an angle of substantially sixty degrees with the plane of the extension 57 and suitably and fixedly mounts the base portion 49 of a lamp socket member 49 thereon, with the terminals of the socket directed toward the other end of the base element 17 when, as is shown, cooperative brackets 51 are mounted at the ends of the base element.

It will be noted that, in terms of a cross-section thereof, a bracket unit 51 may be considered as having a general T-beam section with its tongue part 52 comprising the web of the section while the

parts

57 and 58 comprise angularly related flanges thereof in which the laterally spaced and obliquely directed flanges 58 are arranged to position a lamp tube carried by the sockets thereon inappropriate cooperative position opposite and below reflecting facesprovided by a reflector element 18 mounted on the part 5 7 of the bracket 51, while the flange portions 22 of the base element 17 may mount brackets 51 at or adjacent the extreme ends thereof. In the event that a flange 22 of a base element 17 is longer than available lamp tubes 15 to be mounted thereon, back-to-back pairs of lamp socket members 49 may be mounted on the flange at one or more appropriate intermediate points along the flange and between the end socket members for mounting a desired number of lamp tubes on the base flange. Also, socket members 49 appropriately positioned on and along a base flange 22 are preferably fixed in position thereon to comprise, in effect, integral portions of the mounting flange; accordingly, the present one-piece brackets 51 may be formed of an appropriately malleable metallic or other suitable material whereby they may be readily fixed in adjusted position on a mounting flange 22 by appropriately pinching them to the received flange portions at their grooves 46 and/or 47.

it will now be noted that the extending part 57 of each bracket element 51 is provided with a means for releasably and supportedly fixing the reflector element 18 to the bracket. As shown, each bracket element part 57 has a flat inner portion 61 extending from the base of its tongue part 52 and connected to an upwardly offset flat portion 6?. extending in a plane parallel to the portion 61 and provided at its free side edge with an upstanding flange portion 63. The

portions

61 and 62 of the bracket part 58 are lapped and spaced at their mutual juncture and are integrally connected by a uniform web 64 extending upwardly between the outer edge of the portion 61 to a point of the portion 62 outwardly of the inner edge thereof to define thereat a uniform groove 65 between the portions. An interior slot 66 is provided through the inner portion 61 of each bracket 51 between the groove 65 and the part of the portion 61 which is disposable opposite the lower edge of a bracket-mounting flange 22, and the present reflectorbrackets 51 are shown utilizedat opposite ends of each base flange 22.

With reference to the structure of the reflector element 18, it will be noted that this element is shown as formed from an original blank strip of uniform crosssection and includes mutually coplanar side parts 67 connected by a generally arched part, and having up- Wardly-directed flanges 69 at the outer edges of the parts 67, with the latter flanges spaced to fittedly receive between them the flanges 63 of the parts 58 of all bracket elements 51 mounted on the base element flanges 22. The reflector element 18' is arranged for the fitted engagement of end portions of its side parts 67 against the under side of the portions 61 with each bracket element 51 at its ends, and, accordingly, is appropriately notched out from its extremities to freely receive the portions '61 and webs 64 of each of the bracket elements 51 mounted on the base element 17, whereby the parts 67 may be secured flat against the under faces of the bracket portions 62 by a suitable means, While the arched recarried lamp sockets within its ends.

Since all portions of the under faces of the reflector element 18 are disposed above the lamps of a present fixture assembly for intercepting light directed upwardly from the lamps, such faces are preferably provided with reflective surfaces which may comprise a light-reflecting and diffusing enamel coating. Also, and as particularly shown, the arched part of the reflector element 18 has

flat portions

71 and 72 extending in order from a central bottom edge line of the reflector to a right-angled corner 73 defined by horizontal and upright sides respectiveiy connecting the reflector portions 72. to the parts 67 and arranged to simultaneously and fittedly receive the lower edge portions of the base flanges 22 in said corners for centering the mounted element 1 8 beneath and with respect to the flanges 22 while the cut-back reflector parts 67 are coplanar with the bracket portions 61, it being understood that the present reflector element is laterally rigidified between its ends by reason of its angled cross-section.

As disclosed, the means for releasably securing the ends of the reflector element 18 to the bracket elements 51 essentially comprises similar catch members 74 which are slidably :and retainedly mounted on the upper sides of the portions 61 of each of the brackets 51 and are projectib'le ras bolts from under said portions to dispose extending end parts thereof beneath the mutually opposed cut-back end portions of the parts 67 of the reflector element 18 for the cooperative support of the element from the brackets. By particular reference to FIGURE 7, it will be noted that a present catch member 74 essentially comprises a flat U-bend of resilient wire or the like having its bend portion 75 connecting coplanar arm portions 76 and 77 directed longitudinally inwardly from the outer edges of the bracket portions 61 and biased for their urged mutual separation, with the arm 76 engaged in and along the groove 65 which is provided along the spacing web 64, connecting the inner and

outer portions

61 and 62 of the bracket part 58. A transverse end extension 78 of the catch arm 77 extends thnough the slot 66 and terminates below the bracket in a handle loop 79 which is arranged for its engagement by a persons fingers for freeing the extension from its normal pressure engagement with the side of the slot which is furthest from the groove-held arm 76 and simultaneously moving the catch member 74 between limiting positions in which the extension 78 is disposed at opposite ends of the slot 66.

For positively maintaining a catch member 74 in said limiting operative and inoperative positions thereof, each slot 66 is provided at its outer and inner ends with side notches 81 extending away fromthe groove 65 receiving the extension 78 of the catch :arm 76, and the notches 81 are arranged to selectively receive the catch extension 78, whereby to normally prevent longitudinal shifting movements of the catch member 74 between its limiting positions thereof as determined by the engagement of the extension 78 in a side notch 81 of the slot. Preferably, and as shown, the engagement of the unnotched portion of a part 67 of the reflector element 18 with the under side of the corresponding bracket part 61 is arranged to dispose the notched-out end portion of the reflector part 67 immediately above the zone of action of the catch member 74, as determined by the height of the offset provided by the web 64 which connects the inner and

outer portions

61 and 62 of each bracket 51, whereby an appropriate displacement of the spring-biased catch arm '77 toward the catch arm 7 6 and a longitudinal shifting of the catch member 74 by the use of the handle 79 while the reflector element 18 is disposed in its interfitted relation to the brackets 51, may secure or release the element with respect to the brackets 51 and the base element 17 which carries the brackets.

The shade element 19 is arranged for its support from the base-mounted brackets 51 in fixed underlying relation to the opaque reflector element l8,1and is cooperative with the latter to define a space 83 enclosing the lamp tubes for a diffused discharge of the light emitted by the tubes through and from the bottom and sides of the shade element. As shown, the element 19 essentially comprises a unitary assembly of general channelcross-section having its Web portion lowermost and comprising a rectangular pane 3'4, upwardly-extending and complementary side members 85 cooperatively carrying the pane at their bottoms and engageable at their tops with the brackets 51 to support the element assembly from said brackets, and members 86 fittedly and fixedly capping the ends of the pane-and-side assembly and unitarily engaging said pane and side members to complete the element 19 in a unitary structure having its pane and side members of the same length as the reflector element. The pane 34 preferably has a transparent prismatic formation such that light passing therethrough from the space 33 is so diffused that it does not show the parts in or bounding said space, the side members 85 are preferably of a translucent light-diffusing material, and the side members 85 and capping members 86 are preferably of malleable materials for facilitating a fabrication of the unitary shade element 19.

In the present structure, the side members 85 have mutually inturned bottom flanges 87 providing edge grooves 87 for opposed coplanar disposition and arranged to retainedly receive the side edges of the pane 34, and said side members have inturned L-shaped upper flanges 88 providing coplanar portions 88 at the top of the member and depending inner edge portions 88 having their lower edges coplanar and arranged for their elementsupporting seatmg on the parts 58 of the brackets 51 adjacent their terminal flanges 63 of said bracket parts. Also, a present capping member 36 comprises a one-piece flat plate part 89 of U-shaped outline provided with integra-l and similarly-directed transverse bounding flanges 39' and 89" along the inner and outer edges of the part 89 for cooperatively providing a channel space which is arranged to receive the opposed ends of the mutually connected pane 84 and side members 85. Since said side members 85 and the capping members 86 are of malleable materials, a pinched-on fixing of the pane 84 in the grooves 87 of the flanges 87 of the side members 85 and a gripping of the side members attheir flanges within the flange 89 of the capping member are provided for.

It will now be noted that, as indicated in FIGURES 1 and 2 and 3 and 11, an aligned plurality of the present lighting fixtures 14 may be mounted on an overhead ceiling or other overlying support with adjacent fixtures having their ends secured in mutual abutting relation by the joint use of one hanger plate 2-4- spanning their common plane of abutment as a connecting element. While a present fixture assembly installed alone or comprising an end fixture of a line of the fixtures may have its firee ends, or

end, emanating light longitudinally of the fixture and from the space 83 defined between its reflector and

shade elements

18 and 19, the fixture may obviously have such an end thereof fully closed by a rectangular plate member (not shown) replacing a present capping member 86 and bounded by a continuous transverse flange corresponding to the outer flange 89" of said capping member 8'6 and grippedly engaging the sides of the shade element which mounts it.

Particularly with plural assemblies of the present fixture units, the inner portions of the longitudinal spaces or ducts 56 which are defined between the upper sides of the tongue ribs 54* and the upper sides of the grooves 46 at a fixture end may be utilized to mount a conductorcarrying bracket loop 91 by receiving terminal mountingstem portions 92 of the loop which is shaped of wire or the ike and is particularly adapted and arranged to supportedly receive the conductor wires which supply power to the ballast assemblies associated with the fixture of the line to which the power wires W-l run. On the other hand, the fixture space defined between the base element 17 and the reflector element 18 may be suitably sealed at an end thereof which is otherwise open, as by a plate member (not shown) which is engaged with and against the coplanar ends of the base and reflector elements i7 and 18 and of the socket sides in said plane for dust-sealing thereat the below-reflector space so closed, and a latter said plate member may be conveniently mounted on the bracket and base assembly by means of screws engaged in the outer end portion of the space 56 which would be suitably threaded for mounting such screws.

While the present fixture has been particularly disclosed as providing for the use of a single lamp, or line of lamps, at opposite sides of an upright plane passing through the longitudinal line at the bottom of the V- trough of the reflector, it will be understood that lamps might be omitted from the fixture at one fixture side or be provided in a plurality of lines thereof at opposite sides of said plane as coming within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, and noting that the dis closed fixture structure is shown as symmetrical transversely thereof with respect to said upright longitudinal plane of the fixture, it will be understood that the present structural features are readily adaptable for providing a fixture having the major operative and structural features and arrangements between an upright plane at or parallel to said present plane of symmetry and one side of the present assembly, whereby to provide a transversely compact fixture which is particularly adapted for its fitted installation in ceiling corners including those provided by corridors or hallways.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the present electric lighting fixtures will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains. While I have shown and described a structure and operative arrangement which I now consider to comprise a preferred embodiment of my invention, I desire to have it understood that the showings are primarily illustrative, and that such changes and developments may be made, when desired, as fall within the scope of the following claims.

-I claim:

1. In a support means for an overhead lighting fixture having an elongated lamp-carrying base element of channel cross-section arranged for its support above a space to be illuminated and having transversely spaced and mutually parallel flange portions thereof depending fixedly therefrom, a hanger member of channel cross-section having transversely spaced and mutually parallel flange portions thereof depending fixedly therefrom, means for fixedly mounting said hanger member on and below an overhead support structure and for receiving the flanges of said base element between the hanger member flanges in transversely opposed relation thereto, with said depending and opposed flanges providing mutually registering and uniform dovetail grooves, extending thereinto and therealong from the opposed flange faces, and a complementary flange-connecting keying member releasably engaging and directly cooperative within and between the opposed and registered said flange grooves to directly and positively support the base element from the hanger member tllereat.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which the grooves of the opposed flanges of the hanger and base members are cooperative in an upright plane, and the cross-section of the flange-connecting keying member is complementary to the key-receiving space jointly provided by and between the opposed flange grooves whereby the flanges are engaged by the installed keying member for relative longitudinal adjusting movements thereof in said upright plane and against a transverse separating movement'with respect to each other for the support of the base member from the hanger member.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which the releasable flange-connecting key member engaging opposed said flange grooves in longitudinal flange-engaging and Ion- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,363,405 Eichelberger Nov. 21, 1944 2,694,775. Florence Nov. 16, 1954 2,728,595 Wong Dec. 27, 1955 2,734,995 Lenze et al Feb. 14, 1956 2,810,941 Mainieri Oct. 29, 1957 2,863,185 1958 Reidi Dec. 9,

Claims

1. IN A SUPPORT MEANS FOR AN OVERHEAD LIGHTING FIXTURE HAVING AN ELONGATED LAMP-CARRYING BASE ELEMENT OF CHANNEL CROSS-SECTION ARRANGED FOR ITS SUPPORT ABOVE A SPACE TO BE ILLUMINATED AND HAVING TRANSVERSELY SPACED AND MUTUALLY PARALLEL FLANGE PORTIONS THEREOF DEPENDING FIXEDLY THEREFROM, A HANGER MEMBER OF CHANNEL CROSS-SECTION HAVING TRANSVERSELY SPACED AND MUTUALLY PARALLEL FLANGE PORTIONS THEREOF DEPENDING FIXEDLY THEREFROM, MEANS FOR FIXEDLY MOUNTING SAID HANGER MEMBER ON AND BELOW AN OVERHEAD SUPPORT STRUCTURE AND FOR RECEIVING THE FLANGES OF SAID BASE ELEMENT BETWEEN THE HANGER MEMBER FLANGES IN TRANSVERSELY OPPOSED RELATION THERETO, WITH SAID DEPENDING AND OPPOSE FLANGES PROVIDING MUTUALLY REGIS-