EP4716813A1

EP4716813A1 - Light fixture grid clip

Info

Publication number: EP4716813A1
Application number: EP24726271.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Westly Davis HETRICK
Original assignee: Signify Holding BV
Current assignee: Signify Holding BV
Priority date: 2023-05-23
Filing date: 2024-05-16
Publication date: 2026-04-01
Also published as: CN121241221A; WO2024240581A1

Abstract

A light fixture housing and grid clip assembly (200, 700), comprising: a light fixture housing (202, 702); and a grid clip (208, 300) attached to the light fixture housing (202, 702), wherein the grid clip comprises: a first arm section (304); a second arm section (306) that is bent at a bend relief section (314) between the first arm section (304) and the second arm section (306), wherein a distal end portion (502) of the second arm section that is distal from the bend relief section (314) is positioned higher than the first arm section (304) and a proximal end portion (504) of the second arm section that is proximal to the bend relief section (314) and wherein the bend relief section (314) forms an oblique angle (406) with a perimeter edge (418) of the second arm section; a third arm section (308) that is bent down relative to the distal end portion of the second arm section (306) such that, when the second arm section is positioned over the ceiling grid (712), the first arm section and the third arm section are on opposite sides of the ceiling grid (712); and a tab section (310) connected to the third arm section (308) and designed to be positioned below an overhang section (906) of the ceiling grid.

Description

Light fixture grid clip

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates generally to lighting solutions, and in particular to a grid clip for use in the installation of low-profile housing luminaires in a grid ceiling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recessed light fixtures that are mounted in grid ceilings are required to have grid clips. Grid clips are designed to restrain a ceiling grid from separating from an installed recessed light fixture, thereby reducing the risk that the recessed light fixture will fall from the ceiling grid. Some grid clips are integrally formed with a light fixture housing, and separate grid clips are typically attached to a light fixture housing before shipping to customers. In some cases, low-profile recessed light fixtures, such as some troffer type light fixtures, may have a housing that is shorter than the ceiling grid. In such cases, grid clips integrally formed with the housing may be difficult to bend into a desired shape for the grid clips to extend over the grid to effectively restrain the separation of the light fixture from the ceiling grid. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates a light fixture 100 that includes a light fixture housing 102 positioned on the grid 104, where grid clips 108, 110 that are integrally formed with the housing 102 extend out from a frame 106 of the housing 102 over the ceiling grid 104. When the frame 106 of the housing 102 has the same height as the grid 104 or is shorter than the grid 104, shaping the grid clips 108, 110 to be positioned over the grid 104 may be challenging. Non-integral grid clips attached to a light fixture housing and that match the height of the light fixture housing may also be difficult to bend into a desired shape for the grid clips to extend over the ceiling grid to effectively restrain the separation of the light fixture from the ceiling grid. Thus, a grid clip that can be used with low-profile housing of recessed light fixtures may be desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates generally to lighting solutions, and in particular to a grid clip for use in the installation of low-profile housing luminaires in a grid ceiling. In an example embodiment, a grid clip for restraining a separation of a light fixture from a ceiling grid includes a first arm section and a second arm section that is bent at a bend relief section between the first arm section and the second arm section. A distal end portion of the second arm section that is distal from the bend relief section is positioned higher than the first arm section and a proximal end portion of the second arm section that is proximal to the bend relief section. The grid clip further includes a third arm section that is bent down relative to the distal end portion of the second arm section such that, when the second arm section is positioned over the ceiling grid, the first arm section and the second arm section are on opposite sides of the ceiling grid. The grid clip further includes a tab section connected to the third arm section and designed to be positioned below an overhang section of the ceiling grid.

In another example embodiment, a light fixture housing and grid clip assembly includes a light fixture housing and a grid clip attached to the light fixture housing. The grid clip includes a first arm section and a second arm section that is bent at a bend relief section between the first arm section and the second arm section. A distal end portion of the second arm section that is distal from the bend relief section is positioned higher than the first arm section and a proximal end portion of the second arm section that is proximal to the bend relief section. The grid clip further includes a third arm section that is bent down relative to the distal end portion of the second arm section such that, when the second arm section is positioned over the ceiling grid, the first arm section and the second arm section are on opposite sides of the ceiling grid. The grid clip further includes a tab section connected to the third arm section and designed to be positioned below an overhang section of the ceiling grid.

These and other aspects, objects, features, and embodiments will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a recessed light fixture that includes a housing positioned on the grid and restrained by integrally formed grid clips according a prior art;

FIG. 2 illustrates a light fixture housing and grid clip assembly according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates a grid clip corresponding to the grid clip of FIG. 2 before the grid clip is formed into a shape such that the grid clip can extend over a ceiling grid according to an example embodiment; FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate the grid clip of FIG. 3 with a tab section of the grid clip bent to a restraining position according to an example embodiment;

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate different view of the grid clip of FIGS. 3-4B with the second arm section bent at a bend relief according to an example embodiment;

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate different views of the grid clip of FIGS. 3-5B shaped to a restrain the separation of a light fixture housing from a ceiling grid according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 7 illustrates a top view of a light fixture housing and grid clips assembly according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 8 illustrates a A-A cross-section view of the light fixture housing and grid clips assembly of FIG. 7 according to an example embodiment; and

FIGS. 9A-9C illustrate different closeup views of a grid clip of the light fixture housing and grid clips assembly of FIG. 7 according to an example embodiment.

The drawings illustrate only example embodiments and are therefore not to be considered limiting in scope. The elements and features shown in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the example embodiments. Additionally, certain dimensions or placements may be exaggerated to help visually convey such principles. In the figures, the same reference numerals used in different figures may designate like or corresponding and not necessarily identical elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following paragraphs, particular embodiments will be described in further detail by way of example with reference to the figures. In the description, well known components, methods, and/or processing techniques are omitted or briefly described. Furthermore, reference to various feature(s) of the embodiments is not to suggest that all embodiments must include the referenced feature(s).

Turning now to the drawings, example embodiments are described. FIG. 2 illustrates a light fixture housing and grid clip assembly 200 according to an example embodiment. In some example embodiments, the light fixture housing and grid clip assembly 200 includes a housing 202 that includes a frame 204 and a back cover 206. The light fixture housing and grid clip assembly 200 may also include a grid clip 208 that is attached to the housing 202. For example, the grid clip 208 may be attached to the frame 204 of the housing 202. To illustrate, the grid clip 208 may be attached to the frame 204 by screws 210. In some example embodiments, the grid clip 208 may be attached to the frame 204 of the housing 202 such that a height Hl of the grid clip 208 is less than the height H2 of the back cover 206 of the housing 202. Because the grid clip 208, as attached to the frame 204 of the housing 202, is below the back cover 206 of the housing 202, the size of a container that is used for shipping the light fixture housing and grid clip assembly 200 is not dictated by the height Hl of the grid clip 208.

In some example embodiments, after light fixture housing and grid clip assembly 200 is delivered for installation, the grid clip 208 may be shaped such that the grid clip 208 can extend over a ceiling grid that is taller than the housing 202 to effectively restrain the housing from separating from the ceiling grid.

In some example embodiments, the light fixture housing and grid clip assembly 200 may include multiple ones of the grid clip 208 that are attached to the housing 202 at different locations. In some alternative embodiments, the grid clip 208 may be attached to the housing 202 at a different section of the housing 202 than shown in FIG. 2 without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, the grid clip 208 may be attached to a cavity wall 212 of the housing 202.

FIG. 3 illustrates a grid clip 300 corresponding to the grid clip 208 of FIG. 2 before the grid clip 300 is formed into a shape such that the grid clip 300 can extend over a ceiling grid according to an example embodiment. In some example embodiments, the grid clip 300 includes first arm section 304, a second arm section 306, a third arm section 308, and a tab section 310. The grid clip 300 may also include a base section 302 designed to be attached to a housing of the light fixture. For example, the grid clip 300 may be attached to a light fixture housing by attaching the base section 302 to the light fixture housing.

In some example embodiments, the base section 302 includes fastener holes, such as fastener holes 322, 324, for securely attaching the base section 302 to a light fixture housing. For example, the base section 302 may be attached to a light fixture housing using one or more fasteners, such as the screws 210 shown in FIG. 2, that extend through the fastener holes 322, 324. The first arm section 304 may extend up from the base section 302. The first arm section 304 may be bent up at a bend relief 312 between the arm section 304 and the base section 302. For example, the first arm section 304 and the base section 302 may form a right angle therebetween.

In some example embodiments, the grid clip 300 can be formed into a shape that enables the grid clip 300 to restrain a light fixture housing (and thus a light fixture) and a ceiling grid from separating from each other. To illustrate, the second arm section 306 is bendable relative to the first arm section 304 at a bend relief 314 that is between the first arm section 304 and the second arm section 306. The third arm section 308 may be bendable relative to the second arm section 306 at a bend relief 316 that is between the second arm section 306 and the third arm section 308. The tab section 310 may be bendable relative to the third section 308 at a bend relief 318 between the third section 308 and the tab section 310. Before the tab section 310 is bent at the bend relief 318, the tab section 310 may extend up from the third arm section 308. As shown in FIG. 3, the first arm section 304, the second arm section 306, the third arm section 308, and the tab section 310 may be in plane before one or more of the first arm section 304, the second arm section 306, the third arm section 308, and the tab section 310 are bent.

In some example embodiments, the tab section 310 may include a fastener hole 320. For example, after the clip 300 is shaped such the grid clip 300 is attached to a light fixture housing and extends over a ceiling grid, a screw may be extended through the fastener hole 320 of the tab section 310 to securely attach the grid clip 300 to the ceiling grid. For example, the grid clip 300 can serve as an earthquake clip when the grid clip 300 is securely attached to a ceiling grid by a screw that extends through the fastener hole 320 of the tab section 310.

In some alternative embodiments, the tab section 310 may be at a different location with respect to the third arm section 308 without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the tab section 310 may have a different shape than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the fastener hole 320 of the tab section 310 may be omitted without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the bend reliefs 314, 316, 318 may each be at a different location than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the base section 302 may include fewer fastener holes than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the fastener holes 322, 324 may have different shapes than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some example embodiments, the first arm section 304 may extend up from the base section 302 at a different location than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate the grid clip 300 of FIG. 3 with the tab section 310 of the grid clip 300 bent to a restraining position according to an example embodiment. In some example embodiments, the grid clip 300 is formed into a shape that enables the grid clip 300 to restrain the light fixture housing and a ceiling grid from separating from each other. For example, the grid clip 300 may be bent at the bend relief 314 between the first arm section 304 and the second arm section 306. The bend relief 314 may be slanted such that the bend relief 314 forms an oblique angle (i.e., non-right angle) with each one of the perimeter edges 408, 412 of second arm section 306. For example, the bend relief 314 may be slanted such that the bend relief 314 and the perimeter edge 408 of the second arm section 306 form an oblique angle 406 therebetween. The bend relief 314 may be slanted such that the bend relief 314 also forms an oblique angle 416 with a perimeter edge 414 of the first arm section 304.

In some example embodiments, the first arm section 304 may include a first section 402 and a second section 404 that are perpendicular to each other. The first section 402 may extend up from the base section 302 bent at the bend relief 312. The bend relief 314 may be between the second arm section 306 and the second section 404 of the first arm section 304. The bend relief 314 may be slanted such that the bend relief 314 forms an oblique angle 420 with a perimeter edge 418 of the first arm section 304 at the second section 404 of the first arm section 304.

In some example embodiments, the bend relief 316 may be slanted such that the bend relief 316 forms an oblique angle with each one of the perimeter edges 408, 412 of second arm section 306. For example, the bend relief 316 may be slanted such that the bend relief 316 and the perimeter edge 408 of the second arm section 306 form an oblique angle 410 therebetween. The bend relief 314 may also form oblique angles with perimeter edge 414, 416 of the third arm section 308.

In some example embodiments, the bend relief 314 and the bend relief 316 may be slanted with respect to the perimeter edge 408 such that the bend relief 314 and the bend relief 316 are slanted toward each other. The oblique angle 406 between the bend relief 314 and the perimeter edge 408 and the oblique angle 410 between the bend relief 316 and the perimeter edge 408 may be congruent angles. Alternatively, the oblique angle 406 and the oblique angle 410 may be non-congruent angles.

As shown in FIG. 4A and 4B, the tab section 310 is bent at the bend relief 318 relative to the third arm section 308. The tab section 310 is bent to a position such that the tab section 310 is adjacent to a ceiling grid after the grid clip 300 is formed into a shape that enables the grid clip 300 to restrain a light fixture housing and the ceiling grid from separating from each other. For example, the grid clip 300 may be below an overhang section of a ceiling grid when the grid clip 300 is attached to the light fixture housing and extends over the ceiling grid as explained below in more detail with respect to FIGS. 9A-9C. In some example embodiments, after the tab section 310 is bent relative to the third arm section 308 at the bend relief 318, the grid clip 300 may be attached to a light fixture housing in a manner shown in FIG. 2 with respect to the grid clip 208 and the housing 202. For example, an assembly of a light fixture housing and multiple ones of the grid clip 300 attached thereto may be shipped for installation.

In some alternative embodiments, the bend reliefs 314, 316, 318 may each be at a different location than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the bend reliefs 314, 316, 318 may each be a different type of bend relief than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the bend reliefs 314, 316 may be slanted relative to the perimeter edge 408 of the second arm section 306 at different angles than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure,

FIG. 5 A and 5B illustrate different view of the grid clip 300 of FIGS. 3-4B with the second arm section 306 bent at the bend relief 314 according to an example embodiment. In some example embodiments, during the process of forming the grid clip 300 into a shape that enables the grid clip 300 to restrain a light fixture housing (and thus a light fixture) and a ceiling grid from separating from each other, the second arm section 306 is bent relative to the first arm section 304. To illustrate, the second arm section 306 is bent at the bend relief 314 such that the second arm section 306 is no longer in the same plane with the first arm section 304.

Because the bend relief 314 is slanted instead of being right-angled, for example, relative to the perimeter edges 408, 410 of the second arm section 306, bending the second arm section 306 results in a distal end portion 502 of the second arm section 306 being vertically higher than the first arm section 304. After the second arm section 306 is bent at the bend relief 314, the distal end portion 502 of the second arm section 306 that is distal from the bend relief 314 is also vertically higher than a proximal end portion 504 of the second arm section 306 that is proximal to the bend relief 314.

In some example embodiments, the tab section 310 may be bent at the bend relief 318 as shown in FIGS. 5 A and 5B before or after the grid clip 300 is attached to a light fixture housing. In some example embodiments, the second arm section 306 may be bent at the bend relief 314 relative to the first arm section 304 before or after the grid clip 300 is attached to a light fixture housing. In some example embodiments, the second arm section 306 may be bent at the bend relief 314 relative to the first arm section 304 not only after the grid clip 300 is attached to a light fixture housing but also after the light fixture housing is attached to or otherwise positioned on a system of ceiling grids. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, until the third arm section 308 is bent at the bend relief 316, the third arm section 308 may remain in the same plane as the second arm section 306 even after the second arm section 306 is bent at the bend relief 314.

Because the bend relief 314 is slanted as shown as more clearly shown in FIGS. 2-4B, the second arm section 306 can be bent such that the distal end portion 502 of the second arm section 306 is higher than the first arm section 304, which allows the grid clip 300 to be used with ceiling grids that are taller than the grid clip 300 before the first arm section 304 is bent at the bend relief 314.

In some alternative embodiments, the second arm section 306 may be bent at the bend relief 314 such that the distal end portion 502 of the second arm section 306 is higher or lower than shown relative to the first arm section 304 without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the second arm section 306 may be bent at the bend relief 314 before the tab section 310 is bent at the bend relief 318 without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate different views of the grid clip 300 of FIGS. 3-5B shaped to restrain the separation of a light fixture housing from a ceiling grid according to an example embodiment. In contrast to FIGS. 5 A and 5B, in FIGS. 6A-6C, the third arm section 308 is bent relative to the second arm section 306. The third arm section 308 is bent down relative to the distal end portion 502 of the second arm section 306. To illustrate, the third arm section 308 is bent at the bend relief 316 such that the third arm section 308 is no longer in the same plane with the second arm section 306.

As shown in FIGS. 6A-6C, the second arm section 306 is bent at the bend relief 314 relative to the first arm section 304, the third arm section 308 is bent at the bend relief 316 relative to the second arm section 306, and the tab section 310 is bent at the bend relief 318 relative to the third arm section 308. The first arm section 304 extends up from the base section 302 at the bend relief 312. The distal end portion 502 of the second arm section 306 is vertically higher than the first arm section 304 and the proximal end portion 504 of the second arm section 306.

In some example embodiments, the tab section 310 and the first arm section 304 may be planes that are parallel to each other. For example, the tab section 310 may be laterally separated from the first arm section 304 by the second arm section 306 that is bent upwardly at the bend relief 314 relative to the first arm section 304. To illustrate, the separation between the tab section 310 and the first arm section 304 provides a space 602 below the second arm section 306. The space 602 allows a ceiling grid to be positioned therein such that the first arm section is on one side of the ceiling grind, the third arm section 308 and the tab section 310 are on an opposite side of the ceiling grid, and the second arm section 306 is above the ceiling grid.

In some example embodiments, the grid clip 300 may be formed into the shape shown in FIGS. 6A-6C before or after the grid clip 300 is attached to a light fixture housing. In some example embodiments, the grid clip 300 may be formed into the shape shown in FIGS. 6A-6C not only after the grid clip 300 is attached to a light fixture housing but also after the light fixture housing (or a light fixture including the light fixture housing) is attached to or otherwise positioned on a system of ceiling grids.

The bend reliefs 312, 314, 316, 318 simply the process of bending different sections of the grid clip 300 into the intended shape shown in FIGS. 6A-6C. Because the bend relief 314 is slanted as more clearly shown in FIGS. 2-4B, the second arm section 306 can be bent relative to the first arm section 304 such that the distal end portion 502 of the second arm section 306 is higher than the first arm section 304, which allows the grid clip 300 to be used with ceiling grids that are taller than the grid clip 300 before the first arm section 304 is bent at the bend relief 314. Because the height of the grid clip 300 can be less than the height of a light fixture housing before the second arm section 306 is bent at the bend relief 314, the grid clip 300 may be attached to a light fixture housing before the second arm section 306 is bent such that an assembly of a light fixture housing and multiple ones of the grid clip 300 may be shipped for installation without additional packaging requirement dictated by the height of the grid clip 300.

In some example embodiments, the grid clip 300 may be made from aluminum and/or another suitable material using methods such as cutting, pressing, and/or other methods as can be readily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art with the benefit of this disclosure.

In some alternative embodiments, the different sections of the grid clip 300 may be bent in a different order than suggested by FIGS. 3-6C without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the grid clip 300 may have a different shape than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, the base section 302 may have a different shape than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. The first arm section 304, the second arm section 306, the third arm section 308, and the tab section 310 may each have a different shape than show without departing from the scope of this disclosure. FIG. 7 illustrates a top view of a light fixture housing and grid clips assembly 700 according to an example embodiment, and FIG. 8 illustrates a A-A cross-section view of the light fixture housing and grid clips assembly 700 of FIG. 7 according to an example embodiment. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, in some example embodiments, the light fixture housing and grid clips assembly 700 may include a light fixture housing 702 and grid clips 300, 706, 708, 710. The grid clips 706, 708, 710 may correspond to the grid clip 300 described herein. The light fixture housing and grid clips assembly 700 may be positioned on a system of ceiling grids that includes ceiling grids 712, 714.

In some example embodiments, the grid clips 300, 706, 708, 710 are attached to the light fixture housing 702 around the perimeter of the light fixture housing 702. For example, the grid clips 300, 706, 708, 710 may be attached to a frame of the light fixture housing 702 in the same manner as shown in FIG. 2 with respect to the grid clip 208 and the housing 202. To illustrate, the grid clips 300, 706 straddle over the ceiling grid 712 on one side of the light fixture housing 702, and the grid clips 708, 710 straddle over the ceiling grid 714 on an opposite side of the light fixture housing 702. In general, the grid clips 300, 706, 708, 710 are positioned to restrain the light fixture housing 702 (and thus a light fixture that includes the light fixture housing 702) and the ceiling grids 712, 714 from separating from each other.

FIGS. 9A-9C illustrate different closeup views of the grid clip 300 of the light fixture housing and grid clips assembly 700 of FIG. 7 according to an example embodiment. Referring to FIGS. 7A-9C, in some example embodiments, the grid clip 300 is attached to the light fixture housing 702 using screws 904. To illustrate, the base section 302 of the grid clip 300 may be attached to a frame 902 of the light fixture housing 702. For example, the screws 904 may extend through the fastener holes 322, 324 (shown in FIG. 3) in the base section 302 of the grid clip 300.

In some example embodiments, the grid clip 300 is attached to the light fixture housing 702 such that the first arm section 304 of the grid clip 300 is on one side of the ceiling grid 712, the third arm section 308 and the tab section 310 are on another side of the ceiling grid 712, and the second arm section 306 is above the ceiling grid 712 as the second arm section 306 extends between the first arm section 304 and the third arm section 308. The tab section 310 may be positioned adjacent to a wall section 908 of the ceiling grid 712. For example, the tab section 310 may be parallel to the wall section 908 of the ceiling grid 712. The tab section 310 may be positioned below an overhang section 906 of the ceiling grid 712 that extends out from the wall section 908 of the ceiling grid 712. Because the grid clip 300 straddles the ceiling grid 712 and because the tab section 310 of the grid clip 300 is positioned below the overhang section 906 of the ceiling grid 712, the grid clip 300 can reduce the unintended separation between the light fixture housing 702 and the ceiling grid 712. The grid clip 706 may be attached to the light fixture housing 702 and positioned with respect to the ceiling grid 712 in the same manner as described with respect to the grid clip 300. The grid clips 708, 710 may be attached to the light fixture housing 702 and positioned with respect to the ceiling grid 714 in the same manner as described with respect to the grid clip 300 and the ceiling grid 712. The grid clips 300, 706, 708, 710 can together serve to reduce the risk of unintended separation between the light fixture housing (and the light fixture that includes the light fixture housing 702) and the system of ceiling grids including the ceiling grids 712, 714 and thereby reducing the risk of a fall.

In some example embodiments, the grid clips 300, 706, 708, 710 may have been attached to the light fixture housing 702 after the light fixture housing 702 is positioned on the ceiling grids 712, 714. Alternatively, the grid clips 300, 706, 708, 710 may have been attached to the light fixture housing 702 before the light fixture housing 702 is positioned on the ceiling grids 712, 714. To illustrate with respect to the grid clip 300, the grid clip 300 may be attached to the light fixture housing 702 before or after the grid clip 300 is formed into the shape shown in FIGS. 6A-9C. For example, the grid clip 300 may be attached to the light fixture housing 702 while shaped as shown in FIG. 3 and formed into the shape shown in FIGS. 9A-9C before or after the light fixture housing 702 is positioned on the ceiling grids 712, 714. As another example, the grid clip 300 may be attached to the light fixture housing 702 while shaped as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B and formed into the shape shown in FIGS. 9A-9C before or after the light fixture housing 702 is positioned on the ceiling grids 712, 714. As yet another example, the grid clip 300 may have been attached to the light fixture housing 702 while shaped as shown in FIG. 6A-6C.

Because the grid clips 300, 706, 708, 710 can be shaped to extend over the ceiling grids 712, 714 that may be taller than the light fixture housing 702, the grid clips 300, 706, 708, 710 can be used with low profile recessed luminaires, such as low-profile troffer luminaires. Because the grid clips 300, 706, 708, 710 can be shaped to extend over the ceiling grids 712, 714 that may be taller than the light fixture housing 702, in some example embodiments, the grid clips 300, 706, 708, 710 can be attached to the light fixture housing 702 while having a shape corresponding to the grid clip 300, for example, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B and subsequently formed in a shape corresponding to the grid clip 300, for example, as shown in FIGS. 6A-6C.

Alternatively, the grid clip 300 may be attached to the light fixture housing 702 using other means instead of or in addition to the screws 904 without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the grid clips 300, 706, 708, 710 may each serve as an earthquake clip without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, a screw may extend through the fastener hole 320 of the tab section 310 of the grid clip 300 and securely attach to tab section 310 to the wall section 908 of the ceiling grid 712. In some alternative embodiments, the light fixture housing and grid clips assembly 700 may include more or fewer grid clips than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the grid clips 300, 706, 708, 710 may be attached to the light fixture housing 702 at different locations than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the light fixture housing 702 may have a different shape than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In some alternative embodiments, the ceiling grids 712, 714 may have a different shape than shown without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

Although particular embodiments have been described herein in detail, the descriptions are by way of example. The features of the embodiments described herein are representative and, in alternative embodiments, certain features, elements, and/or steps may be added or omitted. Additionally, modifications to aspects of the embodiments described herein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the following claims, the scope of which are to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass modifications and equivalent structures.

Claims

1- A light fixture housing and grid clip assembly (200, 700), comprising: a light fixture housing (202, 702); and a grid clip (208, 300) attached to the light fixture housing (202, 702), wherein the grid clip comprises: a first arm section (304); a second arm section (306) that is bent at a bend relief section (314) between the first arm section (304) and the second arm section (306), wherein a distal end portion (502) of the second arm section that is distal from the bend relief section (314) is positioned higher than the first arm section (304) and a proximal end portion (504) of the second arm section that is proximal to the bend relief section (314) and wherein the bend relief section (314) forms an oblique angle (406) with a perimeter edge (418) of the second arm section; a third arm section (308) that is bent down relative to the distal end portion of the second arm section (306) such that, when the second arm section is positioned over the ceiling grid (712), the first arm section and the third arm section are on opposite sides of the ceiling grid (712); and a tab section (310) connected to the third arm section (308) and designed to be positioned below an overhang section (906) of the ceiling grid.

2- The light fixture housing and grid clip assembly of Claim 1, wherein the first arm section (304) is same height as or shorter than the light fixture housing (202, 702), wherein the distal end portion (502) of the second arm section is positioned higher than the light fixture housing (202, 702).

3- The light fixture housing and grid clip assembly of Claim 1, wherein the third arm section (308) is bent at a second bend relief section (316) that is between the second arm section (306) and the third arm section (308).

4- The grid clip of Claim 3, wherein the second bend relief section (316) forms an oblique angle (410) with a perimeter edge (412) of the second arm section (306). 5- The light fixture housing and grid clip assembly of Claim 1, wherein the grid clip (208, 300) further comprises a base section (302) that is attached to the light fixture housing (202, 702) and wherein the first arm section (304) extends up from the base section (302).

6- The grid clip of Claim 5, wherein the base section (302) comprises one or more fastener holes (322, 324) for securely attaching the base section to the light fixture housing using one or more fasteners.

7- The light fixture housing and grid clip assembly of Claim 1, wherein the tab section (310) comprises a fastener hole (320) for securely attaching the tab section to the ceiling grid (712) using a fastener.

8- The grid clip of Claim 1, wherein the first arm section (304) comprises a first section (402) and a second section (404) that are perpendicular to each other and wherein the second section (404) is connected to the bend relief section (314).

9- The grid clip of Claim 1, wherein the first arm section (304) and the second arm section (306) are in a plane before the second arm section is bent at the bend relief section (314).