US2052069A - Fixture support - Google Patents

Description

FIXTURE SUPPORT Filed April 50, 1934 ,mrmn

. =37 L j i g1 g i Geogpe Qrrad Patented Aug. 25, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates in general to a support for electrical fixtures and has more particular reference to a post arm or bracket providing a weather-proof conductor passageway capable of universal adjustment.

An important object of the invention is in the provision of a post bracket or arm which is rotatable at the upper end of a post with a projecting covered passageway for conductors and with a fixture hanger at the outer end of the arm having a limited universal joint for adjustment of an electric fixture supported thereby without danger of crimping or twisting a conductor Wire extending therethrough and making continuous contact with the electric fixture.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of improved means for limiting the spheri- I cal adjustment of the fixture hanger and for clamping it tightly in any adjusted position.

A still further object of the invention is in the provision of improved means for attaching the support at the top of a post and for providing a closed junction box at the top thereof for making the electrical connections.

A still further object of the invention is in the provision of improved means for holding the hanger in the end of the arm even though the fastening means therefor has been loosened topermit its angular adjustment in the arm.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the fixture support in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section through the outer end of th supporting arm and the hanger;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-'-3 of Fig. 2;

v Fig. 4 is a section of the arm taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3 showing the hanger in elevation therein;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the hanger clamping member; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the hanger member showing the conductor opening therethrough.

A support for electrical fixtures must be capable of considerable adjustment toprovide the maximum degree of swing for the lamps and refiectors held thereby, both widewise and vertically. The. present invention, in addition to providing an arm which is rotatable in a complete circle at the'top of a supporting post has a hanger which permits a vertical adjustment about a substantially spherical head approximately twenty degrees above and twenty degrees below a horizontal position, and permitting a horizontal swing of one hundred eighty degrees without moving the bracket arm.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, this support comprises a tubular portion l adapted to fit over the top of a post II and having an internal shoulder l2 which limits the insertion of the post II. The tubular portion extends for some distance above the top of the post and a closure cap I3 is seated thereon having fastening screws M at the sides insertable into a retaining groove I adjacent the top of the tubular portion ID to hold the cap removably in place.

Extending laterally from the tubular portion is a supporting arm [6 having an enclosed passageway l'l leading from the space above the shoulder l2 and terminating at its outer end in a hollow domed extremity l8 open at the bottom or lower side. A strengthening rib or web I9 is preferably cast integral with the arm and tubular portion at the underside of the arm which strengthens and braces these parts and adds somewhat to the appearance of the support. A wide passageway H is thus provided extending from the. upper end d of the tubular portion to the dome I 8 so that electrical conductors extending through the post i I can be connected directly through the arm to the fixture or if desired the fixture may be wired through the arm and the conductors connected to those extending through the posts ll through the junction box provided at the top of the fixture support by simply removing the cover I3.

Mounted in the dome l8 of the support is a hanger member 2| having a substantially spherical or hollow upper portion 22 fitting somewhat loosely inside of the dome l8. At the top of the spherical portion is an angular opening 23, in one side and adjacent the top is an opening 24 extending approximately one hundred eighty degrees around the hanger and in the opposite outer face of the spherical portion is a recess 25 extending approximately one hundred eighty degrees around the spherical portion and above and below the center thereof.

Extending through a hole 26 in the top of the dome portion 18 and through the opening 23 at the top of the hanger is a fastening bolt 21 which has an outer head 28 and washers 29 between the head and the top of the dome portion for making a weather-tight joint therewith. This bolt is threaded into a clamping member 30 having a rounded or somewhat spherical upper surface for conforming to the inside of the spherical portion 22 of the hanger member so that when the bolt is threaded into the clamping member 30 it will draw it up tightly against the inside of the hanger member 2| and will hold or clamp it tightly in any position in which it is placed. At the lower end of the bolt 21 is a retaining device for preventing disengagement of the clamping member 3|] comprising a small washer 3| and a screw 32 threaded-through the-washer andzintothebolt 21 so that evenflthoughthebolt is backed out of-ftheclamping member 30 to release it from clamping engagement with the hanger 2|, the bolt CfiIll'lQtaJ be disengaged entirely from the clamping member without first removing the retaining screw '32," The object of this construction is to preyentihe, disengagement of the hanger 2| from the arm l6 when the fixture is applied thereto or; islbeinge seated or adjusted.

Extending inwardly from the inner side of the dome is' a small projection.331adapted'toengage in the recess .25" of the hanger member and, to. limit the angular up anddown and rotary circular movement of the hanger to the-.extentlof thev recess-25; T This projection 33ris preferably ,opposite the passage I! in; the arm I 61., sothat the opening-24 through the wall .of the hangermem ber willialways have a portion-thereof registering; with the passageway ll forthe-free passage and: extent'of the -.conductors;20;which extend to, the.- fixture supported .bythe Ehanger 2 h; Aswthe past-x; sage I 1in...the.-arm--is of, material width' with re; spectto the opening 24 inzthe. han er-it will :be. we seen thatgthe rotarylmovement of V:the hanger in the dome portion N3 of the arm may be-as much: or slightly; more :thanione hundred (eighty degrees andgathe angular; upgandxdown movement may? easilybe twenty oritwenty-fivedegrees -above.;and-,-' belowthe horizontal-position ;with.0ut; crimping; or binding "the conductors; 20; in any position;

In: the lower end -;of hthelhangen-z I; is:a .ShQLllri 1 dered recess-35in which a lamp supportingsocket; 367may be received-andwith threadedproj ections 1 31 above it into:. which fastening screws,:.3B;.-= are insertedyfromzthe socket; The conductors-2.01am connected tosuitable; terminals 39; at the upper ends;of;-the socket; Extendingfromsthe fasten-.1 ing; screws 38, and;held in place by .them-,o;ar,e clamping; plates- 4|l1'gwhich1x extend; around the r upper endof the socket and within thegspace enclosedzbyaflange; or rim ,4 at the flower-{edge oil; the hanger so thatthezupperfi-rim'42 :ofa shadelors reflector 43 maybe seated-gor-inserted within-the; flange '4 and engagedgbythe-lower. clamping edge; of the plates 40 for holding the reflector in place; A lam-p; ilkofsui-table size :is insertedin the socket and maybe removed --I or replacement without any movement of the; shade; or-;-reflector.

In applying-this fixturesupportit is first setainplace-at the top of arpostd I; rotated to placeitheg arm l 6 in. the proper-directionandthen'lockedginy placeon the post by meansvofsuitablerset screws 45 extending;,through the tubular portionandinto: engagement with -the -;post.=: If the supportw-isi wired the conductors are extended through the: passage l1 and by removingthecap |3.they may-v be connected to the conductors-2m extending up-- wardly through thespost. The hanger-2| ;is-adjusted in-the proper-angularandarotary position by first :looseningthe bolt 2Iand thenclampingv the hanger tightly in place bymeansof the bolt: and the clamping ,member 30a, In, any positionin; which; it :is set x the-- conductors thereimwhicharel preferably left with a little looseness invthe: m A not :b *kinked cr -hound by: en a e;

ment between the edges of the opening 24 and the end of the passageway I! so that there is no danger of wearing the conductors or shortcircuiting the current therethrough even though the hanger is subjected to much adjustment and resetting.

Although this construction is described in connection with a post type of fixture support it is obvious that a similar adjustable hanger may be used wherever ;it is applicable.

I claim 2 1. A fixture support comprising a hollow arm with a spherical recess at its outer end, a hanger having a spherical portion mounted in the recess andppen-ing at one side of the hanger to register with the passage of the arm and cooperating means at the other side of the hanger between the hanger and the support comprising a projection o n one part and a rectangular recess on the corresponding face of the other part engaged by thesproi tion.vforelimit ne.the pen n t han er;-t0;;register; with the passage in; the arm to; the ifull extent permitted ,by: said rectangular recess; but; permittin a tative and. an u ar. 1 upand down adjustment of thehanger within the. re ess;

r In a-wfixtmesupp rt; a proje ting r m.

having'anpnlarged; recess atthe outer end there f .Mneer member t t ble. in he recess s ili eran iop hinelextendin 5 i ally half? way a outthe h r and: the h n er movable at arr-angle ;-to, the arm above-andpelow its normal ori ntal p sition-w t aportion of the openi s tihreeister am ha p t o -of th passa eway, an en a n nsp rthei si e f the e lar ment of the supportandon theoutside of the an Bk PR t-ethe open n for e ist in a the open n :p s ezmembeht e holl w i ethe e s about the. an rando a Width p rmit;

r laneii anadiu meht o app y orty fivedegreesandstillmaintain a registry of a por-- tion thereof; with a portion of the passageway, and interengaging means between the outer wall of ,the ;hanger;;and-;the innenwall the spherical portion of the support: for limiting the movement-of the ha-ngerrsorthat a portion of the opening thereof will always register with a portion, .of 5.

h -passa ewayinrthe arm 4. In a fixture support, an arm having a pas-V sageway anda hollow dome at .theend ofv the arm communicating with the passageway, a hanger rotatably and angularly movable in the dome, and having an opening -;in ;one wall to register with the opening of the passageway, means ,for limiting the-g-movement of the hanger to register asportionwof the opening thereof with a portion of the passageway, and means extending through the; d0me:and,, engaging; the inside of the hanger for; clamping; it removably' in any 'position in whiclrit -is;adjusted within the dome.

5;; Ag-fixture support comprising a hollow arm with: n;enlarged: circular portion at the outer end.-; .han erhavi a ball head fitting loosely withi the circular portion; and having an opene .sihzt eewalli;t0;.-re ster.- with e p sa e y of the arm, means to limit the angular and rotary movement of the hanger in the enlarged portion of the arm, and a clamp comprising a member on the inside of the hanger and a fastening member accessible from the outside of the enlarged portion and extending through the wall thereof into engagement with the clamping memher.

6. In a fixture support, an arm having a passageway therethrough and an enlarged hollow portion communicating with the arm, a hollow hanger member with a spherical head portion fitting within the enlargement of the arm, an opening through the top wall of the hanger and another opening through the side wall of the hanger adapted to register with the passageway in the arm, a clamping member on the inside of the hanger conforming to the interior wall thereof, and a fastening bolt extending through the wall of the enlarged portion of the support and through the top wall of the hanger member and threaded into the clamping member for holding the hanger in any adjusted position as permitted by the engagement of the bolt with the edges of the top opening of the hanger so that the side wall opening will always have a portion thereof registering with the passageway of the arm.

7. In a fixture support, a hollow supporting arm, a hollow hanger member adjustable therein, a clamp for the hanger comprising a member extending inside of the hanger, a bolt extending through the wall of the support and threaded through the clamping member, and means secured in the end of the. bolt and beyond the threads thereof but extending beyond the periphery thereof for preventing unthreading disengagement of the bolt from the clamping member when the latter is loosened to permit adjustment of the hanger in the arm.

8. A fixture support having a downwardly opening recessed portion, a hollow hanger rotatable and angularly adjustable therein, an open ing in the top of the hanger, a supporting and clamping member within the hanger larger than the top opening therein, a fastening bolt extending through the top of the support through the opening in the hanger and through the clamping member, and means comprising a headed screw threaded into the lower end of the bolt and a washer confined between the screw head and the end of the bolt and extending free of the bolt threads beyond the periphery thereof and adapted to engage the under side of the clamping member to prevent the withdrawal of the bolt from the clamping member whereby the parts are held in relative position against dislodgment when the fastening bolt is loosened for adjustment of the hanger in the support.

9. A post type of fixture support comprising a hollow tubular portion to fit the upper end of a post, a laterally extending arm with a hollow passageway communicating with the tubular portion, and an enlargement at the outer end of the arm, a hanger both rotatable and angularly adjustable in the arm, means for limiting both directions of movement of the hanger in the enlargement, a lamp support carried by the hanger having conductors extending therefrom through an opening in the wall of the hanger, and a portion of the opening being always kept in register with the passageway in the arm by said limiting means and forming an unobstructed passage for said conductors to the upper end of the tubular portion and a removable cap for the top of the tubular portion whereby access may be had for making connections between conductors extending through the arm and conductors extending through a post to which the support is connected.

10. A structure in accordance with claim 9 in which the upper end of the tubular portion is provided with an internal projection to limit the insertion of a post therein and preventing the closure of the passage through the arm extending from the tubular portion thereby protecting the conductors and insuring access to them from the upper end of the tubular portion.

11. The combination with a hollow arm having an end enlargement communicating therewith, a hollow fixture hanger both rotatable and angularly movable transversely to the rotatable movement in the enlargement having an opening in one Wall to register with the passage of the arm, a lamp support carried by the hanger having conductors extending therefrom through the opening in the hanger and into the passageway of the arm, and means interengaging between the hanger and the inside of the enlargement comprising a surface recess having both length and width for correspondingly limiting the movement of the hanger with respect thereto so that in any rotary and transverse angular adjusted position of the hanger a communicating passage for the conductors is afforded between the opening in the wall of the hanger and the passageway of the arm.

12. A fixture support comprising a hollow arm with an end enlargement communicating therewith, a hollow hanger rotatable and angularly movable in the enlargement with an opening in the wall thereof to communicate with the passage in the arm, means to limit the movement of the hanger in the enlargement to cause a registry at all times between a portion of the opening and a portion of the passageway, a lamp support carried by the hanger having conductors extending through the interior of the hanger and through the opening of the wall thereof into the passageway of the arm, a reflector for a lamp, and clamping means supported between the lamp support and the hanger and having projecting ends to engage Within the upper portion of the reflector for holding it in place against the hanger.

GEORGE AREAS.

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