US2383007A

US2383007A - Lighting fixture

Info

Publication number: US2383007A
Application number: US491740A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rene G Maurette
Original assignee: Sylvania Electric Products Inc
Current assignee: GTE Sylvania Inc
Priority date: 1943-06-19
Filing date: 1943-06-19
Publication date: 1945-08-21
Anticipated expiration: 1962-08-21

Description

Aug. 21, 1945- R. G. MAURETTE I LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed June 19, 1943 INVENTOR. R's/YE 6i NAURETTE BY mm A TTORNE Y was Aug. 21, 1945 b UNITED sTA'rss PATENT ors cs Ren G. Maurette, Beverly, Masa, aslignor to Sylvania Electric Products 1110., Salem, Mass a corporation oi Massachusetts 4 Application June 19, 1943, Serial Mit 191.7 40 -1 Claim. (01. zio-rsy taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which: I

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a Joinder embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is an enlargement of the joining unit .of Figure 1, broken away to show the details thereof;

Figure 3 is a perspective illustration of the parts of the joining unit of Figures land 2; and

Figure 4 is a side elevation of .the lower of two parts in Figure 3.

In the mounting of fluorescent lighting fixtures inposition of use, it is desirable in many instances to arrange them in close end to end alignment, so that the efiect is comparable to that of having a single long fixture.

This invention provides a bracket assembly unit for joining the adjacent ends of such fixtures. It provides proper alignment and rigidity to the fixture mountings, and makes it possible to distribute the fixture supports with regard to the fixture group as a whole rather than simply with regard to a single fixture. Thus, for example, a single support may be used for both of the adjoining ends of adjacent fixtures.

As in Figure 1, fixtures 1, 2, and 3 are joined in end to end relation by bracket assemblies, as at 4. A single support 5 may be used to support the adjacent ends of the fixtures I and 2, or a similar support 6 for the adjacent ends of fixtures 2 and 3. The bracket assemblies 4 eflectively unite the fixtures I, 2, and-3 to form a continuous and unitary assembly.

The fixtures comprise housings I, reflectors 8, and fluorescent lamps 9 supported by lamp sockets I 0.

A bracket assembly I is shown in separated parts in Figure 3, and in operative relation with a pair of lighting fixtures, in Figure 2. The action of the bracket assemblies is applied directly and exclusively to the housings l 01' the fixtures. The

bracket assembly comprises an upper plate I l and wing nuts i4 threaded thereon. The bracket assembly has two. main holding functions with respect to the fixture housings 7. One is a positive anchoring or the housings against separation movement in the direction of their longitudinal axes, as accomplished by the lower plate l2; and

the other is a clamping action in which portions of the housings i are held, above and below, between the upper and lower plates ii and i2.

' For the accomplishment oi the first of the above holding functions, the housings are provided with end openings iii, and the lower plate I! is provided with upwardly extending edge flanges it which are inserted through the housing end openings Ii and engage the inner end surfaces ll of the housings l as shown in Figure 2.

For the accomplishment oi the second of the above functions, the upper plate ii is dimensioned to overlie the opening between the adjoining fixtures and to overlap so as to engage the tops of the fixtures. The plate ii is provided with leg extensions I8 in further engagement of the tops of the fixtures. In furtherance of this function the fixtures are engaged irom below in their end openings Ii by the lower plate II as at i9. With the wing nuts H tightened on the bolts i3, the fixtures are tightly clamped between the upper and lower plates II and I 2.

The joined fixtures are held against relative lateral movement with respect to each other in part by the fact that the lower plate I2 has its flanges i6 extending the full lateral length of the housing end openings l5, as shown in Figure 2. Further provision against such relative lateral movement of the housings and also against relative twisting in a horizontal plane, is embodied in the strap members 20 which may be formed by knocking up portions of the tops of the housings, and-in which the ends of the plate leg extensions I8 are received in close fitting relation. In addition, the upper plate II is provided with central flanges 2i which lie between the raised portions 22 of the fixture housing top as a further aid in holding the bracket assembly and the fixture housings held thereby, in proper position.

'A degree of resiliency is aflorded the bracket assembly through the formation of the upper level of its fixture contacting edges 23. This ar- I rangement also provides an increased strength a lower plate i2, held together by bolts It with factor. Openings 24 are formed in the upper plate leg extensions l8 to provide access to the portion of the fixture housing top immediately therebeneath. This is to admit a screw driver or cross bar 21. The

other tool to screws, bolts or other holding means for the ably located just beneath the leg extensions II.

The leg extensions ll each start from the raised-central portionof the upper plate Ii. taper downward, and then-are flattened out to provide an end surface area for contact with the tops of the fixture housinga. v

The lower plate I! is provided with a central raised portion 2' which has the double function of giving added strength to the plate and acting as an inner stop and guide for the fixture housing end portions held by the flanges I}! of the lower plate I 2.

The lower pending ends plate I! is further provided with de- 20 as supports for a flat flexible bar 21 is hinged to one of the depending ends 26 as at 28, and may be snapped in or out of an opening in the other of the depending ends 26 through the resiliency of the bar and the bevel formation as at 2! on the end of the bar.

The purpose of this arrangement is to provide a support for the fixture wires in going between fixtures to power the circuits thereof. These wires may thus be'carried along above the reflectors and within the fixture housings with eflicient ure lamp sockets II which are prefersupport between flxtures. Toinsert or remove such wires the cross bar 21 is snapped down about its hinge as at II, and thereafter snapped up into place again. I

' As may be seen in Figure 2, the bolts it are headed at both ends. with the wing nuts thus permanently assembled thereon. This provides a clamping unit. comprising upper and lower plates, which may be loosened, but which will not come completely apart.

The spacing between adjacent reflectors achieved by my invention is helpful in allowing ventilation to carry away heat produced by the lamps, which have a definite temperature for maximum efliciency.

What I claim is:

In a fluorescent lighting fixture assembly, readily mountable and demountable joining means for securing one fixture to another in end to end relation: said Joining means comprising a top plate having legs extending therefrom to engage said fixtures, a bottom plate mounted at least in part between the ends 01 said fixtures, and means for Joining said top and bottom plates, to lock said fixtures therebetween.

RENE o. MAURE'I'I'E.