US2466223A - Fluorescent lamp fixture - Google Patents

Description

April 5, 1949. K. L. FRANCIS FLUORESCENT LAMP FIXTURE Filed Aug. 22, 1945 KEN/v5 TH LfF/PANC/j INVENTOR.

I BY

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 5, 949

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF ICE.

FLUQRESCENT LAMP FIXTURE Kenneth. Francis, Denver, C010. 7 Application August 22, 1945;.Serial No. 6 123105 rescent lamp fixtures.

Fluorescent. lamps are extensively employed and. are, in most places; providedwith means. for: distributing the light and for. preventing; glare comprising an arrangement of shades and louvers.

The louvers are positioned underneaththe lamps and. must bev removed and replaced. whenever a lamp is replaced,. and with. the usual construction the removal of. the light: distributing louvers is quite difficult.

It is the object of this invention to produce a fluorescent lamp fixture having a louver or grid frame positioned beneath the lamps and which shall be so constructed that the louver frame can be easily removed and. replaced.

The above mentioned object is attained by means of a construction and a relationship of parts that will now be described. in detail and for this purposereference will bevhadto the accompanying drawings in which the invention has been illustrated in its preferred form, and in which:

Figure 1- is a perspective .viewof a fluorescent lamp fixture-showingthe same in position beneath a supporting surface;

Figure 2 is a section taken on a vertical plane and shows the louver frame in one of the positions it assumes during removal and replacement;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section similar to that shown in Figure 2 and shows the louver frame in position; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section similar to that shown in Figure 3, but approximately to full scale and lengthwise contracted.

In the drawing reference numeral 5 designates a canopy that is secured to a ceiling or other supporting surface. Tubular supports 6 extend downwardly from the canopy and are connected with the base 1 in the manner shown in Figure 2. The actual construction of the base will not be described in detail because it forms no part of the present invention except insofar as it constitutes an element of the lamp fixture structure.

A semi-cylindrical fixture body 8 is secured in position below the base by means of screws 9 and nuts Ill. Positioned within the fixture body is a ballast ll. Screws 9 are secured to the bottoms of brackets l2 which, in turn, are spotwelded or secured in any other suitable way to the base. Extending downwardly from the base are brackets 13 to which the ornamental ends I4 are connected by means of bolts IS. The sockets and lamps have not been shown, but they are carried by the fixture body in a manner well understood.

The ornamental ends 14 are provided along their downwardly extending sides with inwardlyprojectingfianges l6 and are also provided along their bottomedgeswith similar inwardly extend ing flanges that-have been designated by'reference numerall-l The louver frame consists of arectangular structure comprising sides I8 and ends I B Transverse louvers 20 are spaced along the frame sides- I'8 in right angular transverse relati'on- The transverse louvers have notches 2 f for the reception and supportof a longitudinally extending glass louver 22. The: finished louver assembly' has the appearance shown in Figure 1-.

order tomake-itcon-veni'ent to remove and reposition the louver frame, the angle ironsfrom which the flanges I! are formed, are provided withinwardly extending stops 23'-which terminate along themiddle lineof the flange IT. The length of the frame is equal tothe distance between the inner ends of the stops 23- as shown quite clearly in Figures 3 and 4.

Let us now assume that the louver frameis in position as shown in Figures 3 and 4 and that it' isto; be removed; One end of the frame, in the present instance the-end to the left in the" drawing, is raised and. positioned on top of the inwardly extending stop. This allows the frame to be moved towards the left a. sufficient distance to bring the righthand end to the inside of the fiange l1, whereupon it may be moved downwardly to a point below flange I I and then moved towards the right a sufficient distance to clear the inner edge of flange I! at the lefthand end of the fixture.

To replace the louver frame the operation is re- I versed, that is, the louver frame is first inserted in the lefthand end of the fixture, inclined upwardly and moved towards the left until it abuts the end plate Hi; this brings the parts into the position shown in Figure 2, whereupon the righthand end is raised until the lower edge of the frame is above the upper surface of flange IT. The frame is now moved towards the right until it engages the stop 23. The lefthand end will now drop down onto the upper surface of flange l1 and bring the frame and the louvers into the position shown in Figures 3 and 4.

It will be observed that the stops 23 hold the frame from longitudinal movement relative to the fixture and that the length of the frame is substantially equal to the distance between the inner ends of stops.

It has already been pointed out that the stops extend inwardly to the middle line of flanges l1 and therefore when the louver frame is lifted so as to bring one end above the corresponding stop and against the surface of the corresponding stop and against the surface of the end plate, the other end will move a corresponding distance and arrive at a position where it can pass the inner edge of the other flange.

The construction that has just been described and shown on the drawing forms a convenient support for the louver frame and enables the service man to quickly remove the louver frame for the purpose of repair or replacing the fluorescent lamps with which the fixture is provided.

In the finished fixture glass sides 24 are positioned on both sides and rest against the flanges [6, the lower edges of the glass being positioned in a U-shaped pocket 25.

From the above description it will be seen that by providing the ornamental ends M with inwardly extending flanges at the bottom and providing stops 23 that project inwardly half the Width of the flange and then making the louver frame of such length that it is substantially equal to the distance between the inner ends of the stops, a construction is obtained that permits convenient servicing of the lamp fixture. The louver frame must always be removed and replaced when lamps are removed or replaced, but the louvers must also be removed in order to permit an attendant to clean the fixture and the lamps. By removing the louver frame, which is positioned at the bottom, access can be had to all of the lamps, whereas if one of the glass sides 24 were removed, this would give access to only one side of the fixture and in addition would subject the long glass sides to danger of possible breakage.

In the drawings the stops 23 have been shown as formed from intumed portions of the angle irons from which the flanges H are formed. It is to be understood, however, that any equivalent means may be substituted. For example, a block of wood having a width of substantially half the width of the flanges may be positioned in the corner and take the place of the specific construction shown. There may also be other means for effecting the specific object desired and applicant does not want to be restricted to any specific construction of stops.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

A fluorescent fixture comprising, an elongated base adapted to be supported from the ceiling, a fixture body secured to the under side thereof, plates secured to the ends of the base for closing the ends of the fixture body and for supporting a louver frame, the end plates having inwardly extending flanges along their lower edges serving as supports for a louver frame, each flange having a louver positioning stop operatively associated therewith, positioned above the upper surface thereof, in a predetermined fixed relation to the flanges, the stops being spaced inwardly from the end plates, a louver frame of a length greater than the distance between the flanges by an amount substantially one-half of the width of the flanges, the louver frame, when in position having its ends resting on the upper surface of the flanges, the stops being positioned to engage the ends of the louver frame to limit its longitudinal movement to a distance less than the distance that the louver frame ends overlap the flanges, whereby the louver frame will be prevented from accidentally moving lengthwise a sufiicient distance to become detached from the supporting flange at one end thereof.

KENNETH L. FRANCIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS

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