US2488012A

US2488012A - Lighting fixture

Info

Publication number: US2488012A
Application number: US728975A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edwin F Guth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-02-17
Filing date: 1947-02-17
Publication date: 1949-11-15
Anticipated expiration: 1966-11-15

Description

Nov. 15, 1949 I T 2,488,012

LIGHTING FIXTURE 7 Filed Feb. 17, 1 947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 15,1949 E. F. GUTH 2,488,012

LIGHTING FIXTURE 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 17, 1947 Patented Nov. 15,1949

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,488,012 LIGHTING FIXTURE Edwin F. Guth, Florissant, Mo. Application February 17, 1947, Serial No. 728,975 6 Claims. (01. 240-5111) This invention relates to lighting fixtures and more particularly to lighting fixtures for fluorescent lamps.

Among the object of this invention are the provision of an improved lightin fixture which is easy to maintain and to clean; the provision of a lighting fixture the parts of which are more resistant to breakage in transit; the provision of a lighting fixture which decreases accidents during maintenance operations; and the provision of a lighting fixture of an attractive appearance which is of simple construction and is inexpensive to manufacture. Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will beindicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a fixture constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation viewed from the righthand end of Fig. 1, being partly sectioned on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an isometric view of a difiusing panel;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to the sectional part of Fig. 2, but on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing some of the parts in alternative position; and,

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, numeral indicates a lamp support comprising an outer case, channel or top housing which supports the usual electrical starter apparatus indicated generally at 3. Case I has end walls 5 and. side walls 1. The end walls are formed with downwardly convergent dihedral lower edges. Sockets 9 at either end removably support tubular fluorescent lamps I Attached to end walls 5 adjacent their apexes at a median line on their lower edges are channel-shaped support stops I3. The end walls 5 are bent over along their lower edges to form stop flanges I5. Stops I3 act as panel supports and cooperate with flanges l5 to position light diffusing and light transmitting panels I! in a dihedral relationship, supporting the panels by their inner corners. The panels are preferably constructed of glass or plastic. Along one edge I!) of panels I! are metal reinforcing strips 2|. Strips 2| are formed as channels with the top bent back to form wings 23 (see Figs. 4-6). Wings 23 do not extend the entire length of supporting channel 2| but terminate adjacent to reinforcing and supporting channels 25 along either side of panels l1. Channels 2| and 25 are cemented to panels I! in any of the customary manners. One end 21 of channels 25 is bent to form ears in each of which is an opening 29. Opening 29 receives one end of a hinge strap or link 3| while openings 33 and 35 in side walls 1 receive the other end of strap 3|.

End 31 of hinge strap 3| is formed as a roll permanently to hold end 21 while end 39 of strap 3| is formed as a square hook for easy attachment and detachment of the panel I! assembly to or from top housing I. Opening 35 is formed sufficiently large So that end 39 of hinge strap 3| can enter or be removed therethrough. Opening 33 permits rotation of hinge strap 3| (see Fig. 5).

The fixtures of the present invention may be easily and quickly assembled and disassembled. Thus diffusing panels may be separated from top housing'l merely by slipping panel |'l out of stops l3 and lifting ends 39 of hinge straps 3| out through openings 35. Assembly is easily and quickly accomplished by reversing the proc- 'ess. This permits panel IT to be shipped separately from the rest of the fixture to minimize danger of breakage. Such danger is further minimized by channels 2| and 25 which strengthen diffusing panels I! during transportation and during use.

One of the important features of the present fixture is that it may be easily and quickly cleaned without removing panels H from the fixture. Moreover, repairs may be carried out and lamps replaced without removing panels from the fixture. This is accomplished by reason of the construction and operation of hinge straps 3| and cooperating mechanism.

I A cleaning operation, for example, is quickly and easily carried out. Fig. 4 shows the position of the parts when the fixture is in use. If now it 'is desired to clean diffusing panel I! or otherwise service the fixture, panels I'I are moved out'of stops l3 either manually or preferably with a simple tool such as illustrated at 4|. Essentially tool 4| is an angle iron 40 attached to a stick 42 and with it panel l! is contacted along the median line of the fixture and moved, as shown in Fig. 5, until edge l9 clears sto l3. If

panel I! is now released it will rotate to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 5, thereby permitting easy access to panel I! itself with a cleaning device, or easy access to the interior of the fixture for repair or replacement of parts. Since panel I1 will remain suspended, danger of dropping it is negligible and there is no need to deposit it in some place where it might be damaged or damage others.

Once the cleaning operation, etc., is finished, edge IQ of panel I! is again grasped with tool 4| and panel I! is permitted to slide back into place against stops I3. During this operation channels l5 serve as guides for panels I1.

Side walls 1 are preferably cut away at 43 to receive the round end 3"! of hinge strap'3l and to permit ear 2! to lie in the same plane as side walls 1 when the fixture is in its Fig. 4 position. Hinge straps 3| do not project from side walls 1 far enough to be objectionable.

Side walls I need not extend clear across the fixture but it is sufficient if they are large enough to support hinge straps 3|, diffusing panels I! and associated mechanism.

In View of the foregoing it will be apparent that the fixture of the present invention may be easily and quickly assembled or disassembled and that quick access may be had to the interior for cleaning or repair. Moreover the present fixture is attractive, easily operated and relatively safer because diffusing panels I'1 need not be removed from the fixture. Moreover, diffusing panels I! may be shipped separately and danger of breakage is substantially decreased by the presence of channels 2| and 25.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects ofthe invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A ceiling fixture for fluorescent lamps, comprising a lamp support having end walls formed with downwardly convergent dihedral lower edges, a pair of light-transmitting panels carried by the support for movement between a raised position wherein they extend in dihedral relationship under the support from one end wall to the other and a lowered position extending downward from the support, panel supports adjacent the apexes of the end walls for supporting the panels by their inner corners in said raised position, each panel being linked to the support by means of links pivotally connected at their upper and lower ends to the support and panel respectively, whereby the panel may be moved laterally outward from its raised position to clear its said corner supports and then swung downward to its said lowered position.

2. A ceiling fixture for fluorescent lamps, comprising an open-bottomed housing having side and end walls, the latter having downwardly convergent dihedral lower edges, a pair of lighttransmittin panels carried by said housing for movement between a raised position wherein they extend in dihedral relationship under the housing closing its open bottom, and a lowered position extending generally downward from the side walls of the housing, panel corner supports adjacent the apexes of the end walls for supporting the panels by their inner corners in said raised position, each panel being pivotally connected to the housing by means of links pivotally connected at their upper and lower ends to the respective side wall and the panel, whereby the panel may be moved laterally outward from its raised position to clear its said corner supports and then swung downward to its said lowered position.

3. A ceiling fixture for fluorescent lamps, comprising an open-bottomed housing having side and end walls, the latter having downwardly convergent dihedral lower edges, a pair of lighttransmitting panels carried by said housing for movement between a raised position wherein they extend in dihedral relationship under the housing closing its open bottom, and a lowered position extending generally downward from the side walls of the housing, panel corner supports adjacent the apexes of the end walls for suporting the panels by their inner corners in said raised position, each panel being pivotally connected to the housing by means of links detach: ably pivoted at their upper ends. to the outside of the respective side wall and pivotally connected at their lower ends to the panel, whereby the panel may be moved laterally outward from its raised position to clear its said corner supports and then swing downward to its said lowered position, or detached from the housing.

4. A ceiling fixture for fluorescent lamps, comprising an open-bottomed housing having side and end walls, the latter having downwardly convergent dihedral lower edges, a pair of lighttransmitting panels carried by said housing for movement between a raised position wherein they extend in dihedral relationship under the housing closing its open bottom, and a lowered position extending generally downward from the side walls of the housing, panel corner supports adjacent the apexes of the end walls for supporting the panels by their inner corners in said raised position, each panel being pivotally connected to the housing by means of links having hooks at their upper ends detachably and pivotally engaged in openings in the side walls from the outside of the latter and pivotally connected at their lower ends to the panel, whereby the panel may be moved laterally outward from its raised position to clear its said corner supports and then swung downward to its said lowered position, or detached from the housing.

5. A ceiling fixture for fluorescent lamps, comprising an open-bottomed housing having side and end walls, the latter having downwardly convergent dihedral lower edges, a pair of lighttransmitting panels carried by said housing for movement between a raised position wherein they extend in dihedral relationship under the housing closing its open bottom, and a lowered position extending generally downward from the side walls of the housing, each panel having reinforcing members at its ends, said members being provided with ears extending upward from the upper side of the panel, panel corner supports adjacent the apexes of the end walls for supporting the panels by their inner corners in said raised position, each panel being pivotally connected to the housing by means of links pivotally connected at their upper and lower ends to the respective side wall and the ears of the respective reinforcing members, whereby the panel may be moved laterally outward to clear its said corner supports and then swung downward to its said lowered position.

6. A. ceiling fixture for fluorescent lamps, comprising an open-bottomed lamp housing having side and end walls, the latter having inwardly flanged downwardly convergent dihedral lower edges, a pair of light-diffusing panels carried by said housing for movement between a raised position wherein they extend in dihedral relationship under the housing closing its open bottom, and a lowered position extending generally downward from the side walls of the housing, each panel having reinforcing channels embracing its ends, said channels being provided with ears extending upward from the upper sides of the panel, each panel also having reinforcing strips extending the length of its edge which is innermost when the panel is in raised position, panel corner supports comprising channel-shaped members adjacent the apexes oi the end walls which open laterally outward receiving the inner corners of said panels in their raised position, each panel being pivotally connected to the housing by means of double-acting hinge members detach- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,160,345 Wakefield Nov. 16, 1915 1,283,162 Guth Oct. 29, 1918 2,330,507 McCabe Sept. 28, 1943 2,335,736 Campen Nov. 30, 1943 2,335,737 Campen Nov. 30, 1943 Maurette Dec. 12, 1944'