US2524353A - Lighting fixture - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 3, 1950 A. o. LOCKE 3 LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Sept. 13 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 z] Andrew 0. Locke 0a. 3, 195 0 A. d. LOCKE 2, 2 3

LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Sept. 13. 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Andrew 0. Locke Fatentecl Oct. 3, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,524,353 LIGHTING FIXTURE Andrew 0. Locke, Denver, Colo.

Application September 13, 1947, Serial No. 773,745

Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in lighting fixtures.

The invention relates particularly to fluorescent light fixtures which, as is well known, usually comprise an elongate body portion having a reflecting surface adjacent which elongate tubular lamps are mounted. The tubular lamps have their ends supported in sockets which are suitably mounted at the opposite ends of the body of the fixture. It is the usual practic to cover the ends of the fixture with end caps or members which enclose and conceal the sockets and which add a decorative touch to the xture. These end caps or members are ordinarily secured in position by screws, clips or other removable mounting means which entail removal of the entire cap member whenever access to the sockets or other parts at the end of the fixtureunit is desired.

Further, many fluorescent fixtures employ glass panels in conjunction therewith which usually extend the entire length of the fixture on the sides and sometimes along the bottom thereof. These glass panels may be employed for the purpose of shielding or diiiusing the light or may be used only for their decorative value. Ordinarily, the panels are separate from the fixture and are arranged to be demountably secured in position, whereby access to the tubular lamps behind the panels can be had only by completely detaching or removing said panels from the fixture.

It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved fluorescent lighting fixture having its end members or caps pivotally mounted on the fixture whereby said members may be quickly and easily swung from their normal position enclosing the ends of the fixture to permit free access to the lamp sockets, fixture starters or other mechanism without the necessity of entirely detaching or removing the caps from said fixture.

An important object of the invention is to providean improved lighting fixture wherein the end caps or members are so mounted that said members will automatically remain in any outward position to which they are swung, whereby the necessity of manually holding said members in their outer positions is obviated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved fixture, of the character described, wherein each end cap or member is formed with a central pivot lug which is frictionally confined and pivoted between elements formed on the fixture, whereby the frictional engagement of (Cl. 2405l.11)

said elements with the pivot lug functions to maintain the member in any position to which it may be swung; the particular arrangement being such that swinging or rotative movement of the lug between said element will not loosen the pivot bolt on which the member is mounted so that the necessary frictional engagement for holding the member in its various positions is maintained at all times.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a fluorescent lighting fixture having the improved end caps or members, of the character described, and in addition having glass panels mounted on the sides of said fixture, with said end caps co-acting with said panels to hold the latter in position on the fixture.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved fixture wherein elongate glass panels extend longitudinally on each side of the fixture in a position overlying the tubular lamps of said fixture; each panel being pivoted to the fixture at the upper portion of each end of the panel and normally hanging free and being arranged to have their ends engaged and confined by the pivotally mounted end caps of the fixture, whereby so long as the end caps are in a normal position covering the ends of the fixture, the glass panels are maintained in proper position overlying the lamps of said fixture; outward swinging of the end caps releasing the panels .to permit said panels to be manually swung on their pivots to a position which allows the fixture lamps to be readily accessible without the necessity of entirely removing said panels.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved fixture, of the character described, wherein the glass panels are so mounted with respect to the end caps that swinging of the end caps into position covering the fixture ends automatically swing the panels into their proper position on the fixture whereby said panels are returned to and confined in such proper position without the necessity of manually swinging said panels independently of the end caps.

A still further object of the invention isto provide an improved fixture wherein each glass panel is pivotally mounted by means of a pin and slot connection and also wherein means is provided for co-acting with the panel when it is swung outwardly to hold said panel in its extended position, whereby the panel need not be manually held in such extended position.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together With other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a fixture, constructed in accordance with th invention, and illustrating the improved end members,

Figure 2 is an enlarged isometric view of one of the end members,

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevation of the end member with a portion thereof broken away to show the pivotal mounting thereof,

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the end portion of the fixture,

Figure 5 is a view, similar to Figure 1, and illustrates glass panels mounted on the fixture,

Figure 6 is an enlarged, isometric view of the end portion of the fixture shown in Figure 5,

Figure 7 is an end view of the fixture with a portion of the end member broken away to illustrate the glass panels confined in their propor position,

Figure 8 is a similar View, with the glass panels .swung to an extended position,

Figure 9 is an elevation of the end portion of the fixture with the end member swung outwardly and shown in section,

Figure 10 is an isometric view, illustrating the mounting of the glass panel, and

Figure 11 is a sectional detail showing the co-action between the end member and glass panel.

In the drawings, the letter A designates a fluorescent lighting fixture which comprises the usual hollow body or shell it which has a generally semi-circular shape in cross section, with its upper surface [Ga substantially flat. Flanged closure plates ii are secured to the ends of the body or shell and have radially disposed lamp sockets l2 suitably fastened therein. Tubular lamps 63 have their ends engaged within the sockets and extend longitudinally on the outer surface of the fixture in the usual manner. The

.fixture may be mounted on the ceiling or other .supporting surface in any desired manner, but

as illustrated, the body portion or shell In is lformed with longitudinal channel bars ltl which are suitably secured to the upper surface liia. The channel bars are connected byscrews IE or otherwise to a hanger plate ld-but it is understood that the particular mounting of the fixture is subject to variation.

The closure plates or elements ll which are secured t the ends of the body or shell ll! of 5."

the fixture have the electrical sockets l2 secured thereto and these plates, as Well as the socket members are clearly visible from the end of the fixture. In order to cover the fixture end and to enclose the sockets l2 so as to give the fixture A a decorative appearance, it is the general practice to cover the end portions with end members or caps. Ordinarily, these caps are mounted on the fixture by means of screws, clips or other means which make the end caps wholly detachable and removable from the fixture. The use of end caps which may be entirely removed from the fixture presents certain in Figure 1. Since each end cap 28 is identical in construction, it is believed that a description of one will suffice. Each cap member comprises a relatively flat plate 2| which has a shape generally conforming to the cross sectional shape of the fixture. The plate is provided with an inwardly directed flange 22 which extends around the sides and bottom of the plate 2| and when the cap or member 2!! is in a position covering the end of the fixture, the flange 22 encloses the sockets i2 and end portions of the tubular lamps i3.

A central rib 23 is preferably made integral with the plate 29 and is provided primarily for decorative purposes. The rib is formed with a pivot lug 25. at its upper end, this lug being disposed adjacent the central portion of the upper end of the plate 2i. The lug 24 is adapted to be disposed between upstanding metallic prajections or ears 25 which ears are preferably formed by cutting out a section of the inwardly directed flange lid of the closure ii and then bending the material upwardly, as is clearly shown in Figure 2. The metallic ears 25 have acertain inherent resiliency and the transverse width of the pivot lug 24 is such that said lug fits snugly between said ears. In order to provide a frictional engagement between the ears and said lug, a pivot bolt 2% extends through openings 2i in the ears and a transverse opening-28 in the lug. The outer end of the pivot screw or bolt 26 receives a nut 29 and a suitable split washer 36 is interposed between the head of the bolt'25 and the adjacent ear 25.

It will be evident that when the bolt 25 is tightened, the ears 25 are urged into a close frictional engagement with the pivot lug 24 and such frictional engagement is maintained because of the split washer 30. With this arrangement, each end member or cap is pivotally mounted on the end of the body or shell Ill of the fixture and when swung inwardly to the position shown in dottedlines in Figure 4, covers the end of the fixture and its fiange 22 encloses the sockets l2 and end portions-of the tubular lamps It to hide the same. When it isd'esired to gain access to the lamp sockets or to the starters ll if the starters are accessible fromthe end, it is only necessaryto manually swing the cap member 29 outwardly to the position shown in full lines in Figure l. Because of the particular mounting of the cap, whereby the upright ears 25 frictionally engage the pivot lug 24, the cap will be held or maintained in any position to which it is swung. Because of the provision of the upright ears, swinging of the cap 2! causes a rotation of the pivot lug around its supporting pivot bolt 26 and therefore there is no tendency for said bolt to become loosened by swinging of the cap. The frictional engagement of the ears 2'5 with the lug 2 i is sufficient tosupport the weight of the cap 29 and for this reason, the

"cap will be maintained or held in any position to which it is swung, thereby obviating the necessity of manually holding the cap in its outer positions. It is noted'that the split washer functions to constantly urge the ears into frictional engagement with'the lug and therefore, any wear which might ordinarily tend to reduce the frictional contact is automatically compensated for. It is also noted that the pivot bolt could, if de sired, be welded or otherwise permanently-attached in position, rather than using the re movable nut29.

In many instances sidepanelswhicn are usually constructed of glass are mounted on fluorescent fixtures for the purpose of shielding or difiusing the light rays or for decorative purposes. It has been the practice in the past to mount these panels in such manner that they must be removed in order to permit replacement of the tubular lamps which they cover. The particular end member and its mounting arrangement,

hereinbefore described, is especially adapted for co-acting with side panels to maintain said panels in position on the fixture and in Figures to an arrangement is shown wherein a fmodified form of end member or cap is combined with glass side panels mounted on the fixture.

and said caps 23a have the same feature of being held or maintained in any outward position to which they are swung.

. Glass side panels 3i are mounted on each side of the fixture and said panels are identical in construction. As is clearly shown in Figure 10 each panel 3| has its vertical edge portions confined within a groove 32 of a channeled, angular retaining bar 33. The bar may be formed bysecuring two angle bars 33a and 34a together with their lateral angles spaced form the groove or channel 32. The inner angle bar 3 1a terminates short of the upper end of the outer bar 33a (Figure 10) and the bottom edge of the panel is supported upon straps 33b which span the lower end of each groove 32.

The outer bar 33a of each retaining member 33 is provided or formed with an elongate slot 35 and this slot is adapted to receive a pivot screw 36 which is mounted in the end of a horizontal support 31. As is shown in Figures 7 and 8 the support 31 is suitably fastened to the closure plate ll of the body or shell ll] of the fixture. Thus, it will be seen that each glass panel 3| is pivotally suspended from the support 31 and normally hangs in a substantially vertical position. The supporting bar 37 is disposed immediately adjacent the inner surface of the end cap 264: and this locates the upper end of the retaining bar 33 contiguous to and inside the plane of the inwardly directed flange 22a of the end cap 20a. When the end cap is swung completely outwardly the upper portion of the flange 22a is swung clear of the upper end of the retaining members 33 whereby the glass panels may be swung outwardly and upwardly. However, when the side panels are hanging in a normally vertical position, the disposition of the upper ends of the members 33 with respect to the flange 22a of each end cap 23a allows the inward swinging of the end caps 23a to cause an engagement of the flanges 22a with the retaining members 33 of the panels, as shown in Figure 11. This results in said panels being swung inwardly into a position covering the tubular lamps and as shown in Figure 7.

When it is desired to gain access to the tubular lamps, it is only necessary to swing the end caps 28a outwardly and said caps will be automatically maintained in their outer position. The caps are SWuIlg outwardly a sufiicient distance to allow the flange 22a thereof to clear the retaining memfrom each other to bers or bars 33 of the side panels 3|. When this is done, the side panels 3| will swing to a vertical position as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 7. By grasping the lower end of each panel, the operator may swing said panel upwardly and due to the elongate slots 35 may then move said panels inwardly until the upper ends of the retaining members or bars 33 of each panel are engaged beneath supporting screws 38 which are mounted in the support 3?. Engagement of the upper ends of the channel bars 33 of each side panel with the screws 33, as shown in Figure 8, causes the panels to be firmly supported in an extended position. The operator is then free to remove the tubular lamps or to do any other work necessary on the fixture. At this time, both the side panels 3|, as well as the end caps 2041 are swung to an outward position and are automatically held in such position.

When the side panels are to be returned to their normal overlying position on the fixture, each panel is moved outwardly from beneath the screw 38 and is then permitted to swing downwardly to its substantially vertical position. The end caps are then swung inwardly and as explained, the co-action between the flanges 22a and the upper portions or" the retaining bars 33 of the side panels, cause said side panels to be swung inwardly into their normal position confined within the flanges 22a of the end caps.

From the foregoing it will be evident that a fixture having side panels and end caps which are readily swung out of position to permit free access to the working parts of the fixture is provided. The arrangement permits both the end caps and the side panels to be maintained or held in their outer position without the necessity of manually holding the same in such position. Also the side panels, as well as the end caps are attached to the fixture so that they need never be completely removed therefrom to permit access to the various parts of said fixture.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the de-- tails of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A lighting fixture including, an elongate main body having lamp sockets secured adjacent its ends, a plurality of tubular lamps extending longitudinally of the body and having their ends engaged within and supported by the sockets, a pair of panels disposed one on each side of the fixture and having their upper ends pivotally connected to the body, each panel being adapted to normally hang vertically from its pivotal point and being movable either inwardly from such vertical position to overlie the tubular lamps or outwardly from such vertical position to permit access to said lamps, end members pivotally mounted at each end of the body for covering said body and enclosing the sockets, and means on each end member for engaging the panels to con-- fine said panels against outward swinging movement when the end members are in a normal position covering the ends of the body, said last named means coacting with the ends of the panels when said panels are in a vertical position to automatically effect inward swinging movement of said panels when the end members are swung inwardly to a position covering the ends of the body.

"5 2. A lighting fixture including, an elongate main body having lamp sockets secured adjacent itsends, a plurality of tubular lamps extending longitudinally of the bodyiarid having their ends engaged within and supported .by theisockets, a pair ofhpanelsudisposed one on .each side of the fixture andhaving their upper ends ipivotallyconnected .to theibody, eachupanel being adapted to normally hangvertically from its pivotal point ,and :being movable eitheriinwardly from such vertical position to .overliethe tubular lamps or outwardly from/suchverticalposition to permit access to ,said lamps, end members ,pivotally 'mountediat each end ofvthe body forcovering said body and enclosing the. sockets,v an inwardly directedlfiange on each .endmember adapted to confine. theendportions of the panels therein to maintainithe same'inianiinner position overlying the tubular lamps, said flange also engaging and coeacting withthe end portions of the panels i xsvvung and. means on the. fixture coacting with H eachz'panel'when the same is swung to the limits of-its :outer movement for holding said panel in such. outward position.

i ;5..'A lighting fixture including, an 1 elongate mainebody having lamp, sockets secured'adjacent itssends, aiplurality of tubular lamps extending longitudinallyof the (body and having their ends iengaged'withinand supported by the sockets, end memberscmounted ontheend portions of the body :for covering.,.said end portions and for enclosing .the :,so ckets, .each, end member having a single pivot lugat. its upper central portion With said me having flat sidesurfaces, a pair of upstanding proj ectionsupset from the material of which the bodyis.constructedand located on each end of the .ibodyrbetween which the pivot lug of each end member is disposed, said projections having fiat surfaces Whichengage the fiat side surfaces of the pivot 111g, and a pivot bolt extending through said projections and lug to pivotally mount eachend member on said bo ,.each pivot bolt being tightened to urge its respective projections into close frictional engagement with the lug ,betiveensaid projections, whereby each end I member may beswung outwardly to uncover the end portion of the body and may be retaincdm the position to which it isswung by the frictional engagement of the projections with its pivot lug.

ANDREW O. LOCKE.

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

UNITED" STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,284,534 Orth H May 26, 1942 V 2 ,291.,493 V Naysmith July 28, 1942 2,301,238 Alm Nov. 10, .1942 2,327,230 Weber Aug. 17, 1943 2,330,507 McCabe Sept. 28, 1943 2,335,736 Campen Nov.,30, 1943 2,360,448 Schockett Oct..1'7, 1944

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