US2569859A - Mounting assembly for fluorescent fixtures - Google Patents

Description

A. O. LOCKE MOUNTING ASSEMBLY FOR FLUORESCENT FIXTURES Oct. 2, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 15, 1947 gwuam fma And raw 0. Locke I Oct. 2, 1951 A. o. LOCKE 2,569,859

- MOUNTING ASSEMBLY FOR FLUORESCENT FIXTURES Filed Sept. 15, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Andrew .0. Locke Patented Oct. 2, 1951 MOUNTING ASSEMBLY FORKFLUDRES CENT FIXTURES-r Andrew 01 Locke; Denver; C616. Applicatio'nzSeptembenz13, 1947iLSerial Nb773fl44c 4 Claims; 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in mounting, assemblies for fluorescent fixtures.

The invention relates particularly to an improved mounting means which facilitates installation-of a fluorescent fixture.

The. usual fiuorescent lighting fixture has considerable weight and because of its relative length is more or less bulky and difficult to handle. The required electrical connection between the fixture andthe electrical supply wires must necessarily be made.

prior to the fastening of the fixture in its final mounted position on the ceiling or other overhead support and the bulkiness, as well as the relatively heavy weight, of the fixture present quite a problem in making the installation. Further.- more, substantially all of the. fixtures now in general userequire that thefixture be dismantled,..

either partially or completely, in order to permit its installation.

It is one objectof the present inventionto pro-.-

videan improved fluorescent lightingfi'xturehaving means for supporting the complete fixture in a. position which. will permit. the necessary electricalconnectionsto be made, after which the.

fixturemaybe moved to and fastened'jin its final mountedlposition on aceilihgor other overhead-f support,.whereby installation of. said fixture facilitated and. may be rapidly accomplished without the necessity of dismantling the fixture orremovingparts thereof "which must'lbe later re-attached to the fixture after thelelectricalconnections are made.

Animportant object of the inventionis toprovide animproved lighting fixture wherein a supporting element or hook, which depends from the ceiling-or other surface to which the fixture.

is to be fastened, isadapted to be engagedlby, the fixture and functions to support'thercomplete unitiin a suspended positionto allow the necessary electrical connections to be made; said" supporting element being so constructed that whenthe. fixture is moved'into its finalmounted position, said element continuesto co-act. with the fixture to assist in supporting saidifi'xture in suchfinal mounted position.

Aparticular object of the inventionistoprovid e a fixture, of the. character described,.whereinarelatively light hanger member, which may",

beeasilyhandled, is adapted tobe secured to.

the:ceiling-or other. support uponwhich theifixa A tune-proper is; to be finally mounted, together. with coacting means on. the. hanger member andithefixture proper for. suspending said-- turerin .a positionwith its electrical connections.

readily accessible. to permitflsaid fixture to be electrically. connectedato theusual. electrical .sup ply. wires, said co.-acting. means also. functioning to.support-the'fixture: inits final position, with. additional means on .the hanger. and fixture for. firmly. fasteningthe. fixture in. said :final position...

stillfanother objectof Itheiinvention is .to pro: vide an improved mounting for fluorescent. fix; tures wherein..the fixture proper. need not be ldetachedi'or. removed fitom th'e supporting hanger memberaftrthe electrical connections are made, the construction beingsuch thatwithout detach.-

ment or removal,-the completelyassembled .fi Xr'.

ture unitmay, be readilymoved 'fromitssuspendQ- .ed' position mm its. final. mounted position on the ceiling or othenoverheadfsupport.

A further object' of theiinvention isl-to provide an improvedlmounting.assemblyZ for a .fluores cent lighting. fixture which is so arranged. that the entire fixture may, be suspendeditherefrom.

whereby dismantling or. partial-disassembly. of"

the fixture is not'requiredin order to permit the' necessary. electrical connections to be made.

The. construction .designed to carry out the invention .will be hereinafter described 1' together with other features .of the invention.

The invention will 'be .moreireadily, understoodl from areadiiigof Ithefollowingspecification and by referencev to the accompanying, drawing,,. wherein. an "example ofllthe invention. is shown, andwherei'n:

Figure 1. is-an isometric. .view .of "an improved 1' fluorescent lighting. fixture and lmounting, constructed" accordance with the invention and" illustrating the. fixture in .a' suspended position N which makes the electrical connecting .wires.

readily accessible,v

Figure 2 'is' a similar view showing-the fixture: in" its final mountedposition,

Figure 3' is a view, partly in section and part 1y.inelevation,with-parts broken away to clear"- ly show the hanger (member and hooks,

Figure 4 islan enlarged, transverse, sectional" view taken=ori -the Ilirie' 3 -3 offFigu're" 1; and with" the fixture in'a suspendedposition;

Figure, 5". is a. similar View with the. fixture secured toith'e hanger member in its final 'positiom. Figure 6. is an enlarged; isometric view of" thescrew and-key. slot connection between the'h'anger member and fixture,

FigureTis an isometricwiew of'i'a modified form of ."hook' which maybe ,substitutedi'fbrthe'.

supporting hooks shown in Figures 1to'5'fan'd Figures isfla sectional view, ,showirigl'stilr'amother. modification ofthelinventionil In the drawings, the letter A designates a fluorescent lighting fixture which is constructed in the usual manner and which includes a body portion or shell III, the curved lower portion of which forms the reflecting surface. As is usual practice, the body or shell is generally semi-circular in shape in cross-section and a plurality of radially extending lamp sockets H are suitably secured to the ends of the body and project outwardly therefrom, whereby elongate tubular lamps [2 may be supported on the fixture. The lamps are, of course, disposed adjacent to the reflecting surface and end caps l3 which are fastened to the ends of the body in any desired manner cover said ends and enclose the sockets ll toimprove the appearance of the fixture.

The transformers, starters and other mechanism (not shown) are mounted within the body or shell It in a usual manner and are not shown in detail herein. The usual electrical connecting wires B for making electrical connection with the fixture extend outwardly through the fiat top back plate Illa of said fixture. The particular details of construction of the fixtureA form no part of the present invention and any standard type of fluorescent lighting fixture is adaptable to the improved mounting assembly which forms the present invention. 7

In carrying out the present invention, a pair of longitudinal channel bars l4 and I5 are welded or otherwise secured to the upper surface or black plate of the fixture A and extend longitudinally along each side thereof. It is not necessary that the bars I4 and be channel shaped, although it has been found that this particular shape imparts rigidity and strength to the fixture and is preferable for that reason. The upright leg I40; of the channel 14 is formed with a pair of spaced slots or openings l6 and the lateral or horizontal leg [4b of said bar is also formed with slots or openings Ilia which form a continuation of the openings 16 in the upright or vertical leg, as is clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5. Immediately below each slot or opening Ifia, the upper wall Illa of the body or shell Iii is provided with an opening I! which is in registration with the slot. The upright or vertical leg [5a of the opposite channel I5 is formed with spaced key slots 18, the purpose of which will be hereinafter set forth.

For mounting the fixture on a ceiling or other supporting surface, a hanger or supporting plate I9 is provided and said hanger plate is formed with depending longitudinal flanges 20 and 2! on each side thereof. A central opening 22 is formed in the plate l9 and is arranged to receive the usual supporting stud 23 which is mounted centrally of the ordinary electrical outlet box 24;

The electrical box 2d, as is well known, is suitably mounted within the ceiling or other supporting surface 25 and the supporting stud 23 which extends through the opening 22 in the hanger plate [9 receives a nut 26, whereby the hanger plate is mounted in position against the ceiling orother supporting surface 25 (Figure 3). In such position the flanges 20 and 2| of the hanger plate depend downwardly. The electrical supply wires C which extend into the electrical box 24 may pass downwardly through an opening 21 formed in the plate adjacent to the opening 22. The plate may be formed with additional small openings 28 'which make it possible to fasten the hanger plate to the ceiling or supporting surface by means of suspension screws in the event that the electrical box with the supporting stud 23 is not available.

A pair of hooks 30 have their upper ends 4 secured to the depending flange 20 and as is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3, the hooks are spaced from each other, being located adjacent opposite ends of the flange 28. Each hook has the upper end of its shank disposed horizontally as indicated at 30a and is then bent downwardly so as to extend in a vertical plane as indicated at 301). The lower end of the vertical shank portion is curved upwardly to form the hook 300.

As has been pointed out, the mounting and assembly of a fluorescent light fixture present certain difiiculties because the assembled fixture A is .relatively heavy andhas considerably length,

thereby making it bulky to handle. It is, of course, necessary that the electrical connecting wires'B of the fixture be connected with the supply wires C and while this connection is being made, the fixture must be supported in some manner adjacent the location of the supply wires.

With the fixture herein described, the hanger plate H), which is relatively light in weight is first mounted on the ceiling or other supporting sur- I face 25 either by the stud 23 as illustrated or by suitable screws which may extend through the openings 28. The electrical supply wires C are threaded downwardly through the opening 21 and have their ends clearly exposed below the plate.

The fixture A is then lifted into position so as to engage the hooks 300 of the hook members I with the sockets or openings [6 in the longitudinal channel member 14. Because the channel memher is disposed at one longitudinal edge of the fixture A, the fixture will be supported in an inclined position as shown in Figure 4. In such position, the upper surface of said fixture is readily accessible and the fixture wires B are clearly exposed, whereby said wires may be easily connected with the electrical supply wires C. It; is noted that at this time, the entire weight of the fixture is supported by the ,hook members 30 and the electrican or other person installing the,

fixture need not be concerned with supporting the weight of said fixture.

the interior of the body or shell through the openings Ilia. and Il.

right leg Ma of the channel bar M to engage over the lateral or horizontal portion 300. of each hook member so that this side of the fixture is supported by the hook member. At this time, the hook portion 300 and the lower portion of the vertical shank 3% are disposed within the in- H plate lfla of the shell and as the hooks move disposed,

downwardly into the shell, they are within the guard members 3|.

After the fixture has been moved upwardly to 5 suspend the channel bar [4 fromthe upper end of the hook members 30, the channel bar I5 is moved forwardly and upwardly soas to engage its key slots 18 over'outwardly extending fasten-7 ing screws 32. Each fastening screw 32 has its inner end threaded into a nut 33 which is welded or otherwise secured to the inner surface of the depending flange 2| of the hanger, plate. Because of the key slots N3, the heads of the fas-- I Continued upward move-1 l ment of the fixture causes the slot IS in the up-" awa aw ture A-in position-on the hanger'plate- I91 It -will be evident that i in its finally mounted position; the fixture A; has oneside supported" by the :hook members 30 whileits opposite -1ongitu-- dinal side; is supported by the fastening screws 32:-; Ififor any reason it is necessaryto examinethe electricalconnection between the wires B and; C the screws 32'may be loosenedsufiicientlyto:

p ermitthe fixtureto be moved upwardly and then outwardly so, as to disconnectythe channelbar, I from ,the hanger plate, Whenjthis. is done, the;

fixture may be readily swung to its lower or suspended position, as shown in Figure 4 which clearlyaexposes theupper. surface of said fixture and permits any desired work to be done on the electrical connection. It is noted that the hook members may be of any desired; length, al-

though it is preferable that theybe sufficientlylong to provide for access to the, upper surface of the fixture when said fixture is in its suspended posit Y As has been stated; the longitudinal channel bars ;l4--and l5 are desirable since they have-the additional feature-of-adding strength to the fixture However,- these bars could be onlysufliciently long to accommodate the slots IG which receive thehooks or individual lugs having the slots therein couldbesubstituted therefor. Also, it ;is; not -;essential that the hanger-plate have the longitudinal fl-ange 2 l]-and2-l since depending lugs, having thehooks 30attached thereto and the screws 3 2-mountedtherein would serve the ame. pu p In Figures l-to 6"two hook-members spaced apart have been illustrated-and-in Figure-7 a modified form of a hook element is shown. In this modification a flat type hook member is secured to the central portion of the flange 20 and the hanger plate l9. In place of the slots l6 and I 6a in longitudinal channel bar [4, a relatively wide slot 3'! in its vertical leg portion and a communicating slot 38 in its horizontal portion are provided, these slots functioning in the same manner as the slots or openings [6 and lBa. in the channel bar [4. It will be evident that the hook member 35 and its co-acting connecting element 36 will operate in identically the same manner to support the fixture A in a suspended position and yet permit the same to be moved into a final mounted position on the hanger plate.

In Figure 8 still another modification of the manner of connecting the hook members 30 to the fixture is illustrated. In this modification the top back plate Illa of the shell II] is formed with slots 40 and 4|, each pair of slots 40 and 4| being provided for each hook. As is clearly shown in Figure 8 the slot 40 has sufficient length to permit introduction of the hook portion 300 of its corresponding hook member into the interior of the shell and when said hook portion has entered the shell, its upper extremity may engage within the slot or opening 4| to mount the fixture in a suspended position with its electrical connecting wire clearly exposed and readily accessible. It will be obvious that the fixture may be moved to its finally mounted position in the same manner as hereinbefore described, with the underside of the top Illa adjacent the end of the slot 40 engaged with or resting upon the lateral portion 30a shown-in E-igure 7; is: entirelyeliminated:

From the foregoing it will be seenthat asimplea and-efficient mountingassembly is provided; The

arrangement is-suchthat thefixture may be completely assembled prior to its connection witl'ithe electricalleadwires C and before itis raised upwardly for engagement with the: hook mem-u bers: Partialorcomplete dismantling of the fix-:- ture'is not-necessaryin order to makethe installation. The fixtureis independently support s ed on=the-hook-member with its upper surface r and-its-connecting wires exposed and readilyac cessible.-- After= the necessary electrical connec tionsare madeythe= complete fixture unit may be=quickly-andeasily swung into..a finallymountei. edposition. without having. to re-attaclrany partsuthereto and without disconnecting the. turefrom thehooks which support it'in its-.sus pended/position. Thehooks areso arrangedi'that i they. not only:function .to support the flxturecin its.-.. suspended position but 1 also; co-act to. assist; in-supporting: the fixtureafter it has been. moved; toiits'finally mounted position; The. assembly: islvextremely simple and facilitates theinstallae tiorn-of fluorescent lighting fixtures- The: foregoing, descriptionof the invention ;,,is;.; explanatory thereof and ;various;changes in; thex:

size, shape. and materials as; well. as in the details of; the illustratedyconstruction-maybe made; within .the scopeof the appended claims, without departing {from thespirit of the invention;

What I claimand desire tosecure byiLetters Rate t is therefrom, said hook element including a vertical shank having a hook at its lower end and an oifset horizontal supporting surface at its upper end, an elongate lighting fixture unit, an upwardly extending projection on said unit at one side thereof and having a slot therein, whereby the hook of said hook element may be engaged therewith to suspend the fixture from said plate with its electrical connections readily accessible, the slot in said projection being elongate to permit the fixture unit to be moved upwardly to a final position adjacent the hanger plate with the projection engaging the horizontal offset at the upperend of the hook element, and fastening means for securing the fixture unit to the hanger in said final position.

2. A mounting assembly for a lighting fixture including, a substantially fiat hanger plate having longitudinal depending side flanges, a pair of depending hooks secured to one of said flanges, each hook having an offset supporting surface at the upper end of its shank fastening screws in the opposite side flange, a fluorescent lighting fixture unit, having an upstanding projection at one side of its upper surface, said projection having slots therein for receiving the hooks of the hanger plate, whereby the fixture unit may be supported in an inclined suspended position, an upstanding flange on the upper surface of the unit on the side opposite the projection and having key slots therein, said fixture being movable upwardly on the hooks into a final position adjacent the hanger plate with the upstanding projection engageable with the offsets in the hook shanks which support that side of the fix- With. this: modification; the use of the separate: channel bar: I such as; shown l in Figures 1.; to 6, or: aasupporting: lugdasi- 7., ture; Isuch'. movement permitting engagement of the key slots in the flange of the fixture unit with, the screws in the hanger plate, whereby.

body and a supporting member therefor, said,

supporting member comprising a substantially fiat plate, a hook element secured to the plate at one side thereofland depending therefrom, said hook element including a vertical shank portion having an offset horizontal supporting surface at its upper end and a hook section at itslower end, the body of the light fixture having an openingin its upper surface for receiving the hook element, an upright connecting member secured to the upper surface of the fixture body adjacent the opening in said body and extending upwardly from said surface, said connecting member having an opening therein engageable with. the hook section of the hook element for suspending the fixture from said hook section, the connecting memberbeing movable upwardly on the hook element and into engagement with the'offset horizontal supporting surface of the hook element to support one side of the fixture body in a position adjacent the supporting plate, and means for attaching the opposite side of the fixture body to the supporting plate.

4. In combination, a lighting fixture having an elongate generally rectangular body and a supporting member therefor, said supporting member comprising a substantially fiat plate having longitudinal depending side flanges, a pair of hook elements secured to one of the flanges in spaced relationship and depending therefrom,

' each hook having the major portion of its shank in a vertical plane with the upper end of the shank bent upon itself to form a horizontal offset supporting surface, upright connecting elements 3 onthe-upper surface of thebody of the lighting fixture and spaced apart substantially the same distance as the side flanges of the supporting member whereby the connecting elements will abut said flanges when the fixture is moved upwardly against the plate, one of said elements having openings therein adapted to receive the hook elements to suspend the fixture from the lower ends of said hooks, said openings being movable upwardly on the hook shanks to engage the offset supporting surfaces of the hook shanks with the connecting element in which said openings are mounted, and means for attaching the second connecting element to the second flange of the plate when the first connecting element is supported by the ofiset portions of the hook 0 shanks.

ANDREW o. LOCKEl T 7, REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file of this patent:

NITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,613,013 Benjamin Jan, 4, 1927 1,817,540 Werner Aug. 4, 1931, 2,083,426 Blitzer June 8, 1937 2,185,562 Nielson Jan. 2, 1940 2,253,700 Graham Aug, 26, 1941 2,268,731 Van Bloem Jan. 6, 1942 2,272,176 Leinen Feb. 10, 1942 2,287,565 Phillips June 23, 1942 2,336,599 Dunbar Dec. 14, 1943 2,365,614 Winkler et a1 Dec. 19, 1944 2,433,819 Schribner Dec. 30, 1947;" 2,434,781 Kurtzon Jan. 20, 1948 2,529,990 Barker Nov. 15, 1950 2,440,603 Guth Apr. 27, 1948

Images