US2661924A

US2661924A - Canopy holder

Info

Publication number: US2661924A
Application number: US103246A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wilt Melvin Charles
Original assignee: CURTIS LIGHTING Inc
Current assignee: CURTIS LIGHTING Inc
Priority date: 1949-07-06
Filing date: 1949-07-06
Publication date: 1953-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 1970-12-08

Description

Dec. 8, 1953 M. c. WILT CANOPY HOLDER Filed July 5, 1949 a w/w Patented Dec. 8, 1953 lMelvin 'Charles wilt, Hinsdaie, -Iu, -assignor kw Curtis Lighting, Jnc Ch-iwrgQ, :Ill-. a morporation of Illinois Application-Filly 6, 1949;senanymna246 'flfhi-s invention 'rela't'es't'o supports for hanging fixtin'es and it relates particularly to the construc- 'ti'onlforming a part of a hanger for :lightingfixtunes.

:Fixtures of the'type described, which are sus- Zpen'ded from the ceiling, are usually provided with a' ca'nopy that covers up the opening through which 'fcormection is made between the hanger .rodF'andthe ceiling. It is desirable to'have a systern whereby the canopy may be easily and quickfly securedin its position of use andit is also deisirableat the same time to insulate the canopy ifrom the hanger rod.

I-t.=is an object of'this invention to provide a new and improved construction permitting the tion but not of limitation, an "embodiment is 'sho'whinthe accompanying dravs'rings inwh'ich: Figure l is an elev'ation'al'viewpartially'insec tion of the hanger construction "associated v with the canopy and'embodyin'g features of this inverition;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevational view taken along the line l.2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken along the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view partially in section of another modification embodying features of my invention, and

Figure 5 is a, sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 of Figure 4,

As shown in the drawing, a hanger rod l0 having a screw threaded end portion l I is carried by a hickey l2 having one horizontally disposed upper end portion l3 which rests on the upper face of the ceiling and a bifurcated horizontally dis posed lower end portion M which is gripped between a pair of cooperating nuts l5 and i6 operative on the screw threaded end portion H. The hickey is adapted to carry the weight of the fixture and the hanger parts associated therewith.

An opening is usually made in the ceiling or other support for the entrance of the hickey. In the event that the suspended fixture is a lighting fixture, lead-in wires may be threaded through 2 Claims. (01. 24s -?'45) 2 ztlie'npening -andzpassed through the hanger-rod flmfor'connection with the lighting elements. To coiver up'the openin'gwand conceal the wires and zhickema up shaped canopy H is positionedat -thempper endpf the hanger rod with its-outer rim in substantial engagement with the underside of the ceiling or other support. 'The canopy -maybeofany desired shape and itmay be forme d -of'tmetal orinrolded*ofaplastics or other relatively rigid amaterial capable =of :retaining shape while 'a'tthe sameftimecgiv'ing an'attractive or decorative appearance.

""When in :its position of use, the canopy I! is meld'ion the h angerrod by a Eferrule or retainer g 2=0 forinediofirelatively rigid, resilientmate- "rialsuch as metal, :plasti'cs, hard rubber "and the like. The preferred materials are polystyrene, fpolyethylene, ipolytetrofiuoroethylene, polyvinylid ine' chloride, vinyl polymers and copolymers of acetate :andichloride "derivatives, rubber hydrochloride, h'ardene'd imaterial and synthetic "rubtiers and the like. -The'ferrule is formed-asp eat-same member having an inner -=diameter hieh' is slightly greater than the overall "diameter'of the lianger zrodl "The-sleeve is a splitsleeve qiav'ing aslotfl-fi through' one side wall. 'The'outer 1 22 1s taperedto rc'onform generally with the toiir of-" ansannul'arly flanged sleeve portion 23 struck 'wa dly I from the lower central portion of thenepymn'd anannularzrim 2'4 formed-all erun he tower endiportion :of the sleeve-"like fe rr iil'e, ifiinctions as a reinforcement and gripping element. The outer diameter at the upper end portion of the ferrule is calculated to be less than the diameter between walls at the lower end of the flanged portion 23 while the outer diameter at the base of the tapered portion is greater.

To effect the assembly of parts after the hickey has been connected to support the hanger rod, the canopy is placed in the desired position and then the ferrule is slid upwardly along the hanger rod and into the space between the hanger rod and the annularly flanged sleeve 23 of the canopy. As the tapered walls of the canopy and sleevelike ferrule engage each other with increasing force, the split sleeve portion is cammed inwardly. The slotted ortion permits the diameter of the ferrule to decrease until the ferrule firmly grips the hanger rod all around. Such frictional engagement between the ferrule and the hanger rod upon reaction between the tapered surfaces 01" the ferrule and the canopy is sufficient to position the canopy on the hanger rod in a manner to resist inadvertent displacement. This assembly is maintained until the ferrule is purposely 3 withdrawn by external force which may be applied to the lower rim.

Instead of first positioning the canopy and then sliding the ferrule into position, the ferrule with the canopy resting thereon may be slipped along the hanger rod until the canopy engages the underside of the ceiling whereupon additional force on the ferrule reacts in the manner described to establish the desired mounted relation. The rim 24, in addition to its function as a gripping means, serves also to prevent possible passage of the ferrule through the opening between the spaced canopy and hanger rod.

The ferrule separating the hanger rod from the canopy may be formed of electrical insulating material such as the rubberlike or plastics material described to insulate the canopy from the fixture parts when used in an electrical installation.

It will be apparent that the taper of the flanged sleeve 23 is calculated to provide for greater area of contact and that the desired reaction can be secured Without the taper and even without the sleeve. Without the sleeve, the reaction will be with the edge portion defining the opening in bottom wall 25, and the split cone shaped grommet 20.

In another modification shown in Figure 4, a split sleeve 26 in the shape of an inverted frustoconical section is struck to depend from the bottom wall 25 with the smallest diameter of the sleeve at the bottom being slightly greater than the overall diameter of the hanger rod Ill. The sleeve is cammed into gripping relation with the hanger rod upon reaction with a rigid grommet or retainer ring 21 having an internal diameter slightly greater than the smallest outer diameter of the sleeve but less than the diameter along the major portion of the sleeve. The internal walls of the grommet may be tapered to correspond with that of the sleeve to provide for a greater area of contact when in position of use. Instead of forming the sleeve 26 integral with the canopy, it may be formed of a separate part of materials described as being suitable for the rehanger rod. Upon removal of the grommet, the sleeve is able to return to its original dimension for easy sliding movement longitudinally on the hanger rod.

It will be understood that numerou changes in the details of construction arrangement and operation may be eifected without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a suspension device having a canopy with a smooth walled apron defining a central opening through which a hanger rod extends in closely spaced relation with the walls defining the opening, a retainer for establishing a connection between the canopy and the rod comprising a, ferrule of resilient material having the form of a unitary split sleeve with an internal diameter slightly greater than the overall diameter of the rod, a tapered outer wall dimensioned to range from a'diameter at one end which is less than that of the opening to a dimension which is greater than that of the opening, and an annularly arranged bead on the end of larger diameter whereby upon sliding movement of the ferrule into the space between the walls defining the opening and the rod, the diameter of the ferrule is decreased to establish a gripping relation with the rod while supporting the apron on the outer surface thereof.

2. A suspension device as claimed in claim 1 in which the opening in the canopy is defined by an annular wall tapered to correspond with that of the outer wall of the split sleeve to establish a greater area of contact.

- MELVIN CHARLES WIL'I.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 4,288 Buckman Mar. 7, 1871 349,361 Roots Sept. 21, 1886 703,680 Vaught July 1, 1902 827,346 Bubb July 31, 1906 885,017 Cassidy Apr. 21, 1908 1,042,948 Morisons Oct. 29, 1912 1,380,147 Hoar May 31, 1921 1,482,347 Conner Jan. 29, 1924 1,841,726 Glowacki Jan. 19, 1932 2,215,331 Marsh Sept. 17, 1940 2,228,282 Miller Jan. 14, 1941