US2734126A - kruger - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 7, 1956 M. H. KRUGER COMBINATION CEILING AND LIGHTING FIXTURE 5 Sheets-s 1 Filed March 6, 1953 69 INVENTOR 1 MICHQELHENRYKRUGER I"; ATTORNEY Feb. 7, 1956 M. H. KRUGER COMBINATION CEILING AND LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed March a, 195:5

5 Sheets-Sheet 2- TM N E N O VE T m T L A Feb. 7, 1956 M. H. KRUGER COMBINATION CEILING AND LIGHTING FIXTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 6, 1953 I [6 9 IOIA l7 l9 HHIHHHI INVENTOR MICHHEL HENRY KRUGER BY I 4 ATTORNEY Feb. 7, 1956- M. H. KRUGER 2,

COMBINATION CEILING AND LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed March 6, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ii H a A HO INVENTOR MICHQEL. HENRY KRUGER ATTORNEY Feb. 7, 1956 M. H. KRUGER COMBINATION CEILING AND LIGHTING FIXTURE 5 Sheet-Sheet 5 Filed March s, 1953 mm 6 U m m o TV. N .6 NR R N 0 W T a M L E .s I H h s Hm I 5 w 4 M 0 H6120 157 I54 I55 United States Patent ice COMBINATION CEILING AND LIGHTING FIXTURE Michael Henry Kruger, Chestnut Hill, Mass., assignor to A. L. Smith Iron Company, Chelsea, Mass, :1 corporation of Massachusetts Application March 6, 1953, Serial No. 340,689

20 Claims. (Cl. 240-9) This invention relates to a combination ceiling and lighting fixture in general and more particularly to a combination ceiling and lighting fixture adapted for use with elongated fluorescent lamps.

Among the objects of the present invention it is aimed to provide an improved combination ceiling and lighting fixture for use with elongated fluorescent lamps whichcan be assembled with a minimum of labor and expense to constitute a substantial saving in labor costs and time which contemplates the use of two series of supporting frames, supporting rods secured to the overhang and adjustably connected to one series of said frames constituting the anchor or support for the lamps and ballast, and supporting brackets adjustably connected to said first series of frames and to said second series of frames to support said second series of frames below said first series of frames, which said second series of frames constitutes the anchor or support for the light distributor or light reflector.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a combination ceiling and lighting fixture particularly adapted for use with elongated fluorescent lamps having two frames disposed above one another, the upper frame of which being provided to support the ballast and lamps of a fluorescent lighting system, and the lower frame of which being provided to support part of the ceiling, including light distributors and the like, the upper frame being connected to the overhang by depending supports that are readily rearranged, being adjustable vertically and connected to said upper frame for lateral adjustment, and the lower frame being connected to the upper frame by depending supports that are laterally adjustable relative to said upper frame as well as to said lower frame.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a combination ceiling and'lighting fixture particularly adapted for elongated fluorescent lamps, the assembly of which is reduced to a minimum by a construction which requires a minimum of screws or the like securing means and relies mainly upon slidable and yieldabie sheet metal connections.

The present application constitutes a continuation application in part of application Ser. No. 233,380 filed June 25, 1951, now abandoned.

These and other features, capabilities and advantages of the present invention will appear from the subjoined detailed description of specific embodiments thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. l is a fragmental perspective of the combination ceiling and lighting fixtures.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragrnental detail in perspective showing a light distributor immediately before being connected to one of the supporting frames.

2,734,126 Patented Feb. 7, 1356 Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmental perspectives showing two different embodiments of a connection of a support connected to the lower frame to support the panels adjacent the side walls of a room.

Fig. 7 is a fragmental perspective of still another embodiment of a connection of a support connected to the lower frame to support the panels adjacent the side walls of a room and also to show the use of the lower frame when inverted as distinguished from Fig. 4 to support light distributors in the form of glass sheets as distinguished from light distributors in the form of egg crate louvers as shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a fragmental section on the line 88 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a fragmental plan view showing the relation of two units of the second frame adjacent to one another in assembled position.

Figs. 10 to 15, inclusive, show details of other embodiments in which:

Fig. 10 shows a fragmental detail partly in section of one of the upper depending supports, upper frame, lower depending supports and lower frame.

Fig. 11 is a fragmental detail partly in section of one of the upper depending supports, upper frame and part of one of the lower depending supports.

Fig. 12 is a perspective of one embodiment of a connector for connecting two lower frames at right angles to one another, showing the frames partly in section and partly in dash and dot lines. i

Fig. 13 is a fragmental perspective of another embodiment of a connector for connecting two lower frames at right angles to one another showing a part of one of the lower frames.

Fig. 14 is a fragmental detail partly in section showing the connection between an egg crate louver and a lower frame.

Fig. 15 is a fragmental detail of a coupling for coupling two successive lower frames to one another.

In essence, the combination ceiling and lighting fixture consists of an upper frame 1, a lower frame 2, depending supports 3 for connecting or anchoring the upper frame to the overhang or concrete flooring between ver'tically successive fioor areas, and depending supports 4 for connecting the upper frame 1 to the lower frame 2, according to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

The lower frame 2 and the depending supports 4 can be entirely assembled without the use of any screws or bolts, relying mainly upon yieldable sheet metal connections, and the depending supports 3 only require one threaded connection and then not only for connecting the supports 3 to the upper frame 1, but also for vertical adjustment of the same, thus leaving only the upper frame 1 which requires screws and bolts to connect the ballast 5, Fig. 2, to the frame 1, to connect successive frame units of the frame 1 to one another by couplings 6, Fig. 3, and to connect end caps 7 to the frame units of the frame 1.

The depending supports 3 each consist mainly of a rod 8 having a head 9, the diameter of which is greater than the width of the narrow portion 10 of the slot-11 in the plate 12, but less than the diameter and size of the opening portion 13 of the slot 11 so that the head 9 can be inserted into the slot 11 through the portion 13 against the tension of the spring 14 and then be moved over into the narrow portion 10, the width of which is large enough to clear the neck portion 15 of the rod 8 when the spring 14 will resume its normal position and obstruct the removal of the head 9, and therewith anchor the rod 8 in position. The plates 12 generally are provided with two slots 11 to receive two rods 8, each of which plates 12 is freely slidable in the channeled bracket 16. The bracket 16 in the present instance consists of a plate portion 17 having longitudinally extending lips 18 slidably to receive the downwardly extending flanges of the plate 12. These brackets 16 may be anchored to the overhang or concrete of the flooring separating vertically successive room areas. In Figs. 2 and 3 anchoring wires 19 are shown extending through the end portions 29 of the brackets 16 which are in turn imbedded in the concrete 21. The end portions 2%? are separated from the lips 13 by the downwardly extending partitions 116 forming limiting stops for the slide plate 112 and also to obstruct the entry of concrete to the lips 18 and chamber formed between the partitions 116 and the bracket 17. The lower ends of the rods 8 are threaded to receive the wing nuts 22 and the nuts 23.

Intermediate the frame 1 and the rods 8, there are provided the brackets 24 which consist essentially of a strip of sheet metal bent to form an upper flange 25 extending at right angles laterally from the intermediate web 26, and a lower flange 27 extending at right angles laterally from the web 26 in the opposite direction to that of the flange 25 with a pocket formed intermediate the flange 2'7 and the web 26 by the portion 23 bent back upon the web 26 but spaced therefrom with the flange 27 extending from the upper end of the portion 28. Each of the brackets 24 preferably has an opening 29 formed in the Web 26 with a spring strip 36 formed on the web 26 and extending downward adjacent the opening 29 so that the opening 29 may form a clearance when the spring 30 is deflected inwardly to enable the main frame 1 to be positioned on or connected to the bracket 24. The flange 25 is provided with an opening to permit the rod 8 to pass therethrough, with the wing nut 22 disposed above the flange 25 and the hex nut 23 disposed below the flange 25. The wing nut 22 when so positioned enables the mechanic quickly to change its position on the rod 8 in an upward direction in the course of an adjustment after which the flange 25 may be raised and the hex nut 23 with facility turned to the position desired before again receiving and supporting the flange 25.

The frame 1 consists essentially of lengths of sheet metal in cross section having an inverted T-shaped intermediate portion 31 at the lower end thereof from which there extend two opposite wings 32 and 33, each including an upwardly extending portion 34 with an outwardly extending portion 35 between the T-shaped portion 31 and the portion 34 and an uppermost outwardly extending portion 36 having a depending lip 37 as shown in cross section in Fig. 2. The pockets formed by the portions 28 as shown in Fig. 2, receive the lips 37 of the frame 1 and the springs 30, while yielding when the lips 37 are inserted into position, are positioned in the path of movement of the portions 36 to obstruct the accidental removal of the frame 1 from the brackets 24.

In order to cover the space between the wings 32 and 33 and thereby increase the rigidity of the frame 1, the cover plate 38 may be positioned on the upper faces of the flanges 36 and secured in position by the screws 39, Fig. 2. In turn the ballast 5, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, may have its flange 40 secured to the flanges 36 by the nuts 41.

The frame 1 supports the elongated fluorescent lamps 42 and the spacing bars 43. The upright portions 34 have secured on the outside thereof a plurality of lamp sockets such as the sockets 44, Fig. 3, to receive the lamps 42 and a plurality of openings 45 having the enlarged circular portion 46 and the narrow downwardly extending portion 4-7 to receive the ends of the spacing bars 43 which in the present instance are tubular and have notches 48 cut adjacent the ends thereof, the portions 46 in diameter being great enough to clear the bars 43 when introduced into the same, and the notches 43 being positioned and sized to receive the edges of the diminished portions 47 of the openings 45 so that the bars 43 may be anchored in the webs 34. Preferably also as shown in Fig. 3, a wing 49 may be pivotally connected to each 4 web 34 above the notched portion 46 of an opening 45 so that after a bar 43 has been introduced into cooperation of its notch 48 with the narrow portion 47 of a slot 46, the wing 49 may be turned to overlap the enlarged portion 47 and thus lock such nut of the bar 43 in position.

Although the depending supports 3 are arranged in rows as shown in Fig. l, to register with a length of the frame 1, the distance which they are spaced from one another may vary, depending upon the specifications of the architect. conventionally, however, the successive sets of supports 3 in a row are spaced from one another about four feet. In turn, while the distance which the lengths of the frame 1 are spaced from one another may vary, conventionally they are spaced, depending upon the lengths of the lamps, about four, six and eight feet from one another. Still furthermore, while the number of lamps 42 and spacing bars 43 for two adjacent lengths of the frame 1 may vary, conventionally the lamps 42 are spaced about twelve, eighteen, twenty-four and thirtysix inches from one another, and the spacing bars as shown in Fig. l are spaced about six, eight, ten and twelve feet from one another.

In order to couple two lengths or units of the frame 1 to one another, see Fig. 3, there is provided a plate 6 which overlaps two successively adjacent web portions 34 through which openings are formed in registration with threaded openings formed in the plate 6 to receive the screws 54). In turn to form an end cap for an end of the length of the frame 1, the U-shaped sheet metal cap 7 is provided having the flanges 51 to engage the outer faces of the webs 34 with openings in the flanges 51 registering with threaded openings in the webs 34 to receive the screws 52.

The supporting straps 4 in the present instance consist essentially of flat sheet metal strips having an inverted T-shaped recess 53, Fig. 2, slidable to receive the T-shaped extension 31 of the frame 1. As shown in Fig. 3, the upper end portions 5 55 to either side of the recess 53 extend in opposite directions to fit into the detents below the webs 35. At the lower end of each strap 4 it is provided with L- shaped wings 56, 57 extending in opposite directions, being stamped and pressed out of the plane of the main body portion 58 of the support and connected to one another by the transversely extending end strip 59 lying in the same plane as the body portion 58. The conformation of the wings 56, 57 is predetermined to cooperate with the sections of the frame 2, irrespective of the horizontally extending end that is uppermost.

The frame 2 consists essentially of sheet metal frame units 60 that correspond in length to the distance from one support 4 to another. The units 65 are unique in several respects. As an instance, although the two sides of each unit are substantially identical in conformation, the ends thereof differ, so that in one assembled arrangement one end is uppermost and for another assembled arrangement the other end is uppermost. in turn, they lend themselves to be connected with one another without an extraneous connecting means either to connect them in successive alinement with one another or at right angles to one another. In the position of the unit 60 in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, the intermediate portion 61 in cross section is at the top. From this intermediate portion 61, the sheet extends upwardly in both directions to form the flanges 62, raised, but parallel to the plane of the intermediate portion 61, then folds back upon itself to form the portions 63, then extends downwardly to form the elongated upper side webs 6 which are spaced from one another as shown in Fig. 3, then the sheet extends inwardly to form the short trough portions 65 parallel to, but inwardly spaced from, the outer faces of the webs 64, then the sheet again extends outwardly to form the elon gated lower side webs 66 parallel to and in alinement with the upper side webs 64, and flnally the sheet terminates in the inclined inwardly and upwardly extending flanges or lips 67. The shoulders 63 between the webs 64 and the troughs 65 are similarly inclined inwardly and upwardly, while the shoulder 69 between the troughs 65 and the webs 66 are inclined inwardly and downwardly as shown in Fig. 3.

At the ends of some of the units 60, Fig. 2, one of the sheets is cut away so that for a distance of approximately one inch only one side of the sheet 60 is intact, to wit, one-half of the intermediate portion 61, only one flange 62, one portion 63, one web 64, one trough portion 65, one side web 66, one flange 67, one shoulder 68 and one shoulder 69. As a result of the foregoing, two units with similarly deformed or cut-away ends will fit into one another to complement one another. In order to anchor two units'so cut away in successive alinement with one another, see Fig. 2, it is only necessary to cut out two tongues 70 and 71 from the trough portion 65 and deflect them inwardly to clear the inner faces of the shoulders 68 and 69, respectively, of the complementing unit 60. Preferably the tongues 70 and 71 are deflected into position for close engagement with the shoulders 68 and 69 and due to their sheet metal consistency, while yieldable, will offer adequate resistance against accidental removal of the complementing units 60 from one another.

In order to anchor two units 60 at right angles to one another, the end of a first or frame unit 60 to extend perpendicular to and abut against the side of the other unit 60 constituting the second unit or crosspiece will not be cut away as aforesaid, but merely have a part of its intermediate portion 61, flanges 62, 62, and portions 63, 63 cut away about one-half an inch to correspond substantially to the width of the flange 62 so that the portion 63 and flange 62 of the opposing unit will fit into the space so cut away. In order to connect such abutting unit 60 to the other, preferably bayonet extensions or wings 72 are formed at the ends of the trough portions 65 to extend beyond the lateral edges of the webs 64 and 66, which bayonet wings 72 will conform snugly to the trough or bayonet slot formed by the abutting portion 65 and shoulders 68 and 69.

The units 60 so far described may of course be connected to one another in successive adjacent alinement or at right angles to one another, whether positioned as shown in Fig. 2, or inverted as shown in Fig. 7, since wings 56 and 57 of the supports 4 will of course fit between the side webs 66 just as well as between the side webs 64, except that the supporting thrust will then be borne by the lips 67 instead of by the intermediate web 61.

When the units 60 are positioned as shown in Fig. 3, the light distributors such as the sheets composed of glass or the like translucent material will rest on the upper faces of the flanges 62. When the wings 60 are inverted, however, as shown in Fig. 7, the light distributors, such as sheets of glass or the like translucent material, will rest on the then upper faces of the portions 63, see Fig. 7.

When, however, it is desired to use as a light distributor, an egg crate louver, such as the louver 73 illustrated in Fig. 4, then the units 60 are positioned as shown in Fig. 4, with the flanges 62 uppermost. Thereupon a bracket, such as the bracket 74, may be positioned to straddle two adjacent units 60 where they are connected to a support 4. This bracket 74 has an upper sheet portion 75 cut away to clear the supports 4, and has two pairs of downwardly extending hook members 76, 76 and 77, 77, depending downwardly from the outer edges of the flanges 62. When the louvers 73 are provided with pivotally connected loops 78, it is only necessary to position these loops 78 inside of the lips 79 of the hook members 76, 77.

The units 60 when positioned as shown in Fig. 3 are adapted to be connected to any one of the conventional end panel constructions which are positioned between the lighting fixture and the side walls of a room. As an instance, when an L-shaped bracket 80 is secured to the wall 81, it is only necessary to connect an L-shaped bracket 82 having a bead 83 to snap beyond the edges 6 of the flanges or lips 67, with the upper face of the flange 84 in alinement with the upper face of the flange 85 of the bracket 80, when the panels, such as the panels 86, may with facility be placed upon these flanges 84 and 85 as shown in Fig. 5.

On the other hand, when the side wall 186, see Fig. 6, has connected thereto the L-shaped bracket 87, a U shaped panel forming device 88 may be provided having a bead 89 formed on its upwardly extending limb 90 to snap between the lips 67 of the unit 60 with the bottom of the device 88 resting on the flange 91 of the bracket 77. When the unit 60 is inverted as shown in Fig. 7, there similarly, is no problem for supporting the end panels. According to one arrangement, again an L-shaped bracket 92 is secured to the side wall 93 of the room with the upper face of the flange 94 in alinement with the upper face of the flange 95 of the bracket 96 connected to the unit 60. In this instance the bracket 96 is provided with a hook member 97 extending in the same direction as the flange 95 to receive one of the flanges 62.

Since with constructions as illustrated in Fig. 7 flanges .95 will leave a rectangular space at thecorner, in the interest of appearance, a plate, such as the plate 98 having a finished rectangular portion 99 disposed between two flanges 100 and 101, may be provided, in which case the flanges 100 and 101 may be positioned between the overlapping webs of the flanges 95 at the corner.

Although the brackets 74 ordinarily will be firmly positioned on the flanges 67 when straddling the same as shown in Fig. 4, when it is desired the depressed lips 102 in the hook members 76, 77 may be provided with their free edges positioned to abut against the outer edges of the portions 63 in order positively to anchor the brackets 74 on the flanges 62.

Preferably when the units 60 are disposed at right angles to one another, not only will a bayonet projection 72 cooperate with the recess formed by the abutting portion 65 and shoulders 68 and 69, but the deflected portion 103 will set into the depressed lip 104 of the intermediate portion 61, see Fig. 3.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 10 distinguishes from the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 primarily in the details now to be described. As an instance, a single rod 105 replaces the two rods 8, which rod 105 has a head 106 disposed on the plate 107 slidably mounted on the flanges 108 of the bracket 109 and secured to the overhang or concrete flooring 110 supporting vertically successive room areas, with the rod 105 extending through the plate 107 and extending downwardly therefrom and terminating in the threaded portion 111 which has a nut 112 threaded thereon and disposed above the intermediate portion 113 of the bracket 114 with a wing nut 115 disposed below the intermediate portion 113 to cooperate with the nut 112 to anchor the bracket 114 at the predetermined height desired.

The bracket 114 of the upper frame 116 has two downwardly extending, outwardly flaring leg portions 117 continuing in the vertically and downwardly extending portions 118 provided with the upwardly extending, inwardly flaring flanges 119 flaring inwardly toward one another. The flanges 119 of a plurality of brackets 114 constitute supports for a length 120 of sheet metal, in the present instance having a plane upper plate portion 121 with downwardly extending leg portions 122 and upwardly extending flanges 123 flaring inwardly toward one another which rest, see Fig. 10, on the flanges 119 of the brackets 114.

The sheet metal length 120 has a succession of openings 124 formed therein to receive the V-shaped units 125 having a horizontally extending web portion 126 which may be spot welded at 127 to the portion 121 and having a vertically extending web portion 128 having a stud 129 extending therethrough and two staggered tabs or lips 130 and 131 to either side of said stud 129' with the head 132 of the stud 129 on the other side of the web portion 128.

The stud 129 of each unit is provided to enter the opening 133 in the depending bar 134, which bar has a row of openings 135, 135, below the opening 133 to receive the bolt 136 having the nut 137 threaded on the threaded end thereof, Fig. 10, which bolt 136 extends through the openings in parallel flanges 138, 139 of the horizontally extend ing sheet metal lengths 14-69, 141, respectively. These lengths 140, 141, in the present instance each have outwardly flaring flanges 142, 143, respectively, extending downwardly from the horizontally extending portions 144, 145, respectively, in turn extending outwardly from the vertically extending portions 146, 147, respectively, which extend downwardly to the horizontally extending portions 148, 149, respectively, which in turn extend inwardly to the vertically extending portions 150, 151, respectively, extending downwardly to the horizontally extending portions 152', 153, respectively, extending inwardly to the upper ends of the flanges 133, 139, respectively.

In the present instance, see Fig. 11, the leg portions 122 of the lengths 120 will have included openings 154 formed therein with an enlarged portion 155 to serve as the entrance for the end of a spacer bar 156, which openings have a narrow portion 157 to receive the neck or indented portion of a spacer bar 156, the enlarged portion 155 being at a higher level as shown in Fig. 11 to take advantage of gravity and allow the indented portion of the spacer bar 156 to drop down into the narrow portion 157 of the opening 154. In turn the vertical portions 151 are provided with fluorescent lamp socket brackets 153 to receive the ends of elongated fluorescent lamp tubes 159. When the bolts 136 are not in place the lengths 140 and 141 in their downward extent will flare outwardly from one another due to the force of gravity and afford free access between them to the web 126 to enable positioning the depending bars 134. To mount a bar 134 on a stud 129 the bar will be tilted relative to the vertical and to the web 126 so that the edges thereof will clear the tabs and 131 and after a bar 134 while so tilted has been mounted upon a stud 129 it will be released to extend down between the tabs 130 and 131. Thereupon the two complemental lengths and 141 will be swung toward one another to enable the openings in their flanges 133 and 139 to register with one of the openings 135 in the depending bar 134 and then the bolt 136 is passed through the same and secured in place by the nut 137.

The lower ends of the depending bar 134 are provided with outwardly extending lips 16%, 161, formed by incisions in the bar 134 and then deflected laterally into opposite directions from one another. These lips 160 and 161 are slightly yieldable and may be forced between the jaws 162 and 163 of the lower frame 164.

The lower frame 1.64 consists of sheet metal lengths each bent in the manner now to be described from a single sheet of metal. Looking at Figs. 10 and 14, the lengths 164 shown in cross section consist of two upwardly flaring, inwardly extending flanges 165 formed at the ends of the elongated vertically extending portions 166 separated from the short vertically extending portions 167 by the outwardly extending shoulders 168. At the outer ends of the portions 167 there are provided the downwardly flaring, inwardly extending flanges 169 spaced from one another at their ends and then folded upon their inner faces to form the flanges 170 from which extend the vertically extending portions 171 engaging the inner faces of the portions 167 and connected by the intermediate web portion 172. The free edges of the flanges 165 are spaced from one another a short distance as shown. The jaws 162 and 163 are yieldable to cooperate with lips, such as the lips 160 and 161 of the depending bars 134 to enable the lips 160 and 161 to be forced between the jaws 162 and 163, the space between the free edges of the same corresponding to the thickness of the bars 134 to just clear the same but obstruct the upward passage of the lips 160 and 161 thereby to anchor the former lengths 164 to the lower ends of the bars 134.

The jaws 162 and 163 serve other purposes. As an instance, they also serve to secure a corner connecting bracket, such as the bracket 173 shown in Fig. 13. The corner brackets 1'73 consist essentially of a sheet bent into two wings 174 and 175 forming a dihedral angle with one another. At the angle between the wings 174 and 175 a portion is cut away, the length of each of which longitudinally of the wings 174 and 175 corresponding to the width of one of the jaws 162 and 163 so that the lower portion 176 of one of the wings, such as the wing 175, may be disposed between the jaws 162 and 163 and the lower portion 177 of the other wing 174 clear the jaw 163. Each of the lower portions 176 and 177 as shown is also provided with outwardly extending lips 173 cut out of the portions 176 and 177 and deflected outwardly slightly. These lips 178 similarly are yieldable to pass between the jaws 162 and 163 when the portion 176 or 177 is pressed down between the same, the distance between the jaws 162 and 163 again corresponding to the thickness of the sheet composing the bracket 173, but obstructing the lips 178 so that when once inserted into position as shown in Fig. 13, the bracket 173 will be anchored against accidental removal.

In Fig. 14 the jaws 162 and 163 are shown in a similar manner anchoring wire loops, such as the wire loop 179, used in place of the wire loop 73 for supporting an egg crate louver. In this instance, the wire loop 179 in rectangular form has its lower transversely extending limb 180 disposed in the recess 181 formed in one of the plates 182 of the egg crate louver, and the upper transversely extending limb 183 connected to a bracket 184 having its inclined lips 135, such as the lips 16d and 161, flaring outwardly therefrom for insertion between the jaws 162 and 163, and in anchoring position abutting against the lower free edges of the jaws 162 and 163 as shown. In some instances as shown the bracket 184 may have a second arm 187 similar to the arm 188 to be connected to a second wire loop 189 similar to the loop 179.

In Fig. 12 the jaws formed by the flanges 165 act in a similar manner to cooperate with the lips 196 formed in the upwardly extending plate portion 191 of the corner bracket 192. In this case the plate portion 191 extends upwardly from the inwardly inclining, upwardly extending plate portion 193 extending from the vertically extending main plate portion 194, the angle between the plate portions 193 and 194 being such that when the lips abut against the upper edges of the flanges 165, the plate portion 194 will be held snugly against the portion 166 of the length 164. in such position, the two outwardly extending plate portions 195 parallel to one another and disposed at right angles to the plate portion 194 will be in position to support a second sheet metal length 196 extending at right angles to the length 164. For this purpose the upper edges of the plate portions 195 will have projections 1.97 formed thereon to fit into openings formed in the intermediate web 198 of the second length 196.

In Fig. 10, on the other hand, the flanges 165 are shown as supporting end plates or light distributing plates, such as sheets of glass or the like, in the present instance indicated as a horizontally extending plane plate 199 connected to the bracket 2'69 having the upwardly extending arm 201 with the outwardly extending head or ridge 202 which, relying upon its own flexibility and the flexibility of the flanges 165, may be squeezed into the position shown in Fig. 10, but which head when abutting against the upper free edges of the flanges 165 will be rigid enough to support one side of a plate 199 as shown.

In order to couple two lengths 164 in alinement with one another, a coupling, such as the U-shaped coupling 203, Fig. 15, is provided, the free ends of the vertical legs 204 of which rest in the troughs formed between the flanges 165 of the vertical plate portions 166. To anchor the couplings 203 in coupling position, the same may be connected to the plate portions 166' of alined lengths 164 by nuts and screws, such as screw 205 and nut 206.

From the foregoing it will thus appear that by means of a frame, such as the frame 1, equipped with elongated tubular lamps, it can be assembled in the field to accommodate itself to the size of the ceiling to be formed and with the intensity or lighting effect to be produced or to the space or size of the predetermined illuminated area to be produced; that by means of the hangers 3 the distance of the frame 1 from the building structure may be determined at will in the field; that by means of a frame containing light distributors or light diffusers, such as the frame 2, corresponding in shape and size to the frame 1 they may with facility be assembled in the field; that by means of the hangers 4 they may in turn be assembled in the field to secure the frame 2 to the frame 1;

and finally that the hangers 3, frame 1, lamps 42, 43,

hangers 4, frame 2 and light distributors composed of glass, egg crate louvers and the like, may be manufactured in advance and shipped to the field so that they may be assembled and installed as a light fixture per se, whereby the jurisdictional conflict between the different groups of workers of the building trades may be eliminated and in turn the architect as well as the workmen be enabled to conform the illuminated area not only to satisfy a predetermined quantity of illumination, and also to create a predetermined decorative concept, but also to reconstruct the same to satisfy seasonal changes in decorative concept, styles and the like.

By means of this disclosure, as an instance, the lamps 42, 43, may be spaced from one another within the frame 1 a predetermined distance dependent on the quantity of illumination desired; the frame 2 may contain the predetermined type of light distributors and diffusers dependent on the quality of illumination desired; the size and shape of the frame 1 and the corresponding shape of frame 2 may be predetermined dependent on the aesthetic demands or size limitations of the surrounding structure, and nevertheless, by means of the hangers 3 and the hangers 4, the frames 1 and 2 may with facility be assembled as a single complete lighting fixture. Furthermore, the frame 2 is spaced from frame 1 a distance governed by the predetermined length of the hangers 3, which distance is approximately two-thirds of the distance between the lamps conventionally accepted as a rule for the highest lighting efficiency with satisfactory diffusion.

Furthermore, the space provided by the hangers 3' between the building ceiling and the frame 1 can be adjusted to accommodate the ventilating system, heating system, sprinkler system, plumbing, cash tubes in department stores and the like, in which case all of them are readily accessible by this lighting fixture construction, and the unsightliness of the same completely concealed from view by the same without requiring that they be concealed within the building construction.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made to the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination of a pair of parallel horizontally extending chambered first frames disposed in one horizontal plane, independent depending means connecting each of said first frames to, but spacedfrom, the unfinished ceiling of a building construction to accommodate the required building equipment, a plurality of lamp sockets in excess of two in each of said first frames, the number of lamp sockets in each frame being equal to the number of lamp sockets in the other frame, each lamp socket of one frame being in alinement with a lamp socket of the other frame of said pair, wiring in said first frames connected to said lamp sockets, horizontally extending elongated fluorescent lamps connected in alined sockets of said first frames to extend at right angles from one of said frames to the other, rods at the ends of said first frames to anchor each of said first frames to the other in spaced'relation to one another to correspond to the lengths of said lamps, depending supports connected to said first frames and extending downwardly from said first frames, horizontally extending light distributors, and horizontally extending rectangular second frames in a second horizontal plane supporting said light distributors and connected to the lower ends of said depending supports spaced from, and positioned below, said lamps the distance required to obtain the lighting effect desired.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said second frames consist of sheet metal.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said depending supports and said second frames consist of sheet metal.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said depending supports and said second frames are readily assembled and rearranged, the supports having outwardly extending lips, and said second frames having horizontally extending channels to receive said lips slidably to anchor said supports to said second frames.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said first frames are readily assembled and rearranged, consisting of sheet metal units bent to form T-shaped ends at their lower ends, there being T-shaped openings in said depending supports receiving said T-shaped ends and slidable on said T-shaped ends.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said first frames are readily assembled and rearranged, consisting of sheet metal units bent to form T-shaped ends at their lower ends, there being T-shaped openings in said depending supports receiving said T-shaped ends and slidable on said T-shaped ends, flanges extending outwardly from the upper end of said sheet metal units, ballasts supported on said flanges, and cover plates secured to said flanges.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said depending supports are readily assembled and rearranged having outwardly extending lips, said second frames having two parallel horizontally extending chan nels either of which receives said lips slidably to anchor said depending supports to said second frames, depending upon which ends of said second frames are uppermost, flanges at one of the ends of said second frames, and light deflectors supported on said latter flanges.

8. The combination as set forth in. claim 1 in which said depending supports are readily assembled and rearranged having outwardly extending lips, said second frames having two parallel horizontally extending channels either of which receives said lips slidably to anchor said supports to said second frames, flanges extending from one of the ends of said second frames, brackets mounted on said flanges when said flanges are at the upper ends of said second frames, said latter brackets having hooks, and egg crate louvers having loops received by said hooks to support said egg crate louvers.

9. The combination of first depending supports connected to the unfinished ceiling of a building construction, a pair of wire carrying first horizontally extending frames, spaced from one another, parallel to one another and disposed in one: horizontal plane, a plurality of lamp sockets in each. of said first frames, equal in number to one another, each lamp socket of one of said first frames being inv alinement with a lamp socket in the other of said first frames, means connecting said first frames to said first depending supports spaced from the ceiling and adjusting theposition vertically of said first frames relative to said first depending supports to provide the space de sired to accommodate the required building equipment, horizontally extending elongated fluorescent lamps mounted in alined sockets in, and extending at right angles to, said first frames, second depending supports connected to slide horizontally on said first frames and extending downwardly therefrom, second frames in a second horizontal plane connected to said second depending supports, disposed below, and spaced from, said lamps, horizontally extending light deflectors, and supporting means on said second frames for supporting said light deflectors, said light deflectors being spaced from said lamps the distance required to produce the lighting effect desired.

10. The combination as set forth in claim 9 characterized by brackets in the ceiling of the construction and plates secured to said first depending supports slidably mounted in said brackets and said second depending supports consist of sheet metal.

11. The combination as set forth in claim 9 in which said second frames have longitudinally extending bayonet slots along their sides and bayonet wings at the ends of said slots to enable the bayonet wings of one of said second frames slidably to fit into the bayonet slots of another second frame extending perpendicuiarly thereto.

12. The combination of first depending supports, parallel horizontally extending wire carrying first frames connected to said first supports, means for readily adjusting and rearranging the position vertically of said first frames relative to said first depending supports, elongated fluorescent lamps extending at right angles to, and connected at their ends to, said first frames, second depending supports, means slidably connecting said second depending supports to said first frames, horizontally extending second frames connected to said second depending supports, supporting means on said second frames for supporting light deflectors, channeled brackets, anchoring wires extending through said brackets and embedded in part in the concrete building structure, a plate slidably mounted in each bracket, said first depending supports connected to said plates, and partitions in said brackets and spaced from the ends thereof to isolate the free end portions through which said wires extend, to obstruct the admission of concrete to the space where said plates are slidable, and to form limiting stops for said slidable plates.

13. The combination of a pair of horizontally extending wire carrying frames, at most four independent depending means for connecting said wire carrying frames to, but spaced from, the unfinished ceiling of a building construction to provide the space desired above said wire carrying frames for the required building equipment, horizontally extending elongated fluorescent lamps mounted to extend at right angles from one of said wire carrying frames to the other, depending supports connected to said wire carrying frames, light distributors, a horizontally extending rectangular frame unit supporting said light distributors connected to the lower ends of said depending supports and positioned below, and spaced from, said wire carrying frames, and cross pieces dividing said frame unit into smaller units, said light distributors being spaced from said elongated lamps the distance required to obtain the lighting effect desired.

14. The combination of a pair of horizontally extending wire carrying first frames in one horizontal plane, substantially four independent depending means connecting each of said first frames to the unfinished ceiling of a building construction, horizontally extending elongated fluorescent lamps mounted to extend at right angles from one of said first frames to the other, rods extending at right angles to said first frames and anchoring said first frames to one another, depending supports connected to said first frames and extending downwardly therefrom, horizontally extending second frames in a plane connected to the lower ends of said depending supports spaced from, and positioned below, said horizontally extending lamps, light distributors, and supporting means connecting said light distributors to said second frames the distance required below said lamps to produce the lighting effect desired.

15. The combination as set forth in claim 14 in which said second frames consist of first units having longitudinally extending bayonet slots, and second units having bayonet formed extensions at their ends fitting in the bayonet slots of said first units to connect said first units to said second units at right angles to one another.

16. The combination as set forth in claim 14 characterized by connecting brackets including two plates integral with one another and bent at right angles to one another having lips formed thereon and extending therefrom, said second frames having first units and second units having jaws flaring downwardly toward one another to receive said lips and anchor said first and second units at right angles to one another.

17. The combination as set forth in claim 14 characterized by brackets having lips and projections, said second frames having first and second units, said first units having jaws flaring upwardly toward one another, the lips of said brackets cooperating with the jaws of said first units, and said second units having intermediate webs with openings therein to receive said projections to connect said second units at right angles to said first units.

18. The combination of a pair of first wire carrying frames in one horizontal plane, channeled brackets secured to the unfinished ceiling of a building construction, plates slidably mounted in said brackets, first depending supports connected to said plates and by them being slidable relative to the building construction, said first depending supports consisting of rods having threads at the lower ends thereof, there being openings in said first frames to receive the threaded ends of said rods, nuts connected to the threads of said rods on opposite faces of said frames to anchor said first frames at predetermined altitudes and distances from the unfinished ceiling of the building construction to provide the space desired to accommodate the required building equipment, horizontally extending elongated fluorescent lamps extending at right angles to, and connected to, said first frames to extend from one of said first frames to the other, second depending supports connected to said first frames and extending downwardly therefrom, light distributors, and horizontally extending second frames supporting said light distributors connected to said second depending supports and positioned below, and spaced from, said first frames the distance required to obtain the lighting effect desired.

19. The combination as set forth in claim 18 characterized by said second depending supports having outwardly extending lips at the lower ends thereof, and said second frames having downwardly inclined opposing jaws to receive said lips slidably to anchor said supports to said second frames.

20. The combination as set forth in claim 18 characterized by said second frames having inclined jaws at their upper ends flaring downwardly toward one another and inclined jaws at their lower ends flaring upwardly toward one another, lips on said second depending supports cooperating with the inclined jaws at the upper ends of said second frames to secure said second frames to said second depending supports, said second frames having supporting means having projections to cooperate with the jaws at the lower ends of said second frames to secure said latter supporting means in place.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,844,639 Crumpton Feb. 9, i932 2,511,764 Baxter June 13, 1950 2,659,807 Wakefield Nov. 17, 1953 2,659,808 Beckwith Nov. 17, 1953 2,680,502 Kurtzon June 8, 1954 2,680,805 Macdonald June 8, 1954

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