US3664615A - Ceiling fixture support - Google Patents

Abstract

CEILING FIXTURES ARE SHOWN SECURED IN OPENINGS BY SLIDEABLE ARMS WHICH MOVE TO PROJECT OVER CEILING MEMBERS AND ROTATE AND ARE LOCKED DOWN THEREAGAINST. A PLURALITY OF SUCH ARMS ARE SHOWN TO DRAW A FLANGE OF THE FIXTURE UPWARDLY TO ALIGN WITH OR PRESS AGAINST THE CEILING AS THE ARMS PRESS DOWN ON THE CEILING MEMBER. THE SLIDEABLE MOVEMENT IS SHOWN ACHIEVED BY MATCHIN PIN AND ELONGATED SLOT, WITH THE ARM ROTATING ABOUT THE PIN IN THE PROJECTED POSITION. GUIDANCE OF THE ARM IS ACHIEVED BY A MEMBER WHICH FOLLOWS A GUIDE THAT CURVES DOWNWARDLY IN THE REGION CORRESPONDING TO THE PROJECTED POSITION OF THE ARM. A PROJECTION IS SHOWN SERVING AS A HANDLE AND DEFINES THE LOCKING SURFACE ENGAGEABLE BY THE LOCKING MEMBER, WHILE THE LOCKING MEMBER IS SHOWN AS A CAM. ALL PARTS CAN BE SIMPLY FORMED AOUT OF SHEET METAL AND OCCUPY LITTLE SPACE IN THE RETRACTED POSITION.

Description

May 23, 1972 KRUGER 3,664,615

CEILING FIXTURE SUPPORT Filed Aug. 21, 1969 2 Sheets-Sneet May 23, 1972 M. H. KRUGER 3,664,615

CEILING FIXTURE SUPPORT 2 Sheets-5heet 2 Filed Aug. 21, ;1969

AJ 28 F J 34 3O P\ F v United States Patent 3,664,615 CEILING FIXTURE SUPPORT Michael H. Kruger, Chestnut Hill, Mass., assignor to Smithcraft Corporation, Wilmington, Mass. Filed Aug. 21, 1969, Ser. No. 851,950 Int. Cl. Hk 5/00 US. Cl. 248-27 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Ceiling fixtures are shown secured in openings by slideable arms which move to project over ceiling members and rotate and are locked down thereagainst. A plurality of such arms are shown to draw a flange of the fixture upwardly to align with or press against the ceiling as the arms press down on the ceiling member. The slideable movement is shown achieved by matching pin and elongated slot, with the arm rotating about the pin in the projected position. Guidance of the arm is achieved by a member which follows a guide that curves downwardly in the region corresponding to the projected position of the arm. A projection is shown serving as a handle and defines the locking surface engageable by the locking member, while the locking member is shown as a cam. All parts can be simply formed out of sheet metal and occupy little space in the retracted position.

The object of the invention is to provide fixtures, especially lighting fixtures, having improved means of locking the fixtures to the hidden members of the ceiling after the installer has raised the fixture into the ceiling open- The problem of providing an efficient locking system is not as simple as it might appear, because of the number of considerations which bear and their to-a-degree conflicting nature. Among these are the locking system which should not add significantly to the cost of the fixture; it should be reliable so as to provide sure support throughout the life of the mixture; it should be operable by an installer standing below who has no access to the region above the ceiling; it should occupy little space; and it should be operable by persons having little skill.

According to one aspect of the invention it was realized that improved fixture locking is achieved by an arm slideably constrained by the fixture or by an attachment thereto, slideable from an inner position to a projected position, in the latter the arm overlying the ceiling member that bounds the open space. The arm is pivotal in its projected position so that the outer portion of the arm may rotate downwardly toward the ceiling member. A locking member then locks the arm and thus the fixture to the ceiling.

The invention features a plurality of the slideable arms arranged to draw a flange of the fixture to a level even with or against the ceiling surface.

The invention also features a side surface of the arm disposed against a side surface of the fixture or against an attachment secured to the fixture, and the slideable movement is achieved by an elongated slot in one and a pin, engaged with the slot, secured to the other; also the arm in its projected position is adapted to rotate about the pin. Advantageously the slot inclines upwardly-outwardly, and the arm moves in like direction.

The invention also features a locking surface on the outer portion of the arm engaged and locked down by a rotatable cam; a member protruding from the arm useful as a handle for manual movement of the arm to its projected position, and engaged with a guide, advanice tageously a shaped slot, which guides the outer end of the arm to move out and then down as it reaches its projected position; the locking device engaged on this guiding element to lock it in place; and all of the above simply fabricated from sheet metal elements which can lie flat, side by side, occupying little space, and operable from within the bulb containing-space of a fluorescent lighting fixture by simple movements by a single installer.

Other objects and features will be understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view partly broken away of a ceiling fixture secured in place by a locking system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a portion of the fixture of FIG. 1 with the arm in a retracted position;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the arm in the projected but raised position;

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the arm in the locked position;

FIGS. 31: and 4a are views taken of the inside of the housing corresponding to the arm positions shown respectively in FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 4b is a cross section taken on line 46 of FIG. 4a;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing the arm, a portion of the side wall of the fixture and the cam locking member;

FIG. 6 is a side view on an enlarged scale of the locking arm of the preferred embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the ceiling fixture of the preferred embodiment has top wall 10, side walls 12 and 14 and lower flanges 12 and 14f. As shown the fixture (advantageously a lighting fixture adapted to hold fluorescent bulbs 16 shown in dotted lines) is sized to be inserted in an opening of standard dimensions in a suspended ceiling 18. As is common the opening is bounded by ceiling members, here inverted Ts, 20, suspended by wires 22 or other means, which are intended to support both the ceiling tiles and the fixture.

In the embodiment of the figures the fixture is rectangular, has flanges on each side and there are four locking devices, 24, one at each corner. In FIG. 1 the arms 26 are shown in their projected locked positions, engaging the inverted Ts, 20, see also FIGS. 4 and 4a.

Referring in particular to FIG. 5 the arm 26 is formed e.g. of an elongated stamping of sheet metal or die casting. It has an outer portion 28 terminating in an enlarged end 30. There is formed in the arm an elongated slot 32 which extends distance T and a member, here shown as tab 34, which projects transversely to the side of the arm. The side surface of the arm is placed against the surface of side 14 of the fixture housing, and pin or rivet 36, secured to side 14, protrudes through slot 32 and has a head that secures the two together loosely enough to allow sliding.

A slot 38 is provided in fixture side 14 and through it protrudes tab 34. The parts are arranged so that when arm 26 is retracted so that the forward end P of the slot 32 in the arm engages pin 36, tab 34 engages rearward end R of slot 38 in the side of the housing; and when the arm is in the projected position and pin 36 engages the rear end R of slot 32 in the arm, the projecting tab 34 is at the forward end F of slot 38. The forward end of slot 38 curves downward on an are centered on pin 36. Through this curved slot tab 34 can fall until the arm engages a resistance, i.e. the ceiling member. This occurs with pivoting of the arm 26 about pin 36, e.g. from the dotted to the solid line positions as shown in FIG. 6.

A cam plate 40, also a stamping of sheet metal, is secured to the inside surface of side 14 of the housing and is held in place by a wing nut 41. It is centered at 42 such that when the nut is loosened the cam can rotate (compare FIGS. 3a and 411) until the cam periphery engages the tab 34, thus locking the arm down. The reaction forces acting upwardly of the mounting of the cam tend to raise the housing e.g. until the flange 12f aligns with or seats against the ceiling.

When a fixture is to be installed all arms 26 are retracted to the position shown in FIG. 2, inwardly from a vertical line through the respective flange of the fixture. Thus the fixture can be raised into the opening of the ceiling without interference of the slideable arms. When in this position the workman successively grasps the projections 34 of each of the arms 26 (the cam wing nuts 41 having previously been loosened) and he slides each arm (now hidden from his view) outwardly. As shown in FIG. 2 the two slots 32, 38, are both inclined at an angle at to the horizontal and thus the arms slide outwardly at that angle helping the ends of the arms to clear well above the ceiling member 20.

As each arm reaches its fully projected position, the workman releases the tab 34 which now registers in the arcuate slot which has its center on the pin 36. The amount of rotation of each arm when it is released depends upon how fully the fixture has been inserted into the ceiling opening.

When all four arms are projected, then the installer grasps each cam 40 successively and turns it until the cam periphery engages and presses downwardly on the tab 34. The cam may be turned until substantial pressure is exerted on the arm, and through the arm, onto the ceiling member. The cam being rotatably secured to the fixtures at 42, there is an upward reaction force acting through this connection, upon the fixture itself. Thus if the fixture is not seated, by continued rotation of cam 40 the reaction force will cause the fixture to rise until the corresponding fixture flange comes even with the ceiling, compare FIGS. 3 and 4.

When each cam is tightened so that the fixture is in its proper position, the wing nut may be tightened, locking the cams in place. For removal of the fixture the reverse movements are possible.

It will be understood that other embodiments of the various features are possible within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a ceiling fixture in the form of a housing for illuminating bulbs adapted to be secured within an open space of a ceiling by means projecting to engage a ceiling member that bounds said open space, the improvement wherein said means comprises an arm slideably constrained relative to said fixture by means of spaced apart inner and outer points of support, said points of support confining said arm to a predetermined orientation as it slides from an inner position to a projected position in which said arm overlies said ceiling member, and a releasable locking member mounted to a fixed point with respect to the remainder of said fixture and including a movable member releasably engageable with said arm whereby during engagement reaction forces on said locking member are transmitted through its mounting to press said fixture upwardly, said arm having a side surface disposed adjacent to a side surface of a member secured to said housing, said inner and outer points of support defined by slot means and two slot-followers engaged therewith, in said projected position said slot-followers being spaced substantially from each other, the slot means portion engaging one of said slot-followers when said arm is in its projected position having an arcuate portion adapted to permit rotation of said arm about said other slotfollower to allow said arm to engage said ceiling member.

2. The ceiling fixture of claim 1 wherein said slot means comprises two elongated slots extending in substantially the same direction for most of their length, one of said slots provided in said arm, the other in a corresponding side surface of said secured member, one of said slot followers being a pin secured to said secured member and engaged with the slot of said arm, the other of said slot followers comprising a projection from said arm engaged with the slot in said secured member and having an extension exposed for use as a handle to project said arm outwardly, said projection positioned outwardly of said pin when the arm is projected, the slot in said secured member having a downward extending portion at its outer end, permitting downward movement of said handle and the corresponding portion of said arm when the later is projected.

3. The ceiling fixture of claim 1 wherein said member secured to said housing comprises a side member of said housing.

4. In a ceiling fixture in the form of a housing for illuminating bulbs adapted to be secured within an open space of a ceiling by means projecting to engage a ceiling member that bounds said open space, the improvement wherein said means comprises an arm slidably constrained relative to said fixture by means of spaced apart inner and outer points of support, said points of support confining said arm to a predetermined orientation as it slides from an inner position to a projected position in which said arm overlies said ceiling member, and a releasable locking member mounted to a fixed point with respect to the remainder of said fixture and including a movable member releasably engageable with said arm whereby during engagement reaction forces on said locking member are transmitted through its mounting to press said fixture upwardly,

said outer point of support including a member protruding from the side of said arm in a direction transverse to the direction of said slideable movement, and said fixture including a guide having surfaces which define a channel within which said member slides, said channel including a first portion parallel to said direction of said slideable movement and a second portion extending generally downward from the end of said first portion, said arm having a side surface disposed against a fixed member of said fixture, an elongated slot provided in one, extending in the direction of slidable movement of said arm, a pin member secured in the other, the pin and slot providing said inner support enabling said slideable movement of said arm, said arm member, in its projected position, being supported only by said pin, whereby said arm is rotatable about said pin.

5. In a ceiling fixture adapted to be secured within an opening space of a ceiling by means projecting to engage a ceiling member that bounds said openspace, the improvement wherein said means comprises an arm slideably constrained relative to said fixture by means of spaced apart inner and outer points of support, said points of support confining said arm to a predetermined orientation as it slides from an inner position to a projected position in which said arm overlies said ceiling member, and a releasable locking member mounted to a fixed point with respect to the remainder of said fixture and including a movable member releasably engageable with said arm whereby during engagement reaction forces on said locking member are transmitted through its mounting to press said fixture upwardly, said outer point of support including a member protruding from the side of said arm in a direction transverse to the direction of said slideable movement, and said fixture including a guide having surfaces which define a channel within Which said member slides, said channel including a first portion parallel to said direction of said slideable movement and a second portion extending generally downward from the end of said first portion.

6. The ceiling fixture of claim 5 wherein said movable member of said locking member comprises a rotatable cam having a camming surface exposed to effectively engage said protruding member said cam surface shaped, upon rotation, to progressively apply relative downward force and movement adapted to urge said member downwardly along its guide, until the outer portion of said arm seats upon said ceiling member.

7. The ceiling fixture of claim 5 wherein said arm has a side surface disposed against a corresponding side surface of a member secured to said fixture, an elongated slot in said fixture side surface defines said guide for said member, said member engaged in said slot, the outward portion of said slot extending downwardly to guide said arm in its rotation.

8. The ceiling fixture of claim 7 wherein said inner support includes an elongated slot in said arm and a pin mounted on said fixture side surface and engaged in said elongated slot when said arm is projected, said pin defining the center of said rotation of said arm.

9. In a ceiling fixture adapted to be secured within an open space of a ceiling by means projecting to engage a ceiling member that bounds said open space, the improvement wherein said means comprises an arm slideably constrained relative to said fixture, said arm slideable from an inner position to a projected position in which said arm overlies said ceiling member, said arm being pivotably constrained in said projected position so that the outer portion of the arm may rotate downwardly toward said ceiling member, and a cam member rotatably mounted on said fixture, said cam being rotatable by the installer and having a camming surface for engaging said arm, said cam surface shaped, upon rotation, to progressively apply relative downward force and movement to said arm, whereby rotation of said cam urges said arm against said ceiling member and further rotation results in a reaction force upon the mounting of said cam thereby applying lifting force to said fixture to raise and hold it in position.

10. In a ceiling fixture adapted to be secured within an open space of a ceiling by means projecting to engage a ceiling member that bounds said open space, the improvement wherein said means comprises an arm slideably constrained relative to said fixture, said arm slidable from an inner position to a projected position in which said arm overlies said ceiling member, said arm being pivotably constrained in said projected position so that the outer portion of the arm may rotate downwardly toward said ceiling member, a releasable locking member mounted to a fixed point with respect to the remainder of said fixture and including a movable member releasably engageable with said arm whereby during engagement reaction forces on said locking member are transmitted through its mounting to press said fixture upwardly, a member extending from said arm in a direction transverse to the direction of said slideable movement, said member exposed and shaped for use as a handle enabling the installer manually to shift said arm from its retracted to its extended position, said ceiling fixture including a guide for said handle member adapted to permit rotation of said arm as it reaches its projected position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,423,757 7/1947 Dedge 248-57 X 2,593,033 4/ 1952 Johnson 24827 3,052,369 9/ 1962 Taibi 24827 X WILLIAM H. SCHULTZ, Primary Examiner

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