U.S. patent number 3,599,911 [Application Number 04/874,482] was granted by the patent office on 1971-08-17 for means for end-to-end assembly of elongated fluorescent lamp ceiling fixtures.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sunbeam Lighting Co., Inc.. Invention is credited to Ernest Monte.
United States Patent |
3,599,911 |
Monte |
August 17, 1971 |
MEANS FOR END-TO-END ASSEMBLY OF ELONGATED FLUORESCENT LAMP CEILING
FIXTURES
Abstract
This invention covers latch means for interlocking and aligning
of sectional elongated fluorescent lamp fixtures into an assembled
long row of ceiling lights. Adjoining fixture sections are aligned
and latched together by slight lateral movement of juxtaposed flush
endplates which are provided with interengaging projecting loop
members and recessed locking tabs.
Inventors: |
Monte; Ernest (Los Angeles,
CA) |
Assignee: |
Sunbeam Lighting Co., Inc. (Los
Angeles, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
25363887 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/874,482 |
Filed: |
November 6, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/50; 248/300;
312/111 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21V
21/005 (20130101); F16L 7/00 (20130101); F21Y
2113/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F16L
7/00 (20060101); F21V 21/00 (20060101); F16l
003/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;248/50,300,342,343
;312/111 ;52/581 ;220/23.4,4E |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Harris; Chancellor E.
Claims
I claim:
1. An elongated multisectional fluorescent lamp fixture comprising
fixture sections each having top and sidewalls, and end closure
plates, said end closure plates being flush with the sectional
fixture walls, and each being provided with a recessed locking tab
near one side, and a projecting loop member near the other side,
the projecting loop member of a first section being disposed to
enter the recess around the locking tab of an adjoining second
section, and said projecting loop member of said second section
being disposed to enter the recess around the locking tab of said
first section when two closure plates are brought into face-to-face
relation, said locking tabs being adapted to enter corresponding
loops when the two juxtaposed fixture sections are moved laterally
into alignment.
2. The sectional fixture defined in claim 1, in which the end
closure plates are provided with integral bosses for holding
sockets for fluorescent lamps supported in said fixture
sections.
3. A closure plate for an inverted troughlike fluorescent lamp
fixture section comprising a metal sheet conforming in shape to the
cross-sectional outline of said fixture section, said sheet having
a flange directed inwardly of said fixture section, said flange
being adapted for attachment to the troughlike portion of said
fixture section, the said metal sheet being provided near one edge
with a locking tab directed into a cutout recess in said plate, and
near the opposite edge with a punched-out loop member protruding at
right angles outwardly from said sheet, said tab and said loop
member being adapted to engage similar but oppositely disposed tab
and loop members formed in a closure plate of an adjoining fixture
section when disposed in aligned face-to-face relation.
4. The closure plate defined in claim 3 in which integral bosses
are provided for holding sockets for fluorescent lamps.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fluorescent light fixtures are frequently suspended from or mounted
on ceilings in long rows, the several sectional fixtures being
assembled in end-to-end relation as each one is mounted on the
ceiling structure. Difficulty is encountered in manually holding
the sections in alignment while they are being attached to the
ceiling and to the abutting end of an already mounted section. This
invention provides at the adjoining end of each sectional fixture a
closure plate having readily manipulated means for locking it to
the opposed similar end plate of the contiguous sectional fixture,
and thereby providing alignment of the two sectional fixtures prior
to permanent mounting on the ceiling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The broad object of the invention is to provide easily manipulated
means to hold together the end plates of fixture sections while an
elongated fixture assembly is being mounted on a ceiling, which
means also aligns the sections.
Specifically, the invention provides closure plates on the
adjoining ends of fixture sections which are to be assembled in a
line on a ceiling, which closure plates are each provided with a
recessed locking tab and a projecting loop member, both of which
are disposed to engage a similar tab and a similar loop member of a
juxtaposed like closure plate of the adjoining sectional fixture
when said closure plates are brought together in face-to-face
relation and then are moved laterally for a short distance to align
the fixture sections and firmly engage the respective tabs in the
loops.
The closure plates may also be provided with means for mounting the
fluorescent lamp sockets within the fixture sections.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
In the drawings,
FIG. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section showing the joint between
the closure plates of adjoining two-lamp fixture sections as
indicated by the line 1-1 on FIG. 2;
FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a two-lamp fixture looking
toward a joint from the position indicated at the line 2-2 on FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of two closure plates in spaced apart
face-to-face relation showing their structure and positions prior
to actual joining; and
FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of a closure plate having
mounting tabs for holding four lamp sockets.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawings, two fixture sections 11 and 12 which are
joined through the respective end closure plates 13 and 14, with
top plates 15 and enclosing sidewalls 16 indicated, these fixture
parts being fastened together by screws 17, or by other assembling
means such as welding.
The end closure plates for the sectional fixtures are preferably,
but not necessarily, also provided with punched-out tabs 19 for
holding fluorescent lamp sockets 20, the tubular lamps being
indicated at 21, sockets for two lamps being shown in FIGS. 1 and
2, and for four lamps in FIG. 4.
End closure plates 13 and 14 for sectional fixtures, arranged in
face-to-face relation but spaced apart to show the interrelation of
parts, are shown in FIG. 3. Each closure plate consists of the
sheeted body portion 22, which is bordered by a rim 23 on the upper
edge and parts of the ends, the enclosing walls of the fixture
being attached to said rim by screws 17 in screw holes 24 or
alternatively by other attachment means such as welding. The end
plates may be provided with other openings, for example a central
hole 25 for electric wiring, and punched-out tabs 19 for the
mounting of lamp sockets 20.
Adjacent one outer edge of each end plate there is provided a
punched-out loop member 27, protruding from the outer or contacting
face thereof; and adjacent the opposite edge of the end plate there
is provided an opening or cavity 28 for a locking tab 29 which
protrudes laterally parallel to the surface of the end plate into
the cavity or opening therein. When similar end plates are
superimposed on each other in face-to-face relation, the
punched-out loop member 27 of each plate may enter the opening or
cavity 28 of the other plate, the plates being slightly offset
laterally. When one plate is then shifted laterally into edge
alignment, the locking tabs 29 respectively enter the loop members
27, thus when the end plates are in edge alignment, they are locked
together. When the end plates are in assembly with the other parts
of the fixture sections (as shown in FIG. 1) the two sections of
the fixture are aligned and ready for attachment to the ceiling or
to the fixture-supporting members (not shown).
It will be understood that this joining of the two fixture sections
can be readily performed without tools even where, as is usually
the case, the work is done from a ladder or scaffolding beneath a
high ceiling. This greatly facilitates the installation of long
lines of ceiling lights.
* * * * *