U.S. patent number 3,797,789 [Application Number 05/237,052] was granted by the patent office on 1974-03-19 for support bar for suspended ceiling light fixture.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Armstrong Cork Company. Invention is credited to Kenneth L. Wasson.
United States Patent |
3,797,789 |
Wasson |
March 19, 1974 |
SUPPORT BAR FOR SUSPENDED CEILING LIGHT FIXTURE
Abstract
Suspended ceiling systems are provided with light fixtures which
are supported by the gridwork of the suspended ceiling system.
Herein, a support bar is positioned relative to two adjacent main
runner structures of a suspended ceiling system for the purpose of
supporting one side of a light fixture. The light fixture is hung
from two adjacent support bars which are in turn supported by the
main runner portion of the ceiling system.
Inventors: |
Wasson; Kenneth L. (Lancaster,
PA) |
Assignee: |
Armstrong Cork Company
(Lancaster, PA)
|
Family
ID: |
22892147 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/237,052 |
Filed: |
March 22, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/214; 248/343;
52/28 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21V
21/04 (20130101); E04B 9/006 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E04B
9/00 (20060101); F21V 21/02 (20060101); F21V
21/04 (20060101); F21r 003/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;248/214,215,342,343,201
;52/28,484,488,39 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Foss; J. Franklin
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. The support bar for supporting a light fixture within a
suspended ceiling system, the suspended ceiling system being
composed of main runner structures which are generally of an
inverted T shape with an upwardly extending vertical web, said
support bar structure being of a length approximately that of the
spacing between two adjacent main runner structures, said support
bar having two pivotally-connected legs at the ends of the support
bar structure, said pivoted legs having means on the ends of the
legs for engaging the top ponly of the vertical web of the main
runner structures to support the support bar in position on two
adjacent main runner structures, said legs for the support bar are
generally U-shaped with two sides and a connecting part and with
the ends of the two sides of the U shape extending on either side
of the main body of the support bar, each of the sides at their
ends near the connecting part containing a notch which engages only
the top of the vertical web of the main runner structure and the
connecting part between the two sides of the U-shaped leg being
positioned on one side of the vertical web of the main runner
structure.
2. The structure of claim 1 wherein there is means to lock the legs
in their extended position generally perpendicular to the ends of
the main body of the support bar.
3. The structure of claim 2 wherein means are provided on the legs
for fastening the legs to the vertical web of the main runner
structures to permanently lock the support bar and main runner
structure together.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention herein is directed to a suspended ceiling system and,
more particularly, to a light fixture support bar in a suspended
ceiling system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In U. S. Pat. No. 3,352,071, the conventional cross runner 12 is
used to carry the lighting fixture. This is a very typical
installation for supporting a light fixture in the ceiling
system.
U. S. Pat. No. 3,581,448 is another example of a support structure
for holding a light fixture in position in a ceiling assembly.
A number of different structures are available in the art to
support a lighting fixture. Herein, there is provided a support bar
structure which may be positioned anywhere within the ceiling
system to support a light fixture in position. The support bar is
carried by the main runner structures and can position the light
fixture anywhere within two adjacent main runner structures without
having the need to restrict the light fixture placement relative to
the placement of the cross runner structures which heretofore have
been the basic support structures for the light fixtures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Main runner structures are the primary support elements for a
suspended ceiling system. A plurality of the main runner structures
are placed in a side-by-side relationship, normally spaced 2 feet
apart. The light fixture is meant to be positioned between, and
extending along, the main runner structures. The invention herein
is a support bar which has collapsible legs. The structure is in a
collapsed state for shipment, and the legs are extended to their
operational position when the support bar is mounted in position.
The support bars are formed with ends on the leg structures which
permit the support bars to readily engage the vertical web of the
main runner structure. This then holds the support bar in position
spanning the distance between two main runner structures. Two
support bars are positioned between two adjacent main runner
structures, and a light fixture is hung from the support bars.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The sole FIGURE is a perspective view of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The invention herein is used in any conventional ceiling system,
for example, that shown in U. S. Pat. No. 3,352,071. The
conventional ceiling system is composed of a plurality of main
runner structures 2 that travel the full length of the room and are
positioned parallel to each other at about 2-foot spacings. A
plurality of ceiling boards or translucent lens elements are
positioned on the horizontal flanges 4 of the main runner
structures. Since the boards and lenses are approximately 4 feet in
length, cross runner structures would be provided to support the
edges of two adjacent boards or lenses. These cross runner
structures are very similar to elements 12 of U. S. Pat. No.
3,352,071.
Since the placement of the cross runner structures is controlled by
the board or lens size and, since they are not of great structural
strength, it is more convenient to support lighting fixtures from
supplemental support elements rather than the cross runner
structures.
Herein, is provided a support bar structure for supporting light
fixtures in a suspended ceiling system. The support bar structure
is positioned to span two adjacent main runner structures 2 and the
support bar is carried by the vertical web 6 of the main runner
structures 2. In some main runner structures, the vertical web is
an H-shape and the support bar structure herein can be used with
one leg of the H or with the single leg of the inverted T-shape. In
the embodiment shown in the drawing, the support bar is basically
composed of a main body structure 8 and two leg assemblies 10.
The main body structure 8 is basically an inverted U-shaped channel
structure which is slightly longer than the distance between two
adjacent main runner structures 2. Slot structures 12 are provided
in the surface 14 of the channel structure. The slots 12 are for
use with the light fixture support strap of the above-mentioned
copending application.
Each of the leg assemblies 10 is fastened by a pin 16 to the end of
the main body structure 8. The pin 16 not only fastens the leg
assemblies to the main body structure, but also functions as a
pivot point which will permit the leg assemblies 10 to swing
relative to the main body structure 8.
The leg assemblies 10 are of basically a modified U-shape. Each leg
20 of the U is roughly triangular in shape. Generally, the base of
the triangle is positioned by the side of the main body structure 8
and the pivot pin 16 passes through one corner of the base. Closely
adjacent the pivot pin a little lock tab 18 is formed to lock the
leg in position. The lock tab is formed by cutting out a piece of
metal along three sides from the side legs 20. The tab is formed
very similarly to the protuberance 34 of U. S. Pat. No. 3,352,071.
When the triangular sides of the leg assemblies 10 are positioned
adjacent the main body member 8, the tab is in an ineffective
position. Swinging the leg assemblies 10 through 90 degrees
relative to the main body structure 8 then permits the tab to pop
outwardly from the leg 20 and engage the lower edge of the U of the
main body structure 8. This then prevents the leg from moving back
towards its collapsed position. Connecting the two side legs 20 of
the leg assembly 10 there is a flat metal structure 22. This
structure is positioned on one side of the vertical web 6 of a main
runner member 2 and is provided with a hole 24 into which a sheet
metal screw may be placed to fasten the structure 22 to the
vertical web 6 of the main runner structure. This in turn will
result in the attachment of the support bar to the main runner
structure. At the point where the flat structure 22 engages the
triangular legs 20, the triangular legs are provided with a notch
structure 26. Into this notch structure 26 is positioned the top of
the vertical web 6 of the main runner structure 2. The combination
of the notch resting on the vertical web plus the flat structure 22
positioned on one side of the vertical web will hold the support
bar in position. The provision of a screw through hole 24 will
permanently lock the structures together.
There is now provided a support bar for lighting fixtures which may
be shipped in a collapsed state and readily extended to span the
distance between two adjacent main runner structures to support a
light fixture therein. On the left side of the showing of the
support bar in the drawing, there is shown in dotted line form the
leg 20 in its collapsed state. The right side of the support bar of
the same drawing shows the leg in its extended state in engagement
with the vertical web of a main runner structure.
* * * * *