Lighting Fixture For A Tile Ceiling

Abstract

A ceiling fixture for use with a tongue and groove joint ceiling tile system. An adapter plate which functions as the support for the diffuser lens and the light box is fastened to the ceiling support system as an integral part of the ceiling tile arrangement. The adapter plate has the necessary edge configuration to permit it to be placed within the ceiling tile arrangement as a substitute for one individual ceiling tile.

Parent Case Text

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 692,850, filed Dec. 22, 1967 now abandoned.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a recessed lighting fixture. In particular, the invention relates to a recessed lighting fixture support plate which is mounted as an integral part of the ceiling tile arrangement.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The prior art devices require either a rigid ceiling or the close proximity of the joists for the purpose of supporting the lighting fixture in position. Referring to U.S. Pat. No. 2,787,702, a bracket structure which rests against the ceiling proper is used to support the lighting fixture in position in its opening in the ceiling. U.S. Pat. No. 3,012,135 discloses the use of a bar support which is fastened to the joist and carries the lighting fixture box in its position in the opening in the ceiling. In the former structure, the ceiling must be of a sufficient rigidity to support the lighting fixture while in the latter structure the lighting fixture must be located first and the ceiling structure cut to fit the location of the light.

The invention herein is particularly useful with a tongue and groove ceiling tile arrangement wherein the individual tiles are stapled to a supporting furring strip. The adapter plate which supports the lighting fixture of this invention is merely inserted into the ceiling system arrangement as a substitute for one of the ceiling tiles. The edge structure of the adapter plate performs the support function for adjacent tiles in a like manner to that which the individual ceiling tiles normally perform. There is no need to cut the individual tiles to fit around a previously located lighting fixture. Furthermore, the support structure for the lighting fixture is not covered over by the ceiling tiles and, consequently, permits this particular lighting fixture to be added to a ceiling system after it has been completely laid or permits the lighting fixture to be removed from its opening in the ceiling system and an individual tile inserted therein to occupy the opening in the ceiling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a ceiling light that is integrated within a standard ceiling tile arrangement. The feature that makes the light different from other presently available lights is the use of a unique mounting frame or adapter plate which fits into the field of the ceiling tile arrangement much as does an ordinary ceiling tile and is fastened to the furring strips in the similar manner to that which is used to fasten the tile in position. The mounting plate has an edge structure with interlocks with the tongue and groove structures of the conventional tiles to provide the interlocking support structure which the normal tongue and groove structure is meant to perform. The adapter plate has an opening in the center for receiving the lighting box containing the light and has spring or wire clips around its outer edge for supporting the diffuser lens assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the lighting fixture mounted on the ceiling; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view partly broken away of the lighting fixture mounted in position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1 the light assembly 2 is shown as being composed of a light box 4, a diffuser lens assembly 6, and an adapter plate 8. Within the light box 4, which is basically a four-sided structure with one closed end, is mounted a light receptacle 10 which receives a conventional incandescent lamp for providing illumination. A junction box 12 is connected to the light box for providing an area to connect the wiring. A pluralitY of the screws 14 are used as the means of fastening the light box relative to the adapter plate. The adapter plate can first be mounted in position minus the light box. The electrical wiring is hooked up to the light box and then the light box is slid into the opening 18 of the adapter plate. Screws 19 hold the adapter plate in position.

A conventional diffuser lens assembly 6 is mounted over the light box and adapter plate. Wire clip structures 20 engage the upper edge 21a of the diffuser lens frame 21 which holds the diffuser lens 22 in position. Springs 23 position the lens 22 relative to the lower edge 21b of the frame 21. The diffuser lens completely overlies the adapter plate light box to provide a decorative closure to the light box and also provides a diffusion of the light emitting from the incandescent lamp.

The adapter plate 8 is that particular structural feature which permits the light assembly to blend in with a conventional tongue and groove ceiling tile arrangement. A conventional ceiling tile 24 is positioned on either side of the adapter plate. Referring to FIG. 1, the ceiling tile to the right of the adapter plate is shown with its tongue structure adjacent to the adapter plate, while the ceiling tile to the left of the adapter plate is shown with its groove structure adjacent to the adapter plate. Normally in installing the ceiling tile, a staple 25 is used to fasten a portion of the groove structure to a supporting furring strip 26. The tongue of the next adjacent tile then slides into the groove, and the groove with the tongue inserted therein provides support for the adjacent tile. When the adapter plate structure is used in lieu of a conventional ceiling tile, the staple 25 will still continue to hold the left-hand ceiling tile in position, and the adapter plate uses a flange 28 merely for the purpose of overlying the groove in the ceiling tile and supplying a support for the diffuser lens. However, the flange 30 must overlie the tongue of the right-hand ceiling tile and provide the support that is necessary for maintaining the ceiling tile in engagement with its backup furring strip. Tab 32 positions the adapter plate relative to the ceiling tiles.

Referring to FIG. 1, it can be readily seen that the adapter plate structure in that FIG. is quite capable of being removed from or added to a conventional ceiling system without the need of damaging any adjacent ceiling tiles. The edge structure of the adapter plate permits the plate to perform the normal support function of the ceiling tile in supporting adjacent ceiling tiles. Finally, it can be seen that the adapter plate may readily be mounted as an integral part of a tongue and groove ceiling tile arrangement while the ceiling system is being installed, and there is now no need for cutting the individual tiles to suit a previously positioned lighting assembly. Finally, the adapter plate could be made of a size to replace a multiple number of complete ceiling tiles.

While there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the present invention without departing from the underlying idea or principles of the invention within the scope of the appendant claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A lighting fixture adapted to be mounted as an integral part of an interlocking tongue and groove ceiling tile arrangement, comprising an adapter plate with an edge configuration corresponding to a tongue and groove ceiling tile configuration, said edge configuration on at least one side of the adapter plate being a flangelike means which is positioned to overlie the tongue of an adjacent tongue and groove ceiling tile and support the ceiling tile in position, said edge configuration on at least another side of the adapter plate being flangelike means which does not support the tile, but is only a means which is positioned to overlie and conceal the groove of an adjacent tongue and groove ceiling tile, said flange construction being larger in size than the exposed surface area of a tongue and groove ceiling tile and said flange being adapted to be positioned in a ceiling tile arrangement in lieu of a ceiling tile whereby the flange configuration must overlie adjacent ceiling tiles and the two above-mentioned edge configurations can provide their coaction with adjacent ceiling tiles, and a light box assembly and diffuser means separate from and carried by the adapter plate to form the complete light fixture, whereby the adapter plate, when positioned in place of a ceiling tile in a tongue and groove system, performs the normal support function of the replaced ceiling tile relative to adjacent ceiling tiles and additionally functions as a part of a complete lighting fixture.