U.S. patent number 3,819,141 [Application Number 05/235,115] was granted by the patent office on 1974-06-25 for device for assisting attachment of heavy and/or bulky article.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Mori Denki Manufacturing Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Shinjiro Mori.
United States Patent |
3,819,141 |
Mori |
June 25, 1974 |
DEVICE FOR ASSISTING ATTACHMENT OF HEAVY AND/OR BULKY ARTICLE
Abstract
The attachment of, for example, a heavy illuminating appliance
to a power source box fixed to a wall or a ceiling of a room or
hall can be accomplished easily by a single operator with the help
of an attachment assisting device comprising a support member to be
fixed to the inside of the power source box and an engaging member
to be mounted on the free end portion of a tube carrying a heavy
illuminating appliance at the other end and also carrying
therethrough an electric cable of this appliance. In the attaching
operation, the operator first establishes engagement between the
engaging member and the supporting member, so that the connecting
of the appliance to the box is greatly facilitated, and the labor
and cost are accordingly saved tremendously.
Inventors: |
Mori; Shinjiro (Tokyo,
JA) |
Assignee: |
Mori Denki Manufacturing Co.,
Ltd. (Tokyo, JA)
|
Family
ID: |
26334339 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/235,115 |
Filed: |
March 16, 1972 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Dec 28, 1971 [JA] |
|
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46-1164 |
Dec 28, 1971 [JA] |
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46-1165 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
248/222.14;
174/61; 248/317; 248/343; 248/225.21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21V
21/03 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F21V
21/02 (20060101); F21V 21/03 (20060101); F16m
013/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;248/317,339,342,343,345,223 ;240/78DA,78G,78R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Schultz; William H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack
Claims
I claim:
1. A device for assisting the attachment of a heavy and/or bulky
article securely to a horizontal or vertical surface,
comprising:
a power source box having a base portion adapted to be connected to
the horizontal or vertical surface and a top portion, said power
source box having a hollow central portion and said top portion
having an aperture;
a supporting member consisting of a hook located within said power
source box, said supporting member being attached to said base
portion of said power source box at a position opposite the
aperture in said top portion;
a hollow shaft member extending in a straight line, one end being
connected to said article and the other end being inserted within
said power source box and supported by supporting member;
engaging means consisting of a ring on one end of said shaft for
engaging said supporting member; and
a flange member, said flange member having apertures at opposite
ends thereof and slidably engaging said power source box at the
other end thereof.
2. A device for assisting the attachment of a heavy and/or bulky
article securely to a horizontal or vertical surface,
comprising:
a power source box having a base portion adapted to be connected to
the horizontal or vertical surface and a top portion, said power
source box having a hollow central portion and said top portion
having an aperture;
a supporting member consisting of a hook located within said power
source box, said supporting member being attached to said base
portion of said power source box at a position opposite the
aperture in said top portion;
a hollow shaft member having a bend therein, one end being
connected to said article and the other end being inserted within
said power source box and supported by said supporting member;
engaging means consisting of a ring on one end of said shaft for
engaging said supporting member; and
a flange member, said flange member having apertures at opposite
ends thereof and slidably engaging said shaft member at one end and
detachably engaging said power source box at the other end
thereof.
3. A device according to claim 2, in which the open end portion of
the bent tubular member engages a projection extending from the
vertical surface at a site near the hook.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention is concerned with a coupling means, and more
particularly it pertains to a device for assisting the attaching or
fixing of a bulky and/or heavy article, such as an electric
illuminating appliance, to a vertical or horizontal surface such as
a wall or ceiling.
2. Description of the Prior Art:
Attaching or fixing of a heavy and/or bulky article, such as an
electric illuminating appliance, especially an electric
illuminating appliance equipped with a lighting fitting for use
with an explosive gas atmosphere bulk, has been performed in the
past usually by an operator with the help of one or more assistant
operators because of the difficulty in handling such a heavy and/or
bulky article by a single person, causing a great inconvenience and
a requiring large expenditure of labor and consequently the
attachment operation is costly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to
provide a device for assisting the attaching or fixing, to a wall
or a ceiling, of a heavy and/or bulky article such as an electric
illuminating appliance equipped with a lighting fitting for use
with an explosive gas atmosphere bulb.
Another object of the present invention is to save the labor and
cost required for the attaching or fixing of a heavy and/or bulky
article such as the one mentioned above by the provision of a
device of the type described, for assisting the attaching or fixing
of the heavy and/or bulky article to a wall or a ceiling, which
device comprising a supporting member to be fixed either to a
holding member provided on the wall or ceiling or directly to such
a surface and a separate engaging member provided on one end
portion of the article to be attached.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a
device of the type described which is suspended vertically from a
horizontal ceiling.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device
of the type described which is suspended from a vertical wall
surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation of an electric
illuminating appliance equipped with lighting fittings for use with
an explosive gas atmosphere bulb fixed to a power source box of a
horizontal ceiling by the use of the attachment assisting device of
the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a somewhat diagramatic vertical sectional view, on an
enlarged scale, of the power source box, a flange and a free end
portion of the tube of the said appliance, showing how the
appliance is engaging the box of a horizontal ceiling by the
attachment assisting device representing the first embodiment of
the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic enlarged perspective view,
showing a suspension ring attached to the free end portion of the
tube of the appliance, said ring serving as a part of the
attachment assisting device of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation, showing an
electric illuminating appliance equipped with lighting fittings for
use with an explosive gas atmosphere bulb fixed to a power source
box of a vertical wall surface by the use of the attachment
assisting device of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a somewhat diagrammatic vertical sectional view, on an
enlarged scale, showing the manner in which the free end portion of
the tube of the appliance engages a power source box fixed to a
vertical wall surface by the use of the attachment assisting device
representing the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a somewhat diagrammatic enlarged perspective view of the
end portion of said tube, showing a ring which is a part of the
device of the present invention.
It should be understood that the drawings show, simply by way of
example, some of the preferred embodiments of the present
invention. In these embodiments, they are used in the attachment of
heavy and bulky electric illuminating appliances equipped with
lighting fittings for explosive gas atmosphere.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In FIG. 1, there is shown an electric illuminating appliance
equipped with lighting fittings 1 and 2 for use with an explosive
gas atmosphere bulb. One such example of illuminating appliance is
comprised of an electric bulb not shown which is surrounded, in a
substantially air-tight fashion, by a body 1a and this body 1a is
equipped externally, at its lower portion, with a protective cover
or globe 2a which is conjugated via a gasket not shown to the body
1a. The body 1a and the globe 2a are fastened tightly together by
clamping means 3. Thus, the inside of the body 1a is substantially
air-tight. Reference numeral 4 represents a guard member provided
on the external side of the globe 2a. As will be understood, the
globe 2a has a substantial thickness and is stiff as is the body
1a, in order to protect persons and/or structures standing or
provided near the electric illuminating appliances from being
injured or damaged from possible explosion of the electric bulb
housed inside the body 1a. In the past, the body 1a was made of a
heavy casting. Recently, however, it is made with a less heavy
material such as a stainless steel. Consequently, in case a mercury
arc lamp of 400W is to be lighted inside the body 1a, this lamp
would weigh 12 - 13 kgs, whereas the body 1a could weigh 16 - 17
kgs if constructed of a heavy casting. Furthermore, the lighting up
of such a mercury arc lamp required a stabilizer. This stabilizer
usually weighed 8 - 12 kgs. Thus, the electric illuminating
appliance equipped with lighting fittings for an explosive gas
atmosphere bulb and using a stabilizer would weigh as much as 20 -
25 kgs if the body 1a is made with a stainless steel and would have
a further additional weight of 4 - 5 kgs if the body is of a
casting. However, no consideration has been heretofore given as to
the simplification and facilitation of the operation of attaching
or fixing such a heavy and/or bulky article to a vertical wall or a
horizontal ceiling. For example, a heavy electric illuminating
appliance equipped with a lighting fitting for use with an
explosive gas atmosphere bulb was, in the past, attached to a power
source box of a wall or a ceiling in much the same manner as
ordinary light-weighing electric appliances were attached, i.e., by
first connecting the cable or cord provided in the power source box
to the cable provided in the body, and then by fixing to the box
the flange which was mounted on one end portion of the body. Thus,
the attaching or fixing of such a heavy and bulky article to a wall
or a ceiling could not be performed by a single person in many
cases, and it required the help of one or more additional
laborers.
The description will hereunder be directed to the device of the
present invention by referring to the drawings.
The attachment assisting device of the first embodiment of the
present invention is used in the attachment, to a horizontal
ceiling, of a heavy and bulky electric illuminating appliance
equipped with lighting fittings 1 and 2 as stated above. In FIG. 1,
reference numeral 5 represents a straight tubular member carrying
the said illuminating appliance at one end and having two holes 11
and 11 formed diametrically through the other end, and having an
electric cable 6 running through this tubular member 5 for
connecting the electric bulb (not shown) which is housed within the
body 1a to a power source. A flange 7 is mounted on the tubular
member 5 for sliding on the external circumference of this straight
tubular member 5. A suspension ring 8 which is a part of the device
is passed through the two holes 11 and 11 of the tubular member 5
in the manner as shown in FIG. 3. As best seen in FIG. 2, a power
source box 9 is fixed to the horizontal ceiling. A hook 10 which
constitutes the remainder of the attachment assisting device of the
present invention extends downwardly from the base of the box 9
inside thereof. The suspension ring 8 may be made from a coil of
steel wire or with any other appropriate flexible and strong
material. Numeral 12 represents a fastening means such as a bolt
and a nut for fixing the flange 7 to the box 9 via a gasket 16.
Numeral 13 represents a screw for fixing the flange 7, at a desired
portion of the circumference of the tube 5, via the cylindrical
slidable portion 7a of the flange.
The heavy and bulky illuminating appliance is connected to the
power source box 9 in a simplified and easy manmer by a single
operator as follows. First, the screw 13 of the flange 7 is
loosened to lower, via the cylindrical portion 7a, the flange 7
which is mounted on the tubular member 5. Then, the suspension ring
8 of the tubular member 5 is hung from the hook 10 so that this
tubular member 5 carrying the entire illuminating appliance at its
lower end is suspended by these two members 8 and 10 from the hook
10. It should be understood that, during the operation of
suspending the tubular member 5 from the box 9 by having the
suspension ring 8 engaged by the hook 10, frictional resistance is
produced between the ring 8 and the holes 11, 11 and therefore the
ring 8 will be held stationary at the desired position without
causing any rotation thereof, as it depends downwardly from the
hook 10. The terminals of the cable or cord 6 are then connected to
the corresponding terminals of the cable or cord not shown of the
power source box 9. Finally, the flange 7 is applied to the
appropriate position of the lower face of the box 9 and is
connected thereto by the fastening means 12. In this manner the
heavy and bulky illuminating appliance equipped with lighting
fittings 1 and 2 is attached.
According to the first embodiment, a suspension ring is provided at
one end portion of a tube carrying, at its other end, a heavy and
bulky electric illuminating appliance, and a supporting hook is
affixed to the inside of a power source box so that first said ring
is engaged by the hook and then the flange which is slidably
mounted on the tube is fastened to the power source box. Thus, the
operator can connect the cable of the electric bulb to the power
source box and then the flange can be attached, after the
illuminating appliance is suspended from the box. Accordingly, the
entire attachment operation can be accomplished by a single
operator. Furthermore the weight of the appliance is supported by
the hook in this instance. Therefore, the flange as well as the
fastening means such as bolts and nuts provided on the flange are
free of the load of the appliance, and thus a highly safe
attachment is obtained.
Next, a description of the second embodiment will be made in which
a heavy and/or bulky article is fixed to a vertical wall surface.
For the sake of simplicity of explanation, the heavy and bulky
article which is attached to the vertical wall is the same electric
illuminating appliance equipped with lighting fittings fo use with
an explosive gas atmosphere bulb as the one used in the first
embodiment. Therefore, its detailed explanation is omitted. The
only difference relating to this appliance is found in the tube
provided on top of the appliance. In this second embodiment, this
tube 50 has a circular cross section and has a bent portion 50a
formed adjacent to its main portion so that the illuminating
appliance depends vertically downwardly from end of said bent
portion of the tube. As in the first embodiment, a flange 80 is
slidably mounted on the tube 50. An electric cord 60 is passed
through this tube 50 in the same manner as described above. This
cord 60, however, is led outside this tube 50 from an opening 70
formed through the wall of this tube at a position close to the
free end thereof. A suspension ring 90 which may be made from a
coil of steel wire is passed through two holes 130 and 130 formed
diametrically through the tube 50 near the free end of the latter.
A power source box 100 which is fixed to a vertical wall therealong
is provided additionally at its center with a projection 110 which
extends at right angle relative to the base of the box. In FIG. 5,
this projection is seen to extend horizontally. This projection 110
is of an appropriate shape and diameter to be snugly received by
the open end of the tube 50. A hook 120 extends from the base of
the box 100 at a site near the projection 110. Numeral 140
represents a fastening means such as a bolt and a nut for
connecting the flange 80 to the power source box 100. Numeral 150
represents a screw for attaching the slidable annular cylindric
portion 80a of the flange 80 onto the desired site of the external
circumference of the tube 50.
When it is intended to attach or fix the illuminating appliance to
the power source box 100, the operator is required first to loosen
the screw 150 of the flange 80 to shift the position of the flange
80 away from the open end of the tube 50, and then to mount the
open end of the tube 50 onto the projection 110 in the manner shown
in FIG. 5. Thereafter, the suspension ring 90 is brought into
engagement with the hook 120. Then, the terminals of the electric
cord 60 drawn out from the opening 70 of the tube 50 are connected
to the electric source terminals of the box 100. Finally, the
flange 80 is applied to the box 100 and is fastened thereto by the
fastening means 140 and 140. With this, the heavy and bulky
electric illuminating appliance is completely connected to the box
100.
In this way, a heavy and/or bulky article can be attached securely
to a vertical wall easily by a single person. Moreover, the
engagement between the tubular member and the power source box
projection extending from the vertical wall, and also the
engagement between the suspension ring and the hook prevent casual
detachment of the tubular member from the box after the attachment
of the illuminating appliance. Furthermore, the flange is free of
any load of the appliance. Thus, a highly safe attachment is
obtained.
Though not shown, the supporting member and the engaging member of
the attachment assisting device of the present invention need not
be a suspension ring and a hook. They may also be, for example,
threaded end portions of a male and female pair of tubular members.
Various other modifications of these two members may be conceived
by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of
the present invention.
Also, the projection formed in the box may be annular having an
inner diameter to receive the open end of the tube, or it may have
a threaded end portion to be threadably received in or threadably
receive the threaded open end portion of tube.
The open end portion of the tube need not have a circular cross
section of its open end portion, and may have sides. In such a
case, the holes for the suspension ring may be formed through two
of the sides, and the projections should have a cross sectional
shape complimentary to the cross sectional shape of the tube.
* * * * *