# US 10,371,362 B2 · Runway fixture ring

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- Number: US 10,371,362 B2
- Document ID: US10371362B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/639,453
- Filed: 2017-06-30
- Published: 2017-10-19
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-10-26
- Assignees: Salstan Enterprises, Inc.
- Applicants: Salstan Enterprises, Inc.
- Inventors: Abel Alex Salazar; Stanley L. Stosel
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371362B2

## CPC

- F21V 21/14: Adjustable mountings
- B64F 1/205: {arranged underground, e.g. underground runway lighting units}
- F21S 8/022: {intended to be recessed in a floor or like ground surface, e.g. pavement or false floor}
- F21S 8/032: {the surface being a floor or like ground surface, e.g. pavement}
- F21V 21/04: Recessed bases
- F21W 2111/06: for aircraft runways or the like
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B64F: GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING OR REPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS

## Abstract

A method and device for easily installing and removing an airport light on a runway using a fixture ring having a base ring; an annular lip operatively connected to and extending radially inwardly from the base ring; a lift bar operatively connected to the annular lip and extending from one side to the diametrically opposite side of the annular lip; and an extractor, operatively connecting the lift bar to the annular lip to cause the lift bar to move up and down relative to the annular lip.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fixture ring for seating runway lights, the fixture ring comprising:
a. a base ring defined by a top, a bottom opposite the top, an outer perimeter, and an inner perimeter, the base ring defining a central axis and a base ring inner diameter, wherein the top comprises a slot slanting towards the inner perimeter and the bottom, a cutout that lowers a height of the base ring at the cutout, and a plurality of through-holes intermittently and angularly spaced apart about the outer perimeter, the through-holes extending from the top of the base ring to the bottom of the base ring and parallel to the central axis;
b. an annular lip extending radially inwardly from the inner perimeter of the base ring, the annular lip defining an annular lip inner diameter, wherein the annular lip inner diameter is smaller than the base ring inner diameter, the annular lip defining a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and an inner perimeter surface, wherein the top surface of the annular lip comprises a first through-hole and a second through-hole, each through-hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface of the annular lip, wherein the first and the second through-holes of the annular lip are located at diametrically opposite sides, wherein the top surface of the annular lip further comprises a locating peg protruding upwardly towards the top of the base ring and parallel to the central axis;
c. a spacer projecting away from the top and bottom of the base ring, the spacer comprising a threaded channel extending therethrough, the threaded channel parallel to the central axis, and the threaded channel aligned with one of the first or second through-holes of the annular lip;
d. a lift bar operatively connected to the spacer, the lift bar comprising a top side, a bottom side opposite the top side, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end, a first through-hole of the lift bar adjacent to the first end and extending from the top side of the lift bar to the bottom side of the lift bar, and a second through-hole of the lift bar adjacent to the second end and extending from the top side of the lift bar to the bottom side of the lift bar; and
e. a bolt insertable through the first through-hole of the annular lip, the threaded channel of the first spacer, and the first through-hole of the lift bar, wherein rotation of the bolt in a first direction causes the lift bar to rise up towards the base ring, and rotation of the bolt in a second direction causes the lift bar to descend away from the base ring.

### Claim 2

A fixture ring for seating runway lights, the fixture ring comprising:
a. a base ring defined by a top, a bottom opposite the top, an outer perimeter, and an inner perimeter, the base ring defining a central axis and a base ring inner diameter;
b. an annular lip extending radially inwardly from the base ring to the central axis, the annular lip defining an annular lip inner diameter, wherein the annular lip inner diameter is smaller than the base ring inner diameter, the annular lip defining a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and an inner perimeter surface;
c. a lift bar operatively connected to the annular lip, the lift bar having a top side, a bottom side opposite the top side, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end, wherein a distance from the first end to the second end defines a length, wherein the length of the lift bar spans at least the annual lip diameter; and
d. an extractor, operatively connecting the lift bar to the annular lip to cause the lift bar to move up and down relative to the annular lip.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The fixture ring of claim 2, wherein the top of the base ring comprises a slot slanting towards the inner perimeter and the bottom.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The fixture ring of claim 2, wherein the base ring comprises a cutout that lowers a height of the base ring at the cutout.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

That fixture ring of claim 2, wherein the base ring comprises a plurality of through-holes intermittently and angularly spaced apart about the outer perimeter, the through-holes extending from the top to the bottom and parallel to the central axis.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The fixture ring of claim 2, wherein the top surface of the annular lip comprises a locating peg protruding upwardly towards the top of the base ring and parallel to the central axis.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The fixture ring of claim 2, wherein the top surface of the annular lip comprises a through-hole, the through-hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface of the annular lip.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The fixture ring of claim 7, further comprising a spacer operatively connected to the annular lip and projecting away from the base ring, wherein the spacer comprises a channel extending therethrough, the channel parallel to the central axis, and the channel aligned with the through-hole of the annular lip.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The fixture ring of claim 2, wherein the lift bar extends substantially from a first through-hole of the annular lip to a second through-hole of the annular lip located on a diametrically opposite side of the first through-hole of the annular lip, wherein a first through-hole of the lift bar adjacent to the first end is aligned with the first through-hole of the annular lip, and a second through-hole of the lift bar adjacent to the second end is aligned with the second through-hole of the annular lip.

### Claim 10 (depends on 2)

The fixture ring of claim 2, wherein the extractor is a bolt insertable through a through-hole of the annular lip and a through-hole of the lift bar, wherein rotation of the bolt in a first direction causes the lift bar to rise up towards the base ring, and rotation of the bolt in a second direction causes the lift bar to descend away from the base ring.

### Claim 11 (depends on 2)

The fixture ring of claim 2, further comprising a first spacer and a second spacer operatively connected to the annular lip on diametrically opposite sides, wherein the first spacer comprises a first channel and the second spacer comprises a second channel, wherein the first channel of the first spacer is aligned with a first through-hole of the annular lip and a first through-hole of the lift bar, and the second channel of the second spacer is aligned with a second through-hole of the annular lip and a second through-hole of the lift bar.

### Claim 12

A method of installing and replacing lighting on runway, comprising:
a. securing a fixture ring onto a can, wherein the fixture ring comprises a base ring defined by a top, a bottom opposite the top, an outer perimeter, and an inner perimeter, the base ring defining a central axis and a base ring inner diameter; an annular lip operatively connected to and extending radially inwardly from the inner perimeter of the base ring, the annular lip defining an annular lip inner diameter, wherein the annular lip inner diameter is smaller than the base ring inner diameter, the annular lip defining a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and an inner perimeter surface; a lift bar operatively connected to the annular lip, the lift bar having a top side, a bottom side opposite the top side, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end, wherein a distance from the first and to the second end defines a length, wherein the length of the lift bar spans at least the annular lip inner diameter; and an extractor, operatively connecting the lift bar to the annular lip to cause the lift bar to move up and down relative to the annular lip;
b. placing a runway light onto the fixture ring, the runway light having a top and a bottom.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein if the top of the runway light is not flush with the top of the base ring, further comprising using the extractor to adjust the lift bar until the top of the runway light is flush with the top of the base ring.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising using the extractor to raise the lift bar until the top of the runway lights is sufficiently exposed to gain leverage for removing the runway light.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the top of the base ring comprises a slot for inserting a tool when the top of the runway light is sufficiently exposed to gain leverage for removing the runway light.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the extractor comprises a threaded outer surface such that rotation of the extractor in a first direction causes the lift bar to raise and rotation of the extractor in a second direction opposite the first direction causes the lift bar to lower.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the fixture ring further comprise a spacer separating the lift bar from the annular lip.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the spacer comprises a threaded channel to receive the extractor.