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US 12,352,405 B2Granted
Adjustable electrical apparatus with hangar bars for installation in a building
AssigneeDMF, Inc.
InventorMichael D. Danesh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A junction box having a cavity to contain electrical wires that provide a connection to a building mains voltage from an electrical system of a building is coupled to a plurality of telescoping hanger bars to hold the junction box in a wall or ceiling in the building. Each telescoping hanger bar is extendible and/or retractable to vary a length of the hanger bar. A position of the junction box is adjustable along the length of each telescoping hanger bar. In one example, the apparatus does not include a can, separate from the junction box, to contain a lighting device of a recessed lighting assembly.
Claims20
An apparatus for a recessed lighting fixture, the apparatus comprising:
- an outer casing, comprising:
- a cylindrical side wall having a lower edge defining a circular opening and an upper edge, the lower edge having no tabs that extend inward towards a center vertical axis of the outer casing;
- a closed base end joined to the upper edge of the side wall, the side wall and the closed base end together defining a cavity configured to contain at least one light emitting diode (LED), electrical wires from an external power source carrying at least one of 120 VAC or 277 VAC power, and connectors to electrically couple the electrical wires to the at least one LED;
- a first plurality of knockouts disposed on the closed base end, each knockout of the first plurality of knockouts having a circular shape;
- a second plurality of knockouts disposed on the close base end, each knockout of the second plurality of knockouts having a slot;
- and
- a third plurality of knockouts disposed on the side wall closer to the upper edge than the lower edge,
- wherein the outer casing has a height less than 5 inches;
- a first hangar bar assembly coupled to the side wall of the outer casing, the first hangar bar assembly comprising:
- a first hangar holder having a first vertically oriented slot;
- a first attachment mechanism, inserted through the first vertically oriented slot, to directly couple the first hangar holder to the side wall of the outer casing such that:
- the outer casing is movable with respect to the first hangar holder along a vertical direction;
- lateral movement of the outer casing relative to the first hangar holder is restricted;
- and
- the outer casing is lockable at any position along the first vertically oriented slot by the first attachment mechanism;
- and
- a first pair of hangar bars slidably coupled to the first hangar holder such that the first hangar holder and the outer casing are movable relative to the first pair of hangar bars along a horizontal direction, the first pair of hangar bars being telescopically slidable along the horizontal direction, each hangar bar of the first pair of hangar bars comprising:
- an integrally formed mounting block with a hole;
- and
- a fastener inserted through the hole to directly couple the hangar bar to a joist or a t-bar;
- and
- a second hangar bar assembly coupled to the side wall of the outer casing opposite to the first hangar bar assembly, the second hangar bar assembly comprising:
- a second hangar holder having a second vertically oriented slot;
- a second attachment mechanism, inserted through the second vertically oriented slot, to directly couple the second hangar holder to the side wall of the outer casing such that:
- the outer casing is movable with respect to the second hangar holder along the vertical direction;
- lateral movement of the outer casing relative to the second hangar holder is restricted;
- and
- the outer casing is lockable at any position along the second vertically oriented slot by the second attachment mechanism;
- and
- a second pair of hangar bars slidably coupled to the second hangar holder such that the second hangar holder and the outer casing are movable relative to the second pair of hangar bars along the horizontal direction, the second pair of hangar bars being telescopically slidable along the horizontal direction, each hangar bar of the second pair of hangar bars comprising:
- an integrally formed mounting block with a hole;
- and
- a fastener inserted through the hole to directly couple the hangar bar to a joist or a t-bar,
- wherein the apparatus does not include a separate junction box.
31 more elements
An apparatus for a recessed lighting fixture, the apparatus comprising:
- an outer casing formed from steel, the outer casing comprising:
- a cylindrical side wall having a lower edge defining a circular opening and an upper edge, the lower edge having no tabs that extend inward towards a center vertical axis of the outer casing, the lower edge comprising:
- a first notch;
- and
- a second notch disposed diametrically opposite to the first notch;
- a closed base end joined to the upper edge of the side wall, the side wall and the closed base end together defining a cavity configured to contain at least one light emitting diode (LED), electrical wires from an external power source carrying at least one of 120 VAC or 277 VAC power, and connectors to electrically couple the electrical wires to the at least one LED;
- a first plurality of knockouts disposed on the closed base end, each knockout of the first plurality of knockouts having a circular shape;
- a second plurality of knockouts disposed on the close base end, each knockout of the second plurality of knockouts having a slot;
- and
- a third plurality of knockouts disposed on the side wall closer to the upper edge than the lower edge;
- and
- a pair of fasteners inserted through corresponding openings on the closed base end such that a portion of each fastener protrudes from an exterior surface of the closed base end,
- wherein the outer casing has a height less than 5 inches;
- a first hangar bar assembly coupled to the side wall of the outer casing, the first hangar bar assembly comprising:
- a first hangar holder having a first vertically oriented slot and a first portion that conforms to a shape of the side wall;
- a first attachment mechanism to directly couple the first hangar holder to the side wall of the outer casing such that:
- the outer casing is movable with respect to the first hangar holder along a vertical direction;
- and
- lateral movement of the outer casing relative to the first hangar holder is restricted,
- the first attachment mechanism comprising:
- a first screw inserted through the first vertically oriented slot;
- and
- a first nut directly coupled to the first screw and disposed in the cavity of the outer casing, the first nut, when tightened, locking the outer casing to a first position along the first vertically oriented slot;
- and
- a first pair of hangar bars slidably coupled to the first hangar holder such that the first hangar holder and the outer casing are movable relative to the first pair of hangar bars along a horizontal direction, the first pair of hangar bars being telescopically slidable along the horizontal direction, each hangar bar of the first pair of hangar bars comprising:
- an integrally formed mounting block with a hole;
- and
- a fastener inserted through the hole to directly couple the hangar bar to a joist or a t-bar;
- and
- a second hangar bar assembly coupled to the side wall of the outer casing opposite to the first hangar bar assembly, the second hangar bar assembly comprising:
- a second hangar holder having a second vertically oriented slot and a second portion that conforms to the shape of the side wall;
- a second attachment mechanism to directly couple the second hangar holder to the side wall of the outer casing such that:
- the outer casing is movable with respect to the second hangar holder along the vertical direction;
- and
- lateral movement of the outer casing relative to the second hangar holder is restricted,
- the second attachment mechanism comprising:
- a second screw inserted through the second vertically oriented slot;
- and
- a second nut directly coupled to the second screw and disposed in the cavity of the outer casing, the second nut, when tightened, locking the outer casing to a second position along the second vertically oriented slot;
- and
- a second pair of hangar bars slidably coupled to the second hangar holder such that the second hangar holder and the outer casing are movable relative to the second pair of hangar bars along the horizontal direction, the second pair of hangar bars being telescopically slidable along the horizontal direction, each hangar bar of the second pair of hangar bars comprising:
- an integrally formed mounting block with a hole;
- and
- a fastener inserted through the hole to directly couple the hangar bar to a joist or a t-bar,
- wherein the apparatus does not include a separate junction box.
42 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.