US 5,253,152 AGranted

Lightweight plug-in fluorescent lamp assembly

OwnerThien S. Yang, Gin P. Soinventors

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Abstract

A plug-in fluorescent lamp assembly including a lightweight (e.g. plastic) light box that is adapted to either rest upon the existing support grid of a conventional false ceiling in a flush mounted arrangement or be attached directly to the ceiling in a surface mounted arrangement. The lamp assembly comprises a prewired electrical receptacle that is fixedly connected to the light box. Formed at one end of the receptacle is a socket at which the pins of one or more fluorescent tubes are to be removably received. Located at the opposite end of the receptacle is a terminal block that is to be detachably connected to a commercially available electronic ballast by which to drive the fluorescent tubes. By virtue of the plug-in or modular characteristics of the lamp assembly herein described, either a fluorescent tube and/or the ballast may be easily removed and quickly replaced in the event of failure without having to remove the light box from the ceiling or disturb the wiring of the receptacle.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A lighting assembly including at least one fluorescent tube and comprising:

an electrical receptacle having a socket in which to detachably receive the pins of the fluorescent tube and first electrical terminal means, said receptacle also having a first set of electrical conductors extending between said first terminal means and said socket;
and
an electronic ballast having electrical terminal means which is detachably connected to the first terminal means of said electrical receptacle for completing an electrical path by way of the first set of electrical conductors of said receptacle for driving the fluorescent tube,
said electrical receptacle also having second terminal means connected to power lines from a source of power and a second set of electrical conductors extending between the first and second terminal means of said receptacle to complete an electrical path from said source to energize said electronic ballast when the terminal means of said ballast is detachably connected to the first terminal means of said receptacle, the second terminal means of said electrical receptacle including contact means to which said second set of electrical conductors are fixedly connected, said contact means having pivotable gripping jaws at which the power lines from the power source are detachably connected.

1 more element

A detachable fluorescent lighting assembly including at least one fluorescent tube and comprising:

an electronic ballast having electrical terminal means to receive power supplied from a source thereof;
and
an electrical receptacle having a socket in which to detachably receive the pins of the fluorescent tube, first electrical terminal means to be detachably connected to the terminal means of said electronic ballast, a first set of electrical conductors extending between said first terminal means and said socket to complete an electrical path from said ballast to the fluorescent tube to drive said tube, second terminal means detachably connected to the source of power by way of power lines, and a second set of electrical conductors extending between said first and second terminal means to complete an electrical path from said source to said ballast and thereby energize said ballast, the second terminal means of said electrical receptacle including contact means to which said second set of electrical conductors are fixedly connected, said contact means having pivotable a gripping jaws at which the power lines from the power source are detachably connected, such that said receptacle can be disconnected from said source when the power lines are detached from the contact means of said second terminal means.

A detachable fluorescent lighting assembly including at least one fluorescent tube and comprising:

an electrical receptacle having a socket in which to detachably receive the pins of the fluorescent tube and first electrical terminal means, said receptacle also having a first set of electrical conductors extending between said first terminal means and said socket;
an electronic ballast having electrical terminal means which is detachably connected to the first terminal means of said electrical receptacle for completing an electrical path by way of the first act of electrical conductors of said receptacle for driving the fluorescent tube;
a light box within which said electrical receptacle, said electronic ballast and the fluorescent tube are received, said receptacle being fixedly attached to said light box, and said ballast and fluorescent tube being detachable from said receptacle and removable from said light box;
and
a frame surrounding said light box and means by which to detachably connect said frame to said light box, said means to detachably connect said frame to said light box including a first plurality of locking members around a periphery of said frame and a second plurality of locking members around a periphery of said light box, said first and second pluralities of locking members being movable into interlocking engagement with one another when said frame surrounds said light box.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/766,190Filed 12 Aug 1991
Granted: 12 Oct 1993
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

F21V 23/02
Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices: the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a…
F21S 8/02
Lighting devices intended for fixed installation: of recess-mounted type, e.g. downlighters
F21V 15/01
Protecting lighting devices from damage: housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts
F21V 19/0095
Of tubular light sources, e.g. ring-shaped fluorescent light sources: of U-shaped tubular light sources, e.g. compact fluorescent tubes