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US 5,588,737 AGranted
Modular recessed lighting system
AssigneeThomas Industries, Inc.
InventorRaymond J. Kusmer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A recessed light fixture includes a neuter plaster frame with which is attached components to customize the fixture to specific installations. The components include a junction box with a face plate attachable thereto that has different electrical elements mounted thereon, such as transformer and thermal protectors, a ballast mounting plate that fastens onto the plaster frame by an arrangement of legs and spring clips, and a trim ring that accommodates to the thickness of the ceiling. The bulb socket is held in a socket cup that is fitted with different socket holders depending on the size and shape of the socket, and the hanger bars for the supporting the plaster frame in the ceiling are adaptable for mounting on wood joists or metal suspended ceiling grids.
Claims16
A modular recessed light fixture, comprising:
- a plaster frame defining a major plane;
- a junction box mounted on said plaster frame, said junction box defining a first face;
- means for selectively attaching a junction face plate at said first face of said junction box, said means for selectively attaching comprises a recess in said plaster frame, said recess lying in said major plane;
- and
- a junction face plate selectively attachable at said first face by said means for selectively attaching, a tab on said junction face plate for selective insertion into said recess in said major plane of said plaster frame, said junction face plate including means for adapting said junction box to an installation configuration wherein said installation configuration comprises a component selected from the group comprising:
- a transformer, a thermal protector, a ballast and a conduit connector.
3 more elements
A hanger bar for a recessed light fixture for mounting on a ceiling tile grid, comprising:
- an elongated shaft having first and second ends;
- an end mounting plate at said first end of said elongated shaft, said end mounting plate defining a clearance that is selectively positionable on a grid member of the ceiling tile grid,
- means for affixing said end mounting plate to a planar face of a ceiling joist, said means affixing being on said end mounting plate;
- and
- an extension on said mounting plate an said clearance, said extension engaging the grid member when said end mounting plate is moved from a first position to a second position relative to said elongated shaft, said end mounting plate being in said first position when generally at a right angle to said elongated shaft and said end mounting plate being in said second position when generally parallel to an axial direction of said elongated shaft, said means for affixing being in a position to mount on a planar face of a ceiling joist when in said first position and being in a position incapable of mounting on a planar face of a ceiling joist when in said second position.
2 more elements
A hanger bar for a recessed light fixture for mounting on a ceiling tile grid, comprising:
- an elongated shaft having first and second ends;
- an end mounting plate at said first end of said elongated shaft, said end mounting plate defining a clearance that is selectively positionable on a grid member of the ceiling tile grid, and
- an extension on said mounting plate at said clearance, said extension engaging the grid member when said end mounting plate is moved from a first position to a second position relative to said elongated shaft wherein said end mounting plate is in said first position when generally at a right angle to said elongated shaft and said end mounting plate is in said second position when generally parallel to an axial direction of said elongated shaft wherein said bending location defines an opening in said hanger bar between said shaft and said end mounting plate.
A hanger bar for a recessed light fixture for mounting on a ceiling tile grid, comprising:
- an elongated shaft having first and second ends;
- an end mounting plate at said first end of said elongated shaft, said end mounting plate defining a clearance that is selectively positionable on a grid member of the ceiling tile grid, and
- an extension on said mounting plate at said clearance, said extension engaging the grid member when said end mounting plate is moved from a first position to a second position relative to said elongated shaft wherein said end mounting plate is in said first position when generally at a right angle to said elongated shaft and said end mounting plate is in said second position when generally parallel to an axial direction of said elongated shaft wherein said end mounting plate is substantially symmetrical relative to an axis of said elongate shaft, said clearance being a first clearance, and further comprising:
- a second clearance defined in said end mounting plate at a position opposite said first clearance relative to said axis, said hanger bar being mountable with either of said first and second clearances on a member of a ceiling grid.
1 more element
A recessed light fixture for mounting supporting a light reflector above an opening in a ceiling, comprising:
- an annular projection extending at a substantially right angle from said plaster frame for extending into the opening in the ceiling;
- means defining a plurality of slots in said plaster frame at intervals about said opening in said plaster frame;
- a trim ring for mounting at the opening in the ceiling, said trim ring having planar portion for mounting abutting the ceiling and parallel to a plane of the ceiling;
- and
- plurality of tabs extending from said trim ring in a direction perpendicular to said planar portion and perpendicular to the ceiling, said plurality of tabs corresponding in number and position to said plurality of slots so that said tabs are insertable through said slots, said tabs being capable of being bent over to hold said trim ring in position relative to said plaster frame, said tabs being insertable to an extent to accommodate different ceiling thicknesses.
2 more elements
A modular recessed lighting system for supporting a bulb and reflector at a ceiling opening, comprising:
- a plaster frame formed of sheet metal and defining a reflector opening for mounting in registration with the ceiling opening and at which the reflector is mounted;
- a junction box mounted on said plaster frame, said junction box defining a first face;
- means for selectively attaching a junction face plate at said first face of said junction box;
- and
- a junction face plate selectively attachable at said first face by said means for selectively attaching, said junction face plate including means for adapting said junction box to an installation configuration wherein said installation configuration comprises a component selected from the group comprising:
- a transformer, a thermal protector, a ballast and a conduit connector;
- means for adjustable mounting hanger bars to said plaster frame;
- hanger bars each having:
- an elongated shaft having first and second ends;
- an end mounting plate at said first end of said elongated shaft, said end mounting plate defining a clearance that is selectively positionable on a grid member of the ceiling tile grid, and
- an extension on said end mounting plate at said clearance, said extension engaging the grid member when said end mounting plate is moved from a first position to a second position relative to said elongated shaft;
- means defining a plurality of slots in said plaster frame at intervals about said opening in said plaster frame;
- a trim ring for mounting at the opening in the ceiling;
- and
- plurality of tabs extending from said trim ring, said plurality of tabs corresponding in number and position to said plurality of slots so that said tabs are insertable through said slots, said tabs being capable of being bent over to hold said trim ring in position relative to said plaster frame, said tabs being insertable to an extent to accommodate different ceiling thicknesses.
12 more elements
A junction box for use with a light fixture, comprising:
- a box body having an open face;
- a spring clip at a first side of said open face;
- means defining a recess a second side of said open face, said second side being opposite to said first side;
- a face plate selectively mountable on said open face, said face plate having a tab that is inserted into said recess when said face plate is mounted on said open face, said spring clip engaging said face plate when said face plate is mounted on said open face, said face plate defining an opening;
- an auxiliary junction box mounted at said opening in said face plate, said auxiliary junction box having an open face for positioning in registration with said opening in said face plate, an engaging tab extending from adjacent a first end of said open face of said auxiliary junction box, said engaging tab being insertable through said opening in said face plate to hold said auxiliary junction box onto said face plate;
- and
- a fastener adjacent a second end of said open face of said auxiliary junction box, said second end being opposite said first end, said fastener extending into engagement with said face plate.
4 more elements
A recessed light fixture, comprising:
- a plaster frame of sheet metal, a pair of louver-shaped openings formed in said plaster frame generally in a line with one another, an upwardly extending member on said plaster frame spaced from said louver-shaped openings and defining a clip receiving opening;
- a ballast mounting plate having a lower edge,
- a pair of angled first legs on said lower edge arranged so as to be insertable into said louver-shaped openings,
- a second leg extending in a direction opposite said pair of angled first legs, said second leg bearing against a surface of said plaster frame when said first legs are inserted into said louver-shaped openings;
- a clip on said ballast mounting plate, said clip engaging said clip receiving opening when said first legs are inserted into said louver-shaped openings to hold said ballast mounting plate on said plaster frame.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.