System and method for leveling suspended lighting fixtures and a longitudunal axis
AssigneeLinear Lighting Corp.
InventorArkady Orlov
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cable suspension system for linear lighting fixtures simplifies installation procedures by providing a simple leveling adjustment compensation for weight imbalance about a longitudinal axis of the lighting fixture. A suspension cable is fixed in a bore of a cable fitting, with the cable fitting being mounted to a bracket which pivots relative to the fixture. The pivot axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fixture. The angle of the bracket is adjusted relative to the fixture is adjusted such that the fixture as a whole hangs horizontally level.
Claims20
A method of suspending an object from a cable, the cable having an upper end and a lower end, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) fixing the upper end of the cable to a support,
- b) fixing the cable to the object at a point adjacent the lower end of the cable, and
- c) horizontally leveling a reference plane extending through the object by imparting a curve, bow or bend to the cable adjacent the point where the cable is fixed to the object.
A moment balanced suspended lighting fixture assembly, the assembly comprising a lighting fixture, a reference plane extending through the lighting fixture, a cable extending downwardly from a support, the lighting fixture being positioned beneath the support and being suspended from the cable, a cable anchor associated with the lighting fixture, a lower end portion of the cable being retained in the cable anchor, the retained portion of the cable extending generally along an axis other than vertical with the reference plane being horizontal.
A system for horizontally leveling a suspended lighting fixture, the fixture having a reference plane, an axis and unequal weight distribution about the axis, the system comprising a cable anchor and a bracket, the cable anchor having a bore for receiving an end portion of a suspension cable, the cable anchor being seated in the bracket, the bracket being pivotable relative to the reference plane about a pivot axis which is parallel to the fixture axis to compensate for a moment imbalance about the fixture axis due to the unequal weight distribution.
A method of leveling a lighting fixture suspended from at least one cable, the lighting fixture having a reference plane extending therethrough, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) fixing a lower end of the cable to a portion of the lighting fixture which is movable relative to the reference plane, and
- b) adjustably moving the movable portion of the lighting fixture relative to the reference plane until the reference plane is horizontally level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.