# US 8,465,182 B1 · Apparatus and method for retro-fitting a recessed light fixture into an existing ceiling mounted assembly or penetration > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,465,182 B1 - Document ID: US8465182B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 12/870,360 - Filed: 2010-08-27 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2010-08-27 - Assignees: Cooper Technologies Company - Applicants: Jared Michael Davis; Russell Bryant Green - Inventors: Jared Michael Davis; Russell Bryant Green - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465182B1 ## CPC - F21V 21/042: {using clamping means, e.g. for clamping with panel or wall} - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED ## Abstract A recessed light fixture has a plurality of fasteners for securing a can or top hat of the recessed light fixture to a substrate, e.g., sheetrock ceiling and/or open frame mounting plate. Each of the plurality of fasteners comprise a clevis bracket, a clevis hook having perpendicular tabs that rotatably attach the clevis hook to the clevis bracket. When the recessed light fixture is inserted into an opening of the substrate, the clevis hooks rotate out of the way into slots in a wall of the recessed light fixture can. Once the clevis hooks clear the substrate, the clevis hooks rotate back through the wall of the recessed light fixture can. Then the clevis brackets are slideably moved toward the substrate, whereby gripping portions of the clevis hooks will engage the substrate and thereby hold the recessed light fixture to the substrate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for securing a recessed light fixture to a substrate, comprising: a plurality of fastening assemblies, each of the plurality of fastening assembles comprising a clevis bracket, and a clevis hook having tabs perpendicular to and at a proximal end thereof, wherein the tabs are rotateably attached to a proximal end of the clevis bracket; a can, the can comprising a tubular shaped wall, a flange attached to a proximal end of the tubular shaped wall and substantially perpendicular thereto, and slots adapted to allow each of a gripping portion of the clevis hooks to pass therethrough; and a fastener for each of the clevis brackets, wherein the fasteners slideably couple the clevis brackets to the tubular shaped wall; wherein when the can passes through an opening in a substrate the clevis hooks are positioned axially to the tubular shaped wall until the clevis hooks clear the substrate, then the gripping portions of the clevis hooks pass through the slots in the tubular shaped wall of the can, and the clevis brackets are slideably positioned along the tubular shaped wall toward the substrate so that the gripping portions of the clevis hooks engage a back face of the substrate while the flange engages a front face of the substrate, thereby holding the recessed light fixture in the substrate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising ridges on the clevis bracket for resisting bending thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the ridges are substantially perpendicular to a face of the clevis bracket for stiffening purposes thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the clevis hooks are U-shaped. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein rotation of the clevis hooks are limited so that clevis hooks remain substantially perpendicular to an external face of the tubular shaped wall upon engaging the substrate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flange is coterminous with a face of the substrate when the gripping portions of the clevis hooks engage the substrate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gripping portions of the clevis hooks have serrated ridges thereon. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the fasteners comprise a bolt and a wing nut. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the bolt fits inside of an elongated slot in the clevis bracket. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the can is adapted for a light emitting diode (LED) module. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the clevis bracket and clevis hook are made of metal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the can is made of metal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a sheetrock ceiling. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the substrate further comprises a an open frame mounting plate at a back face of the sheetrock ceiling. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening in the substrate is from about five inches to about eight inches in diameter. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of fastening assemblies are three fastening assemblies. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the three fastening assemblies are equidistantly spaced apart. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the three fastening assemblies are spaced at various distances so as to avoid obstructions. ### Claim 19 A method for securing a recessed light fixture into a substrate, said method comprising the steps of: inserting a recessed light fixture can having a plurality of fastening assemblies into an opening in a substrate, each of the plurality of fastening assemblies comprises a clevis bracket and a clevis hook, wherein the clevis hook is rotatably attached to a proximal end of the clevis bracket; rotating the clevis hooks to a substantially parallel orientation within a wall of the recessed light fixture can so that the clevis hooks pass through and beyond the opening in the substrate; stopping travel of the recessed light fixture can into the opening in the substrate when a flange attached to a proximal end of the recessed light fixture can that is coterminous with a face of the substrate; moving the clevis brackets slideably toward the substrate until gripping portions of the clevis hooks engage an edge of the opening at the substrate; and locking the clevis brackets to the wall of the recessed light fixture can, thereby holding the recessed light fixture can in the substrate. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, wherein the step of moving the clevis brackets slideably toward the substrate include the step of rotating the clevis hooks out through slots in the wall of the recessed light fixture can so that the gripping portions of the clevis hooks will engage the edge of the opening in the substrate. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, wherein the step of locking the clevis brackets to the wall of the recessed light fixture can comprise the step of tightening bolts and wing nuts to secure the clevis brackets to the wall.