# US 8,783,896 B2 · Pivotable rail assembly for installing recessed lighting fixtures > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,896 B2 - Document ID: US8783896B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/915,957 - Filed: 2010-10-29 - Published: 2011-05-05 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2009-10-29 - Assignees: ABL IP Holding LLC - Applicants: Charles Tirrell; Donald Leithauser, Jr.; Christopher W. McQuillan - Inventors: Charles Tirrell; Donald Leithauser, Jr.; Christopher W. McQuillan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783896B2 ## CPC - F21V 21/04: Recessed bases - E04B 9/006: {with means for hanging lighting fixtures or other appliances to the framework of the ceiling} - E04B 9/068: {with double web} - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001}) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A lighting fixture for installation in a ceiling grid includes a lighting assembly and at least one pivotable rail assembly attached to the lighting assembly. The rail assembly includes at least one mounting bracket, a rail and a spring. The rail is pivotable relative to the at least one mounting bracket. To insert the lighting fixture into the ceiling grid, the rail is rotated relative to the mounting bracket such that the rail will clear the ceiling grid, thereby compressing the spring. The lighting fixture is inserted into the ceiling grid and the rail is released. The compression of the spring is relaxed, and the rail rotates back into its original position. The rail, now extending beyond the boundary of the ceiling grid, rests on the ceiling grid is thereby secured within the ceiling grid. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lighting fixture comprising: a lighting assembly, the lighting assembly including a frame and a light source; at least one bracket attached to the frame, the at least one bracket comprising a spring, and at least one rail assembly pivotally attached to the bracket securing the lighting assembly within a ceiling grid, wherein the at least one bracket retains the rail assembly in a first position retaining the lighting assembly in the ceiling grid, and wherein the rail assembly is pivotable from the first position to a second position for installation of the lighting assembly into the ceiling grid. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the at least one bracket and the rail assembly are formed from sheet metal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the spring comprises music wire. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the lighting assembly comprises two brackets and one rail assembly attached to the two brackets. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the lighting fixture comprises two rail assemblies and each rail assembly is attached to the frame by two brackets. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the at least one bracket, rail assembly and spring are secured with a fastener. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The lighting fixture of claim 6, wherein the fastener is a sheet metal screw. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the lighting assembly is further secured within the ceiling grid by at least one grid clip. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the lighting assembly is a fluorescent lighting assembly, a light-emitting diode light assembly or an incandescent lighting assembly. ### Claim 10 A method of installing a lighting fixture within a ceiling grid, wherein the lighting fixture comprises: a lighting assembly including a frame and a light source; at least one bracket attached to the frame, the at least one bracket including a spring; and at least one rail assembly attached to the bracket, the at least one rail assembly including a rail, the method comprising: rotating the rail of the rail assembly from a first position to a second position, thereby compressing the spring; inserting the lighting assembly into the ceiling grid such that the rail is above the ceiling grid; and releasing the rail such that the compression of the spring relaxes and causes the rail to rotate from the second position to the first position, thereby securing the lighting assembly within the ceiling grid. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one bracket and the rail are formed from sheet metal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the spring is formed from music wire. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the lighting assembly comprises two brackets and one rail assembly attached to the two brackets. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the lighting fixture comprises two rail assemblies and each rail assembly is attached to the frame by two brackets. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one bracket, rail and spring are secured with a fastener. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the fastener is a sheet metal screw. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising further securing the lighting assembly within the ceiling grid by at least one grid clip.