US2684220A - Recessed flush lighting fixture hanging bar - Google Patents

Description

July 20, 1954 S. L. BEBER ET AL 2,684,220

RECESSED FLUSH LIGHTING FIXTURE HANGING BAR Filed March l1, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 20, 1954 S. L. BEBER ET AL RECESSED FLUSH LIGHTING FIXTURE HANGING BAR Filed March ll, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 20, 1954 OFFICE RECESSED FLUSH LIGHTING FIXTURE HANGING BAR Samuel L. Beber and Jerome H. Feig, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application March 11, 1949, Serial No. 80,838

2 Claims. l

Heretofore recessed flush lighting fixtures have been formed with ilanges welded to the housing as a means of support for the fixture, the flange upon each side of the housing being nailed dieetly to stringere in the ceiling, or if such stringere are not upon proper centers, then the anges are secured to a box roughecl in and supported by the stringers, and in which the spacing eetween the flanges and the lip of the housing is such as to provide for a plaster thickness which is constant regardless of the type of construction, and any variation from an assumed thickness of plaster has in the past been compensated for by the insertion of shims and other odd pieces of Wood between the flange and the structural support therefore, regardless of whether the support is a Stringer or a roughed-in box positioned between the stringers. Obviously this method of installation is slow, expensive, unsightly, unsecure, and, depending upon local ordinances governing electrical installations of this type, cannot be employed in the nrst instance, whereby one who desires installation of a recessed ilush type nxture is deprived of the obvious advantages thereof.

In contra-distinction to the afore-described practice, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and readily installed hanger which is adapted by its nature to be attached directly and in positive union with and upon stringere in the ceiling and which hangers permit the housing of the xture to be vertically adjusted and positioned in accommodation of any thickness or" plaster,

An advantage of the invention resides in the fact that a recessed lighting fixture may now be supported in ample clearance with respect to adjacent wood supporting elements whereby free circulation of air is now possible and in mitigation of built-up or accumulated temperature which if unrestricted could attain a point high enough to cause fire.

A further advantage resides in a speed-up of the work involved in an installation of this character with an accompanying decrease in cost.

Another advantage resides in the fact that a recessed xture supported upon the hanger bars of this invention is more rigidly secured in place, there being no creeping which could possibly chafe the insulation upon the Wiring in the circuit with eventual short-circuiting a possibility.

A further advantage resides in the fact that lixtures of the type contemplated may now be adjusted laterally of the hanger bar after the bar 2 has been xedly secured in position upon a joist, and this fact comprises a denite advantage over previously used means to support a recessed lighting fixture.

Other objects, features and advantages or" the invention may be noted from the accompanying drawing, the specification, and the sub-joined claims.

In the drawing:

Figure l is an elevational view showing a recessed flush type lighting fixture positioned between two parallel and adjacent stringers and supported by the hangers of this invention,

Figure 2 is an elevational view taken along line 2 2, Figure 1 showing the hanger bars in their adjustable position upon the box of the fixture.

Figure 3 is a side-elevational view of one of the hanger bars; and

Figure 4 is a front-elevational view thereof; while Figure 5 is a top-plan view of the hanger bar.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of a portion of the xture housing, the hanger bar and an adjacent Stringer showing detail of construction and adjustability of relationship between the hanger bar and the housing of the fixture.

Figure 7 is a View taken along line l-l', Figure 2, showing the relationship between the struckout loop in the box housing and one of the supporting brackets.

Figure 8 is a side-elevational View showing a modified form of bracket support adapted to permit lateral movement of the box with respect to the bar after installation of the latter; and

Figure 9 is a top-plan view thereof'.

Figure l0 is a top-plan view of the hanger bar shown in Figures 8 and 9; and

Figure ll is a side-elevational while Figure 12 is an end view of the bar shown in Figures l0 and 11.

Figure 13 is a top-plan View of a further slightly modified form of hanger bar construction; and

Figure 14 is an end View thereof.

In the drawing the reference character lil indicates the box or housing of a recessed ilush type of lighting fixture adapted to be supported upon stringers l2 within the ceiling of the rooni in which the installation is had, and as shown, the fixture is held in fixed relationship to the stringers by means of the hanger bars i4 of this invention. The bars I4 are formed of elongate strips of steel uniform in cross section throughout their lengths, and are bent in substantial view thereof;

simulation of the letter L. Each bar has a vertical leg l formed with an elongated slot I8 while the horizontal portion or arm 20 is perforated with one or more apertures 22 to receive a nail 24 to be driven into the stringers l2 as a means of securing the hanger bar thereon. A sharply apexed tongue 26 is die struck from the arm 20 and extends parallel with the vertical leg It and provides a convenient and rapid means of, rst, iixedly centering the hanger upon the stringer, and, secondly, of temporarily securing the hanger upon the stringer by driving it thereinto, prior to driving the nail 2li as shown in Figure 6.

The flanges 28 shown in Figures l, 2 and 6 are adapted to support a reilector bowl, not shown, and these flanges are placed upon the sides 3E) and 32 of the box is at right angles to the position of the hanger-bars lil. We provide fastening or mounting means upon the sides 3G and 32 of the box to secure the hanger-bars to the box. The fastening means for each hanger bar involves a loop-shaped ear 34 which is preferably die struck from the side panel or" which the box is ultimately formed. The ear is so dimensioned as to readily receive the vertical leg le as shown in the several figures of the drawing. We also provide a screw fastener for holding the leg I6. In the case shown the side of the box and the leg have aligned openings receiving a short bolt 3E. The opening in the leg extends longitudinally thereof and is in the form of a slot i8.

ln Figures 8 to 12 inclusive, we show a modied form of hanger bar for recessed ilush lighting fixtures, here the bar has a length in excess of the width of the fixture housing, and as shown the body 2c or" the bar I3 is formed with right angled legs 22, being bent at 3B to accomplish this conguration, while each of the legs 22 is bent at 2t to form ilanges 2t which are disposed in a plane parallel with the body portion 2%). Both the flanges 25 and the body portion 2c have elongated slots 28 formed therein, and which slots are positioned in the hanger bar substantially as shown. The slots 28 in the body 2Q being adapted to receive bolts 32 from the housing lila whereby before being tightened, the housing may be adjusted laterally for centering or other alignment, while the slots 28 in the flanges 26 are adapted to receive and permit a certain amount of adjustment of the fastening means 36 prior to being driven in the joist l2 as shown in Figure 8.

Figures 13 and 14 are illustrative of a slightly modified form of hanger over that shown in Figures 8 to 12, here the slots in the flanges 25 of the hanger bar 2B are formed with open ends whereby a bar may be slid under the head of such a fastening means as the nail 36 after the nail has been centered and partially driven in the joist. The arrangement is advantageous in certain instances of construction, especially where a single workman must perform all tasks involved in an installation, and is likewise of advantage when dismounting a fixture including the hanger bars, for it is not necessary that all of deeply set nails be withdrawn prior to taking the bar down, one such withdrawal will sumce, while the opposite end of the bar is drawn from the nail after having been merely loosened.

The preceding description of our invention is believed to be such as to enable the same to be clearly understood and practiced, and from which it can be seen that regardless of width between centers in the stringere and regardless of the plaster thickness a recessed ush lighting fixture can be quickly, and easily installed with the simplest of tool and with a minimum understanding of mechanics. In practice the width of centers between stringers is quite standardized but does vary depending upon the degree of permanency of the structure and this applies in like manner to the plaster thickness, but regardless of these considerations, the arm 2Q of each of the hanger bars, of which there are four to the installation, is of such length as to span the clearance between the box side and an adjacent Stringer, while the position of the box Within the ceiling may be vertically adjusted by merely loosening the bolt 35 and raising or lowering the box along the vertical leg IE to bring the reflector supporting flange into proper alignment with the surface 46 of the plaster 42, substantially as shown in Figure 1, and thereafter tightening the bolt 36 to hold the box ill in its place of proper adjustment.

The tongue 26 has been found to be advantageous in certain types of construction in facilitating installation, but is not to be considered as a limiting detail of construction of or in the hanger bars, the essence or the invention in which, resides in the provision of means for lateral adjustment of the bar with respect to the supporting stringere and in which means are provided for vertical adjustment of the fixture housing or box with respect to finish line of the plaster or other ceiling surface.

Having thus described our invention in its preferred form, that which we desire to protect by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination, a box shaped body adjustably related to a wall and having a bottom, sides and ends, a plurality of separately adjustable mounting brackets arranged two at each end of the body and in spaced relation to each other, each bracket being an elongate strap uniform in cross sectional configuration throughout its length and L.shaped in form having an elongate foot portion engaged fiat against the body with one end terminating short of the bottom of the body and an arm projecting a substantial distance from the other end of the foot, the foot portions being parallel with each other, and having longitudinal slots therein and releasably engaged in the slots of the foot portion of each bracket to secure the bracket to the end of the body with which it is engaged, the arms being parallel and each arm having a longitudinal series of openings therethrough and extending longitudinally of the arm.

2. In combination, a box shaped body having a bottom, sides and ends, a plurality of separate mounting brackets arranged two at each end or the body and in spaced relation, each bracket being an elongate strap uniform in cross sectional configuration throughout its length and having a foot portion ilat against the body and an arm projecting a substantial distance from one end of the foot, the front portion having longitudinal slots therein, and a screw clamp releasably engaged in the slot of the foot portion of each bracket to secure the bracket to the end of the body with which it is engaged, each arm having an anchoring tongue projecting therefrom in termediate its longitudinal edges and in the same direction that the foot portion is related to the arm and spaced from the foot portion.

(References on following page) References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Beaton Aug. 1, 1905 Appleton et al Mar. 1, 1910 Hoffmann May 14, 1912 Beugler Oct. 16, 1914 Caine Oct. 19, 1915 Knauber Jan. 18, 1916 Sweet May 8, 1917 Keller Mar. 11, 1919 Number 6 Name Date Kruse Nov. 14, 1922 Kruse Dec. 16, 1924 Calhoun Sept. 8, 1925 Raquette et al July 20, 1926 Raquette June 25, 1929 Mangn Mar. 3, 1931 Morgenstern July 14, 1931 Frank Aug. 18, 1931 Bowers June 26, 1934 Bucknell et al Sept. 15, 1942

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