US3019333A - Lighting fixture troffer and latch therefor - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 30, 1962 J. A. PAscucc1 LIGHTING FIXTURE TROFFER AND LATCH THEREFOR 4 Sheets-Sheet i Filed Feb. 13, 1958 INVENTOR z/uuo/I- Jan. 30, 1962 J. A. PAscuccl LIGHTING FIXTURE TROFFER AND LATCH THEREFOR Filed Feb. 15, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 .l' T INVENTOR Jan. 30, 1962 J. A. PASCUCCI LIGHTING FIXTURE 'I'ROFFER AND LATCH THEREFOR Filed Feb. 13, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 30, 1962 J. A. PAscuccl 3,01

LIGHTING FIXTURE TROFFER AND LATCH THEREFOR Filed Feb. 13, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States This invention relates to lighting fixtures and more specifically to a novel and improved trotler particularly adaptable for use with fluorescent lamps and arranged and constructed to facilitate installation in ceiling and other openings without the need for auxiliary mounting means such as yokes and the ike.

Prior fluorescent fixtures for fiush type mounting have generally been made with one-piece troffers which have necessitated the use of special mounting means such as fixture spanning yokes or other similar devices. in the case of yokes, they were generally secured to ceiling members and had to be accurately positioned in the opening for engagement with cooperating means on the fixture when inserted in the ceiling opening. With this invention, special mounting means are not needed and the fixture is designed and arranged to greatly facilitate installation in aceiling opening.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved trofier for electric lighting fix tures that is characterized by its simplicity, relatively low cost and ease of installation.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved trorler for lighting fixtures formed of a number of independent elements that may be assembled within the ceiling opening and secured therein without the need for auxliary supporting members.

A still further object of the invention is a novel and improved trofier for fluorescent and other lighting fixtures formed of a plurality of individual elements that may be quickly and easily assembled without the need for special tools and equipment.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved trotier for lighting fixtures.

The above objects and advantages will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings forming part of this application.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lighting fixture in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of certain elements of the fixture shown in 1116. 1;

P16. 3 is a plan view of the fixture shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FiGS. 4 and 5 are cross sectional views of PEG. 3 taken along the lines 44 and thereof;

PEG. 6 is a fragmentary section of the fixture as shown in FlG. 4 illustrating certain steps in the assembly thereof;

Fit]. 7 is a cross sectional view of PEG. 3 taken along the line 7-47 thereof;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are cross sectional views of FIG. 7 taken along the lines 3--3 and 9-9 thereof;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the locking means for securing the lens structure or closure in place as shown in HG. l; and

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a hinge for attaching the lens structure to the fixture and cooperatingwith the locking means of FIG. 10 to support the lens structure.

The fixture in accordance with the instant invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and comprises a top member atetrt lee It a pair of side members 11 and 12, a pair of end members 13 and i4 and a transparent or translucent closure 15. As will be shown, each of these elements is fabricated individually and are arranged and coordinated to facilitate assembly and installation of the fixture within a ceiling opening. For purposes of simplicity, the lighting sources such as fluorescent or other lamps have been omitted, as they do not form part of the invention.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the top section It? includes a raised center portion 16 to provide an elongated channel and forming part of a wire way for connecting a fluorescent type lighting source. The sides of the member ltl are bent upwardly as indicated at 1'7 and then outwardly as indicated at 18 with the flanged portion 18 being substantially in the plane of the'center portion 3.6. The ends of the center section 16 are provided with slotted openings l) and the ends of the flanges 13 are provided with similar slotted openings Zti. These openings 19 and Ztl cooperate with tabs 21 on the end sections 13 and T4 in the assembly of the fixture. The upwardly formed portions 17 of the top section It) also include slots 22 for cooperation with tabs 23 and the side sections ill and 12 for securing the side and top sections together.

The side sections 11 and 12 are identical in configuration and each includes a sloping panel part 24 having a substantially horizontally formed top portion 25 which carries the downwardly formed ears or tabs 23. The bottom edge of each panel 24 is bent downwardly as indicated at 26, then outwardly to form a portion 27 substantially at right angles with the member 26'. The edges then terminate in a Ushaped structure having substantially vertical leg portions 23 and 29 and a bottom portion 39. In addition to the tabs 23, the side sections further include a pair of slots 3-1 at each end of the panel 24 for cooperation with tabs 32 of the end sections and ii. The outwardly extending portion 2'7 is provided with two sets of openings with each set including individual openings 33, 34 and 35 which may be observed more clearly in FiG. 10. The leg 28 of the U-shaped edges each include a pair of openings 36 for cooperation with hinge members on a closure panel 15.

The end sections 13 and 14 are identical and each has a configuration that will coordinate with the top 10 and sides 11 and 12 to form the completed closure. The bottom edge of each end panel is bent inwardly as indicated at 37 and then downwardly to form a section 38 substantially parallel to the plane of the side member. The bottom edge of the panel portion 38 is formed inwardly as indicated at 3-9 and includes ofiset tabs 4t} on the ends and a pair of openings 41 for attachment of the U-shaped clips 42, shown more clearly in FIG. 5.

in addition to the basic housing members described above the ends of the fixture in accordance with the invention further include a pair of elongated members generally denoted by the numeral 3-3 which are adapted to be secured to the end members with the latter in place in the ceiling opening. Each member 43 includes an upper elongated L-shaped member having leg portions 44 and 45 and lower L.-shaped members having leg portions 46 and 47. The member 46 is secured to the bot-. tom face of the leg 45 with the leg portion 4.7 extending outwardly and terminating in a plane substantially in line with the leg portion 414' of the upper L-shaped member. The leg portion-44 further includes a pair of rectangular openings 48 for cooperation with the clips 42. assemble the elements of the invention described thus far, the side panels 11 and 12 are placed in en.- gagernent with the top panel it) by insertion of the tabs 23 in the cooperating openings 22, as may be seen in HQ. 6. With the side panels in place and moved inwardly a sufiicient distance to clear the tabs 32 on the end panels 13 and 14, the end panels are then engaged with the top panel by inserting the ofifset tabs 21 in openings 19 and 2d as previously described. The offset tabs 21 have ofiset portions 22 displaced downwardly from the plane of the tab base so that when the side sections 13 and 14 are in a vertical position as shown in FIG. 5, they are firmly locked to the top section llfi. The fixture is now in a partially assembled position and, if desired, the side members 11 and 12 may be moved outwardly to the position shown in FIG. 6 wherein the openings 31 are in partial engagement with the inwardly extending tabs 32 of the end section.

The fixture in accordance with the invention is preferably mounted in a ceiling opening having an exposed T-member 49, as shown in FIG. 6, surrounding the edge of the opening. The fixture is placed in the opening and if desired, the end sections may be wired to a portion of the T-member 49' by means of the opening dil in the end tabs 40. This procedure merely facilitates installation and does ot provide basic support for the fixture.

After the fixture has been inserted, the side members 11 and 12 are moved outwardly to the position shown in FIG. 4 so that the bottom portion 34} of the U-shaped edge portions of the side members rest on the exposed portions of the T-shaped member 49. In this position the openings 31 of the side sections are in full engagement with the tabs 32 whereupon a portion 32 of each tab 32 is bent to prevent disengagement of the side and end sections. After securing the side sections in place the end members 43 are then installed by engaging the clips 42 with the openings 48 and then rotating the clips 42 through an angle of about 90 degrees to the position shown in FIG. 4. With the side members 43 in position the lower edge portion 47 rests on the exposed portion of the T-shaped member 49, as shown more clearly in FIG. 5, and the bottom flanges 39 of the side members engage the under surface of the leg members 45. The fixture housing is now complete except for the installation of the closure member 15 which is adapted to be received Within the recessed opening bounded by the side walls 28 and the end walls 46.

The closure member, while it may have any desired configuration, preferably includes a metal frame 59 of generally U-shaped configuration as shown more clearly in FIG. 11. The bottom part of this structure has an upwardly formed flange part 51 upon which the translucent or other light transmitting closure member 52. is carried. The upper edge of the member 50 has an upwardly formed flange 53 as shown. The light transmitting member 52 may be held securely in the frame 50 by any suitable means such as appropriate springs 54 as will be observed in FIG. 7. One side edge of the closure 15 is provided with hinge portions 55 as shown in FIG. 11 and spaced to cooperate with the openings 36 in the side members. Each hinge 55 has a portion 56 extending outwardly from the frame member 50 and a second portion of L-shaped configuration extending downwardly. The member 57 includes an outwardly extending elongated tab portion 58, forming the L configuration, which cooperates with the openings 36. To insert the hinge portions 55 in the openings 36, the closure member 15 is held in a substantially vertical position and the tab is inserted through the elongated portion of the opening 36. After engagement the closure member can be lowered and the narrow section of the hinge portion 57 engages the narrower portion of the opening 36. Since the outwardly extending tab 58 now engages the Wall 28 of the side member, the closure 15 is locked in place and will be self supporting.

The other side of the closure member i includes a pair of latches generally denoted by the numeral 59 as shown in FIG. 10. It has a flat base portion 6% with a downwardly curved part 61 and an upwardly extending portion 62 secured to one edge of the base 60. The portion 62 has a curved hook-like member 63 and an outwardly extending member 64 having an upper, tapered edge 65. Prior to assembly of the fixture within the ceiling opening as previously described, one side section of the fixture is provided with a pair of spring-like members 66. One end of this member 66 includes a pair of downwardly extending tabs 67 which engage the opening 33 having a xeyhole configuration so that the tab 67 can be inserted therein and then moved longitudinally to lock the spring in the narrowed section of the opening 33. The central portion of the spring 66 has an opening 34 which registers with the opening 34 in the wall portion 26. That part of the spring to the left of the opening 34- as shown in FIG. 10 is formed upwardly as indicated at 68 to form a V-shaped configuration and the outer end of this V-shaped configuration is provided with a tab 69 adapted to register and engage the opening 35 when the spring is locked in position. The latch 62 is provided with an opening 62 for pivotal attachment to the edge of the frame member 50' as shown in FIG. 7, so that the base 61) underlies the adjoining frame part. With the latches 59 in the open position as shown to the right of FIG. 5, the closure member 15 can be moved to the closed position as indicated in FIG. 1 wherein the latches are then moved in a counter-clockwise direction to the position shown to the left of FIG. 5 with the upper curved portion 53 in engagement with the V-shaped portion 68 of the spring 66.

With the invention as described above it is apparent that the flush-type fixture can be mounted within a ceiling opening having a suitable fixture supporting ledge extending inwardly from the periphery of the opening. By reason of the novel and improved arrangement of elements, the entire fixture can be installed without the need for special tools or the insertion of screws or other similar fastenings. Similarly, the fixture may be quickly and easily removed for repair and replacement. Another important advantage resides in the ease of fabrication of the elements and the utilization of identical end sections and side sections. Since the fixture may be easily and quickly as sembled, it can be shipped in knock-down form, which results in materially reduced shipping costs.

While only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is apparent that modifications, alterations and changes can be made without departing from the true scope and spirit therefrom as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A lighting fixture troffer comprising a relatively fiat top section of rectangular configuration having two sets of parallel edges, a pair of end sections, means detachably securing one edge of each of said end sections to one edge of one of said sets of edges of said top section and depending therefrom, a rectangular ceiling opening having inwardly extending flange-like members on at least two opposing edges, a pair of side sections each detachably and hingeably connected to one edge of the other set of parallel edges, said side sections being movable inwardly one toward the other and between the end sections, said side sections upon insertion of the fixture in said ceiling opening being moved to outward positions with the lower edges of said side sections engaging said flange-like members, means for securing said side sections in said outward positions to said end sections to form a rigid structure and elongated members including means securing them to said end sections with the lower edge of each of said members lying substantially in a plane defined by the lower edges of said side sections when in said outward position to completely close said opening.

2. A lighting fixture trofier according to claim 1 wherein the lower edges of the side and end sections form a rectangular frame and said troifer further includes a light transmitting closure carried within said frame, said closure being removably hinged at one edge to the lower edge of one of said side sections and carrying locking means on the opposing edge removably engaging coopcrating means on the lower edge of the other of said side sections to secure the closure in its closed position.

3. A lighting fixture troifer according to claim 2 wherein the lower edge of one of said side sections includes a pair of L-shaped openings and said closure member includes a pair of outwardly extending bracket members each having an angularly disposed end portion of a configuration similar to said openings, said brackets and openings forming a hinged support for said closure.

4. A lighting fixture troffer according to claim 1 wherein the said locking means comprises an arcuate member pivotally secured to said closure member and the last said means includes an opening and spring member adjoining said opening whereby said arcuate member is movable operatively through said opening and into engagement with said spring, said spring holding the arcuate member in engagement therewith to secure the closure member in the closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 785,772 Stonebridge Mar. 28, 1905 1,706,100 Bliss Mar. 19, 1929 2,368,810 Donnelley .1 Feb. 6, 1945 2,531,232 Naysmith Nov. 21, 1950 2,715,540 Potter Aug. 16, 1955 2,831,962 Winkler Apr. 22, 1958 2,846,569 Frizzell et a1. Aug. 5, 1958 2,914,210 Paston Nov. 24, 1959 2,926,237 Sorenson Feb. 23, 1960

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