US3070689A - Lighting fixture - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 25, 1962 J. D. MclNTosH LIGHTING FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet l 'Il.I'Illlllllllllllllll'lliw.u

- INVENTOR. `JUD D. MSINTOSH' BY w Mwj M ATTORNEYS Filed June 8, 1960 Dec. 25, 1962 J. D. MolNTosH 3,070,689

LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed June 8, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HVVENTUR.

JUD D.MQNTOSH 2 BY www M ATTORNEYS- United tates Patent @hace 3,7,589 Patented Dec. 25, 1962 35113639 LEQHTENG Jud D. Mcllntosh, Avondale Estates, Ga., assigner to Lithonia Lighting, Enc., a corporation of Georgia Filed .inne 8, lldi, Ser. No. 34,737 7 Ciairns. (Ci. 24h- 51110 The invention relates in general to lighting hxtures and more particularly to new and novel means for connecting lighting fixture housings together and also for closing an end of the housing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and novel lighting fixture construction.

An object of the invention is to provide a plate member which can be used interchangeably to connect housing members together and close the ends of housing members.

Another obj ct of the invention is to provide a new and novel connection between housing members of a lighting fixture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and novel closure for the end of a lighting fixture housing member.

Other ob-,iects and a fuller understanding of this invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FiGURE l is a side elevation view partially broken away showing the lighting fixture ci the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the lighting fixture shown in FlGURE l with 'the fluorescent tubes removed and with the fixture turned over with respect to the position shown in FGURE l;

FlGURE 3 is an exploded iso-metric view of the end portion of one of the housings of the lighting fixture;

FIGURE 4 is enlarged view taken generally along the line @-45 of FiGURE l;

FlGURl 5 is an enlarged view taken generally along the line S of FGU RE. l;

FGURE 6 is the View taken generally along the line 6 6 of FGURE 2; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged view taken generally along the line 7 7 of FGURE 6.

FlGURE l shows the lighting fixture assembly of the present invention indicated generally by the reference numeral it?, as mounted on the ceiling of a room. The lighting fixture assembly as illustrated in FGURE l includes 'three housing members i3, ld, and l5, respectively. Fluorescent tubes l, i9, and Zfi are mounted respectively in the housing members f3, and i5, and either end of the tubes are contained in sockets 62 for supplying electrical energy to the same.

The remaining figures in the drawings better illustrate the details of construction of the present invention and referring specifically to FGURES 2 and 3, it will be noted that each of the housing members comprise a top wall member 25 and rst and second side wall members 26 and 27, respectively, integrally connected to respective sides of the top wall member and extending generally transversely thereto.

Each of the housing members has provided on either end thereof, first and second raised wall portions 3u and 31, respectively (FlGURES 3 and 7), and these raised wall portions are stamped out of the material of the top wall member and it may be said that they are formed from the material of the top wall member. These first and second raised wall portions, as will `be noted, are spaced from each other and are generally parallel to each other throughout their longitudinal extent and throughout their width they are generally parallel to the top wall member 25 and are spaced therefrom a predetermined distance. Wall means 34 provide an opening through the top wall member 25 between the first and second raised wall portions 30 and 3i on each end of the housing members '13, lli, and i5. These openings 34.- may also be referred to as detent locks. Each end of the housing members are also provided with first and second strap members 36 and 37, respectively, which may also be referred to as detent locks and these strap members are formed and stamped from the material of the first and second side wall members 26 and 27, respectively. The first and second strap members 36 and 37 are spaced inwardly from the first and second side wall members 25 and Z7, respectively, so that as viewed from the end of the housing, the strap members in combination with the side walls provide what may be referred to as an axial opening.

A plate member 46 which may also be referred to as a connecting plate is provided for connecting either end of any of the housing members to either end of any of the other housing members. This plate comprises a generally flat member having first and second end portions dit and 45, respectively, and each of the first and second end portions is provided with an annular detent member ri`his detent member 48 is formed from the material of the plate member iti and may be said to extend laterally out of the plane of the plate member. First and second tab members 52 and 53, respectively, are formed at first and second end portions, respectively, of the plate member. Since the tab members are formed from the material of the plate member, they may be Said to be connected integrally thereto and these tab members extend generally at right angles to the extent of the plate member. The first and second tab members 52 and 53 are provided with first and second detent, or securing members Se and 57, respectively.

The use of the plate member 4t) to connect any of the housing members i3, ifi, and l5 together may be best understood from FlGURES 2, 6, and 7. In order to connect two of the housing members together, it is first necessary to insert the first end portion 44 of the plate member itl between the first and second raised Wall portions 3i? and 3i. and the top wall member 25 on the end of the housing 13. The spacing between the raised Wall portions Iih and 3i and the top wall member 25 is designed so that a very tight fit is effected when the first end portion of the plate member is inserted therebetween. This tit is such that there is a scraping together of the metal of each member so that an electrical ground or connection is made therebetween. When the end portion 44 has been inserted a predetermined axial distance, the detent member 48 drops into the opening or detent lock 34, thereby locking the plate member 4t! and the housing 13 fixedly together. The raised wall portions 30 and 31 and the opening 3d may also be referred to as plate attaching wall means. After this has been accomplished, the same procedure is followed to connect the second end portion 45 of the plate member 40 to the end portion of the housing member M (FIGURE 6). The length of the plate member and the positioning of the raised wall portions and detent members are such that in connected position, the ends of housing members 13 and 14 just meet, as indicated by the reference numeral 60. It will be readily appreciated by the description given hereinabove that a great number of housing members may be connected together in a like manner until the desired length for the lighting fixture assembly has been reached.

After the desired number of housings have been connected together, as described hereinabove, it is then necessary and desirable to close the ends of the housings at the extreme ends of the lighting fixture assembly. The end closure of housing member l?) has been described herein and is shown in disassembled condition in FIG- URE 3 and assembled condition in FiGURE 2. Details aardse@ of the assembled condition are best shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. To close the end of the housing, another plate member, which is identical with the plate member dfi, is utilized and in the assembled condition, the first and second tab members 52 and 53 extend, respectively, between the first and second strap members 36 and 37 and the side wall members 26 and Z7. The rectangularly shaped plate member dit is preferably of such size as to just correspond with the extreme ends of the side wall members 26 and E7 and the top wall member 25. The plate member 4d is maintained in this position by engagement of the detent 56 with side wall member 26 (FiG- URE 5 and the engagement of the detent member 57 with the second side wall member Z7.

In order to properly mount and supply electrical energy to the fluorescent tubes 18, 19, and 2f), a plurality of socket members 62 carried by mountinty plates 63 are provided for each of the housing members. in the ernbodiment shown in the drawings, each mounting plate 63 carries two socket members 62 and there are two such assemblies for each housing; namely, one at either end thereof, to receive opposite ends of a fluorescent tube. Each of the mounting plates 63 is provided on either end thereof with a tab 66 which is adapted to extend through an opening 67 in side wall members 26 and 2.7. It will be noted in FIGURE 2 that the mounting plate and socket member has been eliminated from the far or right end of housing member 13, however, this has been done purposely so that the connection between housing embers 13 and 1d can be more adequately illustrated.

It will thus be seen that a new and novel means for connecting lighting fixture housings together and for closing the ends of the housings has been provided. it will be noted that the plate member which has been utilized forms a novel and universal mechanism which can be used interchangeably to either connect two housings together or to close an end of a housing.

Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A lighting fixture assembly including in combination at least first and second housing members each comprising a top wall member and first and second side wall members integrally connected to respective sides of said top wall member and extending transversely thereto, each said first and second housing members having on at least one end thereof first and second raised wall portions formed from the material of said top wall member, said first and second raised wall portions being spaced from an generally parallel to each other and to said top wall, wall means defining an opening through said top wall between said first and second raised wall portions on each said housing member, at least one of said first and second housing members having on at least another one of the ends thereof first and second strap members formed from the material of said first and second side wall members respectively, said first and second strap members being spaced inwardly from said first and second side wall members respectively, a plate member comprising a generally fiat member having first and second end portions, each said first and second end portion having an annular detent member, first-and second tab members integrally connected to said first and second end portions of said plate member and extending at generally right angles thereto, first and second detent members on said first and second tab members respectively, said first end portion of said plate member residing in and between said first and second raised wall portions and said top wall member of said first housing member in electrically conductfit) ing relationship therewith and with said detent thereon residing in said opening between said first and second raised wall portions, said second end portion of said plate member residing in and between said first and second raised wall portions and said top wall member of said second housing member in electrically conducting relationship therewith and with said detent thereon residing in said opening between said first and second raised wall portions, at least one of said first and second housing members being closed by another similar plate member, said another similar plate member extending between the ends of said first and second side wall members with said first and second tab members extending respectively between said first and second strap members and respective side wall members, said first and second detent members on said rst and second tab members engaging said first and second side wall members to secure said another similar plate member in position.

2. A lighting fixture assembly including in combination at least first and second housing members each comprising a top wall member and first and second side wall members, each said first and second housing members having on at least one end thereof first and second raised wall portions, said first and second raised wall portions being spaced from each other, wall means defining an opening through said top wall between said first and second. raised wall portions on each said housing member, at least one of said first and second housing members hav ing on at least another one of the ends thereof first and second strap members said rst and second strap members being spaced inwardly from said first and second side wall members respectively, a plate member comprising a generally flat member having first and second end portions, each said first and second end portion having a detent member, first and second tab members connected to said first and second end portions of said plate member, first and second detent members on said first and second tab members respectively, said first end portion of said plate member residing in and between said first and second raised wall portions and said top wall member of said first housing member in electrically conducting relationship therewith and with said detent thereon residing in said opening between said first and second raised wall portions, said second end portion of said plate member residing in and between said first and second raised wall portions and said top wall member of said second housing member in electrically conducting relationship therewith and with said detent thereon residing in said opening between said first and second raised wall portions, at least one of said first and second housing members being closed by another similar plate member, said another similar plate member extending between the ends of said first and second side wall members with said first and second tab members extending respectively between said first and second strap members and respective side wall members, said first and second detent members on said first and second tab members engaging said first and second side wall members to secure said another similar plate member in position.

3. A lighting fixture assembly including in combinaf tion at least first and second housing members each comprising a top wall member and first and second side wall members, each said first and second housing members having on at least one end thereof first and second raised wall portions, wall means defining a detent lock in said top wall between said first and second raised wall portions on each said housing member, at least one of said first and second housing members having on at least an` other one of the ends thereof rst and second strap mem-- bers said first and second strap members being spaced from said first and second side wall members respectively, a plate member comprising a generally fiat member having first and second end portions, each said first and second end portion having an annular detent member,

first and second members connected to said first and seo.

ond end portions of said plate member, first and second detent members on said first and second members of said plate respectively, said first end portion of said plate member residing in and between said first and second raised wall portions of said first housing member and with said detent thereon residing in said detent lock bctween said first and second raised wall portions, said sec- -ond end portion of said plate member residing in and between said rst and second raised wall portions of said second housing member and with said detent thereon residing in said detent lock between said first and second raised wall portions, at least one of said first and second housing members being closed by another similar plate member, said another similar plate member extending between the ends of said first and second side wall members with said first and second members thereof extending respectively between said first and second strap members and respective side wall members, said fiist and second detent members on said first and `second members of said plate engaging said first and second side wall members to secure said another similar plate member in position.

4. A lighting fixture assembly including in combination at least first and second housing members having first and second side walls connected by a connecting wall and defining an interior of said housing members, ends of said housing members being open with ends of said first, second and connecting walls abutting each other, each said first and second housing members having on abutting end portions thereof first and second spaced raised wall portions formed from the material of said connecting wall, said first and second raised Wall portions being spaced from and generally parallel to each other and to said connecting wall and also being located in the interior of said housing, wall means defining an opening through said connecting wall between said first and second raised -Wall portions on each said housing member, a first fiat plate member having first and second end portions, each said first and second end portions having a detent member, each said first and second end portions of said first plate member having tab members extending generally at right angles to the extent of said first plate member, said rst end portion of said first plate member fiatly engaging said connecting wall and wedgingly residing between said first and second raised wall portions and said connecting wall of said first housing member in electrically conducting relationship therewith and with said detent thereon residing in said opening between said first and second raised wall portions, said second end portion of said first plate member flatly engaging said connecting wall and wedgingly residing between said first and second raised Wall portions and said connecting wall of said second housing member in electrically conducting relationship therewith and with said detent thereon residing in said opening between said first and second raised wall portions, a second fiat plate member identical with said first fiat plate member closing an open end of at least one of said first and second housing members, said second plate member extending generally at right angles to the extent of said side walls and said connecting wall with said tab members engaging said side walls to hold said second plate member in place.

5. A lighting xture assembly including in combination at least first and second housing members having first and second side walls connected by a connecting wall and defining an interior of said housing members, ends of said housing members being open, each said rst and second housing members having on adjacent end portions thereof raised wall means, a first fiat plate member having first and second end portions, each said first and second end portions of said first plate member having tao memextending generally at right angles to the extent of said first plaie member, said first end portion of said first plate member flatly engaging said connecting wall and wedgingly engaging said raised wall means of said first housing member, said second end portion of said first plate member fiatly engaging said connecting wall and wedgingly engaging said raised wall means of said second housing member, a second fiat plate member identical with said first flat plate member closing an open end of at least one of said first and second housing members, said second plate member extending generally at right angles to the extent of said side Walls and said connecting wall with said tab members engaging said sidewalls to hold said second plate member in place.

6. A lighting fixture assembly including in combination at least first and second housing members, each said first and second housing members having on adjacent end portions thereof plate attaching Wall means, a first plate member having first and second end portions, each said first and second end portions of said first plate member having tab members extending therefrom, said first end portion of said first plate member having wall means interfitting with said plate attaching wall means on said end portion of said first housing member, said second end portion of said first plate member having wall means interfitting with said plate attaching wail means on said end portion of said second housing member, the engagement of said wall means on said end portions of said first plate member with said plate attaching Wall means on said first and second housing members constituting the sole means of holding said first and second housing members together, a second plate member identical to said first plate member ciosing an open end of at least one of said first and second housing members, said second plate member extending generally transversely to the extent of said housing member with said tab members engaging said housing member to hold said second plate member in place, the engagement of said tab members with said housing member constituting the sole means of holding said second plate member in place.

7. A lighting fixture assembly including in combination at least first and second housing members, each said first and second housing members having on adjacent end portions thereof plate attaching wall means, a first plate member having first and second end portions, each said first and second end portions of said first plate member having tab members thereon, said first end portion of said first plate member having wall mean interfitting with said plate attaching wall means on said end portion of said first housing member, said second end portion of said first plate member having Wall means interfitting with said plate attaching wall means on said end portion of said second housing member, a second plate member substantially identical to said first plate member closing an open end of at least one of said first and second housing members, said second plate member extendiing generally transversely to the extent of said housing member with said tab members engaging said housing member to hold said second plate member in place.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,383,007 Maurette Aug. 21, 1945 2,563,146 Wise Aug. 7, 1951 2,667,570 Goldthrope Jan. 26, 1954 2,905,809 Pascucci Sept. 22, 1959

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