US3612461A

US3612461A - Light fixture supporting clip

Info

Publication number: US3612461A
Application number: US29953A
Authority: US
Inventors: William R Brown
Original assignee: MINERALLAC ELECTRIC Co
Current assignee: MINERALLAC ELECTRIC Co
Priority date: 1970-04-20
Filing date: 1970-04-20
Publication date: 1971-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 1988-10-12

Abstract

The clip includes first and second metal strip sections which are formed by bending a metal strip about a centrally located fold line and which are formed with a configuration to closely fit about opposite sides of an inverted T-shaped grid member of a false ceiling supporting structure in a building structure. The lower end portions of the strip sections extend laterally below the grid member in overlapping relationship to each other with one end portion having a square opening and the other end portion having a slot aligned with the opening. A stud having a head and a shank is received in the opening with the head disposed between one of the end portions and the bottom side of the grid member and with the shank extending through the opening and the slot. The upper end portion of each of the strip sections has a hole therein and the holes register with each other to form an aperture through which a drop wire is received for securing one end of the wire to the clip. The other end of the drop wire is secured to the building structure so that a light fixture, mounted by a threaded fastener to the stud extending from the clip, is supported by the building structure solely through the clip and drop wire and does not bear upon or load the grid member.

Description

Ilnited States Patent William R. Brown Carol Stream, Ill.

Apr. 20, 1970 Oct. 12, 1971 Minerallac Electric Company Chicago, Ill.

[72] Inventor [21 Appl. No. [22] Filed [45] Patented [73] Assignee [54] LIGHT FIXTURE SUPPORTING CLIP 10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

52 U.S.Cl 248/317, 52/484 [51] Int.Cl E04bS/52, E06b 3/54 [50] Field oiSearch 248/317,

Primary Examiner-J. Franklin Foss AttorneyGreist, Lockwood, Greenwalt & Dewey ABSTRACT: The clip includes first and second metal strip sections which are formed by bending a metal strip about a centrally located fold line and which are formed with a con figuration to closely fit about opposite sides of an inverted T- shaped grid member of a false ceiling supporting structure in a building structure. The lower end portions of the strip sections extend laterally below the grid member in overlapping relationship to each other with one end portion having a square opening and the other end portion having a slot aligned with the opening. A stud having a head and a shank is received in the opening with the head disposed between one of the end portions and the bottom side of the grid member and with the shank extending through the opening and the slot. The upper end portion of each of the strip sections has a hole therein and the holes register with each other to form an aperture through which a drop wire is received for securing one end of the wire to the clip. The other end of the drop wire is secured to the building structure so that a light fixture, mounted by a threaded fastener to the stud extending from the clip, is supported by the building structure solely through the clip and drop wire and does not bear upon or load the grid member.

PATENTED URI 1 21m INVENTOR. WILLIAM R. BROWN .AZ/MLZ ATTQRNEYS.

LIGHT FIXTURE SUPPORTING CLIP The present invention generally relates to a structural device for supporting a light fixture positioned in a suspended or false ceiling. More particularly, the present invention relates to a clip, which is easily and securely fastened about a grid member of the false ceiling supporting structure in a building structure, which is secured at its upper end by a drop wire to the building structure, and which is adapted to mount a light fixture at the lower end thereof whereby the light fixture is supported by the building structure through the clip and drop wire and not by the grid member or members.

In the construction of multiple-story buildings, it is common to have false ceilings in rooms of the building above which water pipes, heating ducts and electrical conduits are concealed. The false ceiling hides these pipes, ducts and conduits while providing easy access to same for maintenance or repair. Typically, the false ceiling is made of an acoustical tile which is releasably supported by a network or lattice of inverted T- shaped grid members. The grid members are supported from the building structure (room ceiling) by drop wires. To facilitate assembly and installation of the grid members and to minimize the cost of the grid members, they are made from a lightweight, small-gauge, sheet metal material. As a result, the grid members have limited supporting capacity, This limitation on the supporting capacity of the grid members has caused problems in that some grid members have been found to have insufiicient strength to support large light fixtures which may weigh up to 100 pounds and more. In some instances, the light fixtures have fallen from the grid members.

To overcome this deficiency in the mounting of a light fixture to the grid members of a false ceiling supporting structure, the present invention provides a clip for use with an inverted T-shaped ceiling grid member of a false ceiling supporting structure for supporting a light fixture and/or a portion of the grid member. The clip is defined by a metal strip which is formed or configured to fit about the grid member and has an aperture in an upper section thereof for connecting a drop wire to the clip and an opening in a lower section thereof extending laterally below the grid member, for receiving a stud to which a light fixture is mounted.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a light fixture supporting clip which is easily fitted about an inverted T-shaped grid member of a false ceiling supporting structure and which is adapted to provide the sole support for a light fixture attached to the lower end thereof such that the light fixture does not bear upon or load the grid member.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a light fixture supporting clip of one piece construction which is designed to fit about various types of inverted T-shaped grid members.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a light fixture supporting clip having a square hole'at the lower end thereof for receiving and holding a square part of a shank of a stud, to which stud a light fixture is mounted.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a light fixture mounting clip which is received about a grid member of a false ceiling supporting structure and which is adapted to utilize studs of varying length for mounting a light fixture to the clip.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a light fixture mounting clip which is received about a grid member of a false ceiling supporting structure and which has access means in a portion of the clip to permit and facilitate insertion of the stud into an opening in a laterally extending lower end portion of the clip to allow an enlarged head of the stud to be positioned above and flush against the lower end portion.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a light fixture supporting clip which is adapted for sliding movement on and along an inverted T-shaped grid member such that the clip can be moved along the grid member for lining up the clip with a mounting hole of a light fixture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a light fixture supporting clip which is adapted to be received about a grid member of a false ceiling structure and which has laterally extending lower end. portions which are brought together in overlapping relationship beneath the grid member with one end portion having at least one protuberance thereon and the other end portion having at least one niche or hole therein which is adapted to mate with the protuberance for snapfittingly latching the end portions together to prevent the clip from coming apart under stress or load and to provide for easy mounting of the clip without the use of a tool.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a light fixture supporting clip which is adapted to be received about a grid member of a false ceiling structure and which has laterally extending lower end portions which are brought together in overlapping relationship beneath the grid member with one end portion having a square opening therein and the other end portion having a slot which is adapted to be positioned over and in alignment with the opening to provide easy closing and opening of the end portions without special tools.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a light fixture supporting clip construction which is easily manufactured from a metal strip with one stamping operation and one forming operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a light fixture supporting clip which is formed from a metal strip having a reduced width at a fold line on the strip to facilitate bending of the strip to form the clip.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a light fixture supporting clip which has an aperture in an upper section thereof for securing a drop wire to the clip.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a light fixture supporting clip which is positioned about a grid member and which has an aperture in an upper section thereof for securing a drop wire to the clip, the aperture being located in the clip a sufiicient distance above the grid member to provide sufficient working space for securing the drop wire to the clip.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a clip for supporting a light fixture in a false ceiling of a building structure in such a way that the grid members of the false ceiling do not bear any stress or load from the fixture and in such a way that the clip does not interfere with the flush mounting of acoustical tile or soundproof ceiling sections on the grid members.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention, including the manner of their attainment, will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the light fixture supporting clip of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a stamped metal strip prior to the forming of same into the clip shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the light fixture supporting clip of the present invention positioned on an inverted T- shaped grid member of a false ceiling supporting structure; and,

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the clip and stud shown in FIG. 3 with the wing nut removed.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, the light fixture supporting clip of the present invention is generally indicated at 10 in FIG. 1. The clip 10 is made from a metal strip 11 (FIG. 2), such as a cold rolled steel, zinc plated strip which is first stamped with the configuration shown in FIG. 2 and is then formed to form the clip 10 with the configuration shown in FIG. 1. As best shown in FIG. 3, this configuration of the clip It) enables the clip 10 to fit closely about an inverted T- shaped grid member 12 of a false ceiling supporting structure (not shown).

The clip 10 is defined by first and second strip sections or

arms

15 and 16 which are folded along a fold line 17 to form the clip with a generally inverted V-shaped configuration as shown in FIG. 1, with the

strip sections

15 and 16 spread apart at the lower end 18 of the clip 10 and with the upper end 19 of the clip being defined by the edge formed at the fold line 17. The first strip section 15 can be divided into an upper portion 21, an intermediate portion 22 and a lower portion 23. Likewise, the second strip section 16 can be divided into an upper portion 27, an intermediate portion 28 and a lower portion 29. As shown in FIG. 1, the upper portions 21 and 27 of each of the

strip sections

15 and 16 are mirror images of each other and the intermediate (22 and 28) and lower (23 and 29) portions of the first and

second strip sections

15 and 16 are substantially mirror images of each other. In this way, when the

strip sections

15 and 16 are brought together to fit the clip about the grid member 12 as shown in FIG. 3, the upper portions 21 and 27 will form an upper section 30 of the clip 10, the

intermediate portions

22 and 28 will form an intermediate section of the clip 10 and the

lower portions

23 and 29 will form a lower section 34 of the clip 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, the upper section 30 of the clip 10 has an aperture 36 therethrough defined by registering holes 37 and 39 (FIG. 1) formed in the first and second strip sections and 16 respectively. This aperture 36 defines a connecting means which is adapted to receive a drop wire 40 therethrough for securing the drop wire 40 to the clip 10. Although not shown, it will be understood that the other end of the drop wire 40 is connected to a building structure for supporting the clip and anything held thereby, such as, for example, a light fixture (not shown) mounted to the lower end 18 of the clip. The clip 10 and drop wire 40 may even be used for supporting a portion of the grid member 12.

However, it is to be understood that the grid member 12 and other grid members forming the ceiling grid network for supporting acoustic tile or other ceiling forming sections are normally supported by other drop wires received through holes in the grid members 12, such as the drop wire 42 received through the hole 43 as shown in FIG. 3.

- Typically, the grid member 12 is formed of a lightweight thin gauge, sheet metal material and is defined by an upright or vertically extending portion 44 and a laterally extending portion 46. Also, the upper section 48 of the upright portion 44 is usually formed with an increased width (i.e., a rectangular cross section), as shown in FIG. 3; although, as indicated by phantom lines at 50, the upper section of the grid member 12 can be rounded, i.e., partially cylindrical. It will be understood that the upper section 48 (or 50) of the upright portion 44 extends the length of the grid member 12 to increase the strength of the longitudinally extending upright portion 44.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the

intermediate portions

22 and 28 of the

strip sections

15 and 16 are configured to fit about, and in close proximity to, the upright portion 44 of the grid member 12. In this respect, the

intermediate portions

22 and 28 are formed with outwardly

offset portions

52 and 54 respectively which are adapted to fit around the upper, increased width section 48 (or 50) of the upright portion 44 of the grid member 12, In this respect, it will be noted that the outwardly

offset portions

52 and 54 of the

intermediate portions

22 and 28 of the

strip sections

15 and 16 are adapted to fit around both a rectangular upper section 48 or a rounded upper section 50. In other words, the

intermediate portions

22 and 28 are designed to fit around various styles of grid members.

The lower portion 23 of the first strip section 15 has a generally U-shaped configuration which is adapted to extend around part of the laterally extending portion 46 of the grid member 12. In this respect, the lower portion 23 includes an upper leg 56 extending laterally outwardly from the intermediate portion 22, a bight portion 58 and a lower leg 60 extending laterally inwardly from, the bight portion 50 generally parallel to, and spaced apart from the upper leg 56. Likewise, the lower portion 29 of the strip section 16 includes an upper leg 62 which extends laterally outwardly from the intermediate portion 28, a bight portion 64 and a lower leg 66 which extends laterally inwardly from the bight portion 64. The

lower legs

60 and 66 each have a length which is greater than one half of the lateral extent of the laterally extending portion 46 of the grid member 12 so that when the

strip sections

15 and 16 are brought together about or around the grid member 12, the

legs

60 and 66 are brought together in overlapping engagement with each other, with the lower leg 60 of the first strip section 15 positioned below the lower surface 68 of the laterally extending portion 46 and with the lower leg of the second strip section 16 overlapping, i.e., positioned below, the lower leg 60. In this respect, the

lower legs

60 and 66 constitute laterally extending end portions of the

strip sections

15 and 16 of the clip 10 and together define the lower end 18 of the clip 10.

As best shown in FIG. 1 the leg 60 has two protrusions or protuberances 68 formed thereon which face inwardly of the clip and the lower leg 66 has two niches or holes 69 formed therein which are adapted to mate with the protuberances 68 for snap-fittingly latching the

lower legs

60 and 66 together in overlapping relationship to each other when the

strip sections

15 and 16 are positioned about the grid member 12 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. This latching engagement of the projection 68 and niches 69 is best shown in FIG. 4.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the lower leg 60 has a polygonal, i.e., square, opening 70 and the lower leg 66 has a generally rectangular slot 72. The slot 72 is adapted to be positioned over and in alignment with the square opening 70 when the leg 66 is brought into an overlapping engagement with the leg 60 as shown in FIG. 4. In this way, the

sides

73 and 75 of the slot 72 cooperate with the sides of the square opening 70 to prevent rotation of a square shaped member positioned in the opening 70 and the slot 72.

As shown in FIG. 4 and as partially shown in FIG. 3, the opening 70 in the lower leg 60 and the slot 72 in the lower leg 66 are adapted to receive part of a stud 78 therethrough. The stud 78 includes an enlarged head (not shown) and a shank 80 which is threaded inwardly from the free end 81 thereof. A portion of the shank 80 adjacent the head (not shown) has a square cross section which is generally indicated at 82 in FIG. 4, and which is adapted to bear against the sides of the square opening 70 and the two

sides

73 and 75 of the slot 72 when the stud 78 is mounted with the clip 10 on the grid member 12 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In this way, rotation of the stud 78, relative to the clip 10, is prevented.

Although not shown in detail, it is to be understood that the stud 78 is positioned in the clip 10 with the head thereof resting on the lower leg 60 between the lower surface 68 of the laterally extending portion 46 of the grid member 12 and the lower leg 60 and with the shank 80 extending through the

lower legs

60 and 66, i.e., through the opening 70 and the slot 72, so that the shank 80 of the stud 78 extends below the grid member 12 for being received through an opening (not shown) in the housing of a light fixture (not shown). A threaded fastener or nut, such as the wingnut 84 shown in FIG. 3 can then be screw threaded onto the shank 80 for securing the housing of the light fixture (not shown) to the clip 10. In this way, the light fixture will be supported by the building structure through the clip 10 and the drop wire 40 without any bearing stress or load being placed upon the grid member 12.

It is to be noted that the overlapping

lower legs

60 and 66 provide a double-strength lower end portion of the clip 10 for supporting the stud 78 at the lower end 18 of the clip 10. Also, when a nut, such as the wingnut 84, is tightened on the shank portion 80 of the stud 78 the

lower legs

60 and 66 are clamped firmly together between the head of the stud 78 and the nut 84.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a hole or notch 86 is formed in the first strip section 15 at the junction 88 of the intermediate portion 22 and the upper leg 56 of the lower portion 23 of the strip section 15. The hole or notch 86 extends partly into the intermediate portion 20 and partly into the upper leg 56 to facilitate, and permit, insertion of the stud 78 from the interior of the clip 10 into the opening 70 in the lower leg 60 of the first strip section 15. In other words, the hole or notch 86 defines or provides access means at the junction 88 for the head (not shown) of the stud 78. Without the hole 86 it would be difficult, if not impossible, to insert the stud 78 through the opening 70, since the head thereof would be blocked by the metal at the junction 88. Thus, the hole or notch 86 provides access means at the junction 88 through which the head of the stud 78 can pass when the stud 78 is inserted into, and removed from, the opening 70 where the stud 78 is positioned with the head resting on, and the shank 80 extending below, the lower leg 60 of the first strip section 15. In this way, bending of the lower portion 23 of the first strip section 15 for mounting the stud 78 is unnecessary, and assembly of the stud 78 into the clip and the mounting of the clip 10 on the grid member 12 are simplified.

Also, the notch or hole 86 permits the intersection of studs of different length into the opening 70 in the lower leg 60. In this respect, a longer length stud than the stud 78 may be required where a ventilation space is needed between the false ceiling and the light fixture. Some building codes require such a ventilation space.

It will be understood that when a clip 10 is installed or mounted on the grid member 12 with the

strip sections

15 and 16 spread apart as shown in FIG. 1 or latched together as shown in FIG. 3, the clip 10 can be easily slid along the grid member 12 for aligning the clip with a particular opening in the housing of a light fixture (not shown) to be mounted in the false ceiling (not shown). Also, more than one clip 10 can be utilized for mounting a heavy and/or elongated light fixture.

Preferably, the upper section 30 of the clip 10 has sufficient length, and the aperture 36 through the clip 10 is located near the upper end 19 of the clip 10, so that a sufficient working space is provided for assembling the clip 10 on the grid member 12 and for connecting the drop wire 40 to the clip 10 through the aperture 36.

It is to be noted, that the close fit of the intermediate (22 and 28) and lower (23 and 29) portions of the

strip sections

15 and 16 about the grid member 12, provides a clip construc tion which does not interfere with the flush mounting of acoustical tile or soundproof ceiling sections on the grid network.

Another advantage of the clip 10 is that the cooperating and mating protuberances 68 and niches 69 provide a simple means for snap-fittingly latching the

lower end portions

60 and 66 of the clip together without the need for special tools. Moreover, this latching together of the

lower end portions

60 and 66 can be easily released with a screwdriver for removing the clip 10 from the grid member 12.

Still another advantage of the clip 10 is the fact that it is of simple construction and can be simply manufactured with one stamping operation and one forming operation. Moreover, it can be used with or without the stud 78. Additionally, the clip 10 can be used for supporting a portion of the grid member 12 as well as for supporting a light fixture.

it will thus be seen from the foregoing description that the light fixture supporting clip of the present invention includes a number of advantages and applications some of which have been described above and others of which are inherent in the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited as required by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A clip for use with a ceiling grid member of a false ceiling supporting structure for supporting a light fixture and/or a a portion of said grid member, said clip having an upper end and a lower end and including an upper section having connecting means for connecting a drop wire of said supporting structure to said clip, an intermediate section, and a lower section which is adapted to extend around part of said grid member and which includes at least one laterally extending portion positioned below said grid member, and said laterally extending portion having an opening therein which is adapted to receive a fastening means for securing a light fixture to said clip.

2. The clip as defined in claim 1 wherein said laterally extending portion has a polygonal opening therein for receiving and holding a screw threaded stud of the type having a shank, a head, and a polygonal shank cross section adjacent said head.

3. The clip as defined in claim 1 formed from a metal strip which is folded along a fold line intermediate the ends of said strip to define first and second strip section, said upper end of said clip being defined by the edge formed at said fold line, the upper and intermediate portions of said first strip section being mirror images of the upper and intermediate portions of said second strip section and together these portions form said upper and intermediate sections of said clip, and the lower portion of each said strip sections having a generally U-shaped configuration which is adapted to extend around part of a laterally extending portion of said grid member and which ineludes an upper leg extending laterally from said intermediate portion above said part of said grid member, a bight portion, and a lower leg extending laterally from said bight portion below said part of said grid member, said laterally extending portion of said clip being defined by said lower leg portion of said first strip section.

4. The clip as defined in claim 3 wherein said intermediate portion of each of said strip sections has a configuration which is adapted to be received about, and in close proximity to, the vertically extending portion of an inverted T-shaped grid member.

5. The clip as defined in claim 3 including a stud having a head and a shank extending from said head, said shank having a square cross section adjacent said head and being threaded inwardly from the free end thereof, and said lower leg of said portion of said first strip section having a square opening therein for receiving and holding said stud with said square portion of said shank being received in said square opening.

6. The clip as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said lower legs has a length greater than one-half of the lateral extent of said grid member whereby said lower legs overlap each other when said clip assembled on said grid member, and wherein one of said lower legs has at least one protuberance thereon and said other lower leg has at least one niche or hole therein which is adapted to mate with said protuberance for snapfittingly latching said lower legs together when said strip sections are positioned about said grid member.

7. The clip as defined in claim 3 wherein said lower leg of said second strip section has a slot therein which is aligned with said opening in said lower leg of said first strip section when said lower legs are brought together in overlapping engagement with each other to permit a shank portion of said stud to extend through both of said lower legs.

8. The clip as defined in claim 3 including a stud having a head and a shank extending from said head, said first strip section having a hole or notch therein at the junction of said intermediate portion and said upper leg of said lower portion, said hole extending into part of said intermediate portion of said first strip section and into part of said upper leg of said lower portion of said first strip section to permit insertion of said stud from the interior of said clip into said opening in said lower leg of said first strip section, and said notch providing access means at said junction for said head of said stud to pass through part of said junction when inserting said stud into, or removing said stud from, said opening where said head rests on, and said shank extends below, said lower leg of said first strip section.

9. The clip as defined in claim 3 wherein said metal strip has a reduced width at said fold line to provide easy bending of said strip to form said strip sections defining said clip.

10. In a suspended ceiling system including a plurality of inverted T-shaped grid members which are arranged to support ceiling sections and which are supported by drop wires from the ceiling of a building structure, the improvement comprising clip means for supporting light fixtures directly across said building structure separately of said grid members, said clip means fitting closely around said grid member and having means at the upper end of said clip means for connecting said clip means to a drop wire which is secured to said building structure and means at the lower end of said clip means for connecting a light fixture to said clip means, whereby said light fixture is supported by said building structure solely through said clip means and said drop wire and does not bear upon, or load, said grid members.

Claims

3. The clip as defined in claim 1 formed from a metal strip which is folded along a fold line intermediate the ends of said strip to define first and second strip section, said upper end of said clip being defined by the edge formed at said fold line, the upper and intermediate portions of said first strip section being mirror images of the upper and intermediate portions of said second strip section and together these portions form said upper and intermediate sections of said clip, and the lower portion of each said strip sections having a generally U-shaped configuration which is adapted to extend around part of a laterally extending portion of said grid member and which includes an upper leg extending laterally from said intermediate portion above said part of said grid member, a bight portion, and a lower leg extending laterally from said bight portion below said part of said grid member, said laterally extending portion of said clip being defined by said lower leg portion of said first strip section.

6. The clip as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said lower legs has a length greater than one-half of the lateral extent of said grid member whereby said lower legs overlap each other when said clip assembled on said grid member, and wherein one of said lower legs has at least one protuberance thereon and said other lower leg has at least one niche or hole therein which is adapted to mate with said protuberance for snap-fittingly latching said lower legs together when said strip sections are positioned about said grid member.