US3036207A - Lighting fixture - Google Patents

Description

y 22, 1962 J. ENDELSC JN 3,036,207

LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Jan. 14, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 INVENTOR :ZZ CK [Amuse/v ATTORNEYS y 22, 1962 J. ENDELSON 3,036,207

LIGHTING-FIXTURE Filed Jan. 14, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3:) Tl/E. E.

INVENTOR J/rcw f/vpsz so- ATTORNEYS J. ENDELSON May 22, 1962 LIGHTING FIXTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 14, 1960 INVENTOR d va/r Z'A/DEA SON United States Patent 3,036,297 LlGlitTlNG FEXTURE Jack Endelson, Atlantic Beach, NEIL, assignor to Me- Philben Manufacturing 60., Inc, Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 14, 1960, Ser. No. 2,505 14 Claims. (61. 24073) This invention relates in general to lighting fixtures and in particular to a new and useful combination junction box and lighting fixture mounting plate.

The present invention is particularly directed to a lighting fixture which includes a wall mounting plate and a lamp socket portion combination Which is adapted to be connected to a junction box secured and embedded within a wall or a ceiling. This application is a continuation-inpart of prior application Serial No. 813,853, filed May 18, 1959, and now abandoned.

It is the usual procedure for the electrician to position his wiring along structural members, of the building and to terminate the wiring at a junction box which is secured to a wall or a ceiling. Thereafter, the wall is finished, as by plastering or other surfacing. The lighting fixture mounting plate with the light socket portion is then secured to the junction box.

In prior art constructions, the junction box is usually provided with an outstanding stud member while the mounting plate has a central aperture which is adapted to be fitted over the stud of the junction box and bolted thereto.

In previous lighting fixture constructions of this type,

the wall mounting plate was tightened on the junction box solely by means of a bolt which tightly secured the fixture in place but which did not prevent rotation of the mounting plate in relation to the junction box. Such fixtures quickly became misaligned and in some instances the securing bolt was damaged. In other known constructions, the mounting plates were provided with two or more securing bolts instead of one. These were applied at spaced locations in order to permanently secure the'plate in a fixed position. Such constructions have the disadvantage that if the junction box is misaligned during its initial installation, the lighting fixture will, of course, become permanently misaligned as well.

In accordance with the present invention, the junction box and the mounting plate are constructed so as to permit for slight angular adjustment between them even after the mounting plate is positioned on the junction box, such adjustment, however, being possible within small predetermined limits only. Means are provided to block the complete relative rotation of the'mounting plate in respect to the junction box and, hence, there is no possibility of the fixture being completely turned and damaged after it has been securely positioned on the junction box.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved lighting fixture junction box and mounting plate assembly.

A further object of this invention is to'provide a lighting fixture including a combination lamp socket portion and mounting plate which is adapted to be secured in a simple manner to a junction box so as to permit'for slight angular adjustment between the junction box and the mounting plate. 7 p r v A further object of the invention'is to provide a lighting fixture and junction box combination whichis simple in design, easily assembled, rugged in construction, and

economical to manufacture.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a lighting fixture junction box assembly, wherein the connecting means for connecting the lamp socket to the mounting plate serves also as a means for preventing relative rotation between the mounting plate and the junction box.

It is also an object of this invention generally to improve on lighting fixture junction box assemblies as presently constructed.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects obtained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a lighting fixture and junction box constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a wall side perspective view of a wall mounting plate for use in connection with the junction box illus trated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a wall side perspective view of another embodiment of a wall mounting plate for use in connection with the junction box illustrated in 'FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the upper portion of the lighting fixture mounting plate illustrated in FIG. 1; 7

FIG. 5 is a section taken along line 55 of FIG. 4, but showing the mounting plate connected to the junction box;

FIG. 6 is a transverse section taken along line 6-6 of BIG. 7 and indicating the mounting plate of FIG. 2 assembled to a junction box;

FIG. 7 is a transverse fragmentary view along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary section taken along line 83 of FIG. 9 and indicating the mounting plate of FIG. 3 assembled to the junction box;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary section taken along line 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a further embodiment of a lighting fixture and junction box constructed in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 10 in showing the mounting plate with its lamp socket portion secured to the junction box.

Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention as embodied therein in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, includes a substantially cylindrical junction box member generally designated A having two laterally extending portions 10 and 12 with openings 14 adapted to receive screws or nails for securing the junction box in position on a structural member of a wall or a ceiling. The junction box A is usually installed within an unfinished wall and the 'wall is thereafter finished even to an outer rim 16 of the box A with plaster or similar finishing material. Prior to the wall being finished, electrical wires are brought into the junction box through one or more of a plurality of conduit'openings 18 and sufiicient lengths thereof are left extending outwardly from the box to permit electricalconnection to an associatedelectrical fixture.

The junction box A is prov-ided with a centrally disposed outstanding threaded stud Ztl which is'positioned to fit into a central opening 22 of a wall mounting plate generally designated B when the latter is assembled to the junction box.

The'wall mounting plate B is provided with a finished front face and includes an upper outstanding portion 24 which is provided with a curved recess to receive a cylindrical socket member generally designated C. The cylindrical socket member C is bolted to the mounting plate B by means of a bolt 26 and includes a hollowed lower interior which is provided with a lamp socket 28 and is internally threaded as at 3t) to receive a glass refractor or the like (not shown).

In accordance with the invention, the mounting plate B is provided with a cylindrical recess 52 having two angularly spaced bosses 34 and 36 formed as inward extensions of the outer periphery of the recess 32. When electrical wire connections 37 of the fixture are connected to the wires which terminate in the junction box A and the stud member is positioned to extend through the opening 22., a pair of outstanding aligning pins 38 and 40 formed on the junction box A are maneuvered to be positioned between the bosses 34 and 36 of the mounting plate B. The spacing between the aligning pins 38 and 4-0 is less than the spacing between the bosses 34 and 36 so that the mounting plate may be rotated somewhat after it is pressed tightly against the junction box A. -When the mounting plate is properly aligned in respect to the wall or ceiling on which it is mounted, the assembly is secured tightly in place by afilxing a threaded nut 42 onto the stud 2% to tightly secure the assembly together. A gasket 43 is positioned between the junction box A and the mounting plate B (FIG.

Once the mounting plate B is positioned on the stud Z0 and the nut 42 tightened thereon, the mounting plate may only move relative to the junction box a slight amount as limited by the contact of one of the aligning pins 38 and 40 with one of the bosses 34 and 36. Of course, the stud 20 and nut 4-2. can be replaced by a countersunk bolt or its equivalent, if desired.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, a mounting plate generally designated B is provided with a substan tially rectangular recess 44 and the inner face of the wall side of the mounting plate is provided with two sets of cooperating aligning pin movement-limiting slot recesses 46, 4 6 and 48, 48. The mounting plate B is provided with the usual central opening 50 corresponding to opening 22 of the plate of FIG. 1 and when the plate is positioned on the junction box A, the aligning pins 38- and 40 align with the slots l d and 48', respectively. The mounting plate may be mounted to the junction box A, either in the position indicated in FIG. 2 or in a position inverted from this position since two sets of the slots 46 and the slots 43 are provided. It can be seen that the extent of the smaller slots 4% determine the amount of relative movement which is permitted between the mounting plate and the junction box after the nut 42 has been positioned on the stud 20 but before it is fully tightened.

In FIG. 3 there is illustrated still another embodiment of mounting plate generally designated B". In this instance, the mounting plate is substantially cylindrical and is provided with a cylindrical recess 52. A central diametrically extending raised portion 54 is defined within the recess 52 and it presents vertical wall faces 56 and 58 on each side of which the aligning pins 38 and 40 are positioned. The mounting plate B is provided with a central opening 60 to permit access of the stud 20. Thus, depending on the distance between the vertical walls 56 and 58, the mounting plate B may be rotated relative to the junction box A before they contact one of the aligning pins 38 and 40 and interrupt the relative angular movement thereof. 7

FIGS. and 11 illustrate a still further embodimen which is somewhat similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1,

4 and 5. The junction box A in this construction has a centrally arranged outstanding sleeve or socket member 120 which is interiorly threaded as indicated at 121. The mounting plate B, is provided with a central opening 22' as in the other embodiments. With a view to securing the mounting plate 13 to the junction box a threaded bolt 130 is provided which passes through the opening 22 and is screwed into the sleeve or socket 120. The bolt has a knurled head portion 131. to facilitate manipulation.

According to a further feature of the construction of FIGS. 10 and 11, the wall 132 of the junction box A has a peripheral recessed cutout portion 134, while the lamp socket portion C is secured to the mounting plate B' by means of a threaded bolt 126 (see FIG. 11) passing through registering bores and 142. provided in the mounting plate and the lamp socket portion, respectively. The bolt 126 has a head portion 148 while a not 150 is screwed on the free end of bolt 12.6 to tighten the lamp socket portion against the mounting plate. When the lamp socket portion has thus been secured to the mounting plate by the bolt and nut connection 126, 15G, the head 148 of the bolt 126 protrudes from the wall face of the mounting plate. In order to secure the mounting plate-lamp socket combination to the junction box, the head 148 is then placed within the recess 134 of the junction box and the bolt 130 is screwed into the socket 129. The provision of the head 148 and the recess portion 134 facilitates, of course, this operation. The recess 134 is slightly larger than the head 148 so as to permit for slight angular adjustment of the mount-ing plate relative to the junction box. Thus, while a slight rotational movement is possible, the mounting plate cannot be fully totated relative to the junction box as this is prevented by the head 148 engaging in the recess 13 4. This construction, thus, has the added advantage that the means for securing the lamp socket to the mounting plate, i.e., the bolt 126, with its head 148 serves the further purpose of facilitating the alignment and assembly of the elements and of preventing relative rotation between mounting plate and junction box.

It will be noted that the junction box of FIGS. 10 and 11 has four similar recesses or cutouts, 134, 134', 134" and 134", angularly spaced from each other by about 90. The provision of four cutouts makes it possible to secure the mounting plate with its lamp socket portion to the junction box in four difierent positions. In other words, when the junction box is initially mounted on the wall or ceiling, less care has to be taken as to the correct positioning of the box, as any of the four cutout portions may be engaged by the head 148. It is, of course, feasible to provide more or even fewer of the cutouts.

As previously stated, the assembly shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 is otherwise similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 4 and 5. Elementslt), 12, 14 and 18, 28,30 and 43 of FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 find their identical counterparts in the embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11 so that no further description of these elements is necessary.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is: w

1. A lighting fixture assembly comprising a junction box member adapted to be secured to a wall or ceiling, a wall plate member having an opening therein, separable connecting means passing through said opening and into said junction box member and connecting the wall plate member to the junction box member, and interengageable stop means on said junction box member and on said wall plate member, said inter-engageable stop means being spaced from one another to adjustably limit relative rotational movement between said junction box member and said wall plate member prior to permanent connection of said wall plate to said junction box member, said interengageable stop means being separate from said connecting means and being adapted to contact each other with out being secured together, said connecting means being the sole means for securing said junction box to said wall plate member.

2. In a lighting fixture assembly as claimed in claim 1, said connecting means comprising a bolt member projecting centrally from said junction box and extending through the opening in said Wall plate member, and nut means capable of being screwed onto the free end of said bolt member.

3. In a lighting fixture assembly as claimed in claim 1, said connecting means comprising an inwardly threaded sleeve member centrally projecting from said junction box and a bolt member passing through said opening in the wall plate member and capable of being screwed into said sleeve member.

4. A lighting fixture assembly as in claim 1, wherein said stop means comprises at least one aligning pin extending outwardly from said junction box member into said wall plate member, and at least one abutment in said Wall plate member located to block extensive movement of said pin whereby to permit slight relative movement between said junction box and wall plate members prior to the permanent positioning thereof but to prevent extensive relative rotation of said members.

5. A lighting fixture assembly as in claim 1, said stop means comprising a projecting member projecting from said wall plate member, said junction box having at least one recess substantially in register with and larger than said projecting member, said projecting member adjustably engaging said recess to permit slight relative movement therebetween and prevent extensive rotation of said Wall plate member.

6. A lighting fixture as claimed in claim 5, wherein said junction box has a plurality of recesses angularly spaced from each other.

7. A lighting fixture as claimed in claim 1, a lamp socket member, bolt means for connecting said lamp socket member to one face of said wall plate member, said bolt means having a head portion projecting from the other face of said wall plate member, and said junction box having at least one recess larger than and engaging said head portion, said head portion and said recess constituting said stop means.

8. A lighting fixture assembly comprising a junction box member adapted to be secured to a wall or ceiling, a wall plate member connected to and adjustably rotatable with respect to said junction box, said wall plate having a central opening, an inwardly threaded sleeve member centrally projecting from said junction box, a first bolt connecting said wall plate and junction box, said bolt passing through said wall plate opening and being screwed into said sleeve, said bolt and sleeve being the sole elements securing said wall plate and junction box, a lamp socket portion, a second bolt having a head, said second bolt connecting said lamp socket portion to said wall plate member with the head =facing the junction box, and said junction box having at least one recess portion slightly larger than said head, said head adjustably engaging said recess portion.

9. A lighting fixture comprising a junction box having a centrally disposed stud extending outwardly therefrom, a lighting fixture mounting plate having a central opening adapted to receive said stud, means to mount said junction box to a wall, an aligning pin extending outwardly from said junction box, said mounting plate being recessed to adjustably engage said aligning pin, and stop means arranged in the path of said aligning pin to limit relative rotational movement of said mounting plate with respect to said junction box after the mounting plate has been positioned on said stud and up against said junction box, and a nut threaded on said stud over the outer face of said mounting plate to hold said mounting plate to said junction box, said nut and stud being the sole elements securing said mounting plate to said junction box.

10. A lighting fixture according to claim 9, wherein said mounting plate is provided with a substantially cylindrical recess portion on its rear face adapted to be positioned against said junction box and including inwardly extending bosses defined within said recess, said aligning pin of said junction box being positionable within said cylindrical recess between said bosses.

11. A lighting fixture assembly according to claim 9, wherein said mounting plate is substantially rectangular and including an arcuate recess defined in a face thereof, said recess accommodating said aligning pin and being of a predetermined length to limit relative movement of said plate with respect to said box as controlled by movement of said pin along said slot.

12. A lighting fixture according to claim 9, wherein said mounting plate is substantially cylindrical and is pro vided with a cylindrical recess including a raised, diametrically extending portion, said aligning pin being adapted to be positioned on one side of said raised portion and being of a length so that it will not pass said raised portion when said mounting plate is positioned on said stud and rotated relative to said junction box.

13. A lighting fixture according to claim 12, including at least two spaced aligning pins extending outwardly from said junction box and positioned on each side of the raised portion of said mounting plate.

14. A lighting fixture according to claim 11, including at least two spaced aligning pins extending outwardly from said junction box and wherein said mounting plate includes at least two arcuate slots to accommodate one of each of said aligning pins.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 766,091 Woods July 26, 1904 904,458 Scism Nov. 17, 1908 946,329 Brown Jan. 1 1, 1910 1,267,934 Tizley May 28, 1918 1,471,340 Knight Oct. 23, 1923 1,537,780 Oefinger May 12, 1925 1,572,295 Kofsky Feb. 9, 1926 1,777,598 Barnes Oct. 7, 1930 2,689,909 Dazley Sept. 21, 1954 2,715,152 Balzer Aug. 9, 1955 2,861,121 Wolar Nov. 18, 1958 2,943,137 Van Wyngarden June 28, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 866,212 Germany Feb. 9, 1953

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