US3372273A - Light fixture for a suspended ceiling - Google Patents

Description

o. s. SUTTER 3, 7

LIGHT FIXTURE FOR A SUSPENDED CEILING March 5, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 8, 1965 March 5, 1968 o. s. SUTTER LIGHT FIXTURE FOR A SUSPENDED CEILING Filed March 8, 19e- S Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 5. 507756 March 5, 1968 0. 5. SUTTER LIGHT FIXTURE FOR A SUSPENDED CEILING 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 8, 1965 INVENTOR. 5t 5077;?

' Arrae/r/a s United States Patent Ofifice 3,372,273 Patented Mar. 5, 1968 3,372,273 LIGHT FIXTURE FOR A SUSPENDED CEILING Ormond S. Sutter, Placentia, Califi, assignor to Lok- Products Co., Fullerton, 'Calif., a corporation of California Filed Mar. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 437,958 3 Claims. (Cl. 240-78) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A light fixture for suspended ceiling installations wherein a channel is formed along the upper surface of the reflector to form a wireway which can be adapted for easily interconnecting a number of fixtures in a line, and further including a removable light diffuser.

This invention relates to an improved light fixture for a suspended ceiling.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel lighting fixture which is readily and easily assembled.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fixture which can be installed either individually or in a continuous series.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fixture wherein the light-diffusing sheet is positioned flush with a suspended grid ceiling.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent from the following description.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic perspective of the fixture.

FIGURE 2 is a view taken along line 2--2 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view taken along line 3--3 of FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of two fixtures joined together.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective with parts br ken away of the corner construction.

FIGURE 6 is a view taken along line 6-6 of FIG- URE 4.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective of the corner clip.

FIGURE 8 is a view taken along line 8-8 of FIG- URE 4.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary perspective of the wire way of a single light fixture with removable tab and knock-out plug. Also shown is a knock-out plug and tab removed from fixture.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the continuous wire way with two light fixtures joined together.

FIGURE ll is a perspective view of the wire way and clamp that connects the light fixtures when used in a continuous series.

The fixture of this invention is particularly adapted to a suspended grid ceiling. Such ceilings are well known to those skilled in the art and contemplate a series of parallel longitudinal inverted T-shaped runners 20 suspended by wires 22. Inverted T-shaped cross runners 24 are connected by clips 26 forming openings within which acoustical tiles 28 are supported.

The fixture has a reflector 30, opposed sides 32 of which rest upon opposed flanges 34 of longitudinal runners 20 (see FIGURE 8). An end cap 36 is provided at each end of the reflector and is secured by, for example, spot welding. Lamp sockets 38 are secured to the end caps 36 by tabs 41 and 43 formed in the cap 36 (see FIG- URES 1 and 8).

The upper surface of reflector 30 has a longitudinal channel 40 formed therein within which ballasts 42 are secured. A cover plate 44 fits over channel 40 and is locked in place by tabs 46, thereby forming a wireway from the ballast to the light sockets 38. A protective cover 39 is secured by clips 51 and clips 53 to further enclose the electrical wiring and its connection to sockets 38.

Each end cap 36 has an upwardly projecting tab 48 which seals off the end of the wireway formed by channel 40 and cover 44. When fixtures are installed in continuous runs (see FIGURES 4 and 10), they are butted end to end and it is desirable not to have the wireways sealed off. Tab 48 is therefore provided with a breakoff crease 55 so that it may be readily broken away along crease 55.

A spring clip 45 (saddle-shaped) is slipped over the remaining portion of tabs 48, thus holding the fixtures together (FIGURE 10). The cut-away center section of clip 45 has U-shaped grommets 63 to protect the wiring and provide a continuous wireway from one fixture to the next. Ends 47 of clip 45 support cover plates 44. A knockout plug 59 is also provided in end plate 36 to permit passage of wires out of the end of the fixture when tab 48 is in tact, and opening 49 is provided at each end of channel 40 to permit wires to pass from channel 40 down and under reflector 30 to the various sockets 38. Grommets 50 protect the wires from the metal edges of opening 49.

A diffuser 52 is supported within a frame 54 which, in turn, rests on inturned longitudinal flanges 56, on sides 32 of the reflector 30. The frame 54 is formed of extruded runners 57 having inturned diffuser supporting flanges 58 and outwardly facing flanges 61. The outwardly facing flanges 61 of the longitudinal runners 57 are stepped as at 60 to rest upon inturned flange 5-6 of sides 32 positioning the exposed surface of inturned flanges 58 flush with runners 20. Corner members 62 fit into a channel 64 formed on the outer surface of each longitudinal runner 57 and cross runner 65, forming a rectangular frame within which the diffuser 52 may be supported. The corner members on one side of the rectangular frame thus formed are provided with outwardly projecting tabs 66. Each runner is crimped as at 67 to hold the corner members in place.

To insert the frame into the reflector, the tab-bearing side is first inserted as seen in FIGURE 6. The frame 54 is then moved as far as possible towards one side of the reflector until the remaining side clears and the frame is then adjusted until the stepped flanges 61 rest upon the longitudinal runners 20, flanges 56 and 34. An upturned tab 70 (FIGURES 4 and 6) engages tabs 66 of corner member 62 on frame 54, and acts as a hinge and lock to hold diffuser frame 54 in place after installation. Before the frame is inserted in the reflector the diffuser has been inserted therein and held by a series of spring clips 68 which are formed to bear upon the upper surface of the diffuser.

While what hereinbefore has been described as the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is readily apparent that alterations and modifications can be resorted to Without departing from the scope of this invention, and such alterations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A light fixture for a suspended grid ceiling of the type having longitudinal flanged runners and cross runners, the combination of a reflector having sides resting upon opposed flanges of a pair of longitudinal runners, an end cap on each end of said reflector, a channel formed between said end caps in the upper surface of said reflectors, a cover fitting over said channel forming a wireway, a rectangular frame, a diffuser supported within said frame, said frame having a stepped flange supporting the diffuser flush with the ceiling within said reflector, said frame being formed of four runners having the outer face thereof channeled, a corner clip fitting within said channels at the corners of said frame, a pair of said corner members on the same side of said frame having parallel tabs projecting outwardly of the end of said frame.

2. A light fixture for a suspended grid ceiling of the type having longitudinal flanged runners and cross runners, the combination of a reflector having sides resting upon opposed flanges of a pair of longitudinal runners, an end cap on each end of said reflector, a channel formed between said end caps in the upper surface of said reflectors, a cover fitting over said channel forming a wireway, at least one of said end caps having a removable tab thereon forming an end closure for said wireway, a rectangular frame, a diffuser supported within said frame, said frame having a stepped flange supporting the diffuser flush with the ceiling within said reflector, said frame being formed of four runners having the outer face thereof channeled, a corner clip fitting within said channels at the corners of said frame, a pair of said corner members on the same side of said frame having parallel tabs projecting outwardly of the end of said frame.

3. A light fixture for a suspended grid ceiling of the type having longitudinal flanged runners and cross runners,

the combination of a reflector having sides resting upon opposed flanges of a pair of longitudinal runners, a rectangular frame, a diffuser supported within said frame, said frame having a stepped flange supporting the diffuser flush with the ceiling within said reflector, said frame being formed of four runners having the outer face thereof channeled, a corner clip fitting within said channels at the corners of said frame, a pair of said corner members on the same side of said frame having parallel tabs projecting outwardly of the end of said frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,694,139 11/1954 Zurawski 24051.11 2,846,569 8/1958 Frizzel et al. 24051.11 2,888,113 5/1959 Schwartz et a1 240-9 X 3,015,721 1/1962 Guth 24051.11 3,019,333 1/1962 Pascucci 240-5111 3,264,470 8/ 1966 Bodian 240'78 X 3,268,722 8/1966 Nolan 240--9 X 3,281,588 10/1966 Spinneta 2409 X NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

C. C. LOGAN, I. F. PETERS, Assistant Examiners.

Images