Abstract:
A bracket locator for use with a fixture. The bracket locator including a main body, a swinging arm and a plurality of alignment protrusions. The swinging arm is rotatably connected to the main body. The plurality of alignment protrusions include a first protrusion and a second protrusion. The first protrusion extends from the main body. The second protrusion extends from the swinging arm.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a locator tool or jig for use with a light fixture, and, more particularly, to a locator tool for positioning an end cap bracket of a light fixture. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Light fixtures, particularly those using elongated lamps have corresponding elongated reflectors/fixtures that are often made of bent or extruded metal or other somewhat flexible material. The reflector is often economically produced having brackets installed therein for providing rigidity and mounting features to hold electrical receptacles for the bulb. 
         [0005]    Brackets are often installed at key positions particularly proximate to the end portions of the reflector and/or extrusion and are positioned and fastened with fasteners as the assembly is formed. Screws are often utilized to hold the brackets to the reflectors and the reflectors may have positioning features to assist an operator in the location of the bracket and for the starting of the screw. The assembly of the light fixture may be done prior to shipping of a finished product or may be completed by the light installer at the point of use. A difficulty in the assembling of the brackets occurs because of the potential for misalignment of the bracket or warping of the reflector. Improper positioning and fastening of the bracket to the reflector can result since the bracket has to be held and screwed in typically at least three locations. 
         [0006]    What is needed in the art is an apparatus and method for positioning brackets relative to light fixtures for uniform installation of the brackets to the fixtures. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention relates to a locator assembly for use with a lighting reflector to position a bracket at an end portion of the reflector. 
         [0008]    The invention, in one form is directed to a bracket locator for use with a fixture, the bracket locator includes a main body, a swinging arm and a plurality of alignment protrusions. The swinging arm is rotatably connected to the main body. The plurality of alignment protrusions include a first protrusion and a second protrusion. The first protrusion extends from the main body. The second protrusion extends from the swinging arm. 
         [0009]    An advantage of the present invention is that the bracket locator retains the bracket in a desired position until the bracket is fastened to the lighting fixture. 
         [0010]    Another advantage of the present invention is that the bracket locator cam locks to the fixture for ease of installation and removal therefrom. 
         [0011]    Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the protrusions grip the lighting fixture when the swinging arm is in the cam locked position. 
         [0012]    Still yet another advantage of the present invention is that the bracket locator installed on the fixture and the bracket is located relative to the bracket locator without the use of any other tools. 
         [0013]    A further advantage of the present invention is that the camming action of the bracket locator functions to move or flex the lighting fixture, perhaps even slightly, to provide a uniform shape to which the bracket is then appropriately attached. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view including one embodiment of a bracket locator of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the bracket locator of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the bracket locator of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of the bracket locator of  FIGS. 1 and 3  being connected to a linear light extrusion; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is an end view of the extrusion having the bracket locator of  FIGS. 1-4  positioning a bracket for installation of the bracket to the extrusion. 
       
    
    
       [0020]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIGS. 1-5 , there is illustrated a bracket locator  10  that is connectable to a linear light extrusion or member  12  having a bracket  14  that is attached to linear light member  12  in a temporary fashion so that bracket  14  can be positioned against bracket locator  10  and installed to linear light member  12  by way of screws  16  or other suitable fasteners. Bracket  14  includes tabs with holes  18  connected to structural member  20 . Typically one bracket  14  is positioned at each end of linear light member  12  being fastened thereto by screws  16 . For the sake of simplicity only one end of linear light member  12  is illustrated and discussed herein although it is understood that typically two brackets  14  are associated with each linear light member  12 . The interaction of bracket locator  10  with light member  12  and bracket  14  may be thought of as an assembly  50 , although bracket locator  10  is connected only temporarily with light member  12  and bracket  14  so as to facilitate the fastening of bracket  14  to light member  12 . After the fastening of light bracket  14  to light member  12 , bracket locator  10  is disengaged from the resulting assembly. 
         [0022]    Linear light member  12  can serve as a reflector or other structural part of a lighting fixture and may be an extrusion or bent, metal or a formed composite or plastic material to which a bracket  14  is to be attached. 
         [0023]    Bracket locator  10  includes a main body  22 , a swinging arm  24 , protrusions  26  and  28  respectively positioned on main body  22  and swinging arm  24 . 
         [0024]    Main body  22  may have a portion that is proximate to swinging arm  24  that is multi-layered so that swinging arm  24  may consist of more than one piece of material spaced apart by a portion of main body  22  to provide strength to swinging arm  24 . At one end of swinging arm  24  associated with main body  22  is pivot point axis  30  about which swinging arm  24  is rotatably connected to main body  22 . Protrusions  26  and  28  may be cylindrical rods that are each connected at one end to main body  22  and swinging arm  24  respectively. Protrusions  26  and  28  may be similar in length and may include gripping features such as threads, knurls or annular rings so that they can interact with linear light member  12  in a gripping fashion when associated with an end of linear light member  12 . Protrusion  28  is associated with an end of swinging arm  24  that is opposite the end associated with pivot point axis  30 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of bracket locator  10  that has swinging arm  24  pivoting about an extension of main body  22  and on an opposite end as that illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In this embodiment the structure is substantially similar and the action is the same as the embodiment illustrated in FIGS.  1  and  3 - 5 , except for the location of pivot point axis  30 . The location of pivot point axis  30  allows for an over-center locking of bracket locator  10  relative to fixture  12  in the same manner as that discussed for the embodiment of FIGS.  1  and  3 - 5 . For purposes of clarity the remaining discussion pertains to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS.  1  and  3 - 5 , but the principles apply equally to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0026]    Retaining tabs  32  and  34  are attached to main body  22  and are positioned and shaped so that they may temporarily interact with bracket  14  and hold bracket  14  next to main body  22  during the installation process of attaching bracket  14  to linear light member  12 . Retaining tabs  32  and  34  each include a tab portion that interacts with bracket  14  and additionally includes a tab that allows the user to easily swing retaining tabs  32  and  34  into position to hold bracket  14  in place. Portions of retaining tabs  32  and  34  may be shaped to draw bracket  14  tightly against main body  22 . Retaining tab  32  rotates about an axis  36  and retaining tab  34  rotates about an axis  38 . Axis  36  and axis  38  are substantially parallel with each other and are substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of linear light member  12 . 
         [0027]    Protrusion  26  is generally longitudinally oriented around axis  40  as is protrusion  28  oriented about axis  42 . Axes  26 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40  and  42  are all generally parallel to each other in the embodiment shown and described herein. However, other alignments are also contemplated, which may correspond to the shape of bracket  14  as well as connecting features that may be associated with linear light member  12 . Linear light member  12  includes channels  46  may be utilized for the connection of bracket  14  by way of screws  16  on an interior portion of linear light member  12 . Linear light member  12  additionally includes features that are complimentary to protrusions  26  and  28  for the connection on a temporary basis of protrusions  26  and  28  to features  48 . 
         [0028]    Swinging arm  24  works in a camming type manner as bracket locator  10  is connected to linear light member  12 . Typically during installation swinging arm  24  is located below line  44  as protrusions  26  and  28  are inserted into features  48  of linear light member  12 . The exact positioning of swinging arm  24  is left up to the operator to thereby allow an ease of insertion of protrusions  26  and  28  into features  48 . Once protrusions  26  and  28  are fully inserted into features  48  the operator presses down on main body  22  so that protrusion  28  is then positioned above line  44  as swinging arm  24  is swung upwardly thereby locking bracket locator  10  to fixture  12 . This interaction of swinging arm  24  with main body  22  positions swinging arm  24  in an over-center position thereby locking bracket locator  10  to linear light member  12 . Protrusion  28  in this position is proximate to main body  22  and may rest thereagainst to hold swinging arm  24  in a cam locked position. This advantageously may flex linear light member  12  so as to have a more exacting form in its cross sectional shape and allow for uniform installation of a bracket  14  thereto. Bracket  14  is positioned against main body  22  and retaining tabs  32  and  34  are swing into position to hold bracket  14  in position so that screws  16  can be installed through tabs  18  into channels  46 . 
         [0029]    To remove bracket locator  10 , once bracket  14  is connected to linear light member  12 , retaining tabs  32  and  34  are swung away from bracket  14  to thereby disengage bracket  14 . Main body  22  is then lifted thereby brining swinging arm  24  out of a cam locked position and bracket locator  10  is moved in a longitudinal manner away from linear light member  12  so that protrusions  26  and  28  disengage from features  48 . 
         [0030]    Protrusion  28  of swinging arm  24  swings in an arc about pivot point axis  30  and for most of the arc, through which protrusion  28  is positioned is on a non-cam locking side of line  44 . The positioning of protrusion  28  on swinging arm  24  is such that axis  42  crosses line  44  thereby providing the camming type operation of bracket locator  10  relative to linear light member  12 . 
         [0031]    The present invention advantageously provides an accurate cross-sectional shape to linear light member  12  and holds bracket  14  in position for connection to linear light member  12  for attachment to each end of linear light member  12 .  FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate two embodiments of how swinging arm  24  may be configured either pivoting from an inner portion of main body  22  or by way of an extension of main body  22  to thereby illustrate two different embodiments of Applicant&#39;s invention. 
         [0032]    While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.