Abstract:
A hub for lighting at a grid intersection. The hub includes a light enclosure, light fixture, yoke, clip adapter, and beams. The enclosure includes connected walls each having a central offset portion with a connecting slot and multiple fixture slots. The yoke includes a middle section, two side sections, and two connector sections having protrusions. The yoke is attached to the enclosure by passing the connector sections through the connecting slots in opposite walls of the enclosure. Clips are inserted into the connecting slots that do not contain the yoke. The clips include arms extended therefrom and have protrusions. Beams with end adapters having holes are then connected to the enclosure by engaging the protrusions on the yoke and clips with the holes on the clip adapters. A light fixture can then be attached with fasteners passing through the fixture and slots in the fixture. Optionally a driver can be attached to the fixture.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/327,218, filed on Apr. 25, 2016, the contents of which are incorporated in this application by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates generally to a suspended ceiling system. More particularly, the invention relates to a hub for installing a lighting fixture at the intersection of two beams of a suspended ceiling system. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0003]    Suspended ceilings having a metal grid framework which supports panels of acoustical tile are used extensively in commercial and industrial buildings. It is often desirable to incorporate recessed lighting into a suspended ceiling. To avoid interrupting the grid framework, recessed lighting is generally installed between beams of the metal grid framework (i.e., in the middle of an acoustical tile). Locating the recessed lighting between the beams requires extensive framework to support the light fixture, however, and results in an architecturally undesirable interruption in the appearance of the suspended ceiling. 
         [0004]    It is therefore desirable to provide a system for positioning the light fixture at the intersection of beams of the metal grid framework which allows for seamless integration of the light fixture into the grid framework and simplifies installation. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    To achieve this and other desires, and in view of its purposes, the present invention provides a hub for lighting at a grid intersection. The hub includes four connected walls defining an interior space. Each wall has a wall surface with an outwardly projected wall protuberance having a first aperture, and at least one second aperture within the wall surface. The hub further includes a yoke having a middle section and two connector sections. The middle section of the yoke connects two side sections each having a louver element and a protruding edge. Each of the two connector sections has a connector section edge connected to one side section and include a connector leading edge opposite the connector section edge, a first side in contact with the connector leading edge and the side section having a flange and a yoke stop, and a second side that is opposite the first side and has a notch and at least one yoke protrusion. The yoke is releaseably connected to the walls by the connector leading edge passing through the first apertures of walls opposite one another. 
         [0006]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, but are not restrictive, of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0007]    The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing. It is emphasized that, according to common practice, the various features of the drawing are not to scale. On the contrary, the dimensions of the various features are arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. Included in the drawing are the following figures: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a lighting hub, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 1B  is another perspective view of the lighting hub of  FIG. 1A , according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2A  is a side view of a yoke half, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the yoke half of  FIG. 2A , according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of the yoke half of  FIGS. 2A and 2B  inserted into the lighting hub of  FIGS. 1A and 1B , according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of a pair of the yoke halves of  FIGS. 2A and 2B  inserted into the lighting hub of  FIGS. 1A and 1B , according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3C  is a perspective view of a Channel Beam Splice (CBS) hanger attached to the installed yoke halves of  FIG. 3B , according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a clip adapter, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4B  is a side view of the clip adapter illustrated in  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the clip adapter of  FIGS. 2A and 2B  inserted into the lighting hub of  FIGS. 1A and 1B , according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a pair of the clip adapters of  FIGS. 4A and 4B  and a pair of the yoke halves of  FIGS. 2A and 2B  inserted into the lighting hub of  FIGS. 1A and 1B , according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7A  is a side view of a ceiling beam having an attachment clip, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7B  is a side view of the attachment clip of  FIG. 7A , according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the attachment clip of  FIG. 7B  engaging with the yoke half of  FIGS. 2A and 2B  in the lighting hub of  FIGS. 1A and 1B , according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a top view of the attachment clip of  FIG. 7B  engaging with the clip adapter of  FIGS. 4A and 4B  in the lighting hub of  FIGS. 1A and 1B , according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of ceiling beams installed in the lighting hub of  FIGS. 1A and 1B , according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a light fixture installed in the lighting hub of  FIGS. 1A and 1B , according to an embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an electrical driver installed in the lighting hub of  FIGS. 1A and 1B , according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
       [0026]    When referring to the drawing, like reference numbers refer to like elements throughout the various figures that comprise the drawing. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    The features and benefits of the disclosure are illustrated and described by reference to exemplary embodiments. The disclosure also includes the drawing. This description of exemplary embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawing, which is to be considered part of the entire written description. Accordingly, the disclosure expressly should not be limited to such exemplary embodiments illustrating some possible non-limiting combination of features that may exist alone or in other combinations of features. 
         [0028]    In the description of embodiments, any reference to direction or orientation is merely intended for convenience of description and is not intended in any way to limit the scope of the present invention. Relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top,” and “bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the figure under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description only and do not require that the apparatus be construed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms such as “attached,” “affixed,” “connected,” “coupled,” “interconnected,” and similar terms refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both moveable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A-1B , a lighting hub  100  is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The lighting hub  100  includes four vertical walls  102  connected in a rectangle surrounding an interior  120 . Preferably, the lighting hub  100  is square. Each vertical wall  102  includes an offset portion  104  at the center of the vertical wall  102 . Each offset portion  104  includes a first aperture, which may be a vertical slot  106 . The lighting hub  100  further includes a plurality of light attachment apertures  108 , which may be slots. Each vertical wall  102  preferably includes at least one light attachment slot  108 , and more preferably more than one light attachment slot  108 . In some embodiments of the disclosure, the first aperture  106  and the attachment apertures  108  are located on different planes. The lighting hub  100  also includes a horizontal flange  110  and a vertical flange  112  extending from the bottom of each vertical wall  102 . The horizontal flange  110  and the vertical flange  112  may have any suitable size and shape, for example to match the visual style of a suspended ceiling system used in conjunction with the lighting hub  100 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , a yoke half  200  is provided according to an embodiment of the present invention. Each yoke half  200  includes a connector portion  210 , a vertically extending side portion  240 , and a horizontally extending middle portion  250  which extends back in the direction of a leading edge  212  of the connector portion  210 . The horizontally extending middle portion  250  includes a plurality of joint holes  252  and a hanger hole  254 . The length of the vertically extending side portion  240  may be varied in order to accommodate lighting fixtures of different shapes and heights. For example, the vertically extending side portion  240  may initially curve or bend outward to allow for adjustable lights which may not align vertically with the lighting hub  100 . 
         [0031]    In certain embodiments, the vertically extending side portion  240  includes stabilizing features. Such stabilizing features may include a louver element  242  and/or a protruding edge  244 . The louver element  242  stabilizes the structure by contacting the top of a beam (described in more detail below), on both sides of the beam, such that the rotation of the lighting hub  100  around an axis of rotation, which is parallel or substantially parallel to the vertical walls  102 , is restricted. The protruding edge  244  stabilizes the structure by contacting the flange of a beam (described in more detail below) such that the rotation of the lighting hub  100  around an axis of rotation, which is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular a vertical wall  102 , which connector portion  210  of the yoke half  200  does not contact, is restricted. 
         [0032]    The connector portion  210  of the yoke half  200  includes an upper flange  214  adjacent to the leading edge  212  and a notch  216  on the opposing side of the connector portion  210  from the upper flange  214 . The notch  216  is aligned with a stop  218  on the same edge of the connector portion  210  as the upper flange  214 . The yoke half  200  further includes two slots: a leading slot  220  nearer to the leading edge  212  and a trailing slot  224  farther from the leading edge  212 . The leading slot  220  and the trailing slot  224  are partially punched out from the connector portion  210  so that there is a leading protrusion  222  and a trailing protrusion  226  adjacent to the leading slot  220  and the trailing slot  224 , respectively. The leading protrusion  222  and the trailing protrusion  226  open toward the leading edge  212 . The connector portion  210  may optionally include a rivet hole  228  behind (i.e., farther from the leading edge  212 ) the trailing protrusion  226 . The connector portion  210  includes an offset  230  between the stop  218  and the vertically extending side portion  240 . The upper flange  214 , the leading slot  220 , and the trailing slot  224  are between the leading edge  212  and the offset  230 . 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , a pair of yoke halves  200  are used to connect a first pair of ceiling beams (described in more detail below) to the lighting hub  100  and provide a point for connecting the lighting hub  100  to a structural support (not shown) by first inserting the leading edge  212  of each yoke half  200  into an opposing vertical slot  106  of the lighting hub  100 . The notch  216  fits over the bottom of the vertical slot  106  and the upper flange  214  fits over the side of the vertical slot  106  to hold the connector portion  210  in place during installation. The stop  218  prevents the connector portion  210  from being inserted too far into the lighting hub  100 . Because of the offset portion  104 , the connector portion  210  does not extend past the interior  120  defined by the vertical walls  102 . Once each yoke half  200  is inserted into the respective vertical slot  106 , the two yoke halves  200  are joined by inserting fastening elements  260  such as screws through the aligned joint holes  252 . The hanger holes  254  of the yoke halves  200  are aligned approximately over the center of the lighting hub  100 . To support the lighting hub  100 , a hanger wire (not shown) may be inserted through the hanger holes  254  and secured to a structural support (not shown) above the lighting hub  100 . 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 3C , a channel beam splice (CBS) hanger  300  may be attached to the joined yoke halves  200  after the yoke halves  200  are installed in the lighting hub  100 . The CBS hanger  300  may be required in some jurisdictions which do not permit hang wires. The CBS hanger  300  further secures the two yoke halves  200  together and provides an attachment point to a structural support (not shown). 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , a clip adapter  400  is provided according to an embodiment of the present invention. The clip adapter  400  includes a U-shaped channel  410  defined by a first wall  412 , a second wall  414  parallel or substantially parallel to the first wall  412 , and a third wall  416  which joins the first wall  412  and the second wall  414 . The clip adapter  400  further includes an arm  420  which is attached to, and extends parallel to, the first wall  412 . The arm  420  is narrower than the channel  410  such that a stop  432  is present on each side of the arm  420 . The arm  420  includes a hole  424  and a leading protrusion  426  adjacent to the hole  424  nearer to a leading edge  422  of the arm  420  and a trailing protrusion  428  farther from the leading edge  422 . The leading protrusion  426  and the trailing protrusion  428  open away from the leading edge  422  and extend toward the second wall  414 . The arm  420  further includes a top angled flange  430  and/or a bottom angled flange  434  which each extend outward away from the second wall  414 . 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a pair of the clip adapters  400  are used to connect a second pair of ceiling beams (described in more detail below) to the lighting hub  100  by first inserting the leading edge  422  of each clip adapter  400  into an opposing vertical slot  106  of the lighting hub  100 . In contrast to the yoke halves  200 , the clip adapters  400  are inserted into the vertical slot  106  from the interior  120  of the lighting hub  110 . the clip adapters  400  are inserted into the vertical slot  106  until the stops  432  contact the interior of the offset portion  104 . The channel  410  prevents the clip adapter  400  from being pulled through the vertical slot  106  and the top angled flange  430  and the bottom angled flange  434  limit rotation of the arm  420  in the vertical slot  106 . 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the lighting hub  100  is depicted with the pair of opposing clip adapters  400  and opposing yoke halves  200  installed in the lighting hub  100 . 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , a ceiling beam  500  having a connector clip  550  attached to an end  502  is provided according to an embodiment of the present invention. The ceiling beam  500  includes a bulb  514 , a downwardly extending web  516 , and a horizontal flange  518  at the bottom of the web  516 . The connector clip  550  may be attached to the ceiling beam  500  with one or more fasteners  560 . The connector clip  550  includes at least two holes: a leading hole  554  closer to the leading edge  552  of the connector clip  550  and a trailing hole  556  which is farther from the leading edge  552  of the connector clip  550 . Suitable connector clips  550  are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,246 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,178,712, incorporated herein by reference. The ceiling beam  500  may also include a hole  510  adjacent to the connector clip  550 . As disclosed in the &#39;246 and &#39;712 patents, for example, the connector clip  550  is typically used to join two adjacent cross beams each having an identical connector clip  550 . The identical connector clips  550  are inserted through a slot in a main beam, where they snap together to form a connection. In order to form the opening for a light fixture, however, the connector clips  550  instead engage with one of the yoke halves  200  or a clip adapter  400  to form a secure connection to the lighting hub  100 . 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , to engage the connector clip  550  with the yoke half  200 , the leading edge  552  of the connector clip  550  is inserted into the vertical slot  106  adjacent to the connector portion  210  of the yoke half  200 . The connector clip  550  is positioned such that the upper flange  214  is angled away from the connector clip  550 . Once the connector clip  500  is inserted into the vertical slot  106 , the connector clip  550  engages with the connector portion  210  to prevent the connector clip  550  from being pulled back out of the vertical slot  106 . The connector clip  550  enters the vertical slot  106  until the stop  558  reaches the bottom of the vertical slot  106 . The stop  558  prevents the connector clip  550  from further entering the vertical slot  106 . At approximately the same time, the leading protrusion  222  and the trailing protrusion  226  of the connector portion  210  engage with the trailing hole  556  and the leading hole  554  of the connector clip  550 , respectively, thereby locking the connector clip  550  and the ceiling beam  500  in place. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , to engage the connector clip  550  with the clip adapter  400 , the leading edge  552  of the connector clip  550  is inserted into the vertical slot  106  adjacent to the arm  420  of the clip adapter  400 . The clip adapter  400  is positioned such that the top angled flange  430  and the bottom angled flange  434  of the clip adapter  400  are angled away from the connector clip  550  such that the top angled flange  430  and the bottom angled flange  434  fill the vertical slot  106  and prevent the clip adapter  400  and connector clip  550  from separating. Once the connector clip  550  is inserted into the vertical slot  106 , the connector clip  550  engages with the arm  420  to prevent the connector clip  550  from being pulled back out of the vertical slot  106 . The connector clip  550  enters the vertical slot  106  until the stop  558  reaches the bottom of the vertical slot  106 . The stop  558  prevents the connector clip  550  from further entering the vertical slot  106 . At approximately the same time, the leading protrusion  426  and the trailing protrusion  428  of the arm  420  engage with the trailing hole  556  and the leading hole  554  of the connector clip  550 , respectively, thereby locking the connector clip  550  and the ceiling beam  500  in place. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , the lighting hub  100  is depicted with the pair of opposing clip adapters  400  and opposing yoke halves  200  installed in the lighting hub  100 , and ceiling beams  500  attached to each of the opposing clip adapters  400  and opposing yoke halves  200 . 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 11 , a light fixture  600  may be installed in the lighting hub  100  by inserting the light fixture  600  into the interior  120  of the lighting hub  100  from below until clips  610  of the light fixture  600  engage with the plurality of light attachment apertures  108 . The light fixture  600  is preferably sized to fit below the yoke halves  200 . Any suitable light fixture  600  may be used which has the necessary dimensions to fit below the yoke halves  200  with the clips  610  aligned with the light attachment apertures  108 . 
         [0043]    The lighting hub  100  may also include suitable connectors for other electrical components. For example, as depicted in  FIG. 12 , an electrical driver  700  for light emitting diode (LED) lighting may be included. The electrical driver  700  includes a collar  710  which slots over the lighting hub  100  and attaches to the lighting hub  100  by clipping into the light attachment apertures  108 . The electrical driver  700  is preferably connected to the lighting hub  100  before installing the light fixture  600 . In some embodiments, rather than clipping into the lighting hub  100 , the light fixture  600  may instead attach to the electrical driver  700 . 
         [0044]    Although illustrated and described above with reference to certain specific embodiments and examples, the present invention is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown. Rather, various modifications may be made in the details within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims and without departing from the spirit of the invention.