Abstract:
An adjustable hanging element is provided herein for suspended light fixtures which allows for adjustment of a point of contact for suspension both upon initial installation and while installed, without the need for taking the fixture down.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Appl. No. 62/319,394, filed Apr. 7, 2016, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Suspended light fixtures are known in the prior art, such as high-bay light fixtures. Often, suspended light fixtures utilize one or more points of contact for hanging, such as being hung by hook-shaped or loop-shaped member(s) engaging a suspension cable. 
         [0003]    As appreciated by those skilled in the art, weight distribution in a suspended light fixture will affect the angle of the fixture&#39;s downward throw of light. Typically, the plumbness of a light fixture is checked upon installation. However, the subsequent addition of components, such as back-up battery packs, step down transformers, etc., and time lapse of installation may cause eccentric loading resulting in angled, non-true light throw. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    An adjustable hanging element is provided herein for suspended light fixtures which allows for adjustment of a point of contact for suspension both upon initial installation and while installed, without the need for taking the fixture down. 
         [0005]    These and other features of the subject invention will be better understood through a study of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIGS. 1-6B  show various aspects of the subject invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    With reference to the Figures, a hanging element  10  is provided having a shank  12  and a bent portion  14 . The bent portion  14  may be hook- or loop-shaped. The hanging element  10  is useable with a suspendable light fixture  16  having a housing  18  and reflector  20 . Any known suspendable light fixture may be used with the subject invention with all necessary electrical components being accommodated in or about the housing  18  with one or more light generating elements  22  being accommodated by the reflector  20 . The light generating elements  22  may be of any form, including, but not limited to, incandescent, fluorescent, solid state (e.g., LED), etc. 
         [0008]    The shank  12  is provided to be multiaxially adjustable relative to the housing  18 . By way of non-limiting example, the adjustability may be relative to a fixed point A on the shank  12  within a single plane P ( FIG. 3 ); with this arrangement, the multiaxial adjustability is relative to two axes (e.g., x, y axes) within the plane P. With multiaxial adjustability within a single plane, the fixed point A on the shank  12  may be moved to various points within the plane. 
         [0009]    Various modes may be utilized to secure the hanging element  10  to the housing  18 . By way of non-limiting example, the shank  12  may be fixed to a plate  24  such that the plate  24  is moveable with the shank  12 . Thus, the shank  12  may be adjusted relative to the housing  18  with movement of the plate  24  relative to the housing  18 . An opening  26  may be formed in the housing  18 , formed preferably smaller than the plate  24  such that the plate  24  may not pass through the opening  26 . Preferably, the opening  26  is formed in an upward-facing surface of the housing  18  (upward being in a direction contrary to gravity). The plate  24  may be located interiorly of, and adjacent to, the opening  26 , within the housing  18 . With the plate  24  being larger in size than the opening  26 , the light fixture  16  may be supported in suspension by the hanging element  10  with weight transfer through the plate  24 . Preferably, the plate  24  is formed sufficiently robust (with one or more considerations of: thickness, material selection, shape, sufficient overlapping contact with the housing  18 ) to support at least the full weight of the light fixture  16 . 
         [0010]    The shank  12  may be fixed to the plate  24  in any known manner. For example, the plate  24  may have an aperture  28  through which the shank  12  passes with the shank  12  being fixed relative to the aperture  28 . Preferably, the shank  12  is at least partially threaded with at least one nut  30  being used to fix the shank  12  to the plate  24 . Optionally, one or more washers  31  may be utilized between the nut  30  and the plate  24 . Also, optionally, a collar  33  may be provided on the shank  12  larger in diameter than the aperture  28  to resist passage therethrough. The plate  24  may be in pressing engagement with the collar  33 , with the shank  12  fixed to the plate  24 . In addition, or alternatively, the shank  12  may be fixed to the plate  24  by mechanical interactions (e.g., interference fit, mating edge and slot), adhesion and/or fusion. The plate  24  may be unitarily formed with the shank  12 . 
         [0011]    With the plate  24  being located adjacent the opening  26 , the plane P of adjustability is located adjacent to the opening  26 . The fixed point A on the shank  12  is locatable on all points bounded by the opening  26 . The opening  26  sets a boundary for the range of adjustability of the shank  12 . 
         [0012]    By allowing for adjustment of the shank  12 , the location of the bent portion  14  of the hanging element  10  is adjusted relative to the housing  18 . With the bent portion  14  defining the point of suspension, adjustment of the bent portion  14  allows for adjustment of the point of suspension relative to the housing  18 . In this manner, the overall weight distribution of the housing  18  is kept constant, with the bent portion  14  being moved to compensate for eccentric loading. For single point suspended light fixtures, the bent portion  14  may be located to be substantially in alignment with a center of gravity of the light fixture  16  as considered along a vertical (gravitational) axis to minimize non-true light throw. As understood by those skilled in the art, the center of gravity of the light fixture  16  may be altered by the addition of components, such as back-up battery packs, step down transformers, etc., and/or the shifting or settling of portions of the light fixture  16  resulting from time lapse at an installation or external factors. As shown in  FIG. 6A , the center of gravity COG of the light fixture  16  may cause the light fixture  16  to be askew to a vertical (true) axis. The location of the center of gravity COG may result in eccentric loading and non-true light throw. The adjustment of the hanging element  10  may re-align the point of suspension with the center of gravity COG, as shown in  FIG. 6B , thus, providing the light fixture with improved downward alignment. 
         [0013]    The light fixture  16  may be suspended by more than one point contact. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, more than one of the hanging elements  10  may be utilized, preferably one at each point of suspension (although it may be possible to use the hanging element(s)  10  in combination with fixed points of suspension). With a plurality of the hanging elements  10 , iterative adjustment of the hanging elements  10  may be needed to achieve best downward throw. Adjustment of a single hanging element  10  may not be sufficient to achieve best results. The loci of all suspension points, including the hanging elements  10  and any fixed suspension points, collectively will act relative to the center of gravity of the light fixture. 
         [0014]    The shank  12  is preferably releasably lockable to the housing  18 . Any manner of releasable locking may be utilized. By way of non-limiting example, releasable fasteners may be utilized. For example, one or more locking nuts  32  (e.g., in the form of wing nuts) may be provided which threadedly engage threaded stems  34  located on the housing  18  and/or the plate  24 . Optionally, washers  37  may be utilized. The threaded stems  34  may be provided as bolts or screw. Corresponding locking slots  36  may be provided on the housing  18  and/or the plate  24  through which the threaded stems  34  may pass. With the locking nuts  32  being tightened, the plate  32  may be releasably locked to the housing  18 . With the locking nuts  32  being loosened, the plate  24  may be adjusted relative to the housing  18 , and then tightened when in a desired location. A releasable locking arrangement allows for adjustment of the shank  12  with the light fixture  16  being suspended, thus avoiding the need to take down the light fixture  16 . 
         [0015]    Preferably, the threaded stems  34  are each provided in bolt form and include a collar  35  below a head with the collar  35  being shaped to be seated within one of the locking slots  36  so as to resist relative rotation thereto. 
         [0016]    Preferably, three of the locking slots  36  are provided with the plate  24  at equidistant intervals radiating outwardly. In addition, preferably three of the locking slots  36  are provided with the housing  18 , particularly in arcuate form spaced evenly about the perimeter of the opening  26 . It is preferred that each threaded stem  30  passes through both one of the locking slots  36  in the plate  24  and through one of the locking slots  36  in the housing  18 . With the locking nuts  32 , the threaded stems  30  may be simultaneously releasably locked to the plate  24  (and, thus, the shank  12 ) and to the housing  18 . With the combination of arcuate locking slots  36  in the housing  18  and outward radiating locking slots  36  in the plate  24 , the plate  24  may be rotated and axially shifted to adjust the location of the shank  12 . As will be understood by those skilled in the art, other quantities of the locking slots  36  in both the housing  18  and/or the plate  24  may be used.