Strip light arrangement for T bar ceiling grid systems

A cross member of a T bar ceiling system is designed to be part of the ceiling grid system and adapted to releasably receive a strip light beneath the cross T member. The strip light provides support flanges beneath the T member for supporting a ceiling panel edge at the conventional height. With this arrangement the grid system can be installed in the normal manner with these cross T's at positions where strip lights are to be secured. The strip lights can be installed at a later point in time. Preferably a push type releasable connection is used.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is with respect to strip lighting designed as part of a ceiling grid system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Strip lighting such as LED lighting and other low voltage light sources have been incorporated into suspension systems of a grid network of a ceiling panel suspension system. In one arrangement the strip light assembly is an LED strip light, with the light, housing being an actual cross member of a T bar grid system. With this system strip lighting can be provided at any of the cross members of a ceiling grid system however the strip light is installed as part of the actual grid system. This is in contrast to the well accepted practice of ceiling grid systems being installed by a first group of contractors and lighting associated with the ceiling system is installed by electricians either before the grid system is installed, after the grid system is installed, or as the grid system is being installed.

By having the strip light part of the actual ceiling grid system, difficulties can be encountered, particularly on large commercial projects where different union greens are represented. In addition, it is desirable to have the ceiling grid system as a single contract separate and apart from the lighting contract.

It has also been proposed to merely provide strip lighting which is directly suspended below the grid members at a desired position after the grid system is installed. This type of arrangement often requires modification of the panels, and access to the area above the finished ceiling may be more difficult.

The present invention provides an alternative to these practices and allows the installation of the ceiling grid system to be completed in a manner that strip lighting can be provided at predetermined locations after the grid network has been installed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A cross member of a T bar ceiling grid system according to the present invention comprises bayonet type fasteners at opposite ends of the cross component with an elongate bridging member extending between the bayonet fasteners and spaced to an upper side of the bayonet fasteners. The elongate bridging component includes a pair of opposed side walls defining a downwardly opening aligning slot therebetween and a connection head above and joined to the sidewalls.

In an aspect of the invention, the side walls include longitudinal extending ribs on the exterior surface thereof for engaging and retaining spring clips of a light strip arrangement.

In a preferred aspect of the invention a bottom edge of the side walls is above a midpoint in height of the bayonet type fasteners.

In yet a further aspect of the invention the connection head includes a series of heat distribution fins extending outwardly therefrom. Preferably, the elongate bridging member is of an extruded cross section throughout a length thereof.

In an aspect of the invention, the cross member is used in combination with a strip light adapted to releasably engage and be supported from the cross member. The strip light includes a housing having on a top surface a securing flange extending upwardly and extending in a length of the housing. The securing flange is of a size for edge insertion between the pair of opposed side walls of the cross member. Releasable fastening members secure the strip light to the cross member.

In an aspect of the invention, the fastening members are releasable spring clips secured to the securing flange and positioned to engage the side walls to secure the strip light to the cross member when the securing flange is inserted between the side walls. Preferably she releasable spring clips are secured on opposite sides of the securing flange and engage securing ribs provided on outside facing surfaces of the side walls.

In yet a further aspect of the combination, the securing flange is positioned intermediate the length of the housing to generally extend between the bayonet type fasteners such that the bayonet type fasteners are located beyond the ends of the securing flange when the strip light is connected to the cross member.

In a preferred aspect of the combination, the housing includes a series of ribs extending in the length and provided either end of the housing for receiving and engaging a bottom edge of the bayonet type fasteners when the strip light is supported by the cross member. Preferably, the bayonet type fasteners are partially received in the downwardly aligning slot and secured to the side walls such that the bayonet type fasteners extend outwardly from opposed ends of the elongate bridging member.

Preferably, the bayonet type fasteners are positioned below the connection head of the bridging member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1shows a strip light assembly2, in this case designed for a T bar ceiling paneling system. The strip light assembly is made up of a T bar member4shown as a cross T of a T bar suspension system. T bar connectors6are provided at opposite ends of the T bar member. The connectors6extend downwardly from the raised elongate connecting member8. Preferably the raised elongate connecting member8is an extruded metal member having a finned thermal transfer head30designed to dissipate heat produced by the strip light housing arrangement16to the space above the grid system. The strip light housing arrangement16includes a series of low voltage light sources spaced in the length of the housing and the strip light is subsequently connected to a low voltage power supply typically mounted above the grid system.

The strip light housing arrangement16includes a light housing18of a ‘U’ shape or channel shape that opens in a downward direction. An insert projection20is provided on the top surface of the light housing18and is centered in the width of the light housing. A series of retaining springs22are provided on the insert projection and these spring clips cooperate to releasably attach the raised elongate connecting member18of the strip light assembly to the grid system.

FIG. 2is an end view of T bar member4showing the T bar connectors and the raised elongate connecting member8.FIG. 3is a cross section of the strip light housing arrangement.

FIGS. 4 and 5show additional details of the raised elongate connecting member8. The upper most portion of the raised connecting member8is defined by the finned thermal transfer head30which not only provides structural rigidity to the T bar member but also acts to dissipate heat that has been conducted to this member from the strip light housing arrangement16. Below the fins thermal transfer head30are two downwardly extending stabilizing arms32and33. A securing gap34is defined between these downwardly extending stabilizing arms as shown inFIG. 5. The downwardly extending stabilizing arms32and33each include outwardly facing upper and lower securing beads36and37.

The retaining spring clips22releasably interlock with these outwardly facing upper and lower securing beads35and37when the strip light housing arrangement has been moved into secure engagement with the T bar member4.FIG. 6illustrates the strip light housing16when secured to the T bar member4. The sectional view is also shown inFIG. 7.

It can be seen that the insert projection20of the strip light housing arrangement16is received between the two downwardly extending stabilizing arms32and33. The retaining spring clips22are provided to the exterior of the downwardly extending stabilizing arms and have recesses on the interior surface of the retaining spring clips to interlock with the outwardly facing upper and lower securing beads36and37of the T bar member4.

The T bar connectors6when secured to the T bar member4, project downwardly from the raised elongate connecting member. When the strip light housing arrangement16is brought into engagement with the T bar member, the T bar connectors6align and lock in a receiving slot on the upper surface of the strip light housing arrangement16as shown inFIG. 6. With this particular cooperation either end of the strip light housing arrangement16, the strip light housing arrangement is securely mounted to the raised elongate connecting member8due to the insert projection20being received in two arms as well as the downwardly extending T bar connectors6engaging a locating recess on the upper surface of the light housing18. With this interaction of the T bar connector6with the upper surface of the light housing18, as well as the retaining spring clips engaging the upper and lower securing beads36and37, and the interaction due to the insert projection20being tightly received in the securing gap34of the T bar member, the strip light housing arrangement is releasably fixed to the T bar member4.

Although the strip light housing arrangement16is shown in engagement with the T bar member4inFIGS. 6 and 7, it would normally be the case that the T bar member4which in this case is the cross member would be secured to adjacent grid members before the strip light housing arrangement16is secured beneath the T bar member. In this way the ceiling grid system can be installed and lighting subsequently secured. Details of this can be appreciated fromFIGS. 10 and 11.

A T bar grid system50is shown inFIG. 10and comprises cross members54engaging main T members52.FIG. 10also shows how the T bar member4has replaced one of the cross members54. The T bar member4is designed to engage the main T52in the conventional manner and is essentially a replacement for the cross member54.

FIG. 11shows a conventional cross member54with its own connector engaging the main T52and the T bar member4having its connector6engaging the main T52. As shown, the raised elongate connecting member8is at a position substantially above the lower surface of a conventional cross T member54. This additional elevation is to allow securement with the strip light housing as shown inFIGS. 12 and 13.

InFIG. 13it can be seen that the strip light housing arrangement16is about to be moved upwardly into engagement with the raised elongate connecting member8. Note that the insert projection20does not extend the full length of the light housing18as there must be room at the ends of the light housing18to allow the connectors6to engage the upper surface of the light housing. As previously described, the insert projection20is forced into the receiving gap34in the lower surface of the raised elongate connecting member8and the spring clips211will engage the upper and lower securing beads36and37of this member. With this arrangement, the T bar members4receive and retain the strip light housing arrangement16are provided at predetermined desired locations in the grid system50. One such position is shown inFIG. 12.

FIGS. 14 and 15show the strip light housing arrangement when it is in engagement with the T bar member4. The strip light housing arrangement16has the light housing18positioned below the lower surface53of the main T52. The light housing18includes an upper projecting flange19which will support the ceiling panels when they are secured to the grid system. Thus the light housing18is positioned below the grid system and is aligned on the structural members of the grid system.

With the system as shown and described, the structural members defining the ceiling grid are installed without the strip light housing arrangement16. The strip lights can be provided or left for the electrical contractor to install. Once the grid system is in place the electrical installer can then properly secure the low voltage power supplies and connect these to the electrical system. Typically the strip light housing arrangement16includes a simple snap in cable arrangement to electrically connect the low voltage supply to the strip lights.

With the present system installation is improved and the strip lighting is installed after the grid system is in place. The strip light housing engages a specialized T bar member, preferably a cross T bar member, and therefore the grid system does not include the strip light housing and the strip light is installed at a later point in time. The specialized T bar members use the same type of connecting clips or bayonets as are well known with existing T bar systems and any accepted connecting arrangement can be used. One such connecting member is shown but the type of connecting member can change, while the structural member cooperates with the strip light housing arrangement for support thereof.

The use of spring clips is particularly desirable as it simplifies the subsequent installation of the lights and has been found to provide positive releasable securement. If there are any problems with respect to the strip lights they can be easily removed yet they have excellent retention on the T bar members and meet the accepted provisions.

Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations may be made thereto without departing from the appended claims.