Abstract:
A luminaire and mounting bracket combination is disclosed which allows the luminaire to be readily installed and retained by the bracket while the installer permanently affixes the luminaire directly to the bracket. Single installer capability is therefore allowed due to the construction of the support bracket and luminaire combination described. The bracket incorporates the use of a plurality of support arms and possibly a lower support bracket which correspondingly fit into apertures formed in the luminaire support frame formed on the mounting face of the luminaire. The design allows the luminaire to be vertically lowered on the support bracket and retained thereby while the installer fastens the luminaire directly to the bracket without need for additional support mechanism or aid.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to surface mount luminaires, and, more particularly, to a mounting bracket and luminaire combination providing for efficient mounting of the luminaire to a surface. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Surface mount luminaires are mounted to provide general lighting of indoor and outdoor spaces. It should be understood that the description of the luminaires as “surface mount” type luminaires is intended to distinguish the luminaires from “recessed” type luminaires. Thus, the invention taught herein will apply to all “surface mount” type luminaires, including, but not limited to, arm mounted luminaires mounted directly to a wall. 
     Luminaires are often installed in locations that are only accessible by a ladder and which only permit a single person to install the luminaire. Additionally, many luminaires require an installer to position a luminaire on a mounting bracket with one hand while attempting to install fasteners with the other hand. There exists a need for increased ease and safety for the installation of luminaires. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention there is provided a luminaire and bracket combination which allows the luminaire housing to be quickly and easily mounted to a pole or to a bracket. The bracket has a mounting surface with at least one pair of horizontally aligned upwardly opening substantially parallel hooks. The bracket also has a lower hook opening upwardly between and below the at least one pair of horizontally aligned hooks. Above the horizontally aligned upwardly opening hooks is an outwardly extending flange above and between the horizontally aligned hooks. The flange has an aperture for receiving a fastener therethrough. 
     A corresponding luminaire has a rear mounting portion suitable for hanging and installing on the bracket. The mounting portion of the luminaire has at least one pair of vertically oriented mating slots suitable for receiving each of the horizontally aligned upwardly opening hooks on the bracket. Between the vertically oriented slots is a slot central therewith having a portion above the vertically oriented parallel slots. The mounting portion of the luminaire also has a threaded cylindrical opening suitably oriented to receive a fastener extending through the aperture in the flange extending from the bracket. The luminaire is mounted to a surface by first fastening the bracket to the surface and then placing the slots in the luminaire mounting portion about the upwardly opening parallel hooks and flange. The luminaire is then lowered so that the upwardly opening parallel hooks and lower hook of the bracket receive a portion of the mounting portion of the luminaire above the slots. A fastener is then placed through the aperture in the flange and is fasteningly engaged with the threaded cylindrical opening in the mounting portion of the luminaire. 
     The bracket and luminaire combination provides a mechanism and method for quick and easy attachment and securement of the luminaire into the attachment bracket which may be installed on a vertical install surface or other support structure such as a pole for single person installation. The design also allows for permanent mechanical attachment joining the housing to the bracket. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a luminaire and mounting bracket combination showing a mounting bracket mounted on a surface and a luminaire removed therefrom; 
         FIG. 2  is a lower perspective view of the luminaire and mounting bracket combination detailing the support arm and bracket assembly from a sectional view thereof; 
         FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b  and  3   c  are variant views of the mounting bracket of the present combination detailing the various features thereof; 
         FIGS. 4   a ,  4   b  and  4   c  detail the mounting bracket of an alternative construction for the mounting bracket and luminaire combination described herein; 
         FIG. 5  is a disassembled view of the luminaire and mounting bracket combination described herein with the mounting bracket shown in  FIGS. 4   a ,  4   b  and  4   c.    
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless limited otherwise, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” “in communication with” and “mounted,” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings. In addition, the terms “connected” and “coupled” and variations thereof are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings. 
     Furthermore, and as described in subsequent paragraphs, the specific mechanical configurations illustrated in the drawings are intended to exemplify embodiments of the invention and that other alternative mechanical configurations are possible. 
     As shown in the figures is the luminaire mounting bracket combination for relatively easy installation of a luminaire on a surface mount type installation. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the luminaire  30  consists of the body or frame element  34  with an extending support arm  32 . As may be readily understood however, many variations to luminaire construction and designs may be used in combination with the luminaire mounting support and bracket disclosed herein and the various embodiments shown in the figures are just one implementation incorporating the aspects of the luminaire mounting bracket combination described. Returning to the figures, the luminaire body and frame  34  has a support arm extending rearwardly towards a support surface. As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the support surface has mounted thereto a support bracket  20 , the support bracket  20  showing dual support fasteners or hooks  23  or multiple hooks  43 ,  45  as shown. The overall design and construction of the luminaire and mounting bracket combination of the various embodiments allows the luminaire to be installed on typical surface mount installations and may be placed and thereby hands free supported upon the support bracket  20  while fastening of the luminaire to the support bracket may be implemented through the use of fastener  21  and the like. Through implementation of the combination of luminaire and mounting bracket shown herein, the luminaire may be securely positioned on the mounting bracket and then, subsequent to support of the luminaire by the mounting bracket, firm fixation of the luminaire to the mounting bracket may be accomplished without the need for additional installers to maintain the position of the luminaire relative to the support bracket while securing the luminaire to the support. 
     As may be interpreted from  FIG. 1 , installation of the luminaire  30  of the present invention may incorporate separate attachment of the support bracket  20  directly to the support surface without the necessity of similarly attaching the luminaire directly to the support surface. Depicted in both  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 5 , the support bracket  20 ,  40  may be utilized to support the luminaire directly to the vertical install surface by first attaching the support bracket  20 ,  40  directly to the installation surface and then allowing the bracket  20 ,  40  to support the luminaire  30  in place while the luminaire is maintained securely in position and aligning the necessary aperture or other bracket securement structure with corresponding structure on the luminaire. In both embodiments, the luminaire is securely affixed and held in place against the support bracket  20 ,  40  without the ability to be rotated, moved or the luminaire light redirected unless the entire luminaire is lifted off of the support arms  23 ,  43 ,  45 , depicted in the various embodiments. Utilizing the various embodiments depicted in the figures, once the luminaire  30  is positioned against the support bracket  20 ,  40 , by virtue of the design of the support bracket, support arms  23 ,  43  and  45  and bracket support  25 , the luminaire may not be moved unless raised off of the support bracket  40 ,  20  as shown in the various embodiments and is maintained in aligned position for permanent affixation to the support bracket. 
     Turning to  FIG. 2 , installation of the luminaire and bracket support assembly is more clearly shown in the cutaway of the support arm  32 . As depicted, the luminaire  30  is directly and physically attached to the mounting bracket  20  or, similarly the mounting bracket  40  depicted. As shown, the luminaire  30  is securely affixed to the mounting bracket  20  and may thereafter be non-removably affixed by securing fastener  21  directly to fastener mount  35  formed within luminaire support arm  32 . Fastener  21  securely affixes the luminaire  30  to the mounting bracket  20  but allows the luminaire  30  to be removed therefrom for servicing, replacement or other necessary maintenance. The design set forth allows quick initial installation by a single installer while preventing the need of a second installer to hold the fixture in place. The fixture housing may be lifted in place on the bracket and wedged in place on angled finger bracket hooks. A captive bolt on the bracket is tightened into the housing and the remaining components of the fixture such as the ballast tray, lens, frame, bulb, etc. may be installed into the housing to complete installation. Direct access to the interior attachment surface structure of the luminaire support arm  32  may be had by known structure such as having a removable face plate, hinged face plate or other similar structure on the lower surface or alternative areas thereof. 
     As is depicted in  FIG. 2 , the luminaire  30  may not be pulled away from the wall due to the various structures formed on the support bracket  20 . As may be seen, support bracket  20  has multiple structures which retain the luminaire  30  in place against the wall and therefore against the bracket. As is shown, the mounting bracket  20  has a bracket support or lower hook member  25 , shown in  FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b  and  3   c  which work in conjunction with the various support arms or hook structures  23 . As may be readily understood, due to the upwardly directed formation of these structures formed on the support bracket  20 , once installed and resting within place on the structures, the luminaire  30  may not be pulled directly away from the wall and support bracket combination. Additionally, the weight of the luminaire therefore further acts to secure the luminaire  30  in place against these support arms  23  and bracket support  25  to prevent the luminaire from becoming dislodged prior to fastener  21  being affixed to fastener mount  35  through fastener arm  26  outwardly extending from bracket  20 . As can be seen, fastener arm  26  has aperture  27  through which the fastener  21  extends in order to be retained by fastener mount  35  on luminaire support arm  32 . 
     Various structures may be formed on the support bracket  20  depicted in the multiple embodiments including the mounting apertures  28  which receive the fasteners  22  shown in the figures. Further, wiring aperture  29  may be placed within the support wall and mounting surface  24  in order to allow wiring extending from the support surface through the mounting bracket  20  and into the support arm  32  of the luminaire  30  for electrically connecting the luminaire to an electrical power source. 
     The rear mounting face or luminaire support frame  31  of the support arm end of the luminaire  30  may have a plurality of vertically extending slots for capturing the correspondingly positioned support arms or hooks  23  depicted in  FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b  and  3   c . Additionally, the mounting face may have on the lower portion thereof a support frame structure for contacting of the lower hook or support bracket  25  as is shown as well as a vertically extending aperture  33  in order that the wiring and other connections may be fed through the wiring aperture  29  into the interior of the luminaire support arm  32 . 
     As may be readily understood from the various drawings and from the cutaway of  FIG. 2 , once installed, the support bracket  20  may be utilized to firmly retain the luminaire  30  in place while securely affixing the luminaire to the support bracket. Once installed, the support bracket  20  has exposed upwardly extending bracket support  25  which has a slight outward and upward curvature thereto in the present embodiment, although other structures are equally as viable, as well as upwardly extending support arms or hooks  23 . Thus, the support bracket has two points of contact and support at a minimum at various points including an axis defined by the dual support arms  23  in combination with a secondary axis defined by the bracket support  25  below the support arms  23 . For installation purposes, the support bracket  20  may be installed against the vertical support surface and securely affixed thereto through the utilization of the fasteners  22 . Once positioned against the support surface, upwardly extending support arms  23  and bracket support  25  are exposed and may receive various portions of the mounting face and support frame  31  of the luminaire  30 . In the present embodiment, the upwardly extending support arms  23  may extend through the mating slots  35  formed on the support frame and mounting face  31  of the rear support and surface of the support arm  32 . Additionally, the lower portion of the support frame  31  may be slid downward into the gap formed by the upward and outward flange of the bracket support  25  to slidingly receive and support the luminaire  30 . Due to the upwardly extending structure and definition of the hooks and support arms  23 , once the luminaire is lowered into place, the luminaire support frame  31  rests between the bracket support  25  and the mount surface  24 . Additionally, the upwardly extending hooks  23  retain additional surfaces of the luminaire support frame  31  such that there are multiple points of contact between the support bracket and the support frame. 
     Once the luminaire  30  is lowered so that it is retained within the three points of contact identified, the luminaire may be securely affixed to the support bracket  20  through the utilization of fastener  21  extending upward and through fastener mount  35 . As is depicted, a threaded bolt or other securement device may be utilized to secure the luminaire support arm and luminaire directly to the mounting bracket  20  thereby preventing removal from the mounting bracket without unthreading or removal of the various fasteners which may be utilized and which are known. 
     By providing multiple points of contact between the mounting face  31  of the luminaire support arm  32  and the support bracket  20 , the luminaire  30  remains securely fastened to the support bracket  20  without the need of removable fasteners and the like to retain position between the luminaire and the support bracket during final installation. While the luminaire is retained readily through the multiple points of contact between the mounting surface of the support arm and the upwardly extending surfaces or support members of the support bracket, further securement may take place without the necessity of supporting the luminaire in position. 
     Alternative constructions for the support bracket and luminaire support frame  31  may be implemented. As shown in  FIGS. 4   a ,  4   b  and  4   c , alternative structures from the bracket support  25  or lower hook may be implemented. Similar multiple points of contact may be maintained through the various embodiments depicted and known as a result of the teachings hereof including the depiction of the support bracket  40  shown in  FIGS. 4   a ,  4   b  and  4   c . In this embodiment, multiple hooks or support arms  43  and  45  may be shown wherein each of the support arms are positioned and have mating or co-aligned apertures formed in the support frame of the rear face of the support arm  32  from the luminaire  30 . Thus, multiple slots or openings may be correspondingly formed matching the position of the plurality of support arms  43 ,  45  formed on the bracket  40  in order to provide multiple points of contact between the bracket and the luminaire. In the design set forth, the plurality of hooks have upwardly extending portions as previously described which will retain the luminaire in proper position once lowered onto the support bracket and plurality of bracket support arms and members. Once retained thereby, the outwardly extending flange  46 , similar to the flange or fastener arm  26  of the alternative embodiments, may be utilized to secure the luminaire directly to the bracket through the utilization of a similar fastener  21  to extend through the fastener arm aperture  47  and into a fastener mount  35 . 
     Turning to the embodiment utilizing the support brackets  40  shown in  FIGS. 4   a ,  4   b  and  4   c  is depicted in  FIG. 5 , the bracket has a plurality of support arms  43 ,  45  as are shown. In the embodiment of the support bracket  40  depicted, with utilization of the lower support arms  45  there is no need to include the bracket support  25  implemented in  FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b  and  3   c . Lower support arms  45  work in conjunction with upper support arms  43  to adequately and fully support the luminaire  30  on the support bracket  40  against the vertical mounting surface. Similarly, aperture  47  is provided in order to adequately retain the luminaire  30  onto the bracket  40  once the luminaire is lowered and the support arms  43 ,  45  retain the mounting face of the rear portion of the luminaire. Similarly, wiring aperture  49  is available for use in order to feed electrical wiring into the support arm  32  such that the power supply may be properly wired. Corresponding plurality of slots are similarly provided on the rear surface of the luminaire support frame  31  similar to as is shown in  FIG. 2  such that sufficient vertical length is provided for proper positioning of the luminaire downward and retention by the support arms against the support frame. 
     The foregoing description of structure and methods has been presented for purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise steps and are forms disclosed and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teachings incorporated herein and set forth both within the specification and the figures. It is understood that while certain forms of the luminaire and mounting bracket combination have been illustrated and described in the multiple embodiments, it is not limited thereto except in so far as such limitations are included in the following claims in allowable functional equivalents thereof.