Patent Publication Number: US-7585084-B2

Title: Ceiling fixture mount-facilitating assembly

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention related to light-fixture mounting, in particularly to an assembly facilitating fixture mounting to a ceiling. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Ceiling mounted lighting fixtures are well known in the art and are used in a variety of applications, including for use in commercial, industrial and other institutional settings. Such lighting fixtures present certain challenges in installation and servicing of the fixture. Because the light fixture is ceiling mounted, typically an installer must stand on a ladder to access the fixture. Fixtures of this type tend to be large and heavy which can make for difficulty in mounting overhead. Further, during installation or when the fixture needs servicing, the fixture may be left in a vulnerable and unstable position. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,368,506 to Rapp discloses an Apparatus for Mounting a Luminaire to a Ceiling. Rapp states it is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for mounting the luminaire to the ceiling which requires only one person to position the luminaire and make the electrical connection and secure the luminaire to the ceiling. However, the Rapp device is relatively complex due to the rigid nature of the bracket on which the fixture is mounted. Rapp requires a series of angular movements to secure the ceiling fixture to the bracket which further complicates the already challenging process of installing ceiling mounted fixtures. 
   Although such conventional mounting assemblies provide a satisfactory mounting once the fixture is installed and in the final mounting position, the installation process can be difficult. In view of the foregoing disadvantages seen in known ceiling mounted fixture assemblies, it would be desirable to provide a mounting assembly that simplifies the steps involved in installation and maintenance. Further, there is a need for a mounting assembly providing more stability to the fixture during installation and servicing. 
   OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the invention to provide an improved ceiling fixture mounting assembly overcoming some of the problems and shortcomings of the prior art, including those referred to above. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a ceiling fixture mounting assembly that is readily adaptable for easy installation and servicing of a ceiling fixture. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a ceiling fixture mounting assembly providing excellent protection and stability of a ceiling fixture during installation and when in the servicing position. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a ceiling fixture mounting assembly with mounting plates configured for easy and convenient installation and performance of routine maintenance of a ceiling fixture. 
   Still another object of the invention is to provide a ceiling fixture mounting assembly adapted to facilitate precise location and positioning of the fixture in its final mounted position. 
   Yet another object of the invention is to provide a ceiling fixture mounting assembly having improved protection of the ceiling fixture from dirt, debris and other particulate matter that may interfere with proper functioning of the fixture. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a ceiling fixture mounting assembly that is adapted to allow electrical connections to be made prior to mounting the fixture. 
   Still another object of the invention is to provide a ceiling fixture mounting assembly that facilitates full support of a fixture when the fixture is in an open position. 
   How these and other objects are accomplished will become apparent from the following descriptions and the drawings. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is an improvement in ceiling fixture mounting assemblies. The inventive ceiling fixture mounting assembly includes a box for affixing to a ceiling and containing the necessary electrical wiring. Further, the box includes opposite vertical sidewalls, each sidewall having first and second laterally spaced threaded holes. The first and second laterally spaced threaded holes receive corresponding first and second fasteners. In the improvement, the fasteners have a head and a threaded portion. The box also includes two vertical mounting plates, each plate projecting upwardly from the fixture and terminating in an upper edge. The plates are positioned to overlie one of the sidewalls and each plate includes first and second ways. The ways receive first and second fasteners. The first way is configured to support the fixture at an angle to the box for connecting the wires. Further, in accordance with the improvement, the first and second ways have first and second mounting slots. The mounting slots each include a lower closed end and an upper open end that is sized smaller than the fastener head. The vertical mounting plates have a recess at the closed end that is configured to receive the fastener head such that it is in vertical alignment with the open end, thereby holding the plate in position against the box. 
   In preferred embodiments, the recess is tapered. The fastener head also includes a taper toward the threaded portion of the fastener mating with the tapered recess. 
   In other embodiments, the vertical mounting plates are part of a one-piece bracket. The one-piece bracket may further include a horizontal water/air-tight sealing closure positioned between the box and the fixture for sealingly engaging the box when the fixture is in its final mounted position. 
   In some preferred embodiments, the first way of the vertical mounting plates includes an entry slot and a hanging slot. The entry slot extends from the upper edge downwardly and laterally to join the upper open end of the first mounting slot. The hanging slot is laterally offset from the entry slot and extends from the upper closed end to join the open end of the first mounting slot. The hanging slot loosely receives the threaded portion of first fastener whereby the plates and the fixture are suspended by the first fasteners at an angle to facilitate wiring and service of the fixture. 
   Further, in highly preferred embodiments, the hanging slot is bounded by a downwardly extending retainer portion of the plates. The retainer portion is positioned between the entry slot and the hanging slot. This arrangement restricts the fixture from lateral movement in its hanging position which could otherwise cause the fixture to fall. 
   In certain embodiments, the upper edge of the plates includes a folded-over portion adjacent to and above the closed end of the hanging slot. The folded-over portion strengthens the plates in that area. 
   Where the plates are part of a one-piece bracket, the open ends of the mounting slots are preferably in substantial lateral alignment such that, after wiring and rotation of the hanging fixture to a horizontal orientation, movement of the fixture into the final mounted position is with the fixture being in a substantially horizontal orientation. Further, in such an embodiment, the upper edge of the plates includes first and second edge-portions that are positioned above the first and second ways. The second-edge portion is lower than the first-edge portion and facilitates reception of the second fastener into the second mounting slot. 
   It is preferable that the mounting slots be substantially vertical. The hanging slot and the first mounting slot is preferably substantially aligned to facilitate assumption of the angled hanging position upon loosening of the fasteners. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred ceiling fixture mount-facilitating assembly in accordance with this invention showing the assembly in the final-mounted position. 
       FIG. 2  is a an exploded perspective view of the ceiling fixture mount-facilitating assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the two vertical mounting plates in accordance with the invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of one of the vertical mounting plates of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is yet another perspective view of a preferred ceiling fixture mount-facilitating assembly showing the assembly in open mounting position. 
       FIG. 6  is still another perspective view of the ceiling fixture mount-facilitating assembly of  FIG. 6 , showing the assembly wherein the first fastener is positioned in the entry slot. 
       FIG. 7  is a top-end perspective view of a ceiling fixture mount-facilitating assembly in accordance with the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1-7  illustrate the preferred embodiments of a ceiling fixture mounting assembly in accordance with this invention. 
   Referring first to  FIG. 1 , ceiling fixture mounting assembly  10  includes a box  30  for affixing to a ceiling and contains electrical wiring. Box  30  includes opposite vertical sidewalls,  32  and  34  respectively, each sidewall having first and second laterally spaced threaded holes,  36  and  38  respectively. First and second laterally spaced threaded holes,  36  and  38 , receive corresponding first and second fasteners,  40  and  42 , respectively, as shown in  FIG. 5 . Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , fasteners  40  and  42  preferably have a head  54  and a threaded portion  56  for engagement with first and second laterally spaced threaded holes,  36  and  38 . 
   Referring still to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , box  30  further includes two vertical mounting plates,  44  and  46  respectively, each projecting upwardly from the fixture  20  to terminate in an upper edge  48  and positioned to overlie one of sidewalls  32  and  34 . Vertical mounting plates  44  and  46  each include first and second ways,  50  and  52  respectively, that receive first and second fasteners,  40  and  42 , respectively. First way  50  is configured to support fixture  20  at an angle to box  30  for connecting the wires, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
   As best seen in  FIG. 4 , first and second ways,  50  and  52 , have first and second mounting slots,  58  and  60  respectively. Mounting slots  58  and  60  each include a lower closed end  62  and an upper open end  64  that is sized smaller than head  54 . Vertical mounting plates  44  and  46  have a recess  66  at closed end  62  that is configured to receive head  54  such that it is in vertical alignment with open end  64 , thereby holding the plate in position against box  30 . Recess  66  is preferably tapered, as shown in  FIG. 3 . Working together with tapered recess  66  is preferably a tapered fastener head  54  that includes a taper toward threaded portion  56  of the fastener mating with tapered recess  66 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , first way  50  of plates  44  and  46  further includes an entry slot  68  that extends from upper edge  48  downwardly and laterally to join upper open end  64  of first mounting slot  58 . Plates  44  and  46  further include a hanging slot  70  that is laterally offset from entry slot  68  and extends from the upper closed end  72  to join the open end  64  of first mounting slot  58 . Hanging slot  70  loosely receives threaded portion  56  of first fastener  40  whereby plates  44  and  46  and fixture  20  are suspended by first fasteners  40  at an angle to facilitate wiring and service of fixture  20 , as seen in  FIG. 5 . 
   Referring again to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , hanging slot  70  is bounded by a downwardly extending retainer portion  74  of plates  44  and  46  between entry slot  68  and hanging slot  70 . This arrangement restricts fixture  20  from lateral movement in its hanging position which could otherwise cause fixture  20  to fall and become damaged. Vertical mounting plates  44  and  46  are preferably part of a one-piece bracket, as shown in  FIG. 3 . In such embodiments, upper edge  48  of plates  44  and  46  includes a folded-over portion  76  adjacent to and above closed end  72  of hanging slot  70 . Folded-over portion  76  strengthens plates  44  and  46  in that area. Further, upper edge  48  of plates  44  and  46  include first and second edge-portions,  78  and  80  respectively, first and second edge portions,  78  and  80  defining first and second ways,  50  and  52 , respectively. In such case, second-edge portion  80  is lower than first-edge portion  78  to facilitate reception of second fastener  42  into second mounting slot  60 . 
     FIG. 3  illustrates plates  44  and  46  being part of a one-piece bracket and open ends  64  of mounting slots  58  and  60  are in substantial lateral alignment. In the embodiment, after wiring and rotation of the hanging fixture to a horizontal orientation, movement of fixture  20  into the final mounted position is with fixture  20  in a substantially horizontal orientation, as best seen  FIG. 6 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , mounting slots  58  and  60  may be substantially vertical. Hanging slot  70  and first mounting slot  58  are preferably substantially aligned to facilitate assumption of the angled hanging position upon loosening of fasteners  40  and  42 . As seen in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the ceiling fixture mount assembly preferably includes a horizontal water/air-tight sealing closure  59  positioned between box  30  and fixture  20  for sealingly engaging box  20  when fixture  30  is in final mounted position. Horizontal water/air-tight sealing closure  59  can be a gasket or any other suitable sealing structure. Tapered fasteners  40  and  42 , when tightened with respect to their respective positions in tapered recess  66 , facilitate precise location and positioning of fixture  20  into final mounted position, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The interaction between tapered recess  66  and tapered fasteners  40  and  42  further facilitates control over the sealing compression between fixture  20  and box  30 . When tapered fasteners  40  and  42  are tightened, fixture  20  is drawn into a fully sealed position. When vertical plates  44  and  46  are part of a one-piece bracket, horizontal water/air-tight sealing closure  59  is preferably mounted to a horizontal portion of the bracket. A second horizontal water/air-tight sealing closure  61  is preferably positioned between box  20  and the ceiling for sealing engagement of box  20  to the ceiling. 
   As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , fixture  20  is mounted to ceiling fixture assembly  10  by fasteners. Though bolts are shown, any suitable type of fastener is acceptable. Ceiling fixture assembly  10  supports fixture  20  while the electrical connection is made. As shown in  FIG. 5 , fixture  20  is supported by ceiling fixture assembly  10  while assembly  10  is in an open and serviceable position. As seen in  FIG. 6 , after the wiring connections are completed, fixture  20  simply swings or slides upwardly, moving fasteners  40  from entry slot  68  and into position with respect to first mounting slots  58 . This movement brings fixture  20  into final mounted position. Fasteners  40  and  42  are then tightened with respect to their positions in respective tapered recess  66 . 
   While the principles of the invention have been shown and described in connection with specific embodiments, it is to be understood that such embodiments are by way of example and are not limiting.