Patent Publication Number: US-7213938-B2

Title: Electrical lighting fixture with suspension assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/459,261, filed Apr. 2, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an electrical lighting fixture with a suspension assembly. More specifically, the suspension assembly includes a retention tongue that facilitates engagement of the lighting fixture with cables suspended from a ceiling or beam. Still more particularly, the suspension assembly of the present invention is adapted to receive support cables without modifying or disassembling the lighting fixture. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Conventional lighting fixtures for retail and industrial applications are often installed or mounted by being suspended from a ceiling. Such installation of conventional lighting fixtures requires multiple steps including engagement of cables at either end of the fixture housing using a conventional fastener and subsequently attaching the cables to the ceiling. Access to the interior of the lighting fixture housing must be provided to attach the cables to each fixture end. More specifically, the ends of the fixture are removed allowing access to the cables extending through the housing top wall, and the cable ends are fastened to the housing. Subsequent to assembling the cables with each end of the lighting fixture, the fixture ends are reattached and the cables are mounted to the ceiling, thereby suspending the fixture. 
   Examples of conventional suspended lighting fixtures include U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,674 to Grierson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,066 to Hirsch, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,781 to Bernhart et al., the subject matter of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
   A need exists for an improved suspension assembly for a lighting fixture. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a lighting fixture that is easily suspended from a ceiling or beam in one step. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a lighting fixture with a suspension assembly that engages cables subsequent to suspending the cables from a support, such as a ceiling. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a lighting fixture that may be suspended from a support without the need for additional suspension or mounting parts, modification of the fixture, or disassembly of the lighting fixture. 
   The foregoing objects are basically attained by providing a lighting fixture, including an elongated housing supporting at least one lamp and including a wall and an opening opposite the wall, the wall having a first tongue formed therein; and a first suspension cable coupled with the housing, the suspension cable including opposite first and second ends, the first end of the suspension cable having a loop engaging the first tongue of the wall of the housing and the second end of the suspension cable adapted to engage a support to suspend the housing from the support. 
   The foregoing objects are also attained by providing a lighting fixture, including an elongated housing supporting first and second lamps and including a wall, an opening opposite the wall, and first and second reflectors for directing light from the lamps through the opening, the wall including opposing ends with first and second tongues formed therein, respectively; and first and second suspension cables coupled with the housing, each of the first and second suspension cables including opposite first and second ends, each of the first ends of the suspension cables having a loop engaging said first and second tongues, respectively, of said wall of said housing and said second ends of said suspension cables being adapted to engage a support to suspend the housing from the support. 
   The foregoing objects are also attained by a method of suspending a lighting fixture from a support, the lighting fixture including a housing supporting at least one lamp and having opposite first and second end caps, including the steps of inserting a first end of a first suspension cable between a wall of the housing of the lighting fixture and one of the first and second end caps; looping the first end of the first suspension cable around a first suspension member formed in the wall of the housing; and coupling a second end of the first suspension cable opposite the first end with a support thereby suspending the lighting fixture from the support by the first suspension cable. 
   Other objects, advantages and salient features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with annexed drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring to the drawings which form a part of this disclosure: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a lighting fixture in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, showing the lighting fixture suspended from a support; 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged partial perspective view of the lighting fixture of  FIG. 1 , showing a suspension member before being connected to the lighting fixture; 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged partial perspective view of the lighting fixture of  FIG. 2 , showing the suspension member connected to the lighting fixture; 
       FIG. 4  is an elevational view in cross section along a longitudinal line of the lighting fixture of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the lighting fixture of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is an end elevational view of the lighting fixture of  FIG. 1  with the end cap removed, showing the interior of the fixture. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to the  FIGS. 1–6 , a lighting fixture  10  in accordance with the present invention generally includes a decorative housing  12  that receives first and second parabolic louvers  14  and  16  formed of highly reflective material and that supports first and second lamps  18  and  20 . Lamps  18  and  20  are preferably fluorescent. Lighting fixture  10  can be suspended from a support  22 , such as a ceiling or beam, by suspension cables  24 ,  26  and  28 . Suspension members  30  and  32  formed in fixture housing  12  facilitate engagement of the lighting fixture  10  with suspension cables  24 ,  26  and  28  without requiring additional suspension or mounting parts, modification of the fixture, or disassembly of the fixture. Also, louvers  14  and  16  and lamps  18  and  20  provide energy savings, excellent lumen maintenance, higher maintained lumens per watt, precise light distribution and control, and instant restrike and superior color rendering. Preferably, the housing is made of steel. The louvers are preferably made of an anodized aluminum. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the housing  12  is elongated and has a top wall  34 , first and second side walls  36  and  38  extending from the top wall  34 , and first and second end walls or caps  40  and  42 . Lamps  18  and  20  are supported within the housing  12  between the top wall  34  and the side walls  36  and  38 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . Each of the side walls  36  and  38  has a stepped portion  44  and  45 , respectively, defining an inner ballast compartment  46  disposed above louvers  14  and  16 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . Stepped portions  44  and  45  of the side walls  36  and  38  may include a plurality of slots  48 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , allowing uplighting from lamps  18  and  20  through the top wall  34 . For example, two aligned rows of slots  48  may be disposed in stepped portions  44  and  45  adjacent the central ballast compartment  46 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , first and second suspension members  30  and  32  of lighting fixture  10  are formed in the top wall  34  near each end cap  40  and  42 , respectively, for engaging suspension cables  24  and  26 . First and second suspension members  30  and  32  are substantially identical, so reference will be made to only the first suspension member  30 . The first suspension member  30  has a tongue  31 , including opposite sides  50  and  51  and a distal end  52  extending between sides  50  and  51 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . First suspension member  30  may be formed integrally with the top wall  34  or may be separately formed and attached to the top wall. First and second slots  54  and  55  are formed adjacent sides  50  and  51  of the first suspension member  30 , and a third slot  57  is formed between distal end  52  of the tongue  31  and the end cap  40 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The end cap  40  includes a tab  56  that extends above the top wall  34  and over the distal end  52  of the tongue  31  of the suspension member  30 , as shown in  FIGS. 1–4 . A vertical gap  60  is defined between the tongue  31  and the tab  56  of the end cap  40 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . Any number of suspension members  30  and  32  may be formed in the housing top wall  34  and disposed anywhere in the top wall. Alternative suspension members may be used with the lighting fixture  10 , such as a central hook  62  disposed in the top wall  34  for engaging suspension cable  28 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   Suspension cables  24 ,  26  and  28  engage a suspension member at a first end and a support  22  at a second end, as shown in  FIGS. 1–6 . Each suspension cable  24 ,  26  and  28  has a first end  64 ,  65  and  67  for engaging suspension members  30 ,  32  and  62  and an opposite second end  66 ,  69  and  63  for engaging the support  22 . Each first end  64  and  67  of cables  24  and  26  includes a loop  68  and  71  for looping around tongues  31  of suspension members  30  and  32  of fixture housing  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . The loops  68  and  71  may be preformed in the cable. 
   Similarly, the first end  65  of suspension cable  28  forms a loop  70  that engages a hook  62  on the top wall  34  of the housing  12 . The loop  70  may be formed using a tether  72  or other tying device, as seen in  FIG. 1 . The tether  72  includes a cable entrance passageway  74  and a cable exit passageway  76 . The first end  65  of cable  28  is inserted through the cable entrance passageway  74  and back through the cable exit passageway  76 , thereby creating loop  70 . The tether  72  locks loop  70  in place via a one-way lock (not shown). An adjustment tool (not shown) may be inserted into tether  72  to release or unlock tether  72  from cable  28  and allow adjustment of the length of cable  28 . Substantially identical tethers  73 ,  75 ,  77  and  79  may also be used to form loops  68 ,  71 ,  81  and  78  in cables  24 ,  26  and  28  at the time of installation of the lighting fixture  10 , as an alternative to preforming the loops. 
   First and second parabolic louvers or reflectors  14  and  16  are disposed in fixture housing  12  adjacent one another with lamps  18  and  20  supported between louvers  14  and  16  and top wall  34  of housing  12 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . Each louver  14  and  16  is elongated and has a length generally corresponding to the length of the housing  12 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . Louver  14  has first and second stringers  80  and  82  forming a parabolic shape in cross section, and louver  16  has third and fourth stringers  81  and  83  forming a parabolic shape in cross section. A first slot  84  is defined between stringers  80  and  82  for receiving a first lamp  18 , and a second slot  85  is defined between stringers  81  and  83  for receiving a second lamp  20 . Each louver  14  and  16  includes an open bottom  86  for directing light from lamps  18  and  20  downwardly. Each louver  14  and  16  includes a plurality of downwardly extending baffles  88  for further directly light downwardly. Louvers  14  and  16  are coupled in an adjacent arrangement by clips  90 . Louvers  14  and  16  provide precise control of the light from lamps  18  and  20  downwardly. Louvers  14  and  16  are preferably made of highly reflective material, such as a mirror type material. 
   Socket holders  92  and  93  are inset from respective end walls or caps  40  and  42  and support both lamps  18  and  20  and louvers  14  and  16 . Each socket holder  92  includes catches (not shown) for supporting louvers  14  and  16 . End caps  40  and  42  may be connected to housing  12  via a fastener, such as a stud. Light seals or gaskets may also be provided between end caps  40  and  42  and respective socket holders  92  to prevent leakage of light. 
   Assembly and Operation 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1–6 , lighting fixture  10  is suspended from support  22  by engaging suspension cables  24  and  26  with suspension members  30  and  32 , respectively. Loops  71  and  68  of cables  24  and  26  are first inserted into gap  60  ( FIGS. 2–4 ) defined between tab  56  of each respective end cap  40  and  42  and top wall  34  of fixture housing  12 . Each loop  71  and  68  of cables  24  and  26  may then be inserted into first and second slots  54  and  55  of the suspension members  30  and  32  and looped onto tongue  31 . The tongues  31  and the gaps  60  allow for easy and secure engagement of suspension cables  30  and  32  with lighting fixture  10  without modifying or disassembling the fixture housing  12 . 
   Once loops  71  and  68  of each cable  24  and  26  are securely retained on suspension members  30  and  32 , ends  63  and  66  of cables  24  and  26  opposite loops  71  and  68  are coupled to support  22  in a conventional manner. For example, end  63  of cable  24  may extend around support  22  forming loop  81  with a tether  71  locking the loop in place, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The length of cable  24  may be adjusted by unlocking tether  71 . Alternatively, end  66  of cable  26  may be screwed or bolted into support  22 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   For additional support of lighting fixture  10 , suspension cable  28  may also be used. First end  66  is extended through suspension member or hook  62  in the central portion of fixture housing  12 , thereby forming a loop  70 . Tether  72  closes loop  70  and locks cable  28  in place. Second end  69  of cable  28  is then attached to support  22  in any conventional manner, such as the attachment between cables  24  and  26  and the support  22 . Alternatively, cable  28  may extend around support  22  and form a loop  78  around cable  28 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Tether  79  is used to lock the loop  78 . 
   Lighting fixture  10  may be installed by first engaging cables  24  and  26  with fixture suspension members  30  and  32  and then coupling each cable  24  and  26  to support  22 , as described above. Alternatively, cables  24  and  26  may be coupled to support  22  prior to engaging cables  24  and  28  with suspension members  30  and  32 . For example, once cables  24  and  26  are secured to support  22 , loops  71  and  68  of the first ends  67  and  64  of cables  24  and  26  may be looped around tongues  31 . Suspension members  30  and  32  give the installer the option of either first coupling cables  24  and  26  with lighting fixture  10  and then suspending fixture  10 , or coupling cables  24  and  26  with support  22  to suspend cables  24  and  26  and then coupling cables  24  and  26  with lighting fixture  10 . 
   While a particular embodiment has been chosen to illustrate the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.