Patent Abstract:
Improvements in a fixture housing with dog ears is disclosed that can be installed from one side of a wall or ceiling. This increases the ability of the installer to place the fixture in a desired location as opposed to using a location that provides the best access on stud or joists. Once the ideal location is identified the installer uses a saw to cut an opening in the desired location. The housing is pushed into the opening for installation without requiring access to the back of the wall, ceiling or floor. The fixture housing uses a plurality of spring loaded dogs that are operated from the visible wall or ceiling surface. It is also possible for the fixture to be removed by lifting the locking tabs and sliding securing ears where the entire fixture can then be pulled back through the open hole.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/888,936 filed Oct. 9, 2013 the entire contents of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    1. Field of the invention 
         [0006]    This invention relates to improvements in a fixture housing for recessed speaker. More particularly, the present fixture housing allows for quick installation of the housing by using a plurality of one-way securing members to connect the housing with the fascia trim. 
         [0007]    2. Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98. 
         [0008]    In some home speakers are placed in recessed fixtures, these fixture are often similar to electrical lighting fixtures that are placed in the ceiling as recessed lighting. In this form of lighting a hole is made in the ceiling and a fixture is secured within the hole. Electrical wiring is connected to the fixture and lighting is placed into the recessed fixture to provide lighting that essentially shines downward. In new home construction the fixture is often secured to a horizontal ceiling joist. In other installations the fixture is secured to drywall or sheetrock between the joists where it may or may not be secured to the two adjacent joists. In any of these cases, after installation of the drywall or sheetrock a hole is cut through the sheetrock or drywall and the cosmetic fascia or trim is installed to the recessed fixture. In all installations within a house or building performing the installation is a quick and efficient manner reduces the cost to construct the building or house. While the installation is typically installed in the ceiling, the installation can also be installed in a vertical wall for speakers, controls or other purposes. 
         [0009]    A number of patents and or publications have been made to address these issues. Exemplary examples of patents and or publication that try to address this/these problem(s) are identified and discussed below. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,250,540 issued on Feb. 10, 1981 to Paul j. Kristofek discloses a mounting Arrangement for Recessed Light Fixture Housing. To install the invention disclosed in this patent a user pushes the main housing into a hole and then engages clips that are secured with detents on the side of the main housing. While this patent discloses a recessed lighting housing the flange is integrated with the main housing and the electrical connection is from a separate socket that is installed into the top of the main housing. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,399,104 issued on Jul. 15, 2008 to Margaret Rappaport discloses a Universal Trim for Recessed Lighting. This patent uses a series of alternating tabs that grasp the inner and outer walls of a housing to retain the decorative trim plate. While the patent discloses a method of securing and removal of the trim piece, there is no retention of the housing within the hole. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,518,420 issued on Jun. 30, 1970 to R. M. Kripp discloses a Recessed Light Fixture. The recessed light fixture uses a series of slots and pins to retain the trim plate onto the housing. The electrical connection is wired directly into the top of the housing. The connection is with slots and pins and requires an installer to have access to both sides of the ceiling to secure the fixture and bezel. 
         [0013]    What is needed is a fixture that uses a plurality of one-way securing elements to center and lock the cosmetic bezel to the housing. The proposed fixture housing for recessed speaker provides this solution. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    It is an object of the fixture housing using dog ears to be installed from one side of a wall or ceiling. Installing the fixture housing for recessed speaker from just one side of a wall allows an installer to install the fixture within a finished house. This significantly increases the ability of the installer to place the fixture in a location that provides the best sound quality as opposed to using a location that provides the best access for the structure of the house and stud/joist locations. 
         [0015]    It is an object of the fixture housing using dog ears to provide for quick installation that requires just a sheetrock, drywall or equivalent saw. An installer can use a stud finder to identify where the stud is located to ensure that the mounting hole is not cut through a stud or joist that is not visible from the installation wall. Once the ideal location is identified the installer uses a saw to cut a square or round opening in the desired location. The installation of the fixture housing can then be pushed into the opening for installation without requiring the use of any additional tools or requiring access to the back of the wall, ceiling or floor. 
         [0016]    It is another object of the fixture housing using dog ears to be configured for installation of controls, lighting or speakers. The fixture housing includes a plurality of spring loaded dogs that are operated from the visible wall or ceiling surface. The installer simply lift the housing through the opening, and then turns installation heads located in the corners of the housing to lock the housing within the wall or ceiling. Wiring can be connected to installation of a speaker, control or lighting or can be connected after it is installed depending upon the access behind the wall, ceiling or floor. 
         [0017]    It is still another object of the fixture housing using dog ears to be configured as a single pre-assembled unit. The pre-assembled unit is sold as a single complete housing where an installer simply pushes the housing through the opening. The securing tabs fold inward to clear the hole opening and then fold back out where the securing ears are brought down onto the back side of the opening to secure the fixture. It is also possible for the fixture to be removed by lifting the locking tabs and sliding securing ears where the entire fixture can then be pulled back through the open hole. 
         [0018]    Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the fixture housing using dog ears in free space. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of the dog ear. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the fixture housing using dog ears a hole that accepts the fixture housing. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective of the fixture housing using dog ears from the inside of the room moved into the hole. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective from behind a wall with some of the dog ears of the fixture housing rotated onto position behind the wall. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective of the fixture housing using dog ears installed into the wall or ceiling. 
           [0025]      FIG. 7A and 7B  show a second preferred embodiment prior to installation. 
           [0026]      FIG. 8A and 8B  show the second preferred embodiment with the ears initially rotated 
           [0027]      FIG. 9A and 9B  show the second preferred embodiment with the ears drawn onto the interior of a wall or ceiling. 
           [0028]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  show the second preferred embodiment with the ears tightened onto the wall or ceiling. 
           [0029]      FIG. 11A and 11B  show the second preferred embodiment in the process or being removed with the ears rotated off of the wall or ceiling. 
           [0030]      FIG. 12 and 12B  show the second preferred embodiment in a front and side plan view. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0031]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the fixture housing using dog ears  10  in free space. This figure shows the fixture housing using dog ears  10  having en essentially planar bottom surface  20  that is square is outside shape with an inner vertical wall  21 . The center has a circular opening  23 . Four securing mechanism cylinders  40 ,  41 ,  42  and  43  extend from the planar surface. Within each of the cylinders  40 - 43  are spring  60  loaded dog ears  50 ,  51 ,  52  and  53 . It should be noted that the shown embodiment is configured for a square opening where the vertical wall  21  fits into the square opening, but the fixture housing using dog ears  10  could be configured in a round configuration with as few as two dog ears. It is further contemplated that the fixture housing using dog ears  10  could be configured in a rectangular, triangular, pentagonal, octagonal, elliptical or other configuration with three or more dog ear retainers. 
         [0032]    The components of the dog ear retainers are shown in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of the dog ears  10 . Using the components in the cylindrical column  42  in  FIG. 1  with the exploded view of  FIG. 2  shows the components and operation of the dog ears  50 - 53  within the cylinders  40 - 43 . This operation description is essentially the same for all of the dog ears  50 - 53 . 
         [0033]    A square shafted  38  post  37  is inserted into the cylindrical column  42  with the dog ear  52  slid over the square  38  post. The head  35  of the post  37  fits within a pocket in the bottom surface  20  that prevents the head of the post  37  from passing through the planar inside surface and into the cylindrical column. A spring  62  pushes the dog ear  52  arm down within the cylindrical column  42 . The spring(s)  62  is retained within the cylindrical interior  45  of the cylindrical column. 
         [0034]    A cylindrical tip  39  on the end of the square  38  post extends out the top  49  of the cylindrical column  42  where it is retained with a clip  65 , speed nut or similar retainer including but not limited to expanding the top, a latch or a tab that retains the end of the cylindrical tip  39  from being pushed out of the cylindrical column  42 . The dog ear  52  has two normal positions, a retained and a deployed position. The retained position is shown in  FIG. 1  where the dog ear  52  is held on a ledge  47  where the spring  62  pushes on the top  58  of the dog ear  52  that forces the bottom  57  of the dog ear onto the ledge  47 . 
         [0035]    An installer can place a coin, screwdriver or similar tool into the slot  32  hole or receiver and rotate the post  37 . The rotation turns the square  38  post and that turns the opening  55  in the dog ear  52 . When the dog ear  52  is sufficiently rotated, the dog ear  52  will clear the opening  46  in the cylindrical post  42  where the dog ear  52  will be pushed by the spring  62  down opening  48 . The dog ear  52  will make contact with either a wall (as shown and described in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) or will make contact with the inside of the planar inside surface of the fixture housing using dog ears  10 . 
         [0036]    Removal of the fixture housing using dog ears  10  from a wall or ceiling can be performed by rotating the post  37  in an opposite direction of installation where the dog ear will slip off of the wall or ceiling where the dog ear  52  rotate into the opening  48  and then onto the inside wall of the planar surface. The same operation can be performed with the remaining dog ears  50 - 53  and the fixture housing using dog ears  10  can be pulled from the wall or ceiling. The dog ears  50 - 53  can then be “re-loaded” for a subsequent installation where the installer lifts and rotates the dog ears  50 - 53  onto the respective shelf  47  within each column  40 - 43 . This allows for complete removal of the fixture housing using dog ears  10  where it can be reused in future installation. 
         [0037]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the fixture housing using dog ears  10  a hole  19  that accepts the fixture housing. The hole  19  is shown cut through a wall or ceiling in drywall, sheetrock or similar wall material. This view is from the interior or outside surface  17 . In the embodiment shown the hole  19  is cut square, but could also be cut as a round hole where the fixture housing using dog ears  10  is sized and shaped to fit within the round hole. This figure shows the dog ears  50 - 53  rotated inward to clear the hole  19  in the wall or ceiling  17 . The dog ears  50 - 53  are shown in the raised locked position in the cylinders  40 - 43 . 
         [0038]    From this underside view the through hole  23  of the fixture housing using dog ears  10  is shown as a round hole where a speaker can pass through the fixture housing using dog ears  10 . The head(s)  30  of the shafts that control the position of the dog ears  50 - 53  is shown. It should be noted that the orientation of the slot in the head(s)  50  indicate the orientation position of the dog ear(s) thereby allowing an installer to know in a dog ear  50 - 53  has been deployed. 
         [0039]    An octagonal type shaped recess  22  is shown in the underside. This shape provides a recess for a frame housing of the speaker to sit within the fixture housing using dog ears  10 . From this figure the fixture housing using dog ears  10  is lifted or pushed into the hole  19  where the planar back surface of the base frame sits against the wall face  17 . Securing the fixture housing using dog ears  10  is shown and described in  FIGS. 4 and 5  herein. 
         [0040]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective of the fixture housing using dog ears  10  from the inside of the room moved into the hole and  FIG. 5  shows a perspective from behind a wall with some of the dog ears  10  of the fixture housing rotated onto position behind the wall  17 / 18 . The under surface of the of the planar surface  20  is brought into contact with the wall or ceiling through the hole  19 . An installer inserts a tool into each slot  30 . The slot  30  is preferably configured to accept a coin, such as a dime, nickel or penny, thereby eliminating the need for a resident installing the fixture housing using dog ears  10  to purchase a tool they might not have. 
         [0041]    In  FIG. 4 , one of the dog ears  50  is visible through the opening  23 . An octagonal type shaped recess  22  is shown in the underside. The dog ear  50  is shown initially resting on the supporting ledge to prevent the dog ear  50  from lowering. The installer inserts a tool or coin into the slot  30  and rotates  90  the head. The rotation  90  of the head will turn  92  the dog leg  50  until the dog leg  50  clears the supporting shelf, wherein the spring ( 60  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) within the cylinder  40  will force the dog leg  50  to drop  93  towards the interior surface  18  of the wall or ceiling to retain the respective corner of the fixture housing using dog ears  10  onto the wall or ceiling. 
         [0042]    This process is continued for the remaining corners of the fixture housing using dog ears  10  where each dog leg  51 - 53  is rotated within the respective cylindrical housing  41 - 43  until all the dog legs  51 - 53  have been lowered to secure the fixture housing using dog ears  10  onto the wall or ceiling. An installer can make a visual inspection of the orientation of the heads of the fixture to ensure that each of the dog legs have been deployed. The fixture housing using dog ears  10  can be removed from the ceiling or wall as described with  FIG. 6 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective of the fixture housing using dog ears  10  installed into the wall or ceiling. Looking though the center hole  23  it can be visually seen that the dog leg  50  is not resting at on the supporting ledge. To remove the fixture housing using dog ears  10  the head  30  can be rotated  94  to drop the dog leg onto the inside of the planar face where the dog leg(s)  50  are no longer in contact with the wall or ceiling. When all four dog legs have been released, the fixture  10  can be dropped or pulled from a wall or ceiling  17 . The dog legs can then be manually reset by rotating the dog legs out, lifting the dog legs up the cylindrical tube  40  and then rotating the dog legs over the respective supporting shelf  47  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0044]      FIGS. 7-11  show a second preferred embodiment. The A version is a perspective view from inside a wall or ceiling and the B version is a perspective view from within a room viewing the frame in a ceiling or wall.  FIG. 7A and 7B  show a second preferred embodiment prior to installation,  FIG. 8A and 8B  show the second preferred embodiment with the ears initially rotated,  FIG. 9A and 9B  show the second preferred embodiment with the ears drawn onto the interior of a wall or ceiling,  FIGS. 10A and 10B  show the second preferred embodiment with the ears tightened onto the wall or ceiling. While only one ear is shown it should be understood that three or more ears are typically used to secure a frame in a wall or ceiling. 
         [0045]    In this second preferred embodiment the fixture housing is essentially a planar supporting surface  100 . The planar supporting surface  100  having an opening  102 . The planar supporting surface  100  having a plurality of tubes  110  extending perpendicular to the planar supporting surface  100  on a first side of the planar supporting surface  100 . Each of the plurality of tubes  110  having a threaded central shaft  130  and a slider  120 . Each slider  12  is keyed to each of their respective tubes  110  whereby rotation  99  of the said threaded central shaft  130  rotates their slider  120 . Each slider  120  has an ear  121  that extends outside of the tube  110 . Each tube  110  has a linear slot whereby the ear  121  rotates and translates within the linear slot  111  and an end of the ear  121  is rotatable over and above the planar supporting surface  100 . Rotating the threaded central shaft  130  in a first direction  99  rotates the ear  121  outside of the planar supporting surface  100 . 
         [0046]    Rotating the central shaft  130  in the first direction further translates the ear  121  towards the planar supporting surface  100 . Rotating the central shaft  130  is the first  99  direction sandwiches a wall or ceiling (not shown) between the ear  121  towards the planar supporting surface. There are at least three tubes  110 , threaded central shafts  130  and sliders  120  to support the fixture onto a wall or ceiling. The tube  110  is movable within the planar supporting surface  110  as shown in  FIG. 9A and 9B . The planar supporting surface  100  has a raised lip  102  that centers the planar supporting surface  100  in a hole in a wall or ceiling. 
         [0047]      FIG. 11A and 11B  show the second preferred embodiment in the process or being removed with the ears  121  rotated off of the wall or ceiling. Rotating the threaded central shaft  130  in a second direction  97  rotates the earl  21  towards a center of the planar supporting surface  100 . Rotating the central shaft  130  in the second direction  96  further translates the ear  121  away the planar supporting surface  100 . Rotating the central shaft  130  is said second direction  96  releases the ear  121  from a wall or ceiling so the fixture is removable from the wall or ceiling. 
         [0048]      FIG. 12 and 12B  show the second preferred embodiment in a front and side plan view. In these views the central shaft  130  is shown in the planar supporting surface with the ear  121  clamping a wall or ceiling  109 . 
         [0049]    Thus, specific embodiments of a fixture housing with dog ears have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5