Source: http://patentinformationsearch.com/officefurniture/officefurniture-33.php
Timestamp: 2018-01-23 11:28:57
Document Index: 349827167

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 20', 'art 22', 'arts 20', 'art 20', 'art 22', 'art 20', 'art 20', 'art 22', 'art 20', 'art 22', 'art 20', 'art 22', 'art 20', 'art 20', 'art 20', 'art 20', 'art 22', 'arts 20']

Office furniture patent 4454569
Disclosed is a lighting fixture which is primarily adapted for removable attachment to modular office furniture and for adjustable, substantially glare-free illumination of a work surface. The lighting fixture has a substantially elongated housing for a ballast, and a pair of holders for fluorescent tubes which are pivotably attached to a lower surface of the housing. A fastening device is attached to the housing which enables removable attachment of the lighting fixture to the underside of a shelf or the like, preferably without physically altering or changing the shelf. A channel shaped member having an upwardly open face is attached to and is disposed substantially along the entire length of the housing in order to unobtrusively accommodate at least a portion of a cable which connects the lighting fixture with an electric outlet. A user may adjust the positioning of each tube holder relative to the housing in order to obtain an optimal lighting effect on the work surface.
1. A lighting fixture primarily adapted for use in association with modular office furniture having a horizontal surface and a pair of support tracks without the use of permanent fasteners, the fixture comprising:
an elongated housing adapted for incorporating a ballast and including a lower section and an upper section attached to each other;
first and second fluorescent tube holding members pivotably attached to a lower surface of the lower section of the housing for both vertical and horizontal movement;
removable fastening means attached to the upper surface of the upper section housing for movably mounting the housing underneath a substantially horizontal surface including a pair of spaced wire support elements which pass through slots in the housing in a relatively movable manner and are adapted to having their ends engage tracks along the horizontal surface, the ends further capable of free movement along the support tracks, and
cable means for operatively connecting fluorescent tubes in the holding members to electrical power from a standard electric outlet.
2. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein the lower and upper sections are both made of metal, with insulating means separating said sections and with the lower section connected to ground so that, if a short circuit occurs, current will not flow through the upper section into the modular office furniture.
3. The fixture of claim 1 further including catch means mounted to the housing for preventing full 360.degree. rotation of each fluorescent tube holding member relative to the housing.
5. The fixture of claim 1 wherein the upper section of the housing includes a downwardly protruding flange disposed substantially parallel with a back plate of the lower section of the housing, the flange extending below the lower surface of the lower section, the upper section of the housing further including a substantially horizontally disposed first lip attached to the flange and a substantially vertically disposed second lip attached to the first lip, the flange and first and second lips forming a channel extending below the lower surface of the lower section of the housing; and wherein the cable means include a cable connecting the lighting fixture with the electric outlet, the channel being adapted to accommodate a portion of the cable, and acting as catch means for preventing full 360.degree. rotation of the first and second fluorescent tube holders.
7. A lighting fixture primarily adapted for use in association with modular furniture and adapted to be removably suspended from the underside of a substantially horizontally disposed surface such as a shelf and the like having support tracks, the lighting fixture comprising:
an elongated housing for a ballast and like electrical components, the housing comprising a substantially enclosed body having a lower surface and an upper surface;
a first holder for a fluorescent tube pivotably attached to the lower surface of the housing substantially adjacent to a first end of the housing;
a second holder for a fluorescent tube pivotably attached to the lower surface of the housing substantially adjacent to a second end of the housing;
cable means including a cable operatively connected with the ballast and fluorescent tubes in the holders and connectable with a standard electrical outlet for supplying power to fluorescent tubes in said holders;
an exterior channel member, having an upwardly directed open face, attached to the housing and disposed parallel to the elongated housing and running substantially along the entire length of the housing, said channel member being adapted to accommodate at least a portion of the cable; and
fastening means for suspending the lighting fixture from the substantially horizontal disposed surface including a pair of spaced wire elements which pass through slots in the housing in a relatively movable manner and are adapted to having their ends engage support tracks along the horizontal surface, the ends of the tracks are relatively unrestrained to permit movement along the length of the support tracks.
8. The fixture of claim 7 wherein the fastening means is adapted to removably attach the fixture to said horizontally disposed surface without physically altering or changing said surface.
10. The fixture of claim 7 further comprising catch means attached to the housing for preventing full 360.degree. rotation of each of the holders for the fluorescent tubes.
14. A lighting fixture primarily adapted for use in association with modular office furniture, and being adapted for removable attachment to the underside of a shelf and the like, the lighting fixture comprising:
an elongated housing for an electrical ballast, the housing including a lower section having a generally U-shaped cross-section which provides an upwardly directed open face and a lower base plate opposite the open face, and an upper section attached to the lower section to close the open face of the lower section, the upper section including a substantially vertically disposed plate attached to the base plate, the vertical plate protruding below the base plate of the lower section and, attached to the portion of the vertical plate protruding below the base plate of the lower section, a channel member running along a substantial part of the entire exterior length of the elongated housing;
a first fluorescent tube holder pivotably attached to the base plate of the lower section substantially adjacent to one end thereof;
a second fluorescent tube holder pivotably attached to the base plate of the lower section substantially adjacent to the other end thereof;
cable means, including a cable, operatively connecting fluorescent tubes in the holders to electrical power and adapted to supply electrical power from a standard electrical outlet to the fluorescent tubes, at least a portion of the cable being disposed in the channel member; and
fastening means for removably fastening the lighting fixture to the underside of the shelf without physically altering or changing the shelf including a pair of spaced wire elements which pass through slots in the housing in a relatively movable manner and are adapted to having their ends engage tracks in the horizontal surface, the ends further capable of movement along the tracks.
15. The fixture of claim 14 wherein the first and second fluorescent tube holders each comprising a translucent shade member having a downwardly projecting open face and lens means for covering the open face.
18. A lighting fixture designed to be mounted to a shelf and like components in modular office furniture, wherein the shelf has a track therein including a pair of spaced, essentially parallel rail members, said lighting fixture comprising:
an elongated housing having slots therein and a lower surface;
means for removably fastening the housing to the shelf including elongated support elements which pass through the slots in the housing and have opposed ends engaging the rails to suspend the housing for operative relative movement along the elongated support elements relative to the shelf, the support elements further capable of relative movement along the rails; p1 a pair of lighting means each attached to the lower surface of the housing at opposed ends of the housing, said lighting means being mounted to pivot in both horizontal and vertical directions and including an enclosure for a fluorescent tube which, if the tube breaks while in the enclosure, retains substantially all the glass pieces of the broken tube;
catch means for preventing full 360.degree. rotation of the lighting means; and
cable means operatively connecting the lighting means to an electrical outlet.
19. The fixture of claim 18 wherein the elongated support elements are biased upward to frictionally engage the housing against the undeside of the shelf.
25. A lighting fixture designed to be mounted to a shelf and like components in modular office furniture, comprising:
an elongated housing having an upper and a lower section made of metal, with the upper section being removably connected to the underside of the shelf and said sections having insulating means between them, with the lower section connected to ground so that, if a short circuit occurs, current will not flow through the upper section into the modular office furniture;
a pair of lighting means each attached to the underside of the lower section at opposed ends of this section by mounting means which allow the lighting means to pivot in both horizontal and vertical directions, each lighting means including a translucent shade member having an open face and lens means covering the open face, said mounting means including spring biased stirrup means adapted to pivotably mount an end of an associated lighting means through trunnion means at the end of the lighting means, said trunnion means being removably received in the stirrup means wherein the housing is removably attached to the shelf by fastening means including support elements which pass through slots in the housing and have their ends engaging tracks in the shelf for relative movement.
26. The fixture of claim 25 wherein the lighting means each include an enclosure for a fluroescent tube which, if the tube breaks while in the enclosure, retains substantially all the glass pieces of the broken tube, said enclosure comprising a translucent shade member having an open face and lens means covering the open face, said shade member and lens means movable relative to each other to enable one to replace a broken or burned out fluorescent tube.
27. In combination with a modular office furniture panel system haviing a horizontal support surface over a work station, the improvement being a lighting fixture comprising:
at least one lighting member pivotally attached to the housing member and relatively movable for adjusting the distribution of light, and
movable support means connected to the housing member and the horizontal support surface for defining a range of movement of the housing member beneath the horizontal support surface so that the housing member can be translated relative to the work station in at least a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction while the lighting member can be independently positioned beneath or pivoted from the housing member to subjectively vary the light distribution.
28. The invention of claim 27 wherein the lighting member is pivotally connected with the housing member to rotate in both vertical and horizontal planes.
35. In combination with a modular office furniture panel system having a horizontal support surface with parallel tracks over a work station, the improvement being a removable lighting fixture that can be adjustably positioned over the work station comprising:
at least one elongated lighting member pivotally attached at one end to the housing member and relatively movable in horizontal and vertical planes for adjusting the distribution of light;
means for electrically connecting the lighting member to a source of power;
means for insulating the lighting member from electrical conduction to the panel system, and
removable support means connected to the housing member and the horizontal support surface parallel tracks for defining a range of movement of the housing member beneath the horizontal support surface so that the housing member can be translated relative to the work station in at least a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction while the lighting member can be independently positioned beneath or pivoted away from the housing member to subjectively vary the light distribution.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3917940 issued to Dudy describes a desk lamp which has a flat, broad magnetic base. The base is usable in a conventional manner to support the lamp on a horizontal surface, such as a desk top. The base, due to its magnetic nature, may also be used to attach the lamp to a vertically disposed ferromagnetic surface, or to suspend the lamp in a hanging position form a horizontally disposed ferromagnetic surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 2555000 issued to Nitardy describes a lighting fixture or lamp, having a base which is mechanically clampable to an edge of a desk top, workbench top or the like. The lighting fixture includes a two-part substantially horizontally disposed lamp housing attached to the posts. Each post of the lamp housing incorporates a fluorescent light tube and is pivotable in a horizontal plane. As a result, a desired angular positioning of the two fluorescent light tubes relative to one another and the desk top may be adjusted by a user.
Additional disclosures relating to adjustable or removable lighting fixtures may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2809281; 2131708; 1934902; 4161767; 1757346; 4197573; 2089419; 4136377 and 2998508.
Recently, the increasing need for efficient and economic utilization of office space has resulted in increasing the acceptance and use of removable and rearrangeable modular partition walls, modular furniture and shelving. Such modular partition walls and related modular office equipment are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4185430; 4176889; 4070803; 4056297; and 4102095. As appreciated by those skilled in the art, the aforementioned use of modular partition walls and modular office furniture and the rapidly increasing cost of electrical energy enhanced the need for lighting fixtures which are easily movable, attachable to modular office furniture and individually adjustable to efficiently illuminate a desired area. The lighting fixture of the present invention is designed to satisfy this need.
The lighting fixture of the present invention provides the following advantages:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a desk and a shelf disposed above the desk, the lighting fixture of the present invention being attached to the shelf, the view showing a typical application of the lighting fixture of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the third embodiment of this invention with one tube holder moved vertically so that it is at an angle of approximately 45.degree. with respect to the housing;
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9--9 of FIG. 8 with the self to which the lighting fixture attached shown in cross-section.
FIG. 12 is a side elevational view similar to that shown in FIG. 9 but with the fixture moved to a different position relative to the underside of the shelf and the tube holder rotated approximately through a 90.degree. angle;
The following specification taken in connection with the drawings sets forth the preferred embodiments of the present invention in such a manner that any person skilled in the lighting fixture manufacturing arts can use the invention. The embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are the best modes contemplated by the inventor for carrying out his invention in a commercial environment, although it should be understood that various modifications can be accomplished within the parameters of the present invention.
Referring now to the drawing Figures, and particularly to FIGS. 2 3 4 and 5 a first preferred embodiment 10 of the lighting fixture of the present invention is disclosed. The lighting fixture of the present invention is specifically designed and adapted for use in association with modular office furniture, although it may also be used in association with more conventional furniture. More particularly, the lighting fixture of the present invention is specifically adapted for rapid and removable fastening to the underside 12 of a modular shelf or the like, as is shown in FIG. 1. Still more particularly, the first preferred embodiment 10 of the lighting fixture of the present invention is adapted for magnetic fastening to a shelf 14 or the like comprising ferromagnetic material. This is because magnetic fastening permits the desired ready removability and ease of positioning of the lighting fixture 10 relative to the shelf 14 and to a work surface, such as the desk 16 shown in FIG. 1.
The lighting fixture 10 includes an elongated housing 18 which has a substantially square shaped cross-section, as is shown on FIG. 5. The housing 18 has a lower section or part 20 and an upper section or part 22. Both sections or parts 20 and 22 of the housing 18 are conveniently manufactured from stamped sheet metal, although other materials, such as molded plastic, may also be suitable for their construction.
The lower part 20 of the housing is channel shaped, and has an upwardly disposed open face. The upper part 22 of the housing 18 is complementary to the lower part 20 and acts as a cover or lid for the lower part 20. In the hereindescribed preferred embodiment the upper part 22 is attached to the lower part 20 by screws 24 shown on FIG. 5.
The upper part 22 of the housing 18 also includes a back plate or flange 24 which is disposed adjacent to and outside of a back plate 26 of the lower part 20. This is best shown on FIG. 5. The back plate 24 of the upper part 22 protrudes below a base plate 28 of the lower part 20 and has a first lip or flange 30 attached substantially at a right angle thereto. A second lip or flange 32 is attached substantially at a right angle to the first lip 30. The back plate 24 the first lip 30 and second lip 32 together form an open faced channel 34 which is disposed substantially along the entire length of the housing 18 and slightly below the lower part 20 of the housing 18. The purpose of the channel 34 is described below.
Referring still principally to FIGS. 1-5 a first fluorescent tube holder 42 and a second fluorescent tube holder 44 are shown mounted to the base plate 28 of the lower part 20 of the housing 18. The tube holders 42 and 44 are substantially adjacent to respective ends 46 of the elongated housing 18. As is best shown on FIG. 4 each fluorescent tube holder 42 and 44 is a substantially channel shaped member having a downwardly directed open face. Each tube holder 42 and 44 also have a closure plate 48 which closes the channel at an end of the respective tube holders 42 and 44 which is remote from the mounting of the tube holders 42 and 44 to the housing 18.
Each tube holder 42 and 44 is rotatably mounted to the base plate 28 of the lower part 20 of the housing 18. More specifically, both the base plate 28 and the respective tube holders 42 and 44 have a substantially circular aperture 50 and a cylindrical, hollow flanged fitting 52 is fitted in the aperture 50. An end 54 of the fitting 52 can be threaded to receive a matching threaded nut 56 which is disposed in the interior 38 of the housing 18. Alternatively, a conventional frictional fastener assembly could be used. A metal clip 58 is held between the flanged fitting 52 and the fluorescent tube holders 42 and 44. The clip 58 holds a U-shaped fluorescent tube 60 which is disposed substantially within the interior of the channel shaped holder 42 or 44. The wires 40 interconnect the fluorescent tubes 60 with the ballast 36.
In the herein described preferred embodiment, the lengths of the fluorescent tube holders 42 and 44 is designed in such a manner that both holders 42 and 44 clear the switch 62 as they are rotated relative to the housing 18. As a result, both holders 42 and 44 may be disposed below the housing 18 in parallel alignment therewith. This is an ideal position of the fluorescent tube holders 42 and 44 for packaging and shipping the lighting fixture 10 and may also be desired as an operative lighting configuration. In the herein described embodiment, the fluorescent tube holders 42 and 44 are molded from white colored plastic so as to maximize downward reflection of light emanating from the fluorescent tubes 60.
Referring now principally to FIGS. 3 and 5 a pair of magnetic fasteners 64 each include a substantially saucer shaped metal plate 68 which is attached by a bolt 70 and a nut 72 to the housing 18. A substantially disc shaped, strong, permanent magnet 74 best shown on FIG. 5 is included in each metal plate 68. The permanent magnets 74 are designed to require approximately 70 pounds of downwardly projecting force to separate the respective magnet 74 from a ferromagnetic surface, such as the shelf 14 to which the magnet 74 is attached.
Referring now to FIG. 6 a second preferred embodiment 76 of the lighting fixture of the present invention is shown. The second preferred embodiment 76 is identical in most respects to the first preferred embodiment 10. However, in contrast to the first preferred embodiment 10 the second preferred embodiment lacks the magnetic fasteners 64. Instead, it includes a pair of mounting plates 78. Only one of the mounting plates 78 is shown on FIG. 6. The mounting plates 78 are bolted to the upper part 22 of the housing 18 and are attached to a wooden shelf or the like by wood screws 80 as is shown on FIG. 6. Alternatively, the mounting plates 78 may also be attached to a metal shelf by machine screws and nuts (not shown) or by sheet metal screws (not shown).
The first embodiment 10 of lighting fixture of the present invention is attached to the underside of a ferromagnetic metal shelf 14 through the magnetic fasteners 64. The positioning of the fixture 10 relative to the shelf 14 is subjectively determined by a user (not shown) so as to provide optimal illumination onto a work surface 82 which is disposed substantially below the shelf 14. The angular positioning of each fluorescent light tube holder 42 and 44 is further adjusted by the user (not shown) to provide optimal, substantially glare-free lighting on the work surface 82. The positioning of the tube holders 42 and 44 may be adjusted from time to time as the nature of work performed at the desk 16 or as different requirements of different individual users may render it desirable. The channel 34 however, prevents 360.degree. rotation of the tube holders 42 and 44 relative to the housing 18 so that inadvertent winding-up and overstressing of the wires 40 by excessive rotation of the tube holders 42 and 44 is avoided.
A cable 84 is lead into the interior 38 of the housing 18 through a standard strain relief bushing 86 mounting in the back plates 24 and 26 of the upper and lower housing parts 20 and 22 respectively. The cable 84 leads to a standard electric outlet (not shown). As is shown on FIG. 3 the cable 84 is unobtrusively accommodated in the channel 34 in order to prevent it from dangling behind the lighting fixture and interfering with utilization of working space above the work surface 82.
As shown in FIGS. 7A through 15 the third embodiment 100 of the lighting fixture of this invention is similar to the other two embodiments in that it includes a housing 102 having an upper and lower section 104 and 106 with a channel member 108 extending along substantially the entire length of the housing, a pair of tube holders 110 and 112 at opposite ends of the housing and mounted to the lower surface of the housing, and a cord 114 connecting U-shaped fluorescent tubes 116 in the tube holders to an electrical outlet. The cord 114 includes a wire connecting the tube to ground.
As best shown in FIGS. 9 and 12 the lighting fixture 100 is adapted to be mounted to the underside of a shelf 19 by means of the wire elements 120. The shelf has along its underside a track comprising two spaced-apart rails 136 and 138 which have a J-shaped cross-section. The rails are disposed so that the bend of the J's point inwardly, facing each other. The lighting fixture 100 is mounted to this shelf 19 by first inserting the wire elements 120 in the channels 126 in the housing and then inserting the fingers 128 into the one J rail 136 while at the time spreading the arms 132 to separate the fingers 130 and then inserting these fingers into the other J rail 138 while spread apart. Upon release of the arms 132 the fingers 130 return to the position shown in FIG. 10. This creates a slight bow in the wire elements 120 biasing wire elements in an upward direction so that the lighting fixture 100 is held snug against the underside 19a of the shelf 19.
As shown best in FIG. 7A, two pairs of nylon buttons 134 in the top surface of the upper section 104 prevent the entire upper surface of the upper section from engaging the underside of the shelf. These buttons 134 provide a low friction contact point which enables the lighting fixture to be moved laterally along the length of the shelf, for example, from the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 13 to the position shown in dotted lines in this FIG. 13. One may move the lighting fixture 100 by simply pushing sideways against the housing. This causes the fingers to slide along the J rails 136 and 138 with the nylon buttons sliding along the underside 19a of the shelf.
As best shown in FIGS. 7B and 11 the tube holder includes a translucent shade and a transparent lens 144. The shade, preferably made of a pigmented polycarbonate, is essentially a box-like member having an open underside 146 and an opening 148 extending through its top. The one end of the shade is truncated to provide a flat plate 150. As will be explained in detail below, this flat plate enables the tube holder to be held at an angle of approximately 45.degree. with respect to the housing. There is a C-shaped ridge 152 which surrounds the opening. As best shown in FIG. 15 this ridge 152 serves as a spacer to prevent the top of the shade from directly engaging the underside of the lower section.
In accordance with one feature of this invention, the tube holder includes the enclosure 118 which, if the fluorescent tube breaks, retains substantially all the broken pieces of the tube. This enclosure 118 is formed by the shade 142 the lens 144 and the wall 154. The wall acts as a partial barrier. Of necessity, the receptacle 162 must pass through this wall and there will therefore be a slight gap through which some broken pieces of tube may escape the enclosure. This, however, is kept at a minimum and the probability of glass escaping through this gap and reaching the work surface is remote.
As illustrated in FIGS. 14 through 16 the hinge mechanism 168 for the tube holders includes a stirrup 170 an annular member 172 having a lip 174 extending outwardly therefrom, and a coiled spring 176 which winds about the annular member. The opposed ends 178 and 180 respectively engage the lip and an indentation 182 in a flange 184 extending about the open top 186 of the stirrup. The stirrup has two looped legs 188 and 190 extending downwardly from the flange. Support elements 192 integral with the flange, keep the legs 188 and 190 separated and provide structural rigidity to the stirrup.
The hinge mechanism is assembled as follows: The annular member 172 is placed in position over a circular opening 194 in one end of the lower section of the housing. The spring 176 is placed over the annular member and then the stirrup 170 is inserted through the spring and annular member into the opening 148 in the shade. The looped legs 188 and 190 may move slightly with respect to each other and they are depressed inwardly towards each other so that they pass over the trunnions in the brackets. Once the looped legs have cleared the trunnions 158 they spring back to their normal position. As these legs are being moved into engagement with the trunnions, the spring 176 is depressed. The spring is normally urging the stirrup upwardly. The trunnions include bosses 196 which serve to retain the looped legs in position. This pulls the looped legs snug against the trunnions. The bosses overlie a portion of the looped legs, thereby preventing the looped legs from slipping off the trunnions.
The lighting fixture is designed to provide the maximum amount of versatility, enabling the user to locate the fixture 100 and the tube holders 110 and 112 relative to the work surface so that lighting of the work surface will be optimized. Because of the way the lighting fixture is mounted to the underside 19a of the shelf, the entire fixture may be moved either to the left or right laterally along the length of the shelf, as illustrated in FIG. 13. Also as shown in FIGS. 9 and 12 the fixture 100 can be moved along the wire support elements 120 traverse to the lateral movement along the length of the shelf. Like the tube holders of the other embodiments, the tube holders 110 and 112 may each be moved in a generally horizontal direction pivoting about the hinge mechanism 168. The channel member 108 will serve as a stop to prevent 360.degree. rotation of these tube holders, thus avoiding any damage to the cord 114. The cord 114 extending from the tubes 116 is pasted between the looped legs 188 and 190 through the open top of the stirrup, out the housing and into the channel 108. This routing of the cord has not been shown.
In accordance with this invention, the tube holders 110 and 112 are also adapted to pivot vertically about the hinge mechanism 168 as illustrated in FIGS. 8 9 and 12. One simply pulls downwardly on the tube holder. This causes the trunnions to rotate within the looped legs 188 and 190 of the stirrup. In accordance with this particular design, there are two vertical positions for a tube holder. These two positions are illustrated in FIG. 12. The one shown in solid lines is approximately 45.degree. with respect to the underside 119a of the shelf; the other, shown in dotted lines, is at approximately 90.degree. with respect to the underside of the shelf. The flat plate 150 in the one end of the shade 142 provides the means for holding the tube holder in the 45.degree. position. In this position the flat plate abuts the underside of the upper section 104 of the housing. Pushing against the tube holder toward the right as illustrated in FIG. 12 will cause the trunnions 158 to further rotate within the stirrup to bring the edge 196 of the shade into contact with the underside of the upper section 104 of the housing. The end of the lens serves as a stop which prevents further rotation of the tube holder. As illustrated in FIG. 7B, the lens may be pivoted independently of the shade. This enables one to change a burned-out tube.