Abstract:
Devices, apparatus, fixtures, systems and methods of using a sliding hanger bracket for overhead lights that allows the light shade, such as a glass bowl, to lower away from a ceiling fan or light base, and tilt allowing the light shade to be cleaned and change light sources, such as the light bulbs, without having to disassemble the light fixture. The hanger bracket can have an up position locked in place where the outside of the overhead light appears undistinguishable from traditional ceiling light fixtures or lights on ceiling fans.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to light fixtures, and in particular to devices, apparatus, assemblies, fixtures, systems and methods of a sliding hanger bracket for a light shade, such as a glass bowl, to lower away from a ceiling fan or light base, and tilt allowing the light shade to be cleaned and to change light sources, such as the light bulbs, without having to disassemble the light fixture. 
     BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
     Light fixtures with light shades, such as those having a glass type bowl have been used for ceiling mounted lights and for ceiling fans for many years. See for example, U.S. Pat. Des. No. 404,167 to Dolan; U.S. Pat. No. 4,342,073 to Ranten; and U.S. Pat. No. D543,302 to Ertze. These popular types of ceiling fan light kits and flush mounted or semi-flush mounted light fixtures require disassembly of the shade/bowl portion of the light in order to clean the inside of the shade/bowl and/or to change out the lights sources (bulbs) when needed. However, cleaning the inside of the shade/bowl and changing out the light source has many problems. 
     The light shade/bowl is usually fixed to the fixture by at least one or more rotatable fasteners, such as nuts. The difficulty of trying to disassemble the overhead shade/globe is difficult and can be time consuming. The light shade/bowl is also usually a fragile piece of the light fixture and is often made of glass or thin plastic. Dropping the light shade/bowl and breaking it can often occur when the shade/bowl is being disassembled. Also, the person can be can also be injured from the falling shade/bowl and/or by other injuries such as falling off a ladder, and the like. 
     Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary objective of the present invention is to provide devices, apparatus, fixtures, systems and methods of using a sliding hanger bracket that allows a light shade to lower away from a light fixture on a ceiling fan or ceiling base, and tilt the shade to be cleaned and to change out light sources (bulbs) without having to disassemble the light fixture. 
     A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide devices, apparatus, fixtures, systems and methods of providing light shades on ceiling fixtures and ceiling fans to be tilted for cleaning out the shades and for changing light sources, where the light fixtures appear undistinguishable from traditional ceiling light fixtures or lights on ceiling fans. 
     A unique benefit in the invention is that the sliding bracket can rigidly hold the lamp shape in place securely until service is needed for the light assembly—cleaning or changing bulbs. The novel sliding bracket can then be lowered to allow the user to service the light kit. The user merely needs to simply push up and move the shade to one side and the light kit assembly will lower to the cleaning position. In this position, it is possible to tilt the light fixture from side to side to allow greater access for servicing the bulbs and inside of the light shade. 
     The tilt and clean assembly can include a dual bracket assembly where one bracket is fixed, has downward parallel arms and is slotted and the other bracket slides from locked position to cleaning position by using pins that are secured through the slots in the fixed bracket. When in the locked position, the light assembly is undistinguishable from other light kits. 
     An overhead light fixture according to the invention can include an upper bracket having a top end and a bottom end, the top end being attached to a ceiling mounted member, a bottom bracket having a top end and a bottom end, the top end of the lower bracket being slidable from a retracted lock position located above the bottom end of the upper bracket to a lowered position, a pivotable portion for allowing the lower bracket to tilt relative to the upper bracket, when the bottom bracket is in the lowered position, a removable light source attached to one of the upper bracket and the bottom bracket, and a light shade attached to the bottom end of the bottom bracket, wherein the light shade is tiltable when the bottom bracket is in the lowered position so that the light source and inside of the light shade are serviceable. 
     The ceiling mounted member can include a ceiling mounted member for attaching the light fixture to a ceiling. The ceiling mounted member can include a an attachment member for attaching the light fixture to a ceiling fan. The light shade can have a bowl shape or another shape. 
     The upper bracket can include an elongated leg member having an elongated slot, and a sliding member attached to the top end of the lower bracket so that the bottom bracket can slide up and down by the sliding member sliding within the elongated slot. The sliding member can also the pivotable member. The sliding member can be a pin. Alternatively, the sliding member can be a screw. 
     The upper bracket can include a second elongated leg member having a second elongated slot, the second elongated member being parallel to the first elongated leg member, and a second sliding member attached to the top end of the lower bracket so that the bottom bracket can slide up and down by the second sliding member sliding within the second elongated slot. 
     The vertical slot can include a hook shaped slot at the top of the first elongated slot for locking the bottom bracket in the retracted lock position. 
     A method of servicing a light source and inside of a light shade on overhead light fixture without having to disassemble the light fixture, can include the steps of attaching a top bracket to a ceiling mount member, attaching a bottom bracket to a light shade, slidably attaching the top bracket and the bottom bracket to each other, sliding the bottom bracket from an up position to a down position, tilting the light shade and the bottom bracket when the bottom bracket is in the down position, and servicing the light source and inside of the light shade when the light shade is tilted without disassembling the overhead light fixture. 
     The method can include the step of providing a ceiling mounted light as the overhead light fixture. The method can include the step of attaching the ceiling mount member to a ceiling fan. 
     The method can include the steps of providing the top bracket with an elongated vertical leg member having a longitudinal slot, attaching a pin to the bottom bracket, and sliding the bottom bracket up and down to the top bracket by the pin sliding in the longitudinal slot. 
     The method can include the steps of providing the top bracket with a second elongated vertical leg member having a second longitudinal slot, the second elongated vertical leg member being parallel to the first elongated vertical member, attaching a second pin to the bottom bracket, and sliding the bottom bracket up and down to the top bracket by the second pin sliding in the second longitudinal slot. 
     The method can include the step of locking the bottom bracket in the up position. The locking step can include the steps of providing the first longitudinal slot with a hook slot at an upper end and positioning the first pin in the hook slot. 
     The method can include the step of pushing up on the bottom bracket to release the bottom bracket from the locked up position. 
     An overhead light fixture assembly for allowing light shades and lights sources to be serviceable without having to disassemble the fixture assembly, can include a top rigid member attached to a ceiling mount member, a bottom rigid member moveably attached to the top rigid member, a light shade attached to the bottom rigid member, and a removable light source attached to the fixture assembly between the ceiling mount member and the light shade, wherein the bottom rigid member with light shade is moveable from an upper position to a lower position, and the light shade is tiltable in the lower position to allow the light source and interior of the light shade to be serviced. 
     The assembly can include a lock position for locking the bottom rigid member to the top rigid member with the bottom rigid member is in the upper position. 
     Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments which are illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the exterior of the novel ceiling mount light assembly. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the light assembly of  FIG. 1  with bottom bracket dropped and tilted back for bulb and cleaning access. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the exterior of the novel mount light assembly mounted to a ceiling fan. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the light assembly of  FIG. 3  with bottom bracket dropped and tilted back for bulb and cleaning access. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the light assembly of  FIGS. 1-2  locked up without bulbs and with shade in dash line. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the light assembly of  FIG. 5  with bottom bracket dropped. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the light assembly of  FIG. 6  with bottom bracket tilted away from viewer. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of light assembly of  FIG. 5  with brackets locked up without bulbs and with shade in dash line. 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the light assembly of  FIG. 6  with bottom bracket dropped. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the light assembly of  FIG. 7  with bottom bracket tilted to the left. 
         FIG. 11  is a back view of the light assembly of  FIG. 8  with brackets locked up without bulbs and with shade in dash line. 
         FIG. 12  is a back view of the light assembly of  FIG. 9  with bottom bracket dropped. 
         FIG. 13  is a back view of the light assembly of  FIG. 10  with shade tilted toward the viewer. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of light assembly of  11  with brackets locked up without bulbs and with shade in dash line. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of light assembly of  FIG. 12  with bottom bracket pushed up. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the light assembly or  FIG. 15  showing the bottom bracket half way dropped. 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the light assembly of  FIG. 16  showing the bottom bracket fully dropped. 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the light assembly  17  showing the bottom bracket fully dropped and tilted away from the viewer for bulb and cleaning access. 
         FIG. 19  is an exploded view of the ceiling mount light assembly of the preceding figures. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applications to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
     A description of components will now be described.
     10 Tilt &amp; Clean fixture assembly.   20 Top/upper bracket.   23. Through-hole   24. Horizontal member   26. vertical leg   28. vertical leg   30 Bottom/lower bracket.   32. vertical leg   34. vertical leg   36. horizontal member   37. through-hole   40 Light socket bracket.   42. Horizontal member   43. Through-hole   50 Light bulb.   60 Light shade.   70 Mount flange.   80 Mount flange to top bracket mounting shaft.   87. nut   90 Upper finial.   100 Lower finial.   110 Light switch.   120 Bottom bracket pivot screw(s) or pin(s)   130 Slot in upper bracket. Item   140 Bottom bracket lock bar.   150 Upper bracket lock hook.   160 Ceiling mount light assembly.   170 Fan mount light assembly.   180 Ceiling fan.   190 Shade mount flange.   200 Shade &amp; finial mounting shaft.   210 Finial mounting nut.   220 Resting slot at the top of each top bracket slot.   

       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the exterior of the novel ceiling mount light assembly  160 .  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the light assembly  160  of  FIG. 1  with bottom bracket  30  dropped and tilted back for bulb  50  and cleaning access. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , the ceiling mount light assembly  160  can include a mount flange  70  which can attached to a ceiling. Mount flange  70  can support a light shade/bowl  60  with a decorative upper portion (upper finial)  90  and decorative lower portion (lower finial)  100 , with a tilt and clean fixture assembly  10  between the mount flange  70  and light shade/bowl  60 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the exterior of the novel mount light assembly  170  mounted to a ceiling fan  180 .  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the light assembly  170  of  FIG. 3  with bottom bracket  30  dropped and tilted back for bulb  50  and cleaning access. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-4 , the ceiling fan mount assembly  170  can include a mount flange  70  which is attached to the motor portion of a ceiling fan  180 . Similar to the previous embodiment, mount flange  70  can support a light shade/bowl  60  with a decorative upper portion (upper finial)  90  and decorative lower portion (lower finial)  100 , with a tilt and clean fixture assembly  10  between the mount flange  70  and light shade/bowl  60 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the tilt and clean fixture assembly  10  can include a bottom bracket  30  is pivotally attached to a top bracket  20 , which mounts a light socket bracket  40  thereon which holds the bulbs  50  in place. The top bracket  20  has two parallel legs each having elongated vertical slots  130  which allows for a bottom bracket pivot screw  120  to up and down in these slots  130  allowing for the bottom bracket  30  slide up and down. A bottom bracket bar  140  and light switch  110  will be described later. 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of the light assembly  160  of  FIGS. 1-2  locked up without bulbs  50  and with shade  60  in dashed lines. 
       FIG. 6  is a front view of the light assembly  160  of  FIG. 5  with bottom bracket  30  dropped. 
       FIG. 7  is a front view of the light assembly  160  of  FIG. 6  with bottom bracket  30  tilted away from viewer. 
       FIG. 8  is a side view of light assembly  160  of  FIG. 5  with brackets  20 ,  30  locked up without bulbs  50  and with shade  60  in dashed lines. 
       FIG. 9  is a side view of the light assembly  160  of  FIG. 6  with bottom bracket  30  dropped. 
       FIG. 10  is a side view of the light assembly  160  of  FIG. 7  with bottom bracket  30  tilted to the left. 
       FIG. 11  is a back view of the light assembly  160  of  FIG. 8  with brackets  20 , locked up without bulbs  50  and with shade  60  in dashed lines. 
       FIG. 12  is a back view of the light assembly  160  of  FIG. 9  with bottom bracket  30  dropped. 
       FIG. 13  is a back view of the light assembly  160  of  FIG. 10  with shade  60  tilted toward the viewer. 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of light assembly of  11  with brackets  20 ,  30  locked up without bulbs  50  and with shade  60  in dashed lines. 
       FIG. 15  is a perspective view of light assembly  160  of  FIG. 12  with bottom bracket  30  pushed up such that pivot screws ( 120 ) have been lifted out of resting slots ( 220 ) and lock bars ( 140 ) have been lifted out of lock hooks ( 150 ). This lines the pivot pins up with the upper bracket slots ( 130 ) so that the bottom bracket can be lowered. 
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the light assembly  160  of  FIG. 15  showing the bottom bracket  30  half way dropped. The pivot screws  120  can be seen following the upper bracket slots. 
       FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the light assembly  160  of  FIG. 16  showing the bottom bracket  30  fully dropped. 
       FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the light assembly  160  showing the bottom bracket  30  fully dropped and tilted away from the viewer for bulb  50  and cleaning access. 
       FIG. 19  is an exploded view of the ceiling mount light assembly  160  of the preceding figures. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4  and  19 , the mount flange  70  can be attached to a ceiling or to a ceiling fan  180 . Underneath the mount flange  70  can be a downwardly extending shaft  80  for passing through a through-hole  23  in a horizontal member  24  of the top bracket  20 , and through a through-hole  43  in an upper horizontal member  42  of the light socket bracket  40 . The lower surface of the shaft can have threaded exterior surface so that a nut  87  can hold the light socket bracket  20  and top bracket  20  mounted in place to the mount flange  70 . 
     Bottom bracket pivot screws  120  can be screwed into openings in upper ends of vertical legs  32 ,  34  of bottom bracket  30 , so that the tip ends of the screws  120  can loosely pass into the slots  130  on parallel legs  26 ,  28  of top bracket  20 . When the tilt and clean fixture assembly  10  is in the up position bottom bracket lock bar  140  rests in the bracket lock hooks  150  securing the bottom bracket  30  in the up position. 
     Another mounting shaft  200  can have exterior threaded surfaces so that a top end of the shaft  200  passes through an opening in a shade mount flange  190  and through a through-hole  37  in horizontal member  36  of the bottom bracket  30 . The finial mounting nuts  210  can be fastened to threaded exterior surface of the upper end of the shaft  200  and sandwich to both sides of the through-hole opening  37  in horizontal member  36  of bottom bracket  30 . The bottom end of the shaft  200  passes through a through-hole opening in an upper final decorative portion, so that a lower finial portion, such as a decorative nut can be fastened thereon mounting the shade  60  to the bottom bracket  30 . 
     The tilt and clean fixture assembly  10  can have a locked up position, a pushed up release position, a partially dropped position, and fully dropped extended position and a tilt position. 
     The locked up position of the tilt fixture assembly  10  is shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  8 ,  11 , and  14 . Referring to  FIGS. 5 ,  8 ,  11 ,  14  and  19 , tilt fixture assembly  10 , outer ends of bottom bracket pivot screw(s)  120  are in the resting slots  220  which is at the top of the vertical slots  130  of each of the vertical legs  26 ,  28  of the top bracket  20 . The outer ends of the bottom bracket pivot screws  120  lock into these slots  220  when the bottom bracket  30  is in the up position. Here, the bottom bracket bar  140  rests in the upper bracket lock hooks  150  securing the bottom bracket  30  in the up position. In this locked up position, the exterior of the ceiling mount light assembly  160  and ceiling fan mount assembly  170  appear undistinguishable from traditional ceiling light fixtures and or from lights on ceiling fans. 
     The pushed up position is shown in  FIG. 15 . To release the tilt fixture assembly  10  from the locked up position, a user can push up on the bottom of the shade  60 , preferably around the finial portions  90 ,  100 , so that outer ends of pivot screws  120  move up in slots  220  to the top of vertical slots  130 .  FIG. 15  is a perspective view of light assembly  160  of  FIG. 12  with bottom bracket  30  pushed up such that pivot screws  120  have been lifted out of resting slots  220  and lock bars  140  have been lifted out of lock hooks  150 . This lines the pivot pins (ends of screws  120 ) up with the upper bracket slots  130  of the top bracket  20  so that the bottom bracket  30  can be lowered. 
     The partially half dropped position is shown in  FIG. 16 . Here, the outer ends of pivot screws  120  are able to ride in slots  130  of the vertical legs  26 ,  28  as the bottom bracket  30  slides downward relative to the top bracket  20  until the bottom bracket  30  reaches a fully dropped position. The fully dropped extended position is shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  9 ,  12 ,  17 . 
     Next, the user can push sideways against the bottom portions of shade  60 , preferably about finial portions  90 ,  100  so that the shade  60  and bottom bracket  30  become tilted which allows access to the bulbs  50 , bulb socket bracket  40  and the inside of shade  60 . The tilted position is shown in  FIGS. 7 ,  10 ,  13  and  18 . 
     In the tilted position, the bulbs  50  can be changed out and/or the inside surface of the shade  60  can be cleaned. 
     After bulbs  50  are replaced or changed out and/or the inside surface of the shade  60  is cleaned, the above steps can be reversed until the bottom bracket  30  is back in a locked up position with top bracket  20 . 
     Although the light sockets are shown attached to the top/upper bracket, the light socket(s) can be attached to the bottom/lower bracket. 
     While the brackets have been shown with generally rectangular shapes, the brackets can have other shapes, such as single elongated members. 
     While the upper/top bracket is shown with two vertical legs, this bracket can have a single elongated leg with a single elongated slot, or more than two elongated legs, and the like. 
     Although the upper bracket is shown with longitudinal slots and the bottom bracket with pins or screws, the bottom bracket can have the longitudinal slot(s) and the top bracket can have pin(s) or screws. 
     Although the shade is shown as a bowl, the shade can have other shapes, such as but not limited to globe shaped, rectangular shaped, and other geometrical shapes and the like. 
     Although the sliding brackets are shown having slots and pins, the brackets, the brackets can slide relative to one another by having telescoping parts where one part telescopes relative to another part. 
     While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.