Patent ID: 12203594

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the application are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the application is not limited to the details of construction and the arrangement of component part set forth in the following description or illustrated by the following drawings. Further, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting but should encompass equivalents thereof.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly toFIGS.1and2, there is shown generally at10the mounting plate assembly of the disclosure for mounting fixtures, herein light fixtures, in existing holes of different sizes formed in sheet material, as described in more detail in the above referenced co-pending application. Although the mounting plate assembly described and illustrated herein is for the mounting of light fixtures, it should not be limited thereto as other type fixtures such as motion detectors, cameras or light fixtures combined with such other devices may be secured to the mounting plate assembly of the disclosure.

As herein shown, in one application of the mounting plate assembly, an electrical junction box11may be secured to the rear face12of the mounting plate13and disposed over an aperture14which provides access to the interior of the junction box to effect wiring connections, and such is well known and described in more detail in the above mentioned pending patent application. The mounting plate13is further provided with junction box attachment slots15disposed on two or more spaced apart circumferential axis spaced from the aperture14to provide connection to junction boxes of two different diameters by the use of screw fasteners.

The mounting plate13is formed with a pair of guide slots16disposed on diametrically opposed sides of the aperture14, only one being shown herein but obvious to a person skilled in the art. As better seen fromFIG.2, the guide slot16is a straight slot defining opposed parallel plate side edges17. A spring clamp structure18is displaceably engageable with each of the guide slots16over the rear face12of the mounting plate13.

At least two retention formations in the form of spaced-apart retention holes19formed in the mounting plate13and disposed at predetermined spaced locations adjacent the guide slot16. As illustrated, retention holes19can be disposed in straight alignment with one another and spaced parallel to the side edges17of the guide slot16.

Retention holes19may be located, shaped, and/or spaced in alternative configurations that would be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art. For example, the retention holes19may be located and/or placed in configurations permitting the spring clamp structure18to be positioned and secured in the guide slot16at angles not depicted in the Figures.

With additional reference toFIGS.3to6, the spring clamp structure18is formed by a spring support bracket20having a vertical bridge arm21having a bottom retention base22integrally formed at a lower end thereof and shaped for captive displaceable retention with an associated guide slot16. A spring biased clamp arm23has a torsion spring23′ secured in a retention slot24formed at a top end25of the vertical bridge arm21. The clamp arm23is formed by straight spring arms sections23″ projecting from opposed ends of the torsion spring23′ and extend parallel to one another in a common plane and are interconnected to one another at a free end by a surface engaging pad structure32. The clamp arm sections23″ extend downwardly spring biased against the rear face of the mounting plate13towards an outer end edge13′ of the mounting plate.

A slide member in the form of a sliding retention sleeve26is disposed about the vertical bridge arm21and is slidingly displaceable there along above the rear face12of the mounting plate13. The sliding retention sleeve26has one or more arresting formations in the form of a pair of downwardly projecting knobs27formed in a bottom edge28for retention coupling with selected ones of the two retention holes19disposed in spaced-apart transverse alignment to form pairs of retention holes19along the guide slot16.

The sliding sleeve/securing sleeve26fixedly retains the support bracket20in position by inserting the projecting knobs/posts27into a selected pair of retention holes19dependent on the size of the existing hole to which the mounting plate13is to be secured. Substantially inverted embodiments of those described herein, such as an embodiment in which the sliding sleeve/securing sleeve26may alternatively or additionally have a select pair of retention holes19which are brought to surround posts27which may protrude from the mounting plate13, would be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art. The projecting knobs27and/or retention holes19may have a smooth surface. The sliding sleeve26does not require tools be fixed into position on the mounting plate. The projecting knobs/posts27can be frictionally engaged within the retention holes19. Frictional engagement between components may be facilitated and/or aided by malleable materials components are constructed of. For example, it is appreciated that the malleability of a plastic composition may effect frictional engagement relative to malleability of a metal composition. In other implementations, the projecting knobs can have outwardly extending abutments which retain the sleeve in position.

The bottom retention base22is a sliding support platform formation formed integral with the vertical bridge arm21and is provided with a pair of horizontally aligned slots or channels22′ disposed on opposed sides thereof for close captive sliding displacement along the guide slot16. Each slot22′ of the pair of horizontally aligned slots may receive a projecting edge portion16′ of the mounting plate13on opposing sides of the guide slot16. (SeeFIG.4). The spring support bracket20is retained in captive sliding displacement along the guide slot16when the edge portions16′ of the mounting plate13are received in the bottom retention base's22slots22′. Sliding displacement along the guide slot16does not require tools, though it is appreciated that sliding displacement may require the sliding sleeve26to be disengaged from the retention holes19.

The vertical bridge arm21is formed as a substantially flat and substantially rectangular mounting plate bridge arm, and the sliding retention sleeve26surrounds the rectangular mounting plate bridge arm and is dimensioned for close vertical sliding fit thereabout. It is appreciated that the vertical bridge arm21may be contoured and/or curved in one or more locations and have deviations in thickness effecting the exact topology and geometry of the vertical bridge arm21. The retention holes19, formed on opposed sides of the guide slot16as well as the guide slots16, are formed by metal punching the metal mounting plate13. The retention holes19are of rectangular shape as well as the projecting knobs27to provide a firm connection but could also be of a different shape providing the same result. The securing sleeve26is also formed with a finger engaging projection30to facilitate engagement and/or disengagement by a user person's fingers. Sufficient force in a direction by a user on the finger engaging projection30can result in engagement or disengagement of the securing sleeve26.

The assembly of the spring clamp structure18to the mounting plate13is a very simple procedure by placing the sliding retention sleeve26upwards on the vertical bridge arm21to position the projecting knobs above the back face of the mounting plate and the spaced-apart retention holes and at the same time engaging the slots22′ of the base with guide slot16through the aperture14. The spring clamp structure18is then slidingly displaced to a position over a selected one of the pairs of retention holes19and the sliding retention sleeve is released with the arresting knobs27free falling into the selected pair of retention holes19. If the arresting knobs27are not perfectly aligned with the retention holes19the vertical bridge arm21is slightly displaced in the area of the selected retention holes19until the arresting knobs free fall into the retention holes19. In order to facilitate engaging the spring clamp bracket structures18with the same pair of retention holes19in the opposed guide slots, the pairs of retention holes19may be provided with identification markings31to facilitate positioning the spring clamp structure18at the same spacing on opposed sides thereof.

As depicted inFIG.2A, the spring clamp structure18may have dimensions permitting vertical displacement into and out of a guide slot16via rotational and vertical manipulation.

Referring toFIGS.2and2A, the spring clamp structure18may be manipulated into a guide slot16by substantially aligning the lengthwise axis of the bottom retention base22over the lengthwise axis of the guide slot16, then vertically aligning the base slots22′ with edges of the mounting plate16′, and subsequently rotating the spring clamp structure18such that the base slots22′ receive the mounting plate edges16′, preventing vertical manipulation of the spring clamp structure18from the guide slot16. Stated differently, the bottom retention base22may be rotatable about a vertical axis, wherein the vertical axis is perpendicular to a lateral (widthwise) axis of the guide slot16and originates at a center (midpoint) of the lateral axis of the guide slot16, wherein the lateral axis extends from side edge17to side edge17of the guide slot16, and wherein the rotation may result in increased engagement or disengagement of the projecting edge portions with the pair of slots. In some implementations the slots can be horizontally aligned as depicted in some embodiments. In other embodiments the slots can be offset either horizontally or vertically as design constraints require.

The spring clamp structure18may be manipulated from a guide slot16by rotating the spring clamp structure's18lengthwise axis into substantial alignment with the guide slot's16lengthwise axis, such that the edges16′ of the mounting plate13are no longer received in the bottom retention base22slots22′, then vertically manipulating the spring clamp structure18from the guide slot16.

FIG.7depicts another embodiment for retaining the spring clamp structure into fixed position on the mounting plate. For example, while the sleeve26disclosed above acts as to removably fix in position the spring clamp structure into predetermined positions on the mounting plate without the requirement of tools or other implements. Other fixation devices may be utilized that similarly do not require the use of tools. Further, as noted herein, the mounting plate assembly10is not limited to a specific size or shape, such as the example depicted inFIG.1. Accordingly,FIG.7depicts a circular embodiment of the mounting plate assembly10.

FIG.7also depicts an alternative implementation of a tool-less design for fixating the claim in position by utilization of a retention clip100being used in place of the sliding sleeve/securing sleeve26. It is appreciated that although the retention clip100depicted inFIG.7is structurally distinct from the retention sleeve26depicted inFIG.1, the retention clip100serves a similar purpose to that of the retention sleeve26and interacts with mounting plate assembly, including the retention holes19, similar to the retention sleeve26. Accordingly, the retention clip100may arrest the spring clamp structure18at one or more locations in the guide slot16. It is also appreciated that the circular embodiment of the mounting plate assembly10depicted inFIG.7is not limited to using a retention clip100, and the rectangular embodiment of the mounting plate assembly10depicted inFIG.1is not limited to using a retention sleeve26.

As depicted inFIGS.8and10, the retention clip100may be attached to the spring clamp structure18with a screw29. It is appreciated that the retention clip100may be formed as a single piece or may be formed from multiple parts. For example, the retention clip100may be stamped from a single piece of metal, or it may be composed of two or more pieces which may be joined together physically and/or joined at a point of attachment with the spring clamp structure18. It is appreciated that the retention clip100may alternatively and/or additionally be attached to the spring clamp structure18using mold integration, friction integration, or other means of attachment which may or may not include a screw29.

The retention clip screw29, or other points of attachment referred to above, may be centered in front of the vertical bridge arm21. It is appreciated that the retention clip100may be shaped, sized, and/or contoured in a variety of ways. Modifications to the retention clip100may, for example, permit the screw29to be off-center and/or located at a different point on the spring clamp structure18. The retention clip100features projecting edges102, which may be received by retention holes19. The projecting edges102serve a similar purpose as the knobs27of the sliding sleeve/securing sleeve26, in that both are arresting formations. When the projecting edges102interface with the retention holes19, the spring clamp structure18is arrested at a predefined point in the guide slot16. It is appreciated that structural distinctions among sliding sleeves26and retention clips100may require retention holes19to be correspondingly shaped to receive portions of the structures.

The retention clip100also features moulded ends104, wherein the moulded ends104may be located at portions of the retention clip100distal from the screw29, for example, the ends of the retention clip100. The moulded ends104permit ergonomic application and distribution of opposing force(s), which may be necessary to overcome natural spring force(s) of the retention clip100, wherein the natural spring force(s) urge the retention clip projecting edges102into recessed holes19when the edges102and holes19are aligned. Accordingly, it is appreciated that retention clip100does not require tools to be manipulated into and/or out of retention holes19.

Referring toFIG.9, the retention clip100may be operable by applying opposing force(s) (e.g. pinching) on the moulded ends104towards the bracket20, causing the projecting edges102to move out of the retention holes19. The application of opposing force(s) may need to overcome the natural spring force(s) of the retention clip100which naturally forces the projecting edges102downwards towards the mounting plate13and/or retention holes19when the spring clamp structure18is vertically secured in the guide slot16. Opposing force(s) may overcome the natural spring force(s), permitting displacement of the spring clamp structure18in the guide slot16, i.e., enabling rotation and movement within the guide slot16. Conversely, if the projecting edges102are aligned with the retention holes19, the natural spring force(s) of the retention clip100may cause the projecting edges102of the retention clip100to be received in the retention holes19, wherein receipt of the projecting edges102into the retention holes19secures the spring clamp structure18in a position defined by the retention holes19.

As mentioned herein above, the mounting plate assembly10may be provided to mount various types of fixtures, such as light fixtures, motion detectors, cameras or motions detectors and cameras combined with light fixtures. However, it is also conceivable that the mounting plate assembly may be utilized to mount other devices in a ceiling or wall and not necessarily in existing holes formed therein but in newly formed holes.

Many other modifications and other embodiments of the disclosure as described above will come to mind to a person skilled in the art to which the disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings of the embodiment described herein above and the drawings. Components and features of embodiments discussed herein may be interchangeable and/or combined, as would be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art. Hence, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the disclosure are not to be limited to the specific examples thereof as described herein and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure and the appended claims. Although the foregoing descriptions and associated drawings describe example embodiments in the context of certain examples of the elements and members and/or functions, it should be understood that different combinations of elements or substitutes and/or functions may be provided by different embodiments without departing from the scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and other equivalent terms are contemplated herein with respect to the items that they relate to. It is therefore within the ambit of the disclosure to encompass all obvious modifications of the examples of the embodiments described herein provide such modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims.