Patent ID: 7780135

Claim:
A system for mounting a component in an aperture in a ceiling grid, comprising; a mounting flange surrounding the component, said mounting flange having a front surface and a rear surface; and at least two clamping assemblies attached to the mounting flange and located adjacent a rear surface of the mounting flange, each clamping assembly comprising: an elongated clamp dog; and a pivoting system for pivoting the clamp dog around an axis, said pivoting system being operable from both the front surface and the rear surface of the mounting flange; wherein said pivoting system is pivoted between a retracted and extended position, such that in said retracted position, the clamp dog is located within a radius of the mounting flange, and in said extended position, the clamp dog extends beyond a radius of the mounting flange to support the component on the ceiling grid, wherein said pivoting system comprises a screw extending through said clamp dog, said screw having a screw head accessible from the front surface of the mounting flange, and having a cap mounted on an opposite end of the screw, such that said screw can be turned from both surfaces of the mounting flange to pivot the clamp dog; wherein each clamping assembly further comprises a clamp dog tower connected with the mounting flange, said clamp dog tower enclosing the end of the clamp dog and having a slot though which the clamp dog extends, said clamp dog tower prohibiting pivoting of the clamp dog beyond a width of the slot; and wherein the screw has a lower threaded portion and an upper unthreaded portion, such that turning the screw in one direction causes the clamp dog to rotate until the clamp dog contacts an edge of the slot of the dog tower, and then travel along the threaded portion of the screw until the clamp dog reaches a clamped position, and turning screw in an opposite direction causes the clamp dog to travel up the threaded portion of the screw until it reaches the unthreaded portion of the screw, and wherein further turning of the screw in said opposite direction while the clamp dog is located on the unthreaded portion of the screw does not cause the clamp dog to move along the screw.