Patent ID: 7143988

Claim:
Apparatus for mounting a fixture to an electrical terminal in a ceiling, the apparatus comprising: a first tubular member connected to the terminal and having a bore for receiving electrical wires extending from the terminal and two diametrically opposed openings in its wall defining the bore; a second tubular member extending from the fixture and having a bore for receiving the electrical wires and two diametrically opposed openings in its wall defining the bore; an adapter for connecting the tubular members, the adapter comprising: a solid cylindrical member having: a first counterbore formed in one end portion for receiving the first tubular member, a first pair of diametrically opposed openings in the wall portion of the cylindrical member forming the first counterbore; a second counterbore formed in the other end portion for receiving the second tubular member; a second pair of diametrically opposed openings in the wall portion of the cylindrical member forming the second counterbore; a through bore connecting the counterbores for receiving the electrical wires, and two additional openings extending perpendicularly to the first and second pair of diametrically opposed openings; the diametrically opposed openings in the first tubular member adapted to align with the openings in the wall of the adapter member forming the first counterbore; the diametrically opposed openings in the second tubular member adapted to align with the openings in the wall of the adapter forming the second counterbore; a first bolt extending through the openings in the first tubular member and the openings in the wall of the adapter forming the first counterbore; a second bolt extending through the openings in the second tubular member and the openings in the wall of the adapter forming the second counterbore; and two set screws extending through the additional openings, respectively, and engaging the respective tubular members; the bores of the tubular members and the through bore of the adapter defining a continuous bore through which the wires extend.