Claims
- 1. A mounting device to facilitate connection of an electrical fixture to an electrical box recessed in an opening in a wall or ceiling comprising:
- a canopy for the electrical fixture adapted to completely cover the opening for the electrical box;
- means providing connection of said canopy to the electrical box;
- a housing for the electrical fixture; and
- interconnection means dimensioned for flexible latching cooperation between said canopy and said housing of the electrical fixture, said interconnection means providing the sole means connecting said canopy and said housing and dimensionally sized to resist removal of said housing from said canopy by increasing the amount of flexible latching cooperation upon attempted relative movement therebetween.
- 2. A mounting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said interconnection means includes a hub on one of said canopy and said housing, the other of said canopy and housing having an opening having an elongated side wall, said hub dimensionally sized to interfit within said opening.
- 3. A mounting device in accordance with claim 2, wherein said elongated side wall has at least one locking barb receptacle opening, each sized to receive a locking barb member of said hub.
- 4. A mounting device in accordance with claim 3, wherein each said locking barb member is a canterlevered flexible member adapted to snap-fit into its associated locking barb receptacle, each said cantilevered flexible member is dimensionally sized to flex to resist removal of said housing from said canopy by increasing the amount of flexible latching cooperation between said housing and said canopy.
- 5. A mounting device in accordance with claim 2, wherein electrical wiring for the electrical fixture extends through said hub and said opening.
- 6. A mounting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein electrical wiring for the electrical fixture extends through said interconnection means.
- 7. A mounting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said canopy and said housing are dimensionally sized so as to place said interconnection means under tension when assembled.
- 8. A mounting device in accordance with claim 7, wherein said canopy has abutment edges which engage said housing, thereby placing said interconnection means under tension.
- 9. A mounting device in accordance with claim 14, wherein said hub and said elongated side wall are provided with anti-rotation keying means to prevent relative rotation between said canopy and said housing.
- 10. A mounting device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said anti-rotation keying means is at least one rib on one of said hub and said elongated side wall and a mating groove defined in the other of said hub and said elongated side wall.
- 11. In combination,
- A. a standard electrical box recessed in an opening in a wall or ceiling; and
- B. a mounting device to facilitate connection of an electrical fixture to said electrical box in the wall or ceiling comprising:
- mounting means connected to the electrical box;
- a canopy for the electrical fixture completely covering the opening for said electrical box;
- means providing releasable connection of said canopy to said mounting means;
- means for temporarily fastening said mounting means and said canopy while permitting limited relative movement between said mounting means and said canopy for aligning said releasable connection means during installation of said canopy on said mounting means; and
- means on said canopy for attaching the electrical fixture thereto.
- 12. A mounting device in accordance with claim 11, wherein said temporary fastening means includes a pair of extending members on one of said canopy and mounting means, the other of said canopy and mounting means having at least one aperture defined therein, said pair of extending members dimensionally sized to interfit within said at least one aperture so as to temporarily hold said canopy and mounting means in assembly pending installation of said releasable connection means.
- 13. A mounting device in accordance with claim 12, wherein said extending members are cantilevered resilient finger members insertable into said at least one aperture.
- 14. A mounting device in accordance with claim 13, wherein said resilient finger members have spaced-apart ends, said spaced-apart ends are dimensionally sized and placed so as to bias said resilient finger members as said resilient finger members are inserted in said at least one aperture.
- 15. A mounting device in accordance with claim 14, wherein said spaced-apart ends have tab end portions which provide both the biasing action to said resilient finger members as said resilient finger members are inserted in said at least one aperture and a snap-fit engagement of said resilient finger members to temporarily hold said canopy and mounting means in assembly pending installation of releasable connection means.
- 16. A mounting device in accordance with claim 12, wherein said at least one aperture is defined in said mounting means.
- 17. A mounting device in accordance with claim 16, wherein said mounting means is a universal mounting plate releasably fastenable to the electrical box.
- 18. A mounting device in accordance with claim 17, wherein said extending members are on said canopy.
- 19. A mounting device in accordance with claim 11, wherein said releasable connection means is provided by at least one screw fastener extending between said canopy and said mounting means.
- 20. A mounting device in accordance with claim 11, wherein electrical wires for the electrical fixture pass through said mounting means and canopy.
- 21. A mounting device in accordance with claim 20, wherein said electrical wires pass through said means to temporarily fasten said mounting means and canopy.
- 22. A lighting fixture adapted to be connected to an electrical box comprising:
- a canopy adapted to cover the electrical box;
- mounting means for providing connection of said canopy to the electrical box;
- means for providing releasable connection of said canopy to said mounting means;
- means for temporarily fastening said mounting means and said canopy but permitting limited relative movement between said mounting means and said canopy for aligning said releasable connection means during installation of said canopy on said mounting means;
- interconnection means dimensioned for flexible latching cooperation between said canopy and a lighting fixture housing; and
- a lighting fixture housing adapted for connection with said canopy utilizing said interconnection means.
- 23. A lighting fixture in accordance with claim 22, wherein said temporary fastening means permits relative rotative movement between said mounting means and said canopy.
- 24. A lighting fixture in accordance with claim 23, wherein said temporary fastening means includes a pair of extending members on one of said canopy and mounting means, the other of said canopy and mounting means having at least one aperture defined therein, said pair of extending members dimensionally sized to interfit within said at least one aperture and temporarily hold said canopy and mounting means in assembly pending installation of said releasable connection means.
- 25. A lighting fixture in accordance with claim 24, wherein said extending members are cantilevered resilient finger members insertable into said at least one aperture.
- 26. A lighting fixture in accordance with claim 25, wherein said resilient finger members have spaced-apart ends, said spaced-apart ends are dimensionally sized and placed so as to bias said resilient finger members as said resilient finger members are inserted in said at least one aperture.
- 27. A lighting fixture in accordance with claim 26, wherein said spaced-apart ends have tab end portions which provide both the biasing action to said resilient finger members as said resilient finger members are inserted in said at least one aperture and a snap-fit engagement of said resilient finger members to temporarily hold said canopy and mounting means in assembly pending installation of releasable connection means.
- 28. A lighting fixture in accordance with claim 24, wherein said at least one aperture is defined in said mounting means.
- 29. A lighting fixture in accordance with claim 28, wherein said mounting means is a universal mounting plate releasably fastenable to the electrical box.
- 30. A lighting fixture in accordance with claim 29, wherein said extending members are on said canopy.
- 31. A lighting fixture in accordance with claim 22, wherein said releasable connection means is provided by at least one screw fastener extending between said canopy and said mounting means.
- 32. A lighting fixture in accordance with claim 22, wherein electrical wires for the lighting fixture pass through said mounting means and canopy.
- 33. A lighting fixture in accordance with claim 32, wherein said electrical wires pass through said means to temporarily fasten said mounting means and canopy.
- 34. A lighting fixture in accordance with claim 22, wherein said interconnection means includes a hub on one of said canopy and said housing, the other of said canopy and housing having an opening having an elongated side wall, said hub dimensionally sized to interfit within said opening.
- 35. A lighting fixture in accordance with claim 34, wherein said elongated side wall has at least one locking barb receptacle opening, each sized to receive a locking barb member of said hub.
- 36. A lighting fixture in accordance with claim 35, wherein each said locking barb member is a flexible member adapted to snap-fit into its associated locking barb receptacle.
- 37. A lighting fixture in accordance with claim 34, wherein said hub and said elongated side wall are provided with anti-rotation keying means to prevent relative rotation between said canopy and said housing.
- 38. A lighting fixture in accordance with claim 37, wherein said anti-rotation keying means is at least one rib on one of said hub and said elongated side wall and a mating groove defined in the other of said hub and said elongated side wall.
- 39. A lighting fixture in accordance with claim 34, wherein electrical wiring for the lighting fixture extends through said hub and said opening.
- 40. A lighting fixture in accordance with claim 22, wherein electrical wiring for the lighting fixture extends through said interconnection means.
- 41. A lighting fixture in accordance with claim 22, wherein said canopy and said housing are dimensionally sized so as to place said interconnection means under tension when assembled.
- 42. A lighting fixture in accordance with claim 41, wherein said canopy has abutment edges which engage said housing, thereby placing said interconnection means under tension.
- 43. A lighting fixture in accordance with claim 22, wherein said lighting fixture is an illuminated exit sign.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of copending application Ser. No. 07/585,610, filed on Sep. 20, 1990, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (16)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (4)
Entry |
Excite Installation Manual No. 60-972B. |
Drawing No. 1300323. |
Excite canopy with nipple and two nuts. |
Excite frame. |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
585610 |
Sep 1990 |
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