The present invention relates to an electrical lighting fixture with a suspension assembly. More specifically, the suspension assembly includes a retention tongue that facilitates engagement of the lighting fixture with cables suspended from a ceiling or beam. Still more particularly, the suspension assembly of the present invention is adapted to receive support cables without modifying or disassembling the lighting fixture.
Conventional lighting fixtures for retail and industrial applications are often installed or mounted by being suspended from a ceiling. Such installation of conventional lighting fixtures requires multiple steps including engagement of cables at either end of the fixture housing using a conventional fastener and subsequently attaching the cables to the ceiling. Access to the interior of the lighting fixture housing must be provided to attach the cables to each fixture end. More specifically, the ends of the fixture are removed allowing access to the cables extending through the housing top wall, and the cable ends are fastened to the housing. Subsequent to assembling the cables with each end of the lighting fixture, the fixture ends are reattached and the cables are mounted to the ceiling, thereby suspending the fixture.
Examples of conventional suspended lighting fixtures include U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,674 to Grierson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,066 to Hirsch, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,726,781 to Bernhart et al., the subject matter of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
A need exists for an improved suspension assembly for a lighting fixture.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a lighting fixture that is easily suspended from a ceiling or beam in one step.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a lighting fixture with a suspension assembly that engages cables subsequent to suspending the cables from a support, such as a ceiling.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a lighting fixture that may be suspended from a support without the need for additional suspension or mounting parts, modification of the fixture, or disassembly of the lighting fixture.
The foregoing objects are basically attained by providing a lighting fixture, including an elongated housing supporting at least one lamp and including a wall and an opening opposite the wall, the wall having a first tongue formed therein; and a first suspension cable coupled with the housing, the suspension cable including opposite first and second ends, the first end of the suspension cable having a loop engaging the first tongue of the wall of the housing and the second end of the suspension cable adapted to engage a support to suspend the housing from the support.
The foregoing objects are also attained by providing a lighting fixture, including an elongated housing supporting first and second lamps and including a wall, an opening opposite the wall, and first and second reflectors for directing light from the lamps through the opening, the wall including opposing ends with first and second tongues formed therein, respectively; and first and second suspension cables coupled with the housing, each of the first and second suspension cables including opposite first and second ends, each of the first ends of the suspension cables having a loop engaging said first and second tongues, respectively, of said wall of said housing and said second ends of said suspension cables being adapted to engage a support to suspend the housing from the support.
The foregoing objects are also attained by a method of suspending a lighting fixture from a support, the lighting fixture including a housing supporting at least one lamp and having opposite first and second end caps, including the steps of inserting a first end of a first suspension cable between a wall of the housing of the lighting fixture and one of the first and second end caps; looping the first end of the first suspension cable around a first suspension member formed in the wall of the housing; and coupling a second end of the first suspension cable opposite the first end with a support thereby suspending the lighting fixture from the support by the first suspension cable.
Other objects, advantages and salient features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with annexed drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to the drawings which form a part of this disclosure:
Referring to the
As shown in
As shown in
Suspension cables 24, 26 and 28 engage a suspension member at a first end and a support 22 at a second end, as shown in
Similarly, the first end 65 of suspension cable 28 forms a loop 70 that engages a hook 62 on the top wall 34 of the housing 12. The loop 70 may be formed using a tether 72 or other tying device, as seen in
First and second parabolic louvers or reflectors 14 and 16 are disposed in fixture housing 12 adjacent one another with lamps 18 and 20 supported between louvers 14 and 16 and top wall 34 of housing 12, as shown in
Socket holders 92 and 93 are inset from respective end walls or caps 40 and 42 and support both lamps 18 and 20 and louvers 14 and 16. Each socket holder 92 includes catches (not shown) for supporting louvers 14 and 16. End caps 40 and 42 may be connected to housing 12 via a fastener, such as a stud. Light seals or gaskets may also be provided between end caps 40 and 42 and respective socket holders 92 to prevent leakage of light.
Assembly and Operation
Referring to
Once loops 71 and 68 of each cable 24 and 26 are securely retained on suspension members 30 and 32, ends 63 and 66 of cables 24 and 26 opposite loops 71 and 68 are coupled to support 22 in a conventional manner. For example, end 63 of cable 24 may extend around support 22 forming loop 81 with a tether 71 locking the loop in place, as shown in
For additional support of lighting fixture 10, suspension cable 28 may also be used. First end 66 is extended through suspension member or hook 62 in the central portion of fixture housing 12, thereby forming a loop 70. Tether 72 closes loop 70 and locks cable 28 in place. Second end 69 of cable 28 is then attached to support 22 in any conventional manner, such as the attachment between cables 24 and 26 and the support 22. Alternatively, cable 28 may extend around support 22 and form a loop 78 around cable 28, as shown in
Lighting fixture 10 may be installed by first engaging cables 24 and 26 with fixture suspension members 30 and 32 and then coupling each cable 24 and 26 to support 22, as described above. Alternatively, cables 24 and 26 may be coupled to support 22 prior to engaging cables 24 and 28 with suspension members 30 and 32. For example, once cables 24 and 26 are secured to support 22, loops 71 and 68 of the first ends 67 and 64 of cables 24 and 26 may be looped around tongues 31. Suspension members 30 and 32 give the installer the option of either first coupling cables 24 and 26 with lighting fixture 10 and then suspending fixture 10, or coupling cables 24 and 26 with support 22 to suspend cables 24 and 26 and then coupling cables 24 and 26 with lighting fixture 10.
While a particular embodiment has been chosen to illustrate the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/459,261, filed Apr. 2, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2413505 | Kilduff et al. | Dec 1946 | A |
2567014 | Fine et al. | Sep 1951 | A |
2678380 | Westby | May 1954 | A |
3591798 | Florence | Jul 1971 | A |
4138716 | Muhlethaler | Feb 1979 | A |
4613930 | Ambasz | Sep 1986 | A |
4726781 | Bernhart | Feb 1988 | A |
5090145 | Chiang | Feb 1992 | A |
5111370 | Clark | May 1992 | A |
5658066 | Hirsch | Aug 1997 | A |
6530674 | Grierson | Mar 2003 | B2 |
20030058640 | McAlpin | Mar 2003 | A1 |
20030137835 | Mier-Langner | Jul 2003 | A1 |
20030221296 | Gijsel | Dec 2003 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20040218393 A1 | Nov 2004 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
60459261 | Apr 2003 | US |