The invention relates generally to a suspended ceiling system. More particularly, the invention relates to a lighting cove at the perimeter of a suspended ceiling system.
Some ceiling systems include a grid support system hung from an overhead structure (i.e., a suspended ceiling system) which includes an array of orthogonally intersecting longitudinal grid support members and lateral grid support members arranged in a fairly uniform pattern with regular intervals. The longitudinal grid support members and the lateral grid support members define a plurality of grid openings configured to support individual ceiling panels. Mechanical and electrical utilities (such as wiring, plumbing, etc.) may be conveniently routed in a hidden manner in the cavity or plenum formed above the grid support members and ceiling panels, making suspended ceiling systems a practical and popular ceiling option for residential, commercial, and industrial building spaces.
It is often desirable to create a cove along the perimeter of the suspended ceiling system (i.e., between the suspended ceiling system and an adjacent wall) into which a lighting module may be installed. Traditionally, this detail is completed with studs and drywall materials, and the architect details this part of the building with little planning or thought to how it gets constructed. As a result, ceiling light coves are often needlessly complex and difficult to construct, and therefore very expensive due to this added labor. Accordingly, there is a need for ceiling light coves which offer predictable lighting performance as well as simple and inexpensive installation.
Embodiments of the invention include a lighting cove apparatus having a lighting cove including a horizontal arm, a first vertical leg attached to a first end of the horizontal arm, and a second vertical leg attached to a second end of the horizontal arm, wherein the first vertical leg and the second vertical leg each include a shoulder on an inside face; and a lighting module including a body and a plurality of retractable latches having downward facing points which retract into the body. When the lighting module is inserted into the lighting cove between the first vertical leg and the second vertical leg, the shoulders on the first vertical leg and the second vertical leg press on the retractable latches such that the retractable latches retract and the lighting module can pass the shoulders. When the lighting module passes the shoulders, the retractable latches re-extend and prevent the lighting module from being removed from the lighting cove.
Embodiments of the invention include another lighting cove apparatus having a lighting cove including a horizontal arm, a first vertical leg attached to a first end of the horizontal arm, and a second vertical leg attached to the horizontal arm, wherein the first vertical leg includes a downward facing hook and a lower protuberance on an outside face of the first vertical leg, the downward facing hook nearer the horizontal arm than the lower protuberance, the lower protuberance including a horizontal prong and a vertical prong; and a wall hook having a upper vertical portion, a lower vertical portion, and an upward facing hook which separates the upper vertical portion and the lower vertical portion. The downward facing hook on the outside face of the first vertical leg of the lighting cove rests on the upward facing hook of the wall hook, and the horizontal prong and the vertical prong are both in contact with an end of the lower vertical portion of the wall hook.
Embodiments of the invention include another lighting cove apparatus having a lighting cove, a wall hook, a lighting module, a hanging clip, and a hang wire. The lighting cove includes a horizontal arm, a first vertical leg attached to a first end of the horizontal arm; a second vertical leg attached to a second end of the horizontal arm; a wall attachment portion on an outside face of the first vertical leg having a downward facing hook and a lower protuberance; a first light attachment portion on an inside face of the first vertical leg having a shoulder; a second light attachment portion on an inside face of the second vertical leg having a shoulder; and a hanger attachment portion on an outside face of the second vertical leg having a downward facing hook and an upward facing hook. The downward facing hook of the wall attachment portion is nearer the horizontal arm than the lower protuberance, and the lower protuberance includes a horizontal prong and a vertical prong. The wall hook includes an upper vertical portion, a lower vertical portion, and an upward facing hook which separates the upper vertical portion and the lower vertical portion. The downward facing hook of the wall attachment portion of the lighting cove rests on the upward facing hook of the wall hook, and the horizontal prong and the vertical prong of the wall attachment portion of the lighting cove are both in contact with an end of the lower vertical portion of the wall hook.
The lighting module includes a body and a plurality of retractable latches having downward facing points which retract into the body. When the lighting module is inserted into the lighting cove between the first vertical leg and the second vertical leg, the shoulders on the first vertical leg and the second vertical leg press on the retractable latches such that the retractable latches retract and the lighting module can pass the shoulders. When the lighting module passes the shoulders the retractable latches re-extend and prevent the lighting module from being removed from the lighting cove.
The hanging clip includes a body and a protrusion attached to the body. The body of the hanging clip has a top edge contacting the downward facing hook of the hanger attachment portion of the lighting cove and a bottom edge contacting the upward facing hook of the hanger attachment portion of the lighting cove. The protrusion of the hanging clip has a hole. The hang wire has a first end inserted through the hole in the protrusion of the hanging clip and a second end secured to a structure
The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing. It is emphasized that, according to common practice, the various features of the drawing are not to scale. On the contrary, the dimensions of the various features are arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. Included in the drawing are the following figures:
When referring to the drawing, like reference numbers refer to like elements throughout the various figures that comprise the drawing.
Embodiments of the invention provide for systems and components for securing a light fixture between a wall and a suspended ceiling in a lighting cove. Various terms relating to aspects of the invention are used throughout the specification and claims. Such terms are to be given their ordinary meaning in the art, unless otherwise indicated. Other specifically defined terms are to be construed in a manner consistent with the definition provided herein. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless expressly stated otherwise. As used herein, terms such as “vertical,” “top,” “bottom,” “upward,” “downward” and the like refer to the orientation of the figures. The orientation of the figures is also typically the orientation in which the suspended ceiling is installed. Such directional terms are for illustrative purposes only and should not be interpreted as limiting the invention. Unless otherwise indicated, the various components of the system may be made of any suitable material, for example extruded aluminum.
Referring to
The lighting coves 100a and 100b also include a plurality of screw holes 150 arranged around the lighting coves 100a and 100b, for example at the intersection of the horizontal arm 102 and the first vertical leg 104, at the intersection of the horizontal arm 102 and the second vertical leg 106, and along the second vertical leg 106. The lighting coves 100a and 100b differ in the length of the second vertical leg 106. By including a longer second vertical leg 106, the lighting cove 100b allows for the ceiling grid attachment portion 140 to be positioned lower with respect to the horizontal arm 102. As a result, a deeper lighting cove 100b is created. In other words, a lighting module installed in the lighting cove 100b will be recessed farther above the suspended ceiling system than a lighting module installed in the lighting cove 100a. Accordingly, the length of the second vertical leg 106 may be varied to achieve a desired cove depth. For the remainder of this description, embodiments will be described with reference to lighting cove 100a, but it will be understood that the description applies equally to lighting cove 100b.
The wall attachment portion 110 on the outside face of the first vertical leg 104 includes a downward facing hook 112 and a lower protuberance 114. The downward facing hook 112 is nearer the horizontal arm 102 than the lower protuberance 114. The lower protuberance 114 includes a horizontal prong 116 and a vertical prong 118 which extends toward the downward facing hook 112. As explained in greater detail below, the wall attachment portion 110 enables the lighting cove 100a to be attached to a structural wall 10 (
The light attachment portions 120, 120a on the inside faces of the first vertical leg 104 and the second vertical leg 106 each include a downward facing hook 122, an upward facing hook 124, and a shoulder 126. The downward facing hook 122 is nearest to the horizontal arm 102 and the shoulder 126 is farthest from the horizontal arm 102. The upward facing hook 124 is between the downward facing hook 122 and the shoulder 126. As explained in greater detail below, the light attachment portions 120, 120a, optionally in conjunction with hold down clips 400 (
The hanger attachment portion 130 on the outside face of the second vertical leg 106 includes a downward facing hook 132 and a upward facing hook 134. The downward facing hook 132 is nearer the horizontal arm 102 than the upward facing hook 134. As explained in greater detail below, the hanger attachment portion 130 enables a hanging clip 500 (
The ceiling grid attachment portion 140 on the outside face of the second vertical leg 106 includes a downward facing hook 142, an upward facing hook 144, and a ledge 146. The downward facing hook 142 is nearest to the horizontal arm 102 and the ledge 146 is farthest from the horizontal arm 102. The upward facing hook 144 is between the downward facing hook 142 and the ledge 146. As explained in greater detail below, the ceiling grid attachment portion 140 enables the lighting cove 100a to be attached to a ceiling beam 700 (
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Although in
Referring to
The connector clip 750 is attached to the lighting cove 100a by first vertically aligning the two rounded corners 764 between the downward facing hook 142 and the upward facing hook 144 of the lighting cove 100a. The connector clip 750 is then rotated to vertically align the top surface 766 and the bottom surface 768 so that the top surface 766 and the bottom surface 768 engage with the upward facing hook 144 and the downward facing hook 142. The ceiling beam 700 may then be secured to the connector clip 750. The ceiling beam 700 includes, in cross section, a bulb 702 at the top, a vertical downward extending web 704, and horizontally extending flanges 706 at the bottom of the web 704. The ceiling beam 700 is attached to the connector clip 750 by securing one or more fastening elements, such as screws, though the holes 782 in the beam portion 780 of the connector clip 750 and into the web 704 of the ceiling beam 700. In some embodiments, the flanges 706 of the ceiling beam 700 may rest on the ledge 146 of the lighting cove 100a for extra support.
After the ceiling beam 700 is installed, a ceiling panel 800 may be installed, for example by resting the ceiling panel 800 on the flanges 706 of the ceiling beam 700. It will be understood that many variations on the design of the ceiling beam 700, the connector clip 750, and the ceiling panel 800 are possible. For example, rather than a ceiling panel 800 resting on the flanges 706 of the ceiling beam 700, drywall may be attached to the bottom of the flanges 706. Other ceiling panels 800 may slot over the flanges 706 instead of resting on the flanges 706. It will further be understood that the ceiling beam 700 may be installed prior to the lighting module 300 being installed in the lighting cove 100a.
Referring to
The invention is not limited to the embodiments described and exemplified above, but is capable of variation and modification within the scope of the appended claims.
This application is a United States national phase application of International Application No. PCT/US2016/036027 filed on Jun. 6, 2016, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/171,423, filed on Jun. 5, 2015, the contents of which are incorporated in this application by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2016/036027 | 6/6/2016 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2016/197110 | 12/8/2016 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
5226719 | Feldpausch et al. | Jul 1993 | A |
5713657 | Dearborn | Feb 1998 | A |
7658518 | Shwisha | Feb 2010 | B2 |
8388214 | Toro et al. | Mar 2013 | B1 |
20090257219 | Doubek | Oct 2009 | A1 |
20110267826 | Santiago et al. | Nov 2011 | A1 |
20130314907 | Swisha et al. | Nov 2013 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2014189700 | Nov 2014 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20180216806 A1 | Aug 2018 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
62171423 | Jun 2015 | US |