Fixture hanging assembly

• US 4,126,971 A
• Filed: 04/21/1977
• Issued: 11/28/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eclipse Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Eclipse Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Macuga, Henry J., Deschamps, Bernard F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schultz, William H.
• Application Number:
  US05/789,710
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 52/28, 248/27, 248/57, 248/201, 248/228, 248/72, 248/342, 248/343, 248/344, 248/DIG. 6
• US Class Current: 52/28
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 9/006 with means for hanging lighting fixtures or other appliances to the framework of the ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 9/12 Connections between non-parallel members of the supporting construction E04B9/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/906 Electrical outlet box support

Abstract

An overhead ceiling structure with an integrated fixture hanging assembly, the fixture hanging assembly being supported by a yoke means bridging a pair of adjacent ceiling frame rail members and comprising improved clips or mounts adapted to permit the installation of a continuous row of fixtures.

Claims

1. In combination with an open work grid type suspended ceiling frame construction incorporating ceiling blocks supported by pairs of spaced interconnected inverted T-bars, a fixture hanging support for bridging the space between a pair of adjacent T-bars and including:

(i) at least two elongated flat hanger straps each having free opposite distal end portions;

(ii) at least three clips or mounts each engageable with one of the distal end portions of the hanger strap and having a downwardly depending T-bar engaging portion comprising a trio of spaced resilient legs with the pair of outside legs being embraceable with one side of the T-bar and the intermediate leg being embraceable with the opposite side of the T-bar, the outside and inside legs terminating at the same distance below the top of the T-bar, having a first horizontally extending component in communication with said trio of legs and a second horizontally extending component in communication with said first horizontally extending component, said first and second horizontally extending components each provided with at least one open-ended pocket adapted to receive a free distal end of said hanger strap.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein said clips or mounts are constructed of plastic.

3. The article of claim 2 wherein said clips or mounts are constructed of flame-resistant plastic.

4. A fixture hanging support for bridging the space between a pair of adjacent T-bars in a suspended ceiling frame construction, said support comprising

(i) at least two elongated flat hanger straps, each having free opposite distal end portions;

(ii) at least three clips or mounts each engageable with one of the distal end portions of the hanger strap and having a downwardly depending T-bar engaging portion comprising a trio of spaced legs with the pair of outside legs being embraceable with one side of the T-bar and the intermediate leg being embraceable with the opposite side of the T-bar, having a first horizontally extending component in communication with said trio of legs and a second horizontally extending component in communication with said first horizontally extending component, said first and second horizontally extending components each provided with at least one open-ended pocket adapted to receive a free distal end of said hanger strap.

5. The fixture hanging support of claim 4 wherein said clips or mounts are constructed of plastic.

6. The fixture hanging support of claim 5 wherein said plastic is flame-resistant.

7. A clip or mount adapted to engage a free distal end portion of an elongated flat hanger strap in a fixture hanging support construction for bridging the space between a pair of adjacent T-bars in a suspended ceiling frame, said clip or mount comprising a first horizontally extending component in communication with a trio of spaced resilient legs with the pair of outside legs being adapted to embrace one side of a T-bar and the intermediate leg being adapted to embrace the opposite side of the T-bar, and a second horizontally extending component in communication with said first horizontally extending component, said first and second horizontally extending components each being provided with at least one open-ended pocket adapted to receive a free distal end of said hanger strap.

8. A clip or mount as defined in claim 7 constructed of plastic.

9. A clip or mount as defined in claim 8 wherein said plastic is flame resistant.

10. A clip or mount as defined in claim 7 wherein said first and second horizontally extending components are provided with a plurality of said open-ended pockets.

11. A clip or mount as defined in claim 7 wherein each of the legs terminates at its bottom end in a tapered portion whereby forcing the clip into engagement with the top of the T-bar cooperates with each said tapered portion to automatically urge the legs apart and into proper engaging alignment.

12. A clip or mount as defined in claim 11 constructed of plastic.

13. A clip or mount as defined in claim 12 wherein said plastic is flame-resistant.

14. A clip or mount as defined in claim 8 wherein said plastic has a plastic memory.

15. A clip or mount as defined in claim 12 wherein said plastic has a plastic memory.