Mounting bracket for light fixture

• US 4,156,272 A
• Filed: 08/10/1977
• Issued: 05/22/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc. (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Mcgraw-Edison Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Wandler, Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): Engle, Samuel W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walsh, Donald P.
• Application Number:
  US05/823,386
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 362/431, 362/432, 362/147, 362/150, 362/151, 362/365, 362/368, 362/370, 248/221
• US Class Current: 362/432
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/02 Wall, ceiling, or floor bases; Fixing pendants or arms to the bases F21V21/08 takes precedence; bases for movable standing lamps F21V21/06

Abstract

A mounting bracket formed integrally with a light fixture housing, mounts the fixture on either a flat surface, such as, a wall or a curved surface, such as, a post. The bracket includes a base portion having a front wall and opposed parallel side walls and opposed parallel upper and lower end walls joined to the rear surface of the front wall to define a cavity. The free ends of the upper and lower end walls are arcuate, curving inwardly from the opposite side walls toward the front wall for accommodating a cylindrical post or the like support member. A hollow support arm extends from the front surface of the front wall of the base portion to the housing and carries electrical wiring between the housing and the base portion of the mounting bracket. A pair of apertures for receiving mounting screws are defined in the front wall, one at each upper and lower end of the base portion. A gasket received in the base portion is held between shoulders formed on the rear surface of the front wall between the screw receiving apertures. Apertures on opposite sides of the upper mounting screw aperture, between the upper shoulder and upper end wall, permit electrical wiring to pass outwardly of the base portion for externally wiring the light fixture.

Claims

1. In a light fixture having a housing comprising electrical components including a lamp socket and a refractor coupled to said housing, a mounting bracket for securing said fixture to one of a relatively flat surface having an electrical junction box mounted therein, such as, for example, the side wall of a building and an arcuately curved surface, such as, for example, a post or the like support member, said mounting bracket including in combination:

a base portion having a front wall, upper and lower end walls and side walls joined to and extending outwardly from the rear surface of said front wall to define a cavity, and a hollow support arm formed integrally with said bracket and fixture housing and extending between the front surface of said front wall of said base portion and said fixture housing,

said end walls of said base portion being arcuately curved at the free ends thereof, respectively, said ends curving inwardly from said opposite side walls toward the front wall intermediate said side walls, respectively, to accommodate the curved surface of a post or the like support member on which said fixture is mountable,

said front wall defining a first aperture therein communicating with and surrounded by said hollow support arm for passing electrical wiring from said lamp socket into said base portion, first and second predeterminedly spaced shoulders formed on the rear surface of said front wall of said base portion of said bracket near the upper and lower end walls, respectively, said shoulders extending into said cavity,

said front wall defining second and third apertures at opposite ends thereof for receiving fasteners with which to mount said fixture on one of said flat and curved support surfaces, respectively, each of said apertures being positioned between one of said opposite end walls and an adjacent one of said shoulders, and

a gasket formed of resilient material receivable in said cavity between said shoulders to seal said base portion against said mounting surface and to provide a barrier around said cavity to minimize the entry of moisture thereinto, said gasket being ring-shaped having joined side and end walls and being dimensioned for receipt of said electrical junction box therein, in sealing engagement therewith, when mounting said light fixture on said flat surface.

2. A mounting bracket as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second and third apertures comprise slotted apertures formed at opposite upper and lower ends of said base portion, said slotted apertures being open at the end walls of said base portion.

3. A mounting bracket as claimed in claim 2 wherein said front wall defines fourth and fifth apertures adjacent said upper slotted aperture and between said upper shoulder and said upper end wall, for use in passing electrical wiring outwardly of said base portion for externally wiring said fixture.

4. A light fixture including in combination:

a housing portion including a lamp socket mounted thereon, a refractor coupled thereto and a bracket portion formed integrally with said housing portion for mounting said light fixture on one of a relatively flat surface having an electrical junction box mounted therein and a curved surface, said mounting bracket comprising;

a base having a front wall, upper and lower end walls and side walls joined thereto extending outwardly from the rear surface of said front wall to define a cavity and a hollow support arm extending between the front surface of said front wall of said base and said housing,

said end walls of said base being curved at the free ends thereof, respectively, inwardly from the opposite side walls toward the front wall, intermediate the side walls, respectively, to accommodate said curved surface on which said bracket is mountable,

said front wall of said base defining a first aperture therein communicating with and surrounded by said hollow support arm for passing electrical wiring from said housing portion and lamp socket into said base,

first and second predeterminedly spaced shoulders formed on the rear surface of said front wall of said base of said bracket portion near the upper and lower end walls, respectively, said shoulders extending into said cavity,

said front wall defining second and third apertures at opposite ends thereof for receiving fasteners with which to mount said fixture on one of said flat and curved support surfaces, respectively, each of said apertures being positioned between one of said opposite end walls and an adjacent one of said shoulders,

a gasket formed of resilient material receivable in said cavity between said shoulders and side walls and engaging the rear surface of said front wall of said base in surrounding relation with respect to said first aperture to create a barrier, thereby minimizing the entry of moisture into said cavity, said gasket being ring-shaped and dimensioned for receipt of said electric junction box therein in sealing engagement therewith when mounting said light fixture on said flat surface.

5. A light fixture as claimed in claim 4 wherein said front wall of said base further defines fourth and fifth apertures adjacent one of said second and third apertures for passing electric wiring outwardly of said base portion for externally wiring said fixture, and second and third gasket means mounted in said second and third apertures, respectively, to seal said external wiring at said apertures.