Pull-on clip for downlight reflector trim

• US 5,707,143 A
• Filed: 09/03/1996
• Issued: 01/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: National Service Industries, Inc. (Alsco Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hentz, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US08/707,004
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 362/364, 362/365, 362/147, 362/396, 362/404
• US Class Current: 362/365
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/02 of recess-mounted type, e.g. downlighters specially adapted for vehicle exteriors F21S41/00-F21S45/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/007 with provision for shipment or storage
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/164 the parts being subjected to bending, e.g. snap joints
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/04 Recessed bases

Abstract

A pull-on clip manually assembled to a downlighting reflector trim in a snap-fastening manner without the need for tools, the invention mounts the reflector trim and a socket/spring clip assembly snap-fastened onto the trim within the interior of a lamp housing or can particularly in a downlighting fixture. The pull-on clip facilitates lamp positioning within the can and thereby within the fixture such that optimum lamp performance is obtained. The structure of the pull-on clip further facilitates the snug positioning of the reflector trim about a ceiling hole above which the downlighting fixture utilizing said clip is mounted for operation, thereby providing a clean appearance and positive lamp positioning.

Claims

1. A clip for mounting a reflector trim within a lamp housing of a lighting fixture mounted above a ceiling opening formed in a ceiling, the reflector trim having a reflector trim opening formed in one end thereof to receive a portion of a lamp socket, the reflector trim opening communicating with notches formed about the periphery of the opening in the trim, the trim further having a slot formed in juxtaposition to each of the notches, the clip comprising:

an anterior end portion having a locking tab formed therein, the locking tab engaging and being received into one of the slots when the anterior end portion of the clip is pulled over one of the notches; and

,

at least one clipping element formed in the anterior end portion of the clip and being recurved distally to receive and bias against edge portions of the trim defining the notches to facilitate mounting of the clip to the trim.

2. The clip of claim 1 wherein body portions of the clip are formed of a single piece of spring steel stock.

3. The clip of claim 1 and further comprising:

a medial portion of the clip formed at an angle to the anterior end portion of the clip; and

,

a distal portion of the clip formed at an angle to the medial portion of the clip, the medial and distal portions of the clip acting on engagement with interior walls of the lamp housing to pull the reflector trim and lamp socket mounted thereto inwardly of the lamp housing to fit the trim snugly against the ceiling about the ceiling opening.

4. The clip of claim 3 wherein end portions of the distal portion of the clip are formed into spaced points for engagement with interior walls of the lamp housing.

5. The clip of claim 3 wherein body portions of the clip are formed of a single piece of spring steel stock.

6. The clip of claim 1 wherein distal end portions of the clip are formed into spaced points for engagement with interior walls of the lamp housing.

7. The clip of claim 1 wherein a body portion of the locking tab is formed out of plane with the anterior end portion of the clip and extends from a side of the clip along which the at least one clipping element recurves.

8. The clip of claim 1 and further comprising:

a distal portion of the clip formed at an angle to the anterior end portion of the clip.

9. The clip of claim 8 wherein end portions of the distal portion of the clip are formed into spaced points for engagement with interior walls of the lamp housing.

10. The clip of claim 8 wherein body portions of the clip are formed of a single piece of spring steel stock.

11. A clip for mounting a reflector trim within a lamp housing of a lighting fixture, the reflector trim having an opening formed in one end thereof to receive a portion of a lamp socket, the reflector trim having at least one slot formed therein and spaced from the opening, the clip comprising:

a body element having first and second end portions;

locking means formed in a first end of the body element for engaging the at least one slot when the first end is pulled over a perimetric portion of the opening from which the at least one slot is spaced; and

,

clipping means formed in the first end portion of the body element for receiving and biasing against edge portions of the perimetric portion of the opening from which the at least one slot is spaced to facilitate mounting of the clip to the trim.

12. The clip of claim 11 wherein the body element is formed of a single piece of spring steel stock.

13. The clip of claim 11 wherein the body element comprises:

a medial portion formed at an angle to the first end portion of the clip; and

,

a distal portion of the clip comprising the second end of the body element and being formed at an angle to the medial portion of the clip, the medial and distal portions of the clip acting on engagement with interior walls of the lamp housing to pull the reflector trim and lamp socket mounted thereto inwardly of the lamp housing to fit the trim snugly against the juxtaposed building structure above which the lighting fixture is mounted.

14. The clip of claim 11 wherein the locking means comprise a locking tab formed in the body element, the locking tab engaging and being received into the at least one slot.

15. The clip of claim 11 wherein the clipping means comprise at least one clipping element which is recurved distally to receive and bias against edge portions of the perimetric portion of the opening from which the at least one slot is spaced to facilitate mounting of the clip to the trim.

16. The clip of claim 15 wherein the locking means comprise a locking tab formed in the body element, the locking tab engaging and being received into the at least one slot.

17. The clip of claim 16 wherein a body portion of the locking tab is formed out of plane with the first end portion of the clip and extends from a side of the clip along which the at least one clipping element recurves.

18. The clip of claim 11 wherein a distal portion of the body element comprising the second end portion thereof is formed at an angle to the first end portion of the body element.

19. The clip of claim 18 wherein end portions of the distal portion of the clip are formed into spaced points for engagement with interior walls of the lamp housing.

20. The clip of claim 11 wherein the reflector trim has a plurality of slots formed therein and spaced from the opening, one each of the clips engaging one each of the slots.