Recessed fixture frame and method

• US 5,957,573 A
• Filed: 09/05/1997
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Philips Lighting North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Lightolier Division Of The Genlyte Group Inc.
• Inventors: Capostagno, Joseph Anthony, Foley, Dennis Joseph, Jones, Mark Owen, Rippel, Graham Michael, Wedekind, Robert James
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): HONEYMAN, MARSHALL S
• Application Number:
  US08/924,349
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 175/65 R, 362/147, 362/364, 362/365, 362/366, 362/368, 362/370, 362/371, 248/286.1
• US Class Current: 362/365
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/04 Recessed bases
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 27/00 Cable-stowing arrangements structurally associated with lighting devices, e.g. reels storing lengths of cable in general B65H; the lighting devices being vehicle headlamps F21S41/192; the lighting devices being vehicle lights F21S43/195

Abstract

An improved recessed fixture frame and method for installing the recessed fixture frame in new, existing or rough-in construction is disclosed. The improved recessed fixture frame includes a frame band for supporting and surrounding a fixture housing and at least one mounting assembly connected to the frame band in such a manner that the frame band is capable of being adjusted between the ends of the mounting bars. The mounting assembly includes at least one hinged mounting stub operatively hingeably connected to at least one end of the mounting assembly. Each hinged mounting stub includes a fastening means for affixing the recessed fixture frame to a structural member in a first position. In the first position, the recessed fixture frame extends downwardly from the structural member. After the fixture frame has been wired-in, the fixture frame is rotated about ninety degrees (90°) about the hinged mounting stubs to a second position where the non-hinged mounting stub at the other end of the mounting assemblies are operatively connected to a second structural member.

Claims

1. A recessed fixture frame for supporting an enclosure in a recessed space, said fixture comprising:

a frame band supporting said enclosure;

at least one mounting assembly operatively secured to said frame band, said mounting assembly including means for selectively increasing or decreasing its length; and

means operatively hingeably connected to at least one end of said at least one mounting assembly for hingedly securing said mounting assembly to a structural member, said securing means being pivotable between a first unlocked position, in which the enclosure is below the recess, to a second locked position in which the enclosure is within the recess.

2. The recessed fixture frame of claim 1 further comprising:

an enclosure for housing an electric fixture, the enclosure having slots for vertically adjusting the housing relative to the frame band.

3. The recessed fixture frame of claim 1 further comprising:

a junction box having a plurality of sides operatively connected to the frame band for operatively electrically connecting the electric fixture to an electrical system; and

clamping means, operatively positioned in at least one side of the junction box, for restricting movement of an electric cable out of the junction box once the cable is installed in the junction box, the clamping means including at least one aperture sized such that the cable freely moves within the aperture as the cable is inserted into the clamping means aperture, when the direction of movement of the cable is reversed, the clamping means aperture clamps the cable such that removal of the cable from the junction box is effectively prevented.

4. The recessed fixture frame of claim 1 wherein the at least one mounting assembly connecting means comprises:

at least one mounting stub operatively hingeably connected to at least one end of the at least one mounting assembly, the stub including means for preventing rotation of the mounting assembly beyond about ninety (90°

) degrees with respect to the mounting stub.

5. A recessed fixture frame comprising:

a frame band;

at least one mounting assembly operatively connected to the frame band, the mounting assembly including a channel member and a bar member, the bar member being movable relative to the channel member for selectively increasing or decreasing the length of the mounting assembly; and

at least one mounting stub, operatively hingeably connected to at least one end of the mounting assembly, the mounting stub having a hook for cooperating with a complementary member formed in the bar member, for locking the mounting stub and the bar member such that the bar member is prevented from moving relative to the channel member.

6. A recessed fixture frame comprising:

a frame band;

at least one mounting assembly operatively connected to the frame band, said mounting assembly including means for selectively increasing or decreasing its length;

at least one mounting stub operatively hingeably connected to at least one end of said at least one mounting assembly;

an enclosure for housing an electric fixture, said enclosure having means for vertically adjusting said enclosure relative to said frame band, said enclosure having an open end and a closed end, said open end having a hemmed edge, said closed end having a self-adjusting spring means for securing a socket and a trim therein and including means for receiving at least one electric cable;

a junction box operatively connected to said frame band at a predetermined distance from said enclosure, said junction box including at least five side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall, at least one of said side walls having an opening for receiving said at least one electric cable, said junction box including means for securing said top wall and said bottom wall of said junction box to said side walls; and

clamping means operably positioned in at least one of said side walls of said junction box for restricting movement of said at least one electric cable, said clamping means including at least one aperture having about the same cross-sectional size as the cross section of said at least one electrical cable, said clamping means being positioned such that said at least one cable is able to freely move within said clamping means aperture as said at least one cable is inserted into said aperture, said clamping means aperture engaging said at least one the cable when the direction of movement of said at least one cable is reversed such that removal of said at least one cable from said junction box is effectively prevented.

7. A device for connecting a recessed fixture frame to a structure, the device comprising:

a mounting assembly, the mounting assembly including means for selectively increasing or decreasing its length;

a fastening member comprising;

a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being connected to the second portion at about a ninety degrees (90°

) angle; and

the fastener member being operatively hingeably connected to the mounting assembly, the fastener member further including a locking means for locking the second portion to the mounting assembly in a first position, the first position being at about ninety degrees (90°

) relative the mounting assembly, the second portion disengaging from the mounting assembly when the mounting assembly is rotated about forty five degrees (45°

) from the first position; and

means, operatively positioned in the first portion, for connecting the device to a support structure.

8. A quick connect/release mechanism for connecting/releasing trim to/from a light socket, the mechanism comprising:

a light socket housing;

a light socket operatively positioned inside the socket housing;

a trim positioned about said socket housing and having at least two notches formed therein; and

trim retaining means including a spring secured to said socket and engaging the inner wall of said socket housing, said spring including offset ends for mating with said at least two notches formed in said trim such that said trim is effectively retained in position relative to said socket housing and is readily removable from operative connection to the socket.

9. The mechanism of claim 8, wherein said spring comprises:

a "C" shaped resilient member having a pair of protrusions operatively formed on each of said offset ends for cooperating with said at least two notches formed in said trim, for retaining said trim in operative position relative to said socket.

10. The mechanism of claim 9 wherein the inwardly offset ends enable an installer to apply pressure inwardly away from the outer surfaces of the socket housing in order to operatively connect the trim to the socket housing.

11. The mechanism of claim 10 wherein, once the trim is properly positioned on the light socket, the trim is quickly released therefrom by grasping the inwardly offset ends and applying inward pressure toward the socket such that the protrusions disengage from the slots thereby disengaging the trim from the socket.

12. The mechanism of claim 11 wherein, when the socket is positioned in a ceiling, when disengaged, the trim will fall by force of gravity into the hand of an installer.

13. A method of installing a recessed fixture frame having a junction box between two structural members, the junction box including a door and a clamping mechanism, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning a recessed fixture frame having two mounting assemblies and a hinged mounting stub operatively connected to at least one end of each assembly relative the two structural members;

lining up the bottom edge of the hinged mounting stubs with the bottom of the first structural member;

connecting the first mounting stub to the first structural member;

connecting the second mounting stub to the second structural member;

opening the junction box, the junction box including knock-outs;

opening the appropriate number of knock-outs;

inserting non-metallic cable through an aperture resulting from the opening of each knock-out;

inserting the cable through an aperture formed in each clamping mechanism corresponding to the particular aperture formed by opening each knock-out;

connecting the cable inside the junction box;

closing the junction box door;

rotating the recessed fixture frame upwardly about ninety degrees (90°

) such that the opposite ends of the mounting assemblies having non-hinged mounting stubs are operatively positioned relative to the second structural member; and

connecting the non-hinged mounting stubs to the second structural member.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:

positioning the housing between the mounting assemblies.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

positioning plasterboard or other type ceiling contiguous with the structural members after the housing has been positioned.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

adjusting the housing flush with the surface of the plasterboard.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of:

when installing lighting fixtures, connecting a trim to a socket using spring tabs which engage into slots in the trim.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the light fixture installing step further comprises:

inserting the portion of the socket having the spring tabs inside of the trim; and

adjusting the position of the trim over the edge of the socket until the spring tabs are fully engaged into corresponding slots in the trim.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of:

inserting the trim into the housing by pushing straight up into the housing until the trim is tight against the ceiling.

20. A method of removing lighting trim and the associated socket from a recessed light fixture, the method comprising the steps of:

grasping a reflector spring by the ends thereof from inside the trim;

squeezing the spring ends toward each other until the trim disengages from said reflector spring;

removing the trim from the lighting housing, removing the socket by pulling on one of said reflection spring ends, thereby disengaging the socket from the housing.

21. A telescoping mounting assembly for use in mounting a lighting fixture to a structural member, said mounting assembly comprising:

a channel member;

a bar member, said channel member and said bar member cooperating to selectively lengthen or shorten the mounting assembly;

a mounting stub hingeably connected to at least one end of said channel member, and means for selectively locking said mounting stub relative to said bar member.

22. The mounting assembly of claim 21 wherein the stub is connected to the channel member by a fastener.

23. The mounting assembly of claim 21 wherein the locking means further comprises:

a mating member operatively connected to the hinged mounting stub; and

a complementary portion, operatively positioned in the bar member, for mating with the mating member.

24. The mounting assembly of claim 23 wherein, when the bar member having the complementary portion therein is positioned such that the mating member is mated therewith, the bar member is prevented from moving relative the channel member and the relative position of the mounting stub to the mounting assembly is at about a ninety (90°

) degree angle.

25. The mounting assembly of claim 24 wherein, without the mating member being engaged with the complementary portion, the bar member could unrestrainably move relative the channel member.

26. A fixture for use in installing a unit within a recess having spaced structural members, said fixture comprising a holding member for carrying the unit, mounting means operatively secured to said holding member and including means for varying its length so as to permit said mounting means to be extended between the structural members, and means operatively and movably secured to said mounting means for fastening said mounting means to the structural members, said fastening means being movable between a first position, in which the length of said mounting means can be varied, to a second position in which the length of said mounting means cannot be varied.

27. The fixture of claim 26, in which said fastening means includes a stub hingedly affixed to each end of said mounting means.

28. The fixture of claim 27, in which said mounting means and said fastening means include cooperative means effective when engaged to place said fastening means in its said second, locked position.

29. The fixture of claim 28, in which said cooperating means includes a tongue secured to one of said mounting means and said fastening means, and a groove in the other of said mounting means and said fastening means for releasably receiving said tongue when said fastening means is in its said second, locked position.

30. The fixture of claim 29, in which said first position of said fastening means is substantially 90°

displaced from its said second position.

31. The fixture of claim 30, in which said mounting means includes a longitudinal channel member and a longitudinal bar slidably received within said channel member for relative longitudinal movement therealong.

32. The fixture of claim 31, in which said tongue engages and locks said slidable bar within said channel member when said fastening means is in its said second, locked position.

33. The fixture of claim 26, in which said mounting means and said fastening means include cooperative means effective when engaged to place said fastening means in its said second, locked position.

34. The fixture of claim 28, in which said cooperating means includes a tongue secured to one of said mounting means and said fastening means, and a groove in the other of said mounting means and said fastening means for releasably receiving said tongue when said fastening means is in its said second, locked position.

35. The fixture of claim 34, in which said mounting means includes first and second spaced, substantially parallel channel members, said holding member including a frame band extending between said mounting means.

36. The fixture of claim 35, in which said frame band includes first and second slots adjacent its opposite ends, said channel members respectively passing through said slots.

37. The fixture of claim 27, in which said first position of said fastening means is substantially 90°

displaced from its said second position.

38. The fixture of claim 37, in which said mounting means includes a longitudinal channel member and a longitudinal bar slidably received within said channel member for relative longitudinal movement therealong.

39. The fixture of claim 38, in which said cooperating means prevents relative movement of said channel member and said bar when said fastening means is in its said second locked position.

40. The fixture of claim 39, in which said cooperating means includes a tongue secured to one of said mounting means and said fastening means, and a groove in the other of said mounting means and said fastening means for releasably receiving said tongue when said fastening means is in its said second locked position.

41. The fixture of claim 40, in which said tongue engages and locks said slidable bar within said channel member when said fastening means is in its said second locked position.

42. The fixture of claim 26, in which said mounting means includes first and second spaced substantially parallel channel members, said holding member including a frame band extending between said mounting means.

43. The fixture of claim 42, in which said frame band includes first and second slots adjacent its opposite ends, said channel members respectively passing through said slots.