Resilient unitary lighting clip

• US 6,327,758 B1
• Filed: 11/01/1999
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Juno Manufacturing LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Petrakis, John, Janos, George L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sakran, Victor N.
• Application Number:
  US09/431,382
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 245/46, 243/36, 243/17, 242/93, 242/95, 245/63, 524/89, 527/60
• US Class Current: 24/546
• 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 9/16 the members lying in different planes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/04 Recessed bases
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/08 Devices for easy attachment to any desired place, e.g. clip, clamp, magnet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/304 Resilient metal type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/307 Sheet metal formed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/344 Resilient type clasp
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44778 Piece totally forms clasp, clip, or support-clamp and has shaped, wirelike, or bandlike configuration with uniform cross section throughout its length
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44923 Clasp, clip, or support-clamp cut or shaped from a single sheet of resilient, uniformly thick, planar material

Abstract

The subject matter is a resilient unitary lighting clip which connects a bar hanger to a T-bar in an overhead lighting assembly. The clip includes a face plate which has a lock formed integral with the face plate to secure the clip to the bar hanger. A U-shaped connector is formed integral with the face plate for receiving a bar hanger. A support is formed integral with the connector for receiving a portion of a T-bar. A catch is formed integral with the support and is resiliently connectable to the T-bar. A tab is formed integral with the support and is engageable with the T-bar for positioning the clip relative to the T-bar.

Claims

1. A resilient unitary lighting clip for releasably connecting a bar hanger to a T-bar in an overhead lighting assembly comprising;

a face plate engageable with the bar hanger, a lock formed integral with the face plate and being engageable with a bar hanger for securing the clip to the bar hanger, a U-shaped connector formed integral with the face plate for receiving a portion of the bar hanger and holding the bar hanger in engagement with the face plate, a support formed integral with the connector for receiving a portion of a T-bar, a catch formed integral with a portion of the support for resilient connection to a portion of the T-bar, a tab formed integral with the support and engageable with the T-bar for positioning the clip relative to the T-bar, said lock includes a locking projection formed integral with the face plate and extending toward the support, said locking projection having an engagement edge adjacent to the U-shaped connector for contacting the bar hanger.

2. A resilient unitary lighting clip for releasably connecting a bar hanger to a T-bar in an overhead lighting assembly comprising;

a face plate engageable with the bar hanger, a lock formed integral with the face plate and being engageable with a bar hanger for securing the clip to the bar hanger, a U-shaped connector formed integral with the face plate for receiving a portion of the bar hanger and holding the bar hanger in engagement with the face plate, a support formed integral with the connector for receiving a portion of a T-bar, a catch formed integral with a portion of the support for resilient connection to a portion of the T-bar, a tab engageable with the T-bar for positioning the clip relative to the T-bar, the support includes a brace formed integral with the U-shaped connector, a pair of stays formed integral with the brace and being substantially parallel to each other, an upright formed integral with each of the stays, a support base formed integral with the uprights, and a post formed integral with the support base and extending away from the uprights, said uprights, the support base, and the post being in substantially one plane, said tab formed integral with the post.

3. A resilient unitary lighting clip for releasably connecting a bar hanger to a T-bar in an overhead lighting assembly comprising;

a face plate engageable with the bar hanger, a lock formed integral with the face plate and being engageable with a bar hanger for securing the clip to the bar hanger, a U-shaped connector formed integral with the face plate for receiving a portion of the bar hanger and holding the bar hanger in engagement with the face plate, a support formed integral with the connector for receiving a portion of a T-bar, a catch formed integral with a portion of the support for resilient connection to a portion of the T-bar, a tab formed integral with the support and engageable with the T-bar for positioning the clip relative to the T-bar, the catch includes a resilient bracket having one end formed integral with the support, and a dog formed integral with the bracket at an end opposite the one end and being engageable with the T-bar, said dog includes a stand having a stand end integral with the bracket and a shoulder integral with the stand.

4. A resilient unitary lighting clip for releasably connecting a bar hanger to a T-bar in an overhead lighting assembly comprising;

a face plate engageable with the bar hanger, a lock formed integral with the face plate and being engageable with a bar hanger for securing the clip to the bar hanger, a U-shaped connector formed integral with the face plate for receiving a portion of the bar hanger and holding the bar hanger in engagement with the face plate, a support formed integral with the connector for receiving a portion of a T-bar, a catch formed integral with a portion of the support for resilient connection to a portion of the T-bar, a tab formed integral with the support and engageable with the T-bar for positioning the clip relative to the T-bar, the U-shaped connector includes a pair of plate arms formed integral with the face plate, said plate arms being parallel to each other, and a connector arm formed integral with each of the plate arms, each connector arm being substantially parallel to its respective plate arm, said support formed integral with the connector arms, and said tab includes a back formed integral with the support, and a pair of lips formed integral with the back and extending toward the face plate, said lips being engageable with the T-bar.

5. A resilient unitary lighting clip for releasably connecting a bar hanger to a T-bar in an overhead lighting assembly comprising;

a face plate engageable with the bar hanger, a lock formed integral with the face plate and being engageable with a bar hanger for securing the clip to the bar hanger, a U-shaped connector formed integral with the face plate for receiving a portion of the bar hanger and holding the bar hanger in engagement with the face plate, a support formed integral with the connector for receiving a portion of a T-bar, a catch formed integral with a portion of the support for resilient connection to a portion of the T-bar, a tab formed integral with the support and engageable with the T-bar for positioning the clip relative to the T-bar, the support includes a brace formed integral with the connector, a pair of stays formed integral with the brace and being substantially parallel to each other, an upright formed integral with each of the stays, a support base formed integral with the uprights, and a post formed integral with the support base and extending away from the uprights, said uprights, the support base, and the post being in substantially one plane, and said catch includes a resilient bracket having one end formed integral with the support base, a dog formed integral with the bracket at an end opposite the one end, said dog engageable with the T-bar.

6. A resilient unitary lighting clip for releasably connecting a bar hanger to a T-bar in an overhead lighting assembly comprising;

a face plate engageable with the bar hanger, a lock formed integral with the face plate and being engageable with a bar hanger for securing the clip to the bar hanger, a U-shaped connector formed integral with the face plate for receiving a portion of the bar hanger and holding the bar hanger in engagement with the face plate, a support formed integral with the connector for receiving a portion of a T-bar, a catch formed integral with a portion of the support for resilient connection to a portion of the T-bar, a tab formed integral with the support and engageable with the T-bar for positioning the clip relative to the T-bar, the lock includes a locking projection formed integral with the face plate and extends toward the support, said locking projection having an engagement edge adjacent to the U-shaped connector for contacting the hanger bar, said catch includes a resilient bracket having one end formed integral with the support, and a dog formed integral with the bracket at an end opposite the one end, said dog engageable with the T-bar.

7. A resilient unitary lighting clip for releasably connecting a bar hanger to a T-bar in an overhead lighting assembly comprising;

a face plate engageable with the bar hanger, a lock formed integral with the face plate and being engageable with a bar hanger for securing the clip to the bar hanger, a U-shaped connector formed integral with the face plate for receiving a portion of the bar hanger and holding the bar hanger in engagement with the face plate, a support formed integral with the connector for receiving a portion of a T-bar, a catch formed integral with a portion of the support for resilient connection to a portion of the T-bar, a tab formed integral with the support and engageable with the T-bar for positioning the clip relative to the T-bar, the U-shaped connector includes a pair of plate arms formed integral with the face plate, said plate arms being parallel to each other, and a connector arm formed integral with each of the plate arms, each connector arm being substantially parallel to its respective plate arm, and said support includes a brace formed integral with the connector arms, a pair of stays formed integral with the brace and being substantially parallel to each other, an upright formed integral with each of the stays, a support base formed integral with the uprights, and a post formed integral with the support base and extending away from the uprights, said uprights, the support base, and the post being in substantially one plane, said post integral with the tab.

8. A resilient unitary lighting clip for releasably connecting a bar hanger to a T-bar in an overhead lighting assembly comprising;

a face plate engageable with the bar hanger, a lock formed integral with the face plate and being engageable with a bar hanger for securing the clip to the bar hanger, a U-shaped connector formed integral with the face plate for receiving a portion of the bar hanger and holding the bar hanger in engagement with the face plate, a support formed integral with the connector for receiving a portion of a T-bar, a catch formed integral with a portion of the support for resilient connection to a portion of the T-bar, a tab formed integral with the support and engageable with the T-bar for positioning the clip relative to the T-bar, the lock includes a locking projection formed integral with the face plate and extending toward the support, said locking projection having an engagement edge adjacent to the U-shaped connector for contacting the bar hanger;

said support includes a brace formed integral with the connector, a pair of stays formed integral with the brace and being substantially parallel to each other, an upright formed integral with each of the stays, a support base formed integral with the uprights, and a post formed integral with the support base and extending away from the uprights, said uprights, the support base, and the post being in substantially one plane, and said catch includes a a resilient bracket having one end formed integral with the support base, a dog formed integral with the bracket at an end opposite the one end, said dog being engageable with the T-bar.

9. A resilient unitary lighting clip for releasably connecting a bar hanger to a T-bar in an overhead lighting assembly comprising;

a face plate engageable with the bar hanger, a lock formed integral with the face plate and being engageable with a bar hanger for securing the clip to the bar hanger, a U-shaped connector formed integral with the face plate for receiving a portion of the bar hanger and holding the bar hanger in engagement with the face plate, a support formed integral with the connector for receiving a portion of a T-bar, a catch formed integral with a portion of the support for resilient connection to a portion of the T-bar, a tab formed integral with the support and engageable with the T-bar for positioning the clip relative to the T-bar, the support includes a brace formed integral with the connector, a pair of stays formed integral with the base and being substantially parallel to each other, an upright formed integral with each of the stays, a support base formed integral with the uprights, and a post formed integral with the support base midway between the uprights, said post extending away from the uprights, said uprights, and the support base being in substantially one plane, said post being in the same plane as the support base;

said catch includes a resilient bracket having one end formed integral with the support base between the uprights, a dog formed integral with the bracket at an end opposite the one end, said dog being engageable with the T-bar, said dog including a stand having one end integral with the bracket and a shoulder integral with the stand, and said tab includes a back formed integral with the post, and a pair of lips formed integral with the back and extending toward the face plate, said back and said lips being in the same plane, said lips being engageable with the T-bar.

10. A resilient unitary lighting clip for releasably connecting a bar hanger to a T-bar in an overhead lighting assembly comprising;

a face plate engageable with the bar hanger, a lock formed integral with the face plate and being engageable with a bar hanger for securing the clip to the bar hanger, a U-shaped connector formed integral with the face plate for receiving a portion of the bar hanger and holding the bar hanger in engagement with the face plate, a support formed integral with the connector for receiving a portion of a T-bar, a catch formed integral with a portion of the support for resilient connection to a portion of the T-bar, a tab formed integral with the support and engageable with the T-bar for positioning the clip relative to the T-bar, the lock includes a locking projection formed integral with the face plate and extending toward the support, said locking projection having an engagement edge adjacent to the U-shaped connector for contacting the hanger bar;

said U-shaped connector includes a pair of plate arms formed integral with the face plate, said plate arms being parallel to each other, and a connector arm formed integral with each of the plate arms, each connector arm being substantially parallel to its respective plate arm;

said support includes a brace formed integral with the connector arms, a pair of stays formed integral with the brace and being substantially parallel to each other, an upright formed integral with each of the stays, a support base formed integral with the uprights, and a post formed integral with the support base and extending away from the uprights, said uprights, the support base, and the post being in substantially one plane; and

said catch includes a resilient bracket having one end formed integral with the support base between the uprights, a dog formed integral with the bracket at an end opposite the one end, said dog being engageable with the T-bar, said dog including a stand having one end integral with the bracket and a shoulder integral with the stand.

11. A resilient unitary lighting clip for releasably connecting a bar hanger to a T-bar in an overhead lighting assembly comprising;

a face plate engageable with the bar hanger, a lock formed integral with the face plate and being engageable with a bar hanger for securing the clip to the bar hanger, a U-shaped connector formed integral with the face plate for receiving a portion of the bar hanger and holding the bar hanger in engagement with the face plate, a support formed integral with the connector for receiving a portion of a T-bar, a catch formed integral with a portion of the support for resilient connection to a portion of the T-bar, a tab engageable with the T-bar for positioning the clip relative to the T-bar, the U-shaped connector includes a pair of plate arms formed integral with the face plate, said plate arms being parallel to each other, and a connector arm formed integral with each of the plate arms, each connector arm being substantially parallel to its respective plate arm;

said support includes a brace formed integral with the connector arms, a pair of stays formed integral with the base and being substantially parallel to each other, an upright formed integral with each of the stays, a support base formed integral with the uprights, and a post formed integral with the support base and extending away from the uprights, said uprights, the support base, and the post being in substantially one plane;

said catch includes a resilient bracket having one end formed integral with the support base midway between the uprights, a dog formed integral with the bracket at an end opposite the one end, said dog engageable with the T-bar; and

said tab includes a back formed integral with the post, and a pair of lips formed integral with the back and extending toward the face plate, said lips being engageable with the T-bar.

12. A resilient unitary lighting clip for releasably connecting a bar hanger to a T-bar in an overhead lighting assembly comprising;

a face plate engageable with the bar hanger, a lock formed integral with the face plate and being engageable with a bar hanger for securing the clip to the bar hanger, a U-shaped connector formed integral with the face plate for receiving a portion of the bar hanger and holding the bar hanger in engagement with the face plate, a support formed integral with the connector for receiving a portion of a T-bar, a catch formed integral with a portion of the support for resilient connection to a portion of the T-bar, a tab engageable with the T-bar for positioning the clip relative to the T-bar, the face plate includes a substantially flat body having a bent edge extending away from the lock;

said lock includes a locking projection formed integral with the face plate and extending toward the support, said locking projection having an engagement edge adjacent to the U-shaped connector for contacting the hanger bar;

said U-shaped connector including a pair of plate arms formed integral with the flat body, said plate arms being parallel to each other, and a connector arm formed integral with each of the plate arms, each connector arm being substantially parallel to its respective plate arm;

said support includes a brace formed integral with the connector arms, a pair of stays formed integral with the brace and being substantially parallel to each other, an upright formed integral with each of the stays, a support base formed integral with the uprights, and a post formed integral with the support base midway between the uprights, said post extending away from the uprights, said uprights, the support base, and the post being in substantially one plane;

said catch includes a resilient bracket having one end formed integral with the support base midway between the uprights, a dog formed integral with the bracket at an end opposite the one end, said dog engageable with the T-bar, said dog includes a stand having one end integral with the bracket and a shoulder integral with the stand; and

said tab includes a back formed integral with the post, and a pair of lips formed integral with the back and extending toward the face plate, said back and the lips being in the same plane, said lips being engageable with the T-bar.