Acoustic ceiling box support

• US 6,595,476 B1
• Filed: 07/20/2001
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donald B. Edwards
• Original Assignee: Donald B. Edwards
• Inventors: Edwards, Donald B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Ko-Hung
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEINHOLD, INGRID M
• Application Number:
  US09/682,105
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 248/906, 248/200.1, 248/300, 248/205.1, 248/56, 248/328, 295/13, 525/060.7
• US Class Current: 248/200.1
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 9/006 with means for hanging lighting fixtures or other appliances to the framework of the ceiling
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/906 Electrical outlet box support

Abstract

A support for a fixture for a lighting or other electrical device, on an acoustic ceiling, so that it will be supported firmly without wobbling. In the preferred embodiment it is a rectangular metal box with an open bottom, formed from a single sheet of metal. It is dimensioned and configured so that a mounting box for the fixture can fit inside. The mounting box is prevented from moving by the broad, flat top surface of the invention. There are diagonal rows of large holes through the top side for electrical fittings, and smaller circular holes for support and grounding screws. It can be supported on the beams of the ceiling by screws that pass through slots in its ends, by using fire tie tabs, or by a stab connection. The longer side walls have flanges which rest against the top surfaces of supporting cross pieces for ceiling tiles.

Claims

1. A method for attaching electrical connection boxes in an acoustic ceiling comprising the steps of:

placing a support over tile supporting members, the support comprising an attachment sheet having rows of apertures in a main body, and tabs separated from the main body on three of four sides by elongated apertures, said tabs having apertures separate from the elongated apertures and the rows of apertures in the main body, two supporting members having flat supporting surfaces that rest on the tile supporting members, and two connecting members that are each joined to the attachment sheet and one of the supporting members, wherein the attachment sheet, the supporting members and the connecting members are integrally joined in a single piece;

placing at least one electrical connection box against the rectangular attachment sheet;

passing at least one attachment member through an aperture in the electrical connection box and one of the apertures in the rectangular attachment sheet;

passing at least one grounding member through an aperture in the electrical connection box and one of the apertures in the rectangular attachment sheet;

inserting at least one electrical fitting through an aperture in the electrical connection box and one of the apertures in the rectangular attachment sheet; and

inserting attachment members through apertures in side members of the support, the side members being joined to opposite sides of the attachment sheet, but to different sides than the connecting members.

2. A support, comprising:

an attachment sheet that is flat and rectangular, having diagonal rows of circular apertures, linear apertures having a plurality of linear segments that are joined to form a single aperture, and apertures adjacent to the linear apertures;

two supporting members that are flat and rectangular, having flat supporting surfaces;

two connecting members that are flat and generally rectangular, each of the connecting members being joined to the attachment sheet and one of the supporting members; and

two side members that are joined to opposite sides of the attachment sheet, but to different sides than the connecting members;

wherein the attachment sheet, the supporting members and the connecting members are integrally joined in a single piece;

wherein the rows of circular apertures comprise rows of larger apertures and rows of smaller apertures, with each row of smaller apertures being adjacent to a row of larger apertures;

wherein the flat supporting surfaces of the two supporting members are coplanar with each other, but are not coplanar with the attachment sheet; and

wherein the linear apertures each have a middle linear segment, and two end linear segments joined at right angles to opposite ends of the middle linear segment, with both end linear segments lying on the same side of the middle linear segment, with the apertures adjacent to the linear apertures lying between the end linear segments.

3. The support according to claim 2 wherein there is at least one aperture in each of the side members.

4. The support according to claim 3 wherein there are recesses in the connecting members adjacent to the side members.

5. A support, comprising:

an attachment sheet having rows of apertures in a main body, and tabs separated from the main body on three of four sides by elongated apertures, said tabs having apertures separate from the elongated apertures and the rows of apertures in the main body;

two supporting members that have flat supporting surfaces;

two connecting members that are each joined to the attachment sheet and one of the supporting members; and

two side members that are joined to opposite sides of the attachment sheet, but to different sides than the connecting members;

wherein the attachment sheet, the supporting members and the connecting members are integrally joined in a single piece.

6. The support according to claim 5, wherein there is at least one aperture in each of the side members.

7. The support according to claim 6 wherein there are recesses in the connecting members adjacent to the side members.