Trim retention spring and method for recessed lighting fixtures
First Claim
1. A lighting fixture comprising:
- a pan having an opening and being adapted for mating with a ceiling panel;
a trim member received in said opening; and
a spring clip having first and second legs, each leg having a first end portion coupled to said trim member and a second end joined together at an apex, said end portions of said spring clip extending inwardly with respect to each other and at an incline with respect to a plane of said first and second legs, said end portions being coupled to said trim member to bias said apex of said spring clip in a downward direction with respect to said pan whereby said apex engages a top surface of said pan to couple said trim member to said pan.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A lighting fixture is provided that includes a ceiling pan having an opening with a trim received therein. The trim includes a ring with a spring clip attached thereto. The spring clip includes first and second legs having a first end joined at an apex and second free end opposite the first end. The second free ends are fixed to the trim to bias the spring clip in a downward direction to engage a top surface of the ceiling pan and bias the trim in an upward direction toward the ceiling pan. In one embodiment, the ends of the spring clip are fixed to the trim by a screw. In another embodiment, the spring clip is a torsion spring engaging the trim and includes first and second legs with a portion extending therefrom and received in an aperture in the trim. The ends are oriented at an inclined angle with respect to the legs such that when the legs are attached to the trim, the legs are biased in a downward direction with respect to the ceiling pan. The torsion spring clip can be retrofit to the trim ring.
50 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A lighting fixture comprising:
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a pan having an opening and being adapted for mating with a ceiling panel; a trim member received in said opening; and a spring clip having first and second legs, each leg having a first end portion coupled to said trim member and a second end joined together at an apex, said end portions of said spring clip extending inwardly with respect to each other and at an incline with respect to a plane of said first and second legs, said end portions being coupled to said trim member to bias said apex of said spring clip in a downward direction with respect to said pan whereby said apex engages a top surface of said pan to couple said trim member to said pan. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A lighting fixture comprising:
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a pan having a top surface and an opening with a downwardly extending collar surrounding said opening for directing light to a target area; a trim ring received in said collar, said trim ring having an annular side wall complementing said collar; a torsion spring clip coupled to said side wall, said spring clip having first and second legs coupled together at a first end to form an apex and a second end portion extending from a second end of said first and second legs, respectively, wherein said end portions are oriented at an inclined angle with respect to a plane of said first and second legs in a normal rest position and extend inwardly with respect to said legs and at an inclined angle with respect to each other, said end portions being coupled to said trim ring under tension to form a downward biasing force to said first and second legs to engage said top surface of said pan to retain said trim ring in said opening. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A lighting fixture comprising:
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a pan having a top surface, a bottom surface and an opening extending between said top surface and bottom surface, said pan adapted for mating with a ceiling panel and for supporting a lighting assembly; a trim member having a side wall with a dimension for being received in said opening in said pan and an outwardly extending flange at a bottom edge of said side wall, said side wall having a plurality of supports having an axial passage extending through said side wall; and at least two spring members coupled to said supports of said trim member for coupling said trim member to said pan; each said spring member having a first leg with a first end portion and a second leg having a first end portion, said first and second legs having a second end joined together at an apex, said end portions extending inwardly with respect to each other and at an incline with respect to a plane of said first and second legs, each said end portion being received in a respective axial bore under tension to lie in a plane substantially perpendicular to said side wall of said trim ring to form a biasing force to bias said legs in a downward direction whereby said second ends engage said top surface of said pan and couple said trim member to said pan. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification