Fixture housing using dog ears

• US 9,366,380 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2014
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward Haase, Jeremy Burkhardt, Ken Humphreys, Tyler Humphreys
• Original Assignee: Ken Humphreys
• Inventors: Humphreys, Tyler, Burkhardt, Jeremy, Humphreys, Ken, Haase, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): WENDELL, MARK R
• Application Number:
  US14/511,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20160102803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 248/27.3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/12 using sliding jaws
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/027 Ceiling supports
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/026 Supports for loudspeaker casings
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/021 Transducers or their casings adapted for mounting in or to a wall or ceiling

Abstract

Improvements in a fixture housing with dog ears is disclosed that can be installed from one side of a wall or ceiling. This increases the ability of the installer to place the fixture in a desired location as opposed to using a location that provides the best access on stud or joists. Once the ideal location is identified the installer uses a saw to cut an opening in the desired location. The housing is pushed into the opening for installation without requiring access to the back of the wall, ceiling or floor. The fixture housing uses a plurality of spring loaded dogs that are operated from the visible wall or ceiling surface. It is also possible for the fixture to be removed by lifting the locking tabs and sliding securing ears where the entire fixture can then be pulled back through the open hole.

Claims

1. A fixture housing with dog ears comprising:

a planar supporting surface;

said planar supporting surface having an opening;

said planar supporting surface having a plurality of tubes extending perpendicular to said planar supporting surface on a first side of said planar supporting surface;

each of said plurality of tubes having a central shaft having a square cross-section, a spring and a slider;

said slider having a square central opening whereby said slide is keyed to said central shaft whereby rotation of said central shaft rotates said slider;

said slider has an ear that extends outside of said tube;

said tube has a linear slot a first radial slot that elevates said ear above said planar supporting surface and at least a second radial slot between said first radial slot and said planar supporting surface, said radial slots both being parallel to said planar supporting surface to allow said ear to move and rotate within said linear slot and said at least two radial slots;

said spring is arranged within said tube and around said central shaft to exhort force on said slider towards said planar supporting surface whereby said ear is adapted to clamp a wall or ceiling between said planar supporting surface and said ear, and

when said slider is extended to said supporting surface, said central shaft is rotatable within said second radial slot to move said ear off of said wall or said ceiling whereby allowing removal of said fixture housing.

2. The fixture with dog ears according to claim 1 wherein said ears are configured to extend between a retained position and an expanded position.

3. The fixture with dog ears according to claim 1 wherein said at least two radial slots have a first slot that retains said ear in an elevated position above said planar supporting surface.

4. The fixture housing with dog ears according to claim 3 wherein said at least two radial slots have a second slot that allows said ear to exist between said planar supporting surface and said first slot.

5. The fixture with dog ears according to claim 1 wherein there are at least three sets of tubes, central shafts, sliders and springs.

6. The fixture with dog ears according to claim 1 wherein said planar supporting surface is secured on a ceiling or wall with clamping force between said planar supporting surface and said ear.

7. The fixture with dog ears according to claim 1 wherein said central shaft has a first end with a coin slotted head and clearance around said coin slotted head whereby allowing an installer to use a coin to freely rotate said central shaft to install and remove said fixture housing.

8. The fixture with dog ears according to claim 7 wherein said slotted head rotates said slider.

9. The fixture with dog ears according to claim 8 wherein said rotation dislodges said slider from said a first of said at least two radial slots.

10. The fixture with dog ears according to claim 1 wherein said planar supporting surface has a raised lip that centers said planar supporting surface in a hole.

11. A fixture housing with dog ears comprising:

a planar supporting surface;

said planar supporting surface having an opening;

said planar supporting surface having a plurality of tubes extending perpendicular to said planar supporting surface on a first side of said planar supporting surface;

each of said plurality of tubes having a threaded central shaft and a slider;

said slider is keyed to each said respective tube whereby rotation of said threaded central shaft rotates said slider;

said slider has an ear that extends outside of said tube;

said tube is movable within said planar supporting surface with said slider and said threaded central shaft;

said tube has a linear slot whereby said ear rotates and translates within said linear slots;

rotation of said threaded central tube in a first direction rotates said slider to a first stop and further rotation of said threaded central shaft translates said slider on said threaded central shaft;

an end of said ear is rotatable over and above said planar supporting surface whereby said ear is adapted to clamp a wall or ceiling between said planar supporting surface and said ear, and

when said slider is extended to said supporting surface, said central shaft is rotatable in a second direction, in said second direction of rotation, said ear translates to unclamp said ear off of said wall or said ceiling, and further rotation of said threaded central tube in said second direction rotates said ear clear of said wall or ceiling, whereby allowing removal of said fixture housing.

12. The fixture with dog ears according to claim 11 wherein rotating said threaded central shaft in a first direction rotates said ear outside of said planar supporting surface.

13. The fixture with dog ears according to claim 11 wherein rotating said central shaft in said first direction further translates said ear towards said planar supporting surface.

14. The fixture with dog ears according to claim 13 wherein rotating said central shaft is said first direction sandwiches a wall or ceiling between said ear towards said planar supporting surface.

15. The fixture with dog ears according to claim 11 wherein rotating said threaded central shaft in a second direction rotates said ear towards a center of said planar supporting surface.

16. The fixture with dog ears according to claim 15 wherein rotating said central shaft in said second direction further translates said ear away said planar supporting surface.

17. The fixture with dog ears according to claim 16 wherein rotating said central shaft is said second direction releases said ear from a wall or ceiling so said fixture is removable from said wall or ceiling.

18. The fixture with dog ears according to claim 11 wherein there are at least three tubes, threaded central shafts and sliders.

19. The fixture with dog ears according to claim 11 wherein said planar supporting surface has a raised lip that centers said planar supporting surface in a hole in a wall or ceiling.