Recessed lighting fixture for two light sizes

• US 5,746,507 A
• Filed: 01/06/1997
• Issued: 05/05/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Genlyte Thomas Group LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Thomas Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Kiem T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAM, NHAT
• Application Number:
  US08/779,328
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 362/364, 362/365, 362/366, 362/147, 362/453, 362/454
• US Class Current: 362/365
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/04 Recessed bases

Abstract

A frame for a recessed light fixture having a opening for mounting a light reflector of a first size. A second opening of a smaller size is defined within the first opening so that a light reflector of the smaller size is mountable at the second opening should a smaller reflector be desired.

Claims

1. A recessed light frame for mounting a light and reflector at an opening in a ceiling above a plane of the ceiling, comprising:

a generally planar member defining an opening of a first size for the light and reflector;

reflector mounting means adjacent the opening in said generally planar member on which is mountable;

struts extending inwardly of the opening, said struts being selectively removable;

means on said struts defining an opening of a second size, wherein said second size is smaller than said first size and said opening of said second size is within said opening of said first size, said opening of said second size being selectively removable from within said opening of said first size by removal of said struts.

2. A recessed light frame as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

means for mounting a ballast bracket on said generally planar member including means defining a bracket receiving channel and a clip resiliently extendable into a clip receiving opening in the ballast bracket to hold the ballast bracket on said generally planar member.

3. A recessed light frame as claimed in claim 2, wherein two of said means for mounting the ballast bracket are provided on an edge of said generally planar member for receiving two of the ballast brackets so that a ballast mounted on the ballast brackets is supported at said edge.

4. A recessed light frame as claimed in claim 3, wherein said two of said means for mounting the ballast bracket are at a first edge of said generally planar member and two further means for mounting the ballast bracket are at a second edge opposite said first edge so that a ballast is selectively mountable at said first edge and alternately at said second edge.

5. A recessed light frame as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

support bracket mounting portions on said generally planar member on opposite sides of the opening, said support bracket mounting portions adapted for connection to a support bracket to support said generally planar member above a plane of a ceiling.

6. A recessed light fixture as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a first lip extending perpendicularly relative to a plane of said generally planar member at the opening of the first size so that said lip extends into an opening corresponding to the first size in the ceiling; and

a second lip extending perpendicularly relative to a plane of said generally planar member at the opening of the second size so that said lip extends into an opening corresponding to the second size in the ceiling.

7. A recessed light fixture as claimed in claim 6, wherein said second lip extends for a greater distance from the plane of said generally planar member than said first lip for extending through an opening in a ceiling panel while said first lip is disposed above the ceiling panel.