US3556452A - Lighting fixture clamping device - Google Patents

Abstract

A two-section clamping device useful for mounting lighting fixtures from suspended T-bar structure, the said clamping device being constructed in such a manner so as to lend ease of installation, and also furnish stabilizing means to the mounted lighting fixture.

Description

United States Patent Inventors William W. Ramsey 6723 S. 72nd East Ave., 74033; Robert Dale Flora, 745 S. 85th East Ave.,

Tulsa, Okla. 74012 AppL No. 829,194 Filed June 2, 1969 Patented Jan. 19, 1971 LIGHTING FIXTURE CLAMPING DEVICE 1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 248/228, 52/28, 52/484 Int. Cl F2ls 1/02 Field of Search 248/72,

214, 215, 226.4, 228, 300, 316.4, 317, 343; 52/28, 484; 240/78CF, 85A, 85E

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,944,781 7/1960 Masters 248/228 2,954,200 9/1960 Gannon et a1. 248/228 2,961,269 11/1960 Renfroe 248/228 Primary Examiner-Roy D. Frazier Assistant Examiner-William H, Schultz AttqrneyR. E. Zimmerman ABSTRACT: A twosection clamping device useful for mounting lighting fixtures from suspended T-bar structure, the said clamping device being constructed in such a manner so as to lend ease of installation, and also furnish stabilizing means to the mounted lighting fixture.

PATENTEUJANISIBYI 3,556,452

INVENTORS. 9 WILLIAM W RAMSEY ROBERT DALE FLORA ATTORNEY LIGHTING FIXTURE CLAMPING DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The lighting industry has had a need for stabilizing means to mount commercial lighting fixtures from suspended T-bars. In the past, the means used for mounting these commercial lighting fixtures from suspended T-bars has required tedious installation and has only furnished poor'lighting fixture stability. We have invented a two-section clamping device with SUMMARY OF INVENTION The object of this invention is to furnish a clamping device to mount commercial lighting fixtures easily on suspended T- bar construction found in commercial lighting installations.

Another object of this invention is to furnish stabilizing means for mounted commercial lighting fixtures.

Still another object of this invention is to 'fumish a clamping device with features for quick and easy installation of commercial lighting fixtures.

For a complete understanding of the nature and objects of this invention, reference should be made to the drawings and the detailed description which follows.

FIG. I is an isometric drawing portraying the two-section clamping device.

FIG. 2 illustrates the two-section clamping device as a connector between a T-bar and a commercial lighting fixture.

Reference is made to FIG. I which portrays the features of construction of the lighting fixture clamping device. The type of material used is not critical, the only requirement being that the clamping device be fabricated from material having sufficient strength to support the lighting fixtures on the T-bars. For example, materials suitable for use are steel alloyed aluminum or plastics which have sufiicient strength to support the particular lighting fixture being mounted.

The structure of the clamping device is described as consisting of a pair ofcomplimentary members 1 and 2, FIG. I, placed in juxtaposition to each other. The members are formed from suitable flat surface material such as has been previously described shaped so that each of the two members I and 2, FIG. I, are assembled as shown in FIG. I. The upper extremities of the surfaces of the complimentary members I and 2, FIG. I, are bent inwardly at a convenient angle to form 5 form lowerparallel surfaces 4 and 5, FIG. 1. A screw 3, FIG.

I, is positioned to pass through the lower parallel surface of one of the members into a tapped hole in the lower parallel surface of the second member. The reshaped lower parallel surfaces of both members are bent outwardly to form approximate right angles in such a manner so that each of thesurfaces 6 and 7, FIG. 1, formed rest against the upper flat surface of thelighting fixture 9, FIG. 2. A wingnut and screw assembly I0, FIG. 1, are spot welded to one of the members of the clamping device.

I Reference is made to FIG. 2 which shows the clamping device in a connecting position between the T-bar and the top surface of a commercial lighting fixture. To install the clamping device, place clamping members I and 2, FIG. I, so that the lower side of the upper surfaces of the clamping device rest on the upper surface of the T-bar 8, FIG. 2. When the clamping device is in this position, screw 3 FIG. 1, is tightened so that the clamping device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is tightly secured to the T-bar. Thelighting fixture 9, FIG. 2, is connected to the clamping device and held in position by the screw and wingnut,assembl 10, .FIG. 1. The number of clamping devices required wil depend on the size of the commercial lighting fixture; usually only two are required to give stability to the fixture.

We claim:

I. A clamping device consisting of two complimentary members:

a. the upper section of each of the surfaces of the said complimentary members being bent inwardly to form first and second angles;

b. the said surfaces in the lower extremities of the said complimentary members each being bent inwardly toward each other and reshaped to form approximate parallel surfaces in which a connecting means is inserted;

c. the said reshaped approximate parallel surfaces, each being bent outwardly to form a third and founh angle;

d. the said complimentary members being connected together by the said connecting means;

e. the said connecting means passing through one member into a tapped hole of a second member;

f. the said complimentary members being positioned together so that the said first and second angle face each other and the said third and fourth angle face outwardly from each other; and

g. support means extending from one of said members.

Claims (1)

1. A clamping device consisting of two complimentary members: a. the upper section of each of the surfaces of the said complimentary members being bent inwardly to form first and second angles; and b. the said surfaces in the lower extremities of the said complimentary members each being bent inwardly toward each other and reshaped to form approximate parallel surfaces in which a connecting means is inserted; c. the said reshaped approximate parallel surfaces, each being bent outwardly to form a third and fourth angle; d. the said complimentary members being connected together by the said connecting means; e. the said connecting means passing through one member into a tapped hole of a second member; f. the said complimentary members being positioned together so that the said first and second angle face each other and the said third and fourth angle face outwardly from each other; and g. support means extending from one of said members.

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