US3316399A - Pot-light fixture - Google Patents

Description

pril 25, i9? T. B. TOTTEN 3,3699

POT-LIGHT FIXTURE Filed Jan. 29, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR THOMAS B. TD1-TEM ATTORNEY5 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 T. B. TOTTEN POTL1GHT FIXTURE INVENTOR ATTORNEYS April 25, 1967 Filed Jan. 29 1962 THOMAS BTOTTEN pri 25, 3967 T. B. TOTTEN 3,316,399

POT-LIGHT FIXTURE Filed Jan. 29, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ill g 5J INVENTOR THQMAS BTOTTEN ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofice Canada Filed Jan. 29, 1962, Ser. No. 169,544 4 Claims. (Cl. 240-78) The invention relates to recessed reflector lighting fixtures generally referred to as pot-light fixtures and more particularly to an adjustable pot-light fixture. The invention further relates to various trims for use with the above and means for fastening the trims to the fixture and to means for mounting a fixture.

Numerous types of pot-lights are well known, however, they generally consist of a fixed housing designed for a particular size light source. It is thus readily apparent that numerous different such fixtures are required to fill a wide variety of different lighting applications. In previously known adjustable fixtures, adjustment of the lamp position consisted of moving a socket plate within a single cylindrical housing. The present development permits the entire top portion of the housing to telescope into the lower portion of the housing thus reducing the overall recessing depth with the lowering of the lamp. This is an important feature since permissible recess depth in modern office buildings is generally quite critical.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide one basic type of pot-light fixture which can be used with various lamp sizes and shapes.

A further object is to provide a versatile recessed light fixture which will replace, with one basic fixture, a large number of separate fixtures of different lamp sizes and wattages formerly manufactured, and thus to avoid costly duplicate stocking and provide an extremely fiexible tool for the lighting designer.

A further object is to provide a fixture housing which will accommodate a large number of diiierent trim types which also may be interchanged at will any time in the life of the installation.

A still further object is to provide a plaster frame for optional use with recessed lighting fixtures.

A still further object is to provide a recessed pot-light fixture trim whereby the trim may be removed without disturbing the fixture.

The above objects are attained and disadvantages overcome by the present invention.

Accordingly the present invention consists of a potlight fixture comprising inner and outer telescopic cylinders adapted to slide within predetermined limits, means to adjustably secure together said cylinders in selected positions and means adapted to mount a light source in said inner cylinder, a portion of each cylinder being open so as to permit light from said source to emit from said xture.

A further feature of the present invention consists of plaster frame comprising a plate having a central aperture therein of greater diameter than the outer cylinder of said lamp, a fiange surrounding said aperture adjacent the edge thereof and a plurality of resiliently biased members secured to said plate and projecting inwardly into said aperture.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational View of a pot-light fixture constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but in part section illustrating the housing locking means and plaster mounting frame;

FIG. 3 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a fixture illustrating a modied mounting means and trim assembly;

3,3 i6,3 99 Patented Apr. 25, l 967 FIG. 3A is a partial sectional view illustrating a recessed fixture secured within an aperture in a plastered wall;

FIG. 4 is a detailed cross-sectional elevational view of the inner cylinder of the fixture having the outlet box omitted therefrom;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a blank prior to being formed into the outer cylinder;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating the fixture and plaster frame cooperating resilient securing means;

FIG. 8 illustrates, in part, a closed trim; and

FIG. 9 illustrates, in part, an open trim.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, shown in FIG- URE l is a pot-light fixture 10 consisting of an outer cylinder 11, an inner cylinder 12 and an outlet box 13, detachably secured to the upper end of the inner cylinder.

The outer cylinder includes opposed opened ends and may |be formed from a fiat blank 11a shown in FIGURE 6. The blank 11a may be stamped, cut or otherwise formed from a piece of sheet metal and includes a pair of parallel longitudinal edges 15, 16 and a pair of parallel opposite end edges 17, 18. A pair of spaced semicircular notches 19 and 20 are formed in the edge 15 to receive electrical cables leading to the outlet box as will become apparent hereinafter. Adjacent the opposite edge 16 and spaced inwardly therefrom are three equally spaced rectangular apertures 21, 22 and 23 adapted to receive spring clips of a plaster securing frame. It will be seen that the apertures, in the formed outer cylinder, are located at to one another. It is obvious that more or less apertures may be provided if desired, however, three securing clips is all that is generally necessary to mount the fixture securely and straight.

A pair of spaced apertures 24 and 25, located inwardly of the edges 15, 16, 17 and 18, are provided for the purpose, as will be seen later, of securing alternate trims t0 the fixture.

A pair of extruded taps 26 and 27 at -a spacing of half the length of the blank are provided adjacent the lower edge 16 for the purpose of locating latch brackets when welding the blank to form the cylinder. The dotted line 28 indicates the amount of overlap to allow for spot welding together the ends 17 and 18 to provide the closed cylinder. Obviously a butt joint" may also jbe provided, if desired, but spot welding such joint is more difiicult. The blank is also provided with an aperture 29 adapted to receive a bolt 30, which as seen in FIGURE 2, extends through a slot 36 in the inner cylinder.

The inner cylinder includes an open lower end and a closed upper end 32. The end 32 includes a central aperture 33 and a pair of spaced sloted apertures 34, 35 for mounting the outlet box directly over the aperture 33. There is an axial lonigtudinal slot 36 in the wall of the cylinder and the slot extends to near proximity of the upper and lower edges of the cylinder. The slot 36 includes transverse extending portions 37, 38 and 39 located at predetermined spaced intervals from the lower edge of the cylinder. In an actual fixture constructed in accordance with the present invention, in a 52%2 outside diameter, 3% deep, inner cylinder, a 2% slot was positioned 1A from the lower edge of the cylinder. As seen in FIG. 4, the portion 37 is located adjacent the lower edge of the cylinder and in the actual sample the portions 38 and 39 were spaced respectively 15/32 and 111/16 therefrom. The inner cylinder may be drawn from 22 gauge steel or other suitable material.

The outlet box 13 of conventional construction, having a plurality of knockouts 40, is detachably secured by screws 41 to the upper end 32.

The inner and outer cyl-inders are telescopically mounted -members 62 may be fastened to the apertured lugs and are axially adjustable and adapted to be fixed at various positions by means of tightening a wing nut 42 onto the bolt 30. The bolt is fixed by the aperture 29, in the outer cylinder, and slides in the slot 36 in the inner cylinder. The portions 37, 38 and 39 of the slot as wellias the upper end of the slot provides four locking positions of one cylinder with respect to the other. The various positions respectively adapt the one fixture to be fitted with various sized lamps.

The fixture may be mounted by various means. In the preferred mounting, a plaster frame-.50 is provided consisting of asubstantially square sheet member 51 having acentral aperture 52 defined vby an outwardly directed ange 53. Three spring clips 54, spaced at positions equal tothe spacing of the apertures 21, 22 and 23, are secured to the plaster frame and project inwardly of the central aperture thereby adapted to be urged against the outer cylinder of the fixture and thus secure the fixture to the plaster frame. The plaster frame may be mounted in a ceiling aperture as by nailing through the frame and/ or mounting bars 55 into the plaster receiving base.

The spring clips 54 consist of an L-shaped member having leg portions 56 and 57 bearing respectively against the face of the plaster frame and the face of the flange 53. The leg portion 56 is secured to the frame by passing underneath a tab 58 struck upwardly from the face of the frame. The other leg 57 terminates in an upwardly outwardly directed portion 59 and an inwardly directed bight portion 60. The mounting of the fixture with respect to the frame is clearly illustrated in FIGURE 7. It will be readily apparent that such mounting permits readily removing the entire fixture, if desired, by inserting a strap iron or other fiat object between the clip portion S9 and the outer surface of the outer cyl-inder.

In the event a plaster frame, as hereinbefore described, is not used for mounting the fixture, the lower edge of the outer cylinder maybe provided with a pair of outwardly directed apertured lugs 61. In the event such lugs arev present when using a plaster frame, they may bear against the outer edge of the flange of the plaster frame.

A plurality of integrally formed upwardly directed latch 61 for the purpose of detachably fastening various trims to the fixture. The members 62 include an upper slotted flange 63 into which resilient clips may readily slide.

FIGURE 3 illustrates mounting of the fixture in a wooden wall 64 and FIGURE 3A illustrates mounting the recessed lighting fixture within an aperture in a plastered wall 63. The mounting on the plaster consists of a mounting frame 65 having a fiange bearing upon the upper surface of the plaster and including a downwardly projecting portion 66. A plurality of upwardly directed latch members 67 are secured to the outer cylinder. The outer cylinder bears against resilient clips secured to the mounting frame as was previously described with respect to FIG- URE 7. The latch member 67 extends into the inner portion of the fixture and is offsetinwardly at 68 to provide a space between the outer cylinder and the latch member for the inner cylinder to slide. An annular gasket 69 bears against the undersurface of the plaster wall and is held in place by an annular trim piece 70 secured as by resilient clips 71 extending into slots into the latch member 67. The retained trim suspends therefrom a drop lens 72 or other suitable lens or diffuser.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, the mounting in the wooden wall is accomplished by securing a plurality of latch members 73 to the lower face of the wall. Such members are similar to the previously described members 67. The members 73 extend into the fixture and include a slot for retaining resilient clips therein. The members 73 are spaced from the wall and the lower edge of the outer cylinder rests upon a portion of the member thus supporting the fixture.

In FIGURE 8 is illustrated a closed trim 80 consisting of a-l face portion 81, an upwardly directed fiange 82 and a resilient securing clip 83. The clips S3 are adapted to slide into the slots of the latch members 62, 67 and 73 and by virtue of a shoulder 84 are retained therein thus securing the trim.

Alternatively a trim may be secured by a spring 85, shown in FIGURE 9, secured at one end to a flange 86 of a trim and secured at the other end in the aperture 24 or 25 in the outer cylinder. It will be noted that the spring will lie on the outside of the cylinder and thus does not interfere with the telescopic movement of the cylindersA From the foregoing it may be seen that a recessed xture has been provided consisting ofY a pair of telescopic bodies adapted to be fixed at various positions thus accommodating various sizes of lamps. Also provided is a mounting fixture permitting ready removal of the entire assembly if desired.

The fixture may be secured'in a suitable opening as hereinbefore described and connected to the electrical system by the standard outlet box. The inner cylinder may be secured at one of the four described fixed positions depending upon its desired use. It is readily apparent that the thus telescoped inner and outer cylinders vary the overall depth of the unit such that -it may be used in restricted depth openings.

I claim:

1. A recessed lighting fixture comprising an openended shell member having an outwardly extending peripheral fiange at one end thereon, a second shell member having a closed top and an open bottom in telescoping slidable engagement with the open-ended shell member, lamp means downwardly projecting from the closed top within the interior of said second shell member, means to mount the open-ended shell member within a ceiling, face trim means resiliently coupled to said open-ended shell member and masking the lower periphery thereof, and means to lock said shell members together so that the spacing of said lamp means from the flange of the open-ended shell is adjustable whereby the overall depth of the fixture can be varied.

2. A fixture as defined in claim 1 wherein the adjustable locking means comprises an axial slot in the open-ended member, said slot having transverse notch portions at a plurality of predetermined locations and a pin projecting from the second member and adapted to slide into said notches.

3. A fixture as defined in claim 1 wherein the resilient coupling means for the face trim comprises clip members secured to said face trim and projecting into the lower periphery of the open-ended shell member.

4. A recessed lighting fixture comprising an open-ended cylindrical shell member having an outwardly extending peripheral Iflange at one end thereon, a second cylindrical shell member having a closed top and an open bottom in telescoping slidable engagement with the open-ended shell member, lamp means including an outlet box downwardly projecting from the closed top within the interior of said second shell member, means to mount the opened-ended shell member within a ceiling, face trim means resiliently coupled to said open-ended shell member and masking the lower periphery thereof, and means to lock said shell members together so that the spacing of said lamp means from the flange of the open-ended shell is adjustable whereby the overall depth of the fixture can be varied, the axial length of open-ended cylindrical member being greater than that of the second cylindrical member whereby said outlet box is partially confined within the openended member when the fixture is in fully retracted position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 750,632 1/1904 Fisher. 932,834 8/1909 Torrey 24U-78 1,519,071 l2/l924 Spencer 24U- 78 (ther references on following page)- 6 OTHER REFERENCES 12/ 1952 Harmon 220-8 Omega Light-ing Inc. publication, Model H843, pub- 4/1956 Schockett 240-78 lished in 1960, 2 pages. 8/ 19611 Chan 240%78 FOREIGN PATENTS 5 NORTON ANSHER, Primmy Examiner.

C. P. CHANDLER, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A RECESSED LIGHTING FIXTURE COMPRISING AN OPENENDED SHELL MEMBER HAVING AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PERIPHERAL FLANGE AT ONE END THEREON, A SECOND SHELL MEMBER HAVING A CLOSED TOP AND AN OPEN BOTTOM IN TELESCOPING SLIDABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OPEN-ENDED SHELL MEMBER, LAMP MEANS DOWNWARDLY PROJECTING FROM THE CLOSED TOP WITHIN THE INTERIOR OF SAID SECOND SHELL MEMBER, MEANS TO MOUNT THE OPEN-ENDED SHELL MEMBER WITHIN A CEILING, FACE TRIM MEANS RESILIENTLY COUPLED TO SAID OPEN-ENDED SHELL MEMBER AND MASKING THE LOWER PERIPHERY THEREOF, AND MEANS TO LOCK SAID SHELL MEMBERS TOGETHER SO THAT THE SPACING OF SAID LAMP MEANS FROM THE FLANGE OF THE OPEN-ENDED SHELL IS ADJUSTABLE WHEREBY THE OVERALL DEPTH OF THE FIXTURE CAN BE VARIED.

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