Diffuser mounting arrangement for lighting fixtures

Claim 2

A lighting fixture comprising a light housing having an open end, a diffuser unit for closing said open end, and a pair of opposed diffuser support mechanisms secured to the interior wall of said housing adjacent the open end thereof, said support mechanism secured to said diffuser unit and adapted to retentitively selectively support same in a normal position in closing relation to the open end of said housing and an actuated position spaced from the open end of said housing, said support mechanisms each including a guide member secured longitudinally of said interior wall of said housing adjacent said open end thereof, a slide plate mounted for slidable translation longitudinally of said guide member between normal retracted and actuated extended positions thereof respectively when said slide plate is in said retracted and extended positions, spring loading means coupled between said slide plate and said guide member for resiliently urging said slide plate to said retracted position, releasable retention means carried by said slide plate and by said guide member for cooperative positive locking engagement when said slide plate is in said extended position, said retention means comprising a resilient latch carried by said slide plate and a resilient guide cam secured to said guide member and resiliently engaging said plate, said cam having a notch, said cam operable to guide said latch into locking engagement with said notch in response to translation of said plate to said extended position and to guide said latch to a position of disengagement from said notch in response to further translation of said plate in a direction away from said retracted position.

Claim 3

A lighting fixture according to claim 1, further defined by said latch having a first end secured to said plate in outwardly spaced relation to the outer surface thereof and a second end formed with a hook portion resiliently urged inwardly into engagement with said outer surface of said plate, and said guide cam having a platform with said notch formed therein secured to said guide member in outwardly spaced parallel relation to said outer surface of said plate and a resilient tongue inwardly inclined from said platform towards said latch into engagement with said outer surface of said plate, said tongue engageable by said hook portion to guide same into engagement with said notch.

Claim 4

A lighting fixture according to claim 2, further defined by said latch comprising an elongated rectangular resilient leaf having a first end secured to said plate in outwardly spaced relation to said outer surface thereof and a second end with said hook portion projecting laterally therefrom, said leaf inwardly inclined from the first end thereof to resiliently engage said hook portion with said outer surface of said plate, said hook portion being of V-shaped configuration and reentrantly inwardly directed towards said plate and longitudinally towards said first end of said leaf.

Claim 5

A lighting fixture according to claim 3, further defined by said notch having a width less than the reentrant longitudinal extent of said hook portion.

Claim 6

A lighting fixture comprising a light housing having an open end, a diffuser unit for closing said open end, and a pair of opposed diffuser support mechanisms secured to the interior wall of said housing adjacent the open end thereof, said support mechanisms secured to said diffuser unit and adapted to retentitively selectively support same in a normal position in closing relation to the open end of said housing and an actuated position spaced from the open end of said housing, said support mechanism each including a guide member secured longitudinally of said interior wall of said housing adjacent said open end thereof, a slide plate mounted for slidable translation longitudinally of said guide member between normal retracted and actuated extended positions relative thereto, said slide plate secured to said diffuser unit to support same in said normal and actuated positions thereof respectively when said slide plate is in said retracted and extended positions, spring loading means coupled between said slide plate and said guide member for resiliently urging said slide plate to said retracted position, releasable retention means carried by said slide plate and by said guide member for cooperative positive locking engagement when said slide plate is in said extended position, said guide member being of generally channel shaped configuration including a rectangular web having first and second parallel spaced side legs projecting right angularly from the opposite longitudinal sides thereof, said first side leg having a dimension in a direction normal to said web substantially greater than that of said second side leg, said side legs having right-angularly inwardly turned flanges in parallel spaced relation to said web, said side legs and flanges defining with said web a pair of longitudinally extending guide channels, and said slide plate being of rectangular configuration substantially conformed to said web and having right-angularly projecting rails along the opposite longitudinal sides thereof slidably engaging said guide channels.

Claim 7

A lighting fixture comprising a light housing having an open end, a diffuser unit for closing said open end, and a pair of opposed diffuser support mechanisms secured to the interior wall of said housing adjacent the open end thereof, said support mechanisms secured to said diffuser unit and adapted to retentitively selectively support same in a normal position in closing relation to the open end of said housing and an actuated position spaced from the open end of said housing, said support mechanism each including a guide member secured longitudinally of said interior wall of said housing adjacent said open end thereof, a slide plate mounted for slidable translation longitudinally of said guide member between normal retracted and actuated extended positions relative thereto, said slide plate secured to said diffuser unit to support same in said normal and actuated positions thereof respectively when said slide plate is in said retracted and extended positions, spring loading means coupled between said slide plate and said guide member for resiliently urging said slide plate to said retracted position, releasable retention means carried by said slide plate and by said guide member for cooperative positive locking engagement when said slide plate is in said extended position, said guide member being of generally channel shaped configuration including a rectangular web having first and second parallel spaced side legs projecting right angularly from the opposite longitudinal sides thereof, said first side leg having a dimension in a direction normal to said web substantially greater than that of said second side leg, said side legs having right-angularly inwardly turned flanges in parallel spaced relation to said web, said side legs and flanges defining with said web a pair of longitudinally extending guide channels, and said slide plate being of rectangular configuration substantially conformed to said web and having right-angularly projecting rails along the opposite longitudinal sides thereof slidably engaging said guide channels.

Claim 8

A lighting fixture according to claim 5, further defined by said releasable retention means comprising a latch including an elongated rectangular resilient leaf having a first end secured to the distal end of said plate relative to said diffuser unit in outwardly spaced relation to the outer surface of said plate and a hook portion projecting laterally from the second end of said leaf, said leaf inwardly inclined from the first end thereof to resiliently engage said hook portion with said outer surface of said plate, said hook portion being of V-shaped coNfiguration and reentrantly inwardly directed towards said plate and longitudinally towards said first end of said leaf, and a resilient guide cam having a rectangular platform projecting right-angularly inward from said first side leg of said guide member in parallel spaced relation to said web at the proximal end thereof relative to said diffuser unit, said platform having a notch therein, said cam having a resilient tongue inwardly inclined from said platform towards said latch into engagement with said outer surface of said plate, said tongue engageable by said hook portion to guide same into engagement with said notch.

Claim 9

A lighting fixture according to claim 6, further defined by said notch having a width less than the reentrant longitudinal extend of said hook portion.

Claim 10

A lighting fixture according to claim 7, further defined by said spring loading means comprising a tab projecting from said second side leg of said guide member at the distal end thereof relative to said diffuser unit, a second tab projecting from the corresponding rail of said slide plate at the proximal end thereof relative to said diffuser unit, and a spring secured between said first and second tabs.