Fluorescent tube box suspension system and means

Claim 2

In a system suspending a fluorescent tube box, a support member, a spring clip, a fluorescent tube box suspended by said spring clip from said support member, said spring clip comprising a central web and a pair of arms embracing said box transverse of its length, each of said arms terminating in a free and extending beyond said box and into engagement with said support member, a pair of cooperating slots defined by said support member for receiving said free ends, said free ends and said support member adjacent said slots defining means for keying said ends and support member to each other, said spring clip biasing said free ends into said keying engagement to prevent removal of said spring clip from said support member.

Claim 3

In the system of claim 1 in which said keying means further comprises means adjacent said cooperating slots for limiting movement of said free ends with respect to said support member.

Claim 4

In the system of claim 1 in which there is provided a box cover embracing and covering an open side of said box and a portion of said spring clip including said central web.

Claim 5

In a support system for fluorescent tube boxes and the like, a support member, a spring clip, said spring clip comprising a web terminating in spaced-apart arms, said web and said arms forming a section for embracing a fluorescent tube box transversely of its length, each of said arms terminating in a free end spaced beyond an embraced fluorescent tube box, said support member having a bottom wall means defining a pair of cooperating slots for receiving said free ends, said free ends and said support member defining means for interlocking said free ends and said support member when said free ends are received in said slots, and means for urging said interlocking means into interlocking engagement whereby said clip member is restrained from removal from said support member, said urging means comprising spring force for biasing said free ends into said interlocking engagement, said slots being transverse to the length of said support member, and said interlocking means comprising longitudinal slot means in said bottom wall lengthwise of said support member and intersecting said slots and notch means in said free ends for slidable reception of said support member adjacent said longitudinal slot means, said support member further having sidewalls, said interlocking means further comprising stop means on said sidewalls for engagement with said free ends to limit movement of said free ends within said support member.

Claim 6

In a support system for fluorescent tube boxes and the like, a support member, a spring clip, said spring clip comprising a web terminating in spaced-apart arms, said web and said arms forming a section for embracing a fluorescent tube box transversely of its length, each of said arms terminating in a free end spaced beyond an embraced fluorescent tube box, said support member having a bottom wall means defining a pair of cooperating slots for receiving said free ends, said free ends and said support member defining means for interlocking said free ends and said support member when said free ends are received in said slots, and means for urging said interlocking means into interlocking engagement whereby said clip member is restrained from removal from said support member, said urging means comprising spring force for biasing said free ends into said interlocking engagement, said slots being transverse to the length of said support member, and said interlocking means comprising longitudinal slot means in said bottom wall lengthwise of said support member and intersecting said slots and notch means in said free ends for slidable reception of said support member adjacent said longitudinal slot means, said support member further having sidewalls, said interlocking means further comprising stop means on said sidewalls for engagement with said free ends to limit movement of said free ends within said support member.

Claim 7

In a support system for fluorescent tube boxes and the like, a support member, a spring clip, said spring clip comprising a web terminating in spaced apart arms, said web and said arms forming a section for embracing a fluorescent tube box transversely of its length, each of said arms terminating in a free end spaced beyond an embraced fluorescent tube box, said support member defining a pair of cooperating slots for receiving said free ends, said free ends and said support member defining means for interlocking said free ends and said support member when said free ends are received in said slots, and means for urging said interloCking means into interlocking engagement whereby said clip member is restrained from removal from said support member, said urging means comprising spring force for biasing said free ends into interlocking engagement, said interlocking means comprising notch means defined by said free ends, and slot means defined by said support member intersecting said slots, said support member slot means receiving said free end and said free end notch means receiving said support member to interlock said free ends and said support member, said support member comprising an elongate support and an adapter removably secured thereto, said adapter defining said slots and said slot means.

Claim 8

In a support system for fluorescent tube boxes and the like, a support member, a spring clip, said spring clip comprising a web terminating in spaced apart arms, said web and said arms forming a section for embracing a fluorescent tube box transversely of its length, each of said arms terminating in a free end spaced beyond an embraced fluorescent tube box, said support member defining a pair of cooperating slots for receiving said free ends, said free ends and said support member defining means for interlocking said free ends and said support member when said free ends are received in said slots, and means for urging said interloCking means into interlocking engagement whereby said clip member is restrained from removal from said support member, said urging means comprising spring force for biasing said free ends into interlocking engagement, said interlocking means comprising notch means defined by said free ends, and slot means defined by said support member intersecting said slots, said support member slot means receiving said free end and said free end notch means receiving said support member to interlock said free ends and said support member, said support member comprising an elongate support and an adapter removably secured thereto, said adapter defining said slots and said slot means.

Claim 9

In the support system of claim 5 in which said slot means defined by said support member comprises a T-leg intersecting each of said cooperating slots, with the T-legs extending oppositely from each other, and the interlocking means defined by said free ends further comprise web means flanked by said notch means on said free ends.

Claim 10

In a support system for fluorescent tube boxes and the like, a support member, a spring clip member, said spring clip member comprising a web terminating in spaced apart arms, said web and said arms forming a section for embracing a fluorescent tube box transversely of its length, each of said arms terminating in a free end spaced beyond an embraced fluorescent tube box, said support member defining a pair of cooperating slots for receiving said free ends, free ends and said support member defining means for interlocking said free ends and said support member when said free ends are received in said slots, and means for urging said interlocking means into interlocking engagement whereby said clip member is restrained from removal from said support member, said urging means comprising spring force for biasing said free ends into interlocking engagement, said spring clip member being generally U-shaped and said arms being positioned to be urged inwardly against said spring force, said pair of slots being spaced apart a distance less than the rest position of the free ends whereby the ends are urged toward each other to condition them for entry into said pair of slots, and whereby when the force urging said ends toward each other is relieved the ends spring into interlocking engagement with said support, said interlocking means further comprising stop means on said support for said arm ends, said stop means being more widely spaced than said slots to restrain unrestricted movement of said arm ends on said support.

Claim 11

In a support system for fluorescent tube boxes and the like, a support member, a spring clip member, said spring clip member comprising a web terminating in spaced apart arms, said web and said arms forming a section for embracing a fluorescent tube box transversely of its length, each of said arms terminating in a free end spaced beyond an embraced fluorescent tube box, said support member defining a pair of cooperating slots for receiving said free ends, free ends and said support member defining means for interlocking said free ends and said support member when said free ends are received in said slots, and means for urging said interlocking means into interlocking engagement whereby said clip member is restrained from removal from said support member, said urging means comprising spring force for biasing said free ends into interlocking engagement, said spring clip member being generally U-shaped and said arms being positioned to be urged inwardly against said spring force, said pair of slots being spaced apart a distance less than the rest position of the free ends whereby the ends are urged toward each other to condition them for entry into said pair of slots, and whereby when the force urging said ends toward each other is relieved the ends spring into interlocking engagement with said support, said interlocking means further comprising stop means on said support for said arm ends, said stop means being more widely spaced than said slots to restrain unrestricted movement of said arm ends on said support.