US3612461A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light fixture supporting clip
Assignee: MINERALLAC ELECTRIC Co
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Filing: 1970-04-20
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Granted: 1971-10-12
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Expires: 1990-04-20
Abstract
Abstract The clip includes first and second metal strip sections which are formed by bending a metal strip about a centrally located fold line and which are formed with a configuration to closely fit about opposite sides of an inverted T-shaped grid member of a false ceiling supporting structure in a building structure. The lower end portions of the strip sections extend laterally below the grid member in overlapping relationship to each other with one end portion having a square opening and the other end portion having a slot aligned with the opening. A stud having a head and a shank is received in the opening with the head disposed between one of the end portions and the bottom side of the grid member and with the shank extending through the opening and the slot. The upper end portion of each of the strip sections has a hole therein and the holes register with each other to form an aperture through which a drop wire is received for securing one end of the wire to the clip. The other end of the drop wire is secured to the building structure so that a light fixture, mounted by a threaded fastener to the stud extending from the clip, is supported by the building structure solely through the clip and drop wire and does not bear upon or load the grid member.
Inventors
- 👤 William R Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:16
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B9/00; E04B9/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A clip for use with a ceiling grid member of a false ceiling supporting structure for supporting a light fixture and/or a a portion of said grid member, said clip having an upper end and a lower end and including an upper section having connecting means for connecting a drop wire of said supporting structure to said clip, an intermediate section, and a lower section which is adapted to extend around part of said grid member and which includes at least one laterally extending portion positioned below said grid member, and said laterally extending portion having an opening therein which is adapted to receive a fastening means for securing a light fixture to said clip.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
A clip for use with a ceiling grid member of a false ceiling supporting structure for supporting a light fixture and/or a a portion of said grid member, said clip having an upper end and a lower end and including an upper section having connecting means for connecting a drop wire of said supporting structure to said clip, an intermediate section, and a lower section which is adapted to extend around part of said grid member and which includes at least one laterally extending portion positioned below said grid member, and said laterally extending portion having an opening therein which is adapted to receive a fastening means for securing a light fixture to said clip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The clip as defined in claim 1 wherein said laterally extending portion has a polygonal opening therein for receiving and holding a screw threaded stud of the type having a shank, a head, and a polygonal shank cross section adjacent said head.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
173 words
The clip as defined in claim 1 formed from a metal strip which is folded along a fold line intermediate the ends of said strip to define first and second strip section, said upper end of said clip being defined by the edge formed at said fold line, the upper and intermediate portions of said first strip section being mirror images of the upper and intermediate portions of said second strip section and together these portions form said upper and intermediate sections of said clip, and the lower portion of each said strip sections having a generally U-shaped configuration which is adapted to extend around part of a laterally extending portion of said grid member and which includes an upper leg extending laterally from said intermediate portion above said part of said grid member, a bight portion, and a lower leg extending laterally from said bight portion below said part of said grid member, said laterally extending portion of said clip being defined by said lower leg portion of said first strip section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The clip as defined in claim 3 wherein said intermediate portion of each of said strip sections has a configuration which is adapted to be received about, and in close proximity to, the vertically extending portion of an inverted T-shaped grid member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
The clip as defined in claim 3 including a stud having a head and a shank extending from said head, said shank having a square cross section adjacent said head and being threaded inwardly from the free end thereof, and said lower leg of said portion of said first strip section having a square opening therein for receiving and holding said stud with said square portion of said shank being received in said square opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
93 words
The clip as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said lower legs has a length greater than one-half of the lateral extent of said grid member whereby said lower legs overlap each other when said clip assembled on said grid member, and wherein one of said lower legs has at least one protuberance thereon and said other lower leg has at least one niche or hole therein which is adapted to mate with said protuberance for snap-fittingly latching said lower legs together when said strip sections are positioned about said grid member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
The clip as defined in claim 3 wherein said lower leg of said second strip section has a slot therein which is aligned with said opening in said lower leg of said first strip section when said lower legs are brought together in overlapping engagement with each other to permit a shank portion of said stud to extend through both of said lower legs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
151 words
The clip as defined in claim 3 including a stud having a head and a shank extending from said head, said first strip section having a hole or notch therein at the junction of said intermediate portion and said upper leg of said lower portion, said hole extending into part of said intermediate portion of said first strip section and into part of said upper leg of said lower portion of said first strip section to permit insertion of said stud from the interior of said clip into said opening in said lower leg of said first strip section, and said notch providing access means at said junction for said head of said stud to pass through part of said junction when inserting said stud into, or removing said stud from, said opening where said head rests on, and said shank extends below, said lower leg of said first strip section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The clip as defined in claim 3 wherein said metal strip has a reduced width at said fold line to provide easy bending of said strip to form said strip sections defining said clip.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
137 words
In a suspended ceiling system including a plurality of inverted T-shaped grid members which are arranged to support ceiling sections and which are supported by drop wires from the ceiling of a building structure, the improvement comprising clip means for supporting light fixtures directly across said building structure separately of said grid members, said clip means fitting closely around said grid member and having means at the upper end of said clip means for connecting said clip means to a drop wire which is secured to said building structure and means at the lower end of said clip means for connecting a light fixture to said clip means, whereby said light fixture is supported by said building structure solely through said clip means and said drop wire and does not bear upon, or load, said grid members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
137 words
In a suspended ceiling system including a plurality of inverted T-shaped grid members which are arranged to support ceiling sections and which are supported by drop wires from the ceiling of a building structure, the improvement comprising clip means for supporting light fixtures directly across said building structure separately of said grid members, said clip means fitting closely around said grid member and having means at the upper end of said clip means for connecting said clip means to a drop wire which is secured to said building structure and means at the lower end of said clip means for connecting a light fixture to said clip means, whereby said light fixture is supported by said building structure solely through said clip means and said drop wire and does not bear upon, or load, said grid members.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-11 | 1975-04-12 | 1975-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-11 | 1979-04-12 | 1979-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-11 | 1983-04-12 | 1983-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |