US3620401A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Recessed lighting fixture including mounting clamp means
Assignee: Amtek Industries Inc
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Filing: 1970-05-11
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Granted: 1971-11-16
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Expires: 1990-05-11
Abstract
Abstract Mounting clamp means for detachably securing a recessed lighting fixture housing in a plaster frame. Spring steel clamp members are pivoted on fixed members in openings in the housing sidewall and their lower portions provide frame-engaging elements while their upper portions are arcuate to provide biasing elements which urge the engaging elements downwardly. The clamp members pivot between an idle retracted position wholly within the housing and a projected clamping position in which the frameengaging elements and arcuate portions are outside the sidewall and the former are biased by the latter firmly against a flange on the plaster frame. A depending tab on the inner end of each engaging element abuts the sidewall to limit outward movement of the clamp means, and an elongated upright flap above the tab closes the opening the sidewall in the projected position.
Inventors
- 👤 Alvin R Lund
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 04:44
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21V; F21V21/00; F21V21/02; F21V21/04; H; H02; H02G; H02G3/00; H02G3/02; H02G3/08; H02G3/12; H02G3/123
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
248 words
In a recessed lighting fixture enclosure including a plaster frame having an annular wall which seats in a hole in a ceiling and an upper outwardly extending flange to overlie the ceiling, and a housing having a sidewall with external transversely extending flange means at its lower end to engage beneath the plaster frame wall when the housing is positioned in the plaster frame, clamp means selectively engageable with said plaster frame upper flange to position said housing firmly in the plaster frame comprising, in combination: a plurality of openings in said housing sidewall which have lower margins that are adjacent the plane of the top of said outwardly extending flange when the housing is positioned in the plaster frame; a plurality of fixed members on the housing sidewall each of which is associated with and spaced vertically from the lower margin of one of said openings; and upper flange engaging means associated with each opening including an engaging element which may be moved radially through the opening between a retracted position wholly within the housing and a projected position in which an outer portion of the element overlies the upper flange and an inner portion remains within the housing, and a biasing element which urges said outer portion against said upper flange in said projected position to bias the housing upwardly, said biasing element having a portion engaged with said fixed member to confine said portion of the biasing element against movement relative to said engaging element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
248 words
In a recessed lighting fixture enclosure including a plaster frame having an annular wall which seats in a hole in a ceiling and an upper outwardly extending flange to overlie the ceiling, and a housing having a sidewall with external transversely extending flange means at its lower end to engage beneath the plaster frame wall when the housing is positioned in the plaster frame, clamp means selectively engageable with said plaster frame upper flange to position said housing firmly in the plaster frame comprising, in combination: a plurality of openings in said housing sidewall which have lower margins that are adjacent the plane of the top of said outwardly extending flange when the housing is positioned in the plaster frame; a plurality of fixed members on the housing sidewall each of which is associated with and spaced vertically from the lower margin of one of said openings; and upper flange engaging means associated with each opening including an engaging element which may be moved radially through the opening between a retracted position wholly within the housing and a projected position in which an outer portion of the element overlies the upper flange and an inner portion remains within the housing, and a biasing element which urges said outer portion against said upper flange in said projected position to bias the housing upwardly, said biasing element having a portion engaged with said fixed member to confine said portion of the biasing element against movement relative to said engaging element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The clamp means of claim 1 in which the inner portion of the engaging element includes a tab engageable with the inner surface of said housing sidewall in said projected position to limit outward movement of the engaging element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
The clamp means of claim 1 in which each flange engaging means has the engaging element and its biasing element integral with one another, in which each of said fixed members comprises a transverse pivot spaced above the lower end of the associated opening, and in which said end of each biasing element is pivotally mounted on the associated pivot for pivotal movement of said engaging element between said retracted and projected position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The clamp means of claim 3 in which said flange engaging means comprises a one-piece spring a lower part of which provides said engaging element and an upper part of which is arcuate to provide said biasing element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The clamp means of claim 4 in which the spring includes an integral depending tab adjacent the inner portion of the engaging element, said tab abutting the sidewall in projected position to limit pivotal movement of said spring out of said sidewall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The clamp means of claim 4 in which each of said openings is generally rectangular and extends continuously from said lower end to said pivot, and in which said arcuate spring portion is outwardly convex and is positioned outside the housing in the projected position of the engaging element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The clamp means of claim 6 including a plurality of downturned barbs on each engaging element to make frictional engagement with said upper flange in the projected position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The clamp means of claim 7 in which said engaging element bears on said lower margin in the projected position to flex said biasing element and position said barbs for frictional engagement with the upper flange.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The clamp means of claim 6 in which the spring includes an integral upstanding flap adjacent the inner portion of the engaging element to close said opening in said projected position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The clamp means of claim 9 in which the spring includes an integral tab projecting downwardly from the flap, said tab abutting the sidewall in projected position to limit pivotal movement of the spring.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The clamp means of claim 6 in which each pivot comprises an integral portion of the housing sidewall and in which each opening in said sidewall extends a short distance above the pivot, whereby the upper extremity of the spring may be looped around the pivot.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
139 words
The clamp means of claim 1 in which each fixed member is an integral part of the housing sidewall and the associated opening extends both below and above the fixed member, and in which the flange engaging means comprises a one-piece spring which has a lower part providing the engaging element and an arcuate upper part providing the biasing element, said upper part having a loop at its upper extremity encircling the fixed member to provide a pivotal mount, and said lower part having at the inner portion of the engaging element a downwardly bent tab which engages the sidewall to limit outward movement of the spring, and a return bend at the bottom of the tab affording an elongated upright flap which is parallel to the tab and closes the opening in the sidewall in said projected position.
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) | 1974-11-15 | 1975-05-17 | 1975-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-15 | 1979-05-17 | 1979-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-15 | 1983-05-17 | 1983-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |