US3755667A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Recessed lighting structure
Assignee: MINT FACTORS
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Filing: 1972-03-13
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Granted: 1973-08-28
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Expires: 1992-03-13
Abstract
Abstract A recessed lighting structure includes suspended spaced parallel beams interconnected by snap fastened pairs of longitudinally spaced cross-pieces extending across pairs of adjacent beams, and spaced frame members are supported by and releaseably locked to adjacent beams. Conductor-carrying longitudinal conduits are supported by the cross-pieces along corresponding frames, and ballast and lamp socket-carrying boxes are locked to the conduits along each frame and are coupled to the conductors. A lamp housing unit, which may be provided with reflectors and removable baffles, is releaseably supported by each frame with the sockets registering with openings in the unit to receive corresponding lamp bases. Locating elements are provided for guiding and positioning the various components. In alternative arrangements, the cross-pieces extend between successive frames and support pairs of conduits or the cross-pieces and the conduits are omitted and the ballast and socket boxes are mounted on the housings or on brackets supported by the frames and are connected to the power line by flexible cables.
Inventors
- 👤 E Price
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:50
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21V; F21V21/00; F21V21/02; F21V21/04; F21S; F21S8/00; F21S8/02; F21S8/04; F21Y; F21Y2103/00; F21Y2103/30; F21Y2103/37; F21Y2113/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A recessed lighting structure comprising a plurality of transversely-spaced, parallel, longitudinally extending overhead beams, an elongated electrical conduit mounted on said support structure and containing first electrical coupling means positioned along the length of said conduit, a component housing box mounted proximate said conduit, a second electrical coupling menas positioned externally of said box and releasably engaging said first electrical coupling, a lamp socket located on the exterior of said box, means connecting said lamp socket to said electrical coupling, a lamp housing mounted on and projecting above said support structure proximate said box and having access to said lamp socket, and ceiling panels supported by said beams.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
A recessed lighting structure comprising a plurality of transversely-spaced, parallel, longitudinally extending overhead beams, an elongated electrical conduit mounted on said support structure and containing first electrical coupling means positioned along the length of said conduit, a component housing box mounted proximate said conduit, a second electrical coupling menas positioned externally of said box and releasably engaging said first electrical coupling, a lamp socket located on the exterior of said box, means connecting said lamp socket to said electrical coupling, a lamp housing mounted on and projecting above said support structure proximate said box and having access to said lamp socket, and ceiling panels supported by said beams.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The lighting structure of claim 1 including a pair of horizontally-spaced lamp sockets mounted on a wall of said box and a U-shaped fluorescent lamp located in said lamp housing and releasably engaging said lamp sockets.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The lighting structure of claim 1, wherein said box is mounted on said conduit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
The lighting structure of claim 3, wherein said first electrical coupling means comprises a pair of longitudinally extending conductors extending along the length of said conduit, each of said conductors includes a longitudinally extending pair of fingers resiliently urged toward other, and said second electrical coupling means comprises a plug member having a pair of contact prongs engaging corresponding pairs of said contact fingers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The lighting structure of claim 4, comprising a cross-piece extending across and releasably connected to a pair of adjacent beams, said conduit being mounted on said cross-piece.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The lighting structure of claim 1, including a frame member extending between and supported by a pair of adjacent beams proximate said box said lamp housing being separably registering with and releasably engaging said frame member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The lighting structure of claim 6, including locating elements on said box and on said frame member for positioning said box relative to said fRame member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The lighting fixture of claim 6, including locating elements on said box and said housing for positioning said housing relative to said box.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The lighting fixture of claim 6, wherein said lamp housing comprises on open bottom reflector shell having an end wall provided with an opening registering with said lamp socket.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The lighting fixture of claim 4, wherein said lamp housing includes an end wall spaced from and confronting said box, and comprises top and bottom panels extending from said box into engagement with said end wall.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
74 words
A recessed lighting structure comprising a plurality of transversely-spaced longitudinally extending overhead beams, a plurality of spaced lamp housings registering with and projecting above said beams and first means releasably locking each of said lamp housings to said beams and wherein said first means include a latch arm having an outwardly directed finger swingably depending from each of said housings and means to urge said finger to a lock position relative to said beams.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
74 words
A recessed lighting structure comprising a plurality of transversely-spaced longitudinally extending overhead beams, a plurality of spaced lamp housings registering with and projecting above said beams and first means releasably locking each of said lamp housings to said beams and wherein said first means include a latch arm having an outwardly directed finger swingably depending from each of said housings and means to urge said finger to a lock position relative to said beams.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
117 words
The structure of claim 11, wherein each of said lamp housings comprises a pair of side-by-side open bottom curved reflector members having downwardly converging inner side walls delineating a space there between, opposite outer side walls and opposite end walls, said end walls having vertical vertical medial slots proximate the bottom edges thereof, said latching arm is vertically extended and medially swingably mounted on each of said end walls and disposed in said space between said reflector inner walls and said outwardly directed finger registers with said slot, and including spring means urging said latching arm to an advanced lock position with said finger projecting through a respective slot into said lock position relative to said beams.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The structure of claim 12, wherein an opening is formed between said inner reflector walls proximate each end thereof, and each of said latch arms includes a depending finger piece projecting through a respective opening.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
The structure of claim 11, wherein said lamp housing comprises a longitudinally-extending open bottom curved reflector member, a vertically movable transverse generally V-shaped baffle registering with said reflector between the ends thereof, and latch plate means between the legs of the baffle releasably retaining said baffle in a raised position in said reflector member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
95 words
The structure of claim 14, wherein said reflector member has formed therein opposite vertical slots extending from points above the bottom edges of said reflector member, said baffle comprises a pair of upwardly diverging panels joined at the bottoms thereof, and said retaining means comprises a pair of opposite laterally movable latching plates positioned between said panels and having outer edges registering with said vertical slots and having upwardly outwardly inclined downwardly directed cam edges in the lower portions thereof engaging the lower edges of said slots when said baffle is in its raised position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The structure of claim 15, including fingers projecting outwardly form the upper corners of said plates into sliding engagement with said vertical slots.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
The structure of claim 11, comprising a plurality of rectantular frame member extending between corresponding pairs of said beams and second means for releasably locking said frame member to said respective beams, said first means releasably locking each of said lamp housings to respective frame member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
59 words
The structure of claim 17, wherein said lamp housing includes an end wall having an opening formed therein and comprises an electrical component-containing box positioned proximate said end wall, a lamp socket mounted on an outer face of said box and registering with said housing end wall opening, and means for connecting said box to a source of current.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The structure of claim 18, wherein said box is mounted on said housing end wall.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The structure of claim 18, including a bracket separably mountEd on said frame member proximate said housing end wall, said box being releasably mounted on said bracket.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The structure of claim 18, including locating elements on said box and said housing for positioning said housing relative to said box.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The structure of claim 18, including locating elements on said box and on said frame member for positioning said box relative to said frame member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
The structure of claim 22, wherein said second means includes an arm mounted on said frame and movable to an upright position locking said housing to said frame, said arm defining one of said locating elements.
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) | 1976-08-27 | 1977-02-26 | 1977-08-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-27 | 1981-02-26 | 1981-08-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-27 | 1985-02-26 | 1985-08-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |