Hanger for lighting fixtures

Claim 2

A hanger for supporting a lighting fixture from an inverted T-bar of suspended ceilings comprising: a generally inverted U-shaped member formed from a single sheet metal stamping including a substantially flat central portion having downwardly depending spaced legs for grasping the lighting fixture therebetween, a pair of spaced generally flat resilient tabs integrally struck from the central portion and lying in a plane spaced thereabove by a distance corresponding substantially to the thickness of the T-bar horizontal flange, said tabs facing in the same direction along a line defined by respective end walls connecting the tabs to the central portion, an arcuate depression formed in the central portion immediately below the tabs and coextensive with the central portion along the line thereof, a resilient clip integrally struck from the central portion facing in a direction opposite from the tabs and including a horizontal portion lying in a plane spaced above the central portion by a distance corresponding substantially to the thickness of the T-bar flange, a vertical portion connecting the clip to the central portion, and an inclined lip on the free edge of the horizontal portion spaced from the end walls of the tabs by a distance at least slightly greater than the width of the T-bar flange, and detent means on said central portion spaced from the vertical portion of the clip by a distance substantially equal to the width of the T-bar flange.

Claim 3

The hanger of claim 1 wherein said detent means comprises tangs downwardly projecting from each of said tabs.

Claim 4

The hanger of claim 2 wherein one clip is disposed opposite each of said tabs.

Claim 5

The hanger of claim 3 wherein said tabs and said clips are disposed for mounting the lighting fixture parallel to the line of the T-bar.

Claim 6

The hanger of claim 3 wherein the tabs and the clips are disposed for mounting the lighting fixture perpendicular to the line of the T-bar.

Claim 7

A hanger for supporting a lighting fixture from an inverted T-bar of a suspended ceiling comprising: a generally inverted U-shaped member formed from a single sheet metal stamping including a substantially flat central portion having downwardly depending spaced legs for grasping the lighting fixture therebetween, a pair of spaced generally flat tabs integrally struck from the central portion and lying in a plane spaced thereabove by a distance corresponding substantially to the thickness of the T-bar horizontal flange, said tabs facing in the same direction along a line defined by respective end walls connecting the tabs to the central portion, a generally arcuate depression formed in the centRal portion immediately below the tabs and coextensive with the central portion along the line of said tabs, at least one clip integrally struck from the central portion and facing in a direction opposite the tabs, each said clip including a horizontal portion lying in a plane spaced above the central portion by a distance corresponding substantially to the thickness of the T-bar flange, a vertical portion connecting the horizontal portion to the central portion, and a lip on the free edge of the horizontal portion spaced from the end walls of the tabs by a distance greater than the width of the T-bar flange, and means constituting a detent associated with said tabs and spaced from the vertical portion of each clip by a distance substantially equal to the width of the T-bar flange.

Claim 8

A hanger for supporting a lighting fixture from an inverted T-bar of a suspended ceiling comprising: a generally inverted U-shaped member formed from a single sheet metal stamping including a substantially flat central portion having downwardly depending spaced legs for grasping the lighting fixture therebetween, a pair of spaced generally flat tabs integrally struck from the central portion and lying in a plane spaced thereabove by a distance corresponding substantially to the thickness of the T-bar horizontal flange, said tabs facing in the same direction along a line defined by respective end walls connecting the tabs to the central portion, a generally arcuate depression formed in the centRal portion immediately below the tabs and coextensive with the central portion along the line of said tabs, at least one clip integrally struck from the central portion and facing in a direction opposite the tabs, each said clip including a horizontal portion lying in a plane spaced above the central portion by a distance corresponding substantially to the thickness of the T-bar flange, a vertical portion connecting the horizontal portion to the central portion, and a lip on the free edge of the horizontal portion spaced from the end walls of the tabs by a distance greater than the width of the T-bar flange, and means constituting a detent associated with said tabs and spaced from the vertical portion of each clip by a distance substantially equal to the width of the T-bar flange.

Claim 9

The hanger of claim 6 wherein one clip is disposed opposite each of said tabs.

Claim 10

The hanger of claim 7 including a second pair of spaced generally flat tabs integrally struck from the central portion and lying in a plane spaced thereabove by a distance corresponding substantially to the thicnkness of the T-bar, said second pair of tabs facing in the same direction along a line defined by respective end walls disposed perpendicular to the line of said first pair of tabs, and a substantially arcuate depression formed in the central portion immediately below said second pair of tabs and coextensive with the central portion along the line of said second pair of tabs, a second pair of clips integrally struck from the central portion and facing in a direction opposite said second pair of tabs, said second pair of clips each including a horizontal portion lying in a plane spaced above the central portion by a distance corresponding substantially to the thickness of the T-bar flange, and a vertical portion connecting the clips of said second pair to the central portion, said second pair of clips having lips on the free edge thereof spaced from the end walls of said second pair of tabs by a distance greater than the width of the T-bar flange, and means constituting detents associated with said second pair of tabs whereby either parallel or perpendicular mounting of the lighting fixture with respect to the T-bar may be effected.

Claim 11

The hanger of claim 8 wherein wherein each of said means constituting a detent comprises a tang integrally struck from and projecting under each said tab.

Claim 12

A hanger for supporting a lighting fixture from an inverted T-bar of a suspended ceiling comprising: a generally U-shaped member formed from a single sheet metal stamping including a central portion having downwardly depending spaced legs for grasping the lighting fixture therebetween, a pair of spaced tabs integral with the central portion, each tab including an upstanding portion and a lobe cantilevered therefrom, said lobes facing in the same direction along a line defined by the upstanding portions and spaced above the central portion by a distance corresponding substantially to the thickness of the T-bar flange, a depression formed in the central portion below the lobes and coextensive with the central portion along the line of said lobes, a pair of clips integral with the central portion, each clip including a vertical portion and an ear cantilevered therefrom, said ears facing in a direction opposite from the lobes along a line defined by the vertical portions and spaced above the central portion by a distance corresponding substantially to the thickness of the T-bar flange, the clip ears having lips spaced from the upstanding portions of said tabs by a distance greater than the width of the T-bar flange, and detent means associated with the central portion and spaced from the vertical portion of the clips by a distance substantially equal to the width of the T-bar flange whereby pivoting the hanger with one side of the T-bar flange engaged under the tabs and then sliding the hanger until the other side of the T-bar flange abuts against the verTical portions of the clips effects locking engagement of said detent means.

Claim 13

A hanger for supporting a lighting fixture from an inverted T-bar of a suspended ceiling comprising: a generally U-shaped member formed from a single sheet metal stamping including a central portion having downwardly depending spaced legs for grasping the lighting fixture therebetween, a pair of spaced tabs integral with the central portion, each tab including an upstanding portion and a lobe cantilevered therefrom, said lobes facing in the same direction along a line defined by the upstanding portions and spaced above the central portion by a distance corresponding substantially to the thickness of the T-bar flange, a depression formed in the central portion below the lobes and coextensive with the central portion along the line of said lobes, a pair of clips integral with the central portion, each clip including a vertical portion and an ear cantilevered therefrom, said ears facing in a direction opposite from the lobes along a line defined by the vertical portions and spaced above the central portion by a distance corresponding substantially to the thickness of the T-bar flange, the clip ears having lips spaced from the upstanding portions of said tabs by a distance greater than the width of the T-bar flange, and detent means associated with the central portion and spaced from the vertical portion of the clips by a distance substantially equal to the width of the T-bar flange whereby pivoting the hanger with one side of the T-bar flange engaged under the tabs and then sliding the hanger until the other side of the T-bar flange abuts against the verTical portions of the clips effects locking engagement of said detent means.

Claim 14

The hanger of claim 10 wherein said tabs and said clips are disposed for mounting the lighting fixture parallel to the line of the T-bar.

Claim 15

The hanger of claim 10 wherein said tabs and said clips are disposed for mounting the lighting fixture perpendicular to the line of the T-bar.

Claim 16

The hanger of claim 10 including a second pair of spaced tabs integrally formed with the central portion and having upstanding portions lying along a line perpendicular to the line of said first pair of tabs, said second pair of tabs including lobes cantilevered from the upstanding portions thereof and facing in the same direction in spaced disposition above the central portion by a distance corresponding substantially to the thickness of the T-bar flange, a depression underlying said second pair of tabs formed coextensive with said central portion along the line of said second pair of tabs, a second pair of clips integrally formed with the central portion and including vertical portions and ears cantilevered therefrom facing in a direction opposite said lobes of said second pair of tabs, the ears of said second pair of clips being spaced above the central portion by a distance corresponding to the thickness of the T-bar flange, and having lips spaced from the upstanding portions of said second pair of tabs by a distance greater than the width of the T-bar flange, and second detent means associated with said second pair of tabs and spaced from the vertical portion of said second pair of clips by a distance substantially equal to the width of the T-bar flange whereby parallel or perpendicular mounting of the lighting fixture with respect to the T-bar may be effected.

Claim 17

The hanger of claim 13 wherein said detent means comprises tangs downwardly projecting from each of said tabs.

Claim 18

A hanger for supporting a lighting fixture from an inverted T-bar of a suspended ceiling comprising: a generally U-shaped member formed from a single sheet metal stamping including a central portion having downwardly depending legs for grasping the lighting fixture therebetween, a tab integral with the central portion and including an upstanding portion and a lobe cantilevered therefrom in spaced disposition above the central portion by a distance corresponding substantially to the thickness of the T-bar flange, a depression formed in the central portion below said lobe and coextensive with the central portion along the line of the lobe, a clip integral with the central portion and including a vertical portion and an ear cantilevered therefrom, said ear facing in a direction opposite from said lobe and being spaced above the central portion by a distance corresponding substantially to the thickness of the T-bar flange, the clip ear having a lip spaced from the upstanding portion of said tab by a distance greater than the width of the T-bar flange, and detent means associated with said tab and spaced from the vertical portion of said clip by a distance substantially equal to the width of the T-bar flange whereby hooking one side of the T-bar under the tab and pivoting the hanger until the flange abuts the upper surface of the central portion followed by sliding the hanger until the other side of the T-bar flange abuts the vertical portion of the clip effects locking by said detent means.

Claim 19

A hanger for supporting a lighting fixture from an inverted T-bar of a suspended ceiling comprising: a generally U-shaped member formed from a single sheet metal stamping including a central portion having downwardly depending legs for grasping the lighting fixture therebetween, a tab integral with the central portion and including an upstanding portion and a lobe cantilevered therefrom in spaced disposition above the central portion by a distance corresponding substantially to the thickness of the T-bar flange, a depression formed in the central portion below said lobe and coextensive with the central portion along the line of the lobe, a clip integral with the central portion and including a vertical portion and an ear cantilevered therefrom, said ear facing in a direction opposite from said lobe and being spaced above the central portion by a distance corresponding substantially to the thickness of the T-bar flange, the clip ear having a lip spaced from the upstanding portion of said tab by a distance greater than the width of the T-bar flange, and detent means associated with said tab and spaced from the vertical portion of said clip by a distance substantially equal to the width of the T-bar flange whereby hooking one side of the T-bar under the tab and pivoting the hanger until the flange abuts the upper surface of the central portion followed by sliding the hanger until the other side of the T-bar flange abuts the vertical portion of the clip effects locking by said detent means.