Universal luminaire mount

Claim 2

A mounting apparatus for attaching luminaires to a support member of a building structure and connecting such luminaires with a source of electricity comprising, in combination: a central housing member having means to attach such luminaire to such support member and means to connect with such source of electricity; a ballast housing adjacent with said central housing and detachable therefrom; a fuse housing having at least one fuse member interconnected between said central housing and said ballast housing, said fuse housing being in communication with said ballast housing whereby said fuse housing receives electricity from such source of electricity through said central housing and directs such electricity to said ballast housing; and means for interconnecting said fuse housing and said ballast housing with said central housing, said interconnection means including means to interlock said fuse housing and said ballast housing with said central housing whereby said fuse housing must be detached from said central housing prior to detaching said ballast housing from said central housing.

Claim 3

The mounting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said central housing includes a top member, and mounting plate means engagable with such support member positioned for relative movement adjacent said top member whereby the horizontal position of such luminaire may be adjusted.

Claim 4

The mounting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said top member of said central housing includes an elongated slot centrally located therein and first and second mounting slots, positioned on opposed sides of said central elongated slot, said mounting plate means adapted to slideably engage said top member of said central housing and having a threaded aperture located to communicate with said central elongated slot when said mounting plate is engaged with said top member of said central housing, said mounting plate further having at least one first mounting screw located to correspond with said first mounting slot and at least one second mounting screw located to correspond with said second mounting slot when said mounting plate is engaged with said top member of said central housing.

Claim 5

The mounting apparatus of claim 3 wherein said connecting means of said central housing includes a terminal for receiving electrical wires from such source of electricity.

Claim 6

The mounting apparatus of claim 4 wherein said attaching means of said central housing includes a hook-shaped member having a first end threaded to engage said threaded aperture of said mounting plate and a hook-shaped end opposed to said first end for engaging such support member said hook-shaped member further having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough wherein such electrical wires extend through said bore and said threaded aperture and said elongated slot to connect with said terminal.

Claim 7

The mounting apparatus of claim 4 wherein said attaching means of said central housing includes a loop-shaped member having a first end threaded to engage said threaded aperture of said mounting plate and a loop-shaped end opposed to said first end for engaging such support member said loop-shaped member further having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough wherein such electrical wires extend through said bore and said threaded aperture and said elongated slot to connect with said terminal.

Claim 8

The mounting apparatus of claim 4 wherein said threaded aperture of said mounting plate receives such threaded support member to attach such luminaire to such support member, such support member having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough wherein such electrical wires extend through said bore and said threaded aperture and said elongated slot to connect with said terminal.

Claim 9

The mounting apparatus of claim 4 wherein said central housing further includes a receptacle for receiving a plug member, said receptacle being in communication with said terminal to receive electricity from such source of electricity and said fuse housing further includes a plug member for engaging said receptacle when said fuse housing is interconnected with said central housing.

Claim 10

The mounting apparatus of claim 8 wherein said top member of said central housing further includes at least one lip member projecting over said fuse housing when said fuse housing is interconnected with said central housing, wherein access to said fuse member is precluded by said lip member when said fuse housing is interconnected with said central housing.

Claim 11

The mounting apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for interconnecting said fuse housing and said ballast housing with said central housing includes a resilient two-step retaining means fixed to said ballast housing, said retaining means having a first tab member adapted to engage said central housing and interconnect said ballast housing with said central housing and a second tab member adapted to engage said fuse housing and interlock said fuse housing with said ballast housing when said fuse housing is interconnected with said central housing, whereby said fuse housing must be disengaged from said second tab member and removed from interconnection with said central housing before said ballast housing and said first tab member are disengaged from said central housing.

Claim 12

The mounting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said central housing includes an a top member, a front wall extending down from said top member, a rear wall opposed to said front wall extending down from said top member, a first side wall adapted to join said front wall, top member, and rear wall, and a second sidewall opposed to said first sidewall adapted to join said front wall, upper surface, and rear wall, said sidewalls each including a plurality of circular knockout means of varying diameters for providing circular apertures of varying diameters, whereby said circular apertures receive such support members of a building structure to attach such luminaire to such support members.

Claim 13

The mounting apparatus of claim 11 wherein said connecting means of said central housing includes a terminal for receiving electrical wires from such source of electricity.

Claim 14

The mounting apparatus of claim 12 wherein such support members each include a bore extending longitudinally therethrough, and such electrical wires extend through said bores and said circular apertures to connect with said terminal.

Claim 15

A mounting apparatus for attaching luminaires to a support member of a building structure and connecting such luminaires with a source of electricity comprising: a central housing member including a top member having an elongated slot centrally located therein and first and second mounting slots positioned on opposed sides of said central elongated slot, a mounting plate adapted to slideably engage said top member of said central housing having a threaded aperture located to communicate with said central elongated slot when said mounting plate is engaged with said top member of said central housing, means to attach said central housing to such a support member positioned in said threaded aperture, and a terminal for receiving electrical wires from such source of electricity; a ballast housing interconnected with said central housing and detachable therefrom; a fuse housing having at least one fuse member interconnected with said central housing and detachable therefrom, said fuse housing being in communication with said terminal of said central housing and said ballast housing whereby said fuse housing receives electricity from said terminal and directs such electricity to said ballast housing; a means for interconnecting said fuse housing and said ballast housing with said central housing including a resilient two-step retaining clip fixed to said ballast housing, said retaining clip having a first tab member adapted to engage said central housing and interconnect said ballast housing with said central housing and a second tab member adapted to engage said fuse housing and interlock said fuse housing with said ballast housing when said fuse housing is interconnected with said central housing, whereby said fuse housing must be disengaged from said second tab member and removed from interconnection with said central housing before said ballast housing and said first tab member are disengaged from said central housing.

Claim 16

A mounting apparatus for attaching luminaires to a support member of a building structure and connecting such luminaires with a source of electricity comprising: a central housing member including a top member having an elongated slot centrally located therein and first and second mounting slots positioned on opposed sides of said central elongated slot, a mounting plate adapted to slideably engage said top member of said central housing having a threaded aperture located to communicate with said central elongated slot when said mounting plate is engaged with said top member of said central housing, means to attach said central housing to such a support member positioned in said threaded aperture, and a terminal for receiving electrical wires from such source of electricity; a ballast housing interconnected with said central housing and detachable therefrom; a fuse housing having at least one fuse member interconnected with said central housing and detachable therefrom, said fuse housing being in communication with said terminal of said central housing and said ballast housing whereby said fuse housing receives electricity from said terminal and directs such electricity to said ballast housing; a means for interconnecting said fuse housing and said ballast housing with said central housing including a resilient two-step retaining clip fixed to said ballast housing, said retaining clip having a first tab member adapted to engage said central housing and interconnect said ballast housing with said central housing and a second tab member adapted to engage said fuse housing and interlock said fuse housing with said ballast housing when said fuse housing is interconnected with said central housing, whereby said fuse housing must be disengaged from said second tab member and removed from interconnection with said central housing before said ballast housing and said first tab member are disengaged from said central housing.

Claim 17

The mounting apparatus of claim 14 wherein such electrical wires project through said threaded aperture and elongated central slot and are received by said terminal of said central housing.

Claim 18

A mounting apparatus for attaching luminaires to a support member of a building structure and connecting such luminaires with a source of electricity comprising: a central housing member having a top member, a front wall extending down from said top member, a rear wall opposed to said front wall extending down from said top member, a first side wall adapted to join said front wall, top member, and rear wall, and a second sidewall opposed to said first sidewall adapted to join said front wall, top member and rear wall, said sidewalls each including a plurality of circular knockout means of varying diameters for providing circular apertures of varying diameters, whereby said circular apertures receive such support members to attach such luminaire to such support members, and a terminal for receiving electrical wires from such source of electricity; a ballast housing interconnected with said central housing and detachable therefrom; a fuse housing having at least one fuse member interconnected with said central housing and detachable therefrom, said fuse housing being in communication with said terminal of said central housing and said ballast housing whereby said fuse housing receives electricity from said terminal and directs such electricity to said ballast housing; a means for interconnecting said fuse housing and said ballast housing with said central housing including a resilient two-step retaining clip fixed to said ballast housing, said retaining clip having a first tab member adapted to engage said central housing and interconnect said ballast housing with said central housing and a second tab member adapted to engage said fuse housing and interlock said fuse housing with said ballast housing when said fuse housing is interconnected with said central housing, whereby said fuse housing must be disengaged from said second tab member and removed from interconnection with said central housing before said ballast housing and said first tab member are disengaged from said central housing.

Claim 19

A mounting apparatus for attaching luminaires to a support member of a building structure and connecting such luminaires with a source of electricity comprising: a central housing member having a top member, a front wall extending down from said top member, a rear wall opposed to said front wall extending down from said top member, a first side wall adapted to join said front wall, top member, and rear wall, and a second sidewall opposed to said first sidewall adapted to join said front wall, top member and rear wall, said sidewalls each including a plurality of circular knockout means of varying diameters for providing circular apertures of varying diameters, whereby said circular apertures receive such support members to attach such luminaire to such support members, and a terminal for receiving electrical wires from such source of electricity; a ballast housing interconnected with said central housing and detachable therefrom; a fuse housing having at least one fuse member interconnected with said central housing and detachable therefrom, said fuse housing being in communication with said terminal of said central housing and said ballast housing whereby said fuse housing receives electricity from said terminal and directs such electricity to said ballast housing; a means for interconnecting said fuse housing and said ballast housing with said central housing including a resilient two-step retaining clip fixed to said ballast housing, said retaining clip having a first tab member adapted to engage said central housing and interconnect said ballast housing with said central housing and a second tab member adapted to engage said fuse housing and interlock said fuse housing with said ballast housing when said fuse housing is interconnected with said central housing, whereby said fuse housing must be disengaged from said second tab member and removed from interconnection with said central housing before said ballast housing and said first tab member are disengaged from said central housing.