Emergency lighting fixture

Claim 2

An emergency lighting fixture for mounting in a ceiling which comprises, in combination: a panel normally closing an opening in said ceiling, an electric lamp mounted to the inner side of said panel, an a.c. power supply, means responsive to the presence of a.c. power from said power supply for retaining said panel in its normally closing position at said opening, said retaining means being adapted to release said panel and allow said panel to drop under its own weight and the weight of said lamp below said ceiling along with said lamp in the absence of a.c. power, a d.c. power supply and switch means for electrically connecting said d.c. power supply to said lamp in response to the failure of said a.c. power.

Claim 3

An emergency lighting fixture according to claim 1, further including a casing enclosing said lamp and said d.c. power supply.

Claim 4

An emergency lighting fixture according to claim 2, wherein said panel is hingeably mounted to said casing.

Claim 5

An emergency lighting fixture according to claim 2, wherein two panels with a lamp affixed to the inner side of each panel are hingeably mounted to said casing, the panels and lamps being arranged such that when said panels drop below said ceiling, said lamps are positioned to direct their respective beams of light in different directions.

Claim 6

An emergency lighting fixture according to claim 4, wherein said panels are hingeably mounted to said casing in a manner whereby said panels are lowered in opposite directions.

Claim 7

An emergency lighting fixture according to claim 1, wherein said panel retaining means comprises a bushing slidably mounted onto a low friction shaft, an actuating arm connected between said bushing and said panel and electric drive means for sliding said bushing along said shaft, said drive means electrically connected to said power supply.

Claim 8

An emergency lighting fixture according to claim 6, wherein said drive means is an electric solenoid.

Claim 9

An emergency lighting fixture according to claim 7, wherein said drive means is a linear motor.

Claim 10

An emergency lighting fixture according to claim 1, wherein said panel retaining means comprises a threaded bushing mounted onto a lead screw and electric drive means for rotating said screw, said drive means being electrically connected to said power supply.

Claim 11

An emergency lighting fixture according to claim 9, wherein said drive means is an electric motor.

Claim 12

An emergency lighting fixture according to claim 1, wherein said panel retaining means comprises a pulley wheel, an actuating arm connected between said pulley wheel and said panel and drive means for rotating said pulley wheel, said drive means electrically connected to said power supply.

Claim 13

An emergency lighting fixture according to claim 11, wherein said drive means is an electric solenoid.

Claim 14

An emergency lighting fixture according to claim 11, wherein said drive means is a linear motor.

Claim 15

An emergency lighting fixture according to claim 1, wherein said switch means comprises a solid state switch connected in series between said d.c. power supply and said lamp.

Claim 16

An emergency lighting fixture according to claim 14, further including means for biasing said switch to close said series connection between said d.c. power supply and said lamp upon failure of said a.c. power.

Claim 17

An emergency lighting fixture for mounting in a ceiling which comprises, in combination: a panel normally closing an opening in said ceiling, an electric lamp mounted behind said panel, an a.c. power supply, a movable actuator member, an actuating arm connected between said actuator member and said panel, electric drive means connected to said a.c. power supply, said drive means being adapted to move said actuator member in one direction to retain said panel in its normally closing position at said opening and in an opposite direction to release said panel and allow said panel to drop below said ceiling along with said lamp in the absence of a.c. power, a d.c. power supply and switch means for electrically connecting said d.c. power supply to said lamp in response to the failure of said a.c. power.

Claim 18

An emergency lighting fixture for mounting in a ceiling which comprises, in combination: a panel normally closing an opening in said ceiling, an electric lamp mounted behind said panel, an a.c. power supply, a movable actuator member, an actuating arm connected between said actuator member and said panel, electric drive means connected to said a.c. power supply, said drive means being adapted to move said actuator member in one direction to retain said panel in its normally closing position at said opening and in an opposite direction to release said panel and allow said panel to drop below said ceiling along with said lamp in the absence of a.c. power, a d.c. power supply and switch means for electrically connecting said d.c. power supply to said lamp in response to the failure of said a.c. power.

Claim 19

An emergency lighting fixture according to claim 16, further including a casing enclosing said lamp and said d.c. power supply.

Claim 20

An emergency lighting fixture according to claim 17, wherein said panel is hingeably mounted to said casing and wherein said lamp is affixed to the inner side of said panel.

Claim 21

An emergency lighting fixture according to claim 17, wherein two panels with a lamp affixed to the inner side of each panel are hingeably mounted to said casing in a manner whereby said panels are lowered in opposite directions, and wherein said lamps are arranged such that when said panels drop below said ceiling, said lamps are positioned to direct their respective beams of light in different directions.

Claim 22

An emergency lighting fixture according to claim 16, wherein said actuator member is a bushing slidably mounted onto a low friction shaft and wherein said drive means is connected to said bushing for sliding said bushing along said shaft.

Claim 23

An emergency lighting fixture according to claim 20, wherein said drive means is an electric solenoid.

Claim 24

An emergency lighting fixture according to claim 20, wherein said drive means is a linear motor.

Claim 25

An emergency lighting fixture according to claim 16, wherein said actuator member is a threaded bushing mounted onto a lead screw and wherein said drive means is connected to said threaded screw for rotating said screw.

Claim 26

An emergency lighting fixture according to claim 23, wherein said drive means is an electric motor.

Claim 27

An emergency lighting fixture according to claim 16, wherein said actuator member is a pulley wheel and wherein said drive means is connected to said pulley wheel for rotating said wheel.

Claim 28

An emergency lighting fixture according to claim 25, wherein said drive means is an electric solenoid.

Claim 29

An emergency lighting fixture according to claim 25, wherein said drive means is a linear motor.

Claim 30

In a suspended ceiling including a plurality of ceiling tiles supported by rails wherein at least one of said ceiling tiles is replaced by an emergency lighting fixture, said fixture comprising, in combination: a casing having at least one opening therein; a panel hingeably mounted to said casing and normally closing said opening; an electric lamp affixed to the inner side of said panel; an a.c. power supply; means responsive to the presence of a.c. power from said power supply for retaining said panel in its normally closing position at said opening, said retaining means being adapted to release said panel and allow said panel to drop under its own weight and the weight of said lamp below said ceiling along with said lamp in the absence of a.c. power; a d.c. power supply; and switch means for electrically connecting said d.c. power supply to said lamp in response to the failure of said a.c. power.

Claim 31

In a suspended ceiling including a plurality of ceiling tiles supported by rails wherein at least one of said ceiling tiles is replaced by an emergency lighting fixture, said fixture comprising, in combination: a casing having at least one opening therein; a panel hingeably mounted to said casing and normally closing said opening; an electric lamp affixed to the inner side of said panel; an a.c. power supply; means responsive to the presence of a.c. power from said power supply for retaining said panel in its normally closing position at said opening, said retaining means being adapted to release said panel and allow said panel to drop under its own weight and the weight of said lamp below said ceiling along with said lamp in the absence of a.c. power; a d.c. power supply; and switch means for electrically connecting said d.c. power supply to said lamp in response to the failure of said a.c. power.

Claim 32

In a suspended ceiling including a plurality of ceiling tiles supported by rails wherein at least one of said ceiling tiles is replaced by an emergency lighting fixture, said fixture comprising, in combination: a casing having at least one opening therein; a panel hingeably mounted to said casing and normally closing said opening; an electric lamp; means for adjustably affixing said lamp to the inner side of said panel; an a.c. power supply; means responsive to the presence of a.c. power from said power supply for retaining said panel in its normally closing position at said opening, said retaining means being adapted to release said panel and allow said panel to drop under its own weight and the weight of said lamp below said ceiling along with said lamp in the absence of a.c. power; a d.c. power supply; circuit means for charging said d.c. power supply; and switch means for electrically connecting said d.c. power supply to said lamp in response to the failure of said a.c. power.

Claim 33

In a suspended ceiling including a plurality of ceiling tiles supported by rails wherein at least one of said ceiling tiles is replaced by an emergency lighting fixture, said fixture comprising, in combination: a casing having at least one opening therein; a panel hingeably mounted to said casing and normally closing said opening; an electric lamp; means for adjustably affixing said lamp to the inner side of said panel; an a.c. power supply; means responsive to the presence of a.c. power from said power supply for retaining said panel in its normally closing position at said opening, said retaining means being adapted to release said panel and allow said panel to drop under its own weight and the weight of said lamp below said ceiling along with said lamp in the absence of a.c. power; a d.c. power supply; circuit means for charging said d.c. power supply; and switch means for electrically connecting said d.c. power supply to said lamp in response to the failure of said a.c. power.

Claim 34

The suspended ceiling according to claim 29, wherein said means for adjustably affixing said lamp comprises a swivel mount.

Claim 35

The suspended ceiling according to claim 29, further including electric drive means connected to said d.c. power supply to assist the release of said panel upon failure of said a.c. power.

Claim 36

The suspended ceiling according to claim 31, wherein said drive means is an electric solenoid.