Hanger assembly method and apparatus

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said rod is threaded and wherein the step of substantially fixing the rod against downward movement comprises the steps of: sliding a clip having hole therethrough onto one end of said rail assembly; and threadedly engaging said rod with said hole.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 wherein said method further includes the step of adjusting the position of the rod by sliding said clip along the rail assembly.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of mounting a fixture on the lower end of said junction cup comprises the steps: of moving said fixture so that the rod is received through a hole in the fixture; threading a second nut onto said rod; and tightening said nut until said fixture abuts said junction cup.

Claim 6

The method of claim 4 wherein the step of disposing a rail assembly having a pair of elongate, spaced-apart, substantially parallel rails between a pair of truss beams or the like comprises the step of placing the rail assembly on the top surface of the truss beams or the like.

Claim 7

The method of claim 5 wherein said method further includes the step of fixing the rail assembly against axial movement.

Claim 8

The method of claim 6 wherein the step of fixing the rail assembly against axial movement comprises the step of bending down the ends of said rail assembly beneath the top surface of the truss beams or the like.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1 wherein said method further includes the step of varying the length of rod which extends downwardly from said rails.

Claim 10

The method of claim 1 wherein said method further includes the steps of: drilling opposing holes in said truss beams; and inserting the ends of said rail assembly in said holes.

Claim 11

A hanger assembly comprising: an elongate rail assembly having a fixed predetermined length and further having a pair of elongate, spaced-apart, substantially parallel rails, said rails being longitudinally fixed relative to one another; means for disposing said rail assembly between a pair of truss beams or the like having a ceiling suspended on the lower portion thereof; a slot defined between said rails and extending substantially the entire length of said rail assembly, said slot presenting a pair of opposed openings which extend along the length thereof; a threaded rod extending through said slot and said openings, said rod being slidable along the length of said slot; a clip axially slidable on said rail assembly; means for engaging said clip with said rod whereby a first portion of rod extends below said ceiling and a second portion of rod extends above said rail assembly; means for adjusting the length of said first portion; and means for mounting both a junction box and a fixture on the lower end of said rod, said junction box being mounted substantially above said ceiling and said fixture being mounted substantially below said ceiling.

Claim 12

A hanger assembly comprising: an elongate rail assembly having a fixed predetermined length and further having a pair of elongate, spaced-apart, substantially parallel rails, said rails being longitudinally fixed relative to one another; means for disposing said rail assembly between a pair of truss beams or the like having a ceiling suspended on the lower portion thereof; a slot defined between said rails and extending substantially the entire length of said rail assembly, said slot presenting a pair of opposed openings which extend along the length thereof; a threaded rod extending through said slot and said openings, said rod being slidable along the length of said slot; a clip axially slidable on said rail assembly; means for engaging said clip with said rod whereby a first portion of rod extends below said ceiling and a second portion of rod extends above said rail assembly; means for adjusting the length of said first portion; and means for mounting both a junction box and a fixture on the lower end of said rod, said junction box being mounted substantially above said ceiling and said fixture being mounted substantially below said ceiling.

Claim 13

The hanger assembly of claim 10 wherein said hanger assembly further comprises means for fixing said rod against axial movement.

Claim 14

The hanger assembly of claim 11 wherein said means for fixing said rod against axial movement comprises means for substantially fixing said rod against downward axial movement and means for substantially permitting upward axial movement.

Claim 15

The hanger assembly of claim 12 wherein said means for substantially fixing said rod against axial movement in one direction and means for substantially permitting axial movement in the other direction comprise a hole in said clip through which said rod is received, said hole including means for engaging said rod threads when axial force is exerted along said rod in one direction.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said clip extends over and around an upper edge on each of said rails thereby preventing said rails from spreading apart from one another.

Claim 17

The hanger assembly of claim 10 wherein said junction box comprises a junction cup having an opening directed away from said rail assembly and wherein said hanger assembly further includes: a lip surrounding said cup opening; and means for urging said cup toward said rail assembly with said rail assembly being so disposed, said cup being received in a hole formed in said ceiling with said cup opening directed downwardly and said cup lip extending over the edge of said hole.

Claim 18

The hanger assembly of claim 15 wherein said means for urging said cup toward said rail assembly comprises a nut threaded on the first portion of said rod.

Claim 19

The hanger assembly of claim 10 wherein said means for disposing said rail assembly between a pair of truss beams or the like comprises: means for supporting said rail assembly across the top surface of a pair of truss beams or the like; and means for fixing said rail assembly to such truss beams.

Claim 20

The hanger assembly of claim 10 wherein said hanger assembly further comprises: a second threaded rod; a second clip axially slidable on said rail assembly; means for engaging said second clip with said second rod whereby a first portion of said second rod extends below said rail assembly toward said ceiling and a second portion of said second rod extends above said rail assembly; means for adjusting the length of said first portion of said second rod; and means for suspending a ceiling fan from said rods.

Claim 21

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of placing a rail assembly having a pair of elongate, spaced-apart, substantially parallel rails on an upwardly directed surface of a pair of truss beams or the like comprises the steps of inserting the rail assembly through the ceiling hole from beneath the ceiling and thereafter placing the rail assembly on an upwardly directed surface of a pair of truss beams or the like.

Claim 22

The method of claim 19 wherein the step of placing a threaded rod between the rails so that it extends downwardly through the ceiling hole comprises the step of inserting the rod through the ceiling hole in and thereafter placing the rod between the rails.

Claim 23

The hanger assembly of claim 10 wherein said hanger assembly further includes a hole in said clip through which said rod is received, said hole including means for engaging said rod threads when a downward axial force is exerted on said rod and means for permitting rod movement when an upward axial force is extended on said rod.

Claim 24

The hanger assembly of claim 10 wherein said clip extends about said rails and prevents the same from spreading apart responsive to application of a downward force on the first portion of said rod.