US2972675A - Fluorescent lighting fixture and socket assembly therefor - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 21, 1961 H. c. SCHIFFER FLUORESCENT LIGHTING FIXTURE AND SOCKET ASSEMBLY THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 10, 1956 ali.

l ATTORNEY INVENTOR HfwirfJZW/FFEA Feb. 21 1961 H. C.-SCHIFFER 2,972,675

FLUORESCENT LIGHTING FIXTURE AND SOCKET ASSEMBLY THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 10, 1956 INVENTOR HENPYCJZH/FFEA screws, rivets or other fastening means. .of a fixture using two fluorescent tubes or lamps, four sockets are required and these are held in place by at FLUORESCENT LIGHTING FIXTURE AND SOCKET ASSEMBLY THEREFOR Henry C. Schiifer, Cheshire, Conn., assignor to The Miller Company, Meriden, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Sept. 10, 1956, Ser. No. 608,795

' 5 Claims. (Cl. 240-51-11) This invention relates to electric lighting fixtures and more specifically to an improved socket assembly and mount therefor for fluorescent lighting fixtures.

Fluorescent lighting fixtures employ one or more elongated tubular bulbs having electrical connections on each least eight screws or rivets. Not only does the use of :screws result in a material increase in the cost of the fixture, but suitable wiring channels or enclosures must also he used to protect the wiring about the sockets so that additional fastening means must also be employed.

This invention has as one of its objects an improved fluorescent fixture socket assembly that is characterized by its simplicity, dependability and low cost. Through a novel and improved arrangement of elements, the sockets and associated wiring channel are combined to form a single sturdy assembly by the use of a single fastener and this assembly may then be secured to the fixture with not more than two fastening devices such as screws or the'like.

Another object of the invention is a novel and improved socket mount for fluorescent fixtures that simpli- "fies assembly, maintenance and repair of the fixtures and at the same time affords a unitary mount for the tube sockets and starter along with a shield for wholly enclosing the associated wiring.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of an improved socket mounting assembly forv fluorescent fixtures.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved fluorescent fixture characterized by its relatively low cost and ease of assembly and repair.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings forming part of this application.

The accompanying drawings show, for purposes of illustrating the present invention, one embodiment in which the invention may take form, it being understood that the drawings are illustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same. V

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view in diagrammatic form of a fluorescent fixture in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of Fig. 1 taken along .the line 2--2 thereof and illustrating in detail certain elements of the socket "assembly in accordance with the i vention and its cooperation with the lighting fixture;

United State p 0 2,972,675 Patented Feb. 21, 1961 taken along the lines 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section taken along the lines 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 8--8 of Fig. 7; and

Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of the socket and starter assembly for a fluorescent fixture in accord ance with the invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to Fig. 1 there is illustrated a fragmentary portion of a fluorescent fixture having an elongated reflector 10, a wiring channel 11 secured to the upper face thereof and a socket and starter assembly 12 is carried at the ends of the wiring channel 11, and separate means are provided for securing the reflector 10 to the wiring channel. While the fixture may be supported in any suitable manner, it is usually attached to the ceiling by hangers secured to or otherwise engaging the Wiring channel 11. As will be shown, the socket assemblies 12 are secured to and carried directly by the wiring channel 11. With this arrangement the fixture may be Wired with the reflector 10 removed from its position on the fixture and the assembly tested and checked in its position on the ceiling prior to the attachment of the reflector 10. Not only does this arrangement facilitate the installation and assembly of fluorescent fixture, but greatly facilitates maintenance, repair and replacement of components when necessary.

The socket and starter assembly 12 is shown more clearly in exploded form in Fig. 9 and the cooperation of this assembly with the other elements of the fixture is illustrated in Figs. 2 through 8.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the socket assemblies 12, of which two are required for each fixture, include a pair of bi-pin type fluorescent lamp sockets 13 and 14 for supporting the ends of two spaced fluorescent tubes generally denoted by the numeral 15 in Fig. 3. The sockets are of conventional construction and include terminals 16 and 17 for attachment of the connecting wires and a pair of transverse openings 18 extending through the socket and normally used for the attachment of the socket to the fixture. A front view of the socket 14 is shown in Fig. 5 and it will be observed that the openings each include a surrounding recessed part 19 adapted to receive the head of the conventional screw in prior socket mounting procedures. The face of the socket includes other recesses 18', 19' which may be utilized for purposes similar to recesses 18, 19.

The mounting means for the sockets 13 and 14 includes a front plate generally denoted by the numeral 20 and a back plate denoted by the numeral 21. The front plate 20, as will be more clearly observed in Fig. 9, includes an upper, forwardly extending, flanged part 22 and a lower, rearwardly extending flange 23.. The side edges 25 and 26 are cut back to expose a circular portion of the sockets 13 and 14, as viewed in Fig. 2, for instance, so that the plate member 20 will not interfere with the cooperation of the fluorescent tubes with their associated sockets.

The sockets 13 and 14 are held in position by two sets of inwardly formed bosses 27 and 28 having an outside diameter approximately equal to the inside diameter of the recesses 19 surrounding the socket holes 18, as illustrated in Fig. 5. In addition, the bosses 27 and 28 are spaced from the bottom flange 23 of the front plate 20 so that when the socket is in engagement with their respective bosses, the bottom surfaces of the sockets as shown in Fig. 9, will rest on the upper surface of the flange 23. In addition, the body 24 of the front plate 20 is provided with a pair of forwardly bent tab-s 29 and 30 and a pair of inclined tabs 31 and 32 for cooperation with recesses 33 and 34, respectively, in the back plate 21 in the manner to be described.

The front plate 20, in addition to including provision for engaging the sockets 13 and 14, further includes a circular opening, not shown, in the flange 22 and immediately beneath the starter socket 35, as viewed in Fig. 9. The starter socket 35 may be secured to the flange 22 in any suitable manner as by a pair of screws 36. With this arrangement the starter 37, as viewed for instance, in Fig. 3, is carried directly by the socket assembly 12 and the wiring w associated therewith is disposed within the wiring channel 11. The reflector includes an opening 38 through which the starter 37 protrudes when the reflector is in position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. This permits the starter to be replaced without removal of the reflector, and as will be shown, permits removal of the reflector without disengagement of the starter 37 from its socket 35.

Referring again to Fig. 9 the sockets 13 and 14 are held in position on the front plate 20 by the back plate 21. This back plate includes a bottom flange 39 which underlies the flange 23 of the front plate 20 in the completed assembly. The outer edges 40 and 41 of the back plate 20 have a circular contour adapted to cover the back of the sockets 13 and 14 when the latter are in place on the front plate 20, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The assembly is held together in this embodiment of the invention by a single machine screw 42 and cooperating nut 43. The machine screw extends through openings 44 in the back plate 21 and 45 in the front plate 20. The back plate bears firmly against the backs of the sockets 13 and 14 and holds them in firm engagement with the bosses 27 and 28 and the bottom flange 23 of the front plate 20 in the manner previously described.

From the description of the invention thus far it will be observed that the sockets 13 and 14, normally requiring four individual screws for holding the sockets themselves to the fixture, are held in place by a single screw 42 and this screw, in addition to supporting and holding both sockets, secures the front and back plates one to the other to provide a completely enclosed wiring channel for protection of the wires extending between the sockets 13 and 14, the starter 35 and other elements of the lamp fixture. Moreover, as will be shown, the wiring channel enclosing the socket wires is in direct communication with the wiring channel 11 as,shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 2. f

It will be observed in Fig. 9 as well as certain of the other figures that the back plate 21 extends above the upper edges of the sockets 13 and 14 and the ends of this extension are bent inwardly to form a pair of mounting tabs 46 and 47 for securing the socket assembly to the wiring channel 11. The tabs extend above the upper edge of the back plate 21 and include narrowed tab parts 46' and 47' with openings 48 and 49. When the sockets 13 and 14 together with the front plate 20 and back plate 21 are assembled the tabs 46 and 47 of the back plate 21 lie within the tabs 29 and 30 on the front plate 20.

The cooperation of these elements together with the flanges 23 and 39 of the front and back plates, respectively, and the inclined tabs 30 and 32 of the front plate 20 with the recesses 33 and 34 of the back plate 21 prevent any relative movement whatsoever of these two plate members and thus forms a sturdy, dependable structure which may beeasily fabricated at materially reduced cost.

The socket and starter assembly 12 as described above is secured to the ends of the wiring channel as shown in Fig. 1. For this purpose the wiring channel is provided with two pairs of slotted openings 50 in the side walls thereof to receive the narrowed tab parts 46' and 47, as may be observed in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, among others.

More specifically, the channel 11 which is normally provided with a pair of inwardly formed flanges 11' has the end portions of the flanges 11 slotted at 11" to receive the tabs 46 and 47 so that when the socket assembly is in position on the channel the outer face of the back plate 21 will be substantially co-planar with the end of the channel. In addition, the side walls of the channel 11 are provided with a pair of openings 51 for cooperation with the openings 48 and 49 on the tabs 46 and 47, respectively. To install the socket assembly 12 and the tabs 46 and 47 are engaged in the slots 11"'in the channel flanges 11 and the assembly is moved upwardly to also engage the narrowed tab parts 46 and 47' with their respective slotted openings 50- in the channel wall. The assembly is then secured inthis depending position on the channel by a pair of machine screws 52 which extend through the openings 51 in the channel wall and threadably engage the openings 48 and 49. The use of the screws 52 together with the slotted openings 11" and 50 forms a secure attachment which will prevent the socket assembly from tilting relative to the channel 11. For convenience in installing the socket assembly, the channel 11 is provided with an offset portion 53 in each channel wall so that the tabs 46' and 47' may be easily engaged with their respective openings 51.

After the socket assemblies 12 on each end of the wiring channel 11 have been secured to the channel and the electrical wiring installed, the reflector 12 may then be positioned in place. The reflector is held to the channel 11 by a plurality of bolts 54 as shown in Fig. 3 which are secured at their upper ends to the top wall of the channel 11 and have a threaded lower portion 55 for cooperation with a threaded element 56 rotatably carried in openings 57 in the upper wall of the reflector. The threaded element 56 is in the form of a nut having a screw driver slot 58 for rotation thereof. The nuts 56 are preferably permanently secured in the openings 57 by a suitable flange 59 which permits them to be rotated relative to the reflector 10, but will not fall from the reflector when the latter is to be disengaged from the wiring channel 11. I

From the foregoing description it is clear that this new and improved socket assembly provides a sturdy and dependable mount for the sockets 13 and 14, as well as a wiring channel by means of a single screw in place of four or more screws heretofore required. Moreover, the entire socket and starter assembly is removably held to the wiring channel 11 by the use of merely two screws or other suitable fasteners and may be readily engaged or disengaged therefrom for assembly, repair or maintenance. Moreover, by reason of the improved cooperation between the socket assemblies and the wiring channel the reflector can be installed and removed without affecting the wiring between cooperating socket assemblies and disposed within the channel 11 or otherwise disturbing the socket assemblies except to remove the bulbs 15.

It will be observed in connection with Fig. 1 as well as certain of the other figures that in cases where the reflector 10 is substantially the same length as the channel 11, the upper wall of the reflector must be recessed as indicated at 10' so that it can be readily installed and removed without interfering with the socket assemblies 12.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been described, it is apparent that modification, alterations and changes may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A fitting for fluorescent lighting fixtures comprisin two bi-pin typefiuorescent lamp sockets with lamp pinengageable contacts at their outer ends and a base including wire-securing terminals extending to one side thereof, said base having flat front and rear faces, normally vertical, front and rear plates bearing on the front; and rear faces. of said bases and having interlocking elements for holding the plates at a fixed spacing to accommodate the socket bases with sockets extending from the edge thereof to prevent transverse and horizontal shifting of one plate relative to the other, the socket bases having recesses in one face and the associated plate having projections which enter the recesses to hold the sockets against shifting, means to secure the two plates together with said socket bases interposed therebetween and hold said sockets in engagement with said projections, said interlocking elements include a bottom flange on one plate and engaging the other plate, and cooperating vertical flanges at the top of each plate for engagement one with the other.

2. A fitting for fluorescent lighting fixtures comprising two bi-pin type fluorescent lamp sockets with lamp pinengageable contacts at their outer ends and a base including wire-securing terminals extending to one side thereof, said base having flat front and rear faces, normally vertical, front and rear plates bearing on the front and rear faces of said bases and having interlocking elements for holding the plates at a fixed spacing to accommodate the socket bases with sockets extending from the edge thereof to prevent transverse and horizontal shifting of one plate relative to the other, the socket bases having recesses in one face and the associated plate having projections which enter the recesses to hold the sockets against shifting, means to secure the two plates together with said socket bases interposed therebetween and hold said sockets in engagement with said projections, said interlocking elements including a bottom flange on one plate and engaging the other plate, and cooperating vertical flanges at the top of each plate for engagement one with the other and said vertical flanges on the back plate extending upwardly and forming mounting ears for securing the fitting to a lighting fixture channel.

3. A fitting for fluorescent lighting fixtures comprising two bi-pin type fluorescent lamp sockets with lamp pinengageable contacts at their outer ends and a base including wire-securing terminals extending to one side thereof, said base having flat front and rear faces, normally vertical, front and rear plates bearing on the front and rear faces of said bases and having interlocking elements for holding the plates at a fixed spacing to accommodate the socket bases with sockets extending from the edge thereof to prevent transverse and horizontal shifting of one plate relative to the other, the socket bases having recesses in one face and the associated plate having projections which enter the recesses to hold the sockets against shifting, means to secure the two plates together with said socket bases interposed therebetween and hold said sockets in engagement with said projections, said front plate having an upper forwardly extending flange,

and a starter socket mounted on said flange.

4. Means for holding fluorescent lamp sockets and securing them to a fixture body comprising a sheet metal back plate having a normally vertical portion greater than the length of two bi-pin type lamp sockets, a horizontal, forwardly extending stiifening flange at the bottom of said back plate, two forwardly extending vertical flanges at the top of said plate and spaced for cooperation with and attachment to said fixture body, a front sheet metal plate shorter than said back plate and having rearwardly extending flanges at the top for engaging the vertical flanges of said back plate and holding said plates in predetermined spaced relationship and horizontal alignment, said front plate also having a bottom stiffening flange, said stiffening flanges engaging one another to space the plates at the bottom, the spacing between said plates being such as to receive the lamp sockets therebetween, and one of said plates having boss-like elements extending toward the other plate and engaging recesses in the lamp sockets to hold the latter in place, and means for clamping the plates against the sockets.

5. A fluorescent lighting fixture comprising an elongated, inverted U-shaped wiring channel having openings in the lower part of each side wall with said openings being opposite one another and a bolt hole associated with each opening, a transversely extending channel stiffening plate having a vertical portion with upwardly extending, ears entering said openings, bolts engaging said bolt holes andears for securing the ears to the channel side walls, the stiffening plate having along the bottom thereof a forwardly extending stiffening flange, a pair of fluorescent lamp sockets having their rear faces positioned against the vertical portion of said stiffening plate, a second plate in front of the lamp sockets and having elements which interlock with the stilfening plate to secure fixed spacing between the plates and prevent vertical and lateral movement, the lamp sockets and at least one of the plates having inter-engaging elements which prevent movement of the sockets relative to one another and means for detachably securing the plates together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,314,038 Elting Mar. 16, 1943 2,399,501 Mueller et a1. Apr. 30, 1946 2,487,468 Naysmith Nov. 8, 1949 2,667,570 Goldthorpe Jan. 26, 1954 2,724,814 Stubbers Nov. 22, 1955 2,780,791 Morschel Feb. 5, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,052,535 France Sept. 23, 1953

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