US3328579A - Light fixture with spring toggle diffuser retention means - Google Patents

Description

June 27, 1967 F. L. GREEN 3,328,579

LIGHT FIXTURE WITH SPRING TOGGLE DIFFUSER RETENTION MEANS Filed Aug. 24, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN'TOR. Fmm/c [5 6REEN ATTORNEYQ June 27, 1967 F. GREEN LIGHT FIXTURE WITH SPRING TOGGLE DIFFUSER RETENTION MEANS Filed Aug. 24, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l N VEN TOR. [RIDER/c [5E GREEN ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,328,579 LIGHT FIXTURE WITH SPRING TOGGLE DIFFUSER RETENTION MEANS Frederic Lee Green, El Cerrito, Califi, assignor to Prescolite Manufacturing Corporation, San Leandro, Califl, a corporation of California Filed Aug. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 391,601 8 Claims. (Cl. 240-147) This invention relates to means for retaining a diffuser element in a light fixture in such a manner that the diffuser is selectively moveable between a position in closing relation to the light housing of the fixture, and a second position wherein access to the housing interior is facilitated. The invention is more particularly directed to spring toggle retention means for the foregoing purpose.

In various light fixtures, it is desirable that the diffuser element of the fixture be secured to the light housing thereof in such a manner as to permit movement of the diffuser between open and closed positions relative to the housing while at all times retentively supporting the diffuser from the housing. More particularly, access to the interior of the housing, as for purposes of replacing light bulbs or other lighting elements therein, is facilitated when the diffuser is in open position. By virtue of the continuous support of the diffuser from the housing including times when the diffuser is in open position, the lighting element replacement function is greatly simplified. It is not necessary to first remove the diffuser from the fixture to afford access to the interior of the housing. The diffuser is merely manipulated to its retentively supported open position whereupon both hands are free for the accomplishment of lighting element replacement.

Heretofore, the diffuser retention means employed in the continuous support of the diffuser during movement between closed and open positions have been relatively complex, particularly in the instance of a recessed fixture. In a recessed fixture the diffuser is positioned substantially flush with a ceiling or wall, and simple hinged attachment of the diffuser to the housing cannot be employed because the ceiling or wall obstructs pivotal movement of the diffuser about the hinge axis. Accordingly, rather elaborate retention mechanisms have been employed which facilitate supported movement of the diffuser to a position sufficiently displaced from the ceiling or wall that the diffuser may then be unobstructively pivoted to an open position. By virtue of the complexity of these previous diffuser retaining mechanisms they have added substantially to the overall cost of the fixture.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide difliuser retention means of relatively simple design which are particularly suited to use in recessed lighting fixtures to facilitate continuously supported movement of the diffuser between closed and open positions relative to the light housing thereof.

Another object of the. invention is the provision of retention means of the class described in the form of a spring toggle effective in one position to retain a diffuser in closed relation to a light housing while being resiliently yieldable to a second position wherein the diffuser is supported in displaced relation to the housing and may be pivoted to provide access to the housing interior.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a spring toggle diffuser retention mechansm of the class described which is applicable to fixtures having light housings of either circular or rectangular cross section.

It is still another object of the invention to provide diffuser retention mechanism of the character outlined hereinbefore which is adjustable to accommodate ceilings of different thicknesses.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a 3,328,579 Patented June 27, 1967 "ice . diffuser retention mechanism of the class described which while being of extremely low cost design is yet highly effective in accomplishing its intended diffuser retention and support functions.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view with portions broken away of a lighting fixture having a light housing of circular cross section mounted in recessed relation to a ceiling and embodying spring toggle diffuser retention mechanism in accordance with the present invention, the diffuser of the fixture being depicted in closed position relative to the light housing.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 1, but depicting the diffuser supported in displaced position relative to the light housing by the retention mecha- IllSIl'l.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the fixture taken in a diametric plane rotated degrees with respect to the section plane of FIGURE 1, and depicting the diffuser in pivoted open position.

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view with portions brokenaway of a recessed lighting fixture having a light housing of rectangular cross section and embodying a somewhat modified form of spring toggle diffuser retention mechanism in accordance with the invention, the diffuser of the fixture being depicted in closed position relative to the light housing.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 4, but depicting the retention mechanism supporting the diffuser in displaced position relative to the light housmg.

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view of the fixture, with portions broken away, taken in a plane rotated 90 degrees with respect to that of FIGURE 4, and depicting the diffuser in pivoted open position. I

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of another modified form of the spring toggle retention mechanism.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary elevation view depicting still another modification of the spring toggle mechanism.-

Referring now to FIGURE 1, there will be seen to be provided a lighting fixture 11 which in the present in; stance includes a light housing 12 of circular cross section,;

closed at one end and open at the other. A support flange 13 projectsoutwardly from the housing adjacent its open end to engage the upper surface of a ceiling 14, or other wall, about an opening 16 provided therein. The flangethus supports the housing in recessed position relative to the ceiling and only a small portion adjacent the open end of the housing extends into the opening. A socket 17 is provided within the housing at the closed end thereof for threadably receiving an incandescent light bulb 18, and a junction box 19 is mounted upon the closed end of the housing to facilitate electrical wiring of the socket. More than one bulb, or lighting elements of other types such as fluorescent tubes, may of course be similarly mounted within the housing. In any event, with the housing moiinted in recessed position relative to the ceiling, it will be appreciated that access to the housing interior for purposes of replacing the bulb 18, or other lighting elements, is only provided through the open lower end of the housing.

The open lower end of the light housing of a recessed lighting fixture such as fixture 11 is conventionally closed by a diffuser element 21. To facilitate mounting of the diffuser there is typically provided a mounting ring 22 having inwardly and outwardly projecting annular flanges 23 and 24 adjacent its lower end. The diffuser is provided with an outwardly flared annular flange 26 which is secured upon the inwardly projecting flange 23 of the mounting ring. The mounting ring may be positioned with its upper end concentrically within the open lower end of the housing 12, at which time the diffuser closes the housing and the outwardly projecting flange 24 of the ring flushly engages the ceiling about opening 16. As a result the light housing and opening are neatly obscured from view.

In accordance with the particularly salient aspects of the present invention, retention of the diffuser element, 21 in the above-noted closing relation to the open end of the light housing 12 is facilitated by means of a spring toggle retaining mechanism of unique design. Unlike previous rather elaborate diffuser retention arrangements, the spring toggle retention mechanism is extremely simple and yet very effectively performs the desired function of retaining the diffuser in closing relation to the open end of the light housing while providing for supported movement of the diffuser to a position displaced from the housing wherein the diffuser may be pivoted to permit access to the housing interior. More particularly, the spring toggle retention mechanism generally includes a pair of brackets respectively having one end pivotally connected at opposed points of the interior of the housing for movement about substantially tangential axes. In some applications, the brackets may be substantially planar. However, in the present case, the free ends of the brackets are preferably provided with angularly directed portions 28 which project inwardly when the brackets are in downwardly pivoted positions of engagement with the housing interior subjacent the pivot axes of the brackets, as best shown in FIGURE 2. Resilient strip members 29 are connected between the free ends of the brackets and the diffuser. In this regard the connecting points 31 of the resilient members to the brackets are inwardly spaced from their connecting points 32 to the diffuser when the brackets are in their downwardly pivoted positions. In addition, the connections 32 between the resilient members and the diffuser are pivotal. Thus, in response to the application of upward force to the diffuser, the force is transmitted through the resilient members to the brackets and operates to pivot same upwardly. As the brackets pivot, the resilient members are initially flexed inwardly and therefore resiliently exert outwardly directed restoring forces upon the free ends of the brackets. Finally, at some point in the upward pivotal movements of the brackets, i.e., beyond theirdead center positions, the restoring forces are appropriately directed with respect to the brackets to hold same in upwardly pivoted equilibrium positions as depicted in FIGURE 1. In these equilibrium positions of the brackets, the diffuser is resiliently retained in closing relation t2 the lamp housing. Downward force applied to the diffuser opposes the resilient retaining forces of the resilient members andis effective to pivot the brackets downwardly. At some point in the downward pivotal movements of the brackets, again beyond their dead center positions, the resilient forces exerted by the resilient members upon the brackets are appropriately directed to aid the downward pivotal movement. The brackets thereafter assume their downwardly pivoted positions of engagement with the interior of the lamp housing, at which time the resilient members depend from the brackets. The brackets and resilient members thus suspend the diffuser from the lamp housing in a downwardly displaced position relative thereto, and therefore to the ceiling 14 in which the housing is recessed. In this downwardly displaced position, the diffuser may be pivoted with respect to the resilient members, away 4 from the housing, as indicated in FIGURE 3, to thereby permit access to its interior.

Considering now the spring toggle retention mechanism in greater detail as to the structural form thereof depicted in the embodiment of FIGURES 13, it is to be first noted that the angularly directed portion 28 of each. bracket 27 is rightangularly directed with respect to the remainder of the bracket. In addition, each bracket is preferably of 'U-shaped configuration, the end portion containing the web being bent at right angles to a plane through the parallel side legs of the bracket to thereby define the angularly directed portion 28. The ends of the side legs are bent right angularly outward in the plane of the side legs to define pivot pins 33. The pins are rotatably received in opposed tangential channels 34 formed in the peripheral wall of the light housing. Preferably a plurality of sets of the channels 34 are provided at longitudinally spaced positions of the housing to facilitate adjustability of the fixture to ceilings of varied thickness, as will be subsequently explained.

The resilient strip members 29 are preferably in the form of flat leaf springs. End attachment of the leaf springs to the U-shaped brackets 27 is then accomplished as by means of hinge clips 36 extending around the webs of the brackets into juxtaposition with the opposite sides of the springs and secured thereto as by means of rivets 37. The opposite ends of the leaf springs are pivotally connected to diametrically opposed points of the diffuser mounting ring as by means of rivets 38.

With the spring toggle retention means provided in the form just described and the housing mounted in recessed position with respect to the ceiling 14, the pivot pins 33 of the brackets 27 are inserted in one of the sets of channels 34. In this regard, the set of channels selected is that for which the flange 24 of the diffuser mounting ring engages the ceiling when the brackets are in upwardly pivoted position. In the illustrated case the uppermost set of channels receive the pins, however if the ceiling were thicker a lower set of the channels would be employed. In this regard, tht U-sh-aped brackets are sufficiently resilient that the side legs thereof may be depressed to retract the pins from one set of channels. With the side legs still depressed,'the brackets may be positioned with the pins opposite another set of the channels, and the side legs then released to permit them to resiliently spring outward to engage the pins in the channels. With the spring toggle retention mechanism thus adjusted to the particular thickness of the ceiling 14, operation of the mechanism is in the manner previously described. To gain access to the housing interior, the diffuser mounting ring is merely pulled downward and pivoted away from the housing to the position illustrated in FIGURE 3. To reposition the mounting ring in engagement with the ceiling and the diffuser in closing relation to the housing, the mounting ring is merely urged upward, whereupon the spring toggle mechanism resiliently retains the ring and diffuser in such positions.

Referring now to FIGURES 46, a slightly modified form of the, spring toggle diffuser retention mechanism is illustrated as being applied to a light fixture wherein the light housing is of rectangular cross section. In the instant embodiment like primed numerals are employed to refer to elements which are similar to those of the embodiment of FIGURES 1-3. More particularly, the fixtu-re 11' includesa rectangular light housing 12" having a rectangular base plate 39 which extends outwardly beyond the side walls of the housing to thereby define an outwardly flared rectangular support flange 13'. The base plate is provided with a central opening 41 circumscribed by a depending flange 42. The flange 42 is arranged to extend through an opening 16' of a ceiling 14' with the flange 13' engaging the upper surface of the ceiling to support the housing in recessed position. Although the opening 41, flange42, and-ceiling opening 16 are illustrated as being circular, they may of course be of other configurations such as rectangular. The housing 12' is equipped with a socket 17 for receiving a light bulb 18', and a junction box 19 which in the present instance is mounted upon one side wall of the housing.

The fixture 11' further includes a diffuser 21 secured within amounting ring 22' having inwardly and outwardly flared annular flanges 23 and 24, the former supporting the diffuser and the latter being adapted to engage the ceiling 14' about opening 16'. The assembly of mounting ring and diffuser is secured to the housing 12' by a spring toggle retention mechanism which is generally similar to that employed in the embodiment of FIGURES 1-3. More particularly, the retention mechanism includes U-shaped brackets 27' having angularly directed portions 28 at the web ends thereof and pivot pins 33' at the ends of the parallel side legs thereof. In the present embodiment the portions 28 are at obtuse angles to the side legs of the bracket rather than at right angles thereto, as in the case of the previously described embodiment. Leaf springs 29 are secured to the webs of the brackets by means of hinge clips 36' and rivets 37'. These leaf springs are pivotally connected to diametrically opposed points of mounting ring 22' by means of rivets 38'. Thus, it will be appreciatedthat except for the angular orientations of bracket portions 28', the toggle mechanism is the same as that employed ni the previously described embodiment. One significant departure from the previous embodiment resides, however, in the means employed to facilitate pivotal connection of the. brackets 28 to the housing 12' at varied longitudinal positions of accommodation toceilings of different thickness. More particularly, in the embodiment of FIGURES 4-6, longitudinally extending channels 43 are secured to the inner wall of flange 42 at diametrically opposed positions thereof. The parallel side legs of the channel project inwardly into the opening 41, and sets of aligned.- apertures 44 are provided through the side legs at longitudinally spaced position. These apertures serve to receive the pivot pins 33 of the brackets, and adjustment of the toggle mechanism to ceilings of different thickness is thus facilitated by the selection of an appropriate set of apertures to receive the pins. With the brackets once pivotally mounted in a set of the channel apertures, operation of the spring toggle mechanism to move the mounting ring 22' and diffuser 21' between the closed and open positions depicted in FIGURES 4 and 6, is the same as that previously described with respect to the embodiment of FIGURES 1-3.

Various departures from the specific spring toggle arrangements and fixture structures described hereinbefore are of course possible. In this regard, the leaf springs 29 (or 29) may be connected to the brackets 27 (or 27') in the manner depicted in FIGURE 7, rather than by means of the hinge clips 36 (or 36). More particularly, each leaf spring 29 may be formed with a tab 46 projecting longitudinally from the end thereof which is to be secured to the bracket. A clip 47 including a planar portion 48 and arcuate portion 49 curving substantially right angularly away from the planar portion and then returning through the plane of the portion 48 in spaced relation thereto, may then be employed to facilitate connection between the spring and bracket, In this regard, the arcuate portion of the clip is provided with a slot 51 for receiving the spring tab 46 and the planar portion and spring are provided with registering apertures for receiving a rivet 52, or equivalent fastener. The planar portion of the clip and the spring are thus juxtaposed and secured together by means of the rivet 52, with the areaate portion 49 extending about the web of the bracket and the tab 46 engaging the slot 51.

Although the fixtures 11, 11' described hereinbefore include diffuser mounting frames, such as the mounting rings 22, 22', with the spring toggle retention mechanism secured thereto, under some circumstances mounting frames are not provided and it is then necessary that the spring toggle retention mechanism be secured directly to the diffuser. This is preferably accomplished as illustrated in FIGURE 8, wherein the spring toggle mechanism is employed in connection with a diffuser globe 53 of a type having a lower wall 54 and upstanding marginal side wall 56 terminating in an upper wall 57 extending inwardly to a neck 58 circumscribing a central opening. Securance of the spring toggle mechanism to the globe 53 is facilitated by means of a spring clip 59 pivotally secured to each leaf spring 29 of the toggle and extending about the neck 58 outwardly into resilient engagement with the underside of the upper wall 57. The clip 59 is of resilient material and includes a planar leg portion 61 for pivotal connection to the leaf spring 29 as by means of a rivet 62. A foot portion 63 extends right angularly from the leg portion and terminates in a loop portion 64 curving away from the foot portion and recurving to a position subjacent same. The foot portion of the clip is adapted to en? gage the top surface of upper Wall 57 adjacent the neck 58, while the loop portion 64 is adapted to extend over 7 the neck and through the opening of the globe, the free end of the loop portion then extending outwardly to resiliently engage the underside of the wall 57. It will be appreciated that with such a configuration of clip 59, the gripping force exerted by the clip upon the globe increases during movement thereof between closed and open positions. More particularly, the direction of spring loading of the clip due to the spring 29 being inwardly flexed at its upper end during movement of the diffuser globe between closed and open positions is such as to urge the clip into tighter engagement with the globe. In this manner, there is no danger of the globe being released during its movement.

What is claimed is:

1. A light fixture comprising a light housing having an open end, a diffuser adapted for closing relation to said open end, a pair of brackets respectively having one end pivotally connected at opposed points of the interior of said housing adjacent said open end, and a pair of resilient strip members respectively secured to the free ends of said brackets and pivotally coupled to said diffuser for retaining said brackets in first equilibrium positions wherein said difi'user is disposed adjacent the open end of said housingin closing relation thereto and second equilibrium positions wherein said diffuser is displaced from said open end, said brackets being pivotal between said first and second equilibrium positions against the resilient forces of said strip members beyond dead center positions of said strip members whereat the direction of said forces reverse,

said brackets having pivot pins and means for journalling said pins at a plurality of selective longitudinally spaced positions of said housing.

2. A light fixture comprising a light housing having an open end, diffuser mounting means disposed adjacent the open end of said housing, a pair of U-shaped brackets each having outwardly turned pin portions at the ends of the side legs thereof in the plane of said side legs, said brackets each having a Web end portion angularly di rected from the plane of said side legs, means carried by said housing for journalling the pins of said brackets respectively at opposed points of the interior of said housing adjacent the open end thereof, said angularly directed web end portions of said brackets projecting inwardly when the side legs thereof are disposed in parallel adjacent relation to portions of the housing between the open end thereof and the pivot points of the brackets, and a pair of leaf springs respectively secured at one end to the webs of said brackets and pivotally connected at the other end to said diffuser mounting means.

3. A light fixture according to claim 2, wherein said means for journalling the pins of said brackets comprise one of a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart sets of opposed channels formed in the peripheral wall of said housing at each of a pair of opposed portions thereof.

4, A light fixture accordingto claim 2, wherein said means for journalling the pins of said brackets comprise a pairof longitudinally oriented channel members secured at opposed points of the interior wall of said housing in inwardly facing relation, the side legs of each channel member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced aligned sets of apertures, said pins of the respective brackets en-, gaging one of said sets of apertures of said channel members.

5. A light fixture comprising a cylindrical light housing having a closed end and an open end, said housing having a plurality of sets of opposed substantially tangential channels at longitudinally spaced positions of each of a pair of diametrically opposed interior wall portions of the housing adjacent the open end thereof, a pair of U- shaped brackets each having outwardly turned pin portions at the ends of the side legs thereof in the plane of said side legs, said brackets each having a web end portion directed at right angles to the plane of said side legs, said pins of the respective brackets rotatably disposed in corresponding ones of said sets of channels at said opposed interior wall portions of said housing, said web end portions of said brackets projecting inwardly when the side legs thereof are disposed in parallel adjacent relation to portions of the housing between the open end thereof and said channels, a pair of leaf springs respectively secured at one end to the webs of said brackets, a diffuser mounting ring, said springs pivotally connected at their free ends to diametrically opposed points of said ring, and a diffuser secured within said ring.

6. A light fixture comprising a rectangular light housing closed at one end and having a base plate at the other end with a central opening circumscribed by a lon-- gitudinally outwardly projecting flange, a pair of longitudinal channel members secured at opposed points of the inner periphery of said flange in inwardly facing relation, the side legs of each channel member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced aligned sets of apertures, a pair of U-shaped-brackets each having outwardly turned pin portions at the ends of the side legs thereof in the plane of said side legs, said brackets each having a Web'end portion directed at an obtuse angle to the planetof said side legs, said pins of the respective brackets rotatably disposed in corresponding ones of said sets of apertures of said channel members, said Web end portions of said brackets projecting inwardly when the side legs thereof are disposed in parallel adjacent relationto portions of said channel members between the outer ends thereof and ends to'opposed points of said frame, and a difiuser secured within said. frame.

7. A light fixture comprising a light housing having an open end, a d'fiuser adapted forclosing relation to said open end, a pair of U-shaped brackets pivotally connected at their free ends to opposed points of the interiorof said housing adjacent said open end, a pair of leaf springs each having a tab projecting longitudinally from one end thereof, and a pair of clips, said clips each includinga planar portion and an arcuate portion curving substantially right angularly away from the planar portion and then returning through the plane of the planar portion in spaced relation thereto, said arcuate portion having a slot therethrough, said clips respectively-having their planar portions secured to said leaf springs and their arcuate portions extending about the Webs of said brackets with said tabs engaging said slots, said leaf springs having their free ends pivotally coupled to said diffuser.

8. A light fixture comprising a light housing having an open end, a diffuser globe adapted for closing relation to, said open end, said globe having a lower wall and upsaid apertures, a pair of leaf springs respectively secured at one end to the webs of said brackets, a diffuser mounting frame, said springs pivotally connected at their free standing marginal side wall terminating in an upper wall extending inwardly to a neck circumscribing a central opening, a pair of brackets respectively having one end pivotally connected at opposed points of the interior of said housing adjacent said open end thereof, said brackets having angularly inwardly directed free ends, a pair of leaf springs respectively secured tothe free ends of said brackets, and a pair of spring clips each including a planar leg portion and foot portion extending right angularly from the leg portion terminating in a loop portion curving away from the foot portion and recurving to a position subjacent same, said clips respectively having their leg portions pivotally secured to the free ends of said springs and their foot portions engaging the top surface of said upper wall of said globe adjacent the neck thereof, said loop portions of said clips extending over said neck and through the opening of said globe outwardly into engagement with the bottom surface of said upper wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,806,726 9/1957 Broberg 240-146 XR 2,826,684 3/1958 Baker 240-147 XR' 3,029,335 4/1962 Jones 240-147 3,052,372 9/1962 Shepherd 240-147 3,099,404 7/ 1963 Kraufman et a1. 240--147 XR 3,142,447 7/1964 Bodian 240-147 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

C. C. LOGAN, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A LIGHT FIXTURE COMPRISING A LIGHT HOUSING HAVING AN OPEN END, A DIFFUSER ADAPTED FOR CLOSING RELATION TO SAID OPEN END, A PAIR OF BRACKETS RESPECTIVELY HAVING ONE END PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT OPPOSED POINTS OF THE INTERIOR OF SAID HOUSING ADJACENT SAID OPEN END, AND A PAIR OF RESILIENT STRIP MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY SECURED TO THE FREE ENDS OF SAID BRACKETS AND PIVOTALLY COUPLED TO SAID DIFFUSER FOR RETAINING SAID BRACKETS IN FIRST EQUILIBRIUM POSITIONS WHEREIN SAID DIFFUSER IS DISPOSED ADJACENT THE OPEN END OF SAID HOUSING IN CLOSING RELATION THERETO AND SECOND EQUILIBRIUM POSITIONS WHEREIN SAID DIFFUSER IS DISPLACED FROM SAID OPEN END, SAID BRACKETS BEING PIVOTAL BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND EQUILIBRIUM POSITIONS AGAINST THE RESILIENT FORCES OF SAID STRIP MEMBERS BEYOND DEAD CENTER POSITIONS OF SAID STRIP MEMBERS WHEREAST THE DIRECTION OF SAID FORCES REVERSE, SAID BRACKETS HAVING PIVOT PINS AND MEANS FOR JOURNALLING SAID PINS AT A PLURALITY OF SELECTIVE LONGITUDINALLY SPACED POSITIONS OF SAID HOUSING.

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