Ceiling lighting fixture

K. CHAN

CEILING LIGHTING FIXTURE

2,998,511

Aug. 29, 1961

Filed Oct. 31, 1958

Sheets-Sheet 1

FIG. 7

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INVENTOR. Af/A/GSLEY

BY

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Aug. 29, 1961

Filed Oct. 31, 1958

K. CHAN

CEILING LIGHTING FIXTURE

2,998,511

Sheets-Sheet 2

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United States Patent Office

2,998,511

Patented Aug. 29, 1961 • - ¹ 2 998 511 . CEILING LIGHTING FIXTURE

Kingsley Chan, New York, N.Y., assignor to Lightolier, Incorporated, a corporation of New York

Filed Oct. 31,1958, Ser. No. 771,137 4 Claims. (Cl. 240—78)

,. present invention relates to flush mounted ceiling lighting fixtures.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide for flush mounted, ceiling lighting fixture a plaster ring which in correlation with the lighting fixture -frame assures accurate alignment of the face annulus thereof with -a wet or plaster ceiling -for a substantially uninterrupted flush surface with the -absence of the usual objectionable shadow effects, overlaps or exposure to view of fastening devices.

Another object is to provide a plaster ring constituting a simple unitary, sheet metal hoop which shall be useful not only for the installation of a fixture in -a wet or plaster ceiling with the advantages above noted, but shall be -useful as well as the plaster ring for a dry or plasterboard ceiling and this without impairing the conventional positioning of the face -annulus of the lighting fixture relative to such dry or plaster-board ceiling.

In the accompanying drawings in which -are shown one or more of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention, ,^FIG· V^s.^{a vi}.^{ew in lon}S^itudinal cross section showing the installation in a wet or plaster ceiling of a lighting ³⁰fixtuie involving the features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is -a view similar to FIG. 1, showing another embodiment of lighting -fixture with the identical plaster ring, as installed in a dry or plaster-board ceiling, and

FIG. 3 is a perspective of the plaster ring.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a flush type ceiling lighting fixture -which comprises an inverted yoke strap 10 to which is secured by screws 11 the usual socket cover 12 which houses the socket 13 for the lamp 14 and from which protrudes downwardly the lower part of the cylindrical socket collar 15. Adjustably affixed by screws 16 to the yoke 10 is a cylindrical bracket 17. The yoke and; bracket in combination may be designated the frame of the -fixture.

A conventional sheet metal reflector 18 rests on the ⁴⁵flange 19 of the cylindrical socket collar 15.

The face annulus 25 of the fixture may have cemented thereto an -annular gasket 29 of rubber or other resilient material near its outer periphery about which may extend the upstanding narrow peripheral rim 30 of said ⁶⁰-annulus. A stud 28 is welded to the face of -annulus 25 and protrudes through a hole (not shown) in the outstanding peripheral flange 26 of the reflector. A press-nut 27 retains the flange 26 securely -in contact with face annulus 25.

The plaster ring R is shown in perspective in FIG. 3. It consists of a sheet metal hoop or cylinder 20 with an outstanding peripheral flange -21 shown at the lower end thereof with -a downwardly extending lip or rim 22. The hoop, or upstanding wall 20, of the plaster ring is preferably provided with three or more screw holes 32 therein, desirably equally spaced from each other near the unflanged rim 50 and another set of screw holes 23 near the flange 21 for purposes that will appear hereinafter.

The ring R is first secured in position with respect to a joist (not shown) or other structure above the ceiling.

The fixture frame consisting of yoke 10, bracket 17 and plaster ring R pre-assembled to the bracket by screws 31 is put m place with the bracket 17 adjusted to the desired ceiling level. Thereupon the wet plaster ceiling C is applied in relation encompassing the plaster ring

R below the screws 31 and flush with the lower edge of run 22. ⁶

The plaster ring as installed encompasses the lower end of the fixture frame at the adjustable bracket 17, to which ^s^^ured screws 31 extending into the screw holes —. Plaster ring R rests with its outstanding flange 21 upon the upstanding peripheral rim 30 of the face annulus 25 and the downwardly protruding rim 22 of the plaster ring engages and encompasses said rim 30. By this arrangement the face of the face annulus 25 of the fixture will come flush with the rim edge 22 of the plaster ^rlng R and therefore also with the wet or plaster ceiling.

The reflector 18 with its shield collar 35 and its face annulus 25 pre-assembled in place are now introduced, the upper end of the reflector being threaded upon the socket collar 15, the rim 30 of the face annulus engaging the base of the rim 22 of the plaster ring R, so that the rim annulus comes flush with the wet plaster ceiling, a result not accomplished with conventional plaster rings’ The annular gasket 29 affords a dust and light seal and serves also for resilient engagement with respect to the flange 21 of the plaster ring.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2 there is illustratively shown a different type of flush mounted ceiling lighting fixture. Here the fixture frame consists of a unitary inverted sheet metal cup 40. The lamp socket 41 is mounted on cover plate 42', closing an opening in the top of the cup 40 for the socket cover 43 mounted on the cup. The reflector 44, co-axial with the cup 40 is affixed by screws. 44' to the cover plate 42'. The fixture is of type comprising a light control element, illustratively shown as a lens 45 carried by an -annular bracket 46 which is channel-shaped in cross section. The -bracket is welded at its annular base to that portion of face annulus 47 which is of diameter smaller than that of the cup 40. χ, Desirably, the fixture has one or more spring assemblies 48 arranged to facilitate pulling the face annulus 47 and the light control element 45 downwardly as a unit without disassembly from the fixture, for facility in relamping, cleansing or repair. This spring feature is shown as substantially that of the prior Patent No 2 701 299, granted Feb. 1, 1955, to Lightolier, Incorporated.’

The present embodiment is shown installed in a dry or plaster-board ceiling C'. Identically the same plaster ring R, as is shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1, is here preferably used. As shown, it is installed with its unflanged edge 50 substantially engaged by the gasket 51 cemented to the face annulus 47 and its flanged upper portion 52 is above and free from the ceiling and extends outwardly from the fixture frame 40.

For installation of this embodiment the plaster ring R is first secured in position with respect to a joist (not shown) or other structure above the ceiling. Thereupon 55 the entire preassembled fixture frame with the various components therein is put in place, with the face annulus 47 and attached light control element 45 pulled downward or removed for access, to permit introduction and tightening of the screws 53 through screw holes 23 for _eo attaching the fixture frame or cup 40 to the plaster ring R. Thereupon the face plate 47 may be reengaged and pushed upward to seated position against the ceiling as shown. ^a

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 the face annulus 65 comes flush with the plaster ceiling, and the slight Vshaped notch between rim 30 of the face annulus and rim 22 of the plaster ring serves as a reveal to enhance the decorative appearance of the ceiling surface.

It will be seen that the plaster ring structure has special utility for installation, with the face annulus of the fixture, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1, coming flush with a wet or plaster ceiling, an advantage absent from

32.

3,008,611 conventional installations. Identically the same plaster ring structure is however also useful for a dry or plasterboard ceiling installation in the manner shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2. Thus there is no need to carry in stock alternative plaster rings, one for the wet ceiling and another for the dry ceiling installation. The plaster ring of the present construction thus has interchangeable utility, as above described, for flush mounted ceiling fixtures, whether installed in wet or plaster ceilings or in dry or plaster-board ceilings. . 3

While the embodiment of FIG. 1 is shown in a wet or plaster type ceiling and that of FIG. 2 in a dry or plasterboard type ceiling, it will of course be understood that either of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be installed according to the teachings above set forth as desired, in a wet or plaster ceiling or in a dry or plaster board ceiling.

The two types of fixtures disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2 are conventional, except for the construction of the plaster ring of the present invention and its correlation with its associated parts.

The invention will of course be applicable to any of various types of constructions of flush mounted ceiling fixtures, of which the particular embodiments shown in the drawings are more or less typical.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description, or shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.