Joints and connections – Interfitted members – Lugged member – rotary engagement
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-23
2004-01-20
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3679)
Joints and connections
Interfitted members
Lugged member, rotary engagement
C403SDIG004, C362S365000, C362S147000, C439S314000, C439S335000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06679647
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to electrical fixtures and fasteners for attaching such fixtures to stable structures. In another aspect, the invention relates to a quick-connect system for coupling a light fixture, such as a sconce, to a standard electrical J-box.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional light fixtures supported on vertical walls (e.g., sconces) are typically attached to the walls via standard J-boxes.
FIG. 1
shows a conventional sconce
10
, J-box
12
, and attachment means
14
. The J-box
12
is typically rigidly coupled to wall studs during electrical wiring of the structure. Electrical source wires
16
extend through an opening in a side wall of the J-box
12
. To attach the sconce
10
to the J-box
12
, a threaded tip
18
of an arm
20
of the sconce
10
is extended through an opening
22
in a back plate
24
and threaded into a first end
26
of a hickey
28
. The arm
20
is then secured to the first end
26
of the hickey
28
by threading a hex nut
30
onto the threaded tip
18
and tightening the nut
30
against the inside surface of the first end
26
of the hickey
28
. A threaded nipple
32
can then be threaded into a threaded opening
34
in a back strap
36
and fixed relative to the back strap
36
via a hex nut
38
. The back strap
36
can then be coupled to a pair of protruding tabs
40
of the J-box
12
by extending a pair of screws
42
through a pair of slots
44
in the back strap
36
and into corresponding threaded holes in the tabs
40
. Once the hickey
28
is fixed to the arm
20
and the threaded nipple
32
is fixed to the J-box
12
(via the back strap
36
), electrical supply wires
48
of the sconce
10
can be electrically coupled to the electrical source wires
16
of the J-box
12
. The sconce
10
can then be physically coupled to the J-box
12
by screwing a second end
50
of the hickey
28
onto a portion of the threaded nipple
32
which extends outwardly from the back strap
36
.
A significant disadvantage of the conventional system illustrated in
FIG. 1
is that the entire sconce
10
must be rotated relative to the J-box
12
in order for the hickey
28
to be threaded onto the nipple
32
. Such a configuration causes the electrical wires
16
,
48
to become twisted within the J-box
12
during physical attachment of the sconce
10
to the J-box
12
. Obvious problems (e.g., electrical shorts and fire hazards) are associated with excessive twisting of the electrical wires
16
,
48
in the J-box
12
.
FIG. 2
shows a conventional sconce
100
, J-box
102
, and attachment means
104
similar to those shown in
FIG. 1
, however, the sconce
110
in
FIG. 2
has a back plate
106
which is slidable on the arm
108
of the sconce
100
. This configuration avoids the problem of the electrical wires
110
,
112
twisting in the J-box
102
because the electrical supply wires
112
of the sconce
100
can be connected to the electrical source wires
110
of the J-box
102
after the sconce
100
is fixed to the J-box
102
. Access to the wires
110
,
112
after the sconce
100
is mounted on the J-box
102
is provided by sliding the back plate
106
on the arm
108
away from the J-box
102
. Once the wires
110
,
112
are electrically coupled to one another, the back plate
106
can be slid towards the J-box
102
and fixed to the arm
108
by tightening a set screw
116
in the back plate
114
against an outer surface
118
the arm
108
.
A significant disadvantage of the conventional system illustrated in
FIG. 2
is that such a system requires the length of the arm
108
to be sufficient for allowing the back plate
106
to be slid far enough away from the J-box
102
so that the electrical wires
110
,
112
can be accessed for manual connection to one another. The required minimum length of the sconce arm
108
can be especially disadvantageous in view of building safety restrictions which limit the distance that an object may project from a wall surface. For example, in order to comply with the American's with Disabilities Act (ADA), sconces positioned less than 80 inches above the floor must protrude no more than 4 inches from the wall. This limitation on the length of the sconce arm
108
makes it virtually impossible to slide the back plate
106
far enough away from the J-box
102
to provide access for connecting the electrical wires
112
of the sconce
100
to the electrical wires
110
in the J-box
102
.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system for coupling an electrical fixture to a standard J-box without causing substantial twisting of the electrical wires in the J-box.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a system for mounting a sconce having a short protruding arm adjacent a wall via a standard J-box without causing substantial twisting of the electrical wires in the J-box.
Accordingly, in one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a connector for releasably coupling an electrical fixture to a J-box. The connector generally comprises a female member and a male member. The female member has an inner surface which defines an internal bore. The female member includes at least one connection slot extending into the inner surface. The slot comprises a generally axially extending terminal recess. The male member presents an outer surface which defines a protrusion. The male member includes at least one coupling element extending outwardly from the outer surface. The male and female members are shiftable between a decoupled position wherein the male and female members are separated from one another and a coupled position wherein the protrusion is at least partly received in the internal bore and the coupling element is at least partly received in the terminal recess, thereby inhibiting rotation of the male and female members relative to one another.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention there is provided an electrical fixture mountable adjacent a generally flat surface via a standard J-box. The fixture generally comprises an arm assembly and a quick-connect fastener. The arm assembly is adapted to extend outwardly from the surface when the fixture is mounted adjacent the surface. The quick-connect fastener is adapted to releasably couple the arm assembly to the J-box. The quick-connect fastener generally includes a female member, a male member, and a biasing mechanism. The female member has an inner surface which defines an internal bore. The female member includes a connection slot extending into the inner surface and including a generally axially extending terminal recess. The male member presents an outer surface which defines a protrusion. The male member includes a coupling element extending outwardly from outer the surface. One of the male or female members is coupled to the arm assembly and the other of the male or female members is adapted to be coupled to the J-box. The quick-connect fastener is shiftable between a decoupled position wherein the male and female members are separated and a coupled position wherein the protrusion is at least partly received in the internal bore and the coupling element is held in the terminal recess by the biasing mechanism, thereby inhibiting rotation of the male and female members relative to one another.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention there is provided a sconce mountable on a wall via a conventional J-box. The sconce generally comprises a light bulb socket, an elongated arm, an electrically conductive wire, a back strap, and a quick-connect fastener. The socket is adapted to receive a light bulb. The elongated arm has a distal end coupled to the socket and a proximal end. The arm defines an internal channel extending between the proximal and distal ends. The electrically conductive wire is electrically coupled to the light bulb socket, extends through the internal channel, and projects out of the proximal end of the arm. The ba
Flandro Ryan M.
Hovey & Williams, LLP
Palmer Hargrave, Inc.
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