Illumination – Supports – Ceiling-suspended support
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-03
2001-11-06
O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Supports
Ceiling-suspended support
C362S147000, C362S404000, C248S324000, C248S343000, C248S344000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06312146
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for hanging a lamp and more particularly pertains to positioning a hanging lamp at any one of a plurality of locations with respect to a fixed electrical box in the ceiling.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of hanging systems for lamps of known designs and configurations is known in the prior art. More specifically, hanging systems for lamps of known designs and configurations previously devised and utilized for the purpose of suspending lamps from ceiling at any of a plurality of positions are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,561,719 to Grindle discloses a light fixture support. U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,660 to Dunckel discloses a lighting fixture hanger. U.S. Pat. No. 3,597,889 to Lo Nigro discloses a junction box suspension unit for suspended ceilings. U.S. Pat. No. 3,714,744 to Koziarz discloses an electrical fixture hanger. U.S. Pat. No. 4,114,327 to Williams discloses a light fixture support. U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,393 to Ryan discloses a hanger assembly method and apparatus. U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,026 to Dschamps et al. discloses an electrical fixture hanger. U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,114 to Stanton et al. discloses a lighting fixture. U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,600 to Weiss et al. discloses a universal quick connect hanger for suspending a lighting system. U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,737 to Kusmer discloses a modular recessed lighting system. U.S. Pat. No. 5,606,147 to Deschamps et al discloses an electrical outlet box for hanging an electrical fixture. U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,394 to Mandy discloses down lighting systems and fixtures thereof. Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,939,671 to Gretz discloses a ceiling medallion assembly.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a system for hanging a lamp that allows positioning a hanging lamp at any one of a plurality of locations with respect to a fixed electrical box in the ceiling.
In this respect, the system for hanging a lamp according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of positioning a hanging lamp at any one of a plurality of locations with respect to a fixed electrical box in the ceiling.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved system for hanging a lamp which can be adjustably positioned in a convenient manner. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of hanging systems for lamps of known designs and configurations now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved system for hanging a lamp. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved system for hanging a lamp and method which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a new and improved system for hanging a lamp from a ceiling at any of a plurality of location. The system includes an electrical box positioned at a fixed location in a ceiling. A fixed aperture in the box faces downwardly from the box and is in alignment with a fixed aperture in the ceiling. A mounting plate is next provided. The mounting plate is in a circular configuration and has an exterior diameter sufficiently large to cover and be positioned over the entire apertures of the box and ceiling. A circular central aperture is provided through the mounting plate and four holes are provided adjacent to the periphery. Four short screws extend through the mounting plate adjacent to the periphery and into the ceiling. In this manner the mounting plate is secured with respect to the electrical box.
Next provided is a slip plate. The slip plate is formed in a circular configuration and has a large exterior diameter, about three times greater than the diameter of the mounting plate. The slip plate is formed with a slot. The slot extends through the slip plate along the majority of one diametric extent. The slot has a small width essentially equal to the diameter of the central aperture of the mounting plate and a length slightly less than the exterior diameter of the slip plate. A small washer is next provided. The small washer is fabricated of an elastomeric material and is located between the slip plate and the mounting plate. The washer has an exterior diameter less than that of the mounting plate. A central aperture is provided through the washer essentially equal to the diameter of the central aperture of the mounting plate and the width of the slot. Next provided is a flanged cylinder. The flanged cylinder has a cylindrical central extent with a length essentially equal to the total combined thickness of the mounting plate, washer, and slide plate. The flanged cylinder extends through the mounting plate, washer and slide plate. The flanged cylinder has a central bore for the passage of electrical wires from the box to a supported lamp. The flanged cylinder also has a flanged interior upper end located above and in contact with the mounting plate. The cylinder also has a flanged exterior end in contact with the slip plate. The flanged cylinder is adapted to allow the slip plate to be moved linearly with respect to the mounting plate and box and also to be rotated with respect to the mounting plate and box. Lastly, a medallion cover is provided. The cover is in a circular configuration with an exterior diameter greater than that of the slip plate and positionable in contact with the ceiling. The cover has an intermediate internal shoulder for removably receiving the periphery of the slip plate for a snap-on removably coupling with respect thereto. The cover also has a central aperture with internal threads for supporting a lamp there beneath.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved system for hanging a lamp which has all of the advantages of the prior art hanging systems for lamps of known designs and configurations and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved system for hanging a lamp whi
Lee Guiyoung
O'Shea Sandra
LandOfFree
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