Patent · US Active

Hanger bar for recessed lighting fixtures

US8177176B2 · kind B2 · utility

42Cited by
10References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 12, 2009
Grant dateMay 15, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 26, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S248/906
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A hanger bar for supporting a recessed light fixture is attachable to ceiling joists or a T-bar grid of a drop down ceiling. First and second bars of the hanger bar slide and telescope. First and second spring clips are detachably coupled to the brackets at the ends of the first and second bars, respectively. Each of the first and second clips has a pair of downwardly extending arms bent inwardly toward one another, a first leg extending from a first arm, a second leg extending from a second arm, and an outwardly-extending foot on the second leg. The spring clips snap on to the T-bar grid. Each bracket includes a nail that is angled away from the hanger bar and downward so that the nail head is below the level of the hanger bar. The angled nails enable easy hammer strikes to attach the hanger bar to ceiling joists without accidental hammer blows to the hanger bar. The bracket may be discrete from the hanger bar but attached via tox clinching or a tab pass-through attachment.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.