US2744191A - Downlight and hinge assembly therefor - Google Patents

Description

May 1, 1956 R RENAUD ET AL l 2,744,191

DOWNLIGHT AND HINGE ASSEMBLY THEREFOR Filed May 1l, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l THE/H ATTORNEYS May l,

Filed May l1, 1953 R. J. RENAUD ETAL DOWNLIGHT AND HINGE ASSEMBLY THEREFOR 5 Sheets-Shea t 2 THE/f? ATTORNEYS May 1, 1956 R J, RENAUD ETAL DOWNLIGHT AND HINGE ASSEMBLY THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 11, 1953 s .d /Wy s E mw .N Tnkn N60 0 i fw l mmwfm n H 0./ Rwr BY M in the edge of the frame adjacent the spring catch 22 and pulls downwardly to pull the spring catch 22 over the ball stud 23. This throws -all of the weight of the lens frame and lens onto the springs 12 and 13 so that, as shown in Figure 7, the frame drops downwardly a short distance from the plaster 7 and from the flange Sa. The frame then pivots on the pivot pins 16 as shown in Figure 8. When the frame turns on the pins 16, webs 25 extending inwardly from the edge of the frame and having a curved top bearing surface 25a strike the -outer edge of the llange a. As the frame continues to turn on the pivot pins 16, the bearing surfaces a of the webs 25 ride up over the edge of the tlange 5a and thereby force the frame downwardly. The frame is turned until it is substantially vertical as shown in Figure 9, in which position it is held by the springs 12 and 13 with the extreme outer edge of the frame pressing against the ange 5a. The edge of the frame which rides up over the flange 5a is reinforced by increasing its thickness as shown at 26 in Figure 3.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that we have invented a recessed downlight having a lens frame which is ush with the plaster of the ceiling in which it is recessed. The frame has a smooth unbroken appearance with no hinges, catches or thumb screws showing, and it can be pivoted away from the housing to provide access to the housing simply by pulling on one edge of the frame. The hinge assembly which we have invented, while wholly effective, is of simple construction and is easily manu factured.

While we have described certain present preferred embodiments of our inventions, it is to be understood that they may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A downlight comprising fa housing having an open end, a lens frame at the open end of the housing, two leaf springs spaced from each other and extending generally parallel to each other and each secured at one end to said housing adjacent the bottom of the housing when the downlight is installed for use, the other ends of said springs extending in the same direction from the fixed ends and beneath and pivotally engaging portions of the lens frame spaced inwardly from an edge of the frame.

2. A downlight comprising a housing having an open end, said housing having a flange extending outwardly from the housing at said open end, a lens frame adapted to cover said flange, two leaf springs spaced from each other and each secured at one end to the housing, the other ends of said springs extending in the same direction from the fixed ends and beneath and pivotally engaging portions of said frame adjacent to and spaced inwardly from an edge of the frame and outside the open end of the housing, the pivot points of the frame being so spaced from the edge of the frame that when the frame -is turned to open the rdownlight the edge of the frame engages and rides over the flange on the housing.

3. A downlight comprising a housing having an open end, said housing having a flange extending outwardly from the housing at said open end, a lens frame adapted to cover said ange, two leaf springs spaced from and extending parallel to each other and secured at one of their ends to the flange and having hooks at their other ends engaging pivot pins in the frame, said hooks extending from the fixed ends in the same direction, said springs resiliently pressing the frame towards the housing, said pins being positioned on the frame between an edge of the frame and the open end of the housing, bearing surfaces on -the frame extending inwardly from the edge of the frame adjacent the pins, said bearing surfaces contacting and riding over the portion of the flange adjacent the pivot pins when .the frame is pivoted about the end of the spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 534,012 Saunders Feb. 12, 1895 1,424,431 Agee Aug. 1,1922 1,478,473 Herron Dec. 25, 1923 1,483,367 Matthes Feb. 12,1924 1,716,038 Ferris June 4, 1929 2,327,552 Poehling Aug. 24,1943 2,434,108 Handler Jan. 6,1948 2,639,368 Pryne May 19, 1953 2,684,498 Zingone July 27, 1954

Images