US2825798A - Fluorescent lighting fixture - Google Patents

Description

March 4, 1958 A. E. ZINGONE 2,825,798

FLUORESCENT LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed May 14, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR.

' ATTOENEYS ANTHONY azmeows I March 4, 1958 A. E. ZINGONE 2,825,798

FLUORESCENT LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed May 14, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 T I I I I I I I I I I 3. V E mm mm mm IN VEN TOR. ANTHONY E. ZINGONE ATTORNEYS h L III I IIIIIII ilnited States Patent FLUORESCENT LIGHTING FIXTURE Anthony E. Zingone, Massapequa, N. Y., assiguor to Nee-Ray Products, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 14, 1956, Serial No. 584,765

2 Claims. (Cl. Mil-51.11)

This invention relates to fighting fixtures and while not limited thereto, has specific reference to an improved construction of fluorescent fixture housing.

An object of the invention is to provide a lighting fixture housing having a light transmitting shield supported by the housing so as to surround the bottom and opposite sides of the fluorescent tubes and which shield is closed at its ends by end shields interfitting therewith and removably carried by the housing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a light transmitting shield which has hooked engagement with opposite sides of the lighting fixture and which is retained in position thereon by the interfitting engagement therewith of the end shields whereby the end shields may be removed and the light transmitting shield unhooked from either side of the lighting fixture for gaining access to the fluorescent tubes carried by the fixture.

The invention also has in view a lighting fixture which is of elongated or continuous formation having a plurality of light transmitting shields disposed in end to end relation in hooked engagement therewith whereby any one of the light transmitting panels may be unhooked from either side of the housing for gaining access to the fluorescent tubes.

Still another object of the invention is to connect the end shields with the housing by means of spring prongs adapted to engage through openings in the end walls of the housing and to resiliently engage clips carried by the housing for releasably retaining the end shield in closing relation with the ends of the light transmitting shield.

Still another object of the invention is to provide spring means carried by the housing and extending into overlying relation with the hooked ends of the light transmitting shield for tensioning the same into hooked engagement with the housing and which permits of the upward movement of the sides of the light transmitting housing against the tension of said spring for unhooking the light transmitting shield from the housing.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a lighting fixture showing the housing, light transmitting shield and end shields shown in separated juxtaposition and with the central portion of the housing and light transmitting shield broken away.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken approximately on line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the lighting fixture housing is of general rectangular formation having a top wall 11, opposite side walls 12 and 13 and opposite end walls 14 and 15. Secured to the bottom of the housing and extending longitudinally thereof is a support 16 for a plurality of fluorescent tubes 17 which extends substanice tially the full length of the housing. The fluorescent tubes 17 are enclosed within a light transmitting shield 18 which is of general U-shaped formation in cross section covering the opposite sides and the bottom ofthe tubes. End shields 19 are provided for covering the ends of the tubes.

The side walls 12 and 13 of the housing extend inwardly as at 20 and thence downwardly to provide the wall portion 21 on each side and thence outwardly to provide a horizontal wall 22 on each side with an upstanding rim 23 extending longitudinally of the housing at the outer edges of the wall portions 22. The side Walls thus formed provide a longitudinally extending recess 24 at each side of the housing.

The light transmitting shield 18 is supported by the housing so that the same may be removed for gaining access to the fluorescent tubes and the end shields 19 fit over the ends of the light transmitting shield and have latching engagement with the housing for releasably securing the same in position thereon. The light transmitting shield is formed with inward curved upper ends 26 on each side which are adapted to hook over the upstanding rims 23 to thereby support the said shields in depending relation on the housing. The curved ends 26 are retained in engagement with the rims 23 against unintentional or accidental displacement by means of spring straps 28 located adjacent the opposite ends of the housing with the ends 29 of the straps extending through openings 30 in the wall portions 21 and into overlying relation with the curved upper ends 26 of the shield. The straps 28 are formed with a medial U-shaped portion 31 which is riveted or otherwise secured as at 32 to the top wall 11 of the housing and with the ends 29 extending outwardly from the lower ends of said U- shaped portion' The shield 18 is fashioned of any desired light transmitting material such as synthetic plastics which are of a character to permit of the flexing of the side walls outwardly as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings in order to position the curved ends 26 into overlying relation with the rims 23. It is to be understood that the resiliency of the shield functions to retain the curved upper ends in normal inward position overlying the said rims.

The ends of the shield 18 are closed by the end shields 19 which are provided with inwardly directed peripheral flanges 34 adapted to telescopically engage over the opposite end portions of the light transmitting shield 18. The end shields 19 have latching engagement with the housing 10 to thereby retain the flanges 34 in telescopic engagement with the shield 18 and prevent removal thereof until the end shields are released from said latched engagement. For this purpose the end shields 19 are each provided with spring tongues 35 each having an angulated offset 36 adapted to slidably engage a correspondingly angulated keeper 37 secured to the inside face of an end wall of the housing at one side of an opening 38 therein into which the spring tongue is inserted into latched engagement with the keeper 37. As illustrated, the spring tongues 35 may be formed of flat spring straps 39 welded or otherwise affixed to the inside faces of the end shields 19 respectively with the spring tongues normally extending outwardly in diverging relation whereby the tongues are tensioned against the keepers 37 when in latching engagement therewith.

It will be understood that when the end shields 19 are pulled outwardly, the oifset portions 36 will be cammed to one side of the keepers to release the same therefrom in order to free the shields 19 from engagement with the light transmitting shield 18 whereby the shield 18 may be released at one side from the upstanding rim 23 and swung downwardly or removed for gaining access to the lighting elements.

' 3 'Ihe.'lighting fixture may be secured in any desired manner totheunder side of a. ceiling and for this purpose the same may be attached to the overhead structure by securing means engagingthrough openings 40 in the top, wall of the' housing; .While the preferred form of the invention is shown and ing an outwardly directed longitudinally extending wall portion at each side terminating in an upwardly directed rim, a light transmitting shield adapted to cover the bottom and sides of said lighting element, said shield having inwardly directed longitudinally extending upper edge portions -at the opposite sides thereof adapted to hook over said rims for supporting the shield on said housing, said shield being sufliciently resilient to permit of the outward flexingof said opposite upper edge portions into and out of overlying relation with saidrims, and end shields having peripheral flanges for telescopic engagement with the end, portions of said first mentioned shield and having spring latches adapted to engage keeper means carried by. saidhousing for releasably securing said end shields in engagement with the first mentioned shield.

- 2. In a lighting fixture, a housing having opposite side and end walls,'means' carried by said housing for supporting a lighting element therebelow, said housing having an outwardly directed longitudinally extending wall portion at each side terminating in an upwardly directed rim, 2. light transmitting shield adapted to cover the bottom and sides of said lighting element, said shield having inwardly directed longitudinally extending upper edge portions at the opposite sides thereof adapted to hook over said rims for supporting the shield on said housing, spring straps carried by saidvhousing and extending outwardly into overlying relation with the upper edge portions of said shield for resiliently retaining said shield in engagement with said rims, said shield being sufliciently resilient to permit of the outward flexing of said opposite upper edge portions into and out of overlying relation with said rims, and end shields having peripheral flanges for telescopic engagement with the ends portions of said first mentioned shield and having spring, latches adapted to engage'kee'per means carried bylsaid housing for releasably securing said end shields in engagement with the first mentioned shield.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,319,732 2,643,328 Elmendorf June 23, 1953 2,694,775 Florence Nov. 16, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS r 703,258 "Great Britain Feb. 3,1954

Guth May 18, 1943

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