US2912210A - Fluorescent lighting transformer mounting - Google Patents

Description

G. M. scHRovEDER ET AL 2,912,210

FLUORESCENT LIGHTING TRANSFORMER MOUNTING Nov. 10, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 1, 1954 50 56 U C) /jz Nov. 10, 1959 v G. M. scHRoEDER E1- AL 2,912,210

FLuoREscENT LIGHTmG TRANSFORMER MOUNTING Filed Nov. 1, 1954 3 lSheets-Sheet 2 --5 F155 Ov O i| 1 I il r i* i H li I 1 Il :I i ll l il l r' l l I: I|1| l: l l|| l I I: |e Q i: I@ l' '1, ai: i Wl il: :I l Imi!! TT' 2g l FIC- 1% Nov. 10, 1959 G. M. scHRoEDER ETAL 2,912,210

FLUORESCENT LIGHTING TRANSFORMER MOUNTING Filed Nov. 1, 1954 3 sheets-sheet a.

WM m., y fz/@ United States Pateflit O .FLUORESCENT LIGHTING TRANSFORME MOUNTING George M. Schroeder, Waukegan, Ill., and Albert A.

Schroeder, Bristol, Wis.

This invention relates to fluorescent lighting transformer mountings.

In the art of fluorescent lighting, which lincludes socalled Neon signs, fluorescent tubes are illuminated by current provided by transformers commonly known as fluorescent lighting transformers. Such fluorescent lighting fixtures or so-called signs, may include a sheet metal casing adequately supported upon frameworkv within which or on which one or more and sometimes numerous fluorescent transformers are mounted. It has been the customary practice heretofore to mount these iluorescent transformers upon inner surfaces of the side or bottom walls of the sheet metalA housing or upon angle iron framework inside the housing by means of screws or other fastening elements. However, a serious problem has been encountered in the use of such fluorescent transformer mountings and this problem has resided in the fact that uorescentlighting fixtures or signs are exposed to the weather andthe mounting or fastening means employed for fastening the transformers in position of use corrode and rust with the result that when such fluorescent transformers need repair or replacement, as is rather frequent, it is diilicult for the workman to remove the transformers from their mountings because of the corrosion of the screws and bolts used in mounting them in position for use, and this dilhculty is enhancedby the fact that the workmen commonly have to work on a ladder a substantial distance from the ground in loosening, removing and replacing the transformers.

An object of the present invention is to overcome the diiliculties heretofore experienced in the use of prior fluorescent transformer mountings and to provide an im` proved fluorescent transformer mounting which is so constructed and arranged that the fluorescent transformer may be mounted in position for use in a fluorescent sign by means of the new transformer mounting without the necessity for removing any corroded or rusted bolts or v like fastening elements and with a minimum of time and effort and with a minimum of danger to the workman.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a new and improved fluorescent transformer mounting which is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and which may be used to mount a fluorescent transformer in position of use with a minimum of effort and with a minimum requirement of skill on the part of the workman.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments of the present invention and the principles thereof and what we 'now consider to be the best mode in which we have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same of equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be,

made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention. Y

In thedrawings: -f

m 2,912,210 4 Patented Nov. -1.0,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a fluorescent trnasformr mounted in position of use by means of the new transformer mounting structure;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the new transformer mounting construction shown in Fig.l 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the new transformer mounting construction shown in Figs. l, 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational View thereof;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view, on line 5--5 in Fig. 3, illustrating the construction of certain parts of the new transformer mounting structure shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, including Athe. latching bar embodied therein; g

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of certain parts of the construction shown in Figs.'1to 5, inclusive;

Fig. 7 is a detailed view of certain parts of the construction shown in Figs. 1 to inclusive;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view of a modification of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a sectional plan view on line 9 9 in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view on line 10-10 in Fig. 9; Y

A typical fluorescent transformer unit is indicated at 19 in the drawings, and may be mounted in any desired position within the housing or body of a sign as, for

example, upon a horizontally extending angle iron support 17.

The present invention is particularly concerned with the provision of a novel mounting structure used for mounting iluorescent transformers, such as 19, in position of use in or upon a sign unit.

The fluorescent transformer 19 embodies a housing 20 having oppositely extending supporting legs 21V and 23.

attached thereto, the supporting vleg 21 having a hori-A zontally extending foot portion 22 at the bottom thereof and vthe support leg 23 having a horizontally extending:

'plate 26 of the transformer mounting above the angle iron 17 and in spaced relationship thereto.

The new transformer mounting unit 25 has an upwardly and reversely bent inwardly extending flange 29 formed at one end thereof (Figs. 1-4) and at its other end the base plate 26 has a pair of vertically upwardly extending ears 30 and 31 formed thereon at. oppostesides of the base plate 26. The upstanding ear 30 has a transverse opening 32 former therein and the upstanding ear 31 has a transverse opening 33 formed therein, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the two openings 32 and 33`being registered in horizontal alignment for reasons which will be explained presently.

The new transformer mounting unit 2S includes a latch bar 36 which is adapted to be slidably projected through the registered openings 32 and 33 in the upstanding ears 30 and 31, respectively, and this latch bar 36 has a pair of spaced notches or recesses 35 and 34 formed in the bottom surface thereof which are adopted to register with and to receive upstanding ears or ilanges 34 formed on the upper surface of the base plate 26.

The new mounting structure 25 also Aincludes an arm or extension 37, permanently secured, as by spot welding, to the base plate 26 on the bottom surface thereof.

bolt 39 having a wing head 41 at the top thereof.A

The base plate 26 has a rowof aligned centrally arranged'opening's 43 formed therein and exterdiglongi:

tudinally thereof and the base plate 26 is adapted to be mounted in position of use by inserting bolts 28 through the openings 43 and into corresponding openings in the supporting member 17 the bolts 28 having nuts 29 mounted thereon below the supporting member 17.

In the practice of the present invention the base plate 26 may be mounted in position and used in or upon the sign unit 1G, as, for example, on one of the horizontally extending angle iron supports 17, which may be suitably fastened thereto by inserting the bolts 28 through the openings 43 formed in the base plate 26 and threading the nuts 29 on the bolts 28.

When the base plate is so mounted on the support 17 the supporting feet 27 thereon support it in position of use upon and in spaced relation to the supporting member 17, and in order to mount the transformer unit 19 in position of use, and upon the base plate 26, it is merely necessary to insert the horizontally extending foot 22 of the supporting leg 21 of the transformer unit 19 under the flange 29 of the base plate 26 and to position the foot 24 of the supporting leg 23 upon the other end portion of the base plate 26, as shown in Figs. l and 2. The latch bar 36 may then be inserted into position of use above the horizontally extending foot 24 of the supporting leg 23 of the transformer unit 19 and through the registered openings 32 and 33 in the upstanding ears 3G and 31, respectively, of the base plate 26 (Figs. 5 7). When the parts are so arranged the latch bar 36 may be secured or locked in position of use by inserting the wing head bolt 39-41 into the tapped opening 38 in the arm 37 of the base plate 36 and screwing it into position of use therein by means of the wing head 41 thereon.

When the parts are so arranged the transformer unit 19 is securely and firmly mounted in position of use in the sign unit, by the coaction of the flange 29 and the latch bar 36, while, at the same time being readily removable, therefrom, as will now be explained.

In order to remove the transformer unit 19 from its position in the sign unit, for repair or replacement, it is merely necessary for the Workman to unscrew the bolt 39 by manipulating its wing head 4l so as to Withdraw it from the tapped opening 38 in the arm 37 of the base plate 26, whereupon the latch bar 36 may be manually slid out of the openings 32 and 33 in the opstanding ears 30 and 31 of the base plate 26, thereby permitting the horizontally extending foot 24 of the supporting leg 23 of the transformer to be raised above the base plate 26 and the foot 22 of the supporting leg 21 to be withdrawn from under the llange 29 of the base plate 26, and the transformer unit 19 thus removed from the sign unit for repair or replacement.

It will he noted that in the use of the new transformer mounting unit 25 there is only one fastening bolt employed, namely, the wing head bolt 39-41 and this may be made of brass or similar non-corrosive material to prevent it from becoming corroded in the tapped opening 38 of the arm 37 of the base plate 26. Hence, in the practice of the present invention, there are no ferrous metal bolts necessary or required to support the transformer unit 19 in position of use or to corrode when exposed to the weather with resultant difficulty in removing them, as has been the case in the prior art.

A modification of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 8-10, inclusive, of the drawings, and in this form of the invention those parts embodied therein which are similar to corresponding parts in the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. l to 7 inclusive, have been given the same reference numerals followed by the additional and distinguishing reference character (1.

Thus, the form of the invention shown in Figs. 8-10 inclusive, is similar to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to ll, inclusive, but differs therefrom in that rivets 44 are mounted in the base plate 26a and each of these rivets 44 has a head portion 45 which is adapted to be projected into the enlarged portion d6 of a bayonet slot formed in the latch bar 36a, each bayonet slot also having a restricted throat portion 47.

The foot portion 24a of the supporting leg 23a has ya series of laterally spaced notches or recesses 54 formed therein (Figs. 9 and 10) to receive the rivets 44 and thus enable the said foot portion 24a to 'oe slipped into position of use on the base plate 26a, as shown.

ln the use of the form of the invention shown in Figs. 8 to l0, inclusive of the drawings, the foot portion 24a is inserted upon and parallel to the upper surface of the base plate 26a with the rivets 44 received in the slots 54 in supporting foot 24a, whereupon the latch bar 36a is inserted into position of use with the heads 45 of the rivets 44 being received in the enlarged head portions 46 of the bayonet slots A56-47. The latch bar 36a is then inserted or slid laterally into position so that the rivets 44 extend into the restricted throat portions 47 of the bayonet slots id-47 with the heads 45 of the rivets 44 overlying the upper surface of the latch bar 25a. When the latch bar 25a is so positioned the locking wing head bolt 39a is inserted through the opening 40a in the latch bar 36a and inserted into and through the tapped opening 36a in the arm 37a which is welded or otherwise secured to the base plate 26al at the bottom thereof.

It will be seen from the foregoing description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings that the present invention, provides a new and improved iluorescent transformer mounting having the desirable advantages and characteristics and accomplishing its intended objects including those hereinbefore pointed out and others which are inherent in the invention.

I claim:

l. A supporting device for a transformer or other relatively heavy unit having a pair of supporting feet projecting in opposite directions on the same side thereof, said supporting device comprising an elongated base plate, a ange member mounted on one end portion of said base plate and projecting upwardlj therefrom at an acute angle opening toward the other end portion of said base plate in position to receive one of said feet therebelow when said unit is mounted in predetermined position on said base plate, and means for holding the other of said feet on said base plate, said means comprising an elongated latching bar, and means for releasably yholding said latching bar on said base in overlying relation to said other of said feet, said last named means comprising a plurality of holding elements projecting from said base in spaced relation to each other and slidably engaged with said bar, said holding elements further abuttingly engaging said latching bar when said latching bar is in a predetermined position with respect thereto to maintain said latching bar in engagement with said other foot, and a threaded member mounted on said base and engaged with said bar to retain said bar in said predetermined position.

2. A supporting device for a transformer or other relatively heavy unit having a pair or" supporting feet projecting in opposite directions on the same side thereof, said supporting device comprising an elongated base plate having a supporting face positioned to supportingly receive said supporting feet in predetermined position thereon, a ange member mounted on one end portion of said base in position to overlie one of said feet when said feet are disposed in said predetermined position, and means for holding the other of said Jfeet on said base when said feet are disposed in said predetermined position, said means comprising an elongated bar, and means for holding said bar on said base in overlying relation to said other one of said feet, said last named means comprising a plurality of holding elements projecting from said base in spaced relation to each other and slidably engaged with said bar, said holding elements further abuttingly engaging said latching bar when said latching bar is in a predetermined position with respect thereto to maintain said latching bar in engagement with said plate in position to overlie one of said feet,l and means on the other end portion of said base plate for hoiding the other of said feet, said means comprising a pair of ears mounted on said base and projecting therefrom in spaced relation to each other, an elongated bar slidabiy mounted in said ears said ears engaging said elongated bar to maintain said bar in engagement with said other foot, and threaded yclamping means mounted on said base and engaged with said bar in abutting relation therewith to hold said bar in said ears.

. thereon, a flange member mounted on one end portion 4. A supporting device for a transformer or other relalanother side of said base, and an elongated bar mounted on `and extending through an aperture in said ear into engagement with said threaded take-up means in position to overlie said other foot.

5. A supporting device for a transformer or lother relatively heavy unit having a pair of supporting feet, said supporting device comprising an elongated base plate, a

flange member mounted on one end portion of said base plate in position to overlie one of said feet, and means on the other end portion of said base plate for holding the other of said feet, said means comprising a pair of ears mounted on said base and projecting therefrom in spaced relation to each other in position to be disposed on opposite sides of said other foot, an elongated bar mounted on said ears, and take-up means mounted on said base and engaged with said bar on the opposite side of one of said ears from the other of said ears.

6. A supporting device for a transformer or other relatively heavy unit having a pair of supporting feet, said supporting device comprising an elongated base plate, a flange member mounted on one end portion of said base plate in position to overlie one of said feet, and means on the other end portion of said base plate for holding the other of said feet, saidl means Icomprising an elongated bar having bayonet-slot means therein,v

holding means mounted on said other end portion of said base and projecting therefrom in position to extend through said slot means in overlying holding relation to said bar, and threaded take-up means mounted on said base in spaced relation to said holding means and in position to clampingly engage said bar.

7. A supporting device for a transformer `or other relatively heavy unit having a pair of supporting feet projecting in opposite directions on the same side thereof, said supporting device comprising an elongated base plate having a supporting face positioned to supportingly receive said-supporting feet in predetermined position of said base in position to overlie one of said feet when said feet are disposed in said predetermined position, and means for holding the other of said feet on said base when said feet are disposed in said predetermined position, said means comprising a plurality ot elongated holding elements projecting upwardly from said base in spaced relation to each other, each of said elongated holding elements having an enlarged head on the upper end portion thereof, an elongated bar slidaoly mounted on said base in position wherein .said elongated holding elements project therethrough with said heads disposed inA overlying retaining relation to said bar, and threaded take-up means mounted on said base and clampingly engaged with one end portion of said bar.

8. A supporting device for a transformer or other relatively heavy unit having a pair of supporting feet, said supporting device comprising an elongated base plate member having a flange extending from one end portion thereof in position to overlie one of said feet, and means on the other end portion of said base plate member for holding the other of said feet, said means comprising an elongated latching bar member, a plurality of holding elements `aiiixed to and projecting from one of said base plate and latching bar members into sliding engagement with the other of said members, said holding elements further engaging said other member in abutting relationship when said members are in a predetermined position relative to each other to maintain said latching bar member in engagement with said other foot, and threaded clamping means mounted on said base plate member and engaging said latching bar member to retain said members in said predetermined position.

9. A supporting device for a transformer or other relatively heavy unit having a pair of supporting feet, said supporting device lcomprising an elongated base plate member having a ange extending from one end portion thereof in position to overlie one of said feet, and means on the other end portion ofsaid base plate member for holding the other of said feet, said means comprising an elongated latching bar member, a plurality of holding elements afixed to and projecting from one of said base plate and latching bar members into sliding engagement with the other `oit said members, said holding elements further engaging said other member in abutting relationship when said members are in a predetermined position relative to each lother to maintain said latching bar member in engagement with said other toot, and

clamping means removably mounted on said base plateA member and extending through said latching barfmember in abutting relation therewith to retain said members in said predetermined position.

References Cited in the tile o f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,059,321 Smith Apr. 15, 1913l 2,538,083 Coffrey Ian. 16, 19,51 2,548,993 Mierzwa Apr. 17, 1951 2,562,553 Howenstine July 31, 1951 2,575,254 Blangrund Nov. 13, 1951 2,641,815 Leighton June 16, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 7,034 Great Britain of 1915

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