US1669548A - Electrical fixture-supporting device - Google Patents

Description

May 1 5, I l Q28.

R. B. BENJAMIN ELECTRICAL FIXTURE SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed July 1921 Patented May 15, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'REUBEIT B. BENJAMIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BENJAJMIN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ELECTRICAL. rrxronn-surronrine DEVICE.

Application filed July 1,

supporting devices and connections therefor.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved fixture supporting de-' vice in which the fixture can be readily connected and disconnected with respect to the receptacle both electrically and mechanically.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved fixture supporting device in which thief-proof means are provided for preventing the removal of the fixture by an unauthorized. person.

A. further object of my invention is to provide such a device which will be simple in c r truction, cheap to manui ac'ture and durub lo and eiiicient in use.

Further objects will appear from the detailed description to follow and from the appended claims. I

In the drawings in which an embodiment oi: my invention is shown i Fig. 1 is a vertical axial section showing a receptacle, a tixt re and a connecting bracket and plug;

Fig. 2 is a ttrontview showing tacle and taco-plate; i

Fig. 3 is an elevational view showing-the bracket and plug-in device;

liig. 1 is a front view of the bracket;

llig'. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. (3 is a bottom plan view of the con struction shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is a view showing a different form of releasing mechanism.

The construction shown in the drawings the recepcomprises a fixture 11, a receptacle 12, a

plug-in device 13, for electrically connecting the fixture with the receptacle, and a me chanical connecting member orbracket 1 1 for mechanically connecting the fixture with respect to the receptacle.

The plug-in device 13' is carried by the connecting bracket 1 1, being bodily 'slidably mounted thereon to permit the necessary movement of the connecting bracket 14: to make the mechanical connection without interfering with the insertion of the contact blades 15 of the plug-in device 13 in the openings 16 provided in the receptacle 12.

The mechanical connector member or bracket 11 is secured to the supporting plate 1? which may be a sort of cover for the outlet box (by means of a pair ofhook mem bers 18 at the upper end of the bracket, and a T-shaped headed member 19 at the lower 1921. Serial No. 481,734:.

end of the bracket. The supporting plate 17 .15 provided with a pair of slots 20 to receive the hook members 18, and with a notch 21 adjacent the lower end of the receptacle to receive the headed member 19. The connection of the bracket 14 with the supporting plate 17 is effected-by two movements, first. a movement 01 insertion to bringthe hook members 18 and headed member 19 back'of the plate 17, and second, a downward move ment to engage the hook members 18 and headed member 19' with the supporting plate 17, The sliding movementbetWeenthe plug in device 13 andthe connecting bracket 14:, hereinbetore referred to, permits the downward movement oi 'the connecting bracket without interference from the engagement olt the blades 15 in the openings 16. The sliding connection of the pl-ug-indevice 13 withthe connecting bracket 14: is effected by the material of the bracket 141, the plug being held between the body portion 01 the bracket and these lugs. Thebraeket 14 may be a sheet metal stamping, the hook members 18, the headed member 19, and the lugs 22 being formed as integral parts of this stamping. .In orderto positively hold the bracket 14 in connected position on the plate 17 a spring latch member is provided having an inwardly'bent portion 25 whichv snaps in underneath the insulating base 25 of the plugin device 18 when the bracket 14: is moved down to the connected position with respect to the plate 17. W i

hen this spring latch 23 snaps into vents it from being disconnected.

In order to release the positive spring means 01" a pair of lugs 22 struck up from iatching position it positively prevents the bracket 14 from being'raised, and thus we latch 23, a bell-crank lever 26 isprovided, 1

pivoted at 27 to the bracket 1 1, onearm of which bell-crank engages the end 28 of the spring latch 23, and the other arm of which may be connected to a pull member 29.

In order to prevent the release of the spring latch 23 by an unauthorized person and thus prevent the theft of the fixture, the construction may be suchthat a key is neces sary to eitect the operation. of the pull member 29. For this purpose, a threaded connecting member 29 is secured to the end of the pull member 29, this pull member 29 being slid-ably mounted ina tubular member 29*, secured to the canopy 30. The member 1 In order to limit the movement of the 29 is provided with a shank" portion 31 having a left-hand thread, for engagement with the left-hand threaded socket portion 31 of the key member 31",.

In order to release thelatch, the key 31 y is inserted into the tubular member 29 and screwed onto the screw threaded shank 30, the key is then pulled down, pulling down V with it the pullmeinberQQQand rocking the bell-cranklever26to push the spring latch outwardly, to release the bracket 14 for up ward movement. The fixture and bracket can then be lifted upwardly and pulled out-- 1 wardly, and thus disengage from the supporting plate 17.

, bell'craiik 26, the stop lug 36 may be provided, struck up, from the material of the i 7 a bracket 1-l.f

. The canopy whichsupports the fixture all may be secured to thelbracket 14 by means of a transversely extending strap 37 havingv its tends secured to the canopy 30,

and its intermediate portion secured to the bracket 14, by means of a screw 38. The bracket 14 may be provided with an upwardly extending post 39, which is used in makingthe connection with certain forms of fixtures, so"

A suitable ornamental finishing plate. or

escutcheon 40 may be providedin .front of the supporting plate 17. i a

In Fig. 7 is shown a construction in which the bell-crank-lever 26 which operates the spring latch 23 is itself operated by means of a pull chain 41, the upper end of which is connected to the bell-crank, and which ex.- tends downwardly through an opening 42 in the canopyv 30. i v i Having thus describedmy invention what I claim asnew and desire to secure by Leti ters Patent of the United States v is gas her, a connecting bracket, and a plug-in dervice having contacts for engagement with the receptacle contacts, mountedfor'b'odily slidingmovernent on said bracket, said bracket and supporting member being provided .with interengaging means whereby said bracket may be, connected to said plate,

by movement towards said receptacle, and

laterally with respect thereto,tmeans for 'ventingmeans."

holding thebracket in connected position, i

comprising means for preventing relative sliding movement between said bracket and plugntdevice, a canopyr'or housing said bracket, and meansoperable from the out side of said can'opy for controlling sa1d prei2.Thei.combination with a fixture and a receptacle, ofmeans for electrically connecting the fixture with respect to the receptacle, and mechanically connecting and supporting the fixture with respect to the receptacle, said means comprising a supporting member, a connecting bracket, and a plug indevice having contacts for engagement with the receptacle contacts, mounted for bodily sliding movement on said bracket,

said bracket and supporting member being provided with inter-engaging means wherea by said bracket may be connected to said supporting member by movement towards said receptacle, and laterally with respect thereto, means for holding the bracket in connected position, comprising means for preventing relative sliding movement between said bracket andplug-1n device, a canopy for housing said bracket, and means operable from the outside of said canopy for controlling said preventing means, said,

last means having provisions whereby it maybe operated from different angles.

3. The combination with a fixture aiida receptacle, of means for electrically connecting the fixture with respectto' the receptacle, and mechanically connecting andsiip-w porting the fixture with respect to the receptacle, said means comprising a supporting member, a connecting bracket, and a plug-in device-having contactsl'or engagement with the receptacle contacts, mounted for bodily sliding movement on, said bracket, said bracket and supporting member being provided with intei'engaging means whereby said bracket may becoi iiectedto said sup porting member by movement towards said receptacle, and laterally with respect there to, means for holding the bracket'in connected position, comprising means for preventing relative sliding movement between said,

bracket and plug-in device, a canopy for housing said bracket, and means operable 1 from theoutsideot said canopy for controllingsaid preventing means,said last means comprislng a bell-crank.

In witness whereof, I liave hereunto sub i scribed my name. i y i a y REUBEN B. BENJAMIN.

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