US2031914A - Interchangeable electric light fixture hanger and socket - Google Patents

Description

V. V. VEYSEY ET AL Filed March 27, 1935 y INTBRCHAlGEABLE-ELECTRIC LIGHT FIXTURE HANGER AND SOCKET 9,1%/ ATTORNEYS INVENTORS Vm 'U Patented Feb. 25, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INTERCHANGEABLE ELECTRIC LIGHT FIXTURE HANGER AND SOCKET Vernon V. Veysey and Harvey R. Andersen, Neenah, Wis.

This invention relates combination electrical lighting xtures.

to improvements in outlets and hangers for It is the primary object of the invention to provide a novel and improved organization of electrical outlet and hanger so designed as to facilitate the mounting and dismounting of electrical fixtures, andpreferably so contrived that the parts which serve to provide the current path from the house wiring to the fixture also serve as a fixture mounting means, such parts having mechanism insulated to facilitate the manipulation of the parts for their engagement and disengagement in the mounting and dismounting of the fixture.

It is a further object of the invention to promote safety by protecting electricians, plasterers and painters, and other persons having need to manipulate electric fixtures from contact with bare wires; and to eliminate all need for the connection and manipulation of ordinary wires in l the hanging and removal of fixtures.

One form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a device embodying the invention showing a detachable `plug portion partially inserted into the mounting .socket adapted to receive it.

Figure 2 is a view in longitudinal section similar to Figure 1 showing4 the plug portion anchored within the mounting socket, the electrical connection between the parts being established by the mounting means.

Figure 3 is a detail view of a portion of the mounting socket in transverse section.

Figure 4 is a detail in perspective of the removal plug portion of the device.

Figure 5 is a view in section of a dummy plug which may be used to close the socket where the outlet is intended to be plastered over temporari- Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout thev several views.

The usual outlet or junction box 6 is secured to the support 1 in the usual manner. I have shown lt tobe connected with the conventional BX cableor sheath 8 through which the current supply wires 9 and I0 are led to the interior of box 6.

Fittings Il and I2, such as are used in the mounting of an ordinary receptacle in an outlet box, are employed to support in box 6 a special receptacle I5 which is preferably made of porcelain or some other suitable insulating material. The receptacle has a central opening at I6 which tapers from a large cross section to a small cross section toward the open side of the box 6.

Applied to the converging opposite faces of vopening I6 are contact plates Il and I8 to which the wires 9 and I0 are connected by means of terminal screws I9 and 20 respectively. 'I'he cover 2l screwed to fittings II and I2 is applied to the lath 22 and plaster 23 to close the front of the box 6 except for an aperture at 24 in registry with the opening I6 of the receptacle.

The chain shown at 25 in Fig. 2 may be taken 5 to represent any conventional fixture. As is usual,

' where a chain-supported fixture is used, the chain engages with the hook portion 26 of a special nut 21. In accordance with the present invention, the nut is suspended upon the lower end of 10 a rod 28 which is swiveled in a block of insulating material shown at 29, and is screw threaded at its upper end for interaction with a wedge 30, likewise formed of. insulating material.

Projecting upwardly from the insulating block 15 29 are the combined supports and contacts 35, preferably provided at their upper ends by thickened pad portions 36 made by folding the contact plates upon themselves and lling with solder or the like the eye thus formed. When the con- 20 tact and supporting elements 35 are parallel to each other as shown in Fig. l, they are readily insertable into and removable from the opening I6 at the receptacle I5. A rib at 31 on the block 29 registers with a groove at 38 and receptacle to 25 ensure, where desired, that the contact elements 35 will register with the proper contact plates Il and I8, so that the polarity of the current received by the plates may be known.

If the plug assembly is fully `inserted in the 30 receptacle as shown in Fig. 2, and the rod 28 is turned to screw the wedge 30 downwardly between the pad elements 36 at the upper end of the contact and supporting springs or members 35, the said contact and supporting spring 35 members will be expanded in the tapered opening I6 as shown in Fig. 2 and thereby will be anchored securely against withdrawal within the strength of the material used. Any desired object may now be suspended upon the rod 28, 40 which is adequately able to support any conventional xture connected thereto by means of the hook at 26. The fixture wires 38 and 38 are connected by means of terminal screws 40 with the combined contact and supporting members 45 35 These wires are preferably confined within a tubular housing 4| and a conventional finishing bell 42. A washer at 43, duly notched to pass the wires 38 and 39, is engaged by the nut 21 50 to support the tubular housing 4I and the bell 42.

In case it is desired to conceal the xture outlet beneath plaster, as is sometimes the case, the opening I6 in the receptacle 4may be temporarily closed by means of a plate 45 applied to 55 the bottom of the receptacle and there firmly held by means of dummy contacts 35 carried by insulating block 46 and expanded by means of a wedge 30 operated by ascrew headed rod 28'.

It will be understood-that the device herein 60 speciiically described is but one of many forms which the inventionmaymtake to support any kind of an electrical fixture which requires both electrical connection and mechanical support. The receptacle and plug fitting herewith disclosed may also be used wherever it is desired to continue an electrical circuit through means which provides a mechanical as well as an electrical connection.

As applied to electric lighting fixtures, the apparatus enables the most inexperienced operator to mount or dismount an electrical fixture with no danger to himself. Thus it is not only of value to electricians in the ordinary installation of such fixtures, but is also of value to plasterers, painters and others who may have occasion to remove a lighting fixture to facilitate their work. Also, the invention enables the ordinary householder to interchange his electrical fixtures without asking for the services of an electrician.

We claim:

1. A combined fixture hanger and outletrreceptacle comprising the combination with a pair of contacts and an apertured receptacle providing insulation and mounting for said contacts, and aiording access thereto, of a xture support comprising -insulating means and conductors mounted thereon and individually engageable with the respective contacts of the receptacle and adapted for simultaneous manipulation for mechanical connection with the respective contacts to receive support and also to receive electrical energy therefrom, and means for mechanically engaging said conductors positively with the respective contacts.

2. The combination with a pair of contacts and a recessed receptacle providing insulation and comprising a supporting part and affording access to said contact, of a'plug device comprising a supported part and providing a pair of laterally movable prongs complementary tothe respective contacts, and mechanical and positive means for moving said prongs laterally for the mechanical inter-engagement of said prongs with said contacts toprovide a releasable mechanical and electrical connection therebetween.

3. The combination with a receptacle provided with spaced contacts, of a fitting provided with prongs complementary to the contacts, and means holding said prongs at points spaced diiierently from the spacing of the contacts, together with manually operable means for the mechanical manipulation of said prongs with respect to each other and said contacts in a direction to engage said prongs mechanically and electrically with the respective contacts, whereby to secure said itting to said receptacle in electrically operative relation.

4. The combination with a receptacle member and a tting member arranged for mechanical and electrical connection, of spaced contacts carried by the respective members, means providing suitable insulation for the contacts, and mechanically operable positive means for moving a plurality of contacts simultaneously in a lateral direction for engaging the contacts of one of said members with the contacts of the other in mechanical and electrical connection. y

5. The combination with a receptacle having an internal recess leading to a reduced opening, of contacts carried by said receptacle at different sides of said opening, a tting including prongs receivable through said opening, and means for aosibii mechanically expanding said prongs positively into engagement with said contacts for mechanical and electrical connection therewith, whereby said prongs are secured in said receptacle against the possibility of withdrawal save by manipulation of said means. t

6. The combination with an apertured receptacle having an internal recess with walls converging toward the aperture, mutually insulated contacts disposed on different walls, a tting comprising a fixture support and provided'v with mutually insulated contact prongs receivable through said aperture, positively acting means for mechanically expanding said prongs to receive mechanical support from said walls, said prongs having portions engageable with said contacts when so expanded.

7. The combination with a pair of outwardly converging contacts and a receptacle providing insulated support therefor, of a fixture carrying fitting provided with mutually insulated prongs and a wedge disposed between said prongs and provided with means for its adjustment in a direction to expand said prongs into mechanical and electrical connection with said contacts.

8. The combination with an outlet tting comprising an apertured dielectric block, the aperture being outwardly tapered to a reduced cross section, of contacts carried by opposing convergingportions of said block adjacent the aperture therein, a iitting comprising insulating means, and spaced prongs carried thereby and receivable into the aperture of said block, an adjusting rod movable in said means, and a wedge connected with said rod for manipulation thereby and disposed between said prongs, said wedge being adapted to expand said prongs into mechanical and electrical connection with said contacts.

9. An outlet receptacle comprising a support provided with a plug receiving aperture having an inlet, in combination with solidly mounted and relatively non-yielding supporting and electrical contacts converging toward each other toward said inlet and provided with mutually insulated mounting upon said support at opposite sides of said aperture.

10. In a device of the character described, a plug iitting comprising a pair of conducting prongs having movable free end portions, of means l 'providing insulated support for said prongs, and a manually operable actuator extending through said means for the manipulation of the free end portions of said prongs and including mechanism acting positively on the free end portions of the prongs.

11. In a device of the character described, a plug tting comprising a dielectric block, a pair of iiexible prongs connected to said block and having free end portions projecting therefrom, wedge means disposed between said prong end portions, and an actuating rod threaded to said wedge means and swiveled in said block.

12. In a device of the character described, a plug fitting comprising a dielectric block, a pair of ilexible prongs connected to said block and having free end portions projecting therefrom, wedge means disposed between said prong end portions, and an actuating rod threaded to saidwedge means and swiveled in said block, together with a iixture support mechanically connected with said block, said prongs having electrical terminal means.

VERNON V. VEYSEY. HARVEY R. ANDERSEN.

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