Retrofit mounting device for open frame ceiling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9310036-B1
Application number	US-201514733375-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 8, 2015
Priority date	Aug 29, 2013
Publication date	Apr 12, 2016
Grant date	Apr 12, 2016

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a mounting device for mounting light fixtures into new or existing ceiling mounting openings. The mounting device allows new light fixtures to be retrofitted into existing ceiling openings by providing the appropriate interface between the light fixture and the ceiling opening. In certain example embodiments, the mounting device includes a ceiling coupling mechanism configured to secure the mounting device within an opening in a ceiling. The mounting device further includes a light fixture coupling element configured to couple to and retain a light fixture, thereby mounting the light fixture to the ceiling.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mounting ring, comprising:
a cylindrical body ring comprising a top end, a bottom end, an outer side, and an inner side;
at least one spring receiver disposed on the body ring;
at least one retention spring disposed on the body ring and comprising an outwardly extending arm;
a lip disposed on the bottom end and extending outwardly from the body ring, wherein the at least one retention spring and the lip grip a portion of a ceiling therebetween when the mounting ring is disposed within the ceiling; and
a plurality of outwardly extendable tabs disposed on the body ring, wherein the plurality of extendable tabs are flush with the body ring in a first position and perpendicularly extend from the body ring in a second position, wherein the extendable tabs are positionable anywhere between the first position and the second position.

2. The mounting ring of claim 1 , wherein the at least one spring receiver retains at least one spring prong of a fixture when the fixture is disposed within the mounting ring, wherein the mounting ring supports the fixture via engagement of the at least one spring receiver and the at least on spring prong.

3. The mounting ring of claim 1 , wherein the body ring further comprises a plurality of retention spring coupling elements configured to couple the at least one retention spring to the body ring, and wherein the plurality of retention spring coupling elements are disposed about the body ring at varying heights with respect to the bottom end of the body ring.

4. The mounting ring of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of outwardly extendable tabs comprise an aperture for prying the tabs outward.

5. The mounting ring of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of outwardly extendable tabs secure and center the mounting ring within the ceiling.

6. The mounting ring of claim 2 , wherein the at least one spring receiver is modular and interchangeably coupled to the body ring, and wherein a first sized spring receiver is interchangeable with a second sized spring receiver with respect to the body ring.

7. A mounting device, comprising:
a body frame comprising a first open end, a second open end, an inside, and an outside,
wherein the body frame is attachable to an opening in a ceiling;
at least one coupling receiver disposed on the inside of the body frame, wherein the coupling receiver is configured to engage with and retain at least one coupling feature of a fixture when the fixture is inserted within the mounting device; and
a plurality of outwardly extendable tabs disposed on the body frame, wherein the plurality of extendable tabs are flush with the body frame in a first position and perpendicularly extend from the body frame in a second position, wherein the extendable tabs are positionable anywhere between the first position and the second position.

8. The mounting device of claim 7 , wherein the body frame comprises a rectangular shape.

9. The mounting device of claim 7 , wherein the mounting device supports the weight of the fixture when the at least one coupling receiver of the mounting device is engaged with the at least one coupling feature of the fixture.

10. The mounting device of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of outwardly extendable tabs secure and center the mounting ring within the ceiling.

11. The mounting device of claim 7 , wherein the at least one coupling receiver is modular and interchangeably coupled to the body frame, and wherein a first sized spring receiver is interchangeable with a second sized spring receiver with respect to the body frame.

12. A mounting device, comprising:
a frame comprising a top open end, a bottom open end, an outer side, and an inner
at least one fixture receiver disposed on the frame configured to engage with at least one coupling element of a fixture when the fixture is disposed within the frame, wherein the mounting device supports the fixture via the engagement of the at least one fixture receiver with the at least one coupling element of the fixture;
at least one ceiling attachment feature coupled to the frame configured to secure the mounting device within an opening in a ceiling; and
a lip extending out from the bottom open end of the frame, wherein the at least one ceiling attachment feature and the lip grip a portion of the ceiling therebetween when the mounting device is disposed within the opening.

13. The mounting device of claim 12 , wherein the ceiling attachment feature comprises a plurality of fold out tabs.

14. The mounting device of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of fold out tabs have a first position wherein the fold out tabs are disposed within the frame when the mounting device is inserted into the opening in the ceiling.

15. The mounting device of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of fold out tabs have a second position wherein the plurality of fold out tabs are inserted through a respective plurality of slots in the frame such that the plurality of fold out tabs extend out from the frame and secure the mounting device to the ceiling.

16. The mounting device of claim 12 , wherein the ceiling attachment feature comprises a plurality of spring clamps attached to the frame.

17. The mounting device of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of spring clamps extend through slots in the frame and extend from the outer side of the frame.

18. The mounting device of claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of spring clamps comprise a tapered top side to facilitate inserting the mounting device into the opening in the ceiling.

19. The mounting device of claim 12 , further comprising:
a plurality of centering elements disposed about the frame and outwardly extending from the frame,
wherein the plurality of centering elements have adjustable degrees of extension from the frame, and
wherein the plurality of centering elements stabilize or center the frame within the opening in the ceiling when the opening is larger than the frame.

Assignees

• Cooper Technologies Co

Inventors

• Kathawate Jyoti Gururaj
• Vasquez Charles Richard
• Davis Jared M

Classifications

• F21S8/024 Primary

  intended to be recessed in a wall or like vertical structure, e.g. building facade · CPC title

• F21K9/10

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• F21V21/047

  Mounting arrangements with fastening means engaging the inner surface of a hole in a ceiling or wall, e.g. for solid walls or for blind holes · CPC title

• F21V19/004

  by deformation of parts or snap action mountings, e.g. using clips · CPC title

• F21V21/046 Primary

  being tensioned by rotation of parts · CPC title