Patents by Inventor William J. Rapp

William J. Rapp has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4368506
    Abstract: Novel apparatus for mounting a luminaire to a ceiling is disclosed. A base including a pair of downwardly extending side portions is rigidly mounted to the ceiling. Each side portion has a first post and a second post extending outwardly therefrom. A bracket mounted to the luminaire has a pair of upwardly extending members adapted for mounting to the side portions. Each member has a first slot and a second slot for receiving the first post to rotationally support the member in the second slot in a preliminary mounting position in which appropriate electrical connections are made. The bracket is rotated to receive the second post into a third slot. Support means receive the first and second post from the second and third slots, respectively, to vertically support each member on the respective posts in a final mounting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1983
    Assignee: Gardco Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Rapp
  • Patent number: 4364108
    Abstract: A luminaire includes a light source mounted within a housing having an opening through which light from the source is distributed. The opening also provides access to the interior of the housing for maintenance of the light source and is closed by a cover which is at least partially translucent and which is hinged to the housing at one end and provided with a pair of spring loaded pins projecting from the sides thereof at the other end to hold the cover in closed position or to be retracted by means of clips to open the cover. The protection of the light source afforded by the housing is improved by an elongated rigid member adapted to extend between the clips of the pins to prevent the pins from being retracted. The clips include coaxial channels and the rigid member includes a reduced portion at one end and a retractable finger at the other end, both of which are dimensioned to be received in such channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1982
    Assignee: Gardco Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Rapp
  • Patent number: 4361992
    Abstract: A luminaire support apparatus for suspending and selectively positioning a pendant luminaire from a suspended ceiling is disclosed. The luminaire mounting stem may be positioned directly beneath a support member of the suspended ceiling. The support apparatus includes a base for carrying a ballast and an electrical junction box, and is selectively positioned between adjacent, parallel support members along a first axis parallel to the ceiling. A bracket which receives the luminaire mounting stem is mounted to a cylindrical stem projecting through a ceiling tile. The bracket receives a lower end portion of the stem, normally axially aligning the mounting stem with the cylindrical stem or offsetting the axial alignment should the mounting stem be positioned directly beneath the support member. The base receives a pair of clips selectively along a second axis parallel to the ceiling and perpendicular to the first axis. The clips mount the upper end portion of the stem to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1982
    Assignee: Gardco Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Rapp
  • Patent number: D290408
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Assignee: Gardco Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Gendron, William J. Rapp, Frederic L. Green, Katsuhiro Unoki, Robert J. Gaskins
  • Patent number: D290409
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Assignee: Gardco Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Gendron, William J. Rapp, Frederic L. Green, Katsuhiro Unoki, Robert J. Gaskins