Abstract: The invention is directed to a ceiling mounted brace bracket assembly for securing an electrical fixture. The brace of the invention includes a telescoping tubular bar mechanism for adjustment during installation and pre-set fastener openings to hold fasteners in place for “one-handed” installation. The design distributes the weight of the fixture to a specific component of the brace.

Abstract: This invention relates to a connector for securing a cable to an electrical junction box by contact with extending projections. In particular, the invention is a connector having a locking system for securing a cable in a knock-out opening of an electrical junction box.

Abstract: A fastening device for mounting an electrical fixture suspended from an electrical junction box in a ceiling. When a mounting bracket assembly suspends the electrical junction box between two joists, the fastening device is an overlay positioned adjacent to each end-plate of the support bar. When the electrical junction box attaches directly to a joist, the fastening device is an overlay positioned inside a cavity of the electrical junction box. The overlay includes fastener openings that position a preset fastener to attach the end-plates to the spaced joists, or openings in the top wall of the cavity to attach the electrical junction box to a joist in the ceiling. The overlay also includes radial incisions, cut in a star pattern, that surround each fastener opening. When an installer tightens all of the fasteners, the star patterns open and allow the installer to easily pull-out and remove the overlay.

Abstract: A ceiling fan or light fixture is provided with a sliding support member that slides horizontally into a support channel attached to a ceiling box. An electrical plug and receptacle attached to the two support members automatically mate as the two support members are slid together. A bell is then raised to cover the two support members and prevent them from sliding apart. The sliding support member is held above the bell by telescopic standoffs with a frictional action. A screw is captive within each standoff. As the bell is raised, the part of each standoff fixed to the bell slides upwards until its upper end positions the tip of the screw just in front of a threaded hole in the fixed support channel. Fastening the screws into the threaded holes then both locks the sliding mechanism and attaches the bell directly to the fixed support channel.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an easily installed ceiling fan. The fan includes a quick-connect device for physically mounting the fan blades to a ceiling fan hub. The fan blades may be re-positioned from an operating position to an assembly position. In the operating position, the fan blades are locked into position and retained relative to the fan hub by a locking means. In the assembly position the fan blades may be to hung from the drive hub in a collapsed, vertical orientation and then quickly snapped into the extended position during operation. The articulating fan blade assembly of the present invention includes a fan blade hub, a fan blade, and a locking mechanism. The hub includes at least one receiving slot. The fan blade includes a mounting portion extending from its end and includes a tab configured for being received in the receiving slot. The locking means retains the fan blade shaft within the receiving slot upon insertion of the shaft into the receiving slot.

Abstract: An apparatus for easily installing an overhead electrical device is disclosed. Installation is made easier by forming guide channels in the bell of an electrical fixture and aligning those channels with guides on a plate. When the guide and channels are properly aligned, an electrical connection is made between a plug and receptacle. The plug and receptacle are mounted in the bell and to the junction box. Once the electrical connection is made, the bell is rotated to secure the bell to the guides mounted on the plate.

Abstract: A ceiling fan or light fixture is provided with a quick connect device comprises an upper support member attached to a ceiling and defining at least one upwardly-facing load-bearing surface, and a lower support member attached to and supporting the fixture and defining at least one downwardly-facing load-bearing surface resting on an upwardly-facing load-bearing surface of the upper support member. Electrical-contacts project from one of the load-bearing surfaces, and are received in recesses in another of the load-bearing surfaces, within which are corresponding contacts. The projecting contacts engaging in the recesses prevent the load-bearing surfaces from being separated horizontally unless they are first lifted vertically out of engagement.

Abstract: A ceiling fan or light fixture is provided with a sliding support member that slides horizontally into a support channel attached to a ceiling box. An electrical plug and receptacle attached to the two support members automatically mate as the two support members are slid together. A bell is then raised to cover the two support members and prevent them from sliding apart.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a mechanical fastener for attaching a fan blade to a fan blade holder. The fan blade is attached to a fan blade holder by means of a spring clip. The spring clip engages a stud attached to the fan blade holder; the stud extends through an aperture in the fan blade. The invention may contain one or more studs or apertures, and the spring may have an arcuate shape in cross section. Alternatively, the fan is held against the fan blade holder by means of a locking member. The locking member has spring clips attached to it in order to engage a stud extending from the fan blade holder through an aperture in the fan blade. This embodiment may contain one or more studs and locking clips. This embodiment may also contain a cover that slidably engages the locking member.

Abstract: A ceiling fan or light fixture is provided with a sliding support member that slides horizontally into a support channel attached to a ceiling box. An electrical plug and receptacle attached to the two support members automatically mate as the two support members are slid together. A bell is then raised to cover the two support members and prevent them from sliding apart.

Abstract: An electrical plug and receptacle having safety features is provided. The plug includes a body, at least two conductors, and a skirt. The conductors extend from the body and are laterally surrounded by the skirt. The skirt is retractable into the body so that when the plug is used with a conventional receptacle, the skirt retracts into the body as the conductors are inserted the sockets of the receptacle, shielding a user from inadvertently touching the conductors. The plug further includes a toggle stop that locks the skirt into its fully extended position for using the plug with a safety electrical outlet assembly of the present invention. The safety outlet assembly includes a cover and a receptacle adapted to be secured to an electrical junction box. The receptacle has a receiver adapted to matingly engage the skirt on the safety plug.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the general field of ceiling fans and more particularly to the field of ceiling fans with easy install features. Such a fan includes an electrical quick connect device and an articulating fan blade assembly. The quick connect device includes a plug/receptacle configuration enabling the fan to easily connect to an electricity supply while providing the gravitational and rotational support required by the fan. The fan blade assembly includes a drive hub having a series of slots to receive the neck of a fan blade. The fan blade neck is secured in the slot in a fashion that allows for articulation of the blade relative to the fan or removal of the fan blade from the fan.

Abstract: An assembly for quickly and easily mounting fan blades to a ceiling fan. The assembly includes a plurality of blade holders and a quick-connect mount. Each blade holder includes a coupling tongue having a locking groove located in its upper surface. The quick-connect mount is mountable to a driven part of the ceiling fan and includes a blade holder support and a cover. The blade holder support has a plurality of receivers for receiving the coupling tongues of the blade holders. The cover is rotatably attached to the blade holder support upwardly adjacent the support. The cover has a downwardly-depending skirt around its outer periphery and an annular blade lock on the surface adjacent the blade holder support. The skirt has a notch and the blade lock has a gap that are in radial alignment with each other and are selectively alignable with the receivers upon rotation of the cover and the support relative to one another.

Abstract: A mounting device for mounting an electrical fixture to an overhead support and electrically connecting the fixture to an electrical supply. The mounting device includes a mounting plate, a coupling plate, an electrical receptacle and an electrical plug. The device also includes a cap for covering receptacle terminals and a ball and socket support for the fixture. The mounting plate attaches to a junction box and contains the receptacle, which connects to an electrical supply. The coupling plate attaches to an electrical fixture and rotatably engages the receiving plate. The plug is rotatably secured to the coupling plate and includes a plurality of electrical conductors and a skirt surrounding the conductors. The receptacle includes a body having a plurality of sockets for receiving the conductors and an outer periphery shaped to slidably engage the inner periphery of the plug skirt. Rotation prevention screws may be used to avoid plate separation.

Abstract: An electrical plug and receptacle having safety features is provided. The plug includes a body, at least two conductors, and a skirt. The conductors extend from the body and are laterally surrounded by the skirt. The skirt is retractable into the body so that when the plug is used with a conventional receptacle, the skirt retracts into the body as the conductors are inserted the sockets of the receptacle, shielding a user from inadvertently touching the conductors. The plug further includes a toggle stop that locks the skirt into its fully extended position for using the plug with a safety electrical outlet assembly of the present invention. The safety outlet assembly includes a cover and a receptacle adapted to be secured to an electrical junction box. The receptacle has a receiver adapted to matingly engage the skirt on the safety plug.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of ceiling fans and includes a first plate (16) attached to a ceiling junction box and a plug plate (42) to be rotatably joined to the first plate and fixed in a final position by locking screws (70) that pass through apertures (64, 66) in one plate and into bores (38, 40) in the other plate. The locking screws (70) are usable to fix a fan bell to the plug plate. The plug plate (42) includes slidably engageable flat contact strips (204a, 204b). The plates include an initial orientation key (206) for fitting into an oval opening (214) and the first plate may include a spring biased shock protector for blocking access to live contacts (204a) when the plates are not connected. The plates (300, FIGS. 16, 17) may be formed in slidably adjustable sections for use with different size fan bells.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the general field of ceiling fans and more particularly to the field of ceiling fans with easy install features. Such a fan includes an electrical quick connect device and an articulating fan blade assembly. The quick connect device includes a plug/receptacle configuration enabling the fan to easily connect to an electricity supply while providing the gravitational and rotational support required by the fan. The fan blade assembly includes a drive hub having a series of slots to receive the neck of a fan blade. The fan blade neck is secured in the slot in a fashion that allows for articulation of the blade relative to the fan or removal of the fan blade from the fan.