Abstract: A heating element of a thermal bonding system has a body and an insert which includes the working surface of the heating element. The body is formed from a thermally and electrically conductive material and the insert is formed from a thermally conductive, but electrically insulative material. A channel runs along the exterior side of the body in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the body and the insert is press fitted into the channel to maintain a fixed interference fit between the insert and body. A heat transfer interface may also be provided between the insert and body to facilitate heat transfer therebetween.

Abstract: An adjustable-position light fixture is provided having a U-shaped mounting bracket and a U-shaped light housing bracket. The light housing bracket is pivotally secured to the mounting bracket via a connection including a key member. The key member has a bearing portion which passes through the light housing bracket and is rotatable in relation thereto. At least one prong extends from the key member and engages a cutout in the mounting bracket to prevent rotation of the key member relative to the mounting bracket. A threaded bolt passes through the key member and is effective to adjust friction between the brackets. The key member is effective to prevent torque on the bolt as the bracket assembly is pivoted so that the bolt maintains the set degree of tension. A head on the bolt is accessible through an opening the light housing so that tension can be readily adjusted with a standard tool.

Abstract: A recessed light fixture includes a neuter plaster frame with which is attached components to customize the fixture to specific installations. The components include a junction box with a face plate attachable thereto that has different electrical elements mounted thereon, such as transformer and thermal protectors, a ballast mounting plate that fastens onto the plaster frame by an arrangement of legs and spring clips, and a trim ring that accommodates to the thickness of the ceiling. The bulb socket is held in a socket cup that is fitted with different socket holders depending on the size and shape of the socket, and the hanger bars for the supporting the plaster frame in the ceiling are adaptable for mounting on wood joists or metal suspended ceiling grids.

Abstract: A spray shield for temporarily covering an open face of a fixture, particularly a canister light fixture. The spray shield is conveniently outlined on and removable from a panel of cardboard shelf packaging of the canister light. The spray shield provides a disk-shaped portion surrounded by radially extending tabs which can be bent off from to the disk-shaped portion to form a resilient shallow pan which is grippingly held within an inside surface of the canister light. The spray shield as a flat panel can be easily removed from a panel of the packaging which provides a weakened line around an outer circumference of the spray shield.

Abstract: An apparatus for selecting optimum lighting fixtures for a given application first determines a room cavity ratio from entered values of the dimensions of the room. The room cavity ratio is used to select from tabulated values a coefficient of utilization. The light output in lumens from a particular lamp, modified as necessary by depreciation factors, is applied to determine the number of fixtures and the spacing of those fixtures that are necessary to achieve a desired level of illumination. The design process then normally requires changing the number of fixtures to an integral number that lends itself to the space to be illuminated. Reentry of such values as well as different values of illumination levels that are associated with different fixtures allows repeated determinations to optimize the selection of a lighting fixture.

Abstract: A plaster frame for mounting a lighting fixture in recessed fashion in a ceiling comprises a main body portion including a rectangular, planar member defining an aperture therein, the aperture being similarly dimensioned to the ceiling aperture in which the lighting fixture is to be mounted. Hanger bar brackets are integrally formed with the planar member at breakaway junctions along opposite, first sides of the planar member. The hanger bar brackets are adapted to receive hanger bars for mounting the plaster frame between spaced joists supporting the ceiling. Each hanger bar bracket is removable from the planar member by bending at the breakaway junctions. The hanger bar brackets are reattachable to the planar member along opposite, second sides thereof by means of bendable, spaced tabs formed on the brackets receivable in similarly spaced apertures defined in the planar member.