Bracket for a fluorescent light fixture

Abstract

A bracket for use on a wall and with a pair of fasteners and a fluorescent light fixture, the latter being of the type having an elongate housing including a substantially flat base adapted to be secured against a planar wall or ceiling surface. The bracket comprises a main body member defining an elongate slot and mounted in use to said wall such that, in use, said slot extends upwardly and away from said wall in angled relation thereto. In use, a pair of said brackets are mounted on said wall, in horizontally spaced relation to one another, and the base of said housing is mounted to the main body members by said fasteners, each extending through the slot of a respective main body member. A shelf can be supported across the brackets.

Description

This application claims priority to Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 2,516,806 filed Aug. 22, 2005, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of lighting, and more particularly, to a bracket for mounting fluorescent light fixtures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well-known to use incandescent lights for the purposes of illumination, and a wide variety of fixtures are commercially available. Incandescent systems are known to provide pleasant illumination, at relatively low installed cost. However, incandescent lights convert electricity to visible light relatively inefficiently, and are therefore relatively costly to run.

Fluorescent lighting represents an energy-efficient alternative, and low-cost fluorescent fixtures are widely available. These fixtures commonly include an elongate housing including a substantially flat base adapted to be secured against a planar wall or ceiling surface and a pair of fluorescent tube receivers projecting from the housing, between which a fluorescent tube can be fitted to receive power. These fixtures are typically suspended from ceilings, to project downwardly, or mounted to walls, to project horizontally, and permit the assembly of an inexpensive and efficient lighting system. However, the illumination provided by known systems can be relatively unpleasant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A bracket forms one aspect of the invention. The bracket is for use on a wall and with a fastener and a fluorescent light fixture, the latter being of the type having an elongate housing including a substantially flat base adapted to be secured against a planar wall or ceiling surface.

This bracket comprises a main body member defining an elongate slot and mounted in use to said wall such that, in use, said slot extends upwardly and away from said wall in angled relation thereto. In use, the base of said housing is mounted to the main body member by said fastener, which extends through said slot.

A bracket for use on a wall and with a pair of fasteners, a shelf and a fluorescent light fixture, the latter being of the type having an elongate housing including a substantially flat base adapted to be secured against a planar wall or ceiling surface, forms another aspect of the invention. This bracket comprises a main body member defining an elongate slot and mounted in use to said wall such that, in use, said slot extends upwardly and away from said wall in angled relation thereto. In use, a pair of said brackets are mounted on said wall, in horizontally spaced relation to one another, and the base of said housing is mounted to the main body members by said fasteners, each fastener extending through the slot of a respective main body member.

These brackets permit the construction of an inexpensive and energy-efficient lighting system, which provides pleasant levels of illumination.

A shelf/light combination forms another aspect of the invention. The shelf/light combination comprises a pair of brackets, mounted in use to a wall in horizontally spaced relation to one another, a shelf supported upon the brackets in use; and a fluorescent light fixture secured to the brackets so as to be positioned beneath the shelf in use and to direct illumination away from the wall and downwardly.

Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter being briefly described hereinafter

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bracket constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pair of the brackets of FIG. 1, in use;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the structure of FIG. 3, from an opposing vantage point;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the structure of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the structure of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing a bracket constructed according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a bracket constructed according to a third preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 9 is a view of the structure of FIG. 8, from an opposing vantage point.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a bracket, is illustrated, and is designated by the general reference numeral 20.

The bracket includes a main body member 22 and an insert portion 24, shown separated from one another in the exploded view in FIG. 2.

The main body member 22 includes a base portion 26, a support portion 28 and a strut portion 30, formed integrally, out of a single piece of metal bar, bent and welded into the appropriate shape.

The base portion 26 takes the form of a substantially rectangular metal plate having a first end 26A and a second end 26B, spaced apart from one another, and is provided with two apertures 32 disposed adjacent the first end 26A.

The support portion 28 bisects and extends substantially normally from base portion 26 to a terminus 34, and defines a planar support surface 36 provided with apertures 38.

The strut portion 30 extends from the second end 26B of the base portion 26 to the terminus 34 of the support portion 28, and defines a planar mounting surface 88 and an elongate slot 40. The strut portion 30 lies at an angle of about 45 degrees to said base portion 26. The slot 40 extends through the strut portion 30 such that it opens in a direction normal to the planar mounting surface 88, that is, the walls which define the slot 40 are perpendicular to the mounting surface 88.

The insert 24 defines an aperture 42, specifically, three apertures 42 and is fitted in frictionally-engaged relation in the main body member 22. The insert 24 is molded out of a plastics material and is thinner than the body member 22.

The bracket 20 is illustrated in use in FIGS. 3,4,5,6 wherein a pair of the brackets 20 are shown, along with a wall 44, a shelf 46, a fluorescent light fixture 48 and three fluorescent tubes 50 (for clarity, the wall 44 is not shown in FIG. 4). The fixture 48 is of the type having an elongate housing 52 including a substantially flat base 54 adapted to be secured against a planar wall or ceiling surface. The tubes 50 are adapted to be used with said fixture 48.

In use, the base portion 26 of each bracket 20 is securely mounted in use to wall 44 by fasteners 60 extending through apertures 32, with the first end 26A of the base portion 26 defining an upper end of the base portion 26 and the second end 26B thereof defining a lower end of the base portion 26. Fastener 60 and aperture 32 are shown in phantom outline in FIG. 6. The slot 40 in each strut portion 30 extends upwardly and away from said wall 44 in angled relation in a first direction A which lies parallel to a vertical plane C-C orientated normal to said wall 44, and opens in a second direction B transverse to the first direction A and also lying parallel to said vertical plane C-C. The planar support surface 36 of each support member 28 is orientated substantially horizontally, and presents in an upward direction. The base 54 of the housing 52 is mounted to each strut portion 30 by a fastener 56, as best seen in FIG. 6, extending through the slot 40 of said strut portion 30. The smaller thickness of the insert 24 provides clearance for the fastener 56. The shelf 46 is supported by the support portions 28, and is secured in place by screws 58 (also shown in phantom in FIG. 6) extending through apertures 38.

The apertures 42 in the inserts 24 are aligned with one another, to collectively define tube storage slots for storing said tubes 50 for future use.

The elongate slots 40 used for mounting the fixture 48 enable the brackets 20 to be readily used with a variety of commercially available fixtures. The slots 40 also permit the location of the fixtures used to be readily adjusted. These features enable the brackets 20 to be readily sold through normal retail hardware channels.

The lighting system produced by said brackets 20, indicated generally by reference numeral 70 in FIG. 4, provides pleasant levels of illumination. Without intending to be bound by theory, it is believed that the placement of the fixture, that is, along a wall, at relatively low height, combined with its orientation, so as to project light away from the wall and downwardly, may account for the pleasing illumination produced.

A second preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 7. This bracket is functionally similar to the bracket of FIGS. 1-6, and is numbered commensurately. However, in this bracket, the main body member and the insert are formed integrally, in a stamping operation, out of a single metal plate.

A third preferred embodiment is shown in FIGS. 8,9. This bracket is functionally similar to the brackets of FIGS. 1-7, and is numbered commensurately. However, this bracket is formed out of a single length of bent wire. The aperture 32 is defined by a loop formed in the end of the wire. The support member 28 in this embodiment is defined by spaced apart substantially parallel lengths of the wire, with the upper surface 36 of the support member being defined by the upper surfaces of said parallel lengths. The strut portion 30 in this embodiment is also formed by spaced apart substantially parallel lengths of said wire, with the slot 40 being formed by the space therebetween. As an additional feature of this embodiment, a notch 100 is defined in this bracket, to receive the edge of a shelf (not shown).

While but three embodiments of the present invention have been herein shown and described, it will be understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, whereas the main body member described herein is constructed out of a piece of metal plate, bent and welded into shape, or stamped, the main body member could easily be cast.

Further, whereas the insert is described to have three apertures, more or less apertures could easily be provided. It should also be understood that whereas the base portion is indicated to be bisected by the support portion, this does not imply and should not be construed as requiring an equal division of the base portion. Accordingly, the invention should be understood as limited only by the claims appended hereto, purposively construed.

Claims

1. A bracket for use on a wall and with a fastener and a fluorescent light fixture, the latter being of the type having an elongate housing including a substantially flat base adapted to be secured against a planar wall or ceiling surface, said bracket comprising:

a main body member defining an elongate slot and mounted in use to said wall such that, in use, said slot extends upwardly and away from said wall in angled relation thereto,

wherein, in use, the base of said housing is mounted to the main body member by said fastener, which extends through said slot.

2. A bracket according to claim 1, wherein, in use, said slot extends upwardly and away from said wall in a first direction which lies parallel to a vertical plane orientated normal to said wall.

3. A bracket according to claim 2, wherein the slot opens, in use, in a second direction transverse to the first direction and lying parallel to a vertical plane orientated normal to said wall.

4. A bracket according to claim 3, wherein the main body member defines a planar mounting surface that is orientated normal to the second direction.

5. A bracket according to claim 4, wherein the main body further defines a planar support surface that is orientated substantially horizontally in use.

6. A bracket according to claim 5, wherein the main body member comprises

a base portion mounted in use to said wall;

a support portion defining the support surface and bisecting and extending substantially horizontally from the base portion; and

a strut portion defining the mounting surface and the elongate slot and extending between a lower end of the base portion and the support portion to support the support portion.

7. A bracket according to claim 6, wherein the base portion, the support portion and the strut portion are stamped integrally, out of a single piece of metal plate.

8. A bracket according to claim 6, wherein the support portion is provided with apertures for receiving screws.

9. A bracket according to claim 6, wherein the strut portion lies at an angle of about 45 degrees to said wall in use.

10. A bracket according to claim 1, further defining an aperture shaped and dimensioned to receive therethrough a fluorescent tube for said light fixture and orientated substantially horizontally in use.

11. A bracket for use on a wall and with a pair of fasteners, a shelf and a fluorescent light fixture, the latter being of the type having an elongate housing including a substantially flat base adapted to be secured against a planar wall or ceiling surface, said bracket comprising:

a main body member defining an elongate slot and mounted in use to said wall such that, in use, said slot extends upwardly and away from said wall in angled relation thereto,

wherein, in use, a pair of said brackets are mounted on said wall, in horizontally spaced relation, the base of said housing is mounted to the main body members by said fasteners, each extending through the slot of a respective main body member.

12. A bracket according to claim 11, wherein, in use, said slot extends upwardly and away from said wall in a first direction which lies parallel to a vertical plane orientated normal to said wall.

13. A bracket according to claim 12, wherein the slot opens, in use, in a second direction transverse to the first direction and lying parallel to a vertical plane orientated normal to said wall.

14. A bracket according to claim 13, wherein the main body member defines a planar mounting surface that is orientated normal to the second direction.

15. A bracket according to claim 14, wherein the main body further defines a planar support surface that is orientated substantially horizontally in use and supports said shelf.

16. A bracket according to claim 15, wherein the main body member comprises

a base portion mounted in use to said wall;

a support portion defining the support surface and bisecting and extending substantially horizontally from the base portion; and

a strut portion defining the mounting surface and the elongate slot and extending between a lower end of the base portion and the support portion to support the support portion.

17. A bracket according to claim 16, wherein the base portion, the support portion and the strut portion are stamped integrally, out of a single piece of metal plate.

18. A bracket according to claim 16, wherein the base portion, the support portion and the strut portion are defined by a single piece of bent wire.

19. A bracket according to claim 16, wherein the support portion is provided with apertures for receiving screws to secure said shelf.

20. A bracket according to claim 11, further defining an aperture shaped and dimensioned to receive therethrough a fluorescent tube for said light fixture and orientated substantially horizontally in use, such that, in use, the apertures defined one by each of said pair of brackets, collectively define a tube storage slot for storing a replacement fluorescent tube.

21. A shelf/light combination for use with a wall and comprising:

a pair of brackets, mounted in use to said wall in horizontally spaced relation to one another;

a shelf supported upon the brackets in use; and

a fluorescent light fixture secured to the brackets so as to be positioned beneath the shelf in use and to direct illumination away from the wall and downwardly.