Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
iO~93~44
Background of the Invention
This is a divisional of pending Canadian application
Serial No. 274,615 filed March 23, 1977.
Lighted ceiling fixtures for buses, coaches,
subway cars, transit vehicles and the like have come into
use which provide the dual function of interior illl~ina-
tion as well as back lighting a translucent advertising
card. Such units are shown for example, in the U. S.
patents of Jayne, No~ 2,336,016 of 1943 and Schwenkler,
Nos. 3,210,875 and 3,211,904, both of 1965, and are commonly
provided with a light-transmitting cover which has inwardly
turned flanges within which relatively stiff printed adver-
tising cards are received for back lighting.
The advertising cards which have commonly been
used with back-lighted fixtures are normally transparencies
which are silk-screened on both sides of du Pont Mylar*sheets
or similar relatively heavy transparent plastic material of
.010" thickness or greater. Such relatively heavy material
is required so t~at the cards are self-retaining when
supported only at the edges, and silk screening is commonly
required on both the -front and the bacX surfaces to prevent
.pin holes. Such advertising cards are commonly 11 x 2-1" or
11 x 28" in size and may cost about $1.85 each in four colors
in large quantities of about one thousand. When they are
back lighted they provide an attractive and eye-catching
advertising display.
It has long been recognized that advertising copy
can more economically be printed on ordinary board-type
paper in local printing shops. However, when such material
is printed on cardboard, it does not transmit any light when
back lighted and when such advertising material is used in
bac~-lighted fixtures, as it often is, there is obviously no
* ~rademark
10~3C~
back-lighted effect. However, cardboard type cards are often
used in front lighted fixtures o~ the type shownr for example,
in the U.S. patent of Arenberg No. 2,587,807 of 1952.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an improved lighting fixture
for a public transportation vehicle such as a bus, subway car
or the like for supporting and back lighting translucent
advertising material.
A principal feature and object of the invention resides
in the adaptability of the lighting fixture to ceiling or roof
curvatures of varying contour. Public transportation vehicles,
such as buses, transit cars, aircraft and the like are known
to have ceiling contours which are not uniform throughout the
longitudinal length of the vehicle and accordingly, the invention
provides a pivot or hinge arrangement between one of the mounting
rails and the ~ixture ~long one longitudinal edge, and further
provideQ a slotted fastener arrangement along the opposite
longitudinal edge. These permit end-to-end alignment of the
fixtures and provide for compensation of variations in ceiling
contours. Alignment of the fixtures is further facilitated by
the use of alignme~t pins or keys between adjacent fixtures.
Accordingly, the invention provides a lighting fixture
for attachment to a transversely curved ceiling of a public
transportation vehicle such as a bus, a subway car or the like,
in which a housing has a light reflective back and a pair of
longitudinally spaced end caps, light means in said housing ex-
tending between said end caps and a light transmissive cover
closing said housing, an improved fixture mounting comprising a
first mounting rail attached to said housing and extending along
a forward marginal edge of said housing, and a second mounting
rail extending along a rear marginal edge of said housing, a
first ceiling mounting bracket pivotally attached to said first
_ 3
~ ' `
1093~44
mounting rail and having flange means adapted to be attached
to the ceiling of said vehicle, a second ceiling mounting
bracket adapted to be attached to said second mounting rail
and having flange means attaching the same to said ceiling,
slotted means in said second mounting rail providing for
adjustment in the relative position between said second rail,
and said second bracket, said pivotal mounting means and said
slotted means permitting mounting of a plurality of said fixtures
in longitudinal end-to-end alignment along the length of the
vehicle ceiling while providing for variations in ceiling contour.
Still further the invention includes means between said
first mounting rail and said first mounting bracket defining
a longitudinal slot for receiving and capturing the marginal
edge of a decorative ceiling panel.
These and other objects and advantages of the
invention will be apparent from the following description,
the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.
-:
10~3044
Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a ceiling portion
of a transit vehicle showing a lighting fixture according to
this inver.tion;
Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the fixt~re
of Fig. 1 with the transparent ad retaining sheet being shown
; in the open position by broken linesi
Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the fixture of Fig. 1
showing the light transmissive cover assembly in the open
position for replacement of the fluorescent tube;
Fig. 4 i~ an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional
view showing the details of the lighting fixture adjacent the
back mounting rail~ '
Fig. 5 is a similar enlarged fragmentary cross-
sectional view showing the details of the fixture adjacent
the front or upper mounting rail;
Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged section showing
the operator or lever mechanism for supporting the transparent
retainer when the lever is depressed to change the advertising
copy; and
Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detail showing the
manner in which the retainer sheet is received within the
capturing recess in the light transmissive cover.
Docket 6170 10~3V44
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
.
Referring to the figures of the drawings, a lighting
fixture constructed in accordance with this invention is illus-
trated generally at 10 in Figs. 1 and 2 as being mounted to the
ceil:Lng structure 11 of a transit vehicle. The fixture is
particularly adapted to be mounted along a curved ceiling
structure, which may be formed of sheet material or which may
consist of a series of transversely-extending, longitudinally
spaced ceiling ribs or spars.
The lighting fixture itself is formed in two major
components, including a light transmissive panel or cover
assembly 12, and a metal housing forming an internally,
reflective back 14. The back 14 supports a pair of flanged
metal end caps I5 which form the end closures of the fixture
10 and which support therebetween an elongated fluorescent
tube 18 in a conventional manner. The inside surfaces of
the back 14 and the caps 15 are conventionally painted a
reflective white.
The back 14 is formed in a somewhat curved configu-
ration to conform to the curved ceiling structure 11, and is - -
preferably formed in three straight sections 14a, 14_ and
- 14c, joined so as to-approximate a curve. TXe longitudinal
edges of the back are supported and captured respectively at
a back mounting rail 20 (Fig. 4) and an upper or front
retainer rail 22 (Fig. 5). The rails 20 and 22 are preferably
formed as aluminum extrusions. Rail 20 includes a pair of
gripping flanges 24 and 25 which receive the rear marginal
edge of the back 14 while rail 22 also has a pair o gripping
flanges 26 and 27 which receive the forward marginal edge of
the back 14~ Thus the edges of the back 14 are retainéd between
~ the gripping flanges by roll forming or pressing the respective
Docket 6170 10930~4
flanges together after the back 14 has been inserted in
place~ and in this manner an effective connection of the
back on the mounting rails is made without the necessity
for us;ing rivets, screws or the like.
The back mounting rail 20 is provided with an
inwardly directed mounting flange portion 30 which is
provided with a plurality of transversely elongated slots
32 which receive headed fasteners 33. An angle or generally
L-shaped rear mou~ting bracket 35 may be suitably attached
to the vehicle ceiling 11 and provides support-for the
flange portion 30 while the slots 32 permit adjustment and
alignment of the fixtures 10 to the ceiling structure.
Alignment between adjacent fixtures 10 is assured by align-
ment pins 36 captured within the extruded rail 20 and ex-
tending to the corresponding rail 20 of the adjacent fixture.
The retainer rail 22 at the forward edge of thefixture 10 is pivotally retained on an extruded aluminum
forward mounting bracket 40. The bracket 40 is flanged
rearwardly at 41 to receive fasteners 42 extending into
the ceiling or rib 11, and is provided with a downwardly
extending web 43 terminating in a bead 44. The retainer
rail 22 is extruded with a retainer eye portion 45 which
encircles the bead 44 and provides for alignment by reason
of pivotal movement of the rail 22 about the bead 44. A
slight space is provided between the eye 45 and a forwardly
extending flange portion 46 of the brackets 40 to receive
and capture therebetween a decorative ceiling panel S0, as
shown in Fig. 5. This arrangement thus provides means for
capturing and supporting a ceiling panel providing a neat
and attractive appearance at the forward edge of the fix-
ture free of any visible fasteners.
.. ~
.
Docket 6170
1093044
The upper or forward mounting bracket 40 not only
suppor1:s the individual fixtures 10 along the forward mar-
ginal edge, it provides for adjustment or angular alignment
of the fixture with respect to the curvature of the vehicle
ceiling ll. Since the bracket 40 is of a generally T-section,
it gives strength to suppo~t the fixture lO in the span areas
between longitudinally spaced vehicle roof ribs or trusses,
and also provides for a longitudinal capturing and support __
of typical ceiling decorative panels 50.
Similarly, the connection between the extruded
mounting bracket 35 and the mounting flange portion 30 of
the back rail 20 provides an effective support as well as
a longitudinal closure. This could be important in instances
where the area or region behind the fixture 10 is employed
as an air channel or duct with the back wall 14 of the
fixture forming one closure wall of the duct.
~ he translucent cover assembly 12 includes an
extruded translucent, light-transmissive plastic panel 60,
a series of semi-flexible transparent ad sheet retainers 62,
and an operating lever 65 fo~ each retainer 62. The lighting
fixture 10 is preferably formed in four, six or eight foot
sections to make economical use of fluorescent lamps. How-
ever, the retainers 62 are preferably made in two foot
sections and positioned in longitudinal side-by-side relation
for ease of handling and changing i~dividual ad cards.
The forward region of the panel 60 is retained
within an extruded aluminum strip 66 (~ig. 5) which carries
a plurality of quick disconnect fasteners 67 which engage
the retainer rail 22. ~he panel 60 is provided with trans-
lucent end panels 68 (Fig. 3) having inner edges conf~rminggenerally to the shape of the.end caps lS. The end caps
-8-
~ocket 6170 1093044
are provided with a dust seal in the form of urethane tape
69 which engages the marginal edges of the end caps 68 when
the cover assembly 12 is in the closed position.
~he rear edge of the cover 60, as shown in Fig. 4,
is provided with a bead 70 received within a suitable retaining
flange 72 formed on the back mounting rail 20 about which the
entire cover assembly 12 pivots between an open position, as
shown in Fig. 3, and the closed position as shown in Figs. 2
and 4. A folding retainer strip 75 may be provided between
the strip 66 and the rail 22 to define the maximum open posi-
.tion of the cover assembly 12, as shown in Fig. 3.
The light transmissive cover 60 is preferably formed
of translucent white or clear material throughout and is formed
with a forward angled or widened section 60a which provides
interior illumination from the source 18. The forward section.
60a joins a transversely extending curved section 60b providing
back illumination for the advertising copy. A typical card or
sheet of advertising copy is shown in broken lines at~80 in
Fig. 2.
The transparent copy retainers 62 are.positioned in
overlying relation to the panel section 60b adjacent the front
surface of the cover section 60a for retaining sheet-like tran~-
.
lucent advertising material such as--the advertising card 80 in
sandwiched relation between the retainers 62 and the adjacent
panel; The retainers 62 are formed of semi-flexible transparent
plastic material such as a clear acrylic, and have a forward
,~ J ' ~ <
` ~ offset end 86 which is normally received within an integral
longitudinal retainer slot 90 formed in the cover 60. The slot
90 defines an inwardly extending lip 92 which receives the
offset end 86 substantially as shown in Fig. 5.
.
_9_ -
.
Docket 6170 1093044
The inner or rear marginal edges of the retainers
62 are formed with a bead 94 captured within corresponding
extruded aluminum levers 65. The levers 65 are, in turn,
pivotally mou~ted on a bead 95 extruded as part of the
S c~ver 60. Spring means in the form of a plurality of wire
springs lO0, or a wavy spring or the like, are interposed
between the levers 65 and a rearward integral extension ledge
105, as best seen in Figs. 4 and 6. The engagement of any
one of the retainer sheets 62 with the slot 90 may be released
lO simply by depressing the associated lever 65 as shown in Fig.
6 resulting in pivotal movement of the lever 65 about the
bead 95, thus withdrawing the lower edge of the sheet 62 from
engagement with the cover 60 and retracting the offset or
retaining portion 86 from within the retaining slot 90, as
15 shown in Fig. 7. The sheet 62 may then be dropped down for
insertion or replacement of the advertising sheet 80. .When
the sheet 80 has been rep~aced, the lever 65 is released and
the spring means lO0 urges the retainer 62 firmly against
the curvature of the cover portion 60b, and urges the offset
20 end 86 into captured relation within the slot 90.
In summary, the invention permits the use of thin,
low cost sheets of advertising copy while, at the same time,
permits the use of the former or existing heavy plastic trans-
parencies, as well as cardboard cards. Further, the fixture
25 may be readily aligned when used with differing or varying
.ceiling contours, thus reducing the cost of installation and
reducing the inventory necessary to provide such materials.
While the form of apparatus herein described con-
stitutes a preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to
. .
- --10--
...... ~ . . .
10~3044
be understood that the invention is not limited to this
pr.ecise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made
therein without departing from the scope of the invention.
