[0001] The present invention refers to an apparatus for anchoring chandeliers.
[0002] For anchoring a chandelier to the ceiling use is currently made of a double, S-shaped
hook, the upper side of which is engaged with a hook fixed to the ceiling while the
other side is engaged with an eyelet element, usually made of metal, connected to
the chandelier mount. With the term "mount" it is meant an assembly made up of a generally
metal sleeve through which an electrical cable is passed for feeding power to the
chandelier; on the end of said sleeve, that is, on the same side of said eyelet element,
a so-called cable retainer body made of plastics being fixed for retaining the cable.
[0003] The use of the "S" hook, however, implies an unstable and unsafe anchorage of the
chandeliers. Moreover, the presence of the eyelet connected to the mount is detrimental
as far as the cost and time of installation are concerned.
[0004] The main object of the present invention is to provide a chandelier-anchoring apparatus
of simpler use.
[0005] A further object of the present invention is to provide a chandelier-anchoring apparatus
which, in addition to being easier to use, will ensure safety and stability once installed
in place.
[0006] This result has been achieved, according to the invention, by providing an apparatus
having the features indicated in the characterizing part of claim 1. Further characteristics
being set forth in the dependent claims.
[0007] The advantages deriving from the present invention lie essentially in that it is
possible to provide an effective and safe anchorage of the chandeliers to the ceiling;
that the present anchoring apparatus is simple to make, cost-effective, reliable even
after a prolonged service life, readily and quickly installable also on chandeliers
already fitted on their mounts; that - since the apparatus in question engages directly
the cable retainer, that is, the mount proper - no use is made of the metal eyelet
conventionally associated to the mount, nor of the "S" hook.
[0008] These and other advantages and characteristics of the invention will be best understood
by anyone skilled in the art from a reading of the following description in conjunction
with the attached drawings given as a practical exemplification of the invention,
but not to be considered in a limitative sense, wherein:
- Figs. 1A and 1B are respectively a perspective, exploded view and and ensemble view
of a mount for chandeliers which is provided with a first embodiment of anchoring
apparatus according to the invention;
- Figs. 2A and 2B are respectively a perspective, exploded view and and ensemble view
of a mount for chandeliers which is provided with a second embodiment of anchoring
apparatus according to the invention;
- Figs. 3A-3C are, respectively, an elevation front view of the cable retainer belonging
to the mount shown in Figs. 1A-2B, a section view taken on line F-F of Fig. 3A (which
shows also the anchoring apparatus according to said second embodiment) and a section
view taken on line G-G of Fig. 3A, wherein numeral (72) indicates the channel through
which the power cabel for the chandelier is made to pass;
- Figs. 4A and 4B are, respectively, a schematic view of the chandelier anchored at
the ceiling by means of the apparatus according to the invention, and an enlarged
detail of the hook applied to the ceiling and the mount anchored thereto.
[0009] Reduced to its basic structure, and reference being made to the figures of the attached
drawings, a chandelier-anchoring apparatus according to the invention consits of a
body (1) with two appendixes (10) elastically stretchable apart and intended to engage,
on opposite sides, the mount (M) of the chandelier. On the side opposite to said appendixes
(10), the body (1) exhibits a portion (12) shaped like an eyelet (see Figs. 1A, 1B,
4A, 4B) for the anchoring thereof to a hook (3) hanging from the ceiling (4) in correspondence
of the site chosen for the installation of the chandelier (5).
[0010] According to the embodiment shown in Figs. 2A, 2B and 3B, the portion (12) of said
body (1), intended to engage the hook (3) to hang the chandelier from the ceiling,
is in turn shaped as a hook.
The said mount (M) is made up of a sleeve (2) for the chandelier power cable to go
through it and of a cable retainer (7), the latter being made of plastics material
and able to be screwed onto the upper portion (20) of the sleeve (2). The cable retainer
(8) can be fixed to the sleeve (2) by means of a metal screw (8) that can be screwed
across the cable retainer orthogonally to the axis of the same sleeve. The cable (6)
can be fixed to the cable retainer (7) by a corresponding screw made of plastics material
(9) and going across the longitudinal axis of the cable retainer.
[0011] According to the invention, said body (1) can be formed in a single, substantially
filiform metal element.
Advantageously, the cable retainer (7) of the mount (M) has two diametrically opposite
seats (70) to receive therein the elastically stretchable apart appendixes (10) of
said body (1). The size and orientation of said seats (70) of cable-retainer (7) correspond
substantially to those of the appendixes (10) of body (1).
[0012] Moreover, advantageously, the elastically stretchable apart appendixes (10) of said
body (1) are formed by the end lengths, bent over 90°, of two corresponding arms (11)
which, in turn, make up the respective extensions of the portion (12) to be engaged
with the hook (3) of the ceiling.
[0013] Advantageously, provision is also made for the elastically stretchable appendixes
(10) of said body (1) to be so oriented as to have their respective free ends disposed
opposite to each other.
[0014] For the body (1) to be fitted more easily on the cable retainer (7), the head portion
of the latter, that is, the portion of the cable retainer (7) opposite to the one
which is to be screwed on the sleeve (2), is suitably shaped as to have two surfaces
(71) converging towards the outside and terminating in correspondence of said seats
(70). This make it possible to fix the body (1) to the cable retainer (7) by merely
exerting a pressure, that is, forcing the appendixes (10) of the body (1) to slide
onto the respective surfaces (71) of the cable retainer (7), thereby making them to
stretch apart until each appendix (10) is received into the respective seats (70).
With the body (1) thus fixed to the cable retainer (7), that is, to the mount (M)
which the cable retainer is an integral part of, as described in the examples with
reference to the attached drawings, it is possible to anchor the chandelier (5) to
the hook (3) of the ceiling by simply fitting the portion (12) of body (1) onto the
hook (3). The hook (3) may then be bent over until its free end is in contact with
the ceiling surface (4) (as illustrated in Figs. 4A amd 4B, in which said hook is
represented in its final or bent over condition).
[0015] In particular, by using the anchoring apparatus with the portion (2) of body (1)
shaped as an eyelet, there is obtained a higher degree of safety, in addition to a
simpler application and installation.
The cable retainer (7) may be provided with an appendix (72) for supporting a terminal-clamping
plate (73).
1. Chandelier anchoring apparatus provided with a mount (M), characterized in that it
comprises a body (1) with two appendixes (10) elastically strechable apart and able
to elastically engage the mount (M) on two corresponding surfaces thereof, and with
a portion (12) intended to engage a hook (3) protruding down from the ceiling (4)
in correspondence of the installation site being chosen.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said portion (12) of said body
(1) is eyelet shaped.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said portion (12) of said body
(1) is hook shaped.
4. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said body (1) is in one, substantially
filiform metal piece.
5. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said mount (M) comprises a cable
retainer (7) which exhibits two diametrically opposite seats (70) to receive therein
the elastically stretchable appendixes (1) of said body (1).
6. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastically stretchable
apart appendixes (10) of said body (1) are formed by the terminal, bent-over-90° lengths
of two corresponding arms (11) which, in turn, make up the respective extensions of
the portion (12) to be engaged with the hook (3) of the ceiling.
7. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastically stretchable
appendixes (10) of said body (1) are oriented with their respective free ends disposed
opposite to each other.
8. Apparatus according to claims 1 and 5, characterized in that the head portion of the
cable retainer (7) has two surfaces (71) converging towards the outside and terminating
in correspondence of said seats (70).
9. Apparatus according one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the
mount (M) exhibits a cable retainer (7) and the latter is provided with an appendix
(72) able to support a terminal-clamping plate (73).