Self-leveling bracket for lighting fixture

Abstract

A self-leveling bracket assembly for suspending a lighting fixture from a ceiling of a structure. The light fixture comprising a frame having a first and second ends, the self-leveling bracket assembly having two brackets, each bracket comprising a connector member adapted to be attached to the ceiling and a hangar having one end pivotally attached to the connector member and another end adapted to receive the light fixture.

1 . A bracket assembly for suspending a lighting fixture from a ceiling of a structure, the lighting fixture comprising a frame having a first end and a second end, the self-leveling bracket assembly comprising:
 two brackets, each bracket comprising:
 a connector member connectable to the ceiling of the structure; and 
 a hangar comprising a plate having a first end portion and an opposing second end portion, the first end portion of the plate pivotally connected to the connector member, the second end portion including at least one groove for receiving one of the first end and the second end of the frame of the lighting fixture, 
   wherein the self-leveling bracket assembly when connected to the lighting fixture and the ceiling allows the lighting fixture to self-level.   
     
     
         2 . The bracket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the connector members include an L-shaped portion constructed to substantially conform to at least a portion of a support beam of the ceiling. 
     
     
         3 . The bracket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the connector members include one or more downwardly extending flanges, and wherein the hangar is pivotally connected to one of the one or more downwardly extending flanges. 
     
     
         4 . The bracket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the groove is formed by at least one upturned tab. 
     
     
         5 . The bracket assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the groove is formed by two spaced apart upturned tabs. 
     
     
         6 . The bracket assembly of  claim 1  further comprising an extension member having one end pivotally connected to the connector member and another end fixedly attached to the first end portion of the plates. 
     
     
         7 . A lighting fixture, comprising:
 a frame member supporting one or more fluorescent tubes, the frame member having first and second ends spaced apart from one another to define a length;   a first bracket connected to and extending from the first end of the frame member; and   a second bracket connected to and extending from the second end of the frame member,   wherein each of the first and second brackets comprises:   a connector member connectable to the ceiling of a structure; and   a hangar comprising a plate having a first end portion and an opposing second end portion, the second portion being connected to the frame member and the first end portion being pivotally connected to the connector member in such a way that the frame member is able to self-level when the connector members are connected to the ceiling.   
     
     
         8 . The lighting fixture of  claim 7 , wherein the connector members include an L-shaped portion constructed to substantially conform to at least a portion of a support beam of the ceiling. 
     
     
         9 . The lighting fixture of  claim 7 , wherein the connector members include one or more downwardly extending flanges, and wherein the hangar is pivotally connected to one or more downwardly extending flanges. 
     
     
         10 . The lighting fixture of  claim 7 , wherein the second end portion of the plate includes at least one groove in which one of the first and the second ends of the frame of the frame member is slidingly received. 
     
     
         11 . The lighting fixture of  claim 10 , wherein the groove is formed by at least one upturned tab. 
     
     
         12 . The lighting fixture of  claim 11 , wherein the groove is formed by a plurality of spaced apart, upturned tabs. 
     
     
         13 . A method of suspending a light fixture from a ceiling of a structure wherein the light fixture includes a rectangular frame having a first end and a second end, the method comprising:
 attaching two brackets to the ceiling so that the brackets are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the length of the rectangular frame, each of the brackets comprising:
 a connector member connectable to the ceiling of the structure; and 
 a hangar comprising a plate extending downwardly from the connecter member and having a first end portion pivotally connected to the connector member and an opposing second end portion having at least one groove for slidingly receiving one of the first and second ends of the frame; 
   sliding the first end of the frame into the groove of the first bracket and sliding the second end of the frame into the groove of the second bracket; and   allowing the light fixture to self-level.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the ceiling of the structure further includes a support beam, wherein the connector members of the first and second brackets include an L-shaped portion, and wherein the method further comprises attaching each of the connector members to the support beams so that the L-shaped portion substantially conforms to a portion of the support beam. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the L-shaped portion is angularly disposed when connected to the support beam.