Hanger bar assemblies for recessed luminaires

Abstract

A recessed luminaire having a hanger bar assembly including a first hanger bar member having a elongated slot and a second hanger bar member, adjacent to the first hanger bar member, having at least three retaining projections extending into the elongated slot, for slidably engaging the first hanger bar member.

1 . A hanger bar assembly for a recessed luminaire comprising: 
 a first hanger bar member having an elongated slot; and    a second hanger bar member, adjacent to the first hanger bar member, having at least three retaining projections extending into the elongated slot, for slidably engaging the first hanger bar member.    
   
   
       2 . The hanger bar assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one bridge spanning the elongated slot to form a first slot portion and a second slot portion, wherein adjacent retaining projections are separated by a distance that is greater than a width of the bridge.  
   
   
       3 . The hanger bar assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a second bridge disposed on a proximal end of the first hanger bar and spanning an end of the elongated slot, wherein the retaining projections slide beneath the second bridge and out of the elongated slot.  
   
   
       4 . The hanger bar assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first hanger bar member further includes a retaining tab disposed adjacent and opposite the second bridge, for slidably engaging the second hanger bar member as the retaining projections exit the elongated slot, thereby maintaining the second hanger bar member adjacent the first hanger bar member.  
   
   
       5 . The hanger bar assembly of  claim 3 , further comprising a first attachment structure disposed on the first hanger bar member and a second attachment structure disposed on the second hanger bar member, wherein the first and second attachment structures are configured to allow the first and second hanger bar members to slidably extend therebeyond, respectively.  
   
   
       6 . The hanger bar assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 a first score line disposed on the first hanger bar member between the bridge and a distal end, the first score line intersecting the elongated slot;    a second score line disposed on the second hanger bar member between a proximal end of the second hanger bar member and the retaining projections; and    wherein the first score line extends beyond the second attachment member and the second score line extends beyond the first attachment member when the hanger bar assembly is in a fully retracted position.    
   
   
       7 . The hanger bar assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the second hanger bar member further includes a score aperture extending therethrough, the score aperture intersecting the second score line.  
   
   
       8 . The hanger bar assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second attachment members each include an integral mounting tab and a mounting aperture.  
   
   
       9 . The hanger bar assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a suspended member including a plurality of opposed attachment tabs for slidably engaging the first and second hanger bar members.  
   
   
       10 . The hanger bar assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the suspended member includes a securing arrangement for locking the first hanger bar member, the second hanger bar member, and the suspended member in position relative to each other.  
   
   
       11 . A hanger bar assembly comprising: 
 a first hanger bar member having an elongated slot and a bridge, the bridge spanning the elongated slot;    a second hanger bar member adjacent the first hanger bar member, the second hanger bar member including a plurality of retaining projections extending into the elongated slot and slidably engaging the first hanger bar member; and    wherein the retaining projections slide beneath the bridge.    
   
   
       12 . The hanger bar assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the bridge is disposed between a first end and a second end of the elongated slot thereby forming a first slot portion and a second slot portion separated by a first distance, adjacent of the retaining projections being separated by a second distance greater than the first distance.  
   
   
       13 . The hanger bar assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the bridge is disposed on a proximal end of the first hanger bar member and the retaining projections slide beneath the bridge and out of the elongated slot.  
   
   
       14 . The hanger bar assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the first hanger bar member further includes a retaining tab disposed adjacent and opposite the bridge, the retaining tab slidably engaging the second hanger bar member as the retaining projections exit the elongated slot, thereby maintaining the second hanger bar member adjacent the first hanger bar member.  
   
   
       15 . The hanger bar assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a first score line disposed on the first hanger bar member between the bridge and a distal end, the first score line intersecting the elongated slot;    a second score line disposed on the second hanger bar member between a proximal end and the retaining projections; and    wherein the first score line extends beyond a second attachment member disposed on the second hanger bar member and the second score line extends beyond a first attachment member disposed on the first hanger bar member when the hanger assembly is in a fully retracted position.    
   
   
       16 . The hanger bar assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second attachment members each include an integral mounting tab and a mounting aperture.  
   
   
       17 . A luminaire, comprising: 
 a first hanger bar member having an elongated slot;    a second hanger bar member adjacent said first hanger bar member;    means for retaining the second hanger bar member adjacent the first hanger bar member, the means for retaining extending into the elongated slot and slidably engaging the first hanger bar member;    means for attaching the first and the second hanger bar members to a respective support structure, the means for attaching being disposed on a proximal end of each of the first and second hanger bar members; and    means, supported by the first and second hanger bars, for providing illumination.    
   
   
       18 . The luminaire of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one bridge spanning the elongated slot, thereby forming at least a first slot portion and a second slot portion separated by a first distance, adjacent of the means for retaining being separated by a second distance, the second distance being greater than the first distance, and wherein the means for retaining slide beneath the at least one bridge.  
   
   
       19 . The luminaire of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one bridge further comprises a second bridge disposed on a proximal end of the first hanger bar member, wherein the means for retaining slide beneath the second bridge and out of the elongated slot.  
   
   
       20 . A method of assembling a hanger bar assembly, comprising the steps of: 
 slidably engaging a first hanger bar member including a first proximal end and a first distal end with a second hanger bar member including a second distal end and a second proximal end such that the first and second bar hanger members are adjacent;    sliding the first and second hanger bar members relative to each other such that the first distal end extends beyond the second proximal end and the second distal end extends beyond the first proximal end; and    removing an unwanted portion from each of the first and second distal ends, wherein the first and second proximal ends are configured for attachment to an adjacent support member.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of maintaining the first and second hanger bar members adjacent each other during the removing step.