Combination Slant or Cathedral Ceiling Fan or Fixture Mounting Apparatus

Abstract

Mounting apparatus for fixtures and fans adapted for mounting on a slant ceiling or peak of a cathedral ceiling. Apparatus provides an enclosure for suspending an electrical box in a horizontal disposition so a fixture or fan can be suspended from the apparatus with the weight of the fixture transferred to a joist/beam. Apparatus includes a first enclosure having a bottom opening, a second enclosure adapted for attachment to the first enclosure, providing for extension of a vertical height of the mounting device, a junction box adapted for location within the bottom opening, and a mounting plate adapted for attachment to the junction box, the first enclosure, and the joist/beam. The fixture hangs from the joist/beam by attachment of the fixture to the junction box, attachment of the junction box to the mounting plate, and attachment of the mounting plate to the joist/beam.

1 . A mounting device for hanging an object from a joist/beam of a ceiling area, comprising:
 a first enclosure having a bottom opening;   a second enclosure adapted for attachment to the first enclosure, the second enclosure providing for extension of a vertical height of the mounting device in relation to the vertical height of the mounting device with the first enclosure alone;   a junction box adapted for communication with or location within the bottom opening of the first enclosure; and   a mounting plate adapted for attachment to the junction box, attachment to the first enclosure, and attachment to the joist/beam, wherein the mounting plate is located within the first and the second enclosures when attached to the junction box and attached to the first enclosure, wherein the object hangs from the joist/beam by attachment of the object to the junction box, attachment of the junction box to the mounting plate, and attachment of the mounting plate to the joist/beam.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second enclosures are supported, in relation to the ceiling area, by attachment of the second enclosure to the first enclosure, and by attachment of the mounting plate to the first enclosure. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second enclosure, when attached, together provide four upstanding walls, comprising:
 a first set of two opposing side walls, wherein each of the first set of side walls has a top edge, and wherein the top edge of a first wall of the first set of side walls is shorter in relation to the bottom of the first enclosure than a top edge of a second wall of the first set of side walls; and   a second set of two opposing side walls, wherein each of the second set of opposing side walls extends angularly between respective top edges of each of the first set of opposing side walls, whereby a top edge of each of the angularly extending second set of opposing side walls generally follows a pitch of the joist/beam of the ceiling area.   
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first enclosure includes four upstanding walls, comprising:
 a first set of two opposing side walls, wherein each of the first set of side walls has a top edge and each is of approximately similar height;   a second set of two opposing side walls, wherein each of the second set of opposing side walls extends angularly upward from a respective top edge of one of the first set of two opposing side walls to a apex point, then extends angularly downward from the apex point to a respective top edge of the other of the first set of two opposing side walls, whereby a top edge of each of the angularly extending second side walls generally follows a contour of a peak of a cathedral ceiling.   
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the apex point is vertically aligned with the midpoint of a bottom edge of the respective side wall of the second set of two opposing side walls, whereby a line connecting the apex point and the midpoint of the bottom edge would be perpendicular to the bottom edge. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the apex point is other than vertically aligned with the midpoint of a bottom edge of the respective side wall of the second set of two opposing side walls, whereby a line connecting the apex point and the midpoint of the bottom edge would be perpendicular to the bottom edge. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate is fixedly attached to the junction box. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the second enclosure includes a slot adapted for passage therethrough of the joist/beam. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8 , further comprising a wall section for removable insertion within the slot, whereby the wall section can be removed for passage of the joist/beam through the slot or can be inserted to provide a complete upstanding wall in the second enclosure. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the wall section is segmented and configured for removal of individual segments, thereby providing for an adjustable slot size. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate is aligned perpendicularly to the bottom of the first enclosure when the mounting plate is attached to the junction box and to the first enclosure. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate is centrally located within the first enclosure when the mounting plate is attached to the junction box and to the first enclosure. 
   
   
       13 . A mounting device for hanging an object from a joist/beam of a ceiling area, comprising:
 a first enclosure having a bottom opening;   a second enclosure adapted for attachment to the first enclosure, the second enclosure providing for extension of a vertical height of the mounting device in relation to the vertical height of the mounting device with the first enclosure alone;   a junction box adapted for communication with or location within the bottom opening of the first enclosure; and   a mounting plate adapted for attachment to the junction box, attachment to the first enclosure, and attachment to the joist/beam, wherein:
 the mounting plate is located within the first and the second enclosures when attached to the junction box and attached to the first enclosure; 
 the object hangs from the joist/beam by attachment of the object to the junction box, attachment of the junction box to the mounting plate, and attachment of the mounting plate to the joist/beam; 
 the first and the second enclosures are supported, in relation to the ceiling area, by attachment of the second enclosure to the first enclosure, and by attachment of the mounting plate to the first enclosure; and 
 the first and the second enclosure, when attached, together provide four upstanding walls, comprising:
 a first set of two opposing side walls, wherein each of the first set of side walls has a top edge, and wherein the top edge of a first wall of the first set of side walls is shorter in relation to the bottom of the first enclosure than a top edge of a second wall of the first set of side walls; and 
 a second set of two opposing side walls, wherein each of the second set of opposing side walls extends angularly between respective top edges of each of the first set of opposing side walls, whereby a top edge of each of the angularly extending second set of opposing side walls generally follows a pitch of the joist/beam of the ceiling area. 
 
   
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the second enclosure includes a slot adapted for passage therethrough of the joist/beam. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14 , further comprising a wall section for removable insertion within the slot, whereby the wall section can be removed for passage of the joist/beam through the slot or can be inserted to provide a complete upstanding wall in the second enclosure. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the wall section is segmented and configured for removal of individual segments, thereby providing for an adjustable slot size. 
   
   
       17 . A mounting device for hanging an object from a joist/beam of a ceiling area, comprising:
 a first enclosure having a bottom opening;   a junction box adapted for adapted for communication with or location within the bottom opening of the first enclosure; and   a mounting plate adapted for attachment to the junction box, attachment to the first enclosure, and attachment to the joist/beam, wherein the mounting plated is located within the first enclosure when attached to the junction box and attached to the first enclosure, wherein the object hangs from the joist/beam by attachment of the object to the junction box, attachment of the junction box to the mounting plate, and attachment of the mounting plate to the joist/beam;   wherein the first enclosure further includes:
 a first set of two opposing side walls, wherein each of the first set of side walls has a top edge and each is of approximately similar height; 
 a second set of two opposing side walls, wherein each of the second set of opposing side walls extends angularly upward from a respective top edge of one of the first set of two opposing side walls to a apex point, then extends angularly downward from the apex point to a respective top edge of the other of the first set of two opposing side walls, whereby a top edge of each of the angularly extending second side walls generally follows a contour of a peak of a cathedral ceiling. 
   
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the apex point is vertically aligned with the midpoint of a bottom edge of the respective side wall of the second set of two opposing side walls, whereby a line connecting the apex point and the midpoint of the bottom edge would be perpendicular to the bottom edge. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the apex point is other than vertically aligned with the midpoint of a bottom edge of the respective side wall of the second set of two opposing side walls, whereby a line connecting the apex point and the midpoint of the bottom edge would be perpendicular to the bottom edge. 
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the mounting plate is fixedly attached to the junction box.