Bar hanger with identical members for recessed luminaires

Abstract

A bar hanger member is provided. The bar hanger member is for assembling with another like-member by superposition thereon to form a bar hanger for supporting recessed luminaires. The bar hanger member includes: an elongated body having a front face and a rear face; a channel extending through the body along the lengthwise axis; and first and second protrusions extending from the body aligned with the channel. The first and second protrusions are sized and shaped for slidable engagement with the channel of the like-member. When the bar hanger is assembled with the like-member, the second protrusion of the bar hanger engages in the channel of the like-member and the first protrusion of the like-member engages in the channel of the bar hanger member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bar hanger member for assembling with a like-member to form a bar hanger for supporting recessed luminaires, the bar hanger member comprising:
 an elongated body extending along a lengthwise axis between first and second ends, said elongated body having first and second faces;   at least one channel extending through the body along the lengthwise axis, and opening on at least on one of the first or second faces;   a first protrusion extending from the first face and positioned to engage in and slide along the at least one channel in the like-member when the bar hanger member is superposed on the like-member; and   a second protrusion extending from the second face and positioned to engage with the like-member when the like-member is superposed on the bar hanger member.   
     
     
         2 . The bar hanger member according to  claim 1 , wherein the second protrusion is positioned to engage in and slide along the at least one channel in the like-member when the like-member is superposed on the bar hanger member. 
     
     
         3 . The bar hanger member according to  claim 1 , wherein the channel comprises a width, further wherein the first protrusion comprises a width greater than the width of the channel. 
     
     
         4 . The bar hanger member according to  claim 3 , wherein a width-wise axis of the first protrusion is angled between 30° and 60° relative to a width-wise axis of the channel. 
     
     
         5 . The bar hanger member according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least protrusion comprises a stem extending from the first face of the body, and a head extending from the stem. 
     
     
         6 . The bar hanger member according to  claim 5 , wherein the stem has a vertical component smaller than a width of the channel, and the head has a vertical component greater than the width of the channel. 
     
     
         7 . The bar hanger member according to  claim 6 , wherein the vertical component of the stem is tapered inward from the head to the first face of the body. 
     
     
         8 . The bar hanger member according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongated body comprises an L-shaped profile, further wherein the bar hanger formed by superposing the bar hanger member on the like-member comprises a C-shaped profile. 
     
     
         9 . The bar hanger member according to  claim 8 , wherein the elongated body comprises a planar vertical section comprising the first and second faces, and a planar horizontal section extending from the planar vertical section at a right angle. 
     
     
         10 . A bar hanger member for assembling with a like-member to form a bar hanger for supporting recessed luminaires, the bar hanger member comprising:
 an elongated body extending along a lengthwise axis between first and second end, said elongated body having a first face and a second face;   a first protrusion extending from the first face, the first protrusion being configured to engage with the like-member when the bar hanger member is superposed on the like-member; and   a second protrusion extending from the second face, the second protrusion being configured to engage with the like-member when the like-member is superposed on the bar hanger member.   
     
     
         11 . The bar hanger member according to  claim 10 , wherein the first and second protrusions are configured for slidable engagement with the like-member. 
     
     
         12 . The bar hanger member according to  claim 10 , further comprising at least one aperture opening on the first and second faces, wherein the first protrusion is sized and positioned to engage in the at least one aperture in the like-member when the bar hanger member is superposed on the like-member, and wherein the second protrusion is sized and positioned to engage in the at least one aperture in the like-member when the like-member is superposed on the bar hanger member. 
     
     
         13 . The bar hanger member according to  claim 12 , wherein the aperture comprises a channel extending through the body along the lengthwise axis, further wherein the first and second protrusions are configured to slide along the channel when engaged in the aperture of the like-member. 
     
     
         14 . The bar hanger member according to  claim 10 , further comprising at least one interlocking mechanism operable to lock the bar hanger member and the like-member together. 
     
     
         15 . The bar hanger member according to  claim 14 , wherein the interlocking mechanism comprises at least one locking tab positioned to engage in a corresponding aperture in the like-member. 
     
     
         16 . The bar hanger member according to  claim 15 , wherein the first and second protrusions comprise the at least one locking tab. 
     
     
         17 . The bar hanger member according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one locking tab is twistable to lock in the aperture. 
     
     
         18 . The bar hanger member according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one locking tab comprises a tapered stem configured to draw the bar hanger member and the like-member together when the at least one locking tab is twisted. 
     
     
         19 . A kit for forming a bar hanger, the kit comprising at least two bar hanger members comprising:
 a first bar hanger member comprising:
 an elongated body extending along a lengthwise axis between first and second ends, said elongated body having a front face and a rear face; 
 an aperture opening on the front face; and 
 a protrusion extending from the front face; and 
   a second bar hanger member comprising:
 an elongated body extending along a lengthwise axis between first and second ends, said elongated body having a front face and a rear face; 
 an aperture opening on the rear face; and 
 a protrusion extending from the rear face; 
   wherein the protrusion of the first bar hanger member is positioned to engage in the aperture of the second bar hanger member and the protrusion of the second bar hanger member is positioned to engage in the aperture of the first bar hanger member when the second bar hanger member is superposed on the first bar hanger member.   
     
     
         20 . The kit according to  claim 19 , wherein the first and second bar hanger members are identical members.