Cove lighting apparatus

Abstract

First and second light fixtures, each mounting a fluorescent lamp, are interconnected by a flexible conduit which conducts electrical interconnections between the lamps and a ballast located in one of the fixtures. The flexible conduit permits orienting the respective fixtures to accommodate positioning along a variety of curved paths at the installation site. A three-part lamp support structure featuring a pair of resiliently-biased receptacle arms for receiving a twin tube fluorescent lamp is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Lighting apparatus comprising: a first light fixture means for mounting a first fluorescent lamp and having an opening in a first end thereof;   a second light fixture means for mounting a second fluorescent lamp and having an opening formed in an end thereof positioned opposite said first end .Iadd.of said first fixture means;   first .Iaddend.means for providing a flexible passageway connecting the opening in said first end to the opening in said second fixture opposite said opening in said first end;   a ballast in one of said first and second fixture means; and   conductor means passing through said means for providing a flexible passageway and connected to said ballast and to said first and second fluorescent lamps.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including: bracket means mounted on a top surface of one of said first and second fixtures; and   a lamp support means for snapfitting into said bracket means for resiliently engaging and retaining one of said first and second fluorescent lamps.   
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said lamp support means comprises: a base plug having a rectangular surface;   a split plug depending from said surface;   a rectangular support arm extending upward from said surface; and   a lamp holder slidably mountable on said support arm and having first and second receptacle arms thereon curved to create a cup-shaped lamp receptacle.   
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said support arm has at least one dimple thereon and wherein said lamp holder includes means for interlocking with said at least one dimple. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said receptacle arms are resiliently biased in position with respect to one another. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for providing a flexible passageway comprises a segment of flexible electrical conduit. .[.7. A lamp support comprising: a base plug having a base surface;   a split plug depending from said base surface;   a support arm extending upward from said base surface; and   a lamp holder slidably mountable on said support arm and having first and second receptacle arms thereon curved to create a cup-shaped lamp receptacle..]..[.8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said support arm has at least one dimple thereon and wherein said lamp holder includes means for interlocking with said at least one dimple..]..[.9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first and second receptacle arms are resiliently biased in position with respect to one another..]..[.10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said base surface is a rectangular surface in a horizontal plane and said support arm is a rectangular surface in a plane perpendicular to said horizontal plane..]..[.11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said lamp holder includes a hollow rectangular receiving channel for mounting on said support arm..]..[.12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said receiving channel has first and second vertical side edges and further including first and second web portions interconnecting respective portions of said first and second receptacle arms..]..[.13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said first and second receptacle arms are   
     
     
        resiliently biased in position with respect to one another..]..Iadd.14. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising: a third light fixture means for mounting a third fluorescent lamp and having an opening in a first end thereof;   a fourth light fixture means for mounting a fourth fluorescent lamp and having an opening formed in an end thereof positioned opposite said first end of said third fixture means;   second means for providing a flexible passageway connecting the opening in said first end of said third fixture means to the opening in said fourth fixture means opposite said opening in said first end of said third fixture means;   a ballast in one of said third and fourth fixture means; and   conductor means passing through said second means for providing a flexible passageway and connected to said ballast and to said third and fourth fluorescent lamps. .Iaddend..Iadd.15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said lighting apparatus comprises lighting apparatus installed at an installation site and wherein each of said first and second means for providing a flexible passageway includes a bend imparted at said site to follow a desired curved contour at said site. .Iaddend..Iadd.16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said lighting apparatus comprises cove lighting. .Iaddend..Iadd.17. The lighting apparatus of claim 16 wherein each of said first, second, third and fourth fixture means are each of an elongated box-like construction and wherein each of said fixture means mounts a single-ended fluorescent lamp. .Iaddend..Iadd.18. The lighting apparatus of claim 15 wherein said first, second, third and fourth light fixture means are each of an elongated box-like construction and wherein each of said fixture means mounts a single-ended fluorescent lamp.   
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd.19.  The lighting apparatus of claim 15 wherein said first and second means for providing a flexible passageway each comprises a segment of flexible conduit. .Iaddend..Iadd.20. The lighting apparatus of claim 14 wherein said first and second means for providing a flexible passageway each comprises a segment of flexible conduit. .Iaddend..Iadd.21. The apparatus of claim 14 and further comprising: a fifth light fixture means for mounting a fifth fluorescent lamp and having an opening in a first end thereof;   a sixth light fixture means for mounting a sixth fluorescent lamp and having an opening formed in an end thereof positioned opposite said first end of said fifth fixture means;   third means for providing a flexible passageway connecting the opening in said first end of said fifth fixture means to the opening in said sixth fixture means opposite said opening in said first end;   a ballast in one of said fifth and sixth fixture means; and   conductor means passing through said third means for providing a flexible passageway and connected to said ballast and to said fifth and sixth fluorescent lamps. .Iaddend..Iadd.22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said lighting apparatus comprises lighting apparatus installed at an installation site and where each of said first, second and third means for providing a flexible passageway includes a bend imparted at said site to follow a desired curved contour at said site. .Iaddend..Iadd.23. The lighting apparatus of claim 22 wherein each of said first, second and third means for providing a flexible passageway comprises a segment of   
     
     
        flexible conduit. .Iaddend..Iadd.24.  The lighting apparatus of claim 23 wherein each of said first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth fixture means is of an elongated box-like construction and where each of said fixture means mounts a single-ended fluorescent lamp. .Iaddend..Iadd.25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said lighting apparatus comprises cove lighting. .Iaddend..Iadd.26. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said first and second fixture means are of an elongated box-like construction and where each of said fixture means mounts a single-ended fluorescent lamp. .Iaddend..Iadd.27. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lighting apparatus comprises lighting apparatus installed at an installation site and wherein said first means for providing a flexible passageway includes a bend imparted at said installation site to follow a desired curved contour at said site. .Iaddend..Iadd.28. The lighting apparatus of claim 20 wherein each of said first and second fixture means is of an elongated box-like construction and where each of said fixture means mounts a single-ended fluorescent lamp. .Iaddend.