Eyelet assembly

Abstract

The disclosure concerns an eyelet assembly comprising a shank; and an eyelet portion connected to an end of the shank, the eyelet portion comprising a first prong and a second prong, the first prong being longer than the second prong, the first and second prongs being substantially arcuate and forming a substantially circular aperture, the first and second prongs at an axial angle relative to each other to form a slot. The assembly can be used to suspend or hang lighting fixtures such as LED flat panels at desired angles of display.

Claims

1. An eyelet assembly comprising: a shank; and an eyelet portion connected to an end of the shank, the eyelet portion comprising a first prong and a second prong, the first prong being longer than the second prong, the first and second prongs being substantially arcuate and forming a substantially circular aperture, the first and second prongs at an axial angle relative to each other to form a slot.

2. The eyelet assembly of claim 1 wherein the shank is configured to swage around a wire rope and is integrally formed with the eyelet portion and extends along substantially the same axis as the eyelet portion.

3. The eyelet assembly of claim 2 wherein the first prong is about 3 times as long as the second prong, and wherein the axial angle is about 10 to about 30.

4. A wire rope comprising at least one eyelet assembly of claim 1.

5. A lighting fixture comprising: at least one grid clip attached thereto, the grid clip having an outward projection, the outward projection comprising a hole; and at least one eyelet assembly comprising: a shank, and an eyelet portion connected to an end of the shank, the eyelet portion, the eyelet portion comprising a first and second prongs being disposed through the hole, the first prong being longer than the second prong, the first and second prongs being substantially arcuate and forming a substantially circular discontinuous aperture.

6. The lighting fixture of claim 5 further comprising a wire rope swaged to the shank.

7. The lighting fixture of claim 6 wherein the lighting fixture is a flat panel LED.

8. A method of suspending a lighting fixture comprising: providing a lighting fixture having at least one grid clip attached thereon, the grid clip having an outward projection, the outward projection comprising a hole; providing at least one gripper having a wire rope passed therethrough, the wire rope having at an end thereof an eyelet assembly, the eyelet assembly comprising a shank, and an eyelet portion connected to an end of the shank, the eyelet portion comprising a first prong and a second prong, the first prong being longer than the second prong, the first and second prongs being substantially arcuate and forming a substantially circular aperture, the first and second prongs at an axial angle relative to each other to form a slot; inserting the first or second prong through the hole and thereafter pressing first and second prongs together to substantially close the slot; and suspending the lighting fixture via the at least one gripper.

Description

(1) FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively depict a perspective and top view of the eyelet assembly 10 of the disclosure. The eyelet assembly comprises shank 11 connected to eyelet portion 12. In the embodiment shown, the eyelet portion and the shank are integrally formed, e.g. from stainless steel. Shank 11 is deformable to be swaged around wire rope 15. Eyelet portion 12 is comprised of first prong 13 and second prong 14. In the embodiment shown, prong 13 is longer than prong 14; in one practice, prong 13 is longer than prong 14. E.g. prong 13 is up to about three times (3), including about 3 as long as prong 14; in other practices, prong 13 is about 2.5 to about 4 longer than the second prong; or about 2.75 to about 3.75 as long as the second prong; or about 3.25 to about 3.5 as long as the second prong 14; the ranges related include all lengths and sub-ranges in between. As depicted, but without limitation, prongs 13 and 14 are substantially arcuate. Prongs 13 and 14 terminate in end portions 17 and 16 respectively and are offset or bent relative to each other by angle .

(2) FIGS. 3 and 4 respectively depict front and back views of eyelet assembly 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2. Prongs 13 and 14 are configured to form eyelet aperture 19, the prongs being separated by slot 20 in the perimeter of the eyelet formed by the prongs. As depicted, because prong 13 is longer than prong 14 (as shown, about 3 longer), slot 20 is located approximately one quarter of the way around the perimeter relative to shank 11; other locations for slot 2o may be used by varying the length of prong 13 relative to prong 14. In FIG. 3, prong 13 is angled toward the viewer thus revealing its terminating end portion 17. FIG. 3 also shows the swaged connection 18 of shank 11. In FIG. 4, prong 14 is angled toward the viewer thus revealing its terminating end portion 16. The shape of eyelet assembly 12 is depicted as substantially circular but other geometries can be used as aforesaid.

(3) FIGS. 5A-5E illustrate an embodiment whereby the eyelet assembly of FIGS. 1-4 are secured to a grid clip. FIG. 5A shows a commercially available grid clip 21 having projection 22 and hole 23 through the projection. FIG. 5B shows the projection 22 after being bent to a position substantially normal to gird clip 21. FIG. 5C shows the eyelet assembly 10 of FIGS. 1-4 and eyelet portion 12 positioned for insertion through hole 23. FIG. 5D shows first prong 13 inserted through hole 23 and FIG. 5E shows the first and second prongs 13 and 14 being pressed together by pliers 24 to close the slot 20.

(4) FIGS. 6A and 6B respectively depict front and side views of an embodiment of the disclosure wherein eyelet assemblies 10 are secured to each end of wire rope 15, which wire rope passes through gripper 25 having screw means 26 to set placement along wire rope 15.

(5) FIG. 7 depicts cable 27 and loop 28 which may also be secured to gripper 25 and from which a fixture, such as a lighting fixture, may be suspended.

(6) FIG. 8 is illustrates a flat panel LED 26 being hung using eyelet assemblies 10 of the disclosure, including grid clip projection 22 and hoe 23 and a gripper 25a.