Lighting fixture pendants

Abstract

A lighting fixture pendant includes, for example, a connector defining an axis between a first end and a second end, a plurality of elements having an aperture therethrough and having portions asymmetrically disposed around the aperture, at least one spacer having a passageway extending from a first end to a second end, a first element having an aperture therethrough, and a second element having an aperture therethrough. The connector extends through the apertures of the plurality of elements, the first element and the second element, and the passageway of the spacer. The first element is adjacent to the first end of the spacer and the second element is adjacent to the second end of the spacer. When the lighting fixture pendant is supported from the first end of the connector, the plurality of elements, the first element, the second element, and the spacer are vertically aligned along the axis.

Claims

1. A lighting fixture pendant comprising: a connector having a first end and a second end, the connector defining an axis between the first end and the second end of the connector; a plurality of elements comprising at least: a first plurality of elements having an aperture therethrough and having portions asymmetrically disposed around the aperture, the first plurality of elements disposed adjacent to each other and having a first maximum distance from the aperture to an edge of the first element; a second plurality of elements having an aperture therethrough and having portions asymmetrically disposed around the aperture, the second plurality of elements disposed adjacent to each other having a second maximum distance from the aperture to an edge of the second element, the second maximum distance being greater than the first maximum distance; the connector extending through the apertures of the first plurality of elements and the second plurality of elements; and the first plurality of elements and the second plurality of elements vertically aligned along the axis of the connector with one of the first plurality of elements being disposed adjacent to one of the second plurality of elements, at least some of the first plurality of elements extending in different radial directions outwardly from the axis, and at least some of the second plurality of elements extending in different radial directions outwardly from the axis.

2. The lighting fixture pendant of claim 1, wherein: the first plurality of elements being identically configured to each other; and the second plurality of elements being identically configured to each other.

3. The lighting fixture pendant of claim 1 wherein: the connector comprises a wire or a cable; the first plurality of elements comprises a plurality of ornamental elements; and the second plurality of elements comprises a plurality of ornamental elements.

4. The lighting fixture pendant of claim 1 wherein: the connector comprises a wire or a cable; the first plurality of elements comprises faceted elements; and the second plurality of elements comprises faceted elements.

5. The lighting fixture pendant of claim 4, wherein: the first plurality of elements comprises crystals; and the second plurality of elements comprises crystals.

6. The lighting fixture pendant of claim 1, wherein: one of the first plurality of elements comprises a first planar surface; one of the second plurality of elements comprises a second planar surface; and wherein the first planar surface engages the second planar surface.

7. The lighting fixture pendant of claim 6, wherein: the engaging planar surfaces are disposed at a non-perpendicular angle from the axis.

8. The lighting fixture pendant of claim 1, wherein: at least some of the first plurality of elements have mating surfaces disposed adjacent to each other; at least some of the second plurality of elements have mating surfaces disposed adjacent to each other; and one of the at least some of the first plurality of elements is disposed adjacent to one of the at least some of the second plurality of elements.

9. The lighting fixture pendant of claim 1 wherein: the connector comprises a flexible wire or cable; and the first and second plurality of elements are loosely supported on the connector between the first end and the second end of the connector.

10. The lighting fixture pendant of claim 1 wherein: the first and second plurality of elements is rotatable about the connector.

11. A lighting fixture comprising: a support; a lighting fixture pendant of claim 1 supportable from the support; and a light source.

12. A lighting fixture comprising: a support; a plurality of lighting fixture pendants of claim 1 to define a curtain supportable from the support; and a light source.

13. A lighting fixture pendant comprising: a connector having a first end and a second end, the connector defining an axis between the first end and the second end of the connector; a plurality of elements comprising: a first plurality of faceted elements having an aperture therethrough and having portions asymmetrically disposed around the aperture, each of the first plurality of faceted elements disposed adjacent to each other and having a same first maximum distance from the aperture to an edge of the first element; a second plurality of faceted elements having an aperture therethrough and having portions asymmetrically disposed around the aperture, each of the second plurality of faceted elements disposed adjacent to each other and having a same second maximum distance from the aperture to an edge of the second element, the second maximum distance being greater than the first maximum distance; the connector extending through the apertures of the first plurality of faceted elements and the second plurality of faceted elements; one of the first plurality of elements comprises a first planar surface; one of the second plurality of elements comprises a second planar surface engaging the first planar surface; and the first plurality of faceted elements and the second plurality of faceted elements vertically aligned along the axis of the connector with the first plurality of faceted elements being disposed adjacent to one of the second plurality of faceted elements, at least some of the first plurality of faceted elements extending in different radial directions outwardly from the axis, and at least some of the second plurality of faceted elements extending in different radial directions outwardly from the axis.

14. The lighting fixture pendant of claim 13, wherein: the first plurality of faceted elements being identically configured to each other; and the second plurality of faceted elements being identically configured to each other.

15. The lighting fixture pendant of claim 14, wherein: the first plurality of faceted elements comprises crystals; and the second plurality of faceted elements comprises crystals.

16. The lighting fixture pendant of claim 14 wherein: the first plurality of faceted elements comprises octagonal-shaped faceted crystals; and the first plurality of faceted elements comprises octagonal-shaped faceted crystals.

17. The lighting fixture pendant of claim 13 wherein: the connector comprises a flexible wire or cable; and the first and second plurality of elements are loosely supported on the connector between the first end and the second end of the connector.

18. The lighting fixture pendant of claim 13 wherein: the first and second plurality of elements are rotatable about the connector.

19. A lighting fixture comprising: a support; a lighting fixture pendant of claim 13 supportable from the support; and a light source.

20. A lighting fixture comprising: a support; a plurality of lighting fixture pendants of claim 13 to define a curtain supportable from the support; and a light source.

21. The lighting fixture pendant of claim 1, wherein: the first plurality of elements comprises a plurality of octagonal-shaped faceted elements; and the second plurality of elements comprises a plurality of octagonal-shaped faceted elements.

22. The lighting fixture pendant of claim 13, wherein: the first plurality of faceted elements comprises a plurality of octagonal-shaped faceted elements; and the second plurality of faceted elements comprises a plurality of octagonal-shaped faceted elements.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The subject matter which is regarded as the disclosure is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The disclosure, however, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of various embodiments and the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a round lighting fixture having a plurality of lighting fixture pendants, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a rectangular lighting fixture having a plurality of lighting fixture pendants, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

(4) FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a lighting fixture pendant, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

(5) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the lighting fixture pendant of FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

(6) FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the large octagonal-shaped faceted crystals of lighting fixture pendant of FIGS. 3 and 4, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the lighting fixture pendant of FIGS. 3 and 4 supported from a gallery plate, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

(8) FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a lighting fixture pendant, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

(9) FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the lighting fixture pendant of FIG. 7, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

(10) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the lighting fixture pendant of FIGS. 7 and 8 supported from a gallery plate, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(11) The present disclosure is directed to lighting fixture pendants such as ornamental vertical chains that may be assembled into lighting fixtures. A plurality of lighting fixture pendants of the present disclosure may be assembled into one or more ornamental curtains of the lighting fixture. For example, the lighting fixture pendants may be mounted in gallery plates that suspend the ornament chains in staggered relationship either in multiple planes or within the same plane whereby the ornaments fill the gaps and voids in the visual field of the viewer. The lighting fixtures may include chandeliers and other lighting fixtures.

(12) As will be appreciated from the present description, the lighting fixture pendants or chains may include vertical chains having asymmetrically disposed elements or portions, but in which the chains maintain a general overall vertical orientation. The asymmetric disposed portions or elements may be rotatably positionable about a vertical axis. Various separators may include spacers, such as tubes in combination with round elements or beads that allow for vertical alignment of the chain generally with the vertical axis of the lighting fixture pendant, e.g., providing a vertical self-aligning feature. The asymmetrically disposed crystals may also be positionable in different angular rotational positions relative to the axis.

(13) FIG. 1 illustrates a round lighting fixture 10 having a plurality of lighting fixture pendants 12, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 illustrates a rectangular lighting fixture 20 having a plurality of lighting fixture pendants 12, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In this illustrated embodiments, plurality of lighting fixture pendants 12 may include a plurality of lighting fixture pendants 100 and 200. The plurality of lighting fixture pendants 12 may be disposed around a light source, and operably connected to a power supply.

(14) As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, lighting fixture pendant 100 may include a plurality of asymmetric disposed elements while the lighting fixture pendant 100 retains a generally vertical orientation, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In this illustrated embodiment, lighting fixture pendant 100 may include a plurality of ornamental or decorative elements 110 such as large octagonal-shaped faceted crystals 120 and a plurality of small octagonal-shaped faceted crystals 130. a plurality of large spherical faceted beads 140, a plurality of small spherical faceted beads 150, at least one or a plurality of separators 190, and a connector 170 (FIG. 4) such as a wire or a cable that is crimped at a first end 172 (FIG. 4) and at a second end 174 (FIG. 4). The cable or wire may be a rigid cable or wire, or may be a flexible and non-rigid cable or wire. Separators 190 may include a spacer 160 such as symmetric tubes and beads 140. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a portion of beads 140 may be received in or seated in the ends of spacer 160 with the apertures in the beads 140 being centered in the passageway of spacer 160. In some embodiments, the separator may have an integral, monolithic, one-piece configuration, or be configured as a single unit.

(15) With reference still to FIG. 4, in some embodiments, some of the plurality of elements 110 may extend outwardly a radial distance R1 from an axis A of connector 170 that is greater than an outer radial distance R2 of spacer 160 from axis A. As shown in FIG. 3, in some embodiments, spacer 160 may have a first longitudinal length L1 along axis A of connector 170 (FIG. 4), and plurality of elements 110 disposed between spacers 160 may extend along a second longitudinal length L2 along axis A. For example, first longitudinal length L1 may be equal to second longitudinal length L2. In other embodiments, first longitudinal length L1 may be between about 30 percent and 70 percent of second longitudinal length L2. In a similar manner, in some embodiments, separators 190 may have a longitudinal length L3 along axis A of connector 170 (FIG. 4), and plurality of elements 110 disposed between separators 190 may extend along a longitudinal length L1 along axis A. Longitudinal length L3 may be equal to longitudinal length L2. In other embodiments, longitudinal length L3 may be between about 30 percent and 70 percent of longitudinal length L2. In other embodiments as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, first longitudinal length L1 and longitudinal length L3 may be greater than second longitudinal length L2.

(16) As illustrated, lighting fixture pendant 100 includes asymmetrically disposed elements, e.g., the octagonal-shaped faceted crystals, but in which the lighting fixture pendant retains a general overall vertical orientation. The asymmetrically disposed octagonal-shaped faceted crystals may be rotated about a vertical axis. For example, the asymmetrically disposed octagonal-shaped faceted crystals may be rotatable in the direction of double-headed arrow R (FIG. 4) about longitudinal axis A (FIG. 4). The combination of spacer 160 and beads 140 aid in aligning the lighting fixture pendant along the longitudinal axis A (FIG. 4) of connector 170 (FIG. 4). The present technique allows for a generally aligned vertical arrangement, while allowing variation lengthwise in the appearance of the disposed crystals.

(17) FIG. 5 illustrates one of the large octagonal-shaped faceted crystals 120 having an aperture 122 offset from the center C of the octagon crystal, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

(18) As shown in FIG. 6, lighting fixture pendant 100 may be supported from a gallery plate 180, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, small bead 150 may be supported between a pair of fingers 185 of gallery plate 180. In this illustrates arrangement, a portion of the lighting fixture pendant 100 may be disposed above gallery plate 180 with the remainder of the lighting fixture pendant hanging below.

(19) FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a lighting fixture pendant 200, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Lighting fixture pendant 200 may be assembled from similar components as lighting fixture pendant 100. In this illustrated embodiment, an upper end of lighting fixture pendant 200 may be provided with a ring 210.

(20) As shown in FIG. 9, lighting fixture pendant 200 may be supported from gallery plate 180, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, ring 210 may be placed over and supported on a horizontally disposed T-shaped post 181 of gallery plate 180.

(21) As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 7, and 8, at least some of the plurality of asymmetric elements may have corresponding adjacent mating angled surfaces relative to the axis of the wire cable or other elongated member so that the asymmetric elements are nested or otherwise fit compactly together along the axis of the cable, wire, or other elongated member. In other embodiments, the asymmetrically disposed may have flat surfaces that fit compactly together.

(22) It will be appreciated that the lighting fixture pendants of the present disclosure may include any one of a myriad of components, elements, crystals, ornaments, and/or related hardware, in any number or arrangement. The hollow cylinder or tube may have other configurations such as a hollow square tube. The separators, and spacers such as beads and tubes may have other configurations that allow for a self-aligning feature. The size and shape of components, elements, crystals, ornaments, and/or related hardware may vary, for instance, depending upon the visual effect desired, among other things. From the present disclosure, the elements may be made of crystals or other materials.

(23) As may be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the teachings herein, numerous changes and modifications may be made to the above-described and other embodiments of the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the disclosure. The components of the lighting fixture pendants or ornamental trim or chains as disclosed in the specification, including the accompanying abstract and drawings, may be replaced by alternative component(s) or feature(s), such as those disclosed in another embodiment, which serve the same, equivalent or similar purpose as known by those skilled in the art to achieve the same, equivalent or similar results by such alternative component(s) or feature(s) to provide a similar function for the intended purpose. In addition, the lighting fixture pendants or ornamental trim or chains may include more or fewer components or features than the embodiments as described and illustrated herein. Accordingly, this detailed description of the currently preferred embodiments is to be taken in an illustrative, as opposed to limiting of the disclosure.

(24) The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms a, an and the are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms comprise (and any form of comprise, such as comprises and comprising), have (and any form of have, such as has, and having), include (and any form of include, such as includes and including), and contain (and any form of contain, such as contains and containing) are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a method or device that comprises, has, includes, or contains one or more steps or elements possesses those one or more steps or elements, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more steps or elements. Likewise, a step of a method or an element of a device that comprises, has, includes, or contains one or more features possesses those one or more features, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more features. Furthermore, a device or structure that is configured in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.

(25) The disclosure has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. It will be understood that the embodiments described herein are exemplary of a plurality of possible arrangements to provide the same general features, characteristics, and general system operation. Modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the disclosure be construed as including all such modifications and alterations.