The Whitaker Corporation

John Francis Turner

Barry Eddington Altman

Kimberly Ann Ketelsleger

Albert David Willette

Robert Wayland Pitts

A fluorescent lighting assembly (,) includes a ballast lampholder subassembly (,) located at one end of a troffer (,) and at least one lampholder connector (,) located at the opposite end. The ballast lampholder subassembly (,) includes ballast circuitry connected to fluorescent lamp terminals (,) all positioned within a ballast lampholder housing (,). A molded ballast lampholder cover (,) encloses three sides of the ballast lampholder subassembly and a stamped metal plate forms the ballast lampholder base (,), with the ballast circuitry located on a circuit board (,) positioned on the interior surface of the base. Integrally molded lampholders (,) extend from channels (,) on the cover (,) and are positioned between larger enclosure sections (,) which provide space for larger ballast components. Fluorescent lamp terminals (,) are inserted from the interior of the cover into cavities (,) in lampholders (,), and lead wires connect the terminals to the printed circuit board. Lampholder connectors (,) including integrally molded lampholders (,) are located at the opposite end of the fluorescent lighting assembly (,).

Lighting assembly for multiple fluorescent lamps

A lighting fixture 12 for use with fluorescent lamps 2 can be mounted in an opening in a suspended ceiling 4 or it can be supported below a ceiling. An integral ballast subassembly 14 is mounted on one end of the lighting fixture 12 on a ballast end support 64. Commoning lamp sockets 62 are mounted on a separate end support 84 on the opposite end of the lighting fixture 12. A ballast capable of energizing fluorescent lamps 2 in series is used so that the ballast subassembly need not be connected directly to the commoning lamp sockets 62. The end supports 64 and 84 can be mounted on opposite ends of a suspended ceiling opening 10 and a thin bonnet or hood 98 can then be positioned above the end supports 64, 84 after the ballast subassembly 14 is mounted at one end. The ballast subassembly housing 16 includes two separate compartments, with the ballast circuitry being housed in one compartment 28 and with the power wiring being positioned in the other compartment 30.

Fluorescent lighting fixture having two separate end supports, separate

A fluorescent lampholder connector (50, 150) for use in a fluorescent lighting assembly (2) includes a molded lampholder connector housing having spaced-apart molded lampholders (51, 150) extending upwardly from a lampholder connector base. Each of the lampholders includes a pair of terminal cavities (52, 152) opening on a lower surface of the connector housing. Fluorescent lamp terminals (17) are disposed in respective ones of the terminal cavities. In one embodiment, the connector (50) has two lampholders (51), and lead wires (57) connect the terminals in one lampholder to the terminals in the other lampholder. In another embodiment, the connector (151) has three lampholders, a bus wire (157) extends along the lower surface of the connector housing, and lead wires (161) connect the terminals to the bus wire.

Lampholder connector for multiple fluorescent lamps

A lighting assembly 2 includes a ballast subassembly 4, fluorescent lamps 30 and connectors 50 for connecting the ends of two lamps forming an associated pair. The ballast subassembly 4 is connected to only one base of two lamps and the other ends are connected by commoning socket connectors 50 that are not attached to the ballast subassembly 4. The ballast subassembly 4 includes a power supply circuit 100 and a ballast circuit 102 that can energize two fluorescent lamps 30 with remote lamp bases 34 commoned. The ballast subassembly 4 is mounted on one end of the lighting subassembly, for example on one end of a troffer 80. No wires or other direct electrical connection are necessary with the other end of the lighting assembly 4, the lamps 30, or the troffer 80. The commoning connectors 50 can employ bus contacts 64 having integral cantilever terminals 74 extending from a central bus section 66. These contacts can be mounted in socket housings 52 for connecting two side by side instant start fluorescent lamps.

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Clemmons, NC, United States of America

John Francis Turner