Trim retention gravity inversion clip

Abstract

A clip formed of flat spring steel stock material and operable in association with a lamp housing mounting arrangement of a downlighting fixture to exert a force on a lighting trim through the lamp housing to retain the trim snugly against a ceiling about an opening in the ceiling through which at least lowermost portions of the lamp housing and/or trim extends, an environmental space beneath the opening being illuminated through the opening by lamping carried by the lamp housing. In the preferred embodiment, an adjustable, U-shaped mounting yoke is carried by a conventional downlighting pan with the bight of the yoke being disposed immediately over a socket cup mounted to an uppermost end of the lamp housing or reflector, the clip extending between spaced arms of the yoke and being attached to a central portion of the clip. Upward displacement of the lamp housing after attachment to the clip causes the clip to deform and bias the lamp housing and associated trim upwardly to hold annular flanged lowermost portions of the lamp housing or trim in place about the ceiling opening to prevent light leakage and to provide a pleasing appearance. Alternate embodiments include spring elements formed of bent wires as well as strap stock which are configured to exert a force on a lamp housing or trim to maintain the lamp housing or trim about a ceiling opening.