Adjustable drop ceiling fixture support

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the accompanying drawings, FIGS.
1-3 illustrate a preferred embodiment of mounting assembly A of the present invention.
Mounting assembly A includes a first or horizontal support member designated as H and a second or vertical support member designated as V.
Horizontal support member H and vertical support member V may be made of rigid, corrosion resistant material such as stainless steel, to support heavy loads such as a chandelier or ceiling fan and to help resist torque.
Horizontal support member H includes a first or inner member 10 and a second or outer member 12 both of which are generally tubular in construction.
Preferably, inner member 10 is positioned coaxially within outer member 12 and is slidable relative to outer member 12 prior to final installation.
This slidability allows the length of horizontal member H to be varied according to the distance between two ceiling joists, for example.
Vertical support member V includes an inner member 14 and an outer member 16, both of which may be generally tubular in construction.
Preferably, inner member 14 is positioned coaxially within outer member 16 and is slidable relative to outer member 16 prior to final installation.
This allows the length of vertical member V to be varied according to the distance between the ceiling joists and the drop ceiling.
Vertical member V is connected transversely, and, preferably, generally perpendicular to horizontal member H by a bracket 18.
Bracket 18 is generally U-shaped with a closed end portion 20 and an open end portion 22.
Horizontal member H extends through closed end portion 20 with vertical member V inserted into the open end portion 22.
As best shown in FIGS.
1 and 2, bracket 18 is secured to vertical member V by bolts 24 and 26 which extend through open end portion 22 of bracket 18 and through inner member 14 of vertical member V.
Bolts 24 and 26 are secured therein by nuts 28 and 30 respectively.
Prior to tightening nuts 28 and 30, bracket 18 and vertical member V can be positioned anywhere along horizontal member H to accommodate the proper positioning of the fixture to be mounted