The present invention relates to a mounting element for ceiling fixtures, and specifically relates to a shackle assembly for ceiling fixtures.
BACKGROUND
There are various types of installations needed to be mounted on ceilings. The ceiling installations include electrical fixtures, such as fans and lights and non-electrical fixtures, such as swings. Fans and swings are sizeable fixtures. Mounting of such fixtures is significant as stability of a fixture depends on its mount. Moreover, the fixtures, particularly the ones used for ceiling fans are mounted on ceiling by ceiling fan clamps.
Fig. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a traditional ceiling fan clamp. Fig. 2 illustrates a traditional ceiling fan clamp for mounting a ceiling fan to a ceiling hook. As illustrated in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a traditional ceiling fan clamp utilises two sets of nuts and bolts that are fixed in a horizontal manner. An upper half of the ceiling fan clamp is tightened to a ceiling hook by a first set of nut and bolt, and a bottom half of the ceiling fan clamp is fixed with a down rod of a ceiling fan, using a second set of nut and bolt. The open space present around ceiling hooks for mounting of ceiling fans using ceiling fan clamps is very limited. The technicians face great difficulty in fixing the two sets of nuts and bolts in the limited space available around the ceiling hooks. Particularly, the first set of nut and bolt (used on the upper half of the ceiling fan clamp) are tough to operate using a spanner. This problem aggravates when the ceiling hook is provided deep inside the ceiling. Additionally, the traditional ceiling fan clamp requires insertion of a safety split pin or spring washer next to the bolts, for preventing escape of the bolts from their position. It is also tedious to install or remove such safety split pins.
Therefore, in view of the foregoing limitations, there is a need for a mechanism to enable secured mounting of ceiling installations in confined spaces available in ceilings.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
A general objective of the present invention is to ease the process of mounting of ceiling installations.

Another objective of the invention is to improve stability of the mounted ceiling installations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The summary is provided to introduce aspects related to a shackle assembly for mounting ceiling installations, and the aspects are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter nor is it intended for use in determining or limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
The proposed invention relates to a shackle assembly for mounting ceiling installations. The shackle assembly may comprise a hook. The upper end of the hook may be fixed with a supporting element. The lower end of the hook may be positioned below a down rod cap. A bottom portion of the down rod cap may fit within a down rod of a ceiling installation, and a through hole present in the down rod may allow passing of the lower end of the hook therethrough, for hanging the ceiling installation on the lower end of the hook. The shackle assembly may further comprise a bolt positioned over the down rod cap. A vertical bracket may be secured over threads present on the bolt, and a supporting element may be fixed with an upper end of the hook. Rotation of the bolt in a first direction may cause movement of the vertical bracket towards the supporting element to clamp a ceiling hook therebetween, by creating a tension in the shackle assembly.
In one aspect, upon rotation of the bolt in a second direction, the vertical bracket may move downwards, thereby disengaging the shackle assembly from the ceiling hook.
In another aspect, the lower end of the supporting element and/or an upper surface of the vertical bracket may have a concave cavity for clamping the ceiling hook.
In another aspect, the bolt may be a mid-header bolt. A collar of the bolt may rest over a periphery of the down rod cap.
In another aspect, the supporting element may be made of an elastomeric material, and the vertical bracket and the hook may be made of mild steel.
In yet another aspect, the ceiling installations may include ceiling fans, lightening fixtures, and swings.

Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings constitute a part of the description and are used to provide further understanding of the present invention. Such accompanying drawings illustrate the embodiments of the present invention which are used to describe the principles of the present invention. The embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to "an" or "one" embodiment in this invention are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and they mean at least one. In the drawings:
Fig. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of a traditional ceiling fan clamp, in accordance with an embodiment of the prior art;
Fig. 2 illustrates a traditional ceiling fan clamp mounting a ceiling fan to a ceiling hook, in accordance with an embodiment of the prior art;
Fig. 3 illustrates a front perspective view of a shackle assembly for mounting a ceiling installation, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 4 illustrates a side view of a shackle assembly for mounting a ceiling installation, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 5 illustrates a side perspective view of a shackle assembly mounting a ceiling installation on a ceiling hook, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 6 illustrates a front view of a shackle assembly for mounting a ceiling installation, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 7 illustrates a section view of the shackle assembly for mounting of a ceiling installation, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 8 illustrates the shackle assembly mounting a ceiling installation on a ceiling hook, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. Each embodiment described in this disclosure is provided merely as an example or illustration of the present invention, and should not necessarily be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.
The present invention relates to a shackle assembly for mounting ceiling installations. The ceiling installations may include ceiling fans, lightening fixtures, and swings. Fig. 3 illustrates an isometric view of a shackle assembly (300) and Fig. 4 illustrates a side view of the shackle assembly.for mounting a ceiling installation. The shackle assembly (300) may comprise a hook (302). A down rod cap (304) may be positioned on a lower end of the hook (302). In one implementation, a bottom portion of the down rod cap (304) may have a notch/concave depression to suitable position over the lower end of the hook (302). The down rod cap (304) may be provided to fit within a down rod of a ceiling installation.
Fig. 5 illustrates a side perspective view of the shackle assembly (300) mounting a ceiling installation on a ceiling hook (502). To mount a ceiling installation, the down rod cap (304) may be removed from its resting position and inserted in the down rod of the ceiling installation. Thereupon, a through hole present in the down rod of the ceiling installation may be aligned with the notch in the down rod cap (304), and the lower end of the hook (302) may be passed from the through hole present in the down rod, for hanging the ceiling installation on the lower end of the hook (302). The hook (302) may be made of a strong and rust-free material, such as mild steel.
Fig. 6 illustrates a front view of the shackle assembly (300) for mounting a ceiling installation. As illustrated in Fig. 6, a supporting element (306) may be fixed with an upper end of the hook (302). The supporting element (306) may be provided to position the ceiling hook (502). A

lower end of the supporting element (306) may have a concave cavity for clamping the ceiling hook (502). The supporting element (306) may be made of an elastomeric material, such as rubber or silicone. The supporting element (306) may absorb any vibrations caused during operation of the ceiling installation mounted with the shackle assembly (300), for example during operation of a ceiling fan.
Fig. 7 illustrates a section view of the shackle assembly (300) for mounting of a ceiling installation. As illustrated in Fig. 7, the shackle assembly (300) may also comprise a bolt (308). The bolt (308) may be positioned over the down rod cap (304). In one implementation, the bolt (308) may be a mid-header bolt. A collar of the mid-header bolt may be rested over an upper periphery i.e. top opening of the down rod cap (304).
Referring back to Fig. 3, the shackle assembly (300) may further comprise a vertical bracket (310). The vertical bracket (310) may be secured over threads present on the bolt (308). The vertical bracket (310) may be made of a strong and rust-free material, such as mild steel. Fig. 8 illustrates the shackle assembly (300) mounting a ceiling installation on the ceiling hook (502). As illustrated in Fig. 8, when the ceiling hook (502) is positioned at the bottom of the supporting element (306) and the bolt (308) is rotated in a first direction, the vertical bracket (310) may move towards the supporting element (306) to clamp the ceiling hook (502) therebetween. At the same time, the down rod cap (304) is pushed against the hook (302) by the lower end of the bolt (308). When the bolt (308) is rotated in a second direction, the vertical bracket (310) moves downwards, disengaging the shackle assembly (300) from the ceiling hook (502).
The shackle assembly (300) described in the present invention allows mounting of the ceiling installations in a convenient manner, by operation of a single element i.e. the bolt (308) in a vertical direction. Such architecture and manner of operation of the shackle assembly (300) allows secure mounting of ceiling installations in heavily confined spaces present in ceiling. The shackle assembly (300) also enables mounting the ceiling installation when the ceiling hook (502) is fitted too deep inside the ceiling or when the down rod provided in the ceiling installation is too short to reach the ceiling hook (502). The shackle assembly (300) further saves space in the ceiling around the ceiling hook for other operations. For example, in case of installation of ceiling fans, the shackle assembly (300) saves space for connection of safety wire of the ceiling fan with the ceiling hook (502).

Although implementations of shackle assembly for mounting ceiling installations have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methods, it is to be understood that the appended claims are not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as examples of implementations of shackle assembly for mounting ceiling installations.

WE CLAIM:

1. A shackle assembly (300) for mounting ceiling installations, comprising:
a hook (302);
a down rod cap (304) positioned above a lower end of the hook (302), wherein a bottom portion of the down rod cap (304) fits within a down rod of a ceiling installation, and a through hole present in the down rod allows passing of the lower end of the hook (302) therethrough, for hanging the ceiling installation on the lower end of the hook (302);
a bolt (308) positioned over the down rod cap (304); a vertical bracket (310) secured over threads present on the bolt (308); and a supporting element (306) fixed with an upper end of the hook (302), wherein rotation of the bolt (308) in a first direction causes movement of the vertical bracket (310) towards the supporting element (306) to clamp a ceiling hook (502) therebetween, by creating a tension in the shackle assembly (300).
2. The shackle assembly (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein upon rotation of the bolt (308) in a second direction, the vertical bracket (310) moves downwards, thereby disengaging the shackle assembly (300) from the ceiling hook (502).
3. The shackle assembly (300) as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2, wherein at least one of the lower end of the supporting element (306) and an upper surface of the vertical bracket (310) have a concave cavity for clamping the ceiling hook (502).
4. The shackle assembly (300) as claimed in claim 1 through claim 3, wherein the bolt (308) is a mid-header bolt.
5. The shackle assembly (300) as claimed in claim 4, wherein a collar of the bolt (308) rests over a periphery of the down rod cap (304).
6. The shackle assembly (300) as claimed in claim 1 through claim 5, wherein the supporting element (306) is made of an elastomeric material.
7. The shackle assembly (300) as claimed in claim 1 through claim 6, wherein the vertical bracket (310) and the hook (302) are made of mild steel.

8. The shackle assembly (300) as claimed in claim 1 through claim 7, wherein the ceiling installations include ceiling fans, lightening fixtures, and swings.