초록 ▼

A fire assembly that can be used for installing recessed electrical fixtures into various structures such as wall assemblies is provided. The fire assembly includes an electrical fixture contained within a generally fire-resistant housing. The housing can enclose the electrical fixture in such a man

A fire assembly that can be used for installing recessed electrical fixtures into various structures such as wall assemblies is provided. The fire assembly includes an electrical fixture contained within a generally fire-resistant housing. The housing can enclose the electrical fixture in such a manner that the resulting fire assembly has an integral structure. In some instances, a support structure can be utilized to attach the housing to the electrical fixture. Furthermore, the housing can be a cube-shaped box have a variety of generally fire-resistant walls. These walls can be made from materials such as sheet rock.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A wall assembly comprising a surface defining a wall of a building; and a fire assembly installed into an opening defined by said surface, said fire assembly comprising: a recessed fan assembly; and a housing substantially enclosing said recessed fan assembly such that said h

What is claimed is: 1. A wall assembly comprising a surface defining a wall of a building; and a fire assembly installed into an opening defined by said surface, said fire assembly comprising: a recessed fan assembly; and a housing substantially enclosing said recessed fan assembly such that said housing and said recessed fan assembly form a preassembled integral unit adapted installed behind a surface opening, said housing comprising at least one generally fire-resistant material, said housing enclosing said recessed fan assembly in a manner such that said housing is configured to form a continuous surface with said surface of said wall assembly. 2. A wall assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said wall assembly has a fire rating, and wherein said housing is capable of maintaining said fire rating after said fire assembly is installed. 3. A wall assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a cube-shaped box, said cube-shaped box comprising a plurality of walls made from said fire-resistant material. 4. A wall assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said fire-resistant material is selected from the group consisting of drywall, plaster, and combinations thereof. 5. A wall assembly as defined in claim 1, further comprising a support structure, said support structure being connected to said housing and said fan assembly such that said housing, said fan assembly, and said support structure form said preassembled integral unit. 6. A fire assembly adapted to be installed into a wall assembly, comprising: a recessed fan assembly; a housing substantially enclosing said recessed fan assembly such that said housing and said recessed fan assembly form a preassembled integral unit adapted for installation behind a surface opening defined by a surface of a wall assembly, said housing comprising at least one generally fire-resistant material, said housing enclosing said recessed fan assembly in a manner such that said housing is configured to form a continuous surface with said surface of said wall assembly; and a support structure, said support structure being connected to said housing and said fan assembly such that said housing, said fan assembly, and said support structure form said preassembled integral unit, said support structure defining an interior surface facing said fan assembly and an exterior surface, said housing only being located adjacent said exterior surface. 7. A fire assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein said support structure comprises an open frame. 8. A fire assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein said support structure comprises an enclosed metal housing. 9. A fire assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a plurality of fire-resistant walls attached together, said fire-resistant walls comprising a drywall material. 10. A fire assembly as defined in claim 9, wherein said drywall material comprises sheet rock. 11. A method for installing a fire assembly into a wall assembly comprising: preassembling an integral unit to form a fire assembly, said integral unit comprising, (a) a fan assembly; (b) a support structure surrounding said fan assembly, said support structure defining an interior surface facing said fan assembly and an exterior surface; and (c) a fire-resistant housing surrounding said support structure, said fire-resistant housing being positioned adjacent said exterior surface of said support structure, said fan assembly, said support structure, and said fire-resistant housing comprising a preassembled integral unit, said fire-resistant housing comprising a plurality of fire-resistant walls; and installing said integral unit behind a surface opening defined by a surface of a wall assembly, said fire-resistant housing forming a continuous surface with said surface of said wall assembly. 12. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein said fire-resistant housing is only located adjacent said exterior surface of said support structure. 13. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein said support structure comprises an open frame. 14. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein said support structure comprises an enclosed metal housing. 15. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein said fire-resistant walls comprise a drywall material. 16. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein said drywall material comprises sheet rock. 17. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein said fire-resistant housing comprises a plurality of sidewalls and a top wall attached together. 18. A wall assembly comprising: a surface defining a wall of a building; and a fire assembly installed into an opening defined by said surface, said fire assembly comprising (a) a fan assembly; (b) a support structure surrounding said fan assembly, said support structure defining an interior surface facing said fan assembly and an exterior surface; and (c) a fire-resistant housing surrounding said support structure, said fire-resistant housing being positioned adjacent said exterior surface of said support structure, said fan assembly, said support structure and said fire-resistant housing comprising a preassembled integral unit installed behind said surface opening, said fire-resistant housing comprising a plurality of fire-resistant walls, said fire-resistant housing enclosing said fan assembly in a manner such that said housing is configured to form a continuous surface with the surface defined by the wall of said building. 19. A wall assembly as defined in claim 18, wherein said support structure comprises an enclosed metal housing. 20. A wall assembly as defined in claim 18, wherein said fire-resistant walls comprise a drywall material. 21. A wall assembly as defined in claim 20, wherein said drywall material comprises sheet rock. 22. A fire-resistant assembly wall comprising a surface defining a wall of a building; and a fire assembly installed into an opening defined by said surface, said fire assembly comprising: an electrical fixture; and a housing substantially enclosing said electrical fixture such that said housing and said electrical fixture form a preassembled integral unit defined by a surface of a wall assembly, said housing comprising at least one generally fire-resistant material, said housing enclosing said electrical fixture in a manner such that said housing is configured to form a substantially continuous surface with said surface of said wall assembly. 23. A fire-resistant assembly as defined in claim 22, wherein said wall assembly has a fire rating, and wherein said housing is capable of maintaining said fire rating after said fire assembly is installed. 24. A fire-resistant assembly as defined in claim 22, wherein said housing comprises a cube-shaped box, said cube-shaped box comprising a plurality of walls made from said fire-resistant material. 25. A fire-resistant assembly as defined in claim 22, wherein said fire-resistant material is selected from the group consisting of drywall, plaster, and combinations thereof. 26. A fire-resistant assembly as defined in claim 22, further comprising a support structure, said support structure being connected to said housing and said electrical fixture such that said housing, said electrical fixture, and said support structure form said preassembled integral unit. 27. A fire-resistant assembly adapted to be installed into a wall assembly comprising: an electrical fixture; a housing substantially enclosing said electrical fixture such that said housing and said electrical fixture form a preassembled integral unit adapted for installation behind a surface opening defined by a surface of a wall assembly, said housing comprising at least one generally fire-resistant material, said housing enclosing said electrical fixture in a manner such that said housing is configured to form a substantially continuous surface with said surface of said wall assembly; and a support structure, said support structure being connected to said housing and said electrical fixture such that said housing, said electrical fixture, and said support structure form said preassembled integral unit, said support structure defining an interior surface facing said electrical fixture and an exterior surface, said housing only being located adjacent said exterior surface. 28. A fire-resistant assembly as defined in claim 27, wherein said support structure comprises an open frame. 29. A fire-resistant assembly as defined in claim 27, wherein said support structure comprises an enclosed metal housing. 30. A fire-resistant assembly as defined in claim 22, wherein said housing comprises a plurality of fire-resistant walls attached together, said fire-resistant walls comprising a drywall material. 31. A fire-resistant assembly as defined in claim 30, wherein said drywall material comprises sheet rock. 32. A fire-resistant assembly for use in connection with a fire rated building structure, said fire rated building structure having an opening therein, the combination comprising: a recessed light fixture capable of distributing light; and a housing substantially enclosing said recessed light fixture and coupled thereto so that said recessed light fixture and said housing form a preassembled integral unit adapted for installation adjacent the opening of the fire rated building structure, said housing including at least one generally fire-resistant material, said housing also including a generally fire-resistant gasket adapted to substantially surround the opening of the fire rated building structure and adapted to engage the fire rated building structure. 33. A fire-resistant assembly as defined in claim 32, wherein said housing also includes a support structure, said at least one generally fire-resistant material being located adjacent at least a part of said support structure and being supported by said support structure. 34. A fire-resistant assembly as defined in claim 33, wherein said support structure has interior and exterior surfaces, and said at least one generally fire-resistant material is located adjacent said exterior surface of said support structure. 35. A fire-resistant assembly as defined in claim 32, wherein said at least one generally fire-resistant material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of drywall, plaster, and combinations thereof. 36. A fire-resistant assembly as defined in claim 33, wherein said support structure is made of metal. 37. A fire-resistant assembly as defined in claim 36, wherein said metal is aluminum. 38. A fire-resistant assembly as defined in claim 32, wherein said generally fire-resistant gasket is made of a material selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, foam and rubber. 39. A fire-resistant assembly for use in connection with a fire rated building structure, the combination comprising: a recessed light fixture capable of distributing light; and a housing substantially enclosing said recessed light fixture and coupled thereto so that said recessed light fixture and said housing form a preassembled integral unit adapted for installation behind a surface opening defined by a surface on the adjacent building structure, said housing including at least one generally fire resistant material, said housing adapted to form a substantially continuous surface with the surface of the adjacent structure. 40. A fire-resistant assembly as defined in claim 39, wherein said housing also includes a support structure that supports said at least one generally fire-resistant material. 41. A fire-resistant assembly as defined in claim 40, wherein said housing also includes a generally fire-resistant gasket adapted to substantially surround the opening on the adjacent building structure, and adapted to engage the surface of the adjacent building structure. 42. A fire-resistant assembly as defined in claim 40, wherein said support structure has interior and exterior surfaces, and said at least one generally fire-resistant material is located adjacent said exterior surface of said support structure. 43. A fire-resistant assembly as defined in claim 39, wherein said at least one generally fire-resistant material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of drywall, plaster, and combinations thereof. 44. A fire-resistant assembly as defined in claim 40, wherein said support structure is made of metal. 45. A fire-resistant assembly as defined in claim 44, wherein said metal is aluminum. 46. A fire-resistant assembly as defined in claim 41, wherein said generally fire-resistant gasket is made of a material selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, foam and rubber. 47. A fire-resistant assembly as defined in claim 39, wherein said housing includes outer wall layers including a plurality of side outer walls, a top outer wall and a bottom outer wall, said bottom outer wall having an outer wall opening therein substantially aligned with said surface opening, and inner wall layers including a plurality of side inner walls, a top inner wall and a bottom inner wall, said bottom inner wall having an inner wall opening therein substantially aligned with said surface opening. 48. A fire-resistant assembly as defined in claim 47, wherein said outer wall layers are formed from said at least one generally fire-resistant material. 49. A fire-resistant assembly as defined in claim 47, wherein said inner wall layers are formed from said at least one generally fire-resistant material. 50. A fire-resistant assembly as defined in claim 41, wherein said housing includes outer wall layers including a plurality of side outer walls, a top outer wall and a bottom outer wall, said bottom outer wall having an outer wall opening therein substantially aligned with said surface opening, and inner wall layers including a plurality of side inner walls, a top inner wall and a bottom inner wall, said bottom inner wall having an inner wall opening therein substantially aligned with said surface opening. 51. A fire-resistant assembly as defined in claim 50, wherein said outer wall layers formed from said at least one generally fire resistant material. 52. A fire-resistant assembly as defined in claim 50, wherein said inner wall layers are formed from said at least one generally fire resistant material.