FR2803995A1 - Shelving system for shop display includes integral low voltage lamp units attached to shelves - Google Patents

Abstract

The lamps derived power from linear connectors mounted within wall-mounted vertical racks. The adjustable shelving includes vertical racks (1) with a series of apertures which are fixed to a wall, and brackets (2) which may be fitted to the racks at one of a number of different positions. Shelving panels are supported on these brackets, with low voltage lamps fitted to the underside of each shelf front edge. Connection terminals (5) are provided on the back of the shelf and these are received in linear connectors (6) which lie within the vertical racks. When the shelf is introduced into its position on the brackets, the connection terminal is fitted into the linear connector thus providing the electrical supply for the low voltage lamp.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for illuminable displaceable tablets with fluorescent tubes for example.

For better efficiency it is essential to illuminate the products in stores and supermarkets. As well as other devices using electrical energy such as displays, dynamic or sound animations that can enhance the impact of exposed products require an electrical connection.

 Currently these products are most often placed on shelves movable on racks in order to change the height depending on the size of the products on display.

Currently most of the lighting used are fixtures or projectors fixed to the ceiling which is especially effective for the upper part of the shelves.

It is known from the state of the art a furniture system having vertical elements with internal conductors such that the conductors are coupled to a low voltage power source so that the adjacent vertical elements have a different electrical polarity.

With this type of configuration lighting is interdependent consoles, it must connect to at least two vertical elements and use low voltage power difficult to manage in public buildings.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above by implementing a device for movable illuminating tablets.

For this purpose the movable illuminating tablet device according to the invention is essentially characterized in that it uses tablets secured to their lighting and independent of the mechanical structure: consoles and racks.

This device is also characterized by the fact that the two connectors are glued to the inner cheeks of an existing rack without adding another mechanical support.

It is excluded for reasons of public safety from supplying low-voltage 220 volts for simplified connection systems.

For security reasons the present system can only be used for lighting operating at very low voltage, 24 volts for example.

The process is used for different types of tablets: - For glass tablets with label holders placed on racks. In this case, the fluorescent tube secured to the label holder illuminates the message through the label holder, the products on the tablet through the glass and the products placed on the tablet below.

- For wood or laminate shelves.

In this case the fluorescent tube fits into the thickness of the tablet and illuminates the products placed on the tablet below.

- For metal shelves in painted folded sheet metal.

In this case the fluorescent tube fits into the thickness of the tablet and illuminates the products placed on the tablet below.

The process is used for different types of racks - For profiled machined racks or folded metal sheets applied to a wall.

- For profiled machined racks or folded sheet metal plastic or wood receiving paneling.

- For self-supporting tubular metal structures or not.

The process is used for different types of electrical energy users: - For fluorescent strips.

- For compact fluorescent lamps. - For halogen spots.

- For light-emitting diodes. - For displays.

For dynamic animations. - For sound animations.

All these systems must be powered at very low voltage. This device is composed for each tablet: - one or more fluorescent tubes with its holding tips.

- One or more electronic converters supplied preferably in very low safety voltage (24 volts) - a fast electrical connector (patent object) called Fiche. - optionally a label holder.

These elements are integral tablets to form a set called Tablet illuminating.

This device also consists of height-adjustable console serving as a support for the shelves. This device also consists of racks with inside flat connectors glued to the inner cheeks. According to another characteristic, the connectors are flat non-oxidizable conductive metal ribbons, of small thickness: less than the space available between the inner vertical cheek of the rack and the vertical cheek of the console facing it, of a width less than the internal depth of the rack and a length of the order of the length of the rack or the height thereof when it is fixed vertically.

According to another feature these connectors are glued to the inner cheeks of the rack with a double-sided adhesive tape. This ribbon has insulating electrical characteristics.

According to another characteristic the plugs are composed of 2 conductive metal blades mounted back to back with an intermediate insulating plate. The shape and elasticity of these blades allow sufficient tightening for introduction into the puncture and reopening to allow contact inside the rack.

According to another feature the other ends of the blades, which do not enter the rack, are soldered to a printed circuit for connecting these blades with a conventional electrical connector which may be a terminal block soldered to the printed circuit.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear on reading the description of a preferred embodiment, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the following appended drawings - FIG. 1 perspective view of the location available (6) in the puncture of a rack, - figure 2 perspective view for racks with paneling, - figure 3 perspective view for tubular metal racks, - figure 4 top view of scale 2 of the front connector plug introduction, - figure 5 top view of ladder 2 of the connection plug after introduction, - figure 6 perspective of the connection plug before introduction, - figure 7 cross section of a label holder as shown, the connection plug (5) according to the invention comprises 2 conductive metal strips (5a and 5b) mounted back to back with an intermediate insulating plate (5c). The shape and elasticity of these blades allow sufficient tightening for introduction into the puncture and reopening to allow contact inside the rack. The other ends of the blades, which do not enter the rack, are welded to a printed circuit board (5d). On this printed circuit is soldered a conventional electrical connector which can be a terminal block.

As shown, the connectors (6) are flat non-oxidizable conductive metal ribbons, of low thickness: less than the space available between the inner vertical cheek of the rack and the vertical cheek of the console facing it, d a width less than the internal depth of the rack and a length of the order of the length of the rack is the height thereof when it is fixed vertically. These connectors are glued to the inner cheeks of the rack using double-sided tape. This double sided tape has insulating electrical characteristics.

Claims (9)

1) Lighting device for displaceable shelves comprising self-supporting vertical or rack-mounted racks (1), brackets (2) adjustable in height by use of various punctured racks, shelves (3), lights (4) supplied with very low voltage, plugs (5) for connection, linear connectors (6) integrated in the rack. 2) Lighting device according to claim 1 characterized in that the electrical contact for supplying the lighting is done using the space available in the puncture of the rack (7) above the console or by the use of another flat. 3) Lighting device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the electrical supply of lighting supply is by simple horizontal introduction during the implementation of the tablet without the use of tools. 4) Lighting device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the plug is composed of 2 blades (5a and 5b) conductive metal mounted back to back with a plate (5c) insulating intermediate. The shape and elasticity of these blades allow sufficient tightening for introduction into the puncture and reopening to allow contact inside the rack. 5) Lighting device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the other ends of the blades, which do not enter the rack, are welded to a printed circuit (5d) for connecting these blades with an electrical connector conventional which can be a terminal block soldered on the printed circuit board. 6) Lighting device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the lighting and the plug are integral with the tablet and move simultaneously. 7) Lighting device according to claim 1 characterized in that the connectors (6) consist of thin metal strips glued to the vertical flanges parallel to the blanks of the consoles located inside the rack. 8) Lighting device according to claim 6 characterized in that the connectors are glued on an insulating film itself glued on the inner vertical cheeks of the rack. 9) Lighting device according to claim 1 characterized in that the fluorescent tubes are fixed on transparent label holders (7) to illuminate the semitransparent message (7a) slid into the label holder, to illuminate the commercial products placed on the shelf under the lighting (7b) and to illuminate the commercial products placed on the shelf on the lighting when the shelf is transparent (7c).