WO1998051963A2

WO1998051963A2 - Lighting system

Info

Publication number: WO1998051963A2
Application number: PCT/US1998/009631
Authority: WO
Inventors: G. Alan Hays
Original assignee: Hays G Alan
Priority date: 1997-05-12
Filing date: 1998-05-12
Publication date: 1998-11-19

Abstract

A track lighting system having an elongated dielectric support having a pair elongated, parallel channels formed on opposing surfaces of the support. Each of the channels has a front and rear sidewall. The front sidewalls of each of the channels are bridged by a concave, arcuate shaped frontal portion of the housing. The rear sidewalls are bridged by a flat rearward portion of the housing. A pair of elongated, electrically conductive busses is provided. Each one of the busses is disposed in a corresponding one of the channels. With such an arrangement, the flat rearward surface is adapted for affixing the support to a structure such as a display cabinet and the frontal portion protects against accidental electrical short circuits from being produced between the busses by metal objects in the cabinet. An electrical fixture is provided. The fixture includes a pair of dielectric housings each having a pair of electrical conductors. A first one of the electrical conductors of the pair of housings are arranged in electrical contact at a region disposed along a longitudinal axis passing through the pair of housings. The second electrical conductor of one of the pair of housings has a ring-shaped electrical contact. The second electrical conductor of the other one of the housings has a surface in contact with a surface of the ring-like member so that as the housings rotate with respect to each other about the longitudinal axis, the first electrical conductors maintain electrical connection with each other and the second electrical conductors also maintain electrical connection with each other.

Description

LIGHTING SYSTEM Background of the Invention This invention relates generally to lighting systems and more particularly to low voltage lighting halogen track lighting systems.

As is known in the art, track lighting systems have been used in a wide variety of lighting arrangements. In a typical track lighting system, a lighting fixture is slidable along a track adapted for mounting to a ceiling, display cabinet, or other supporting surface. The track is sometimes channel - shaped and typically is in the form of an extrusion made of aluminum or other suitable metal or metal alloy. One or more lighting fixtures may be slidable along the track so that the positioning of the lighting fixture can be adjusted as desired. Electrical power is generally supplied to the adjustable lighting fixtures by at least two electrical conductors in the form of wires or bus bars supported by an insulator mounted in the track.

Typically, the insulator is also channel -shaped and is securely mounted within the channel-shaped track. The insulator is generally made of a polymeric resinous plastic material. One such track lighting system is discussed in U.S. Patent 5,259,744.

In another type of a track lighting system, a low voltage supply is used for supplying power to a halogen lamp. In such system, two round metal bars are firmly connected with each other; albeit mutually insulated. Lighting systems are created by connecting lighting fixtures between the bars. The lighting fixtures are placed on the metal bars using a magnetic or clamp adapter. Such system is described in a brochure entitled "BRUCK Lighting USA" by Bruck Lighting USA, Corporate Headquarters 3101 Shannon, Santa Ana, CA 92704. With such arrangement, however, because the bars are exposed, when used in a showcase for jewelry for example, accidental contact of the jewelry with the bars may short out the system. Further, the voltage across the jewelry may end up melting it. Further, such arrangement is relatively bulky and expensive. Still further, the system limits the direction of movement of the fixture to a direction laterally along the bars; that is, the fixture cannot be rotated around its base without short circuiting the bars.

Summary of the Invention In accordance with one feature of the invention, a track lighting system is provided. The system includes an elongated dielectric support, or track, having a pair elongated, parallel channels formed on opposing surfaces of the support. Each of the channels has a front and rear sidewall . The front sidewalls of each of the channels are bridged by a frontal portion of the housing. The rear sidewalls are bridged by a flat rearward portion of the housing. A pair of elongated, electrically conductive busses is provided. Each one of the busses is disposed in a corresponding one of the channels.

With such an arrangement, the flat rearward surface is adapted for affixing the support to a structure such as a display cabinet and the frontal portion protects against accidental electrical short circuits from being produced between the busses by metal objects in the cabinet.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, an electrical fixture is provided. The fixture includes a pair of dielectric housings each having a pair of electrical conductors. First electrical conductors of the pair of housings are arranged in physical contact with each other at a region disposed along a longitudinal axis passing through the pair of housings . The second electrical conductor of one of the pair of housings has an integrally formed split-ring- shaped electrical contact region. The second electrical conductor of the other one of the housings is in physical contact with the ring-shaped electrical contact region so that as the housings rotate with respect to each other about the longitudinal axis the first electrical conductors maintain electrical connection with each other and the second electrical conductors also maintain electrical connection with each other.

With such arrangement, the pair of housing are able to rotate 360 degrees with respect to each other without an electrical short circuit developing between the first and second electrical conductors. Brief Description of the Drawing

Other features of the invention, as well as the invention itself, will become more readily apparent with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sketch of a jewelry display cabinet having a track lighting system according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric drawing of a portion of the track lighting system of FIG. 1, such portion being enclosed by dotted circle 2 in FIG. 1 and showing one of a plurality of lamp fixtures used in such track lighting system;

FIG. 3 is an isometric drawing of a track used in the track lighting system of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 is an isometric drawing of a dielectric support used in the track of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the track of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an exploded, isometric drawing of a lamp support used in the lamp fixture of FIG. 2, such lamp support being adapted to clip onto the track of FIGS. 3 and 4 and being adapted to hold a lamp used in the lamp fixture of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the lamp support of FIG. 6, such lamp support having a pair of dielectric housings each with a pair of electrical conductors, such housings being adapted to rotate 360 degrees with respect to each other;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of a track clamping, dielectric housing of the lamp support of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the lamp supporting dielectric housing of the lamp support of FIG. 6 ; and,

FIG. 10 is FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the lamp support of FIG. 6 attached to the track of FIG. 5. Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring now to FIG. 1, a track lighting system 10 is shown connected to a jewelry display cabinet. Here, the jewelry cabinet 12 includes a pair of tracks 14 mounted to the left and right front edges of the cabinet 12. Each track 14 includes a elongated dielectric support 16, shown more clearly in FIGS, 2-5. The dielectric support 16 has a pair elongated, parallel channels 18 formed on opposing surfaces 18a, 18b of the support 16, as shown for an exemplary one of the pair of tracks 14 in FIGS. 2-5. Each of the channels 18 has a pair of opposing, front and rear sidewall 20a, 20b, respectively. The rear sidewalls 20a of each of the channels 18 are bridged by a concave, arcuate shaped frontal portion 22 of the support 16. The bridging frontal portion 22 provides protection against accidental short circuits across electrically conductive busses 24a, 24b disposed in the channels 18. The electrically conductive busses 24a, 24b are adapted for connection to a suitable voltage supply, not shown. The sidewalls 20b are bridged by a flat rearward portion 26 of the support 16 and is adapted for mounting to a support surface, here the left and right front edges the display cabinet 12. The dielectric support 16 is here extruded ABS plastic. The pair of electrically conductive busses 24a, 24b are elongated, flat, electrically conductive busses, here copper bars. Each one of the conductive busses 24a, 24b, is, as noted above, disposed in a corresponding one of the channels 18, as shown. As noted above, the busses 24a, 24b are adapted for coupling to a suitable voltage supply, not shown.

Referring again to FIG. 1, a plurality of lamp fixtures 30, an exemplary one thereof being shown in detail in FIG. 2, are adapted to clip onto one of the pair of tracks 14 in a manner to be described. Suffice it to say here, however, that each fixture 30 supports an electrical lamp 32, here a halogen lamp. The fixture 30 includes a lamp support 33 made up of a pair of dielectric housings 34, 36. Housing 34 has affixed thereto a pair of electrically insulated electrical conductors 38a, 38b and housing 36 has affixed thereto a pair of electrically insulated electrical conductors 40a, 40b, respectively, as shown more clearly in FIGS. 6-9. Proximal ends 38ap, 38bp of the pair of electrical connectors 38a, 38b of housing 34 are configured to snap onto and contact the pair of electrically conductive busses 24a, 24b, respectively, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 10. It is noted that there are three finger-shaped proximal ends 38a_! , 38a₂ and 38ap for conductor 38a and three finger shaped proximal ends 38b_!, 38b₂ and 38bp for conductor 38b. The proximal ends 38a_!, 38a₂ flank central proximal end 38ap. Likewise, the proximal ends 38b_1; 38b₂ flank central proximal end 38bp. Further, the proximal ends 38a_!, 38b_x are positioned opposite each other and the proximal ends 38a₂, 38b₂ are positioned opposite each other. Still further, the proximal ends 38ap, 38bp are positioned opposite each other. It is also noted, however, that the proximal ends 38ap, 38bp are closer to each other than either the proximal ends 38a₁₇ 38b_! ^or the proximal ends 38a₂, 38b₂. The proximal ends 38a_!, 38b_ι and the proximal ends 38a₂, 38b₂ are used to slip the lamp fixture 30 onto the track 14, as will be described, while the proximal ends 38ap, 38bp make physical and electrical contact to the busses 24a, 24b. Distal ends 40ad, 40bd of the pair of electrical conductors 40a, 40b are adapted to attach to electrical terminal posts 42 (FIG. 2) provided on opposite sides of a dielectric lamp support 51 (FIG. 2) . The terminal posts 42 are electrically connected to a pair of electrical bulb contacts, not shown, in the lamp support 51 (FIG. 2) into which the pins, not shown, of lamp 32 plug (FIG. 2) .

Referring also to FIGS. 6-10, and as shown in more detail in FIG. 7, the distal end 38bd of L-shaped electrical conductor 38b and the proximal end 40bp of L- shaped electrical conductor 40b are arranged so that the bases of conductors 38b, 40b are in electrical contact with each other at a region disposed along a longitudinal axis 60 passing central through the pair of dielectric housing 34, 36. The proximal end 40ap of electrical connector 40a has an integrally formed, circular, split ring-shaped electrical contact, as shown more clearly in FIG. 6. The distal end 38ad of electrical conductor 38a has its outer surface 38ao in physical and electrical contact with the inner surface 40ai of the ring-shaped electrical contact at the proximal end 40ap of electrical conductor 40a, as shown more clearly in FIGS. 6 and 7. Thus, with such arrangement the proximal end 38ad of the electrical conductor 38a has an outer surface 38o disposed in electrical contact with, and is adapted to slide along, an inner surface 40ai of the ring-shaped proximal end 40ap of conductor 40a as the first and second dielectric housings 34, 36 rotated with respect to each other about the longitudinal axis 60. Further, the distal end 38bd of electrical connector 38 is in contact with the mid-region 50m of a conductive, elongated screw 50. The screw 50 (FIGS. 7 and 8) is elongated along the longitudinal axis 60. The distal end 50d of screw 50 passes through a bore 49 provided in housing 34. The bore 49 has a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the distal end 50d of screw 50. The bore 49 is along the longitudinal axis 60. The distal end 50d of the screw 50 threads into a threaded hole 55 tapped into the rear portion of conductive fixture 54. The conductive fixture 54 is press fit, or molded, into the central dielectric portion of housing 36 (FIGS. 7 and 9) . A screw 52 is threaded into the tapped hole 55 formed in the front portion of conductive fixture 54 and electrically connects the proximal end 40bp of electrical conductor 40b to the fixture 54. The front, distal end of screw 50 (FIG. 8) is threaded into the rear tapped portion of hole 55 formed in conductive post 54. Therefore, L-shaped electrical conductor 40b is electrically connected to electrical conductor 38b through the fixture 54 and the L-shaped electrically conductive screws 50, 52.

As noted above, as the dielectric housing 34, 36, rotate with respect to each other about axis 60, electrical conductors 38b, 40b maintain electrical connection with each other and the electrical conductors 38a, 38b also maintain electrical connection with each other. Thus, as the housings 34, 36 rotate with respect to each other about the longitudinal axis 60, the pair of housing 34, 36 are able to rotate 360 degrees with respect to each other without an electrical short circuit developing between the first and second electrical conductors 38a, 38b and 40a, 40b. Further, the lamp support 51 (FIG. 2) can both pivot about an axis 53 passing through diametrically opposing terminal screws 42, such axis 53 passing orthogonal to axis 60. Thus, with lamp fixture 30 attached to track 14, the lamp support 51 can rotate about axis 60 and can also pivot about axis 52. To put it another way, the lamp support 51 can pitch about axis 53 and roll about axis 60. Referring to FIG. 8, the dielectric housing 34 is molded in a cylindrical shaped with a convex, arcuate shaped rearward portion 86 and a centrally deposed dielectric post 82. The bore 49 passes centrally through the dielectric post 82. The pair of electrical conductors 38a, 38b is attached to the housing 34. The distal end 38ad of conductor 38a is pressed though a slot 39 formed in the housing 34 to fictionally secure the conductor 38a to housing 34. Conductor 38b is fastened to housing 34 by screw 50. Each one of the electrical connectors 38a, 38b includes the three finger-like distal ends 38ad, 38a_!, 38a₂ and 38bd, 38b_l; 38b₂ described above projecting outwardly from the rearward portion of the first dielectric housing 34. This three finger-like arrangement is adapted to electrical contact, and slide along, an exposed surface portion of a corresponding one of the electrical busses 24a, 24b. The fingers 38a_!, 38a₂, 38b_!, 38b₂ act as levers against the edge and surface of the concave surface 22 in prying the fingers 38a_l; 38a₂₀, 38b_l; 38b₂ over such surface 22 to enable the ends 38ap, 40ap to snap into contact with the busses 24a, 24b, respectively.

A hole 84 is formed in the distal end 38bd of conductor 38b. The hole 84 is aligned with the bore 49 passing through the dielectric post 51. The diameter of the hole 84 in the electrical conductor 38b is, however, smaller than the diameter of the bore 49 passing through the dielectric post 51. Thus, the threaded electrically conductive, here bronze, screw 50, having a diameter smaller than the bore 49 threads into the hole 84 to make physical and electrical connection to the electrical conductor 38b. That is, as the screw 50 is inserted through the bore 49 from the rearward end of the dielectric housing 34, the screw 50 is threaded through, and is in electrical contact with, the peripheral portions of the hole 84 in the electrical connector 38b. The distal end 38ad of the electrical conductor 38a as well as the distal end of the screw 50, project outwardly from a frontal end of the dielectric housing 34 as shown in FIG. 8 . Referring to FIG. 9, the second cylindrical shaped dielectric housing 36 is formed with a centrally disposed dielectric post 88. The electrically conductive post 54, here bronze, is press fit or molded into the central post 88. The electrically conductive post 54 has a threaded a hole 55 passing centrally therethrough for receiving the distal end of the threaded screw 52. The pair of electrical conductors 40a, 40b is affixed to the second housing 36. Each one of the pair of electrical conductors 40a, 40b has a distal end 40ad, 40bd, respectively, projecting outwardly from a frontal end of the second dielectric housing 36 for attachment to the terminal screws 42 (FIG. 2) . The proximal end 40bp of the electrical conductor 40b is electrically connected to the electrically conductive post 54 through screw 52, as described. The proximal end 40ap of the electrical conductor 40a terminates in the integrally formed, circular split ring-shaped contact, as described above. The ring-shaped contact is disposed circumferentially within the second cylindrical housing 36 adjacent a rearward end of the dielectric housing 36. The distal end 40ad of conductor 40a is pressed through a slot 59 formed in housing 36 to fictionally secure conductor 40a to the housing 36

As noted above, the electrically conductive screw 50 has a threaded shaft passes through the hole 55 in the electrically conductive post 54 of the dielectric housing 36. An intermediate section 50m of the screw 50 is in electrical contact with the proximal end 38bd of the electrical conductor 38b. A distal end of the screw 50 is threaded into the threaded hole 55 in the rearward end of the electrical post 54 of the dielectric housing 36. The proximal end 38ad of the electrical conductor 38a has an outer surface 38o disposed in electrical contact with, and is adapted to slide along, an inner surface 40ai of the ring-shaped proximal end 40ap of conductor 40a as the first and second dielectric housings 34, 36 rotated with respect to each other about the longitudinal axis 60.

Other embodiments are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. What is claimed is:

Claims

1. A track lighting system, comprising: an elongated dielectric support having a pair of elongated, parallel channels formed on opposing surfaces of the support, each of the channels having a front and rear sidewall, the front sidewalls of each of the channels being bridged by a frontal portion of the housing; and a pair of elongated, electrically conductive busses, each one of the busses being disposed in a corresponding one of the channels.

2. The system recited in claim 1 wherein the rear sidewalls are bridged by a flat rearward portion of the housing .

3. A track lighting system, comprising: an elongated dielectric support having a pair of elongated, parallel channels formed on opposing surfaces of the support ; a pair of elongated, electrically conductive busses, each one of the busses being disposed in a corresponding one of the channels; and, an electrical fixture having: a pair of dielectric housings each having a pair of electrical conductors, a first one of the electrical conductors of the pair of housings being arranged in electrical contact at a region disposed along a longitudinal axis passing through the pair of housings, the second electrical conductor of one of the pair of housings having a circular electrical contact, the second one of the electrical conductors having a surface in contact with the circular contact as the housings rotate with respect to each other about the longitudinal axis .

4. A track lighting system, comprising: (a) an elongated dielectric support having a pair of elongated, parallel channels formed on opposing surfaces of the support ; (b) a pair of elongated, electrically conductive busses, each one thereof being disposed in a corresponding one of the channels;

(c) an electrical fixture having:

(i) a first dielectric housing having a first pair of electrical conductors, each one thereof having a finger-like distal end adapted to electrical contact, and slide along, an exposed surface portion of a corresponding one of the electrical busses; and

(ii) a second dielectric housing having a second pair of electrical conductors, each one thereof having a distal end projecting outwardly a frontal end of the second dielectric housing adapted to electrical connect to a corresponding one of a pair of electrical conductors of an electrical lamp and a proximal end disposed in electrically contact with proximal ends of the first pair of electrical conductors, such first and second pairs of conductors staying electrically connected as the first and second dielectric housings rotate with respect to each other.

5. A track lighting system, comprising:

(a) an elongated dielectric support having a pair elongated, parallel channels formed on opposing surfaces of the support, such channels having a front and rear sidewalls, the front sidewalls of each of the channels being bridged by a concave, arcuate shaped frontal portion of the housing, the rear being bridged by a rearward portion of the housing; (b) a pair of elongated, electrically conductive busses, each one thereof being disposed in a corresponding one of the channels;

(c) an electrical fixture having: (i) a first cylindrical shaped dielectric housing, such dielectric housing having:

(A) an convex, arcuate shaped rearward portion;

(B) a centrally deposed dielectric post; (C) an electrically conductive post disposed central within the dielectric post, such electrically conductive post having a hole passing centrally therethrough;

(D) a pair of electrical conductors, each one thereof having:

(1) a finger- like proximal end projecting outwardly from an end of the rearward portion of the first dielectric housing, adapted to electrically contact, and slide along, an exposed surface portion of a corresponding one of the electrical busses; and

(2) a distal end, the distal end of a first one of the pair of electrical conductors of the first dielectric housing being disposed in such dielectric housing and electrically connected to an end of the electrically conductive post of the first dielectric housing, the proximal end of a second one of the pair of electrical conductors of the first dielectric housing projecting outwardly from a frontal end of the first dielectric housing; and (ii) a second cylindrical shaped dielectric housing, such second dielectric housing having:

(A) a centrally disposed dielectric post ;

(B) an electrically conductive post disposed central within the dielectric post, such electrically conductive post having a hole passing centrally therethrough;

(C) a pair of electrical conductors, each one thereof having: (1) a distal end projecting outwardly from a frontal end of the second dielectric housing, adapted to electrically connect to a corresponding one of a pair of electrical conductors of an electrical lamp; and (2) a proximal end, the proximal end of a first one of the pair of electrical conductors of the second dielectric housing being disposed in the second dielectric housing and electrically connected to a frontal end of the electrically conductive post of the second dielectric housing, the proximal end of a second one of the electrical conductors of the second dielectric housing terminating in a circular ring-shaped structure disposed circumferentially within the second cylindrical housing adjacent a rearward end of the second dielectric housing; and an electrically conductive screw having a threaded shaft passing through the hole in the electrically conductive post of the first dielectric housing, such screw being in electrical contact with the distal end of the first electrical conductor of the first dielectric housing, a distal end of the screw being threaded into a rearward end of the electrical post of the second dielectric housing; and wherein the proximal end of the second electrical conductor of the first electrical housing has a surface disposed in electrical contact with, and being adapted to slide along, an inner surface of the ring-shaped structure as the first and second dielectric housings rotated with respect to each other about an axis central to such housings while the first electrical conductor of the first dielectric housing maintains electric contact with the ring-shaped structure of the first electrical conductor of the second dielectric housing and the second electrical conductor of the first dielectric housing maintains electrical contact with the second electrical conductor of the second dielectric housing to maintain electrical connection between the pair of lamp electrical contacts and the pair of electrical busses during such rotation.