# US 10,139,156 B2 · LED lighting array system for illuminating a display case > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,139,156 B2 - Document ID: US10139156B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/645,747 - Filed: 2017-07-10 - Published: 2017-10-26 - Granted: 2018-11-27 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-30 - Assignees: ElectraLED, Inc. - Applicants: Electraled, Inc. - Inventors: James Thomas; Vladimir Volochine - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10139156B2 ## CPC - F25D 27/00: Lighting arrangements (in general F21) - A47F 3/001: {Devices for lighting, humidifying, heating, ventilation} - A47F 3/04: air-conditioned, refrigerated (refrigerators F25D; heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas H05B3/84) - A47F 11/10: Arrangements of light sources - F21V 33/0024: {Household or table equipment} - A47F 3/0482: {Details common to both closed and open types} - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) - A47F: SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED ## Abstract An LED lighting array system includes discrete lighting modules spatially arrayed along a support member to provide illumination of items within a display case. The modules have a low overall height that results in them being mounted in a low-profile configuration at various locations along the support member. The modules include a housing with opposed first and second sets of side apertures, a plurality of internal reflecting surfaces associated with the apertures, respectively, an external lens, a multi-sided light engine and a group of side-emitting LEDs. During operation, a first portion of light generated by the side-emitting LEDs is discharged through apertures and the lens into the cooler to illuminate contents therein, while a second portion of light generated by the side-emitting LEDs is redirected by the reflecting surface through said apertures and the lens into the cooler. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lighting array system featuring light emitting diodes (LEDs) for use with at least one support member within a refrigerated cooler to illuminate products residing within the cooler, the lighting array system comprising: at least one module configured to be installed within a support member of the cooler, each module comprising: a housing having a first side aperture and a second side aperture in an opposed positional relationship, a first internal reflecting surface extending outward from the first side aperture to a peripheral wall, and a second internal reflecting surface extending outward from the second side aperture to the peripheral wall; an external lens configured to substantially mate with an upper extent of the housing; and a light engine positioned within a receiver of the housing, the light engine including a first group of side-emitting LEDs associated with the first side aperture and a second group of side-emitting LEDs associated with the second side aperture, wherein during operation of the lighting array system, a first portion of light generated by said first and second group of side-emitting LEDs is discharged through said apertures and the lens, and a second portion of light generated by said first and second group of side-emitting LEDs is redirected by the reflecting surface through said apertures and the lens. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lighting array system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of modules, the modules configured to be installed an appreciable distance apart within the support member of the cooler. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The lighting array system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second groups of side-emitting LEDs comprises seven side-emitting LEDs. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The lighting array system of claim 1, wherein each module includes three first side apertures and three second side apertures. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The lighting array system of claim 1, wherein each module has an octagonal configuration with eight sides arranged substantially in a plane defined by the light engine. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The lighting array system of claim 1, wherein the light engine includes a linear current regulator, a protective diode, a ballast resistor, a transient voltage suppressor and an insulation displacement connector. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The lighting array system of claim 4, wherein the first group of side-emitting LEDs is associated with the three first side apertures, and the second group of side-emitting LEDs is associated with the three second side apertures. ### Claim 8 A refrigerated cooler that displays products residing within the cooler, the cooler having a lighting array system to illuminate products within the cooler, the cooler comprising: an arrangement of internal support members; a lighting array system installed within the cooler and including: a first module installed within a support member of the cooler; a second module installed within said support member a distance from the first module; said first and second modules each including a housing having: a first side aperture; a second side aperture in an opposed positional relationship with the first side aperture; a first internal reflecting surface extending outward from the first side aperture to a peripheral wall; a second internal reflecting surface extending outward from the second side aperture to the peripheral wall; a chamber; and a printed circuit board coupled to the chamber; an external lens configured to substantially mate with an upper extent of the housing; and a light engine positioned within a receiver of the housing, the light engine including a first group of side-emitting LEDs associated with the first side aperture and a second group of side-emitting LEDs associated with the second side aperture; wherein during operation of the lighting array system, a first portion of light generated by said first and second groups of side-emitting LEDs is discharged through said apertures and the lens into the cooler to illuminate the products, and a second portion of light generated by said first and second groups of side-emitting LEDs is redirected by the reflecting surface through said apertures and the lens into the cooler to illuminate the products. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The refrigerated cooler of claim 8, wherein the first group of side-emitting LEDs comprises seven side-emitting LEDs. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The refrigerated cooler of claim 8, wherein the second group of side-emitting LEDs comprises seven side-emitting LEDs. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The refrigerated cooler of claim 8, wherein each module includes three first side apertures and three second side apertures. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The refrigerated cooler of claim 8, wherein each module has an octagonal configuration with eight sides arranged substantially in a plane defined by the light engine. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The refrigerated cooler of claim 8, wherein the light engine includes a linear current regulator, a protective diode, a ballast resistor, a transient voltage suppressor and an insulation displacement connector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The refrigerated cooler of claim 8, wherein each module includes a gasket positioned within the housing and external to the receiver of the housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The refrigerated cooler of claim 11, wherein the first group of side-emitting LEDs comprises seven side-emitting LEDs associated with the three first side apertures, and the second group of side-emitting LEDs comprises seven side-emitting LEDs associated with the three second side apertures.