Illumination for storage units
AssigneeSnap-on Incorporated
InventorsNicholas H. Weir, Michael G. Gentile, Thomas L. Kassouf, Ben T. Schulz, Ethan Hoefler, Ottoleo Kuter-Arnebeck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An illumination assembly for illuminating drawers of a storage unit, such as a cabinet or toolbox. The illumination assembly is adapted to be coupled to the storage unit by coupling the illumination assembly within a retrofittable or integrated feature of the storage unit to direct or radiate light into a containment space (such as a drawer) of the storage unit when opened. The illumination assembly may also illuminate a facade, sides, underside, or surrounding area of the storage unit.
Claims21
An illumination assembly for a storage unit having a containment space with an interior, the illumination assembly comprising:
- a light source adapted to be disposed in a recess formed by a structural feature of the storage unit, wherein the structural feature includes a cover portion that at least partially forms a side of the recess and is adapted to direct light radiating from the light source towards the interior of the containment space when the light source is in an ON state;
- a sensor element operationally coupled to a logic board and adapted to output a signal indicating a sensing event;
- and
- a switch operationally coupled to the logic board and adapted to be actuated in response to the signal.
A storage unit having a compartment with an interior, the storage unit comprising:
- a structural feature forming a recess and including a cover portion that at least partially forms a side of the recess;
- and
- an illumination assembly including:
- a light source disposed in the recess and adapted to be selectively disposed in either one of an ON and OFF states, wherein the cover is adapted to direct light radiating from the light source towards the interior of the compartment when the light source is in the ON state;
- a sensor element coupled to the storage unit and adapted to output a signal indicating a sensing event;
- and
- a switch operationally coupled to the illumination assembly and the sensor element, and adapted to be actuated based on the sensing event.
A system adapted to illuminate a containment space of a storage unit, the system comprising:
- a light source adapted to be disposed in a recess formed by a structural feature of the storage unit, wherein the structural feature includes a cover portion that at least partially forms a side of the recess and is adapted to direct light radiating from the light source towards an interior of the containment space when in an ON state;
- a controller in operational communication with the light source and a power source and adapted to cause the light source to be in the ON state or an OFF state;
- a switch disposed on the storage unit and adapted to be actuated to place the light source in the ON or OFF state;
- a sensor element adapted to output a signal indicating a sensing event;
- and
- a logic board in operational communication with the controller, the switch, the sensor element, and the power source, and adapted to cause the light source to be in the ON state when the sensor element outputs the signal indicating the sensing event.
A method of illuminating an interior of a containment space of a storage unit, the method comprising:
- actuating a switch disposed on the storage unit;
- receiving, by a logic board, a first signal indicating a sensing event from a sensor element when the containment space is moved from a closed state to an open state or from the open state to the closed state;
- and
- outputting, by the logic board, a second signal to cause a controller to change a light source from either an OFF state to an ON state or the ON state to the OFF state based on the sensing event, wherein the light source is disposed in a recess formed by a structural feature of the storage unit, wherein the structural feature includes a cover portion that at least partially forms a side of the recess and is adapted to direct light radiating from the light source towards an interior of the containment space.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.