# US 11,079,082 B2 · Couplers for light fixtures

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- Number: US 11,079,082 B2
- Document ID: US11079082B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/795,153
- Filed: 2020-02-19
- Published: 2020-12-17
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2016-10-20
- Assignees: Axis Lighting Inc.
- Applicants: Axis Lighting Inc.
- Inventors: Howard Yaphe; Andrew Miles; Stephane Beland; Jean Gagne
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11079082B2

## CPC

- F21S 8/043: {mounted by means of a rigid support, e.g. bracket or arm}
- F21S 2/005: {of modular construction}
- F21V 17/12: by screwing
- F21V 17/18: Latch-type fastening, e.g. with rotary action
- F21V 21/005: for several lighting devices in an end-to-end arrangement, i.e. light tracks
- F21S 8/036: {by means of a rigid support, e.g. bracket or arm}
- F21S 8/061: {with a non-rigid pendant, i.e. a cable, wire or chain}
- F21V 21/14: Adjustable mountings
- F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A kit for joining together at least a pair of light fixture segments at a joint interface therebetween to form a light fixture assembly, comprises at least a pair of complementary coupling units, each coupling unit configured to be located in an operative position in one of said light fixture segments to join the other coupling unit at the joint interface defined by complementary abutment surfaces on said light fixture segments, at least one of the complementary coupling units being configured to be adjustably located in the operative position to displace another of the coupling units along a designated travel path toward a limit position, wherein the joining of the light fixture segments at the joint interface occurs in advance of the other coupling unit reaching the limit position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A coupler for coupling together adjacent housing sections of a light fixture housing assembly, comprising at least one first boundary including at least one male portion or part thereof, and at least one second boundary including at least one female portion or part thereof, the male and female portions being interoperable when the coupler is used in groups of at least two, to enable the female portion of a first of the couplers and secured in a first of the adjacent housing sections to receive the male portion of a second of the couplers secured in a second of the adjacent housing sections, wherein each of the male and female portions are configured to receive a locking latch to latch the female and male portions together, thereby to form the assembled light fixture housing.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The coupler of claim 1, wherein the at least one female portion includes a channel portion defining a pathway to receive the at least one male portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The coupler of claim 2, wherein the channel portion is three sided.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The coupler of claim 2, further comprising a central passage to receive a fastener for securing the coupler to a centrally disposed web in the corresponding housing section forming a mounting region for the coupler thereon.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The coupler of claim 4, wherein the channel portion is configured to cooperate with the centrally disposed web, so that the web borders the pathway.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The coupler of claim 1, wherein the at least one male portion includes at least one latch passage therein to receive the locking latch.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The coupler of claim 6, wherein the locking latch is adjustably mounted on the at least one female portion and moveable relative to and engageable with a surface adjacent the latch passage.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A light fixture housing assembly, comprising at least two housing sections configured to form an end-to-end engagement, and at least two instances of the coupler as defined in claim 1.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A method of assembling a light fixture housing assembly, comprising:
providing at least a pair of light fixture housing sections with complementary end regions to form a coupling interface therebetween, and a pair of couplers as defined in claim 1;
securing each of the couplers in a corresponding housing section, so as to present a corresponding exposed male portion, or part thereof, on a first of the housing sections and a receptive female portion, or part thereof, on a second of the housing sections;
engaging the male and female portions; and
deploying the locking latch to secure the male and female portions together.