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US 2007/0167043 A1Published application
Lighting system and method
AssigneeCooper Technologies Company
InventorsGregg Arthur Lehman, Paul James Bartlett, Steen Vann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Lighting systems and methods are described, including track lighting systems and methods.
Claims29
A method comprising:
- providing a lighting track;
- toollessly coupling an attachment to the lighting track;
- and
- coupling an assembly to the attachment.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- providing a lighting track;
- toollessly coupling an attachment comprising a housing to the lighting track, comprising:
- hingedly coupling a cover to the housing of the attachment;
- and
- placing the cover in a closed configuration, comprising:
- rotating the cover relative to the housing so that at least a portion of the lighting track is positioned between the cover and the housing;
- and
- locking the cover to the housing so that the cover is generally prevented from rotating relative to the housing;
- wherein the cover is locked in response to rotating the cover relative to the housing so that the at least a portion of the lighting track is positioned between the cover and the housing;
- and
- coupling an assembly to the attachment.
8 more elements
A method comprising:
- providing a lighting track comprising a pair of buss bars and a flexed configuration;
- coupling an attachment to the lighting track, comprising:
- electrically coupling the attachment to the pair of buss bars of the lighting track;
- and
- maintaining the electrical coupling between the attachment and the pair of buss bars when the lighting track is in the flexed configuration.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- providing a lighting track comprising a pair of buss bars and a flexed configuration;
- toollessly coupling an attachment comprising a housing to the lighting track, comprising:
- electrically coupling the attachment to the pair of buss bars of the lighting track;
- hingedly coupling a cover to the housing of the attachment;
- placing the cover in a closed configuration, comprising:
- rotating the cover relative to the housing so that at least a portion of the lighting track is positioned between the cover and the housing;
- and
- locking the cover to the housing so that the cover is generally prevented from rotating relative to the housing;
- wherein the cover is locked in response to rotating the cover relative to the housing so that the at least a portion of the lighting track is positioned between the cover and the housing;
- maintaining the electrical coupling between the attachment and the pair of buss bars when the lighting track is in the flexed configuration, comprising accommodating a bend in the lighting track;
- and
- forming a grounding coupling between the attachment and the lighting track.
9 more elements
An apparatus adapted to be coupled to a lighting track, the apparatus comprising:
- a first housing;
- a second housing coupled to the first housing;
- and
- a cover hingedly coupled to the second housing and comprising:
- a first configuration in which the cover is permitted to rotate relative to the second housing;
- and
- a second configuration in which the cover is generally prevented from rotating relative to the second housing.
4 more elements
An apparatus adapted to be coupled to a lighting track, the apparatus comprising:
- a first housing;
- a second housing coupled to the first housing;
- and
- a cover hingedly coupled to the second housing and comprising:
- a first configuration in which the cover is permitted to rotate relative to the second housing;
- and
- a second configuration in which the cover is generally prevented from rotating relative to the second housing;
- wherein at least a portion of the lighting track is adapted to be positioned between the cover and the second housing when the cover is in the second configuration;
- wherein the first housing comprises an external annular recess;
- wherein the apparatus further comprises:
- a sleeve within which the external annular recess at least partially extends to define an annular region therebetween;
- and
- a spring extending within the annular region and about the external annular recess;
- wherein the external annular recess of the first housing defines an external shoulder;
- wherein the sleeve defines an internal shoulder;
- wherein the spring engages and is at least partially compressed between the external shoulder of the first housing and the internal shoulder of the sleeve;
- wherein the spring applies a biasing force against the internal shoulder of the sleeve to urge the sleeve towards the second housing;
- wherein the spring is adapted to further compress in response to movement of the sleeve away from the second housing;
- wherein, when the cover is in its second configuration, the sleeve engages the cover and the second housing in response to the biasing force applied by the spring;
- wherein the cover comprises an external annular recess defining an external shoulder;
- wherein the second housing comprises an external annular recess defining an external shoulder;
- wherein, when the cover is in its second configuration, the sleeve engages the respective external shoulders of the cover and the second housing in response to the biasing force applied by the spring;
- wherein the cover is rotated to place the cover in its second configuration from its first configuration;
- wherein the cover comprises at least one ramp surface for engaging at least a portion of the sleeve during the rotation of the cover to place the cover in its second configuration from its first configuration;
- and
- wherein the at least a portion of the sleeve is temporarily displaced in response to the engagement between the at least one ramp surface and the at least a portion of the sleeve.
23 more elements
An apparatus adapted to be coupled to a lighting track, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
- a cover coupled to the housing wherein at least a portion of the lighting track is adapted to be positioned between the cover and the housing when the apparatus is coupled to the lighting track;
- and
- a floating first contact pad assembly coupled to the housing.
1 more element
An apparatus adapted to be coupled to a lighting track comprising a buss bar, the apparatus comprising:
- a first housing;
- a second housing coupled to the first housing;
- and
- a cover hingedly coupled to the second housing and comprising:
- a first configuration in which the cover is permitted to rotate relative to the second housing;
- and
- a second configuration in which the cover is generally prevented from rotating relative to the second housing;
- wherein at least a portion of the lighting track is adapted to be positioned between the cover and the second housing when the cover is in the second configuration;
- wherein the first housing comprises an external annular recess;
- wherein the apparatus further comprises:
- a sleeve within which the external annular recess at least partially extends to define an annular region therebetween;
- and
- a spring extending within the annular region and about the external annular recess;
- wherein the external annular recess of the first housing defines an external shoulder;
- wherein the sleeve defines an internal shoulder;
- wherein the spring engages and is at least partially compressed between the external shoulder of the first housing and the internal shoulder of the sleeve;
- wherein the spring applies a biasing force against the internal shoulder of the sleeve to urge the sleeve towards the second housing;
- wherein the spring is adapted to further compress in response to movement of the sleeve away from the second housing;
- wherein, when the cover is in its second configuration, the sleeve engages the cover and the second housing in response to the biasing force applied by the spring;
- wherein the cover comprises an external annular recess defining an external shoulder;
- wherein the second housing comprises an external annular recess defining an external shoulder;
- wherein, when the cover is in its second configuration, the sleeve engages the respective external shoulders of the cover and the second housing in response to the biasing force applied by the spring;
- wherein the cover is rotated to place the cover in its second configuration from its first configuration;
- wherein the cover comprises at least one ramp surface for engaging at least a portion of the sleeve during the rotation of the cover to place the cover in its second configuration from its first configuration;
- wherein the at least a portion of the sleeve is temporarily displaced in response to the engagement between the at least one ramp surface and the at least a portion of the sleeve;
- wherein the apparatus further comprises:
- a floating contact pad assembly coupled to the second housing, the floating contact pad assembly comprising:
- a contact pad;
- and
- at least one contact extending from the contact pad and adapted to be electrically coupled to the buss bar of the lighting track when the apparatus is coupled to the lighting track and the cover is in its second configuration;
- and
- a biasing element coupled to the contact pad;
- wherein the biasing element is adapted to provide a biasing force against the contact pad to effect sufficient electrical coupling between the at least one contact of the floating contact pad assembly and the buss bar when the apparatus is coupled to the lighting track and the cover is in its second configuration;
- wherein the lighting track comprises a flexed configuration;
- and
- wherein the biasing element is adapted to maintain sufficient electrical coupling between the at least one contact of the floating contact pad assembly and the buss bar when the apparatus is coupled to the lighting track and the lighting track is in the flexed configuration.
33 more elements
A system comprising:
- a lighting track;
- means for toollessly coupling an attachment to the lighting track;
- and
- means for coupling an assembly to the attachment.
1 more element
A system comprising:
- a lighting track;
- means for toollessly coupling an attachment comprising a housing to the lighting track, comprising:
- means for hingedly coupling a cover to the housing of the attachment;
- and
- means for placing the cover in a closed configuration, comprising:
- means for rotating the cover relative to the housing so that at least a portion of the lighting track is positioned between the cover and the housing;
- and
- means for locking the cover to the housing so that the cover is generally prevented from rotating relative to the housing;
- wherein the cover is locked in response to rotating the cover relative to the housing so that the at least a portion of the lighting track is positioned between the cover and the housing;
- and
- means for coupling an assembly to the attachment.
8 more elements
A system comprising:
- a lighting track comprising a pair of buss bars and a flexed configuration;
- means for coupling an attachment to the lighting track, comprising:
- means for electrically coupling the attachment to the pair of buss bars of the lighting track;
- and
- means for maintaining the electrical coupling between the attachment and the pair of buss bars when the lighting track is in the flexed configuration.
2 more elements
A system comprising:
- a lighting track comprising a pair of buss bars and a flexed configuration;
- means for toollessly coupling an attachment comprising a housing to the lighting track, comprising:
- means for electrically coupling the attachment to the pair of buss bars of the lighting track;
- means for hingedly coupling a cover to the housing of the attachment;
- means for placing the cover in a closed configuration, comprising:
- means for rotating the cover relative to the housing so that at least a portion of the lighting track is positioned between the cover and the housing;
- and
- means for locking the cover to the housing so that the cover is generally prevented from rotating relative to the housing;
- wherein the cover is locked in response to rotating the cover relative to the housing so that the at least a portion of the lighting track is positioned between the cover and the housing;
- means for maintaining the electrical coupling between the attachment and the pair of buss bars when the lighting track is in the flexed configuration, comprising means for accommodating a bend in the lighting track;
- and
- means for forming a grounding coupling between the attachment and the lighting track.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.