Modular, user-installed, surface-mounted, fluorescent lighting system

A modular, user-installed, surface-mounted, fluorescent lighting system, that minimizes the possibility of accidental shock by permitting an installer to easily configure the system such that powered electrical connectors have only female contacts, comprising:

• (a) a power source module comprising a power bus receptacle having a pair of female electrical contacts in a shallow rectangular recess, a resettable circuit breaker, a length of flexible electrical power conductors, and an electrical power plug, with said power bus receptacle being electrically connected through said circuit breaker to one end of the power conductors and said electrical power plug being connected to the other end, wherein said circuit breaker serves to isolate a short circuit in said lighting system, and
• (b) an illumination module comprising a structure having an integral power bus that can transmit power between two said power bus receptacles mounted at opposite ends of said illumination module, a starter-ballast circuit connected to said integral power bus, and a fluorescent tube socket connected to said starter-ballast circuit, wherein said integral power bus is protected from overload by said circuit breaker in said power source module, by limiting the quantity of said illumination modules that may be installed in a serial sequence, and
• (c) a gender conversion plug comprising:
• (i) an insulating body which is slightly smaller than, and twice the depth of, said shallow rectangular recess in said power bus receptacle, (ii) a pair of double-ended male contacts suspended in said insulating body, such that said gender conversion plug can be inserted into said power bus receptacle on said illumination module and convert it to a male connector, which can then be coupled with a device selected from a group consisting of said power bus receptacle on said power source module and said power bus receptacle on another said illumination module, wherein said power bus receptacles of all modules are identical.

A modular, user-installed, surface-mounted, fluorescent lighting system having in combination the following known elements:

• (a) a wall mounted cove fixture for indirect lighting using fluorescent lamps, and
• (b) a fluorescent illumination module which is surface-mounted and self-contained including a tube socket, a starter-ballast circuit and an integral power bus, and
• (c) junction fittings to accommodate turns, of 90 degrees in two planes, and
• (d) a decorative insert of continuous length installed on a structure that houses wall-mounted fluorescent lighting fixtures, and
• (e) an electronic capacitive ballast for fluorescent lamps,
• wherein the improvement comprises:
• (i) a pair of power bus receptacles, each containing a pair of female electrical contacts, installed in said illumination module and a means, cooperating with said power bus receptacles, to configure the electrical couplings of each module to male and female contacts, such that power is supplied from only female contacts, thereby decreasing the possibility of accidental shock, and
• (ii) a power source connection means, in cooperation with said power bus receptacles, on all modules, to connect said lighting system to a convenience wall outlet, using a power source module, comprising a resettable circuit breaker and a plug-in line cord, thereby avoiding the requirement for an experienced installer, whereby said circuit breaker serves to isolate a short circuit in said lighting system and to protect said integral power bus from overload by limiting the quantity of said illumination modules that can be installed in a serial sequence, and
• (iii) a sizing means, in combination with an adjustable module to adjust the length of said adjustable module, installed in a linear plurality of said illumination modules, to achieve a perfect fit between two corners of a room, whereby this adjustment can be accomplished by an inexperienced installer, without any tools other than a metal guide sleeve and a razor blade, supplied with the module, and
• (iv) an illumination means, cooperating with said integral power bus, to illuminate those modules of said lighting system that provide the electrical continuity through corner turns and segments of adjustable length, and
• (v) an enclosure means, in cooperation with said front channel, to completely encase the structure of said illumination system in a decorative architectural cove molding and provide the luxurious appearance of a custom installation of an illuminated cove.