Illuminated shelving
AssigneePowerwall, Inc.
InventorsBruce M. Slesinger, Thomas L. Collom
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A display case is provided having vertical members with internal conductors. The conductors are coupled to a source of low voltage electrical power such that adjacent vertical members are of differing electrical polarity. Shelf supports are designed to make electrical contact with the internal conductors when engaged in a vertical member. A light fixture, disposed on the underside of a shelf is electrically coupled to the shelf supports thereby completing an electrical circuit for energizing the light fixture.
Claims20
A light fixture, for a shelf disposed from a plurality of supports, the light fixture comprising:
- a base, including a light track disposed along a length of the base, the light track including first and second electrical buses;
- a lens coupled to the base;
- a first end cap disposed from a first end of the base, the first end cap including:
- a body having a first portion for engaging the light track and a second portion for engaging one of the plurality of supports, and
- a conductor adapted to electrically couple a support engaged by the end cap to the first electrical bus.
A method for illuminating a region under a shelf, wherein the shelf is supported by supporting members which may be electrically energized, the method comprising:
- providing a light fixture disposed on a bottom surface of the shelf, the light fixture including
- a base having a light track,
- a lens coupled to the base, and
- a pair of end caps, wherein each end cap comprises:
- a body having a first portion adapted to electrically and mechanically couple to a supporting member and a second portion adapted to electrically and mechanically couple to the light track;
- and
- a conductive portion disposed between the first and second portions so that the light track is electrically coupled to a supporting member when the shelf is supported by the supporting member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.