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US 8,939,779 B1Granted
Electro-mechanical connection for lighting
AssigneeStreater LLC
InventorsThomas G. Lindblom, Peter K. Nelson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electro-mechanical connection is provided for transmitting power to one or more light sources affixed to the shelves of a shelving system. The connection eliminates the need to run wires the entire distance from the light source to a source of power and enables efficient and accurate coupling of the components. This is achieved by provided a slim track strip extending the height of the shelving unit and a specially designed twist connector for tapping off wiring harnesses from the slim track at the level of individual shelves where the harness leads to shelf-mounted light sources.
Claims16
An electro-mechanical connection comprising:
- a. a low voltage electrical slim track having an elongate slot defined by first and second lips, a first track conductor adjacent the first lip and extending along a first side of the slot and a second track conductor adjacent the second lip and extending along a second side of the slot;
- b. a twist lock connector comprising (i) a plastic connector housing having first and second ends, first and second support ribs located at the first end of the housing, an interior wall defining a central channel extending between and open to the first and second ends, and a flange having first and second gaps, (ii) a first mating member extending from the second end of the connector housing and having a first exterior shape and a first mating channel, (iii) a second mating member extending from the second end of the housing and having a second exterior shape different from the first exterior shape and a second mating channel, (iv) a first and second locking tabs, the first locking tab extending across the first gap and mounted to the flange for movement between a locked position and an unlocked position, and the second locking tab extending across the second gap and mounted to the flange for movement between a locked position and an unlocked positions;
- and (v) first and second connector contacts, each of the first and second connector contacts having first and second legs, the first leg of the first connector contact in engagement with the first support rib of the connector housing and the second leg of the first connector contact extending through the central channel of the housing and into the first mating channel of the first mating member, and the first leg of the second conductor contact in engagement with the second support rib of the connector housing and the second leg of the second conductor contact extending through the central channel of the housing and into the second channel of the second mating member, and (vi) a contact plug retaining the first and second connector contacts;
- wherein when the locking tabs are in the unlocked position, the first legs of the first and second connector contacts are adapted to be inserted into the elongate slot of the low voltage electrical slim track and rotated to bring the first leg of the first connector contact into conductive engagement with the first track conductor and the first leg of the second connector contact into conductive engagement with the second track conductor;
- and
- wherein when the locking tabs are in the locked position the first legs of the first and second connector contacts cannot be rotated out of engagement with the track conductors.
3 more elements
For lighting a shelving system, an electro-mechanical connection comprising:
- a. a low voltage electrical slim track having an elongate slot defined by first and second parallel, spaced-apart lips, a first track conductor adjacent the first lip and extending along a first side of the slot and a second track conductor adjacent the second lip and extending along a second side of the slot;
- b. a twist lock connector comprising (i) a plastic connector housing having first and second ends, first and second support ribs located at the first end of the connector housing, an interior wall defining a central channel extending between and open to the first and second ends, and a flange having first and second gaps, (ii) a first mating member extending from the second end of the connector housing and having a first exterior shape and a first mating channel, (iii) a second mating member extending from the second end of the connector housing and having a second exterior shape different from the first exterior shape and a second mating channel, (iv) first and second locking tabs, the first locking tab extending across the first gap and mounted to the flange for movement between a locked position and an unlocked position, and the second locking tab extending across the second gap and mounted to the flange for movement between a locked position and an unlocked positions;
- and (v) first and second connector contacts, each of the first and second connector contacts having first and second legs, the first leg of the first connector contact in engagement with the first support rib of the connector housing and the second leg of the first connector contact extending through the central channel of the connector housing and into the first mating channel of the first mating member, and the first leg of the second conductor contact in engagement with the second support rib of the connector housing and the second leg of the second conductor contact extending through the central channel of the connector housing and into the second channel of the second mating member, and (vi) and a contact plug retaining the first and second connector contacts;
- wherein when the locking tabs are in the unlocked position, the first legs of the first and second connector contacts are adapted to be inserted into the elongate slot of the low voltage electrical slim track and rotated to bring the first leg of the first connector contact into conductive engagement with the first track conductor and the first leg of the second connector contact into conductive engagement with the second track conductor;
- and wherein when the locking tabs are in the locked position the first legs of the first and second connector contacts cannot be rotated out of engagement with the track conductors;
- c. a shelf mounted light source;
- and
- d. a harness comprising a cable having first and second wires, a first harness housing adapted to mate with the first and second mating members of the twist lock connector to form a first electrical connection between the first wire of the cable and the first connector contact of the twist lock connector and a second electrical connection between the second wire of the cable and the second connector contact of the twist lock connector, and a second harness housing adapted to be joined to the light source such that the light source is energized via the first and second track conductors, twist lock connector and harness.
5 more elements
An electro-mechanical connection comprising:
- a. a shelf having an underside;
- b. a low voltage slim track;
- c. a twist lock connector adapted to be operatively coupled to the slim track;
- d. a light source mounted to the underside of the shelf;
- and
- e. a harness comprising (i) an elongate electrical cable of a predetermined length having a first and second end, (ii) a first connector coupled to the first end of the cable adapted to operatively couple the cable to a light source, (iii) a second connector coupled to the second end of the cable adapted to operatively couple the cable to the slim track via the twist lock connector, (iv) a wire tray comprising an elongate member having a U-shaped channel adapted to support the cable along most of the predefined length of the cable and means for securing the wire tray to the underside of the shelf.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.