LED lighting array system for illuminating a display case

• US 10,139,156 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2017
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electraled Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electraled Incorporated
• Inventors: Thomas, James, Volochine, Vladimir
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Bao Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Glenn
• Application Number:
  US15/645,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20170307286A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 11/10 Arrangements of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/001 Devices for lighting, humidifying, heating, ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/04 air-conditioned, refrigerated refrigerators F25D; heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas H05B3/84
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/0482 Details common to both closed and open types
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0024 Household or table equipment
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 27/00 Lighting arrangements in general F21

Abstract

An LED lighting array system includes discrete lighting modules spatially arrayed along a support member to provide illumination of items within a display case. The modules have a low overall height that results in them being mounted in a low-profile configuration at various locations along the support member. The modules include a housing with opposed first and second sets of side apertures, a plurality of internal reflecting surfaces associated with the apertures, respectively, an external lens, a multi-sided light engine and a group of side-emitting LEDs. During operation, a first portion of light generated by the side-emitting LEDs is discharged through apertures and the lens into the cooler to illuminate contents therein, while a second portion of light generated by the side-emitting LEDs is redirected by the reflecting surface through said apertures and the lens into the cooler.

Claims

1. A lighting array system featuring light emitting diodes (LEDs) for use with at least one support member within a refrigerated cooler to illuminate products residing within the cooler, the lighting array system comprising:

at least one module configured to be installed within a support member of the cooler, each module comprising;

a housing having a first side aperture and a second side aperture in an opposed positional relationship, a first internal reflecting surface extending outward from the first side aperture to a peripheral wall, and a second internal reflecting surface extending outward from the second side aperture to the peripheral wall;

an external lens configured to substantially mate with an upper extent of the housing; and

a light engine positioned within a receiver of the housing, the light engine including a first group of side-emitting LEDs associated with the first side aperture and a second group of side-emitting LEDs associated with the second side aperture,

wherein during operation of the lighting array system, a first portion of light generated by said first and second group of side-emitting LEDs is discharged through said apertures and the lens, and a second portion of light generated by said first and second group of side-emitting LEDs is redirected by the reflecting surface through said apertures and the lens.

2. The lighting array system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of modules, the modules configured to be installed an appreciable distance apart within the support member of the cooler.

3. The lighting array system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second groups of side-emitting LEDs comprises seven side-emitting LEDs.

4. The lighting array system of claim 1, wherein each module includes three first side apertures and three second side apertures.

5. The lighting array system of claim 1, wherein each module has an octagonal configuration with eight sides arranged substantially in a plane defined by the light engine.

6. The lighting array system of claim 1, wherein the light engine includes a linear current regulator, a protective diode, a ballast resistor, a transient voltage suppressor and an insulation displacement connector.

7. The lighting array system of claim 4, wherein the first group of side-emitting LEDs is associated with the three first side apertures, and the second group of side-emitting LEDs is associated with the three second side apertures.

8. A refrigerated cooler that displays products residing within the cooler, the cooler having a lighting array system to illuminate products within the cooler, the cooler comprising:

an arrangement of internal support members;

a lighting array system installed within the cooler and including;

a first module installed within a support member of the cooler;

a second module installed within said support member a distance from the first module;

said first and second modules each including a housing having;

a first side aperture;

a second side aperture in an opposed positional relationship with the first side aperture;

a first internal reflecting surface extending outward from the first side aperture to a peripheral wall;

a second internal reflecting surface extending outward from the second side aperture to the peripheral wall;

a chamber; and

a printed circuit board coupled to the chamber;

an external lens configured to substantially mate with an upper extent of the housing; and

a light engine positioned within a receiver of the housing, the light engine including a first group of side-emitting LEDs associated with the first side aperture and a second group of side-emitting LEDs associated with the second side aperture;

wherein during operation of the lighting array system, a first portion of light generated by said first and second groups of side-emitting LEDs is discharged through said apertures and the lens into the cooler to illuminate the products, and a second portion of light generated by said first and second groups of side-emitting LEDs is redirected by the reflecting surface through said apertures and the lens into the cooler to illuminate the products.

9. The refrigerated cooler of claim 8, wherein the first group of side-emitting LEDs comprises seven side-emitting LEDs.

10. The refrigerated cooler of claim 8, wherein the second group of side-emitting LEDs comprises seven side-emitting LEDs.

11. The refrigerated cooler of claim 8, wherein each module includes three first side apertures and three second side apertures.

12. The refrigerated cooler of claim 8, wherein each module has an octagonal configuration with eight sides arranged substantially in a plane defined by the light engine.

13. The refrigerated cooler of claim 8, wherein the light engine includes a linear current regulator, a protective diode, a ballast resistor, a transient voltage suppressor and an insulation displacement connector.

14. The refrigerated cooler of claim 8, wherein each module includes a gasket positioned within the housing and external to the receiver of the housing.

15. The refrigerated cooler of claim 11, wherein the first group of side-emitting LEDs comprises seven side-emitting LEDs associated with the three first side apertures, and the second group of side-emitting LEDs comprises seven side-emitting LEDs associated with the three second side apertures.