Power bus for powering electronic devices operating in retail environments

• US 20040165330A1
• Filed: 01/20/2004
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Automated Media Services, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Automated Media Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Amadio, Martin A., Kirshenbaum, Stanley, Wolinsky, Robert I., Goldring, Peter G., Marsky, Mikhail L.
• Application Number:
  US10/760,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20040165330A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/115
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/35 with direct electrical contact between the supporting element and electric conductors running along the guiding element
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/14 Rails or bus-bars constructed so that the counterparts can be connected thereto at any point along their length supporting elements for lighting devices, displaceable along guiding elements and making electrical contact with conductors running along the guiding elements F21V21/35
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/142 Their counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/147 Low voltage devices, i.e. safe to touch live conductors

Abstract

A system and method for supporting and providing electrical power to devices. One embodiment includes an elongated member coupled to the structure and configured to support a device and to supply electrical power to the device. A coupling member is operable to engage the elongated member or power bus and support the device. The coupling member is operable to be moved from a first position to a second position along the elongated member to reposition the device with respect to the structure. In one embodiment, the elongated member is configured to supply electrical power to the device substantially continuously during movement of the coupling member along the elongated member.

Claims

1. A system for providing electrical power to a device at a structure for displaying products, said system comprising:

an elongated member coupled to the structure and configured to support the device and to supply electrical power to the device; and

a coupling member operable to engage said elongated member and support the device, said coupling member operable to be moved from a first position to a second position along said elongated member to reposition the device with respect to the structure.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said elongated member is configured as a rail conduit for said coupling member to translate along.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one electrical conductor extending along said elongated member for providing power for the device at multiple locations along the elongated member.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said coupling member includes at least one electrode, the at least one electrode being in electrical communication with the device and for contacting the at least one electrical conductor to deliver electrical power to the device.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the device is a display screen.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said coupling element is a trolley configured to translate along said elongated member.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the trolley includes at least one revolving member that contacts said elongated member.

8. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an extender arm coupling said coupling member and the device, said extender arm operable to position the device from the structure.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said elongated member is configured to supply electrical power to the device substantially continuously during movement of said coupling member along said elongated member.

10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one data conductor coupled to said elongated member for communicating information signals to and from the device.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said at least one data conductor is at least one electrical conductor operable to supply the electrical power to the device.

12. A method for providing electrical power to a device at a structure for displaying products, said method comprising:

coupling an elongated member to the structure, the elongated member operable to support a device and to supply electrical power to the device;

engaging a coupling member to the elongated member, the coupling member operable to support the device; and

moving the coupling member from a first position to a second position along the elongated member to reposition the device with respect to the structure.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said moving the coupling member along the elongated member substantially continuously maintains electrical power to the device.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein said moving includes rolling the coupling member along the elongated member.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein said moving includes sliding the coupling member along the elongated member.

16. The method according to claim 12, further comprising extending the device from the coupling member.

17. The method according to claim 12, further comprising communicating information signals along the elongated member to and from the device.

18. A system for providing electrical power to a device at a structure for displaying products, said system comprising:

means for (i) supporting a device and (ii) supplying electrical power to the device, said means for supporting and supplying coupled to the structure;

means for coupling said means to the structure; and

means for coupling the device to said means for supporting and supplying, said means for coupling operable to be moved from a first position to a second position along said means for supporting and supplying to reposition the device with respect to the structure.

19. The system according to claim 18, further comprising means for conducting electrical power along said means for supporting and supplying.

20. The system according to claim 18, wherein said means for coupling the device to said means for supporting and supplying further including means for delivering electrical power to the device.

21. The system according to claim 18, wherein said means for coupling the device to said means for supporting and supplying further includes means for moving said means for coupling from the first position to the second position.

22. The system according to claim 18, further comprising means for extending the device from said means for coupling.

23. The system according to claim 18, further comprising means for supplying electrical power to the device via said coupling member substantially continuously during movement of said coupling member along said elongated member.

24. The system according to claim 18, further comprising means for communicating information signals to and from the device.

25. A system for providing electrical power to an electronic device at a structure, said system comprising:

an elongated member coupled to the structure and configured to support the electronic device and to supply electrical power to the electronic device; and

a coupling member operable to engage said elongated member and support the electronic device, said coupling member operable to be moved from a first position to a second position along said elongated member to reposition the electronic device with respect to the structure.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein the structure is configured to display products.

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein the structure is an architectural member of a retail facility.

28. The system according to claim 25, further comprising at least one electrical conductor extending along the elongated member.

29. The system according to claim 28, wherein said at least one electrical conductor is configured to have electrical power accessed therefrom along substantially the entire length of said at least one electrical conductor.

30. A system for providing electrical power to a device, said system comprising:

an elongated member configured to support a wireless device and to supply electrical power to the wireless device; and

a coupling member operable to engage said elongated member and support the wireless device, said coupling member operable to be moved from a first position to a second position along said elongated member to reposition the wireless device with respect to the elongated member.

31. The system according to claim 30, wherein the wireless device is an electronic wireless device.

32. The system according to claim 31, wherein the electronic wireless device is an RFID electronic wireless device.

33. The system according to claim 30, wherein said elongated member is coupled to a structure for displaying products.