Lighting system for direct wiring electric luminaires

• US 20040196651A1
• Filed: 04/01/2003
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Newbold, Ron
• Granted Patent: US 6,964,504 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/133
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/00 Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0012 Furniture hospital beds F21V33/0072
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/00 Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes

Abstract

A lighting system for direct wiring a plurality of light fixtures is disclosed. The lighting system is particularly well suited for use with portable electric luminaires as classified by Underwriters Laboratories. The lighting system includes a wire modular box that is configured to receive a supply wire from the building or facility where the system is being installed. The wire modular box includes one or more output receptacles. Each light fixture in the system includes a first receptacle and a second receptacle. Cables are then used to electrically connect the wire modular box with the light fixtures.

Claims

1. A lighting system for direct wiring a plurality of UL listed portable electric luminaires comprising:

a wire modular box comprising a hardwire receiving station, the hardwire receiving station including a positive terminal, a negative terminal and a ground for mating with a hardwire source, the wire modular box including at least two receptacles and a circuit board, the circuit board electrically connecting the hardwire receiving station to each of the receptacles;

a plurality of lamp receiving devices, each lamp receiving device being configured to receive a fluorescent bulb, each lamp receiving device including a first receptacle and a second receptacle;

a plurality of cables for making electrical connections as needed between the wire modular box and a lamp receiving device and between two lamp receiving devices, each cable including a first plug at one end and a second plug at an opposite end; and

wherein each plug forms a quick-connect with a corresponding receptacle, each receptacle and each plug including a positive terminal, a negative terminal, and a ground.

2. A lighting system as defined in claim 1, wherein the wire modular box includes a housing for containing the hardwire receiving station and the circuit board.

3. A lighting system as defined in claim 2, wherein the housing is made from aluminum.

4. A lighting system as defined in claim 2, wherein the housing is made from plastic.

5. A lighting system as defined in claim 1, wherein the receptacles contained in the wire modular box are mounted on the circuit board.

6. A lighting system as defined in claim 1, wherein the hardwire receiving station includes push-in wire connectors.

7. A lighting system as defined in claim 1, wherein the receptacles are positioned on opposite ends of the wire modular box.

8. A lighting system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fluorescent bulbs having a diameter of less than about 0.75 inches.

9. A lighting system as defined in claim 8, wherein the fluorescent bulbs comprise T5 bulbs.

10. A lighting system as defined in claim 8, wherein the fluorescent bulbs have a power rating of from about 2 watts to about 13 watts.

11. A lighting system as defined in claim 1, wherein each lamp receiving device includes a mounting device for mounting the lamp receiving device to an adjacent surface.

12. A lighting system as defined in claim 1, wherein the first receptacle and the second receptacle on each lamp receiving device are positioned on opposite ends of the lamp receiving device.

13. A lighting system as defined in claim 1, wherein each receptacle comprises a female connector while each plug comprises a male connector.

14. A lighting system as defined in claim 1, wherein one of the terminals located on each of the receptacles and each of the plugs is circular while the remaining two terminals are non-circular.

15. A lighting system for direct wiring a plurality of portable electric luminaires comprising;

a wire modular box comprising a hardwire receiving station, the hardwire receiving station including a positive terminal, a negative terminal, and a ground for mating with a hardwire source, the wire modular box including at least two receptacles in electrical communication with the hardwire receiving station;

a plurality of electric luminaires, each of the electric luminaires including a mounting device for mounting the electric luminaire against an adjacent surface, each electric luminaire including a first receptacle and a second receptacle; and

a plurality of cables for making electrical connections as needed between the wire modular box and an electric luminaire and between two electric luminaires, each cable including a first plug at one end and a second plug at an opposite end.

16. A lighting system as defined in claim 15, wherein the electric luminaires comprise under cabinet luminaires containing fluorescent bulbs.

17. A lighting system as defined in claim 16, wherein the fluorescent bulbs have a diameter of less than about 0.75 inches.

18. A lighting system as defined in claim 15, wherein the wire modular box includes a circuit board, the circuit board electrically connecting the hardwire receiving station to each of the receptacles.

19. A lighting system as defined in claim 18, wherein the wire modular box includes a housing for containing the hardwire receiving station and the circuit board.

20. A lighting system as defined in claim 15, wherein the hardwire receiving station includes push-in wire connectors.

21. A lighting system as defined in claim 16, wherein the fluorescent bulbs comprise T5 bulbs.

22. A lighting system as defined in claim 16, wherein the fluorescent bulbs have a power rating of from about 2 watts to about 13 watts.

23. A lighting system as defined in claim 15, wherein each receptacle comprises a female connector while each plug comprises a male connector.

24. A lighting system as defined in claim 15, wherein each receptacle and each plug includes a positive terminal, a negative terminal, and a ground.

25. A lighting system as defined in claim 24, wherein one of the terminals located on each of the receptacles and each of the plugs is circular while the remaining two terminals are non-circular.

26. A lighting system as defined in claim 15, wherein the electric luminaires contain incandescent bulbs.

28. A wire modular box as defined in claim 25, wherein the housing comprises aluminum.

29. A wire modular box as defined in claim 25, wherein the housing comprises a plastic material.

30. A wire modular box as defined in claim 25, wherein the hardwire receiving station includes push-in wire connectors.

31. A wire modular box as defined in claim 25, wherein at least two of the terminals contained on the output receptacle have different geometric shapes.

32. A wire modular box as defined in claim 29, wherein two of the terminals on the output receptacles are circular while one terminal is non-circular.

27. A wire modular box for direct wiring a plurality of electric luminaires comprising;

a hardwire receiving station, the hardwire receiving station including a positive terminal, a negative terminal, and a ground for mating with a hardwire source;

at least two output receptacles configured to create a quick connect with a corresponding plug, the output receptacles including a positive terminal, a negative terminal, and a ground;

a circuit board electrically connecting the hardwire receiving station to each of the output receptacles; and

a housing for containing the hardwire receiving station and the circuit board.