Low voltage luminaire assembly

• US 20050007031A1
• Filed: 07/11/2003
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Progress Lighting LLC (Hubbell, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Hyder, LaShannon S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,213,961 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/276
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/005 of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/037 for mounting in a corner, i.e. between adjacent walls or wall and ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/08 Devices for easy attachment to any desired place, e.g. clip, clamp, magnet
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6633 with inductive component, e.g. transformer
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/48365 with integral release means

Abstract

A low-voltage luminaire assembly is provided with a transformer and a lamp holder, one or more of which have quick-release connections. Methods for installing and servicing the luminaire assembly are also provided. The luminaire assembly may also have a plurality of lamp holders, a plurality of input and output electrical wires, a rotary dimmer switch, and an electrical plug component. The transformer and lamp holders are mounted to an object and the electrical wires are tailored to the necessary installation dimensions, thereby providing a luminaire assembly that is easily and neatly installable to any object in any desired configuration.

Claims

1. A low voltage luminaire assembly comprising:

a transformer having a power supply fitting and a power output fitting, said supply and output fittings adapted to respectively connect an end of an electrical power supply wire and an end of an electrical power output wire to said transformer, said supply and output fittings adapted for quick-release of said respective ends of said electrical power supply and output wires, said electrical power supply wire adapted to connect said transformer to an electrical power supply; and

a lamp holder having an electrical power supply connector and an electrical power output connector, said supply connector adapted for attachment of an opposing end of said electrical power output wire, said output connector adapted for attachment of another electrical power supply wire, said lamp holder adapted to receive a lamp.

2. The low voltage luminaire assembly of claim 1, wherein

said transformer has an electrical protection system.

3. The low voltage luminaire assembly of claim 1, wherein

said transformer is rated for between about 20 watts to about 60 watts.

4. The low voltage luminaire assembly of claim 1, wherein

said transformer is adapted to receive about 120 VAC and to output from about 11 VDC to about 12 VDC.

5. The low voltage luminaire assembly of claim 1, wherein

said transformer includes a mountable side adapted to mount said transformer to an object.

6. The low voltage luminaire assembly of claim 5, wherein

said mountable side is mountable by selecting from the group consisting of an adhesive, an adhesive tape, a screw, a bolt, a snap-fitting, a press-fitting, a rivet, a nail, and combinations thereof.

7. The low voltage luminaire assembly of claim 1, wherein

said supply and output fittings are push-in wire connectors.

8. The low voltage luminaire assembly of claim 7, wherein

said push-in wire connectors are corrosion resistant.

9. The low voltage luminaire assembly of claim 1, wherein

said supply wire is rated for about 120 VAC.

10. The low voltage luminaire assembly of claim 1, wherein

an electrical plug component is connected to said electrical power supply wire.

11. The low voltage luminaire assembly of claim 10, wherein

said electrical plug component is adapted to pierce said electrical power supply wire.

12. The low voltage luminaire assembly of claim 1, further comprising

a dimmer switch connected to said electrical power supply wire.

13. The low voltage luminaire assembly of claim 12, wherein

said dimmer switch is adapted to pierce said electrical power supply wire.

14. The low voltage luminaire assembly of claim 1, wherein

said lamp holder includes a second mountable side adapted for mounting said lamp holder to an object.

15. The low voltage luminaire assembly of claim 14, wherein

said second mountable side is mountable by selecting from the group consisting of an adhesive, an adhesive tape, a screw, a bolt, a nut, a rivet, a nail, a pin, a snap-fitting, a press-fitting, and combinations thereof.

16. The low voltage luminaire assembly of claim 1, wherein

said supply and output fittings have means for releasing one of said respective ends of said electrical power supply and output wires.

17. The low voltage luminaire assembly of claim 16, wherein

said means for releasing is a quick-release device having a quick-release button adapted to temporarily neutralize a spring constant.

18. The low voltage luminaire assembly of claim 1, wherein

said lamp is selected from the group consisting of an incandescent lamp, a xenon lamp, a fluorescent lamp, a neon lamp, a halogen lamp, and combinations thereof.

19. The low voltage luminaire assembly of claim 1, wherein

said lamp holder is a plurality of lamp holders.

20. A light assembly comprising:

a transformer having an electrical power supply push-in wiring terminal and an electrical power output push-in wiring terminal, said electrical power supply and output wiring terminals adapted for respectively connecting and disconnecting an electrical power supply wire and an electrical power output wire to said transformer.

21. The lighting assembly as in claim 20, wherein

said transformer has an electrical protection system.

22. The lighting assembly of claim 20, wherein

said transformer has a mountable side adapted, for mounting said transformer to an object.

23. The lighting assembly of claim 22, wherein

said mountable side is mountable by selecting from the group consisting of an adhesive, an adhesive tape, a screw, a bolt, a nut, a rivet, a nail, a pin, a snap-fitting, a press-fitting, and combinations thereof.

24. The lighting assembly as in claim 20, wherein

said electrical power supply push-in and output wiring terminals are adapted for quickly releasing a wire.

25. The lighting assembly as in claim 20, wherein

a lamp holder has an input connector, said input connector adapted to be connected to said electrical power output wiring terminal of said transformer with a lamp holder lead wire.

26. The lighting assembly as in claim 25, wherein

said lamp holder is adapted to be connected to another lamp holder with another lamp holder lead wire.

27. The lighting assembly as in claim 25, wherein

said lamp holder has a mountable side adapted to mount said lamp holder to an object.

28. The lighting assembly as in claim 27, wherein

said mountable side is mountable by selecting from the group consisting of an adhesive, an adhesive tape, a screw, a bolt, a nut, a rivet, a nail, a pin, a snap-fitting, a press-fitting, and combinations thereof.

29. A method for installing a low voltage luminaire assembly, comprising the steps of:

providing a low voltage luminaire assembly kit having a lamp holder and a transformer;

attaching the lamp holder to an area;

attaching the transformer to the area; and

connecting a lead wire from the lamp holder to a capture and quick-release fitting of the transformer.

30. The method as in claim 29, wherein

attaching the lamp holder comprises attaching a plurality of lamp holders.

31. The method as in claim 30, further comprising

linking at least two of the lamp holders via a lead wire.

32. The method as in claim 29, further comprising

connecting the transformer to a source of electrical power.

33. The method as in claim 31, further comprising

measuring a length of the lead wire required between each lamp holder.

34. The method as in claim 33, further comprising

cutting the lead wire to the required length.

35. The method as in claim 29, further comprising

mounting the lamp holder and the transformer by selecting from the group consisting of an adhesive, an adhesive tape, a screw, a bolt, a nut, a rivet, a nail, a pin, a snap-fitting, a press-fitting, and combinations thereof.

36. The method as in claim 32, further comprising

attaching an electrical plug component to the transformer to connect the transformer to the electrical power source.

37. The method as in claim 36, further comprising

attaching a dimmer switch proximate the electrical plug component, the dimmer switch adapted to selectively adjust a resistance in an electrical circuit between the electrical plug component and the transformer.

38. The method as in claim 29, wherein

connecting the lead wire to the capture and quick-release fitting of the transformer comprises connecting the lead wire to the capture and quick-release fitting that is selected from the group consisting of a connector spring, a detent, a pressure plate, a leaf spring, an aperture defining capture teeth and combinations thereof.

39. The method as in claim 29, further comprising

inserting a lamp in the lamp holder.

40. The method as in claim 29, further comprising

routing the lead wire in a non-linear orientation.

41. The method as in claim 29, wherein

providing a low voltage luminaire assembly kit having a lamp holder and a transformer comprises providing a transformer having an electronic protection system.

42. The method as in claim 41, wherein

providing a transformer having an electronic protection system comprises providing a transformer having a built-in circuit breaker as the electronic protection system.

43. A method for servicing a luminaire assembly, comprising the steps of:

disconnecting the luminaire assembly from a source of electrical power;

releasing electrical wires from one of a transformer and a lamp holder with quick-release connections;

removing one of the transformer and lamp holder from an installation area;

attaching one of a replacement transformer and another lamp holder in the installation area; and

reinserting the electrical wires in one of the replacement transformer and the another lamp holder.

44. The method as in claim 43, further comprising

reconnecting the luminaire assembly to the electrical power source.

45. The method as in claim 43, further comprising

replacing the transformer with a higher rated transformer.

46. The method as in claim 43, further comprising

adjusting a position of one of the transformer and the lamp holder.

47. The method as in claim 46, wherein

adjusting the position comprises adjusting the position by selecting from the group consisting of an adhesive, an adhesive tape, a screw, a bolt, a nut, a rivet, a nail, a pin, a snap-fitting, a press-fitting, and combinations thereof.

48. The method as in claim 43, further comprising

removing or inserting a plurality of bulbs.

49. A lighting assembly, comprising:

a lamp holder having an electrical power supply push-in wiring terminal and an electrical power output push-in wiring terminal, said electrical power supply push-in and output wiring terminals adapted for respectively connecting and disconnecting an electrical power supply wire and an electrical power output wire to said lamp holder.

50. The lighting assembly as in claim 49, wherein

said lamp holder has a mountable side adapted for mounting said lamp holder to an object.

51. The lighting assembly as in claim 50, wherein

said mountable side is mountable by selecting from the group consisting of an adhesive, an adhesive tape, a screw, a bolt, a nut, a snap-fitting, a press-fitting, a rivet, a nail, a pin, and combinations thereof.

52. The lighting assembly as in claim 49, wherein

said electrical power supply push-in and output wiring terminals are adapted for quickly releasing a wire.

53. The lighting assembly as in claim 49, wherein

a transformer has an input connector, said input connector adapted to connect to said electrical power output connector of said lamp holder with a lead wire.

54. The lighting assembly as in claim 53, wherein

said transformer includes a mountable side adapted to mount said transformer to an object.

55. The lighting assembly of claim 54, wherein

said mountable side is mountable by selecting from the group consisting of an adhesive, an adhesive tape, a screw, a bolt, a nut, a rivet, a nail, a pin, a snap-fitting, a press-fitting, and combinations thereof.

56. The lighting assembly as in claim 53, wherein

said transformer has an electrical protection system.