Low voltage lighting system replaceable bulb assembly

• US 4,654,765 A
• Filed: 09/23/1985
• Issued: 03/31/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jerry H. Laidman
• Original Assignee: Jerry H. Laidman
• Inventors: Laidman, Jerry H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cross, E. Rollins
• Application Number:
  US06/779,138
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 362/300, 362/311, 362/238, 362/240, 362/241, 362/219, 362/223, 362/296, 339/23, 339/57
• US Class Current: 362/238
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/28 rigid, e.g. LED bars
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/164 the parts being subjected to bending, e.g. snap joints
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/04 with provision for changing light source, e.g. turret auxiliary devices for cleaning, placing, or removing incandescent lamps H01K3/32, fluorescent lamps H01J9/006
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/00 Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/508
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/00 Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses with refracting properties F21V5/00; with reflecting properties F21V7/00; characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/506
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/00 Reflectors for light sources characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/505
• 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

Abstract

The assembly includes a number of readily replaceable low voltage light bulbs; for example, of the <5 watt 24 VAC type, spaced along a pair of electrical conductors carried by an insulated strip located in a housing with a removable transparent cover. The bulbs are releasably connected to the conductors in parallel by suitable electrical contacts, with or without supporting bulb brackets so that the conductors, strip and housing can be transversely severed between adjacent bulbs to shorten the assembly. Conversely, a number of assemblies can be connected in tandem to form an elongated lighting system. The cover may have edges which clip into recesses performed in the housing for ease in closing and opening the assembly. The housing may be aluminum and the cover may be polycarbonate plastic. The assembly is simple, inexpensive, adaptable to a variety of decorative uses and is durable.

Claims

1. An improved low voltage lighting system replaceable bulb assembly, said assembly comprising, in combination:

(a) a plurality of replaceable low voltage light bulbs;

(b) an elongated reflective non-conductive strip carrying a plurality of electrical conductors;

(c) a plurality of spaced electrical contacts releasably connecting said bulbs spaced along the length of said strip in parallel to said strip;

(d) an elongated housing retaining said strip and said bulbs; and

,

(e) a removable transparent cover over said housing providing access to said bulbs for replacement thereof,

(f) wherein each of said bulbs has a plurality of said spaced electrical contacts secured thereto for releasable contact with said conductors.

2. The improved low voltage lighting system bulb assembly of claim 1 wherein said electrical contacts are springs which releasably hold said bulbs in electrical contact with said conductors by spring tension.

3. The improved low voltage lighting system bulb assembly of claim 1 wherein said strip, housing and cover are severable transversely at any point between adjacent ones of said bulbs to shorten said assembly.

4. The improved low voltage lighting system bulb assembly of claim 1 wherein said housing is made of aluminum, wherein said strip is made of an insulative material and wherein said cover comprises polycarbonate plastic.

5. The improved low voltage lighting system bulb assembly of claim 4 wherein said bulbs are <

5 watt bulbs utilizing 24 VAC.

6. The improved lighting system bulb assembly of claim 5 wherein a plurality of said assemblies are electrically and mechanically interconnected.

7. An improved lighting system assembly comprising:

(a) a plurality of electrically interconnected units,

(b) each of said units having,

(1) a plurality of replaceable low voltage light bulbs,

(2) a plurality of electrical conductors,

(3) receptor means secured to said conductors, and adapted to be electrically and releasably connected to said light bulbs, and

(c) interconnection means disposed between each of said units to electrically and releasably interconnect the conductors on at least two of said units.