Flexible light rail

• US 5,027,262 A
• Filed: 04/20/1989
• Issued: 06/25/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lucifer Lighting Company
• Original Assignee: Lucifer Lighting Company
• Inventors: Freed, Herbert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F.
• Application Number:
  US07/341,736
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 362/249, 362/237, 362/238, 362/241, 362/247, 362/296, 439/115, 439/239
• US Class Current: 362/249.08
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0085 at least one conductive element acting as a support means, e.g. resilient contact blades, piston-like contact
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/16 Rails or bus-bars provided with a plurality of discrete connecting locations for counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/02 Single-pole devices, e.g. holder for supporting one end of a tubular incandescent or neon lamp

Abstract

A light rail system for supporting light fixtures which is flexible so as to conform to curved and irregular surfaces. The light rail has two strips, fabricated from a single piece of conductive material, surrounded by upper and lower tracks of insulative material. A concave reflecting surface is integral with the upper layer of insulative material. Extensions from the strips form contact tabs which are folded perpendicular to the strips, and extend through slits in the upper track. Source plugs integral with the conductive strips mate with a feed plug providing external electricity. A special coupler allows several rails to be joined together.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supporting a plurality of lighting fixtures comprising:

a first conductive strip having a first plurality of lateral extensions connected thereto, each of said first plurality of lateral extensions having attached thereto one or more first contact tabs, said first contact tabs being generally perpendicular to the surface of said first conductive strip;

a second conductive strip essentially parallel to said first conductive strip creating a space therebetween, said second conductive strip having a second plurality of lateral extensions connected thereto, each of said second plurality of lateral extensions having attached thereto one or more second contact tabs, said second contact tabs being generally perpendicular to the surface of said second conductive strip, said first and second contact tabs being located along said space between said first and second conductive strips; and

means for electrically insulating said first and second conductive strips integral with means for reflecting light from said lighting fixtures said insulating means comprising an upper track with a concave reflective surface on the outside thereof and a lower track, said concave reflecting surface of said upper trace having a radius of curvature between 0.30 and 0.90 inch.

2. An apparatus for supporting a plurality of lighting fixtures comprising:

a first conductive strip having a first plurality of lateral extensions connected thereto, each of said first plurality of lateral extensions having attached thereto one or more first contact tabs, said first contact tabs being generally perpendicular to the surface of said first conductive strip;

a second conductive strip essentially parallel to said first conductive strip creating a space therebetween, said second conductive strip having a second plurality of lateral extensions connected thereto, each of said second plurality of lateral extensions having attached thereto one or more second contact tabs, said second contact tabs being generally perpendicular to the surface of said second conductive strip, said first and second contact tabs being located along said space between said first and second conductive strips; and

means for electrically insulating said first and second conductive strips integral with means for reflecting light from said lighting fixtures said insulating means comprises an upper track with a concave reflective surface on the outside thereof and a lower track, said concave reflecting surface having a radius of curvature equal to substantially twice the distance between a filament of said lighting fixture and said concave reflecting surface.

3. A rail for supporting a plurality of lighting fixtures comprising:

a first flexible conductive strip having a first plurality of lateral extensions integral therewith, each of said first plurality of lateral extensions forming one or more first contact tabs, said first contact tabs being generally perpendicular to the surface of said first conductive strip;

a second flexible conductive strip essentially parallel to said first conductive strip creating a space therebetween, said second conductive strip having a second plurality of lateral extensions integral therewith, each of said second plurality of lateral extensions forming one or more second contact tabs, said second contact tabs being generally perpendicular to the surface of said second conductive strip and essentially parallel to said first contact tabs, said first and second contact tabs being located along said space between said first and second conductive strips, said first and second contact tabs forming successive contact pairs consisting of one of said first contact tabs and one of said second contact tabs;

an upper flexible track with a concave reflecting surface integral therewith, said upper flexible track having a plurality of slits therein, said first and second contact tabs passing through said slits, said upper track being adjacent to an upper surface of said first and second conductive strips; and

a lower flexible track adjacent to a lower surface of said first and second conductive strips, said upper and lower tracks being attached to one another along their peripheries;

said concave reflective surface having a radius of curvature between 0.30 and 0.90 inch.

4. A rail for supporting a plurality of lighting fixtures comprising:

a first flexible conductive strip having a first plurality of lateral extensions integral therewith, each of said first plurality of lateral extensions forming one or more first contact tabs, said first contact tabs being generally perpendicular to the surface of said first conductive strip;

a second flexible conductive strip essentially parallel to said first conductive strip creating a space therebetween, said second conductive strip having a second plurality of lateral extensions integral therewith, each of said second plurality of lateral extensions forming one or more second contact tabs, said second contact tabs being generally perpendicular to the surface of said second conductive strip and essentially parallel to said first contact tabs, said first and second contact tabs being located along said space between said first and second conductive strips, said first and second contact tabs forming successive contact pairs consisting of one of said first contact tabs and one of said second contact tabs;

an upper flexible track with a concave reflecting surface integral therewith, said upper flexible track having a plurality of slits therein, said first and second contact tabs passing through said slits, said upper track being adjacent to an upper surface of said first and second conductive strips; and

a lower flexible track adjacent to a lower surface of said first and second conductive strips, said upper and lower tracks being attached to one another along their peripheries;

said concave reflective surface having a radius of curvature equal to substantially twice the distance between a filament of said lighting fixture and said concave reflecting surface.